Little Star
Part 2
The others were all in the main room. Martian Manhunter was sitting at the monitors checking to make sure there weren't any red alerts. The others, minus Batman, Flash, and Chelsea, were sitting around a table, having casual conversation.
Chelsea and Flash walked in, causing everyone's attention to be directed toward them, because the two were laughing with each other, "What's so funny?" asked Clark.
Flash shook his head, "It was one of those, you had to be there situations."
Chelsea scanned the room, "Where's Batman?"
Green Lantern smirked at her question, "Get used to that feeling. Batman tends to come and go as he pleases."
Chelsea was disappointed to hear that. She would have really enjoyed having some time to speak with him. She did notice when her and Wally covered the hall with everyone's individual rooms that Batman didn't have a name plate. Perhaps she wasn't the only outsider in this group after all. She had been a fan of Batman for a long time, and while it sounded really nerdy, just to be in the same room as him felt like a dream.
"Get a feel for the place?" asked Wonder Woman.
"I think so," she replied, "When do I become cool enough to have a room?"
"I'm just sayin', that this isn't college, and you can totally bunk with me," Flash said to her.
"Don't mind him, he's always like that." Hawkgirl told her.
"Nah, I don't mind. Wally's a sweetheart." Chelsea was the type to wear her heart on her sleeve. It was honorable to know that no matter what you asked her she'd always be the one to tell you how she truly felt.
Hawkgirl's expression went sour, "I wouldn't encourage him if I were you."
"Harsh," Flash said, taking a seat.
"We'll get you a key to your own room soon," Clark told her, "Do you have any questions?"
"Uh," Chelsea thought about it, "Well, would you mind if I used the kitchen from time to time? Wally warned me you all are fire hazards and I'm actually not too bad of a cook."
"I don't see a problem with that." Clark raised one of his shoulders, "Anything else?" he found it kind of humorous that, that is what she chose to ask about.
"Nothing I can think of on the spot," she told him.
"Can we ask you some more questions?" asked Wonder Woman.
"Sure," replied Chelsea.
"Maybe we should lay off the twenty questions game for now." said Wally.
"I'm just trying to get to know her," said Wonder Woman, scrunching her eyebrows.
"How about we teach you how to fly one of the League crafts so you can travel to and from here without complication?" Clark offered.
"Okay," Chelsea looked sort of nervous, "Wally are you-?"
"He's a terrible driver…" John Stewart cut her off before she could ask.
"John here is actually our best pilot. I'll have him take you out and show you the ropes." Clark said.
"Come along little lady," winked Green Lantern, guiding her back out to the landing bay.
Everyone's eyes turned to Flash once they exited the room, "What?" asked Flash.
"Looks like you got yourself a new pet," Hawkgirl said, leaning toward him.
"She seems to have taken a liking to you Wally." Wonder Woman noted.
"Aww c'mon guys it's not like that," Flash said, standing up, "She's very intimidated by everyone here. You guys aren't treating her like a friend, you're zeroing in on her and acting like she's some exhibit you can point and ask questions about."
"I think we've been rather welcoming," Clark disagreed.
"What are we supposed to do? Invite her to sit down and pretend we're long time friends? We just met her. It's going to take time. Trust, takes time." Hawkgirl explained.
"Well I for one think you guys are being a little too invasive for her first day. If you'd look past the fact that she's new, and just treat her like a person, she's really fun and sweet." Wally defended.
"No offense Wally, but you like any girl who doesn't move too fast and let's be honest, none of them are too fast for you." Hawkgirl joked dryly.
"Wow," Wally breathed.
"What?" asked Hawkgirl.
"It's a typical female thing. You girls always get so intimidated when you feel like your territory is being invaded." Flash said, pressing his palms on the table.
"Woah, hold on." protested Wonder Woman, "I am genuinely trying to get to know her, but I'm also with Hawkgirl, it takes time. Perhaps you just happened to be the lucky one she put her trust into."
Clark rubbed his temples, "Wally, they're right."
Wally frowned, "If she chose to put her trust in me, I'm going to honor that. She's a good person, and I'll treat her with the same respect she's shown me. She hasn't done anything to any of you guys… well she did flip you, and she blasted you a couple times, but" he was referring to Superman and Hawkgirl, "I'm going to be what she needs right now, which is a friend. Maybe you all will grow up and do the same, because I don't know if you noticed: We have a new member of the Justice League." And like that, Wally left the room out of the same door he came, this time, not as happy.
Clark thought quietly to himself.
"What're you thinking, Superman?" asked Wonder Woman.
"I worry that Wally's little crush might become an issue." Clark confessed.
"What do you mean?" Dianna wondered.
"I don't want to have to be putting out fires all the time over silly arguments and disagreements." Clark explained.
"I think we're all just tired," Hawkgirl said, "I think I'll turn in for the night."
Chelsea had returned with John sometime later. They had stopped down on Earth so she could grab some clothes to bring back and store at The Tower. She left a vast majority of her stuff at her apartment, not willing to let it go. She wanted to make sure she still had a means to escape to someplace familiar. When they returned, only J'onn remained in the monitor room, "I'm going to go rest up," said John, "There's a spare bedroom at the end of the right wing. You can sleep there if you like."
"Thanks John, and thank you for showing me the basics of flying." She smiled.
"You're alright, girl." He said, patting her head.
After he left, Chelsea lounged on one of the armchairs that were stationed in a separate seating area than the one the others were sitting at before.
"How are you adapting to your new environment?" asked J'onn out of the silence.
His voice was so gentle and yet so sad. Chelsea took note of that even though she had already grown so accustomed to his silence, he still managed to startle her, "I think it's going alright."
He swiveled the chair to look toward her. He was up on an elevated platform, which with his size seemed unnecessary, "You sound like you have doubts."
Chelsea hugged her knees and sighed, "Don't get me wrong, you are all very nice people, but I feel like I'm having a hard time finding where I fit. Like you are all a seven piece puzzle and we're trying to wedge me somewhere that doesn't exist."
J'onn grew quiet, trying to figure out how to console the girl, "We are all our own separate puzzles. None of us fit together," he said to her, standing up, allowing his cape to completely cover the rest of his green body, "but we all play important roles. These people, they are like a second family to me… I hope that soon you will feel that way as well."
She stood up and came up to his elevated section, then leaned against a piece of equipment, "I just can't help, but worry I'll do more harm than good…"
"There is a reason you are here, Little Star." He said, using the name he gave her, "Superman was correct when he said we all have something to learn from you. You'll be just fine, I assure you."
Chelsea felt herself start to tear up, and then reached out and hugged J'onn, "Thank you, J'onn… it's nice to hear that."
He looked at her with a bit of shock, but his composure returned as he placed a gentle hand on her head, "Perhaps it would be best if you got some rest."
She let go, realizing she looked like a midget compared to his large, strong form, "If you don't mind, I'd like to sit here and read a while. Can I stay in here? Keep you company?"
"Of course," said J'onn, returning to his chair and typing something into the computer.
At some point Chelsea must of nodded off, and when she woke up, her back was stiff as a board. She looked over to see J'onn still sitting at the monitor, "I'm surprised you're still awake…" she said. No answer. When she walked up to him, he didn't budge. She looked him in the eyes, but there was no response.
"I know it's weird, but that's how he sleeps." said a familiar voice.
She turned to the door to see Flash leaning against a column in the middle of the room.
"Why are you still up?" she asked him, coming back down to the main level. She was actually really happy to see him.
"I never went to sleep," he admitted, "Did you get any shut eye?"
"Some, but I fell asleep in that chair and it wrecked my back," she sighed, "If you want I'll play Horse with you or something."
"Do you like sports?" He wondered, starting to walk with her to the rec room now.
"Yeah," she admitted, "I love football. Go Gotham Knights!" She jokingly cheered, "I'm also a fan of Hockey and take in a futball game when I can catch it on television."
"That's cool. I've never met a girl into sports before." He grinned. He stopped abruptly when he saw Hawkgirl in their way, "Hey, what're you doing up?"
She revealed her mace.
"You can't be still angry about before…" Flash whined.
"Something's wrong," Chelsea's intuition was kicking in, "her eyes are lifeless."
Hawkgirl charged them, swinging her mace wildly. The two managed to dodge to separate sides of her, "Run!" Flash instructed, coming around to pick her up and take off. He darted around a couple corners, "I don't get it. What's wrong with her?"
That's when they heard the sound of a wall being forced in. Chelsea looked over Flash's shoulder to see Superman, eyes glowing red, and his fist making an impression in the wall.
"Crap," mumbled Wally, setting Chelsea on her feet, "You need to get to J'onn. Do whatever you can to wake him up… I'll keep these guys busy."
Chelsea looked at him worried, "But Wally…"
"I can dodge their blows all day Chels… go." He instructed, taking off toward Superman, and doing a quick spin around him, before taking off again. Superman followed him.
Chelsea started to fly off in the opposite direction, trying to figure out the fastest route to the main room. That's when she felt a tug on her foot. When she looked down at it, it looked like a rope had been lassoed around it. That's when she got pulled down to the ground. Flipping onto her back, Chelsea stared up at Wonder Woman who also had the same lifeless eyes.
Chelsea tried to untie herself, when Wonder Woman tried to punch her in the face. Chelsea just barely evaded the blow, and looked back to see the impression left in the floor, "Wonder Woman it's me!" she cried, reaching back down to try to untie herself.
That's when she saw a green light, glowing behind her. Not John too! She quickly darted between Wonder Woman's legs and let the zombie-like Green Lantern blast Wonder Woman. This made Wonder Woman release her lasso and the moment Chelsea felt free she took off in the other direction. She was just making random right and left turns, until she reached a dead end. She heard someone coming so she just darted into a room and collapsed against the door, covering her mouth. Wonder Woman walked by the door and peeked into the window, but was satisfied that the girl hadn't gone this way and turned around.
When Chelsea looked up she saw a very small room with another door attached at the other end. When she walked up to the door, she felt a hand come around from behind her and clasp over her mouth. She was about to scream when she heard a hushing sound in her ear. When she settled, the hand let go, and she turned to see the silhouette of Batman in the dimly lit room, "Batman…" she whispered.
"What's going on?" he asked, "No one answered on the communications systems and when I tried to get in through the main entrance the landing bay was locked off."
"I don't know," Chelsea said, shaking, "Everyone went to sleep, and then when I woke up me and Flash were wide awake and when we went to go to the rec room we were attacked by Hawkgirl, Superman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman. They look possessed," she trailed off remembering that Flash claimed to have never fallen asleep, "They all went off to bed. Something must have happened to them when they fell asleep."
A blast blew through the door behind them, as Superman stood there, eyes still red, "X-ray vision… right…" Chelsea mumbled.
"Where's J'onn?" asked Batman.
"If my theory is right, then he's probably possessed too." She admitted.
"J'onn doesn't fall victim to mind control easily." Batman said, grabbing her and pulling her tightly behind him. Superman let loose a blast of heat vision only for Chelsea to cloak herself and Batman in an orb of protection.
"Do you have a plan?" she asked him.
"Not yet…" murmured Batman. He held his hand up to his ear, "Flash… Wally are you there?"
"Bats!" Flash sighed, "Thank God it's actually you."
"Where are you?" Batman asked.
"I'm currently having my lunch money stolen by GL and Hawkgirl." He responded.
Batman stayed quiet. If he was joking around, he was probably okay, but there was a missing variable in that equation. That's when the missing variable stepped in the room… Wonder Woman.
Chelsea lowered her force field, and stepped in front of Batman, "I can keep them distracted. Do you think you can get to J'onn?"
"I'm not leaving you," Batman said, readying a smoke pellet between his fingertips. He was still taken off guard she had stepped up and decided to take the situation in her own hands.
"Friends," Batman heard the voice of J'onn over the communicator, "I apologize for my absence, but I believe I fell into a slumber."
"Man how I've missed your voice J'onn," said Flash relieved over the radio.
Batman threw down the smoke pellet, and grabbed Chelsea's hand. With Superman destroying the door, he was able to pull out his grappling hook and take hold of some of the pipes above their heads to swing over the attacking League members. Retracting the device, he never let go of the girl's hand, and took off running, "J'onn, can you regain control of the computer systems?"
"They're reading offline," J'onn replied, trying to crack whatever hold was on their systems.
Chelsea kept blocking blows made by Superman's heat vision with her force field to protect them.
Batman heard Wally groan like he had been hit, "Wally!" he growled.
"This is getting out of hand Bats," Wally said weakly, "I'm running out of stamina."
"If you have to run away do it," Batman instructed, "but do not, I repeat, do not by any means lose consciousness. You hear me?"
"Not that, that was my master plan," Wally stated, as he followed Batman's instructions by running away, "but what's wrong with losing consciousness?"
"There's something that has caused everyone, with the exception of J'onn, who fell asleep to be unresponsive. I have a feeling if you pass out or faint it will happen to you as well." Batman explained.
"But… Chelsea nodded off as well." Flash said, as he suddenly came around the corner and ran right into his two sane friends.
When they collided, all of them hit the floor. With Superman and Wonder Woman behind them, and now Green Lantern and Hawkgirl in front, they all stood up and formed a triangle back to back to watch from all sides.
"I'll come and assist you," said J'onn watching the horror on one of the monitors.
"No," growled Batman, "you have to stay there and get our communications back online. I think it's a frequency the monitors are radiating. Something that can only affect the unconscious."
"But what about Chelsea…" Flash still wondered.
"Whoever made this program had an IP number for each member of the Justice League, but they didn't get the memo we got a new member. I think if you and I are knocked unconscious, we will end up just like the others, but Chelsea will remain normal." Batman analyzed.
"So, we got a plan?" Flash said, staring at the unfriendly end of Hawkgirl's mace.
Chelsea grabbed onto each of their shoulders and enclosed them in a protective field, "We need to clear a path…"
"I think unless one of us serves as a distraction, we'll never punch through…" Flash said.
"Then let me do it," Chelsea's voice cracked, "I'll play around with these four and you two get to the control room. Shut the systems down if you have to!"
"You against all four of them?" asked Wally.
"I have to," she said, "if we don't do something, soon it'll be six against one… I want to keep you two safe."
Batman's scowl remained unchanged as he sighed, "We don't have a choice Wally. If she thinks she can create an opening, we have to get to J'onn. I have a communications disruptor in my belt, but I need to access the motherboard for it to work."
"Let me take it then. I can get there in no time," Wally said, "You stay with her."
"The doors are sealed shut to the main room. If we have any hope of getting in there you'll need my assistance." Batman retorted.
Chelsea sighed, expanding her force field outward and forcing the zombified members back, she pushed Batman and Flash forward, "Go!" she screamed.
Batman took advantage of the opening given and looked over his shoulder, "Wally! Now!"
Flash was reluctant to move for the first time in his life.
"The sooner this gets over with the sooner I can kick you butt at a game of Horse," she joked to him, "Let's get this done."
He smiled, "I hold you to it Star," that said he took off.
Green Lantern and Hawkgirl started to take off after them but was stopped abruptly as they were blasted by a couple bolts of light. Superman and Wonder Woman tried to land some blows, but she dodged, flipped Superman with her legs and then hit Wonder Woman with another blast. She just kept switching from one person to the next in a cycle. Taking note of each person to make sure one wouldn't try to slip away and go after Flash and Batman.
"Will she be alright?" Flash asked into the open air.
Batman didn't answer, but internally he hoped for her safety. Pulling out a device from his belt he started to try to break the passcode that replaced the original one on the door.
"I can't help but wonder if she's handling it back there…" Wally said, staring back in the direction they left Chelsea.
"I need you to focus," Batman barked, starting to get irritated, "You need to have more faith in her. I know she'll be fine."
"What makes you so sure?" asked Wally.
Batman's fingers never stopped moving from the triggers on his device he was swirling back and forth to gain access. J'onn was right on the other side of this door, "Remember what J'onn said?" He asked, "She had been preparing to fight us for a long time. She knows the in's and out's of this group. I have a feeling if she wanted to she could take us all down with minimal difficulty."
The access pad changed to blue and the door slid open. Racing into the room, Batman revealed his communications disruptor. Opening up the main frame of the computer he stuck it on the panel. Sparks flew from the device, and suddenly all of the computers shut down. When that happened, all of the zombified members collapsed.
Chelsea was breathing heavy, and had some blood running down her face. It was bleeding profusely, and she closed her eyes to stop the blurred vision. She leaned against the wall and slid to the floor, still breathing heavily. All at once, things went black.
When she woke up next she was in a bed. The members of the Justice League were all around her bed, looking relieved to see her awake, "Our hero is awake." Clark said.
"My head…" she said, rubbing it.
"We should let her get her rest," Wonder Woman said.
"Did we ever figure out who bugged the computers?" Chelsea asked with concern.
"I am currently sorting out that issue," J'onn replied, "but you have done your part. It is best you rest now."
While they filed out of the room, Flash didn't move, "Are you coming Wally?" asked Dianna.
"Yeah," he replied with hesitation, "just so you know… I'll be the first one to volunteer to give you mouth to mouth resuscitation."
Chelsea smiled at him, "I bet."
He gave her hand a squeeze and left without another word.
Chelsea took a deep breath and looked out the window to see the Earth. It was so big from up here. The door slid open again. Chelsea was surprised to see it was Batman, of all people. He came to her bedside quietly, "Hey…" she said.
"I didn't put it together until later on," Batman said, "You take a medication once a day… I'm assuming Warfarin?" he asked.
Her eyebrows scrunched, "Why do you ask?"
"Usually after someone falls victim to blood clots they have to be put on thinners so they do not clot again… your head produced entirely too much blood, even for a head wound." He spoke with his usual sultry tone.
She grew quiet, "I take five milligrams a day…" she confessed.
"If it's not too much to ask, I'd like to take sample from your medication and confirm a few things." Batman requested.
"Sure, but why?" she asked.
"I want to find the people who did this to you five years ago. If there are more people like you out there, we need to prepare for it." He replied.
"You seem worried..." she asked.
"Not everyone who would be gifted like you have been, would be kind enough to lend their powers toward justice and doing what's right." Batman said.
