Invaded
Chapter Seventeen: The Hunt
Author's Note: Enjoy and leave a review!
The Warworld
May 30
03:36 AM UTC
"Anything?" Nightwing questioned, anxiously waiting for our results.
Miss Martian sighed, bowing her head tiredly as he chair turned in the direction of Nightwing. "No, I'm sorry. I can't sense any of them."
"The Warworld is massive," I reasoned, "They can easily be out of our range."
Nightwing massaged the back of his neck, glancing at the Martian, "We've been flying this surface grid pattern for hours, and you're exhausted."
"I'm fine," Miss Martian assured us, "I can do this."
"Of course," Nightwing agreed, raising his hands up in mock surrender, "but there's no need to over-tax yourself so soon after your kidnapping. Besides, we're not giving up. We'll start over where the Team first disappeared and look for a new lead."
Miss Martian hesitating, contemplating before acquiescing, "Alright, if you think it's best."
I yawned, leaning against the wall as Nightwing walked past me, scanning every inch of the docking bay with his wrist computer again.
"Haven't you both already scanned every inch of this place?" Miss Martian questioned
"Yeah," Nightwing confirmed, "but we're obviously capable of missing obvious clues. I totally should have spotted evidence of Blue Beetle's defection after Green Beetle fixed his scarab."
Miss Martian's shoulders slouched as she protested, "That's my fault. You asked me to scan Green's mind and I vouched for him without delving deep. I was so afraid to use my powers after what I did to Aqualad, I allowed Green Beetle and his scarab to feed me exactly what the Reach wanted us to believe. So, Blue trusted Green and was turned by him, then somehow abducted the Team. All on me."
I pushed myself off the wall, crossing my arms, agreeing, "It is your fault."
"Phe!" Nightwing scowled.
"What?" I questioned, confused, "It is her fault. M'gann's screw up cost us."
"She would've never been in that position if we had trusted her with the secret of Aqualad's deep cover mission," Nightwing noted, chastising me, "We put M'gann, Aqualad, Artemis, the whole Team in unacceptable danger."
I chuckled, glancing at my two teammates, asking, "So, this our guilt-off? M'gann says she messed up and then you say we messed up. Well, sorry to break it to the both of you, I don't feel guilty for anything. Everything we've done up until this point is for the greater good. We all make mistakes, so get over yourselves."
Nightwing frowned, glaring at me.
"Look," I reasoned, softening my tone, "we're trying to off an invasion. Things are bound to get dangerous. Everyone on the Team knows that."
Miss Martian and Nightwing gazed at each other, nodding in agreement.
"It's so annoying when you're the voice of reason," Nightwing noted, rolling his eyes.
"Save the Team, then save Blue," I reminded them.
"Save the Team, then save Blue," Nightwing repeated.
"Save the Team, then save Blue," Miss Martian paused, smiling, "As a certain thirteen-year-old was once fond of saying, 'That's just what we do.'"
A comfortable silence settled between us as we reminisced until the sound of metal scraping against metal alerted us.
Nightwing instantly shifted into a fighting stance, wielding his escrima sticks. Miss Martian levitated above him, scanning the docking bay. I ignited two orbs, inching closer to Nightwing.
Nightwing and I's wrist computer pinged simultaneously, notifying us of Sphere's proximity. The bay doors slid open allowing Sphere to roll in, beeping loudly.
"Sphere!" Miss Martian yelled, landing in front of the extraterrestrial artifact.
Miss Martian gasped, asking Sphere, "Can you take us to Superboy?"
Sphere beeped before transforming into the Super-Cycle.
"I think that's a yes," Nightwing smiled.
Sphere slowed to a complete stop, beeping erratically. Nightwing lifted his wrist computer, scanning the area.
"We must be close," Miss Martian said as she clapped her hands in excitement.
"Something doesn't feel right," I murmured, glancing around the empty corridor.
"You're being paranoid," Miss Martian retorted, brushing me off. I frowned, crossing my arms over my chest as I floated midair. Miss Martian gave Nightwing an exasperated look, silently pleading with him to reason with me.
"What do you have in mind?" Nightwing asked, ignoring Miss Martian.
"We know Blue has been brainwashed and is a Reach agent," I paused, gathering my thoughts. "If we're protecting the crystal chamber, where's the key?"
Nightwing hummed, adding, "It would be useless to protect the key on Earth."
Miss Martian glanced at the both of us, before asking, "Can you two fill me in?"
"The key is here in the Warworld somewhere," I explained.
"Which means the Reach is here, too," Nightwing concluded.
"The only thing that doesn't make sense to me is if the Reach is here, where are their soldiers?" I pondered, gesturing towards the empty hallway.
Miss Martian gasped, "If their soldiers aren't tracking us down, it's 'cause they're busy with something else!"
"Exactly!" I shouted.
A hot, red laser beam sliced through the air, scorching a spot on the wall mere inches from where I floated. I turned, noticing a busload of Reach soldiers spilling out and aiming their weapons.
"Guess they weren't too busy," Miss Martian muttered.
"Bad move, buddy," Nightwing chuckled as I ignited my orbs.
"Really bad move," I emphasized.
The Reach soldier grunted as my foot slammed into his jaw; his body jerked back, slamming onto the ground. Although the helmet had saved him from any long lasting injuries, the force I had used knocked him unconscious instantly.
Behind us, metal doors slid open with a hiss of air. Our missing members stood, wearily, grinning as they approached us with the teenagers that had escaped from STAR Labs.
"Hey fearless leaders," Arsenal sarcastically greeted, "Better late than never."
"Everyone safe?" Nightwing asked, scanning the small group of heroes.
"For now," Arsenal said, smirking.
"And the crystal key?" I asked, catching a swaying Superboy; he leaned into me, allowing me to offer him support.
"Gone," Arsenal huffed as Mongul and Black Beetle landed on the floor of the room they emerged from. "And we better get gone, too, before one of them declares a winner."
"All aboard," Miss Martian called out, entering the bioship, "We're almost home free."
"I think congratulations are in order," Nightwing admitted, smiling proudly at the group of escapees, "No training, no guidance, and yet you pulled it off."
I nodded, "A job well done."
"When we get back, after a debrief, there might be a place for all of you with the Team," Nightwing added, optimism leaking through.
"Wow, really?" Virgil questioned, eyes widening at the thought.
Ty Longshadow scoffed, "So, now that we've saved your butts, you're cool with us not being STAR Lab's guinea pigs?"
Quickly, I interjected, "You were never STAR Lab's guinea pigs. You were supposed to be learning how to control your powers."
"Dude, chill," Virgil hissed, glaring at Ty.
"Before we head back, we need to talk about Blue Beetle," Arsenal stated, indignant, "He betrayed us."
Bumblebee scowled, shouting, "Look who's talking! Last thing I remember was you blowing an airlock without warning. Nearly got us killed and absolutely guaranteed our capture!"
"Hey!" Arsenal snarled, seething with anger, "After eight years on ice, there's no way I was getting grabbed again! And, in case you hadn't noticed, my escape resulted in you being free now to stand here and complain! So, how about a thank you?"
Nightwing inhaled sharply; I placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a knowing look. Arsenal was my responsibility, making this my burden. If anyone should discipline him, it should be me.
"You're right, Arsenal," I admitted, pausing to gather my thoughts.
"Thank you," Arsenal huffed, his anger deflating into minor annoyance.
"No, thank you," I retorted, adding, "And, after we get back to Earth, you're off the Team."
Arsenal's face faltered as he sputtered for a response.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Ty Longshadow said, stepping forward.
"If it wasn't for Arsenal, we wouldn't have rescued anyone," Virgil argued.
"As true as that is," I countered, "this isn't the first time he's put the Team in danger and it won't be the last."
Arsenal glared at me, seething with anger.
"You intentionally danger the people around you to further your own agenda or guard yourself against your own personal demons. I cannot and will not allow you to do this anymore. It is absolutely unacceptable and until you prove yourself to be a team player, you have no place on the Team," I affirmed, displeased.
Arsenal's human arm clenched tightly as his glare intensified. I stared back, undaunted by him.
"Get on the bioship and we can discuss this further when we aren't behind enemy lines," I demanded, turning away from him.
"Sounds like there's nothing left to discuss," Eduardo Dorado scoffed.
"See, we don't need your help getting back to Earth or your offer to join the Team," Virgil explained, adding, "We have our own way of doing things."
"What do you say, bro?" Ty Longshadow asked, raising an eyebrow at Arsenal, "Wanna ride with us?"
"Arsenal," I warned, watching Asami dig into her pocket and reveal a Fatherbox.
"Wait, is that a—" Nightwing cut himself as a boom-tube erupted behind them.
"So long, sis," Arsenal dismissed me. The four teenagers' eyes widened at Arsenal's revelation before entering the boom-tube.
"Goodbye, brother," I scoffed, rolling my eyes and making my way into the bioship.
Queen Manor, Star City
May 30
11:23 PM PDT
"I haven't seen you up here in awhile," Ollie noted, slowly sitting beside me on the rooftop of our manor.
"It's been a while since I've needed to be up here," I explained, leaning my head on his shoulder. He hummed, stroking my hair in silence for close to an hour before breaking the silence.
"It's very kind of you to take Harmony in," Ollie says.
"She's safe here," I stated, moving closer to Ollie as a cool summer night breeze swept through us.
"I know I don't tell you this often, but I am very proud of you," Ollie admitted, squeezing me gently, adding, "Dick told me what happened. You did the right thing."
I slouched in his embrace, asking, "So why doesn't it feel like the right thing? I feel like I'm abandoning him."
Ollie sighed, "I'm familiar with the feeling. One thing I've learned is that I've got to let you all do your own things and be there to catch you if you fall."
Another comfortable silence fell between us before I broke it this time.
"You're a really good father, all things considered," I whispered.
I felt a short, wry laugh erupt from Ollie's chest; the vibrations from his chest felt good against my resting head.
"Look at me," Ollie exhaled, "One kid is dead and the other two are in a battle of who can self-destruct first. You're the only good one left."
I readjusted myself in his embrace, holding him. I could feel his shoulders bouncing lightly as he cried.
"I'm sorry," he murmured.
"You're a really good father," I repeated, "Artemis' death is not your fault. Roy's abduction is not your fault. Red's self-destruction is not your fault."