"Yo, what's up man?"
Professor Ivo emitted a startled gasp and turned around sharply. His eyes widened as he saw the notorious Renegade looking around. "Renegade?"
"Nice lab, man." the assassin complimented the older man as he observed the man's lab, curiously noticing many robotic parts, tools, machinery and more scattered around.
The short red-haired man blinked confusedly. "Um, thank you." he shook his head and fixed the young man with a frown. "How the hell did you get in here?"
"Stupid question, man. It's common knowledge by now that my level of stealth is superior to that of Deathstroke and Batman." the acrobat paused and stroked his chin, contemplative. "At least I hope so, otherwise it's a real shame."
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Renegade went back to staring at the scientist and a smirk appeared on his face. He leaned his back against a wall. "A little birdie told me you reassembled an interesting and peculiar robot that long ago was destroyed by the Justice League, capable of replicating the powers of heroes."
Ivo diffidently squinted his eyes. "How do you know about Amazo? Only an inner circle knows about it."
The mercenary shrugged casually and drew a knife from his utility belt. He began to twirl the weapon casually but with extraordinary and unique skill in all the world, smiling inwardly when he saw the man pale a little. "I told you: a little bird told me."
"I don't have time to waste with a brat like you." Professor Ivo growled and stared at him with contempt. "Go away. I have more important things to do than to waste time with a-"
He did not have time to finish the sentence that in record time Renegade had zeroed the distance and lifted him by his shirt more than a meter off the ground with his left arm. "Pay respect to the second most dangerous mercenary in the world, old man." he hissed, his white eyes narrowing menacingly.
If there was anything Dick hated with all his heart, it was when someone doesn't take him seriously just because of his young age.
Ivo is definitely a genius but he is still stupid enough to piss off a murderer of my caliber. Idiot.
Professor Ivo swallowed deeply and sweat began to slide from his temple. "S-sorry, R-Renegade." he stammered in panic. "W-would you be so k-kind as to put me d-down? P-please?"
The Talon stared at him for a few seconds, increasing the man's nervousness and terror, before nodding and putting him down gently. "Only because you asked nicely."
Ivo released a sigh of relief. "Thank you-" he opened his eyes wide and suddenly made a strangled noise.
The man fell backward to the ground and began to choke on his own blood that began to flow out like a river from the clean cut to his carotid artery. His body writhed for a few seconds on the floor before becoming completely still, a large pool of blood surrounding his body.
Renegade smiled and twirled his knife. He took a rag that was on a small table and with it wiped the knife of Ivo's blood present on it and then stowed his weapon in his utility belt.
This kind of killing -a clean cut to the carotid artery that leads to the victim bleeding to death within seconds- is typical of an experienced, lethal and dangerous assassin who is also very efficient. Dick has mastered all kinds of killing -both slow and painful and quick and much more- courtesy of the Court of Owls.
Despite the traumas, at least he could use the Court's training to his advantage and it was a fundamental part of his skills and abilities.
Now, as for Amazo...
He tilted his head as his enhanced hearing picked up distant and heavy footsteps coming closer and closer. He turned toward the door and got into a fighting stance, ready to face the robot as soon as it stepped into the room. The assassin heard a muffled "Access: Black Canary." before the wall was suddenly smashed to smithereens, revealing the towering figure of Amazo staring directly at him.
"Come on, you've got to be kidding me!" exclaimed Renegade in frustration as he threw himself to the side, dodging just in time the robot's canary cry that went on for several seconds.
Dick winced slightly as he got back up and gritted his teeth for the entire duration of the canary cry. He took a knife and threw it as fast as he could at the robot.
"Access: Martian Manhunter." Amazo became intangible, dodging the knife that stuck on a part of the wall that remained intact.
At least the canary cry ended. Thought the acrobat relieved, distractedly hearing blood flowing from his ears.
"Access: Superman."
The mercenary rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the fist of the android who, however, managed to grab his right leg, spun him around quickly a couple of times and finally threw Renegade with all its strenght. Renegade's body crashed violently against a wall that gave way on impact and his body rolled a few meters away.
Thank God for the absence of pain and the virtually unlimited healing factor.
Dick emitted an involuntary grunt as he rose to his feet and watched Amazo walk menacingly toward him over the rubble of the newly broken wall. He quickly pulled a smoke bomb from his utility belt and threw it to the ground. Immediately smoke filled the area, hiding his figure.
"Access: Red Tornado." Amazo created gusts of wind dispersing all the smoke but there was no sign of the metahuman.
The android looked around but its high-tech scanners did not reveal Renegade's presence in any way.
"Access-"
Amazo had no way to finish the sentence as Renegade came out of nowhere behind it and decapitated it with his trusty sword. The robot's head fell with a metallic clang to the ground while the rest of its body began to emit sparks.
The acrobat cautiously moved away from it. "I hope Ivo has not planned some form of self-destruction."
More sparks continued to pour from both Amazo's body and head for a few seconds before they ceased completely and the remaining part of its body fell noisily to the ground.
Renegade smiled victoriously as he placed his sword at his back, crossing it at X with the other. "Now it's time to find out if Ivo has created anything else."
Dick arched an eyebrow under his mask when he discovered an android that was an exact replica of Ivo, no difference. "I admit that if I didn't know any better, I wouldn't be able to tell who the real Ivo was," he commented casually, briefly observing the extinguished android and then quickly dismantling it so that not a single part of it would be left to be reassembled.
A few minutes later Renegade stopped in front of a somewhat peculiar-looking door. He took a short breath and jerked it open, already mentally prepared for whatever he would find himself in front of.
What he had not expected was to find himself surrounded by about 20 deactivated robot monkeys.
The Talon blinked in surprise and then burst into amused laughter. "Man, I have to take their picture and send it to Conner."
Some time ago he and Conner had visited a zoo in Metropolis, and Conner had an unpleasant adventure with the monkeys, which led the clone to hate monkeys more than anything else in the world.
Dick chuckled at the memory and the myriad expressions that crossed his best friend's face when a monkey threw shit at him that soiled his shirt.
It was something he could never forget.
He took a few selfies with the robot monkeys and sent them to Conner. The acrobat put his phone back in place and cracked his knuckles with a smirk. "Rest assured, little monkeys: your dismantling will be completely painless for you."
Minutes later Renegade stood on the roof of Ivo's lab and breathed the air of Gotham.
Of all the places he could do his work, he chose Gotham. Amazing how Batman never found him.
Dick was still partially afraid of the city, for all the horrible memories and traumas it carried and for being the place where his greatest nightmare and fear was hidden.
The assassin avoided plunging into darker and deeper thoughts when his phone rang briefly. He picked it up and burst out laughing at Conner's reply.
"I hate monkeys."
In response Dick sent him a few emoticons of laughter and put the phone away, shaking his head with an amused smirk. He then turned serious.
He had another scientist to eliminate.
Renegade was completely shrouded in darkness and with a frown watched Thomas Morrow work on an android. The assassin narrowed his gaze suspiciously.
According to my calculations Morrow should be about eighty to ninety years old and instead he looks thirty to forty. There is something wrong.
Dick watched Morrow get his hands on some robots that showed a frightening resemblance to Red Tornado and noticed that the man deactivated them and then continued working on them, switching from one android to another. The Talon did not know why but he felt the instinct to kill Morrow without his knowledge of his presence.
If there was one thing the acrobat had learned over the years it was to always follow his instincts and so he did.
A knife darted quickly through the air and pierced deep into the back of the scientist's neck. He expected to see blood gushing out of the fatal wound but instead he stared shocked at the sparks leaking from the body.
Is it possible that every scientist has an unhealthy obsession with creating duplicates of themselves in android form? Eh, at least that explains why Morrow looked so much younger.
The android emitted more electric sparks and then fell noisily to the ground, stopping moving altogether. Renegade stepped out of the shadows and over the next few minutes inspected the room for clues and eventually found a diary that he soon discovered was filled with Morrow's notes, thoughts and plans.
He learned that the real Morrow -the human one- had since his youth as his goal to destroy the heroes -which at that time were those who formed the Justice Society of America- and to do this he created androids -Red Torpedo and Firebrand- to get them to infiltrate the heroes but both attempts failed for different reasons.
Dick's eyes widened when he read that Red Tornado was also Morrow's creation but he released a sigh of relief when he read that its heroic programming was too advanced and it ended up betraying its own creator in favor of the old Society and the current League. Many years later Morrow created a robotic version of himself having the memories and personality of the original to carry on his work because he was approaching old age.
The assassin then learned that Morrow had recovered the first two robots he had created -Red Torpedo and Firebrand, changing the latter's name to Red Inferno- in order to reprogram them to be used against the heroes along with his other creations. It also appeared that Morrow had an assistant named Brom Stikk who helped him create an android: Mister Twister. Morrow's latest creation, made recently, is another android called Red Volcano who was programmed with no interest in humanity, unlike its siblings, thus making it potentially the most dangerous of the androids created by the scientist.
Dick gave a sigh and closed Morrow's diary, placing it back where he had found it. He cast a glance at Red Torpedo and Red Inferno, still deactivated on the table where Morrow was working on them.
What should I do with them?
Although they were androids, they had still been real heroes who helped keep the world safe and he would be a little sorry to dismantle them. On the other hand, Dick could not afford to have someone else's mad scientist get their hands on them, changing their programming and using them as mere tools against the JL.
Moreover, Firebrand had been "killed" saving the life of the first Flash and even had a grave with her human name on it while Red Torpedo had lived his life as a normal human being and was now an old man.
Even though they were androids this did not mean that they were less human, rather the opposite.
Surely they were more human than the assholes of the Court of Owls.
Dick shook his head, not wanting to risk falling into dark thoughts, and with a sigh made the decision to dismantle them.
I hope Red Tornado does not develop a feeling of revenge against me and try to kill me to avenge its siblings.
The acrobat in a few minutes destroyed the two robots, making sure that no one else could lay their evil hands on them. He turned, intending to leave the laboratory but turned around again as he heard a violent explosion. He groaned when he saw the wall shatter, revealing two menacing-looking androids that Dick immediately recognized as Mister Twister and Red Volcano.
"We will destroy you, human scum!" growled Red Volcano's metallic voice.
Renegade felt the earth tremble beneath his feet and emitted an involuntary scream as the ground beneath him literally split in two, plunging him into the hole that had just been created. His instincts took over and he quickly pulled out the grappling hook, shooting it upward. The hook managed to connect to a secure hold and the assassin flew up, landing on the ground that had just recompacted and had threatened to crush him to death.
Dick did not want to know whether his healing factor would prevail even if he was crushed underground.
As soon as he landed crouched on the ground he was hit by a tornado created by Mister Twister that threw him against the wall, breaking it and sending him into other rooms in the building. With an annoyed growl Renegade got back to his feet, narrowing his gaze toward the two androids that were advancing toward him.
I'm getting really sick of robots.
"You don't stand a chance against us, human." Mister Twister spoke.
"We'll see." was the reply of the Talon who ran toward them.
Red Volcano raised its hand and threw huge rocks toward the metahuman. The acrobat jumped on the first rock and soared through the air performing a double somersault. He landed on a second rock and to avoid a tornado created by Mister Twister he shot his grappling hook into the rafters. He landed on them, ran at maximum superhuman speed and with a growl launched himself toward Red Tornado, drawing his two swords in the process.
Red Volcano threw a giant boulder at him but Renegade with his swords easily cut it in half and with a simultaneous double lunge of swords decapitated the android. Without wasting a single millisecond he put his swords back in place and performed several backflips, dodging two tornadoes. He got back to his feet and ran toward the only android left standing.
The Talon threw a smoke bomb, aiming for the robot's right side, but it served as a deterrent for him: in fact, predictably, Mister Twister was distracted by the smoke bomb and created a tornado to drive it away, which allowed the mercenary to use the opportunity to his advantage. He pulled out the escrima sticks, lit them to their maximum power and attached them to the android's chest.
Immediately a discharge of more than 100,000 volts went through Mister Twister's body, which in seconds short-circuited and fell backward with a loud metallic clang to the ground, giving Dick all the time in the world to decapitate it. Renegade rested the sword on his back and looked contentedly at the two destroyed androids.
"Now I can write in my curriculum vitae that I destroyed three androids that attacked me within a few hours. Not bad, Dick."
"Your turn, Conner."
Conner Kent grunted and stared at his UNO cards for a few seconds, shifted his gaze to the red 7 present in the center of the table and a frown materialized on his face. He drew a card and his frown increased as he stared at his parent figure/older brother. "Your turn."
Clark Kent chuckled and placed a yellow 7.
With a mischievous grin Richard Wilson threw a yellow Draw Two and shouted "UNO!".
He gave a mental chuckle at Clark's almost imperceptible grimace and Conner's murderous stare (the latter probably more for the Draw Two than the scream).
His gaze shifted to Lois Lane who was approaching them, a playful smile between her lips. "I'm beginning to think you're cheating." she joked.
"It's likely." Conner grunted disgruntled as he drew two cards.
"Or they are just bad." Dick replied amusedly shrugging casually, earning a chuckle from the reporter. Dick's smile faded as Clark cast a yellow Skip and he glared at the man. "Thanks, man."
"That's for calling us bad." Clark gave him a wink to which the acrobat replied with a snort.
Betrayed by my favorite hero. Slade would be amused.
The match ended three minutes later with another acrobat victory, much to the dismay of Clark and Conner and the amusement of Dick and Lois, and then the four of them gathered in the living room.
"You know Dick, we're really happy that Conner met you while you were on a field trip to Metropolis with your class." Clark stated with a tender smile as he observed the 17-year-old.
Obviously there needed to be a invented story to justify how Dick and Conner met and they opted for the following: Dick visited Metropolis on a school field trip and, straying briefly from his classroom, got lost and coincidentally met up with Conner who was able to give him directions back to his class and the two, after joking and exchanging a few jokes, exchanged phone numbers to keep in contact.
Dick's dignity and pride suffered somewhat but if it would ensure that the Kents could not reconnect him with his mercenary identity then so be it. Also to evade Clark's super-hearing, whenever Dick went to Metropolis in his civilian identity he attached to his chest an audio system that played a normal human heartbeat.
Dick did not want to think at all about whether he should ever forget about the sound system. He certainly did not want to have that kind of conversation with Superman himself.
"So did I. My life would definitely be more boring without the grumpy big guy who hates monkeys." Dick returned the smile and threw a light punch at Conner's arm, chuckling when he saw him roll his eyes but noticed a slight smile in his best friend's face.
Lois and Clark shared a laugh at the memory of Conner's adventure to the zoo and his encounter with the monkeys. Dick could never forget their looks and reactions when Conner returned home soiled with monkey poop.
"Seriously though, you are his best friend and practically his only one. Your weekly visits to Metropolis -or when Conner comes to you in New York- are very good for him and allow him to come out of his shell. I'm not lying when I say that we are very happy to host you in our home whenever you want, right Clark?" Clark nodded smiling and Lois continued. "You're a good boy, Dick. One of the best I've ever met. You not only make Conner happy but you make us happy and only with your sunny, glowing presence. We are extremely happy to have made your acquaintance and I admit that you have now become like a nephew to us." she concluded with a sweet smile.
Dick wiggled slightly uncomfortably on the sofa and a blush made its way to his pale cheeks. He already felt guilty lying to Lois and Clark about how they had treated him -as if he were one of their family- but now that they had confessed to him that they saw him as a nephew, although it warmed his heart greatly, it also increased his already enormous sense of guilt.
They were hosting the second most dangerous mercenary in the world in their home and they didn't even know it! And Dick kept lying to them and building lie upon lie practically weekly, whenever he saw them!
Dick deserved neither their kindness nor their love at all. If they learned who he really was, they would surely want nothing more to do with him and Clark would send him straight to one of the safest prisons on Earth if not off the planet.
It is true that Dick could never, ever hurt them -then they were family to him too- but he would not blame whatever their reaction would be if they ever learned that he was Renegade. He knew it was right and they had every right to know who he really was -a mercenary, a murderer a monster- but he could not say.
Dick was selfish and did not want to lose them. Because it was nice to have two normal, heroic adults who genuinely cared for him, openly showing affection and care for him.
It was nice to have some semblance of normalcy, even if it was brief.
And Dick did not want to lose that, no matter if it made him selfish.
However a circus boy will always remain a circus boy, so his smile never wavered and he gave a shy shrug as he gave an answer, hiding deep inside himself his true feelings in question. "You are too kind, really. It's nice to have Conner as a best friend. And for the record, I hope you don't mind if I sometimes refer to you as uncle and aunt. It's kind of an automatic thing since I have a lot of honorary uncles and aunts." he explained, aware of Conner's fixed gaze on him but did his best to avoid it.
Lois and Clark shared a smile. "We'd love that, Dick."
The smile the acrobat gave them was genuine, even if guilt twisted his stomach. Fortunately, soon after, the television caught their attention when the news announced a particular news item.
"Thomas Morrow, a noted genius scientist who tried several times to annihilate the previous generation of heroes, the Justice Society of America, had long been ill and treated in the hospital, bedridden and hooked up to a life support system. However, half an hour ago he was found dead and doctors stated that someone had turned off his life support system, inevitably leading to his death.
"His assistant Brom Stikk was also found dead in the same hospital room as Morrow, presumably in one of the visits to his boss. Doctors determined that the cause of death was a clean cut to the carotid artery and stated that his assassin was someone very experienced and efficient. Police are currently investigating but so far no clues or evidence have been found, not even the murder weapon. And-"
The reporter's voice was drowned out by Lois's. Dick had the distinct feeling that she had briefly forgotten that he was there with them -judging by the way her gaze was surprised when she saw him- and she cleared her throat as she turned with a frown to her fiancé, most likely avoiding the real conversation she wanted to have but could not since, in her eyes, there was a 17-year-old civilian in front of her.
"I think some interesting news might come out if we investigated." she said instead. "I wonder if we could find out anything."
Clark looked at her briefly and then stared at Dick. The man nodded awkwardly, his whole attitude screaming country boy Clark Kent and not the Man of Steel Superman. "Definitely. That would be interesting."
Conner emitted a snort and stared out of the corner of his eye at his best friend who noticed his glance and ignored it. Dick refrained from chuckling at the reactions of the two Daily Planet reporters, choosing instead to simply nod. His phone rang and he picked it up, curious when he saw that Slade had written to him.
The Light is very pissed off. They are seriously thinking that there is someone actively sabotaging them and they plan to find out who is responsible.
Dick emitted a small snort and typed a reply.
I'm glad ;)
Brat.
Thank you! And by the way, Clark and Lois just admitted that they see me as a nephew! I have a new uncle and aunt!
I thought it would happen sooner.
Dick chuckled at Slade's tired dad message and put his phone back in his pocket, spending the rest of the evening with the Kent family.
And man, the dinner Ma Kent prepared was one of the best he had ever tasted in his life.
Not that he would admit it in front of Wintergreen, of course. He still wanted to live, thank you very much.