Karry Universe
Disclaimer: same as always
Note: So this starts with a very Karry scene, because you got to have Karry, but will be more about Dick and Liam (Roy's clone William, not Olly's son who doesn't exist in the Karry Universe, in case you forgot).
Far From the Tree
-Early October-
It was Friday night, Amelia was in the Penthouse with Starfire and Romana; they had lost the bidding for the house they liked in National, and despite other contenders, both Amelia and Winn didn't feel for the other homes so were currently reconsidering their options. Star and Romana, however, had been enrolled in a private school in Central for the meantime, with the option to transfer to National within the year should another house be found.
Barry walked in at this point though, on his cellphone, as he moved to the kitchen but smiled and waved at the three girls. He was keeping his eyes on Alura and Nora, who were in the playplent, on the floor with a blue toy, and when they pushed it the toy called: "Beebo hungry."
Krypto wasn't too far off, sitting on the floor looking at them as the two five year olds ran at them. Hex jumped up to get pets from Amelia, who walked over with the two girls and was more than happy to give the pet.
"What's with the Furby rip-off?" Amelia asked once Barry got off the phone, pointing at the blue toy. She had never seen it before.
"What's a Furby?" Barry asked, and Amelia paused.
"Never mind," Amelia said, Furby's obviously only a thing on her old Earth. "But seriously, that's new."
"I wuv-wuv-wuv you!" The toy called from the floor as the toddler giggled, squeezing it to get more sounds.
"STAR Toys," Barry said. "A new prototype."
"Wait," Amelia said holding out a hand. "There's a STAR Toys?"
"It's technically part of STAR Gaming," Kara said, appearing with a plastic bag in her hand and a broom. "This way we can make and sell toys for our games – even connect them to the games. But Barry, here along with Cisco, decided to buy the rights to a bunch of failed toy concepts from the 80s and 90s; like Beebo there. Personally, I would say it was a giant waste of money." Kara gave Barry a look just as the toy called out again.
"Beebo cuddle!" Beebo said.
"But that one seems to keep Nora and Alura calm," Kara continued, "and not breaking everything around the house helps. So it was worth every bit of money." Kara tossed the plastic bag in the garbage. "Only that one." Kara added, giving Barry a glare at that.
"We are not just remaking failed toys as I told you – we're upgrading them; fixing what failed, adding more merchandise including videos games. Beebo there is getting his own cute game for kids, plus a book series. We will make a lot more money then I spent," Barry stated. "Besides I didn't spend that much: the rights for these failed toys were cheap and the owners were willing to get rid of it for some extra cash."
Amelia noticed Kara and Barry seemed stressed, plus the argument had not been in their head. "Trouble in paradise?" Amelia asked cautiously.
"Alura and Nora have started to get very curious about everything and breaking everything," Kara said. "It's just getting… stressful."
"I wish there was more I could do," Amelia frowned, but this wasn't really her place to step in.
"Maybe you could help get Romana and Star to their school in the morning?" Kara pointed out.
"Yeah," Barry nodded. "Star has a soccer game tomorrow morning. We were trying to figure out who should take her…" Star had taken a liken to sports and Barry and Kara agreed she could play as long as she was careful not to use her powers. Star agreed and was now a part of a kiddie soccer team.
"Don't worry about it," Amelia stated simply. "I can pick them up in the mornings from now on if that helps you. I can have a word with Lena and sort out my starting time. It doesn't take long to get to National with the bullet train there."
"What about Winn?" Kara asked, wondering if this arrangement would mess up some things for him. Amelia spent several nights at Winn little apartment in National lately. Usually weekdays.
"Oh, he'll be fine," Amelia shrugged. "In fact, his heading up to Smallville Headquarters this weekend to work on some upgrades. Oh I'm going to be heading there too. The DEO has ordered weapons from L-Corp and Lena saw the logic in sending me with Winn to deliver it since I have DEO clearance."
"The DEO uses STAR Co. weapons," Kara pointed out, frowning at this.
"Hate to burst your bubble but they use both," Amelia said. "Did you know Smallville headquarters is completely under what used to be Kent Farm? I mean the entire complex is hidden underground and the farm is still there as a cover. The Director, Lyla there, seems nice from what Winn said. We're having dinner with her and her husband John Diggle tomorrow. But I should be back from Smallville Tuesday morning at the latest then I can work out a new schedule with Lena to help more with the girls."
Wasn't Diggle a member of Team Arrow once? Kara asked Barry in their heads, deciding not to mention how the DEO played both sides, buying from both STAR Co. and L-Corp.
Long time ago, Barry thought back, but Amelia was smirking now.
"What?" Barry asked her, folding his arms.
"You're talking in your heads again. That's good," Amelia moved off at that though, heading to the bathroom and Barry and Kara frowned at one another.
"Hm, I got to go to a Young Justice meeting," Kara spoke up, making Barry look to her at this.
You're leaving me with all four, Barry said as Alura hit on Beebo again and laughed when it said: "Beebo Hug!"
You've got Amelia here, you'll be fine, Kara thought back, changing into her costume as Hex followed her out. Krypto seemed to decide to stay with Barry.
Barry chucked to himself. "Okay then, how about some TV?" Barry asked going for the remote.
-Karry Universe-
Kara and Hex walked into the STAR Lab Warehouse which was the Young Justice headquarters; half of it was set up as a base for Young Justice, while the rest was still storage. Kara had been thinking that they might need to figure out a new location for Young Justice though, especially if the numbers grew.
All the mentors were there however: Oliver, Hal, Clark, and Diana, apparently waiting for her along with Wally and all the members of Young Justice, who were training. Wolf, Connor meta wolf, was sleeping in her bed and gave a tiny look up when Kara enters dbut put her head back down. Kara noticed Nightwing and Red Arrow hanging around too.
"Okay, that's enough!" Kara yelled out to Young Justice, being the one to request everyone here anyway. "We've got something to show you." The Young Justice team all stopped, some grabbing water and going to sit. "Well we are impressed with how you all have improved, despite some difficulties," eyes turned to Donna at that who looked down, remembering when she went wild, while one or two glanced to Jack, who was always a bit of a wild card. "So, we have made something for you."
Clark was the one with the bag, and one by one each mentor took out a communicator – instead of 'JL' at the top, like the Justice League's had, this had 'YJ' for Young Justice. "Now, these communicators are important for one thing: Gideon show, the crime tracker," Kara called out to the Gideon in the Warehouse, which turned a computer screen into a map. There were numbers on it. "Gideon has been programed to track crimes and number them for you."
"Notice the numbers are from 1 to 5," Diana now said. "There are differences in what you can take – 1 is minor crimes or other situations you can take as you please." Karen, Donna, and Connor looked thrilled at this. "As long as you do not interrupt your schooling." The grouped nodded.
"Two, are things you should at least be working together on," Clark said.
"Three, are things you need your mentor or another member of the Justice League for," Hal said.
"Four, are full Young Justice missions that only Wally can take and lead," Oliver added as eyes went to Wally. "Or in Jack's case if he's with Team Canary." Jack gave a smirk at that, the only member of the group who was not based locally or who couldn't come out at a moment's notice.
"Five, is do not go to," Kara said with a look in her eyes. "I am serious about that. Fives are off limit. They're Justice League stuff – only programmed in so you know to let us handle them. Do you understand?" A yes was mumbled from the group. "Okay, now I suggest you all head home."
Karen, Donna, Connor and Carter, the latter who was the tech guy of the team and good friends with them anyway, all left with ease, while Oliver took Jack out, heading for the nearest Zap Tunnel. M'Gann however gave the adults a lingering look before leaving too.
"Kara…" Hal said with a head nod, wanting a word. Kara noticed Nightwing now talking to Red Arrow so nodded and went to talk to Hal. "You know, I don't think M'Gann really wants to be a hero." Kara raised an eyebrow. "She's never really excited. I think she's just doing it because her friends are."
Kara gave nod, always noticing M'Gann never seemed as thrilled as the others. Barry, in her mind, also made a comment towards it. "I'll have a word with J'onn soon," Kara stated as Hal gave a nod and he went to leave, just as Oliver came back in, having safely taken Jack back to Starling via a Zap tunnel. It was the perfect opportunity for Kara to address the three vigilantes, as the addressed the younger two. "Dick, Liam, what brings you here anyway?"
"Well… um…. since Roy died, Barbra's been all over me about finding someone new and she's right, especially since I have been taking on more and more meta humans," Dick explained. "I always wondered why you worked with such a large team." Dick eyes were on Oliver at that now as the Green Arrow chuckled. "Now I understand."
"So, you were looking at Young Justice members?" Kara asked and Dick nodded.
"But none of them would truly belong with me," Dick stated.
"I got the same story," Liam said. "Cody's been annoying me that I should find someone now we have our headquarters set up in Keystone. I'm going to need to look elsewhere though."
"There's someone out there for everyone," Kara encouraged the two boys as Liam gave a nodded and left with that.
"Well, if you could get STAR Co. to make that walking chip better, maybe I could get Batgirl back by my side," Dick encouraged as he went to leave.
Oliver gave a chuckle. "I know how they feel," Oliver said. "With Laurel pregnant, and then after the pregnancy the baby taking our time, Team Canary is on the lookout for an extra hand or two; especially with the metamorphosis causing more meta humans everywhere. I mean we're good, we have members with Jack, Thea and Paula too but it wouldn't hurt having an extra member. Glad it's not down to just me like it is with those two," Kara gave a nod at all this, knowing the price of the metamorphosis was costing – not just to United States farmers and other businesses, but the Justice League had been on high alert a lot recently. Central was actually pretty quiet lately too and, along with Keystone – being the only cities without a large gain in metahuman activity.
"Well you'll find someone," Kara stated to Oliver realized there wasn't anything else for him to do, so left again.
Could use some help here, Barry thought to Kara who laughed at the mental image he sent and went to fly out with Hex by her side. Even Amelia was having a hard time with the twins.
-Karry Universe-
The next day Liam was at a gym. Before leaving Starling, he had worked for Oliver's gym and Oliver had given him a good reference – he had managed to get a job at another gym in Keystone, which made him pretty good money, and he was easily able to balance it with his vigilante life.
This gym though, unlike Oliver's gym, dealt more with boxers and getting people ready for professional games, not just the average exerciser and body builders, as Keystone had a pretty good boxing community, which was fun for Liam who did kind of like the sport himself. He had been thinking of entering a game.
"Liam, you got a new client. They requested you specifically," his boss said, and Liam frowned, following him to lobby. Standing there was an older man with an eyepatch, that Liam knew from reputation alone: This was Slade Wilson, also known as Deathstroke.
"What are you doing here?" Liam asked, frowning. As far as he knew Deathstroke was in jail on Lian Lu.
"Came to talk," Slade said in his gruff voice.
"Okay…" Liam didn't know what else to say. Did Slade know he was Roy's double, or he did think he was Roy himself?
"Shall well?" Slade indicated the empty training area just beyond the lobby, and with a nod from his lingering boss, Liam shrugged and headed to it, wanting more than anything to take Slade down but knowing he had to play along for now.
Slade went for the boxing gloves and moved over to punch the bag nearby.
"How are you not in jail?" Liam muttered so only Slade could hear him, not that it wasn't unusual to have ex-cons in a place like this, but given Slade was meant to be a current-convict, Liam was concerned.
"Oliver let me out," Slade said, surprising Liam. "After his Felicity-woman died. He spent a lot of time at my cell talking, before he left he let me go." Slade continued punching.
"Give me a good reason not to put you back," Liam said simply as he held the punching bag.
"Besides the fact I have lived my life by the law for a while now," Slade said in response, "I'm dying." Slade stopped punching, putting a gloved hand on the bag and taking deep breath. This did not look like the man Liam had heard so much about – he seemed weaker and he started to cough, and Liam saw blood. "The Mirakuru, although it's main effect is long-gone, there's still a side effect, making me weaker. I don't have long…"
Liam stared, not sure what to say to this. "And you're here… why?" Liam asked.
"To ask a favor," Slade said. "I would have asked Oliver, but you're the one in town." Liam waited. "My sons have already gone down dark paths, there's little hope for them but my daughter… she's still good. She still has a shot, but a bad crowd has got an eye on her. I want your help to save my daughter. Save my Rose from becoming me."
Liam took this in, thinking. "Okay," Liam finally said, not sure if this was a trap or not but something in Slade's voice convinced him.
-Karry Universe-
After work and picking Robin up, Dick was in his costume and riding around the city, on patrol. Things had been crazy in Bludhaven since the metamorphosis.
"Dick," Barbra's voice was heard, "turn right now." Dick did as he was told, knowing to trust his tech. "Reports of a kidnapping on-going, straight ahead."
Dick didn't need Barbra to see the fight going on: A lone Asian girl, who looked maybe in her early 20s, was fighting well against some men, but the men were starting to overwhelm her. Dick rode up, to her.
"I don't think the lady wants to go with you," Dick called, getting off his motorcycle.
The girl used the distraction to break free of her holding and come near Dick. Dick then realized there was some women too in the group, not just men – some were taking out weapons like swords and knifes. "This doesn't seem fair for you…" Dick said with a smirk as the group charged.
Nightwing was surprised as he worked back to back with the Asian girl; the two easily able to work with each other, but whoever this girl was, she was well-trained and able to hold her own in a fight, even taking the weapon from one of the women who charged at her. Dick held out his hand to her and she seemed to get what Dick wanted right away. Letting Dick grab hold of her and twist her around, she kicked all the group hard – most being knocked out with the force of the kick and the spin.
Dick put her down and dodged as another woman with a sword came up, but the girl grabbed a fallen sword from the ground and jumped in-between Nightwing and the woman, fighting back easily with the weapon. Dick took out one of his gadgets and used it to tie up the rest of the gang, who had been knocked unconscious.
"So, who exactly are your friends?" Dick asked the girl, indicated the now-fallen group, still impressed by the girl.
"She's not going to answer you Nightwing," a new voice said, and Dick noticed the girl he was fighting with seemed scared by the voice. Dick went in front of her, putting an arm in front of her as he turned to see a new woman standing before them. "Cassandra Cain does not speak," the woman stated.
"I assume these are your thugs?" Dick said. "You know who I am. Maybe return the favor?"
"Talia Al Gaul," she said. "New Leader of the League of Assassins."
"Maybe you haven't heard, but that is dead," Dick said.
"My idiot sister might have dismantled the Assassins, but I am rebuilding it," Talia said. "Finding our members, reuniting it under my banner. I wanted Lady Shiva but was too late. But her daughter might have to do."
"Yeah well, she obviously doesn't want it," Dick said, hiding his surprise that the woman he had saved was Lady Shiva's daughter – the woman who had tried to kill Oliver and succeeded in cutting off his arm instead. "So no. You're not getting her."
"You care to fight over this?" Talia asked.
"Maybe another day," Dick said, wanting to get this Cassandra safe as he took out a device and threw it right at Talia, a heavy fog came out of it blocking Talia from sight. Dick grabbed Cassandra's hand and got her on the back of his motorcycle. He started it up and put it at top speed he rode away leaving.
"Come back!" Talia called, but he was too far away now and her few League members were all unconscious.
-Karry Universe-
Slade had apparently been watching his daughter for some time, knowing her location. So that night Liam in his Red Arrow outfit and Slade wearing Deathstroke outfit, followed her, planning on going to talk.
It was only when she went into an alley that Liam and Slade followed, only to pause. It was a dead-end, but Rose Wilson was nowhere to be found.
"Where did she…?" Liam didn't finish his sentence as from above Rose Wilson dropped down, squeezing Liam's neck with her thighs as she managed to kick out and strike Slade, who fell to the floor, weak from his own physical ailment went down fast.
Liam used a maneuver Oliver had taught him, freeing himself from her grip as he knocked her to the ground, noticing only now that the girl was a tall, redheaded woman with a death-glint to her eyes.
"Don't… hurt… her," Slade said seeming to barely get the words out as Liam and Rose now fought.
Liam didn't want to hurt Rose, so he did not go for an arrow or weapon, using hand-to-hand skills instead, which was pretty hard as she seemed equally matched; any punch he threw out, Rose managed to block it and come back with another attack. It didn't help that when Liam was pushed against a wall by her foot. But he dodged under the leg and turned it around, pinning Rose against the wall with his arm now.
"We don't want to hurt you!" Liam said.
"You know, she's pretty good," Cody said in Liam ear.
Cody, who was officially Liam's boyfriend, had set up a headquarters and taken position as tech guy. Since he was smart, and Firestorm was only used for emergencies – since it was hard to get the three together for random crimes – he had taken the opportunity to help protect his own city by other means.
"You're working for my father!" Rose snapped. "I thought you were a member of the Justice League."
"I am," Liam said. "And I'm not working for your father. I am doing him a favor. He just wants a word."
"Please, Rosie," Slade said, still on the floor and started choking violently. He took his mask off and blood splat out.
"Dad!" Rose said instantly, the concern in her voice surprising Liam as she rushed to his side. "What's wrong? Oh god, I hit you."
"He's dying," Liam said, seeing the blood. Rose kicking him didn't seem to do him any good. "And he just wanted a last word with you."
"Rosie," Slade said, putting a hand on Rose face. "I know you hate me for what I have done. I don't blame you… I have seen people coming for you, to change you. Please don't end up like me."
"Oh dad," Rose said. "I said no to them; I tipped off the police. Your buddy here took care of them last night." Liam raised an eyebrow, remembering helping the police break up a gang in the middle of a robbery. He didn't realize that was linked to Rose. "Is that why you have been following me?"
"You knew?" Slade asked.
"Metamorphosis," Rose said. She hadn't been in Keystone when Firehawk exploded so the Metamorphosis had worked on her. "I can see the future… only connected to me and the further in the future the less reliable. It changes all the time. Gives me a good headache but I have been seeing you coming to me for a while. And I don't hate you, I love you. I just don't want to be like you."
"Please don't," Slade said, smiling putting a hand on Rose face before choking violently again. Blood coming out again and this time it went everywhere, Rose jumped back, but Slade body went limp at that, and his head fell back to the pavement.
"Dad?" Rose said. She had not seen this. She had not seen him dying. "No!" Rose knew it was too late; tears coming out of her eyes.
Liam grabbed her though, taking her away from the body and letting her cry into him as Cody told Liam he would contact the police to get the body. It seemed like Arrow's original nemesis was finally gone though.
-Karry Universe-
"So?" Dick asked Barbra. Robin was on his lap and Cassandra had been exploring the headquarters – her eyes had been on Barbra's old Batgirl outfit for a while now. It was hanging on the wall, and in front of it on a podium was her old weapons. Dick had hung Roy's outfit up as well, with his weapons in front. A wall of fallen heroes, in a way.
"I've done some digging and talking to Team Canary," Barbra said. "She is Lady Shiva's daughter. Lady Shiva told Laurel about her – trained her in everything she knew, but she did not want to be an assassin. I've also found out she is a mute – no physical reason behind, it so it's probably mental reasoning. According to doctor reports I hacked into, she does say simple things like yes and no though."
"Well, Talia's not going to stop looking for her," Dick said thoughtfully. "What are we going to do?"
"Well, some ideas have been bounced around my own brainbox," Barbra said slyly. "But I think the best idea is to keep her here with us." Dick seemed stunned by this. "She's highly trained and you worked well with her – eventually, when Talia comes for her again, the whole Justice League will be ready for her." Dick knew what Barbra was insisting here. Having Cassandra in Team Nightwing meant instant protection for her against the new League of Assassins. It made sense.
Before Dick could respond though, a voice said: "Yes."
Dick turned to look at Cassandra, who had come closer to them. Dick put Robin on the floor and turned to her in his seat.
"You want to be a vigilante? You want to protect the city?" Dick asked.
"Yes," Cassandra said, her voice low.
Dick gave her a look and then remembered when they were fighting together. The two really had been good. "Okay," Dick finally said. "Are you going to need a name, or…?" he didn't know if she already had some sort of vigilant name or not.
"She can be Batgirl," Barbra spoke up happily, having noticed Cassandra looking at her old outfit. "We can remake my outfit for her. Get her some weapons and train her how to use them. Nightwing and Batgirl together again, kind of like old times. Only with my complete blessings."
Dick gave Barbra a smirk before looking back to Cassandra at this, who gave him a smile now.
"Okay then, Nightwing and Batgirl," Dick said, happy himself.
-Karry Universe-
Later, when Slade's body was taken away, Liam had gone to where he knew Rose lived, having checked her home earlier. He was surprised with her waiting outside. "The answer is yes," Rose said before he could speak.
"Erm, I didn't ask you anything," Liam replied.
"You were going to," Rose said simply. "And the answer is yes. I would like to join you." Liam seemed stunned – he was going to ask her if she wanted to join Team Red Arrow. She had been a good fighter, after all. "Oh and tell your boyfriend there I like the name Ravager. I'll see you to tomorrow."
"You need a location," Liam stated, trying to catch up with her thoughts now.
"I've got a pretty good idea," Rose smirked. "And that outfit is good – tell Cody to have his sister and the weird one make it for me." Rose turned, entering into her home leaving Liam stunned.
"Ravager? Outfits?" Liam asked on the com as Red Arrow started to ride back to base.
"Actually, I was going to suggest Ravager. And Michelle's been designing some outfits just in case we got new people and just took out one I thought would be good for her." Cody said on the coms.
"She can see into the future," Liam stated aloud, although more to himself as he tried to make sense of what just happened.
"Yeah, do catch up. I think she will be an interesting addition." Cody stated, and Liam couldn't agree more.
-Karry Universe-
Maxwell Lord sat in his office and looked at the TV, feeling defeated. He had found no way to undo the Metamorphosis and no way to de-power any meta humans or aliens.
"Well, it seems you're done," Edge's voice spoke.
"My mistake is permanent," Lord sighed, turning off the TV. "Which means we can move on." Edge gave a smile as Lord took out some plans from his desk. "We can use my Kryptonian power source to create a new way of life for humans. This will put us ahead of STAR Co and L-Corp."
"Now you're taking, Lord," Edge said looking at the plans. "Let's see what we need."
Post Chapter Note 1: Well, I hope you guys like the new add-ons, and don't worry my Facebook people – Team Arrow will be getting their new member you guys polled soon as well. The one we already decided on a face claim for! Oh, and I hope you guys didn't forget Lord and Edge were a thing here.
Post Chapter Note 2 (PLEASE READ): so on the Facebook page I did the first ever Karry Master Karry Challenge. Where I gave a prompt and asked the people to write a story based on that prompt. It turned out pretty good with 6 entries. Me and Sigma are planning on doing more. My question is are there any of our readers here who are not on our Facebook who might want to join? Is it worth it putting the prompt at the end of my story as well?
Next Time on Karry Universe:
Seeing Red- When Rae from New Justice visits, and after hearing about the Metamorphosis, information about New Justice's own Metamorphosis leads them to Maxwell Lord. But an encounter with a special meta human bring up all of Rae's negative feelings for the man. Will New Justice's Flash soon regret her visit?
Karry Master OUT!