Okay, Longest chapter yet. But before I get to it I need to clear the air.
The most urgent thing is my sincere apology for holding out on you guys , I wrote the fight scene and I still think it sucks the big one but it will be enough . I would Have taken more time but I hated the idea of being those jerk writers who doesn't ever update again . So if you are disappointed in the fight scene in the future I am so sorry and encourage you guys to write your own . I also want to point out that I cannot promise to be able to finish this story, I will try my hardest but I don't want to get your hopes up. one last thing the rest of this AN was written a long time ago so if you're confused these are responses to reviews from back in June ...
There will be no O.C's. I'm sorry but its not happening for several reasons. 1) Doesn't go with the plot. 2) I don't really like O.C's. And 3) I'm still a baby Writer I'm not nearly developed enough to try and attempt an O.C. Again sorry.
Okay, just FYI the technical mumbo jumbo is NOT accurate and is totally made up so I really don't want any crap about how unreal it is. But there's only some much research I can do before this starts to feel like a report.
Here's also a brief explanation as to why this chapter is soo long. As always I was going with the flow. But more than that I was getting ready for the YJ/Avengers meeting which might be a 2 or 3 parter. It depends on what I choose.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own either one of 'em
Shortly after the team had escaped Robin realizes with frightening certainty that they more than likely did not have a base to go back to. If his hunch was correct, and he was pretty sure it was, there was likely no one they could trust to get help from except from one another. Staying calm Robin asked M'gann to find a place to land the bioship so he could thoroughly explain the situation they were in.
After M'gann found a cave big enough to fly the bioship in, everyone turned to Robin for answers. He let out a shaky breath before he pulled open his holo computer bringing up files Batman had created after the event that had been caused by Klarion.
The files were made up of extensive and complicated notes explaining the Dark Knight's theory on alternate dimensions, and dimension travel. All of which the were sketchy seeing as all the variables had not been thought through yet. Wally, the only other one able to understand the notes, let out a low whistle before saying. "Guys, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
"What the hell is that suppose to mean, Baywatch?"
Wally shot Artemis a pointed look before answering. "It means were on our own for now, and Rob and I have a lot of work to do." His response was a blank look.
"Robin, please, explain what is going on here." Kaldur asked due to Wally's lack of enlightenment. Again Robin let out a breath.
"Basically we're screwed for a while. At least 'til me and Wally can build something to send us back."
"Robin." Conner growled getting annoyed at the unanswered question. 'What the hell was happening?'
"We're in an alternate dimension. My guess is Klarion had planned on sending us here, except not meaning to send us here."
By now everyone was starting to get frustrated with the horrible explanation Robin was giving. Well everyone except Wally, because he understood perfectly well what was happening, and was already coming up with blueprints to the machine that would send them back. Leaving Robin to do all the heavy explaining.
"Okay, enough with the cryptic half answers. Stop acting like a bat for five minutes, and explain what the hell is happening so all of us can understand!" Artemis said starting to loose her temper. Robin shot KF a pleading look for help, but was ignored as he was too caught up in thought.
"I think Klarion was trying to send us to another pocket dimension like before, but something went wrong and he sent us to a completely different, alternate, dimension instead."
"Okay, so what is the difference between a pocket dimension and an alternate dimension?" M'gann jumped in to keep the others from snapping at Robin. Kaldur sent her a grateful look. Robin paused before playing around with his holo computer a bit, his finger flying over the blue keys as he pulled up new information.
"A pocket dimension, in theory, is a blank area of time and space that can be molded into any environment, like the dimension incident a couple months back. Or it can be left into nothingness without shape, or sense of time... Some might describe this as limbo. An alternate dimension is a place, or several places for that matter that holds different people, laws, and histories. Its an alternate reality."
Curious Conner asked Robin. "How do you know so much about this?"
Robin shrugged, this time the pain in his shoulder not so bad he couldn't keep a straight face. "Batmans run his theories by me a couple of times. He believes that there are infinite dimensions. A new one created with each choice we make. If you think about it long enough it gives you a really bad head ache."
Kaldur frowned. "What makes you think Klarion did not mean to send us here?"
This time Wally answered. "Because here we have materials. Supplies we can get to survive on, build machines to get back."
"But what makes you think that Klarion made a mistake sending us here. Maybe he meant to send us here." M'gann said, not seeing how this could be a mistake. Wally shook his head.
"Klarion is a lord of chaos. He causes panic for kicks. This doesn't fit his M.O at all."
Robin took over. "What better way to throw the league into chaos than to have us disappear? But then again, what good does it do him if we can get back? He needs to have something to hold over the leagues head, as well as have us as panicked as possible."
"And by us being here, he doesn't have either." Artemis finished. Robin nodded "Exactly." Before Conner added "So the question is now, how long does it take us to get back, and when will Klarion and friends come looking for us?"
Wally grimaced. "Kalrion and friends, as you put it, aren't going to come after us. They have to maintain the portal, but that doesn't mean they'll send someone nasty after us. And its going to take a while to get back, because without Batman here to go through these notes its going to be exceedingly difficult to decipher them to build the parts."
At that Robin visibly brightened.
"Robin?" M'gann questioned upon noticing this. Robin excitedly pulled out what looked to be a phone from his belt. "B gave this to me before we left, in case something like this happened. It allows us to communicate with him across dimensions." Robin said, waving the key to their quick return home around.
"Dude! What are you waiting for! Turn it on!" KF exclaimed zipping over to his best friend. Robin grinned as he pressed the button that would turn the device on, but quickly frowned as he discovered it didn't work. He turned it over in his hands looking for the source of the problem; then he found it. There, on the side of the 'phone' was a small but deep crack, enough to cause damage to it. Robin let out an annoyed groan before making eye contact with Conner.
"It must have been damaged when we fell, Superboy."
Instantly guilt filled Conner's eyes. Feeling that it was partially his fault. That if he could fly everything would be ok. That he would be more valuable as a team member.
"Not your fault." M'gann said softly in his mind. He met her eyes in acknowledgement, but M'gann could tell he didn't quite believe her. "We can still get back, Its just going to take a little longer. No harm no foul, right?" She added. Gently resting a hand on his arm trying to get her point across.
"Can you fix it?" Kaldur asked, breaking M'ganns focus on Conner. The others looked hopefully at the best friends. Said best friends answered the others with grim faces.
"No, not without a blueprint to go by. At least I can't. Can you KF?" Robin turned to Wally. Who shook his head."Naw dude. Its too risky. I could possibly change the function of it by accident. Making our situation that much worse. or damaging the ...uh..'phone' even more."
Everyone seemed to deflate at that. "But hey." Artemis said after a moment, trying her best to lighten the mood. "At least we have a place to get food for kid mouth. And we can eventually get back home." Everyone nodded, small smiles forming on their faces. "Also with us missing, we can be sure that our mentors will find a way to get us to our home dimension. Perhaps even faster than we will." Kaldur added trying to further relieve the tension. It seemed to visibly do the trick as the team relaxed tremendously. Then of course their moment of quiet peace and tranquility was ruined by Wally. It was always Wally.
"Okay, now that Artemis mentioned foooood. Do we have money to go get some? ' . .since.I' .an-"
"Enough KF! We get it you're hungry. We have some money... But we won't have enough to last us our stay here. We have some choices to make." Robin says after loosing his patience with Wally, but finishes with a look of foreboding directed to Kaldur. Since he was the only one that could approve of the actions they would be forced to take.
"What needs to be done?" Kaldur asked. Robin internally struggled as he willed himself to speak. "As of right now we have enough money to last us a week with KF's appetite. Provided we don't get into any major fights. But since that is likely not to happen. I'd say we have about three days worth of money. And even with the number of people on our team we would not make enough to support all of us, or for that matter buy the parts we need to send us back. Therefore we're going to have to take measures to... acquire money."
"So you mean were going to have to steal some right?" Artemis asked. Robin nodded.
"Okay no biggie! With our skills and training we could totally rob a bank!... I mean yeah it goes against everything we stand for but if it gets us home then lets go for it!" Wally says in an overly excited tone. The team started to question his sanity.
"You seem waayyy to comfortable with that idea KF." Artemis said with a searching look. Almost as if she was looking for a reasonable sliver in Wally; unfortunately it didn't seem to exist. Before he could defend himself Kaldur cut in.
"Besides, KF, not that I doubt the teams skills; but I do not wish us to be seen as criminals in this world."
"That's where I can help you out Kal." Robin said. "We don't necessarily need to be seen, I can hack into several bank accounts from this worlds finest. And leak the money into six different accounts, while setting up a series of false trails and multiple fire walls. By taking from several wealthy accounts, we'll most likely go undetected. Most, If not all won't even notice that the money is missing. Its our safest bet."
"Wow! like in the spy movies! That is soo cool!" Again this came from Wally.
"You were dropped on your head alot when you were a baby, Weren't you?"
"You can't prove that."
"You just did, and what is with your obsession with spies lately?"
"I wasn't dropped on my head!"
"I hardly doubt tha-" "ENOUGH!" Kaldur barked cutting Artemis, and Wally's banter short."Your petty argument is not needed or relevant!" Both looked down embarrassed.
"And besides." Conner added. "It doesn't make the 'spy' thing any less criminal."
"But what choice do we have?" M'gann said softly.
Kaldur looked Robin in the eye .(Really the mask, but does it honestly matter?)
"Do it."
Robin deflated a little. Because despite the necessity of their actions he had been hoping that they would have found an alternative method to get the money. He didn't like the idea of using his skill for the other side. But then again, he knew the others didn't either.
"Okay I need to find a computer to download the information I need to get us the money. But none of us can just walk into an internet cafe looking like this." Robin gestured to his uniform. "So were going to have to get clothes, KF your going to have to get them. we'll see about paying for them later. But for now we need to blend in with the people. After we get the clothes. We'll split up and get supplies needed. At least the supplies we can get. Food, Clothes, Water, personal items. The works. Later we'll find a more suitable place to stay. For now we're ghosts were not seen or heard. Only pay with cash, and don't go to the same ATM, two times in a row. We can't afford to be caught."
Robin looked to Kaldur who smiled softly at him. "You will make a great leader one day" Robin briefly returned the smile. But it was difficult, what he was about to do was starting to leave knots in his stomach. But he reluctantly said:
"Okay. Lets get started."
Tony Stark had been in the middle of rebuilding stark tower when he got the call. He tried to get out of it knowing once involved with S.H.I.E.L.D. things quickly spiraled out of control. He had argued with Pepper telling her how much he hated running out when they were having a good time. Which she had answered with a comment saying something about having twelve percent of a good time. Almost three weeks later and she was still holding a grudge.
Sometimes Tony really hated having such a smart mouth.
So that is why he was now walking onto the very battered looking helicarrier; though his annoyance for being called here was quickly disappearing Whatever had hit this thing, had hit it hard... And whatever that was couldn't be a good thing.
"Director Fury!" Tony greeted with fake enthusiasm. Well mostly fake enthusiasm, Nick Fury did help to save his life after all.
"Mr. Stark." Nick Fury said, accepting Tony's hand.
Tony gave a small laugh. "Always good to see you too. Though I doubt I was called for a social visit."
"No Mr. Stark you were not, If you don't mind please wait here."
Tony was not given a chance to voice whether he did mind or not, since Diretor Fury had left the room. So Tony took a seat. The same one he had sat in when they were dealing with the potential end of the world. The one that had been parallel to the corner Agent Coulson had always dwelled in...
"Agent Coulson." Tony thought wearily, closing his eyes as he remembered.
The two had never really been friends. But still there had been a bond, a companionship. Something Tony rarely shared with people. He remembered little moments that they had spent together. Most, if not all, had been during some catastrophe. No, all of them had been during some catastrophe.
But Tony he remembered a genuine relationship, a loyalty that they had formed. Laughs and smiles, favors done just out of the goodness of their hearts, secretes shared; the meaningful kind like girls they'd bagged and their worse drunken memories. And then he died. Tony, the mighty Iron man, had not been able to save him. It was perhaps one of his biggest failures. Why did Coulson have to be an idiot? Why did he have to be so stupid brave?
But Tony had not been left to ponder over his thoughts as Director Fury had walked back in... along with the rest of the Avengers. Tony steeled his face as he greeted the others.
"Capsicle! Good to see you. Catching up on sleep? Thor... still wearing those drapes I see. You know I wasn't aware you'd come back to earth. Dr. Banner! Always good to see you... and the other guy of course." Then Tony came across the last two and thought better of his insulting them. He didn't always have to be an arrogant bastard. "Agent Romanoff, Agent Barton."
They both responded with blank faces. Ah, the joys of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
After several withering glares. The real fun began... Right, cause S.H.I.E.L.D. was all about fun and games.
"Soo, what trouble did you get yourself this time?" Tony asked, the shadow of a smirk resting on his lips."How can we be of assistance to S.H.I.E.L.D. this time?"
Then Director Fury's right hand woman, agent Hill, stepped up. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is perfectly capable of handling this on its own." Agent Hill said. She obviously didn't like the idea of needing the Avengers all that much.
'Right and your doing such abang up job of handling it... emphasis on the 'bang'.'
Director Fury just sent a look towards Agent Hill; Tony didn't think she would be talking for a while.
"Late last night our scanners picked up a rare energy reading. One that is similar to the one the tesseract gave off when it opened an intergalactic doorway in the middle of Manhattan. As a precaution, S.H.I.E.L.D. was sent to investigate. What we found is not what we expected."
"I'm sorry sir, but why are we here if you've already taken care of the problem?"
Steve, ignorant, simple minded Steve. You'll get there one day.
"Because they did not." Thor said. Arms folded across his chest as usual.
"No, We were attacked by what ever came through."
'Really?'
"Was that before or after you attacked it?" Bruce asked coming out of his corner. He didn't believe for a second that Fury was telling the truth.
"Irrelevant." Director Fury answered. "What matters is that we have a threat on our hands, and I'm asking you to take care of it."
The two agents in the back started arguing before agent Romanoff piped up.
"Excuse me sir, but what is the threat exactly?"
Director Fury seemed to pause at this before pulling up a video; it showed a bunch of kids dressed in brightly colored clothes all sitting around what appeared to be the youngest. Then the spot light was on them, and they didn't seem to appreciate that very much. A couple of twitches later the youngest cackled and started taking S.H.I.E.L.D. agents out. Majorly taking S.H.I.E.L.D. agents out. Not a second later the rest of the kids started fighting. They were special to say the least. It wasn't just their skill level, but also abilities too. Speed, super strength, a damn good archer, and the cutest, most deadliest ninja they had ever seen. Steve then noticed that some of the kids were missing, but he wasn't sure if that was due to their abilities or not.
"Where did the colored kids go?" Steve asked, grimacing when he realized how bad that sounded. He still wasn't use to all the changes.
"Just watch." Was the only answer he got.
The fight kept going, the kids actually winning and then something must have hit the helicarrier, since there was a huge shake on the camera, and then static. After several moments the camera came back on to show all six teens getting on some sort of jet before flying off.
There was total silence from the group. Then...
"S.H.I.E.L.D...got beaten by a bunch of ...KIDS?" Tony asked bewildered. Thor started laughing.
"As unbelievable as it is yes. But as you saw in the video they're not normal kids, were not even sure if they are kids."
"you think this one of the Chitauri's tricks?"
"Its a possibility."
"So we're here to track, capture and babysit?.. oh how the mighty has fallen." Agent Barton said with a shameful head shake.
"I'm more interested in where they got skills like that, they're just kids." Steve said concerned.
"Some of us start early." Agent Romanoff added with a shrug.
"That's the least of our problems, did you not see the rage in some of them." Bruce said wearily.
"You seeing a little hulk Jr?" Tony teased. Thor started laughing again.
"Regardless this should give you more motivation to find them and bring them in."
"I assume you have an idea of where they are?"
"No unfortunately. They're off our radar."
"So you can track me when I was in India but not a bunch of kids?"
"The hulk sort of sticks out more."Tony said
"And unsupervised, colo-uh ... green kids don't?"
"A Lot has changed Cap. Stray kids really aren't unheard of. My question is: how do we find them?" Agent Barton asked.
"They are off our Radar now but that doesn't mean they won't show up later." Agent Hill said coming out of her silent treatment.
"But the young warriors are skilled. Surly they will have been trained to blend in."
"Yes, that is why you are here. Eventually they will show up. There is no questioning that but when they are found they will put up a fight. We're not sure what they are or what they want. S.H.I.E.L.D. regrettably cannot handle this. That is why you were called in to help us with them."
Tony looked at director Fury, then to the Avengers. "We need to talk about this."
After Wally had sped through many stores, and gotten the clothes necessary for the team; (sun glasses for Robin and bags for those with weapons.) Robin had quickly gone out with KF to get the money that they did have deposited. Upon arriving back to the little cave they had taken refuge in Robin split the money and the team,and gave each group a job.
Wally and Artemis were in charge of food, water and personal items.
Conner and M'gann were to get clothes, and medical supplies.
While Robin and Kaldur were to get the needed information for the money, and learn as much about this world as they could. As well as keep an eye out for a place to stay. The team had already decided not to stay in a warehouse, no mater how desperate they were. They already felt like dirty criminals, no need to live like one too.
Soon they were all back at the cave, unloading and distributing supplies. Wally was already eating, and Robin had started the hacking process. But he couldn't help but wryly think."No matter what I do, I always end up hacking in some dark, wet, and creepy place. I think Bruce has had more of an influence on me than I thought."
"How are you coming along." A concerned Kaldur asked, pulling Robin from his thoughts. He knew doing this had to bother Robin. Without taking his eyes off the holo screen, Robin answered. "I'm not particularly feeling whelmed, but its coming along pretty well." Kaldur put a comforting hand on Robin's uninjured shoulder in a sign of his support, which made the Boy Wonder smile. If only just a little.
"Hey Rob! I thought Batman was loaded with contingency plans. Wouldn't he have planned for something like this? Money wise I mean?" (I'm sure you can guess who said this).
Robin's jaw visibly clenched upon hearing that question, but he did not falter in his work. "Yes KF, he did plan for something like this. However when he did plan this he did not include the team in the budget. More specifically he didn't plan for a speedster. If it had been just me I would be sitting pretty for a month, in which I would have plenty of time to find a job if need be and get the supplies needed to get home. But since you guys are here the money is stretched thin, hence the hacking."
"In other words Kid Idiot, if it weren't for your stomach we'd be fine." Artemis reiterated.
"He did not say that! He said it was all of us."
"Yeah but your appetite is mostly the problem."
"Says the person needing 'personal items'! What the hell does that even mean?"
"It means none of your buisness Kid Nosy!"
Robin decided to block their bickering out. But not before mumbling "What happened to them kissing at New Years?" He heard kaldur chuckle.
"I believe it is their way of showing affection for one another." Robin snorted."Well can they show their affection in a less annoying and loud way? Conner and M'gann seem to be able to."
"Most of the time my friend. If you remember they can be quite loud when they want to be...If I remember correctly it was you who walked in on them."
Robin blushed and then shuddered at the memory."Yeah I remember .. Unfortunately." Conner picking this up with his super hearing yelled over. "The door obviously said 'Stay out'. You should have listened." To which the Boy Wonder Yelled back. "It always says that!" M'gann quickly hushed the clone with a kiss before he started a fight with the Batman's protege. Nothing good would come out of that. 1.) Robin was raised by the damn Batman, meaning he probably had kryptonite on him somewhere And 2.) Robin was doing something really risky right now. Something that they couldn't afford to be messed up because Conner decided to loose his temper.
After a few minutes a video popped up on the bioships holo-screens. It showed what looked like a war document.
"Whats that?" Artemis said sounding interested.
"This worlds first alien invasion."Robin answered.
"Really? It couldn't have been that long ago... When did it happen?" M'gann asked.
"Two weeks ago, people of earth won."
"Well that's good, but wow this is like a baby world isn't it? How have they not had any earlier invasion than this?" KF asked seemingly unimpressed with the footage.
"No Justice League is my guess." Conner said.
"Well that sucks. That doesn't even look that bad. It actually looks like something we could deal with." Artemis said crossing her arms.
"But so many people. With no heroes..how did they win?" M'gann asked. Bewildered that a hero-less earth could protect itself so well. But before anyone could answer Kaldur stepped in.
"Enough, we are not here to judge this earth and its inhabitants. We are here to find a way home. Robin close this video please." Robin did as was told and then turned his full attention back to his work.
"He sure does like to use the words 'enough' and 'stop' alot." Wally whispered to M'gann who only shook her head in response. Sometimes she couldn't believe what idiots she had on her team. though she would never admit it out loud She was just to sweet that way.
Oh, but sometimes she wished she weren't.
"They're just kids!" Steve exploded for the twentieth time since they had been left alone.
"Kids who knew exactly what they were doing when they attacked the helicarrier." Came Natasha's cool response.
"Maybe not. If they're from a different world like Fury thinks they wouldn't have known who to trust. Not that you can trust S.H.I.E.L.D. all that much. But they could have been acting out of self defense." Bruce said in their response.
"If they're from a different world they are a potential threat. The only way to know that for sure is to ask them. Which means we have to bring them in." Clint added in.
"Yes, we should befriend the tiny warriors."
"Except they're not going to cooperate." Tony said from the sidelines. His thoughts on the issue didn't matter. He already knew what he was going to do.
"Then we'll take them out." Natasha said coolly.
"They're just kids!"
"Possibly, for now they are a threat."
With that the two agents left the room before an actual physical fight broke out. It was silent. Except for the heavy breathing of Steve Rogers as he struggled to control his temper.
And people said Bruce was the one you had to watch out for. But then again Steve usually didn't get this emotional.
"We can't give those kids over to S.H.I.E.L.D." Bruce said softly.
"And we won't. We'll take them to STARK tower. The lower levels that I built have been specifically designed for a group to live in. You know if we ever wanted to make the Avenger thing more official. Clint and Natasha are welcome at stay at the tower. They've earned some of my trust. But we won't Be handing them off to S.H.I.E.L.D. not unless they really are a threat."
Bruce breathed a sigh of relief. "I doubt they are, we just need to talk to them."
Satisfied Tony turned to Steve."I know they seem like the're just kids. but whether you like it or not they are still a potential threat meaning if needed we will fight them."
Steve deflated at this but nodded.
"Good; now I have to go deal with something far worse than Fury and his one eyed self."
"What would that be?" Bruce asked amused at the slight fear in Tony's voice.
"I have to go tell Pepper we'll be having some guest in the tower."
Okay Chapter 4! I hope you enjoyed.
A couple of things: One I know that Superboy is like 1 in my story right now but considering that he has a girlfriend and he's mature enough to kiss her I'm inclined to think he's had the idea to do more than kiss. Also when your a superhero teen who can die in any mission you probably tend to live life to the fullest and on the edge as much as possible.
Before I go I wanted to address several a concern from one of my anonymous reviews. The avengers are adults . Therefore more skill but they lack the teamwork that YJ has so it'll be pretty evenly matched. If it weren't for Hulk I think YJ would win all the time; and you are right when you said the team would be tired after such a big fight with SHIELD I'll do better to make it more realistic next time.
JJ