THE INSIDE
ENGINES AND gears whined as the Sentries got to their feet, the damage inflicted upon them seemingly failing to slow them as they eyed Blue Beetle, Supergirl, M'gann and Raven. The Teammates stared the androids down in apprehension, wondering what they'd do next as they merely looked at them and clenched their fists.
"Man, how're we supposed to beat these guys?" Blue Beetle turned to Supergirl.
"We're making a dent, but we're not slowing them."
"Look, stopping them is no longer the priority – you need to get them away from the city or find a way to contain the blast." Daisy's voice came on com.
Supergirl sifted her mind and looked at the buildings in the distance, quickly pressing a button on her earpiece. "Daisy, what city is that?"
"New Jersey Oksaka."
"Great, then I can get some lead from one of the factories." Supergirl rose into the air, turning to the others. "Guys, try to hold 'em off."
"Us hold them off? Really?" Blue Beetle raised his brow.
"Just try until I can find a way to contain the blast." She flew off, moving over the Sentries who ran toward the other Teammates.
"Try to be quick, Kara – you only have six minutes before the meltdown begins." Daisy's voice came on com.
"I got this." She sped on.
AN OBESE blonde man rummaged through trash at a dump site, bending over and moving a tire aside as a slim raven-haired man looked around in disinterest. "You really think we can find anything here, Coop? We could be looking for hot babes or something."
"Trust me, Jamie, there's definitely something worth finding here." Coop opened the hood of a car.
"If you say so." Jamie pocketed his hands and looked around, seeing Supergirl zoom past in a red streak. "Whoa, man, did you see that?!"
"See what?" Coop turned to him.
"I dunno, but something just flew by just now!" Jamie's face lit up as he turned to him. "It was probably an alien robot."
Coop's eyes drooped and he continued searching. "Come on, man, there's no such thing as alien robots."
A SENTRY punched Raven in the face, sending her flying back and it stopped, turning to Blue Beetle and firing a beam into his gut. Crashing onto the ground, Blue Beetle shot a staple at the android, pinning it to the ground as Raven recuperated. Raising both arms, she poured energy over the robot and crushed it against the rocks, receiving a swift punch from another machine that hurled her back.
"Man, there's no way of taking these things down." Blue Beetle dodged a left hook from a robot and knocked it aside with a sonic beam. "Anybody got any ideas to contain the blast."
"Only Kara's." M'gann swerved away from a blast. "And she isn't back yet." She elongated her arm and smacked a robot aside.
A Sentry gave Blue Beetle an uppercut and looked around, turning to another robot. "Follow the blonde female." The other android nodded and flew off with rocket packs from its back.
"Wait a minute, they heard our plan?" Blue Beetle's eyes dilated.
"Oh my God!" M'gann placed her hands on her temples. "Kara!" She cursed. "She's out of range!"
"We need to stop it!" Raven raised an arm to shoot the Sentry down and another fired into her gut, flinging her back.
SUPERGIRL SMASHED through the roof of a manufacturing hall, drawing the attention of workers who looked at her in fear. "Kara, you're not supposed to blow your cover!" Daisy's voice rang in her ears.
"Well, I don't have time to be stealthy when lives are at stake." Supergirl looked at the various containment canisters using infrared vision, spotting one she couldn't see through. "Bingo." She smiled and swooped down.
Hovering over a canister, she reached to pick it when the Sentry flew in and tackled her, smashing her against a conveyer belt, sending its contents flying about. Workers around them ran off in a panic as the blonde pushed the machine off her and punched it away, flinging it onto a wall. The robot fired a beam at her and she sped out of the way, darting around and moving up to punch it when it countered, grabbing her wrist and punching her in the gut. She spat out blood and fell to her knee, coughing badly as the robot looked down at her.
"WE NEED to take this back to the Door; it'd help us prove Luthor's involvement with the attacks." Nightwing rolled up the paper outlining the plans when he heard footsteps.
"Your road ends here, intruders." Atuma entered the room with several soldiers. "Bringing yourself into the clutches of Atlantis' great vaults was your final mistake." He stamped his sceptre against the floor.
"We'll just have to see about that." Kid Flash grinned and sped toward the Atlantean, receiving a whack to the face.
"Kill them all!" Atuma ordered.
Kaldur wove a wall of water as the soldiers opened sonic cannon fire on them, allowing Artemis to fire a smoke arrow onto the ceiling. Going into infrared vision, the Teammates engaged the assailants, downing them as they were overwhelmed. Kaldur created twin blades and swung at Atuma who dodged him swiftly, grabbing his neck and looking him in the eye.
"Your theatrics will not work, imposter!" The Atlantean stabbed him in the gut and tossed him aside.
"Kaldur!" Batgirl screamed in horror.
Atuma hit his sceptre against the ground, creating a bright light that dispersed the mist. "Kill them all!"
Nightwing tossed four Batarangs, jamming them into the barrels of the soldiers' sonic cannons and causing them to explode. "We need to retreat!"
Kid Flash sped toward Atuma and threw three rapid punches, striking air as the Atlantean swerved away and grabbed his neck, tackling him with a kick to the ankle. Atuma stabbed at the man and he rolled out of the way, returning with a thunderous left hook that sent him stumbling back. Shaking his head, the Atlantean fired a bolt of lightning at Kid Flash, nearly hitting him as he ran off and let the jolt hit a wall behind him, the resultant wave knocking Nightwing and Artemis off their feet.
Aqualad winced as he pushed himself up, feeling blood coat his hand as he looked around in despair, seeing his friends being surrounded by the soldiers. He turned to the vault and frowned, grabbing his water bearer and summoning whip, smashing the door. Atuma turned upon hearing the crash, sending a bolt of lightning at the Atlantean who quickly pulled the trident from the chamber and blocked the attack, creating a cloud of smoke from the impact.
Aqualad struck the trident against the floor, emitting a bright light that cleared the room, revealing himself as he stood tall with water covering his wound. Frowning at the sight, Atuma fired lightning at the Atlantean who retaliated with one of his own – the two surges colliding and causing an explosion. The wave rocked the room and knocked everyone off their feet; the two Atlanteans standing unfazed in the middle of a crater that damaged the room.
"This farce ends here!" Atuma charged at him.
Atuma and Aqualad locked staffs at the centre of the room, engaging in fierce attacks as they swung at each other in rage. Atuma drove his sceptre at Aqualad who dodged and stabbed his arm, dislodging the trident and flinging him back with a palm thrust to the chest. Aqualad lunged at the Atlantean, javelining his weapon at him and Atuma struck in the midsection, countering with a downward swing that Aqualad blocked – the two combatants pushed back by the collision.
"Nightwing, we must retreat! Everyone, don your scuba gear!"
The Teammates nodded and fished out small discs, placing them on their chests and clothing themselves in their swimwear as Aqualad stared down Atuma. Aqualad struck the floor and the room rumbled, the walls cracking and shattering as water burst into the room and submerged them all. With his opponents fazed by the torrential wave, Aqualad thrust his trident forward and electrocuted the Atlanteans, allowing for him and the others to swim off.
SUPERGIRL HURLED through the wall of the factory, crashing onto a car in the parking lot and alarming a woman nearby who ran off upon seeing her and the Sentry. The android stepped out of the building and shot at her, making the vehicle explode as she was flung back and driven into the pavement. Pushing herself up, she stood wobbly and steadied herself, shaking her head and clenching her fists before her.
The machine lunged at her with a chop and she swerved to the side, punching it in the gut and causing it to stumble back. The robot pounded two fists at her back and she fell to her knee, gritting her teeth as the ground beneath her cracked. Grabbing the Sentry's torso, she shot high up into the air and crashed back down, crushing it into the ground.
Panting heavily, she fell to her knees and looked at the machine, seeing its eyes shut off. "Good God." She pushed herself to her feet and grabbed the plates of its chest, prying it open carefully and exposing its inner casing. A round metallic ball lay within the machine, emitting visible heat waves as cracks showed on the glass.
Lifting it gingerly, she sped into the factory and flew up to the canister, dripping the orb into the molten led. Pulling out the coated ball, she blew onto the mould, frosting it over and hardening it. She hovered back and moved to press her earpiece when she saw sparks fly out of the android, her eyes dilating in horror as she heard a whining sound.
She flew up to the machine and grabbed it quickly, shooting to the sky and tossing the robot into the air. The Sentry exploded and she clung to the lead covered ball in her hands, shielding it from the blast as bits of the destroyed android fell to the ground below.
Seeing people crowd around the factory, she went on com. "This's Supergirl." She panted. "Mission accomplished on my end."
"But not on ours!" Blue Beetle's voice came frantically.
M'GANN WINCED as a fallen Sentry's core was exposed before her, falling on her knees and shielding her face. "Too hot!"
"Don't get too close!" Blue Beetle swooped down and grabbed her, flying over to Raven who shot down another android. "What do we do now?" He set M'gann beside him as she hovered.
"We can't get over to the city in time before they explode." Raven frowned.
"You need to find a way to contain the blast." Daisy came on comm.
"It's too bad the Scarab can't transform into different types of metal." Blue Beetle crossed his arms. "We could use some lead right about now."
"Guys, I'm on the way right now!" Supergirl's voice came on their earpieces.
"There isn't enough time." Raven looked around.
"Then what do we do?" M'gann's eyes dilated in fear.
Raven looked at the machines below and looked at her hands, clenching her fists. "Stand back."
Hovering away from Blue Beetle and M'gann, Raven assumed the lotus position and levitated, shutting her eyes and the world around her as she calmed her breath. A purple aura exuded from her body and she focussed on the sounds coming from the robots, frowning slightly as they began to rise in pitch. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" She raised her arms before her and shot the energy out, creating a large circle up ahead that slowly began swirl around.
Sparks shot out from the machines and M'gann and Blue Beetle began to panic, turning to Raven who opened her eyes and radiated an aura from them. The Sentries exploded and the energy circle formed into a portal to a purple cloudy realm with debris floating around. A vacuum-like force came from the gateway, pulling the machines and the eruptions quickly into the other dimension, quickly closing in a wave that sent sand flying about.
"Whoa!" M'gann breathed heavily in excitement, turning to Raven. "What'd you do?"
"I sent them," She inhaled, "to another dimension – the radiation was absorbed as well."
"Awesome!" Blue Beetle's mask retracted. "Now all we need is for Team Alpha to return and we're good to go!"
AQUALAD SHOT down a guard as he, Kid Flash, Batgirl, Artemis and Nightwing ran out of the underground room and entered the halls of the palace. The Teammates moved toward a window when Batgirl suddenly fell behind, looking at her handheld device and drawing Nightwing's attention as he turned to her. "Barbara, we've gotta go!"
"Wait, I'm detecting radio frequencies that are popping up all over the building." She frowned as she looked at the readings.
"Well, that doesn't matter – we have to go before we're surrounded."
"No, wait, just listen." Batgirl held up her hand, silencing him as she looked around and heard a slight beeping noise.
"Hey, I think I hear something." Kid Flash scoped the hallway.
"What is that?" Aqualad raised his brow.
"It sounds like a bomb." Artemis ran up to a wall nearby, pressing her ear against it. "It's right here." She fished out an arrow and jammed it in, stepping back as it exploded and knocked the tile away, revealing a small bomb inside.
"Whoa, what's that doing there?" Kid Flash's brows stitched.
Batgirl moved closer and raised her device over the bomb, scanning it. "This bombs from LexCorp."
"LexCorp? But I thought he was working with Atuma."
"Unless he wants to cover his tracks and prevent exposure." Aqualad sifted his mind.
"How many are in the building?" Nightwing raised his brow.
"About ten and they're all gonna go off in about … thirty seconds."
"We need to move now!" Nightwing ran toward a nearby window.
THE TEAMMATES stood atop a building's roof as smoke billowed from the castle in the distance – civilians and soldiers in a frenzy as panic took the streets. Nightwing looked to his right and saw the LexCorp militia vacating the city, turning to his friends and nodding as they headed off the building.
"YES, WE'RE a minute out." Nightwing nodded and went off com, turning to Aqualad, Artemis, Kid Flash, M'gann, Batgirl, Supergirl, Raven and Blue Beetle. "That was a job well done, you guys; we stopped the nuke from happening and found proof of Lex Corps' involvement with Atlantis … or what's left of it anyways. With this," He lifted up large rolled up paper. "We can find concrete evidence that can put Luthor down for good."
"Yeah." Kid Flash looked around, removing his mask and sitting back. Exchanging looks with Artemis and the others, he huffed and leaned forward. "Okay, I didn't want to sound weird, but Raven, what happened to your skin?" He raised his brow.
"Is it some kind of spell or … shape-shifting?" Dick frowned slightly.
"Neither; this is what I really look like."
"What do you mean?" Jaime turned to her.
Raven took a deep breath. "This change happened because Trigon took the charm out of me and with it the power he'd given me which means that he can now attack at any time he wishes."
"Why didn't you bring this up earlier?" Nightwing leaned forward.
"I didn't know what was happening to me until three days ago; I wasn't even sure of what to say or how to say it." She looked to her lap. "I wasn't sure what any of you would think now that I'd suddenly changed outta nowhere."
M'gann shared a look with Kaldur then turned to Raven. "Rachel, when I first joined the Team, I kept my true form a secret from my Teammates for a long time and the thought of that secret being exposed was my biggest fear. But I was wrong. Showing them who I truly was helped me face my fears and now I have something I never had back on my home world; a family that cares about me. It's what's inside that truly matters."
"Thanks." Raven smiled.
The jet stopped and began to descend, drawing everyone's attention as they turned to the pilot. "We've arrived." The woman looked at them then spotted Raven. "Huh, finally decided to get a tan – looks good on you."
Kara snored loudly and jerked up, looking around drowsily. "Huh, what? Did I miss anything?" She blinked repeatedly.
THREE YELLOW lights illuminated a dark room as MODOC hovered before a large screen, his face solemn as he continued speaking. "The tests have reached the final stages; it won't be long before we can begin our plan."
"Good. Report back to me as soon as you've finished."
"Yes, Brainiac." MODOC nodded and the video went off, the lights of the room coming on as a man barged in.
"MODOC, we have an emergency." The soldier breathed heavily.
"What did I say about barging in!?"
"Sir, it's the Team."
NIGHTWING READ up specs on a tablet, turning to Aqualad, Supergirl, M'gann, Kid Flash, Superboy, Blue Beetle, Artemis, Raven and Batgirl who sat around in the Quinjet. "Alright guys, the next mission is a raid on a Hydra base in Michihong. Given the frequency levels Supergirl detected, expect there to be heavy defences. The focus is to retrieve as much data from the computers onsite and to take no hostages. Do not engage any Sentries alone and stay in your groups. Blue Beetle, M'gann, Raven, Superboy and Supergirl, you take out the outer defences and Batgirl, Artemis, Kid Flash and I will data mine the facility."
"Guess it's a good thing we had a few days off cuz these missions are happening a lot." Kid Flash adjusted his glove. "No rest for the weary."
"And no rest for those Hydra soldiers either." Superboy cracked his knuckles. "I've been waiting for this for a long time."
"We're twenty minutes out." The pilot turned to them from the cockpit.
"Alright guys, suit up." Nightwing turned to the others.
ARTEMIS TOOK a knee in a hallway and fired an arrow that sped on and split into several darts, downing multiple soldiers who sped toward her. Nightwing and Batgirl ran past her and drew their weapons, engaging guards that flooded in as Artemis drew another arrow and shot at the floor, sending an electric wave that electrocuted the assailants. Nightwing and Batgirl looked at each other in surprise and turned to her as she smirked, twirling an arrow.
"You're welcome."
"IT'S BEEN so long since I've been on field." Superboy crashed onto an assault vehicle's hood and hopped off, grabbing the bumper and tossing it onto soldiers up ahead. "It feels good."
"Well, you can thank me later, lil brother." Supergirl flew over him, speaking on com.
"I'm not your little brother!"
"Yeah, you're right; you're more of a niece." She landed before a group of soldiers and fired lasers at them downing them easily. She chuckled and dusted her hands. "Too easy." A soldier snuck up on her, ready to fire when he suddenly fell over.
"You need to be more careful." M'gann sent her arms to her right, tossing the militiaman aside and creating a force field that caught a volley of bullets coming her way, sending them back to the shooters on the ground. "They might have a gun powerful enough to hurt you."
"More like never." Supergirl chuckled.
"Hey, wanna see who's gonna take down the most soldiers?" Blue Beetle zoomed past her.
"Oh, you're on Jaime." She smirked and chased after him.
MODOC GROWLED as he watched live feeds of the Teammates raiding their base, quickly hovering back. "Initiate Deep Dive –,"
Kid Flash ran by and punched him, knocking him against a wall. "Not this time." He looked at him then jerked back. "Whoa, that's a big head."
"Well, let's see what that big head is up to." Nightwing walked up to the computer screen, inserting a flash drive and beginning to work on it.
Kid Flash looked around the room, taking in the workstations that filled the lab, his eyes focussing on large glass containment units that were empty. "Hey, what's in those things."
Nightwing's eyes darted around as he typed in codes and brought up documents on screen. "They're nanites – billions of them."
"Like the ones that nearly killed Kara?" Kid Flash raised his brow.
"Yeah." Nightwing turned to him. "And they're planning to release trillions of them in the atmosphere over Amersia."
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