Summary: The Team goes over its strategy for "Operation: Bastille Day." Alfred reminisces about his fateful meeting with Dr. Thomas Wayne.
~ / ~ / ~ / ~
Alpha-Omega Protocol
By Syl Francis
~ / ~ / ~ / ~
The Lair
Day 1/1900 EDT
~ / ~ / ~ / ~
Aqualad stood aside for Robin to begin going over the strategy for "Operation: Bastille Day."
"We can't take the fight to the Justice League just yet," Robin said straight from the top. "They're too freaking powerful and a whole lot more experienced than we are. And…as we all saw out at the Red Sands Testing Range this morning, we can't fight our own mentors one-on-one. They know us too well."
"You got that right," Rocket interjected. "I mean, I know that Icon is all that and everything, but it was like he could anticipate my every move—"
"Yeah…it was almost as if Uncle Barry knew what I was thinking even before I knew what I was thinking." Kid Flash's eyes widened at this last comment. "Hey—you don't think—?"
"—That they can actually read our minds?" Artemis finished skeptically. Then in a smaller voice, added, "I mean, not really…right?"
Robin and Aqualad both shook their heads. "I do not believe that is so," Aqualad said, his tone reassuring. "They simply know us too well, and as Robin stated, they are much more experienced. These qualities only make it seem as if they can read our minds. Unfortunately, it also makes them quite formidable opponents."
"Ain't that the truth?" Artemis grumbled.
"Okay, we know what we're up against," Robin said. "Remember, we know them too—their strengths and weaknesses. We'll need to use that to our advantage." He looked away for a moment, not enjoying the thought of plotting against their mentors—Batman especially. "So…in order to have even the slightest chance against the League—and hopefully avoiding fighting our mentors directly—we need to team up with a partner and coordinate our attacks."
"I don't have any problem partnering up with a member of the team," Artemis said. "But how do we know that the League members who come after us won't be our mentors?"
"We don't," Aqualad admitted. "However, by teaming up and coordinating our offensive and defensive moves, we stand a better chance of either avoiding direct contact, or at least, not having to face them alone."
"So, what's the plan?" Rocket asked.
"We have to draw them out," Robin began.
"How?" Kid Flash asked, not liking the sound of it. "We're not gonna dangle ourselves out like fish bait, are we?"
"Something like that," Robin admitted. "We're going to set up three similar terrorist scenarios in three different major cities, the idea being that this is the Justice League. If there are cities being attacked by unknown forces, then the League will deploy small teams to investigate."
"What if they don't?" M'Gann looked doubtful. "I mean…why should Vandal Savage care if there are cities in the US being attacked?"
"He probably won't," Robin said. "That's where the bait comes in. Once the explosives go off—"
"What explosives?" demanded Kid Flash.
"The explosives that you and I are going to set up, KF."
"Oh…those explosives," Kid Flash muttered, still unclear about the situation.
Robin sighed. "Here's the deal. We are going to set off a series of controlled explosives at the same time in three locations—Gotham City, Metropolis, and Washington, D.C. The explosives will be low yield, but produce a big bang…um, more like a big light show. In other words, they'll be the f/x type used on Hollywood sets—they look impressive, and yeah, they're still dangerous, but they're mostly more light and noise than destructive."
Aqualad stepped in. "We are getting ahead of ourselves, Robin. Please, explain the steps leading up to the explosions."
"Right…I was getting to that," Robin said hurriedly. "I have enough explosive material here in the Lair to make three good pyrotechnic shows. More, if we need them. Each of the cities I mentioned has a large, centrally located park that we can use in the predawn hours while it's still relatively empty."
"But what if some homeless people happen to be sleeping there?" Artemis protested.
"We'll call local TV stations, police and fire departments ahead of time to warn people," Robin explained. "We'll claim that we're some kind of wacko group fed up with the government. I don't know; we'll think of something. Anyway, we'll first do a recon and evac anyone we find near the blast radius before we blow anything up."
"Dick…?" Zatanna spoke up shyly, still hesitating over addressing him by his given name. As Dick turned to her, both youngsters blushed and ducked their heads. The older teens looked away to hide amused smiles.
"Um…yeah?" Robin mumbled.
"What did you mean that we're going to be bait?" Zatanna asked in a low voice. Shrugging, she added, "I don't really understand." As she spoke, she looked up hesitantly and met his eyes.
Smiling, Robin in turn almost forgot her question. Aqualad's clearing his throat and catching his eye, finally got Robin back to the discussion.
"Right! Bait! Ah…I mean, us as bait." Robin took a split second to compose his thoughts. "My idea involves calling TV stations and other media outlets in the three target cities. We're going to claim that we belong to a group no one's heard of before, and that we're fed up with the status quo. We'll also give them the exact time—5:30 a.m.—that we're setting off the preset explosives. Shortly before the explosives are to go off, we'll call the local police and warn them, too." He gave everyone a questioning look to see if they were following him. They all nodded.
"As soon as the media vans begin to show, and the police sirens can be heard approaching, the explosions will begin to go off. At the same time, one of our teams will show up and take care of the problem. Which is probably when the real threat shows up—the Justice League."
"How does that help us, though?" Rocket protested. "I mean, we take care of the explosives so that the League doesn't have to? How is that a good thing?"
"The League won't show just because there's been an explosion." Aqualad spoke in a clear, patient voice as he again explained this point. "Remember, they are being mind controlled, and the person or persons responsible—Vandal Savage—will not care if a random act of violence occurs in three separate cities."
"What he will care about, though—" began the Boy Wonder, only to be interrupted by Zatanna.
"—Is capturing the team of sidekicks that eluded them once already—us!" The teen enchantress spoke excitedly, a look of dawning understanding lighting her beautiful features.
"That's right!" Robin said with a grin. "By our showing up in smaller numbers, the League will probably consider us a lesser threat than as a whole group."
"They got that right," Kid Flash mumbled. The others ignored him.
"Okay…it sounds good so far," Artemis said. "But what about their powers? What if this so-called antidote doesn't work? Where does that leave us?"
Dick smiled. "I'm glad you asked." He gestured behind him to a table that had several items laid out on it. "Voila! Meta-negation collars—no self-respecting hero should be without one." He held one up and began pointing out how the mechanism worked. "It's easy. You simply press this red button to release the locking mechanism." He quickly demonstrated. The red blinking light changed to green. "It then slips easily around the meta's neck." He demonstrated it on himself. "Once around the neck, you press the same button to lock it." The blinking green light reverted to red. "So…green means it's unlocked. Red—locked." Removing the collar, he added, "Of course, make sure that you restrain them, if you don't want them to just wake up and take it off. On a final note, the collar is self-adjusting, which is pretty cool, 'cause the same collar that I just used on me will also work on Superman."
"Seriously? It works on Big Blue?" Kid Flash asked skeptically.
Robin nodded. "The tech's similar to those used on Mongol's War World." He smirked. "Batman smuggled it out after that whole gladiator spectacle the League was forced to participate in."
"Like someone else said…sure glad you're on our side, Boy Wonder," Rocket muttered.
Robin acknowledged her with a shrug and an impassive look. He then turned to Aqualad, and the YJ leader nodded, taking back control of the meeting.
"All right. This is what we're going to do…"
It took another hour or so of planning and preparation, before the young heroes felt satisfied that they were ready to go.
Robin felt especially satisfied that after some coaxing, Alfred had agreed to be their "phone voice," because as the Boy Wonder had explained, "He's the only one of us who sounds like a grownup. And…because Alf was once a star of stage and screen!"
"Master Richard, I was most certainly never a star of any sort, nor was I ever on screen, as you say." He turned to the others, and speaking modestly explained, "In my more wayward youth, I was sufficiently naïve to believe that I could make a go of it on the stage, scandalizing my family in the process, I assure you. The Pennyworth men have been in the service of the great households of England for several generations. A Pennyworth has served proudly in Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and other royal residences throughout our history. Fortunately, my stage career was but a passing fancy, and I eventually returned to the family fold."
"Don't let Mr. Modest here fool you guys," Robin said. "He's really good! Last year, when I got stuck having to play Mercutio in a school production of Romeo and Juliet, Alfred really helped me with my lines and other stuff. But the best part was when he showed me the right way to fight with a sword. My director was so impressed that he asked Alfred to choreograph the sword fights for the whole production!"
Robin went on to describe how with Alfred's tutelage he and the rest of the cast were able to bring down the house with their excitingly realistic sword fights. In the end, everyone involved in the production had been extremely proud of how it all came together. Alfred had even given a standing ovation by the audience for his choreography.
"Oh, and helping with school stuff's great and all, but the best part of Alfred's stage background has really been a big-time help in the field. Batman told me that during his first year, Alfred showed him how to get into character the first few times he went undercover." Robin snickered at the memory. "You tell 'em, Alf! You say it way better'n me."
"Than I, Master Robin," Alfred said with a roll of his eyes. "You say it much better than I."
"No, I don't…You say it way better."
"Never mind, Master Robin," Alfred said with a long-suffering sigh. "I understood you the first time." Robin looked at the others who were busy hiding their snickers behind their hands.
"What?" he asked with a shrug.
The others caught the twinkle in Alfred's eye as he shook his head at his charge in obvious fondness. "What Master Robin was referring to is an incident that occurred quite early in Batman's mission." His face took on a faraway look of reminiscing. "He had only recently started on his nightly sojourns. In fact, we were still finalizing the suit's design—still a work in progress, if you will. Therefore, he decided to try something new. Rather than confronting the villains head on, he deemed it necessary to infiltrate their secret society." Alfred smiled, shaking his head in amusement at the memory.
"I must be completely honest with you…" He chuckled. "Back then? Master Bruce was still relatively young and somewhat inexperienced; however, he was filled with a self-confidence and sense of purpose that were almost frightening at times." He paused, his expression becoming somber. He felt rather than saw the looks of open interest and eagerness on his young audience. Each teen hero appeared anxious to hear more about the Batman's early years.
Alfred shook his head as if to clear it and continued. "But I digress. At any rate, one night I came upon my young master as he prepared to go out—only not as Batman, but as a smalltime hood looking for action. I took one look at him and chided him for attempting to go undercover with the shoddy workmanship that went into his disguise. I believe I told him that he looked more like Bruce Wayne on a weekend bender than a scoundrel just out of prison." The others laughed at the incongruity of Batman being anything other than fully in control of a given situation. "I convinced him that his so-called disguise would not fool anyone, and that he would probably have a knife in his ribs within thirty seconds of opening his mouth."
"What happened?" Zatanna asked, her blue eyes wide with guileless curiosity.
"I spent the rest of the night and part of the following day helping him with the New Jersey accent he was attempting to affect—and doing a jolly poor job at it, I dare say."
"Did you show him how to do anything else?" Superboy asked shyly. Naturally reticent, these were practically the first words that the Boy of Steel had spoken that evening.
"Besides his accent and showing him to deliver a line realistically," Alfred replied with a smile, "I also showed him the proper way to apply stage makeup—"
"—Makeup?" Wally uttered in astonishment. "Batman wears makeup? Man…that's a scary thought! Batman with eyeliner and lipstick—!" This comment earned him a slap to the back of the head, courtesy of Artemis. "Ouch! What was that for?"
"He wears makeup for his disguise while undercover, genius!" The two antagonists glared at each other. Then as if rehearsed, stuck their tongues out at each other like five-year-olds. "Oh, that's mature, Baywatch," Artemis sneered.
"You're one to talk, blondie!"
"When are you two gonna just get a room, and leave the rest of us in peace?" Robin demanded. The next instant, Robin's brain caught up to his mouth, and he realized what he had just said. Clapping his hands over his mouth, he gave Kid Flash and Artemis and apologetic, if slightly amused glance. "Sorry, dude…um, Artemis."
"Master Richard!" Alfred said, sounding both reproving and scandalized at the same time. "I believe that you were taught better than that."
"I'm really sorry, Alfred," Robin said, sounding sincerely contrite. Alfred appeared slightly mollified at the heartfelt apology, so it came as no surprise that he readily forgave his younger charge.
At this point, Aqualad interceded on behalf of everyone to turn in early. "I believe that we have done all we can for the night," Aqualad said. He checked the time. It was 10:00 p.m. "Why don't we all turn in and get a few hours rest? We have a long day tomorrow." The others nodded in agreement. They had no way of knowing when they might get another chance of uninterrupted sleep.
~ / ~ / ~ / ~
The Lair
Day 2/0345 EDT
~ / ~ / ~ / ~
The lights in the "dorm" room went on suddenly. "Ladies and gentlemen…it is time," Alfred said quietly. "The first team is already up and about. I suggest that you do the same. Breakfast in fifteen minutes." The youngsters groaned at the early morning wakeup. They may have been superheroes, but they were still teenagers. They needed their sleep, and lately they had not been getting their fair share.
"When this over," Artemis moaned, "I'm going to sleep for a week."
"I hear that," Rocket agreed.
Although reluctant to get up, the teens were dressed and seated at the breakfast table within ten minutes. They knew that they couldn't afford to drag their feet. The timeline was critical, and they needed to be enroute to their locations by 4:30 a.m. Robin and Kid Flash had already left in order to set the explosives. By the time the other teams deployed, Robin and KF would have completed their end of the mission, and KF would be on his way to rendezvous with Aqualad in Washington, D.C., for the second leg of the mission…
Although Alfred usually told others that he was former stage actor, his past was murkier than he let on. His efforts onstage had mostly been a cover for his true calling, that of a field operative in Her Majesty's Secret Service. He had in fact met Dr. Thomas Wayne while on assignment in Central Asia. As luck would have it, Alfred had been wounded and Dr. Wayne had saved his life. Shortly thereafter, Alfred reciprocated by saving his. Thus began a lifelong friendship that was tragically cut much too short.
Today, few knew that the outer façade of the Wayne family's gentle major domo hid an underlying layer of steel. To look at him, one would never guess that Alfred had been quite the adventurer in his younger years, having taken part in several hair-raising missions that rivaled that of James Bond. Of course, those who knew rarely spoke of it. And if one were to attempt a background check on Alfred Pennyworth, British expatriate turned US citizen, he would find that interestingly that there was no record of him prior to the birth of the Waynes' first child.
As he made his way to the communications console, Alfred reflected on his past life and the choices he made as a young man that had led to this moment: The son of his two closest friends—the boy he had raised to manhood—had almost killed the boy that he in turn had raised.
All this heartbreak had been wrought upon his family by this scoundrel, Vandal Savage and his shadowy organization. He had attacked Alfred's family, bringing them nothing but pain.
Whatever happens, Alfred vowed, I shall see this villain brought down.
End of Part 5
~ / ~ / ~ / ~
Author's Note: Alfred's past is a bit murky, having changed several times along with the DCU. I believe that it is accepted that he acted onstage sometime in his past. Also, there have been some oblique references to his having served in British Intelligence; more recently in the AU Batman Earth 1, Alfred was said to have met Thomas Wayne several years ago and to have saved his life. I added the war in Afghanistan.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to DC, Time Warner, and CN; this is an original story that doesn't intend to infringe on their copyright. Feedback is welcome.
Copyright: December 2012