Chapter 30 already?!
There was a thick tension in the air, but this time it wasn't from anger or awkwardness: it was from excitement.
This might possibly be one of the biggest things we're gonna face: a secret society of super bad guys, some of which have never been completely taken down before, and we're being sent to the front lines.
Don't get me wrong, I was terrified: but I was also super excited.
"What's in the duffel?" Kid suddenly asked, breaking the silence. Everyone looked to Kaldur's spot to see a duffel bag sitting under it.
"Plan B." He said, strict but nonchalantly.
"Plan B? What's-""Argh!"
I was cut off by Megan groaning and keeping over in pain.
"You alright?" Conner asked.
"Dizzy..." Megan explained.
"Martian's get airsick?" Robin asked.
"She does look greener then usual..." Wally muttered, which didn't really make any sense but okay.
"Not me: her." Megan growled and Artemis and I looked at each other.
"I feel fine." We say in sync.
"Not them." Megan explained. "The bio-ship! She's trying to shield us but-"
The force of the ship suddenly hitting something thrust us all forward. The force was followed by a loud thud and the ship went spiraling out of control.
After a long moment, the ship stopped. We all groaned before we were met with the feeling of the ship being dragged down.
Suddenly lots of light streamed through and I looked up to see Black Adam ripping the top off of the ship. Megan screamed in pain.
"He's hurting her!" Megan shouted, clutching her head. In response, Conner leapt up through the hole and punched Black Adam.
We would have followed his lead if the ship hadn't started to sink and water steadily began to flow in.
"No! No way am I nearly drowning three missions in a row!" Artemis growled as I formed my air-bubble and dove under.
"Out! Everyone out!" Kaldur telepathically commanded.
As we got to the surface and crawled up onto land, the cool air of the Bayou hit us and the lowering sun made the Sandy Beach we had came onto look quite nice. I squeezed my braid, getting as much water out of it as I could.
My hair's gonna smell awful tomorrow...
"What about the bio-ship?" I asked as I saw it sink.
"She's I'm shock she'll need time recover-ah!"
Megan was cut off by immense pain hitting all of our heads and we all curled up into ourselves. I cupped k hands over my ears, trying to make it go away.
I was able to look up to see a man with white hair, a pale complexion and a dark green cloak standing over us.
"Vertigo..." Wally growled.
"Count Vertigo to you, peasant!" The villain scowled.
Conner came to everyone's rescue as he attacked Vertigo and punched him, making the attack stop.
Kaldur furthered Conner's assault by taking some of the river water and sending it straight into Vertigo.
"Robin, Miss Martian; disappear! We will keep them busy, you two fulfill the mission objective." Kaldur commanded, and before we knew it: Megan and Robin were gone and the rest of us prepared for a fight.
Before we knew it, Black Atom was attacking Kaldur into a tree. Wolf attempted to get the superhuman off but only proceeded to get thrown into Wally and Artemis, narrowly hitting me before I dodged.
I looked to Conner who nodded before I summoned all the winds I could before rolling my body and arms and using all my strength in that moment to shove Black Atom off of Kaldur. I succeeded and Conner was able to punch him out.
Our victory was short lived however when the pain from before returned. Before I knew it, I blacked out.
Waking up, the first thing I noticed was the cool breeze blowing on my face. The second was the orange platform I was lying on.
As I completely awoke I found that I, along with the rest of the team sans Robin and Megan, were in a floating orange cage.
"They awaken." Count Vertigo says and I look up to see him and Wotan floating with us, the former on an orange platform. "Are you sure this will hold them?"
"The cage is impenetrable." Wotan said in a voice that ran shivers up my spine. "Even the Superboy has no chance of escaping."
"You are not the only one trained in the mystic arts Wotan!" Kaldur cried as he wrapped his hands around the orange bars as his arm tattoos began to glow. He attempted to pull the bars apart but to no avail. After a long moment, he pulled his hands off an slumped, his arms steaming.
"Please Atlantean, do not pretend you are in my league." Wotan said snootily. I crawled over and placed a hand on Kaldur's shoulder and after a moment, his own webbed one covered it.
Our flight was smooth for a few more moments until suddenly the cage disappeared and we all began to free fall. Taking charge of the situation, I extended my hands as I summoned my winds to carry my friends safely to the ground.
As we landed softly on the muddy surface of the swamp land, Poison Ivy and Ultra Humanite surrounded us and a glass dome with a large vine sticking out of the top. I assumed the building was the central control system and wondered how Rob and Megan were faring. Conner took one look at the gorilla-esk villain and growled.
"I hate monkeys." He seethed as he attacked Ultra Humanite, Wolf on his tail (haha, get it?).
The remaining three of us looked to Poison Ivy as she smirked and proceeded to shoot vines at us. I sliced my hand through the air: cutting the vines before they reached us.
"Lady, you are making it very hard for me to be a vegetarian." I muttered.
As I continued to counter her attacks, I saw Kaldur and Artemis reach for their weapons only to see they were missing.
"Ugh, I feel naked." Artemis groaned. "And not in the fun way."
I fought back the urge to blush at her words and continued to fight off evil plants.
"Then we will make our own fun, as we have been trained." Kaldur said strongly. "Manoeuver seven!"
As Kaldur launched Artemis into the air: she aimed for Ivy and kicked her square in the face, sending Ivy to the ground. I smiled at Artemis and raised my hand, Artemis hit it in a high-five.
When (a very ticked off) Ivy stood up, she growled and sent an even larger flurry of vines at us.
I jetted myself upwards, attempting to lose the vine headed for me but when the vines just continued up after me, I decided a more tactful approach.
I nose-diving back to the ground before 'pulling up' seconds before I hit the ground, and swirled into the forest; darting between trees.
Eventually the vines got caught in a complex weave around the trees and I flew out of the forest unharmed, and just in time too as I was able to grab a thrown Artemis that was headed straight into a tree.
"That was good timing." I muttered and Artemis chuckled as I set her down.
"My babies!" Ivy suddenly screeched and we turned to see the giant vine-antenna glowing with blinking lights I identified as a bunch of Robin's birdarangs. A second later, it blew up and Ivy howled in pain and sorrow, so much that I almost felt sorry for her.
Ivy's' next attack of vines were now centered on Robin and Megan, who were standing on the glass dome, looking awesome.
"Kill them! Kill them all!" I heard Vertigo cry and suddenly, a large thud appeared behind me. I paled as I turned around and saw Black Adam smirking down at me.
Yes, leave the mystical powerhouse to the air manipulator...
"Merde" I mutter before I fly.
Of course, I didn't get far before I felt Adam grab my ankle and yank me back: sending my flying without control.
Gaining control over my body, I see Black Adam flying right for me: ready to attack but I'm able to narrowly dodged the attack, and follow out by sending a strong wind to force him to keep flying into the forest.
"Enough!" I heard someone cry, and I'm about to turn to see what was happening on the ground when suddenly: an series of strong electric shocks rack my body. I let out a shriek of pain and feel my body tumbling down.
I felt myself crash back into the ground. Fortunately, as I hit the ground I felt the shock disappear, unfortunately I landed on my sprained wrist and I let out another scream and I feel it completely shattered.
That's definitely not good.
The pain's what kept me awake when I felt hands on my body. I couldn't look up for a while, but when I did: I saw Kaldur holding the Helmet of Fate.
My stomach dropped in panic. After the mission with Kent Nelson (may his soul rest in peace) Wally said that the next person to put on the Helmet of Fate...May never be able to take it off.
"No Aqualad! Don't!" Wally exclaimed.
"Kaldur!" I screamed, but it was too late and before my eyes, Kaldur's body was transformed into Doctor Fate.
"The Helmet of Fate..." Wotan said in awe.
"No..." I whimpered, going to sit up but I winced when I accidentally pressed my hand to the ground and pained seeped through it. Nevertheless, I grabbed Wally's arm with my good hand.
"Wally! What's going to happen to him!" I exclaimed.
"I...I don't know." He said forlornly.
We didn't have much time to mull over the incident before the starting started back up again, but it didn't get very far before Artemis kicked Vertigo's device off his ear and Wotan out of the sky and Doctor Fate in Kaldur's body hovered victoriously.
A moment later, the Justice League appeared: flying down from the sky. Having no other place to go: the Injustice League huddeled into a bunch in the middle of the League's circle.
"It's over." Batman said gruffly.
"There will be another day." Vertigo said arrogantly.
"Another day? Another day?" Joker howled. "There won't be another day! Not for any of us!"
Joker moved his fingers, almost like he was controlling invisible marionettes. A moment later, more giant vines shot out of the ground before exploding, releasing a think green smoke.
"Joker spores! Don't breathe!" Batman yelled before attacking Joker, not that it did much. We all held out breathes and I prepared to attempt to capture the gas but before I could do anything: a golden burst lit the sky.
"Fear not!" Doctor Fate's' voice intertwined with Kaldur's rang. "Fate has intervened!"
Before anyone knew what was happening: all the gas had been absorbed and disappeared thanks to Doctor Fate.
All Leaguers save for Captain Marvel, Batman, Aquaman, and Zatara squared away their enemies. The moment they were out of sight: Wally...well, he exploded.
"What were you thinking!" He roared. "How could you let him put on the Helmet? Nabu will never release him now...Kaldur will be trapped inside Doctor Fate forever..."
Part of me wanted to comfort Wally, but my eyes were glued to Kaldur's body. I felt tears prick at the edges of my eyes and I moved my hands to my chest, clutching my wrapped wrist. I felt a hand lay on my shoulder and I turned my head slightly to see Megan smiling sadly at me. I wanted to smile back at her, tell her I was fine. But the moment my mouth opened, a sob wracked my body and I fell. Megan caught me and I felt tears begin to run down my cheeks as my eyes traveled back to my best friend.
Please Kaldur...please fight him!
After a long, pregnant moment: Kaldur's' hands raised, took a hold of the golden helmet, and took it off.
My eyes widened and before I could stop myself, I flew over and attacked Kaldur into a bear hug. He easily caught me and his arms found my waist. I laughed in relief as my arms wrapped around his shoulders.
"Nabu let you go?" Wally asked, walking forward.
"He almost did not." Kaldur admitted. "Your friend Kent was most helpful: he says hello."
Although he moved me so he could address everyone, we didn't let go of each other. I'd probably get teased by Dinah and the Team later but in that moment: I didn't care.
"Don't ever do that again!" I exclaimed to Kaldur, who laughed.
"Whatever you say." He said, smiling at me and I felt myself relax and, although it was slightly against my will: I pulled away and stepped back onto the ground.
"We're done here." Batman declared. "The secret villain society has been neutralized. As for you performance..." Our breaths paused as we awaited out evaluation. "It was satisfaction."
We almost lost our leader and all we get is satisfactory?!
"Let's get back to the cave." Kaldur said. "It's been an exciting night and we could all use the rest."
"Damn straight!" Artemis groaned.