Part 2: Unnatural Disaster
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Summary: Wally West struggles through his recovery but what happens when he gets an offer he can't refuse? What will it mean for him, for the world and for his future with the League?
Disclaimer: The DC characters are not mine. I'm just playing with them. They'll be returned eventually, not in good condition but that can hardly be blamed on me!
Author's Note: Major computer problems interfering with my stuff.
A/N (18/09/06): Lil' Candy pointed out to me that I had Dr. Starling instead of Dr. Hamilton. I don't know how I got the name mixed up with a Star Trek character. Anyway, it's been fixed. Thanks.
Chapter 5 - Consilio et Armis
J'onn was in the main command centre overlooking the large atrium reminiscent of the orbiting Watch Tower. It'd been two week since THE press conference. Two week in which they'd had absolutely not contact with the Wally, now officially announced to be the Flash. The media circus was dying down as the newest events made the headlines related to Flash and Strike Force Alpha smaller and further away from page one.
"Vixen, how are things coming along?" J'onn asked through the communications system.
"Stand-off is still going strong. The owner has strongly advised against making a move. He's worried that the artefacts may be damaged if there was a fight. We can't go in without his say so."
"Where's Green Lantern?"
"Went to check out the owner and scope out the museum's surrounding. He thinks the owner might be conspiring with Nightshade in an insurance scam," she explained.
J'onn shook his head. "It always comes back to money."
"At least we know what to expect. Vixen out."
J'onn nodded in agreement. Greed was simple.
"Hey, J'onn," greeted Diana as she walked onto the bridge. "Have you…heard anything?" She asked trying to sound nonchalant. It didn't work and the Martian easily picked out the worry in her voice. He was reluctant to disappoint her but he couldn't lie.
J'onn shook his head. "We've received no communications from Wally." It felt awkward speaking Flash's real name out loud, especially in the Tower but many people already were.
"It's been two weeks. He should have reported in by now."
"He has no obligation to report in to us."
"I know." She huffed out a breath. "I was just hoping to hear something. We don't even know where they took him." She tapped a few keys on a nearby console. It was a gesture of unrest. J'onn had assigned missions to Green Lantern and Shayera just to keep them from barging into every military complex in the country to find their friend. Superman was keeping busy with work and straining all of Clark Kent's informants for information on Seaman West. They hadn't heard from Batman in days but that wasn't unusual.
"It's almost unreal, all of this," Diana murmured softly and J'onn silently agreed. A few months ago they'd won one of their greatest victories, reaffirmed the public's faith in the Justice League and were moving forward together. The decrease in tension had given time for more personal issues to be addressed but before they could be resolved a new enemy had struck. So much was now up in the air.
Shayera and Green Lantern had yet to sort out their relationship. It was currently in a state of near permanent hiatus. What little personal life Superman had outside of the league had dwindled to almost nothing and though it didn't much show, the strain of it was beginning to tire him out. J'onn just needed a vacation. He'd been working for the League practically non-stop since it's inception.
That only left Batman and Wonder Woman. The relationship she thought they had been working towards seemed to have died, at least on Bruce's end. Maybe she was reading too much into his actions but he seemed to be avoiding her.
"A lot has changed," said J'onn.
"I suppose it's silly to wish things back the way they were."
"Not silly." Many people wished the same thing, and it never came true. "Just not possible."
+JLU+
For Wally and the rest of SFA the training continued. They gradually added distance to their runs and swims and Wally continued to train with the weighted vest. Lorelli had the remote receiver from the unit removed so it could only be controlled by the panel on the vest, thus preventing a repetition of the event in the pool. In addition to the fitness, fighting and weapons training, Wally was also subjected to numerous tests. At first they just had him on a treadmill with a breathing apparatus in his mouth to monitor his oxygen intake and electrodes on his chest and legs to monitor his heart and the muscled contractions. The military scientists were making the most of their rare opportunity to study a meta-human.
They'd taken biopsies of his muscles and his lungs in an effort to determine the physiological basis of his speed. They were nice enough to share some of the results with their subject, explaining the complicated tests and terms. Still even with all their work they couldn't figure out how Wally's speed was possible.
"I told you it was an accident," he mumbled, head resting on the tabletop.
Some shuffling noises made it to his ears before the voice. "Yes the chemicals and the lightning. But that still doesn't account for everything."
"For one, you shouldn't have survived such an accident," a woman's voice added.
Wally rolled his head to face the other way. "I guess I'm just lucky."
The two interrogators glanced at each other. "We know you're tired but-"
"Tired doesn't begin to cover it," he murmured, his soft but angry voice cutting off the woman's sentence. "You wear an extra three hundred pounds and go through basic training. Then you can tell me you know how tired I am."
A sigh then, "You have to cooperate with us."
West laughed. It was a shaky heart-twisting sound because they swore they could hear a sob in it. He raised his head from the table to look at them. "Make me."
A dark one-way mirror took up a large portion of one wall. On the other side General Eiling shook his head in mock disappointment. Nex to thim Dr. Hamilton, the researcher and once trusted friend of Superman watched the interview as well. He'd been working behind the scenes trying to crack the code of Wally West's stable and balanced meta-human strengths. He'd had his own success with cloning a super powered being but granting superpowers to a normal person was the next step. West could hold the key.
"Well this is going well," said Eiling.
Hamilton, had more sympathy for the young man. "He's tired and unhappy. We've forced him here and his resentment should be expected."
"It's still unacceptable."
Hamilton shook his head knowing that Eiling was considering the procedure, which Ross had already nixed.
"We have to be patient."
"I don't have time for patience. I've got men and women under my command who are severely out-armed against these freaks."
"They're not freaks," Hamilton said, his voice tainted with anger, "They have gifts. We should all be so lucky."
"I like my luck the way it is."
Hamilton sighed in aggravation. He wouldn't pursue this debate any further. It was clear to him that Eiling had made up his mind. "You saw Dox on TV. If you consider what Mister West has likely been through, you'd understand his behaviour." Hamilton pointed to the redheaded man who was hunched over in his chair and had his head resting on the metal table. "He's been through something traumatic and he hasn't healed."
"When did you become a shrink?" the General scoffed.
"I'm glad you agree he needs to see one."
Eiling glared at the slightly shorter man. "I didn't say that." Hamilton was about to say something but Eiling continued. "However, if he needs one I'll see to it that he gets one." Eiling smiled pleasantly, sending a chill down Dr. Hamilton's spine. The Army general began to walk out of the small room. He paused in the doorway. "Oh, and make sure you're experiment is ready soon. I want her in top shape AND under better control this time. Hmm?"
Hamilton only responded with a glare at the uniformed man. He waited until the door closed before looking back at the superhero that appeared to have fallen asleep. It was clear to him that Wally West was falling into a state of depression. Isolated from his friends and family, forced into a situation not of his choosing, it was enough to make a regular person depressed. For West this was a nail in his coffin. He needed help and Hamilton wasn't sure he could trust Eiling to get the right kind.
+JLU+
"Well he can hold his own. That's for sure," said Marks. Other members of the team nodded. They were sitting together at a table in the cafeteria discussing their latest recruit.
"Anybody who can run around the world in a couple of seconds and stop on a dime should be able to hold his own," Onade said as she picked at her dinner. She'd been in the military for years but she couldn't get used to the food
"I still don't think he belongs here," Lawrence grumbled.
"What's your problem with him?" A man near the end of the table asked.
"I have no problem with him! It's the whole situation! They did something to him. I don't know what but…" Lawrence trailed off in thought.
"But?" another team member prompted.
"I don't know! Something's just off."
"Forced conscription?" Marks suggested.
"I'm pretty sure they don't do that anymore," Onade said absently as she eyed a vegetable that had seen better days.
"I'm pretty sure that if they did we'd never know about it." Lawrence glanced over his shoulder just to make sure nobody was eavesdropping.
Marks shook his head in consternation. "How can you be a conspiracy nut and part of the military?"
"See, I'm trying to bring the whole organization down from the inside. The way I see it-"
"Ugh. Forget I asked."
"Look. The bottom line is that he's part of the team now. And I for one think that he's ready for the ceremony," Lorelli, who'd been silent throughout the meal, said.
"Alright!" crowed Marks as he rubbed his hands together in excitement. "I'll get the shaver."
"You're not going to let him do it are you?" Another member asked their leader. "You saw what he did to my hair."
+JLU+
The knock on his door went ignored. The second set of knocks got the same response as the third. He knew it was only a matter of seconds before he'd have to get up but it was worth it. Those damn scientists had let him go just twenty minutes ago and he'd come back to his bed to crash.
"West! Get your ass out here!"
Wally cringed. It was Lorelli. He gave his pillow a weak punch as he forced himself up and to the door. He opened it and stared groggily at his commanding officer.
Lorelli eyed him for a moment before bringing his right hand from behind his back and showing Wally what he had. The redhead perked up immediately. Lorelli had two sugar loaded chocolate bars in his hand.
Lorelli watched West slowly reach up to take the candy bars, his eyes glancing back and forth between the treats and the man who held them. It was like trying to gain the trust of a scared animal. Eventually Wally took them and cautiously took a bite of the first one.
"Come with me," Lorelli ordered and Wally kept step behind him. They went a few doors down the corridor to another room. Wally paused at the door when he saw the rest of alpha team crammed into the small room. They were all grinning. Wally didn't think that bode well for him or his dignity.
"As the newest member of Strike Force Alpha, and having proven yourself worthy, it is time for your coronation," Marks announced in a grand voice. Wally glanced around as he was forced to sit in a chair.
"What is this?" He asked cautiously.
"It's time for a hair cut my friend," another man answered, patting him on the shoulder. "The very hip, very styling, military issue buzz cut." Many heads turned as the shaver turned on and the low buzz was heard. "At least we hope it's going to be a buzz cut."
"I resent that," Marks said as he began cutting. Locks of bright red hair slowly began to fall to the floor. A few minutes later when the shaver was off the group stood around their youngest member and couldn't stop grinning.
"What?" Wally asked, wondering how bad it could be. It was just hair.
A woman in the group with light brown hair shook her head. "You look terrible," she said with a laugh.
Wally grinned as he was handed a mirror and saw for himself. It wasn't uneven, the setting on the end of the shaver takes care of that but he would admit he looked pretty bad with a buzz cut. "I thought I was better looking that this," he joked, turning his head side to side to get different views.
Lorelli crouched down behind him so that Wally could see his reflection in the mirror. "Welcome to the team, kid." He received many spats on the shoulder and rubs to this new haircut.
"Thanks, but you think you could quit with the 'kid' thing?"
Lorelli shrugged without concern. "Sport it is then."
"Or Champ."
"Or Buddy," quickly came the suggestions.
They shared a laugh but Wally vowed to make sure that the dumb nicknames came to an end. It was nice though, to be part of the group. He felt less unsure, less lost. As he looked around at them, his new team he was grateful to have them. They were like a buffer against the rest of the world that he wasn't quite sure how to deal with. Still, he knew though that he could never really be one of them. They couldn't replace the Justice League. They couldn't replace his friends.
+JLU+
A few days later a silent alarm was tripped at a high security government lab. Most of the items in the lab were leading edge technology deemed too dangerous for use. It would be years and in some cases even decades before the items where put to use safely. It was no surprise then that this was where the last of the CADMUS technology was located. The equipment that the organization had confiscated was locked up in special vaults to which even some of the highest-ranking officials in the government didn't have access.
Perhaps most feared of all the items were the remains of the Dark Heart. This feared piece of nano-technology had fallen to earth and caused nothing but trouble, first when it tried to take over and then when Brainiac and Luthor made their own pitch for total domination. Unsurprisingly, the security surrounding the nano-tech was completely encompassing and highly redundant.
The thieves made it through several levels of the alarm system but it only took one mistake to set it all off.
"We're in," Yall told her partner.
"About time." The door to the desired vault opened and Vril walked in brushing past her without a glance. Their next problem struck pretty quickly. The room was empty.
"I thought you said it would be here," Yall accused. Her gaze slid across the empty room and it's empty shelves.
"My sources said it would be here."
"You can't trust humans. You give these beings far too much credit." Yall turned to leave only to come face to face with another problem. "Gentlemen, we were just about to leave." Vril glanced over his shoulder and saw the large group of armed security personnel with their guns drawn and trained on them.
"Down on the ground!"
Vril turned away. "I think not. Yall take care of them please."
+JLU+
The military police arrived a few minutes before the Justice League and the officials ordered them to stay back. Superman, Supergirl, Green Lantern, Hawk and Dove where forced to watch from a distance as the military tried to deal with the two intruders. No sounds were coming from the interior of the building, not even a progress report from the security team that was already inside. It was clear to the veteran heroes that the fight wasn't going well and just as Supergirl was suggesting they intervene another black helicopter landed at the front of the government lab building.
Everyone already had an idea of who it was and they weren't disappointed. Superman used his super-vision to confirm.
"There's Wally."
"Is he okay?" Green Lantern asked quickly. From their vantage he couldn't make out any details.
"He looks alright. They gave him a hair cut," Superman said with forced neutrality. He didn't trust the military not to take advantage of Wally and his powers. The Flash was a powerful person. Superman hoped he didn't become a powerful adversary.
"Where are your weapons?" Lawrence whispered to West as they entered the building.
"I don't use guns," Wally replied unapologetically and continued in. The lights had gone out and the dark corridors hid the team in its shadows. Their dark, heavily armoured uniforms kept them safe, held their various weapons in the numerous pockets and helped them blend in the lack of lighting. Personally Wally thought the urban camouflage looked a little gaudy with its multi-grey patches. His was different than the others. His was tighter, not as tight as his Flash costume but clingy enough that it wouldn't cause any trouble at high speeds.
They were nearly to the high security vaults when the end of the corridor vanished in a ball of fire. When it cleared Yall stood among the wreckage dusting herself off.
"You!" Lorelli called as he and the rest of the team raised their weapons. "Stay where you are!"
"I don't take orders from you," she said blandly without looking at them.
Wally swallowed back the nausea that threatened at the sight of one of his captors. "Be careful," he warned the group softly. "She has a lot of nasty tricks. And if she's here then her partner's not far away."
"Lawrence, Onade," Lorelli called. The two officers responded by removing the large weapons strapped to their backs and taking aim. The CS-9 rifles, sleek, light a packed a punch that only the most powerful of meta-human could walk away from. And for beings with specific weaknesses, things like kryptonite radiation could be added.
The two soldiers had the weapons up and ready in a few scant seconds but before they could get a shot off Yall struck. With one smooth motion she unhooked the laser whip from her belt and lashed out at the small contingent.
Everyone managed to duck in time to avoid decapitation but Lawrence's gun was slashed in half with one clean cut. The top half slid off and fell to the floor with a clank.
"Find cover!" Lorelli yelled and the group shifted up and down the hall, hiding behind large pieces of debris that provided them little cover. "We need to disarm her," Lorelli said to Marks and West who were next to him.
"I'll get her," Wally announced and stepped out from their shelter.
"You again," Yall sneered when she saw him. "I should have killed you when I had the chance."
"Damn right."
Wally ran at her striking her twice before she managed to defend herself. She caught his third punch with a small circular disk. Upon collision with it his kinetic energy was drained away in a flash of blue light. He struck again with his other fist, harder this time and though she caught his punch again the energy being emitted form the device was a constant and bright white. The disk began to vibrate and sharp sounds were released as cracks formed in its exterior. Without warning all the air was sucked into the small disk and just as suddenly released mixed with a ball of fire.
Yall and Wally were blown in opposite directions. Yall somersaulted in mid air lining herself up parallel with the floor so that she could push off the wall that she was thrown towards. She landed on the wall and crouched there. Almost defying gravity as the force of the explosion held her up.
Wally didn't fair quite as well. The blast had him spinning and tumbling in a mostly uncontrolled manner. He did manage to get his feet over his head and one hand to the floor giving him just enough of a spring to land on his feet in a low crouch. He turned his head away from the rapidly expanding dark cloud of smoke letting it over take him.
"West!" someone called into the clearing haze.
Wally was still in the same position. When the air around him was a little clearer he exhaled pushing out long stream of dark smoke.
"Well," he coughed. "That sucked."
Several of the team members looked at him in shock, surprised that he'd even survived.
They didn't get a chance to say anything to him. He was off and running before they could stop him. Yall was just picking herself up and Wally wanted to strike first. A flash of light from the corner of his eye alerted him to danger and he ducked, narrowly avoiding the blast of energy.
Wally only caught a glimpse of Vril's smirking face before a hail of weapon's fire had him scrambling for cover. Thin bolts of red from the rest of the SFA team streaked past keeping Yall and Vril pinned down and Wally temporarily safe from them.
As they lay down cover fire Lorelli ordered his team to advance, slowly closing the distance between them and their targets. A bolt made glancing contact with Yall's shoulder tearing her shirt and sending white-hot pain through her limb. She curled tighter, teeth clenched against the pain and the irritation of being trapped. She snuck a glance around the large piece of concrete which protected her and saw Vril motion for her to escape. She didn't ask any questions, just acted.
From her crouch she ran as fast as possible to the wall in front of her and struck it hard, shoulder first. The damaged wall gave way with a loud crash, cement pulverizing into dust. Lorelli and the others continued to fire into the cloud of dust but it quickly became apparent that she was gone. They stopped firing and with their weapons raised crept to where she had been.
A few simple hand gestures from their leader had the group splitting up into three small sects. The first went towards Wally and Yall's former position. Another cautiously approached the opening where Vril had been, while the third covered their rear.
"You mind pointing those somewhere else?" Wally asked with his hands up when several weapons shifted to him as he stood from his hiding spot. The guns, varying in size and function quickly moved away and the group continued to the newest hole in a wall.
"Clear!" The call punctuated to relative quiet.
"Clear," came another as the teams searched the immediate area finding nothing.
"I've got injured," a man called as he stumbled across the initial security team that had answered the silent alarm. More of SFA rushed over to aid.
"You three, stay with them," Marks ordered as he went back to Lorelli. "I don't think they got what they came for. From what I could see the vault was empty."
"Or they got everything they came for," Lorelli countered.
"Probably looking for the Dark Heart." Marks and Lorelli pivoted to face their speedster. "Apparently it's the most advance nano-tech anywhere."
"The one Brainiac merged with," Marks said with realization. They'd been briefed on various events and given meagre amounts of information on their foes.
"Hopefully CADMUS moved it before today, otherwise we're going to be in some trouble." Lorelli took a breath and than began giving more orders. They still had to find Vril and Yall. Something was telling him that they couldn't have gone far. Practically a whole army was waiting outside for them and he knew that the Justice League was nearby.
Three team members worked to help the injured officers while the rest of the team made their way out.
+JLU+
"I see someone coming out," said Superman. Due to their distance away from the scene it was up to him to keep the rest of the team abreast of the details. He'd already told them about the burst of smoke and debris a minute ago. Something was going on inside and they all felt the urge to be there. In a moment Superman and Green Lantern would be the first to give into the urge. "It's her!"
"Who?" John asked.
"The one who was at the Lunar base, the woman who saved Vril!"
They both remembered the battle they had with Vril on the base as it began to fail. They'd had him in their grasp when a surprise attack put them on the defensive and gave Vril and opening to escape. Wally had also divulged that it had been her who'd worked him over while he'd been their hostage.
As the memories and anger flooded back Clark and John reacted. Supergirl shrugged at Hawk and Dove who were on the ground a few feet below. She flew off after her cousin and GL. The two brothers ran along below them.
When she emerged from the building Yall was brought up short by the armada of troops and tanks spread around the building. Vril came out the building a second later and halted next to Yall.
"I'll take care of them." Vril opened his hand and on to his empty palm a series of small orbs appeared in a strange ripple of space. He threw the orbs at the troops and watched with a smile as the humans shrunk back from the small objects. Just as they were about to land a dark streak swept by in a gust of wind and caught them all. Wally tossed the small spheres up as far as he could. In midair two bands of red and green lasers hit the orbs detonating them high above.
"Exploding marbles? Not really original," West taunted. Vril smiled at him and Yall glared. Wally preferred the glare, as Vril's gaze on him was very unsettling. He was spared from it by the arrival of five Justice Leaguers. Superman and Green Lantern landed in front of him, a protective shield from Vril.
"Surrender now!" Superman ordered. "You're out numbered!"
Vril laughed raucously. "Please. Those miniscule beings don't count." He gestured to the numerous humans.
The Green Lantern smirked, thoroughly looking forward to what was going to happen in a second. "I wouldn't tell them that." He pointed behind the two Coluans to the several armed men and women. The blast from their weapons seemed to merge into one massive force striking Vril and Yall all at once. Unfortunately the bright red almost white blast was deflected.
"I knew this thing would come in handy," said Vril with amusement. He held up the T-shaped object for a moment then made a wide arcing motion towards the team. Wally recognized the motion.
"Watch out!" He yelled and ran off. Arriving a split-second before his warning Wally, in a last ditch effort to protect them, transferred as much kinetic energy as possible to the air in front of the group hoping to counteract the energy Vril had sent.
When the two masses collided in an invisible event shock waves were released, neutralizing any and all sound for several seconds. Vril and Yall didn't wait around. In the total silence Vril took off. It was strange seeing a normal looking man fly, especially since he wasn't in some gaudy costume. Yall, unable to fly but still very strong, leapt to the air. Supergirl caught up to her too easily and struck her down. Vril dodged both Superman and Green Lanter, though barely, and caught Yall from her perilous descent. He flew quickly away with his partner in his grasp, three powerful beings on his tail. None of them noticed the small object drop from Yall's pocket.
It crashed to the ground breaking into three pieces.
Hawk and Dove who'd been following on foot made it to the site of the objects landing. Hawk was too busy watching the fight to notice the strange debris.
"Man, I didn't get to do anything!" he complained.
"Hank, look at this."
"What?" Hawk walked over and stared down at the small piece of something in Dove's gloved hand.
"I think they dropped it."
"Then it's probably worthless."
"I don't think they dropped it intentionally," Dove said with mild exasperation.
"And I don't think you should use words with more then three syllables," Hawk said absently as another piece caught his eye. He picked it. "Bingo!" The second piece was smaller than the first one but it fit nicely into the jagged break in it.
"Hey," a voice called. "I think I've got a piece of it too." Dove and Hawk watched as Wally West approached them. It was the first time they'd seen him in person. Hawk looked him up and down with narrowed eyes. He took in the new uniform and the insignia stitched into it.
"Flash?" Dove asked.
The redhead gave a crooked but charming smile. "The one and only." He held out the last piece to them. "Here."
"I'm sure your new employer would like to have a look at that," Hawk said with suspicion. This guy was the same body-type as the Flash. Spoke like him too, yet somehow Hawk couldn't equate this man with his friend.
"My new employer and I…we have considerable differences of opinions." He tossed the artefact to Dove.
"You could get into a lot of trouble for this," Dove said worriedly. The stuttered sound of a helicopter engine overhead had the three men looking up. A dark, standard military chopper began to circle them as they were unable to keep up with the battle in the air.
"I think that's for you," Hawk said watching the chopper.
Wally's lips pressed to together in resentment. "Probably."
"West!" a deep and angry voice called through the comm. unit in his ear, "Get that thing from them! That's an order!"
"Eiling," Wally grumbled under his breath.
"What?" Dove asked.
"Nothing. Just get out of here." The two heroes continued to stare at him. "Are you dense? Go!"
Dove glanced to his brother. "Come on." After a parting wave to Wally he left.
"Come with us," Hawk hissed at West but the uniformed man just shook his head.
"I can't."
Hawk looked him over, not understanding. The Flash was a powerful guy. There wasn't a lot that could cage him. Then why did he stand before Hawk now, not physically restrained but unable to get away?
"Flash what's going on? What have they done?"
"West, why are you just standing there?" The yell in his ear was almost painful this time.
"Hawk, go!"
Seeing that he wasn't going to get any more information Hawk did as he was told and was soon gone.
"What the hell is doing?" Eiling yelled in the small cab of the helicopter. He threw his binoculars to the floor and addressed the man next to him. "Take him out!"
"Hawk, sir? He's out of range."
"Not Hawk! West! I want him down, Gibson."
"Yes, sir." The man, dressed in the same camouflage uniform as the SFA members and with the same weapons crouched at the edge of the open door of the helicopter. "Bring us around wider," Gibson asked of the pilot who quickly complied.
On the ground Wally looked away from the circling helicopter. It was very likely that he'd get in trouble for what he'd done. He began to head back to the rest of his new team unaware that the first part of his punishment was coming towards him at and alarming rate.
+JLU+
A bolt of green energy passed through the fading ripple and hit nothing.
"Damn it!"
Vril had somehow created a small portal, a convenient exit for the two fiends. They'd been too far away to follow them through or get a successful shot off. Vril and Yall had escaped again.
"Don't worry about it, John. We'll get them next time," Superman said.
"I don't want there to be a next time. Each time he gets away is another chance for him to go after Wally!"
"What do you want me to do about it?" Superman countered in the same tone. "You think I let him escape? I was there too! I saw what he did! I know what he's capable of!"
"Stop it!"
John and Clark were instantly silenced.
Kara was red-faced both from the exertion of chasing after Vril and the blue-skinned woman with him and the shot they'd gotten off at her before they slipped away. "We're all on the same side! Nodoby wants him to get away. Stop blaming each other! Just stop it!" She took several deep breaths before flying away.
Clark watched her go and didn't venture a word of apology for many seconds. "Sorry."
"Me too."
"Let's see if Wally is still around."
They flew back towards the CADMUS headquarters and spotted a chopper circling a short distance away.
"Wonder what's going on," said Lantern flying a length behind Superman.
They arrived just in time to see a bright laser beam travel from the helicopter and down to a man standing in the open green-space. The laser struck him in the back and he fell to the ground immediately.
"That's Wally!"
Superman flew down. Green Lantern took care of the helicopter. A pulse of green energy took out the rear rotor putting the aircraft in a dangerous spin. Lantern created a green blanket around the craft and brought it gently to the ground. When both he and the damaged chopper were on the earth he didn't removed the shield. The green walls produced by the ring remained up encasing the passengers and pilots within.
"Superman, what's going on?" John called over his shoulder. When Superman didn't respond John looked over his shoulder at the red-caped man crouched next to a still figure on the ground. His moment of inattention to the chopper was costly.
The same weapon that was used to fire at Wally was shot at the green barrier sending strong feedback through the beam of green energy and into John's ring. The barrier fell as Stewart cried out in pain. He grasped his right hand with his left holding the tingling appendage.
"Another shot from this weapon and you'll end up like your friend over there," a man in grey fatigues said, training his weapon directly on the Green Lantern.
"Why did you shoot him?" John demanded as sweat broke out across his forehead. The pain beginning in his hand was rapidly travelling up his arm. The muscles under his skin were suffering painful spasms.
"He's being uncooperative," Eiling said as he stepped down from the helicopter. He walked past the Green Lantern who had fallen to his knees as muscle distress spread through his body. "At ease, Marine," said Eiling, a pleased smirk on his face. John could only glare up as they passed him.
Meanwhile Superman was trying to get a response from Wally. He was laying on the ground with his eyes clenched shut and hands coiled into tight fists.
"Wally!" Superman was helpless. He wasn't a doctor, had no healing abilities, all he could do was watch.
Lorelli and the rest of Strike Force Alpha arrived and gathered around their fallen comrade in arms. "West, hold on," Lorelli said. He held out his hand and an object was immediately place there. It was a specially designed booster to counteract the effects of their weapons. The blast was known to reflect off certain surfaces, a hazard for the good guys since they could become victims of their own weapon.
Just before Lorelli could administer the antidote Eiling was close. "Stand down!"
"Sir, he needs-"
"He needs to follow orders. He didn't retrieve the items from Hawk and Dove and he's reaped the consequences."
Strike Force Alpha and Superman stared at Eiling. The military personnel had hoped, however naïvely, that the shot at West had been an accident. They now knew that was certainly not the case.
"I'll have Gibson's team pick him up and bring him back to base."
Gibson pressed the device in his ear and quietly requested an immediate evacuation.
"You're not taking him!" Superman stood up so that he was toe-to-toe with the General.
"Are you really going to try and stop me?" Eiling smiled condescendingly for a moment then the false cheer vanished leaving the cold exterior exposed. "Don't start a war you can't finish, Alien."
Another helicopter landed and several men disemebarked. Three aimed their weapons at Superman and the other three picked up West's now unconscious body and carried him to the craft.
"Try something," Wade couldn't help the taunt escaping his lips. "End up like your friend over there." He tilted his head back pointing to the Green Lantern who was still on the ground.
Superman was sorely tempted but didn't give in. He couldn't risk them doing something to Wally or John before he could get to them and he didn't want to start a war with people he should be working with side-by-side.
A few seconds later Eiling, Gibson and the two pilot's GL had taken down were on the new, undamaged craft with Wally and were airborne.
"Move out. Back to base," Lorelli ordered and the soldiers under his command obeyed.
"You Captain Lorelli?" Superman asked.
"Yes. You going to warn me to take care of your man or they'll be hell to pay."
"It appears I don't have too."
"That's right. You don't." Lorelli walked off, following the rest of Strike Force Alpha. Superman went to John.
As he picked up the barely conscious man Clark received a call from Kara informing him that Hawk and Dove had found something.
+JLU+
"Tanner, check if West was dropped off at his bunk."
"I doubt it." She followed the order anyway.
"They have to take him to the infirmary to let him recover from the shot, especially if they haven't given him the counter-agent yet," Marks said.
Lawrence wasn't so sure. "Eiling said he was being uncooperative." he glanced around. "It makes sense that he'd try to remedy the situation."
+JLU+
"Strap him down. Make sure it's tight."
"Yes, sir."
Wally was manhandled into position face down on the operating table. The jostling brought him back to consciousness.
"What…are you doing?" His lids drooped over his dull eyes. The resistance he tried to put up went unnoticed by those around him.
"I'm fixing a problem you seem to be having."
"My only problem…is you." Hands gently position his head to rest comfortably in the circular support at the end of the table. As soon as the grasp moved away he found the strength to turn his head towards Eiling. "You're an ass," Wally intoned bluntly leaving several of the people in the room nodding mentally in agreement.
"And you have a problem following orders. That's pretty unpatriotic." Eiling crossed his arms.
"No, saluting the flag…with one finger. That …is unpatriotic," Wally managed.
"No doubt a punk like you probably has."
"Haven't felt the desire to 'til recently,"
Eiling shook his head in disgust. "You have no concept of sacrifice. Street trash like you never does."
"Sir, we're ready to begin," the neurosurgeon stated.
"Good. Put him under. I'm sick of listening to him talk." Eiling walked out. He would observe the procedure from the small room looking down on the operating theatre.
+JLU+
"They've got him in there!" Marks yelled as he and two others tried unsuccessfully to open the solid titanium doors by force. "They're doing something!"
Lorelli and Onade slowed from their run that brought down the corridor and looked through the small, tempered-glass window in the doors. There was another entrance separating the outer room from the OR with a heavy plastic curtain. They could only see Wally from his upper back to his head. He was face down on the bed, arms spread to the side and strapped down with metal bands.
"God, what are they doing to him?" Onade breathed in shock.
Lorelli took off down the hallway again.
+JLU+
"Are you trying to kill him?" Lorelli demanded.
General Eiling didn't even turn to the lower ranking office that had just burst into the observation room. He stared down at his weapon being fitted with a permanent remote, or more accurately a type of shock collar.
"Have a little respect when you're addressing a superior officer."
"Moving to phase three of the procedure. Wake the patient."
An assisting nurse nodded and pushed a clear solution into Wally's IV.
"Behold Lex Luthor's contribution to our cause," Eiling said, satisfaction in his voice. He'd been waiting for a reason to do this procedure and West's insubordination was exactly what he needed. On the table in the OR a pattern of interrupted concentric circles had been added to Wally's back in half-inch bands of a dark metallic compound. Small arms interrupted the pattern of the rings, reaching out a little further across Wally's back. One reached up to the nape of his neck, another to just above the small of his back and others off to various positions around the pattern. On a tray next to the operating tools were several slender needles of different lengths.
"You can't do this!"
"I already am. Think of me as a patriot. I'm doing this for our country, our people."
"One man's patriot is another man's traitor."
Eiling conceded with a shrug. "Maybe but I'm on the winning side."
"Starting with the first probe." The comments and orders from the OR were played on the speakers in the observation room. So was Wally's scream.
"Stop this!" Lorelli pinned the General against the glass overlooking the operation.
Eiling was prepared. He pulled out a tazer and pressed the two prongs to Lorelli's mid-section.
The officer collapsed to the ground convulsing as the electricity wrought havoc on his body. While he was down Eiling exited the room and using his override codes locked the door shut with the panel on the outside. The sound of the locks engaging was satisfying. He'd leave Lorelli in there to suffer along side West. Maybe they'd both come out of it a little more obedient.
When he was recovered from the shock Lorelli quickly discovered he was trapped. West's screams continued to play through the speakers rubbing away at Javier's already raw nerves. He threw a chair at the glass hoping to break it but the chair bounced harmlessly away despite the force he'd applied. He went after the speakers next, attempting to damage them enough that the sounds would stop. Like the glass however, they held up under his assault even if there were a few extra dents left.
Another scream had Javier back-peddling quickly from the speaker. He collapsed against the glass, his back to the horror taking place below. He'd sit there for two more hours before the screaming ended. By the end of it Wally's voice would be harsh and barely existent, his screams nothing more then squeaky breaths and sobs.
Another hour would pass after that before somebody would find him and open the door. His first trip would be to a bathroom to throw up.
End Part 5 - By Counsel and by Arms
Phew…Ok, I'm having major computer issues right now hence the long time betwen updates. Sorry for the delay. I'm almost finished writing the story. I know how it's going to end, I just have to get there. My computer should be fixed by mid next week so hopefull updates will come quicker than they have been. Sorry this chapter was so long and thanks for reading:)
Sagga Bott…