Okay, just saw Batman v Superman at the cinema on debut night.
Honest opinion?
Not so epic as Man of Steel, but nonetheless fun and action-packed. Affleck was surprisingly good as an older, veteran Batman while Jesse Eisenberg provided a new take on Lex Luthor (yes, he will be in this fic in later chapters) as being a young, emotionally disturbed tech-head.
Anyway, on with the show…
Supergirl, Justice League and Young justice are properties of Warner Bros and CW. I claim credit for nothing.
CHAPTER 6: Are you from Venus or Mars?
NATIONAL CITY GENERAL HOSPITAL, GENE THERAPY UNIT, 6:30PM
Batman stood just outside the ruins of the Gene Therapy Unit. Alex Danvers had been kind enough to divert the local law enforcement for an hour so he could have the place to himself and his "assistant."
He should be here by now, he thought.
"Three… two… one…"
WHOOSH!
"Got your message," Barry/Flash said.
"Punctual as ever," Batman said. "The new suit worked. Very good."
"Thanks," Flash answered. "So how can I help you?"
"We need to know why Firefly picked this place as a target."
"You think it could be hiding some kind of advanced tech like the other attacks?"
"If it is, being in a hospital could mean…" his voice trailed off.
"Biological," Barry finished.
Batman pushed a button on his cowl. "Oracle, do you have the blueprints of the hospital?"
"Uploading it it your HUD now," Barbara replied via the radio. "Wait, that's weird."
"What is it?" Flash asked.
"The blueprints do not display the Gene Therapy Unit," Barbara answered. "All it has is a single elevator shaft."
"Acknowledged," Batman responded.
"I don't think the insurance companies are going to be happy when they learn that this wing wasn't part of the original architecture," Flash said.
The two approached the entrance to the Gene Therapy Unit – A large glass door protecting an empty elevator shaft.
"Looks like the car was destroyed during the attack," Flash commented.
Batman peered down the shaft. "That's a ninety foot drop that goes way below the hospital's foundations."
"An underground lab?" Flash frowned.
Batman unclipped his grappling gun and prepared for the descent. He dropped down and found himself in a massive hall containing a library of computer consoles. Flash was soon on the floor with him.
"Correct me if I'm wrong," Barry said. "But are those Playstation consoles stacked on the walls?" There had to be at least a thousand in the room.
"Each one is connected to the other," Batman replied. "The combined computing power is on par with military-grade supercomputers."
"All for mapping the human genome," Flash commented.
"I'm not quite sure," Batman said as they approached the next section of the room containing the labs proper.
Barry approached a desk that had a clip board. "Got a list of team members," he said. "Mark and Marie Logan, assigned to a 'Project Chimera' under the oversight of a 'Dr. Langstrom'. Why does that name sound familiar?"
"Kirk Langstrom," Batman repeated, "AKA 'Man-Bat'."
"I thought you sent him to Arkham?"
"I did," Batman replied. "Bruce Wayne even sponsored his treatment and rehabilitation. Once he was released, he tried to get back into his line of work in genetics."
"So what's he doing here?"
Batman approached a workstation and activated the computer.
"I've found a video log recorded yesterday."
03/04/2016
DR. MARK LOGAN
It's been several months and I believe we may be finally getting there.
We've catalogued hundreds of samples, and suffice to say, any attempt at isolating the supposed 'Meta-Gene' have been futile. We are thus coming to the conclusion that such a gene simply doesn't exist.
However, our experiments have not been without loss. We have discovered among our samples taken from confirmed meta-human common genetic markers that can be triggered by outside environmental stimuli – for example, the events in Central City.
I believe that if we can better identify these markers and integrate the data with Dr. Langstrom's previous research, we may open the door to a whole range of solutions to problems that have long plagued humanity. We might even find a cure for Garfield…
Batman typed GARFIELD_LOGAN into the search. "Born in the United States; spent most of his early childhood in South Africa. Contracted a rare illness known as 'Sakutia' that kills children just after reaching puberty. In order to slow down the rate of infection, Langstrom used the man-bat serum."
"Please don't tell me they turned their own son into a junior Man-Bat?" Flash asked.
"I don't think it's that simple," Batman replied as he opened the next vlog entry:
03/04/2016
DR. MARK LOGAN
We are about to start Phase Two. Garfield will be injected with vaccines harvested from various animals. These are vaccines for the most dangerous diseases on the planet – Ebola, Zika, Dengue Fever – the catch is that these vaccines will never work on a normal homo sapien, but they worked on the animals they came from. Thanks to Dr. Langstrom, we may be able to build an immunological bridge between man and animal.
"Ebola?" Flash repeated. "That's not the kind of thing you can order off Amazon. This lab would have to go through the WHO, CDC-"
"None of which would give a thumbs up to Langstrom given his history," Batman paused.
"Bruce?" Flash asked.
"The League of Assassin's attack on Starling last year," Batman grimaced. "Langstrom was working with Ra's Al-Ghul."
The lightbulb went off. "Woah, wait a minute. You're saying that Langstrom got vaccines for League bio-weapons which he plans on using to make a new meta-human using a school kid as his lab rat?"
"And Firefly's attack wasn't sabotage, he was trying to destroy evidence!" Batman tapped the comm in his mask. "Oracle: contact Alex Danvers. There's going to be a kidnapping attempt."
.
ST. EDMUND HALL HIGH SCHOOL, 2:55PM
"So you still think Supergirl is hotter than Miss Martian?" Garfield asked.
"Of course she is," Carter replied.
"Each to his own, bro," Garfield said.
"This coming from a guy who watches My Little Pony."
"If you tell anyone-"
"Like it's a big secret, Gar," Carter said. He lowered his voice and gestured across the room: "What do you think of the new girl?"
"Megan?" Carter replied. "She's kinda nerdy."
"But how many girls in our grade are as slim and stacked like her-"
"Carter and Garfield!" The geography teacher shouted. "Last warning – next time it's detention. Now, who can tell me more about Qurac? Anyone? Megan?"
"Modern Qurac was created in 2007 in what was considered to be the greatest victory on the War on Terrorism," 'Megan Morse' replied.
"That's excellent, Megan-"
"But what I don't get is why there is still so much violence in that area," Megan continued. "They're all human – I mean, they're all the same people group aren't they?"
"Right on both counts," the teacher replied as the bell rang. "All right class, papers are due next Monday!"
"Hey Carter," Garfield called as the two boys made their way to the school carpark. "You taking the metro?"
"Yeah, but mom made Kara my 'escort' again," Carter replied.
"The blonde with the dorky glasses? I thought you said she was cool."
"She is, it's just that she's not very organised and my mom can be really mean to her."
"Come on, your mom can't be any meaner to her than my parents are to me," Garfield replied as he stopped at a black Audi sedan.
"Carter!" Mark Logan said. "Sure you don't want a ride home?"
"No thanks," Carter replied. "My mom sent someone to pick me up."
"Well, anytime you need a ride, just tell Garfield."
"Thanks Dr. Logan," he turned to Garfield. "Will see you tomorrow."
"Later," Garfield replied.
Carter made his way to the bus stop to see Kara waiting for him.
"Hey Carter!" she cheered.
"Hey," Carter answered glumly.
"Oh come on, why the sad face?" Kara asked.
"It's mom," Carter answered. "She's only making you do this because of the attack on the hospital."
"Or maybe I actually want to hang out with you?" Kara smiled. "We're just waiting for my new room mate. It's her first day here."
"Kara!" Megan shouted. "Hi Carter!"
"So how was your first day of school, Megan?" Kara asked.
"It was awesome!" Megan answered. "For P.E. we played hockey, made dry ice in science and in geography we learned about what's happening in Qurac. Speaking of which, I've got a paper to write when we get home."
"Wait, she's staying with you?" Carter asked.
"So I guess that makes us travel buddies!" Megan replied as the three of them boarded the bus.
.
Across the carpark was an unmarked Mustang Saleen.
Alex waited until the Logans left before she switched on the handsfree unit on the steering wheel.
"Hank, target is a 2010 Audi A6. Moving to pursue."
"Acknowledged," Hank answered. "Try to keep your distance to avoid suspicion. We want to take the Logans in before anyone else can get to them."
"Roger," Alex replied as she glanced over her shoulder to see Kara, M'gann and Carter Grant board the bus.
She started to follow the Logans' car, doing her best to stay a hundred yards away. Her eyes darted across the road, trying to see anything suspicious.
The Logans' car moved onto the free way – right in the middle of peak-hour.
Damn it.
She tried her hardest to keep up, but as the traffic got busier, the distance between her car and theirs got wider. Switching to second gear, she accelerated – and that was when she saw it – a black SUV speeding the lane on her right.
Oh no.
.
"It's a one-hundred zone, how fast do you think that SUV and the Mustang are doing?" Marie Logan asked.
Mark Logan shook his head. "There's always got to be some daredevil on the road who thinks that they're above the road rules."
Garfield turned his shoulder to look out the back – the SUV had changed lane so it was now right behind behind them, and it just kept getting closer and closer -
BANG!
"What the hell?" Mark yelled.
"Did he just hit us?" Marie asked.
"Look out!" Garfield screamed.
.
Alex watched as the SUV hit the Logans' car, causing it to smash into the freeway railing. She started to slow down and that's when she saw the driver – a brunette woman in a green martial arts gi and a mask in the shape of a cat.
"Oh no you don't!"
.
"Garfield, get down!" Marie cried.
There was a whistling sound as two knives smashed through the windshield.
"Mom? Dad?" Garfield glanced up to see that the driver and passenger seat head rests were stained with blood.
"No!"
The back seat opened as he felt someone grab his leg and drag him his onto the asphalt.
"Why?" he asked, trying to hold back tears.
"Nothing personal, kid," Chesire replied. "But all the same, your parents did their job and their services are no longer required. You on the other hand, you're coming with me."
"Like hell he is!" Alex screamed as she upholstered her pistol.
Instinctively Chesire grabbed the gun by it's barrel rail, and with a tug ripped it apart. With her other hand she threw a ridge-hand at Alex's neck. Alex managed to duck and assumed a combat stance – feet shoulder width apart, fists parallel to her head.
Chesire reached into jacket and drew a pair of sai daggers.
"Come get some," she sneered.
The two charged at each other – Chesire cut high towards Alex's head; she ducked and swung her leg to sweep, only to have Alex jump and lash out with a side-kick to the kidney. Regaining her grounding, Chesire bobbed forward throwing a series of thrusts that Alex tried to keep at bay until one of the sai was able to break her defence and slash her forearm.
"Kyokushin?" Chesire quipped.
"Krav Maga," Alex replied as she threw a hook.
Cheshire blocked against Alex's elbow hard enough to make the whole arm go numb.
"You're good," Chesire said as she plunged her sai deep into Alex shoulder.
"Arrrgh!" The pain forced her down.
"-but not so good enough," Chesire turned back to the sedan. "Now where was the little darling-"
"ROAAAAAR!"
"What the-?!"
Chesire found herself pinned down by a fully grown lion with a bright green coat.
"I WILL MAKE YOU PAY!" It screamed.
.
.
.
DEO HEADQUARTERS
"Feed from the drone should be coming in now," Agent Vasquez said.
"Onscreen," Hank ordered.
The screen displayed a birds-eye view of the highway.
"Agent Danvers in down," Vasquez declared.
"Copy that," Hank said as he sat at the station next to Vasquez and picked up a headset. "Open Channel: HENSHAW: JULIET-LIMA-ALPHA."
A second screen opened at Hank's station that displayed the faces of Flash, Batman, Superman and Green Arrow.
"Gentleman, I'm sending you a video feed of a kidnapping in progress. Agent Danvers has engaged the perp."
"Acknowledged," Batman said.
"I recognise her," Oliver commented. "Jade Nguyen, AKA 'The Chesire Cat'."
"League of Assassins member?" Superman asked.
"Senior acolyte," Oliver replied.
"Then Alex is outmatched," Batman commented.
"Wait, is that a lion attacking Chesire? Where's the Logan kid?" Superman asked.
"Uh, that is Garfield Logan," Flash answered.
"Hank," Batman started, "Supergirl and Miss Martian-"
"Are unavailable due to 'civilian affairs'."
.
"Get off me!"
Chesire managed to throw the lion off her, which morphed back to Garfield.
"So your parents' experiments were successful," Chesire said.
"I will make you suffer for what you did," Garfield said.
"You'll get your chance," Chesire tossed a smoke bomb and vanished from the scene.
"Come back!" Garfieled yelled. He turned back to the car. His parents lay there lifeless.
"I promise," he whispered. "I will do everything to make her, to make them suffer for what they did."
Behind him, Alex stirred. She reached for her shoulder and pulled out the sai. Luckily Chesire missed the bones and only stabbed the trapezius. She glanced up to see Garfield glance over his shoulder.
"Garfield…"
He spread his arms, turned into a bird and flew away.
.
CATCO WORLDWIDE MEDIA
"I can't believe your mom is Cat Grant, Carter," Megan said.
"That's the fourth time you said that Meg," Kara smiled.
"But you got to admit that it must be cool being the son of a multi-billionaire," Megan continued.
"It's not as awesome as it sounds," Carter replied.
The three of them were about to enter the lobby, only to see Cat standing at the doorway.
"Miss Grant," Kara greeted.
"Keera," Cat answered.
"Mom, this is Megan," Carter said.
"Hi," Megan smiled sweetly.
"She's in my geography class," Carter explained.
"Charmed," Cat answered flatly. "Carter, I need to take you home immediately."
"Mom-"
"I'll explain on the way."
Carter sighed and turned to Kara and Megan. "I'll see you both tomorrow."
Megan held up her iPhone. "F-for-f?"
Carter smiled and gave her a nod. "Don't forget to add Garfield."
"Carter," Cat called.
"Coming, Mom," Carter replied as he fell in step alongside Cat.
"That was your boss? She seems nice," Megan said. "Can't wait for the interview."
"You're not actually thinking of going through with that are you?" Kara replied. "And what the hell is F-for-f?"
"'Follow for a follower'," Megan answered. "You know, Instagram, Snapchat."
"You have an insta account?"
"'Megan Morse' has twenty posts and fifty followers. Mostly boys from school."
Kara rolled her eyes. "Don't you think you're settling into Earth life a bit too quickly?"
"Kara, I've spent the past fifty years on the battlefields of Mars," Megan replied telepathically. "The past couple days have been some of the most fun I've had in my life!"
"But just remember that M'gann M'orzz has responsibilities too," Kara switched back to verbal speech. "So, what do you think about earth boys?"
"Human guys are so cute," Megan blushed. "You know that Carter has the biggest crush on you."
"Me? He's Supergirl's biggest fanboy."
"That's not what the neuron's were telling me."
"You read his thoughts?!"
"Oh Keeera, please take my boy home with you, he gets sooo lonely," Megan said in Cat's voice.
"That's not funny!"
"Kara!" James yelled as he and Winn raced across the lobby.
"Have you heard the news?" Winn asked.
"We just picked up Carter from school," Kara replied. "What's happened."
James lowered his gaze. "There was an… incident on the freeway."
.
NATIONAL CITY PORT, 7:30PM
Chesire arrived at warehouse located in front of Dock #7.
"You're late," Slade Wilson said.
"I was chasing the boy," Chesire answered. "I had no idea his powers would kick in that quickly."
Slade jabbed an accusing finger. "You let him escape and you left that DEO agent alive-"
"I wouldn't worry about Agent Danvers, Mr. Wilson," the voice came from none other than Maxwell Lord. Behind him was Malcolm Merlyn.
"These exercises are simply tests," Merlyn explained. "What matters is that we have acquired the technology to stand up to our enemies."
"But the Justice League is growing in numbers," Chesire said. "The kryptonian's cousin has aligned herself with the Batman as well as the Arrow. And now this Martian girl the media is making a big deal about."
"We – that is, us as well as our respective partners – will deal with them in due time," Lord said. "Our technologies have proven that these 'heroes', while stronger than us, are still mortal. And if they can be hurt, they will die."
"Then everyone will be able to see… The Light," Merlyn smiled.
.
Author's notes:
And so the villains have been revealed. But let me say that Merlyn and Lord aren't the only masterminds behind the attacks. There definitely will be more DC villains appearing later in the fic.
The title for this chapter was borrowed by the song "Venus or Mars?" by Australian dance duo Jackson-Mendoza (look it up a Youtube – everything good about the 90s summed up in 3min)
Next chapter:
- Where's Garfield/Beast Boy?
- Cat interviews M'gann (lots of akward questions that will make Kara's - or Keeera - job difficult)
Until then, enjoy the Supergirl/Flash crossover, the previews look like it will be an epic episode.
Click the hell out of the Fav and Follow buttons, and PLEASE REVIEW!
I appreciate all of those who have subscribed to this fic, but I really want to read your reviews so that what I'm writing is true to the fandom as well as the DC lore in general.