Chapter 5: Schooled

Litchfield County

14:02 | August 03

Connecticut

Six trucks were parked by the crater where Amazo was defeated. The Team loaded up in seven motorbikes, all disguised in civilian attire. Superboy looked to his right, just to the main road. He spotted Superman talking to one of the drivers. After the Driver left, Superman turned and locked eyes with Superboy. Superman smiled and nodded, and Superboy felt his lips pull up slightly and returned the gesture. The young hero donned his helmet and leaned over, grabbing the bike controls. Red X backhanded the clone's arm, and Superboy looked at him.

"Had a good talk?" Red wore his usual brown leather jacket, black armored shirt, and grey pants and boots. He donned his domino mask and wore a skull bike helmet.

"Yeah," Superboy shrugged and revved up his engine. "I'm," Superboy couldn't help the grin that overtook his face. "I'm Connor now."

"Grats man," Red X smirked.

"I ought to thank you; I made him acknowledge me. Just like you said." Superboy half shrugged.

"Oh," Red X smiled sheepishly. "I can't believe you remember that."

"Alright, let's go over team assignments one more time." Aqualad's voice came over the radio. "Team A will guard the New York truck. Robin, Superboy, and Red X. Team B will guard the Boston truck, Miss Martian Kid Flash, and myself."

"Right," Red X took the defacto team lead.

"Ready Freddy," Kid Flash chimed in.

"On your signal, Batman," Aqualad contacted Batman.

Batman gestured with his hand near the main road, and the trucks took to the road. In his batmobile with Superman flying a few meters above, Batman followed one truck. Black Canary and Green Arrow followed the second truck. Captain Atom and Martian Manhunter followed the third. Red Tornado and Flash followed the last decoy truck. The Team pulled along their trucks before the roads diverged, and they followed their separate charges.

Miss Martian pulled up next to Aqualad. They had been traveling for a good thirty minutes. "Has anyone noticed Superboy looks…happy?"

"Yeah, I still see angry super clone, but hey, if you say so Gorgeous." Kid Flash shrugged.

"He does appear more… malleable. Perhaps there is more to his intervention fighting the Android that we do not yet know." Aqualad hummed thoughtfully.

"Maybe he finally got to talk to Superman!" Miss Martian smiled at her friends.

"We can but hope," Aqualad agreed.

Behind the other truck, Superboy told everyone the Amazo attack's full story. Red X whistled, impressed. "Can't believe you dove at that thing like that." Red X paused, "Scratch that, I totally believe."

"But hey, it could have been a disaster, but wouldn't it have made it an aster if it wasn't?"

"Aster?" Red X said, voice tilting.

"If like is the opposite of dislike, wouldn't aster be the opposite of disaster?" Robin reasoned, pulling up next to Superboy. "And you, my friend, are clearly feeling the aster."

Superboy groaned and rolled his eyes. "What, I can't be happy about things going my way?"

"Just used to you being," Red X began in a humorous tone.

"angry," Robin finished with a laugh.

"Keep it up, comedians, and maybe I will," Superboy clicked his tongue.

"That's the Superboy I know," Red X chuckled.

"Wait, I hear something…sounds like giggling?" Superboy raised his hand, silencing them. Then, several metallic figures rushed past them. Robotic monkeys with jetpacks flew onto the truck, swarming it.

"Whoa!" Robin laughed, "Robot monkeys, totally Ivo's tweak style!" Robin grinned and pulled on the throttle, closing in on the truck.

"Aqualad, our truck is under attack," Red X revved his engine twice before speeding closer.

"Ours is too; protect them!" Aqualad replied.

"Switch to battle mode!" Red X pressed a button on his bike, which detached its rear while the forward wheel pulled back, balancing the frame. Robin pulled in tight to form a formation and switched to battle mode.

"Don't need it!" Super pulled ahead and jumped off his bike, flying at the truck.

"Whoa!" Red X swerved right in time.

"Cripes!" Robin hopped up on his seat and jumped forward, firing a grappling line at the truck and pulling on. His bike collided with Superboy's fallen one, sending it to the side of the road. Robin kicked the nearest monkey off and then the next. One of the monkeys on top detached and flew at him. Robin removed his helmet and smashed the monkey with it before climbing on top.

"Rooaah!" Superboy shouted, smashing monkeys left and right into scrap metal. One flew straight at him. Superboy caught it and smashed it against another. He removed his helmet, smashing against three more before a fourth yanked it off his hand. The monkey in his hand did a one-eighty and fired energy beams at Superboy, catching him in the face. "aargh!" Superboy stepped back, stunned; he growled and crushed the monkey in his hand with a death grip. Several monkeys swarmed him and flew him up before dropping him. Still disoriented, Superboy hit the pavement, rolling a few inches back.

Robin hopped up just as Superboy was thrown off, and he drew two batons and set to trashing the monkeys, trying to cut their way into the truck with their laser eyes. A monkey snuck up on Robin when an X-shaped Shuriken lodged itself in its head and discharged electricity. Then, the flying bike drones fired lasers, shooting the monkeys off the truck. More monkeys flew into the fight and attached themselves to Red X's bike. "Crap," Red X jumped off his bike just as it was sliced apart by the monkey's eye lasers. His eyes widened; he was just shy of the ledge. A baton came into his field of view, and he grabbed it, smacking it against the side of the truck.

Robin smirked and started helping Red X up. Two monkeys jumped at Robin's exposed back before they were blasted by the drones. More monkeys flew up, overwhelming the drones and destroying them in a fiery explosion. Red X stepped onto the truck's roof and pushed Robin past, punching a Robot monkey to pieces.

"Whoa," Robin gaped at Red X before he felt a tingle in the back of his neck, and he twisted, swinging his baton into a monkey smashing apart. More monkeys swarmed the truck, and a few crawled to the bottom and lasered the tires, causing the truck to swerve.

"Whoa!" Robin and Red X were thrown off their feet forced to cling to the side of the truck.

"Raah!" Superboy flew in, landing on the truck with more force than intended. But the monkeys had taken advantage of the lull, cut a hole in the top of the truck, and swarmed in, overwhelming the guards inside.

"Time to bail, Rob; grab the driver!" Red pushed off the side of the truck with his feet. He crossed his arms and landed in a wheat field.

Robin moved to the front of the truck, "get out!" He shouted at the Driver, who opened the door, and the two jumped into the wheatfield opposite the road. The truck swerved and tipped into a spin, destroying the attached monkeys.

Elsewhere, Aqualad pulled the right handle of his bike. Water gushed out, and he turned the water into a whip, slashing several monkeys on the back of the truck. More monkeys flew, attaching themselves to the truck. Another four flew, landing on Miss Martian and Superboy's bike. Miss Martian flew up, abandoning hers. Kid Flash took off his helmet, smashing one of the monkeys. The other one fired its laser into the controls, and Kid Flash jumped off the bike and began running. He ran to the truck's right to monkeys, trying to slice their way in. He kicked one off, punched the other, grabbed the final one's tail, and swung himself onto the truck. He swung the final one into an incoming attacker, smashing the two.

Just behind Kid Flash, the monkeys sliced a hole into the truck. They poured in, and the guards inside fired on them. Miss Martian flew up and used her telekinesis to throw them off. More monkeys swarmed from the fields, and they launched at Miss Martian, grabbing onto her. Miss Martian flew back, punching at the monkeys. The ones she couldn't reach, she grew arms out from beneath them, punching them off. One grabbed her head, and she grew an arm there, smashing it off.

"Whaa!" Kid Flash turned and fell on his behind, shocked by Miss Martians' extra arms. She had grown two on her left, one on her right, and one on her head.

"What, is there another on me!" Miss Martian's extra arm retraced, and she looked herself over. The moment of shock was all the monkeys needed as they cut their way out of the back door and flew out with their prize. Aqualad swung his whips, but other monkeys used themselves as a shield, blocking the attacks and allowing them to escape.

Back with team A, the monkeys sliced the back of the tipped truck open and flew out. Superboy, lying next to the truck, got to a knee. He squinted, his vision still blurry from the laser blast to his face, and saw the monkeys making their escape. Superboy growled and flew after the monkeys.

"Superboy!" Walking out of the wheat field, Robin shouted at Superboy's retreating form.

Superboy closed in on the monkeys, and a group of them turned around and swarmed him. He punched one, then another, and even a third before they overwhelmed him. "Superboy!" Red X's voice came over the radio. A Monkey on Superboy's head giggled madly and lasered the boy's ear.

"Aaagh!" Superboy slapped the monkey off before he rolled forward, concentration lost into the ground. His messy crash destroyed the rest of the monkeys on him. Superboy growled and raised to a knee. "I hate monkeys," Superboy rubbed his eyes, clearing his vision more. He put his finger to his ear, "Aqualad, huh?" Superboy tilted his head, and charred electronics fell out of his ear. "Great," he mumbled. "Guess I'll take care of this on my own." Superboy flew off after the retreating monkeys.

Back at Team A, Red X jogged up to Robin. "Where's Superboy?"

"He flew off after the monkeys," Robin jabbed a thumb behind him. He was crouched, examining one of the scrapped monkeys.

"Superboy!" Red X put his finger to his ear. A mechanical giggle responded before the line went dead. Red X clicked his tongue and walked by the tipped truck where the Driver and the two guards stood. "You guys okay?"

"Yeah, but looks like we lost," the Driver sighed, shaking his head.

Red X removed his helmet and smiled, "Still, I'm glad you guys are okay." He walked back to Robin and put his finger to his ear. "Aqualad, we lost the package. Superboy went after it, but his line went dead when I tried contacting him."

Aqualad sighed, "Ours was taken as well. Superboy's comm must have been destroyed in his pursuit."

"Great, now we can't track him!" Kid Flash groaned in frustration.

"I can't reach him telepathically; he must be out of my range." Miss Martian said apologetically.

"So we lost the Android and can't track Superboy." Red X pursed his lips. "I'm definitely not feeling the aster here," Red X turned to Robin.

"Hold on, I think I got something." Robin was plugged into the monkey. "The other trucks weren't attacked. We would have heard about it already." Robin typed away at his holo terminal before bringing up a map, and red dots suddenly blipped on. "I knew it! That's how the monkeys knew where the parts were; they tracked them by GPS. Which means we can track them!" The dots on the map moved east, and Robin narrowed his eyes. "They're going to Gotham City!"

"That far?" Aqualad gritted his teeth. "Miss Martian and I won't make it on time, I'm sending Kid ahead. The rest of you see where the pieces convene and stop their assembly."

"Rog," Red X brought up his holo terminal and activated Robin's and Superboy's discarded bikes. They autopiloted themselves to their location.

"Hold on, let me change; no point in civis now." Robin grinned and rushed into the wheatfield. Red X nodded and retreated to the opposite side of the field to do the same. Once the two were in costume, they sped off after the parts.

Gotham City limits

20:00 | August 03

New Jersey

The monkeys delivered the second crate onto a moving train. Superboy caught up and landed on the freight car. Superboy jabbed his hand into the roof and tore a hole to jump through. He landed on a knee, and the car was dimly lit by an ominous green light.

"Oh, hello?"

Superboy turned on a dime into a fighting stance. His eyes widened briefly, "You're Ivo? I feel whelmed," Superboy rolled his eyes. Ivo was a scrawny older man with greying red hair, a green sweater vest, and rolled-up slacks to his ankles. He wore wool socks and loafers. The stereotypical nerd in Superboy's mind.

"You're one to talk; since when has the blue boy scout had a brat?" Ivo stroked his chin in thought.

Superboy snarled, "he doesn't!"

"Whatever you say," Ivo adjusted his bowtie. "But, have you met my mobile, optimal neural quotient infiltrators?" Ivo spread his arms out, and a group of robot monkeys swarmed Superboy.

"Rrah!" Superboy skillfully ducked and weaved, throwing out jabs and hooks. The monkeys exploded into sparks and scraps. One monkey's head rolled to Ivo's feet, and he sighed.

"After all the trouble I went to find an acronym for monkey." Ivo crossed his arms.

Superboy swayed back and threw his arms at his side, grabbing the last two monkeys. "Rrah!" He smashed them together into warped metal and sparks. "That all you got!?"

"Well, since Ivo's amazing monkeys don't cut it for you," Ivo stepped aside and gestured behind him.

A pair of red eyes glowed ominously, "access Captain Atom." A blast of energy lit up the room, and Superboy was blasted against the back of the freight car. "Mrr," Superboy groaned as he sat up against the wall.

Ivo grinned with derision, "Perhaps my amazing Amazo would better suit you. Or slay you," Ivo laughed and moved aside as Amazo stepped up.

"I'm getting real sick of robots, rah!" Superboy rushed forward, his fist reared back.

"Access, Superboy." Amazo blocked Superboy's fist and retaliated with a right hook.

"Gah!" Superboy's head whipped right, and he pivoted back into his hook against Amzo's cheek, making his head spin back. "Rah!" Superboy threw a left jab. Amazo blocked it with his wrist and wrapped his arm around Superboy's, trapping it beneath his armpit. Superboy threw another punch with his free hand. Amazo caught his fist, and his head whipped back around.

"Black Canary," Amazo opened his mouth and blasted Superboy point blank with a sonic screech.

"AAAAHHH!" Superboy screamed and went limp.

"Superboy," Amazo released Superboy's arms. Then, he grabbed Superboy's face, lifted him, and delivered three gut punches.

"Mmm!" Superboy's painful grunts were muffled.

Amazo sprinted forward and smashed Superboy's head against the back of the freight car. Ivo crossed his arms and groaned mockingly. "Such waste of Amazo's ability on a watered-down version of Superman."

"Mmrr!" Superboy roared against the hand. He grabbed Amazo's wrist and threw a left jab.

Amazo deflected the blow and threw a counter hook against Superboy's ribs, taking the fight out of him again. Ivo flinched at the blow, but it was merely out of reaction, not pity. "Oh, struck a nerve, did I?" Ivo chuckled, "Amazo, strike a few more."

Amazo repeatedly pulled Superboy back and slammed him against the wall until he smashed him through on the third attempt. "Aagh!" Superboy flew back into a bulldozer strapped on a flat car. Superboy gritted his teeth and reached out using the bulldozer to pull himself up. Amazo jumped through the wall. "Access, Flash," Amazo rushed forward and slammed his shoulder into Superboy.

"Augh!" Superboy gasped, having the wind knocked out of him. Amazo stood up, "Superboy," he reached down and pulled Superboy out of the indent he made on the bulldozer's bucket. He held Superboy by the scruff of his shirt before he threw an uppercut, sending him across the sky.

Ivo stepped through the hole and watched the young hero helplessly fall. "Finish him, priority Alpha," Ivo smirked, and Amazo silently leaped into the sky. Ivo snapped his fingers and had his monkeys lift him up, following his creation. He didn't get to destroy the League but would settle for hurting Superman by killing his brat. As he was flown towards Amazo, Ivo missed a figure perched atop a building, watching him with binoculars.

Not far off, Robin and Red X sped through a highway on their bikes. "So, this Professor Ivo, who is he?" Red X pulled up next to Robin.

"Scientist, once brilliant and promising nanotech expert. Now, a crazy villain with a vendetta against the League." Robin looked at his bike's display. "Used to have it out for T.O. Morrow, another scientist with a grudge against the League."

"League seems to attract all sorts of crazies," Red X snickered.

"You have no idea," Robin smirked.

"Yo, what I miss," Kid Flash ran behind them, pulling up next to Red X.

"Not much, I see you changed too, though," Red X chuckled.

Kid Flash faked a shiver, "You kidding? I feel naked in civies."

"Likewise," Red X turned back to Robin. "Where are the parts now?"

"It's weird they were passing through Gotham, but now they're." Robin gasped, "Dude, they're in my school?" Robin said, bewildered. "Gotham High," Robin confirmed.

"Got it," Red X pulled on the throttle, rushing ahead with his friends following suit. "Aqualad, we have the parts; they're currently at Gotham High. Kid Flash just caught up with us. We're heading in to recover the parts."

"Roger, we're on our way. Good luck," Aqualad replied.

As Red X, Robin, and Kid Flash closed in on Gotham High, Superboy came to. He rolled onto his back and grimaced, feeling his body ache. Superboy sat up and took stock of his surroundings. The room had several desks and seats, some of which he unceremoniously was plowed through. Superboy stood up and raised a brow, "am I in a school?" Before he could ponder, his super hearing caught the distinct sound of rushing wind. Superboy turned as Amazo leaped through the window and rushed Superboy. The young hero rolled to the side, and Amazo punched the ground, burying his fist into the tiled floor. "Round two, freak!" Superboy hit Amazo with a flying knee. The Android was thrown against several desks before rolling to a stop.

"Access, Black Canary," Amazo rolled himself on his side. Superboy rushed him, and Amazo threw two kicks to Superboy's legs. Amazo hit Superboy's ankle, and his other kick hit the back of his knee.

"Whoa!" Superboy crumbled onto his back.

Amazo grabbed Superboy's ankle and rose to a knee. "Superboy," He flung Superboy through the wall.

"Aah!" Superboy crashed through the wall, and a trophy shelf scattered medals and trophies everywhere. Before he could recover, Amazo grabbed both his legs and spun him twice, smashing him through the wall and nearby lockers. Amazo then flung Superboy down a hall into some lockers. "Grr," Superboy growled through clenched teeth. He stood back up and shook his head to clear the spots in his vision. He glanced to the left; one of the destroyed lockers had a picture of Superman with heart stickers. Superboy pursed his lips, I want to be a hero too. Superboy balled his hands into fists and rushed Amazo. "Rraah!" Superboy threw a left hook; Amazo threw his arm up, deflecting the blow, and followed up with an uppercut, flinging Superboy down the hall through the wall into another classroom. Superboy cracked the far-end wall and rolled onto the table against it, then the floor.

He got onto his hands and knees and pushed himself up. "That," Superboy staggered before putting his foot forward, steadying himself. "All you got?" Superboy raised his fists.

"Access, Captain Atom," Amazo aimed both hands at Superboy.

"Ah, crap," Superboy crossed his arms and braced.

The wall to the Gotham High gym exploded, and Superboy bounced off the basketball court before rolling to a stop under the basket. Superboy groaned, and slow clapping reached his ears. He looked at the source and found Ivo sitting on the bleachers with two of his monkeys. The monkeys giggled, and Ivo grinned smugly. "You know, I normally don't come to these things. But I couldn't pass up the opportunity." Superboy stood back up and glared at Ivo.

"Access, Superboy," Amazo jumped through the hole and landed across Superboy.

"Grrraaah!" Superboy flew at Amazo. He cracked him across the face, but Amazo hit right back. The battered Superboy staggered back. Amazo followed up with hooks, jabs, and a straight kick at Superboy's jaw, knocking him on his back. Amazo stood over Superboy and raised his hands for a two-handed hammer strike. Superboy sluggishly raised himself with his elbows. Amazo struck!

"Yoink!" Kid Flash zipped by plucking Superboy away at the last second. He set the battered cone down by Robin and Red X at the far end of the gym.

Ivo smiled wiedly, "Oh, more sidekicks for Amazo to break."

"Not a chance," Red X threw an X shuriken at Amazo.

"Access, Martian Manhunter," Aamzo density shifted, letting the shuriken pass through. "Access, Flash," Amazo sped ahead, arms spread and clothed line Red X and Robin. Both boys flipped before landing face down on the court floor. "Captain Atom," Amazo aimed his hand at Kid Flash.

"Whoa!" Kid Flash sprinted out of the way, the blast exploding behind him. Kid Flash ran behind the bleachers. Kid Flash pivoted and rushed Amazo.

"Black Canary," Amazo turned on a dime and emitted a supersonic screech. Kid Flash was thrown back. "Superboy," Amazo caught Superboy's sudden attack, then pulled him by his fist, throwing him into Robin and Red X.

"Oof!" Red X was sent crashing against the floor with Superboy. Robin ducked and rolled forward into a knee, throwing two exploding batarangs.

"Martian Manhunter," Amazo swept his arm, and it stretched like Manhunter, exploding the batarangs a safe distance from him. He raised his arm and swung it down, stretching it like a whip. Robin dove out of the way. Behind him, Red X managed to kick Superboy away before rolling away at the last second. Red X rolled onto his feet and threw two bombs at Amazo's feet. They exploded into smoke.

"Flash," Amazo rushed Red X, catching him off guard. "Superboy," Amazo caught Red X in a hug. Red X quickly pressed on his utility belt buckle; the x-emblemed glowed red. Amazo squeezed, and instead of instantly crushing him, Red X tensed his muscles, resisting the squeeze. "Grrr!" Red X clenched his teeth. Amazo looked down at his prey, and his eyes glowed red.

"What's this?" Ivo stroked his chin. "Amazo is detecting something. Ah, well, it's probably not worth the effort. Amazo, finish him."

"Get off him!" Superboy flew up, punching Amazo across the face. The Android released Red X as he skidded across the floor. "You good?" Superboy spared his friend a glance.

"Yeah," Red X rotated his arms once. "Activated my armor at the last second. He almost broke me like a twig."

"Ah, you've bulked up since we met," Superboy grinned.

Red X got back into a combat stance. "a medium log then," Red X threw an X shuriken.

"Superboy," Amazo caught the shuriken and crushed it in his hand. "Flash," Amazo rushed the two. Superboy pushed Red X aside as he was thrown against the bleachers.

"Superboy," Amazo turned and hugged Kid Flash while he rushed in for a sneak attack. Amazo looked up to the gym rafters before he could squeeze. "Martian Manhunter," Amazo density shifted as an arrow passed through him, and Kid Flash fell through. Kid Flash quickly stood and escaped Amazo's reach. The arrow landed by Red X, and he looked at the rafters, seeing a shadow dart off.

"Raah!' Superboy flew at Amazo with a straight jab.

"Black Canary," Amazo lowered his center of gravity. He moved his head aside, Superboy's punch missing. He grabbed the outstretched arm and used the momentum to flip Superboy over his shoulder, smashing him into the court and splintering it. Arm still held, he threw Superboy right back into the bleachers.

"Aaah!" Superboy yelled as he was lodged into wood and metal.

"Really, you all are such poor replicas of the originals. Amazo would normally copy your abilities as well, but," Ivo looked at Superboy. "Well, I already have one bad copy. I don't need the complete set."

Superboy dislodged himself from the bleachers and glowered at Ivo. His mind was in a blind rage, and he was about to charge until he stopped to look at his friends. Each one was struggling, but they weren't blindly charging in like he was. Superboy closed his eyes and took a calming breath. Think, if the Android can't be beaten. Superboy looked at Ivo, who was distracted by the fight. An idea popped into his head, and he smiled briefly. "I keep hearing that, and it keeps making me angry!" Superboy flew up and threw himself at Ivo.

"Eep!" Ivo let out a rather feminine shriek as he dove out of the way. "Amazo, protect your master priority alpha!"

"Great, he's gone berserk!" Kid Flash skidded to a stop by Robin.

"Maybe not," Robin looked at Red X, and Red nodded back.

"Flash," Amazo rushed Superboy, decking him across the face and staggering him.

"Hot potato!" Red X snuck behind Ivo and kicked his back, throwing him down the bleachers.

"Me next!" Kid Flash rushed Ivo.

"Whoa!" Superboy shouted as he was thrown against Kid Flash.

"Over here!" Robin jumped and flipped into an axe kick. Ivo's monkeys grabbed him and moved him out of the way.

"Superboy," Amazo jumped down the bleachers and threw a punch down. Robin backflipped out of the way. Amazo's fist broke through the court, splintering it into chips. Red X followed up with a shuriken.

"Martian Manhunter," Amazo stood density shifting.

"Ha!" Superboy rushed and threw a punch.

"Superboy," Amazo shifted back just as Superboy's arm was halfway through his head. The Android's head sparked before it exploded, knocking Superboy back. Amazo's headless body tipped over and fell.

"Quick, help me disassemble it!" Robin rushed to the fallen Android.

"Dude," Kid Flash walked up, holding his arm. "It has no head."

"Don't take any chances," As Kid Flash spoke, Aqualad rushed in with Miss Martian.

Miss Martian gasped and flew over to Superboy. The clone in question fell back and leaned on his hands. Miss Martian looked him over, "Superboy, are you okay?"

"Yeah," Superboy looked to Robin working on Amazo. "I'm feeling the aster," he smirked. Robin gave a thumbs-up.

"Wait, where's Ivo?" Kid Flash reminded everyone as he looked around the empty, destroyed gym.

"Uhm, guys, where's Red?" Miss Martian looked around for their friend.

Outside, near the front of the school, the mysterious figure from earlier ran to a parked motorcycle. The figure slid to a stop as an X shuriken lodged itself before her. The figure turned to the school to see Red X with his arm outstretched, perched on an open window. Red X narrowed his eyes, getting a good look at the mystery archer. A girl, by her height and visible features, they were around the same age. She drew an arrow and aimed at him. The shuriken behind her exploded, knocking her forward.

Red X leaped out and spread his cape. An electric charge coursed through, hardening it into a glider.

The archer girl rolled into a crouch and fired an arrow. The arrow tip burst into a net. Red brought his arms up, and three blades protruded along the forearms from his gauntlet, reminiscent of Batman's gauntlets. He sliced the net apart and landed, rolling into a tackle. The archer fell back, planted her feet on Red X, and pushed using his momentum to throw him off. Red X brought his arms up and caught himself rolling into a crouch. His eyes widened slightly before moving out of the way as an arrow impacted where he was, and the tip sparked with electricity. She's good and trained, not just some random thug.

Red X got into a side stance, giving his opponent a side profile to become a smaller target. As expected, she shifted right to get his entire front. Red X shifted left, keeping his profile facing her. Red X reached into his belt with his obscured hand. She caught the movement and knocked an arrow lightning fast. Red X threw a bomb between them, exploding into flash and smoke. The archer stumbled back, snapping her eyes shut. She fired her arrow, but Red X was gone when she refocused her sight. She shifted her eyes left and right, drew an arrow, and turned one-eighty to aim up. An X shuriken sliced through her bow string before she could draw. Red X landed on top of her, throwing her to the ground. She reached into her back and pulled an arrow. Red X's hand darted out, catching her wrist in an iron grip. He pinned her other hand with his, and he dug his knee into her sternum, keeping her fully pinned. She struggled briefly, but he proved he had the advantage in strength. She groaned and glared more annoyed than angry at Red X. "This how you thank the person who saved your friend's life?"

"Fair point, let's start with an introduction." Red X smirked slightly. "I'm Red X; who are you? Why are you here?"

"Oh, you know, moonlighting as a vigilante, you?" she shrugged as best she could given her predicament.

"Classified," Red X's lips pulled down slightly.

"That hardly seems fair," she smiled slightly.

"We'll see about that," Red X shifted up and trapped her pinned arm with his foot. He awkwardly reached around with his left hand to his right ear. "We'll see what the League knows about you."

"Sorry, got a busy night," she smirked and looked right. Red X followed her gaze to the arrow in her hand. He looked back, and she had closed her eyes. His eyes widened before a flash of light blinded him. Red X leaned back and felt a pair of legs wrap around his neck and bring him down, slamming him against the pavement. He hit the ground headfirst and blacked out for a second. Red X came to a moment later, his head thumping and spots filling his vision. He rubbed his eyes through his domino mask before getting up to a knee. After regaining his full faculties, Red X looked at the arrow left behind. He got up and looked around; she was gone. He brought up his Holo terminal and looked at the beep of the tracking device he had left on her at the last moment. The bleep was at the front entrance. He grabbed the arrow and ran to the front of the school. Her bike was gone, and his tracking device was left on the ground. Red X crouched and placed the device back in his belt. He brought the arrow, studying it. It was homemade, but the quality was sublime. If she had made the arrow, her know-how was impressive.

"Red, you there? Come in," Robin's voice chirped in his ear.

"Yeah, sorry," Red X turned and began jogging back to the gym. "I found our mystery archer."

Red X entered the gym, where Amazo's remaining pieces were disassembled. He walked up to the group, showing them the arrow. "It was a girl, about five-seven, blonde, brown eyes, and trained." Red X grimaced and rubbed the back of his head, "well trained."

"Did you catch her name?" Kid Flash zipped up, putting his arm around him. "Was she hot?"

Red X raised a brow and shrugged, "No, I didn't, and I guess?" Red X saw flashes of Kara appear in his mind. His lips tilted upward ever so slightly. "But I've always liked blondes."

"We will appraise the League afterward; first, we must finish our mission." Aqualad nodded to the Team. They all gathered and smiled, proud of themselves for having taken down Amazo all on their own. In particular, Red X was starting to feel this hero gig. He didn't feel like a soldier in a hopeless war anymore. He felt he was fighting the good fight. Red X, for once, felt his fight was for more than survival. Kara, you would have liked it here. A new start.

Mount Justice

06:01 | August 4

Rhode Island

"The Amazo Android is safely in the two separate Star Lab locations. You did well to recover them from Ivo." Batman addressed the Team, debriefing them on the mission. Of the Leaguers, Batman, Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, and Red Tornado were all present.

"What about the Professor?" Red X said.

"Capturing Ivo will be a League priority," Black Canary responded.

"However, we understand your mission ran into some complications." Manhunter crossed his arms.

The Team all looked at Superboy, who flinched slightly at the stare. His reckless charge after the parts hadn't exactly been his proudest moment. Batman walked up to them, "Complications come with the job; how you handled it has impressed the League."

"The whole League?" Superboy looked at Batman.

"Yes," Batman nodded, his tone neutral. "The whole League, famous Kryptonian hardheadedness, not withstandin."

Superboy smirked slightly, and Batman turned to the whole Team. "Of course, there is no shame in asking for help. That is the reason the League exists in the first place. To handle things we otherwise couldn't alone."

"Speaking of help," Robin stepped up and brought the arrows recovered from the mystery archer. "Someone intervened during our fight with Amazo. She was an archer using trick arrows like you, Green Arrow."

"Whoa, I don't hold a monopoly on archery kids," Green Arrow raised his hands in self-defense. "But," Green Arrow inspected the two arrows from Robn. "This is quality work; I'll look into it for you guys."

"Uh, thanks?" Red X raised a brow, unsure what to make of Green Arrow's sudden interest.

Kid Flash rushed up to Green Arrow and took one of the arrows. "Souvenir!"

"This concludes the debrief; good work out there. Get some rest." Batman nodded, and the Lague took their leave, minus Red Tornado.

"Black Canary," Superboy called out before she left.

"Yes?" she turned halfway as Superboy walked up.

"I, maybe I need some help with my... anger." Superboy sighed.

"I understand, I'm here, always." Black Canary put her hand on the young hero's shoulder. After setting up a time to talk to her, the Team went their separate ways. Robin, Aqualad and Kid Flash Zetad out. Red X, Miss Martian, and Superboy went to their rooms. Red x removed his armor and placed it in his rack. He sat on the edge of his bed, contemplating the night's events. He laid back, covering his eyes with his forearm. Amazo almost scanned him, it almost found out. Red X pursed his lips and balled his hands into fists. I'll never rely on it; I refuse to acknowledge that part of me ever again. Red X sat up, gasping and feeling his chest tighten. Without the armor on, he could feel it. Coursing through his veins, through his very soul. Red X curled up in his bed, burying his head in his knees. He bit his lip, his entire body trembling.

You're a man; don't pretend you didn't want this.

"Hypocrites, the whole lot of you, Hades take you!" Thomas shivered, barely holding back tears. It would be three in the morning before he regained his composure and fell asleep.

Another chapter down! Also, Artemis is introduced differently than before. You also get a sneak peek further into Thomas's past. More will be revealed soon. I hope you guys are ready for the reveal! However if some of you have figured it out, good on you! It's all between the lines.

Thank you for your continued support; I hope you guys enjoy this. The reference to another story is coming soon. To that person, if you find yourself glancing at this story. Flame on! They'll probably get the reference. It's not Marvel-related, despite the words, by the way.

Edit 02/15/2024: Fixed a continuity error near the beginning my b x.x.