If Greg Weisman calls me and tells me he's doing I&E as a YJ episode, then I guess it'll be mine
When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
Tyger, tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Infinity Island
March 20, 04:13 UTC
"Okay, so which way do we go now?" Kid Flash asked, looking worriedly over his shoulder as it sounded like more ninjas were on their heels. They were once again hopelessly lost but, to be fair, this base was enormous and Thomas's undescriptive directions really haven't been very helpful. The only bright spot was their kidnapping victim, future Bat, Timothy Drake, was ridiculously observant. Apparently the seven year old, despite having been stolen from his home and brought to a dangerous place, had taken note of the path his kidnappers had taken him to reach the room where he'd been staying. Honestly, Wally should be hanging up his goggles if toddlers were more aware of the situation than he was. "Come on, we don't have all day."
Tim frowned from within Superboy's arms. "Um well I know we came down this hallway because I remembered noticing the walls were different," Tim began quietly pointing in one direction.
"Great let's go!" Kid said moving forward only for a moan from the little boy to stop him in his tracks.
"But I'm pretty sure we also came down this hallway," he said pointing at an opposite hallway. Kid let out a long sigh bringing his hands up to rub his eyes. This is what he got for trusting a little brat.
Superboy shifted Tim in his arms. "Are you sure you can't just walk?" Conner grumbled, it's not like the kid weighed much but holding the boy severely limited his movement if they were attacked. Not to mention he just wasn't very good with kids. Tim merely settled himself deeper in Superboy's arms, reaching a small hand up to grip the older boy's t-shirt.
"You guys walk too fast for me." Tim said leaning his black head against Conner's shoulder. "Besides you're here to keep me safe and what place is safer than with a friend of Superman?" M'Gann brought her hand up to cover her smile as her boyfriend's cheeks flushed.
"We must keep moving, the longer we stay still, the more likely it is that we will be detected and it will be difficult to protect Tim should we be forced into a fight." Aqualad interrupted roughly, this was neither the time nor place to be bantering with the boy they were supposed to be saving. "Tim, this is important, one of these hallways must lead back to the main entrance they brought you through, it should be on the first level. Can you remember which one it was?"
Tim bit his lip thoughtfully before eventually pointing to the second hallway, "I think we came down that one first." Aqualad nodded with resignation.
"That's all we can ask for. Superboy, we're likely going to run into more of Ra's soldiers along the way. You need to keep Tim safe at all costs, do you understand?" Superboy nodded, adjusting the boy so he had a more secure hold as the Team ran forward down the second hallway.
"So are all the heroes' sidekicks part of this team? Or did you have to be chosen special because it's such a secret thing?" Tim asked after a few minutes of silence, shrinking back a little bit when some of Young Justice turned to him with surprised faces. "Well it's pretty obvious you've done missions like this before. Plus I've never heard of a team of kids so it has to be ultra top secret." He lowered his eyes, "Sorry, people look at me funny when I say stuff like that."
Aqualad turned to give Tim a gentle smile. "No, you did nothing wrong. We were merely impressed by your deduction. You are a very smart boy, just like Batman and Robin." Conner grimaced as Tim buried his face in Superboy's t-shirt but said nothing.
"Oh no I'm nothing like that! Batman and Robin are just incredible; the things they do are amazing. I could never be that strong or brave." Tim muttered into Superboy's shirt. The others were prevented from responding by Superboy suddenly spinning and huddling protectively over the boy as a series of throwing stars struck where Tim's head had been moments before. The boy yelped while the others became more alert to their surroundings. They must have been going down because they were currently in a wet dock which meant they had arrived on the main level.
Up above them, a man in a mask tilted his head in amusement. "I'm usually not one to target children," Deathstroke began lazily as he played with a couple more throwing stars. "But my employer has asked that I recover Mr. Drake and that all the intruders, regardless of age, are to be taken care of." His one visible eye twinkled with dangerous mirth as he launched himself at the Team.
Infinity Island
March 20, 04:17 UTC
While Batman respected the sheer size of this island, he was starting to get frustrated over his inability to find his target. It seems like he'd gone through an infinite number of ninjas and gotten nowhere. He's secured this level but he knew it would be impossible to completely take the base. Now that the element of surprise was gone, he and the Team were soon going to be overwhelmed this deep into enemy territory. Since the others had found Drake, all that was left was to bring in Epoch and head back to the Bioship.
"You really have been making trouble," Batman froze as that familiar accented voice came from the shadows as Ra's al Ghul stepped forward into the light, finally making an appearance. Batman observed the dual swords clutched menacingly in the older man's hands and the dark look on his face. "But of course two fathers such as ourselves are fully aware of the damage children can cause."
"I'm not interested in you today Ra's, give us Epoch and we will leave without hindrance." Ra's eyes narrowed as he swung one of the swords by his side, testing it's sharpness. The blade sung as it cut swiftly through the air.
"Do you think I can just allow you to leave so peacefully Detective? After you and these children have defiled my home? Humiliated my men? Honor demands that I take your head. Deathstroke has been sent after those upstart sidekicks to recover young Timothy and, if he is unable to, to destroy him along with the rest." Batman's fist clenched, Deathstroke was one of the most dangerous assassins out there. Even the League struggled against him in battle, if he'd gone after the Team...
"Why are you doing this Ra's?" Batman ground out, he had to end this quickly and go assist the others. They were good, better than most, but Deathstroke was better than all of them combined.
"Because, Detective, I have seen the future." Ra's announced grandly as he raised his swords into an offensive position. "We continue to go about our little dance for many years, neither able to truly vanquish the other. Your army grows as does mine but you hinder me time and again, ruining my plans, stealing my daughter's love from me. Well no more, if I cannot have your allegiance I shall have to settle for your life."
Bruce ducked under Ra's attack, trying to put some distance between him and the assassin. He wasn't prepared for a duel to the death with Ra's al Ghul. He was not properly equipped for sword based combat and Ra's was clearly the better swordsman. He pulled a short blade out of his belt and used it to parry the immortal's sword away. It was far from ideal, but it would have to do while he looked for a better way to disengage.
"You know I would never work for you Ra's," Batman began in an attempt to distract his opponent. "So why go to the trouble of hiring an assassin from the future? Why try to kill an innocent boy and kidnap another?" He asked, keeping light on his feet to keep dodging the swords but it was getting closer each time.
"You are a most worthy foe, Detective and I have given you the respect you deserved. However, when Epoch approached me at the behest of my future self to say that you had stolen the boy who was to be my ultimate achievement, I could not stand idly by any longer."
Bruce snarled as he rushed forward with a few quick, vicious blows. "He is not a tool for you to command Ra's or even one of your soldiers. He is your grandson, a person with the right to make his own choices."
Ra's scoffed as he deflected Batman's attacks. "Your sentimentality clouds your judgment. He was cultivated from conception, physically and genetically engineered to be the new Alexander of this decrepit world. That boy was going to achieve what I could not and, when the time came, he would have become my new vessel." Ra's sneered, "except apparently you have polluted his mind with affection and humanity and he has forsaken his destiny to perpetuate your delusions of heroism."
Bruce retreated back a few steps, struggling to maintain himself in this battle he had no chance of winning. But he refused to back down; he had to put this megalomaniac in his place.
"I was going to simply destroy the child now and begin anew, but Epoch informed me that I had hired him in the future in order to eliminate the next crop of wayward children you would take in. You needed the circus boy in order to keep you from insanity altogether, but the others were expendable. Without them, you would be a completely different man. Perhaps you would even be less sympathetic when my boy came to your door ready to conquer you, perhaps then he would not betray his family." Again, Bruce found his ire being stoked.
"You are not his family," Batman growled, his blade clanging noisily against Ra's. "You are a harmful, abusive influence in his life. You began brainwashing him from the moment he was born. You have killed a boy's mother, kidnapped another supposedly to prevent a child from turning on you. I am taking him back where he belongs, far, far away from your manipulations. He never was, and never will, be yours!" Bruce was getting angry which was exactly what he shouldn't be doing in a fight he was losing but he couldn't help it. The arrogance of this man sickened him; the fact that this man had specifically targeted his family only fueled his fury.
"You are as soft-hearted as you are careless," Ra's hissed, striking suddenly and cutting Batman across the chest. The blow temporarily stunned him which was more than enough time for Ra's. The immortal continued with his assault, the sharpened blades taking turns tearing through his costume. Batman tried to defend but he'd been worn out even before he began the ill-fated duel and he was beginning to feel lightheaded from blood loss. Ra's suddenly plunged one of the blade into Bruce's shoulder, not enough to be mortal but enough to bring the Bat to his knees.
Ra's leaned in close while Batman grit his teeth against the searing pain. "You are a fool, you've always been one and I'm ashamed it has taken me this long to realize." Ra's pushed the blade in deeper as he smiled in an almost assuring way. "Do not worry yourself Detective, you will not be alone for long. Your children and the children of your comrades will be joining you shortly."
"Quite right Grandfather," Damian shouted, jumping down from above, expertly cutting through the area between the hilt and the blade with his own sword. Batman staggered back and pulled out the now inert sword blade from his shoulder. Dick had jumped down with his little brother and ran over to tend to his mentor's injuries. His blood son stood between them and Ra's, his eyes hard and his sword at the ready as he faced down the man who had dominated most of his life. "I am here to fight in my father's stead."
XxX
"You children don't stand a chance; your pathetic attempts to defend yourselves will only prolong the inevitable. Hand over the Drake boy and I'll make your deaths painless." Deathstroke intoned lightly, not even out of breath as he brought the hilt of his sword up to hit Aqualad brusquely in the temple, which sent the Atlantean flying. The teen shakily got to his feet, trying to reorient his vision. He observed his team, who were breathing heavily, battered and bruised but not too seriously injured. It was plain to see the older assassin was just toying them and that when he tired from the game, he would be able to swiftly kill them all.
'We need a plan and we need it fast', Wally said into the mindlink, still aching from the shots Deathstroke had taken at his knees earlier.
'I should be helping, I can't do anything while I'm dealing with this kid.' Superboy growled, barely able to contain his anger at his uselessness. His back had been turned to Deathstroke most of the time to keep Tim out of his range. Tim was scared and huddled into a small ball against the clone's chest, but remaining quiet.
'I know but you must protect Tim at all costs.' Aqualad said harshly, shooting Superboy a sharp look. Deathstroke was watching them through his single eye, apparently allowing them time to collect themselves. 'He's not going to go easy on us for much longer, does anyone have any suggestions?'
'His mind is so strong,' M'Gann began as she picked herself up off the ground. 'I can't breech his defenses. I think he's wearing a helmet that deflects telepaths.'
'He's a normal human right? Just ridiculously well trained, it's just like fighting Rob, piece of cake.' Wally added with false confidence. 'Maybe I can zip in and take all of his weapons?'
'It's not that simple Kid, Deathstroke has had his strength, stamina and healing abilities enhanced in addition to honing his mind and body to perfection. He may not be fast enough to stop you but he's smart enough to guess where you'll be and attack accordingly. We must outthink him.' Kaldur sighed mentally.
"I grow bored with this children. I suppose I can understand your hesitance but I have other places to be." Deathstroke stated, returning his sword to its holster. "If you won't give me the pleasure of battle then I'll simply have to end it now." Quicker than they could keep track of, his hand flew out releasing some circular containers which splattered a heavy liquid on the ground surrounding the team. An instant later he had a small crossbow in his hands firing two shots, one towards the growing puddle and the other towards Superboy.
As soon as the first arrow hit the floor an immense flame rose, increasing the temperature dramatically and putting a wall between Deathstroke and Aqualad, Miss Martian and Kid Flash. Kid ran and pulled Miss Martian back a few feet as she began to choke in the heat. The second arrow imbedded itself into the wall near Superboy's head. He was about to comment that the arrow had missed when he suddenly felt drained of energy. He leaned against the wall as his muscles no longer seemed to work and a shrieking Tim Drake slipped from his grasp onto the floor. He looked over with painful confusion to see the tip of the arrow glowing with the barest hint of green, Kryptonite. He couldn't even move as Deathstroke walked over and pushed him to the ground and pulled up Tim by his shirt.
"Timmy," M'Gann said weakly, Kid Flash the only thing keeping her from collapsing.
Deathstroke held the terrified child up to him, his head tilting to the side as he observed him. "I wonder why Ra's al Ghul has concerned himself with such a small little boy." Tim just whimpered in response. "No matter," the assassin said, throwing the boy over his shoulder. "You'll be returned soon enough, this won't take long."
'Is M'Gann okay?' Superboy asked weakly into the mindlink. He was still lying on the ground, every part of him feeling weak and vulnerable.
'Way to be concerned for the team', Kid Flash groaned as Miss Martian mentally reassured her boyfriend.
'I read over some of the files on Deathstroke a while back. Though he is a difficult opponent, the League has defeated him in the past. We should be able to take him if we are able to think and work together.' Aqualad said, dizzy himself from the fire, but determined not to lose this fight.
'Well let's start with this', Kid said, letting go of M'Gann and spinning around in a circle creating a strong wind to put out the flames that were weakening his friends. Aqualad and Miss Martian breathed a sigh of relief once the fire was extinguished. Kid then sped forward and grabbed the Kryptonite arrow out of the wall as he went past. From the floor, Superboy blinked and got shakily to his knees as the radiated rock was moved away from him.
"Hey Old Man", Kid Flash shouted, zooming within Deathstroke's range. "How can you aim so good with your lousy depth perception?" He bent backwards to avoid a small knife being thrown at his head. He ran quickly over to the other side of the room and back, avoiding the assassin's weapons. "You'd have to turn your head so much just to see what's happening on your right. It must be such an inconvenience."
"Oh somehow I manage," Deathstroke replied testily.
"Orange is a terrible color on you!" Miss Martian shouted, finally feeling better now that the heat was gone. She picked up one of the boats from the dock behind her with her telekinesis and hurled it at Deathstroke.
Wally's eyes went wide as he dodged the boat which landed inbetween him and the assassin. "Could you avoid hitting me?" Kid said, turning his head to address his friend. While he was distracted, Deathstroke made his move, running over and bringing a knife down to imbed in the speedster's neck. He was prevented by making contact by Superboy stepping in the way, bringing his arm up to block the attack. The blade shattered against the half-kryptonian's indestructible skin.
"I don't think so," Conner said, reaching out with his other hand for Timmy who was still draped across the assassin's shoulder. Kid Flash had run around behind Deathstroke, trying to grab Tim from the other side. The assassin narrowed his single eye, elbowing Kid Flash in the face. While the speedster was dazed, Deathstroke grabbed him by the arm and threw him at Superboy causing the two of them to land in a heap on the floor.
Aqualad and Miss Martian had come forward in that time, Kaldur bringing out his Water-Bearers, taking water from the wet dock and sending powerful water jets towards Deathstroke. 'His movement is going to be hindered by his hostage, we must keep attacking him until he is forced to set the boy down.' Aqualad commanded via the mindlink, 'however take care not to hurt Tim in any way.'
Deathstroke deftly both avoided the water and the various objects Miss Martian was throwing at him. But even the Team could see he was struggling a bit to maintain his hold on the now squirming child while avoiding the attacks of all four teens. After a few minutes, they had managed to back Deathstroke into a corner.
"Well played children." Tim was still trying to break free from the assassin's hold until Deathstroke kept him still by wrapping his arm around the boy's torso and bringing a small pistol against his head. Tim's eyes went wide and the Team stopped in their tracks, "But I'm afraid this fight goes to me."
Infinity Island
March 20, 04:49 UTC
"Batman, come on, you need to help me here. You're heavier than you look." Robin muttered as he half dragged his injured mentor away from the dueling al Ghuls. He wasn't happy about leaving the literal ten year alone to fight but, right now, Bruce was his priority. "Bruce, come on, we need to get you out of here." Dick whispered under his breath inwardly as he ignored his own aching ribs. His guardian was in far worse condition anyhow.
He, Thomas and Artemis had come across Batman and Ra's fighting just by happenstance. They had initially been going in another direction when they'd been diverted by a large group of foot soldiers. Thomas redirected them and they'd arrived just in time to see Batman get skewered on Ra's sword on the floor below. Both Robins had immediately vaulted over the railing, Thomas taking on his grandfather while he dealt with Bruce. Artemis was still up top keeping back the few stragglers. As Robin helped get Batman off to the side where he could administer emergency first aid, he wished his little brother luck. Ra's didn't seem the kind of grandpa who would go easy when roughhousing with his grandkid.
"I don't know why you resist me child. I have only looked out for your best interests your entire life, you should be thanking me for all that I have done for you. You were my ultimate prize." Ra's explained, calm but angry as he paced carefully in a circle around his younger opponent. The masked boy glared at the man he had once time aspired to be like.
"I am not yours, I am only myself. I am Robin." Damian said resolutely as he ran forward and attempted to knock the older man off his feet. Damian knew he had to strike first and strike viciously if he was going to win. He was well trained in swordsmanship, but he was nowhere near as skilled as his grandfather. Ra's merely scoffed at his attempts and backhanded Damian. The boy stumbled back from the blow and fell roughly to the ground. Damian scrambled to ready his weapon but Ra's stomped on his wrist and kicked the now loose sword away.
"You are but a pitiful experiment with an ill-gotten sense of personhood. You are nothing boy. Do you honestly believe yourself special? Lying there in the castoff uniform of the degenerates your father picked up off the street?" Ra's asked calmly as he stood calmly over his grandson.
Ra's brought down the sword but Damian dodged it by rolling away. "I was going to offer you the chance for the world, you ignorant fool and you give it up for your childish sense of righteousness." Ra's spat out, going for another strike.
"You're wrong." Damian jumped forward suddenly, ducking under the swinging blade and headed straight for the immortal's unguarded abdomen. He lowered his head and barreled into his grandfather, throwing the man back several feet. "The other Robins and I represent something important. We count for something which is more than you can claim, hiding in the shadows, dealing out death." Damian said proudly, listening to the older man wheeze and clutch his chest.
"And though the others might not be Father's by blood they have all proven themselves to be worthy of being his sons. It was Todd who taught me how to fight dirty and to not to be afraid to attack in unconventional manners." Damian smirked as his grandfather straightened with an enraged look in his eye.
"What a dishonorable trick, certainly something you picked up from the street urchin." Ra's hissed as he stood up straight and readied his sword. Damian ran forward, getting as close as he could to Ra's to prevent him from using the broadsword. He delivered several small but powerful punches as he threw his whole weight into them.
"And Drake taught me how fight smart, how to get in close and effectively destroy the enemy's resistance by using my size against my opponent." Damian said, sweeping his foot across the floor to trip the assassin. While Ra's was stunned and falling backwards, Damian delivered another quick spin kick which sent the man flying. "Cain showed me the elegant grace of battle, making a fighting style something beautiful and to be admired."
From the ground, Ra's breathed in harshly from the brutal assault only to be pushed back down by Damian. "Brown taught me to never let those who had hurt me get to me again but Gordon showed that it is possible to, not forgive, but move past unspeakable tragedy." He retrieved his sword from the ground and brought the tip of the blade to his grandfather's neck. "Grayson made me realize not only that I am worthy of love but that I am capable of returning it in kind. You never cared about me, I was just a pawn to you, a back-up plan in case your withered body ever gave out. For the world's sake, I should eliminate you right now." His sword pierced the vulnerable skin and a small amount of blood appeared on the end of the blade.
"Go ahead Damian," Ra's eyes were hard as he spoke. "But know that if you do then everything your supposed family said about you, all the caution and distrust, would be true." Damian's lips pursed into a thin line as the sword dug a bit deeper.
"You are right Grandfather, if I were to kill you now, I would become everything you raised me to be." A few hushed heartbeats passed before he pulled the sword back and flung it across the room. "But my father taught me the honor in mercy for I am not just a son of al Ghul, I am also a son of Wayne." Damian responded, holding his head high. He drew two small knives from his boots and ran them into the ground, spearing the older man's clothing. "This battle is over Ra's al Ghul, accept your defeat."
"I yield Grandson. You fought honorably and I am impressed with your skills. I have taught you well." Damian scoffed at Ra's words, turning around and pulling up his hood to try and block out the bloodlust screaming in his veins.
"You taught me nothing, my father and his family were the ones who really showed me how to live."
The Tyger is my favorite poem in the collection so I've been saving it for the perfect chapter and what's more perfect than the introduction of the ultimate tiger, Ra's al Ghul? So this whole chapter just gets up close and personal for two very intense fights. The Ra's/Dami fight was something I planned from the start and really enjoyed writing. The Deathstroke fight was much more difficult but that finishes off next chapter and I think came out ok. Wow, I can't believe this is almost complete, when I started it seemed like I would be posting forever but chapter 12 is pretty much the end of the story. Come back next week for the conclusion to the Infinity Island battle.