Scene 51 - Infected: Part II
"All Leaguers and Team members who are in the Watchtower, we need assistance in the briefing area now. Eight Leaguers are under mind control, be cautious," Captain Atom spoke quickly into his ear piece before flying upwards to dodge a fire attack from his student.
When he was up in the air though, Hawkwoman decided to tackle him instead. Thank goodness the sick heroes didn't have their weapons but they still packed a mean punch. Nathaniel spun in the Thanagarian's arms and she had to let him go. Both of them then engaged in a mid-air fight but Shayera was soon joined by her brainwashed spouse.
Aqualad created a water leash and used it to grab Brianna's wrist and she groaned as he pulled her down. Ember placed her hand on the water stream and heated it up, quickly evaporating the liquid. The Atlantean immediately let go when he saw Black Lightning charging up and firing in their direction.
I have the cure but I need to link it up to the Watchtower's mainframe. It's a gaseous treatment and it's perfectly alright for us to breathe it in. Think of it as a vaccine. Bumblebee and I need cover as we upload the cure. Atom's voice rang out on a telepathic link M'gann had set up.
Go. Miss Martian and I will protect you. Artemis replied in return and both women stood defensively in front of the scientists and Karen immediately pulled up a screen to call for the mainframe computer.
The fight was messy and chaotic and even though they had backup, it was starting to get tiring pinning down the rogue Leaguers. Only Rocket and Zatanna were successfully tied up as the former did not have her inertia belt while the latter was gagged and she couldn't speak her incantations. Black Canary continued screaming and Plastic Man kept wrapping himself around individuals. It was quite a nightmare.
After randomly targeting individuals, Brianna turned her attention back to Kaldur and she began to send a barrage of flames in his direction. Aqualad drew up water shields to protect himself but his water supply was getting low. In a burst of adrenaline, the Atlantean tucked and rolled towards the pyro, colliding with her legs and knocking her to the floor. He immediately restrained her hands behind her back and pinned her to the floor.
Ember was annoyed and she began to fly upwards, attempting to smash the boy on her back against the ceiling. However, during mid-flight, Atom's voice shouted. Get ready!
A second later, purple smoke streamed out from the vents, clouding everyone's visions and Brianna coughed, slowly losing altitude. Kaldur immediately spun around and held her close as he fell to the floor on his back with a grunt. It's a good thing the height was a small distance.
The smoke dissipated and all the infected Leaguers were unconscious once more but the green tinge on their skins still remained even though it faded to a lighter hue.
"Bring them back to their rooms, we need to run another test to confirm that they're cured," Dr Palmer said afterwards and the rest who were uninfected nodded as they brought their friends and teammates back to rest.
Kaldur sat in front of Brianna's bed, patiently waiting for her to wake up. The initial blood test results appeared to show that the contagion was rendered inactive and no longer exerted its effect on the host but all the brainwashing had taken its toll on the body of all its victims and they needed rest to recuperate from the ordeal. Captain Atom looked down worriedly at his protégé as well. Her parents were frantic and even though they desperately wanted to see their daughter, civilians were not allowed on the Watchtower.
There was a little sigh followed by a groan and Brianna fidgeted on the bed before opening her eyes. "How are you feeling, Brianna?" Nathaniel asked gently and the brunette looked at her mentor, "Terrible and exhausted… I was aware of my actions the whole time and I kept fighting it to no avail."
She then glanced at Kaldur'ahm awkwardly and looked away in embarrassment.
"Did Cadmus set this up? Their labs have been abandoned and we made sure of that…" The girl asked when she returned her gaze to Captain Atom.
The older man sighed, "It appears to be remnants of a security mechanism. Thanks to both Miss Martian and Martian Manhunter, we managed to probe the mind of the Jim Harper clone who served as a Guardian for Cadmus at that time and we found that The Light came to Cadmus years ago to retrieve the original Roy Harper who was stored on ice… During that process, they used a code phrase to mind control everyone on site so no one could consciously remember anything. Once they got their prize, they left behind a prototype of Starro-tech, a crude virus-like particle that was apparently created via technology and in addition to mind control; it was somehow able to selectively switch off certain electronic devices which would explain why our radiation sensors were not able to pick anything up."
Brianna listened attentively and connected the pieces of the puzzle together, "They must have left it there in case one of us came snooping around… It doesn't explain the Boom Tube activity that was detected."
Aqualad shrugged and spoke, "We have no idea but using Dr. Fate's magic, it seems that the Boom Tube was active for a mere second before it closed. Maybe the occupant on the other side opened the tube in the wrong location before realizing their mistake and shutting off the portal immediately."
Captain Atom nodded, "While the Boom Tube is suspicious, it appeared nothing got through. Right now, our priority would be everyone's health. You've had a rough day and thank goodness Dr. Palmer was able to synthesize a cure that wasn't so complicated. It appeared the mind control programme could not be wielded by a puppetmaster and randomly makes the host re-live a memory from the past before it takes over the host's brain by focusing on the area that controls aggression. It's a failed weapon if you can't control it. No wonder they used it as a defence mechanism."
Ember exhaled, "I suppose we have to wear hazmat suits before investigating a site next time?"
Nathaniel quirked a small smile, amused by her humor, "Maybe. You should get some sleep though I think Kaldur wants to talk to you." With that, the ex-leader of the Justice League left the room.
When Brianna was sure her mentor was gone and the door was fully closed, she looked at the Atlantean straight in the eye, "I'll get this out of the way. I apologize for my behaviour from the mind control. Especially for the words I said, it might have led you on and that wasn't my intention to do so."
Kaldur just blinked and sat down on the chair beside her bed, "I knew something was wrong when you addressed me with such familiarity. There is nothing to be sorry for, Brianna. Both of us know it was…" The Atlantean paused, almost saying the words 'not real' but he was very well aware those feelings were not an illusion. "… we know the truth," Aqualad finished awkwardly and did his best not to allow his disappointment show up on his face.
Even if he was putting a mask on, the brunette could sense what he felt. After all, they did spend years together and both knew each other's body language and habits. In an unexpected move, she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Thank you for being understanding, Kaldur. I-" Hold on a minute, why was this conversation so similar to the one they had earlier? Brianna wasn't going to declare her love, was she? "- am grateful." What was up with her today? It was like she caught a stammering sickness from the Atlantean.
"I am glad. You should get some more rest now. Dr. Cross recommended that a long night's sleep would be good for all of you who got caught in the gas." Kaldur then tapped her hand lightly and surprisingly, she did not flinch. Maybe she was too tired to notice. With a small smile and a wave, he left her alone.
As the door closed, she lowered herself down on her pillows and blushed faintly. Why was she feeling this way? Was it an after effect of the virus? She willingly touched him and allowed him to tap her hands in return. Or was she just guilty for hurting him? Brianna had carefully left out the fact that when she uttered those words of love to Kaldur a few hours before, she did not fight it… While she resisted briefly, the brunette stopped fighting for that one moment and the three-worded phrased just rolled off her tongue. Did she really feel that way about him?
Ember just sighed and pulled the covers over her while drawing up a holographic screen to switch off the lights and turn the windows dark before pushing the screen away. Maybe everything would be better in the morning.
Author's Note: Just in case it wasn't clear, the infected Leaguers were Black Canary, Rocket, Ember, Zatanna, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Plastic Man, and Black Lightning.
Oh Brianna, your mind knows what you're feeling but your heart chooses not to accept it...
To Molly Grace 16: Aww, I am very humbled and flattered that you found the chapter comparable to the Justice League series. Thank you. ^_^
To piggythelaw: Maybe you're just tired. ;)
To Eszra: Indeed! 8 brainwashed superheroes is quite a nightmare.