It was Nighttime as Red Lantern returned to the base, he had just came back from another one of his patrols and as he came into the base, he saw that a few lights were on. He assumes someone must be up but he's not sure who, so he decided to investigate and as he did he heard noises from the kitchen. Red heads there and when he got there he saw M'gann who appeared to be trying a new recipe, but she seemed to be lost in thought.
Megan was trying a new recipe because she was trying to not think about stuff she couldn't help but think back to what she had seen a few days ago. Her teammate Red Lantern killed someone and for some reason, she didn't tell anyone nor did she want to. She was so lost in thought she didn't hear Red walking over to her.
"M'gann, why are you up cooking in the middle of the night?" He asked as he looked down at her a bit as he was leaning against the counter near her.
Hearing his Voice so suddenly scares her and caused her jump a bit. She quickly turned and saw Aizen, the boy who she has been thinking about after witnessing what she had saw." Aizen...you scared me. I-I thought you'd be asleep by now." She said a bit nervously as she looks at him.
He stares at her a bit, she has been nervous around him for awhile now but he didn't know why she was like this, so he is gonna try and find out."M'gann, you have been acting strange around me for the past few days. Is there a reason for this?" He asked as he stares at her a bit.
M'gann is silent for a bit before nodding." Aizen...I saw you kill a criminal a few days ago." She said as she looks at him in the eyes. She wants to know why he kills, why the justice league haven't found out and tried to stop him since they themselves don't like killing.
Aizen remains a neutral expression before sighing a bit." There is a reason why I kill. It's part of the reason why I am a Red Lantern." He said as he was looking down at his ring as he then clenched his fist in anger as he remembers back to when he was a child.
Megan knew she could trust him, after all he has had her back and has defended her when she had made mistakes and when she saw him get angry at mention that the reason he kills is the same reason why he is a red lantern, she had a feeling that this was a touchy topic for him, so she puts her hand on his shoulder with a soft smile." Aizen...you don't have to tell m-"
"No, I have to, you deserve to know. It all started a few years back on a dark and stormy night..." Red would tell her his story, everything from the moment he lost his mother and killed the man he shared blood with and to the moment he gained a new family and Name, but he left out some bits and pieces, like his old name. The last thing he told her was his small Deal with the league that has changed a bit over the year." And that is why I kill, so one ever has to go through what I went through." He said, finishing his back story.
Megan couldn't believe what she had heard. He had went through so much at a young age and lost his only real parent that night. She was though surprised to hear that the League knew about him killing criminals, but she is a bit more focused on his past." Aizen...I'm sorry you went through that." She said.
Aizen just stares at her, surprised she didn't say anything about how just because he went through that he shouldn't kill." Why aren't you furious at me? Most people would if they learned there teammate is a killer." He said.
M'gann is silent for a bit before looking him in the eyes." Because I know that your not doing it for some evil reason, your doing it to protect others, and to shoulder a burden no one else wants to." She said with a small smile as she looked at him.
He stares at her and then nods a bit." I'm...relieved to hear that you understand. But will you tell the others about this?" He asked, he assumes she is gonna tell them. He knows that the team know he is brutal but he knows that they have no clue that he kills. Well to his knowledge.
She shakes her head a bit." It's not my secret to tell, but I would tell them soon if I were you, they are your teammates." She said with a kind smile.
He sighs a bit and nods a bit, she's right." Your right, but I am certain there trust in me will fade the moment I tell them." He said as he stops leaning on the counter.
M'gann knew that there would be a chance the team would lose all trust in Red Lantern, but there is also a chance they wouldn't." I know, but hey, I'll still trust you." She said with a smile and a small blush.
He was a bit surprised to hear this but then looked away, not wanting her to see his own blush." Thanks...we should go to sleep. It's late." He said as he changes the subject.
Megan nods to agree as she then started to clean up, with the help of Red of course. Seems like if the teams trust in Aizen were to fall apart, at least Megan would have his back.
Later...
After the team had wakened and gotten ready for the day. During the day they got word that they would have a mission. Batman, Superman, and Red tornado were all there, giving the young team the details of the mission and were wrapping it up." Remember, it's a reconnaissance mission, investigate and then come back and report." Said Batman in his stern voice.
"But also stay alert and safe." Added Superman as he looked at the group, but stopped looking at the others when he looked at Superboy.
Superboy felt a bit odd when Superman looked at him, but he didn't know how to describe it. But he then looked away in a bit of anger.
"Who's gonna lead us?" Asked Kaldur as he looks at Batman, Superman, and Red Tornado who just look at one another till they all looked at the teens.
"That will be up to you all." Said Red tornado as he and Batman walked away.
Robin smiles a bit, thinking that he will get to be leader. The Teens then all then started to walk away, But then Superman stops Superboy.
"Listen, I know I haven't been as social with you as you'd like, but I'm gonna fix that. After your mission, you and I are gonna chat. I'm even gonna introduce you to someone very close to me, how does that sound?" Superman asked as he smiles and puts a hand on his Son by blood. They have talked a bit when there was some free time for the man of steel and they have a decent relationship.
For the first time in awhile, Superboy smiles a bit." I'd like that." He said as he then left to go and prepare for the Mission.
Later around 22:00...
The team was in the bioship, which was invisible, was heading straight for a small island. As the ship was getting closer to island, it was time to execute the plan." Aqualad, your up." Said Miss Martian as she makes the ship open a hole for him.
He nods as he then taps his suit, changing its color to a more darker and stealthy color scheme. He then dives right into the water and swims through a underwater mind field. As he does he comes across a net but cuts it open with ease. He would soon get to land and rushes over to some missile launches he spotted that appear to have thermal sensors. He pulled out a special device and attached it to the sensors that turn it off. He then comms the others." All clear for drop off." He said.
Red lantern nods a bit as he then looked at the others." Ready yourselves." He said as he gets up from his chair. He would have to limit himself on this mission since his red glow could accidentally alert someone on the island.
The others got up from there seats and started to ready themselves. Both Robin and Kid Flash tap there chests and then there costume colors changed to a more stealthy color." So cool." Said KF as he stares at himself a bit.
Miss Martian shifts her costumes a bit and makes it a stealthy like. The colors were now dark colored and it looked like a jumpsuit in a way and her cape was much longer and it had a hood on it. She smiles a bit as she looked at the others and then made some cables come out from the ceiling of the ship and come down to each of them." I'll meet you guys down there." She said as she made a hole open up on the floor of the ship and floated down it.
Robin, Red, and KF hook the cables onto themselves and were about to head on down the hole but they all noticed Superboy didn't use his. Red had a feeling what he was about to do, so he speaks up." Superboy, use the cord. We don't want the island to know we are here yet." Said Red Lantern in a tough tone, a tone that stopped Superboy from talking back.
Superboy reluctantly does this as he then goes down the hole of the ship along with the others. After everyone was on the ground, they would disconnect the cords and watch as they go back up the ship.
"Okay team, now that we have ar- wait, where is Robin?" Asked Aqua lad as he looked around a bit, the others did the same.
It would appear that Robin has once again abandoned the team, this made Red lantern mad, he would then growl in anger a bit." Vanishing from the group again." He said as he started to glow a bit.
This was a great start to the mission, and it was about to get better because Kid Flash pulled down his googles with a grin." Don't worry, I'll find him. You guys take it easy." He said as he then ran off to find him while keeping an eye out for anyone.
Aqua lad had reached out to stop him but he was to late, he then sighs a a bit.." And here I was hoping this kind of stuff would stop by now." He said as he then runs after Kid flash to make sure he doesn't get into any trouble.
Now it was just the three of them. Superboy looked at them both and shrugs a bit." So much for sticking with the plan." He said as he stares at the spot where two of his teammates ran off to.
"We really should sticked together." Said Miss Martian in a sad tone as she looked down a bit. This team really needs someone to make sure this crap doesn't happen.
Red Lantern growls a bit in anger before sighing a tad." What we need is someone to lead this team and make sure this doesn't happen." He said in a angry tone, with also feeling disappointment in some of his teammates.
But then the sound of gunfire catches the trios attention, Red then looked at them." The fools got caught, Come on!" He said as he and the others run off towards the gunfire to potentially save and help out there teammates.
A few yards from them, both Kid Flash and Aqua lad were fighting off two Groups, one was just a small group that was part of a much larger group known as Cobra, and the other was run by a well known individual, Bane, one of the many many villains Batman has fought and it was Banes side that was winning against both the other group and the young hero's.
But then, Robin jumped in, Joining the fight and started to take down some of the goons." Why didn't you guys follow my lead?!" He asked as he kicked a guy in the face, knocking a tooth or two out.
Kid Flash was a bit mad at hearing this." Your lead?! We had no idea what you were doing! We're not m-" he stops after seeing a small bright orb of red light out of the corner of his eye and it then hit one of the goons, exploding a bit and sending the last goon flying.
This had Caused the young team and Bane look over at where the red orb had came from. Everyone saw a Red glowing figure and two other figures coming out of the forest and into the area they all were in. It was the trio, and they were ready for a fight. Red lantern growls a bit as he stares at his teammates, not focusing on Bane right now." Next time do not run off! We are a team and should stick together!" He yelled at them.
As this happened, Bane stares at Red Lantern a bit, he and Red have actually fought before and it wasn't pretty. He would then try to use this character to walk away slowly, but then he was lifted up into the air by Miss Martian powers." Your not going anywhere." She said.
Red heard her and looked over and saw that she had Bane. He then floated over to her." Good job." He said as he then floated over to bane, Not catching the blush on her Face when he said that.
"Thanks." She said with a smile as she watches him float over to the Criminal she has trapped.
The others started to tie up the Goons since they didn't really have anything better to do or say, especially Robin and Kid Flash since Reds yelling earlier was mostly at them.
Bane looked at Red as he floated over." It has been awhile Diablo Rojo, I see you have gotten a team. I wonder how long till one of them d-" Bane was interrupted Red Lantern who had grabbed him by the throat and began to choke him a bit. He had forgotten how terrifying Red Lantern can be, and the fear and choking got worse when Miss Martian stopped using her powers to hold Bane up in the air. Bane was grasping for air as Red Lanterns hold on his neck got tighter. Thoughts were Racing through his mind right now, all were about him being killed since he knew that unlike other hero's and Batman, Red Lantern will kill...
Aqua lad, KF, and Robin saw this and they started to walk towards him." Red Lantern! That is en-" Aqua lad and the others were stopped by Superboy and Miss Martian.
"Stay out of it Aqua Lad, Reds knows what he's doing." Said Superboy in a serious tone as he, along with Miss Martian, Block the others while Red Lantern keeps going.
The trio could only watch Red Lantern, did the three had a plan that they came up with earlier before arriving? Perhaps.
Red Lantern stares at Bane while he was choking the Venom addict who looked close to passing out, so he eases up a bit.." From what I could tell, the group you were fighting with was the cult Cobra. They stole your operations, correct?" He asked.
Bane would nod a bit as he tries to save his air a bit, slowly breathing and such." Y-Yes! They overtook my operations! I am trying to get it back and was on my way to my secret entrance!" He said, spilling information while struggling to breathe properly.
Red Lantern smirked a bit under his helmet as he then drops bane and stares at him, watching the Venom addict coughing and trying to get his breath back." You will give Miss Martian the location if you want to live."
Bane nods a bit, complying immediately. Seeing this side of bane put some concern in some of the young hero's. Miss Martian would read his mind and once she got the info, she looked at Red and nods a bit.
"I am free to go now ri-" Bane got punched in the Face hard by Red Lantern, Knocking him out and breaking his nose.
Superboy walked over to bane to tie him up while the other's looked over at Red." So that was your plan? Torture and force out information?" Asked Aqua lad as he crosses his arms, not happy with happened.
Red Lantern growls a bit." I did what needed to be done and I would have done worse if I needed to." He said as he then was about tell Miss Martian to lead the way to the secret entrance, but then Kid flash spoke up.
"Hey wait! We need to talk about what just happened! He almost killed the guy just to get some information!" Said Kid Flash, clearly very disturbed by what had happened. He is still to used to how things used to be when he was the Flash's sidekick.
"Well hey now, Batman does stuff like that sometimes to get what he needs. But we can't focus on that right now because We need a leader to lead this team and I think it should be me." Said Robin with much confidence. He thought he was the most obvious and right choice, though Kid flash thought differently.
"What?! You actually think you should be a leader? Your like thirteen and you vanish without telling us!" Said Kid flash as he poked Robins chest a bit hard.
"Oh like your mature enough to leading this team." Said Robin as he glared at him. Before the two could argue any further, Red Lantern spoke up.
"Enough! Arguing is wasting time! But I know this will not stop so that is why I will take up the role as leader." Said Red Lantern as he looked at everyone, basically letting them all know that he will lead them all now.
Everyone was quiet, well except Superboy and Miss Martian." Hello Megan! It makes sense! You do have that leader presence." She said with a smile.
Superboy smiled a tad as he looks at his leader."Took you long enough to take up the role." He supports this because he himself doesn't want to be leader and Red seems like he could get the team to follow orders.
Aqua lad pondered a bit in thought before looking at Red." I believe making you leader will be best for the team." He said.
Robin and Kid flash had nothing to say about this, though even if they did it wouldn't matter. Red looks over at Miss Martian." Lead us to the secret entrance."
She nods as she would lead the team through the forest and all the way to a boulder that was blocking the entrance to a Tunnel. Superboy walked over and lifts the boulder out of the way so the team can get through.
Red Lantern heads through the secret tunnel first. He looked around a bit, keeping a eye out for any traps or guards. So far there are none for ether of those things. His red glow would give them all light in the Cave. He Eventually spots a control panel." Robin, can you hack this and gain us access?" He asked.
Robin nods and began to hack away. He was soon done and then the doorway opens up for them, leading into the factory.
"Robin, Kid flash, I want you two to go and gather information. The rest of us will make sure you are not found." Ordered Red Lantern as he glows a bit. He was tired of not getting enough action and plus, him and the team fighting cobra would be good for there comrades.
"On it." Said Robin as he heads off along with Kid flash to gather some food information.
Before Red could give the order to get ready to attack, Superboy picked something up with his Super hearing."Helicopter inbound," Superboy stated as he would then turn to the group.
"Are you sure?" Miss Martian asked until they all suddenly heard the chopper incoming with its loud blades cutting the wind, "Never mind."
Red lantern thinks for a moment. They could ether be stealthy about this and see who could be coming, or charge and buy some time for Robin and Kid flash while also discovering who is landing much quicker." Team, prepare yourselves and watch each others backs. Destroy this place and await for the return of Robin and Kid while I will find out who the buyer is." He said.
"Understo-" Aqua lad stopped himself when he had noticed there leader was Gone. He was just here a second ago and now he's gone.
"Woah! How'd he do that?" Asked Megan as she didn't even see him leave or make a sound.
"Who knows, but we can ask later, right now it's time to fight." Said Superboy as he yelled as he drops down onto a pair of guards and charged at another pair. The other two drop down and join in soon after.
Outside the factory...
The cult leader of Cobra, Kobra and the buyer, Sportsmaster both looked over at the facility, hearing a commotion coming from it. Before the Cult leader could issue an order, a bright red blur speeds around and takes down his cult followers with much ease. They all tried to fire at the red blur but they were all failing and then ones who got taken down were bleeding with some gashes and some even have broken noses and teeth.
"Who the hell is that?!" Demanded Sportsmaster who had no clue what that was. He at first assumed it was flash some how but then dismissed that thought because the flash is not that brutal and doesn't glow.
Kobra stares at the red blur for a moment and then looks over at mammoth." Destroy it." Without even a moment of hesitation, Mammoth yelled and charged at the Blur and was about to bring down its fists, but then the red blur stops being a blur and reveals to be Red Lantern. He had his ring aimed right at mammoths Chester and then blasted his opponent in front of him and sent him flying into the facility, destroying the doors a bit.
Kobra's red haired lacky goes after mammoth, leaving her master, sports master, and very few followers outside with the Red lantern.
Red lantern stares at the two before creating many gun constructs and aims them at everyone." I am giving you all the option to surrender or else things will get bloody!" He said, awaiting there answer, though he already had a feeling things will hit the way he hopes.
Kobra stares at him a bit before looking at Sportsmaster." Get the shipment out of here, I will deal with the pest." He said as he then does a hand motion and then the followers fire at Red who then fires back. His shots hit and they burn and harm the followers. None were dead to anyone's knowledge.
Sportsmaster runs for the helicopter while dodging stray blasts from Red Lantern. He managed to get to it and it was soon taking off with the shipment.
This caught Red Lanterns attention and then he started to fire at the chopper, trying to stop it before it can get away. One of his shots hit the chopper and it started to come back.
As this happened, Kobra was about to use this chance to attack the lantern, but then saw mammoth and the redhead get flung past him. He turns and saw the rest of the lanterns term. He sighs a bit." Another time." He said as he drops a smoke bomb and once the smoke cleared, he was gone.
The team walks over to Red as the chopper came crashing down onto the factory, and then the factory blows up behind them all." Our part in the plan was successful, and I see you were successful as well boss man." Said Kid flash as he looked around a bit with a small smile.
Miss Martian smiles a bit." I knew you were the right one to lead us." She said with a small blush.
Red remains silent for a bit before looking back at the facility." Though this mission has had terrible moments, but in the end we did some good so good job team." He said with almost no emotion. This was mission turned from bad to not so bad so that's a win.
Later at Mount Justice...
Batman and Superman were speaking to the team about there mission. Batman was talking about how the mission was supposed to be strictly a recon mission." You each will get a written report sent to you on your many mistakes, till then...good job." Batman said, surprising everyone as he then left the room.
Superman smiles a bit." No plans ever go the way you expect when out there. Being able to adapt is a great skill for a team, remember that all of you." He said. The team then started to head off to go and do there own things, except Superboy who stayed since he remembered that Superman wanted to talk.
"What did you wanna talk about?" He asked Superman as he walked up to him.
"Well I think it would be best if we meet up with that close person I was telling you about before your mission." He said with a smile as he takes Superboy with him through the zeta tube.
As they left, Aizen and M'gann saw this and then she smiles a bit." I'm happy for him, he's been waiting for a chance like this." She said as she looked at Aizen.
He nods to agree a bit." Yes and Perhaps this will help him focus more on becoming better than allowing his anger to take over."
She giggles a bit as she then smiles at him." Don't you use anger a lot?" She asked as she awaits for an answer.
He is silent for a bit before walking away." I will not answer that." He said as he heads to his room to check in on Dex-Starr.
She laughed a bit before floating off to her own room.
Metropolis...
Superboy had been taken to a apartmentt building and was lead into one of the rooms. He looked around the spacious apartment as Superman got changed into his civilian clothes. The place was nice, and he wouldn't mind staying here, definitely better then the cave. But then a knock at the door made him take a fighting stance.
"It's okay." Clark emerged dressed in his usual civilian attire and his iconic glasses that some how hides his identity from the world. "Just relax, and I'll let her in."
Superboy sat on the couch, and Clark brought in an attractive woman with long, black hair, a light-purple coat, and a white skirt. This was Clark's wife, Lois Kent.
She looked from Superboy to Clark a bit before going back to looking at Clark. "Wow Smallville, you weren't kidding when you said he could pass as your son." She said with a smile. Before Clark could say anything, the she walked past him and held her hand out to Superboy. "Hi, I'm Lois Kent."
Superboy hesitated a moment before shaking her hand. "Superboy." He didn't know the reason why he was meeting but she seemed nice so he didn't mind meeting her.
Lois frowned a bit when she heard that, she was expecting a real name, not the hero name given to him. "Don't you have another name?"
Superboy shrugged a bit. "Don't have one yet."
"We'll work on that." Lois thought on it for a moment. It took awhile but she came up with something she thinks will be great. "What do you think of... Connor?"
"Um, it's okay." Superboy or the now named Connor shrugged. "Why are you asking?" He was very confused on why she was asking him that and why she was giving him a name.
Lois turned and frowned at Clark. "You didn't tell him yet?"
"I was about to." Clark grumbled as he sat down on the left side of Conners while Lois sat down on his right. "Connor, we know you don't have a real home yet, so I thought we could make this official."
"What do you mean?" Conner asked. He had no idea what Clark was talking about.
Lois decided to add in something."If it's okay with you, we'd like to legally adopt you." Lois stated. "You'd be Connor Kent. What do you say?"
Conners eyes went wide, and he looked from Lois to Clark who nodded. He can't believe this, if he excepts then he will have a mom and dad.
"You would be our son, legally. And Since we share DNA, you'd already be my son, biologically." Clark said with a small smile as he looked at his son.
Lois noticed that he hasn't said a word yet or looked at either of them. "You okay?" Lois asked as she looked at the young man concerned. "You look a little overwhelmed."
Connor smiles a bit as he looked at them. He hasn't felt this happy in awhile, or ever really."I'm not. I'm perfectly whelmed."
The new parents smile at there new son and then they both hugged him.
Far out in space away from earth
A bright red light was speeding throw space, within the light looked like a small object of some kind, it was red and looked unique and it appears to be heading towards earth, rapidly approaching the planet. It's arrival time is unknown, could be any day now...
