A/N
Welcome guys and girls to this newest chapter. I hope that all of you have a Merry Christmas, and enjoy your holidays. This chapter will be uploaded after Christmas Eve, so some of you may not see it. For Corver Chronicles, there will be no upload until a while.
Uploads will be slow until I get my computer working again. It makes me go 'Grrrrrr'
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Guest: 'OMG UPDATE SOON' well... here you go, I suppose. I'm glad you like it.
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I am also planning a Legends of Tommorow series, so check it out on my profile! It will involve everyone's favourite kid- Shazam!
Chapter 14: Chaotic Conundrum...
Kyle's POV
"Run faster!" Artemis yells at me from behind, like a cattle driver herding their cows.
"Don't you... think... I am?... Geez!" was my hurried response, gasping for breath in between. I never knew that it's this hard to run everywhere, instead of flying. All of a sudden I discovered a newfound admiration for the no-powered members of the Young Justice- Robin and Artemis. All the times I sneered at them for having no powers, I had no idea that they are stronger than they appear. Of course, I will never admit that in public.
Sprinting at break-neck speed, we are currently attempting to reach our supposedly in distress friends. Considering that Miss Martian and Aqualad have proven their abilities, I don't understand what the rush is about. Sure, they apparently need help, but Kaldur couldn't open a door earlier. I'm sure it's no big... deal.
My assurances were torn apart by a red laser blasts, ripping apart the metallic wall. "Spoke too soon... why is everything so imperfect?" I mutter, just as another blast sends me soaring into the opposite wall. Pain ripples at the back of my head, which seems to have smacked against the wall.
"Kyle!" Artemis exclaims and darts over to me, slapping me slightly in the face.
"Hey... hey!... hey! stop it!" I wind up shouting to make her stop the endless backhands. "What was that for?" I gingerly ask.
"Revenge, sweet revenge." she winks and dashes off, leaving me in a humiliated and furious heap. How dare that archer slap me? Her hand doesn't deserve to touch this perfection. I chuckle. My head throbs at the effort, but my friends need help. So, I drag myself up and hobble to the bent hole.
Inside is a massively biased battle- the typical courageous heroes vs devious villains scenario. Aqualad is in a protective stance over Megan's limp (presumably unconscious) body, and defending against a series of relentless kicks and punches from an armoured guy with a helmet- shaped like lemon- on. Artemis boldly joins the fray and helps double-team the lemonhead, alongside Kaldur. In the background is some creepy kid, cackling sinisterly for no reason. What a weirdo, I muse.
Unconsciously, my eyes switch back to Miss M's prone form. Something flicked on inside of me. That feral, almost uncontrollable rage that I fell to before; the feeling rapidly grows, causing my eyes to narrow on that creep at the back. Smile again, I dare you, I mentally threaten, balling my fists with anger.
The final straw was when he tripped over Artemis was a simple point, using one of his extremely thin fingers.
With a bloodcurdling battle cry, I fly directly at the amused teenager, without constructing or employing evasive maneuvers. No, I want to beat him down with my bare fists, blow after blow. I want to make him regret his decision. I want to make him feel justice.
"Uh oh, someone's grumpy." he surprisingly sighs in a shrill voice, both annoying and deeply chilling. "Ah well, let me cheer you up." he points all of his fingers at me with a mischievous smirk. It remains that way for a few seconds- me recklessly catapulting at him, and him stood there, with his sticks for fingers outstretched. Then, red blasts zoom out of the wands. They hit me square in the face, sending me crashing backwards; conveniently landing next to my fighting allies.
"Not good; not good." I groan and eventually heave my body up, wincing at the surge of agony flowing around my body. "That guy is the deal." I inform my friends, just in case they come across the weedy thing later. "He was like pow, and I went oww."
"A... little... help." Artemis grunts as she flips around, similar to how Robin normally fights. In most scenarios, she would stay back and bombard the guys with arrows. Catching sight of the empty quiver, I can comprehend why. Hello Kyle, friends in danger, I remind myself and scramble into the action, leaping into the centre with no clue how to fight in close quarters. Still, I know the occasional move from Black Canary.
Amidst the thuds of limbs parrying limbs, my bright suit stands out like Superboy in a kindergarten class. "What are you doing, Kyle?" Kaldur asks, simultaneous combining with Artemis in a swift counter-attack. To be honest, I have no idea.
Deciding to throw myself into the blender and see what happens, I run up to Artemis; just as our enemy was about to punch her, I dive in front of her. Not having enough time to register the change of target, his fists smacks into my face, in what should be a potentially fatal blow. Yet, it rebounds, ricochets even.
The bad guy stumbles back in obvious shock at the failed assault, leaving me even more astounded. "Oh yeah, the suit... duh." I hit my forehead in the exact motion that Megan does when she says 'Hello Megan!'. The ruse works to perfection.
Taking advantage of the villain's confused stupuer, Kaldur bounds in with a flying kick to the temple.
Black Manta's lemon is knocked off his head, revealing the face beneath. He glares up at us with a fiery hate glinting in his eyes. Wait... I swear that I've seen those eyes before. It doesn't matter how hard I try, the match escapes my generally excellent memory.
"Uhhh... Batm- Wait no, Flash." I guess.
"Like hell that's The Flash, he has blue eyes. This wannabe has brown." Artemis dismisses it.
"Look at you heroes," the bad guy chuckles. "bickering over something so insignificant, when the real danger is staring you in the face." he adds on, nodding backwards at the now dancing boy. He seems to be enjoying himself, I muse and knock out the lying man with a swift punch to the jaw.
"Kyle! We don't just hit people." Artemis squeals.
"uhhh... we do... last time I checked." I say, stepping over the prone man and towards the boy.
Somehow sensing our approach amidst his energetic dancing, he halts and swerves around to face us. A scruffy looking cat leaps out of his arms and sits expectantly at his side. Weird. Contrary to the fact he is outnumbered, the similarly aged boy holds a certain aura of... happiness.
"Don't you just love fighting? the skill, the dance, and ohhh... the chaos." he asks, features gleefully turned into a vile grin.
"You're a little bit of a fruit loop aren't you?" Artemis says.
"It's not nice to go around insulting people, young lady." he chastises, but this tone is opposite to his words- almost encouraging and with fake annoyance.
"Young lady?" she shakes her head.
"Yes, you are pretty young aren't you? A tad bit too young, especially if you are a hero."
"Yeaahhhh, and how old are you? The same damn age as us!"
"Well, you could say that you are very, very wrong." the boy sinisterly rolls his eyes. "I am... what you could say is an old person- an old, oldy, old person." he continues, now pushing a hand through his hair, revealing a pair of sharp, black horns.
"Do you get them trimmed?" I blurt out.
"Very funny, I like you." he answers. "But I am afraid that you are interfering in my plans, and well... I can't have that." he extends his fingers again, and with a quick snap my head flares in pain.
I fall to my knees, clutching my throbbing head. The sensation is unlike any other I have ever felt. A mix of vertigo and a hefty dose of agony combined in a state of utter paralysis. Images of battles and anarchy rush into my mind, making it hurt even further. Every thought is tainted by fire and screams, propping up the stress on my brain.
Seconds later it fades away and my blurred vision painfully returns, clearing via tears. As it comes into focus I can see Artemis and Kaldur launching themselves at the strange figure, being swatted away with red tendrils. Clutching my side, I get up for what seems like the one millionth time on this mission and hurry over to where Miss Martian is lying. Come on, we need SB and Robin in here, I shake her rigorously.
Even after a whole ten seconds of harsh prodding, she remains in a comatose-like state. Suddenly, one final option enters my mind. "I'm sorry for this." I hold up my hand in a ready position, waiting to backhand her soft face. "But... I can't do this...yes, you can. Now do it." I argue with myself in deliberation.
With a nervous intake of breath, I slap her across the cheeks with one eyes closed. The hand smacks of her green face with a loud thump and a rosy mark emerges at the impact area.
Yet, she is still unconscious.
What is it going to take? I gasp in nihilism. Is she asleep or dead?
Then, another plan pops up in the inner and darker reaches of my planning complex. This will work... hopefully?
Martians are famously for being powerful telepaths, so maybe her mind is keeping her unconscious to preserve her body. Thus, if I shock the brain, she will theoretically be able to control her body again. Now, only to find a way to do it.
Of course, I could throw her in the ocean. Or give her an electric shock.
That's it! The only emotion that usually triggers adrenaline is fear, and it's a coincidence that I am a user of fear. Using my ring, I could possibly enter her mind and find her trigger to fear. After that, it should force her mind into returning control to her muscles, in an attempt to escape what is causing the fear.
However it would mean going in and breaking her privacy. Not like she has ever done that to us. In my awkward sense of privacy, it is sometimes necessary to be broken. For the greater good, and all that jazz.
If I let my ring temporarily control me, it would act as if it were on a Sinestro Corp member- distorting the fear until it becomes pure terror. Not only would it would wake her up, it would empower me enough so that I could take on the devil.
Still, I run the great risk of the ring calling out to Sinestro and leading him to us, thereby placing the whole of YJ in danger.
"Ring, do you have a homing beacon?" I mentally connect to my golden weapon.
"Yes." it responds in a deeper and more gruff tone than the Green Lantern ring.
"Disable it, until I give the order to re-activate." I order the accessory. A long pause follows as the ring obviously tries to decide between obeying protocol or the user. If this was a Green Lantern ring, it would have accepted it straight away.
"Done, Yellow Lan-." the voice cuts off. "Warning." it exclaims and I unwillingly duck, narrowly avoiding a blast of energy from the raging battle. It seems that the Sinestro Corps also has several of it's counterparts functions- beacons, safety protocols and etc.
Refocusing on the puzzle before me, I flicker between both courses of action. Until, I finally summon the resolve to go through with the plan. Bearing in mind that I have never done anything like this before, it's a stab in the dark.
Apprehensively, I point my yellow ring directly at the Martian's forehead. Instantly a horrid feeling tingles the back of my mind. Dread. It lingers in the background, waiting and motivating. The foreboding peaks when I eventually force my way into her powerful mind.
A desert? I stumble over sand as my eyes flicker around the barren landscape. But, a vital detail doesn't escape my notice. All around isn't the golden colour of sand, instead a dirty, copperish brown. Mars.
"ahem!" something clear its throat behind me and I slowly turn, being met by Megan. "Kyle! What are you doing here!?" she gasps.
"Trying to wake you up!" I say.
"Aren't I already awake?" she tilts her head curiously at me, as though I am insane. "You are the one that's on Mars."
"Ahhh, I remember." I awkwardly mutter. "By the way... I'm really, really sorry for this."
Before she could open her mouth and ask 'what are you sorry for', I direct my ring at her and concentrate. She squirms on the spot and the desert swirls into an image of mount justice, but on fire. Screams echo around me as I can practically taste her growing fear; increasing by the second, she is reduced to quiet whimpers as she clutches her head protectively. Then, the shapes changed into a picture of Metropolis- covered in flames and with Superboy lying prone in the center.
The pictures start to bombard me. A funeral here, pain and agony there. Still, it's not enough to cause her unparalleled terror. So, I dig deeper.
A couple of times, I am almost compelled into stopping due to Megan's horrified expression. Yet another instinctual force drives me on to newer levels of fright. All the way through, my ring silently motivates, craving more of its energy. The power that I can feel coursing through me is unimaginable. Both brutal and satisfying, I want to have more. More fear, more power.
It clicks.
The last resistance dissolves within her, and the floodgates open. Her tears bring extra flavour to the final masterpiece; the deepest, most inner fear she holds.
The shock of the revelation takes me aback.
It's us- sneering and making disgusted noises, we yell at the oddly animalistic figure of a White Martian. However, the bigger secret unfolds as the tale goes on.
"You are a... beast." Kaldur glared.
"Disgusting." Wally said.
"Ugly." was Artemis' comment.
The only thing Robin did is shake his head. By far, the worst reaction of all was Superboy's.
He stares at the Martian with a fury that could shake the very Earth. "I trusted you! You lied! You are nothing but a monster!" the tone that has voice spoke in made it clear to me. This alien had to be Megan. No other person could cause Conner that much hurt, except her.
With a shooting migraine I open my eyes to the sight of Miss M, rigid and wide eyed. "I don't know what that was all about. It mu-"
"Don't worry, I understand." I interrupt, seeing that she was only putting herself in plenty more stress. Gently, I put my hand on her shoulder and squeeze. At first she flinches from the contact, yet soon she relaxes.
"You do? " she asks, looking reluctantly at me.
"Yeah. You should know this by now- Kyle Rayner doesn't judge by appearances." I respond. "I'd hate to ruin the moment, but can you get Boy of Black T-Shirts and Birdie in here? "
Getting up, my head turns to the fight once more. Damn, it's still going? Aqualad and Artemis are continuing to battle the weird wacko, albeit with plenty more bruises and cuts showing. Choo-Choo, Kyle express is here! Within moments a yellow train smashed into the unsuspecting villain, catching him off guard. The two YJ members seize the opening and leap onto the boy, piling on in a comical struggle.
A red light seeps through the holes between bodies and my friends explode outwards, leaving me to save them by using a constructed bed.
"Where have you been!?" Artemis asks, jumping off the evaporating bed and into a ready stance.
"Getting backup." I answer and look at the ground around the room, spotting no downed bad guy. "El-Manta?"
"Gone. He snuck off during the battle." Kalder informs.
Above our heads Miss Martian floats, acting a little more confident than usual. "Now this isn't fair, is it? Four on one? Have you got any sense of honour?" our enemy tutts, wagging a finger.
"Make that six." Conner approaches from the rear with Robin at his side. "Ready to get some young justice?" he adds on, cracking his knuckles.
"Just when I was having fun." he sighs. "Smell you later."
Before we could even try to apprehend the villain, he merrily hops into some portal-thingy and disappears out of sight. Presumably, he has gone where we won't be able to find him. "Good riddance, creep!" I call out.
"Agreed." Aqualad says. "Get into the bio-ship and prepare to leave. I will rescue the Queen and bring her to the ship. We have something to discuss." he orders in his habitual monotonous voice, devoid of all noticeable emotion.
"Gladfully." Artemis huffs.
A/N
Once again, I am so sorry that this chapter took so long, but I have been experiencing computer problems and this literally took forever. I hope you enjoyed and be sure to check out my other books- Legends of Tommorow:Unite! and etc.