Chapter 10
Romania Mall
"Does Batman know about the possibility of a mole in your team?" Diana asked, as Draken walks beside her, while also scanning the Mall.
"Not yet." Draken said. "But I do intend to tell him once I go back to the cave."
"I see." Diana said thoughtfully. "But do you think there's a traitor in your team?"
"No." Draken simply answered before turning to Diana. "What exactly are we looking for again?"
"An ancient relic." Diana said
"Do you know what it looks like?" Draken asked
"No."
"What about how to track it?"
"No."
"Then how do you know it's here?" Draken asked
"I was told so." Diana said
"You know, the person who directed you should have at least given you something to help track said artifacts, or at least a tracking spell." Draken muttered
Chuckling slightly at her proteges obvious annoyance, Diana strode towards him. "I know how you feel, but this is to help save my people. Besides, I assumed you knew a tracking spell."
"I think I do." Draken said, making Diana's eyes widen slightly
"Really?"
"It's a ritual actually." Draken said thoughtfully. "I believe one sacrifices a chicken, and divines the location of whatever you want from the intestines."
"Seriously?" Diana asked
"At least that's what my brother said." Draken shrugged, before sensing magic under the building. "Found it," He said before digging his way underground. He returned seconds later with the relic in hand.
"Someone went through extreme lengths to make sure these relics were never found. What are they trying to hide?" Diana wondered.
"I don't know," Draken replied as he handed the relic to Diana, but then there was big bright flash of light. The two heroes were blinded by it.
Draken stepped back with one arm raised to shield his eyes. His face scrunched up for a second before he opened his eyes again.
He grunted in annoyance as the dazzle in his vision soon disappeared. "That was unexpected." Turning to Diana, he noticed she was glaring bloody murder at him, as though she was looking at a demon
Suddenly, Diana shouted at Draken. "You monsters! What have you done to Draken?!"
"Pardon?" Draken asked in confusion
"Answer me monsters!" Diana shouted, while adopting a fighting stance
"It must be the Relic's doing." Draken thought, as he shifted his feet to prepare himself should Diana try anything.
Diana gritted her teeth, before lunging at Draken. He flew backwards, dodging her attack, further making more distance away.
While airborne, Draken began thinking of a spell to use in freeing Diana of whatever illusion she was under, but his thoughts were interrupted, as Diana flew straight him.
"Shit." Draken muttered under his breath, as Diana's fist smashed into his face. Pain shot through the Half Vampire, as he was sent crashing into a book shop.
"This is going to be a really long day." Draken muttered under his breath, as he got ready to face Diana
Gotham City
Artemis approached a disguised Zeta-Tube teleporter dressed fully in costume, she attempted to open it's code-hatch when a figure dropped from the sky and landed on the teleporter scaring the ever-living piss out of Artemis who backed away and reached for an arrow, "Relax, it's just little ol me," Robin said with his hands up still smiling.
She put the arrow back in her quiver as she stomped her feet, "Don't do that!" she huffed as Robin hopped off of the telephone booth and leaned against it.
"So, Artemis, shouldn't you be in Star City?" He coyly smiled and approached her as she cleared her throat, "With your Uncle Green Arrow?"
She rubbed the back of her neck and chuckled, "I'm actually here, uh, visiting my cousin, she was in the, uh, state spelling-bee."
Robin folded his arms, "C-O-O-L, did she, W-I-N?"
Artemis furrowed her brow, "N-O."
"D-R-A-G," He spelled proudly as if knowing exactly what the real story was which he in-fact did.
"Yea, let's just go to the cave," she said quickly as Robin bowed and slipped his hands towards the teleporter implying chivalry.
"Ladies first," he stated as the archer rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Your town, you go first," she stepped back and crossed her arms.
"Whatever floats your boat," he stepped inside as a flash of yellow light engulfed the booth sending him away.
Mount Justice
"Recognize Robin B02," Robin walked through the tubes casually until he noticed the massive amounts of steam covering his vision, "Guys?"
"Recognized Artemis B07," Artemis entered the cave to an odd damp sensation and, once she was fully teleported, she noticed steam completely covering the entire common room obstructing her view of the area. "Where is everyone?"
"Get down!" Robin shouted suddenly, as Artemis backflipped through the fog dodging a pulse of water, with Robin, who acrobatically back-flipped out of the way dodging a pulse of water from a figure in the steam
Artemis readied an arrow on her bow pulling it back and shouting, "Who are we fighting!?"
"I don't know" Robin said, as he threw a Batarang into the steam, hitting something metallic but, having no effect.
Dodging a massive fire ball, Artemis fired an arrow into the smoke "Water! There's a fire guy too, I think!" She shouted, dodging a fireball.
"We're sitting ducks by these entrance tubes!" Robin announced as he launched more Batarangs and ducked under a pillar of fire which exploded on contact with the wall behind them.
Artemis launched several arrows into the steam as Robin announced, "Move for the exit!"
They sprinted to the side individually dodging attacks as they did so "We're blind, deaf, and dumb right now; we need answers!" Robin shouted looking over his holo-gauntlet.
"Well we have two enemies," Artemis announced as she fired explosive arrows, causing a small explosion but, through that smoke came another pillar of water narrowly missing them, "That's about all!"
They turned and cut through into the gym as the doors closed behind them, Robin began announcing, "Robin to Team; Aqualad?"
Artemis spoke through the mental link reaching out towards her friend psychically, "Hello? M'gaan, can you hear me?"
"They're probably out cold!" Robin shouted.
A tornado of flames approached them as it blasted down the doors to the gym but, the duo kept moving through the locker-room and into the showers as the doors slid shut, they began turning on the faucets for each of the shower-heads spewing water into the already steaming room, "Robin to Bat-cave; RG4-HoJ/Watchtower; Robin calling Justice League, can anyone hear me?"
"The communications are down?" Artemis asked
"Blocked," Robin corrected as he attempted to contact the outside world, "At least the water is helping."
Artemis pulled another arrow back on her bow and aimed it for the locked door; Suddenly, the entire room begun to shake as the pipes behind the walls creaked and cracked, several tiles fell off the walls from the pressure as each shower-head exploded with water pouring down into the sealed room filling it slowly, "Or not," Robin corrected himself as they began to float in the room filling with water.
Romania
"Can today get any worse." Draken thought to himself, as he stepped out of the ladies clothes shop he crashed into. So far, he was been taking a beating from Diana, with the Amazon continuously tasking his healing factor. At this point, it seems holding back against her wasn't an option.
"Forgive me Diana." Draken whispered, before slamming the butt of his Scythe on the floor, destroying the ground beneath Diana's feet, but she took to the air.
Glowing red, Draken sped towards her, while also knocking Diana into a stone wall. Diana punched Draken again, sending him into a car. Standing up, Draken picked up the car and tossed it at her.
Draken then shot a fireball on the car when it was right in front of Diana, causing it to explode and sent her across the mall.
With Diana momentarily stunned, Draken began summoning a pair of shadow like hands, which snagged Diana, holding her tightly so she wouldn't escape
Instantly though, Draken he felt the immense strength from his captive as he tried to hold her still.
Somehow, Diana actually gripped the construct holding her, trying to pry it free off her body, causing Draken to actually struggle to hold her down.
Gritting his teeth, Draken poured more magic into his construct, but his captive immediately brought her hands together and hammered the shadows holding her.
Draken could feel that Amazon strength despite it being a construct that was holding her. She smashed it again, causing the Vampire to stagger slightly
"Unhand me demon!" Diana yelled , as she continued to pound on her bonds. While this was going on, Draken began conjuring a spell, as his right hand began to glow.
With one final blow, Diana had managed to free herself. But just before she could attack, Draken became a red blur, as he sped towards Diana before placing his glowing hand on her head.
The effect of the spell was instantaneous as Diana blinked several times, shaking her head.
"Wait Draken?" Diana muttered, as Draken laid down to rest. "I'm so sorry."
"It's fine. Just remind me to never get on your bad side again." Draken said, before handing the relic to Diana.
"What kind of powers have we unleashed?" Diana asked.
"Probably something of demonic nature." Draken said, before standing up. "You don't have to worry about it affecting you again, I've already placed a spell on it to prevent that."
"Thanks for your help Draken." She said. "You should go and rest."
"I will." Draken said. "I just need to get something from the cave, before heading back to the Castle." He said, before walking towards a phone booth, before activating the Zeta Tube. In a flash of light he disappears.
Mount Justice
A split second later, he appears in the cave. "Recognizes B06, Dracula." Draken doesn't get a chance to search for the others when a fireball heads straight at him. He moves swiftly in the opposite direction of the attack.
"Today is so not my day." Draken groaned as several more fireballs are thrown at him, but he avoids them gliding down the hallway towards the kitchen. It takes less than a second for him to sink into the shadows.
While hiding, metallic footsteps began filling the air. Soon enough his attacker enters into the kitchen. His eyes narrow upon the enemy. It is an android that looks almost identical to Red Tornado except female in appearance.
As he prepares to attack. The android turns to look straight at him. It lifts her arms launching a stream of fire. Draken quickly leaps out of the way
Draken was about to blast the Android with an Ice spell, but was interrupted as water erupted out of the sink taking the form of a spear and headed straight at him. Draken flew out of the way, before darting out of the kitchen, getting a good look at his second enemy.
He heads straight to the hangar. It is a large open area that will give him the best opportunity to fight his opponents. Red Inferno controls fire and judging from the water attack the second opponent controls and manipulates water. Possibly another android
"And I literally just got out of a fight with Diana." The Vampire mentally signed, as enters the hangar and flys down next to the motorcycles. Behind him is a portion of the lake that is within the cave. The water behind him starts to rise up into a large wave. The tidal waves crashes down, but he kept himself airborne to avoid being swept away.
A second red android emerges from the water. It hovers in the air using the water as a platform to do so. Draken glances backwards to see the first female android. Red Inferno and Red Torpedo stare down upon Draken.
Suddenly, Fire and water come crashing down at Draken. Both elements crash upon the Vampire creating steam. When the steam clears it revealed that the vampire was nowhere in sight .
Meanwhile…
A groan escapes Robin. "Good to see you are finally awake." Robin sits up to see Artemis. He looks around to see that both of them are trapped in a prison of fire. His hands shoots to his utility belt only to find it was gone. "They took that off you and burned it to ashes along with my bow," scowls Artemis.
Robin looks over to see Kaldur nursing a near death M'gann. "Why haven't they killed us? What are they waiting for?"
"Dude, let's not rush to our death," says Kid struggling to get free. Superboy is valiantly trying to break free. His eyes are locked onto Megan. He can barely hear her breathing. Even her heart rate is beginning to slow down.
"M'gann, I will save you!" Superboy mutters
Red Inferno flies down between the two fire prisons. Red Torpedo emerges from the water landing next to its sister. A robotic voice fills the cavern speaking in Red Tornado's voice. "Draken Tepes, you have ten minutes to surrender or your teammates will die."
Kid groans in annoyance. Water starts to rise up from the ground. It starts to swallow up Kid Flash and Superboy. "Great, ten minutes to live. You happy to have your answer now Robs?"
"We need to find a way out," Robin examines the fire prison. "There has to be a way." He muttered, before glancing at Megan and Kaldur.
Meanwhile…
Upon hearing the Androids request, Draken began gliding towards the main reactor room. Striking some buttons, the doors slide open to reveal Red Inferno and Red Torpedo. On either side of each android is a prison made of fire with two members of his team in it. Robin and Artemis are trapped in the fire prison to the left. A barely conscious Kaldur and a near death Megan are trapped in the fire prison to the right.
Red Inferno launches a fireball at Draken. The Vampire draws his Scythe, slashing through the fireball. He moves at high speeds slashing at Red Inferno, but water rises up protecting the female android.
Twisting in the air, Draken avoids another fireball, but suddenly a stream of water wraps around him and slams him into the ceiling.
"Draken watch out!" Artemis shouts.
A fireball heads straight at the pinned Draken. But Draken turned into a swarm of Bats, breaking free from the water. The fireball scorches the location he was just in.
Red Inferno raises both arms launching a stream of fire at Draken, but right before the attack could hit him, Draken began spinning his Scythe at incredible speed, effectively blocking the attack.
While blocking said attack, Draken never notices the water rising behind him taking the shape of Red Torpedo.
"Dude…" Kid yelled
"Look out!" Artemis's eyes widen in terror as Red Torpedo creates a blade of water and stabs Draken straight through the back. The water blade pops out the front of his chest.
"No," whispers Aqualad.
Shocking everyone including the android, Draken turned into a swarm of Bats, before reforming behind Torpedo. Wasting no time, he drives his Scythe through Red Torpedo's chest. Red Torpedo looks down at the blade before turning to look at its attacker.
Draken stands behind the android as the wound on his chest closed up. Viciously he yanks out his Scythe before swinging it upward decapitating the android. Red Torpedo's head and body splash into the water.
The water starts to recede until leaving Draken standing on the cold hard floor. Several fireballs rain down upon Draken. With one of the Android's down, Draken moves swiftly avoiding the fireballs, before summoning multiple shadows to restrain it. Since it didn't have any counter to magic, Red Inferno is unable to burn away the shadow constructs
Sparks begin to occur over Red Inferno, as Draken caused the shadow to crush the android. Closing his fist, The android explodes in a shower of debris.
The fire trapping Artemis, Robin, MGA, and Aqualad dissipates. "M'gann!" shouts Superboy.
"I am…okay," She said. Aqualad carries her down the steps. She looks over at Draken, who looks slightly exhausted.
"Are you alright?" She asked
"I'm going to be sleeping for an entire week after this." Draken said
"Thanks Draken, you saved…us." Superboy looks away with guilty eyes. "I wasn't able to do anything."
"Great we are all saved, now can you get us out of here?" Kid asked
Artemis smirks, "I don't know. I like you better like this."
"Zeta Tubes are back online. I am sending a communication to the League," reports Robin.
"Perhaps I can be of assistance," says Red Tornado. The team turns to see Red Tornado fly into the room.
"Where have you been? Your brother and sister tried to kill us!" exclaims Artemis.
Red Tornado lands on the ground. The robot superhero stares at the destroyed robots that share many similarities to him. "Zeta Tubes and communication were down. I decided to investigate so I teleported to Providence and flew from there." Red Tornado walks over to the head of Red Torpedo. "I was not aware that I had any family." He kneels down touching the head of Red Torpedo. A small spark is transmitted and Red Tornado's eyes glow red.
Suddenly, Red Tornado hovers in the air. Red Tornado creates twin vortexes with its arms sucking up all the air. Aqualad and Megan are the first to succumb to the lack of oxygen. Kid Flash is next followed by Superboy and Robin. Artemis falls to her knees not believing that Red Tornado turned against them. She soon collapses.
"Today is so not my day." Draken falls to a knee as his vision begins to darken.
Several hours later
Draken's eyes shoot open to reveal Red Tornado and along with the other Reds gone
He looked around and noticed time had definitely passed; Black Canary was above Superboy attempting to wake him whilst Green Arrow, Superman, Batman, and Captain Atom spoke to his individual teammates whom were too waking from their unconsciousness
"Draken." Diana called as she approached him. "By Hera what happened here?"
"Where do I start?"