Disclaimer:
We do not own Young Justice and Avengers nor its characters.
Without further ado…
Lethe
Chapter 10
Mount Justice
September 22, 6:31 EDT
Marina stifled a yawn. She tied off her braid, throwing her hair over her shoulder. After nodding herself to the mirror, she walked down the corridor.
M'gann and Conner's voices sounded in the kitchen. Marina braced herself when she stepped into the room. M'gann's face lit up. She clapped her hands together.
"I love how you look with your school uniform!" Marina consciously fidgeted with her collar button. The school blazer restricted her movements and the burgundy tie choked her.
"You clean up… nice," Conner lightly teased. "But isn't it too early to go to school though? Are you that excited?"
Marina rolled her eyes while M'gann swatted the air in the clone's direction. "She just doesn't want to be late!" The Martian glanced back at the younger girl with a grin.
Marina smiled tightly, "Yup, that's right." Conner narrowed his eyes on her. M'gann walked to the kitchen counter. Behind M'gann's back, Marina stuck a tongue out to Conner. He raised a brow but amusement flickered in his eyes.
M'gann returned to Marina, handing her a thermos. "I'm not really sure if it will still be hot by the time you're in class but I hope it can give you some energy on your first day of high school."
Marina gently accepted the bottle. She twisted the lid open. The smell of coffee filled her nose. She sighed delightedly. Her hands and chest felt warm. She passed it off because of the hot beverage. "Thank you, M'gann. I'll see you guys later."
She bowed out of the kitchen and the living room. Marina checked her bag while walking to the Cave's hangar. It included her school ID, bus pass, books, and fresh notebooks. In a deeper pocket, she hid a tiny flash grenade in case of emergencies. It passed off as something like lipstick or the body of a key chain. Marina designed it with some more… contingencies to pass off a bag inspection.
When she turned the corner, she looked up to see Red Tornado waiting for her. He stood still by the flight of stairs.
She sighed, stopping in front of him. Marina sarcastically twirled around, "How do I look?"
"Your appearance is adequate." Marina snorted at this stiff reply. "However, I must remind you that Gotham Academy's Student Code of Conduct and School Policies page nine clearly states 'The number of earrings a Gotham Academy student wears should not exceed one piece of pierced jewelry per ear.' "
Marina's hand flew to her right ear. The stud on her upper ear lobe served as the transmitter of live feed from FRIDAY and ALICE. She couldn't escape his robotic analysis.
"Right," she grumbled. She walked past the Leaguer and into her workshop. The glass doors opened automatically.
"Good morning, ma'am," ALICE's voice echoed through the room as the lights turned on. Marina made a beeline to her workbench. A dark case laid impeccable on the table top.
"Today is the day," Marina spoke aloud. She opened the case and a pair of clear glasses winked at her. She detached her earpiece and placed it on a small catch-all that held miscellaneous screws. She slid on the thin black-silver rimmed frames.
"ALICE," Marina said. A flash of blue lit up at the sides of the glass. "How are we doing?"
"Everything is operational, ma'am," her AI replied. A blue window appeared in the left upper corner of her vision. It displayed her vitals. A widget of the latest news popped up. It rotated from Asian, European, and American news.
"Okay, clear," Marina instructed. The information from the interface disappeared. Marina readjusted the spectacles on the bridge of her nose. She stepped out of her studio, descending the steps.
Red Tornado stood patiently by the Zeta-Tubes. Marina gestured to her face. "Better?"
"I believe it is far more suitable."
Marina stared at the red robot, "Tell me one thing before I leave. Why didn't the League just send me to Happy Harbor High School with M'gann and Superboy?"
"The Justice League decided that Gotham Academy suited your talents better than Happy Harbor High School." Marina didn't probe any further. Sucking in a breath, she stepped into the Zeta-Tube.
"Recognized: Marina Lynn Marks A-0-2."
Marina sighed in relief when she opened the Out-of-Order telephone booth. The morning sun beat down on her. She shrugged off her blazer, folding it into her backpack.
When the coast was clear, she exited the alley. She popped in her earphones as she passed by a suited man. The wires connected to her phone and glasses. On the outside, no one paid her any attention. She looked like any other teenager, talking to her earphone's mic.
"ALICE, give me the latest," Marina said. She slowed by a bus stop. She stood in line when ALICE flashed the news on her glasses.
"Thanks to the arbitrator, Lex Luthor, North and South Rhelasia signed a treaty, bringing both countries a step closer to reunification. Gotham City is holding an awarding ceremony with WayneTech Industries later today. Subject: to be announced." ALICE spoke through her earphones.
Marina nodded as the bus pulled up beside her. She stepped into the vehicle and tapped her bus pass on the payment circle. She settled down on a window seat after seeing the emergency exit.
"Belle Reve penitentiary is fully operational with a new warden, Hugo Strange. The Riddler remains at large after escaping the prison. No other recent news in the vicinity."
"Another Strange, huh?" Marina placed her bag across her legs. She remembered the name of the genius neurosurgeon. They wanted to have an appointment with him for Rhodey but he was on medical leave. Marina's mind lingered on her Uncle Rhodes– what was he doing? Did he need an upgrade for his leg braces? She wondered if Tony was driving him crazy, trying to pull his military contacts to search for her.
Her heart throbbed. While she couldn't help but feel homesick, she thought about their reaction to finding out she's going to a normal high school as a scholar under a technology grant. Uncle Rhodes would hug her, talking about her intelligence and not her name catching the attention of others. Tony… She sighed, pressing her head to the glass.
He would beam at her in pride before taking a shot that it wasn't MIT but it'll do. He'll ruffle her hair before bringing her out to celebrate. No surprises. Where would you like to go?
"Ma'am, are you alright?" ALICE spoke through Marina's earphones. She cleared her throat. She choked back the tears.
"Yeah," she sniffed. "I'm fine. Let's test the other features out, shall we?"
After the news vanished from her sight, she glanced at the passengers that came on the bus.
"Accessing Justice League satellite," ALICE declared through her earphones. A window of information appeared beside the people entering the bus and those who already sat down.
Jay Grace. Pilot. Born on… Pippa McLean. Spokesperson of Hollywood Agency… Leon Valdez. Engineer at…
Marina's shoulders loosened when the doors of the bus closed. All passengers disproved her paranoia. She looked out of the bus in thought.
Tony… Will she ever get the chance to tell him about her school? That she found friends? That she relapsed into Lilith again?
"Ma'am, I suggest playing some calming music to get ready for school." Nature sounds erupted through buds.
"No need," Marina grumbled. She leaned against the cool glass. "I am perfectly fine."
"Your heart rate is wildly–"
"I'm good," Marina snapped at her AI. The old lady across from her shot Marina an alarmed look. She jolted from Marina's exclamation. Marina muttered an apology before staring out the window. "ALICE, just play my normal songs."
While her family wasn't there with her physically, the songs helped. As cliche as it sounds, the music made her feel like they were with her. It played as she watched the modern buildings of downtown disappear into older looking structures. Rolling greenery lined the sidewalk.
As the last person on the bus, Marina jumped off at her stop. She removed her earphones as she walked down the street. Gotham Academy loomed over the corner.
Marina paused in front of the school. Birds chirped as a few students got dropped off by private cars. Turning her wrist over, she checked her watch. The watch's face, covering her inner wrist, showed 6:52 am. Half an hour till her meeting with the student liaison.
"ALICE, make sure that protocols are in order. Keep me updated for any changes." Marina instructed. "Clear all displays."
"Understood. Have a good day in school, ma'am."
"Time to get to work," Marina muttered. She slinked quietly around the fire exits. Marina searched where to hide her emergency stashes of knives and other devices. She dusted her hands when she entered the pavilion. There were far more students loitering in the halls.
Marina caught a flash of blonde hair and familiar hair barrette. She moved closer to the middle of the space. A voice jolted her from her thoughts, "See? I told you I would be seeing you around."
She whipped around to see the boy. His black hair neatly slicked back. His uniform was cleanly pressed. Blue eyes danced happily. "Congratulations on passing! I knew that you could do it."
Marina flushed. "You overestimate me. Dick, right?" He bowed at her. He faced the ground before looking up. He dramatically held out his hand.
"At your service. What's your name?" Amusement flashed in his eyes. Laughing, Marina grasped his hand. She curtsied, lifting one side of her skirt.
"Marina Marks. A pleasure."
A pair of footsteps approached. Marina glanced up to see the same redhead from the Freshman Orientation. She spoke, "Being friendly to another new girl?" Marina dropped her hand from Dick's.
"Barbara!" Dick gestured to Marina. "Meet Marina Marks. She's in our grade."
Marina awkwardly waved hello to the other girl. Dick introduced her, "Marina, meet Barbara Gordon."
"What class are you in?" Barbara asked Marina bluntly. Biting back surprise, Marina read the document given to her by the admissions.
"Um… Ms. Anna Jackson." Barbara hummed. Marina looked down at her watch again. They raised a brow at how she wore it. Hastily, she rotated it around her wrist so that the face turned outwards. She shrugged, "The watch is too big."
Dick shot her a smirk as if he knew the real reason why she wore it that way. But he didn't say anything about it.
"We're in different sections. Your student liaison will be here in a bit," Dick grinned at her. He rocked forward and back. "I can wait with you, if you like."
Barbara crossed her arms. Her eyes narrowed at her blue-eyed friend. Marina politely declined. "No, it's okay. I'll be fine here."
Dick opened his mouth to protest but Barbara waved quickly before walking off. Following after her, Dick shouted over his shoulder. "See you around." He caught up to Barbara with a laugh.
Marina waved before lowering her hand. She stared at Dick's back. Something bothered her. That laugh– His voice–
"Marina Marks?" A girl shorter than her approached. Her uniform worn perfectly, according to the rules. "I'm Angelica Martinez. You can just call me Angie and I'll be your new student liaison. May I see your admission papers?"
Angie's words flew out of her mouth in seconds. Marina blinked, handing over her papers. Angie scanned them then beamed at Marina. "Awesome! It looks like we're in the same class!"
Marina opened then closed her mouth. Her mind tried to formulate words. Angie thankfully kept the conversation going. "Though, you have advanced math and science with Mr. Wilson and Ms. Carter."
She sounded impressed. Marina wrung her hands together when Angie studied her. "You're a scholar, huh? Say, what school did you come from?"
Marina felt the need to nervously massage her hands. She kept her composure expertly. "I was homeschooled my entire life."
Understanding lit her eyes. "Oh! Same here but I moved to Gotham Academy last year."
Marina felt a prick at the back of her neck. Angie stared over her shoulder. Marina spun around. A stern looking woman watched them from across the pavillon. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. She tapped her pen on her clipboard.
"Madam Stern, secretary of admissions," Angie whispered to Marina before smiling at the old lady watching them. She waved at Madam Stern while explaining to Marina. "She's been on my ass. Since I came here, she's been going on about low breeds among pedigree."
Marina narrowed her eyes. "Looks like she's searching for her dalmatian coat."
Angie threw her head back with a laugh. Marina cracked a smile too. The student liaison wiped the tears forming around her eyes. "That's too good."
Marina bit back her relief when they started moving. Their talk naturally flowed. Angie shared her experience in Gotham Academy as a student. They passed the cafeteria, lobby, library, sports field, and finally the classrooms. "And here we are! Room 113."
Marina stepped into the room. The space was large, needlessly so but still welcomed. Marina took quick note of the only door to enter and exit the room and the pans of windows. Angie greeted some friends from the previous year. She motioned Marina to follow her closer to the other end of the room.
A boy sat. His face buried into his crossed arms. Long legs extended underneath the table.
"Youngie," Angie sang. She dropped down on the seat beside him while Marina settled down in front of him. She hung her backpack on the side of the desk, body facing Angie and this "Youngie."
The boy unfolded himself, stretching his limbs with a yawn. His black fringe covered his dark eyes. He shook his head to reveal his eyes more. He examined Marina and vice versa.
"Marina, this is Jin-Young Kim." Angie introduced him. She turned to her friend. "Youngie, this is Marina Marks. She's new."
He jerked his head in greeting which she awkwardly said hi in return. He tilted his head. "I didn't see you in the Orientation."
"Yup, she took the last exams. It was on the same day though." Angie answered. Marina nodded. Jin-Young hummed.
"Well, you saved yourself from the hassle," Jin-Young said. He propped his head on his hand. Angie snorted.
"If I have to hear about another luxury hotel in the Maldives or shopping with daddy's credit card in Paris, I'll kill myself." Angie dramatically sighed. Youngie chuckled. Marina smiled.
"No need to get jealous, Angie. I did invite you after all," A criminally thin girl commented while flipping her blond hair behind her shoulders. The trio flicked their attention to the girl. She now stood in front of them with another smirking girl.
Her shoulders rolled back with confidence. As for her smirk, there was a lingering malicious intent behind the facade that was her made up face. Marina felt her eyes narrow.
"Well, Ashley, I would rather be choked by this very necktie than go with you," Angie motioned to the fabric tied under the collar of her shirt. Ashley's plastic smile dropped a fraction. Her eyes flickered to Jin-Young, pausing a little to make evident that she was reviewing him before back at her.
She gave a sickening sweet smile before saying, "Well, I won't take up your time."
She sauntered back to her seat. Jin-Young relaxed his tense shoulders. He rolled his eyes at Ashley. "She came here just to say that. What a bitch."
"Agreed," Marina nodded to Jin-Young's comment. The two twisted to her. Their eyebrows shot up to their foreheads.
"You understand Korean?" Angie muttered. Marina nodded briefly. Angie blew out air, "I mean, I can only understand the last one since Youngie uses it so much."
"I can pick up some words and get the gist of a sentence. Though, the only sentence I know fully in Korean is "more snacks. Please and thank you."" Marina said, staring at them. It had been the only thing that Helen Cho taught her much to Marina's dismay. To her, Marina saying it to another researcher of U-GIN had been hilarious enough. This made Marina never trust her fully again.
Snickers emerged from Jin-Young as Angie smiled gleefully, "Don't worry. I have a feeling Youngie here will teach us a lot!"
oOo
The morning class was better than she would imagine. She got along with Angie and Jin-Young swimmingly and not that much of the clique. Angie and Jin-Young introduced her to other classmates and even some out of the class.
Marina would be lying if she wasn't weary of the other people. She studied every single one of her new acquaintances. She didn't feel any malicious intent or twists in her gut. Marina greeted them with less suspicion but she guessed old habits die hard.
Marina sighed as she sat herself farthest from the whiteboard, cautiously away from the windows but enough to see anyone coming from the distance. Of course, she had planned where to sit just in case if something were to… occur that may have to do with the life. But it was also the best place to sleep.
More like closing my eyes than actually sleeping…
Marina glanced down at the book entitled 'Advanced Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists.'
"The League has decided that your gun privilege comes with some conditions. That being to attend a school and experience what it is to be a normal citizen of this universe." Batman's reason echoed in her head. She let out a muted grumble. She noted the footsteps coming closer to her. She peered up to meet a familiar face.
"So I take it that we'll be partners for this semester then?" Dick beamed at her, flashing his pearly white teeth in a winning smile. She was pretty sure that the other girls in her grade would have instantly swooned and Marina almost did.
"Are you sure you're not stalking me now, Dick?" She retorted with her own question. Dick dropped his bag beside their table before sliding on the seat.
"Isn't it more like you stalking me?" He grinned at her. She gave an unlady-like snort.
"Well, with the time this morning and the time before my entrance exam, I would deduce that you had made a habit of shadowing me."
"Deduced? Shadowing? I think someone has been reading too much Sherlock Holmes."
"Nope," She popped. "Never been a fan."
He was almost every bit of Tony. Both bitterly smart and an arrogant asshole. And I only need one of that in my lifetime. Marina mused. Something about Sherlock Holmes made her think that he could be another version of Tony Stark. Maybe even a past life to Tony.
This made her shiver slightly. Too uncanny.
A lump formed in her throat. She swallowed it. Dick hummed, staring at her. "Yeah. I pegged you more of a physics gal anyways."
Marina's eyebrows arched. "What do you mean–"
The door swung open and a teacher strode in, "Hello class! I am Warren Wilson, your teacher for this class. Let's begin."
Marina twirled her pencil between two fingers. The numbers and figures struck her as nothing new. She blankly stared at the board, glancing down at her paper to pretend she was taking down notes.
Rather, she drew– not a potato launcher this time. She learned her lesson. Lines straightened and curved as she drew Tony's arc reactor from memory.
"Getting bored already?" Dick whispered quietly to her. Marina didn't so much as glance at him. After taking in the board, she ducked her head once more to draw.
"Not in the slightest," she replied sarcastically. She darkened the lines of the triangle. Marina watched from the corner of her eyes when he yawned behind his hand.
"Getting bored already?" She repeated his words. Dick grinned at her. He stretched languidly.
"Actually, yes, I–"
"Mr. Grayson," Mr. Wilson called out. They both stiffened. Dick shot the teacher a confident smile.
"Yes, sir?"
"Please solve the problem." The older man tapped the whiteboard. Dick stood up fluidly and bounded up the classroom. Marina's gaze followed Dick, who turned his head. He shot her a smirk. Marina rolled her eyes with an inkling of a smile.
Her sight landed on the paper Dick left open on his side of the table. She frowned at the familiar slant of the numbers. The teacher's praise interrupted her thoughts. Dick quickly returned to his seat.
"Well done, Dick," the teacher clapped his hands together. "Now can anyone tell me why there are two answers? Anyone? How about our newcomer, Ms. Marks?"
Marina bit back a sigh. She peaked at the board. "Due to the equation being the product of two linear factors, two solutions are needed hence both results."
The teacher grinned at her. Brown eyes twinkled. "Couldn't have said it better. Someone might be ending Dick's reign in the mathlete championships this year." This time Marina smirked at Dick. They focused again on the whiteboard.
"Ma'am," words typed in Marina's vision. Ensuring that no one was paying attention to her, Marina nodded her head. "We have a hit… 'Latest on Gotham News, Scientists' Breakthrough on Quantum Studies.' Awarding presented to Dr. Anthony Brooks given by Bruce Wayne and Gotham Mayor in the Gotham City Science Institute.'"
A jolt of electricity and excitement travelled to every fiber of her being. Her fingers twitched from the news. Before she could follow up, another window of text flashed into view.
"Profile has been made. I checked his schedule through the League's backdoor through all telecommunication networks. After the awarding ceremony, he will have dinner with the mayor, Bruce Wayne and other scientists from WayneTech Industries."
Marina glanced at the information display. Mr. Wilson closed the book in his hands as the bell rang. "That's it for today. I'm letting you off easy for now because it's the start of school." A cheer echoed through the classroom. The teacher waved it off.
"But I expect you all to read ahead on the vertex form found in your textbooks. Got that?"
"Public release of the study has been denied. It cannot be accessed because it is on WayneTech private servers." ALICE wrote on the bottom corner of her screen. Makings of a plan captured her thoughts.
In the wave of mumbled agreements, Marina said, "Clear. Crystal clear." The information vanished from her glasses. She knew what she had to do. She sprung up from her chair, stuffing her books into her bag. Her seatmate raised a dark brow.
"In a hurry?"
"Gotta catch the bus. Have to run some errands after class!" Marina said over her shoulder. She bolted for the exit, weaving between other dismissed students. She waved see you tomorrow to Angie and Jin-Young leaving their classroom. Now, it's time for her extracurriculars.
She made a beeline to her dark workshop. The frosted glass door slid open as she stepped in without missing a beat. Her heart thrummed loudly against her chest as her workspace came to life. Lights and holograms appeared in the air as she dropped her bag onto a chair.
"Good afternoon, ma'am," ALICE spoke. "I have sent the related news and information concerning the one, Anthony Brooks to the live transmitteras per your request."
"Thank you, ALICE," She stared at her Lethe suit. She propped her glasses beside the uniform. She almost imagined her mask wink back at her. "Let's get this show on the road, shall we?"
She strapped the hidden knives and other gadgets to herself. She put on her earring stud and transmitter. Sliding out the magazine from her guns, she checks the customized bullets. She paused.
"Just in case…" She mumbled, knowing that it's better safe than sorry even if it was a recon mission. On the way out, she looked around the workshop. "ALICE, I'm stepping out. If anyone looks for me…"
Marina thought about it for a moment. Would she need an excuse? If she said that she was taking a breather, they would be more concerned. "Tell them the usual."
"Official consulting hours are between eight to five, every other Thursday. Please come back during those times. Got it, ma'am." The lights switched off when she exited her workshop.
She shrugged on her jacket. Marina sighed quietly when she heard giggles beside her. She glanced to her right unwillingly. M'gann was wrapped in Connor's arms, the clone's back facing Marina. M'gann shifted out from her school clothes as her hands fiddled with Connor's hair.
Her face twisted before growing unfazed. Connor's hands danced down M'gann's waist. Marina averted her eyes. She hooked the bottom of her jacket. The snap of her zip made the two spring apart. They gasped in surprise and the lack of breath Marina noticed.
"Umm we can…" M'gann started. Marina raised a brow. Connor glared at her for a second.
"You can continue," Marina replied. She took a few steps down before glancing at them, "Once I'm out of here. You kids have fun."
A flush rose to M'gann's green cheeks. Connor pulled her closer to him. Marina walked down the stairs. She patted Sphere. She still felt eyes on her when she stepped in front of the Zeta-tubes.
"ALICE. Maybe I need to move out after all. It's too lovey dovey here." she called to her earpiece, fully aware that the two were listening. Connor craned his neck to look at her. M'gann reluctantly followed. She caught their attention. "Those looks were as bad as Wally and Artemis."
Connor cracked a smile. The two spitfires dished out stares that were as intense as their bickering. M'gann looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole.
Marina sighed a shaky breath. She cannot believe that she was entering the stuffy tubes again.
M'gann and Conner chatted quietly. M'gann shook it off, "A-Anyway, w-where—"
"Work," Marina replied, not allowing M'gann to finish her questions. She stepped into the tube. "Recognized: Marina Lynn Marks A-0-2."
"Who are you?"
Marina stepped out from the corner. Anthony Brooks narrowed his eyes at her through his thick glasses. His salt-and-pepper hair slicked back and he fumbled for his coat. The lines around his face creased more as he made his way to the other side of the room.
Marina stepped in between him and his coat that most likely had his phone. She held up a gloved hand. "I'm…" she tried to find the right words. "I'm someone who needs your help."
His brows shot up to his hairline. "Forgive me. Those who need my help don't normally wait in the dark to speak to me or to ask for any favors."
"Trust me, if there was someone else who can help, I would have asked them long ago," she sighed. "Look, I'm not going to hurt you. I just need you to help me."
"And how may I help you?" The scientist said with fake cordiality. Marina didn't mind his sarcasm. The Institute's room felt cold.
"What does quantum science say about…" Marina trailed off hesitantly. She was showing a card she was told not to reveal. "Traveling in between dimensions?"
That caught his attention. "Inter dimensional travel?"
"Yes. And not just that, traveling in between two separate times."
He sighed, thinking about it. He took off his glasses. He rubbed them against the fabric of his shirt. "In theory, it is impossible. The technology in itself is far from achieving such a feat. But the science is still too young to even fathom—"
"But let's say that the science exists, it's possible for a person to have been transported from one dimension to another." She cut him off eagerly. "Evidence is real. What would we need to do to transport the person back?"
Dr. Brooks slid into his chair. He leaned forward, interested. He pressed his elbows on the table. "Even if the science is real, the energy to power such a machine is beyond any that we currently have."
Marina cursed. She nibbled her lip in thought. The scientist watched her. "You seemed so sure that the quantum science for inter dimensional travel exists? Why?"
Marina remained silent. The scientist leaned back, "I wouldn't be surprised if you did find the evidence for it. We have aliens as Earth's heroes. There might be a chance for such a feat."
Earth's heroes… Energy… "What if," Marina sat on the seat opposite to Dr. Brooks. She whipped out her phone. "We make the energy?"
She tapped the screen twice. The hologram projected her tinkering. More than one night, she laid awake making machine blueprints. But the equations were just not right.
A knock sounded through the Institute's doors. Behind the door to Dr Brooks' office, a gruff voice sounded. She moved to get away but to her surprise, Brooks raised a hand to her.
"What is it?"
"Is everything alright, Dr. Brooks?"
The scientist's eyes flickered to Lethe. "Everything is fine. I am working on something important. Please inform the mayor and Mr. Wayne that I might be late."
His assistant walked away from the doors. Dr. Brooks leaned forward. He waved a hand to Lethe. "Go ahead. Show me."
She swiped through her drafts. Marina found what she was looking for. She pinched her fingers together before expanding the prints. "What about a quantum tunnel?"
Dr. Brooks looked impressed. He wore his spectacles again as he studied it. "Did- Did you make this?"
"I don't know much about quantum science but I know how to innovate," she replied. She zoomed into the equations. "And I'm hardly sure if this is correct."
Dr. Brooks was silent for a long time. Marina jolted when he started laughing. He took in the hologram more. "Incredible!"
He rounded his desk to see the plans from her view. She perked up, "So it works?"
"Not at all," Brooks replied despite being giddy. Marina scowled. He waved to the hologram. "The math isn't right. The theory is all over the place."
Marina hunched. She massaged her temples, so close yet so far. She slid her phone back into her pockets. "However," Brooks continued. "I believe that I can help you."
Marina raised a brow, "How?"
The scientist rounded his desk. He slid open a drawer and removed a hidden panel. He drew out a small USB. "Here, my findings. I believe that if you study more about quantum sciences, you'll be placed on the right path."
Marina leaned over to grasp the drive but Brooks pulled back. He tisked, "But we need an exchange."
"Talk."
"Since I shared my knowledge, you return the favor. Your breakthrough. Once– If- you figure it out, I want to study what you learned."
"That's a dangerous bargain," she narrowed her eyes. "How will I know that you will not use it to do something I'll regret?"
"I'm not some young adventurer," Brooks replied. He pointed to a cane that rested against his table. "But, I do care about my legacy. If I see that what I spent my lifetime studying has borne fruit, I would like to see it."
Marina weighed the options in her mind. "How do you know that I'm not going to use it for evil or something?"
Dr. Brooks smiled. "My dear, I was a homeless scientist who lost his wealth and family before this point. I know desperation to find a home when I see it." He gathered his cane into his right hand before limping over to the other end of his office. He shrugged on his coat, sliding a hand into his pocket.
"If you need to talk about your theories or thoughts about this topic, here," he threw the small piece of paper to her. Marina caught it with ease. She flipped it over to see his business card. "Maybe we can study it together."
Another knock sounded, "Dr. Brooks, we need to go now."
"I guess I'll see you–" When the scientist turned back to the girl, she disappeared. No trace of her in sight.
On the building beside the Gotham Institute of Science, Lethe watched Dr. Anthony Brooks exit with two guards and his secretary. She studied the USB in her hand. She wondered if she sold her soul to the devil. A soft thud behind Lethe made her tuck the drive away.
"Lethe," a gravelly voice greeted her. Lethe remained watching the scientist duck into the limousine.
"Batman. How did you know I was here?"
"This is my city." He replied. "I know everything that happens here."
Marina snorted. "Before you say anything, it seems like I'm not going home anytime soon."
Batman didn't reply. Silence between them hung heavily. "Well, not all is lost." Marina glanced at the Bat in shock. The slightly optimistic words surprised her. "We have a lead."
From his arm, a hologram displayed. He showed her pictures of an ancient looking scroll. "A scroll was found being sold within the market. It held a ritual similar to that of Wotan's. The League is following up more clues. Sit tight."
Marina sighed. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 8, 7, 6… She couldn't control the slow pace but at least it was something. "Got it."
"I should congratulate you for making it into Gotham Academy. Top Three percent is worth celebrating."
"Someone threatened me to do well," Marina pointed out. She turned to him. "How did you know?"
His face grew serious. "I know–"
"Everything that happens in your city. I know. I heard." Marina crossed her arms. "I should've known that you won't reply."
Batman hummed. The sun began to set over the horizon. The orange sky swirled around them. He moved to the edge of the building. "Return to the Cave. Robin will meet you by the tubes."
Before Marina could say anything, he jumped off. His grappling hook steadily swung him out of sight. "Kinda weird that the Bat doesn't fly."
Marina hung around the booth. She waited for Robin to appear. She heard quiet footsteps following her. The sound of clothes behind her swished. She forced herself to seem like she couldn't hear them. She felt a hand hover over her shoulder.
She grabbed the arm and swung it to the ground. An oof echoed through the dark alley. She planted a foot on the person's chest and drew a knife. Lethe frowned when she looked down.
"What are you doing?"
Robin smiled up at her. He held up his hands in surrender. "Surprise?"
She sighed in exasperation before holding a hand out to him. He gripped it, allowing her to pull him up. "I hate surprises."
"How did you know I was here?"
She pointed to his cape, "That only has aesthetic purposes and not functional ones."
Robin frowned this time. "Hey! Don't diss the cape."
"Are you some medieval villain that needs a swishing grand entranc–" Robin pushed Lethe to the shadows. He gripped her arm. Marina remembered the incident in the warehouse. While it wasn't really him, his face flashed in her mind.
Too close. She jerked back. She thanked all the gods for it being dark or else he would see the blush that rose to her cheeks.
"Why are we hiding?" Lethe hissed to Robin. He snickered.
"It's a surprise!"
"Not this again–"
A familiar green clad girl entered the alley. Robin slammed a hand over her mouth. Marina rolled her eyes when he pressed a finger to his lips. Marina stared at him as he watched Artemis walk to the out-of-order booth.
His black hair tousled. A lock hung in front of his forehead. Like he swung with Batman through the Gotham streets, it gave him a more boyish look that matched his habit to shock others.
He let go when Artemis thought the coast was clear. Robin stepped out of their hiding place. "Artemis?"
She gasped, "Robin! I– uhh–"
He smirked, "How random that you're in Gotham City. Instead of Star City, where your uncle, Green Arrow, lives."
"Families can live separately and across all states, you know?" Lethe retorted. She saddled beside Robin. Artemis' eyes grew wide when she saw Marina. "Some might even live on separate continents!"
"I'm– uh- here to see my cousin," Artemis nodded to what Marina said. She rubbed the back of her neck. "She was in the state spelling bee. Here, in Gotham City."
"C-O-O-L. Did she W-I-N?"
"N-O." Artemis narrowed her eyes at Robin. Marina rolled her eyes again.
"D-R-A-G."
"Yeah, let's just go to the Cave." Artemis jerked her thumb to the booth. He bowed to Artmeis.
"Ladies, first."
"For the love of– I'll go first." Marina impatiently crossed between the two. She took a deep breath before stepping in. For the fourth time today, she heard, "Recognized: Marina Lynn Marks A-0-2."
When the light subsided, she smelt the smoke. She ducked to the side of the tube as a fireball flew over her head. She couldn't see her assailants. "ALICE, who's in the Cave?"
"The rest of the Team, ma'am," ALICE replied in her ear. "I am unable to access the cameras within the Cave. The attackers are unaccounted for."
Marina ducked as another flaming ball casted into her direction. She yelped as the ground rose from the impact. She hid to the side, "Has anyone left the Cave?"
"No, ma'am."
The Zeta-tube whirred with life. It voiced the incoming member of the Team, "Recognized: Robin, B-01."
Marina hissed, "Alright, we need to make sure that everyone who comes in won't die–"
Robin stepped out. Another fireball hurled from the smoke. "Robin!" She dove toward him. She brought him to the ground. She was face to face with Robin. He stared up in shock while her eyes flickered from his face to his body, "You okay?"
"I'm fine," he replied over the sizzling. Marina slid off him. They ducked from another ball of fire. "Who's attacking us?"
"I have no idea." Lethe coughed from the smoke. "ALICE, did you find out where they're coming from?"
"The trajectory shows the attacks are coming from the main breaker." ALICE fed a visual path to Marina. She shot in the direction but pangs ricocheted. She wasn't sure if the attackers were finding behind metal debris. She weaved through the rubble.
Robin pulled her to the side. A fireball came too close to comfort. Robin shielded her. "Are you okay?"
Marina shot over his shoulder. She didn't see if it made contact. "Thanks. We need to find the others!"
"First, Artemis doesn't know what she's walking into!"
The tubes whirred again. "Recognized: Artemis, B-07."
"Get down!" Robin called to Artemis. She expertly dodged the fireball. They jumped in front of Artemis.
Marina pressed the comm closer to her ear. Robin covered them, throwing batarangs to the unseen attackers. "ALICE, deploy Protocol 15-Alpha!"
Her AI replied to her, "The comms are down! I'll find a way to go around it, ma'am."
"Do it with full priority! If the rest of the Team is still here, every second counts." Marina dreaded her low ammunition. She resorted to knives.
"On it!"
Artemis drew back another arrow before letting it fly. She dove away from the fireball. She scrambled to stand again. The silhouette of their assailants gave her something to focus on.
"Who are we fighting?"
"I don't know," Robin replied to Artemis' yell. "But, we're sitting ducks by these tubes. Head for the exit!"
Marina followed closely behind Robin. Artemis covered their rear. A beam of fire targeted where they just stood. "ALICE? Any good news?"
"I'm working as hard as I can, boss," ALICE replied. "All communications within the Cave are down!"
"Or not," Robin muttered when a flood came towards them. They turned on their heels but they couldn't outrun the water. They were swept into the strong current. Their backs slammed against the wall. The water receded.
Marina pulled Artemis up, breaking into a run. Fireballs rained around them again. It transformed into a fiery tornado. They headed down the corridor and into the gym. The automatic doors shut behind them.
"Robin to Team," Robin pressed his comms. "Come in, Aqualad."
Marina ran beside him. She shook her head. "The comms are down. ALICE has been trying to go around it to contact the League. But no use."
"No answer from M'gann in the other way." Artemis informed them. They rushed by the line of exercise equipment. An explosion erupted behind them. A wave of energy and heat sent them to the floor. Marina felt the back of her arms warm.
They scrambled back up, the fire tornado close behind them. They ran to the showers. "Robin to Bat Cave, override RG Four. Cave calling Justice League. H-O-J slash Watch Tower. B-01. Priority Red."
Marina opened the showers as fast as she could. Artemis held their frontline with her arrow drawn.
"Comm is down. Locked."
"That explains it. No outgoing or incoming calls." Marina agreed. An idea pinged in her adrenaline filled mind. "If there are no calls, ALICE, can you hide through the wifi? Use the extending server to link to the Justice League."
"It's doable, ma'am," ALICE replied back. "But it may take some time to override their security and firewalls."
"Do it!"
Amidst rain of the showers, they heard the creaking of the pipes. Robin watched the walls carefully. "At least the water is helping."
The groaning from the walls grew louder. Faucets and shower heads flew from the water's building pressure. "Or not," Robin said before gasping for air. Marina took a deep breath. They were weightless in the water as the fire tornado came closer.
Robin swam to one side of the shower room. He placed a bomb batarang on the wall. Marina's eyes widened. She tugged Robin away from the blast. The wall blew out, causing them to sprawl in an empty corridor.
Artemis coughed up water from beside Lethe. Marina spat out water. They pulled themselves off the ground, running to the kitchen. "Ma'am, I am thirty percent in."
"We need to get lost."
"The air vent!" Artemis exclaimed. Marina paused but Artemis grabbed her arm.
"Good! Go!" Artemis pulled off the grills of the vent. She pushed Marina up into the metal tunnel. "Go!"
Marina let out a shuddering breath. She crawled deeper into the steel confinement. She heard the echo of Artemis' voice. "What are you–"
She waited for Artemis' head to pop up. Once the blonde entered the vent, she pulled her up. She led the way. "Go left!"
She turned to the left pipe quickly. A column of fire rushed into the pipes, narrowly missing Robin's feet. He sighed, "too close!"
"Fourty-six percent!" ALICE updated Marina. She sucked in a breath.
"Take the first right," Robin instructed her. The loud roar of another wave of fire made her flinch. She looked ahead, the tight corners of the shaft made her heart leap to her chest. The walls grew narrower as did her throat.
She silently cursed at herself. Now is not the time. Robin's voice pierced through the fog that started to circle around her mind. "There should be a vent cover right in front of you."
Marina pulled the cover free. She tried to maintain her composure as she entered the downward vent. She slid into the tunnel. At the end of it, she kicked open another grill. She dropped down, moving to the side when Artemis and Robin followed.
"Sixty-two percent. Almost there, ma'am."
Robin opened the holographic blue print of the Cave. "This way."
With no time to lose, they sprinted down the steel steps. They grimaced when the airvent exploded behind them. They whipped around to see their attacker in pursuit. The feminine figure raised her hands above her head. The generator room increased in heat.
"ALICE, any minute now," Marina whispered to her AI. They hid in between the machines. The thermostat of the device beside them turned red and started to beep.
"That's not good."
"You think?" Marina said. She gritted her teeth when the machine short circuited. It crackled with electricity that snapped against her arm. They hurried down the pipes and machines. Hot steam burst from behind them.
They crossed underneath the steel catwalk as fast as they could. Fire followed their footsteps. "Ma'am, eighty one percent."
They hid behind another generator. Robin consulted the map again. "I know that other access tunnel is here somewhere."
Marina huffed, "Another tunnel?"
Artemis unlatched a vent cover. "You mean this one?" She jumped into the vent. Marina was right behind her. Her body moved on its own accord. She crawled behind Artemis and flincehd when the vent shook. Robin sent off a bomb after him. She looked back urgently. She sighed in relief when he descended unharmed.
"Hold on." He opened a panel with the sharp edge of his batarang. She melted beside him. Her blood pumped in her ears.
"ALICE, update."
"Ninety-three percent." Marina closed her eyes, willing her incoming panic attack away.
They watched Robin's hologram. His fingers flew over his keypad. "Locking out Cave's motion and heat sensors to prevent the enemy from tracking us."
"And I ask again. Who is the enemy?"
"Let's find out. Downloading Cave security footage. There!" Marina opened her eyes to see Robin's hologram split into four angles. He zoomed into one.
"Are you sure we should use Marina's tool box without her permission?" M'gann asked.
"Of course! Anyway, she would never say no to me," Wally replied. His eyes glued on Superboy's motorcycle. "Torque wrench."
M'gann levitated the tool from the box. Wally shot her a flirty smile. "Thank you, Green Cheeks." He happily screwed down a bot on the motorcycle.
"I have been meaning to ask," Aqualad began. "Any problem juggling school work with your responsibilities here?"
Conner kept his hands on his waist. "No."
"Juggling is just one of my many talents," Wally said confidently. He placed down the torque wrench. "Socket wrench."
"By the way, where is Marina?" Aqualad peeked into her workshop.
"She said that she was doing "work" and left a while ago." Aqualad stared at M'gann who waved her hands to redirect the conversation.
"Dealing with cheerleading practice has presented a challenge," M'gann levitated the tool to Wally's hand. "Oh! But, my first loyalty is always to the Team– this Team. Not the bumblebees."
"Artemis starts school today." Aqualad brought up. "Do you think she will have trouble maintaining her loyalties?"
Artemis scowled. Robin reeled back. Marina frowned slightly. In the video, Wally clapped his hands together before standing, "Nah, she'll manage alright. I mean, how much more hostile and annoying–"
An explosion swept the Team in the video away. Rubble flew from the side of the stairs, right beside her workshop. The video turned gray.
"What happened?" Artemis asked in alarm.
"Explosion took out the camera," Robin's fingers tapped quickly. "I'll find another angle."
He pulled up another video. This time, the angle took the view with the Zeta-tubes in sight. Three columns of water fell on their Team before it blacked out.
In another angle, it showed the Team springing into action but a wave of water took out the camera. In the last video, the Team ran toward their enemy. The camera went static too before they got a good look at their attackers.
Marina screwed her eyes shut. She prayed that the rest of the Team were alright. "That's it," Robin spoke. "All four are dead."
Her eyes sprung open. Her face matched Artemis'. Marina kicked his side at the tactless words. He corrected himself, "The cameras. I meant the cameras! I-I'm sure that the others are okay."
His hands flew into a flurry. "Just give me a sec to find the fastest route to the hangar."
"Boss, I'm in." ALICE announced. Marina sighed in relief.
"Good, relay the following, Cave underattack. Send help A-S-A-P. I repeat, send help A-S-A-P." Marina paused. She thought about expressing that the others' conditions are unknown but she thought better. "That's it. ALICE, do everything for the message to reach them quickly. Priority alpha."
"Got it, ma'am," ALICE said. "Stay safe."
Artemis slouched against the vent wall beside Marina. Marina squeezed beside Robin. Her back firmly pressed to the wall but her figure shook. Her breath hitched. Robin frowned before grabbing her hand. "Breathe, Marina!"
Artemis shifted her attention to Marina. She rubbed circles on her back soothingly. "We're okay." The younger girl breathed, counting her inhales and exhales. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 8, 7…
"Yeah, and the others are fine." Artemis hugged her knees closer to her chest. "They all got superpowers. They can handle anything."
They crawled down the maze of vents until Robin stopped. He removed the vent panel. Books and shelves greeted them before they jumped down. Marina felt her shoulders loosen. They ran down the library's steps.
"There's a secret passage behind one of these bookcases," Robin told them in a hushed voice.
"Seriously, cliche much."
They crouched in between the shelves. The door opened behind them. Marina drew out her weapons. They quietly ran behind a shelf. Her knives were at the ready. Metallic footsteps echoed through the silent room.
"Artemis, Robin," a robotic voice called out. "Lethe.
"It's Red Tornado!" Artemis declared in relief.
"W-Wa–" Before Lethe could pull Artemis back, she sprung out of the book shelf. She gasped. Robin pulled Artemis away. Lethe stabbed the robot. She jumped back, throwing knives to the robot's face. It stalled him so that Robin and Artemis rolled underneath a table. They met up with her, running the opposite way.
They heard creaking of parts before another robot cornered them. Marina recognized the silhouette as the one in the generator room. "Duck, she's the one that shoots fire!"
They dove to the right, missing the flames. Robin pulled himself on top of the shelves. Artemis and Lethe close behind him. "What are they?"
The wooden bookshelves caught on fire. The sprinklers activated. Robin jumped down, tearing through the books. Marina stood side by side with Artemis. Artemis shot arrows at the male robot while Lethe used her limited knives on the female. The girl robot pushed the shelf easily. A domino effect began.
They jumped down. Robin pulled an orange covered book. They leapt into the passage, running at full speed. Artemis groaned, "Did you know that Tornado had siblings?"
They ran down the corridor. Robin looked over his shoulder, "No."
Artemis grabbed their arms before they turned left. "So now what? Red Tornado is one of the powerhouses of the League. How are we supposed to take down two of them!"
"They do seem pretty user-unfriendly." Lethe wanted to laugh but Artemis interjected.
"Don't joke! They–"
A robotic voice spoke overhead. "Attention Robin. Attention Artemis. Attention Lethe. You have exact ten minutes to surrender or the lives of your teammates will be extinguished."
"We need a plan," Marina announced. "I don't think that help will make it in time. So, we have to figure it out ourselves." They sprinted down the hall.
"We can access the hangar from here." They turned back to the sound of rushing water. Another flood came at them. "Or not."
"Will you please stop saying that?"
For the second time, they were swept away by the current. She pulled out an oxygen tube from her belt. Robin did the same, gulping the air quickly before handing it to Artemis. He looked around, checking on her. She removed her breather and stuffed it into his mouth. He raised his brows.
Artemis was jerked back, grabbing their attention. They moved toward her. Artemis banged her fists against the robot. Robin took an arrow into his hands while Marina pulled Artemis away from the robot. Using the current, they swam away from the robot.
She hooked both of their arms through hers. A grappling hook deployed from her gloves. Robin left a trail of bomb batarangs behind them. They broke through the surface, gasping. She coughed.
"Look out!"
At Wally's warning, they swam to the side. A fireball hurled toward them. They plunged back into the water. They emerged beside Wally and Conner.
"You guys okay?" Robin asked. Their teammates were chest deep in water. Conner scowled.
"Forget us! Help M'gann," he glanced at the fiery cage in the hangar. Sphere embedded in the wall.
"Aqualad!" Artemis called. "Is she–"
"She is unconscious," Aqualad replied. "I fear she– we- cannot survive much longer."
The female Red Tornado launched into the sky. Her fists flared. She shot a ball of fire at them. They dove into the water. She stabilised herself in the water from the impact of the attacks. They swam toward the hangar stairs. They were cornered again.
"I'm almost out of arrows."
"Distract her now!" Artemis launched an arrow at the female robot. Red fog covered her for a brief second. However, she easily walked through it. The moment she stepped through the mist. Marina threw a knife. The robot didn't jerk back despite the knife in her eye. She raised her hands to conjure another column of fire.
"Jump!"
They leapt from the side of the stairs and into the water. They swam up a shaft. They rose to the surface with an emergency ladder beside them. They crawled into the tunnel, coughing up water.
The speakers above them crackled, "Six minutes."
"What do we do now?"
"ALICE," Marina murmured.
"Three more firewalls to go." The AI replied. She hunched.
"We save them," Robin said. His hair stuck to his forehead as they dripped with water. "That's how this works."
"Maybe that's how it's supposed to work," Artemis snapped. "But those robots already took out our four superpowered friends."
"You seemed distraught."
"Distraught?! M'gann is dying. We have no powers. And I'm down to my last arrow." She pulled out the arrow from her quiver. She waved it at Robin. "Of course I'm distraught!"
"Well, get traught or get dead."
Robin continued their crawl. Marina opened her mouth, "we have to keep moving. Come on." She gently pulled Artemis forward.
"How can you be so calm?" Artemis placed back her arrow before following Marina and Robin.
"Practice. I've been doing this since I was nine." Marina hummed. So did she. Nine years old. Flashes of her trials at that age pierced her mind. She shivered. The walls suddenly drew closer. She focused on her hands.
"What good is that now? What chance do we have against unrelenting machines?"
Robin paused, "Oh, duh! They're machines! And one electromagnetic pulse will shut down any machine within range."
"Great! Except you better have an EMP emitter in your utility belt because I know I don't have one in my quiver."
"I'm fresh out but I'm bettin' we can make one," Robin pressed the comm in his ear. "What do you say, KF? Doable?"
"Totally doable!"
The announcement broke over the Cave, "Five minutes."
Wally continued, "You know if you had more time. But Marina's there! She'll make it in a jiff."
Robin glanced at Lethe. "Umm– she's kinda out of it."
"What happened?"
Marina shook her head. "I'm fine. Dammit. I just hate crawling around– in these shitty narrow tunnels. And this shitty situation. Shit–"
"Okay? Did she finally break?"
"We need the medlab," Marina said finally. She turned to Robin. "Lead the way."
Marina pressed on her comm. "Wally, give us an update of your end."
"Water's rising. The fiery cage that traps Aqualad and M'gann is getting smaller." They finally reached the medical room. Robin entered.
"X-ray machine," Wally coached Robin through. He found the machine and pointed it out to Marina. They crouched down beside it. They opened a panel. She removed–
"The small vacuum tube called a vercator." Marina removed the part. She mentioned to Robin to hook up his USB plug to the port. "That converts high energy pulses."
Marina watched the hologram as Robin went to work. She instructed him, "Reprogram the unit's conversion from X-rays to EMPs with a cascading energy vector directed outward."
"You took the words right out of my mouth, beautiful." Wally spoke through their comm. "Though, I wish your mouth was on mine instead."
"Wally!" Artemis spoke.
"Hey, I said it before! I am inches away from death so I am entitled to speak my mind!"
Robin twisted the vacuum out of the machine. He ignored his best friend's flirt, "A ripple effect! Like dropping a stone into a pond."
"A stone with ten to twelve power wattage, yeah." Robin pulled up a hologram image.
"So we need to hook it up to the Cave's main generator–"
"Which is?" Artemis leaned forward with an eyebrow raised. "Where?"
Marina grimaced as a shadow fell on Robin. "Where they're holding our friends hostaged."
"Four minutes." The robot announced. Robin slid a panel away from the tunnel's wall. He jumped out. They quietly scouted the scene. A beep sounded in her earpiece.
"Ma'am, one last firewall remaining. It is the biggest one."
She peeked over the wall to see the two robots. "This EMP emission will switch you off too. So this might be the last time I talk to you."
"Ever so grim, ma'am."
"Well, at least, until help arrives. Get through that firewall. I trust you." Her AI said nothing at first.
"Help will be arriving soon, ma'am."
Marina sighed, "I hope so. See you." She switched off ALICE from her earpiece. She turned to Artemis and Robin staring at her.
"She's at the last firewall but it's tough to get through."
Robin exhaled, "Then, it's just us. Okay," he pressed his comm again to speak to Wally. "Make with the distraction."
Wally yelled, "Hey, Red Tomato! Who's your girlfriend? Red Onion?"
Conner joined in, "Yeah! By the way, worst death trap ever! We can escape at any time we want!"
Their plan sprung into action. "We'll cover you." She unsheathed her gun from its holster. She pointed at the reds with Artemis. Robin made quick work to swing over and set the device.
"Rerouting power now," Robin spoke to her comms. "It's not working. Circuit's incomplete."
"Quick a piece of metal or–"
"Robin, look out!" Artemis shouted. A tall tsunami enveloped him. Robin disappeared from their view. While Artemis looked for any sign of Robin, Marina noticed the female robot raising a hand toward them. It hurled a fireball at them. Artemis drew back the string. She wasn't going to make it.
Marina tackled Artemis to the side as the explosion went off. The proximity of the blast made Marina's ears ring. Her vision came in and out. Another blast landed close to them. Marina screeched when the fire hit her leg. She crumpled to the ground. Artemis stepped forward, reaching for an arrow but found an empty quiver.
Marina pushed her aside. "Run!" She told Artemis. The older girl hesitated. Marina pushed harder. "Run! If you bring me, I'll only slow you down! Go!"
The Inferno robot levitated, flying closer to them. Artemis snapped out of her reluctance and sprinted down the corridor. Marina slumped against the debri. The robot trapped her in a similar cage as that of Aqualad and M'gann. It stood by Marina while sending flames after Artemis.
The female robot brought down the fiery grills and grabbed Marina's arm. It tugged her up, making Marina yelp when pain engulfed her leg. The robot lifted Marina roughly into her metal arms and levitated back down to the hangar platform. It dropped Marina into the cage with Kaldur and M'gann.
In the low cage, she cupped M'gann and Kaldur's face. She tapped them harshly. She broke out into sweat. Some strands of hair on her head sizzled. She focused on the two, "Wake up!"
The heat made her light headed. She laid between Kaldur and M'gann. She wrapped her hands in theirs. She squeezed as tightly as she possibly can. Kaldur groaned, making Marina want to cry tears of relief. She tried with M'gann's hand again. The Martian didn't respond. Marina thought the worst as she faded into unconsciousness.
"Ma'am, I'm almost through the last lines. Hang in there!"
But, when she felt a twitch from M'gann, all she thought about before she succumbed to the heat.
"She can make it…"
"Marina!" Her body shook forcibly. She groaned, her whole body ached but the throbbing in her leg was at the forefront of her mind. Her eyes fluttered open. Black and blonde heads stared down at her.
"Robin, Artemis? Are they…"
"Out," Robin confirmed.
Marina smiled at Artemis, "Good job." A relieved tear slipped from the corners of Artemis' eyes. She shifted to sit up, hissing at the pain on her upper thigh. Robin and Artemis helped her up, supporting her back.
"Careful, you were burned pretty bad." Artemis' eyes flickered to her thigh. Marina gaze followed. She halted when she saw the singed pant and red skin. Robin threw her arm around his shoulder and helped her down the stairs. Artemis picked up something to get Superboy and Wally out of their trap.
"Figured my only shot was to surrender. Pretend to drown before I actually did." He shrugged, causing Marina to sway to the side. "Blacked out though."
Marina glanced to Kaldur to her right. "You okay?"
Kaldur wiped off a bead of sweat with his free hand. "I will recover."
"Will you quit playing with that thing and cut us free already?" Wally demanded from Artemis. She fiddled with the gun's trigger. She narrowed her eyes at the speedster.
"It's not working, genius. EMPs shut down all machines, remember?"
"All machines present at that time," Red Tornado's familiar voice interjected. He landed in front of the Team. "I received an outside alert from the Watch Tower. What has occurred?"
Robin glanced at the two robots over his shoulder, "Had a little visit from your family."
"Your extremely nasty family."
"I was not aware I had relations." He turned on his heel and walked over to the robots.
"Where have you been?" Conner spat.
"Monitor duty on the Watch Tower. When it became clear that Cave communications were down, partnered with the alert of an external artificial intelligence, I attempted to investigate. But your Zeta-tubes were also non-functional. I transported to Provincenance and proceeded here."
Red Tornado knelt beside his siblings. Sphere popped out of the wall. It beeped happily at Conner. "-Am. Ma'am!" ALICE's voice startled her. She pressed her earpiece.
"ALICE? Red Tornado received your message. Great job," Her exhaustion ate at her bones.
"The Watch Tower was not the only one to have received my message," ALICE answered. Marina flinched when a beam blasted from the weapon Artemis was holding. "I sent them to–"
"The pulse has worn off!"
Red Tornado extended his hand towards his brother. Marina pointed to the robots in shocked when red eyes switched on. They glowed ominously. "They're awake."
Red Tornado funneled air around himself to levitate. He vacuumed the air away from the Team. ALICE warned in her ear, "Oxygen levels are plummeting."
She gasped for air, sliding down from Robin's side. He clasped his throat, kneeling beside her. She felt her body reclining as her vision turned black.
"-arina… Marina!" Her eyes flew open. She remained sprawled on the ground with Black Canary hovering over her. "Thank god, you're okay. She's okay, everyone."
The last events she remembers flooded back into her head. She tried to stand, "Where are they–" She hissed in pain when she sat up.
Black Canary supported her. The pain radiated from her upper thigh. She glanced at it. She blinked when a bandage covered the wound that was red and angry.
"Easy, there." Black Canary cautioned. "You had a burn on your leg. We fixed it up but it'll take a few more days to fully recover."
"I already feel fine," Marina shrugged it off. She looked around. The Cave was a mess. Debri littered the hangar. The Team talked to their mentors. Superman hovered over Artemis at the corner. Superboy watched them intently while Atom tried to cut him out.
"She's alright," Superman announced. Everyone in the Cave released a relieved sigh. Everyone from the Team is alive. Artemis got up with the help of Superman, cradling her head. "What happened here?"
"What happened," Artemis said incredulously. "The Reds happened! Tornado and his– Wait, where are they?"
"Gone," Robin declared. "All three of them. Gone."
Author's Note:
Phew! That was a long one! Please let us know your thoughts on this chapter and what you will think will happen in the next chapters/ episodes. We LOVE hearing your insights and suggestions!
Till the next one!