"That far south, Megan and I won't make it in time, I'll send kid on ahead." Kaldur said over the link.
"Mordred and I will ride as fast as we can." Robin said before tapping on his holo-screen getting the front half of his bike to drive back over to him.
"Let's move... Last thing we need is that bot put back together." Mordred said before the two drove back off towards Gotham.
Chapter 8 Amazo
Mordred and Robin rode south as fast as they could. "Come on we need to move it..." Mordred revved her engine as they took the exit off the highway to Gotham as yellow blur caught up with them. "Really you changed Kid?" Mordred looked at him.
"You kidding me, I feel naked in civvies." Kid said. "Any idea where the parts are?" Kid asked. "Gotham isn't exactly a small city."
"Let's see...they are at... my school." Robin said. The three heroes looked at each other before taking off to the city of Gotham.
Taking corners as sharp as she could Mordred followed robin through the streets towards a rather prestigious looking academy. Skidding to a stop across the well main trained lawn the three of them rushed into the school The sounds of a fight already inside.
Bursting through the door to the gym Mordred summoned Clarent and threw herself at the thing attacking Superboy. Kid Flash ran past her snatching the kryptonian out of the androids grasp as Mordred swung her blade. "Access Martian Manhunter." Mordred's blade phased through the android as she over committed to the attack. "Access Captain Atom." A powerful yellow beam blasted Mordred back into the far wall ripping into the biker suit.
"Damn it!" Mordred growled." Looking up at the bleachers there was a slow clap.
"First the boy scouts brat and now this, I wonder which hero your a half backed copy off?" A scrawny ginger haired man said.
"Name's Red Saber you robotic building shit stain." Mordred stood up and in a flash of red lightning her armor appeared as Tobin threw explosives at the machine. Kid Flash ran past the android landing a hit only to get back handed as Superboy three himself at the machine as well. "Martian Manhunter." The arms of the machine grew longer grabbing the young kryptonian by the neck and the torso spun to throw him across the room. Channeling red lighting in her Blade Mordred threw herself at the machine blade sparking against steel. "Superman." Mordred was smashed in the stomach with a powerful fist that threw her straight up into the air slamming into the ceiling.
"Damn IT!" Mordred shouted angry as she blasted back down in a shower of red lightning. Within her helmet a thin line of blood ran from the corner of her mouth.
"Fascinating, unlike your friends your not just a copy of a pre-existing hero... Perhaps Amazo should copy your abilities too." Professor Ivo said with some interest.
"Access Black Canary." Amazo let out a deafening shriek. A ear splitting sound reminiscent of a banshee.
Mordred clenched her fist and threw a blast of lightning at the machine to silence the noise before it over whelmed her as the sound stilled she was tackled out of the way by Kid Flash. "Access Captain Atom." The speedster pulled her out of the beam's aim as Superboy landed a punch to the a Amazo droid only to eat a powerful hit back. "Access Flash." Superboy was hit with a rapid series of punches the threw the young hero into the stands.
Robin cut in with a expanding bo staff swinging at the droid. "Access red Tornado." Only to get blasted away. "Access Martian manhunter." A arm extended to Grab the young hero and pull him back in. "Access Red Saber." Red lightning surged down the droids arm towards the boy wonder. Robin screamed in pain as the lightning surged through his body.
Gripping the hilt of Clarent Mordred let out a roar as she threw the blade with all her might at the android. "Access Martian Manhunter." The droid density shifted dropping Robin as Clarent passed through its chest and slammed through the far wall.
Wally and Mordred sped forward in a blitz of speed smashing into the Android. It stumbled back. "Bravo, you discovered team work." Ivo said sarcastically. "That red lightning, truly a gorgeous power Red Saber, a power that now belongs to Amazo."
Mordred growled As Kid flash grabbed Robin to pull him from the reach of Amazo. Holding out her hand Clarent reappeared in her grip as Mordred and the android circled eachother.
"That's odd... Amazo is trying to copy your armor and sword... I see they must be magic in nature... You don't strike me as Zatara's type for a student." Ivo thought to himself as he petted one of his mechanical monkeys.
"Cut the crap Ivo... I'll break you like a twig once I'm done with your automaton." Mordred snarled. Robin was hurt and if Kid Flash had to keep him out of harms way. And in this school Mordred couldn't go all out without risking her team. Spinning her blade she too a ready stance..
"Captain Atom." The android held out it's palm to blast her but Mordred caught the blast with the flat of her blade. Skidding back Mordred gritted her teeth unable to think of a way out.
"You got grit dear, perhaps I'll model my next android after you, giving it your armor and sword." Ivo laughed when the sound of splintering wood filled the room as Superboy pulled himself up from his crater in the bleachers. "Awake are we brat?"
"Will you SHUT UP!" Superboy launched himself at Ivo smashing one of the Monkeys.
"Amazo protect your creator priority Alpha!" Ivo said in a panic. As Amazo turned from Mordred she slashed at the android sending a blast of red lighting the ripped up the gym floor scorching the wood.
"Martian Manhunter." The attack Phased through Amazo as Superboy threw Ivo to the Gym floor where the lightning hit the inventor who howled in pain when Kid Flash ran in grabbing Ivo by the collar and spinning him around to throw him Across the room before Ivo's monkeys can grab him. The monkeys scrambled after thier creator who landed at Robin's feet who was sweating as he threw his battarangs destroying the robots.
Amazo turned to aid it's master again only to catch Mordred's Fist to the face punching it to the ground as it skidded back it grabbed Kid Flash. "Captain Atom." It said with the beam channeling at Kid Flash's head when a arrow was fired at it's head. "Martian Manhunter." It density shifted letting go of kid flash and Superboy stomped down before it shifted back to a regular state. The head exploded as if couldn't properly form around Super Boy's boot. Mordred channeled her power into Clarent and brought the blade down in a thunderous strike that blasted apart the torso of the android.
"Damn, really making sure it couldn't come back." Kid flash said as Robin cuffed Ivo. Just as that happened Kaldur and Megan rushed in.
"You captured Ivo." Kaldur said as Kid Flash and Robin hauled him to his feet, "What of the... I guess that star labs can study the arms and legs..."
Mordred unsummoned her armor as she sat on bench. plucking the arrow out of the floor looking at the green fletching. "Hmmm... Call the league... we need to get back to the base and someone needs to deal with professor shit stain."
Standing before the team was Green Arrow, Aquaman and Batman and Black Canary in the central chamber of the cave. "You both neutralized and Captured professor Ivo, kept collateral damage to a minimum and out of the public eye. You showed team work and adaptability. Missions can change in a instant." Batman addressed them "Your actions tonight were well above expectations. You've impressed the league."
"Hell yeah!" Kid Flash cheered.
"The whole league?" Superboy asked.
"Recognized Superman." The man of steel stepped out of the Zeta Tube. "You have. Superboy... may I have a quick word."
Mordred listened to the two kryptonians talk. "I'm... sorry for how i have been dismissing you. I do promise to help... just..."
"I upset you." Superboy said sadly.
"No... yes, it's hard to explain. I've been wanting to meet another Kryptonian for my whole life. I guess i wasn't ready for it to actually happen. I'm not ready to step in as a teacher... yet. But you got this, you got friends who care about you. Focus on them, not me."
"I understand. And Thank you dad... no... that feels wrong." Superboy let out a small sigh like a weight had been lifted.
"We'll figure it out." Superman smiled back.
Mordred turned her attention back to the other heroes. "I do have a couple questions." Mordred said pulling out the arrow. "This was shot during our fight with Amazo."
"What, now way you're kidding me!? You were following us! Can't even trust us properly yet." Robin accused the heroes.
"Not quite, this arrow tip..." Mordred said as Green arrow took out one of his to compare. "Not a match."
"Speedy." Kaldur suggested.
"I doubt it." Mordred said as she activated the holo-computer bringing up Speedy's file and his gear, the arrow didn't match either. "That mean's kid flash was saved by a anonymous third party."
"In Gotham, that seems unlikely." Robin stated.
"But we were at a high school... unless there's a new teenage vigilante running around Gotham." Kid Flash Said excitedly. "Souvenir." He snatched the arrow from Mordred.
"Arrow and I will look into the possibility of of a new hero in Gotham." Batman said. "For now the lot of you, hit the showers."
As the others left a hand landed on Mordred's shoulder. "Have a few minutes?" Black Canary asked. Mordred followed the older hero into a room with two cushioned chairs. "I wanted to touch base with you to see how your adjusting." Black Canary sat across from Mordred.
"I'm doing fine, a little rough on some cultural shocks. I haven't been this sober this long since the campaign against the Pict rebellion past Hadrian's wall. So I have been better." Mordred rested her elbows on the chairs arms.
"Well one thing that is a possibility is that with the school year coming up we have been discussing on sending you to high school." Black canary said.
"School... like with, normal people?" Mordred asked a little confused. "I've led wars... and led men to their deaths. And you want me to attend high school?"
"Mordred you deserve a life outside all of this, you can't be a hero all the time, you need to learn about the modern world, have a career, make friends. Megan and superboy will be attending school once the education year begins." Black Canary explained while leaning forward in the seat. "We aren't in Camelot
"No your right we aren't. I already spent my first life hiding my identity, my own siblings never saw my face. I agreed to a hero name but I never agreed to hiding my self behind another lie." Mordred stood up a undertone of anger in her voice.
"Mordred, all I'm asking is you think about it. You don't need to get angry about it, but if your going to have a life outside the league and the team, you need a modern education and the certification that comes with that." The older woman explained. "Mordred, you've been given a second chance, a real life outside the influence of your mother's plans, outside the constant bloodshed."
Mordred looked away from her. "Tssshk... Fine I'll think about it. If only it means I'll have something to do." Mordred sat back down.
"Thank you... Mordred, now there are a few things I wanted to talk about..." Black Canary started. "I understand you are adjusting well to your new life. Is there anything we can do to help you feel more at home... that doesn't involve drinking."
"Well... I mean there isn't that much I can say. I lived a very different life to what's common to the world now. But if I find anything I'll let you know. I wasn't an artist, i wasn't a poet, I lived for combat and my kingdom." Mordred said.
"A kingdom you would betray and destroy." Black Canary stated.
"It's more complicated then that. My mother dictated my fate. I was made to be the rightful king, I asked to recognized as their son, to be made the crown prince. The queen had failed to provide an heir, even with her traitorous lover Lancelot." Mordred said. "The common people were becoming restless, rebellions were on the rise throughout the kingdom. If nothing was done there would have been bloodshed regardless. The affair, the deaths during the execution, I was left to oversee a kingdom in crisis as Gawain and my father went to France to find Lancelot. It was either I take the reins and control of the kingdom or there would be nothing. And even the my mother was fanning the fires."
"Or is that what you tell yourself Mordred?" Black Canary asked.
"What are you suggesting?" Mordred said coldly.
"You are a child and you were put in a impossible situation... you had lost your siblings, been rejected by your father, abused by your mother, and seemingly abandoned to deal with a national emergency. I think it was a breaking point, that you were lashing out." Black Canary stood up getting Mordred to stand with her.
Mordred looked away from the older woman but Black Canary tilted her head to look back. "It's alright."
Mordred pushed her back and walked out. "You don't know a damn thing about me..." She said quietly before closing the door. She avoided everyone else in the mountain as she went to her room.
Shutting the door behind her the knight sat on the bed, pulling her knees up to her chest, taking in a shaky breath tears welled in the corners of her eyes. "Agravain... Gaheris... Gawain... Gareth... I'm sorry..." She started to cry. The memory of the other knights entering her mind, Kay, Bedivere, Tristian, Jason, Bors, Percival, Pellinore, Lionel... and far far more. It was like they stood around her bed, silently judging her, and standing right in front of her, still in her blood soaked armor was her father. Artoria Pendragon.
"You are unfit to be King, Traitor."
Chapter 8 done.