Invaded
Chapter Eleven: Cornered
Author's Note: Enjoy and please review.
Tokyo, Japan
April 1
09:23 PM EST
I stood on the ledge of the building, crossing my arms over my chest as I stared at the bustling streets below. Thousands of neon signs illuminated the Akihabara district; citizens overflowed the sidewalks, spilling onto the streets as cars and motorists honked.
They were so oblivious to me.
Faintly, I could make out the sound of gravel shifting signaling Hunter's arrival.
"You're a very hard man to find," I admit, turning slowly to face the marksman.
Hunter chuckled, crossing his own arms over his muscular chest. He no longer wore his usual black and purple uniform. Instead, he opted for a pair of military styled boots, cargo pants, a tight black shirt, and a brown leather jacket. A utility belt hung around his waist with his signature crossbow hooked on it.
"Is that your way of admitting you miss me?" Hunter teased, smirking.
I jumped down from the ledge, rolling my eyes. Although Hunter had grown taller and muscular, his personality had yet to change.
Hunter slowly approached me; I crossed the space between us, embracing him tightly.
Hunter pulled away, gripping my shoulders slightly. I tilted my head back, noticing the goatee he had grown.
It had been nearly three years since I had seen Hunter. The details of his mission were classified—all we knew is that Batman had tasked him with investigating some alien tech smuggling ring in Asia.
"I know," Hunter sighed, pulling away, "I should've kept in touch."
The details of Hunter's mission were classified—even to senior members of the Team. Since Batman had tasked him with the mission, it was considered a League-tier mission that only S-Class Leaguers had access to.
Hunter was due to deploy around the same time Kaldur had quit the Team, so we understood the security surrounding the mission. Hunter had explained to those closest to him that he would be required to go off-grid for a few weeks.
A few weeks turned into a couple months which then turned into years.
Every so often, he would send pre-recorded video transmissions to inform us that he was still alive. Each time he promised that his mission would be over soon. I believed him, at least the first few times. I was always happy to hear from him, but life moved on.
Once we learned about the Light's partner, I had tried to contact Hunter. I attempted to trace the origin of the last transmission he sent. Although, I was no Dick Grayson when it came to hacking, so the actual Dick Grayson had to do all the work. After several failed attempts, I had to accept the fact that Hunter simply did not want to be found.
Dick had explained that Hunter was using his own broadcasting frequency and sending pre-recorded transmissions by bouncing hotspots from various locations throughout Asia before sending it to us. It was virtually impossible to find which location the transmission originated from. Dick was impressed by the lengths Hunter went to protect his location.
Again, life went on and Hunter had become a memory of the past.
That is, until now.
"Like hell you should've," I scowled, shoving his shoulder lightly.
"Kaldur just… lost it," I explained.
Hunter inhaled deeply before blowing the smoke of his cigarette pull away from me. We sat on the rooftop ledge of a building across from the entrance of Sumida Park.
"I remember when Tula died," Hunter muttered, "He was really fucked up."
"Yeah, then he learned that Black Manta was his biological father," I revealed.
Hunter's eyes widened with shock, "Wow, that must've been rough, but Kaldur was always the levelheaded one. He never rubbed me as the type to rouge."
"Aquaman knew," I paused, "He knew Black Manta was Kaldur's dad and didn't tell him."
Hunter took another pull of his cigarette before asking, "Do you think Aquaman was scared Kaldur would end up like his father?"
I shook my head, arguing, "Bad DNA doesn't make us bad. Anyways, he blew up Melina Island and Mount. Justice."
Hunter flicked the butt of his cigarette off the rooftop, "Kal's come some serious daddy issues to work through."
I nodded, sighing loudly.
"You've been avoiding saying it out loud all night," Hunter noted.
"Saying what?" I questioned.
"That Kaldur killed Artemis," Hunter stated somberly.
I had almost forgotten how close Hunter and Artemis had grown in their final years on the Team. I knew Dick tried to keep Hunter as best informed as he could given the circumstances, so I wasn't surprised to know Hunter knew about Artemis' passing.
"Yeah," I whispered, "Kaldur killed Artemis."
"And now he's working for the Light's new partner, the Reach. Any reason as to why they're here?" Hunter asked, changing the topic. Hunter had never been one to talk about his feelings or emotions. He had always maintained a brave front, using sarcasm and jokes to deflect.
"Remember when Vandal Savage took over the League and the big six were missing for sixteen hours? Well, turns out they were causing havoc on a planet called Rimbor. That put the Earth in the intergalactic spotlight. The Reach invaded the Earth and are abducting humans and conducting experiments to activate and replicate a dormant gene they call the meta-gene," I explained.
"The meta-gene? What the hell is that?" Hunter asked.
"It's the DNA component in humans that gives them the possibility to have superhuman powers," I elaborated, adding, "And the Flash's grandson from the future traveled back in time to help us stop the invasion."
Hunter inhaled deeply, tilting his head back to gaze at the visible stars above. "I know what you're about to ask me," Hunter admitted.
"We need all the help we can get, Hunter," I argued, "We have eight powerhouse Leaguers off world. Kaldur's gone rogue, Artemis is dead, and Wally's retired. We need your help."
Hunter sat forward, glaring at me, admitting, "I reached out because Artemis is dead, not to help you off the invasion."
I countered, "And I reached out because I thought you'd help off the invasion, not because Artemis is dead."
There was a pregnant silence as Hunter and I glared at each other.
"I have a mission to complete," Hunter uttered, rising to his feet. Quickly, I stood, gripping his forearm.
"Hunter, if the Light succeeds, there won't be a mission to complete," I argued.
Hunter jerked his arm from my grasp; he reached for my shoulders, shaking me gently, hissing, "You think I don't know that? You think I don't miss being around my friends? Being around you?"
I inhaled sharply, mouth agape at his sudden outburst. Hunter sighed, removing his hands from my shoulders.
"You're my best friend, Phe," Hunter whispered, "but I have a duty to complete my mission."
I flew over the illuminated city of Japan. Before I had discovered my ability of flight, I had found sitting in high places comforting. It was only natural that I would enjoy flying, too.
There was something cathartic to me about flying—to be able to just freefall through the sky and stop at will.
Although I hadn't convinced Hunter to join us in our fight against the Light, it felt good to see him after all this time. I would be lying to myself if I said I didn't miss him.
As the years went on, we had grown closer upon discovering we had a lot in common. I wasn't oblivious to Hunter's feelings for me— in fact, he didn't really try hard to hide or deny it. Knowing Hunter, he didn't want to jeopardize our friendship.
I landed on the rooftop of Queen Enterprises' Japan office location. I approached the large, white Q letter, which cleverly hid the zeta-tube.
I reached for my ear piece in my utility belt, placing it in my ear.
"Come in, Phoenix? Again, this is Nightwing, over!"
"This is Phoenix, what's the problem 'Wing? Over."
"The Hall of Justice has just been destroyed."
Taos
April 2
12:03 AM MMDT
"The Reach used our own secrets against us," Captain Marvel stated, "Beat us without firing a shot. Even offered to take Despero off our hands, and I couldn't come up with a reason to say no."
Captain Atom crossed his arms over his chest, "Hope you have some good news."
"Some answers, at least," Black Canary paused, "With the obvious exception of Blue Beetle, the Reach abductees are two types of people: those with a known superpower and those with the potential to develop one."
Black Canary held up a ball made up of paperclips. Small currents of electricity buzzed through, holding the paper clips together.
"I believe we now know what a meta-gene is: a genetic anomaly that allows certain humans to adapt new survival abilities when exposed to trauma. The Reach, I think, seeks to cultivate the gene and weaponize it," Black Canary concluded.
Nightwing continued, "Which is probably what brought the Reach and Kroloteans here in the first place."
"So," I paused, "we were right to believe the Light sending the League to Rimbor put Earth and its heroes in the intergalactic spotlight."
Before anyone could talk, the door slid open revealing a very distraught Jaime.
"Beetle?" Black Canary questioned, visibly concerned.
"I'm sorry," Jaime apologized, standing at the threshold of the small room, "I've been hiding something, but I can't… I just can't."
Bart appeared behind Jaim in seconds. Nervously, Bart questioned, "Uh, Blue, Blue, Blue! What happened to keep quiet?"
Jaime clenched his eyes shut before sighing, "No, it's time for the truth."
Jaime entered the room, explaining, "Impulse says that some time in the future, I betray Earth and bring on the Reach apocalypse."
I stood from my seat on the armrest of Nightwing's chair, somberly listening to Jaime.
"That's not a future I can live with," Jaime paused, as his armor retracted completely into the scarab.
"So, whatever it takes, get this scarab off me," Jaime pleaded, turning his back to us to point to the beetle shaped scarab that pinched into his spine.
Bludhaven
April 2
03:23 AM EDT
"I'm just going to assume that the hours of radio silence meant you found Hunter," Nightwing stated, settling into his seat beside me.
I muted G. Gordon Godfrey's latest anti-League rant, turning my attention to Nightwing. He held out a mug of coffee for me.
"How did things go?" Nightwing persisted.
"How do you know that the radio silence meant I found Hunter? Maybe I just wanted to be alone," I countered.
"Phe, when you want to be alone, you brood on rooftops. You never shut off your comm-link," Nightwing paused, repeating, "How did it go?"
"I did find him. We just talked, caught up on things. He was really upset to hear about Kaldur and Artemis," I muttered before taking a sip of my coffee.
"What did he say about rejoining the Team?" Nightwing asked.
I shrugged, "He didn't say no, but he didn't say yes. He's really dedicated to finishing that mission."
Nightwing leaned back into his chair, "He'll pull through. He always does for you. Anyways, Wally says he's in only if we absolutely need him."
"What do you mean he always does for me?" I scoffed.
"Don't play dumb, it doesn't suit you. You and I both know that Hunter has feelings for you, since day one," Nightwing retorted.
I scoffed again, rolling my eyes to stand from my seat.
"You got your mission details?" Nightwing asked.