CHAPTER 37.
Kara took a deep breath, it had been a long time since she had seen Kori, the alien princess had fallen in with the titans, refusing to leave them even at the last minute.
She would see her friend after months and that was scary. Okay, not as scary as jumping between universes and falling into one literally in the middle of a robin crisis, but still scary.
Bruce guided her through the corridors of the watchtower to the cells. They said they didn't want to put her in there, but they had no choice, she was still too unstable to be loose out there.
As she walked she looked around, this tower was totally different from the one she was used to. This really did look like a tower, not a space station... it was strange, but she would have to get used to it.
And looking at the strange tower took her attention away from the fact that there was an alien starfish on Bruce's shoulder. An alien starfish who was the "child" of one of the first villains in her Justice League... she came to the conclusion that the multiverse is strange.
"I'm not a villain! And my father is Batman, not Starro. Jarro's voice sounded in her head.
"You getting into my head to try and convince me of this isn't exactly the best way to prove your point.'' She replies in thought.
''Why are Kryptonians so stubborn?''
''Forget what I said, you really are the son of a bat. Even the stubbornness is the same.''
"We're here.'' Bruce interrupts his thoughts.
Clark puts his hand on her shoulder.
''Are you sure about this?''
''Yes.'' She nods and enters the room before the two of them.
"I've asked J'onn to come down and translate for you, he should be here any minute.'' Batman comments as he enters.
''That won't be necessary, Nightwing taught me Tamaranean years ago.
''And why does he know that language?'' Bruce asks.
"Because they almost got married a few times.'' Jarro interrupts.
''They almost what?''
''Okay, let's put that aside for a minute...'' She turns to the girl, who is looking at her fiercely.
With a sigh, she cracks a small smile and speaks in the girl's native language. For Krypton, Kori is so young...
"Hello.''
Kori frowns and takes a step back.
"My name is Kara Zor-El. I'm from Krypton and another Earth. It's nice to meet you, Koriander.''
Still no answer, but Kara continues.
"I know this world is different from mine and the stories are different, but if I'm right, your sister is responsible for the attack earlier, isn't she?
The girl seems to relax, but still doesn't say anything.
"Can I call you Kori? Koriander is too formal...''
A nod was all she got.
''Very well, the Kori of my world was a princess who managed to escape to earth. And she was very well received there. Kori, I know it's hard...''
Bruce had no idea what Kara was talking about, Jarro didn't translate for him, something about being above his powers because he himself was still recovering, before entering the tower he asked Kara to try to get Kori to talk about her sister's plans, so he really hoped that Kara would get something.
As Kara spoke in the unknown language, one question kept running through his mind.
Where was J'onn?
xxXXXxx
Roy got up from the sofa in the tower's living room, he refused to go with the team, something made him stay, but with nothing to do he took him there when about twenty minutes later he got up, everything seemed hazy somehow as if he was being controlled. He leaves the room and goes to the communications room in silence, his hand going into the hidden pocket of his uniform and pulling out a strange object.
xxXXXxx
Alfred and the team head down to the cave to decode the USB stick.
"This place is huge.'' Superboy comments when they reach the end of the stairs that lead to the batcave.
"The house or the cave?'' M'gann asks.
''Both.''
"I can't believe Robin lives here.'' Artemis looks around.
''I can believe it. I've actually been here several times.'' Kid Flash gives a sad smile. They had to find Dick soon. They had to.
''The only thing I don't understand is why we came here to check the pendrive.'' Kaldur comments to the butler as they approach the huge computer in the room.
"The Batcave's security system is better than the watchtower's, apart from the fact that not everyone knows secret codes.'' The butler replied as he accessed the files.
xxXXXxx
The Mars hunter didn't expect to see Roy in the room, and it was only by a momentary oversight that the Archer managed to place the small object in the back of the Martian's head.
J'onn realizes what he's done too late and the next moment he can't control himself, but he remembers a voice telling him to infect the others.
He remembers nothing more after that, but leaves the room alongside Red Arrow.
xxXXXxx
From member to member, Jonn and Roy continued infecting, the tower wasn't full, so they knew they wouldn't infect all the heroes. At the moment, heroes like Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Flash, both Green Lanterns, Red Tornado, Green Arrow, Hawkgirl and her husband were infected.
Wonder Woman was clearing the codes to let Savage and his allies in when J'onn exclaimed that Batman and Superman were in the tower.
"Go get them then. Green Arrow looked at the now controlled Martian and J'onn was about to leave when Red Tornado interrupted.
''Leave them to me.''
J'onn nods and the tornado leaves.
Seconds after Tornado left, the lights on the Zeta tubes began to glow.
''Recognized Vandal Savage, Komander, Brain, Klarion. Ra's Al Ghul, Damian Al Ghul, Terminator, Renegade.''