Sound Off
A.N: This is the first chapter of three-part arc that will introduce some familiar names into the Young Justice universe. Each episode of the arc will take place in between the canon episodes.
Mount Justice: 11:57am, September 6th, 2010:
We are sitting in the common area of the Cave. M'gann was in the kitchen, wiping up something for everyone. Wally and Robin were playing foosball. Superboy was staring at the static tv and for some reason, Artemis challenge Kaldur to an arm wrestling comp. She lost, very badly. As for myself, I'm reading up on any crime stories in Gotham, Metropolis and Happy Harbour. Reading these stories and news feed gives me an understanding of even innocent blood is split. Consistent criminal activity and Zarathos will tell me to go out and hunt these scum down. "Batman to Ghost Rider. Zeta Hanger, now." Batman's voice sounds over the P.A as everyone stops what they're doing. "Looks like someone's in trouble." Artemis says as she rolls her arm over. I mock glare at her beige walking off.
Entering the zeta hanger, I see Batman and Red Tornado present. "Whatever I did...I promise...I didn't do it." I say as they both stare at me. "This isn't about your antics or methods. We'll come to that when you get back but we have a mission. Just for you." Batman says as he pulls up a lot of information about something coming from San Francisco. "About 8 months ago, the League detected a new meta human, unfortunately time,resources and threats have made us unable of contacting the new meta human, but we did keep a close watch." Batman says as video footage plays in a bank of a man, judging by his size, possibly a late teen. He was wearing some jeans and a hood to cover his face. He is fighting the man with great strength, he can fly and some sort of focused blue beam coming from his head. The beam explodes on the ground, sending everyone, including the meta human flying. "Who is he?" I ask as Red Tornado turns to me. "The identity is not known. Which is why the Batman has selected you to find him." He says as I turn to Batman. "This meta human vigilante has been in operation for almost a year. His powers are still an unknown but his potential, when trained, could be a viable asset. Not just for the League but for this Team." He says as I nod. "Ok. So you want me to go to San Francisco, find this meta human, gauge his powers and see if he is viable for membership?" I ask as they state at me. "Sounds fun, let's do it." I say as Batman types in the coordinates for the zeta. "Remember. This is still an unknown. We don't know his motivation nor have a full understanding of his powers. Be cautious." Batman says as I nod while entering the zeta tube.
San Francisco:
I walk out of the empty phone booth to a run down, dirty alleyway. I walk out and see the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. "Awesome." I say as I walk down the street. Being in my civilian wear of a pair of jeans and my trademark jacket, no one notices me. I come to a cafe and rest myself on the wall. I reach out with my senses to find the metahuman. Souls amongst meta humans and humans are hard to decipher, simply because the soul is made of concepts and feelings. What your personality is, how your experiences shape that personality, your emotions, feelings, all of these are what makes a soul. Memory is a big part as well but that comes under the experiences. So with humans and meta humans, it's hard but there is a slight change. All metahumans have some sort of feeling of pride or loathing when it comes to their abilities. Everyone can have pride and loathing but when it's directed at one thing in particular then you have what I'm looking for.
After reaching out, I find a soul that is metahuman. No sense of pride or loathing, more...caution? That's a new one. I sense that soul and I trace it to the good side of the city, not the rich, nor the bad nor the poor. But in the middle. I walk towards that side and see a nice little suburb, but what is really strange is all the souls...their metahumans. Every single person is metahuman, the men, the women, the children. He'll, even some of the dogs are metas. As I pass them, I get the feelings of mistrust, anger, and hate coming from a few. The others are just cautious, keeping their distance. "Who are you? And what are you doing here?" A voice calls out to me as a teenager walks in front of me. She blond hair and is wearing a yellow dress. She's cute but her soul tells me that she is powerful. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to bother you but I'm looking for this man." I say as I pull up an enhanced photo of the meta that Batman discovered. I see the girl's eyes widen as I feel mistrust coming from her. "What do you want from him?" She asks with slight anger. "Just to talk. I'm here at the Justice League's request." I say as everyone feels hope and happiness. "The League sent you?" The girl asks as I nod. She grabs my hand and pulls me towards a house. "Come. Come!" She says as she pulls me further. "Ok, ok. Just slow down."
She pulls me into the house and the living home. "Blake...the League came. Someone cares about us." She says as a man walks into the room. He's tall, taller than me. About a built as Superboy, an angry scowl on his face as he stares at me. He looks at the girl before signing something. He can't speak? "I know, I know. No outsiders. But the League sent him." The girl says as the stares at me. He signs something again but the girl turns to me. "My brother wants to know who are you? And what are you really here for?" She says as I look back at him. He doesn't seem deaf because she replied back to him in English so is he a mute or something. "My name is Matt Spectre. I was sent by the League because of a metahuman vigilante that was in San Francisco." I say as I pull up a hologram to the man, Blake, I believe. The footage shows the man in the bank, tearing through criminals, another clip of him flying down and stopping a rampaging truck. "Wow, look at that. How fast and heavy was that truck? You got skills and your activities have caught the attention of the League." I say as the man still stares at me, his eyes narrowing. Batman is terrifying but this man is unnerving. Something deep within is telling me to be extremely cautious. "That's just me." Zarathos says in a tone that makes me worried.
The man gestures to the couch as he walks back into the kitchen. The girl smiles as she sits in the recliner. "My name's Crystal, by the way." She says as I reach over and shake her hand. "Nice to meet you Crystal." I say as Blake comes back with some sandwiches. He sits down as he gestures to the food. "Oh, thank you." I say in thanks as I take a bite out of the sandwich. "Hmm, this is really good." I say as Blake signs. "Thank you, it's my mother's recipe." Crystal translates. I put the sandwich down as I get serious. "Ok, let's be real here. This is a metahuman neighbourhood." I say aloud as they widen their eyes. "Don't be surprised, the League knew somewhat about you, I would reckon they know for sure about this suburb but I'm not here for that. The truth is...I'm the Ghost Rider." I say as my eyes glow as both Crystal and Blake stand to their feet. Blue energy forms on Blake's forehead as ice surrounds Crystal's hand. I raise my hands in surrender. "I'm not here to fight. Just to talk." I say as they stare at me. Blake powers down the blue energy as Crystal defrosts her hand. "I'm sorry if that was a surprise but I needed to get it out of the way." I say as they sit back down. "The League is always looking for recruits and Batman sent me here to gauge you and your abilities." I say to Blake as he raises an eyebrow. He signs. "The Batman? Sent you? To gauge me?" Crystal translates as I nod. "We saw the footage of your abilities in the bank and with the truck. We have seen other clips. You have potential Blake. Batman sent me to see if you were a possible candidate for recruitment." I say as Blake sits there. He signs as Crystal looks at him. "What do you mean 'no'? Brother, it's the Justice League." Crystal says as I look at Blake. He signs again, this time Crystal doesn't translate as she runs outside, Blake follows her as I follow him. I come outside and see that Blake is signing away and Crystal had tears in her eyes. "This is our chance! To be better than this! To have better than what we have! You think that just because the city gave us this neighbourhood that they'll leave us alone! No, at the slightest hint of trouble, they send everything to get rid of us. I've read the news about other metahuman communities, some have been relocated...or misplaced. This is our chance, brother and your too stubborn to accept!" She screams as everyone gathers around the argument. Blake signs away. "I don't need protecting brother. I can protect myself!" She screams as she forms a vortex and flies away.
I walk up to Blake and put my hand on his shoulder, he turns sharply and backhands me away. I didn't expect that level of strength. I turn to him as he looks at me with anger. "Hey, mate. I don't want to fight you but I will if you force me to." I say as he walks up to me and shoots forward. Suddenly I'm in the air as he throws me to the ground. I land with a thud. "Ow." I say as I get up but he flies and shoots forward at me in a tackle. I wrap a chain around him and pull him off. I dig my feet in the ground as I turn and throw him away but pull him back into my fist. The shockwave shatters a few windows as Blake is sent skidding across the road. "I don't want to fight you! What part of that didn't you understand?" I say to him as he silently snarls and floats above me. The blue energy forms on his forehead as he shoots it at me. I dodge out of the way as the beam connects with the road, making a good size explosion which sends me into Blake's flight path, he tackles me as he forces me deep into the road. He pulls me up as he throws me away. I get up, he packs a serious punch. I see him lift a car and throw it at me as I growl. Lightning my eyes and chain with Rider fury, I cut the car in half and send one half back at him. He takes the hit as I throw my chains as they wrap around his legs. I pull him down with authority. I march over to him and pick him up. Punching with some serious might, he is able to black and dodge with efficiency but my skill is too much for him. I grab his head and knee him in the noise. After all this, he hasn't made a single noise. He has some serious pain tolerance. I throw him into the broken glad of the car as I charge at him. He concentrates a beam of blue energy and shoots me with it. The beam connects as I'm sent flying into a house, the force of my entrance brings the entire front of the house down onto the street. "That hurt...a lot." I say as I get to my feet but Blake is already on me. Throwing punch after punch, the force of each making a little shockwave which rocks the ruined house. I let Zarathos take over as I catch his fist.
P.O.V Change: Ghost Rider
Blake's eyes widen in shock as I burn through Matthew's skin. "My turn." I say as I pick him out of the house. I run out and see him hover above, using his power of flight to get leverage over me. I don't think so. I throw my chains as they warp around his body. He eyes widen in fear as I force him down into the road. I lift him up back over my head before twisting around and forcing him down again. The force of the impact leaves huge cracks in the road. I pull my chains back as he gets to his knees. I swing my chain at him as he inhales a breath.
"Enough."
The whisper is so quiet, I could barely hear it but the colossal soundwave was more than I could have ever anticipated as it echoes into me. I scream in agony as the force of the wave sends me flying, the road breaks apart, the houses are shaken, some of them even collapse. I land with a thud as the echo of his whisper does down. I lay on the road as I slowly get to my feet. I get up a bit wobbly but I collapse to a knee with a groan. I get up and see Blake floating above me with an angry look on his face. I notice that some of the other metas are waving their hands as all the damage is fixed on a dime. I back away from them as I collapse but someone catches me. I look back and see Crystal holding me as she stares angrily at her brother. "We were not raised this way, Blake!" She screams as Blake floats back down. I feel weird, I give Matthew back control.
P.O.V Change: Matthew Spectre
As soon Zarathos have back control, I passed out from exertion. I have never seen Zarathos get overpowered by someone else. This guy...he's the real deal, he has something really...really special. I groan as I wake up and see that I'm on the couch of Crystal's home, I see the sandwich that Blake made for me as I sit up. I hear shuffling as Crystal and Blake enter the room. "Hey. How are you feeling?" She asks as I laugh. "Feels like I got the shit kick out of me." I say as Crystal laughs and Blake smiles. "I now see why you don't talk." I say as he nods his head. "I admire your mental discipline, to not make a sound. At all? That must be exhausting." I say as he signs. "You have no idea. But I've gotten use to it. Sorry about what I did." Crystal translates as I wave him off. "No, don't worry about it. I came into your home, uninvited and made some comments. You felt that I was responsible for your argument. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine." I say as he shakes his head and signs. "No, I let my anger get the better of me. I usually am pretty calm but I lost control. I'm sorry." Crystal translates but I just wave him off and place my hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I was in wrong, just accept it." I say as he smiles. We sit down and eat some new sandwiches that Blake made. "So, what are your abilities, besides the obvious." I say as he signs away. "I don't really know but one of our smarter neighbours deduced that I can control an unknown particle that can control, change and manipulate electrons and anti electrons. Only problem being that the particle is located in the centre of my speech cortex of my brain. A single whisper and the electrons and anti electrons release a devastating hyper sonic soundwave." Crystal translates as my eyes widen. "Jesus. That's...wow. I felt that whisper earlier. I felt like a thousand trucks ran over me while blasting their horns directly into my ears." I say as Crystal sighs. "Blake had to undergo very rigorous mental training, any sound that he makes can have serious consequences. He tries not to use his speech when fighting cause it can possible kill someone." She says as I nod in understanding. "So this unknown particle can manipulate electrons. Is that what the beam is as well?" I ask as he nods. "And the flight?" I ask as he nods as well. Damn, he is powerful. And still a teenager, what's he going to be like in ten years time. "The only other question I have is...why? Why are you doing what your doing?" I ask as he signs. "This town was once a rundown, the city had granted us this town to isolate ourselves from everyone else. We didn't know that it was a rundown. I decided to go and find something to help them, at first a stole money from crooks and that. But after a while, with my people not having proper heating, electricity, nor food on the table. I decided to amp it up. I put a hood over myself and starting robbing from organised crime, stealing some of any stolen cash to give to my people. After a few months, we got running water, electricity etc. We were happy. But I felt something when I took down organised crime. I saw what people do metas, even to regular humans. I felt like I had to do something and I did. I went out and stop criminals from hurting people. I made sure that the streets were safe for families, for everyone." Crystal translates as I nod. He started because he wanted to help the metas here. But after a while, he saw what bad people did to others, to the innocent. He's a man after my own heart. He made sure that criminals knew that they were dealing with someone dangerous and determined. Dangerous combination...for them at least. I nod my head and get up. "I think that what you are doing is great. You care about your people. As well as the humans of San Francisco. If you ever want to meet and...talk, I guess or if you need help. Give me a call." I say as I pass him a burner phone. "You do good here. And possibly in time...a Leaguer." I say as he smiles and takes the phone. He skates my hand in thanks. I walk out of the house but stop and turn back. "I forgot. Do you have a codename or something?" I ask as they both ponder. Blake's eyes widen before dropping into a prideful smile as he signs. Crystal matches Blake's expression before turning back to me. "Black Bolt." She says as I smile. That's an awesome codename, I think to myself before heading back to the Zeta tube.
Mount Justice: Zeta Hanger
"Recongize. Ghost Rider. B-07." I stop out of the hanger and see Batman and Red Tornado standing there. "Well?" Batman ask as I bring up the database. "His name is Blake Burton. He lives with his sister, Crystal Burton in a metahuman community in San Fransisco. He is the vigilante that you are looking for." I say as Batman turns to me. "His abilities?" He asks as I scoff. "Fucking insane. He says that he has the an unknown particle located in the centre speech cortex of his brain. This particle allows him to control and manipulate the electrons and anti electrons." I say as I bring up a hologram of the human brain. "However, the downside is that when her utters a sound, the particle reacts uncontrollably and causes the electrons and anti electrons to react with a devastating sound wave. The wave is so powerful that a single whisper was able to defeat Zarathos." I say as Batman's eyes widen in shock. "He defeated you?" He says as I nod. "He wasn't too happy when I arrived and was worse after 'talking'." I say. "Is he a candidate?" Red Tornado asks as I nod. "He is a hero, whether he wants to admit it or not. His community were suffering and he decides to take down organised crime. He robbed them and used the money to make sure that his community was taken care of. He did that for a while before deciding to start helping people, he felt like he needed to help them, to protect them. So yes, he is viable for membership. Maybe in a few years for the League. But for the Team, definitely." I say as Batman hmms before disabling the hologram. "The League will set up with Mr Burton for membership. For now...good job." He says as he walks away.
I leave the hanger and find everyone on the common area at the dinner table, I see a roast chicken, some potato and gravy, meatloaf etc. "Hey guys." I say as everyone turns to me. "Hey Matt. Come on, dinners ready." Robin says as I sit out the table and take my portions. "So, how was your mission?" Artemis asks as I raise my head. "Batman told us as soon as you left." Wally says as I snort. Of course he did. "The mission was alright. I think that we might have a new team member soon." I say as everyone smiles. "What can he do?" Superboy asks as I down some meat. "He can control the electrons and anti electrons in his brain. The results of that is that he can fly and concentrate a beam of energy from his forehead but the real kicker is his voice." I say as M'gann raises an eyebrow. "His voice?" I nod my head. "The electrons are controlled in the speech centre. The only downside is that when he utters a sound, the electrons and anti electrons become uncontrollable and release a massive sound wave, similar to Canary's Cry. Only more powerful." I say as everyone is shocked by that. "How powerful?" Kaldur asks as I smirk. "Powerful enough that a single whisper was enough to nearly destroy a town and powerful enough to defeat Zarathos." I say as everyone is absolutely shocked by that. "That strong, damn." Wally says as I laugh. "The best part is that when he spoke. He whispered. Zarathos was defeated by a hyper sonic soundwave from a whisper." I say as everyone shivers at the implications. "You don't have to rub it in, you know?" I hear Zarathos say to me as I smile to myself. 'I know...but it's fun.' I think back to him as he huffs in annoyance. "So if he spoke normally or yelled...?" Artemis says as I look at her and everyone else. "Then the level of destruction would be astronomical...but he is careful. He underwent some serious mental training to not utter a noise. He is disciplined, very disciplined." I say as everyone breaths a sigh of relief. "That's good. That's good." Robin says, a slip of fear within his voice as I laugh and go back to eating. Blake is very powerful, possibly the most powerful meta I've ever met. He had a good heart and a strong mental fortitude. He will do well for himself. And if he doesn't, Crystal will make sure that he does.