Revelation
Mount Justice
October 1, 18:13 EDT
It was a slow day today. Not much had happened since our trip to India, which was a relief to me. After the Red fiasco, we needed a break. And to make things even better, this was the week that Zatara had offered to be our quote unquote 'den mother'. Right now, he, Captain Marvel and I were observing a sparring session between Kaldur and Robin.
"Honestly, I think you should consider bringing Zatanna to the Cave. Even if it's just a visit. I think she'd love it, and the Team would love to meet her." I pleaded to the sorcerer. He was extremely overprotective of his daughter, which was understandable, but still.
"I will think about it, Kara. For now, let's focus on the training session." He replied, placing a gloved hand on my shoulder. I smiled as I focused my gaze on the sparring session in front of me.
"Watch your spacing, Robin!" I called out as the Boy Wonder landed neatly off a backflip. I quickly realized that the two of them were evenly matched and that their fight would have to end in a draw. I was about to call off the fight, but the two of them stopped on their own when Connor, M'gann and Wolf walked in. The former pair whispered a few things to each other while Wally and Artemis entered the mission room, but they stopped when the speedster began to complain.
"So if Zatara's our babysitter for the week, why's he still here?" He asked, pointing at Marvel, "And why is he eating my snacks?"
"Maybe because you hide them in the most obvious places." I jeered as Batman entered the Cave.
"Recognized: Batman, zero-two."
"Computer, National News." The Dark Knight wasted no time in directing our attention to the Cave's main computer. A large holo-screen appeared in front of us, with Cat Grant reporting.
"The initial attack was short-lived. But Metropolis was only granted a short reprieve." A large, clearly mutant plant creature was attacking Metropolis on a scale unlike any I had ever seen. The Hawks, John Stewart and Superman were all working to take down the creature and put civilians out of harm's way. "And despite the intervention of Superman and the Justice League, there seems to be no end in sight."
"Should we get out there?" Robin asked his mentor. Batman turned away from the news report and faced us, his face even more stern than usual.
"No. The League will soon have the situation under control, that's not why I'm here. According to your intel, Sportsmaster supplied Cadmus' Blockbuster formula to Kobra."
"Who combined it with Bane's Venom to create Kobra Venom." Wally continued.
"Which The Brain used to upgrade his animal army." Robin added.
"Upgraded Wolf too." Connor scratched his companion under his chin, making his stark yellow eyes close.
"The Brain also used inhibitor collars, like the ones used at Belle Reve Penitentiary." M'gann finished.
"Batman," Artemis looked as though she were afraid to hear the answer to her upcoming question, "Is it possible that plant-thingy is on Kobra Venom too?"
No doubt about it, I thought to myself.
"I had Green Lantern run a spot analysis. The vines cellulose does contain trace amounts of a Kobra Venom variant." Batman pulled up the results from John's analysis for us to see.
"These cannot be coincidences." Kaldur concluded, his face almost as stern as Batman's.
"No, they can't." I finally piped up, stepping forward to observe the Kobra Venom variant, "It's obvious that supervillains are finally deciding to team up and form their own sort of... secret society."
Batman nodded, "The attack on Metropolis was only the beginning."
"Got that right." Robin said, having pulled up a holopad. He pulled up multiple news reports from around the world, all of them involving plant creatures.
"Plant creatures have sprouted in Gotham City, Paris, Star City, Taipei-"
The screens suddenly cut to snow.
"Dude-" Wally nudged Robin gently as the latter began trying to solve the problem, while I slunk back to stand next to Kaldur.
"It's not me. Someone's cutting the satellite signal. All satellite signals."
I looked back up at the screen to suddenly see something I thought I'd never see. The Joker, as smiley as ever, was on screen. He rapped on the lens of the camera he was in front of before beginning to speak.
"Ladies and gentlemen," His voice was just as creepy as he was, "We interrupt your regularly scheduled mayhem to bring you this important announcement..."
He turned the camera away from himself to point at six more big bads, "...from the Injustice League."
The man in the center of the group, who I recognized quickly as Count Vertigo, spoke next.
"We are responsible for the attack on your cities." Kaldur suddenly took my hand in his, not taking his eyes off the holo-screens.
"If you wish to save them, a ransom of ten billion American dollars is required. Delivery instructions have been sent to the United Nations. There is no time limit. But, the longer your governments wait-"
Clown-face focused the camera back on himself, "The more we get to have our... jollies."
A sharp, psychotic cackle sounded from his lips as the screens once again cut to snow. Batman pressed two fingers to his comm.
"Roger that, Aquaman, the UN will prepare the ransom as a fallback. But it won't come to that." I gave Kaldur's hand a gentle squeeze which he returned as Robin rewound the Injustice League's announcement, before pausing on their group photo. He began to run a recognition software.
"Count Vertigo, the Joker, Poison Ivy, Ultra Humanite , Atomic Skull, Black Adam, Wotan, seven heavy hitters! Probably behind nearly everything and everyone we've faced."
"There's your secret society."
"Not so secret anymore." Artemis pointed out.
"Perhaps after India, they realized we would deduce the truth and saw no point in hiding any longer." Kaldur suggested. Wally and Artemis turned to face us, our hands were still linked, but I didn't try to hide it. I mean, come on, it was becoming exhausting. Artemis didn't react, considering how she already knew, but Wally seemed to take no notice of it.
"Yeah? That was their mistake! Right now, I say we go kick some plant creature butt!" Wally looked ready for some action, and I couldn't blame him. This was big.
"The Justice League will handle the plants." Batman cut in, "I have a different job for this team."
"Oh, man." Wally muttered under his breath. Artemis swatted him on the arm.
"With the plants attacking so many locations simultaneously, there must be a central control system. Your mission is to destroy it."
"You do realize what you're really asking them to do?" Zatara asked his friend, shocked that the Dark Knight would assign us to this mission.
"They're ready."
"Ready? Ready for what?" Wally asked obliviously. Artemis rolled her eyes and swatted Wally on the arm again.
"Ow! Will you cut that-"
"Hello, Wally! If the big guns are fighting the plants, who do you think we'll be fighting?" She asked, trying to make it as obvious as possible. He still didn't get it.
"I don't know. I guess we'll-" Artemis jabbed a finger at the photo of the Injustice League while I facepalmed with my free hand.
"Ohh."
Zatara sighed and turned to Batman, "Well, I trust you are correct."
"I trust that you can locate the enemy." He replied.
"Indeed." The magic-user nodded, "Wotan's involvement suggests sorcery is part of how the plants are controlled. Robin, if you would provide a holo-map, I'll search for signs of concentrated sorcerous activity."
A global holo-map appeared in front of us, while Zatara placed his hands in front him, palms directed at the map and began to recite a spell.
"Etacol retnecipe fo yrecros!" The map froze and a red dot appeared in the southern US.
"There. That is where you'll find the Injustice League's central control system."
"Coordinates locked. The Louisiana Bayou." Robin typed the coordinates into his wrist comm.
"We are on our way." Kaldur released my hand and together with the others, we took off to change into our uniforms.
Once we were changed, we all met in the hangar bay to board the Bioship. Artemis, M'gann and I beat the guys there but we didn't have to wait very long. I noticed that as Kaldur approached the Bioship, he was carrying a ark duffel bag. Was that the ransom? No. That duffel was too small to carry ten billion dollars. Everyone else boarded, but I stopped Kaldur for a moment.
"What is that?" I pointed a taped finger at the duffel. He avoided my gaze, fixating it on the floor of the hangar.
"A contingency plan." He responded, not wanting to give me a direct answer. I stepped forward and grabbed his chin, forcing him to look at me.
"Kaldur, I thought we discussed this. No more secrets, no more lies. So, I'll ask again. What's in the duffel bag?" I kept my voice quiet and controlled. At first Kaldur's pale green eyes widened at my mini-interrogation. But then he sighed and unzipped the bag. I released him and looked down. I clasped a hand over my mouth to muffle my gasp.
"Kaldur…" I whispered, "You can't. You know what'll happen if..."
"I know, Kara." He set the duffel down and cupped my face in both hands, before pressing his lips to mine.
"I trust that it will not come to that. But if it does..." I had a feeling I knew what he was going to say, but in the split second before he said it, I realized that I wasn't ready to hear it. Not yet at least.
"Kaldur." I stopped him, my voice now dropping to a whisper, "Don't say it. Not yet."
"Then when? Kara-"
"You'll know. But right now, when we're about to charge into battle against seven of the worst villains in the world, this isn't the time." I continued to whisper, pressing my forehead to his.
"I understand. As long as you know it, that is enough for me."
"Then let's go. We have work to do." I said at a normal volume, dragging him onto the Bioship.
Bayou Bartholomew
18:52 CDT
The ride to Louisiana was even more tense than our trip to India. Thankfully, it wasn't for the same reason. I sat next to Kaldur, my taped hand resting on the Glock holstered on my belt. I had also equipped myself with a rebreather, a hunting knife and several spare bullet clips. Prior to our little trip, I had attached a new cowl to my suit, a gift from Oliver and Dinah for my birthday, that masked my entire face. I had been waiting for the right time to use it and this was as good a time as any.
I drew my mask over my face and flexed my fingers, studying the claws that rested at the tips of my fingers. They felt like they were begging for a fight, and so was I.
"Nice mask, Cat." Robin commented at me. I glanced over at him, smirking even though my mask hid it.
"Thought I'd try out a new look." I replied with a small shrug, "Might even keep it if I live through this whole ordeal."
"Whoa, bit of a downer don't you think?" Wally gaped. I looked down at the duffel bag by Kaldur's feet briefly before turning to look out at the Louisiana Bayou ahead of us.
"What's in the duffel?" The speedster asked quietly.
"Plan B." Kaldur replied shortly before M'gann suddenly clutched her head and groaned.
"You okay?" I asked. It wasn't like M'gann to suddenly get a headache.
"Fine. Just dizzy." She replied quietly.
"Martians get airsick?" Robin asked her, only half-joking.
"She does look a bit greener than usual." Wally observed, making me roll my eyes.
"Not me, her."
"I feel fine." Artemis looked over at M'gann with confusion.
"Same here." I added.
"Not you guys," M'gann clarified, "The Bioship. She's trying to shield us but-"
Something crashed into the Bioship, sending us plummeting toward the swamps. Once we hit the water, plant creatures sprouted up and wrapped themselves around the Bioship, pulling us under, while above us, Black Adam ripped a hole in the roof. M'gann clutched her head in pain again.
"He's hurting her," She exclaimed. Connor scowled, leapt up and sucker punched Adam, sending him flying backwards. The plants continued to pull us down, the gaping hole in the ship's roof now gushing water. I pulled out my rebreather, lifted the bottom of my mask and shoved it into my mouth. Robin did the same thing and dove under the rising water.
"No. No way I'm nearly drowning three missions in a row." Artemis proclaimed as she pulled out two rebreathers and handed one to Wally. I dove underwater to join the others and was followed by both Wally and Artemis. M'gann lowered herself to our level and opened a hatch in the bottom of the Bioship.
"Out! Everyone out!" Kaldur ordered telepathically. We all did as instructed, surfacing on the nearby Louisiana shore. I spit my rebreather out and tucked it away on my belt before slipping my mask back over my mouth. As soon as everyone was on shore though, we were all brought to our knees by a high pitch frequency. A figure stepped in front of us, a man, wearing boots and a cloak.
"Vertigo." Wally croaked angrily.
"That's Count Vertigo to you, peasant." The Vlatavan spat. I tried to reach for my pistol, but the pain that was surging through my head overtook me. Connor lunged toward Vertigo, but was stopped by Adam. Meanwhile, Kaldur drew his water bearers, pulling water from the swamp and sending it full force toward Vertigo.
"Wildcat, Robin, Miss Martian, disappear. The rest of us will keep them busy. You three fulfill the mission objective." Kaldur instructed psychically. M'gann went into camouflage mode, while Robin and I silently fled into the nearby woods. Once again I found myself trudging through the Louisiana swamp as Rob, M'gann and I made our way to the control center in silence.
By the time we reached the edge of the wooded swamp, the grunts and shouts from the fight between the Injustice League and the rest of the Team had faded away to nothing but the sound of our feet sloshing through mud and muck. M'gann, still in camouflage mode, stopped us before we could step into the clearing.
"I've lost contact with Aqualad and the others. Should we-?"
"No." I cut her off, "We need to do this. The League is spread thin, they can't keep the plants at bay for long. So let's take this control center down and get back to the others."
Rob studied the Injustice League HQ quietly, a large plant extended through the roof, covering most of the building it was housed in, "Looks like that plant is acting like an antenna to control the other plants worldwide."
"Then let's blow it-"
"Well, hello-" Someone spoke behind us. We all turned to see a very angry Poison Ivy standing there, but before we could move, vines sprouted at our feet, wrapping themselves around us and suspending us above the ground. Ultra Humanite emerged from the shadows aiming a blaster toward us.
"And goodbye."
Just as the super-intelligent ape was about to pull the trigger, M'gann used her telepathy to point the weapon at the vines, setting us free. Robin and I took off toward the central control system, the Boy Wonder handing me two handfuls of charges as we took off.
"I'll distract her! You and M'gann need to blow that plant!" He instructed.
"On it."
As I snuck toward the top of the domed building, I saw that Wotan, Black Adam and Vertigo had trapped the others in a cage of mystic energy. I wanted to help bust them out, but I was already halfway up the roof. Charges first, then friends.
"Robin, Wildcat, she's made contact." M'gann called out to us.
"Artemis?"
"No."
The Bioship knocked Wotan off balance, causing the cage he had created to disappear. Everyone trapped inside fell to the ground, where Ultra Humanite and Ivy were waiting. I continued to make my way up the dome, where I was joined by M'gann and Rob. We set the charges while the Injustice League was distracted. By the time they realized where we were, it was too late. In a matter of seconds, the massive, towering plant was reduced to smoldering debris.
The three of us stood on top of the dome, overlooking the fight, smug looks on both mine and the Boy Wonder's faces, though mine was hidden by my mask.
"Timber." Robin muttered. Ivy screamed in anger, sending vines toward us, but M'gann tore them apart before they could come close to us. Out of nowhere, a beam of light struck M'gann down. Robin and I turned to see Atomic Skull and the Joker on top of the dome.
"Children? Children foiled our plan?" The latter asked no one as Rob and I dodged Skull's attacks, "Inconceivable, unacceptable, retributionable!"
Okay, now he was just making up words.
"Rob, go for the Joker, I'll take Skull!" I shouted over the link. He nodded and cut past Skull, causing the villain to turn away long enough for me to land a solid hit on his jaw. He went flying backwards, sliding off the edge of the dome and to the ground below. I leapt down and lunged at Skull, but I was stopped when a bolt of white light struck me midway. Not far off I saw M'gann summoning the Bioship, with Kaldur standing over her. When the Bioship reached them, something dropped down through a hatch and into Kaldur's hand. The duffel bag. He opened it and pulled out the Helmet of Fate.
"No." I called quietly, my eyes growing wide. "NO!"
Wotan had stopped his attack, allowing me rush toward Kaldur. Wally tried to stop him too, but was stopped himself by Black Adam, who sent him flying into a tree. I continued to run toward Kaldur, to stop him from making the biggest mistake he could've made. But I wasn't fast enough. He slipped the helmet on and in a flash of golden light, Kaldur was Dr. Fate. He flew up to face Wotan, while the fight on the ground began again.
A surge of both anger and fear coursed through me as I turned to face Atomic Skull again. I lunged for a second time, roaring as I began to slash at Skull with my steel claws. I was able to corner him, but before I could deliver a final blow, I heard a familiar voice. Zatara's voice. Skull and I both looked up to see that the League had arrived. The Injustice League backed into each other now surrounded by both the League and the Team.
"It's over." Batman declared. Six villains held their hands up in surrender.
"There will be another day." Vertigo replied.
"Another day? ANOTHER DAY?" The Joker asked maniacally, "There won't be another day! Not for any of us!"
The madman raised his hands, laughing psychotically. Plants sprouted around us releasing a malicious, green gas from its spores.
"Joker Venom spores! Nobody breathe!" A voice I didn't recognize yelled. A large, black cat-like creature leapt in front of the Joker and nailed him in the jaw, knocking him unconscious.
"Fear not!" Above us, Kaldur/Dr. Fate summoned a large, golden ankh, which drew the Joker Venom away from us until it had completely disappeared. "Fate has intervened!"
When the Injustice League was finally tied up, Wally with his arm in a makeshift sling, marched angrily toward Kaldur, who was still wearing the Helmet of Fate.
"What were you thinking!" He yelled at M'gann, "How could you let him put on the helmet? Nabu will never release him now. Kaldur will be trapped inside Dr. Fate forever."
My heart broke at the thought and I turned my head away from Kaldur to look at the ground. Silently, I begged for Kent to do something, anything that would convince Nabu to release him. A few moments of silence passed before a flash of gold caught the corner of my eye. I turned to see not Dr. Fate, but Kaldur standing before us. I pulled my mask off, revealing my entire face, before rushing to embrace him. There was no point in hiding it anymore. The others, except for maybe Wally would have figured it out by then and I didn't really give a damn about what Dinah would say in that moment.
"He let you go." I whispered.
"Thanks to your friend, Kent." He whispered back, his grip tightening around me ever so slightly, before he released me. I turned to see the others looking at us with knowing smiles.
"About time you two went public." Rob smirked. I laughed quietly, before looking past him to see the cat creature who stopped the Joker earlier. He seemed familiar in a way I couldn't quite describe. He took notice of my gaze and started toward me, with Dinah, Oliver and Roy not far behind.
"I was wondering when you'd finally notice me. Thought you forgot I was around, kid. Kinda like you did a few weeks ago." He said, a slight Brooklyn accent coming off his lips. I remembered who he was immediately.
"Dad." I breathed, loud enough for everyone to hear. He gave me a toothy grin.
"It's good to see you, Kara. You've grown so much." I didn't know what to do, what to say. My dad was there, not even five feet in front of me. I stood stiff as he wrapped his fur-covered arms around me.
"You're a cat." I commented into his chest, making him chuckle deeply.
"A 'were-cat' as your grandfather described it. I can explain everything to you later." He released me and set a paw-like hand on my shoulder, "But for now, go with your team. I'll be in touch."
He nodded over to Batman, who nodded back.
"We're done here." The Dark Knight told us, "The super villain secret society has been neutralized. And as for your performance... it was satisfactory."
We all smiled lightly, despite being exhausted, banged up and covered in mud.
"Head back to the Cave, get cleaned up and get some rest." Batman instructed us before leading the League away to deal with the Injustice League. M'gann called the Bioship over and we began to board. As I stepped inside, I felt Kaldur link his hand with mine.
No more secrets.