A/N
Hello everyone and welcome back to the 19th chapter of this book. Wow!
We have been growing in views for a while now and we have nearly hit 4,800! Yeah!
I'm finally doing a Conner POV, guys!
Thanks to all new viewers, followers, favouritors!
Reviews
MoustachedCat: Your words are too kind, dearest friend. As for length, it's the same as my other chapters, around 3,000. Season 2 and all of my series after I finish this, will be 7,000 words and I will be aiming to release one chapter a week.
patattack: Thanks for the review, man. I'm grateful to see you have stuck by me.
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Chapter 19: Bialyan Business...
October 13th, 8:00PM- Bialya
Kyle's POV
Due to Robins acute smartness, we managed to assume that Queen Bee also knows about the 'light'. Basing this off the fact that sphere was being experimented on in Bialya, we sussed out that it would more than likely be somewhat connected to our shadowy stalkers. Again, this is pure speculation and we shouldn't really be risking our lives over an educated hunch from a teenager that wears a brightly coloured suit, and fights crime alongside a man (I'm assuming it's a man) dressed as a bat.
Nevertheless, we are currently in the rogue nation of Bialya, again. And, we are trying to interrogate a heavily guarded supervillain... again. This is getting really repetitive all of a sudden. Can't we go one mission without attempting to be stealthy. Leave that jazz to the professionals and not us.
"Uh... we can hear you, Kyle." the voice of Kid Flash enters my mind, reminding me to keep a lid on my thoughts for the time being.
"Thanks for the reminder that you people are constantly inside my head. I could really do without these interruptions, you know? " I sarcastically retort. "Anyways, any movement on the other side? I've seen zero, so far."
"The guards are on rotational shifts and by my estimates, they should be swapping in a minute or two. We should use the brief lapse to enter, but it will be a tight fit." Robin answers.
"Speaking of tight fit, how do you even get into that costume of yours? " the telltale sassiness indicates- along with the voice- that Artemis made that remark.
I come up with the defense of the century. "You can't say anything about other people's clothes, Artemis. I'm surprised the fashion police haven't arrested you for rocking that awful suit. It looks like Robin Hood had enough of medieval times and went for the 80's look."
"If you dare say something like that to me, I'll shove those rings up your a-"
"Guys! Stop it! " Robin plays the role of the goodie boy to perfection by halting Superboy's threat before it reaches its obviously ugly climax. "This mission will be hard enough without the fighting, so quit acting like spoilt kids and be the heroes you say you are."
Alas, the boy wonder does have a point. Teamwork is only a great strategy if all members of the team co-operates and functions to the max efficiency, but it's only friendly banter to calm our raging nerves, so I don't see the actual problem. I guess that Robin is nervous about the whole escapade we are currently on.
"Robin is right. We cannot afford to lose our focus upon this mission." Kaldur reinforces Robin's interruption.
"I'm going to ignore what Rob said, but Kaldur's on the right track." I tease the boy wonder. "We all know that Kaldur is the better leader."
"Burn." Wally makes the sizzling sound that usually accompanies those words. "Wait... we're going off course again."
"Movement." M'gann informs as I'm presuming that she was the only one actually scoping out the place for weaknesses. "I think the guards are rotating. Should we go, guys? " the question was answered when Robin darts up and takes off towards the palace. The very same palace that I met Ra's for the first time in.
Firing his grappling hook at the highest ledge he reels himself in, his body rigid and comparable to a fish that's just been caught on a hook.
Following his suit, all of us scale the side- me and Miss M flying, with Artemis helping Kid Flash up via an arrow, and Conner leaping up in a single bound. He clears the wall without a need to hold onto the wall and do his super-jump again. Pretty impressive, actually. For a clone that doesn't even have access to his full range of powers.
"Watch out! Bogie coming from the left!" I call out and promptly see said threat collapsing to the ground an arrow in his arm. "That was quick."
Touching down on the ramparts alongside Miss Martian, we swiftly rejoin the others in their mid-mission huddle. By that, I mean them vigorously whispering to each other over who does what role in the mish. However, I don't usually take part as I pride myself on being above such tedious discussions. "What are they doing?" M'gann asks, seemingly both curious and aware enough that she shouldn't tangle with that mess.
"You know- telling each other that they don't want to do all the hard things. Which... I have no doubt will be left to me." was my huff.
"Kyle, you go on overwatch." Aqualad turns around and commands.
"Told ya so." I mutter to M'gann. They always neglect to say that overwatch is spectating everyone else doing all the tough work, whilst you hover above the action and lookout for potential troubles. Basically, the task is to watch. "Stay safe."
Zooming into the air above the palace, I halt at a decent altitude and gently hover above the team. Now... I wait until they realise they need my help; they always end up needing my help. Either because they need a guy to be an equivalent of a meat shield, or to fly them out of there. Only yesterday, I had to carry them across Mexico because M'gann needed to recuperate. So, I constructed a Chinook and towed the bio-ship to Bialya. It nearly ran my rings out of charge, and that means a lot of usage.
"Right side, in the courtyard. If you enter the palace through the windows, the guard shouldn't be able to see you. "
Superboy's POV
Since when do 'heroes' ever break in through windows? Superman would never dream of doing such a thing. The mere thought of my biological father sends my blood boiling in a fiery rage. Superman doesn't even try to help me, and yet he's so morally right. I'm going to prove that you don't need his powers to be the greatest protector of the world. I'm going to prove that he's wrong about me. I'm going to prove that I'm not the abomination that both Kal and Kara believe I am. And, it starts now.
Forcing my building fury down, I clamber in through the window and await the others to enter as well. M'gann was the most awkward to fit in as she clearly isn't used to squashing herself without changing shape.
Although she isn't as dependant as Superman, she still can't cope without her powers. They both under-appreciate the fact that they have powers that the rest of us- including me- could ever imagine. Perhaps one day I will get my full potential, but until then I must learn how to survive without it.
"Where will Queen Bee... be? " Wally stumbles over the awkward tongue-twister. "And do we have a plan to deal with her very villainous ability to seduce men. Or... just me.his eyes dart to me, Robin, and Kaldur. "They don't seem like the easily seduced type."
"I don't need to be there to know that you are looking at the three stoics." Kyle interrupts. Am I ever free from his incessant nagging?
"Shut up." I growl.
"What are you going to do? Fly to me? " the obviously mocking tone of his voice is nearly enough to spiral me into a primal frenzy state.
"That's enough, Kyle! " Kaldur says. "How many times must you be told to get along? We are on a mission."
"Fine."
"Without further interruptions, I suggest that you continue to watch our backs before are taken by surprise and killed." Aqualad closes out the conversation/verbal sparring match, much to my annoyance as I had plenty more malicious things to say to him.
"To answer KF's question, I have no idea. I guess that you should keep your mind focused on avoiding her influence. Think of your family or something- a way to distract your mind without becoming sloppy in a fight." Robin answer as we stealthily walk across the vast hallways in search of our target.
Winding walls and the smooth surfaces gives me the distinct impression that this was designed to be distracting to anyone that enters. It's as if the walls themselves are peering at you, watching and examining our every breath, step, and word. Even to me, the though is deeply frightening and creepy. A feeling that is often very rare for me to experience in any given situation, as I was theoretically born to be a courageous hero.
"Anyone getting the feeling that we are strolling into a trap? "Artemis asks.
Robin agreeably nods his head. "Yeah... something is off here... Kyle, keep a lookout. Report back if you see anything that could be counted as suspicious, in any way."
"Sure thing." was Kyle's predictable response. "I'll give you a mental holler if I notice anything too out of the ordinary. Good luck."
"Conner, you should take point." Robin then shifts to the side to allow me to wearily pass through. "Just in case we get ambushed, we need you at the front."
By that, he wants me to take the punishment if we get surprised. In Kyle's specific words, he wants me to be a 'living tank' and soak up the enemies like a sponge, which is totally understandable, but borderline repetitive. Sooner or later, the bad guys are going to catch on and that would be horrible for the less durable members of the youth squad.
"Just make sure to stay behind me." I march forwards with confidence and an eagerness that wouldn't be expected to find in most heroic figures in today's world. "Is this the door? " we apprehensively approach a large, wooden door, altogether unsure of what could be waiting for us on the other side. "It smells like a trap, alright- this was far too easy. Shouldn't there be guards and stuff? "
"Yeah, isn't this supposed to be a 'royal' palace? " Artemis says, doing the finger gestures when she mentioned Queen Bee's alleged monarchy.
"Come on guys, maybe luck is finally on our side? " Wally shrugs his shoulders, practically pleading that he is proven correct by what resides beyond the intimidating entrance.
Gently, M'gann places her hand on the door and closes her eyes. "I'm not sensing any thoughts from the other side." she withdraws her hand and reveals to the group.
"It's not like they are going to pop their heads through the door and scream 'hello from the other side', is it? They obviously know that we have a telepath, or Queen Bee has mindcontrolled people using her mumbo-jumbo. Either way, there are people behind the door and we can't just charge in." Artemis mentally sighs.
"Artemis has a point." Kaldur nods. "They would not reveal themselves so easily, despite them being sentients who constantly think."
"Kyle, what do you think? "Miss M asks.
"Go in and find out, I guess. I can back you up if you want." comes the reply typical of our lantern. "Nothing is going on in my front."
"Try and find a way around." Robin commands.
Finally, the time to open the door and prevent another five minutes of my life wasted because they are too scared to act. So, I grip the frame tightly and rip the whole thing off with a roar. Ruthless aggression is how I see things through, and when I get started nothing will be able to halt my warpath, not even Superman can do that. In my book, there is no such notion as giving in. Only the strongest can survive against all odds, and I am the strongest hero to walk the Earth. Not in terms of raw power, but resolve and the willingness to go the distance to help my friends.
Welcoming us into the penultimate room is presumably the Queen Bee- a strikingly unusual villain, compared to the others- surrounded by soldiers- dressed in black with yellow striped running down their outfits- armed with standard assault rifles. Altogether, a not-so-intimidating view in my opinion; nothing we haven't dealt with before.
And nothing we wont easily deal with again.
"Tell me: What are the brats of the Justice League doing in Bialya... for the third time." the slender seductress saunters towards us, hips swaying lightly. "I pride myself on being a generally hospitable ruler, yet I do require ample preparation, and such a sudden arrival will not suffice." she slows down and remains a respectable distance away from us, no doubt just as wary as we are.
"For you, actually. Stop being a diva and answer some questions." Artemis snaps.
"Questions? How intriguing." she starts annoyingly pacing in front of us, almost in a teasing and provoking manner.
"First off: What does the 'light' want with us!? It's not as if we did something to them, and now they want revenge. " Artemis demands from Queen Bee. Not a great idea, considering we have no idea what tricks she could be hiding under her sleeves, and her theatrics.
"My dear, all the light wants is for you meddling children to die. Imagine... you are the future of the hero community and if you crush you... there will be no future where the heroes prevail." Queen Bee divulges, matter-of-factly.
"No surprise there." I mutter under my breath, until I decide to express my anger through words. "No surprise there!" making my friends startle slightly. "Everything that happens to us is to get to them! We will never be taken seriously as long as we are under their shadow! Look at you, Robin- one of the greatest heroes I've met and you're only a teenager, and yet you need to understand... you will always be in his shadow. Until the day you die." Robin's face scrunches as though he smelled something nasty. "But no... more."
Turning around to face Queen Bee, I see the fear in her eyes. "I'm not Superman or Supergirl, and I may never be. Only one thing about me is unique. " say, crouching minutely in readiness. "That... I AM SUPERBOY! "
Time seems to slow down as I thunder forward with the speed of a charging bull. Electricity flickers in the corner of my eyes and Wally sprints in, taking out one of the rear guards. Instead of hitting Bee, I feel like I am suspended in the air for an eternity, reaching for my prey. Though it's my mind probably playing tricks on me, every bone in my body screams that it's right. This particular moment will be remembered forever, even if only by me.
It's the moment that I cast down the shackles of pride and jealousy that has plagued me since I first broke out of Cadmus. And I know what the rest of my life is destined to do.
One way or another, I will become the greatest superhero the world has ever witnessed.
Speeding up again, my fist unexpectedly slams against the ground, severely cracking the marble floor. Looking up, Queen Bee is nowhere to be found, so I take out my frustration on an unsuspecting soldier about to take a shot at Artemis.
Roughly, I grab on to the man's belt and swing him around in the air and release after the third spin, viciously throwing him into a solid wall with a smack. The soldier barely moves afterwards, occassionaly twitching or groaning in pain. I may have gone overboard.
With the rest of the royal guards being cleared up, it leaves the problem of Queen Bee escaping out of thin air. Somehow, we need to track her down and interrogate her for the information we need on the light. We should probably start searching...
"Let me go!"
The yell catches my attention and the voice was beginning to grow louder by the second. "How dare you! Release me at once! If I ever get out of here, I will k-"
"Quit whining, jeez! I thought that Conner cries a lot about his life." the familiar tone of Kyle enters the fray, followed closely by him and Queen Bee, with the latter enclosed within a golden sphere. Within, she hits the sided with her bare fists, desperate to escape. "Hey guys." Kyle addresses Young Justice with a triumphant smile. "I caught this one scrambling into the courtyard, and thought it would be best to contain her. Pretty lucky, actually. I almost missed her coming out after I gave up searching for a back entrance."
"There's only one way you are getting out of that bubble." Artemis sneers as you would to an imprisoned animal. "Tell us about the light."
Queen Bee's head droops. "I will... tell you everything, if you let me go."
A/N
There is another chapter wrapped up.
Many of you will be going "Hey! this is getting really repetitive!" and I say that it's all for a reason. Stick with me and you will find out why, my good people.