Chapter four 'the terror of Steelburg'

A/N: so after a while i finally managed to get this chapter done, i'm intrigued by the notion of Evelyn going back to wally's dimension but would she be alone or would several members of the team go with her, namely those not native to the other universe send me a PM on your thoughts about it, no promises on if i'll do it but i'm leaning heavily towards yes.. Anyway if you spot an error or something feel freely to point it out, i regular check my chapters to check errors like those to improve the quality of the story over all.

oh and i own nothing but my OC's, not sure if my revamps count, the rest should be obvious since this is a fanfiction.

Enjoy:]

14:21 PDT Unknown Location Jump city July 23rd 2010

Evelyn awoke to her head splitting with pain, she realised that her hands were bounded together and secured around a hook on a chain trailing from the ceiling; she smelled the reek of decay and metal in the air, it was pretty dark in the room with only a single light shining dimly from the wall. 'where the hell am i?' she thought trying to shift her hands; no good they were bound tight, she was about to vibrate through them when she realised that someone had kidnapped her and that meant they were most likely watching her with a hidden camera. She glanced around the dark room, her gaze roaming over the rust and damp covered walls. She could hear the dripping of water in the distance.

'Why would someone want to kidnap me… it's out of place for human trafficking… and I doubt it's because I'm am kid flash.' She thought to herself trying to figure it out; she suddenly had a good idea about why this was happening. 'They want Evelyn West, the fifteen year old student of the H.I.V.E… Could it be that they want the fusion data encryption code… Bit it can't be possible, how the hell could they even know about that or have access to our data to need it in the first place to need it.'

She had to escape without using any of her skills to escape; she sighed loudly. 'The one time vibrating my molecules would really come in handy and I can't use it; figures.' She thought as she tried to think on who would want her fusion data.

'Energy companies… doesn't fit well enough to warrant this… weapon manufacturers; more likely but it'd take a real genius to reverse engineer weapon power sources from our data alone… like H.I.V.E level of genius perhaps. But no one at the H.I.V.E would do that, would they?' she thought looking up sharply as she heard distance footsteps getting louder and louder before, she was blinded when wall of light struck her full on in the face as a door opened in the shadows directly in front of her revealing the blackened outline of a person.

From the curves of the person's outline Evelyn could tell that they were female, they had weird looking cane in one hand and a top hat on their head; then the person walked forward into the dim light of the room and Evelyn could see the features of person… she felt her heart beat increase dramatically. The girl was wearing a costume-like orange bodice with leather straps at the bottom and green frills on the cups, she wear black combat boots with purple stockings held up by straps to her bodice, she had a purple trench coat draped over her hugging her curves and open down the middle to reveal the bodice, she had brown fingerless gloves and a purple top hat with a steampunk themed goggles sling on it. Her face revealed a pure white make up with bright emerald green eyes and ivy green hair… her mouth was bright red with a long line of scar tissue curving up each side in a permanent Glasgow smile; a memento of her time in Blackmoor woman's penitentiary.

It was Deula Dent: mass murder and escaped convict commonly known as the 'Terror of Steelburg' for the murder of over fifty people in a single day; half being her school mates and even her own father. She smile widely causing the scar tissue to part revealing bright white teeth beneath, her visage brought forth images of the joker and what he was capable of. Evelyn couldn't help but pale at the sight of her; the joker was brutally insane… she was just insanely brutal and despite being only eighteen years old was already a prominent crime lord of her respective city; since she never made much grand plans or caused city wide destruction she was never really a high priority for a hero to combat her… after all there were sixteen members of the justice league and fifty states in the USA alone, they couldn't be everywhere at once.

"I am so sorry for the rough treatment miss West… no that's too formal for my tastes I think I just call you Eve." She began talking with that amounted to a friendly smile on her face… to bad her face was the stuff of nightmares. "Now I bet your wondering what a rather… amoral individual such as myself might want with a rather pretty and intelligent young lady such as yourself."

"It crossed my mind at one point or another yes; what exactly can I do to help a mass murderer such as yourself or more accurately what can i do to hinder you." Evelyn spat back at her, face contorted in disgust at the sight of her. The girl smiled chuckling lightly, before backhanding Evelyn hard across the face; her head smashed into her right arm, busting her lip and releasing the metallic taste of blood in her mouth.

"A word of advice kid, don't try to play the brave defiant type; because I will get what I want, even if I have to pour hydrochloric acid down into your uterus, and trust me you don't want me to do that if you ever want to have kids. " Deula said her voice deathly serious, her eyes narrowed and devoid of warmth or mercy.

'There's the ruthless killer she's become.' Evelyn thought staring at her as she straightened up smiling a friendly smile once again; she brushed a strand of ginger hair out of Evelyn's face, a handkerchief materialising from nowhere to wipe away the blood from Evelyn's mouth.

"There we go, wouldn't want to diminish your natural beauty now would we." She said like they were best friends and she had just spilled her milkshake all over her. "Now then right too business then; I need you're encryption code for the fusion project to build a plasma generator. If you come out and tell me, then I'll give you the blue pill here and you will forget the last twenty four hours of your life… or if you choose not to tell me what I want then we can go for the red one."

She held up a red wrench before narrowing her eyes as she smiled at her captive. 'Just great first I'm used as a punching bag by the children of the world's two greatest mercenaries and now this.' She thought hoping someone would find her before too long.

"I know what that data can be used for Deula… you want to make plasma weaponry, I'm guessing to give you an edge over you rivals… hundreds of people will die if you get your hands on the data so no I don't think I will be telling you after all." Evelyn told her defiantly before the gangster sighed placing down the wrench and taking the trench coat off letting it fall to the ground revealing muscular toned arms; no doubt from the girl bulking up in the maximum security prison.

"You're really going to regret saying that you know." The criminal said with a pitying look before her fist smashed into Evelyn's abdomen with such force, that the red head let out a feeble moan of pain as all the air was forced out of the lungs violently. She struck her again and again. Evelyn was then struck on the face causing blood to start pouring her busted lip again.

"This is just the start girly; I'm going to make my way up the pain train before I start mutilating you… oh and just remember you choose this option not me." Deula added before she started beating the girl again and again and again.

14:52 PDT Rigsby café Jump city July 23rd 2010

Victor sat down staring at the slice of uneaten cheesecake laying on the table opposite him; he frowned eyes narrowing before checking his watch for third time in a row.

'She's been gone for almost an hour now, what is she doing in there?' He thought, feeling a sense of dread fill his body. He climbed to his feet slowly; he headed towards the door leading into the corridor where the toilets were kept. He really didn't know what he was planning to do since he couldn't enter the girl's bathroom but still… she wouldn't have just up and left him without at least going to warn him that she was leaving, wouldn't she. As he entered the hall he saw a blonde haired woman in her thirties leaving the bathroom.

"Excuse me miss I don't mean to be rude but could you tell me if you've seen a red haired girl in there with a black leather jacket in the bathroom; my friends been gone for almost an hour now and I'm kinda worried about her." He asked knowing how weird what he was asking was but all the same if she could tell him what she was doing in there. The woman looked at him in confusion, shifting her hand bag as she did.

"I hate to break it too you young man but there's no one in that bathroom." She said giving him a sorry look, probably thinking his date walked out on him, before walking past him into the dining area. He got out his mobile intent on finding out what Evelyn was playing at; he was shocked to hear Evelyn's ringtone 'sound of silence' coming from the woman's bathroom. Throwing manners to wind he walked into the room and found it deserted; he looked down on the ground to see the vibrating phone laying on the ground next a black handbag under the sink. He bent down to pick it up noticing out of the corner of his eye a patch of blood and some ginger hair strands on the edge of one the sinks. It was then that the door opened up behind him and pair of mother and her little girl walked in.

"What the hell are doing in here pervert, I getting the manager." The woman said with shock and anger; turned to face her, his face like stone.

"Call the staff over I believe my friend has been kidnapped by someone." Victor told her rather harshly causing her to halt in her tracks and look at him shocked, as his mind tried to figure out who would be after her and why. 'Her uncle maybe he is a cop of sorts… but do CSI's make enemies?' he heard the sound of steps he turned to see the female waitress from before.

"I need to see you surveillance cameras now; I think someone's taken my friend." He told her before picking up Evelyn's phone and accessing her contact list.

Mom

Dad

Uncle Barry

Aunt Iris

Dick Grayson

Kara Kent

Amelia Starr

Conner Kent

Megan Morse

Kaldur'ahm

Victor Stone

Christine Blaze

Garfield Blaze

Alyssa Harrower

Natasha Irons

He selected the Uncle Barry and heard the ringing sound as the waitress headed off to get the manager.

"Kid how's it going, on I'm watch duty with Hal right now so anything interesting to relieve the boredom will be nice." The voice of what must be Evelyn Uncle Barry sounded over the call clearly bored from the tone.

"This isn't Eve, I'm her friend Victor stone… sir… listen I think something has happened to Eve, she went to the bathroom about an hour ago and when I checked it out I found her phone and bag just lying on the floor, there's some blood on the sink with a few strands of red hair… I'm trying to get access to the camera recordings maybe you can give me hand being CSI and all." Victor trailed off wondering what must be going through the man's mind right now.

"Alright hand me over to manager where are you… Victor was it… listen alright call the police Eve wouldn't take off without her stuff so she must be in trouble." Barry said a very serious tone in his voice now as victor handed the phone over to the manager; the grey haired African American listened to the phone call before gesturing for Victor to follow him. He lead him through the corridor to a door labelled manager, inside was a computer set and door leading to the man's office.

"There is the recording set young man; listen I think its best we conform something happened before we call the police… just rewind it an hour, I put her uncle on speaker." He told Victor, who nodded before rewinding the video as instructed. He froze it when he found what he wanted.

"My god you were right son." The man said as they watched the street punk carry Evelyn outside the backdoor; they switched to the alley camera, showing her being handed off to another guy dressed the same, they caught the license plate as the van headed off.

"Someone took her Mr Allen, someone took Evelyn." Victor said anger filling him as the manager called the police.

"We'll find her Victor, we'll find her." Her uncle replied worry evident in his voice; Victor was just trying to figure out why someone would want with her… what her uncle had said early.

'Watch duty with Hal… what did he mean by that?' Victor thought as he waited for the police to arrive.

15:01 PDT Unknown location Jump City July 23rd 2010

Evelyn was lying on the floor, every breath she took was like a labour of Hercules, she was certain Deula had fractured at least three of her ribs; how they weren't broken she had no idea. For the past ten minutes she had been left on the floor while Deula prepared her next torture act; it was all staged, the absolute silence was for her mind to turn towards guessing her next method of torture that she would be subjected too.

Suddenly the door banged opened and Evelyn was blinded by the bright light as Deula walked in smiling as always with two rather large brutes with her, they were carrying a strange chair with cables attached to a trolley leading from behind it. They set it down before Deula obscured her sight by kneeling down to look at her.

"Well you look a little worse for wears kid, don't worry this time I'm not going to leave a scratch on your rather pretty little face." She said rather jovially as she turned to face her two henchmen. "Strip her down and setting her into the chair."

The two brutes pulled her to her feet roughly causing groans of pain to rasp out of her mouth, they ripped her jacket off and tore apart her skirt, her tights and her shirt leaving her tied to the chair in her underwear and bra. The looks she received off the brutes made her shuddered with revulsion as they moved metal bandings over her body placing the cold feel of metal circles over certain nerve clusters in her body which was covered in bruises around stomach region.

"This wonderful machine was designed to rehabilitate sex offenders and pedophiles alike… and with a few modifications it will elicit untold levels of agonising pain across your body in different patterns so as to ensure each new bout of pain is slightly different and equally as mind-numbingly painful as the last." The crime lord said proudly as she powered up the machine, Evelyn felt her skin form Goosebumps as the feeling of electric build up was present on the metal electrodes. "Last chance to tell me what I want to know before this baby goes lives… the pill is still an option you know."

"Go fuck yourself freak!" Evelyn said before spitting on her, she barely batted an eye as she wiped the bloody mucus from her face, barely affecting her make up before walking over to a control panel on the trolley. She smiled widely at Evelyn before pushing a button. Evelyn immediately began to spasm out as she opened and closed her mouth in silent screams of agony. She couldn't describe the pain she was going through right now; all she knew was if this went on for much longer then she would want to die.

After what must have a few minutes but in Eve's mind it felt like a few hours, Deula switched the machine off; Evelyn began groaning softly as the pain ceased almost immediately. The crime lord bent down till she was face to face with Evelyn an inch or two separating them now.

"Feel like talking Eve old girl?" she asked in a sing song voice now, Evelyn closed her eyes leaning her head back… before slamming it forward. Unfazed Deula leaned her head back at the last moment, causing Eve to miss before counter head-butting the girl knocking her out.

"Girl's got guts when she wakes up resume the shock… therapy till she begs to die then keep on going." Deula said casually standing up and taking her leave of the room. She entered the warehouse's main space before calling over two of her grunts.

"Bang Bang, Frosty; go into town and get me some cakes from the Crystal Fairy… all this torture is making me really hungry and I think it's time to indulge my sweet tooth a bit." She said rubbing her stomach affectionally before turning round when the pair hadn't moved. "Well, why are you still here?"

"Emmm boss that place is opposite the police station… what if they checked the cameras at the café?" the girl 'Bang Bang' said rubbing her neck nervously; Deula narrowed her eyes dangerously at the older girl. "Don't get caught gotcha Boss!"

'Note to self-acquire better lackeys Black Mask doesn't have to put up with this.' She thought before heading off to get a cup of tea while she waited for cakes; she paused when she hears the sound of blood curdling screaming coming from the holding room. 'Idiots must have lowered the pain levels, well if it gets results... And as long as theu don't break that machine too!'

16:20 PDT Police Station Jump City July 23rd 2010

"So you're sure you've never seen this woman before?" the detective asked Victor showing a criminal record for Anne 'Bang Bang' Knight, Victor shock his head for the fifth time, before turning upon hearing some commotion coming from the door. He turned to see a blonde man running over to him.

"Hey are you Victor Stone?" he asked running over to him, Victor nodded as Barry turned to face the officer he was speaking too. "So what have you got so far; do we any connections, ransom demands."

"Only thing we got so far is an ID on a Steelburg Gang banger by a name of Anne Knight… She's a member of the Steampunks; Deula Dent's gang." The officer informed him causing Barry's eyes to grow wide.

"Why would Deula Dent be interested in my niece she's never even been to Steelburg city as far as I know; have you had any luck trying to find the Van that took her?" He asked the officer, Victor could understand what he was going through, he was worried about Eve and what someone like the 'Terror of Steelburg' might want with her... or be doing to her right now.

"I'm Sorry Mr Allen I feel like this is my fault somehow I should have done something instead of just sitting on my ass for almost an hour..." Victor told him unable to look at the man; he couldn't even bear to think about what they might be doing to Evelyn. Barry placed his hand on the teenage's shoulder causing him to look up.

"It's not your fault Victor you had no reason to even assume this might happen… listen there's this cake shop Eve likes called the Crystal Fairy it's just opposite the Station ok, here's fifty bucks get a box of selection's to give Evelyn for when we find her… get me something custard filled too, I kinda missed out on lunch on the way here, I'll help on this end son." Barry told him smiling softly, as Victor nodded slightly before getting up and heading out; he walked past the numerous police officers of JCPD before walking out of the main desk. He nodded to the young Secretary as he past her by before walking out of the entrance way and down the grey stone steps. He passed by people going about their daily lives completely oblivious to his life shattering crisis he was going through right now. His parent's had told him he was meant for great things, they had performed genetic enhancements on his intelligence when he was still in the womb and had disapproved of his love for sports. After convincing him to move to the H.I.V.E he thought he'd be miserable there but when meet up again with his old friend Natasha he thought it might be bearable. Then he meet Eve, an enigma to him, not just the ungodly amount of food she consumed each day, she was smart, witty, kind caring, surprisingly athletic for someone with her build and made going to the place down right enjoyable… and now he might lose her forever. It didn't matter that Eve wanted them just to be friends, it didn't change how he felt about her deep down, he swore to himself he'd find a way to save her not what it cost him. He noticed out the corner of his eye a guy with straw coloured hair following him. He remembered seeing the guy before. He was on him phone and clearly asking for directions from his contact on the other side.

Eventually Victor reached the brightly lit Cake shop and was greatly surprising by a rather pretty girl probably sixteen years old wearing a crystal fairy uniform and a fairy hair clasp. He smiled at her in a friendly manner and noticed she blushed slightly at him.

"Em welcome to the Crystal Fairy sir I'm Claire… how can help you today." The girl asked rather nervously now, clearly she was crushing on him. 'Great a lot of pretty girls are attracted to me and the one girl I really like is gay, figures.' He thought to himself remembering what Barry had told him to get.

"Em I like to get a large selection box for my friend, and do you have anything custard filled?" he asked, not really hunger for anything himself having not only just eaten but also with everything else going on he probably wouldn't have been hunger either. The girl led him over to wide selection of cakes for him to choose from.

"So how many would you like the selection box?" the girl asked going behind one of the counters and turning to where to cakes were stored, the place was packed clearly the Crystal Fairy was a popular place to go to. Victor noticed out of the corner of his the straw haired man from before now chatting with an older lady as he purchased a large selection box before leaving the shop without giving him a single glance. 'Great I'm getting paranoid over a guy trying to find the same shop as me… geese victor get your head on straight.' He thought noticing another girl about thirteen years old; who was glancing his way before blushing and looking away from him hastily.

"I'll take two of everything and a box of custard filled cakes too." He informed her surprising her with the quantity of cakes, she nodded before filling his purchase through the register, and he thanked her and headed towards the door at the same time as another person did. "Sorry you go ahead first Miss…" he trailed off when he realised that the girl was the one from the footage; she blanched when she caught sight of his face, she throw the cake box at him before legging it down the street, Victor gave chase determined to find her and through her Evelyn. She split down a side alley heading towards a parked car, she was about a good twelve metres ahead as Victor bore down on her, she fumbled with the car keys dropping them in the process before she dropped down to pick them up as Victor reached slamming her into the car. The girl grunted reaching into her pocket and taking something out, Victor immediately felt immense pain go through his body as the gang banger teasered him in the gut. He dropped like a sack of bricks and she kicked him into unconsciousness. She turned as frosty came over with two coffee's looking down at the unconscious boy.

"Where's the boss's cakes, who's the boy?" he asked looking at her, she glared at him before opening the trunk and turning to face her companion.

"It's the kid from that café who was with that bitch Deula made me snatch, he was in the cake store and he recognised me… come on maybe we can use him to save our skins for losing the boss's cakes." Bang Bang said as frosty grabbed the boy and together they heaved him into the trunk and headed back to warehouse.

17:05 PDT unknown location Jump City July 23rd 2010

Evelyn was laying on the floor twitching every moment or two, she had yet to break under the rigorous torture she had received, but she already just wanted to die after the torture Deula's men had put her through, she was remarkably undamaged, apart from her bruises and broken ribs from a second beating session she had been given after the torture machine had overloaded and shorted out, probably from its modifications.

'Will they every find me?' she thought imagining Deula hiding her body someplace where her family would never find it. The door opened again and the sound of Deula singing 'London is burning' she walked over to Evelyn's twitch mass, before gesturing for two brutes to pick her up.

"Good news Eve dear you've got a visitor and I've got an offer to make you as well." She said jovially as she lifted Eve's face up with one white hand as the two brutes walked on either side of her and picked her up dragging her out of the cell. The brought her out into a large warehouse where at least thirty goons in total were milling around. On the floor in the middle of the group was…

"Victor!" Evelyn cried out in fear and pain, 'what is he doing here?' she thought seeing him turn to see her, fear and worry in his eyes at seeing her in her undergarments. The brutes dropped her in front of him, he moved forward pulling her into a bone crushing hug; she cried out as she ribs screamed in protest, he let her go before checking her over for injuries.

"What the hell did you do to her?" he yelled angrily at Deula, she just shrugged eating an apple, as her men brought over a first aid box, a strange fire extinguisher and a jerry can.

"Girl didn't want to share a secret with me and I had no choice to be… forceful, I mean its not like I wasn't civil to her. but it all changes now that I've got her boy toy over here." She said gesturing for her men to grab the boy who was pulled away from Eve and had the jerry can poured onto Victor's body, the reek of fuel filled the air; Eve looked up at Deula fear on her face.

"My offer Eve is this; the code for these." She held up the fire extinguisher and the first aid box.

"Wait! I'll tell you everything just let us go ok?" she said fearful now, she had no problem giving up her own life; she was a superhero after all. But Victor was an innocent in all this, and Evelyn couldn't let anything happen to her friends' old life or new.

"Do you take the deal?" Deula asked her face an unreadable mask; Evelyn looked towards Victor who shook his head at her, before she closed her eyes and nodded.

"The encryption code is spitfire now let him go and give us those pills you wanted us to take." She said looking at Deula who placed the two objects a small way away to the left of Evelyn before smiling so wide her scars opened up in a gruesome grin; there was a scratching sound as she struck a match. "What are you doing I took the deal you said-"

"I said I would give you these, I never said I was accepting your changes in the terms of the offer." She said before throwing the match at Victor, Evelyn was frozen in horror as Victor began screaming as his was set on fire, after a moment or two Evelyn snapped as she crawled over to the fire extinguisher as fast as she could; once she reached it she ignored her screaming muscles and yanked the pin out before dragging it over to Victor and began trying to put him out, it took her a full four heart stopping minutes to kill the flames before seeing the burned and blackened mess. Half his face had spared but the rest of him hadn't been so fortunate, she could even see sections were the fire had eaten away his flesh almost to bone. She felt like she was going to be sick as she opened the first aid kit and pulled out a painkiller syringe and dosed Victor up. Once she was done she was about to reached for aseptic cream when Deula's cane began to crackle with electricity and she smashed it into Evelyn's face. She cried out as she was knocked to the ground, she looked up to see Deula a handgun out and pointed at her.

"Well Miss West I thank you for your service, but here is where we terminate our dealings together." She said cocking the gun, Evelyn felt her life flash before her eyes: her time as wally with every intimate moment with artemis, dying and going through childhood again, meeting her friends at the H.I.V.E and meeting the team once more. It was then that a loud explosion as the Warehouse door exploded with a motorbike racing inside. There was a twin blast of strange red light which as it made contact with two groups of men turned into a solid sticky adhesive pining eight men to the wall. There was a crackling sound as the stench of ozone perforated the air around Evelyn and Victor as a bulky figure dressed in black with glowing red lines running across their body, a black hood with a long black cape attached to it fluttering in the air behind them. She watched as the person swung their leg around in mid-air to slam it into Deula's chest sending her flying before turning to place two red pads down on Evelyn's and Victors chest, they surrounded the two teen's in a red energy field before Evelyn's senses were overwhelmed and she felt herself go flying catching snippets of Jump City before eventually landing sprawled in Jump city general hospital the empty syringe was still in her hand, she turned to see the figure's skull like face beneath the hood with a small red x on the white skull's fore head, before they disappeared in a burst of crackling red light.

"Hey are you ok miss?" she turned to see a doctor with name tag 'Wilson' on it. She looked at him before holding out the syringe and pointing towards Victor's charred body.

"Help." She muttered simple before passing out from a combination of fatigue and physical and mental stress and pain right into the doctor's arms.

21:40 PDT Jump city general hospital Jump City July 24th 2010

Evelyn awoke to sight and smells of a hospital room, lying asleep in the chair next to her was Uncle Barry.

"I'm glad you're ok Eve." A familiar voice sounded from the chair on her other side, she turned and was greatly surprised to see her friend Abigail Xander siting there dressed in a simple blue hoodie and jeans. Evelyn Smiled at seeing her again.

"How's Victor doing?" she asked causing the small smile on her friends face to fade as she looked down before replying softly.

"He's in a really bad shape, they had to amputate an arm and a leg, he was moved by his parent's request to clean room at their star labs facility, and I'm paying for any and all medical requirements for him." Abigail told her, causing the Evelyn to look at her confused. 'How long have I been out for?' she thought as Abigail went on clearly reading her mind. "You've been here for about twenty-eight hours, Victor was stable enough to be moved two hours ago, I just stopped by twenty minutes ago you uncle has left your bedside since you were admitted all that time ago."

"And Deula dent… did the police or the league apprehend her." She asked tentatively, Abigail shook her head sadly; Evelyn could help but tear up at it all. "If I had only told her the stupid encryption code from the start then all of this could have been avoided… victor would be; it all my fault."

"It's not your fault Eve, its Deula's fault alright, if you told her then you would have died and no one would know what Deula had been doing until it would have been too late." Abby said hugging the crying girl tightly as she started sobbing into her shoulder; this seemed to rouse Barry who looked at Evelyn with relief.

"Eve you awoke, how are you feeling?" he said embracing her in tight hug as Abby moved back away from the pair, the girl's sobs going on and on.

"Much better than Victor's doing Barry." Evelyn said guilt ridden despite what her friend said. "I just want to go home now."

"Eve you've only just woken up alright, I call the doctor over and see what he has to say about first ok?" Barry told her nervously, heading over to talk to the nurse on duty, as that happened Abby climbed to her feet.

"Sorry but I've got to head off, business back home, you just concentrate on getting better ok Eve." She said giving her one final hug before heading towards the door.

"Thanks Abigail." Evelyn said causing the red head to smile before replying.

"Call me Scarlett, I always preferred to be called that by my friends." before leaving through the door, after talking the Doctor Evelyn was to be discharged in the few days, Evelyn drifted off into a rather haunted sleep.

Elsewhere…

Abigail climbed into the back of her ride, the thirteen year old girl from the cake shop: Terri marshal was working on her laptop while Frankie was at the wheel of the car.

"Any luck finding Deula yet?" she asked a serious expression on her face he companions shook their heads as they drove towards the airport and Abigail's private jet. "Terri is the power battery cells recharged at least?"

"Yep Xanaton's levels at max, that xanothium crystal is pretty cool, you don't have a spare one do you cause I would love to be your sidekick… you could call me x-mite or X-girl or something like that." Terri began excited looking up from her data feeds before falling silent at Abigail's look; she blushed before looking back to her computer. "Sorry Scarlett I know you're going through a tough time right, Deula's gone to ground I'm trying to find any mistakes her henchmen might make but…"

"Have the suit on standby for when Deula does resurface I'll bring her down no matter what it takes." She said slamming her fist down onto the wooden arm rest splitting the heart wood half down the middle. 'She's hurt enough people I care about and its time for Red-X to end her reign of terror.'

20:34 CDT West residence Central city July 26th 2010

Barry walked along Dinah and iris as they approached the house, Barry was a mess. After nearly losing his niece... his partner to a lowly crime boss like Dent he had up'd his game cutting out the chit chat and bringing hard justice to criminals of Central city.

"It's not your fault Barry; no one could have even imagined that someone would have been after Eve like that." Iris said placing her hand on her husband's shoulder, he smiled weakly at her as they door opened in front of them revealing Mary West.

"How's she been doing?" Iris asked her sister in law as they walked into the house, Mary look just shrugged sighing as she did so.

"How anyone would be in the same situation, she hasn't left her room since coming home yesterday. She just types away at the computer so fast she wrecked the first keyboard she had and took the one from down stairs." She explained as they headed up stairs; they knocked on the door waiting to be let in. after a few moments Eve opened the door, she was a mess, her normal groomed appearance was tangle of unkempt red hair, she also clearly hadn't bathed once since getting back home.

"Can we come in Eve?" Dinah asked warmly already getting to work, after a few second she nodded and opened the door for them to enter.

"So how have you been holding up Eve?" Dinah asked looking at the girl with concern, from the bags under her eyes it was clear she hadn't slept a wink in two days; this was very worrying for heroine. Evelyn just shrugged.

"I'm holding up as well as anyone whose friend was burned alive in front of them; and right after they had just mended their friendship up again. I know you're going to ask me if I've been sleeping and the answer is no." she told them returning to the computer and resuming her work. "Each time I close my eyes I saw him again burning and I can't get rid of the feeling it's my fault."

"It's not your fault Eve, Victor did what he had to try and find you; you're not to blame." Iris tried to tell her niece, who was staring at the screen as a long series of diagrams and science jargon went down the screen.

"What have you been doing since you've gotten home then?" Dinah asked looking over the shoulder, staring at the data Evelyn had been shifting through.

"Appliances of our data… I think Deula's got someone helping her because with her level of education she couldn't weaponise this stuff… but there are people who can and I think someone at the H.I.V.E is helping her; it would explain how she knew about my encryption key and about the data at all." Evelyn told them before taking out a pen drive and handing it over to Barry who took it eyeing his niece as he did. "I know bats won't let me handle this as Kid Flash; but I thought the team at least could take care of Deula for me, give me some form of closure."

"Evelyn the league is already taking measures to locate and capture Deula but we're here because we worried about how you holding up Eve." Dinah said placing a comforting hand on Eve's shoulder. 'At least this is something I can confide in others about.' She thought as she looked up at the blonde heroine.

"How about you and I have a private conversation about what happened ok." Dinah said as the others left the room, Evelyn turned the monitor off and turned to face Dinah who grabbed one of the folding chairs and sat down opposite Evelyn, her hands clasped together in her lap.

"Evelyn when was the last time you ate anything?" she asked first going to the most important point if matter.

"Two hours ago, I'm not stupid enough to starve myself with my accelerated metabolism." She replied seeing Dinah give a small sigh of relief.

"So you say you have been having trouble sleeping then?" she moved onto the next topic of importance, it was Evelyn's turn to sigh looking down at her hands as she responded.

"I just can't sleep and it's not only because of the nightmares, I feel like I have to do something, anything to help bring Deula down and I can't do that if I'm sitting here wallowing in my own sorrow while the person who might yet be responsible for my friend's death, should he not pull through, is out there with my data doing god knows what with it!" she ended up shouting the last part, Dinah placed a hand once again on her shoulder.

"I know you want to help Evelyn and the research you have done will be of great help to the league. But you need to look after yourself or what Victor did would be in vain, work through the grief and regain your strength and then you'll be ready to lead your team once more ok?" she finished, lifting Evelyn's head to look her straight in the eyes.

"Yeah ok you right… besides I doubt I smell all that good right now." She said smiling sarcastically, Dinah smiled back at her.

"Nothing a good long shower won't solve, I better go, but if you every need to sit down and talk all you need to do ask alright." Dinah said standing up, before turning to look at her once more.

"Try to get some sleep before anything else ok?" she said before leaving the room; closing the door behind her. 'She's right I don't even know how I haven't keeled over from exhaustion yet.' Evelyn thought as she saved her work and headed over to her bed, climbing under the covers bearing a large red lightning bolt she quickly fell asleep even if her dreams were undesirable.

10:23 EDT Mount Justice July 27th 2010

The team minus Kid Flash was assembled for action, though they were noticeable solemn without their leader present, Aqualad especially so, as leadership of the team fell to him now with Evelyn still recovering from the trauma of her ordeal, they faced Batman who was here in person for the mission briefing.

"As you are all aware four days ago the criminal Deula Dent kidnapped and tortured Evelyn West for purpose of acquiring the access code to her fusion plasma generator project. The reason for this is believed to make plasma based weaponry." Batman informed the team looking over them all. "This cannot be allowed to happen, if street thugs gain access to that kind of firepower then there will be devastation on the streets and massive civilian casualties. This is where you come in, you will track down Deula Dent and find out who she is in league with and recovery any weaponry you find from her and her men… any questions."

"What exactly are these plasma weapons capable of, I mean us three are indestructible to most conventional weapons right." Power-girl said gesturing to super boy and girl, the batman turned to face the monitor bring up a series data lists.

"According to Kid Flash the potential use of the data could be as a lethal bolt of super-heated gas or as a super powered teaser capable of incapacitating even someone with kryptonain physiology for a short time, such as you three." He informed them causing the three to look amongst themselves.

"Great more anti-kryptonain weapons if the solar emitters and heat beam refracting gel weren't bad enough on their own." Super-girl moaned to the rest of them the batman moved on to give the league locations they believe Deula to be possible hiding at.

"Don't forget the lead particle smokescreen." Super-boy said angrily as he folded his arms, he was pissed that something bad had happened to his friend and were waiting this long to do something about it, he was very fond of Evelyn as a friend. 'She never saw me as a weapon, but as a person from the moment we meet… even after I smashed her into the wall.' He thought to himself nearly missing the rest of the conversation.

"About the person who saved Kid what do we know about them, are they with the league or…?" Miss Martian trailed off towards the end as everyone focused their attention on her. Batman brought up the footage of warehouse where Evelyn was being kept, they stared as the person burst in on a motorbike, there were gasps of awe as the figure released beams of red light which turned into some form of sticky adhesive, as well as when the person appeared to teleport across the room in a burst of red light.

"Woe make's you gadgets look like you got them from toys r'us Robin." Power-girl said smiling glancing at robin who glared at her; causing the older girl to chuckle; but it was forced, Amelia was angry that one of her friends had been hurt badly and she had all this power and yet was unable to do anything about it, until now that is.

"They are clearly skilled in combat and utilising their unique abilities to dominate the battlefield; perhaps Deula seeks the better armaments to combat this person." Aqualad gave his assessment based upon his own experiences from his military training in the royal atlantean army.

"Agreed this red-X has been active in shadows of Steelburg city for six months now; remaining undetected by me for that length of time is an impressive feat." Batman said with praise, something he rarely did, this alone pecked the team's interest. "This location is believed to the main hiding spot for Deula, here is a list of other sites.

"Good luck team." Batman said before dismissing the team to carry out their first mission under strength.

"So with Kid on the side-lines Aqualad it looks like you're leading the team now; who's your second in command?" Robin asked as he triple checked his equipment, the rest turned to face their new leader expectantly.

"You're really asking that right now, we should be out there getting the person who hurt our friend!" Power-girl said angrily to Robin as the others turned to face him.

"Hey I knew Evelyn a lot longer than you did, she is a good friend of mine especially considering she knows my secret identity, but the chain of command is there for a reason. I'd rather ask now than when we're in a life or death situation, I want to get this bitch as much as you guys do." Robin retorted folding his arms glaring at her in return.

"I believe that right should fall to super-girl now then, Miss Martian ready the bioship we have business in Steelburg city with Deula Dent." Aqualad said curling his hands into fists as he spoke when they entered the hanger bay.

10:40 CDT west residence central city July 27th 2010

'I hope the team's alright." Evelyn thought lying on her bed staring at the ceiling and sighing. 'Aqualad should be a capable leader, I mean he lead us all those years ago… but with so many unknown variables… I wonder how victors doing.'

She had tried going see Victor, but his parents hadn't wanted her to see him stating that he was in critical medical operations and no distractions could be allowed for surgeons, it was more likely they didn't want her anywhere near him seeing it as her fault about what happened to they're son.

"Eve you've got visitors, I'm sending them up." her mom's voice carried up the stairs, eyebrows raised she looked at her door as she heard the sounds of multiply people coming up. The door opened and Garfield walked in looking at her with concern; he was followed by Christine, Alyssa and Natasha.

"What are you guys doing here; don't you have your projects to work on?" Eve asked them sitting up and staring at them; they passed a look amongst themselves before facing her again.

"We wanted to make sure you were ok Eve, we've been so worried about you considering everything that just happened to you, we checked the hospital but you had already been discharged... without telling us." Alyssa spoke up softly looking at her as she walked over and sat down next to her with Natasha on the other side of her.

"As well as anyone can be, considering what happened to me… to Victor." She trailed off at end looking down at her hands tears falling from her cheeks; Alyssa placed a comforting hand on hers before pulling the girl into hug.

"It's not you're fault girl its not like you're super-girl or one of those teen heroines; you just a skinny fifteen year old girl and Victor did what he did to keep you safe Eve because he cares about you." Natasha said forcing Eve to look her in the eyes as she spoke; Eve just looked down at her hands weakly.

"Have, have any of you seen how he's doing?" Evelyn asked looking at the friends worriedly, they shared looks between each other again.

"We don't know; his parents won't let anyone see him while he's being treated." Christine spoke up before the group fell silent, they were all thinking about their missing friend and we worried that he wouldn't pull through.

"You mom told us that you haven't left the house since it all happened so… feel like showing us the town?" Christine asked after few minutes getting off of the computer chair, Evelyn frowned at this request as she wiped away the tears from her face looking up at the blonde twin . 'It would be better for than sitting around and worrying about something I can't help with.' She thought looking over her friends faces.

"Aren't you worried I'm draw super-villains in?" she asked them sarcastically, this got a laugh from Garfield and small smiles from the rest.

"Please me and sis live in Gotham city… beside if something bad happens then speedsters will save us, in flash." He added nudging his sister in the arm, getting rolled eyes from the group; except from Alyssa who hid a grin at the bad joke.

"So let the touring begin!" Garfield said dramatically dragging Eve to her feet; Natasha gave him a whack to the head.

"We came here to help her out, not to drag her all over the place you moron." Natasha said hitting him in the back of the head; he glared at her rubbing his head.

"What am I hit the head of the donkey." He grumbled as Eve shock her head; getting up.

"Well now that you mention it." Evelyn could help but say getting a laugh out of others and mutters from the only male present in the room.

"Come on then we've got a lot to see… how about we start with flash museum, its a must see in this city." She asked them grabbing her jacket.

10:53 CDT Flash Museum Central City July 27th 2010

"So this is the flash Museum, a bit egocentric to have your own museum when the other heroes only have the Hall of Justice for them." Garfield said whistling as they joined the throng of people for the tour of the place; Evelyn was dressed in simple blue jeans and black superboy t-shirt.

"It was a thank you to the speedster from the city after the Mirror realm incident, it's something they take pride in having it for him and besides both Aquaman and Superman have museum's too... the flash is every bit as big a hero as they are." Evelyn said rather aggressively, she was very fond of childhood hero and uncle. The others just shrugged as Linda Grant the Museum tour guide came forward.

"Well then everyone welcome to the Flash Museum for the central city's own scarlet speedster and contains exhibits for the central city's own golden speedstress, as well as those in memory of the retired patriot Jay Garrick the original flash." She began as they entered the main room with exhibits of the rogue's gallery and a large statue of the Flash

"It was created in 2007 after the Flash defeated the entire Rouges by himself and saved the city from their plan to separate Central City into a mirror realm and rule over it as tyrants." She went on as they passed displays of the Rogues: Captain Cold their leader, Captain Boomerang, Heatwave, Golden Gilder, the Top, Mirror Master, Pied Piper, the tricksters, and weather wizard. Evelyn remembered watching the fight and how much it had scared her at the time, it was a change from her old life and she believed it to be the Flash's greatest trail and his finest hour in beating them all single handily. They moved into the first exhibit room about the second Flash.

"The Flash II first made his appearance shortly after the announced retirement of the first Flash Jay Garrick and was first seen as a red streak across the city back in 2000; that name was coined by then local reporter Iris West, and if I'm not mistaken it appears that her niece is in the tour group with us today, hi Evelyn showing your friends around the museum?" she asked causing all eyes to hover over the red head, who began blushing like a tomato before quickly nodding to her the others smirked at the look on her face. Linda was a old friend of Iris and had her life saved by the flash back when she worked the streets, this job was just one way in which the Flash helped her turn her life around.

"He has faced off against the rogues time and time again as well as teaming up with Batman, Super and Green lantern before taking part in the legendary battle against the appolaxian invasion in February 2003: alongside Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder woman, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter." she began explaining other parts of the Museum exhibits while Evelyn looked up at the donated speedster uniform. She imaged herself taken the scarlet suit when Barry's days were gone; she hoped that when that time came it was because he was retiring the cape and cowl for the quiet life of a retired speedster like Jay Garrick and not like how Wally West had truly ended his superhero career.

"Now then it's time for us to move on to the World's fastest girl, the Golden Speedstress herself: the Kid Flash Exhibit." Linda said as they walked into the familiar room bright yellow wall adverse to the red ones of the previous room. The first thing Evelyn saw was a mannequin of herself in the Kid Flash costume.

"As you all are probably aware, Kid Flash is the protégé of the Flash and she currently holds the world records for both fast woman alive and fastest child alive with a recorded top speed of Mach fifteen or a staggering 5 096.256 m / s, this speed was reached during the 2009 world's fastest person race to determine which of the speedster duo is deserving of the title world's fastest person currently held by the Flash with 7 394.0416 m / s, or Mach twenty-five reached during the same race for charity, perhaps this year will be different folks." She said with wink and a smile before continuing on.

"Kid Flash first appeared one year after this Museum was built in 2008 and began her exploits by taking care of an armoured truck heist as well as stopping several dozen muggings and averting life or death accidents… on her way to the heist. She was then seen two weeks later beside her mentor for the first time. She was the first female sidekick to appear for a league hero, followed a year later by the maiden of might herself, Super-girl, and stands as a reminder that it's not only the boys who can save the day. Though I'd like super speed myself for when I'm getting ready for date." Linda joked as they walked past the few exhibits of villain equipment's and plans she had personal foiled herself.

"I wonder what she does when she's out of the suit?" Garfield said gaining the others attentions. "I mean does she go to school, have boyfriend issues, worry about tests like a normal person does."

"Probably I mean these heroes got secret identities to live out don't they?" Alyssa said as the tour ended with a look at the original speedster Jay Garrick. "Who wants to go see a movie and I got the perfect one in mind: Kick ass!"

11:10 EDT Steelburg City July 27th 2010

"We've arrived at Steelburg city." Miss Martian announced to the team as they flew over the city border pasted the St Damian's cathedral with its distinctive red rusted steel cross upon it's tower. They headed towards the west side industrial sector which also housed the poor district known as 'the works'.

"Steelburg was once a major industrial centre, now it's being revamped by sponsors like Abigail Xander." Robin explained to them as they approached the first possible location, it was a dilapidated office structure.

"Who?" Power-girl asked looking at him puzzled; he just sighed and told her to forget it.

"Supers use X-ray vision to determine whether Deula is active at this site or not." Aqualad issued the command as the three kryptonians roamed their gaze over the structure stripping it layer by layer from their view. They eventually looked up shaking their heads.

"Very well we shall proceed to the next location." Aqualad as they headed off towards the other side of town. If you were to look at Aqualad then you would see on the outside that he was the model of calm and collected, but on the inside he was terrified that he would fail to locate Deula Dent and by that fail his first mission as leader. 'What would Kid do in situation?' he thought to himself thankful the link had yet to be established.

"Can't get a good vision must be lead in the layout permission to investigate Aqualad?" Super-girl asked looking behind her, Aqualad thought about before nodding looking over to Robin and Superboy.

"Robin, Superboy you're with Super-girl enter the subway network beneath the building and locate any traces of Deula Dent." Aqualad said watching the trio get out of their harnesses and deploy to the ground and away.

"Awwwhhh why can't I go too Aqualad?" Power-girl moaned from his left and folding her arms and sulking.

"I need someone who can rapidly move to support and fly and since Super-girl is leading the operation then it falls to you to be that reserve force." Aqualad informed her clearly giving her enough reason.

"Miss martian can fly." the girl grumbled to herself.

"link established be careful guys." Megan said over the link as the mental communication was established when the the trio disappeared into the structure.

"Ears open for radio waves Superboy we don't want to miss anything." Super-girl said as the familiar cackle of Robin signaled his departure into the shadows.

"Must you always do that." Super-girl muttered gaining a grunt of agreement from Superboy as they scanned the surrounding the corridors of rusting iron and damp covered walls. 'Are we sure Deula was ever here to begin with?' Superboy's voice came over the mind link and Super-girl had to agree with her cousin; this place seemed completely abandoned.

"I'm surprised none of you realised the truth yet." A voice sounded from thin air to their left, they turned to look as a figure materialised into view élite style, the leering white skull visible for all to see. "I'll enlightening you then Deula's crew packed up and left, this place is too clean for such prime homeless turf and no one is crazy enough to live anywhere nearby a steampunk den."

"Who are you and do you know where Deula is?" Superboy ordered walking up the person; who disappeared in burst of red light and appeared next to super-girl.

"Your brother seems rather aggressive considering we're on the same side here, I'm Red-X by the way." Red-X said casually, before going on once Robin had landed next to him starring. "If you want find Deula then you're best bet is to work with me; choice is yours."

"you get getting this Aqualad?" Super-girl asked having been giving a blow by blow of the conversation with red-X to their teammates back on the bioship.

"Indeed invite him back to ship; I think it's time to take a leap of faith." He told them as they gave their response to the masked hero and lead him back to the surface and to their ship.

Once the figure was standing in the middle of the Bioship the team could finally get a decent look at their friend's saviour: they were decked out in black armour bulked out at the chest with the long black cape, its inside was red and the hood down to reveal the white skull mask and red X on the forehead. They all stared at him in surprise; his gaze roamed over their faces before he responded in a metallic voice.

"Welcome to Steelburg Now then head to these coordinates I've just received a message from my support team about a lead for Deula's location."Red-X said his words coming out of a metallic voice distorter; folding his arms as he waited for a response.

"Why are the location's abandoned is Deula not in Steelburg city anymore?" Aqualad Asked after a pause, releasing his harness and getting to his feet to face Red-X. The unknown hero tilted his head as in deep thought before replying.

"you came to right city at the wrong moment."Red-X said causing looks of Confusion to appear in the teams face. "Allow me to elaborate, I have torn this city apart and found that Deula isn't here but as of now I know that she is in Star City… no doubt collecting her first shipment of experimental plasma weaponry… I propose an alliance between us heroes to bring down a mutual enemy."

"Can we trust him?" Super-girl asked over the mind-link.

'Well he did save Evelyn's life from Deula back in jump city." Miss Martian replied; looking towards the others.

"He did sneak up to us without us being aware of his presence with ease too; he could be using us to get to Deula." Robin said voicing the possible threat Red-X may pose to them.

"But Red-X is a hero right; that makes him one of us." Power-girl voiced her belief, glancing at the skull face hero.

"Miss Martian read his mind and find out his intent it's the simplest way to do things." Connor said trying to use his x-ray vision to see his face.

"Great lead lined suit, no way to see who he is." Connor told them, as Megan clutched her head suddenly groaning.

"I would advise against trying to read my mind again… the unique energy source for my suit creates a disruption field which scrambles mind waves from telepaths." Red-X informed them as they looked at Megan with concern.

"Can we trust you do what say and follow our chain of command if you are to work with us?" Super-girl asked narrowing her eyes at him; Red-X nodded after a few moments.

"How can we know you're telling the true?" Robin asked reasonably again looking at red's body language for the slightest tell. Red-X stared at for a few more seconds before doing something they never expected. He reached up for his helmet and removed it; causing a mass of blood red hair to spill out of its confines as they team looked upon the face of the seventeen year old billionaire Abigail Xander.

"Do you trust me now?" she asked smiling at their looks of disbelieve and shock, she grinned after a few seconds.

"You're a girl." Super-boy said after a few moments looking at crystal blue eyes; she flashed him a sly smile.

"Well aren't you the observant one handsome; yes I am girl and I'm your best chance to bring Deula Dent down, my reason well she hurt my friend for start, I owe it to Eve to bring Deula to justice for that and every crime she has committed since escaping from Blackmoor, not to mention her murder of my father two years ago." She told the team looking them in the eye as she informed them of her reasons for becoming the Red-X. "I decided to clean up my city and I can't do that until the Terror of Steelburg is behind bars where she belongs along with her entire gang of hoodlums… so can we work together on this or are you going to throw me out of this ship…thingy?"

"You have placed your Identity in our safekeeping… I think we can put our trust in your hands." Aqualad said walking over to her, hand extended; she accepted it smiling as she placed the helmet back on. "So why is Deula receiving her Shipment in Star City and not Steelburg City where her gang controls the territory?"

"Because nobody would expect her go somewhere with both two residential league members and also where she has no influence or control on the city." Red-X told them.

"It makes sense not even batman thought she might have headed to the opposite side of the country… so where in Star City is picking up her weapons?" Super-girl asked as a seat formed next to her and Red-X sat down in her hands resting on her lap.

"A warehouse located at dock fifteen." She told them.

"I just hope we reach Deula in time to stop her plans." Aqualad told them as they drew nearer to the city and their Target.

16:50 PDT Dock fifteen Star City July 27th 2010

The bioship flew in low over the container field of dock fourteen and heading towards warehouse at the next dock; Aqualad turned to face red-X.

"Can you deactivate your mindwave shielding so we can include in the team mind-link." Aqualad inquired to the Steelburg heroine; she nodded placing a palm to her head and adjusting something he couldn't see, before nodding to him. "Miss Martian if you'd please."

"Link established." The Martian's voice was heard in all their heads, red-x shuddered clearly spooked a little by the experiences.

"You guys can't read my thoughts right cause I got somethings that are pretty private." Red-X spoke across the link as the supers began searching for the steampunk gangster. Miss Martian smiled at her reassuringly.

"Don't worry the link only covers thought speech so you still have rudimentary thought ability and memory searching that we can't see or interact with.' She informed her before adding cheerfully. 'it's basically a radio com for the mind."

"We got targets patrolling the outside of the warehouse but their packing regular heat so no threat to us supers." Power-girl told them pointing as the front viewing port magnified the spot and they could make out the figures dressed as dock workers.

"Those are Deula's thugs she must be inside, hold on these guys are not steampunks… holy shit they're sinisters… Deula's working with Mr Sinister." Red-X said with great surprise, the others turned to face her blank looks on theirs. "Your kidding me, none of you have heard about Mr sinister the shadow ruler of star city… the crime lord who strikes fear in the hearts of mortal men and no one even knows what he looks like?"

"Sorry doesn't ring a bell but I'm new to the hero gig, guess you can say I've been in a pod for most of my life." Power-girl said as they turned to face Aqualad awaiting orders: he tried to think of what Kid Flash or his liege would do in this case, finally he settled on Kid's strategy for handling the happy harbour power plant divide the team in three teams but instead of a frontal engaging force he would have a stealth recon to keep track of the enemy command, have the super girls fly around giving them heads up while they took the outer patrols down and then head in to the warehouse all at one.

"Robin, Red-X , Miss Martian infiltrate and observe the dealing see if you can identify the players and find the manufacturer who is making the weapons. Super-girl and Power-girl fly high and locate the perimeter patrols for me and super-boy to take down once that is done the four of us will assault the warehouse while you three ambush soft targets and cut the head off the snake." He finished watching the team plus one nod before they deployed, Robin vanishing into the shadows with a cackle, while Miss Martian and Red-X just disappeared into thin air. Aqualad headed off with super-boy by his side as the two fliers called out targets for the pair to taken down while also systematically checking all the nearby containers in case Deula was hidden anything in them: occasionally hearing a yelp or groan as the kryptonain girls gave them more targets to take down.

"Prepare for assault you three we move in on my signal." Aqualad told his team as they moved to four sides of the warehouse.

"There she is but I don't know who she's talking too." Red-X said over the link as they crouched on the walkway watching Deula talk with the blonde haired woman in black and red combat armour.

"Looks like Mercy: Luthor's bodyguard, but it can't be Mercy right?" Robin thought as they reached eavesdropping range of pair.

"Well miss Dent I have to admit these weapons are everything my employer is seeking with these his plans will closer to fruition." The blonde woman said holding the green glowing weapon with its power pack to be worn on the operator's back.

"It's past all the all tests it will level the playing field and allow the crime syndicate to take one step closer to being able to face the league in open warfare." Deula said excitedly as fired the weapon into a target dummy reducing it a pile of burning molten slag; sudden beeping coming from Deula's side caused the gathered steampunks to grab their weapons and look alert.

"Capers… they've taken down the perimeter patrols, good thing my boys wear pulse monitors to tell me when they've knocked out lock and load boys." She shouted before stopping and looking up at the walkway before levelling the bulky rifle and firing green bolt after green bolt of ionised gas towards it, other gangsters started doing the same as Robin was forced to break cover as the Walkway collapsed under the withering barrage of plasma.

"Ha knew a caper was lurking up there, but I'm surprised it's the bat brat and not Red-X guess I scared him off." Deula shouted arrogantly

You wish Dent!" Red-X roared appearing above the crowd of thugs throwing a half dozen red Xarangs landing at the criminals feet and releasing knockout gas, the steampunks groaned coughing as they collapsed onto the floor. Their comrades in the sinister gang turned their guns upon the heroine but were distracted when they were levitated off the ground as Robin landed amongst them bostaff making short work of the henchmen. At this point the reminder of the team burst in from all directions. Superboy roared as barged into a rather large thug smashing him into a wall before charging over to stunned comrades and pounding them before they could react. Aqualad drew out his water bearers and pulled the water from the numerous pipes that doted the structure causing them to condense into a snake-like tendrils of hard water to strike and toss several goons around the space. Super-girl froze a group of thugs with her arctic breath before using her heat vision to sever several criminals power couplings leading to their power-packs rendering their weapons useless. Power-girl simply rushed into the fray heedless of the jets of hot plasma hitting her body as she bulled through anything stupid enough to stand in the heroine's way: she narrowed her eyes and pointed at Deula when she caught sight of her.

"You're mine Bitch!" she said flying over to top hat wearing villainess at high speed. Deula casually drew a bulky pistol from a holster switched something on its side and fired it point blank at Power-girl sending an arc of green lighting at her causing a terrible scream of agony to come from the girl who collapsed writhing on the floor at Deula's feet.

"I'm underwhelmed." She said before rushing over to massive hole in the wall left by power-girl; her contact had already left somehow but that didn't matter, getting away from these league brats did. Suddenly a familiar crackling sound and stench of ozone reached her nostrils as Red-X appeared in front her already executing a spinning kick.

"Oaf!" Deula cried as she was knocked into a steel container by the force of kick; she looked up at Red-X hatred in her eyes. "I'm getting bloody sick of seeing you're ugly mug X."

"Look in a mirror sometime." Red-X countered before teleporting right in front of the girl just managing to dodge an arc of plasma from Deula's handgun, X swiftly disarmed Deula by grabbing her wrist and twisting while simultaneously fire a sticky blast from her hand to stick Deula in place.

"Raaawww!" Duela roared in rage struggling to get free before settling on glaring at Red-X. "No fair X cut me loose and we'll settle this like men."

"How bout no you crazy steampunk bastard." Red-X said before walking over to group of heroes who had finished piling the arms and groaning thugs on the middle of the warehouse. "Did you get her contact with the Sinisters?"

"Unfortunately no, but Miss Martian may be able to retrieve some information from Deula's mind." Aqualad began before the three kryptonian's cried out and lunged for Deula who seemed to convulse for a second before glancing left and right clearly unaware of her surroundings as she began hurling abuse at the teen heroes as if seeing them for the first time.

"She crunched some sort of capsule in her mouth." Super-girl said forcing the girl's jaws open and revealing a false tooth and some green liquid around it. "No doubt meant for her to forget a set period of time given her behavior, probably to protect her partners DAMMIT."

"Calm down super-girl Duela has been captured and her men and weapons are in our custody; and now we know she's working with Mr Sinister the league can focus their efforts on finding him and his crime syndicate. But this we could not have done this without your help red-X you have our gratitude." Aqualad said walking over and shaking Red-X's hand, who placed her other hand to her head and sighed.

"Great it gets worse." She said turning to go.

"What trouble in Steelburg?" asked Miss Martian.

"If only, I've got help my boyfriend run my company in my name and he needs help rehearsing for the next stockbrokers meeting." She replied before disappearing in burst of red light.

"How the hell does she do that!" Power-girl asked as she and Super-boy ripped out the section of steel container Deula was adhered to and left it by the pile of groaning henchmen.

"Aqualad to league mission successful requesting clean up over." Aqualad told batman over the com, he'd have a fair bit of explaining to do but at least he could look Eve in the eye and tell her they got Deula wrapped in a ribbons for her.

"Plus we got a souvenir too!" Power-girl said happily holding up Deula's hat and trying it on; this sparked a cry of outrage from the girl who struggled even more now.

"Give that back you whore!" she shouted angrily; the effect was instantaneous the smile on power-girls face was gone replaced by a look of extreme angry as she began punching the gangster over and over again.

"Power-girl stop!" Aqualad order as the two supers restrained her; she throw them off before putting her fist through a steel container, the team stared at her as she began breathing heavily.

"I'm going back to bioship." She said with soft rage picking up the hat and gliding away.

"What the hell was that, she could have killed her!" Robin yelled angrily checking Deula's pulse and relieved to see that she had just been knocked out by the beat down.

"I don't know but I think you should let me talk to her." Super-girl said before headed after the girl, once Aqualad nodded.

"Come to check up on me?" she asked rather aggressively as she sat in her seat looking down at the purple top hat; super-girl walked over and sat in front of her turning the chair to face her.

"Mind sharing your problems." She asked softly watching her friend look up her eyes red from crying.

"I guess I never told you about my life before the pod have i." she said rubbing her eyes with her free hand; super-girl shook her head.

"I used to live in Brooklyn with my mom Karen Starr… we lived in squalor and poverty… but what was worse was that my mother had been selling her body to fuel her drug addiction to crystal meth for years." She paused placing the hat on the panel next to her. "One after a particularly violent… client I confronted her about it while she was drunk, we argued for hours as I told her she should have never have gotten herself into this world."

"And you what she said to me." She looked up her voice shaking as she started crying again, she went on before super-girl could reply. "She told me if she hadn't become a prostitute then I would never have been born… I was a mistake, a by-product of some business transaction. I couldn't take so I ran away and well you know the rest."

"Oh Amelia" Super-girl said before pulling the sobbing girl into a tight hug as she choked out her next words.

"And you want to know something else, I miss her! I miss her some much. All that time as a lab rat I only wanted to see my mummy again to tell her I'm sorry for what I said, that I just wanted us to be a happy family." She pulled away to look at super-girl in the face. "the first thing I asked you cousin when he fixed in his fortress thingy was to find my mom and I'm still wanting for him and bats to do it, how hard can it be to find one... hooker whose in the police database."

"I'll have some words with Kal-EL don't you worry, until we find her you'll just have to be a part of our family: the team." Super-girl said placing a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder after the others returned she managed to convince Aqualad to drop the issue stating that it wouldn't happen again.

Nearby…

"See I told you Miss Dent would of great benefit to our organisation Miss Graves, not only has she successfully acquired the weapons I need but she also got us a covert method of contacting the designer, blueprints and locations of the five cache's she divided the rest of the first batch into… not to mention successfully denying the league any knowledge of our plans, well at least until the drug wears off in a months time but all the same she does think outside of the box wouldn't you say?" the male voice said rather jovially looking to his blonde aide who groaned before speaking.

"Of course your right Mr Sinister." She begrudgingly spoke of their newest partner.

A/N: so what do you think of my first side arc... i read about the ame-comi Deula Dent and i liked her look so i decided to reinvent her character into this universe, i also loved Red-X in the Teen titans so i decided to bring a revamped Red-X into this. Whether a certain Jason Todd gets adopted by a bat or an X is you choice entirely, i know it's spelled Xenothium in the teen titans but its just an 'a' instead of an 'e' plus i always wondered how the chemical worked so i thought about it altering pre-existing forms of energy like radiation and turning it into xanaton (pronounced Xan-a-ton) particles which when excited in the right way produced varies different effects. on a different matter would you guys think that a red sunned kryptonian would have the same durability as an atlantean or more? i thinking like that as well as having above human level strength maybe on par with ravager or slade so 1,200 pounds let me know what you think.

As to the power-girl ending well she'll play a bigger part in the next chapter so i decided to give a little more background on her since all we really know is she likes hitting things, bluntly insulting people, and being a hero, i also decided to revamp cyborgs origin in this one too. leave a review on what you want more of, more detailed fight scenes, more interactions between characters... more young justice episodes, wait i can't deliver on that last one sorry:{

Sincerely Greywolf41 esquire!