Wally let a smile grace his face as he pulled the lever on his lever propping his feet up.
"Hey Wally I got your pineapple juice," The speedster turned to see Captain Marvel flying over to him with a cup of juice in his hand. Wally happily took the beverage and sipped from straw before letting out a satisfied breath.
This was the life.
"How's the arm doing, Wally?" the Captain asks curiously.
"Well, nothing wrong that nachos can't cure." The speedster isn't subtle in his motives, leaning back on his chair. Most people would notice this.
Captain Marvel wasn't most people.
"Nachos?" The captain takes a moment to process the teens words before taking off. "Oh! I'll go get you some." He says eagerly and quickly flying off. Just as he did a loud grunt could be heard. The fastest teen alive turned to see Robin groaning on the ground.
"Dinner and a show," The orange haired teen chuckled. "Nice,"
Currently the team was going through a sparring session watched by Black Canary.
Artemis smirked as she looked at her downed opponent before slowly walking towards him. Robin felt a shiver go down his neck as he quickly recuperated and prepared himself for his opponent.
"I feel like you're being extra aggressive," The boy wonder muttered.
"R-e-a-l-l-y," The blond archer spelled out as her smile became more wicked causing Robin to wince. Maybe trolling her that day in Gotham wasn't the smartest idea.
Not too far from them Kaldur and Miss Martian were exchanging blows at a fairly slow rate.
"Keep your guard up," The Atlantean instructed as he went in for a right hook. Of the two he was the one with hand to hand experience. Miss Martian typically relied on distance due to her power but she wanted to fix that. The fight with the InJustice League had opened her eyes to being balanced.
CRASH!
"That all ya got!"
BANG!
"Not even close!"
Everyone paused as they watched Naruto and Connor body slam each other. Their spar had started relatively normal but like all things when it came to them it escalated. Currently Naruto had Connor in a chokehold but the clone responded by grabbing him and flipping him over slamming him into the ground.
"Good work everyone." Black Canary speaks up, calm even though two of the teens are still fighting in front of her. "In fact, it's been a very productive week."
BAM!
"How bout that you shizno!"
SMASH!
"What'd you call me!"
"Although some things still need to be worked out," the adult hero sweat dropped as the other four teens gathered around her. At that moment Wally let out a loud burp causing them to turn and look at them.
"Yeah, like maybe teaching Wally how to not get hurt in the field since he's the fastest one here." the archer taunts.
Wally finishes his drink of juice, glaring at the blonde. "Hey, my arm was broken in combat against the InJustice League" he waves off the cast to prove his point.
"Too bad you don't have Flash's level of cellular regeneration," Robin mocked joining in with Artemis.
"Low blow dude," Wally scowled looking at his best friend.
Black Canary chuckles. "I've really enjoyed being your, uh," she tries to find the word to describe it. "den mother this week."
Recognize: Zatara, 1-1
Everyone in the room turns to see Zatara standing in the Zeta Tube. Before anyone can say anything he activates the HoloScreen and punches in a code.
Access Granted. Zatanna Zatara, A-0-3. Authorization: Zatara, 1-1.
The Zeta Tube lights up again and teenage girl in a school uniform appeared. She had long black hair and blue eyes and a light tan. Her facial features were very similar to that of Zatara but her eyes were a stunning blue.
"Zatanna, this is the Team," Zatara introduces. "Team, my daughter, Zatanna." Zatanna greets them with a wave before taking notice of the dust cloud that was currently moving around. The others followed her line of sight to see Naruto and Connor still fighting.
"You get used to it," Artemis answers with a welcoming smile as Miss Martian flew over to the new girl. "Hey the names-
"-Robin!" the Boy Wonder cuts her off with a bout of vibrancy and a wave, then clears his throat as he steps up. "I mean, I'm Robin. Ah, she's Artemis, uh and that's Wally, M'gann, Kaldur," CRASH! "And the two fighting over there are Connor and Naruto," The mentioned boys finally came to a stop when Oliver jumped in the air and landed on them before being joined by Wolf and Bepo.
"Is that a tiger, a wolf and a monkey?" Zatanna asked.
"We also have a ghost," Wally added referring to Larfleeze.
"Welcome to the Cave." Kaldur offers.
"Where normal is non-existent," Artemis added.
"We're still working on the t-shirts," Robin added just as Connor and Naruto finally joined them along with the animals.
"Uh, thanks." Zatanna says quietly, looking over at her dad. But her vision was suddenly filled with yellow. Zatanna blinked to see Naruto looking at her with narrowed eyes. He began walking around her taking everything in. "Can I help you?"
"He's appraising you," Artemis explained watching Naruto walk around the other teen girl. "Just roll with it,"
"So, uh, you- you are you joining the Team?" Robin stutters.
"Smooth," Wally teased.
"Eh, now let's not get ahead of ourselves." Zatara speaks up his voice shakes a little as steps closer to his daughter again purposely putting himself between Naruto and her. "This is strictly a visit." he turns to Canary. "Though I am sorry we missed the Training. It's something from which Zatanna could benefit." He added before looking over at Superboy and Naruto. "Most of it,"
M'gann looks curiously at the Team. 'Do the rest of you guys get the impression we're still on probation with Zatara?' she asks telepathically. The Team all turns to look at the Martian except for Naruto who was trying to bypass Zatara to get to Zatanna.
"Well hopefully this visit will convince you to let her come back," Black Canary offered pulling Zatara away. The Magicians eyes narrowed at Naruto as he walked away. Naruto responded by sticking out his tongue.
"I don't think you acting like that helps my chances of coming back," Zatanna joked.
"Meh, I'll just come to you," Naruto shrugged nonchalantly.
"Bold," Zatanna smiled.
"So, you have magic right?" the Orange Lantern asked.
"Something like that," The girl shrugs.
'"Not just Zatara. I mean, why is Marvel still hangin' around?' Conner asks his annoyance coming through in waves.
'Because we like having him around.' Wally pipes up in the Captain's defense.
'You like having him around 'cause he waits on you hand and foot,' Artemis countered with ease.
"And your point is?" Wally drags.
'I like having him around,' Naruto added.
'HA!' Wally taunted smirking at the archer.
'Really,' Artemis looked at her fellow blond with a raised eyebrow.
'He watches power ranger with me when you're not here,' Naruto answered.
'Can't beat that,' Wally scoffed looking at Artemis smugly.
"I fought a magician before," Naruto said.
"Really," Zatanna asked. "Who,"
"Klarion,"
"Wait really?!" the girl asked in genuine surprise. She began to take in the teen in front of her in a new light. To fight a lord of chaos was no laughing matter.
"Yeah a few times,"
"You've fought a lord of chaos repeatedly and lived," Zatanna questioned.
"Yeah the Shizno," Naruto grumbled. "Always trying to take what I want,"
"Shizno?" Zatanna repeated.
"Yeah," Naruto answered. "Worse then schtako,"
"Schtako?" Zatanna smirked
"There are worse things I could call him but M'Gann would get mad at me," He shivered peaking over at the girl only half listening to the conversation she was having with the team.
"I do hear that the nice ones are the scariest,"
"Right!" Naruto exclaimed before thinking. "Wait then what was it about the quiet ones,"
"Their usually the ones with the biggest surprises,"
"Oh," The blond nodded. "That just makes me want Hinata more,"
"Hinata," The young magician asked looking over at the team who seemed to be irritated about something.
"A Blue Lantern," Her blond companion answered.
"Oh, I didn't know there were more Lantern colors" Zatanna blinked. "Is she here?"
"No, she's in space,"
"You're not screwing with me are you?" Zatanna raised an eyebrow.
"Screwing with you?" Naruto asked. "What's that?"
"You know I think I might ask my dad to come by here more often," Zatanna smiled. "It sounds like you get into all types of fun,"
"Jaka!" Naruto chirps causing Artemis to look over at the two. She frowns slightly at the interaction ignoring the weird pang she feels for a moment before turning her attention back to Kaldur.
'It almost makes one nostalgic for Red Tornado's tenure as our supervisor.' The Atlantean says causing Naruto to tune into the conversation. Zatanna follows Naruto's line of site as they both look over at the others.
Robin lets a sarcastic half chuckle through the link. 'Yeah, at least he trusted us.'
'If you ignore the fact we shouldn't have trusted him.' Conner snarls, seeming to forget that while he can't be heard his very obvious hand gestures can be seen, something which annoys Zatanna. 'He was traitor. That machine nearly got M- all of us killed!'
'We don't know that!' Naruto argued causing Superboy to glare at him. Thankfully before things could escalate Zatanna interfered.
"Are you guys having a psychic conversation?" Zatanna asks, catching the entire room's attention. "'Cause I can't decide if that's cool or, uh, really rude." At her words Zatara and Black Canary looked at the group with curiosity.
"Oh did you want to join?" Naruto asked. "We can link you up,"
"At least you've been talking to me," Zatanna smiled. "What were you talking about anyway,"
"Red Tornado," Naruto answered easily.
"Dude!" Kid Flash hissed.
"What we were!" Naruto retorted surprised at the hostility.
"Were you?" Black Canary asked seriously. The Team didn't meet her eyes for a moment but Connor was the one to lash out first.
"Ok yes, we were talking about Tornado. It's been weeks since his attack and the League hasn't told us anything," he growled. Canary internally sighed. She should have known this was going to come back up at some point.
"The League is searching for Tornado as well as the other Androids that invaded the Cave and their creator, T.O. Morrow." Canary says strongly. "Batman's made tracking them down our highest priority."
"Really," Robin counters. "Because it's been weeks and you haven't found anything,"
"Not yet, but Tornado is Justice League," Black Canary replied before narrowing her eyes. "The Team is not to pursue this." Her voice left no room for argument. From the looks on most of their faces they didn't agree.
Zatara let out a sigh. While this could be considered rebellion, something he didn't want his daughter around he couldn't exactly blame them. Tornado had been a trusted figure and he almost killed them. Perhaps a distraction would do them some good.
"Why don't you all take Zatanna on a, uh…" he trails off not seeing her or Naruto. "A t-tour of the Cave?"
"Is this your card!" Everyone turns to see Zatanna holding out a card to Naruto who watches with the animals.
"It is!" The blond claps which Bepo mimics.
"Thank you," Zatanna bows. "You've been a wonderful audience."
"Oh how about cutting someone in half?" Captain Marvel speaks making his presence known as he holds out a plate of nachos.
"What?!" The lantern asks alarms as he hold Bepo closer.
"Don't worry she puts them back together," the boy disguised as a man reassures.
"You can do that!" Naruto asked with stars in his eyes.
"Actually," Conner speaks up. "I don't think the animals have been taken out today. Could you take them out and we'll meet you out there in a few minutes,"
Captain Marvel felt his heart soar! This was his chance! He could look cool in front of them and then they could go hang out! Awesome!
"Sure, sure. I- I can do that. Come on, guys." Marvel says brightly, taking off towards the back door of the Cave. The animals look over at teens before following after the red themed hero.
"Wh-wha-wha- My nachos?" Wally whines. Conner grabs the front of his shirt and drags the speedster along. Naruto raises an eyebrow at the behavior before shrugging and going along with it.
YJYJYJYJYJ
"And this is the kitchen," Miss Martian said as the teens all walked into the kitchen. "I wish I would have known you were coming. I would have made cookies,"
"It's all good," Zatanna dismissed as everyone looked at her only to blink. The girl was in a completely different outfit. "Besides I doubt you actually wanted to give me a tour anyway,"
"When did you… How did you..?" Robin tries but can't figure out how. Naruto rams into him with stars in his eyes.
"It's awesome right!" Naruto exclaims.
"So what are we really doing?" Zatanna asks with a smirk.
"We're hunting down that robot." Conner growls clenching his fists.
"Yes, we are." Kaldur agrees.
"Oo, wow. Out loud and everything." Zatanna muses.
"What about New Girl?" Artemis asks aloud.
"I'm sure she won't tell." Robin defends quickly.
"Oh no," Zatanna says dramatically. "I'm being kidnapped,"
Artemis smirks appreciatively. "Oh, she's going to fit in great."
"If only someone was here to help~" The young magician sighed as she fell into Naruto's arm. Artemis smile instantly turned into a frown.
"Do you need help?" Naruto asked as he looked at the girls upside down face.
"My hero," Zatanna swooned. "Wait whats this behind your ear~" She asks pulling a coin from behind the blonds ear.
"Whhoooaaahhh!" Naruto awe's with stars in his eyes.
YJYJYJYJYJ
OPENING BEGINS
Inferno: Ms Green Apple
Guitar plays as an orange ring flys through space passing through the title.
Terasu wa yami bokura wa Arukinarete kita hibi matotta
Naruto is seen walking with Aqualad before Artemis walks up to him holding out a souvenir causing him to cheer and her to laugh.
Yume wa antai na kurashi da ga Shigeki busoku yue ni daradara
Naruto plays the virtual hockey game with Wally as the two go head to head while Robin watches. The puck goes in causing him and Robin to cheer while Wally despairs at his loss.
Terasu wa yami bokura no Arukinareteita michi wa doko da?
Naruto, M'Gann, and Conner seem to be talking about something until Conner and Naruto begin arguing and butting heads with each other.
Toki wa tama ni shaku da ga Nukumori ni tsutsumare tada
The growling Naruto looks ready to fight before a red hand places itself on his head. He looks up to see Red Tornado ruffling his head while Larfleeze sighs in irritation. Naruto beams under the affection.
Homura ga tatsu Shirube no hou e
The Justice League pass by one by one before ending on Batman, Black Canary and Captain Marvel.
Omoidasu wa yasashii merodii
A giant monster begins to rampage across a city as civilians panic. The team look out at the chaos.
Eien wa nain da to nain da to iu
Kid Flash creates a tornado that Aqualad adds water to creating a vortex that slams into surrounding enemies.
Sore mo mata ii ne to waratte miru
Robin beats down approaching goons while Artemis covers him with arrows that knock out enemies that approach the boy wonder.
Kagayakeba itsuka wa hikari mo taeru
Superboy slams into the ground creating an earthquake that send enemies flying while Ms. Martian uses her ability to toss the rubble at other enemies.
Bokura wa inochi no hi ga kieru sono hi made aruite yuku
Suddenly a giant creature appears and sends the team flying into the air only for them to be caught by Naruto. They look on with determination as Naruto releases his construct causing them to fall.
Oto ga deru gangu mo Itami wo tobasu mahou mo Zenbu boku ni totte no takaramono
It shows the team one by one with images of their troubles of their past behind them. Aqualad looking on at Gar and Tula as they swim away. A young Artemis watching her sister walk out on her. Kid Flash struggling to keep up with his mentor. Robin standing in front of a circus. Miss Martian crying as she holds someone close to her. Superboy in front of his pod as Superman rejects him. Naruto surrounded in a burning field chained down in front of a temple. Naruto's eyes open as the others appear around him. He activates his ring.
Eien wa nain da to nain da to iu
An explosion of orange occurs as Naruto blasts forward destroying the attacks coming at him.
The team rushes through the chaos together before coming across an avalanche of debris.
Bokura wa
They break through the rubble with ease all in attacking poses as time seems to slow down.
inochi no hi ga
The speed back up and clash with the monster in a giant explosion.
kieru sono hi made
Naruto stands up as the team gathers around them. He smiles as he and the team look at the screen.
aruite yuku
They are shadowed over with only their symbols glowing as they all take fighting poses.
OPENING ENDS!
YJYJYJYJYJ
The camouflaged BioShip flies over the heavily wooded area outside Mount Justice where Captain Marvel stands holding a tree log and Wolf is eating the nachos.
With a smile the hero throws the log far. "Fetch." he tells Wolf, who is still eating. "C'mon! Fetch." he tries. "Please?"
The BioShip continues to get away from the Mountain, when suddenly a beep goes through the Ship and Dinah's voice comes through the comm set. "M'gann, the BioShip wasn't authorized for departure."
"We're kidnapping Zatanna!" M'gann says brightly then realizes. "To, uh, show her Happy Harbor. Be back soon!"
YJYJYJYJYJ
"Uh, Roger that. Have fun." Canary says as she watches their trajectory on a HoloScreen.
"I did not authorize permission to-" Zatara starts.
"They're good kids, Giovanni." Dinah assures as she turns off the HoloScreen with the BioShip's location on it, turning back towards the Cave. "Trustworthy kids. Don't worry."
Zatara watches her with an unconvinced look and Dinah looks concerned that she could very well be wrong.
YJYJYJYJYJ
"Where are we going?" Robin demands. "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 truly… dumb…idea,"
"So in operation overdrive Dax could run really fast so maybe-"
"Blues not really my color,"
"But it could be!"
"Dude not happe-Why are you all looking at us,"
It was true the entire bioship was looking over at Wally and Naruto.
"We need a dumb idea," Robin smiled.
"So we went to the experts," Superboy smirked.
Wally and Naruto look at each other.
"I think they're talking about you,"
"No I think its you,"
The two looked at each other with narrowed eyes. Then they moved. Fists flying towards each other until the collided.
Rock beat Scissors
"Ha!" Naruto cheered.
"Damnit!" Wally sighed before thinking. Soon a smirk spread across his face. "Wellllll~"
YJYJYJYJYJ
"Warden Strange owed us a favor for stopping last month's prison break." Miss M informs. "He's given us five minutes with you."
"Spill Ivo." Superboy snarls. "How do we find T. O. Morrow and his Reds?"
"Now, why in the world would I know how to find Morrow?" Ivo questions lazily as he leans back in his chair.
"Because, and a truly dumb idea," KF is clearly at least a little salty about the Team idea that he's an idiot. It didn't help that he lost to Naruto. "You're Morrow's biggest competitor in the evil android game."
Zatanna watches from the back of the group since she is the only one still in civilian clothes.
"Who better to keep track of what he's up to, and where?" Kid offers.
Ivo doesn't turn down the idea. "Ah. I see your point. So let me rephrase." he leans forward and looks Miss M in the eyes. "Why in the world would I tell you how to find Morrow?"
"He knows." Aqualad decides, then turns to Miss M. "Do what you must."
When her eyes snap open they're glowing green. "Oh, please. As if I've never faced a telepath before." he chuckles.
Zatanna is suddenly at his side chanting. "Trulb tuo S'worrom eurt noitacol!"
"Morrow's in a secret underground base beneath Yellowstone National Park 100 meters South of Old Faithful." he says rapidly.
The entire Team is completely stunned, looking at Ivo. Though Robin does need to pop onto his toes to actually see the scientist thanks to Kaldur standing in front of him.
"Wait. What-what just happened?" Ivo stutters.
YJYJYJYJYJ
"What were those words you were saying," Superboy asked.
"Regular words just in reverse," Zatanna explained.
"Wait you can say things backwards!" Naruto exclaimed.
Both Robin and Artemis grunt in displeasure.
Morrow punches out numbers on his keypad. "Download complete." then he engages the crane above him, lowering down a table near the ceiling of his lab.
The form on it is covered with a white cloth.
Morrow removes the crane as he steps up to the table. "Time for the upload." then he yanks the sheet off.
Now Red Tornado stands beside Torpedo and Inferno.
"But first, introductions." Morrow says, now looking over the fourth android. "Red Tornado, Red Torpedo, Red Inferno. I like that name so much better than Firebrand. Meet your baby brother…" this android is a darker red than even Torpedo, but with red-hot lines running across the outside of his body and a glowing hot Triangle with a circle on the inside of it on his chest. His face has narrower red eye slots and a red line that makes it look like he has a mouth turned into a perpetual frown, and his same icon on the center of his forehead. "Red Volcano."
Morrow plugs in a cable to the table from the console behind him. "This Red won't bother infiltrating the heroes. He'll simply destroy them," he turns to his console and starts typing out commands. "with the help of your memories. Finally, the scientist has built an android that transcends the need to be human." the remote beside him beep and he picks up, turning back to Volcano.
"No more Pinocchios." he hits the button in the remote and the red of his eyes begins to glow with a low buzz entering the room.
He sits up, then moves to stand and walks towards Morrow. Towering over the man. Then grabbing his hand with the remote with enough strength to break the technology. He holds the man off the ground by the wrist. "Hello, father." then grabs his other wrist.
Morrow winces at the harsh hold. "Son, you're hurting me."
"Yes, but pain is so human," Volcano pulls on Morrow's wrists. "and per your programming, I've transcended any concern for humans." Yanking his arms off, causing the sockets to spark as the droid falls to the ground, face still showing pain, but no longer moving. "No more Pinocchios."
Volcano zeroes in on the tear in the corner of the android's eyes, showing just how humanoid its creator was. Volcano looks down at the still sparking arms in his hands to the rest of the body. "His son was lost. Son was lost. Son was-"
Volcano stomps on the face of the fallen android, then turning to the other three. "Did you know father was an android?"
None of them respond.
"Where's Stikk?" he demands, throwing the arms to the floor. Looking over his shoulder at the crumpled body. "Father you were right. Humans are annoying."
YJYJYJYJYJ
"So that's the prison you were in," Naruto muttered looking over at Superboy.
"Yeah what of it,"
"Were you anyone's bitch while you were there?" Naruto asked.
"What'd you say," Superboy growled.
"What that's what you get called I prisons on earth right?" The Lantern asked innocently.
"That's a bad word Naruto remember," Ms. Martian pointed out.
"Oh right," Naruto nodded before looking over at Superboy again. "So were you anyones bitch," That earned a growl from Superboy and a giggle from Zatanna.
"So whats the next move," Artemis said loudly. "Pretty sure it won't take long for the League to hear about our field trip," It was true, by now Canary had to know they were nowhere near Happy Harbor. From there she would contact the watch tower who would start tracking there movements. Add that with the world greatest detective on their side, they would deduce what they were doing soon enough.
"We need to go radio silent," Kaldur answered. "No outside communication to anyone,"
"Block out all external communications." Kaldur commands. "Soon, Canary and Zatara, Batman too, I imagine will know of our… visit with Professor Ivo. We haven't much time."
"Look," Robin chuckles trying to lighten the conversation a little. "I'm trying to be nonchalant here."
"Why?" Zatanna asks. "Be as chalant as you like."
Robin cracks a smile.
"I think we're all just trying to get a handle on your powers." Artemis informs. "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 returns. "Zatara couldn't even do all that and I'm nowhere near on my dad's level." she turns very serious as she looks directly at Artemis. "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.
"We already gotta guy for that," Wally hummed looking over at Naruto.
"What's our ETA to Yellowstone?" Conner demands angrily. "I'm way past ready to stuff Tornado into a trash compactor."
"You can try,"Naruto growled as his eyes flashed orange.
"He betrayed us!" Superboy argued glaring back.
"He's, my possession!" Naruto countered. "You will not harm what's mine,"
"Like you could stop me," Superboy snarled. This argument had been going on between the two since Red Tornado's betrayal.
However.
"Are you so certain he betrayed us?" Kaldur asks calmly.
"Aren't you?!"
"We were exhausted," Kaldur pointed out. "We couldn't fight back when he attacked yet all he did was knock us unconscious,"
"That is a good point," Kid Flash nodded. "The other two reds were definitely trying to kill us,"
"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."
Oh that was a low blow. Conner closes his eyes as he turns back towards the front of the BioShip when he opens his eyes the rage is gone.
"Listen to me, my brothers, my sister. I have been downloaded with all your memories. Father's too." Red Volcano says. "Oh, he left out the bit about him being an android but he did reveal his plan." Volcano walks towards the other three who still stand near the table he was on. "His dream for our destiny."
He uses a remote that brings up an image of Yellowstone on one of the HoloScreens.
"There is a semi-dormant supervolcano beneath Yellowstone." the image spins around the semi-dormant volcano, before digitally slicing the mountain in half to show the vent and the magma beneath it. "Father gave me the power to activate it in three stages."
The screen shows off the stages.
Stage 1: Eruption
The volcano on screen erupts violently.
Stage 2: Expansion
The smoke continues to spew from the volcano.
The image zooms out, now showing the entire continental US as the plume continues to rise over Yellowstone before it explodes into white.
Stage 3: Destruction
"The eruption will decimate the planet, kill millions," " Volcano says almost gleefully. "and trap the rest under an impenetrable cloud of ash." he looks to the other Reds. "While Humanity struggles to survive we four will build a Red army to make this Earth a Red Planet."
The screen is fully zoomed out as the globe gets tinges with red as it takes over the sphere red humanoid shapes cover it.
The phone beeps.
"Ivo to Morrow. Thomas, are you there?"
Red Volcano turns to the phone.
Morrow's voice comes through the line. "I'm here, Anthony. What do you want?"
The Belle Reve convict sits in Strange's office, looking nervous until he speaks again this time confident.
"Reluctantly, to warn you. The children have learned your location." he's seething but keeping it barely out his voice unless he refers to the Team directly. "I do not believe they've told their elders and betters."
Red Volcano stands over the phone, clearly the one Ivo's been talking to.
"But they are on their way." Ivo finishes.
In Morrow's voice Volcano has one thing to say. "Perfect." as he looks at Red Tornado.
"So what did Naruto mean when he called Red Tornado his possession?" Zatanna asked as she walked with Miss Martian and Artemis.
"Naruto's emotion is Greed," Miss Martian responded.
"Greed?"
"Artemis nodded. "Basically if he wants it then he'll do anything to get it,"
"Not just objects," Miss Martian added. "He claimed all of us as well,"
"Even people too," Zatanna muttered before something clicked. "So when you said he was appraising me,"
"He was seeing if he wanted to make you one of his possession,"
"Oh," Zatanna nodded. "And here I thought he was being sexist,"
"Pfft," Artemis chuckled. "Naruto being sexist is less likely than Wally saying something smart,"
"When he first arrived he didn't know what a girl was," Miss Martian smiled.
"Wait really?" Zatanna asked. "This I got to hear," Artemis and Miss Martian smiled but that changed when Miss Martian got a message from bioship.
"We're here," The Martian spoked gaining everyone's attention. They looked towards the window to see the Yellowstone Caldera taking up most of the view.
"Later," Artemis promised to Zatanna, it was time to work.
"Stealth mode," Aqualad orders pressing the symbol on his belt, changing his outfit to black. Following his example Kid Flash and Artemis tap their emblems changing their outfits into their own stealth modes. Miss Martian did the same by changing her entire outfit. Martian clothes were really convenient.
"Too bad you don't have a ranger's helmet," Kid Flash teased looking over at Naruto. Only to see him with the Dino Thunder Black Ranger Helmet on his head. "How!"
"I don't think your other clothes will be helpful," Aqualad pointed out looking at Naruto's casual clothes since he turned his ring uniform off.
"I got it," Zatanna offered walking over to the wannabe power ranger.
"Egnahc sih sehtolc otni a rewop regnar," Zatanna spoke. Soon Naruto's outfit changed into that of a-
"I'm actually a Power Ranger!" Naruto exclaimed looking down at himself. Sure enough he was completely dressed in the Dino Thunder Black Ranger outfit.
"Oh great," Superboy rolled his eyes as Naruto began posing.
"You make a cute Ranger," Zatanna smiled at Naruto causing Artemis to squeeze her bow.
"For your safety I believe you should stay behind," Aqualad said walking over to the magician.
"Is that an order?" Zatanna asked quickly.
"No." Kaldur assures her quickly. "You must do as you see fit."
"Good." the girl begins her chant and guides the bright blue magic smoke up her body. "Emit to yrt eht wen kool!"
Now wearing a white button-up with an equally white bowtie, a pale yellow vest under a black twin-tailed suit coat, and white gloves all reminiscent of her father's costume, only she wearing silver tights, black short shorts and shin high boots that make the look her own.
Robin felt his jaw drop.
"Lantern," Aqualad called as everyone exited to Bioship leaving the two of them. "I understand he's one of your possession," the Atlantean began. "But you need to work under the assumption he's going to try and hurt us,"
"I know that," Naruto admitted reluctantly.
"Then you understand that we will fight back," He continued. "And we might have to dismantle him,"
"No!" Naruto growled his eyes flashing orange but Aqualad didn't back down.
"I didn't say destroy," Aqualad retorted. "I will make sure that his processor stays intact so that we may rebuild him," he explained. "I would like your help but if you can't do this then you need to stay with the Bioship," Naruto glared at his team leader before finally sighing. As much as he wanted to deny it he couldn't.
RT was going to fight them and to beat him they would probably have to destroy his limbs. But to hurt one of his possessions…
However, weren't they also his possessions.
"I'll help," Naruto nodded.
YJYJYJYJYJYJ
"Looks like Ivo wasn't screwing with us." Robin said looking at a map on his HoloGlove. "There is more than volcanic activity happening down there.
"Wait I thought this Caldera was inactive," Kid Flash pointed out.
"Not so much anymore," Robin huffed. "He must be using the lava as an energy source,"
"It would explain how no one's been able to find him," Artemis nodded. "Producing his own power keeps him off the grid,"
"And the entrance," Kid Flash asked. Robin simply jerked his head to the clearing. "Oh, so we'll definitely get spotted," The Speedster drawled.
"Let move," Aqualad said. The team follow as they crossed the clearing only to halt as a red pillar slammed down in front of them. No not pillar.
A tornado. Everyone moved up the tornado to see their former den mother sitting within it with his arms crossed.
Red Tornado.
"Tornado," Naruto smiled he stepped forward but stopped when Aqualad placed an arm in front of him.
"Remember what I said," Aqualad began gently Naruto frowned but nodded.
Tornado uncrosses his arms creating a huge red twister, a second pops up next to it, and it continues until the Team is trapped between an ex-League level Hero and seven gigantic tornadoes.
"Why, Tornado?" Miss M shouts over the wind. "Why are you doing this?"
"Please just talk to us," Naruto called. "Please come home," Red Tornado didn't say anything as he made eye contact with Naruto. He simply created more Tornados to surround them.
"I see," Naruto scowled activating his ring turning into his Orange Lantern outfit. "I guess that's it then,"
"Finally we're done talking," Superboy growled. "Lets take him down!" With that the clone thundered off. The test of the team followed his lead.
Despite Superboys initial charge its Naruto who reaches the robot first. He created a hammer and swings it at Red Tornado who counters by blasting it with a tornado. However this gives Aqualad the chance to go in for an attack thanks to a boost from Superboy.
RT sees the incoming Atlantean and reacts by creating a tornado in front of him catching Aqualad mid flight and send him spinning. Naruto reacts by grabbing the team leader but this leaves them both vulnerable when Red Tornado slams two tornados into them from either side.
Superboy roars as he successfully manages to grab onto Red Tornado from his blind spot. Getting him into a chokehold the kryptonian begins to squeeze with all his might in hopes of folding the tornado generator in half but is stopped when Red Tornado pulls him off and throws him at Artemis as she fires off an explosive arrow.
Robin seeing this throws his own explosive shuriken at the android in hopes of damaging him. These hopes are dashed when Red Tornado creates a smaller tornado to catch the explosive weaponry and redirect them towards a camouflaged Miss Martian who screams out in pain from the fiery attack.
"Miss M!" Kid Flash shouts as he runs to catch her. An action that proves fatal as the two are consumed in a tornado and tosses into Zatanna before she can get out a word. Robin being the last one to stand attempts another assault but Red Tornado simply creates a tornado around the boy wonder, suffocating the young teen. Robin clawed at his neck but his proven meaningless before everything goes black.
Red Tornado looks around him at the bodies of the team he once watched with satisfaction. Hopefully he had proven himself to his brother.
"Quite a performance, brother." Speaking of which. Red Tornado turned to see Red Volcano rising from the earth on a pillar of earth. Was he pleased with his performance?
"If it was anyone else you might have fooled them," Volcano said dashing Tornados hopes. Wait as an android could he have hope? Questions to process later. "Unfortunately, for you it wasn't anyone else,"
"I mean really," Volcano sighed lifting up a piece of earth but not just any piece of earth. For upon it were two simple words.
PLAY DEAD
"Messages in the dirt," Volcano scolded. "I realize that my processor is more advanced than your, giving me the advantage to predict your moves," He crushed earth creating a pile of debris for him to attack with. "But really,"
"It got you out here!" Naruto roared slamming into Volcanos side just as he threw the rocks at the rest of the now standing and completely unharmed team. Aquald formed a pair of swords and charged forward with Superboy while the rest of the team scattered to avoid the falling debris.
"Zatanna?" Robin asks since he had to dodge and she had yelped from beside him as the bolder crashed.
"I'm good," she assures as she looks at Volcano fighting off the three strongest members on the team. "Can we really beat him though?"
"We got this," Robin smirked. "Especially since Red Tornado on our side,"
"This'll be much easier with him," Miss Martian agreed.
"I won't say no to Red Tornado helping," Artemis agreed.
"Yeah! With Red Tornado we're gonna kick your-where's he going?" Kid Flash questioned. The others looked up to see Red Tornado flying away from the battle.
…
…
…
"Well then," Volcano said. He proceeded to create a massive earthquake that slammed into Naruto, Superboy and Aqualad causing them to fall back.
"Did he seriously just abandon us?!" Artemis asks incredulously as she nocks another arrow.
"I don't believe that." Miss Martian defends.
"No way!" Naruto agreed sending off a blast at Volcano who blocked. Naruto kepts firing while Kid Flash ran past him and towards the evil android. Using Lanterns blast as cover, the speedster tried to get in close but Red Volcano was able to track his every move.
"My processor can keep up with your speed humans!" Volcano mocked as he clothes lined Kid Flash causing him to go flying.
"We're not human!" Superboy and Miss M shout, M'gann using her power to keep Superboy in the air as she flies towards the villain.
"Apologies, I suppose the properly inclusive term is-" two huge hands of Earth rise up and clap together over the Alien members of the Team. "meatbags."
"And your nothing but a dirty shizno!" Naruto roars creating two giant fists to hit the android. However, Volcano countered by creating two large pillars to stop the fist and sending a third one right under Naruto slamming into his chest.
He swipes his right hand down and the Earth shatters. Dropping Aqualad and Artemis into a hole, they both scream as they fall.
Artemis is quick to use an arrow with a line to catch herself, swing over and catch the leader before getting them out of the rift before it would've crushed them.
Robin uses the new ridge as a jumping off point before he throws a birdarang at Volcano.
He catches it, expecting it, but it still explodes.
Yet, as the smoke clears he is unharmed "Tornado's memory files and my superior processing speed allow me to anticipate your every move." though steadily getting annoyed.
"Ekoms emoceb a dlofdnilb!" Zatanna encants. The deep black smoke around Volcano covers his eyes.
"Too bad for you I'm new." she says proudly. "So, he hasn't seen my moves,"
"Works for me!" Naruto cheered as he tackled the android into the ground and began to punch him with his orange gauntlet covered hands.
"Bet you've got some good ones." Robin's eyes go wide as he realizes what he said, then looks to the slightly annoyed Zatanna. "Whoa. Sorry, that may have come off a little too Wally."
She chuckles. "I don't mind."
"Gah!" The two turn their attention back to the fight to see Naruto getting blasted upward by a laser like beam coming from Volcano's now uncovered eyes. Naruto managed to shake the pain off and remain floating in the air as he glared down at Volcano. The others get ready to move but stumble as the Caldera Super Volcano erupts.
"Oh, that can't be good," Naruto scowled looking down at the lava. The fact that he could feel the heat from this height only supported his thoughts.
The magma flowed down the mountain, encroaching on the Team as they continue to try and fight Red Volcano. The android launched two small, partially molten rocks at Kid Flash. The speedster countered by using 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," Speedster explained through the link. 'If it gets to Stage Three, kiss the hemisphere goodbye."
Kaldur hops in beside him before charging at Volcano with two swords. 'Hit him from all sides!'
Volcano takes out Aqualad with a simple wave of his right hand.
Superboy jumps towards Volcano from the front, his fist connects and the pressure wave shows the force behind it, but Volcano manages to block it surprising the teen.
Camouflaged M'gann lands and pulls at Volcano's turned back.
He merely glances over his shoulder to cause a vent to burst with air, debris, and magma. She screams as her camo falls.
"M'gann!" Superboy roars forgetting to call her by her hero name. Acting quickly the teen clone leaps towards the downed Martian. However before they can regroup Volcano lands between the two of them. The android begins he assault on Superboy hitting him in the stomach then blasting him away. With that done the Android turns his attention on to the still recovering Miss Martian, grabbing her by the throat.
"I hear Martian anatomy is incompatible with high heat," Volcano states. "Lets see what happens when your placed in Magma.
"Like frak!" Naruto roars as he heads towards the android at high speed.
"I got you," Zatanna says placing a hand on Kid Flash's. "Ekoms dna srorrim. Etaerc Dik Hsalf snoisulli!" She enchants. The smoke from the lava turns into copies of KF and, all of them take off within moments.
"I-I use a scaled down version when I want to sneak out of the house." she says brightly.
The KF's work in tandem with Naruto who fires off blasts at Volcano while the speedster clones charge forward at the evil bot.
Red Volcano raises a hand a rock fly to take out some of the KFs, while his back is turned the real KF comes at Volcano from behind, focusing in on M'gann. He manages to snag her away just in time for Naruto now inside a large drill construct to hit Volcano. The android responds by shooting out a large molten rock but the drill proves stronger and continues upon its path until it makes contact.
Volcano attempts to brace himself but Robin shoots off shuriken at his feet. They end up exploding causing Volcano to lose his footing allowing Naruto to tackle him at full force and send the two of them back.
And straight into to lava.
"Lantern!" Aqualad calls but the two of them are already submerged. Thankfully not for long as Naruto is lifted up by Volcano who tried to squeeze him. However Naruto is protected by a an orange aura which is what prevented the lava from burning him alive.
"He can't keep that up forever," Kid Flash states as he gets ready to go and grab his other teammate. However this is stopped when a large geyser of water bursts up and flies towards the two opponents.
The water hits full force but it bypasses Naruto and pushes Volcano further into the lava.
"Nice hit!" Robin tells Aqualad, but the look of surprise on his face send a message of confusion.
"The hit was not mine," Aqualad states before noticing something. "Look!" The team turn to see Red Torpedo rising up on another pillar of water, sending two smaller streams at a still partially submerged Red Volcano. Covering the area in steam due to the temperature difference.
Volcano attempts to create a pillar to escape the magma but an orange covered fist pushes him back in.
"No you don't!" Naruto roars as he pushes Volcano back into the lava. He was gonna destroy this petaQ if it was the last thing he did. At least he was going to until a small tornado formed between him and Volcano. This resulted in pushing Naruto away and pressing Volcano further into the lava.
Naruto flips in the air to recover and looks around only to see two red blurs pass by him. Red Torpedo and Red Inferno charge at full speed and tackle Red Volcano into the lava.
"No way," Artemis whispers.
"Sister, brother, stop!" Red Volcano shouts but its useless. The two red fight against their youngest sibling determined to take him further into the magma.
The two lighter Reds hold him down by the neck and the left arm despite how they're already melting. Red Tornado flies silently over the lava, using his tornado as a buffer before he stands on Red Volcano's chest.
"Tornado!" Naruto shouts now realizing that it had been him to separate Naruto from Volcano.
Soon all the reds are submerged in the lava except Tornados top half but the result is the same.
Within the lava the three fully submerged robots melt away as the lava enters their circuitry. "Father would be so disappointed." Red Volcano says before his eyes glow brightly one more time and the machinery within him whirs low.
Seeing his task is done Red Tornado begins to let himself sing into the lava. However Naruto wasn't having it. He created a giant hand and grabbed the Android pulling him to safety.
The team gather around them but the celebration is held off as the SuperVolcano continues to rumble and grow,
"Tornado, listen, we're on the verge of a Stage Three SuperVolcano Eruption. There's no turning back from that. We need to vent pressure, fast." Red says nothing so Kid keeps talking. "But the ash cloud will bring on a worldwide Nuclear Winter unless you divert it." Red Tornado nods. "Triangulate around the pressure locus." he tells the Boy Wonder.
"Right." Robin types on his HoloGlove. "There, there, and there." he says as he finds the three spots.
Without a word, and barely a glance between them Artemis shoots her arrow to the Volcano, it breaks into three and they explode on contact.
Red Tornado struggled to get up but stops as Naruto creates a clamp to help lift him.
"Lets do this!" Naruto cheers. Red Tornado looks at the blond before creating his signature tornado under him. With a nod the two of them fly past the growing ash cloud.
His eyes glow red as he snaps his arms out, creating a gigantic tornado that pulls the ash cloud up and through the outer atmosphere. Working together their eyes glow orange and red respectively as RT creates massive tornados that begin to suck in the smoke and ash. Naruto contributed by creating a giant funnel with a built-in fan that blows the smoke straight into the stratosphere.
The result of said attack soon prove to be successful as the magma cools and begins to harden while the Volcano stops growing.
"Yes!" Kid Flash cheers along with the others. "Another victory for us!"
"Speaking of what exactly is the team's name?" Zatanna question. She received no answer as the others looked at each other in surprise.
"Wait have we still not come up with one?" Robin asked. "We need to work on that.
Above in the clouds at the edge of earth's atmosphere Naruto continued to smile at RT before reaching out and hugging the half-destroyed robot.
"Welcome back," Naruto says. RT does not respond. He simply places his hand on top of Narutos head and pets the blond. The smile on Naruto's face grows.
YJYJYJYJYJ
"Hey I found a leg," Artemis calls as he digs through one of the bins in Morrows lab. Currently they were all in the lab looking for parts to put Red Tornado back together while the android laid down on a table.
"Different model," Kid Flash pointed out. "Then again we could upgrade him,"
"Maybe we can add in a cannon," Robin joked as he fiddled with Red Tornados circuitry.
"We can do that!" Naruto exclaimed.
"We can build him better, stronger, faster," Zatanna said in a serious voice, while holding a metal arm.
"Really!" Naruto cheered.
"The six-million-dollar man," Artemis chuckled swinging the leg over her shoulder. "We should watch that,"
"Oh we can do that when we get back at the cave," Miss Martian added pulling out a processor.
"As soon as we add in his kung-fu grip," Kid Flash chuckled.
"In retrospect it probably cost a lot more to build him," Robin added before stepping back. "How's that,"
"Yes. I can speak again." Tornado confirms, his faceplate coming back down, but his legs are still missing. "Thank you for the assistance,"
"No problem," The boy wonder smiled. "Now about that kung fu grip,"
A discussion for later," Aqualad sighed walking over to the two of them. "You were willing to sacrifice yourself to save the planet." The team leader pointed out. "Had Naruto not been there you more than likely would have perished.
"The planet would have survived. It was Humanity that was saved." Tornado turns towards them. "Though not by me." Kaldur places a hand on the Leaguer's shoulder. "My sister and brother were the true heroes this day."
"But your actions prove something important." Kaldur says. "You were not the mole sportsmaster mentioned,"
"No," Red Tornado confirmed. "Once I realized they were created by Morrow I left in pursuit of him,"
"Then why knock us out?" Artemis pointed out.
"When I reached out to Red Torpedo I felt him try to implant a virus, thankfully my processor was superior to his so I was able to stop it," Tornado explained. "However I assumed Morrow was watching and thought it would be best to let him believe he had taken control of me,"
"So, knocking us out allowed you to sale the illusion you were under his control," Aqualad nodded.
"Makes sense," Kid Flash shrugged. "Still sucked but I can get behind the logic,"
"Well he's back now so it's all good," Naruto sighed happily pressing his cheek against Red Tornados chest.
"So ready to get fixed up,"
"Kung-Fu Grip!" Naruto cheered with stars in his eyes.
"We're really treating him like a build a bear," Artemis laughed.
"I do no believe I am deserving of your repairs or…upgrades," Red Tornado finished the last part hesitantly.
"Nope!" Naruto denied.
"There's one thing I gotta know," Superboy finally spoke up. He had been quiet since they come into the lab. "Why did you volunteer to be our Den Mother?"
"I was the pragmatic choice." Tornado says bluntly. "I do not require sleep. I have no secret identity or second life to live."
It clicks for KF first. "But you do have advanced AI Programming designed to learn, adapt, evolve." he plays with the souvenir as he speaks.
M'gann knocks herself in the head. "Hello, Megan! You wanted to become more human."
"And you couldn't do that with the League." Artemis realizes. "They're stiffs."
"You're sure not going to learn emotion from Batman. Trust me." Robin chuckles.
"It was the very reason this team was formed in the first place," Kaldur nodded. "We rebelled against out mentors and went off on our own,"
"Wait that's how it happened?" Artemis asked looking at Naruto who was grumbling.
"Then the cave was not a proving ground only for us… but for you as well." Kaldur turns back to Tornado.
"I do not know if those statements are accurate," Tornado admits. "but perhaps they are true. And if I understand the term correctly, I believe I have come to… care about you all.
"See? Practically a meatbag already." Conner says lowly.
"Which reminds me." he says remembering something.
The dirty blonde, Stikk, stands in a medical room. Only a singular bed and a heart rate monitor prove there is someone else there.
Stikk turns to Tornado, frightened.
"I will not hurt him." Tornado assures as he walks past Stikk.
Morrow, looking properly aged to have been creating Heroes in the 30's, wheezes under the oxygen mask.
"He was evil, but T.O. Morrow is still my father. I will care for him. It is the human thing to do."
The camouflaged BioShip takes off into the night sky, heading back to Mount Justice.
Robin leans forward, touching Zatanna's shoulder. "So, good kidnapping?" he asks.
"Actually, yeah." she smiles as she turns back towards him. "Best ever."
Robin chuckles. "First of many, I hope."
"Oh definitely!" Naruto confirmed "She's one of my possessions now!"
"Congratulations," Artemis smiled. "You're now one of us,"
"One of us! One of us," Robin and Kid Flash chanted.
"I feel honored," Zatanna chuckled. "So are all team members brought into a villain fight on the first day,"
"Mine wasn't," M'Gann replied.
"I did end up destroying robots while watching Naruto dance," Artemis admitted.
"Seriously?"
"Well, mine started with me fighting those three," Superboy shrugged. "But a villain showed up later.
"Did you know about this?" Artemis asked Miss Martian.
"I've only ever heard the summarized version but yeah," the Martian confirmed.
"I ended up attacking them," Superboy said before smirking. "And then winning,"
"That true?" Zatanna asked looking at the three original sidekicks.
"He caught us off guard," Kid Flash defended.
"After we freed him," Robin added.
"It was an unforeseen consequence," Aqualad added.
"Oh, even Kaldur is making excuses," Artemis teased.
"Wait was that before I crashed," Naruto asked.
"You crashed?," Zatanna and Artemis said at the same time.
"Or after the League attacked me?"
"Attacked you!" This time Miss M joined in the yelling. Apparently she didn't know these details.
"Have we never told them this story?" Kid Flash asked.
"Apparently not," Aqualad confirmed.
"Ok this we got to hear," Artemis stated seriously.
"Oh, I am so joining this team!" Zatanna exclaimed.
Mount Justice
"She is never joining this team!" Zatara roared. They're good kids, Giovanni." "Don't worry, Giovanni."" he says Canary's words right back to her. "She is grounded when they get back!"
His rant is cut off as Captain Marvel walks back into the Mountain, both he and the animals are soaked. "They're not coming out to play are they,"
Black Canary simply sighs.
AAAANNNNDDDD BACK! Wazzup good to be back. So here we are with Red Tornado's return! I admit I was a bit lazy with this chapter as it wasn't one of my favorite episodes outside of introducing Zatanna. The episode wasn't bad or anything just didn't capture me like some other ones did. However the next episode….Oh yeah I have been waiting to get to this one and the one after. I also got a new opening for those who saw and read. Seemed perfect since this was the beginning of the second half of season one.
Before we continue let me run something by you guys how would you feel if I do a rewrite. I've been thinking about it for awhile now. Honestly theres not much I would change but the details I would change would prove important. I just want your thoughts on it. So let me know.
Moving on I hope you enjoyed what I did with this chapter and if I'm being honest I think the next chapter will come soon. I've been on a young justice kick as of late, the show, the comics, fanfics all of it. Also I've been checking out My adventures with superman and so far I like what's happening.
Honestly I like superman even if my plans for the near future in this fanfic show otherwise.
My bad spoilers.
Anyways that's all for now I hope you enjoy it and next time we fet into FAILSAFE!
Until then…READ…REVIEW…and above all else…ENJOY.