Disclaimer: I do not own YJ, they belong to DC. I own Mia!
Washington D.C.
December 31, 00:16 EST
In the subway tunnels, Roy's running for his life. He goes to fire his last arrow but fails as an exploding arrow throws him back. Roy notches the arrow at the same time a fist makes contact with his face making him release the arrow. When he got up, the assailant was in front of him so Roy uses his bow to hit the guy however, his bow shatters and gets punched in the face again.
"I've got to get out of here." A subway train was approaching and Roy escapes into the sewer system.
Mount Justice
December 31, 07:16 EST
"We have reason to feel proud of yesterday's victories. But one thing has not changed" Kaldur starts.
"Somehow the bad guys are still getting inside intel about us" Robin continues.
"Yeah, but at least we know none of us are the mole" Wally finishes.
"Hey Z, thanks for putting a protection spell on my brothers" Mia whispers.
"Your family is my family" Zatanna smiles and Mia smiles back.
"That's correct. The mole was Red Arrow" Batman pulls up Roy's bio and picture.
"Roy?" Robin asks.
"No way!" Wally yells.
"Roy's a jerk but he can't be the mole" Mia defends him.
"Batman, that cannot be. He was Green Arrow's protégé. We have all known him for years" Kaldur explains.
"Unfortunately, the Roy Harper we have known for the last three years is another Project Cadmus clone" Tornado states.
Mia narrows her eyes slightly "That's now how T normally sounds. Something's fishy here and it's not Kal."
"We've learned the real Speedy was abducted and replaced immediately after becoming Green Arrow's sidekick. The clone was pre-programmed with a drive to join the Justice League which is why he was so angry over any delays to his admission and why he refused to join the Team. This Roy Harper had no idea he was a clone or a traitor. And his subconscious programming drove him to become League worthy. So he struck out on his own as Red Arrow. When he was finally admitted his secondary programming kicked in and he attempted to betray the League to Vandal Savage. Fortunately, I had already deduced Red Arrow was a clone. We were prepared" Batman summarizes.
"Sorry to interrupt but I have a question for you Batman. If you already knew that Red Arrow was a clone and the mole, why didn't you tell us?" Mia asks raising a brow.
Batman didn't respond then Tornado talks like the question never happened.
"Savage was subdued but Red Arrow escaped. He is now a fugitive, armed and dangerous."
"If you guys hadn't rescued me from Cadmus" Conner says mindlessly.
"What, what happened to the real Roy?" Robin asks.
"We don't know. He isn't at Cadmus. We have to face the possibility that the real Roy Harper is dead" Batman answers.
"Did you guys even check Cadmus? I want to see proof that you did" Mia states crossing her arms "Both of them are off. Something's really wrong here."
Neither Batman nor Red Tornado had answered Mia's question.
"The clone Roy, the Team will find him" Kaldur states.
"Negative. Red Arrow's a member of the Justice League now. Leave him to us" Batman pauses "I'm needed on the Watchtower. Tornado, stay with the kids."
Batman heads for the zeta tubes.
"Recognized: Batman, 0-2."
Mia's eyes went wide when Batman called them kids. "Holy shit."
"Clone or no clone, Red Arrow was one of us. We will go after him" Kaldur states.
"T?" Mia asks.
Tornado appears behind Kaldur and shuts down. Everyone gathers around him.
"Tornado!" M'gann says worriedly.
"What happened to him?" Conner asks.
"He's totally powered down" Wally observes.
"All functions offline" Robin states.
"Guys, I'm sensing a low-level mystic force at play. I-I don't know if it caused his shut down but now that I think about it I was getting the same buzz off Batman" Zatanna says.
"I knew something was off when T started to talk. It only confirmed my suspicion when neither of them answered my questions about Roy and Cadmus" Mia adds.
"Batman. He called us kids. He never does that" Robin states as a matter of fact.
"Look" Wally takes the chip from Tornado's hand "One of those biotech chips we confiscated off Chesire."
"Something is not right. Robin, Kid, Zatanna, Rocket see if you can get Tornado back online. The rest with me to find Ro…Red Arrow" Kaldur orders.
Mia, Artemis, Kaldur, Conner and M'gann left the Cave to go find Roy. When the bio-ship left the cave, Mia got a sinking feeling in her stomach and Kaldur notices.
"Are you all right Mia?"
"I've just got a bad feeling is all."
"Is it right?"
"Most of the time, yeah."
"It will be ok."
They soon arrived over the Hall of Justice.
"Computer logs indicated Red Arrow's headed to the Hall from the Watchtower but he could be anywhere by now" Artemis states.
"After Roy went solo he installed equipment caches in several major cities. One is here" Kaldur explains as the bio-ship stops over an apartment building.
Kaldur got up and so did Mia. He looks at her with a confused look so she answers his unspoken question.
"He might not believe you but once I chew his ass out, he'll know it's us."
Kaldur nods then they went inside the building. They found the apartment but the door was locked so Kaldur kicks it open and stands in the door way with Mia by his side. They see Roy aiming two arrows at them.
"We have not come to harm or apprehend you. But the Team requires answers" Kaldur says as he and Mia walk in.
"Harper put the arrows down before I kick your ass into next week" Mia threatens.
"Me first. Tell me something you haven't told anyone else. Tell me who broke your heart."
Kaldur sighs "Tula. The girl I loved chose my best friend, Garth over me while my best friend on the surface world aims an arrow at my chest."
Roy relaxes a little then aims both arrows at Mia "Tell me something only you and I know."
She huffs then said only three words "Super Mia, mommy, daddy."
A small blush appears on Roy's cheeks as he recalls the incident where the Team was turned into little kids and he and Mia had to take care of them. They argued over a movie then Robin calls them mommy and daddy. Roy lowers the arrows and follows them into the bio-ship.
"We were told you were the mole but we have reason to doubt" Kaldur says.
"Forget doubt. I was the mole."
"Batman and Tornado said you're a Cadmus clone like me" Conner says.
"Where did they even get that information?" Mia asks.
"That explains it" Roy sighs "I was a sleeper agent pre-programmed to infiltrate the League. I think…Sportsmaster was my handler. He had a key phrase, "Broken Arrow" that could shut me down put me in a hypnotic state to steal secrets for his superiors or incorporate further programming. I'd then carry out all orders subconsciously completely unaware of what drove me. I think one of those orders was to focus suspicion on the four of you" Roy turns to look at Mia, Artemis, M'gann and Conner "I'm sorry."
"Oh Roy" Mia frowns a little.
"How did Batman discover this and prevent you from betraying the League?" Kaldur asks.
"I had already asked that question twice now. Are you kidding me?!" Mia remained silent.
"He didn't."
"The entire League is under the complete mental domination of Vandal Savage. Red Arrow seems to have been his means. His method was something Savage referred to as "Starotech". An alien bio-organism fused with nano-technology and magic. It shuts down the mind's autonomy allowing Savage to reprogram the individual to suit his needs. Even my organic brain was not immune.
But the process requires 0.16 nanoseconds to fully integrate with its host's nervous system. That delay allowed me to create an internal subprogram which would disconnect my power cells if I attempted to infect another person. Fortunately, the "Starotech" is body specific. As John Smith, I am now free of outside control" Tornado explains.
"This "Starotech", it worked on super-powered humans, four flavors of alien, and android, even Dr. Fate defeating all of you without a fight?" Robin asks.
"Indeed. A remarkable achievement. One not easily countered."
M'gann starts the next conversation "I'm sorry, but how is it that you are no longer enslaved?"
"No "Starotech", for starters just my Cadmus programming. And once I'd satisfied its last parameter my mind began to clear. I'm sure Savage planned to "Starotech" me but he paused to…bask. I escaped."
"What's up with super villains and basking? It's such a cliché" Mia mumbles.
"I promise. I can clean any residual programming from your mind" M'gann tells Roy.
"Miss Martian, are you in range?" Robin asks.
"Here, Robin. Linking both squads and decamouflaging."
"Great, cause we really need to compare notes."
As they compared notes, Mia finally notices Red Tornado or rather, John Smith.
"T?"
"Hello Mia" he smiles.
She smiles back "I like the new body but it's different than what I imagined."
"How so?"
"I thought you would have hair. I can see you as a brunette."
Tornado smiles gently at Mia then both turned their attention back to the task at hand.
The Watchtower
December 31, 23:16 EST
"Recognized: Black Canary, 1-3. Red Tornado, 1-6. Red Arrow, 2-1."
All three entered the Watchtower and spoke to Savage.
"Any problems?"
"Despite an initial setback I was able to re-infect Red Tornado and Red Arrow" Canary states.
"As well as the entire team. They await reprogramming back on Earth" Tornado adds.
"I think not. You see, "Starotech" does not reprogram the mind it offers us remote control of it."
"We know exactly who's infected and who's not and none of you are" Klarion states.
Green Lantern Hal immobilizes the trio.
"But that is easily rectified. 50,000 years of life and nothing ever troubled more as much as the founding of the Justice League. Dedicated to maintaining society's calcified status quo the League would protect mankind from disaster, crime, tragedy of any kind. Had you never heard of the survival of the fittest? In essence, you heroes ought to protect humanity from its own glorious evolution"
"As such, you forced my more enlightened colleagues and myself to organize a response. We created a co-optive network of operatives, placed key individuals in key positions made certain we were on the cutting edge of all new technologies. Genetic engineering. Bio-chemical engineering. Robotics. Nano-robotics. Even techno sorcery. Not to mention every conceivable method of mind control. Cold hard science and a little misdirection now you champions of stagnation have become our agents of change. Forcing the human race to evolve on a more advance schedule allowing the Earth to take its rightful place at the center of the cosmos" Savage monologues.
"Good thing Mia isn't here. She hates it when villains talk about their plans" Roy thought as he stood still.
The bio-ship docks just below the Tower and creates a hole for the others to enter through the lower levels. The Team gathers around Robin and his holo-computer.
"RT did it. Wirelessly bypassed security for us as soon as he arrived. Savage shouldn't know we're here" Robin states.
"Move out" Kaldur orders.
"No unnecessary risks, got it? Nothing stupid" Mia reminds.
"Ok" everyone responds.
One by one members of the League were cured of "Starotech."
"Etativel that ssorg gniht" Zatanna chants then someone cured Atom.
"The brats are aboard. They've taken away four of my toys" Klarion whines.
"Recall all League away missions. It's time to put these children in their place once and for all" Savage orders.
"Finally!"
Teekl meows.
"Oh, yeah. Hey, Vandal. Shouldn't those three be back online by now?"
"What?"
The trio started to attack. Roy quickly places a cure on Green Lantern Hal's neck.
"You'll be sorry" Klarion warns.
A boom tube opens then six of the heavy hitters show up. Canary, Roy and Tornado were easily defeated.
"The children have clearly reverse engineered a "Starotech" cure and vaccine. So there's no point in taking them alive."
"Goodie" Klarion rubs his hands together.
"Recognized: Captain Marvel, 1-5. Icon, 2-0. Dr. Fate, 1-7."
M'gann hovers over the trio in camouflage mode and proceeded to curing them. She was able to get Dr. Fate but Icon notices and attacks her. Raquel comes up from behind him and was able to cure him.
Zatanna chants "Trulb tuo mazahs!"
"Shazam!"
Marvel turns back into Billy and falls into Zatanna. Kaldur helps him up while Mia checks for any injuries.
"Too bad "Curotech" doesn't work as fast as "Starotech." We could use these guys" Raquel complains.
"You're good Billy. No injuries" Mia smiles.
"Thanks."
He hugs her and she hugs him back.
"It is a small miracle, Queen Mera and Doctors Roquette, Spence and Vulko were able to re-engineer a cure and vaccine at all" Kaldur states.
"Hey, if you guys aren't busy" Wally says.
"On my way. You three rendezvous with Robin and Superboy."
"Same. Just give me a sec" Mia comments.
"I-I'll be right behind you" Zatanna tells the others.
Zatanna waits until Raquel and M'gann leaves to do what she needed to do. She walks over to pick up the helmet and it shocks her in defense.
"Temleh, esaeler ym rehtaf!"
The spell didn't work so Mia tries to pull it off. When she got in a 3 foot radius of Fate, Mia was electrocuted and she backs off.
"I can save Fate from Savage but I still can't save my father from Fate."
"I'm sorry Z. I can't get close to him anymore."
"Mia!" Wally yells.
"I'm coming!"
She teleports to where Wally was which in this case was one of the docking bays.
Artemis fires arrows at Flash who catches them easily then knocks Wally away. She shot at Flash's feet launching him back a few feet. Green Arrow retaliates by firing a few arrows at Artemis. Mia teleports them out into space.
"I'm amazed we're still alive" Artemis states.
"It's cause they're being controlled. They're limited by whoever's pulling their strings. The very thing putting us in danger is the only thing giving us a chance" Wally explains.
"Well thank God for that" Mia sarcastically says.
"Artemis, Kid, Blink. Now!" Kaldur locks the door.
Artemis fires an arrow into the wall holding on tight with Wally holding on too. Mia plunges two daggers into the wall beside her and grips the handles until her knuckles turned white.
"Hold on" Kaldur says.
"Holding" the couple said.
"I don't like this plan" Mia adds.
Kaldur presses a button and the cargo bay doors opened.
"Warning. Cargo bay venting atmosphere" the computer announces.
All four of them held on for dear life as the vacuum of space tries to suck them out.
"Aqualad!" Mia shouts.
Kaldur manages to close the doors before Aquaman, Green Arrow and Flash were sucked out into space. Wally quickly places the cure on the trio's necks.
"Apologies, My King."
Mia squats down and turns Flash's body onto his back. She looks down at him with tears in her eyes.
"Oh Dad, you just had to get yourself turned into a mindless slave for some 50,000 year old guy who's bent on world domination."
Wally rests a hand on her shoulder "He'll be fine but we have to go."
"Alright" Mia got up and followed the others.
"You know that's the first time you called him Dad" Wally whispers.
"Really? I guess it was time to use it."
The others were battling against Hawkwoman and Wonder Woman where they were able to subdue Hawkwoman with the help from Wolf and Lola.
"Now" Robin orders.
Raquel traps Wonder Woman in a bubble. Wonder Woman starts to punch the bubble to set herself free.
"Can she escape your force bubble?"
"Not if she keeps punching it. The kinetic energy is only making it stronger. But I'm stuck here. Anything I do risks freeing her."
"Look out!"
Robin manages to distract Batman long enough for Raquel to fly away while maintaining the force bubble. Soon it was Batman versus Robin and Conner against both Superman and Manhunter. Wolf attacks Manhunter while Sphere attacks Superman in order to help Conner.
M'gann appears then morphs into her White Martian form to psychically take down her uncle and she succeeds. Superman punches her away making Conner very angry. Robin holds his own against Batman but not for long.
Then he ends up next to Conner "We're not gonna beat them one on one."
"Plan B, then."
Batman and Superman fly down to the same level they're on. Conner throws Robin at Batman which he kicks him towards the wall then was able to place the cure on Batman's neck when he lands on the ground. Conner grabs hold of Superman from the back and tries his hardest to keep his grip.
"Sure about this?" Robin asks.
"Just do it."
Robin opens a small box of Kryptonite which weakens the two Kryptonians. He places the cure at the back of Superman's neck then closes the box.
Conner pants a little "Kryptonite…hurts."
"Which is why Batman keeps it in an overwhelmingly impenetrable vault at the Batcave" Robin helps Conner up "Well more like a whelmingly penetrable vault."
"Conner, Robin I know you two did something stupid. What was it?" Mia demanded.
"How did you even-" Robin wonders.
"Call it a gut feeling. Now what did you two do?"
"We used Kryptonite but only to weaken Superman enough to place the cure" Conner answers truthfully.
"Thank you for your honesty."
"Do you think she-" Robin spoke too soon.
"Are you out of your goddamn minds?! Conner, that stuff can kill you! Oh we are so having a talk after all of this crazy shit is over with" Mia states.
"Time to go."
"Come on, we can take 'em."
"Yes, but in the process, you'd lose control perhaps even destroy this station. And whether or not they're in our thrall the Light still needs the Justice League alive for phase two."
"I wouldn't lose control"
Teekl meows.
"Okay, yeah, I bring the chaos."
"Klarion!" Mia shouts as the two Light members flee the Watchtower.
"Damn it!" Mia scowls.
"Congratulations, Team. You have won the day" Tornado says.
"Happy New Year, Justice League" the computer announces.
Wally picks up Artemis bridal style "I should have done this a long time ago."
"No kidding" then the two kiss.
"Well it's about time" Mia whispers.
Soon everyone was kissing except for Mia. "All of my ships have sailed" *internal squeal* "I'm so happy."
Someone taps her shoulder and Mia turns to see Roy looking a little worse for wear.
"Roy, where have you been? I've been worried sick you son of a-"
Roy plants his lips on Mia's instantly shutting her up.
He disconnects only to whisper "Happy Birthday Amelia."
"How-"
He captures her lips again and Mia finally kisses back. Her arms snake around his neck then she runs her fingers through his hair as the kiss deepens. Roy pulls her in closer, pressing her body into his by keeping both hands on her back. The two pour everything they've felt about each other into this kiss and it was the best kiss Mia ever had.
"Human customs still elude me" Tornado says as he lays there awkwardly on the ground.
Before going into the meeting room, Mia and Roy talked for a bit.
"How did you know that today was my birthday?" Mia curiously asks.
"Robin told me before the mission started."
"Of course he did" Mia rolls her eyes at Robin's antics "That little sneak."
They fell into a comfortable silence for a bit then Mia spoke again.
"So what does this make us?" she plays with his hand.
Slightly callused hand yet still soft to the touch intertwines with a callused hand; soft and rough, yin and yang.
"Something I want to give a try" Roy looks down at their intertwined hand.
"Are you saying that because that's how you feel or because you're afraid I'd kick your ass if you said the wrong thing?" Mia raises a brow in a joking manner.
"Well I can't go around telling everyone I'm afraid of my girlfriend now can I?" Roy smirks at her.
"I guess you're right about...girlfriend?"
He kisses her once more before heading inside.
"Hey" Roy stops at the door but doesn't turn around "Do you want me to come with you?"
He doesn't respond but instead holds his hand out for her and she takes it. The couple walks into the room hand-in-hand then took separate seats. Roy in between Green Arrow and Canary while Mia sat next to Kaldur.
"Everything I thought I knew about myself was a lie. I'm not a hero or a sidekick. I'm a traitor. A pawn."
"Roy" Mia felt her heart crack at his confession.
"Roy, it'll be alright-" Canary tries to soothe him.
"I'm not Roy. I don't know what I am. All I know is I need to find the real Roy. I need to rescue Speedy."
"Roy" Mia's heart shattered while a single tear escapes and trails down her cheek.
"Guardian is already searching Cadmus" Batman states.
Green Arrow and Canary walked Roy and Mia out of the room. As they headed for the zeta tubes, Green Arrow notices that Roy and Mia were holding hands.
"So you two huh?"
Mia looks at him with annoyance "Yeah and?"
"Nothing, you two seem like a good match. Does Barry know?"
"No Ollie, he doesn't. And he won't because I'm not telling him, Roy isn't going to tell him, Dinah won't say a word and you better as hell not tell him until I'm ready to tell him myself. Am I understood?"
Oliver gulps "Yes ma'am."
Dinah snickers and gives Mia a high-five. They arrived at the zeta tubes and the older couple looks at the younger one.
"Ready to go?" Dinah asks.
"Um" Mia glances at Roy "Not yet. There's a place I want to take Mr. Pouty Face to."
"Roy?" Oliver asks.
Roy looks at Mia and saw the pleading look in her eyes "I'll go with Mia."
The older couple nods then leaves the Tower. When they were alone, Roy tightens his grip around Mia's hand and she squeezes back.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to teleport us from here to Earth. I'll teleport to where we have to go when we're on Earth. Come on" she drags him over to the tubes.
Isla Santo Miguel
January 1, 02:36 PST
The two of them sat on a hill in Mia's country and just watched the clear night sky. They just sat there for a bit until Mia spoke.
"I know what you are."
Roy turns his head "You do?"
She nods "You're my boyfriend and to me, you are a hero. I hope that's enough for you."
"That's more than I could ever ask for" Roy whispers.
He cups her cheek and pulls her in for a kiss. Mia kisses back then their lips start to move in sync. Roy leans back to the ground dragging Mia along with him. She ends up on top of him and the two laid there kissing under the starry night of Isla Santo Miguel.