Update... yay... Please don't hate me for the extended lateness...
Disclaimer: DC Universe characters belong to their respective owners. Of course not the handful of OC's…
Just outside Chicago
June 11 04:11 CDT
The morning dew sat peacefully, still untouched by the sun on the outskirts of the windy city. There was nearly no sound except for the occasional car motor speeding past on the nearby highway. A lone figure walked around the rubbish of a recent burned down building from the night before. The air still had a vagueness of smoke lingering about.
Manhunter, the former Miss Martian in her early hero years, examined the remaining wreckage of the small scientific lab once known for working on enhancing growth formulas as used for plants and other plant uses. Strands of her short auburn hair lightly flowed from the back of her head as she levitated from the ground to gain a height, her dark amber eyes carefully studying over the scene. M'gann landed gently in an area and telekinetically pushed over a large piece of a wall which crumbled along the edges when moved. Using a specialized scanner to detect any unusual components, she examined the area.
After a while of nothing, M'gann sighed and put the scanner away. She touched her earpiece, "Captain Atom, I was unable to find anything. More than likely sabotage. Nothing of worth left behind."
"That is what I feared." The voice on the other end paused for a moment before replying, "Return back to the tower."
"Affirmative," She pressed the receiver to silence the transmission. M'gann slugged her shoulders and sighed at the displacement. Surely there should have been something left behind, but by the looks of this, it was no accidental fire. It was an account of arson more than likely to cover up stolen experiments.
Taking one final look around, the Martian suddenly went stiff as a strange gust of wind caught her attention. Before she could turn to look around, a couple of small sharp objects were thrown at her from her left. Similar to bladed stars as one nearly grazed past directly in front of her face. Getting over the stun of the surprise, Manhunter immediately put up a defensive stance of her surroundings, mainly focused on the left side.
M'gann only saw a dark shape from the corner of her eye in the opposite direction before she found the lean, dark clothed individual upon her, attempting to sharply jab at various points of her body. Gathering mental strength, she telekinetically threw off her attacker, not caring which direction he was sent. So long as it was away from her space.
The foe rammed through a hole in a partial wall, a few bricks falling from the impact. With eyes narrowed and glowing white, M'gann wasted no time flying over to where her attacker landed. Her glare widened in shock and pupils returned to normal as no one was there. She checked her surroundings mentally for any sign of where her mysterious foe could have gone. Nothing. Not even a single being nearby.
This perplexed the Martian exceedingly. One moment her attacker was there, the next, it was like he never was in the first place. It was almost as if she was attacked by a ghost. Manhunter spent a few extra moments checking the area telepathically for anything. Just in case.
Subconsciously rubbing her arm, M'gann stayed on high alert as she took an alternate and longer route to the Zeta, taking extra precaution to use her personal camouflage mode. She was not quite able to shake off that random attack and the uncomfortable feeling it brought.
June 11
The Cave 13:05 EST
The cave had a hum of activity as a handful of the team bustled about. Just the way Archiban Quintell liked it. Along with the old dark blue 98 Dodge Dakota before him. Although he found the truck abandoned for quite a while in a junk lot about ten miles away, with some help from Chris and K'dnn, the three managed to bring the rusting truck to the cave. Working on the Dodge for the past couple of weeks became an enjoyable hobby for Arch as the hood set open in front of him with various pieces disconnected and laying on the table or ground next to him.
It had been nice to have things calmed down again after that whole multiple monsters attack the previous week. Arch still felt the faint tingles of the electricity that had surged through his body as he thought about it. At least it wasn't as bad as it could have been. He recalled the moments after Overload was taken down. Robin sent them out of there long before a bunch of news reporters could swarm in on the scene as it seemed to have happened more often when any of the heroes were involved.
"A touch of verde, green, would bring out your eyes more," The female green lantern suggested to her younger companion, giving some basic beauty tips.
The sixteen year old blonde shrugged off the advice. "I do not like to wear make-up. It tends to… dry out my skin."
Milagaro Reyes cocked her head to the side in thought. "Your being part Atlantian?" Ryla nodded in response.
Arch grinned to himself as he vaguely listened to Milagaro and Ryla stationed near the large television, chatting about girls stuff basically. He caught snip-its from the oldest and youngest heroines of the team about hair style tips and the cutest actors, ignoring their conversations for the most part. The fact that their presence was near and meekly comforting for him brought a small smile to his face.
Arch had been practically adopted into the gang when he had no idea what to do with his life after that "accident" that turned him into what he was today. He left behind his former life behind, feeling nothing would be left of it now. He gained some good friends with these heroes as they fashioned him to become one.
The tall young man with bright red spiky hair and red eyes gave a glance over at the new figure sitting a short distance away from the girls, a thick old book in his lap. The sixteen year old in a solid navy blue button down shirt and dark pants and shoes with pure black combed down hair and a few strands hanging on his forehead kept his attention to the text, but not without occasionally darting his green eyes in annoyance to the talkative girls across from him.
Zachary Zatara. Arch mentally reminded himself. This was the junior magician in training to the League's magician Zatanna. On discovery of his existence as somehow family to her a couple of years ago in Italy, a cousin or something, at least according to what Chris Kent had explained to him, Zatanna took it upon herself to take him in and train him. From what Arch learned so far upon seeing the young magician, Zack often kept to himself, almost seemingly loathing the fact that he was occasionally there with them. Arch wasn't sure, but he didn't think Zatara was part of the team. At least not officially yet.
Arch shrugged to himself and turned his attention back to the engine. The meta was finally able to unscrew the Carburetor. With a satisfied smile and grunt, he pulled out the piece with the old red rag and checked it for damages. He gave a low whistle to himself. For the appearance of an old battered pick-up, the carburetor stayed in pristine condition for the most part. He carefully placed it back into its place.
"Nice ride,"
Arch had bumped the back of his head on the hood at the surprise of an unfamiliar voice. He rubbed his head and stepped away from the truck before attempting to stand up straight and face the stranger before him. Her thick extra dark auburn hair was pulled back into a ponytail as she peered over the engine with faint interest. Her outfit included a black leather jacket covering a maroon colored top and thick combat boots blending with her black pants. The fairly petite twenty-one year old peeked up at him with a smirk.
"I prefer motorcycles. Easier to get around with and ultimately faster in my opinion." She gave him a studying look. "You must be Comet."
Arch raised an eyebrow and gave a grim expression at the name.
"Meteor, whatever. Same difference," She corrected herself as she waved her hand submissively. She paused for a moment before continuing and gesturing to herself. "Speedy. And no, I'm not a speedster like one of the many around now."
Arch cracked a smile at the comment before searching through his mind of the familiarity. He stood up straighter once it came to him. "You're the original leader of this team."
"He speaks," Speedy smirked before answering, "Yup. The one and only. Looks like the team has been handling fairly well since I've been away." She peered back at the truck. "So, you think you can fix up this busted piece of junk?"
Arch shook his head and gave a small smile. "Nothing is truly busted if something can still be of use from it." The former leader nodded her head as she purged her lips in thought. He continued, "This truck is actually in pretty decent condition. Just needs a few touch ups."
Arch grew quiet as old desires came back to him. He had a passion for fixing cars and other similar machines, dreaming of one day opening his own repair shop. He glanced down at the rock hard texture for skin running down his one arm before pulling the black sleeve over it again to cover it. At least, that was his dream before that fateful moment with the collision of the meteor that made him into what he was today. Now he couldn't trust going into public for very long as himself. Hence why he tended to linger around the cave and busy himself with little projects such as the one in front of him. It was at least an enjoyable and useful hobby after all.
Speedy broke him out of his thoughts. "Not bad. You try out fixing bikes too?"
"Lian," A voice called in greeting from the side. The archer turned to greet Jai with a trademark smirk. Her cousin raised an eyebrow in response as he held a bottle of water in his hand. "Didn't think you'd be coming around here for a while. Pestering people again?"
Lian shrugged, giving a glance to Arch. "Just talking to the newbie." She put a hand on her hip and slightly cocked her head. "Seems to be doing pretty well with not having a true mentor and all."
Arch turned his attention back to the engine at that reminder. True, each of the others had a specific mentor similar to them to look up to. Most of what he suspected to be at least a parent or other close family figures. Where he didn't dare to be near any of his own anymore since all that happened. His pristine little family would be better thinking that he was gone. Whether they believed he took off to who knows where on his own or perhaps dead, he didn't care. In a way, the old Archiban was gone…
The meta pushed the degrading thought away before it could pursue further. He had plenty to look up to have offered plenty of help also outside of the Team. Red Robin, Static, and especially Blue Beetle had been the main ones to give him advice and offer some additional training while testing out his newly acquired abilities. He was able to learn how to almost completely control the extents of his energy blasts, including absorbing the energy which he discovered by accident when training a bit with Static. The past few months had run much better since the very beginning.
"I see the magician squirt is here." Lian took instant notice how Zack jerked up at her from across the room. She grinned as she spoke louder, "Enjoying being around others your age yet?"
Zack narrowed his eyes at the archer, gripping the covers of the book and almost closing it. Grumbling under his breath, the young mage marked his page and stood up, leaving the room in a huff. Ryla watched him leave with a loud sigh before giving Lian a look and shaking her head. Milagaro put a hand to her own head and faced down.
Lian shrugged in response. "Hey, he needs to learn to not be so serious and lighten up sometime, Princess." She turned away to nothing in particular as she added in a low voice, "He's worse than D ever was,"
Standing next to her, Jai took a swig of water and honestly replied while pointing towards her with the cap in hand, "I beg to differ," The other three still in the room looked at each other in confusion to the reference before shrugging it off.
"Of course you would. Speaking of which, seen Rob lately?"
Jai quietly huffed and resealed the cap of the bottle back on while he folded his arms at the mention of his leader. "Why do you think I'm still here if he's not?"
Lian gave the seventeen year old a stern look and lightly tapped her foot. Jai gave in with reluctance. "He's on a little assignment I think."
"Figures," The female archer rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm off. Suppose I'll be seeing you kiddies again at some point." Lian glanced at each hero as she spoke, "Later Princess, Reyes, Cuz," She paused at Arch and gave a wider grin. "Comet,"
Recognized Steel C03, Zephyr C11.
She began to walk off when Chris and K'dnn came through the Zeta Beams, the older holding something bulky in his hand as he waved with the other.
"Lian, long time no see,"
"Yup. And I am out to take care of some things. Later Supey," She paused to give K'dnn the biggest smirk before adding to the Martian's aggravation as he knew it was coming, "Marvin,"
Recognized Speedy C01
The junior Man of Steel folded his arms and shook his head as he smiled. "She always liked to give nicknames to everyone." Chris explained to Arch as the nineteen year old had his eyebrow raised while still watching the Beams that she disappeared through.
"Mine was since learning of my dad's occasional nickname and his dad," Chris gestured to K'dnn standing next to him."Or my uncle, if I recall correctly." Steel paused in his musings to look at the taller young man with electric red hair. "It was always interesting with Lian around before she decided to go on the solo route."
"Leave a big enough impression for a first meeting?" K'dnn asked with a partial smirk.
Chris stood back as he recalled something, "Oh, you came in a few months after she left, didn't you?" Arch nodded in partial uncertainty.
"That's right, you did," The super assured, facing off a bit in the other direction in thought while grinning. "We had an interesting start as she led the newly formed team of Young Justice about four years ago."
Jai swirled the bottled drink in his hand while staring at it, instantly bored, "And now we start the history lesson," He vaguely pointed out to no one in particular. Chris completely ignored him, leaving the West twin to take his time to head back into the kitchen to avoid the long explanation.
Chris leaned against the side of the truck with one hand balancing him out, clearly focused in memories. "Young Justice originally started up with a Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash and Artemis, who are Irey and Jai's parents. Then there was also Superboy and Miss Martian," He gestured to his cousin, K'dnn, "His parents, all of them in their prime years. Since them, other members filtered in or out throughout the years until the team disbanded, a good portion of them growing up and moving on with their lives or joining the Justice League.
Years later, it was mainly brought up from the original members that a newly reformed Young Justice Team could come about as many young heroes are emerging, which was basically all of us. The new team was then created with Speedy or Lian, who you just met; she was the leader of the team for a long while before giving up her position to Robin to do the solo thing. Then there were the Tornado Twins who are the other speedster twins that both moved on now, our Robin, and of course me. Offspring, Plastic Man's son, was on the team for a short time, but he would rather goof off and do his own thing." Chris rolled his eyes and mumbled to himself, "Ernie was quite the prankster."
Chris leaned off the truck after a minute to continue, "Even though members disbanded, others joined in through time. Many of who is still part of this team—"
"And don't forget Arthur jr." Ryla replied as she walked over to the guys.
Milagaro joined the blonde, the Green Lantern picked up where the Atlantian left off, "He was a member of the team before too. Even if it was more of an… honorary position."She had momentarily paused to search for the right word.
Ryla met Arch's confused expression. She smiled as she added, "Aquaman's son, or rather the soon to be King of Atlantis most likely."
"Honorary position like Zachary Zatara?" Arch asked, trying to make connections.
Ryla slowly nodded in response as she thought about it. "Yes, basically," She pondered briefly before saying in an afterthought, "Arthur is kind of a fun guy, but stern at the same time. It is peculiar." The blonde blinked before turning to Chris with a sheepish smile. "Sorry, did I interrupt your little story?"
Milagaro and even Arch quietly chuckled at the face Chris gave Ryalani who just smiled back in spite. As Chris was about to open his mouth, K'dnn added in, "And Amistead Ervin. He never took the hero title, but he was a big part to the aid of the team with what you've always explained before, Chris," K'dnn pointed out.
Chris nodded quickly in agreement. "Most definitely. Amistead kept us connected and straightened out."
"He seemed like a really neat guy from the time or two I met him." Milagaro replied.
Chris turned to Arch, gaining the meta's full attention. "I think you would have really gotten along well with him. Ami liked working especially with little gadgets and gimmicks. Too bad he's fully focused on finally completing that robotics and engineering degree. Speaking of which,"
Chris, now remembering that he was holding a large, nearly unrecognizable piece of machinery in his hand, gave Arch a nod before tossing the item in the air towards him. The bright red head caught it easily with both hands.
K'dnn explained, "It was an old piece from one of the tractors."
"Maybe it could be of use for you somehow." Chris shrugged. "Sorry I didn't give it to you earlier."
"As you were stuck in memory lane," Milagaro lightly teased from the kitchen. She reached into the refrigerator and grabbed out two drinks, tossing one to Ryla who gave a quiet thanks.
Arch didn't respond as closed the hood of the Dodge with a creak and placed the old rag on top. He examined the piece carefully, a wide smile spreading across his face. Yes, he was certain that he could use this for something once he figured out exactly what.
The group chatted together further on the history of the heroes while the tall red-head grinned at the old piece of junk in his hands. Jai tossed the now empty plastic bottle into the trash, not caring that it missed the bag next to it for recyclables that Chris set up. The speedster set off aimlessly through the spacious cave hallways.
Jai pulled out a rubber ball from his pocket and begun tossing up in the air and catching it. He occasionally bounced it off the walls or tossing it from behind to catch it, all while lost in his thoughts. It was just four days ago that he and his sister graduated. And only a few more days and he'd be eighteen. Jai was ready to take on the world officially as an adult and get away from home and his superstar of a sister as everyone seemed to think of her as.
Jai grumbled to himself at the thought. Of course after that little monster attack, Irey went on for not answering and 'potentially' putting Diana in danger when she handled herself just fine. He thought to himself, rolling his eyes heavily while tightening his grip around the small ball, I had my own problems to deal with when I finally found her again. I will not lose her next time.
Jai paused in mid-step as he realized his train of thought about the mysterious thief. Now he was sounding obsessed in taking down a specific villain. He just hated being taken by surprise by this seemingly ice-powered bandit while at the same time pumped to find a challenge that he would not let himself get bested by.
Soon, he found himself headed into the large 'gym' as the training room was sometimes dubbed. Walking past all sorts of equipment, including a couple balance beams, various targets and weights, Jai paused when he spotted Zack standing in front of one of the collection of punching bags, staring at it.
"You know, you'd get better use of it if you try perhaps, punching it?" Jai lightly suggested while leaning against the wall, lightly tossing the ball in the air. Zack straightened in stature before turning towards the speedster.
"Obviously," He replied in annoyance, clenching his fists together. With a few hard and slow punches, Zach held back a grimace to do a few more. Jai lifted an eyebrow at him.
"Merely a suggestion, but you don't have to use so much force at the beginning."
Zatara backed away from the heavy bag, rubbing his hands to relieve some of the pain. He scoffed, "Here to taunt as well?"
Jai leaned off the wall and vaguely raised his hands in defense while not even looking at the magician. "I'm just saying, you'll wear yourself out much faster before any real damage could be done." He headed over to straighten up the few hanging bows on the wall. "Besides, Speedy has some experience through her tough exterior."
Jai mused in slight annoyance at himself. He was standing up for his cousin. Lian did have a small soft spot for him though and he for her. "She was right," He finally added, "You do need to lighten up some."
Zack rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the hanging bag. "I don't need to be told how to act-"
"No you don't." Jai replied quickly, giving him a firm nod, recalling advice he had heard a long time ago, not quite remembering from who. "You can listen to suggestion and sometimes wisdom from others, but you ultimately choose who you are and will be."
The barely younger of the West twins paused as he gave a studying look at Zatara, pondering his own words himself. "I think it's a good idea to get some additional training in, especially for regular combat. Never know when it will come in handy." He gestured to in front of Zack, "And this is the perfect way to get out some frustrations."
Jai turned to leave the room as he added in an after-thought, somewhat surprising himself, "Most of the team isn't that bad if you give them a chance."
Again, much apologizes that you most likely don't even want to hear from me anymore about updating late. I will need to focus a ton for this semester and have been working a ton as well, so ahead of time, I'm sorry that I won't be able to update often. I am hoping as soon as the semester is done, I can go crazy in writing again! This story will not be left unfinished! I have tons of plans for it, although it will take time to complete it…
Now enough about my pathetic excuses. I focused more on Arch for this chapter for the main reason that he is an OC that has NO affiliation or similarity to any previous heroes. So this is a character completely brand new, both to the team and that he has to learn without a mentor as stated, but does have a handful that are ones to him in a way. Plus he needed to be explained better and he is a pretty neat character. I just hope I got him decently right creatorX33!
Any further questions, comments, suggestions…. Review! And please stick around for more! :D