Along for the Ride: Chapter 2. Actions Within the Night.
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Something was off... It was too quiet... Shouldn't Sportsmaster be trying to break into the Temple of the Rat by now?
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Meanwhile...
Sportsmaster used the fencing sabre to charge at Dotsuku. He really needed to get this over with quickly if he wanted to get the kid before he left the temple. Once that happened there was no way he was getting another chance at him.
Dotsuku glared as he side-stepped the attack without much effort and countered with a sharp punch to the side of Sportsmaster's gut. He smirked when he saw the masked man stumble to the left, barely catching himself from falling.
Sportsmaster grinned his teeth as he let out a low growl before looking at the Warrior of the Dog. He glared at him when he thought, 'Damn it! This guy is tougher than he looks!' His breathing was ragged and pained, each involuntary movement aggravated the new wound in his side. Sportsmaster got into a battle-ready stance, sabre ready to pierce its target, clenching his side as he did.
Sportsmaster needed to end this now! He had to get the kid before he left the temple!
Sportsmaster lunged forward, ready to just spear the other man through. But Dotsuku saw it coming and moved to not only dodge but render the weapon useless. Sportsmaster's eyes went wide at what he was witnessing.
The Warrior of the Dog... Split the sabre in two... By biting the metal in half... With just his teeth!
Sportsmaster stumbled, barely catching himself as he looked at what remained of his fencing sabre, the hilt and 3cm of the blade. The villain then turned his attention to his opponent.
Dotsuku spat out a part of the sabre before sticking his right index, middle, and ring fingers in his mouth, probably to make sure he got out all the metal. Dotsuku retracted his fingers before he smirked, flashing his razor-sharp teeth, and readied his claws.
Sportsmaster growled as he tossed the useless weapon to the side before pulling a golfing club out of his quiver. He was running out of time!
Suddenly, a metallic sound and a child was shouting in shock.
Dotsuku felt his stomach drop when he turned towards the corridor the sound came from before bolting in that direction as he shouted, "Tsugi!" His child was in trouble! He needed to get to him!
Sportsmaster stood where he was. Utterly dumbstruck.
Dotsuku ran through the corridor until he came upon the silver-haired child lying on the ground in some sort of strange contraption.
The contraption was attached to the child's back and ran down the length of his spine while binding his arms and legs together with spider-like limbs wrapping around the child. Tsugiyoshi's arms were locked into place by the mechanical limb, his left arm clenching his dog plush close while his right arm was locked to stay at his side
"Tsugi!" Dotsuku shouted as he ran to the fallen child's side. He knelt and started trying to pry the mechanical limbs off when he asked, "What happened?"
Tsugiyoshi strained against the metal restraints when he said, "I don't know! This thing came out of nowhere and latched onto me! I couldn't avoid it!"
Dotsuku calmed the child down when he told him, "It's okay, I'll get you out of this thing." He bent over to bite into the metal of one of the mechanical limbs wrapped around the child's legs. He sank his teeth into the metal and tore the limb right off. He flung it to the side.
"Dad! Behind you!" Tsugiyoshi Shouted, his eyes wide as he was staring at whatever was happening behind the Warrior of the Dog.
Sportsmaster brought the golf club down on the Dog-man. However, Dotsuku reacted quicker than anticipated and caught the pole with his teeth and snapped it in half like he did with the sabre. The Warrior of the Dog launched himself towards the villain from where he was sitting. Sportsmaster managed to pull away, but Dotsuku was able to scratch the masked man's left arm with his right claws.
Sportsmaster let out a low growl when he thought, 'Damn it! I can't believe I have to use this!' He waited for the Warrior of the Dog to get closer with another attack to pull out the weapon he never thought he needed and use it.
Dotsuku howled in pain as the stun gun hit him. The electrical surge through his body, caused all his muscles to tense up against his will. He then collapsed as the voltage pulsed through his nerve endings. Dotsuku tried to get up but his body wouldn't respond! He couldn't move!
Tsugiyoshi stared at the whole thing with wide eyes. He struggled to get out of the device, but it was no use. The damn thing had him in its grip.
Sportsmaster let out a growl as he pocketed the stun gun and walked over to the child. "I can't believe I had to use that cheap shot," the villain grumbled out as he shifted his quiver of weapons so it hung off his waist rather than his back.
Now that the quiver was in a different spot, Tsugiyoshi could see that the bad guy had some kind of metallic straps that almost mimicked the ones on a camping pack. The child started struggling against the bonds again. Sportsmaster let out a snicker when he stated, "You should give it up. You're not getting out of that." He pressed a button on the 'belt' of the straps as he turned so his back was facing the child.
Everything happened so fast that Tsugiyoshi almost didn't register what happened. A sudden unseen force drew the child towards the man. He grunted when his back collided with Sportsmaster. Tsugiyoshi couldn't help but think, 'What kind of ability is this?!'
Sportsmaster grunted at the sudden weight on his back. A 7-year-old wasn't heavy enough to hold the villain back, but he still had to adjust to the new weight on him. Sportsmaster smirked when he took a step forward and said, "Alright kid, time to go."
Tsugiyoshi struggled, but the binds were too strong for the child. All he could do was move his legs from the knees down, so he kicked the villain's rear, literally.
"Ouch! Cut that out, brat!" Sportsmaster got out and he started walking. He could do without that while he made his escape.
"You... Bastard!" Dotsuku growled out as he tried to force his body to move. He wanted to kill the villain, but whatever the guy did had paralyzed him to the point he could bearly talk.
Sportsmaster looked over to the fallen Warrior of the Dog. He frowned at the state of the other, not the least bit happy that he had to use the stun gun to take the guy down. Sportsmaster continued walking when he stated, "Nothing personal, but a job's a job."
Tsugiyoshi realised that his father wasn't moving and shouted, "Dad!"
Dotsuku could bearly move as he got out in pain, "Tsu... gi..." He watched helplessly as Sportsmaster left with his shouting child in tow.
Sportsmaster had to quickly gag Tsugiyoshi with a cloth to stop him from shouting and attracting any more attention. It was tricky to do with the kid attached to his back like a backpack, but he managed to do it. Although, the villain did get bitten a few times by the child during the ordeal.
Sportsmaster cautiously looked out the Temple of the Rat, making sure that no one was in view. Though the time of night was past midnight, the Villian knew that there might be a few night owls out and about. When he saw none, he quietly and quickly darted out of the building.
Tsugiyoshi let out a growl before he slammed his heels on the badie's rear mid-stride.
"Youch! Knock that off, brat!" Sportsmaster hissed out in anger and pain.
Tsugiyoshi let out a satisfied humph.
Sportsmaster let out a growl, knowing that he didn't have the time nor the skills to fix the broken sections that would've kept the kid's legs in place. Meaning he was going to have to tolerate the child literally kicking him as the whole time he had him. Sportsmaster glanced around again before he hustled on the planned pathway out of the 12 Kingdoms.
The villain felt his heart stop when he saw a drunken woman suddenly appear in front of him when she Slurred out, "Heeey yeah, Mither. Yahr out fur a drink too?" Sportsmaster paused to take in the appearance of the drunken woman.
She was a petite woman with short, messy orange-haired and green eyes. She wore a long chain with a tiger paw extending from a collar around her neck, wore a black-dyed leather jacket, appeared to have a pair of tiger ears protruding out from under those orange strands of hair, and wore an orange karate gi-like outfit with tiger stripes on it paired with tiger printed boots. Despite the outfit she was wearing, she didn't seem like she would do much in a fight. Not to mention... She was completely Drunk! At this hour of the night!
Sportsmaster relaxed when he saw how drunk the woman was. Although, he was a little surprised by how young the woman was. Not that he cared, drunks were easy for him to deal with and a relatively young, scrawny, woman wouldn't be any effort for the villain.
Tsugiyoshi recognised the drunken voice right away. 'This guy is going to get a pummelling,' the child thought while wondering if Tora noticed him.
Tora swayed as she walked towards Sportsmaster, waved, and slurred out, "Yah wanna join me fur a drink?"
The villain shook his head when he said, "Nah, I got to be someplace important."
Tora gave a drunken smile when she said, "Oh?" She got closer when she slurred out, "Ah-Kay, but one more question." Tora smirked when she said in a surprisingly sombre tone, "Yah're not gonna take our cute little Rat with yah, are yah?"
Before Sportsmaster could register those words, Tora sucker-punched him in the face and completely destroyed his hockey mask. The villain almost toppled backwards in pain.
'That had to hurt,' Tsugiyoshi thought through the whole thing.
As the hockey mask fell to the ground, Sportsmaster clutched his nose, which might be broken, as blood dripped down his face. The villain swore when he got out, "What the fucking hell?!" That was when Tora hit Sportsmaster in the chest with a sudden flying kick, sending him flying backwards. Thanks to the angle he was kicked, he landed on his chest and left Tsugiyoshi unscathed.
'She's good,' the grey-haired child thought when he realised what happened. Impressed that the usually drunken tiger was this controlled.
Tora walked over to the fallen Villain when she asked the child, "I didn't getcha during that, did I?" Tsugiyoshi shook his head. She looked at the binds on the child when she got out with a cringe, "How about I getcha outta that before the guy wakes up." Tsugiyoshi happily nods at that.
Tora knelt to get a better look at the binds before she got out in confusion, "Eesh, how are those practical?" She tapped on the binds around the child's knees when she commented, "That also can't be comfortable fur this nitwit to lug either."
Tsugiyoshi shrugged at what he heard. He knew he wasn't making it easy for the villain, but he didn't know how comfortable this doohicky was to wear the way the adult was.
Sportsmaster let out a low growl before he rolled to his side to swing at the Warrior of the Tiger. Tora easily dodged but she was more worried about the child, who was now being sandwiched between the ground and the villain.
'Jerk!' Tsugiyoshi thought as he tried to wiggle out. The pressure of being squeezed on the front and back HURT!
Tora growled when She got out, "Oi! careful! Yah got a passenger wit 'ya!" she then dodged another random punch before she slammed one of her fists into Sportsmaster's shoulder, hopefully dislodging it judging by how pained the guy's yelp was.
Sportsmaster glared at the Warrior of the Tiger when he growled out, "You little bitch!" He sluggishly got to his feet. He never thought he would be fighting anyone while he had his captive strapped to his back, let alone a tiny woman who was giving him a thrashing.
Tora flashed her fangs when she got out with another growl, "Yah got two choices. The first one is letting the kid go and leaving and never returning. The second is me beating tha crap outta yah and the other Outsiders drag yah whooped ass outta here." She got into a fighting stance, ready to strike, and said, "I don't care which yah pick, long as I can kick yah ass fur trespassin' during the Rite of Passage."
Sportsmaster snapped his shoulder back in place with a pained grunt, not listening to what was being said. He knew he needed to get out of this place, and fast! He growled when he thought, 'Damn it! I'll have to use the stun gun again!' Sportsmaster moved to grip the device in question as he waited for the orange-haired woman to get closer.
It would've been easy to do, if the child strapped to his back didn't kick him in the butt at just the wrong time and causing him to miss his chance as well as getting punched in the gut, again. In fact... The kid did this skit two more times before Sportsmaster used a smoke bomb as a diversion so he could escape.
Tora yelped at the sudden lack of fight before she got out, "Oi! Where'd yah go?! Yah bastard!" She was punching the smoke around her, hoping to land a hit. Tora cursed when she realised her opponent fled.
Sportsmaster grunted in pain as he hustled to get out of this village. He, in all his life as a villain, has never been beaten up this badly by a petite woman! Sportsmaster would've blamed his earlier run-in with the Warrior of the Dog as the reason he did so poorly against the Tiger, however...
As Sportsmaster hid behind a building to avoid being spotted by some pedestrians, he couldn't help but think, 'This kid kicked me every time I tried to ready the stun gun or when I readied for an attack...' He turned his head to look behind him, only seeing the top of the grey-haired child's head, and thought, 'Did this kid... Somehow knew that I was going to do something and kicked me just as I was going to do it?'
If it had been once, Sportsmaster would have thought it was luck. If it had been twice, it would've been a coincidence. But it happened three times in the fight... There had to have been something else at play.
Sportsmaster took the opportunity to catch his breath while keeping a lookout for any of the other Warriors. Unbeknownst to the villain, a figure crept behind him. Tsugiyoshi easily saw the figure but didn't do anything to alert his captor.
Just as Sportsmaster got his breathing levelled, he felt a nozzle poking him in the arm. He paled when he heard a voice say, "Don't move unless you want to become extra crispy."
Sportsmaster swore under his breath before he looked in the direction he heard the voice and saw Tatsumi Kyoudai Otouto standing there with his flamethrower ready to go and a smirk on his face.
The lavender-haired man still had that smirk when he said, "Not to brag, but I am the king of Search for the Hidden." He poked the nozzle of his flamethrower into the Outsider when he stated, "Release our new Rat and come along slowly."
Sportsmaster growled, not believing that he got caught off-guard yet again! 'Either I'm loosing my edge or the freaks in this place are more freakish than I was told,' the villain thought bitterly. He slowly raised his hands in an 'I surrender' motion while he calculated his next move.
Tatsumi Kyoudai Otouto gripped the nozzle to his flamethrower tighter as he poked the villain with it again when he said, "Well? Let him go. Slowly."
Sportsmaster slowly moved his arms to appear like he was adhering to orders. When his hands got in range of the nozzle, he quickly snagged it and rammed it into the lavender-haired man's chest. This gave the villain-for-hire the opportunity to knock out the twin, if the child hadn't kicked him at just the wrong time. Sportsmaster was only able to doze his opponent, but it gave him a chance to escape.
"Bastard!" Tatsumi Kyoudai Otouto sheathed out as he had a hand on the spots that were hit. He growled as he moved a hand to one of his pockets for something.
}{
The Young Justice Team were given an alert by an owl each. The owls were very insistent that the teens follow them, even more so when they asked if it was Sportsmaster.
So the Team followed, noting how the owls lead them away from the Temple of the Rat.
}{
'What the everloving fuck is wrong with this place?!' Sportsmaster thought in anger as he parried a punch from yet another petite woman standing at around 150 cm with short ginger hair that was combed back with only a few strands hanging in front of her face, a pair of grey-rimmed glasses sat in front of her light brown eyes, wore a forest green top with simple little monkeys decorating the helms paired with a simple green skirt with black pantyhose like cloth on her legs, and a pair of small boots that looked like it was made out of strong leather.
Sharyu narrowed her eyes as she moved to stomp the ground. The ground fissured where her foot met the surface and the crack expanded until it was under the villain. Then a stalagmite bursted out of the break in the ground.
Sportsmaster was barely able to dodge, no thanks to the kid on his back kicking him at just the wrong time. The villain looked over the hockey stick he was using, right before it shattered into pieces. He swore as he tossed the remaining piece of the spots tool before he pulled a baseball bat out of his quiver.
Sharyu narrowed her eyes at this before she said in an uncharacteristic cold tone as she got into a fighting stance, "You should stop while you can, and release our little Rat. I may not be interested in ending you, but the other Warriors will be more than willing to." She tensed before she got out as her hands clenched into fists, "Sharyu, Warrior of the Monkey! Killing peacefully!"
Sportsmaster raised a brow at this when he thought, 'Huh? Her too?'
Tsugiyoshi, on the other hand, could only think, 'Damn, he's not getting out of this unscathed.'
Sharyu slowly moved her arms until they were on her right side. Her right hand now resting next to her waist while her left arm moved so it was in a guard stance, protecting her chest. Sharyu's narrowed eyes blew open as she threw a right punch with a lot of power behind it.
However, she was a good 2 metres away from Sportsmaster.
The villain didn't understand why his opponent was doing that so far from him. At least until he felt the wind hitting his gut with as much force as a cannonball, or at least that's what it felt like. Sportsmaster let out a choked gasp as he wrapped his arms around his midsection. He took a few steps back before he sank to his knees, trying to get air in his lungs.
'What the hell?!' Sportsmaster thought, trying to breathe. He couldn't understand what had just happened. The ginger-haired woman was too far away for her to hit him as hard as she did!
Sharyu took advantage of her opponent's inactiveness to do what she did to Kid Flash, except she only did it to Sportsmaster's legs. He didn't even notice. Sharyu moved so she could see Tsugiyoshi and he could see her. The ginger-haired woman couldn't help but ask when she saw the child, "What kind of contraption is this?"
Tsugiyoshi could only shrug his shoulders. Even though he was trapped in this weird thing-a-ma-bob, he had no idea what it was supposed to be other than keeping him attacked to this villain's back.
Sharyu placed a hand on her chin when she muttered, "Let's wait until the outsider Team comes. They might know how to undo this."
Not like Tsugiyoshi had much of a choice, but at least Sharyu took the gag off.
of course, Sportsmaster tried to attack Sharyu but was nowhere close to striking. The Warrior of the Monkey used the earth to bind the villain's arms to the ground. And of course, he was flabbergasted by this. Then again, he's never had to deal with this kind of skit before. 'Seriously! what the hell?!' Sportsmaster thought as he strained against the solid earth-made binds that kept him in place. He let out a low growl before he swore.
Tsugiyoshi told the intruder, "You brought this on yourself by interfering in the Rite." In all honesty, he just wanted the guy to stop struggling, the sudden jerking motions were annoying.
Sharyu then stated in a calm tone, "He is right." She then turned her attention back to the child when she asked, "By the way, what happened to Dotsuku? Surely he would've killed this outsider."
Sportsmaster paused in his motions when he heard those words. It wasn't what was said that caught his attention but how they were told. 'She was too calm when she said that...' Sportsmaster thought as he reviewed the words. Something was off here…
Uuma, Ushii, and Tatsumi Kyoudai Ani were the first to arrive on the scene. Followed by Tora and Tatsumi Kyoudai Otouto. The Young Justice Team arrived with Usagi, Hitsujii, and Inounoshishi. With the Martian being as far from the Warrior of the Boar.
"Aw, yah only restrained him," Tora got out with a huff as she folded her arms.
Sharyu gave the Warrior of the Tiger a look when she stated sternly, "You know he has our new Rat on his back right?"
Tora was matter of fact when she said with a huff, "I made sure not to harm him."
"I can vouch," Tsugiyoshi vocalised. He then kicked the villain with his heels when he added, "He was a jerkwad."
Sportsmaster couldn't stop himself from snapping, "Will you cut that out! I would've gotten out of this place if you hadn't been doing that the entire time!"
Tsugiyoshi let out a huff when he stated in a deadpan tone, "That was the whole idea, baka." Sportsmaster let out a low growl at this. The child struggled against the metal bonds when he asked the on-lookers "Can someone get these off me?"
As Uuma moved to inspect the metal bands wrapping around the child, Sportsmaster belatedly realised that the Young Justice Team. The villain-for-hire rolled his eyes when he got out in annoyance, "Oh, great... The kiddie brigade is here."
Artemis folded her arms in front of her chest when she sharked back, "Yeah, not like you're much for pleasant company either." Kid Flash elbowed the blonde girl in the arm.
As Artemis glared at the speedster, he commented in a soft stern tone, "Not the time nor the place for that." The archer let out a huff, knowing that he was right about that.
Uuma easily broke the bonds on the child's legs, but the metal made a loud snap when it did.
Ushii was looking around the area when he asked, "Where is Dotsuku? I'm sure he would have been one of the first of us to arrive."
Tsugiyoshi was quick to reply, "This baka did something to Dad with a small metal box that he has in his right pocket! Be careful! It seemed to paralyzed him!"
Uuma carefully reached into Sportsmaster's right pocket, even though the villain certainly protested that, and pulled out the stun gun. The towering strongman looked over the device in confusion.
"Whoa! careful!" Kid Flash vocalised before he sped over, snatched the stun gun out of Uuma's hand, and quickly made sure it wasn't active. All in two blinks of the eye. Uuma was certainly confused by the speedster's actions, at least until Kid Flash explained, "Stun guns are non-lethal weapons, but they still pack a nasty punch. The electrical surge from one of these things will cause muscles to stiffen, causing temporary paralysis."
Tsugigiyoshi thought back to what he saw during his dad's fight with the bad guy in the Temple of the Rat before he finally said, "Ah, so that's why Dad couldn't move after that thing was used..."
Robin couldn't help but say in a suspicious tone, "Hold on... Why would Sportsmaster use a stun gun?"
Superboy raised a brow when he commented in confusion, "There isn't anything sports-themed about a stun gun. So why use one when it doesn't fit his usual pattern?"
The Young Justice Team Stared at Sportsmaster, who glared back in aggravation. He let out an annoyed growl before he got out, "The client insisted I take the damn thing, 'Just in case' I need it as a backup." Sportsmaster scoffed before he added, "Didn't think I would need to use it…"
Tatsumi Kyoudai Ani couldn't help but snicker before he got out, "Let Ore-Sama guess, Dotsuku bites?"
As Sportsmaster snapped at the Older Twin to shut up, Hitsujii stated, "We should check on him after we get our Little Rat out of that contraption."
Kid Flash was quick to explain, "That's a great idea. While stun guns aren't lethal, they can last a while and could cause some lingering issues." While the speedster was speaking, Tatsumi Kyoudai Otouto looked down at his feet in confusion.
As Superboy offered to rip the bands off of the child to free him, the younger twin's head shot up to the side at the edge of the forest. With a shocked expression plastered all over his face, Tatsumi Kyoudai Otouto suddenly shouted at his fellow Warriors and the Young Justice Team, "OI! WE GOT MORE OUTSIDERS! ALL WITH INCOMING ATTACKS!"
That warning came just in time.
Everyone but the ones still bound (though the attacks missed them) scattered as they avoided all the incoming attacks. Inounoshishi immediately aimed her semi-automatics as soon as she landed in the direction the attacks came from. The blonde-haired woman then shouted, "Inounoshishi! Warrior of the Boar! Killing Bountifully!" As soon as she finished, she pulled the triggers on her guns and the barrage of bullets began.
Sharyu stuck close to the Young Justice Team while Uuma kept close to Hitsujii and the other Warriors went to attack the new wave of intruders. The Warrior of the Monkey told the teens, "Let them handle these outsiders. Help me get Tsugiyoshi." But before they could even think to get back to where Sportsmaster was bound, they saw he and the child were gone.
}{
Sportsmaster had never been so mixed about something in his life. On the one hand, he was out of that God-forsaken freak house of a village. But on the other hand, he most certainly didn't like the fact that someone else saved his arse...
Speaking of...
Tsugiyoshi slammed his heels on the villain for hire's hindquarters, hard!
Sportsmaster nearly fell over due to the sudden blow. "Ya-ouch! Will you stop that you brat!" the villain snapped in aggravation as he wiped the blood off his face.
The child asked the baddie in a deadpan tone, "Are you going to let me go?"
"No!" Sportsmaster snapped back almost immediately.
Tsugiyoshi let out a huff before he retorted, "That's my answer."
Sportsmaster had to pause to figure out what the kid was talking about. Once he realised the implication, he let out a growl as he continued to follow the part of the group that saved him.
"Few-wee, I didn't think the kid would be a cheeky little thing," said the voice from a man in his late 20s wearing a red one-piece unitard with a white circle and a black division sign on it, with the only other accessory is his black eye-mask while every part of his face aside from his nose and mouth were covered. This was Billy Numerous, the multiplication villain.
The Shade, wearing his usual attire of a black tux and top hat paired with his black rounded glasses tapped his cane (1) when he stated in a calm, business-like tone, "I honestly can't blame the poor boy. Sportsmaster's sweaty smell must be hard to deal with."
As Sportsmaster snapped at the shadow man to shut up, the grey-haired child stated, "That's one of the issues with this baka." Tsugiyoshi then decided to dig his heels in the guy's tailbone, causing him to yelp.
Sportsmaster growled before he snapped at the child, "Will you stop doing that fucking shit."
Suddenly, something walked the villain-for-hire over the head, hard. The sports-themed man rubbed where he was hit as he looked at the two other villains with a scowl. Billy Numerous raised a brow as he stared at an unamused-looking Shade. Sportsmaster moved his free hand in a 'what the heck' manner when got out in annoyance, "What the hell was that for?"
A shadow tendril popped out from the dark spot created by the overcast the child's head created and walked Sportsmaster on the head, again. As the villain yelped in pain, Shade pointed his cane at the other when he snapped in that same business-like tone, "Do not swear in the presence of a child."
Sporstmaster scowled when he retorted, "I don't give a crap about that." The shadow tendril walked him on the head yet again, and hard. It didn't help that Tsugiyoshi Kicked him right at the same moment. Sportsmaster nearly fell over due to the blows.
Billy was glad he wasn't in that position while the Shade stated, uncaring about the injured man, "I don't care what you do during this job, Sportsmaster, but do keep in mind that you are carrying precious cargo and need to treat him as such. Meaning, keep your language age-appropriate."
"Is that your only concern about this whole thing?" Billy asked as he pointed at the Shade in a confused tone.
Sportsmaster scoffed when he got out sarcastically, "I don't see you helping on either side." This caused the red-wearing man to give a half-hearted shrug. Sportsmaster then turned his head to see the child's head when he stated, "And you better behave and quit kicking me!"
Tsugiyoshi let out a huff when he stated coldly, "I will keep doing it as long as I have to be strapped to your back." He then scoffed before he added, "But it's not me that you're going to have to worry about."
Sportsmaster rolled his eyes when he almost scoffed sarcastically. "Yeah, yeah, Wrath of the Rat or whatever." He started walking when he added in an annoyed tone, "I want to get this crap job over with and get paid." The shadow tendril whacked the sports-themed villain over the head, again, causing the man to let out a yelp. The Shade scolded Sportsmaster for swearing in front of a child, again. Billy Numerous couldn't suppress a snicker at this. This, in turn, caused Sportsmaster to lash out at the two new arrivals and snapped, "Why are you even here?!"
The Shade explained to the villain-for-hire that they were hired as back-up, just as an extra precaution on the client's end. He also explained that there was a beacon in the stun gun that would signal the duo to act when the device is triggered. The shade finished explaining, "The client knew You wouldn't use the stun gun unless you were in a bad pinch."
That was when Billy Numerous added with a smirk, "So when we got the beacon signal, we knew yah needed saving. And we were right on the money." He pinched his thumb, index, and middle fingers together before he made a rubbing motion with them. Billy then planted his knuckles on his hips when he added with that smirk still on his lips, "But I can't blame yah. Heard those Warrior fellows were on par with the JL or something along that line and I guess it didn't help that the Little Leaguers were there."
Sportsmaster clicked his tongue in annoyance, unsure if he should be irritated that the client didn't think he could complete the job on his own or glad that there was an actual back-up plan in place in case something happened... He growled before he concluded, 'Long as I get paid, I don't give a crap about who helps so long as they don't get a cut of my paycheck.'
Billy's smirk suddenly vanished and his attention quickly snapped towards the village they had just left. He then looked baffled as he stared in that direction.
Shade was the first to notice this and asked the red-clad man, "Numerous, what happened in the 12 Kingdoms?"
With that baffled expression still on his face, Billy stated in a somewhat distracted and confused tone, "My copies... They... They were all... All killed..."
Shade placed a hand on his top hat when he asked, "Really? I thought you created roughly 200 to keep everyone busy?"
Not moving and still in that same tone, Billy said softly, "I... Did..." He slowly turned his attention to Shade and Sportsmaster before he said with that bewildered expression still present, "Those Warriors... They killed... All my copies... None of them... Hesitated to deliver the... Final blow..."
Sportsmaster and Shade seemed to pause at this before the blonde man asked in an uneasy tone, "Uh, was it because your copies got careless or because it's easy to tell that they're copies?"
Billy was quiet as the memories from his destroyed copies flashed through his mind. They both frightened and uneased the multiplier when he got out in a tone that made it seem like he would puke at any second, "Neither... The... Those Warriors, they... The ones that did fight my copies... They went for the kill... Without hesitation…"
Sportsmaster couldn't help but drawl out in a disbelieving tone, "Without... Hesitation... At all?"
Billy Numerous slowly shook his head as he still processed the memories from his clones. Shade tapped his top hat when he commented, "Interesting."
Tsugiyoshi couldn't stop himself from smirking when he said, "I told you that it wasn't me you had to worry about."
The three villains couldn't help but stare at the child from where they were. None of the three had any response, or rather... They couldn't respond to the rather unexpected information.
}I{ Back with the Warriors and Young Justice Team }I{
"Couldn't any of you keep one of them alive to be interrogated!" Sharyu practically shouted at the 10 other Warriors in an odd combination of anger, annoyance, and exasperation. It didn't help that they didn't seem like they felt guilty over what happened.
Tatsume Kyoudai Otouto raised a hand with his index finger extended, "Um, given that they all went poof when we landed any type of attack..."
That was when Tatsume Kyoudai Ani finished the sentence with, "Ore-Sama thinks that they aren't the real enemy."
Tora huffed in annoyance when she stated, "Those guys had to have been a distraction to keep our attention off our Little Rat. Cht! And it worked!"
The Young Justice Team were... Unsettled by the battle they had just witnessed. Sure, they would've jumped in to help take on the Billy Numerous copies but...
Saying that they were taken back by how merciless the Warriors taught would be an understatement...
Robin was the one to finally ask the Warriors, "Uh, do you guys... Always fight... To kill?"
"Don't you?" replied all the present Warriors except Hitsuji, Uuma, and Sharyu.
Oh... Wow! That was a telling statement.
All the Young Justice Team members immediately shook their heads. None could trust their voices at the moment.
All the present Warriors, on the other hand, glanced at each other in confusion. Almost as if they couldn't understand a fight that... Didn't end in their opponents deaths...
However, Sharyu's eyes lit up in joy when she asked the team in enthusiasm, "Really?! You outsiders don't kill your opponents!?" Her body language was easily read as 'Tell me more, please'.
But before anyone from the Young Justice Team could get a word out. Ushii vocalised as he looked around, "Hold that inquiry for a moment." He scanned the area before he told the Warrior of the Snake, "Otouto, where's Dotsuku?"
Tatsumi Kyodai Otouto knelt and placed his hand on the earth. He stared at the ground before his attention was on the Temple of the Rat when he stated in shock, "Oi! Oi! Oi! How'd that Sportsmaster Outsider manage to keep Dotsuku down?"
"What?!" the other Warriors got out in shock.
Robin slapped a hand to his head when he got out in realisation, "Oh, Shit! The stun gun! The effect lasts a while!" Oh, that explains that.
"Hm?" Tatsumi Kyodai Otouto's focus was on the earth again. He spread his palm on the ground, hyper focused on that spot.
Of course, the Young Justice Team was confused by this. Obviously, the Warriors knew what was going on, but a little inclusion would be nice.
That was when Tatsumi Kyodai Otouto bolted towards the Temple of the Rat when he shouted at his fellow Warriors, "He needs help! He still can't move!"
That got the Warriors' attention before they too followed the Warrior of the Snake.
It took a moment for the Young Justice Team to understand before Miss Martian sent, '[You don't think?]' They didn't need to answer to know, they quickly bolted after the Warriors. Well, the speedster easily pulled ahead of everyone and got to the Temple of the Rat before everyone.
The main entrance was wide open when Kid Flash rushed in. The Speedster was quick to look around before he came to Dotsuku, struggling to move his limbs the way he wanted. Kid Flash was by the Warrior of the Dog's side faster than the blink of an eye when he asked, "Hey! Woah! What happened to you!?"
Dotsuku grunted, continuing on his task to move his numbed limbs, before he got out, "That bustard! He used some kind of hand-held, metal box that paralysed me! Then he took Tsugi!"
Kid Flash slowly and carefully moved the Warrior of the Dog into a sitting position when he asked in confusion, "Wait? He really did use a stun gun?"
Dotsuku couldn't help but state in a flat tone despite his situation, "Is that what that thing is called? How appropriate."
Kid Flash, trying to lighten the mood a bit, couldn't help but say, "Yeah, Kinda..." The speedster looked around for something for the other to lean on for support before he rushed off to get the item. Dotsuku was confused by the sudden action, at least until kid Flash came back with a chair and said, "Here, use this to keep yourself upright until the effects of the stun gun wear off."
The Warrior of the Dog wasn't sure about this, but since it was either this or the floor... Dotsuku unwillingly propped himself against the chair for support. Begrudgingly, Dotsuku got out in a soft tone, "Thanks..."
Kid Flash knelt to the Warrior of the Dog's level when he said, "You're welcome, but seriously, don't force yourself to move when you can't. Wait for the numbness to pass before trying to move."
Dotsuku clicked his tongue in annoyance before he stated, "Not like I have much of a choice..." He glanced at the speedster when he asked in a controlled tone, "Did you kill that Sportsmaster guy and save Tsugi?"
Kid Flash was a little too quiet for the Warrior of the Dog's liking.
Dotsuku let out a low growl before asking the speedster in an eerily calm but angry tone, "You better have a damn good reason why you didn't!"
The rest of the two groups arrived just in time to hear those words.
Ushii told the Warrior of the Dog in his usual tone, "It appears that Sportsmaster had... Some unexpected help..."
Dotsuku narrowed his eyes at the Young Justice team when he growled out, "What do you mean by 'unexpected help'? You told us the guy doesn't work with others!"
Robin did a calm-down motion with his hands when he explained, "He doesn't normally, but considering Sportsmaster was also surprised by Numerous, we can assume he didn't know about them."
Artemis folded her arms when she scoffed out, "Guess that means that whoever hired him had a backup plan in place just in case the dick failed or needed help." She looked away with a growl.
Kaldur placed a hand on his chin when he mused out loud, "That is a little too well planned... And involving these three in particular..."
Miss Martian caught on to what was being implied when she asked, "Are you thinking that whoever hired those guys knew that they would be the best options for this task? And knew that a backup plan would've been needed?"
Tatsume Kyoudai Otouto waved his hands when he vocalised, "Hang on! Are you kids suggesting that someone inside the 12 Kingdoms is working with an Outsider!"
That was when Tatsume Kyoudai Ani added in the same tone as his brother, "On a plan that would not only interrupt a Sacred Rite but also kidnap a chosen Warrior?"
The Twins then shouted at the same time, "Are you crazy?!"
Ushii placed a hand on his chin when he mused, "It might be crazy, but the fact before us fit that theory a little too perfectly..."
Everyone was eerily quiet at these words.
Dotsuku's growl pierced the air before he dully clenched his fist and hissed out, "THAT'S HOW the bastard got in! Even after I checked the whole Temple! And that trap! Whoever this traitor is, had to have been the one to set it up!" He tried to get up but fell almost immediately.
Being the closest, Ushii and Kid Flash rushed to catch the Warrior of the Dog. Dotsuku glared at the Warrior of the Ox as he yanked himself out of his grip, only to fall completely in Kid Flash's arms. The speedster managed to catch the Warrior of the Dog easily enough and sat him down, but was confused by the... Action...
After all, Dotsuku didn't hide how much he didn't trust the Young Justice Team, yet he just showed that he was more willing to allow one to help him over his fellow Warrior...
Kid Flash glanced up at Ushii, as did the other Young Justice Team. The Warrior of the Ox kept that stern expression on his face, yet his dark eyes had a glimmer of hurt in them.
The other Warriors had mixed feelings about this issue, but Sharyu was quick to help Dotsuku. This time, the Warrior of the Dog accepted the aid.
Robin couldn't help but ask, making sure to carefully pick his words, "Um... Do any of you mind if we... Report this to our mentors. Just to tell them what happened and what might be needed."
Hitsuji nodded when he said, "Go ahead." He narrowed his eyes when he added sternly, "But they aren't entering the 12 Kingdoms."
Robin only nodded before he took out his communicator and called Batman as he moved to the entrance of the Temple of the Rat.
As the rest of the Warriors and the Young Justice Team started conversing over what happened, Conner suddenly heard the soft music of a violin playing. The clone looked around, trying to pinpoint where the sound was coming from until his eyes landed on the strangely-shaped gemstone in the paws of the rat statue in the middle of the Temple.
Superboy moved closer to the strange purple/black gem and the music grew louder. The clone glanced at the others, to see if any of them heard what he was listening to, but they made no indication that they did. Well, he did have super hearing, so it did make sense that the others might not notice the music. Conner paused for a second as he heard the violin sound of the strangely-shaped gem playing a familiar song.
'Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera?' Superboy thought as he moved closer to the Rat statue, eyes glued on the purple-black gem. Now the clone thought this was weird. After all, how could a classic song from a well-known musical be playing in a place that has been isolated for far longer than the musical has been around?
When Superboy was close enough, he reached out a hand and carefully plucked the odd gem out of the statue's paw. The clone stared at the object as the song came to an end. The next thing he knew, another song started playing, one that he didn't recognise, and an image appeared in his mind. A person playing the violin.
Superboy had never seen this man before, yet something about him seemed... Off...
A tall redheaded man with a white streak in his hair, dark red eyes, wearing a black turtleneck shirt, khaki jacket with matching slacks, and black shoes was playing a violin inside some sort of museum. But there was something… Odd about this image… Like… One was looking at it through a mirror or something…
That was when Superboy realised what was off. 'He's holding the violin with his right and the bow is in his left, it should be the other way around,' the clone thought as he watched the image play the instrument in time with the song. He wondered if he was looking at a mirrored image or something, after all, it would explain why the guy was holding the instrument inverted and still playing the right notes. Conner then noticed the background of the image, which looked like a flat with a window that showed a city.
"OI! What the Hell?! What are you doing?!" A voice shouted over the music. Then the image suddenly vanished and the clone was staring at his now empty hand.
Conner blinked in confusion when he realised the strange-shaped gemstone had been snatched from his hands. His eyes followed the Twins as they quickly used a cloth to clean the gem's surface of any fingerprints before they placed it back in the statue's paws. But the clone could still hear the sounds of the violin playing the song coming from the gem. 'Can... No one else hear that?' Conner wondered as he watched the Twins offer their apologies to the Rat statue.
Or rather, the Deity of the Rat.
Conner wasn't sure what was going on with that weird stone. That was when someone asked the clone, "Oi, Powerhouse." Conner's attention was now on the person who spoke.
Dotsuku narrowed his eyes at the clone when he asked in a serious tone, "How was the music?" It was an oddly innocent question but the tone used made it seem like it was part of an interrogation.
Conner blinked in astonishment at the Warrior of the Dog before he looked at the strangely cut gem and asked, "You can hear the violin too?"
NOW Dotsuku seemed to glare at Superboy as the other Warriors seemed to share a glance at one another in a way that only they knew.
The Young Justice Team caught onto this and the clone was the one to ask the question on their minds, "Does that mean anything right now?"
Histuji, stroked his beard when he commented, "Perhaps, but that's not a priority..." He glanced at the other Warriors, checking to see if they were thinking the same thing he was.
They were.
The Young Justice Team couldn't help but converse through their Team Link, all conveying the weirdness of this. Superboy especially since he honestly didn't know what was going on.
[You... Really saw some guy playing the same music you're hearing when you held that weird crystal?] Kid Flash asked through their Team Link in confusion.
Conner glanced at the gem in question when he replied, [Yes... But it had to be a reverse or mirror image...] He looked at his teammates when he continued, [Since he was holding the instrument in the wrong hands but was playing the right notes...] The clone didn't know how else to describe the image.
Zatanna was about to reply something but Robin came back in when he said, "Well, looks like our mission is getting a little more complicated."
"How?" The rest of the team asked the boy wonder in confusion.
Robin let out a sigh before he explained that Batman managed to find some information regarding the person who hired Sportsmaster, and apparently, whoever this person was wanted to make damn sure that he got Tsugiyoshi. No matter what the cost might be.
Well... That confirmed one theory, but...
"How did this person even find out about Tsugiyoshi in the first place?" Zatanna asked as she glanced at her allies. The sorceress waved a hand in a 'hold on there' manner when she added, "It's just that whoever the spy inside the 12 Kingdoms wouldn't be so willing to share such information so easily without a reason! I mean, even the person who asked us to come in didn't tell us everything despite wanting our help!"
Everyone glanced at one another at those true words.
The 11 Warriors and Conner's attention suddenly snapped towards the oddly-shaped gem when it made a strange bell-like ringing.
"Uh, What's wrong?" Miss Martian asked when she saw the actions.
Superboy's attention didn't leave the gem when he sent through the Team Link, [Wait?! How can't you hear that? It was kind of loud...]
[Lound... Are you talking about some kind of sound?] Artemis asked through the team link cluelessly.
[I didn't hear any noise,] Robin pipped in as he watched the Warriors.
Superboy's attention snapped to his teammates when he sent, [You guys really don't hear that?]
Kaldur pointed at the Warriors when he sent, [It seems they hear the sound you're hearing, Conner.]
All the Young Justice members looked at the 11 Warriors, all of whom had their attention focused on the weirdly-shaped gemstone.
The moment the sound stopped for all who heard it, Superboy asked the Warriors, "Uh what was that... Sound about?"
Hitsujii's attention was on the clone when he asked with a raised brow, "You... Heard that too?"
Superboy wearily nodded, not really sure what was going on.
The Twins looked at each other when they jinxed, "Huh, interesting,"
Ushii narrowed his eyes when he stated, "I believe we should... Come back to this after we retrieve Tsugiyoshi." He looked at Kaidar when he asked, "How soon do you and your team want to start heading out to catch that Sportsmaster and his cohorts?"
Kaldur looked confused when he replied,"You... Wish to leave now?"
As Dotsuku managed to balance himself on his own feet, Sharyu stated with a nod, "Yes, not only do we want to save our new fellow Warrior, but the 12 Deities with for us to do so personally,"
Conner couldn't help but ask, "Is... That what the sound from the gem was? The Deities talking to you?" While he was more trying to make sense of that whole thing, he was also conveying that strangeness to his teammates.
Hitsuji nodded when he stated, "The Juseki Gems channel the will of the 12 Deities."
Robin raised a brow as he looked at the strangely-shaped gem at these words. A gem... One, singular gem... 'That means that there are more than what we're seeing now,' Robin thought before he said carefully, "Uh... If that's how things are here... I'll contact Batman and ask if he's willing to meet at a rendezvous point outside the Village... It... Might take a while for him to get to a location outside the forest with transportation,"
That was fine with the Warriors,it would give them time to prepare.
}I{ Watchtower }I{
The moment Batman received the situation report and the request from the Warriors of the 12 Kingdoms for help to get their little Rat back, he was quick to jump into action. Of course, the Cape Crusader ignored the comments from the other JL members.
Since he was going to be transporting the Young Justice team and 11 guests, Batman chose the biggest Bat-jet in the hanger.
Within the next five minutes, Batman was flying towards the planned meet point with the Young Justice team.
~}I{~
The moment he could, Sportsmaster practically collapsed in the seat of the back of the jeep. The kid was unwillingly sitting next to the villain. Billy was sitting in the driver's seat while the Shade sat in the passenger's seat. The jeep was already driving, to get as far away from the 12 Kingdoms as possible. The mission was completed, so there was no reason for them to stay longer than needed.
Nothing of note happened during the drive. That is, until...
Something suddenly appeared in the way of the jeep. But the vehicle was going too fast to stop or avoid whatever it was. The jeep slammed into the object before Billy could even register what happened.
Sportsmaster couldn't help but snap in aggravation, "Watch where you're driving Numerous!" He couldn't help but tug at the bandage on his left arm. It felt like it was burning now that the villain-for-hire wasn't moving.
Billy checked the side mirrors to see what he hit, as the shade did the same. But whatever the object was, it was long since gone. Billy shrugged When he suggested, "Must've been an old tree or something."
The shade gripped the handle over the window at a sharp turn when he stated through his teeth, "How about you slow down a bit so you don't hit anything else."
Tsugiyoshi said nothing as he glanced at Sportsmaster, who was still tugging at the bandages. He couldn't help but smirk as he glanced out the window.
Meanwhile... The object that was hit sturred from its position on the ground before it slowly sat up and turned its attention in the direction the jeep went. There was an odd crackling sound emitting from the object before it stood up.
Back with the jeep, Billy just kept driving, unaware that there were two eyeballs wedged into the crevices of the fender of the vehicle. The iris of one of the eyeballs moved , as if it were watching the scenery passing by.
~}I{~
To be continued.
~}I{~
1… No offence to the character designers for Young Justice, but I prefer The Shade's design in the Justice League series so that's who I'm using in this story.
~}I{~