Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel and DC
Here we introduce Green Arrow, kind of based him a bit on the Arrow TV series.
The Redeemer
Chapter 3: Suicide Attack
Former air force colonel Stephen Rockwell Trevor had one of the hardest jobs in the world. As a founder and agent of A.R.G.U.S he had a view of just how dangerous the world was and how it was on the brink of falling into chaos. New super humans were being discovered around the world everyday, along with vigilantes launching campaigns of revenge and stands against corrupt city officials. The mere existence of A.R.U.G.U.S. was proof of how unstable the world was, a stable world wouldn't require shadow operatives. He tilted the contents of his glass down his throat and tapped his finger against the bar. Two hours he had been waiting for his contact to arrive. Their meeting had been set up twenty-four hours ago, Steve arrived on time but the contact was late. He looked at the people in the room, the narrows of Starling city was a tough place and the bar was filled with thugs and muscle men with no real combat training other than the drive a few drinks could offer. They only stared at him out of jealousy or amused pity. After all he was the former lover of Wonder Woman, but their relationship was over and she had moved on. He looked at the bandages across his hands, the wounds he received from his torture by Graves was beginning to heal.
'You shouldn't have pushed me away Diana, things are going to get that much harder for the League,' he sighed.
Between the League and his bosses, Steve didn't know whom to trust anymore. There was one man he knew he could trust implicitly though. A dart flew into the board, splitting the dart that had previously been on the bulls' eye wide open. Steve didn't need to look to the doorway to know who it was. You had to be a good marksman with a strong arm to pull off a throw like that. Oliver Queen was such a man.
"Not your kind of place Colonel," the man said as he sat next to Trevor.
Oliver Queen was a man out of place in the narrows. His dark green business suit and finely cut blonde hair was a sign of his upbringing. As the oldest son of Robert and Moira Queen he had inherited their fortune and the vast resources of Queen consolidated. Steve turned his head and nodded at Queen's bodyguard and chauffeur, Diggle was a former marine, and during the days prior to the Quracian democracy he was part of a US intervention in that region. His commanding officer was killed in action, but the second in command John Stewart managed to lead his men to safety. Oliver wasn't ex military but he wasn't a typically privileged brat either.
He used to be a privileged brat and got in trouble with the law more than once. But when his father's ship went down near the coast of China, Oliver survived only to become stranded on an island. He spent twelve years there; twelve years of struggle had turned him into a better person. Oliver Queen was a do gooder, he shut down his company's government contracts and went towards making things better for Starling city, it was a slow process. Steve trusted him because if it came to going against a corrupt division of the government then Queen wouldn't hesitate.
"You seemed pretty troubled when you talked to me over the phone," Oli said.
"Its something I need you to look into, Waller seemed very content to keep it buried," Steve dug into his pocket, pulling out a card.
"What's this?" Queen asked.
"A saboteur called Multiplex had it on him, Waller's…'operatives' picked him up when he tried smuggling weapons into Belle Reve, planning a break out. It was stopped but five prisoners are unaccounted for," Steve explained.
He reached into his inner coat pocket and pulled out a folded out file. It was clear to Oli that Steve was going behind his superior's backs. The bar had already been cleared out so no one would see the contents of the file Steve had acquired.
"Winslow Schott, a toy maker from Metropolis," the file showed a balding man with glasses and a plump belly, not the kind of person Oli thought would have been seen in a prison. "Don't let his profession and size fool you, he already has one death under his belt, Walter Dunhill, Winslow Schott is a genius, he made mechanical toy designs, toys capable of moving. Dunhill was turning over the designs to be modified for military use, drones basically…Schott hacked the drones and killed Dunhill," Steve explained.
"What a waste," Oli sighed.
"Prepare for an even bigger disappointment," Steve said as he flipped the page. "Garfield Lynns, he has third degree burns over most of his body, he used to be a fire fighter in Gotham City. During that blaze at the Royal Hotel Garfield went up to save the people trapped in there, after he got out of the hospital he killed most of the members of his team," again Steve turned the page, bringing up a blonde haired man. "Elliot Caldwell, CEO of Caldwell tech, he downgraded into cop killer before being sent to Belle Reve," he bought out a forth picture, one of Oliver's mother's favourite actors. "Matt Hagen…saw a few of his films before his accident, that was taken prior to the car crash. He's the only one with any super natural abilities which is why we're particularly concerned about him."
"I know, people call him Clayface and for good reason," Oliver said.
"Lastly we have Waylon Jones, couldn't get any pictures of him only that he has a skin condition that has led to people calling him Killer Croc," Steve explained.
"I can see why Clayface would worry you, but why the others?" Oli asked.
"Something about their disappearances rubs me the wrong way, just use your underworld connections to find out what you can. Someone broke into Belle Reve and had the option of breaking out hundreds, they chose five, Multiplex doesn't know anything and it seems as if Waller doesn't want me knowing anything, find out what that black card is for if you can!"
Oliver put the card in his pocket and nodded his head.
"I'll look into it, I'll get back to you the usual way, you just be careful too Steve cause Waller might have her own agenda," the billionaire said as he walked away from the bar.
Steve nodded his head in respect before looking at his mobile. Waller was expecting him for a mission debriefing, apparently something had gone wrong with her suicide squad.
Contact via radio was constant between the squad. Every comment each member made could be heard by another and through atom-sized monitors flowing through their blood every squad mate's location and vitals could be seen by their employer. Slade Wilson crept through the trees surrounding the Bialyan palace. Queen Bee was a vane woman with a thirst for riches and power. She had a statue of her father placed on her estate and Slade had no doubt that the woman would have the Quracians build her a statue.
"Patrol found," Slade spoke into the radio built into his helmet.
As soon as the Bialyan patrol reached his range he struck. Emerging from the trees, Slade rushed through the soldiers. He slammed his staff into their faces, delivering skull-shattering blows. The soldiers didn't even get a chance to reach for their radios as Slade easily beat them down, twisting their necks with his staff. He retracted the staff as the final soldier fell. The light placed on the tree revealed his fully armoured form. Black and grey military armour covered most of his body, with utility straps, holsters and knives attached to the waist and limbs. The most threatening aspect of Slade's costume was his mask, the mask of Deathstroke. One side of the mask was black and had no holes for his eye, after all he didn't have a right eye, the left side of the mask that was orange had a white lens that covered his eye.
"East end of the building is secure, what's the status of the west end?" he asked over the radio.
"West end patrol found," one of the squad members reported.
Floyd Lawton looked down the sight of his rifle. He lined up a guarantee kill shot at a patrolman's head. Unlike Deathstroke he wasn't hired help. Clad in a red suit with body armour and a mask, Floyd also went by the name Deadshot. His profession was assassination, if someone had paid him to kill Queen Bee he would have done it as business. But his mission wasn't to kill Queen Bee, just to send a message. That mission was one forced on him for his own self-preservation, just as every other member of the Squad barring Slade.
"In position," his fellow squad mate Black Spider said.
Black Spider was another mercenary with a high kill count. Across from him, waiting to slit the throat of a guard was someone Floyd had rather not work with.
"Now," Floyd ordered.
He pulled the trigger, sending a single bullet flying into a man's skull, then out the other end and into another's forehead. Black Spider slid out a wire from his wrist and wrapped it around the throat of another guard. With a sharp turn he twisted the man's neck. One of the other soldier's reached for his radio, but a knife pierced through his throat. The wielder dragged the knife around, forming a smile on the soldier's neck. She hushed the man, pulling him into the bushes. Deadshot frowned as she emerged from the bushes licking her fingertips. Black Spider and Deathstroke were professionals, Harley Quinn wasn't.
"Everything's fine here Sladey," she said.
One might consider her attractive, if they believed her chalk white skin was makeup. Her smile wasn't permanent but it was something she did most of the time. She was scantily lad, wearing a red and black corset that did nothing to hide her attractive and athletic body. Harley had black markings around her eyes and black and red hair, a Shakespearean collar was wrapped around her neck, with red pads on her shoulders and thigh high stockings. A belt with guns and knives strapped to it hung loosely on her hips and she hefted a gigantic mallet onto her shoulders.
"Nice place, I'm betting Queen Bee has been naughty and abused taxes," despite how annoying she could be, Harley was actually very intelligent.
Deathstroke would kill you if you got in his way, and it would only be business, Harley on the other hand would kill for the pleasure of it.
"West point secure, how's the coastal region shark tooth?" Harley asked.
"Don't call me shark tooth," the fifth squad member growled as he walked onto the beach.
His face was stained with blood. King Shark was a giant of a man, or perhaps a shark, after all he looked like the horrific fusion of the two. He had been assigned to eliminate the coastal patrols, securing an escape path for the squad. Failing an escape each squad member's nanites would be triggered, resulting in a complete shut down of their organs. That was why they were called the Suicide Squad; they took on dangerous missions unwillingly.
"How is the distraction going Plastique?" Slade asked.
"Charges are set," Bette Souci ran a hand through her red hair.
She pulled her hood over her face and began making her way out of the factory. One explosive would be enough to blow up the entire factory; after all it was where Bee had her weapons produced. Bialya was preparing for an attack on Qurac, both in terms of its military technology and the very strength of its soldiers. The world was experiencing a wave of super powered beings born from magic and science. Queen Bee wanted Qurac and eventually all of the Middle East. She wanted her power to be greater than America. The ruler or Bialya sat on a throne befitting her title. The gates of her throne room opened and her elite guard entered, carrying the hostages she had been expecting.
"Welcome to Bialya, soon to be the capital of my empire," Bee said as she rose from her throne.
Only two were of significant value, after the botched attempt to kidnap Marie Logan. Her son Garfield would serve as the innocent along with the many other nationals Queen Bee had her people across the Middle East kidnap. The Quracian president's daughter and Pamela Isley were the only ones whom would benefit her plan; the rest would serve as examples.
"My father will not negotiate with you," the girl said.
"Oh he will, you are after all his daughter and what man can live without his legacy. Ah but your father's assistance is guaranteed, it is your assistance that concerns me Dr Isley," Bee smiled as she turned to the American.
Pamela Lillian Isley widened her eyes. She had been minding her own business in her lab when the Bialyan troops took her. The red haired woman did her best to remain calm, but Queen Bee frightened her. All feared her because she had control of the military.
"My cooperation? For what?" Pamela asked.
"I have followed your work Miss Isley, I find it very interesting, particularly your point about using growth hormones to increase the rate that plants grow at. Plants are frail creatures in need of…augmentation to survive what man can throw at it," Queen Bee explained.
"Plants have a more important role than people realise," Pamela said.
"Indeed, you want to enhance the strength and durability of plants, to make them as strong as a human body, well I wish to increase the overall strength of my troops…to make them stronger. Augment my men and I will fund your research!"
Pamela looked at Queen Bee with a horrified expression. What she was suggesting was a perversion of her research. She researched ways of protecting plants with the long-term goal of helping them survive the shifting weather patterns and to help humanity as a whole. Plants assisted in the health of the environment and provided food for humans to eat. Seeds could then be planted, creating more plants. Pamela's long-term goal was to create a plant that would sustain itself, that would grow without the care of a planter. War would keep her from that goal and would decimate the region.
"I refuse," she said, gritting her teeth together.
Queen Bee turned away from Pamela and looked down at Garfield.
"You must be Marie Logan's son, it must be hard for you losing her," she said, tracing her hand across Gar's cheek.
Garfield remained still, knowing that if he tried anything the soldiers would hurt him. But he wouldn't be intimidated; his father had been brave when he died as had his mother. The least he could do to honour their memories was be brave as well.
"I lost my parents when I was young as well, my uncle raised me you see, taught me everything I knew about ruling a country and the responsibility that comes with it. He was my closest advisor and the only real friend I had, but when the people began rioting, complaining over their lack of food he told me to turn over some of the supplies from the royal stocks so that they wouldn't starve. I had him hung outside the palace gates and the rioters were shot," she explained, smiling as she touched Garfield's forehead.
She clicked her fingers together and the two guards grabbed Pamela. One of them punched her across the face, breaking her glasses. The other tore her lab coat and pushed her to the floor.
"You see if you give commoners something the wont stop, I had to prove to my people that I was the sole ruler. That's the problem with your American democracy, its too open for rebellion," Queen Bee sighed before she kicked Pamela in the chin.
"NO STOP!" Garfield yelled.
"If people don't give me what I want then they die," Queen Bee stabbed her heel into Pamela's gut, causing her to gasp as blood flowed from the wound. "Throw her from the palace gates and into the forest, as for you representative," she then turned to the Quracian woman. "If your father refuses to negotiate then I will kill you, then I will crush his country, your homeland will burn and your people will die!"
"You'll be stopped," Garfield said, only for one of the guards to punch him.
"Stop, do not harm the child," Queen Bee growled. "Enlighten me child, who will stop me?" she asked.
"Heroes," Garfield spat defiantly, "People who aren't afraid of bullies like you!"
Queen Bee laughed, motioning her hand for the prisoners to be taken away. Garfield looked at Pamela as they dragged her by her heels. She was barely alive and the very sight of her made him cry.
'How can people be so cruel?' he wondered.
But he didn't doubt that a hero would come for him. He had no doubt that good would triumph. That was the number one thing his parents taught him, good people prospered and were remembered fondly for it. That form of immortality made them better than those remembered for their atrocities.
"Whoever holds the power makes the rules, might makes right in this world!"
Samuel Khansin smirked at the control he and his men could enforce over the people. The Bialyan budget had gone primarily into military development. Meaning that soldiers like Samuel had access to the best killing machines money could buy. One such machine was the destroyer mech. Four legged, gigantic and faster than any tank, the destroyer was Samuel's favourite piece of machinery. The cybernetics built into his scalp enabled him to pilot the walking tank, to decimate city blocks with its blasters. Common soldiers had access to automatic rifles, muscle-enhancing armour, tactical display helmets and rocket-propelled grenades. Tanks patrolled the outskirts of the city and helicopters combed the sky.
"Okay boys," Samuel stretched his fingers before taking the controls of his mech.
Enforcing the will of Queen Bee was Samuel's favourite activity. She demanded absolute obedience from her subjects. If she wanted them to starve they would starve. But there were still masses of people defiant. People willing to protest Queen Bee's rule, even steal from her.
"Lets show our people what happens when you steal from our Queen," the man said as he targeted the pens the rioters had been locked into.
His finger fidgeted over the trigger and he licked his lips. He only hoped that killing hundreds of his own people was better than that American woman he had killed. A sudden explosion drew Sam's attention to one of his monitors. It showed the outpost a couple of miles from the city. The Bialyan troops there were shooting at the sky, helicopters were falling onto the airfield.
"What the hell is going on?" he asked.
"Sir, an unknown has invaded our airspace, we don't have any Intel on this enemy," one of the armour soldiers stated.
Armour from the Parademons had been repurposed for use by Queen Bee's elite guards. But even the most powerful weapon they had was useless when helicopters crashed on them. The soldiers at the outpost widened their eyes in horror as their attacker landed. Cade snarled like an animal, digging his feet into the ground. Pure energy stretched from his back, forming a hand that held tightly to a Bialyan helicopter. He narrowed his glowing red eyes at the soldiers, many were just men trying to make a living the only way they could. With that knowledge in mind Cade opted for maiming instead of killing, at least with some of them. His rage took over and he roared.
"Its some kind of demon," one of the soldiers whimpered as the ground shook.
Cade slammed the helicopter onto the ground, using the explosion to propel himself towards the soldiers. He had drawn his swords and in an instant cuts swept across the arms of his targets. Cade ran right through the middle of the Bialyan army, slashing one man after another. He heard the sound of a cannon being loaded and used his swords as brakes, directing himself towards the tanks coming out of the warehouses. Cade dragged his swords through the floor and jumped upwards. He swung his arms, launching energy blades that split his targets, the tanks and warehouses apart. As soon as Cade landed he moved onto the soldiers again, breaking their bones with energy charged kicks and head butts.
"Would somebody tell me what the fuck is going on here?" Samuel growled.
Elite guards in Parademon armour flew around Cade, firing blasters on their wrists. Cade deflected the blasts and created energy constructs. A pair of demonic hands stretched from his back and grabbed two of the guards, fusing them to their armour. Cade didn't like the screams of his opponents; it began to remind him of just how much he risked becoming like them.
'Maybe you are like them,' he told himself.
He dropped the two bodies on the floor and ran at the final elite guard member. Cade was a master with the sword, he didn't have to kill anyone. But some of the Bialyan soldiers had committed atrocious crimes, not limited to killing Marie Logan. Their victims deserved justice. But Cade couldn't find any sins lurking in the soul of the young man beneath the armour, so he cut the armour apart, causing it to fall from the young man's body. Then he elbowed the man, knocking him unconscious. Cade looked at the city in the distance and narrowed his eyes. Sins from both the soldiers and the people flooded into his mind, there were saints and murderers in Bialya. He shook his head, remembering the near destruction he had caused his own world when he tried to play judge jury and executioner.
'Save Garfield, save the Quracian delegate, be a hero just this once,' he forced that belief into his mind.
He knew he was as far from being a hero as one could get, but just this once he would damn well try. Cade's form slowly began to change from that of an armoured man into a metallic wolf. He let out a howl before running towards Bialya's capital.
"Deathstroke, we have a situation," Plastique said over her radio.
She threw off her cloak and hood, revealing the purple suit she wore.
"Authorities in the city are going crazy, the resistance seems to have gained a little backbone too, people are rioting on the street," she explained.
"What happened?" Deathstroke asked.
"Someone has attacked the outer outposts!"
"Did the Wall send in anyone else?" Deadshot asked as he placed his rifle on his back.
He and the final member of the Squad, Lester Buchinsky were securing the generators for the palace. Deadshot activated the guns on his gauntlets and shot the guards. Buchinsky was a small time crook, all ambition and no aptitude to back it up. Half of his face had been burnt from his first attempt at making electrically charged gauntlets. His second attempt was more successful as the man's gloves contained shock devices. He had earned the street name Electrocutioner but hadn't been pulled into the squad for his ability to kill. Lester grabbed the mains of the generator, overloading it enough to trigger a surge through the royal palace.
"Forget it for now squad, trigger the explosives," Deathstroke ordered.
Plastique pressed the button on her watch and threw her finger up as a fiery clour erupted from the city. The factory was consumed by fire, debris and pieces of ammunition rained down on the streets. Sam grit his teeth together as his men began setting up barricades of rifle to stop the rioters.
"You people think you can have this city, when you're mere peasants? WE ARE THE ELITES!" he yelled.
He fired a volley into the crowd, bringing down a line of innocents. Sam looked towards the prisoners and huffed. Examples had to be made. Meanwhile, Queen Bee looked at her ceiling as the lights began to burst. In the labs the scientists widened their eyes as their machines shut down. The doors were suddenly thrown open.
"Nothing personal fellas," Harley grinned before firing her rifle.
The mission was simple, sabotage the Bialyan super powers race and reover any foreign nationals.
"Stay focused Quinn, destroy their research too," Black Spider said as he gunned down the scientists with his pistol.
Several scientists ran for the doors, only to be cut down by automatic rifle fire. Slade emerged from the shadows holding two M-16's.
"Deadshot, Electrocutioner, find the hostages and begin leading them to the extraction point," he said.
"Sure thing boss, they'll probably be under heavy guard and for that we'll need back up," Deadshot said.
"Fine, Quinn, Spider and Shark go to Deadshot's position, Plastique meet me at the lab I'm going to need some explosives!"
Plastique nodded her head as she made her way through the forest surrounding the palace. Cade ran through the streets of the capital, the sword on his tail cut the rifle of any sniper that took aim at him. His tail extended, cutting down watchtowers, even cutting open water towers to put out the flames from the factory explosion. Cade slid across the road, coming to a halt at a crossroads. One path led directly to the palace, another led towards the riot, or perhaps more correctly the massacre. He growled, lowering his head as he thought about how easy it would be to leave the nation to its fate.
'Its not monstrous to turn your back to save others…damn it I cant turn my back to either,' he ran towards the soldiers, and with a sweep of his tail cut the ones shooting apart.
Cade instantly changed to his warrior form and sliced the rifles of the soldiers. He kicked two to the ground, and then elbowed another in the face and head butted a fourth. His eyes honed in on a soldier preparing to execute a civilian, and his only crime was stealing for something to eat. In the past the man with the gun would have been Cade, but not anymore.
'I have to be better,' he thought as he lunged forward, cutting off the soldier's arm. 'But not that better,' he glared at Sam.
"Bring it demon!" Samuel growled as he powered up his weapons.
He raised the destroyers arm, rotating the saw blades on its staff. Then with a yell he swung it down on Cade. The staff slammed into Cade's helmet and time slowed for Samuel as the force of the blow caused the destroyer to stumbled back. His staff had shattered to pieces, with only a few pieces of Cade's helmet flying off, enough to reveal his glowing right eye and a tuft of blonde hair. Cade then leapt towards the Destroyer and moving like a blur he cut the weapons of the machine to pieces. He finished at the cockpit, raising his sword and piercing it through the glass, straight into Sam's chest.
"Her name was Marie Logan!" he snarled before pulling the sword free.
Cade jumped away from the destroyer as it slammed into the ground. He hovered off of the floor and looked at the people wronged by Queen Bee's regime. The Bialyan soldiers were at their mercy, justice was up to the people.
"They're all yours," Cade said before he flew towards the palace.
He remembered a time he would have made a show of justice. But the time for him caring about it had passed, once Garfield and the other hostages were safe then he could worry about the justice his victim's deserved. AA guns fired at him from the roof of the palace. He launched energy blades at the turrets and dived through the front door. Bullets bounced off of his armour whilst he deflected the shots aimed at his face with his sword. He attached a chain to the sword and threw it at the soldiers, cutting their shooting hands or simply cutting the weapons apart. Then he pulled on the chain, hitting heir faces with the flat end of his sword. Pulling the sword back into his grip, Cade spun the chain around and wrapped it across the throat of a nearby soldier.
"Where are the hostages being taken? And don't even try to play the 'I don't speak English card,'" his voice was just threatening enough to earn an answer.
"A back exit, once the defences of the city have been breached the Queen evacuates via truck and takes any assets with her," the soldier explained.
"Thanks for the info, I'll keep an eye on the roads then, you've got a load of angry citizens coming your way so if I were you I'd get out of the uniforms and quit the army…that might be enough to pacify their anger!"
He pushed the soldier to the ground and then flew out of the palace. Cade flew above the forest and closed his eyes. Through the beyond, the source of his power he could sense the souls of others. By concentrating on sinners he could track them, but Garfield was a rarity, a child whom had yet to commit a sin. He honed in on a clean soul and dived into the woods. Trees brushed past him, animals flew around him as he came down to a river, or at least what once was a river. It had been joined with the palace disposal plant, including the chemicals they used in their experiments.
"Those bastards," he growled.
A woman had been thrown into the waste like garbage. She had been beautiful once, but floating amongst the chemicals her skin had taken on a green tone, her stockings had been ripped, as had her underclothes. That's when Cade realised she was the innocent he had sensed. Pamela Isley had never committed a sin in her life.
"You're still alive, I know you must fear me but please, let me try to help you," he said as soothingly as he could as he picked her up.
He walked through the forest, keeping pressure on Pamela's stab wound. Cade came to a stop as he looked upon the hostages being guided by Queen Bee and her soldiers.
"I don't know who has chosen to attack me, but I promise you if Qurac has anything to do with it then it will face retribution," she said.
"Qurac doesn't have nearly enough resources to launch a full scale attack, unlike you my father concentrated on both internal defence and the needs of our people."
Cade placed Pamela on the ground and placed her hand on the wound.
"Keep pressure on that wound," he said.
"You bitch," Queen Bee growled.
"I am not the vain, selfish monarch whom has abandoned diplomacy and the very people she must serve," the Quracian girl retorted.
"Listen to me, I need to help the others, you're still alive and you need to cling to that life," Cade explained to the dazed woman.
Pamela let out a weak breath as her hand fell to the side.
"Damn it," Cade grabbed a nearby vine and began wrapping it around Pamela's waist, trying to cut off the flow of blood.
It would buy him some time at least as he disposed of Queen Bee and her thugs.
"Its finally happened, a hero has come to kick your ass and deliver freedom to your people," Garfield said.
A gunshot echoed from the forest. Cade widened his eyes, looking towards Garfield.
"Peasants don't get to speak to our queen like that," one of the soldiers said.
Cade's eyes narrowed furiously.
"RAAAARGH!"
He burst through the trees, slashing two soldiers with his wings. Cade grabbed the man who shot Garfield by his head and with a single squeeze shattered his skull. He then turned to Queen Bee, the one responsible for all the death.
"Stay away demon," Queen Bee stepped back in fear.
Cade grabbed her by her neck and began hovering above the trees. Queen Bee's feet dangled in midair as she clawed at Cade's gauntlets.
"You dare to kill a Queen," she snarled.
"No, I made a vow against taking the lives of people who haven't tried to kill me, but you've wronged your people, your men went to the Logan ranch and ruined Garfield's life. Your people are angry, because you pushed them, tormented them, starved them and deprived them of the freedom they had from their first breaths," Cade explained.
He flew towards the city streets, where the people had gathered in rebellion. One of the men pointed up at Cade and their monarch. They chanted a mantra that Cade assumed was meant for their ruler. Queen Bee's expression devolved to one of terror and Cade began to get a good idea of what the people wanted.
"Please, I will give you anything you want, my riches, my body, please don't kill me," her lips trembled.
"You have two options, I drop you into the crowd and they kill you slowly as justice for what you've done for them or you die by my hand now, quick, painless and in no way that you fear," Cade explained.
"I don't want to die," Queen Bee cried.
"Neither did Marie Logan, or her son Garfield Logan, neither did Pamela Isley or the thousands of others you have had killed. You deserve to die, you get that? You deserve every bit of torture those people will bring upon you." Cade's hand shook, he wanted to trop her with every fibre of his body, and his mind told him to drop her.
But his soul spoke in a volume louder than his heart and mind. He had told himself that he wouldn't repeat the mistakes of his past that he wouldn't be consumed by revenge and anger. Yet already he had killed over fifty men to avenge Marie Logan. He had assisted American operatives in crippling Bialya's army.
"You are a monster, but I'm still going to do everything I can to keep myself from becoming like you," Cade whispered.
He landed on the ground and threw Queen Bee at the feet of her people. But before he could act, Cade drew his sword and pointed it at them.
"This is a sword of justice, and I am giving you the chance to enact your own justice, you have been wronged by this woman, and for that you have the deepest of sympathies I can offer. But judge her different from the way she would have judged you, be firm but fair in your judgement, judge her with compassion and mercy, be better then her and I swear to you that I will protect you all from whatever outside forces seek to take advantage of your weakened state. If you pervert justice, if you act solely for revenge then your souls will be lost, and I will not protect you and trust me in the days to come you'll need protection!"
Cade let his words sink in as he floated above the floor. Queen Bee looked to him for help but she would receive none. She could only scream as her people walked slowly towards her. Cade quickly flew back to the forest and looked at Garfield and Pamela in horror. They were both dying; both were in need of desperate medical attention. He walked closer to Garfield, ignoring the pleading expressions of the Quracian hostages. They didn't matter to him, only the innocents.
"Is that you Mr Hunter?" Garfield asked weakly.
"I'm here kid," Cade said softly.
"I'm glad, I knew a hero would come and save us," Garfield smiled.
"I couldn't save you," Cade slammed his fist into the ground.
"Its all right, you saved everyone else at least!"
Cade shook his head in denial. Garfield couldn't die, nor could Pamela. He was sick of people dying and the grand forces behind the universe doing nothing about it. His eyes scanned the great beyond for the answers of the grand cosmic forces of the universe he inhabited. There was no beyonder, no Infinity or Eternity but there were forces that matched their powers and were just as useless in how they chose to protect the world.
"No more," he growled as pieces of his armour began to fall off of his suit. "You claim to want to help protect life, you claim to be life, but your greatest sin is inaction, don't let these people die…if you do then I will never stop hunting you. COME ON!" the blade inside his soul shaped around his arm and he swung it through the trees, hacking them down and creating a vortex of some kind.
Harley, King Shark and Electrocutioner poked their heads out of the bushes. They watched with particular interest as the unknown super human opened some kind of pocket dimension. Deadshot looked through his scope at Cade and widened his eyes slightly as Cade turned, as if to acknowledge that he knew Deadshot was there. But he quickly turned towards the void and kept his soul blade ready. The fiery red energy blade crackled with the same rage Cade had. A shining white, skeletal hand suddenly emerged from the portal, grabbing its sides.
"Okay, now I really have seen everything," Deadshot muttered.
"What's going on?" Deathstroke asked over the radio.
"We've got a potential recruit here, what do you want us to do Wall?" Harley asked.
Far away from Bialya, within the bunker of an A.R.G.U.S. facility, a dark skinned woman stood watching the monitors showing the images the squad's built in cameras saw. She narrowed her eyes as a white figure emerged from the portal, covering Pamela Isley and Garfield Logan with its wings. Cade's armour, save for his helmet had completely fallen apart. The White Entity of life was much larger than him and perhaps infinitely more powerful. But he wasn't afraid to make demands.
"Save them!" he gestured to the two dying humans.
Next Chapter 4: Sinners against sinner
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. In terms of their looks the Suicide Squad is based on their New 52 incarnations, but I made the roster more original. The characters Steve showed Oli will all play a role in the future.
Next time Cade demands help from the entity of the White Lantern but is faced with opposition by the suicide squad. Meanwhile Onyx continues his rampage, instead stopping at an Earth ruled by the Dark Avengers.