Author: Here's chapter 6! I'm probably slacking heavily due to writer's block, but ehhhh. I'll prob go back and fix stuff sometime, haha. I don't really have much else to say currently 'sides that it'll pick up soon. :P Enjoy!
Disclaimer: DC totally isn't mine. I just own the Energy Court users and whatever else I create.
The boat docked around evening and they touched land after getting their stuff, disguises in place. Slade was to be a wealthy man by the name of Jacob Richards with his assistant Chris Matthews as Wintergreen. Shortly after they entered the city Wintergreen went to get supplies while Slade searched for Lorius, whose last beacon had signaled him in the major park. That was where Slade was headed. He was to be weary though for two superheroes had supposedly arrived on scene.
From Lorius' quick text of 's-man and batsy' Slade knew just who was here. Superman and Batman.
Slade jogged two blocks before merely speed-walking most of the way, running the last block before arriving at the park, which was laid out before him in chaos. It was like little bombs had erupted all over the place. The civilians had fled and he was met with a gruesome scene.
Batman was fighting with Lorius, who was trying to run at a tall blonde male with a strange air to him. Superman, on his end of the park, was battling it out with someone unexpected. The young Jack Zendric. He knew him instantly from the picture in the files he had.
He sighed with irritation and ran toward his paid employee.
"It's not what you think it is, Batman."
"Is it?" The Caped Crusader demanded, face stoic beneath his mask. What was this kid doing, fighting a civilian?
The kid gestured a finger with the hand held back toward his head as if to indicate something. "My goggles will tell you all you need to know. This man- alien is a threat to humanity. If I don't kill him now he'll inform his people and they'll destroy Earth."
"Help! Help me! Please!" The man cried, struggling against the teenager.
"Up- slowly, hands where I can see them." Batman warned, giving the cord some slack to allow the teen to move.
"You don't understand-"
"Oh, I understand alright. Harassment, attacking, accusations. Clearly you're deranged." Batman snapped quickly, giving the cord a sharp yank in finality. The boy's arm snapped back before tugging against it. "It's my job to take you down."
Lorius couldn't believe what he was hearing. First he found his target (yay) then found Jack (gaaaahhh), then Superman arrived (yay!), but now Batman was here and ruining his job (gaah!). This was ridiculous! He grit his teeth as he kept his arm firm, the other pinning down the flailing alien beneath him.
He couldn't hold him much longer AND defend if Batman attacked. He gave one quick pull and ripped his goggles off just as the cord tightened back into it's previous place and waved the goggles at Batman.
"I'm going to throw these to you, you're going to put these on, see this creature for it's true color and thank me." He tossed the goggles at the caped vigilante, who caught them with his spare hand. He studied the goggles before placing the lens to his concealed eyes.
"Why is he.. golden?"
"He's an alien from Contar, one of two species of that planet. The Cor-val and the Du-con. He's a Du-con, a humanoid shape-shifter scout sent here to learn about the world and judge if it should be destroyed or not. We can't allow him to judge it. His verdict could be for destruction-"
"You're delusional. This device-" He chucked the goggles at him, which Lorius awkwardly caught. "-is obviously a trick to confuse me."
"It's not. It's thermal goggles. It allows the wearer to see the difference between bodily temperatures."
"Stop talking." Batman hissed. Lorius could tell Batman was ready for a fight by the way his feet shifted, widening and his eyes narrowed.
"Fine.. if you won't listen.. so be it." He flipped backward, cutting the cord with a hidden dagger in his boot. He landed, spun and launched said weapon at the alien (who had jumped to his feet), the blade sinking into the shoulder.
Batman produced several explosive balls and tossed them at Lorius, gas exploding all around the trio. Lorius coughed as he swatted at the gas, growling. A brilliant idea came to him just before golden energy circled him. Invisibility.
Batman could easily move about in smoke. It was one of his various elements. He searched for the boy, but couldn't find him. He even scanned, but found nothing. It was as if the boy had vanished entirely.
A foot (he assumed) connected with his back and he spun, throwing a sharp metal bat-shaped knife at the source.
A cry echoed as the weapon hit air. The invisibility tore away and left a cringing teenager who pulled the blade from his side. Said teen was glaring at Batman with narrowed grey eyes, teeth bared.
"You're going to regret that." The kid snarled before pouncing at Batman, who expertly side-stepped, swinging his foot around into the kid's back, pushing him off balance. The boy snarled deeper, catching himself before turning to throw something at Batman; his bloodied blade. He lifted his arms just in time for the metal to bounce off the spikes on his gauntlets and fall to the ground.
What happened next was a blur. Him and the kid went at it, fists and devices, energy and legs connecting. They sought out a weakness in the other, but couldn't find one for any shortage was corrected. It was almost like a dance, a means to show off, yet completely serious. The boy was chucked toward a tree, but he flipped himself, energy swinging wide to cut the tree horizontal. The top half toppled backward and crashed. The smirking male jumped, a back flip executed to land atop the fallen bark.
Lorius flung out his arm, golden energy flicking toward Batman in a beam that struck the ground where Batman had been, who had hopped away to avoid being hit.
"You idiot! I'm trying to save the world and you're wasting my time." Atty couldn't hold his tongue. He sneered at the vigilante with such a look of hate that if it could it would have boiled ice with just a glance. "This alien is a threat."
"I see no alien." Batman justified, shaking his head. "You're crazy, kid."
Lorius resisted the urge to face-palm and slam his face repeatedly into something solid.
"You heroes are all alike. You judge without proof; even when such is displayed you act as if you're a savior and they a villain." Atty couldn't hold his temper any longer. "You make me sick."
Jack was tired; he had exhausted himself tremendously trying to even keep up with the likes of Superman. Who was he kidding? He was as if a child to the Kryptonian.
"Give up. You cannot hope to beat me, kid." Superman said with a soft smile as he floated above the ground a few get in front of Jack.
He couldn't help but feel his anger triple since his arrival. An easy kill had become a real hassle. It was time to cut his loses and get the heck out. He'd kill Lorius another day, without interference.
As he was backing away a new player caught his attention, causing him to turn his head. A fist connected with his jaw and then an elbow slammed into his back, dropping him. He hit the ground, pain spiking all over. He groaned as he tried to rise, but a foot kept him down.
"You're not going anywhere." He heard Superman say before pressing him fully against the grass.
"That's what.. you think." Jack Hissed as black energy licked at his fingers. He pushed up, slowly moving even with Superman adding more weight. He finally gave a sharp push, throwing Superman off of him.
The caped hero stared in shock at the strength of this boy. "Impressive, kid."
"My strength rivals yours." Jack said as he stood, dusting himself off. He smirked and then darted off. Just as he was running he passed that person who was watching. He scanned the face just as he brushed by, noting that steely eye and business attire the man wore.
Slade watched Jack's fight with Superman and how Lorius handled Batman. It was interesting to see others fighting. His merc employee had much to learn, but he was well equipped for his age. He blinked as Jack fled, rushing by him and vanishing into the city beyond.
From the looks of it Batman was actually having a hard time beating Lorius. The kid was fast and powerful. Batman's arsenal of bombs, blades and devices could only go so far. His aggression in hand to hand was of little use for Lorius countered with energy, which was a decent defense against punches and kicks. With a shove the two separated, heaving and growling.
Something connected with Batman's side, throwing the vigilante away. In his place stood a business-suited tall man.
"Come Lorius, let us away from this fight." The cool voice made Lorius realize this man was Slade in disguise.
Lorius nodded and blasted the ground between him and Batman, throwing up enough debris and smoke to cover their exit. The pair slipped into the city beyond, heading to find Wintergreen and talk about what happened. They found the veteran in a shop purchasing clothes and together they explained what had happened to the butler; along with the bits that Slade had missed prior. Slade complimented how well Lorius handled himself, but the gold user felt himself ache as he brooded the possibility of what could have occurred had Batman and Superman not shown up to interfere.. There was also the problem of Lucane.. on the loose, able to send a verdict to his people to destroy Earth. He had to find him and stop him.
They retreated back to the ship with their gathered items (which most had already been sent and stored by Wintergreen) and so they prepared to sail back to the island.
A bad feeling bubbled in Lorius' chest. Something didn't feel right.
None of them seemed to notice the stowaway on board.
"So you're.. what.. some normal kid?" Eryn questioned Billy, who had stated that he was 'just normal'. The kid was lying.. or at least hiding something.
Billy nodded, but a flash in his blue eyes tipped Eryn off.
"I don't believe you." She said, folding her arms.
Val gave her a deep glare, silently telling her to back off, but she ignored him.
"What are you, kid?" She asked in a low voice.
Billy smiled and shrugged. "A human, like you."
Her eyebrow twitched and she stood up, storming into the kitchen with a distinct huff.
"Don't mind 'er." Val said with a sigh.
Billy chuckled and shifted his gaze on the female called Sidra before settling on Valence. "What are you guys doing here?"
"I trust ya, Billy, but.. that's personal business." Val flicked his eyes to Sidra, directing his friend's attention back to her.
Billy bobbed his head. "Understandable."
"I need ta' speak with ma' allies. Do excuse us. Alvin." Val said, standing. He stalked off to the kitchen, Alvin following shortly behind.
Sidra and Billy exchanged confused looks. They'd have to wait patiently.. so they did.