Chapter IV
The seven, each with kept concerns of their own, sought some measure of distraction to levy the ripe tension of the journey back home. As they had each, at one point or another, come to know in life, seldom what is found is what was sought.
Arriving at the Justice Cave, the team divided once more, this time spatially. Eager to lighten the plodding mood, Impulse motioned to his partner in crime Superboy, "Rainbow Six?" In mental unison with his friend, Superboy complied, "Do you even have to ask?"
Excited, the two dashed from the Cave's main entrance directly to the pseudo den where their lovechild, the Xbox 360, faithfully waited for them. Hopping over the couch, Superboy smoothly made himself comfortable by stretching his body out. Impulse, favoring speed over style, darted into the room at super-speed, and once entering before Superboy, commented, "Ha beat you in here! Not even close. At least Superman can compete with the Flash."
Unaffectedly, Superboy reminded his scatological friend, "Style over speed, Imp. The ladies prefer style over speed. Ain't that right Pinky?" From the entrance of the cave adjacent to their den area, Spoiler sweetly patronized him, "Aw, your inflatable doll finally started talking back to you. Gepetto would be so proud."
Behind Spoiler entered Robin, his brooding demeanor nothing short of an aerosol poison in the air. He had failed to string together even one sentence on the ride home, yet his silent repression spoke volumes. Though they could all hear it, Stephanie Brown was the only one to listen.
Turning towards her leader and lost lover, she said seductively, "I think I'm going to treat myself to a nice, hot, steamy bubble bath. Where are you headed boy wonder?" Uncertain of how to react, Robin replied, "…I have work to do. I need to check the Justice computer and get a status report on what's going on in the city."
Bored, Spoiler attempted to inject some life into her clearly crotchety friend, "Well, that sounds, um, fun. Anyhow, when you're done playing with your computer, come look me up." Robin did not answer. In perfect honesty, Stephanie admitted that boy was beginning to annoy her as she headed towards the bathroom.
Meanwhile, as Superboy and Impulse loaded the game, they were joined by a third. Unaware of her presence at first, The Secret, akin to a wandering specter, floated near the entrance way to the den and observed the two boys play the game. She had never told anyone, in fact, she rarely told anyone anything, but she had always been completely enthralled by the game. Maybe it was the enormous fun Superboy, Impulse, and sometimes even Robin would have playing the game. Whatever the reason, she had a hidden desire to play with them.
That very moment, as the two laughed and bonded, she mustered the courage to join the fun. Just as quickly however, the strength dissipated, much the same as the gaseous mist comprising her. A sweeping rush of apprehension enveloped her. They were having so much fun, if she butted her big nose into it, they would probably laugh at her for wanting to play. No, that wasn't true, she forced herself to remember. They are her friends, good friends, and they won't mind, will they?
Knowing this would be the only time she would remotely have the strength to ask, she approached the two as they played, and in her mouse-like voice, addressed them, "Um, excuse me, um, do you mind at all if…um…I watch you play?"
Their attention primarily on the screen, both Superboy and Impulse paused the game, turned around, and wholeheartedly invited their friend in. They, like everyone else on the team, genuinely liked Secret and wished she would come out of her shell more often and participate in the group. They all liked her. They wished she would just like herself. Warmly, Superboy said, "Sure, no prob. I prefer someone be here to witness the Kid save Las Vegas one more time, from…um…Imp, who are we fighting in this game?"
As if Superboy had asked the most borderline retarded question ever, Impulse sardonically responded, "Terrorists. Duh." Slightly annoyed, Superboy replied, "I know they're terrorists, I mean who are they under the masks. What kind of terrorists are they? Where are they from?"
Already enjoying the banter, The Secret immediately felt vindicated for going out on a limb and asking to watch. Impulse responded, now uncertain as to the correct answer, "Oh. Uuuuuummmmm…Las Vegas?" Dropping the topic, Superboy uttered, "Never mind."
As the team partitioned into various areas of the Justice Cave, Robin heading to the briefing room, Spoiler to the bathroom, Superboy, Secret, and Impulse to the den, XS decided to take this opportunity to practice one of her newfound passions, playing guitar. Life in the 21st century, while fun, was nevertheless strange and unfamiliar to young Jenni. Try as she might, she would unfortunately always stumble into things she just didn't get.
Music however, is universal. Aside from crime-fighting, sightseeing, and meeting new people, Jenni's main hobby was practicing guitar. Since before she even learned to like her own voice, she had loved to sing, and now the guitar added another dimension to her vocal art.
As she gleefully glided towards her room to pick up her guitar, she could feel that something, or more accurately, someone was not okay. A few feet from her, a haggard Wondergirl lumbered into the Justice Cave weighed down by something XS had no clue of. Sensing her friend's pain and even more so, her need to vent, XS approached Wondergirl and amiably asked, "Hey, I'm going to practice my guitar now, why don't you get you're clarinet (because conveniently Wondergirl knows how to play clarinet and its just that she, nor anyone else, has never brought it up to this point) and we can play together!"
Wondergirl liked XS, she really did. But then, it is hard not to like Jenni Ognatz. After all, it is nigh impossible to hate someone who loves. Still, there are those who do. A part of Wondergirl wanted to say yes. After all, she very much did like jamming, wait she stopped, was it still cool to say, or in this case, think jamming? Anyway, where was she, oh yes, she enjoyed playing with XS because she never made her feel like a loser for playing clarinet. It was more than that, she admitted. XS was just a fun, easy going person to hang around with.
On the other hand, a part of Wondergirl just wanted to be alone. This was the part of the young lady, the part of us all that believes we are alone. Against perhaps her better judgment, Wondergirl refuted her offer, politely lying, "Thanks, but…I have some reading I need to do. Let me know next time you practice."
Concerned for her friend, but aware that she needed her space XS did not press the issue, and instead said, "Okay, it's no problem, I understand. Have a fun time! I'll see you later!" And with that remark, XS continued on her way, cheerfully hovering to get her guitar and practice outside in the garden.
Against the monumental stature of the Justice computer, Robin was nothing more than a featureless silhouette. He was covered in a world of darkness, his body now sharing the same fate.
Over and over, Robin sat motionless as he watched one looping news item on the museum heist. Listening to the news report, he heard the same thought blare inside his head. They, and most of all he, had failed.
Disappointed, especially in himself as leader, Robin deduced that the entire afternoon's events had been a perfectly executed ruse orchestrated by Harm. Because of his nefarious plot, and as Robin added, his own inept leadership, the city incurred thousands of dollars of damage and, more importantly now, the lives of everyone in the city was at risk.
He had been trained better than that, he kept reminding himself. Batman would never have allowed this to happen. The greatest detective the world has ever known would have effortlessly solved Harm's scheme before it had even come to pass. The shame, Robin tormented himself thinking, was that he had all the tools and knowledge to figure it out. He just couldn't. Digging into the scab of one of his greatest fears, Robin questioned if he had it in him to be as great as Batman. Sure he had the pedigree, the costume, and the weapons, but when it came down to it, did he possess the natural cunning and skill to be a hero when it counted?
He leaned back in his chair. Exhaling deeply, Robin wearily rubbed his eyes through his mask, uncertain what to do next. Correction, he immediately reminded himself, he knew entirely too well what he had to do. He just did not look forward to it.
Echoing throughout every corner of the Justice Cave, Robin's hoarse voice emerged on the emergency alert system, "Everyone assemble for a meeting in the Justice Computer room, immediately!"
Robin's shrill tone served as a distraction Superboy and Impulse could have done without. Their momentary lapse in attention was sufficient to result in the deaths of their Rainbow Six counterparts. Lethargically, Secret, Superboy, and eventually Impulse headed towards the computer room. On the way, Impulse sarcastically commented to Superboy, "We really need to come up with a better name for that room." The second the words escaped his lips, Impulse regretted them, amending, "We need a cool name for it, emphasis cool, so don't tell Onderwhuirlguh."
The more Superboy interacted with Impulse, the more the Kid had learned when and when not to pay attention to Bart Allen and his many ramblings. Unfortunately, this conversation was not the latter. Halfheartedly, but nevertheless listening, Superboy replied, "Who?"
"You know…" Impulse answered. His patience dwindling, Bart gestured with his hands in circles over his eyes, presumably to pantomime glasses. Conversely, from Superboy's perspective Bart was just being Bart, which was more than confusing enough, "Imp, you got to take a dump or something? I told you to chill with those chilidogs for breakfast."
Exasperated, Impulse finally snapped, "WONDERGIRL! WONDERGIRL! Sheesh! And they think I'm the slow one!"
At that very moment, Wondergirl, also on her way to the meeting, approached the two boys and said, "What?!"
"Oh…um…" Impulse began, his mind struggling to move a thousandth as fast as his legs were accustomed to, "…Hey, you, um, look not so doggish-ly-like today."
After Impulse had finished speaking and once again triumphantly inserted his foot in his mouth, Superboy's attention shifted completely to Wondergirl as he waited to hear her response. He was gorgeous, Wondergirl couldn't help but feel as she noticed the Kid's eyes wrap around her. Something was so, so perfect about him. He was strong and confident; sure of absolutely everything he said and did. She so badly liked him, but at the same time, a part of her equally wished to be like him.
His burning gaze upon her melted what slender courage she had to say the first thing that came to her mind. She had originally intended to put Impulse in his place and say, "If I wasn't such a lady I'd slug you!" Instead, she awkwardly stammered, "…Oh, um… thank you?"
As she finished speaking, Superboy turned away, his waning interest long dissipated. Trailing behind as Superboy, Impulse, and Secret entered the meeting room to join the already present Robin and Spoiler, Wondergirl paused in the hallway and thought, "Great, another dumb, nerdy, un-cool response."
XS, while still a stranger in this time, was the only one to sense the angst in her dear friend Wondergirl. XS hoped to ease her friend's discomfort as she approached Wondergirl from behind and placed her tender hand on her shoulder. Her smile, though the simplest of gestures, nevertheless managed to soothe Wondergirl's nerves, and XS comfortingly said, "C'mon, we don't want to keep Robin and everyone waiting."
His back to the team, Robin's eyes focused intently on the monitor with a fixed image of the words, "Stay out of Harm's Way." Once everyone had arrived, they anxiously waited for their fearless leader to unveil the reason he had called them. Robin stepped back from the monitor with grave seriousness to provide the rest of the team a clear visual of the screen.
The frozen image on the screen chilled the seven young heroes. Capturing their attention, Robin then played a snippet of the news footage to further brief his teammates.
"…Tragedy struck today as a rare artifact was stolen from a recently constructed exhibit on Native American culture. In a show of bravado, a single piece of paper with the phrase, "Stay out of Harm's way," was left inside the glass display case in place of the artifact.
According to many Native American legends, the relic is alleged to grant its bearer incredible power for use during animist ritual harvest and sacrificial ceremonies. These powers are believed to include manipulation of elemental forces such as water, fire, and lightning. Despite these myths, scholars, researchers, and archaeologists maintain the relic, though tremendously valuable and sacred, does not possess any supernatural powers.
The robbery has also stirred further controversy as forensic investigators have concluded that it occurred mere minutes after the thrilling bank robbery had been thwarted by the police department in conjunction with teenage vigilantes, Young Justice. Currently, the police are investigating a possible link between the two robberies."
Robin stopped the footage.
For the team, so much more had already begun; things that cannot be so easily stopped. The crowded room grew deathly silent with the revelation of their adversary's return. Through the numbing glow of the screen, Harm's snickering memento stared back at them. Those five measly words scribbled on a piece of paper contained the power to destroy the momentous pride they each shared in foiling the bank robbery. What was once so meaningful now seemed tainted and inconsequential.
As they each adjusted to the expanding scope of the previously menial bank heist, the pressure in the room intensified. Contrary to the stymied atmosphere, Superboy, as was his ordinary predilection, stood apart from the rest. Failing to register anything other than indifference, the Kid rose from his chair and brashly stated, "So what's the big deal?"
For a second, Robin stood unable to respond. The callow irreverence uttered by Superboy was virtually unfathomable to him. After all that had happened, after all he had just heard, how, in any reasonable manner, could he be so consciously devoid of priorities.
Infuriated by his comment, Robin heatedly responded, "What's the big deal? What's the big deal? The big deal is that we blindly walked right into Harm's plan! The big deal is that he knows us better than we know him, or even ourselves! He knows us so well in fact, that he predicted our every last move, and we moronically met his every expectation like mindless marionettes! As arrogant as he is, he knows we are a million times more vain and narcissistic."
To the initial alarm of his friends, Robin spoke with an acidic vitriol he seldom ever channeled. Even he, as he spoke, realized his temper flaring uncontrollably. Though aimed at his stunned teammates, Robin's anger was rooted elsewhere. Manifesting here, his scathing aggression had been brimming beneath the surface since long before the birth of the day.
Understanding his tone was as out of line as it was unnecessary, Robin calmed himself, and exhaling deeply, he continued, "You can all see that, can't you? Can't anyone at least see that it's not enough to just stop criminals? We have to be better than that. Most of those robbers we stopped today will need years of physical therapy to recover. The city will lose thousands of dollars in repairs for damage we caused in a matter of seconds."
While ordinarily soft spoken, the words of the Robin standing before them resonated with insight and intensity. Nevertheless, Robin was not the only member of Young Justice to have his emotions erupt over the issue.
Debating, for but a moment as to whether he should or should not offer his controversial opinion, Superboy challenged, "Look, I know you're the leader and everything, but I gotta call you out on what you're saying. Rob, you're wrong."
The air grew thick as the words stagnated around them. To each member, Superboy's candid words were vocal warheads targeted at the foundation of the team itself. Perhaps the most deadly aspect of what he and Robin had said was that they both sincerely meant each and every word.
As if daring him to continue, Robin's frigid eyes locked onto those of Superboy. Undeterred, Superboy confidently pressed on, "We came in and did exactly what we were supposed to do, and that's kick butt. We ain't babysitters for the city. We don't help old ladies cross the street or tie kids' shoelaces. We do what no one else can do, and we do it better than everyone else."
Pausing briefly, Superboy laxly brushed his shoulder and concluded, "So what if Harm wants to try and mess with us. Let him. We'll shut him down without breaking a sweat."
Processing every inane statement Superboy had just made, Robin failed to uncover validity in even one word Superboy had said. Determined to enlighten him as to the seriousness of the situation, Robin sternly reinforced, "This isn't a game, Kid. These are lives we are playing with."
Caught between this war of words, Wondergirl immediately grew uncomfortable upon the mention of the lives of others. She knew Robin was right. She knew it the very moment that steel pistol clanged against the innocent hostage's face. If she had just been more careful, if, as she allowed herself to accept, she had taken the situation more serious, then it would never have happened.
She shakily reminded herself that the hostage was perfectly fine after all. In this veneer of reason, Wondergirl nestled her jilted psyche. Much to her own surprise, Wondergirl found herself entering the conversation, asserting, "But no one was hurt."
At this, XS too jumped into the conversation, vehemently reminding everyone, "But someone could have been hurt. Maybe next time someone won't be so lucky."
Stephanie Brown, who up to this point had remained unheard, insisted, "I mean that's all well and good, but this is real life. Things like this happen. We can't always pull our punches and look over our shoulders every second because we're afraid we won't do things perfectly according to the Superhero guidebook!"
Within an instant, the team that moments ago sat in wed silence was now ablaze with quarrelsome debate. Soon the entire team, save two members, venomously shouted at each other as they unsuccessfully tried to argue their point of view. Whereas Secret feared to speak, Impulse had nothing to say. Nevertheless, they were both, in their own ways, just as affected.
Interrupting their clash of ideals, the Justice computer blared with a police wire update that roared above the raucous wash of male and female shouts. The crisp sound served to sober the separating seven long enough for their attention to turn to the monitor. Before their eyes, everything, for the time being at least, became clear once more.