MoP
Harry Potter and the Myriad of Possibilities: Prologue
Chapter 25: Rebellion, Part 10.
Disclaimer: This is solely a not-for-profit fan activity and does not intend to infringe on copyrights held by Time Warner, DC Comics, Bloomsbury et al, and JK Rowling. Any characters that are original to this work remain the property of the author.
A/N: The Myriad of Possibilities Series primarily uses the background from the Harry Potter books but some elements and scenes have been borrowed from other sources – including the movies, Pottermore and my own headcanon – that will be covered where they fit into the narrative. The timeline of the DC Comics elements borrows heavily from Young Justice (2011) and may adapt elements and characters from the comics and several additional other media instalments – including but not limited to Smallville (2001) and Superman and Lois (2021) – and relocates events of Young Justice to the Eighties and early Nineties rather than the New Tens as screened and includes several 'legacy' and original characters as a result. Any other recognisable characters belong to their copyright holders.
A/N: Thanks to Dragon97 and 6f5e4d for their help on this chapter.
Mount Justice.
October 10th, 16:58 EDT.
Conner leaned against a wall, alternating between watching Wally – who'd returned to the Cave with his arm in a cast two days earlier – lounging in an easy chair under the care of Captain Marvel and the rest of the team who were sparring under the supervision of Black Canary.
The red-clad hero flew off again – this time for nachos – as Robin was knocked to the ground with a groan. Artemis smirked at the Team's smallest member and jogged over to her opponent, though whether to help him up or press her advantage wasn't entirely clear to Conner.
Conner shifted his gaze over to M'gann and Kaldur. M'gann threw a low punch towards the Atlantean's side, but he blocked with his forearm, and they traded blows for a moment until Kaldur attempted a front kick which M'gann countered with a knife-hand block.
Black Canary stepped forward, "Good work everyone," she began as M'gann and Kaldur continued to trade blows. "In fact, it's been a very productive week."
At that moment, M'gann and Kaldur broke off their spar and joined Black Canary and Artemis in the middle of the training ring.
"Yeah, for everyone except Kid Malingerer," Artemis noted snarkily, staring at Wally.
Wally finished his drink of juice and then glared at the blonde. "Hey, arm broken in combat against the Injustice League here!" he pointed out and waved his cast to prove his point.
Black Canary chuckled as Conner pushed off the wall and joined the others in the training ring. "I've really enjoyed being your 'den mother' this week…."
The rest of her speech was cut off by the computer. "Recognized, Zatara One-One."
As they weren't expecting visitors, everyone turned towards the Zeta-Tube and watched as a smartly-dressed man materialized, then silently moved clear of the tunnel, summoned a holo-keyboard and typed a command on it.
"Access Granted," confirmed the computer. "Zatanna B-Zero-Eight… Authorization: Zatara One-One."
The Zeta Tube lit up again and a teenage girl appeared inside the tunnel. Zatara stepped back to her side. "Zatanna, this is the Team… Team, my daughter, Zatanna."
The petite girl – who wore a pleated skirt and white blouse with a navy neck tab under a navy cardigan – and otherwise looked very like her father save for her eyes, which were blue rather than his green.
M'gann flew over to her, landing easily. "Hi, I'm…"
"Robin!" declared the Boy Wonder and cut between them, then cleared his throat as he stepped closer to the nervous girl. "I mean… I'm Robin… Uh… she's M'gann…" he paused and indicated the rest of the group. "And, uh… that's Wally, Artemis, Kaldur, and Conner."
Conner said nothing but gave the new arrival a small smile.
"Welcome to the Cave," Kaldur added in greeting.
"Uh, thanks," Zatanna replied quietly, then glanced at her dad.
"So, uh, you… you're joining the Team?" Robin stuttered.
"Now let's not get ahead of ourselves," replied Zatara, his voice shaking a little. "This is strictly a visit… Though I am sorry we missed the Training. It's something from which Zatanna could benefit."
M'gann looked curiously at the Team. (Do the rest of you guys get the impression we're still on probation with Zatara?)
(Not just Zatara,)countered Conner angrily. (I mean, why is Marvel still hanging around?)
(Because we like having him around,) retorted Wally in the other hero's defence.
Artemis turned on him. (You like having him around 'cause he waits on you hand and foot.)
(And your point is?)
(It almost makes one nostalgic for Red Tornado's tenure as our supervisor,) mused Kaldur.
Robin chuckled mentally. (Yeah, at least he trusted us.)
(If you ignore the fact we shouldn't have trusted him.) Conner snarled, gesturing wildly. "He was a traitor. That machine nearly got M… all of us killed!"
"Are you guys having a psychic conversation?" Zatanna asked, catching the entire room's attention. "'Because I can't decide if that's cool or… uh, really rude."
"All right, fine," Conner admitted, chagrined. "We were talking about Tornado. It's been weeks since his attack and the League hasn't told us anything!"
"The League is searching for Tornado as well as the other androids that invaded the Cave and their creator, TO Morrow," Black Canary reminded them firmly. "Batman's made tracking them down our highest priority."
"But you've found none of the above," Robin pointed out.
"Not yet," Black Canary admitted. "But Tornado is Justice League… the Team is not to pursue this."
Zatara, clearly uncomfortable being thrust into the middle of this, spoke up. "Why don't you all take Zatanna on a, uh…" he trails off and looked around the room, trying to find her. "a t-tour of the Cave?"
Everyone tensed but relaxed as soon as they spotted the girl petting the sleepy Wolf, who got up as Captain Marvel re-entered the Mission Room and petted the massive animal. "Huh, you're giving a tour? Cool!"
Conner stepped up to him. "Actually, I was hoping you'd take Wolf outside. He needs the exercise. We'll… uh… join you in a few."
"Sure, sure," agreed the Captain, brightly. "I… I can do that. Come on, Wolf."
"Wh-wha-wha… My nachos?" Wally whined as the hero disappear down the tunnel to the beach, but Conner grabbed him by the front of his shirt and dragged the speedster down the tunnel towards the living quarters.
The Team and Zatanna continued in silence until they were passing through the kitchen, and then Zatanna jogged up next to Robin. The younger boy stopped in surprise when he noted that she was now wearing capri pants, a camisole and trainers.
"When did you… how did you…?" stammered the Boy Wonder.
"We're not really taking a tour, are we?"
The Team stopped and Conner turned towards her. "No," he confirmed. "We're hunting down that robot."
"Yes, we are," confirmed Kaldur.
"Ooh, wow," said Zatanna. "Out loud and everything."
"What about New Girl?" asked Artemis, a little resentment and suspicion in her voice.
"I'm sure she won't tell," declared Robin firmly.
Zatanna turns to Robin. "I can't tell," she said coyly. "Not if you 'kidnap' me."
Artemis smirked appreciatively. "Oh, she's going to fit in great…"
"M'gann, Bio-Ship wasn't authorized for departure," said Black Canary's voice over the radio.
"We're kidnapping Zatanna!" said M'gann, brightly then realizing that might not have been the best response, she added. "To… uh, show her Happy Harbor. Be back soon!"
"Uh, roger that… have fun," said Canary and then cut the line.
"Where are we going?" Robin demanded. When no-one replied immediately, he continued. "Batman is the world's greatest detective… He's searched for Tornado and Morrow in every logical place… If we're gonna do better, we need an illogical solution. A… a truly dumb idea." He paused again and glanced over his shoulder at Wally.
The speedster pouted for a moment at his friend's blatant quasi-insult, then realised that everyone – including Zatanna – were looking his way. "As a matter of fact…"
Louisiana/Mississippi Border
18:16 CDT.
"So, how are we going to get in?" asked Zatanna. "I doubt they'll just let us wander in."
"That would normally be true," agreed Aqualad. "However, we assisted the staff with a prison break a couple of weeks ago..."
"Really?"
"We did," M'gann confirmed. "Conner and I went in disguised as the Terror Twins and exposed a point lead by Icicle Sr."
"And you almost died in the process!" Conner growled.
M'gann nodded, acknowledging the point. "Hopefully the warden will be willing to pay back the favour."
"Let us find out," interjected Aqualad.
A holo-window opened on the windscreen and the sound of a ringing phone echoed through the cockpit for a moment. "Warden Strange."
"Warden, this is Aqualad," answered Kaldur. "Miss Martian and the rest of my team are also present."
"Good evening, what can I do for you?"
"Would it be possible for us to speak to one of your inmates?"
"That may be possible," replied the warden. "Which inmate did you wish to speak to?"
"Professor Ivo."
"How many of you would there be?"
"There are seven of us."
The warden paused. "You will have to be in and out quickly if you wish me to keep it quiet…"
"That would be preferable."
"How soon can you get here?"
"At our current speed, we'll be on-site in ten minutes," replied M'gann.
"I will have Mr Wilcox meet you at the loading dock at eighteen-thirty and escort to you one of our more discrete interrogation rooms," promised the warden.
"Thank you, Warden," said Kaldur.
"You are welcome, of course," countered the warden and cut the line.
Belle Reve.
October 10th, 18:35 CDT
The robotics expert started a little in shock when he was frogmarched into the interrogation room by one of the other guards – a moustached brunette called Riker – and he saw who he would be meeting. "What you doing here?!"
"Warden Strange owed us a favour for stopping last month's prison break," explained M'gann. "He's given us five minutes with you."
"Spill Ivo," Conner snarled. "How do we find TO Morrow and his Reds?"
"Now, why in the world would I know how to find Morrow?" asked Ivo lazily as he leaned back in his chair.
"Because… and this is a 'truly dumb' idea…" replied Wally bitterly. "… you're Morrow's biggest competitor in the evil android game."
"Who better to keep track of what he's up to, and where?"
"Ah, I see your point," admitted the roboticist. "So, let me rephrase…" He leaned forward and looked M'gann in the eyes. "Why in the world would I tell you how to find Morrow?"
"He knows," declared Aqualad, then turned to M'gann. "Do what you must."
M'gann closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, they were glowing.
"Oh, please…" sneered Ivo, then chuckled. "As if I've never faced a telepath before."
Zatanna is suddenly pushed her way to his side and leaning over him. "Trulb tuo S'worrom eurt noitacol!"
"Morrow's in a secret underground base beneath Yellowstone National Park, just over three feet south of Old Faithful," blurted out the scientist to the Team's surprise. Then he recovered himself and sensed a change in the room "Wait, what-what just happened?"
18:40 CDT.
"Setting course for Yellowstone," reported M'gann as she eased Bio-Ship into the air, then accelerated upwards.
"Block out all external communications," ordered Kaldur. "Soon, Canary and Zatara… Batman too I imagine… will know of our visit with Professor Ivo. We haven't got much time."
Robin glanced over at the newest member of the group and chuckled light. "Look, I'm trying to be nonchalant here…"
"Why?" replied Zatanna impishly. "Be as chalant as you like."
Robin smiled.
"I think we're all just trying to get a handle on your powers," interjected Artemis. "Could you teleport us to Tornado… or Morrow to a cell… or force his bots to surrender?"
"Or create peace on Earth for all time?" Zatanna countered. "My dad couldn't even do most of that, and I'm nowhere near on his level." She paused, and then turned to look directly at Artemis, her tone turning serious. "I need to know a spell cold or else have time to prep it. Plus, all magic requires energy which usually has to come from within. I can't just make the impossible happen at will."
"What's our ETA in Yellowstone?" demanded Conner angrily. "I'm way past ready to stuff Tornado into a trash compactor."
"Are you so certain he betrayed us?" asked Kaldur calmly.
"Aren't you?!"
"I am not convinced," Kaldur admitted calmly. "And even so, that makes him but a victim of his creator's programming. Certainly, he deserves the chance to prove he's more than the weapon others designed him to be."
Conner closed his eyes as the Atlantean's last words hit home. He struggled with the feelings that that comment provoked for a moment, but when he opened his eyes, his rage had abated.
Yellowstone National Park.
20:22 MDT.
M'gann manoeuvred around Old Faithful as the geyser erupted, then flew past it and landed a short distance away inside the trees.
Aqualad is already standing before Bio-Ship could extend the ramp. "Stealth Mode," he ordered, striking his belt buckle and activating his own.
With a smile, Kid Flash and Artemis tapped the symbols on their chests, turning the colours of their own suits to shades of grey as Zatanna watched, intrigued.
Aqualad crossed to where the young magician was standing. "I recommend that you stay behind."
"Is that an order?"
"No," Kaldur assured her quickly. "You must do as you see fit."
"Good," said the girl. "Emit to yrt eht wen kool!"
Bright blue smoke began to form at her feet, and she guided up her body. When it cleared, she was wearing a black-and-white bodysuit, cape and ankle boots, and stood there confidently, with a hand on her hip and a smile on her face.
(Anything?) Aqualad asked as they moved out of the woods.
Robin raised his arm and activated his holo-map. After a moment, he nodded. (Ivo's right… there's something down there.)
Aqualad nodded, then started to leave the woods, the rest of the Team following him, only to be stopped by a rush of wind that knocked everyone off their feet.
Conner was the first to recover, and squint through the dust-storm, his eyes going wide when as he saw Red Tornado hovering above them.
Tornado uncrossed his arms creating a huge red twister, then a second and third, multiplying until the Team is trapped between the robot and seven gigantic tornadoes.
"Why, Tornado?" Miss M shouted over the wind. "Why are you doing this?"
He crossed his arms over his chest as more tornadoes crop up between him and the Team and began to carve a message into the dirt.
"Message received?" Kaldur asked.
Conner nodded before turning back to Tornado. "Who cares why?" he screamed. "Nail him!"
Aqualad hesitated for a moment as the clone charged towards the robot. (Superboy, manoeuvre seven!)
Superboy's boots dragged as he spun to a quick stop, his fingers threading together, landing in a solid horse stance and pausing until the Atlantean's barefoot landed in his hands before he boosted him high to the air with a battle cry from both of them.
Tornado hung motionless for a moment as Aqualad pulled back his fist, then he suddenly moved to strike the Atlantean before he could land a blow, knocking him backwards into Conner.
Artemis stepped up with her bow in hand and grabbed two arrows from her quiver as Robin slides into a guard position at her side, then launched them at the android.
But again, he was too fast for them and plucked them out of the air and sent them plunging back down towards the two heroes.
"Look out!" exclaimed Robin, but it was too late, and they were knocked back by the force of the explosion.
"That does it, Red!" declared Wally as he stood up from a crouch, drawing the android's attention to him. "You're not the only 'spin doctor' around here." Then he began to spin, creating his own twister.
At the same time, M'gann Miss Martian approached the android from above and behind him while he was watching Wally. But as she raised a fist to strike him, he looked back over his shoulder, dodging her strike and grabbing her wrist, then throwing her into Wally, causing both of them to hit the ground hard, leaving Zatanna as the only hero standing.
"Etaerc a… a… dleihs dnuora ym-" began the magician, but she was cut off by Tornado's hand around her neck, and then after a moment she dropped to the ground.
Red Volcano came up to him from behind as the tornadoes dissipated. "Quite a performance, brother…" declared the bigger android as the rock he should on continued to grow. "… but we both know that's all it was."
On the edge of the battlefield, a message began to appear in the ground as the dust settled:
PLAY DEAD.
"I have all your memories, Tornado," explained Red Volcano. "And a next-gen processor…. I know your next move before you do."
He gestured at the message and the chunk of earth that the message is etched into broke away from the ground and flew into the air.
The Team slowly sat up and turned to watch the threat.
"Blowing a message into the sand?" scoffed Red Volcano.
The chunk of earth broke apart and fell towards the Team.
Kaldur drew his water-bearers and shifted them in sword form.
Conner jumped into the air to try and destroy the pieces, and M'gann tried to shield the others telekinetically, but they still had to scatter.
Zatanna yelped as she dodged one of the larger pieces.
(Zatanna?)asked Robin.
(I'm good…) she replied. (… but Red Tornado's getting away.)
(Is he abandoning us?) asked Artemis incredulously as she nocked another arrow.
"I don't believe that," said M'gann.
At that moment, Wally charged towards Volcano's pillar and ran up. "You stand no chance against me humans!" snarled Red Volcano, then as Wally reached the top of the pillar, he struck the speedster in the side with a harsh punch.
"We're not human!" Conner and M'gann declare as she grabbed him and flew both of them up towards the villain.
"Apologies, I suppose the properly inclusive term is…" began Red Volcano, then caused two huge hands of Earth rise up and clap together over the couple. "… meat-bags."
Then he turned his attention towards Artemis and Kaldur, opening up a hole in the ground under them, dropping them into the earth.
Fortunately, she was able to react fast enough to shoot a line and pull them out of the rift before it closed.
At the same time, Robin threw a birdarang at the android, he caught it, and he was unharmed by the explosion. "Tornado's memory files and my superior processing speed allow me to anticipate your every move," he explained archly.
"Ekoms emoceb a dlofdnilb!" said Zatanna, conjuring a smokey black blindfold over his eyes.
Robin touched down and came up beside Zatanna.
"Tornado never knew my moves." she said proudly as Robin landed next to her.
"And I bet you've got some good ones," said Robin, his eyes widening as he realised what he'd said. "Whoa. Sorry, that may have come off a little too Wally."
She chuckled and smiled. "I don't mind."
Laser beams erupted from Red Volcano's eyes, cutting through the blindfolds and causing Yellowstone to erupt, sending magma flowing down the mountain towards the Team.
He launched two small, partially molten rocks at Kid Flash, who used one of Volcano's old spires to jump out of the way and flip to the level below before skidding to a stop.
"He's activating a Stage Two Eruption!" reported Wally as he dodged lava balls lobbed his way by the android. "If It gets to Stage Three, we can kiss the hemisphere goodbye!"
Kaldur moved to his side for a moment, then charged at Volcano with his water-swords drawn. "Hit him from all sides," he ordered before he was knocked by a brutal backhand from the android.
Superboy jumped toward Volcano, leading with his fist, but Volcano caught his punch and then threw him closer to the magma.
M'gann – hidden under camouflage – landed and began to pull at the android from behind, but he merely glanced over his shoulder and caused a vent to erupt showering her with debris and magma, eliciting a scream and making her drop her camouflage.
"M'gann!" exclaimed Conner and moved towards her.
Red Volcano landed between the two teens, startling them. He struck out at Conner, knocking him away, then reached and grabbed M'gann by her hood.
While he was focused on the two alien teens, Zatanna had moved to Wally's side and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Ekoms dna srorrim. Etaerc Dik Hsalf snoisulli!"
The smoke around them turned into clones of Wally and all of them ran at the android.
"I-I use a scaled-down version when I want to sneak out of the house," explained Zatanna brightly.
Red Volcano raised his free hand to send a rock flying at the squad of duplicates, diverting his attention long enough for the real Wally to snatch M'gann out of his grasp.
Suddenly water burst up through the ground to Kaldur's right, morphing in a stream that struck the android in the chest and knocked him into the lava.
"Nice hit!" declared Robin.
"The hit was not mine," he retorted. "Look!"
The Team followed their leader's gaze and saw Red Torpedo standing resolute, rising up on another pillar of water. As they watched, he sent two smaller streams at the still partially submerged Red Volcano, briefly covering the area in steam.
But after a moment, a stone pillar rose out of the steam, Red Volcano lying on top. But before the villain could regain the initiative, Red Tornado flew in and took out the pillar, dropping Red Volcano back into the magma as the Team watched in stunned silence.
As the villain surfaced again, Red Inferno joined the fight and rained fireballs down on him as she closed in until she gets close enough to physically drive him into the waist-high magma.
"Sister, brother… stop!" demanded Red Volcano as Red Torpedo rammed into him hard, knocking the trio further into the magma flow.
As the two oldest androids held down their villainous brother, ignoring their melting frames, Red Tornado hovered over the flow and then dropped down, driving the other three below the surface.
"Father would be so disappointed…" asserted Red Volcano as his systems and frame began to fail.
Conner leapt towards Red Tornado, grabbing the android by the cape and pulling him from the lava.
But despite the villain's destruction, Yellowstone continued to rumble.
"Tornado, listen, we're on the verge of a Stage Three Super Volcano Eruption," said Wally urgently. "There's no turning back from that. We need to vent the pressure… fast!"
The android said nothing, but the speedster continued.
"But the ash cloud will bring on a worldwide 'nuclear winter' unless you divert it."
This time Red Tornado nods.
Wally turned to Robin. "Triangulate around the pressure locus!"
"Right," Robin typed a few commands into his holo-glove, causing three dots to appear on his holo-screen. "There, there, and there."
Without a word, Artemis drew an arrow and loosed it. It flew towards the volcano, and just before impact it split into three and exploded at all three points simultaneously on contact.
Red Tornado's legs sparked a little before a twister formed under him, propelling him towards the ash cloud and growing into a massive tornado that pulled the ash cloud up and through the other atmosphere.
"Yes!" exclaimed Wally as the magma began to cool, then his attention was drawn to Red Tornado as the android crashed to the ground.
"There," said Robin as he adjusted a final component and then sighed in relief. "That should do it."
"Yes, I can speak again," Tornado confirmed, commanding his faceplate to drop down and lock into place.
"You were willing to sacrifice yourself to save the planet." Kaldur said to the legless android.
"The planet would have survived," countered the android. "It was humanity that was saved… though not by me." Kaldur placed a hand on his shoulder. "My sister and brother were the true heroes this day."
"My point is this… you were never the mole, never a traitor."
"No, I left to protect you from further attack and to find my creator, Morrow."
"Cool," said Wally as he held up a large red hand. "Souvenir."
Robin held a robotic leg with a grin. "Reddy, we can rebuild you! Better than you were before."
"I do not believe I should be repaired."
Conner had been gathering his thoughts as the others talked, and now he glanced over his shoulder, finally facing Tornado. "Why did you volunteer to become our 'den mother' in the first place?"
"I was the pragmatic choice." Tornado replied bluntly. "I do not require sleep, I have no secret identity or second life to live."
"But you do have advanced AI Programming designed to learn, adapt, evolve," declared Wally.
"'Hello Megan!'," quoted M'gann and slapped herself on the forehead. "You wanted to become more human."
"And you couldn't do that with the League," added Artemis. "They're stiffs."
"You're sure not going to learn emotion from Batman," asserted Robin with a chuckle. "Trust me."
"Then the cave was not a proving ground only for us…" mused Kaldur. "But for you as well."
"I do not know if those statements are accurate," Tornado admitted. "But perhaps they are true. And if I understand the term correctly, I believe I have come to… care about you all."
"See?" said Conner with a grin. "Practically a 'meat-bag' already."
October 10, 21:16 MDT.
Back on Bio-Ship, Robin leaned forward, touching Zatanna on the shoulder. "So, good kidnapping?"
"Actually, yeah," she replied with a smile. "Best ever."
Robin chuckled. "First of many, I hope."
Zatanna turns back to the front, worried. "If my dad doesn't ground me for life."