Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice. The only thing I own in this is my OC.
A/N: You don't have to read this if you don't like it, don't hate just go away.
Review time.
SpartanWolfj6: don't worry, all your question will be answered this chapter.
And with that out of the way, on with the chapter.
Chapter 17: Same old suspects
Washington D.C. December 30th 9:16 EST
The founding members of the league stood outside of the Hall of Justice, Superman standing at a podium in front if a crowd of reporters.
"The Justice League was formed for two Reasons. First, to show that no single person, no matter how powerful, can solve the world's problems alone. And second, to uphold the values of truth and justice." The crowd began to mumble amongst each other and take pictures of the gathered heroes.
"These five heroes' have sworn to uphold those values." Superman said, glancing back at the five new Leaguer's. Icon, Dr. Fate, Captain Atom, Plastic Man, and Red Arrow.
Inside the Hall of Justice, the team watched the event on live T.V. "Your watching live coverage of the Justice League's induction of its five newest members, looks like the entire league showed up, everyone from Batman to Captain Marvel."
"I glad they didn't kick Billy out." Wally said while eating an apple. "And I love the fact that there's a ten-year-old on the league." He said forgetting that they also had a new teammate.
"THERE IS?!" Rocket shouted, pulling on Legend's hair that she was currently re-braiding, making him let out a small yelp of pain.
Robin elbowed Wally in the gut. "Way to keep a secret, genius." He said, scolding Wally. "Hey, she's on the team now, right?" Wally said, trying to defend himself.
The feed then showed Superman handing the new members cards that show that they are now members. "You know, I was the one who convinced Icon to become a hero in the first place. I should be outside celebrating with him not hidden away in here, JJ too." Rocket said patting her mentors' clone son and her self proclaimed big little brother on the shoulder, making him smirk. "Welcome to our world." Aqualad said with a small smile.
"Well, I guess there's an upside, too. Right JJ?" Rocket said looking down at Legend who nodded as she finished fixing his hair. Legend stood up and did a quick stretch.
"Yeah, now I get to see you all the time." He said as they both chuckled.
"And finally, Green Arrow welcomes his former protégé', Speedy, now known as Red Arrow, to this roster of heroes." The Anchor said as the camera showed both Green and Red Arrow shaking hands. "Way to go Roy!" Wally cheered. "At last, he has his wish." Aqualad said in agreement. "The first of us to make it, no one will call him a sidekick anymore." Robin added in.
"Wait, since when is being a sidekick a bad thing? You guys were my inspiration." Rocket said, drawing the other attention. "I gotta agree with sis on this, you guys do inspire people a lot more then the adults." Legend said as Rocket used his shoulder as an armrest. "Well see, six months ago it-" Robin gets cut off when his watch starts to beep.
Back outside, a few of the Leaguers flew off as some stood to answer questions from the reporters. Batman, Black Canary, and Red Tornado walked inside with Icon, Plastic Man, and Red Arrow. They all stopped at an elevator.
"So, you ready to see the Watchtower?" Canary asked the three newbies. "Born ready." Red Arrow said with a satisfied smile. "I'm sure the team will want to congratulate you first." Canary said mostly to Icon and Red Arrow.
"You don't know Rocket. After making her wait inside, congratulations may not be the first thing on her mind." Icon said in a sure tone. "And what about Legend?" Canary asked with a raised eyebrow. "I believe that he will feel the exact opposite." Icon said, a small, almost unnoticeable smile found it's way to Icons face.
The group entered the lounge where they left the team only to find the room empty. "Well, I thought they would at least stick around." Icon said in surprise.
Smokey Mountains December 30th 10:48 EST
The team were flying over the snowy forest in the bioship. They had gotten word that Cheshire was spotted with the case that they lost in New Orleans, so they decided to check it out, only to find that the plane had crashed into a small canyon. They then went down to take a look at the wreckage.
"How come Homeland Security isn't all over this yet?" Kid asked. "Cheshire's ID was a League alert, authorities didn't pick it up and her jet didn't follow its original flight plan. It flew under the radar, literally. But the Watchtower auto tracked the jet and recorded the crash." Robin explained.
"Then why isn't the League here?" Rocket asked. "Because our Boy wonder here has some mighty hacking skills and arranged to get the alert first." Zatanna explained, Robin stood with a smirk and his fists on his hips. "And because Cheshire and that case represent our unfinished business." Aqualad added in.
Superboy and Legend both grunted as they tossed two large pieces of debris out of the way. "Where are the bodies." Superboy asked. "Here's one." Cheshire said from a top a cliff that overlooked the crash site. "And it is stunning." She glanced towards Legend who looked conflicted, Artemis was relived that her sister was still alive, but was still ready to fight.
"I am flora not fauna, I am foliage not trees, what am I?" The Riddler asked from the outer edge of the canyon. He snapped his fingers and multiple antennas popped out of the ground on the upper cliffs of the canyon where he stood. The balls on top of the antenna glowed green and sparked with green electricity. A bolt of lightning shot between the antenna and an energy dome formed around the entire canyon, trapping everyone inside.
"Come on, you can get this, I am shrubbery not grass. I-" Riddler said, waiting for one of the teens to answer. "Am bush." Robin said, finishing it for him.
"Didn't you think we'd be tipped off that you you were on Cheshire's trail. We're tired of your interference, kiddies. This is the end game. All planned out by yours truly." Riddler said, gesturing to himself.
"Ms. Martian, is everyone linked up." Aqualad asked. "Yes." Ms. Martian answered quickly. "Good, everyone, move." Aqualad ordered. Everyone complied immediately and split up as several of the villains jumped down to face the teen heroes.
Zatanna used a spell to cause a small blizzard within the dome to confuse them as Kid Flash and Aqualad started fighting the grunts.
"Superboy, Legend, the pylons!" Aqualad shouted over the link. "Working on it." Superboy shouted after he and Legend take down a few of the soldiers. They then both go and hide behind a rock and pull out the cases that held their shields.
"One left, how about you?" Superboy asked Legend. "Same." He says with a sigh. They look each other in the eye and Legend nods. "Let's make it count." Legend said as they both take out their last shield and stick them on their arms. They both release a grunt as the shields release their full power.
While the others continued fighting the soldiers and Cheshire, Legend flew up to the top of the dome, his fists started to glow bright blue and he spun shooting his plasma blasts and destroying the pylons.
Suddenly mammoth came up behind Superboy and punched him across the canyon. Superboy looks up from his impact crater to see mammoth jumping towards him. Before he got close, Superboy grabbed him by the hair and started flying. He then flew up to the top of the dome, dragging mammoth by the hair. Robin noticed all of this. "SB, LG, you're flying!" Robin said over the link in shock.
Superboy threw mammoth to the top of the dome, he hit it, getting electrocuted and falling back down. Superboy caught him and knocked him into the wall of the as mammoth was rolling down. Legend flew down towards him and Superboy, Legend used his plasma blasts and Superboy used his Heat vision to drive him further into the ground.
They crashed into the side of the canyon, Superboy and Legend then began to pummel mammoth with a barrage of punches. This caused a small avalanche that Cheshire and Artemis were caught in, just as Cheshire pushed Artemis out of the way of a falling boulder another, larger one was heading right for them. Legend saw this and flew down to save them. He blasted the boulder to pieces and shielded the two from the debris.
Artemis gave Cheshire a confused look. "Alright, we're sisters, it's not like I want you dead." Cheshire said, standing up. "I look forward to our next meeting." She said as she walked away, she lifted her mask slightly and blew Legend a kiss before she disappeared into the blizzard.
Mount Justice December 30th 15:45 EST
Standing in front of the team was Batman, Red Tornado, Black Canary, and Icon. "Tell me if this sounds familiar." Batman said as he stepped forward. "You hacked League systems, disobeyed protocol, and endangered your lives." He said looking over all of the teens. "And your initiative resulted in capture of three escaped villains, proving Warden Strange runs Belrev as a cover for criminal activity…Well done."
Batman gave them a small smirk; this shocked the team completely. "And then there's this." He said walking up to the case that had small white shards that were glowing red with red vainy circut like pattern inside. Biotech Integrated with some form of Nano-circuitry." Icon picked one up. "Though I am in familiar with this species, the bio component A.I. clearly not of Earth." "We'll take them to the Watchtower for further study." Batman said as he closed the case.
As the adults were about to walk through the Zeta tube Legend and rocket ran over to Icon. "Congratulations on the league thing, sorry we skipped out." Rocket said, giving her mentor a hug. "Yes, well, we both seem to have found teams that suit us." Icon said with a smile that Rocket shared.
"I for one don't think that's enough, how about we go out to eat later so that we can celebrate properly." Legend said, wrapping an arm around both Icon and Rocket and pulling them in for a group hug.
Canary put a hand on Legends shoulder. "That sounds fun but that will have to happen later, we don't want to miss the leagues induction party." Icon and Canary both left after that.
"You realize we were set up." Robin asked Aqualad. "Yes, Cheshire and Riddler were tipped and ready for us." "Not the mole thing again." Artemis said, putting her hand to her face. "Again?" Rocket asked as she and Legend walked back to the group.
"We had intel that there was a traitor on the team." Kid answered. "The main suspects were Artemis, M'gann, Joshua, and me." Superboy said, stepping forward. Rocket looked over to Legend who looked saddened by that.
"It is more complicated than that." Aqualad said, putting a hand on Superboy's shoulder that he shrugged off. "But your recent behavior does concern me. Your attack on Mammoth nearly got Artemis killed." As Superboy was walking away he suddenly heard a high-pitched buzzing sound and put a hand to his head.
"Superboy, I believe you and Legend just used the last of your shields. I have more. If you want them, then meet me outside of Prisca with Legend." Lex Luthor's voice echoed in his head. Once it was over, Superboy stood back up.
"Superboy?" Aqualad asked worried. "There's something me and Legend need to do." He said turning to the rest of the team.
Santa Prisca December 30th 17:57 ECT
The Supercycle landed in a clearing, Superboy and Legend got out and were greeted by Lex Luthor, Queen Bee, and Mercy Graves. "Welcome Superboy, Legend. I'd like you to meet my associate, Queen Bee." Lex said, Gesturing to Queen Bee. "My pleasure. It's good to see you again My son, I hope your doing well." Legend avoided eye contact with his mother.
"I believe you two know everyone else. Sportsmaster, Mercy, Blockbuster and our new friend Bane who has allowed us use of his island in exchange for certain considerations." Lex said as all said people walked out in the open.
"So, the Injustice League was just a distraction." Superboy said. "You two have been behinds everything from the start." Legend finished. "A flattering notion, but we have many friends." Lex said as a helicopter landed. "This one of your friends now?" Legend asked, raising his voice because of the helicopter. "No my boy, it's one of yours."
The door opened on the helicopter revealing Artemis and Cheshire. Artemis let out a small gasp after seeing Superboy and Legend. "Artemis?!" The two clones said at the same time in both shock and confusion.
The two women got out of the helicopter and walked up to Sportsmaster. "The hero thing wasn't working out for me, you guys know how it is, no trust." Artemis said as Sportsmaster put a hand on her shoulder. "This is where I belong."
"It's a fast-growing club." Queen bee said as the Bio ship flew overhead and Miss Martian floated down. Her reaction to seeing the two clones was the same as Artemis. "Why are they here? You promised." Miss M said to Queen Bee. "I've kept your secret and my promise, now you keep yours." Queen Bee ordered, making Miss M lower her head. "Good girl."
Give us more shields, and I'm in too." Superboy said with a determined look on his face. "Me too." Legend said with the same look. Lex walked up to them and stared into their eyes. He then smirked.
"Boys, your both terrible liars." Both boy's eyes widened, they were about to attack when Lex spoke up. "Red Sun." Superboy stiffened at the phrase and stopped his advance. Legend on the other hand grabbed Lex by the collar and was about to punch him in the face when Queen Bee spoke up. "Super Nova." It was Legend's turn to freeze, inches away from making contact with Lex's face. He let go of Lex's collar and stood like a statue next to Superboy. Miss M lowered her head, Artemis walked up and put her hands on her hips. "So, what do you want us to do?"
Lex looked at Sportsmaster and nodded. "You two follow me." He ordered Both Miss M and Artemis. "What about Superboy and Legend?" Miss M asked. "They'll be fine, they just require a few, adjustments." Lex walked away from the two clones who were both looking at the ground unmoving.
"Not Legend. My requested alterations did not have given me the results I desire." "What are you talking about?" Miss Martian confused.
"Oh, well you see, Legend wasn't just meant to be a weapon, he was also meant to be my heir." Miss M's and Artemis's eyes widened at the villainess's words.
"I requested for him to be specially altered to be completely obedient to me, but all it resulted in was him only having His fathers basic power set and a soft side for females. But with time I believe I can fix those problems."
"I can lend a team to assist you with that." Lex offered. "Thank you very much Luthor."
(Flashback)
"There's something I need to do, something I need to tell you. Last month on Thanksgiving, Legend and I went back to Cadmus and found a few things out. When we were cloned only half my D.N.A was Superman's, the other half was human. That's why l don't have, will never have all my Kryptonian powers." "Same thing goes for me." Legend said as he walked up beside Superboy.
"You sure? Cause you two sure seemed to have them today." Robin said with a smirk. "We've been using these." Legend said as he and Superboy revealed their shield that had now turned black because they were out of power. "they're called Shields, they suppress our human D.N.A, giving us access to the rest of our powers." He explained. "But I think we also get angry. Well, angrier in my case." Superboy added. "We're sorry for keeping this from you guys." Legend said for both of them.
"Where did you get those?" Aqualad asked. "From my human father, Lex Luthor." Superboy answered as both him and Legend pull out the cases for the shields.
The others eyes went wide. Lex Luthor… is your dad?!" Robin said in shock. "He summoned me and Legend to Santa Prisca." Superboy explained. "Wait, if Lex is your dad, then who is Legend's human parent?" Miss M asked. Everyone, including Superboy, turn all their attention to Legend.
Legend sighed. "My human mother is Queen Bee." Their eyes widened even further; Miss M even gasped. "Well… wasn't expecting that." Kid said. "Look at it this way, you're technically a prince." Robin said, bringing up the mood, Legend smiled.
(Flashback End)
"Bring them along." Lex orders blockbuster. As he was approaching the two clones Artemis ran forward, drew her bow, and fired an arrow.
(Flashback)
Artemis sighed. "Listen, Superboy and Legend aren't the only ones who are suffering from bad D.N.A." She then walked over to the holo keyboard and started typing. She pulled three pictures. One of Cheshire, Sportsmaster, and huntress with a red label that said retired. Three more pictures popped up of their secret identities.
"My mother is huntress, an ex-con. My dad's Sportsmaster, and he's sending my sister Cheshire to fly me to Santa Prisca." Artemis confessed. "That's why-" Kid starts to say before Artemis cuts him off. "I was desperate to make sure none of you found out." "I knew." Robin speaks up, getting everyone's attention. "Hey, I'm a detective, but it never mattered, you aren't your family, your one of us." Legend wrapped an arm over her shoulders and gave her a grin. "And we don't care where you come from, only what you you've done." Hearing this Artemis returned the smile and hug.
(Flashback End)
The arrow hit blockbuster and exploded, covering him in green foam. "Sorry dad, wanted to play you like you played me but I'm not letting then mess with my friends heads!" Artemis shouted, pointing an arrow at Sportsmaster.
"M'gann, be a dear and take down Artemis." Queen Bee asked over her link with said Martian. M'gann's eyes glowed green and pointed her hand at Artemis.
(Flashback)
"So, who's next." Kid asked in a joking tone. M'gann took a deep breath. "I am." "I swear I was kidding." Kid said, putting his hands up. "Queen Bee's been blackmailing me; she wants me in Santa Prisca too." M'gann explained.
"Blackmailing, how?" Aqualad asked. "She knows my true Martian form." M'gann said looking down. "Bald M'gann?" kid asked. "No." M'gann said before taking a deep breath and transforming into a white Martian, shocking everyone.
"I thought you would never accept me if you saw what I really am." She said as she hugged herself. "M'gann, did we really seem that shallow?" Aqualad asked. "I couldn't take the chance. Back on Mars, I faced constant rejection from the greens, I couldn't face that from you all." She said with a slight whimper in her voice.
Superboy walked up to her, and took her now clawed hand in his. "I've known since we've mind melded in Bialya." He said over the mental link.
"But that was before we become a me a couple. why didn't you say anything?" M'gann asked. "I figured you'd tell me when you were ready." Conner said.
M'gann went back to her normal form and the two hugged.
(Flashback end)
Miss Martians eyes glowed green as she held her arm out. She lifted her other arm and sent Queen Bee flying into a tree and landed on the ground with a grunt of pain.
Artemis jumped and did a flip as she fired an arrow at Sportsmaster and Cheshire that exploded between them. "Queen Bee's down. Superboy, Legend, your both safe from her control." Miss M said over the mental link. Both Superboy and Legend stopped pretending to be frozen. "May not be good at lying, but we fooled you." Superboy said as he and Legend walked up to Lex and Mercy.
"And I'm so proud." Lex said as he got up. "I take it Miss Martian cleared the security phrases from your minds?" Lex asked as Mercy stood in front of him. "And confirmed that Aqualad, Robin, and Kid Flash rescued us from Cadmus before you had time to install any other programming." Legend said. "All true, I blame Dr. Desmond."
Blockbuster roars as he breaks out of the gel that was holding him. He leapt at Superboy, but Legend pushed him out of the way and gets face grabbed by Blockbuster. He then drags him through the ground to a cliff.
Superboy jumps at Blockbuster to help Legend, but Blockbuster caught him by the throat and slammed him on the ground next to Legend.
Lex says something in Spanish and bane signaled his men to open fire. The super cycle flew up and started firing at the soldiers who scattered. Artemis rolled out of the way of gunfire while firing a few arrows at the soldiers.
"You have been a very naughty girl." Sportsmaster says as he walk towards her swinging a flail, Cheshire walking with him. Artemis fired an arrow at Sportsmaster, but he knock it away. "Guys, reinforcement time." She said over the mental link. Rocket flew In, picked up a soldier, and dropped him in the forest. Kid Flash ran in a knocked down a few more as Bane started pumping venom into his system.
Lex picked up Queen Bee and moved to leave with Mercy, but Aqualad jumped out of the trees and landed in front of them, his water bearers forming swords. "You and Queen Bee are not going anywhere." Aqualad said, pointing one of his swords at Lex.
"Young man, if you expect to detain me, you should contact my attorney before hand." Lex said. Mercy's arm then transformed into a gun and fired an orange blast at Aqualad that sent him flying into a tree.
Robin and Zatanna took out more soldiers before Bane grabbed them both. Blockbuster was punching both Superboy and Legend into the ground, he then punched Superboy through the ground sending him falling down the cliff. He then kick Legend down with his fellow clone. Legend grabbed Superboy's arm with one hand and clung to the cliff side with the other.
Aqualad was looking for Lex when he heard a helicopter, he looked up and saw Lex flying away in a helicopter with Mercy and the still knocked out Queen Bee. "I've got this." Rocket said as she flew after them.
The helicopter fired missiles at Rocket who made a shield to block them, although she didn't take any damage the missiles still pushed her back. She dropped her shield and saw that the helicopter was still flying away. "I can still-" "No, you are needed here." Aqualad cuts her off through the mental link, she looks back at the helicopter one last time then flies back to the others letting Lex escape.
Sportsmaster jumped to dodge another arrow from Artemis, he landed in a crouch and threw his flail at her. The flail knocked Artemis's bow out of her hands and made her fall to the ground, landing on her stomach. Cheshire jumps down in front of her and points her sword at Artemis.
"You know I don't tolerate disobedience, Artemis." Sportsmaster said as walked up to the two sisters. "Yeah, I know. Jade and I learned that the hard way." Artemis said right before Kid Flash ran in knocking Cheshire to the ground. Kid then tried to take down Sportsmaster next but Sportsmaster caught him and threw him into a tree.
Zatanna woke up while Robin was fighting Bane. She chanted and suddenly several puffs of smoke appeared and surrounded Robin, when it cleared there were a dozen robins all running at a confused Bane. "Gotta love-" "An army-" "Of me." Three of the Robins said. Bane crushed three clones right before the original pulled out the tube that was pumping Venom into him, he then electrocuted bane which finally took him down.
Legend and Superboy made it back to the top of the cliff and ran at Blockbuster. He punched Superboy to the ground, Miss Martian threw several rocks at Blockbuster to distract him, Legend then went in and began to pummel Blockbuster.
"Legend, Superboy, Miss Martian, move!" Aqualad shouted over the link, the three then jumped out the way as five red discs floated over to Blockbuster and began to shock him with red electricity.
Aqualad and Rocket walked up, both wearing black and red tech that was controlling the discs. Aqualad punched the ground with a gauntlet turning it into tar. When the puddle of tar reached blockbuster, he began to sink. Superboy and Legend walked up to the now trapped former scientist.
"You know, you should really learn to channel that anger." Superboy said with a smirk. Blockbuster let out a roar and Legend punched him in the face knocking him out.
Artemis was running away from Sportsmaster who was swinging around his flail. "Artemis now!" Aqualad's voice rang out in her as right before she jumped up and grabbed onto a tree branch. Sportsmaster looked up at his daughter, not noticing the puddle of tar Until it was to late.
Once Sportsmaster was trapped, Artemis let go of the branch she was holding onto, jumped off of Sportsmaster's shoulders to avoid the mud pit. "Jade." Sportsmaster grunted out, hoping that his other daughter was going to help him. "Sorry dad." She took off her mask and smirked. "In this family, it's every girl for herself." She put her mask back on and looked at Artemis.
"Tell my lover I'll be waiting for him." She then walked into the forest out of sight. "Jade!" Sportsmaster yelled, trying to get his daughters attention once more and failing. Artemis then walked up to Her dad, the two stared at each other for a moment, then Artemis kicked him in the face, knocking him out and ripping off his mask.
Kid flash stumbled out of the bushes, he picked up the mask and walked over to Artemis and stood next to her, both looking down at the unconscious Sportsmaster. Kid held up the mask and Artemis glanced at it. "Souvenir." She said as the two smiled. The pair then rejoined the others as they joked about their victory.
Watchtower; December 30th 23:46 EST
Batman was trying to analyze the chips that the team recovered when Red Arrow walked in. "So, you not joining the party?" Red Arrow asked as he came up behind the dark Knight and crossed his arms. "This bio circuitry is disturbingly sophisticated." Batman said without turning around. "I'll take that as a no then." Red Arrow said with a smirk. He then touched the back of Batman's neck, placing one of the chips on him. The chip sunk into the back of Batman's neck, even going through his suit. Batman's eyes went wide for a moment before he put on a neutral look.
The two then walked into the main room where the rest of the leaguers were standing with the same looks on their faces as Batman. They walked up to the Zeta tube controls and Batman started typing.
Override, Batman; 0 2
The computer responded and the Zeta tube turned on. Vandal Savage walked out of the tube with his hands behind his back and a smirk on his face.
All of the heroes, except Red Arrow, kneeled to Savage. Red Arrow grabbed his head in pain for a second then looked around. "I… I was the mole?" He asked Savage. "Yes, you were." Savage said as he walked past Red Arrow and the other heroes, he stood in front of the window and watch the sun set behind the earth. Savage didn't notice when Red Arrow escaped through the Zeta tube.
Chapter end. Please review, it really helps. Plus some will be mentioned in the next chapter.
Explanation for SpartanWolfj6: So while Cadmus was making the alterations to legend that Queen Bee requested they accidentally overwrote his powers, blocking his access to them. I might put in a way to unlock them again, but for now I hope this answered your question. Thanks for reading.