Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Justice League, or Justice League Unlimited.
A/N: If you want you can skip this chapter since its main focus isn't on the Justice League, but Rex Mason a.k.a. Metamorpho.
Beta: Jebest4781.
Chapter XII: Metamorphosis.
Last Time.
"True.. But I'd rather have him with us, then against us." Batman said before the lights flickered off. "We're not alone." Etrigan said before the lights came on, and a group of demons came out. They attacked them with Naruto creating a bunch of clones, and forming another set of hand signs. "Katon: Karyū Endan. (Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.)" Naruto shot out a stream of fire in the shape of a dragon at the group, but they walked threw it.
"Damn." Naruto started fighting them in taijutsu before Etrigan yelled out. "Flash! We need a maelstrom!" Flash turned around to him. "What?" Etrigan grabbed a demon, and threw him away. "A whirlwind." Nodding Flash ran in a circle around the group as Etrigan spoke a spell, and froze the group. "Faster!" The group broke up in to pieces, and Naruto got in front of Diana keeping the shards from hitting her.
"Everyone ok?" Batman asked as they walked up. ""Yes.. But where's J'onn?" Diana asked as Etrigan answered. "He's gone.. As is the stone. When they went up to the vault, they saw the stone was indeed gone. "You pathetic excuse for heroes." Etrigan said pacing. "It can't be." Diana said as Etrigan looked to her. "Oh really your Highness.. I've tracked that witch for centuries.. And yet you've ignored my warning."
SMACK!
Naruto winced as Diana slapped Etrigan. "The truth hurts doesn't it Princess?" Etrigan asked rubbing his cheek. Suddenly, Flash came speeding in. "The Javelin's gone, and J'onn's access codes are still punched in the hanger controls." He said as Etrigan looked to Diana. "Still don't believe?" He asked as Naruto thought for a moment. "We couldn't take the stealth jet.. It'll take to long to catch up to him."
"Maybe we can still catch up.. Get a lock on the Javelin." He said to Etrigan who raised an eyebrow before opening a portal where J'onn was with Morgaine in a castle. They jumped through and kept J'onn from handing the stone over. Naruto closed his eyes for a moment before opening them showing red slitted eyes, and red chakra surrounding him. He help the others fight Morgaine, until he heard a scream and saw Etrigan turn back in to Jason again.
J'onn walked up to Morgaine, and.. Crushed the stone. "You fool.. You could have had anything." Morgaine said as J'onn looked at her. "The price was too steep." He replied before Mordred looked up to Morgaine. "Have we lost mother?" Morgaine looked down before replying. "The battle.. But not the war." They disappeared in a flash of light.
Suddenly, the castle turned into London. Everyone went outside, and J'onn looked up to the sky. "My frends I'm sorry." Turning to him, he continued. "In trying to get my old family back.. I almost lost my new family.. Accept my humblest apology... And my resignation from the Justice League." J'onn finished before turning around.
"Wait." Jason said having J'onn stop. "The demon was wrong about you.. If only I had your strength back then.. I wouldn't be cursed to be alone for eternity." He finished before walking off. "Poor man.. I hope he finds peace. " J'onn said watching Jason disappear in the fog." Naruto walked up with Diana, and puts a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure this isn't the last we'll see of him.. We may just help him get rid of the curse." He finished before everyone went to the Javelin.
Now.
Dessert, Mining Company.
"Eight hundred, and twenty-seven miles.. A little more, and we'll reach New Zealand." One miner with black hair, and moustache in a hard hat, standing on a drill said to another with blonde hair who was near a tank with a circle value on it. "All of this for a few barrels of stinking oil." The blonde hair said before the drill shook.
"Lets just hope this old mine shaft holds out." He finished before going back to the tank. A few minutes later, the monitor on the drill beeped. "Methane gas! Shut it off." The black-haired one yelled to the blonde who was turning the valve on it. "I'm trying!" Steam came out of the tank before the drill stopped. The drill shook again before fire came out the hole, and knocked the blonde-haired miner out.
The other one carried him down the stairs, and handed him to two others. "Get out of here before it blows!" They ran away just as the drill blew up.
Later, Mining Company.
A man with grey hair in a light blue suit stopped playing the video of the explosion to the company stockholders. "Gentlemen.. You've got a problem." The man in the blue suit said as the owner of the company a man with black hair, moustache, and beige suit looked at him. "It was an accident Simon." He defended as Simon puts his hands on the table.
"You got lucky Mr. Braddock. But because of unsafe conditions, the union are demanding higher wages." Simon countered as Braddock, and other stockholders talked. "And the insurance companies won't cover you anymore. Luckily I've got a solution." Braddock looked over to him, and waved his hand. "Please Mr. Stagg.. Enlightened us."
"Project 'Metamorpho.. A worker that won't only survive in most work environments.. But thrive in them." Simon explained as he played a video of a person turning in to the elements. "We need a real solution.. Not some half-baked scheme." Braddock said as Simon turned to him. "What if I show you it will work?" Simon asked before the group got up, and left.
"Then we'll do business then." Braddock said before leaving. Later Simon is in his office calling his assistant. "Java.. Are you at the train?" He asked as he looked out the window. "I'm getting on now." Java replied before Simon sighed. "Whatever you do.. Don't let that mutagen out of your sight." He said before hearing other people talking. "Of course Mr. Stagg."
At the Train, A Few Minutes Later.
A muscular man in a blue suit sat in the first car with a briefcase in his lap looked out the window as one of the workers came up. "I'm sorry sir, but you'll have to check that." The worker said taking the briefcase from him. "But my boss said.." The man tried to keep the briefcase with him but the worker left. In another car, a man with short brown hair was being severed by a woman with short red hair.
"You want any more?" She asked pouring him a drink. "Only if you'll join me." He said with a smirk as the woman giggled. "Maybe after I get off." She said seductively before leaving. Soon the train shook, and started picking up speed. "What the..?" The man asked before the red-haired woman tripped as she was near him, and fell in his lap.
"Hello." The man said before putting her in the seat next to him, and buckled the seatbelt. "Better fasten your seatbelt." He said before the train took on a green hue. Outside, Green Lantern used his ring to try and slow the train. "Come on..." He grunted before flying down, and skidded in to the ground. The train crashed in to the station, and de-railed inside.
Later, one of the inspectors was talking to Green Lantern as paramedics are taking injured people outside. "It's a good thing you slowed it down.. If it was going full speed, it would have been a lot worse." He said before turning around, and leaving. "That's John for you." Turning around, John saw the brown-haired man walk up to him with a duffel bag strap over his shoulder. "Rex Mason, long time no see."
Rex shook John's hand, and smiled. "Yeah.. I see you're still in uniform.. Although not standard Marine Corps issue." Rex said looking at John's costume. "I signed up with a new unit." John replied bringing his ring up. "So I see." Rex said fixing the strap on his shoulder. "And you? I see you're not mucking in the trenches." Rex nodded before replying.
"What can I say... Life's been good. We should catch up, that is if you're not busy for an old pal."
At Rex's Penthouse.
Rex held two glasses of wine as he walked over to John who was looking out the window. "Nice place." John said as Rex handed him a glass. "It sure beats the barracks in the military." Rex said taking a sip from his glass. "Big penthouse.. Traveling first class, you've done alright for yourself." Rex nodded with a smile before replying.
"Yeah life's been good.. Surely the hero is as well.. You must be rolling in the dough right?" John shook his head before answering. "No.. It doesn't work like that. I've barely got the clothes on my back." Suddenly, a female voice spoke up. "Well... We'll just have to take you shopping." Turning around, John saw a woman with tanned sin, long blonde hair, and wearing nothing but a towel.
"John.. Meet my fiancé Sapphire Stagg." John raised an eyebrow at that. "You're dating the boss' daughter?" He asked as Rex wrapped his arm around Sapphire. "I told you the job has its perks." Sapphire giggled, and continued. "Only.. Daddy doesn't know." John sighed before replying. "You always did like to live dangerous Rex."
Sapphire walked out of the room. "I like to live dangerous too Mr. Stewart." John looked back to Rex before asking. "I take it her father doesn't know?" Rex shook his head before taking a sip from his glass. "No one's good enough for Simon Stagg's daughter." Suddenly, John's earpiece beeped. "Excuse me." Walking away, he put his hand to his ear.
"Go." He said before Batman replied over the earpiece. "We're at the train, and found the cause of the crash." nodding, John heard Naruto continued. "It's from a mutagen.. Someone was illegally carrying it on the train.. There's two people on the train from a.. Stagg Enterprise.. Rex Mason as a worker.. And Java, no last name; that's Simons assistant, driver, and bodyguard.. One of them may have carried it."
Nodding, John turned back to Rex. "There something you want to tell me?" Rex looked at him confused before replying. "What are you talking about?" John walked up to him, and explained. "The cause of the crash was from someone illegally carrying chemicals in the trains cargo.. Someone who works for a place like Stagg could do that." Rex narrowed his eyes before setting his glass down.
"What are you saying? I would never.." John didn't back down, and continued. "You always did say you would do anything to get ahead." Rex just stared at him before continuing. "I've got nothing else to say." John walked to a table, and left a small communicator. "I see.. Call me if you change your mind." He said before walking out, and flying off.
Later At Stagg Enterprise.
"You idiot!" Simon yelled at Java who looked down. "Do you know how much it'll cost me to cover up you connection to the crash?" He asked, and before Java could reply, Simon spoke up again. "If this project fails.. Stagg Enterprise will go bankrupted.. And it will be your fault!" Before he could say anything else.. His intercom beeped. "Mr. Stagg.. Mr. Mason is here to see you." Simon pushed a button, and replied.
"Send him in." Rex walked in past Java raising an eyebrow. "Mason, thank Heaven you're alright! We'll sue that train company for everything.." Rex interrupted him. "Why was Java on the train?" Simon sweated a little, and smiled nervously. "Why he was running errands for me." Rex just stared at him for a moment. "Forget about it.. It's yesterday news."
"I'm not hearing you denying it." Simon glared at Rex before standing up. "Then you'd better forget it.. I made you, and I can unmake you." He threatened before Rex turned around. "Ok Mr. Stagg." He said over his shoulder before leaving.
Naruto at Stagg Enterprise, Later that Night.
Naruto dropped in the window in to a hall, and hid behind some boxes as a guard was walking by. Getting behind him, Naruto grabbed his neck, knocked him out, and dragged him behind the boxes. "Now then.. Where would the laboratory be?" He asked himself as he walked down the hall coming to a door.
He tried to open it, only to find it locked. "Damn, it's never easy." Looking around, he found a vent on the wall beside the door. Kneeling down, he silently removed the vent, walked in, and fixed the vent back while using a small amount of glue to hold it in place. He crawled in the vent for a minute before coming to the end. "Hey I'm not getting anything from Mike."
Naruto turned on his 'Detective Vision', and saw six armed guards in the room. Quietly removing the vent, Naruto walked out, and saw the other vents, fire extinguishers, and gargoyles near the ceiling all glowing yellow/orange. "Wow.. This building must be old." Naruto thought before jumping up to one of the gargoyles. One of the guards walked underneath him, and he jumped on him, knocking him out. "What was that!?"
Naruto silently cursed before jumping on to another gargoyle. "Guess they can hear me punch them out.. I should be quieter." Naruto thought seeing an info box come up showing 'Five Armed'. "Huh I guess Bruce updated my glasses.. Before it didn't tell me how many there were." Naruto also saw the guards heart rates go up. Naruto picked a small chip out of his pockets, puts it on a kunai, and threw it near a gargoyle.
"Hey what's that?" One guard asked hearing a ping, and walked near the kunai. Naruto jumped over to the gargoyle, and waited. "It's some kind of knife!" The guard said before Naruto jumped behind him, and attached a wire to him. "Hey!" The guard went up in the air, and hung upside down. Naruto jumped up as the four guards came to the strung up one.
"Ok stay in groups." They split up in groups of two, and started looking around. Naruto dropped near a floor vent, and went inside. He followed the vents around to behind one of the groups. Getting out, he slammed the heads of the guards together before going back up. As the guards came close, Naruto threw a smoke bomb down, jumped in, and knocked the two remaining guards out.
"Well that was fun." Naruto said before walking to a door with a sign on it. 'Security Room.' Walking in, Naruto saw a bunch of screen with different rooms on it. "AAAHH!" Looking at a top screen, Naruto saw Rex in a tube, with smoke in it, being hit with a beam. "Holy crap!" Looking to another screen, Naruto saw Simon at the controls hitting buttons.
"Well.. I guess Rex confronted Stagg about those chemicals that caused the wreak, and Stagg decided to 'silence' him or something." Reaching in to his left leg pocket, Naruto pulled out a small hand-held laptop. Pulling a wire from the back, Naruto hooked it up to one of the screens, and recorded everything. "Now I still need to find the illegal chemicals for more evidence." Putting the laptop away, Naruto saw the lab on another screen, and saw it was just outside the room.
Walking out, Naruto went to the laboratory, and went up to the door. He opened it as his eyes widened. "Stagg must have gotten some out, and forgot to lock the door." Looking around, Naruto saw different tubes with chemicals in them. He eventually saw a computer on with 'Project Metamorpho'on the screen. Clicking on the video, Naruto eyes widened seeing everything the person can do.
Clicking on another link, Naruto saw the process to do it, and narrowed his eyes seeing it's what happened to Rex. "But why Rex? He seems like the kind of guy that wouldn't do this.. Hmm it's also supposed to change your appearance." Suddenly, the computer beeped. 'You Have Mail.' Opening the e-mail, Naruto saw it was from a mining company, and read it. "Dear Mr. Stagg, we can't wait for your demonstration of 'Project Metamorpho' in a few days." Naruto narrowed his eyes at that.
"So he's using Rex as a guinea pig... But why?" Taking out a portable USB drive, Naruto copied everything he could, hooked something on the back, and left through another vent leading outside. "Ok.. I'll be able to tap in the computers here anytime.. I have a feeling Stagg won't just settle for a miner." He thought going to his motorcycle, and leaving.
Next Day; Supergirl, Superman, J'onn, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Batman, And Naruto.
"Anything?" Green lantern asked as the others shook their heads. "No.. I can't see, or hear him." Supergirl replied flying beside the batjet with Naruto, and Batman. "That may have to wait look!" Hawkgirl said pointing down to a bank robbery with the criminals getting in an armored truck. She, Green Lantern, and Supergirl flew down, and went after the criminals.
Supergirl flew down on the hood and stopped the car. She punched through the windshield, grabbed the two men, and slammed their heads together, as Hawkgirl grabbed the third in back while Green Lantern took the bumper and wrapped it around the three men. "That should keep them here until the police get her. " Suddenly, he heard a beep. "It's Mason.. Hello... Ok I'll meet you there."
He flew off as the girls watched on. A few minutes later, they heard Naruto's voice over their earpieces. "Guys! G.L. is in trouble!" They flew off to the coordinates where Green Lantern was. Getting there, they saw Superman take care of a multi-colored man. His head and left leg were white, his chest being light brown and purple, and his right leg being dark brown.
Superman went to the man, grabbed him, and the man's arm turned glowing green. "Kryptonite!" Naruto yelled out before opening the jet and jumping down, with Batman doing the same. He ran to the site and saw a van with a light coming out the back window. "What the..?" Turning back, he saw Hawkgirl hit the man in the face.
His head turned to mud and reformed back. He shot concrete out of his hands, and hits Hawkgirl's wings having her fall. J'onn turned in to a large snake, and wrapped around the man who turned in to fire sending J'onn falling down. "John.. Is that Mason?" Naruto asked before shooting an arrow as Batman threw a battering, and both exploded.
"How did you guess?" Green Lantern asked as Naruto sighed. "Because Stagg has a 'project' that does that to people, and I saw the accident.. Stagg did it on purpose ." Naruto finished pointing to Rex whose hands turned in to water, and smoke, and brought each together.
BOOM!
Naruto flew over the van as Green Lantern brought up a wall to protect everyone from the blast made. "Mason, stop this!" Naruto sat up and caught both Simons and Java's head in the van with a camera. "Crap what the hell is he doing?" Naruto thought before jumping over, and saw Green Lantern slam Rex on the ground, and cover him up in green energy. Naruto turned around, and saw the van leave. "Good thing I'm hooked up to the computers at his building."
"Hold on." Supergirl said breaking the concrete off of Hawkgirl who got up. "Stagg was here recording us." Naruto said before Green Lantern walked up to him. "Why didn't you stop him!?" Naruto deadpanned before pointing over to everyone. "Gee I don't know.. Maybe I was trying to help take care of the person who can take us out like it was nothing."
At Sapphire's Apartment A few minutes Later.
Sapphire was sitting on her couch, when she heard a clanking in the bathroom. Walking over, she saw the faucet turn on, and water fill up the sink. The water formed in to a man reveling Rex. "Rex!?" Rex walked up to her glaring. "How could you dump me!?" He yelled/asked punching the wall causing Sapphire to run to the door. "What are you talking about?"
Rex walked to the mirror. "My old buddy Green Lantern.. But who wouldn't want a superhero instead of a freak like me?" He asked punching the mirror. Sapphire walked over, and slapped him. "I don't know who told you that but I love you... You big lug.. No matter what." She said grabbing his face. "But the pictures.." Sapphire interrupted him. "Are fake.. Who showed them to you?" Rex thought for a second before widening his eyes. "How could I be so blind?"
All but his head turned to smoke, and he flew out the window. Later, John and Naruto were talking to her as she explained what happened earlier. "And then he turned in to smoke, and left." Sapphire finished as John spoke up. "Any idea where he could have gone?" shaking her head, Sapphire looked out the window. "I think he's going after your father." They turned to Naruto who spoke up. "Why?" She asked as John sighed.
"Because he's found evidence that your father did it to Rex on purpose." Naruto nodded before showing her picture of her father at the controls. "Look at the time." Looking down she saw the time stamp was when Rex had his 'accident.' "He wants to sell the formula to a mining company.. but after fighting us, he's considering selling it to the military.. I just sent everything I found, and the police are on their way to arrest him."
"We'll get him back." John finished as Sapphire smiled. "Thanks' I know why he talks about you a lot." John looked surprised at that. "Really? But he has it made." Sapphire shook her head. "He watches you on the news.. I think he wants to trade places with you." John shook his head, and replied. "I guess the grass is always greener." He flew up with Naruto to Stagg Enterprise.
Later at Stagg Enterprise.
Both Green Lantern and Naruto flew down to the destroyed building, as paramedics were taking an unconscious Simon away, and Batman looking around. "We're too late." Batman said before Green Lantern saw Rex's left arm under rubble. "Maybe not." He said lifting the rubble. "John good you're.." Rex said before Green Lantern created a dome to keep him in. "Hold on.. Simon created a monster, and it's rampaging now."
Green Lantern raised an eyebrow at that. "And you expect me to believe that? After you tried to fry me?" Rex looked down before replying. "I wasn't thinking straight.. And we'll hash it out later. But now there's a monster out there." Naruto turned on his glasses, and saw Rex's heart beat. "He's telling the truth John." A few moments later, Batman puts a hand to his mask. "Hawkgirl confirms there's a monster downtown."
"I want to help." Rex said as Naruto turned to John. "He could help us if the monster is anything like him." Batman pulled up a chalkboard off of the ground before speaking up. "I'll stay here.. I could find a 'weakness' to the monster." Nodding, Green Lantern flew with the others to the city, and found a giant green chemical monster walking down through the city with Superman, Supergirl, J'onn, and Hawkgirl getting up from being attacked.
"Here we go." Hawkgirl said bringing up his mace. "Hold it.. He's here to help." Green Lantern said before Naruto spoke up. "Where's the monster going?" He asked as Supergirl spoke up. "I don't know.. He seems to be mindless." J'onn shook his head before replying. "No there's a mind.. I feel anger.. And resentment." Rex thought for a moment before speaking up. "A part of Stagg's mind must have been transferred to that thing."
"Any idea where he's going?" Green Lantern asked before Rex's eyes widened. Later, they saw 'Stagg' with his daughter in hand climbing a building. They attacked it but Stagg fought back with fire, smoke, and acid. He hit's Hawkgirl sticking her to a building. "I'll get her!" Naruto yelled out before Supergirl got hit with smoke causing her to fly in to a building.
"You alright?" Naruto asked taking a kunai out, and started cutting her free. "Yeah, I'm fine." She replied before hearing a scream. "REX NO!" Turning up, they saw Rex turn orange, and jumped into Stagg, and after a moment they both exploded. Later, everyone was on the roof as Sapphire stood at the edge. "He was a good man." John said as Sapphire cried. "He would have loved to hear you say that." She replied sniffling a little. Suddenly the orange liquid started forming together.
"Get ready." Naruto said before the liquid turned in to Rex. "Ow.. I wouldn't want to do that again." Sapphire ran up to him, and hugged him. Naruto walked up, and fished out a watch. "Here.. Put it on, and press the button." Doing that Rex changed in to his old appearance except with Black hair, and a beard. "I figure you should lay low for a while.. I also put a small seal on the band so the beard and hair will feel real if someone touched them." Naruto explained as Sapphire felt both of his 'hair' and 'beard'.
"They do feel real." She said before kissing him. Naruto felt Supergirl grab his hand, and rest her head on his shoulder. "That was a good thing you did for him." Nodding Naruto kissed the top of her head before replying. "Yeah.. I know, I though it would be like Barbara." He looked back to Rex, and Sapphire before turning around with Supergirl, and left with the others doing the same.
To Be Continued.
A/N: Thanks' for reading, and let me know of any mistakes.
Beta: Jebest4781.
This was a little harder to sit down, and work on because like I said it focused on Rex Mason, so I didn't have the 'drive' to sit, and work on it. As you can see/read, I left out a lot of canon parts on the chapter. Ok I'll try to have the last chapter for the first season up later today as long as nothing happens to keep me off the computer.. Then I'll do 2-3 chapters, or one long chapter for my other story before coming back to this one.
Talk To You Later,
Lone Wolf Out.