G.O.T.C.:….Hmm…I just realized something. The "original" ROTG 1 was only like 10 chapters….
Ace: You say that like it's a bad thing.
G.O.T.C.: Goes to beat Ace Awww…forget it. I'm sleepy and I want to do this chapter. Squeaky!
Squeaky: Squeak. (Yawn. You still need people to read this?)
G.O.T.C.: Eh, I guess not. On to the fic then!!
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Rise of the Guardian:Ancient Power, Modern Age
CHAPTER 14: Mortal Gods
The window was an extremely tight squeeze, but the two Leaguers managed to wiggle into a small dark storage room. Batman quickly adjusted the lenses of his cowl for night-vision, though most of the room still remained dark.
"There's a door to the left," Wonder Woman said quietly, taking Batman's hand and pulling him in the right direction. He should have known Wonder Woman would have been able to see.
The door opened with the faintest creek of its hinges, and opened into the darkened factory. A faint light penetrated through dusty windows high up on the walls, making it much easier to see their surroundings. Machines stood silently, like forgotten giants, all over the factory floor. Giant mixers still held a molten mixture that resembled tar, and large compact bricks sat drying on long stretches of conveyer belts. Batman picked up one and scratched it's black surface, causing it to shed a thin layer of fine black powder.
"Shade…" He said setting the brick back down.
"There must be enough here to supply the whole city for weeks.." Wonder Woman said looking around and taking a quick inventory.
"Not just this city," Batman said, "This place is perfect to send out shipments to Metropolis too."
"ARGON!!"
Ace's enraged voice tore through the silence of the abandoned factory. His footsteps fell heavily from the floor above them. He was making no effort to hide his presence here. Batman and Wonder Woman took off for a set of stairs to the upper levels, staying as silent as they could.
The second floor was just as massive as the last, but this one had been cleared of all it's machinery. Most was packed into greasy crates scattered about the room, while a few pieces were still standing on the floor. The two ran for the cover of one group of crates, as Ace stormed into sight.
"Coward!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Show yourself!!"
"My my…..What a temper we have developed… You'd think after five years, you would have learned a bit more patience…" A smooth voice spoke from somewhere in the room.
Batman and Wonder Woman's heads swiveled around to try and find the source of the new voice. Standing on the deck of a supervisor's platform, was Argon. Ace's face immediately contorted with rage, as he struggled to form a coherent sentence.
"Where…Is…Anna…You slimy bas-" Ace growled through clenched teeth, sword already in his hand.
"Always right to the point," Argon chuckled, as if this were no big deal, "That much hasn't changed I suppose. I must say, my friend, I didn't quite recognize you at first. Without your little sidekick and all. What was the boy's name again? Cory? Casey? Cody?"
" Don't you dare say his name!!" Ace roared.
"Ah!"Argon cried with obvious delight at Ace's fury, "It was Cody. Well, it's been five years, and you can't possibly expect me to remember the name of everyone I've had to kill…"
Batman and Wonder Woman exchanged glances. Argon had just confirmed everything. He had been the one responsible for Cody's death five years ago.
"It's too bad really.." Argon continued, "The boy had such promise…"
Ace's knuckles were white were he clenched his blade. Only the most steeled self-control was keeping him from ripping Argon's head off at this point.
"I am surprised at you though, my friend," Argon said, walking along the length of the platform, "I would have thought that losing Cody would have taught you a lesson about "teaming up" with others…"
A tingle suddenly ran down Batman's spine as Argon locked eyes with him. A foot connected with the back of his skull, throwing both him and Wonder Woman into the open. His vision spun for a moment, before he felt the edge of cold steal pressed against his neck. A young man with sandy blond hair and cold green eyes held the end of two twin swords to both his own and Wonder Woman's necks. He cast a glance at Ace, who's face had gone pale with horror at the sight of the two.
"Let them go!" He demanded.
"Hmm…," Argon contemplated mockingly, "I don't think so… You apparently didn't learn from our last encounter, so I think it'll be good for you to have a refresher on the matter. Don't you think Zariah?"
"I couldn't agree with you more Master." The young man said raising both blades to strike.
Without thinking, Batman moved in front of the path of both blades. He braced himself for the blow, but never felt it land. What he did hear, was a wet thud, and felt a few drops of blood land on his cowl. He looked up to see Ace facing him, one sword caught in his hand, the other buried deep in his shoulder.
"You guys ok?" He asked, a strange grin on his face, before looking over his shoulder at a stunned Zariah, "You, kid, have just made a huge mistake."
Ace twisted the shoulder one of Zariah's blades had sunk into, and wedged it into the joint, as Zariah tried frantically to pull it free. Dropping down to one hand, Ace swung his leg up, and caught him squarely in the jaw, hurdling him into a pile of crates. Ace pulled the blade free from his arm, but it hung limply at his side.
"I need you guys to do me a favor," Ace said not looking back at the two heroes, "Anna's in that supervisor's office behind where Argon's standing. I need you to get here, then get out."
"What about you?" Wonder Woman said getting to her feet.
"Don't worry about me!" Ace snapped turning towards her, "Just get her and get out-"
Just then, a flash of red collided with Ace, exploding on contact. Ace roared in pain, trying to get back to his feet, as Argon approached them. A red fire seemed to have engulfed both of his arms, glowing brightly with anticipation.
"Sorry, my friend," He chuckled, "All of you are going to die here."
"That's what you think!"
Ace had gotten back to his feet, but he too had a cold fire swirling angrily about both of his arms, only his was a steely cerulean. He lunged at Argon with incredible speed, and slammed hard into him, crashing through several crates.
"Come on!" Wonder Woman said, "We need to help him!"
"Please…." Zariah's voice said as he emerged from the debris of the crates, "You and the rest of your little Justice League may be the titans of this world, but those two? They are gods."
"Of course," He continued, picking up his bloodied swords, "Killing a few titans might just give me a good workout."
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G.O.T.C.: Two chapters in two days. You all should be proud.
Ace: Of WHAT? You had the day off and did nothing else today! They shouldn't encourage you for that!
G.O.T.C.: Oh yeah?! And what did you do today? Hmm?
Ace: I watched a "Star Wars" marathon. And made popcorn.
G.O.T.C.: You so have no room to talk. Anyway R&R please people! My favorite scene in this whole fic is coming up in the next chapter, and I need the motivation to make it good!!