I do not own Young Justice or any of the characters.
Parasite
Cassius shoved hard with his legs, Cassandra doing the same, her feet pushing off of his and sending her into the air before she shoved her arms upward as Rose, standing on her hands, jumped, sending Rose high into the air, both girls, with a little help from Cassius's goo, pulling several flips before Cassius caught Cassandra with his feet on her back and pushed her away, allowing her to land lightly on her feet, then did the same to Rose a moment later. The three of them bowed to the audience, then left, Haly returning to close out the show before they began to pack up. As they were, Cassius looked to Cassandra, who was staring at a tall, muscular blonde who was offering to help Megan load up.
"What's up?" Cassius asked.
"His body language is weird," Cassandra signed.
"Weird how?" Cassius asked.
"It changed when his hand brushed Megan's when he tried to take her bag," Cassandra signed.
"Changed how much?" Cassius signed.
"Almost completely," Cassandra signed. "And his micro-expressions said he was surprised, then pleased, then something like confident but bad."
"Smug?" Cassius signed.
"Kind of," Cassandra said. "Like he knows a secret."
Cassius's eyes widened, and he signed, "Megan's secret?"
"Maybe," Cassandra signed.
He nodded and loaded the last of his things before twirling a finger at Robin while curling his lips in on themselves, signaling him to gather the others without telepathy. Robin nodded just as Haly called out for everyone to load up, seeming to be in a rush. After a few minutes, the group was all in Robin's room, and Megan was laying down, having started to feel nauseous. Cassius quickly explained to them what Cassandra had told him about the blond guy's body language.
"Are there any villains you can think of who can steal someone's abilities, or maybe copy them, by touch?" Cassius asked.
"Wait a minute," Red Arrow said. "We're assuming that's what's going on based off of a nine year old mute girl saying that someone's body language changed? News flash! Body language changes! That's what it does!"
"Oh, do not act like you don't know about Cassandra's ability," Cassius said. "And not yes, she said it changed. She knows American Sign Language."
Red Arrow scoffed. "You're right. I do know what her ability is. Complete bullshit."
Cassius laughed as Cassandra glared at Red Arrow. "Oh, I can not wait for the three of us to be there during combat training with you. I would love to see you try and test your theory."
"What, not man enough to fight me yourself?" Red Arrow asked. "You have to send a little girl to fight your battles?"
"Oh, trust me, I'll be fighting you, too," Cassius said. "But before I break every bone in your body, Cassandra gets first crack at you."
"Well, I should probably warn you, I'm not above hitting a little girl," Red Arrow said.
Cassius snorted derisively. "Oh, don't worry. You won't."
"What was that?" Red arrow snarled.
"I said you won't be hitting a little girl when you spar against Cassandra," Cassius said. "Before you can even think about hitting this little girl, she's going to make you feel like a little girl."
Red Arrow's hand flashed toward a knife, only for Cassandra's hand to grab it a half-second before he could grab it, twisting and slamming him to the ground in an arm bar.
"What the fuck!?" Robin demanded.
Cassandra looked up at Cassius and nodded.
"Megan, connect us," Cassius said. "Even her."
Megan did as instructed and their minds were instantly flooded with Cassandra's thoughts. They all watched with Cassandra's level of attention as the muscles in Red Arrow's arm and chest flexed as his eyes narrowed, signaling an attack, then his hand angled to grab his knife, betraying his weapon, and lastly his eyes flicked down to Cassius's neck, betraying his target. The others all cringed as the images and knowledge all appearing in the blink of an eye strained their minds and gave them a headache, but before Megan closed the connection to end the flood of images, Cassius saw the muscles along the back of Red Arrow's arm and in his forearms tense in preparation of stopping his slash short, meaning to prove a point, not kill him. Then, the connection closed and Cassandra took a deep breath to calm herself after having someone in her mind again after the torture she went through thanks to Cain.
"It's alright, Cassandra," Cassius said. "Go ahead and let him up."
She nodded and released him and he stood, bending and straightening his elbow.
"You were trying to kill a fellow teammate?" Robin snarled.
"No," Cassius said. "You all closed your minds off before the last of it, due to the strain, but I'm more used to pain so I was able to watch," Cassius said. "He was going to stop at the last second. He wanted to prove a point about Cassandra's ability being fake. Or he wanted to scare me. Either way, slashing my throat won't kill me. At least, not necessarily."
"What?" Connor asked. "How?"
"I can separate my head from my shoulders at will if I feel so inclined," Cassius said.
"Cool," Megan said.
"Just proves how much of a freak you are," Red Arrow said.
"Enough!" Robin snapped. "This is your last warning, Speedy! You may not trust anyone on this team, but if you continue to harass them and make things hard for this team, you're gone. As it is, I'm going to give both Batman and Aqualad a very detailed report on your behavior during this mission."
"Robin," Cassius said. "The villain. Anyone specific come to mind?"
Robin glanced at him, frowning, then nodded. "One. Parasite."
Cassius nodded. "We should go and find out big blond friend."
They all nodded and left the room, including Megan, against Robin's advice. As they were walking along the train, they met Haly.
"Dan, you're looking better," Haly smiled at Robin, using his cover name.
"Feeling better," Robin smiled. "How long has Ray been in your show?"
"Ray?" Haly asked. "I think he joined right at the start of the European tour."
"I see," Robin nodded. "Well, maybe he's picked up a couple tricks for the nerves. Thanks, Haly."
"No problem," Haly smiled.
They all turned to walk as Cassandra bumped her shoulder into Cassius's arm. Cassius responded by nudging the back of Robin's foot on his next step. Robin cleared his throat softly, and Megan stopped, leaning on the wall and groaning, holding a hand to her head and looking back.
"Clear," Megan said, pushing off the wall.
"You're sure it was him?" Cassius asked.
"Same body language," Cassandra signed.
"Robin, go check Haly's room," Cassius said. "He's probably tied up. We'll search the train."
"He has all of Megan's powers," Connor said as Robin ran off. "He can be anyone."
"That's why I'm going to be with Cassandra," Cassius said. "The next time she reads his body language, she and I will start a fight that you won't be able to miss. On the other hand, Megan can read his mind, and Connor can hear a change in someone's heartbeat when they get nervous. Each of you take an archer for backup in case you find him."
"Actually, I haven't been able to get it working," Megan said. "It's been getting harder since I got sick, but after using it on Cassandra earlier, I've had nothing."
"Then we know Robin's right," Cassius said. "Parasite absorbs powers. Okay. Megan and Connor stick together. Can we trust the archers to get along for this?"
"For now," Red Arrow said.
"Good," Cassius said. "Let's go Cassy. Rose, go meet up with Robin."
Rose nodded and ran along the train the way Robin had gone. As she did, the others all scattered along the train. After a few minutes, they stopped as they found Megan leaning on the wall, panting and sweating. A moment later, there were several crashes form the next car.
"Connor!" Megan gasped.
"I got him," Connor said. "But he's onto me. Exiting the dining car now."
"Roof," Cassius said, he and Cassandra both going out a window and climbing to the roof, Cassius using his goo and Cassandra using a flip that would put Robin's acrobatics to shame.
As soon as they arrived, Cassius spotted their thief, currently a tall, broad-shouldered man with thin arms and legs dressed in a blue leotard with puffy purple shoulders, white sleeves with black stripes wrapping around them at regular intervals, black pants, and black makeup for most of his head with white on the face, reminding Cassius of a mime, but with several blue markings. Just as they arrived, he stopped and Connor jumped up behind him.
"He's on the roof," Cassius reported, Cassandra tapping his arm.
"He's angry again," Cassandra signed.
Cassius glanced at Connor and saw the glare he had directed at the thief. He nodded.
"I'll go in first," Cassius said quietly. "Be ready to back me up."
Cassandra nodded just as the thief used telekinesis to hurl Connor off the train, only for Connor to catch himself with flight and return to the train. Cassius's eyes narrowed before he shot forward. Parasite turned toward him, only for Cassius's goo-coated fist to explode into his head, hurling him backward a full car's length where he bounced to the car behind that one. He rolled to a stop and stood just as Robin jumped up onto the train beside Cassius.
"Be careful!" Robin said. "He once stole Superman's powers! He can steal anyone's!"
"Debatable," Cassius said. "If he doesn't start flinging goo at us, he can't absorb my powers through my goo."
"Good," Connor said.
"I suppose I'll have to get serious," Parasite said, leaning back before his head turned a dark purple, blockier, and his grin grew wide.
"Stay out of his reach," Robin warned as Cassius and Connor walked toward him slowly. "There's no flu going around. The weakness comes when he makes physical contact and absorbs your powers."
"Or abilities," Cassius said.
"I have been a bit of a glutton today," Parasite smirked. "Chowed down on the skills of nearly every loser in this troupe. But oh my. The pièce de résistance was Dawn Danger, or whatever her real name is." He grinned as Megan climbed up onto the train as well, followed by Rose, then Artemis and Red Arrow behind Cassandra. "Thought I'd munch on her trapeze skills. Imagine my surprise when she tasted like Martian Manhunter instead. Mmm. She made a lovely appetizer. Guess who I want for my entrée."
He swung his hand up and Cassius turned to catch Connor, only to go flying backward himself. Bad move. He smirked and flipped backward, encasing himself in goo just before Rose hurled a bolo under him. Parasite's eyes narrowed and he released his grip Cassius, stopping the bolo instead. Then, Cassius flipped over Parasite, slamming a roundhouse kick to the back of his head. He shot forward, crashing into the bolo, which wrapped around him instantly, electricity flying over his body as he shouted in pain, then slammed into Connor, hard. Cassius swore as both crashed to the ground, Parasite bouncing away.
"Nice going, Void!" Red Arrow snapped.
"My bad," Cassius said.
"Now that is the full-bodied Kryptonian flavor I love!" Parasite grinned, standing and lifting his arms, breaking the bolo off of himself instantly.
"Everybody, stay whelmed!" Robin said.
"I'll take point," Cassius said, forming goo over his entire body. "I don't think he can absorb my powers through my goo, and with it, I can still handle his strength."
The others nodded and Connor retreated past Cassius. Parasite grinned, crouching. However, a moment later, he leaned backward, and Cassandra leapt backward, the archers following. Parasite began to turn and Cassius's arms shot forward, only for Parasite to flip over them and yank Cassius to himself with Megan's telekinesis, then drill a punch into his face, launching him back into the train, smashing him through the top of it. As he jumped up to the roof of the train again, Parasite looked over at Artemis and Red Arrow as they drew back a pair of pointed arrows, lasers flashing from his eyes and incinerating their weapons instantly.
Parasite laughed. "I almost never say this, but I'm sated. Hate to eat and run..."
He took off, pulling a luggage case with him, only for Cassius's goo arm to catch the case, holding it immobile. Parasite spun just as Robin flipped up off Cassius's arm to the case, then leapt at Parasite.
"Sorry," Parasite said, backhanding Robin. "No hitchhikers."
"I'm sorry too!" Cassius said, bursting out of his goo hand, reclaiming all of the goo. "This is a no-fly zone!"
He smashed his expanded, clasped hands down on his head, blasting him down into the roof of the dining car just beside where Cassius had smashed through it. Parasite exploded through the roof instantly, then burst back out of it just in time for Cassius's fist to crash into his face again. Then, as Cassius moved to fight him more, he exploded up through the roof behind Cassandra, grabbing her by the throat and streaking into the air. Cassius leapt up to the roof but stopped. Parasite smirked, holding his arm out, floating the case up to himself.
"I'm going to throw her, and you'll be able to choose either catching me, or catching her," he smirked, then hurled her away from the train just as the train reached a bridge.
Robin had landed on the edge of the train and everyone but Conner was trying to pull him up. Connor had collapsed on the ground after being drained, which meant that there was no one to go after Parasite, or even able to, when Cassius took off to catch Cassandra. He flipped just shy of the water, catching her against his chest in a mass of goo, preventing her from being hurt in the impact. He arced back into the air before slowing to a stop, retracting the goo from around her and sighing in relief when she tightened her hold on him.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded. "Sorry."
"Don't be," Cassius said. "He was basically a Martian Superman. He had us beat from the beginning. I'm just glad I was able to catch you."
She squeezed him for a moment before he flew back to the train, landing with the others.
"He took more power than you even have," Robin was saying. "Heat Vision?"
"I have the genetic potential for it," Connor said. "Must have been enough for him."
"All of you head inside," Cassius said. "I need to talk with Connor for a minute."
The others all nodded and when Megan glanced at Connor, he nodded. Cassius waited until they were gone before turning to Connor.
"Show it to me," Cassius said.
"What?" Connor asked.
"Whatever it is that you used to give yourself your full Kryptonian power, and that also makes you angry," Cassius said.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Connor growled, turning to leave, only for Cassius to catch his arm. "Get off of me!" He moved to push Cassius's arm away, only for it to go nowhere.
"You aren't strong enough to get away from this conversation right now," Cassius said. "Now, I'm going to give you one more chance. Show me, or I'll bring the matter to Robin."
Connor's eyes widened. "Why would that matter?"
"Firstly, because you flat-out lied to Robin about why Parasite got the full list of powers," Cassius said. "And secondly, because Cassandra's not the only one who can read body language. As soon as I mentioned telling Robin, your eyes widened in surprise and fear. You don't want him to know, which means whatever it is, you didn't get it from a hero. If it's got to do with you using your full Kryptonian powers, I'd guess it was Lex Luthor. So, show me, or we'll see if Robin agrees with my assessment."
Connor swallowed hard before pulling his vest's right side away. "They're called Shields. They suppress...the human side of my DNA, allowing me to use my full power, but also making me angry." He pulled the black shield off of his chest, then tossed it aside as he batted Cassius's hand aside. "And he only drained the Shield, not me."
Cassius nodded. "Alright. Now, let's go show the others your miraculous recovery."
Connor nodded and they headed inside, reaching the others just as they were getting ready to leave for Geneva, Red Arrow with a full-size bow as a spare and Artemis with a crossbow. Once they'd all gathered their things and changed into their hero costumes, they all left the train, Cassius flying the Bio-Ship for them.
Cassius sighed, resting his face in his hand as Connor roared in rage, smashing through the door between them and Parasite.
"Seconds?" Parasite smirked. "No, I couldn't possibly."
He pulled Connor toward him again, but Connor drilled a punch into his face. Then, when he leapt at him, Parasite drilled a punch of his own into Connor, hurling him back. Then, he used telekinesis to fling him around the room several times before dragging him back again, draining him again.
"How do you do it kid?" Parasite asked. "Even Superman never recharged this fast."
Just then, the blackhole beginning to form over the building they were in began to suck things in, lightning flashing from it rapidly. Then, Cassius reached them, knocking Parasite's arm off of Connor's throat before drilling his own fist into Parasite's face, launching him backward into the wall. He stood, chuckling.
"Alright Dangers, come on out," parasite chuckled.
"Sorry, Parasite," Cassius snarled, his voice deep and distorted in his entirely goo form. "Just me this time. No more interruptions, no more hostages. This time, we're going to play fair!"
He exploded forward and ducked under Parasite's fist, slamming an left uppercut into his jaw, then a right hook. Then, he spun clockwise, his right foot flashing up into a windmill kick, sending him exploding backward through the wall, bouncing away. Cassius walked after him, forming himself goo horns, draconic wings, and a tail as he walked, making Parasite's eyes widen in surprise and fear. Then, both exploded forward. Cassius's right forearm compressed like a spring, then extended again as they swung, his fist exploding into Parasite's, the added force about equaling a normal Kryptonian's power. However, Parasite now had a double-dose of Kryptonian strength, making him twice as strong as Superboy was with his Shields. As a result, Cassius shot backward, bouncing once before flipping and landing on his feet.
Parasite began to laugh. "Not bad, Void. You have an impressive amount of strength. However, I've got a double-dose of Kryptonian power. You've got nothing on me."
"We'll see," Cassius said.
Parasite spread his arms invitingly, smirking knowingly. Cassius exploded forward, drilling a punch into Parasite's face, sending him stumbling backward. He stepped forward, punching back at Cassius, but Cassius ducked under the punch. He smirked as Parasite threw a knee at him and leapt forward, pushing off his knee to flip and grabbing him under the jaw before flipping down behind him. Then, he hurled him away. Parasite flipped, smirking, and moved to charge again, only for Megan to step up behind him, kicking his feet out from under him. He flipped, crashing to the ground hard, just in time for a crossbow bolt to explode into a cloud of white fumes around the two of them. Then, Cassius's goo arms shot into the cloud and grabbed Megan, yanking her free of it just before a small metal disk on the underside of Parasite's jaw exploded, igniting the gasses around him, though the blast didn't hurt him at all.
"Did you seriously think that would affect me?" Parasite asked, smirking.
"Not at all," Cassius said. "You're too strong for a small explosive like that to hurt you. However, we had a theory about your powers. First of all, you don't know everything about them, or the weaknesses you get with them. And secondly, the weaknesses you get with them are easily employable. Like the Martian Weakness to fire."
Parasite's eyes widened and he looked down at the flames surrounding him as sweat began to run out of his skin. He looked up at Cassius, who smirked.
"Consider this payback for trying to kill Cassandra," Cassius said. "Burn mother fucker."
Then, he raised a small detonator and pressed the button at the top, a second small metal disk on his jaw opening and spewing a combustible gas, which exploded into a massive fireball instantly.
"Void, what the fuck!?" Red Arrow demanded.
"Chill out," Cassius said. "He's still immune to explosions. The fire's just going to knock him out faster."
In the sea of flames, Parasite was gasping for breath, having already collapsed to his hands and knees. He looked up at Cassius and raised his hand, rage filling his features. Then, his eyes shone green and Cassius lurched forward, only for Rose and Cassandra to both put a grappling hook through his abdomen, holding him in place. Cassius shouted in pain, but after a moment, Parasite collapsed and Red Arrow used a cryo arrow to extinguish the flames as Cassius shot backward to Cassandra and Rose, who removed the grappling hooks carefully.
"Excessive," he said as his abdomen healed.
"You're welcome," Rose smirked, helping him up.
"We'll take it from here," Faraday said, walking over to them.
Cassius looked up through the windows making up most of the walls and smiled, seeing the clear, starry sky, then dropped his gaze back to Parasyte, who was now wearing a collar to suppress his powers. He sighed, leaning against the wall beside the girls as he shifted back to normal, glancing at the others, who were standing around the controls Robin had used to shutdown the black hole generator.
"I want a vacation," Cassius said.
"You'll have to ask Batman," Artemis said.
"Yeah, no thanks," Cassius said. "We all know how that'd go."
Cassandra nodded in agreement, and they walked over to the others.
"I still don't trust you, Void, or those two brats you brought with you," Red Arrow said, then sighed. "But I don't believe there's a mole on this team. You all could have betrayed us at any point during this mission. You've all earned my trust, and Void, Orphan, and Ravager have earned enough to know they're not traitors."
"Don't think this gets you out of our sparring match," Cassius said flatly. "You earned that ass-whooping and shaming, and you're going to receive."
"We'll see about that," Red Arrow said, narrowing his eyes.
"Come on," Robin said. "Let's get back to the Troupe before Haly figures out who we are."
They all nodded and returned, agreeing to stick around for one final show before heading back to the Cave.
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