The Flight of the Blue Beetle 15
He had called Kaldur and asked to talk to one of the Lanterns. He had expected to hear a thousand questions from the Atlantean, but none came. He seemed to be distracted by something else, but he didn't ask him about it. The doings of the League and Team were no longer of their interest unless the wellbeing of the people was at risk. He waited at the top of the JPMorgan Chase Tower, the tallest building in the city, for the Green Lantern. The sight was magnificent as he took in the fresh night air. There was a sense of peace about, and it wasn't just a hunch. He knew that down there his friends were protecting the city and the surroundings. Tye and Asami, the Posse, and many others were out there patrolling. There were nights that he didn't find anything to do and it was starting to feel ridiculous.
However, tonight he was serving a greater purpose. He would deliver the information he had on the Reach to the Lanterns and hope they could help free some of the planets they were occupying and prevent others from being conquered. Under the armor, he shivered as he remembered some of the memories he got from the Beetles he freed in Bart's time. Each one of them had hated themselves for what the Reach had made them do. He hoped he could keep that from happening again.
"Hello there," he heard someone call above him.
Why didn't you warn me they were here?
Lanterns are no longer considered a threat as you requested.
Excellent timing.
He turned around to meet a Lantern he had never met before. Khaji Da told him it was human, but he guessed he was new.
"Ehm, hi," he said flying to be in level with him, "Blue Beetle."
"I know, I heard you have been doing well on your own," the Lantern said.
"Is not all me, but thanks," he said with a smile.
"Oh, right, my name is Kyle," he said extending his hand, "another Lantern if is not clear enough."
"Nice meeting you Kyle. I have some information the Lanterns would be interested in," he said shaking his hand and at the same time giving him a copy of the memory his future self had given him. "It's about the Reach. I am sure it could help saving a lot of worlds."
"I know I came into the picture a little late, and I was also a bit distracted while getting my Green Lantern 101, but who is the Reach?" he asked with a nervous smile.
"I think I should get this to ano-" he reached for the memory
"No, no, no… I told Hal I could do this on my own. Please, you know how it is like to be new at this," Kyle said as he flew back from his reach.
"Of course I do, but this is crucial," Blue realized then that he was on the other side of the mirror. Though Kyle was clearly older than him, he had little to no experience.
"Please tell what isn't for you guys," Kyle said with a sigh, "that's all I keep hearing since I got this ring."
"You are one of us now," Blue said, "and sorry if it sounds a little creepy, but it's the truth. We have to take things a lot more seriously."
"But you are just a kid, don't you want to go out and have fun? Go out with your friends or with your girlfriend? Or is it a boyfr-" but stopped the moment Blue raised his hand to stop him, "sorry. But you get what I mean, right?"
"Of course," Blue laughed, "but I chose this over that. I am sure you wouldn't have that ring if you didn't understand that."
"You almost sound like John," Kyle sighed, "I get it. I will go straight to Oa and deliver this. Don't worry about it." He started to leave.
"Hey!" Blue called hoping it didn't sound lame. Kyle turned, "We are not old enough to drink, but if you want to hang out with us sometimes just drop by."
"Will do!" Kyle called back with a smile before flying away.
888
"I still think is an imposter," Tye said as they at their lunch on the roof of the school. This was the only place they felt comfortable at school talking about their no so usual activities.
"I know, he looks a little green around the ears. I think it might be a Martian," Asami said as she bit into her sandwich.
"Hilarious, one trip in time and your friends won't ever trust you again," Jaime said as he lay on the ground.
"I guess we could learn to trust you again," Tye said pushing him slightly with his foot, "if you would tell us what happened in your adventure in time."
"I thought you guys didn't want to know anything about that," Jaime said sitting up.
"That was when we were out of commission," Asami said as Tye gave his friend a hand to get up. "We want to stay updated on what happens with the capes."
"You two should really start using a disguise," Jaime said shaking his head in disbelief.
"And also adopt lame hero names? I don't think so," Tye said with a smirk.
"My name is not lame," Jaime muttered, "and we don't have time for me to tell you everything here. It's a very long story."
"Tonight then," Tye said, "let's take the night off and hang out at my place. The whole Posse said they would all be on patrol tonight."
"I can't," Jaime said giving his friends an apologetic look, "I am going to look for Buster Gold."
"Why are you going to search for that tool?" Tye asked him.
"He used to be friends with the previous Blue Beetle. He told me I could talk to him if I ever needed help," Jaime told them.
"And where was he exactly when you needed him the past two years?" Tye said crossing his arms. "And have you heard his story, he comes from the thirty-first century. If that was true, couldn't he like prevent any significant disaster?"
"I know he is a little fishy, but with what we are trying to do I don't think it would hurt to ask him," Jaime said.
"What exactly are you trying to do?" Asami asked him, "you quit the Team and your ties with the League. We don't like them that much, but at we know is good to have them on your side."
"We have a different way to do things," Jaime sighed, "that's all. I still wish you would join us."
"We want to stay here Jaime," Tye said a bit mellower. He seemed at loss for words for a moment.
Asami stepped up and entwined her fingers with Tye's, "but maybe someday. You are stepping to the big league and we are not ready for that just yet."
But someday they would be, Jaime thought, and he believed they would be sooner than they thought.
888
"What's up ese!" Paco said placing an arm around his shoulder, "what brings you to our humble place?"
"Just checking how you were doing," Jaime said with a smile as Paco let him inside the home of the Posse. The place had changed a lot. Once the place had been a house falling apart, now the walls were whole and there were no longer stolen goods about. It actually looked welcoming. Since the Posse had created an alliance with the Department of Metahuman Affairs (DOMA) and joined in missions where their skills could help they had started receiving funding. That, plus their considerable involvement in taking La Dama down had earned the pardon of their petty crimes (alongside with returning the stolen goods).
"That heart Khaji-Da gave me is still beating. If that's what you worried about," Paco said as he went to sit on the couch, "though I am still grounded until the docs at DOMA say otherwise. Like they know much about alien armors with sentient intelligence, right?"
"This coming from the guy that had to retake Spanish," Jaime said before getting punched on the shoulder by his friend.
"That teacher had it for me; I told you that," Paco laughed, "but seriously, can you please ask Khaji-Da to check me over. I feel fine, but with those doctors fretting over me I am starting to worry."
Interaction with Francisco is not recommended. Contact with the Transbiotic Antitrauma Unit might interfere with its adaptation to Francisco as a host.
So, he does need to rest. Is he in any danger?
There is a very low percentage that something will happen as long as Francisco continues to rest.
"Ehm, Jaime? You are worrying me," Paco said rubbing his hands together as if he was cold.
Jaime explained to him what Khaji-Da told him. He hated telling his friends he might still be in danger but it was the only way to make sure he didn't exert himself.
"Alright, I get it," Paco said with a sigh, "I hate sitting here doing nothing."
"You could study, you know? To take the GED," Jaime said with a nervous smile.
"I guess I could do that," Paco said with a smile before pulling a book that had been lying on the side, "if Damper hadn't practically forced me to start already."
"Really? That's great! I know you didn't hear it enough back when we went to school together, but you are pretty smart," Jaime said with a smile."And if you need any help you know you can-"
"Calm down Escarabajo," Paco laughed with his cheeks turning red in embarrassment, "I appreciate the thought, but I want to do this on my own. I sort of want this to be as normal as possible. I kind of miss that," he said with a shrug.
"I understand," Jaime said a little deflated as he thought of the Kyle's words, "more than you would think."
"Oh poor Jaime," Paco said ruffling his hair before giving him a small slap on the back of the head, "no time to whine hero. I know you think you are still a newbie at this and don't deny it. I hate it that you doubt yourself even after your time travel trip and telling the League to lay off. The freaking League! There's a whole world out there that needs the Blue Beetle."
"And here I thought I would be the one bringing the motivation," Jaime said with a smile.
"You will get your chance kid," Paco said before turning the TV on. "Now enough of the hero stuff, and let's kill a few brain cells."
He felt normal sitting with his friend and watching mindless reality TV. He asked himself if reality shows had always been so bad and couldn't help laughing out loud at the bad acting and shenanigans. When the sun started to set, he left his friend to return to that part of his life that had become most of his life. He remembered when it was only the weekends, but like a plague it had spread to just about every aspect of his life. As he flew to Toronto, Ontario where Booster Gold operated mainly from, he found himself thinking more of what he was doing with his life. Where were they going with their lives besides just doing things their way?
I hate it that you doubt yourself…
He paused in the air as he thought of Paco's words. He had to believe what they were doing. It was just not him. Bart, Tim, and Conner were also putting everything just like him in this decision. He started flying again with newfound determination. However, it dwindled when he arrived to the city he didn't know where to go from there. He stayed in the air and in sight in hopes the man would notice him. After half an hour, he gave up on that idea and flew closer to the ground.
The citizens of Toronto didn't seem the bit surprised by this, which he found curious at first. Then, he started to notice that on just about every street there were advertisements with Booster Gold on them. He had heard many times, when other heroes didn't think he was listening, that Booster Gold was a sellout and not fit to be called a hero. He didn't think there was anything wrong on also earning a living, but he wondered if that was all the man did. He had been flying over and through his city and there was no sign f him.
Finally, gathering his wits he landed before a couple that was coming out of a movie theater.
"Excuse me, I am looking for Booster Gold," he said before the couple looked at each other and then laughed. He felt like taking off then because now everyone around them was watching.
"Sorry," the girl said, "is just that everyone knows where that charlatan is."
"Charlatan?" Blue asked with a frown.
"Give him some credit Tanya, he does help around," the boyfriend said. He gave Blue a curious look before saying, "though I don't get why someone like you would look for him."
"Is sort of important," Blue said.
"He lives down Chaplin Estates," the girlfriend said before showing him the direction on her phone. "Just look for the biggest building, he lives in the penthouse."
"And everyone knows this?" Blue Beetle asked with worry in his eyes. He could not help to imagine the number of villains that attacked the place and put the other tenants in danger.
"Yeah, is sort of hard to miss with that outfit of his," the boyfriend, "good luck getting something from the guy."
"Thanks," he said before flying in that direction. He found the tallest penthouse and was shocked to find a party going on, Booster Gold in the middle of it.
"Hey kid! Come down!" Booster Gold called dressed entirely in his uniform, and with two women he guessed were models on his arms. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to talk to you," Blue said with staying in the air, "in private."
"Those League guys really got you on a tight leash, don't they?" Booster said taking a sip from his drink.
"You sent a message to me once that I could come to you if I needed help," Blue said feeling exposed as he saw from the corner of his eye people recording their conversation.
"Can't you ask your League buddies?" Booster said carelessly as he turned his back on Blue, "you seem to have done okay with their help."
"Everyone was right, this was a mistake," Blue said wondering what Ted Kord saw on this guy to be a worthy friend. He started to fly off to return to his city and maybe still catch up with Tye and Asami. He was actually dying to tell them what he had seen. It was not every day that me himself from an alternative future.
"Wait a moment you fake!" he heard Booster Gold before getting tackled into the side of a building, "you got no right to criticize me brat! Do you think I don't know what your League friends say about me?" he sneered at him.
"Let me go before you regret it," Blue said sneering back. He had given him fake hopes.
"Or what? You are going to blast me with your Reach armor? Ted might have chosen not use it, but he was a thousand times a better hero than you will ever be!" And with that final shout he threw Blue down with a strength he had not expected.
Booster Gold's technology analyzed. It is not from this time.
I am more preoccupied with not causing an accident Khaji-Da
His blasters started and he stopped himself from crashing. He heard a car screech to a stop. He turned and saw he had stopped traffic in what seemed to be one of the main streets in the city.
"You don't deserve to be called the Blue Beetle!" a pair of boots landed on his chest throwing him to crash on the street.
"You are drunk!" Blue shouted before forming his cannon and blasting at the man, but Booster didn't even flinch.
"Am not!" Booster Gold shouted before punching Blue across the jaw and sending him crashing to a coffee shop.
This unit recommends more efficient methods of counterattack.
Usually, your effective methods mean obliterating everything within a five mile radius. I think not.
His technology does not allow me get a clear reading on them.
Don't need to know that to kick his ass.
He pulled himself from the glass and debris from the coffee shop.
"Sorry folk," he said checking there was no one hurt, "will take this somewhere else."
"Don't apologize to my citizens! Don't even look at them!" Booster said charging his hands with a blast.
"Oh boy," Blue said before taking off at all speed to a place where they could beat the heck out of each other, but not get anyone hurt. He really wanted to hurt the guy, but he didn't wish to get anyone else hurt.
"Come back you coward!" Booster shouted as he followed closely.
"You are an ass!" Blue shouted, "I don't want anyone else to get hurt!"
"Stop acting all high and mighty! That's Superman's thing!"
"Enough!" Blue stopped above an uninhabited area of Yellowknife. "Just because you are a farce, it doesn't mean the rest of them are!"
"You don't know kid, do you?" Booster stopped not far from him, "have you ever heard of Clark Kent?"
"I don't care for your gossip," Blue told him.
"The guy that writes the mains scoops on Superman is Superman, he makes his own stories," he said with a smirk.
He felt as if he had been struck. He knew Conner was studying journalism, but he had never made the connection. He felt like an idiot.
"From your expression I bet you had no idea. It seems your League friends don't trust you as much as you thought," Booster jeered.
"No one is perfect," he said straightening his back. Just because of that it didn't mean that all the good Superman did was for self-benefit. "Now, if you are done spewing nonsense, I am leaving."
"You are not leaving until you hear this," Booster said, "you are not Ted and you will never be anywhere as good as him."
"You already said that," Blue said rolling his eyes, "and I know that. He gave up his life to keep Khaji-Da from falling into the wrong hands. That's a greater sacrifice that I could ever commit to. What I don't get is why he would ever trust someone like you. All I have heard about him is praise, but you… you are right. No one thinks you are worthy of being called a hero, even the people of your city think so. They are right, all of them," and he felt his mouth go dry.
"I don't care for their approval unlike you," Booster said crossing his arms. "I have a mission, and that's all that matters," he said with a different air around him. He got a glance of the man Ted Kord had known and knew he had judged Booster wrong. He saw behind the charlatan everyone claimed he was and saw a man carrying a responsibility that was destroying his reputation.
"I see," he said before it was Booster's turn to look surprised.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Booster asked.
"I am not Ted and I will never be," Blue told him with a smile, "but since I got Khaji-Da and learned about Ted I have been trying to honor his memory. I promise you I will do my best not to disappoint."
"Make sure you don't," Booster said, but this time there was a grin on his face. And, though it went unsaid, if he did start going on the wrong path, Booster Gold would be there to nudge the kid to the right path. It was written in history, after all.