Of Ice and Men (Young Justice. Icicle Junior SI.)

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 20: Froze And Cons
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Yellowstone Park, Wyoming
September 11, 6:23 PM MDT​

"You sure you can do this?" Huntress as I'm trying to think of her in the field whispers so Red Arrow doesn't go off again. Get to see the inside of that invisible plane though and it's even cooler than I first thought.

"You should probably get Blue Beetle to work on pep talks next time you train. That was terrible." I know that once I do this, no one is ever going to think of me as just a small timer again. Neither the Shadows or the League will let me just walk away.

"You have a pretty important job Sub-Zero." Guardian is being pretty calm about having me onboard. "She's just performing the standard mission check."

After taking a deep breath to steady myself, I look up with what I hope is a charming grin. "You have the hard part. I'm just making sure you get the time to do it."

"Told you he wasn't so bad." The way Huntress says that to her fellow archer is enough for me to know her past has been discussed.

"I'm sorry I got you shocked." Out of nowhere Secret gives me a very guilt ridden apology. "Roy...d Arrow told me you hurt even more people than Billy. I didn't know you felt bad about it."

Things about my stay at Arkham suddenly make a whole lot more sense. "Was that who teased the guards?"

"Yeah." Her head hangs low.

I really want to be mad. But she just looks so sorry about it and it's making the feat impossible. "That's how you got the that name, right? Those eyes are the team's Secret weapon."

"You aren't upset? Guardian told me that people don't hurt each the people they care about and some of my pranks go too far." I really don't like thinking about why such a young girl needed to be taught that.

"I've been screwing with Roid Arrow all summer. It's only fair that he had you get some payback." That's my peace offering Roy. "Besides. I would have laughed if I wasn't in so much pain at the time."

Guardian gives me a thankful look before launching back into the mission parameters. "Apparently we have reinforcements on the way. The hurricane squad got some very unexpected help and are redeploying."

Speaking for all of us, Robin chirps up with shock. "Who was it?"

"Sub-Zero's friends crossed the English Channel and Toyman managed to take control of Mister Twister." Explains an equally stunned Red Arrow when he glances over at his uncle's screen. "And Cheapjack helped Blue Beetle wipe the last ten thousand commands Red Tornado received. He dropped like a puppet with it's strings cut."

"With the Atlanteans taking care of the tsunami..." Guardian tries to retake control of the debrief.

Only for Robin to jump in again. "The League only needs to split it's focus on the burning Amazon and us!"

"So now we have to take down our robot before the League get here?" I'm happy to hear Red Arrow mad at someone besides me. "Do you have an ETA?"

"... Soon?" Shrugs his uncle.

"Ready to drop?" Red Arrow brings us to a stop over smoke belching cliffs. "Because we've got less than ten minutes before the entire park is a lost cause."

No pressure or anything. "I don't really want to die. So really doesn't matter, does it?" unbuckling myself with as much bluster as I can, I follow Huntress to the ramp.

"Just keep him covered and we'll find the robot!" Is the redhead's last shouted command as the two of us barrel down my ice slide.

The waves of heat pouring from the pit of glowing red is enough to stagger me as we approach. The sheer scope of my task starts to sink in and it's hard to even bring myself to start in the face of such likely failure.

"Sealing it off seems like a bad idea." So let's try this instead.

Trying to relieve the pressure, I direct my azure blast towards on side of the rock. Almost instantly the sudden change in temperature is noticed and tons of rock are sent crumbling down into the magma.

Intermittent blasts at the lake itself whenever I see a spot really start to boil keep me busy. But riding high on actually accomplishing what I set out to do this summer, I refuse to let some hot rocks steal my victory.

"What do the scans say now!" Screaming over the noise of an angry Earth, I hope Artemis can hear me. "Is this doing anything at all?"

The few seconds I have to wait for an answer, feels longer than all of my time at Arkham. "Pressure's not going up anymore!" See dad, I'm not useless. "Keep it up!"

"Wasn't planning on stopping!" Relief fills me when I finally take down the whole left side of the peak, letting the magma spill out in a slightly controlled manner.

The good mood doesn't last long though, suddenly being replaced by the boom of thunder. Before I can even turn my head to check the source, a blinding flash of light is followed by pain.

If I thought the collars hurt, this is agony on a level I didn't actually know was possible. The surge only lasts for a moment. But it throws me a few dozen feet away and leaves me gasping.

"I'm sorry cousin. But I'm not letting you get in the way of our true purpose." The voice who speaks is male and completely unknown to me. "This is the only warning I'm going to give you."

A trio of arrows explode in front of him, as Artemis draws the black man's attention. "You aren't getting one from me!"

I try and help her, only to get yelled at after a single volley of ice shards. "Focus on the thing about to end the world!"

"You better not let him blast me again!" Is my response as I skate away to a hopefully safe distance. "That hurt like hell!"

Ignoring the sounds of combat both nearby and in the distance, I focus all the energy I can summon on the rocks around the geysers instead. They freeze over in just a few seconds only to immediately start steaming again. Perfect.

The sound made when all of that rock explodes upwards is nearly deafening. But it definitely relieved some of that pressure.

No longer rising towards the edge, the magma is actually starting to recede back into the depths. Better not risk it though.

On legs shaking worse than reeds in a wind storm, I send whatever energy I still have at the lake of magma. I don't let any one spot go solid and move the beam around. Almost like I'm stirring some Earth soup.

Artemis screams in pain and I try to do something. But at this point, only faint trails of mist are coming out of my hands.

The shriek cuts off and is replaced by mocking words about how she can watch the world end. And that's enough motivation for me to start throwing literal stones at the man who can control lightning. I really am a genius.

"I warned you." Is all the man says as pain courses through me yet again.

The swirl of shadows that grows above us makes me think it's just my vision going black again. But when a glowing green man emerges, I let myself feel hope.

John Stewart the Green Lantern blocks the lightning with an emerald dome and calls for somebody named Icon to take out the enemy. Another sphere of energy surrounds Artemis shortly after, only this one a soft violet colour.

"Cavalry's here!" Another voice joins the fray and is followed by at least three more people coming out of Shade's portal. "Let's save the damn world!"​

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 12: Butting Heads ​

The Great Desert, Bialya
September 11, 6:46 AM EEST​

Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Kirk descends the stairs of the Logan's home. He gives a mumbled good morning to his brother, whose already stuffing his face with a stack of pancakes.

"You manage to get a hold of anyone?" He smirks at the sight of M'gann already pestering Marie with questions and snags a few of the rapidly disappearing cakes. "And wait until you swallow please."

A pair of rolling green eyes is his response. But Kirk ends op getting actual words from the very eager Garfield, who brings him his own plate. "The satellite phone hasn't been working for almost a week now. Mom thinks the queen is up to something bad because of all the drones."

"I checked the local news and it looks like the League has it's hands full right now." Finally Wally is able to speak. "Weather all over the world is going haywire."

"What's the plan Wally?" M'gann doesn't hesitate to place his brother in charge, with Kirk himself not having any reason to argue.

It takes a moment for the weight of the words to sink in. But when it does, the speedster doesn't back down. "Well now that I know where we are. I can always just run out of range of the jammer and call for an evac."

"What about Queen Beatrice?" Cassie growls at the idea of her idols running away. "Kirk said she was hurting someone!"

"And since he's pretty darn stubborn, let's save time and start planning the rescue." Agrees Wally with a wink directed at the blonde powerhouse.

"I get to help?" Murmurs a shocked Cassie.

Not needing to see her mother's glare, Wally corrects the assumption right away. "You have the most important part. You need bury the jeep and cover the last few miles of tracks."

"How is that the most important part?" Garfield blurts out and makes his own mother sigh.

"Because you really don't want armed soldiers following us here once we leave." Explains a scowling Martian.

"Again. Thanks for not turning us away last night." Helena speaks for everyone.

The host Marie Logan shakes her own flowing hair the very same way that M'gann does, making Wally hold in a grin when he sees it. "Garfield would have kicked up a fuss if I tried."

"Of course I would have!" Her son agrees with sternly crossed arms.

"So we head back and check it out together. No running off solo this time." Wally is suddenly starting to realize exactly why Roy is always so stressed out lately.

"... Sorry." Unable to deny the words, Kirk hangs his head low.

"I'm not blaming you, just saying we need to be more careful this time." Uncle Barry is going to be really mad if start a war.

It takes almost an hour for the trio to get ready and say goodbye to the Sandsmarks and Logans. But once M'gann floats them a few miles away, they start making good time across the desert.



The Great Desert, Bialya
September 11, 11:57 AM EEST​

"I could check it out and make sure it's safe before you two rush in." Offers M'gann as the trio observe the camp from atop the nearby dune.

"I don't really want to go through this all over again." Kirk grunts back and rubs the back of his head in annoyance.

Deciding his brother is probably right, Wally ends up shooting down the suggestion. "Going in stealthy already failed. We're going in hard, fast, and with a high likelihood for something to go wrong."

"So just another one of Roy's standard plans?" Smirks his fellow redhead.

"You two go straight for the big tent and I'll meet you once I drop those goons." Pointing at the ten or so armed men wandering the camp, Wally struggles with his growing nerves. We really shouldn't be here.

"Should I link Kirk in this time?" A concerned M'gann shifts her features so that she doesn't look like an exact copy of Marie Logan's younger self. "If we all get hit at the same time again..."

With shame pouring off of him, Kirk can only sigh. "Better not. I'd probably turn you both into paste before you even woke up."

"Yeah..." Wide eyed at that image, Wally holds in a shudder. "let's avoid that, shall we?" With no further disagreement, he gives the command to begin. "Start running the second I hit the first guy."

Once the others nod in understanding, Sonic dashes away with a trail of sand rising into the air. As instructed, Kirk starts his own charge when he hears fist meet face. "Now!"

He launches through the air, creating an impact indent right in front of the command tent. His own plume of sand covers M'gann's approach.

To her horror though, she finds Kirk slack jawed and drooling. The intrigued and incredibly pale face gives her his full attention, letting her teammate collapse in a boneless heap.

<Wally! I found the source and he already took out Kirk.> The warning is automatic, as are her mental defences.

Prepared for the attack this time, the unknown psychic is unable to shatter her mind in moments. Despite his every attempt, M'gann is able to bring the fight to a mental construct of the area.

<I wasn't expecting anyone else to be with the clone. I must admit, it's impressive how fast you children learn.> The man's psychic voice is almost deafening.

Not a single one of Psimon's probes are overwhelming by itself, but he has far more practice at this form of combat. His attacks come faster and faster, with each of M'gann's blocks just a little bit slower.

<I'm twice your age!> She tries to rally herself, only to find her mental projection thrown towards the horizon.

<But I have twice the skill.> Mocks her foe.

He's too strong for me... Thinks too fast for me to do anything. Doubt enters her mind and M'gann can feel her shields cracking.

<Stop thinking about what you look like and think harder about kicking his ass!> Wally's voice slips through and she reaches out desperately.

<It doesn't work like that. The transformation isn't something I have to keep thinking about.> Trying to explain only splits her focus and lets Psimon's strikes get even closer. <I don't know what to do!>

<Think faster!> The speedster mentally barks back and inspires an idea.

<...That might just work. But I'm going to need you to open your mind completely.> She's about to explain why, only for Wally to already be doing so.

<Anything for you babe.> As her mind starts going faster, M'gann can feel the truth of the statement. <Just maybe try not to look too deep while we're doing this.> Flashes of his more private fantasies will definitely have her blushing for the rest of the day.

Knowing he really isn't disgusted by her true form is enlightening. He's really just curious about my anatomy.

<Of course I am.> Wally snorts and M'gann realizes Psimon's latest attack has barely moved at all. <Now how about you wrap this up and put my brother back together again. I'm worried he's going to get brain damage if this keeps happening to him.>

<Now I know why Sub-Zero was so scared of me, Psimon.> Sending out a barrage of her own psychic darts, M'gann finally stops holding herself back. <Let me show you!>

As she tear apart the albino's psyche, the name of the ice user brings a few fleeting images to Psimon's mind. They appear so fast, M'gann doesn't have time to sift through them all.

Before they are all shredded into less than figments, it's all M'gann can do to grab a single one. Who's Klarion and why did Psimon need his help lighting a Match?​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 21: Home Sleet Home
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Hall of Justice, Washington, D.C.
September 11, 11:44 PM EDT​

Once the heroes took down Black Lightning, Blue Beetle and Batman did a field examination on the unconscious man. When it was discovered why he was working to end the world, I tried not to breakdown over why he was calling me cousin. But if I combine the words with Senior's, it makes a disturbing amount of sense.

Almost half of his bones had been replaced by a conductive metal, with most organs likewise artificial. Needing to know for sure, I let Blue Beetle know where he and Red Arrow could dig up some more evidence. If Artemis trusts him, guess I can give it try.

"The surgeons would have discovered if you had the same implants." Artemis tries to ease me jittery nerves with a soothing voice.

"Dude. You helped save the world, I don't care if you are a cyborg." Relieved that I'm not actually a monster, Robin slaps me on the back as we wait for the rest of his team to arrive.

"But he's not!" Hisses Artemis, her eyes narrowing into slits.

That's really not what's bothering me. It's the idea of my mother's death not being an accident at all. I really should have finished Icicle off when I had the chance.

"Are you sure your mom's going to be fine with you bringing him home?" The magician I know is really named Zatanna, mutters from her own couch across from us. "My dad always warned me to be careful around bad boys." Hex's tone is light and I know she's only teasing when she playfully kicks at Artemis' feet.

"She better. I'm the one who paid for the place." My snarky comment gets a groan from the girl beside me.

"Don't think that means you get any special treatment. We're splitting the chores as long as Mom can put up with you."

Glad to be running on only fumes, I turn to Artemis with a smirk. "But I'm supposed to be resting. You heard what Batman said." If I push myself too much, my powers might never come back at full strength.

As Young Justice devolves into playful banter, I let my mind drift. Red Tornado and his 'sister' Inferno are free of hostile control. Though wiping her most recent commands, seems to have left her with the belief she's someone called Firebrand. Shame the Atlanteans destroyed Torpedo before anyone let them know about the alternative.

I barely notice when the three from Bialya arrive, each one with a matching mentor. An excited Artemis says something about being right back and goes to check out the sentient machine.

"Jefferson's mind got wiped too?" Grunts Wally as he gets brought up to speed.

"I'm starting to understand why Glenn was so scared of you." Admits Superboy. It was child's play for Psimon to turn me into an animal."

"Megan wouldn't do that!" Defends the speedster in civilian clothes, his arm going around his fellow redhead's shoulder protectively. "You should know that after she put you back together. Twice might I remind you."

"If she's stronger than the guy who did that to us..." The clone of Superman shrugs awkwardly and lets everyone reach whatever conclusion they want.

Before anyone can really start to worry, I hear Megan speak up anxiously. "I promise that I'm never going change someone's memories after this. I'm still not sure I put all of them back."

See! I told them how easy it was to replace someone with a nearly identical copy.

"So radio mode and scanning memories only?" A very relieved Superboy clarifies.

"It's safer that way." She agrees with a heavy sigh. "For Everyone."

"Did you say Psimon?" Did he try doing the same thing to them? "Creepy guy with a brain you can't stop staring at?"

Nodding slowly, Wally frowns at me for interrupting. "Yeah, that's the dude." His confusion grows into a frown. "Why are you here and does Red Arrow know?"

"He helped save the world," Explains the Flash, which the others all agree with. "Huntress was able to convince the board of directors to clear his record in exchange. You know, if we survived."

"And since we did, I'm done with all this bullshit. You can save the world next time." The bluntness gets a frown from Superman. "I've got some campuses to tour before the spring semester starts. Turns out having Bruce Wayne's recommendation can get you into pretty much any school you want."

"Sounds handy." A smirk flashes on Robin's face and it's really hard not to wink back.



Gotham City, New Jersey
September 12, 3:09 AM EDT​

On the walk through her new neighborhood, I'm very relieved to find not a single obvious gang sign. Blue Beetle and Red Arrow returned with damning news. My mother was another cyborg, only powered by cryogenic energy instead.

As we near her new townhouse, Artemis grabs my hand "Can we talk?" She gets a cloud of chilly mist when my powers react instinctively.

"Haven't I been doing that all night?" I could barely go three minutes before someone had a new question for me.

"How..." She chews on her lower lip and hesitates. "Are you going to be alright?"

At least that's up to me now. "Eventually. Thanks for stopping me."

She lets out an honest to god giggle. "Thanks for actually listening. Wasn't sure if you remembered how."

"I need to go to Arkham tomorrow and talk to Viktor about the procedure." The parts lasted for seventeen years and Red Inferno was fully functional after fifty. "And I'll need to pay Oswald a visit eventually."

"It's so weird that you're on a first name basis with our dads' rivals." Laughing at the absurdity of it, Artemis still hasn't let go. "And you have a whole team of super villains following your orders."

"I prefer to think of them as my super friends." Sticking my tongue out the corner of my mouth, I make it clear they aren't my minions. "It doesn't have the same connotation that a team does."

Her brow crinkles in understanding as she untangles our fingers to open her front door. "You really do want out."

"That's going to be a problem," Jade is waiting with Paula at the kitchen table.

"Why are you here Jade?" Snarls Artemis, who takes a half step in front of me.

"Because my boss is quite upset with him. Wants Cameron to do a few things, before he considers things square between them." With no mask on this time, I can see Jade's eyes roam body. "Glad to see you put some meat on your bones."

She could have just killed me in my sleep and been done with it. I'm not completely written off yet, so what do they want from me?

"And those things would be?" With only one way to find out, I follow Artemis into the kitchen warily.

"He just wants you to find a few things for him buried in the ice." Shrugs Jade with a good show at feigning disinterest. "Maybe build up a few glaciers while you do. He never said anything that sounded fun, so I didn't really take any notes."

"... That's it?" I was already going to do that.

Jade nods and starts slathering blueberry jam on a fresh piece of toast. "He said you took someone in Superman's weight class off the board. He doesn't care if it cost him a few dregs like Kiteman."

"Now Mom said you promised to take them out for dinner." Smirking at me as she crunches down, Jade makes us wait for her to finish in awkward silence. "You better be taking us somewhere fancy."​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 22: At A Loss Thaw Words
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Gotham City, New Jersey
September 12, 10:38 AM EDT​

Tapping on the door of the guest room makes me stir, throwing a pillow in the direction of the noise. My brilliant plan does nothing to stop the banging except for make it get louder.

"I saved the world last night!" My whining comes out extra pitiful when I get a look at the red flashing numbers on the nightstand beside the bed. "Why are you waking me up before noon? I earned this."

"You're the one who wanted to know when Blue Beetle had an answer for you." Artemis sounds almost as tired as myself, with a loud yawn punctuating her words. "Well him and Red Arrow are here."

"... Fine. I'll be right down." As soon as I find something to wear.

I thought Paula would have thrown this stuff out for sure. Holding up some of the clothes I got in Vegas, I realize the entire dresser is filled with my stuff. I don't think this is really just a guest room.

When I finally dress and emerge from the bathroom with freshly brushed teeth, it's to find a very flustered Blue Beetle. Paula is desperate to thank him for making sure Artemis was protected and it hits me how much I owe the man myself.

"I insist you come with us tonight." Hearing me enter, Paula looks over her shoulder with a pleading look. "That won't be a problem." Her eyes flash with steely determination. "Will it?"

"As long as Jade doesn't feel like a fifth wheel." My remark gets her to smile in relief.

Groaning at me, Jade turns to examine the suddenly wary Red Arrow. "I guess you'll do. You better clean up nice, I rarely get a chance to dress up."

Great... Just how fancy does she expect this dinner to be?

"What are you talking about? I'm just here to make sure Cameron-" Roy tries to explain, only for Artemis to kick him in the shin mid sentence.

Her arms are crossed over her white and green striped pyjamas."He calls you Red Arrow. The least you can do is call him by the name he chose."

"Fine..." I know he's rolling his eyes, even with them closed tightly in frustration. "I'm just here to find out when Glenn, wants to bring O'Brian to Hollywood."

The archer goes on to explain how Plasticman is ready to go whenever I finish up my business in Gotham. "I still think you're up to something though, so I'm coming with you. At least as far as Midway studios."

"Don't you have a team to look after?" I frown at him volunteering to be my parole officer.

"Two week mandatory vacation. Since they all have classes, I find myself suddenly with nothing to do." Grins the Star City native. "So deal with it."

"I'm a free man. You don't have any power over me Roy." I cross my arms and wait for the chaos.

The vein on his forehead looks about to burst as he slams his hands on the table. "How the hell do you know my name!"

"You do know the bad guys know who most of you are, don't you?" How else do I know, if Psimon didn't give me the information?

"Well I must say, that does sound fun." Jade grins, her eyes darting back and forth between Roy and me.

It looks like Roy's a half second away from snapping, so I try to save Paula's kitchen. "It's not like I told anyone. But it wasn't hard to figure out that Bruce Wayne is Superman, not after I saw Superboy standing a few feet away."

Roy's Rage slowly starts to fade and I hope my words are finally getting through to him. "Well just make sure to give Artemis a list of which secret identities you 'know', so we can see if anyone is in trouble."

The way he seems to be holding in laughter is odd. But I guess that's just how Roy deals with too much tension.



Arkham Asylum, Gotham City
September 12, 2:00 PM EDT​

Normally when patients return to Arkham, it's as a repeat offender in cuffs. For me to be returning under my own power and with a smile, is nothing short of astounding to the guards at the gate.

"You want to visit Mister Freeze?" The new guy must not know we shared a room. But he does buzz the door open once I sign in.

Blue Beetle handed me the artificial organs this morning and I can only hope Viktor accepts the Blue Blizzard brand transplant. My mother doesn't need them anymore and they're going to run for at least the entire century.

Apparently Batman is checking for anymore of these 'cousins', that I have. But once they found the almost entirely robotic body of Morrow in his lab, it was clear why he needed prototypes. Practice makes perfect and Morrow barely had a single gram of organic matter left in his body.

I get led back up the familiar stairs and through the halls I'll have nightmares about for years to come. Eventually coming to a stop in front of my old room, the guards give me a final chance to change my mind.

When I ignore them and knock on the iron door lightly, the pair back away as fast as they can. "Hey Viktor, guess who came to see you."

"Glenn?" His confused voice mutters on the other side of the door, letting me know it's safe to unlock it now. "Why are you back so soon? Did something go wrong at Belle Reve?"

"Better than I could have imagined." I admit with a chuckle.

He's far happier than I expected, when I finally reveal my own record is spot free. "And so after the League stopped Black Lightning, they discovered he was almost half machine. Which is how we found out what happened to my mother, wasn't actually my fault."

"That must be a relief." Viktor hesitates with his words, watching me for a surge of emotion that never comes.

"In more ways than one." I give the man a face splitting smile. "I get to help save a life this time."

He frowns and puts down the blood samples he was working with before my arrival. "Explain."

"Morrow created replica organs capable of running for more than a hundred years. And if you want..." I'm an organ donor myself, so why does this make me feel so weird. "I can have Batman bring you the ones my mom had. The League's already agreed to it."

"Are you serious?" Gasps the man I wish was my father. "You mean that Nora will live?"

"I do have to warn you off of having any natural children though." Don't think about it. "That is the reason this is even an option."

Viktor doesn't say anything as tears start running freely down his cheeks. "That's not a concern Glenn. I already have a son."

It takes a few seconds to sink in. But when I realize he means me, I throw myself into Viktor's open arms. For the first time in months, I feel protected.​

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 12: In Recognition
​

Buckingham Palace, England
September 12, 4:07 PM GMT​

"In light of such extraordinary service to Great Britain and rallying your fellows in our time of need." The Queen's words make the blushing lad squirm on his knees. "I dub thee, Sir Thomas Berensford."

The round of applause is resounding once the last title has been bestowed, with Weather Wizard finding it hard to believe he's become the court wizard. "Thank ya kindly for this your majesticness. I promise not to ever break the law here in ya lands."

"See that you don't, I'd hate to revoke such an honour." More amused than anything, the Queen responds with a discreet leer at the boys rippling muscles. "Do you have plans on where you shall go next Sir Thomas?"

"The boss said go to France and lay low, so I'm going back in the morning." Explains the not so terrible Tommy. "I saw a help wanted sign at one of the beaches. Figure I'll give a go at being a lifeguard."

Disappointed but understanding, the Queen opens the question to the rest of her knights. "And you? Can I convince any of you to work for the crown alongside my new 'wizard'?"

"Remy wants to join Tommy in France and he's convinced the rest to outvote me." Ratcatcher rolls his eyes at the very excited white rat on his shoulder. "Insists on sampling all the cuisine in Paris as our reward."

"I want to get this arm looking a little more..." Holding up an elbow that now is wired into one of Mister Twister's arms. "Human."

Intrigued at how quickly he replaced his arm, Princess Andrea makes an offer. "If you could expand such services to my husband Dane, the free advertising would draw clients from around the world."

"You'd actually give me a proper lab?" Blinks the very giddy Cheapjack. "No more scrounging at the dump for parts?"



Gotham City, New Jersey
September 12, 3:39 PM MDT​

"How did Glenn get so many of us right and yet he's so wrong on the big two?" Dick Grayson frowns at the list of names Roy handed him before rifling through his dad's closet for something that wouldn't be missed.

"I'm not sure," Admits Roy as Barbara shakes her head at the black suit. "But you know what this means, don't you?"

Snorting at the expression on the archer's face, Dick tries not to devolve into full blown giggling. "You're totally going to screw with Glenn."

"Of course I am and that's why I need you to patrol with Kirk a few times a month." With a devious grin, Roy holds up a blue button down for Batgirl's inspection. "And in return, get him to help out here in Gotham."

"When do I get an invite to the club?" Barbara chimes in after finally approving a look for Roy. "You already invited another new girl." Learning about Rocket's offer last night, was just one sidekick too many for her.

Appearing behind the trio unnoticed, Bruce Wayne lets out a cough that somehow manages to sound dangerous. "Whenever you decide tell your parents."

Shaking her head at that being something even close to being considered, Barbara drops the issue. "So, college?"

"How much did you hear?" Groans Dick as he and Roy exchange nervous glances.

"Enough to know that Barbara is right. Roy doesn't have the complexion for black at all, would completely wash him out." Grabbing a red silk tie, Bruce hands it to a wary Roy.

"And don't worry about the arrangements." The smirk Bruce flashes, gets a heavy sigh of relief from the teens "I'll talk to Superman and set up a schedule." With a final wink, he struts away whistling.

When his heart stops trying to burst out of his chest, Roy places the tie with the rest of his borrowed ensemble. "Is their anything Batman isn't great at?"

"Alfred cooks for a reason." Dick doesn't hesitate to throw the man under the bus. "And don't tell Green Arrow. But he's only above average with a bow."

Snickering as they start to poke at Batman's flaws, Barbara is next to share one. "I don't think I've heard him say thank you more than twice."

"Sorry is just an urban legend around here," Agrees a scowling Richard Grayson.

"Lips are sealed," Promises Roy, his fingers miming a zipper closing his mouth.

"I can't believe Huntress is letting you come." Barbara frowns, feeling she knows the fellow hero enough to claim her as a friend.

Knowing he pushed hard against the girl's inclusion at first, Roy sighs with understanding. "Glenn already spilled the beans. I just think she's using this to see how I act out of the costume."

"Not everybody does the whole split persona thing." Points out the Boy Wonder, finding it hard to picture Oliver Queen acting any different out of the costume. "She's going to be disappointed you're the same old jerk."

"After what Glenn did to his own dad. I'm glad Red Volcano beat him to Morrow." Roy thinks back to the grisly scene in the lab beneath Yellowstone. "Not that I could really blame him though. Finding out Senior had his wife turned into a cyborg, that's pretty messed up."

Smirking at his leader's conflicted expression, Dick can't stop himself from poking. "I need to get Greta some new posters for her room. She's really done wonders at getting you to calm down."

"If I act like Billy around her, she might never look at me the same again." It's easy for Roy to vocalize after having spent so long alone with the impressionable spirit.

"The caring older brother shtick is way hotter than the angry loner." Barbara gives the archer a look that upsets Dick more than a bit.



Gotham City, New Jersey
September 12, 5:02 PM MDT​

"Grab my shirt," Paula hisses at Ted, only taking a moment to check out his butt as he hopes back into his jeans. "Artemis left a message. They picked up Glenn and are going to be here at five!"

Seeing the heat in her glare, Ted frantically grabs the shirt off a lamp. "How is this my fault? You're the one who asked me to help you move a shelf!"

"I'm just not used to having decent men in my home. Finding a great one like you, was just a prize I couldn't pass up." She smirks back and points at his own shirt soaking in the sink.

"Artemis doesn't have any powers. I wasn't going to send her into the field with any less gear than I use." Ted tries to deny he's anything special among his fellows, which only makes Paula's smile grow wider.

Pulling him down for a final kiss, Paula makes it clear this isn't going to be a one time thing. "And that's already more care, than Lawrence showed all three of us combined."
​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 23: Have An Ice Day
​

Iceberg Lounge, Gotham City
September 12, 6:26 PM MDT​

"He got reservations here?" Roy seems to be the only one unaware of what as going this afternoon and hisses his concern to Ted Kord. Or the only one who just doesn't care what two consenting adults do.

The Penguin still towers over the building as a giant middle finger to Batman and has done wonders for Oswald's business. Last to emerge from Roy's rental, Paula wheels herself over without making more than a few seconds of eye contact with Artemis beside me.

"I can't believe you Mom." My 'date' barely manages to keep her voice from becoming a snarl. "How could you?"

"I only care about one thing before I pass judgment." Jade interrupts, her grin proof she knows where Roy's eyes keep ending up. "How much do you make?"

The flush of embarrassment from Paula, is a perfect match for Artemis' face when we got back to the house earlier. "Not okay Jade!"

"He can either tell me now, or I can find out after I call tonight in." Smirking at her mother, Jade is having far to much fun with this mission. "I just thought this was the polite way to do things."

She's acting more like a sports agent than a hitwoman. Knowing that Jade has already marked down a half dozen stops on the trip is just making me nervous. But it is fun watching someone else mess with Roy. Maybe it isn't going to be so bad being stuck in a car with them.

After Jade confirmed my list with a strange quirk of her lips at a few of them, Ted had no problem peeling off his mask. Roy didn't follow suit until Jade started listing his hospital record from memory. Though that just makes me wonder if Jade's pulling a double shift, despite her claim.

"I gave Paula my gold and donated my check from Midway." Oswald wanted me to stop by, so who am I to turn down a free meal. "I can always hit an ATM though, if you'd rather eat somewhere else."

"This is fine." Artemis doesn't give the redhead a chance to start an argument. "Thank you Glenn."

Narrowing her eyes, Jade focuses on me as her next target. "Still think you should have picked a better name. Glenn Makhent just sounds ridiculous."

"How about Glenn Friese?" We don't have to wait in line, Oswald and Tuppence already alerted to our arrival.

"You got emancipated though? How can Viktor adopt you?" Oswald greets us with a lingering leer.

"Just getting my name changed. I could always go with Cobblepot if you have a better offer."

Snorting at the joke, the retired Penguin does seem to consider it. "You would need to dress far better before I even began considering it."

"It's the hair for me," Tuppence ads with a teasing grin. "Makes him look like the Dairy Queen." Her own white suit is perfectly tailored to her body and comes with a contentedness I'm happy she finally found.

I get a sidelong glance from Artemis and it makes me explain. "... I was tired of putting holes in my headrest. Decided to try the soft serve look with my hair."

"Texture's better. But you really do need to style it." Without any warning, the youngest Crock reaches up to stroke the back of my head.

"Take the day off tomorrow and go out with your friends my dear." Oswald gives my former employee a calculated grin. "You haven't taken a single day off and you really do deserve one."

"I don't get in trouble for beating up the troublemakers. I love my job." Blushing at getting such earnest praise from Cobblepot, Tuppence does end up agreeing to come. "And Tommy called to let me know he's doing good. Said he's laying low, just like you told him."

"I told you I'd get him out." The confidence with which I say it, gets heads turning from the nearby tables. "Sub-Zero keeps his promises and he doesn't leave his friends out in the heat."

After I promise to add a few sculptures before I leave town, Oswald allows use to enjoy our incredible four course meal. He tried to offer dessert as well, but I turned him down with the promise that I've got it covered. Not letting all my practice go to waste with this many test subjects.

Knowing that Artemis is still giving him a shoulder colder than one of mine, Ted tries to make conversation with me instead. "I hear you're checking out some schools. Just thought I should let you know that El Paso has an incredible art program."

I can feel Artemis kick at him under the table and catch her reddening cheeks out of the corner of my eye. But I really don't know why the offer got under her skin.

"I wouldn't mind commissioning a piece outside my office. Something to honour the Justice Society would really mean a lot to me and be easy to explain." I guess he must have looked up to them when he was a kid. I don't think he's the same Blue Beetle who served with the Society.

Sensing something wrong partway through the soup, I notice Artemis glaring at a woman I wish I didn't recognize. Or at least I wish she had no idea who I was.

Doctor Quinzel is staring at me over the shoulder of her dining companion and I start to sweat when I realize her skin is mint green. Please don't start anything. Not tonight.

By some miracle, Harleen allows her self to be pulled away when Poison Ivy finishes her business with Cobblepot. But that just gives Artemis nothing to glare at but me.

"She knew you." The tone is sharp and ready to cut any lie to shreds. "Why?"

"Was my doctor at Arkham. Kind of thought Batman would have caught her by now." My explanation seems to be enough for Artemis to lose interest and start on her own bowl.

"Hey, mind topping me up?" Artemis leans toward me with her empty glass and I try not to focus on the cut of her dress for more than a half second. You could ask me to do anything wearing that.

I know her and Jade spent the afternoon shopping and on my dime. But after seeing the stunning powder blue dress that she selected, I find it hard to sound smarter than a groundhog.

"Crushed or cubed?" I wait for an answer and fill the glass with her selection already melting.

"If art doesn't work out for you, is the back up plan to be an ice dispenser?" Teases Jade, clinking her glass with a smirking Roy.

"I'll go back to finding shipwrecks I guess, if the sculptures turns out to just be a fad." I don't notice the sudden interest in the Shadow's eyes as I start listing the ones I've already looked up.

"Atlantis would probably pay me just to clear the seafloor of them. I could float them down to Antarctica and sell whatever salvage I find." Getting paid double for a single job, that sounds nice.

The rest of the dinner goes about the same. Waves of awkwardness passing into brief moments that could almost pass for civil.

After Roy runs off to help Robin and Superboy with a high speed chase near the mall, Ted is nearly as fast with his own goodbye. When he drops us off at the house, it's with more than a friendly peck. Artemis is not going to let him off easy for this.​

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 14: Delegation Is Divine
​

Watchtower
September 13, 1:09 PM MDT​

"Have we come to an agreement, at least on the ones who proved themselves?" Batman's eyes roam the conference table and relaxes when no one has issue with them joining the covert team.

"Icon should get invited to join us in the public eye." Offers Superman with a thoughtful expression on his face. "Same with that other Green Lantern, Guy-"

"No!" Both Hal Jordan and John Stewart shut that down in unison, with Jon at least considering the first suggestion. "But I agree about Icon. It would be a waste after seeing how he handled the hurricane."

"Blue Devil, Lantern Gardener, and the Atom." Hawkwoman moves the pictures on everyone's monitor to the approved side.

Taking over for her fellow warrior, Wonder Woman adds two more names. "England's Godiva proved herself worthy. As has my own protégé Donna." At nineteen and trained by amazons, her younger sister didn't even consider Young Justice.

"Plasticman is a definite no?" The Flash hesitates, before blacking out the picture with Batman's growled confirmation.

"What about Black Lightning and Firebrand?" Concerned about his family being blamed for something he also fell prey to, Red Tornado reminds everyone the two are now free from hostile control.

"Both wish to make up for nearly ending the world. As far as my sister is concerned, she is still an active member of the Justice Society." As soon as he points out Guardian's many failures as chaperone, the rest of the League approves having Firebrand replace him. It will let her adjust to modern times better than staying here on the Watchtower with me.

"Would you be willing to spend a month or so helping her adjust?" Batman turns everyone's attention towards a suddenly giddy Captain Marvel. "You are one of our most sociable."

Trying not to reveal how happy he is, the transformed Billy Batson gives a thumbs up. "If you think I'm the right guy for the job, sure."

Nodding along with the discussion, Black Canary sees the value in letting Black Lightning redeem himself out of the public's eyes. "Jefferson isn't to blame. But the world might not see it like that until he's got some missions under his belt."

"The last three, do we want to reach out to Chief?" Green Arrow brings up the last of the people being discussed for an invitation and frowns from uncertainty. "What about Robot Man or Negative Woman? I really don't know anything about them."

"She's Russian." Having done the research, Batman fills everyone in with a tired sigh. "And Chief is the one who saved Clifford Steele's life, by putting his brain in it's new body."

Turning to Black Canary with a grimace, Green Arrow makes his own preference plainly heard. "Pull the plug if I ever end up like that. I don't want to be kept alive by machines unless it's a temporary treatment."

"What about Red Arrow?" Black Canary asks for her partner. "He's almost eighteen now and our excuse is almost gone."

"If he can keep up the performance until November..." Staring hard at the League's archer, Batman draws out his words. "I see no reason not to extend an offer to him. Prove the training team has a purpose, before they think it's just to humour them."

"Are we going to talk about the five Waller didn't let escape?" Flash reminds everyone about Bane, the Riddler, Killer Frost, Wotan, and Hyena.

With a grin at finally having enough heroes to delegate, Batman points to the monitor. "I think this is a perfect job for the covert team."



Mount Justice, Happy Harbor
September 15, 10:28 PM EDT​

Lex Luthor leads his newest employee through her workspace and watches Amanda Waller closely. "The Justice League may have cleaned the place out after I made the purchase, but the mountain is yours."

"It shouldn't take long before it's better than they left it." Genomorphs fill the halls as they bring the facility up to Lex's prolific standards.

Finding nothing that crosses any of her own moral lines, Amanda is almost ready to accept the job. "I'm not sure how I feel about the Atlantean or the mute girl. But the rest I can have ready by years end."

"Prince Orm insisted and we don't want to offend him. He's provided us with so many splendid toys." With most of the world unaware of what Atlantean technology looks like, this is how Lex covers up the technology from far beyond the solar system.

"Wish I had one of these at Belle Reve." Amanda finds it hard to argue with the extremely advanced plasma pistol in her holster.

Letting a devious grin appear, Lex agrees with the imposing woman now in charge of the base. "Would have turned Heatwave to ash if you did."

"You said Guardian was going to be the head of my security? I thought he was babysitting Young Justice?" She scowls at the reminder of her own rescue, hating the idea of being in debt to anyone.

"Guardian was let go." Lex doesn't elaborate further on the why. "He will help you train the candidates when they arrive. You just need to make sure my son is prepared to meet his 'friends'."

When they get to the only room already in use, a bald teen who looks strikingly like Superboy is present. "Hey dad. This the woman who's going to get me ready for the big leagues?"

Adonis smashes another granite statue to dust with a single punch and grins when neither heartbeats increase. "I guess she'll do."

A burst of fireworks suddenly ignite in the air, creating a spinning ring of sparks. From it emerges a grinning Klarion and his companion. The Indian girl fits in with her also bald head, but the glowing purple eyes mark her as something special.

"Is this the place? I already lit a library on fire looking for you." Snickers the Chaos Lord as his protégé steps forward for an introduction. "Since Junior and Match worked out so well, I thought I'd make one of my own. Jinx, say hello."

"Another one?" The one now referred to as Adonis is suddenly interested in the slender girl. "She not from around here either?"

"She's not as prime a specimen as you are, don't worry." Klarion pats the clone on the head, condescension dripping with each word. "I just had whatever was left of Cameron and figured I'd have some fun. It's been amusing watching the connection give Sub-Zero all manner of bad luck."

Scowling at the situation, Jinx speaks in a very masculine voice. "And if I do what you want, I get my body back?"​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 24: The Ice Of Gas These Days
​

Gotham City, New Jersey
September 16, 11:14 AM EDT​

As I pull out of the dealership, Artemis tries to sink as low in the passenger seat as possible. "Someone's going to see me in this thing. You have terrible taste."

"Don't talk about yourself that way." The retort slips out before I have a chance to think about my words, leaving the two of us in awkward silence as I flounder. "Besides, you said Greta would like the picture frames that change pictures like a slide show."

"Didn't seem that interested when I got all dressed up for you," She grumbles back just low enough, that I'm not positive she actually said anything. "Guess you met someone else this summer."

"Was I supposed to?" She slapped me last time. "I seem to recall getting read the riot act last time?"

Rolling her eyes, Artemis flicks the radio to something faster. "And here I thought you finally smartened up. It wouldn't have been out of nowhere."

The familiar beat of 'Weapon of Choice' drowns out the hammering in my chest, as I watch a suddenly quiet Artemis out of the corner of my eye. Getting no clue at the correct response, I can feel myself begin to sweat.

"Jade's obviously going to try seducing you back to the Shadows. I don't want it to work on you." The honesty in her voice is enough for me to smile in relief.

"Which part?" Are we actually talking about this? Not just ignoring it like we always used to?

"... Either," She admits after another song of tense eye contact. "Here." reaching into her purse for something, Artemis pulls out one of those Nokia bricks. "I already put my number in it and the one for the house. Let me know when you're getting close to El Paso, I'll show you around."

"Like a real date?" I have no idea how I haven't soaked right through the cushions by now.

Artemis just shrugs as I pull up on the street outside her house. "You should probably figure that out before you call."

Roy is first one out of the house, with Jade and Paula following at a sane pace. "What the hell is this? You bought a hippie van!"

"Stop whining Red. It does have a bed." Jade's whisper is anything but, which has Artemis glaring at me with an 'I told you so' look.

"And it's all mine." I pull open the back doors of the sea green van, taking the first suitcase from a scowling Roy. "You and Jade invited yourselves along. You can pack a tent or pay for a room."



Gotham City, New Jersey
September 16, 2:49 PM EDT​

"Why are we slowing down outside the police station?" Patrick O'Brian shifts nervously in the middle seat between Jade and I.

"Going away present for Batman." Sticking my arm out the open window, I blast the lawn with a beam of blue energy.

The two bats I create are dancing mid flight and each the size of a squad car. The crunched legs of a firefly, are in the jaws of the flying fox without a bow.

Happy to have an audience to judge my work, I turn to a gloomy Roy stuck with the stool seat in the back. "How does that look dude? Did I make the ears big enough?"

"I hate that you're actually good at that." Admits the redhead with a bitter voice. "My stick men look fat."

"Aren't you rich? Hire a tutor." I figured it out, so can you.

Jade focuses on on specific word and nearly purrs her question. "How rich are we talking?"

"Wait, are you a prostitute?" Blurts out Patrick as his jaw drops right down to the bench seat.

"I will find a way to hurt you." Jade gives a deadpan warning that has Plasticman flinching away from her.

Recognizing the tone from the time Cameron lost a tooth, I pat the stretchy man on the shoulder consolingly. "She's good at it. Don't call the bluff, not unless you really miss saying ouch."

"... I'm alright." Whines my only invited guest, his body sliding away from the lethal woman.

"New York or Florida?" I'm going to have to hit one on the way back, may as well let Roy decide what kind of scenery he sees. Might leave him less pissy.

"Will you melt in the sun?" I get a concerned look from O'Brian. You seemed to be pretty out of it after Yellowstone."

"How hot do you think Florida is?" Jade gives the wannabe actor a look of stunned disbelief.

"I dunno..." Mutters Patrick, clearly embarrassed at being called out so bluntly. "Just making sure."

"It took about a week for Vegas to start really bothering me." And that was a dry heat, just left me sapped. "I should be fine at the beach for a few days."

"We need to make a stop in Kentucky." Jade reminds me pointedly, pointing at the road map she marked at Paula's.

Raising his voice over us, Roy rejoins the conversation with a growl. "Do I get any say in this?"

"You want to see something?" I could keep up the rivalry, but I'm already a little unnerved at how intense Roy is. "I don't mind making a slight detour."

Don't want to end up pushing him over the edge. He might kill us all and torch the van on a back road somewhere.

"I didn't actually get a chance to enjoy the Grand Canyon," Roy admits eventually and I realize he spent the whole time watching for me.

"No problem. Just chip in for gas and it's all cool." I'm not the one sleeping in the tent.



Miami, Florida
September 17, 4:13 PM EDT​

"Nope!" I race down the steps before the others have even made it back to the parking lot. "I saw a guy frenching an alligator, I'm giving this school a pass." And that was only the first of a half dozen horrors I witnessed.

Roy is almost knocked to the ground, when I grab the keys back in a frantic dash for the safety of my van. "You didn't even give the place a chance!"

"Don't need to!" I haven't stopped running since I saw it and am still panting by the time they find me panting. My hands are shaking so much, it looks like I'm a drunk trying to go home after closing time.

"Florida Man is one foe, that I just don't have it in me to face." Ra's may not truly terrify me anymore.

If he just wanted me dead, Jade never would have said hello. But today I learned the true depravity of humanity.

"Whatever you saw in the less than ten minutes since we left, was enough to traumatize you?" Roy looks over his shoulder warily.

"I'd rather put out another volcano." Maybe two.

Jade however, just gets a thoughtful look. "Wasn't part of the plan. But you did want to see all fifty states."​

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 15: Kids These Days
​

Mission Silo, Nebraska
September 18, 10:27 AM MDT​

With Roy gone on his mission, Greta shows the replacement den-mother around her home, while Captain Marvel trails along beside the rest of the team.

"You're going to live here all the time with Roy and me?" The blonde spirit crosses her arms and gives the gyndroid a wary look. "Are you going to make me turn the music down at night?"

"Is it loud enough to cause structural damage?" Danette Reilly seems completely human with her synthetic skin, with it stretching into a smile that perfectly disguises her red undercarriage.

Once concerned about that very same thing, M'gann explains without the smirking. "It's just music. It doesn't actually make the rocks roll."

"I am here to keep you safe and help you train, in exchange for modern socialization." Ignoring the chuckles, Firebrand cannot find reason to object. "This was not covered in my briefing as objectionable behavior. Proceed as you wish."

"Just out of curiosity, what is considered objectionable?" Wally gives Megan a glance out of the corner of his eye. Whatever thought he sent her, leaves both faces as red as his old costume.

"Violence outside the training room." The engine of fire starts to list them in the exact order given. Leaving the country without approval, consumption of drugs or alcohol, and-"

Captain Marvel cuts in with a grin. "And they don't want to listen to the speech. Just give them a print out and we can finish the tour."

"Just so you know he's really not mad at you, Glenn got you something." Holding up a wrapped box, Artemis ignores the teasing from Robin. "We got Roy a camera and linked it up to the frames. Give you a little taste of America, here in your room."

Eight electronic picture frames of various size are pulled out and passed around. Each one already has pictures when they get turned on, giving the team a window into Glenn's rehabilitation.

"Look's like they've been busy. I think this one is in Kentucky." Robin holds up his own blue frame, revealing a snow covered mountain.

"Did he make his own ski hill?" More excited than the teens expected from a League member, Captain Marvel snatches the frame away. "That's so cool!"

"How big is that snowman?" Zatanna holds up her own frame and the trio of balls that tower overs the trees nearby. "That has to be a world record."

Letting out a sigh, Artemis points at the picture in her hands. "I think he got inspired by the largest toilet."

The porcelain throne is bigger than a building. But the icy imitation is nearly three times the size, fitting all four travelers on the flusher with room to spare.

"It's nice seeing Roy smiling," Proclaims Greta when the image in Kaldur's hand changes once again. This time showing Glenn passed out on a bed, with Roy carefully drawing all over his face.

"Is that a tattoo?" Noticing the actually well done art on Glenn's shoulder, Zatanna gets just a little jealous. "What do you think it?"

Tossing out his own guess first, Wally shout's out 'orange snake', a split second before Robin's own cry of 'Cheezie'. Captain Marvel gets close with Tony the Tiger. But Artemis shuts all the guesses down with a firm no.

"It's Garfield the cat and he's saying he hates Sundays." She eventually explains after the guesses just become ridiculous.

"Does he think that's clever?" Wally snorts at such a lame answer. "I was expecting better from him."

"I'm more interested in how you know that." Smirks Zatanna as she playfully elbows her blonde friend.

"Saw it with Mom after he got stabbed." Snorts the archer on site. "Get your mind out of the gutter Zee."

Greta loses interest in the bickering quickly and watches the pictures change with rapt attention. "What's this animal? It looks like a really fat deer."

"That's a moose..." Captain Marvel explains happily. "And that's it's poop."

Face screwed up in disgust, Wally blinks rapidly in an attempt to process. "Which one of them took the picture?"

"Jade." Artemis has no doubt in her very annoyed voice. "It was definitely her."

"But why?" A very confused Megan asks for everyone.

"Dad used to tell me it was from Bigfoot. Jade must be trying to keep the family tradition alive..." Artemis trails of as she realizes the intended target of the trickery. "Er... in spirit at least. Sorry Greta."

Flabbergasted at why Artemis would apologize for giving her such a wonderful gift, Greta lets out some of her newfound sass. "Sorry that your boyfriend isn't really a super villain? Because I like this version a whole lot better than the guy Roy told me about."

"I think Roy does too." Chuckling at the latest picture, Robin points out Plasticman as Artemis hisses 'not my boyfriend'. His mouth stretched open more than wide enough, to eat the wiener mobile parked beside the sea green van. "Look in the corner."

Once he directs everyone to the right spot, the laughter starts. A shirtless Roy has a mud covered Glenn in a secure headlock. The smiles on both faces is enough to put them all at ease.

"Can you hang them up for me?" Pleads the transparent Greta. "Pretty please." And with those words, no one can find it in themselves to object.

"This is fun and everything." Zatanna admits as she waits for Greta's approval. "But I do actually want to get some training in today. Dad's been a real worry wart since Yellowstone and I need to burn off some steam before I go home today."

"Keep away or sparring?" Eager to get some real bonding in with heroes closer to his true age, Captain Marvel responds with a wide grin. "Oh this is going to be so much fun! You all have a sixty second head start and you have to avoid me and Firebrand."

Scowling at how simple it sounds, Robin raises an objection. "Are you just making us play super power tag?"

"... Batman made me do it when I joined the League." Embarrassed at not making the connection before, Captain Marvel loses a bit of pep.

"That doesn't facilitate teamwork," Firebrand comes to his rescue unknowingly. "It would be better if they chased us. Only winning, if each touches at least one of us under a time limit.

"Okay. That I can actually pretend is real training." Chirps Robin with no more annoyance in his voice.​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 25: Be The Change You Wish To Ski
​

Grand Canyon, Arizona
September 19, 5:17 AM MDT​

The clinking of empty bottles in the front seat, wakes me up with a groan. Pounding in my head only gets worse as the sunlight washes over me.

The college campers had more than enough booze to share once Roy paid up. Even graciously let us share the site. Though that may have been because they love Mortal Kombat.

Patting the mattress brings great relief. Good, nobody I have to let down easy.

"Brah, keep it down." I think it's Calvin who complains from the floor of my van, with the pair on the bench seat mumbling agreement.

"Whatever." Slipping out the back door, I slam it as hard as I can in a form of petty revenge. Quiet enough for ya Brah?

Six tents are scattered around the cliff side, with Patrick rapped around the fire pit like a snake. His head resting on the leg of one guy who never got out of his lawn chair.

"Did Jade even set her tent up?" I creep through the camp and find on of her hiking boots outside Roy's crimson two-man.

"Oh..." A grin grows as I start planning the design. "This is going to be funny." Really shouldn't have tripped me into that puddle Roy. Get ready for a real case of blue balls.

It takes longer than I would like to create each brick individually. But in the end, it's more than worth it.

"She's going to kill you," Patrick lifts his head of his leg-pillow and grins t the igloo I built around the tent. One without any door.

Shrugging at the obvious, I decide she earned it after a few of the pictures sent to Artemis. "Worth it."

His expression shows how little he believes me. But in the end he decides the better part of valour, is feigning sleep.

"Just tell them I'll be back for lunch. I'm going ice fishing." And just to make sure nobody leaves me out here, I have both sets of keys.

Reaching the edge of the canyon just as the orange rays start stretching down to the river below, I inhale the fresh air. I wasn't really able to enjoy my trip East. So it's strange to find out Roy's not so bad.

Hell... I think I'm starting to actually consider him a friend. How many is that now?

"Doesn't look so high." Peering over the edge, I do know better than just making a straight shot down. Need enough loops to slow me down.

I give the slide a sturdy anchor on the ledge and climb up. Has to be another world record.

"Kowabunga!" Throwing myself onto the slide with a gleeful abandon, I guide the tube back and forth between the canyon walls.

My speed keeps increasing and I'm forced to make over thirty loops on the way. If I didn't, I probably would have shoot right through the ice on the last corner.

Tumbling out beside my fishing rod, I scan the river bank for a good spot. That looks slow enough, I guess it's fine.

A quick blast of blue energy later, and a sheet of ice stretches right to the other side. Should be thick enough for a recliner.

Whistling along with the birds, I cast my line into the river. And now the fun part.

"Can't believe how much Alan charged me for these. Better be damn good stuff." Securing the rod between my knees, I reach into my pocket for one of my joints.

The scream of inarticulate rage that comes from up above, is muffled by both ice and distance. Knowing how long it will take to get out of the igloo, only makes me smirk as I light a match.



Midway Studios, Arizona
September 21, 1:08 PM MDT​

I wasn't aware at the time, but Midway was in the process of liquidation when I sold my rights. In only three months, they've made enough to pay off the debt three times over. Everyone in America really does want to hit me.

The new offices are in the better part of Phoenix and are twice the size of the old building. At least according to the brochure.

Roy insisted on coming up with me and once I caved, the other two unbuckled their seat belts. His glare being directed at the board member is amusing. But not as funny as him insisting an archer could work in Mortal Kombat.

"I don't mean to offend you Glenn. But..." Alberto hesitates at the suddenly deadly gleam in Jade's eye.

"Who are they?" He nods in relief and I decide I'm not quite finished screwing with people. "Well she's a martial arts master I grew up with. Figured you might want to base a new character on her."

"I'm not selling my name." Jade is quick to insist, but that just makes Alberto more excited.

He flashes a dazzling white smile and takes the assassin's hand. "That's even better. It's far cheaper to just get your likeness."

The negotiation is fast and by the time we're back in the lobby, Roy's face is nearly crimson. Jade seems just as pleased by her new toy's reaction, as she is by the half million dollar check in her hand.

"Alright..." She holds it up to the light once we return to the heat. "I'm impressed. Not nearly as selfish as I remember." Because even though I forget more than half the time, I'm not really the Cameron you grew up with.

"Tommy was right. You do take care of us Boss." Patrick grins and puts extra emphasis on the title only he knows embarrasses me.

Bubbling with rage at not being able to change anyone insides mind, Roy just holds out his shaking hand for the keys. "Lighter's in the glove compartment?"

"... Yeah." Shocked at him finally succumbing, we follow him with growing excitement.

"I honestly thought he was going to throw it over the ledge once he sobered up," Admits an equally stunned Jade.

"So did I." I'm forced to agree as a cloud of smoke emerges from my van. "I think he needed this trip more than me." The coughing that follows gets all three of us to snicker.

Doing the math in my head as Jade and Pat climb into the back, I realize we should reach El Paso by morning. Which means I need to think fast and give Artemis a call.

I'd have to be blind to ignore how hot she is. But am I honestly good enough for her?

Artemis is an actual hero who wants to help people. I'm just some lazy punk who stole her friend's body.

But if I turn her down now... That's a door I'm closing forever.​

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 16: Super Sons
​

Metropolis, Delaware
September 19, 4:52 PM EDT​

While Superboy and Robin finish their hot dogs on the roof of the Daily Planet, Superman floats in front of them with a warm smile. "This is a good city to test out the wings. The streets are wide enough, you shouldn't be in any danger of crashing."

"Thanks again for letting us use... whatever alloy this is. It's light enough to glide and still block a low calibre bullet." Now in an arms race with Artemis, Robin has a pair of folded wings in place of his cape.

"And thanks for letting Robin come on patrol with us." Kirk frowns at his teammate.

Without his clone being an exact copy, Clark Kent has been able to see him as his own person far easier. "I was worried if I said no, Batman would just have you two patrol Gotham. We really don't need anyone else that gloomy and figured he could use some sun."

"Are you sure this will work?" A flustered Kirk struggles with his enchanted cape, courtesy of Giovanni Zatara.

"That's why I'm here to test these things out with you. In case something does go wrong, I'll catch you before you fall even a single story." The sheer confidence in the statement, is enough to settle both boys nerves.

Wanting to make sure this is in the papers, Robin tries to count how many floors he needs to descend. "Mister Olsen is going to be ready with his camera, right?"

"I'll wait until you get the hang of it and then let him know." Worried about either getting embarrassed by a bad photo, Superman shares one of his own early days. "It took me years to be able to do more than jump really high. Was actually terrified of heights for a long time."

"No way!" Relieved that he's not alone in his uncertainty, Robin stops trying to look relaxed.

"I still try not to look down when I'm having a bad day," Admits the Man of Steel without any shame. "Makes me more nervous than I like to admit around Batman."

Still focused on an earlier sentence, Kirk looks up with hope in his eyes. "How long did it take before you could fly?"

"I got to Earth when I was about one or two years old, still not completely sure how long the trip took." Superman does some quick mental math. "I'd say it took a little over twenty years before all my current powers kicked in. But I do still occasionally notice improvements."

"Twenty years..." Once again defeated, Kirk can only scowl at the world's unfairness.

Trying to cheer on of the few heroes younger than himself up, Robin raises a good point. "Maybe it's not going to take that long. You already have the strength, durability, super hearing, and thermal sight."

"You think it might just be related to a Kryptonian's physical age?" Superboy turns to the rich teen with desperation rolling off him in waves.

"I think it's too early to panic. The League must have a way to do some tests to find out," Explains Robin, with growing excitement at having a challenge to solve.

Weighing his options, Superman can't think of any reason to object. "How do you feel about the cold? Because I have a place we could run the tests."



National Lighthouse Museum, New York.
September 19, 5:17 PM EDT​

"Why did you want to see this place so bad?" Zatanna gives Kaldur and Tula a frown of confusion.

Garth manages to tear his eyes away from the plaques long enough to answer. "Our king was raised in one of these buildings. I have always wanted to go inside one."

"Just remember not to jump in anymore fountains." Rolling her eyes, Zatanna can't find it in her to get to upset. They showed me and M'gann around Poseidonis, it's only fair to return the favour.

"Why didn't L'gaan come with you? I thought he couldn't wait to surprise our favourite Martian." He followed her around like a cleaner fish.

Suddenly the fun is sucked out of the visitors as Kaldur explains. "L'gaan resigned from the conservatory and left the city weeks ago. He was not alone and nearly one in ten students, has also taken leave."

"That sounds suspicious." Megan shares a frown with Zatanna.

"Which is why the king's brother is investigating the case." Gritting his teeth at how many friends have vanished, Garth is clearly failing at distracting himself.

Tula isn't as angry as her partners, more overcome with grief at the loss instead. "It's why Queen Mera granted them permission to visit. The conservatory is closed until the teachers have all been cleared."

"So this isn't Kaldur's way of trying to get you on the team?" After Kaldur's mental plea to change the subject, Megan tries to forget her own concern.

"The oceans are a big place. Atlanteans are used to long distance relationships." Garth explains with a more tender voice. "Kaldur knows we wait for him."

Adding to the claim, Tula has a smile that nearly conceals her sorrow. "And we know he will return to us."

"Should we just leave you three alone and you can call this a date?" A slightly awkward Zatanna offers. "I don't mind going to a play or something with Megan."

"Apologies. We shall try to restrain ourselves." Kaldur bows his head with a blush.

Glad that's finally settled, Zatanna crosses her arms in only partially mock annoyance. "See that you do. Dad can smell hormones swirling around me from three states away."

"Are you sure he's not psychic?" M'gann has found it strange how often he interrupts at just the right moment to chase off some boys.

"Just a spell I haven't figured out how to unravel." Annoyed but also encouraged to overcome the challenge, Zatanna just shrugs. "It can't be a very powerful one, or it would have been easy to find."

Intrigued, Tula proves herself the most advanced of the three Atlanteans. "Any chance the spell could be adapted, once you do manage it?"​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 26: Rebel Without A Claus
​

El Paso, Texas
September 20, 4:01 PM MDT​

After giving Pat the keys, I left him to chaperone Jade and Roy. It doesn't take long for Huntress to find me in a costume already upgraded since last time I saw her in it. I better not look stupid in this.

The main reason I detoured to Arizona first, was to pick up the replica Sub-Zero suit. Back in July I would have looked like it was only cosplay with my scrawny arms. But I've bulked up enough in the upper body, that I'm willing to give it a try.

"Please tell me that's not just a Halloween costume." Artemis is waiting on a roof overlooking the Kord Tech office, very clearly trying to hold in belly laughter.

"The mask is a little hard to breathe in." Reaching up, I pull the black hood off and shake out my hair. "But Jade gave it a few good stabs just to make sure it's passable." Alberto needed to be convinced that the character with the same name, should get a new look.

Swallowing a ball of nerves, I decide it's better to get this over with. "I did a whole lot a thinking and I don't know if you're going to like my answer."

"Building up the suspense, is really not going to help." She warns me after a solid five seconds of silence. "Just spit it out and we can go find someone to hit."

"I'm picking out my college and you're just starting grade ten. Not really a great look for someone fresh out of Belle Reve." Taking a seat on the edge of the roof, I gesture for her to join me.

Choosing to pace instead, she frowns down at me. "So you think you're too grown up for me?"

"Do you actually want to date me, or are you just worried I might relapse?" Now it's her turn for silence, gaping like a fish at my bluntness.

"I'm not the Cameron you grew up with anymore and I need to find out what that means now that I'm free." I just don't want to hold you back. "I still have no idea who I'm going to become. But I know you're going to be a hero." It's better for both of us this way.

She doesn't answer immediately and I start getting nervous. "Look. I still think you're smoking hot..."

"You just want something more." Her tone speaks volumes about her own self confidence.

"Something less actually." I'm not ready for anything serious and I definitely don't want to screw around with somebody I care about. "Anything more than casual sex is too much for me. You deserve all of somebody and I'm just not able to provide."

"You aren't just saying this so you can sleep with my sister?" Needing to make sure Jade's seduction to the dark side hasn't worked, Artemis growls with the promise of pain.

"I think Roy saved me from that."
Seemingly alright with the explanation, Artemis offers me a hand up. "Thanks for just being straight with me about that. Zatanna was filling my head with the totally wrong idea."

"What do you mean?" Worms of doubt start to wriggle in my gut.

"She thought it was so romantic how you came to see me before getting arrested. Said you had to see me one more time, to stay strong enough to repent." She's smiling along with the words and I feel like it's safe to chuckle.

"I needed someone I could trust to hold onto my gold." I remind her with groan. "Who else would I turn to, but my best friend?"

Artemis nods slowly at that, a smile growing as the tension leaves the roof. "... I guess you kind of are."

"Kind of?" That's not going to do, I just bared my soul. "I've already got my costume on. Tell me who my competition is and I'll fight them on any stage you want... Except the spiky bridge one!" Not sure where she could find a real life replica anyway.

"M'gann and Zatanna are besties and the boys pretty much came as a packaged group." She considers whose left on the team. "Greta latched onto Roy right away, so I guess that would be Rocket by default."

"The girl who made the shield around you at Yellowstone?" I can vaguely remember the dark skinned girl. She looked about the same age as Artemis.

"Yeah and those shields can hold Superboy for almost an hour." Smirking at that, Artemis holds out a dragonfly shaped drone. "I said I was going to show you around the city. Still up for coming on patrol?"

The drone shoots off and Artemis shows me the display on her wrist. "Ted made it for me. Doesn't want me going blind into anything too dangerous."

"Is it just a camera?" I haven't seen anything mind blowing yet.

"It can release a knockout gas or create a localized magnetic burst. Could take out a whole transformer if I have too." The way she says that, makes it obvious it's not a hypothetical statement.

"Alright, that's pretty cool."

It takes a hell of a lot longer to find trouble here, than back in Gotham. It's almost dark by the time Artemis finds trouble that can only be solved with fists.

"You take the big guy. I get the other three." She's not asking and I'm not invested enough to argue.

"Fine. But just don't make me look too bad." I know she's better at hand to hand and don't need it rubbed in.

"Don't suck then." Without anymore warning, she sends a net arrow at her first thug.​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 27: In Brrrfect Agreement
​

Hollywood, California
September 23, 11:16 AM PDT​

Watching Roy trying to make it clear to Jade, that whatever they had going on is over is hilarious. It takes everything I have to stay quiet, as she humours him by listening to his whole speech.

When he gets to the part about not being tempted by her any longer, Jade winks at me. The false acceptance, was clearly only to pull him in for one more whispered promise.

"Think this jawline is strong enough?" Patrick taps me on the shoulder and shows off one that could cut granite.

"Yeah..." It's hard to put my finger on it, but something screams familiar about the face. "Not sure who you smashed together with Josh Brolin for the look. But it's a damn sight better than that whole uncanny valley look, you normally have going on."

"Whatever you say, Soft-Serve." Snorting to himself after such a witty remark, Patrick pours himself out the window. Is it really that much faster than using the door, or does he just like drawing a crowd?

As soon as he reforms on the street, the buskers attention has been handily stolen. "Hurry up Jade. I want to beat rush hour, you can break Arrow's heart later!"

I don't notice his odd half stumble, nor do I catch her shocked eyes drilling into the back of my skull. The sight of Patrick taking on the appearance of various League Members, is far too distracting.

"Just stay out of trouble," Warns a pink cheeked Roy. "My teams bigger and better now. You won't get away this time."

"You ever want to go a few rounds for old times sake, just give me a call." I don't have any interest in fighting thugs every night. But I have to admit, it was fun giving him the run around.

"Colorado next?" He tries to play it smooth, as Jade climbs into the passenger seat with a saucy grin.

Shrugging at the question, I turn to an oddly watchful silent Jade. "I guess. Not sure what I'm supposed to be looking for though."

"Neither am I," Admits the assassin. "Was just told the rough area you need to look and how much of the snow pack that you're supposed to replace."

Knowing Ra's is hundreds of years old, only makes it even harder to guess. He could have hidden anything, or even just erased any evidence of whatever is buried.

"You'll let Artemis know if it's dangerous?" Roy is trying really hard to let go of his paranoia, even if it is well founded in this case.

"Anything more dangerous than Superboy." He was originally created as a weapon, even if I;m not supposed to know that.

The clone could really only kill maybe a thousand people if he rampaged, before the heroes would find a way to stop him. He's pretty much just a targeted missile strike and the Shadows already have other weapons of that calibre.

"Stop worrying so much Red." Jade waves goodbye. "What's the worst that I could do to him?"

He snarls as I drive off, the crowd stopping him from any attempt at pursuit on foot. When we lose sight of him in the rear view mirror, I decide it's time to stop playing around with Jade.

"So... What is is going to take, for Ra's to tell me where Psimon is?" I can't relax until he's been dealt with. "How many things do I have to find in the ice?"

"Just five. Though..." Jade smirks at my blunt approach."You better tell my sister, that the campus tour is going international."

"And why do I have to do the digging?" The Shadows have hundreds of agents around the world. Why wait for me?

"Misdirection is our greatest tool. It's better if those who think us friends, don't know what we find." Jade's tone has me unsure who she means.

Are Roy and the rest of the heroes the fools this time, or is it me she's playing for one? Or is this one of those rare moments of honesty? The ones she sprinkles into conversation, as a way to leave everyone uncertain what side she's really on.

"You impressed the Great One with how much snow you made back in Kentucky. Twice that much should be more than enough, to hide any evidence of our search." Jade reaches for the radio.

"What did I say?" I smack her hand viciously and level my frostiest glare at Jade.

Her hand slowly backs away. "Touch the dial and find out how cold Pluto is."

"You don't like the Beach Boys, just be happy I'm not singing along."

The horror on her face hurts. But I manage to hold firm, not letting her ruin the trip with garbage pop.

Worried I'll follow through on the threat, Jade is quick to keep the conversation going. "You've already got more talent than any school can teach you. Why even bother going?"

"It's for the architecture classes." Stuff like making a bridge that can actually be driven over. "I can make stuff look nice. But I have no idea how long it will last or what kind of load it can really support."

"You do kind of get carried away," Acknowledges my smirking passenger.

When I finally get out of the city and the gridlock it contains, I decide it's been a while since I risked bodily harm. "So why do you work for the Shadows anyway? You ran away from home, just to find a new sugar daddy?"

"You want to get hurt?" She reaches into her sleeve, her hand emerging with a curved knife.

"Look Jade..." I'm not going to keep acting like she terrifies me, not if she's going to try using it as means of control. "They have tons of assassins and can train as many replacements for you as they need. But I'm one in a billion."

I know how few people have a natural control over the cold. Killer Frost is my only competition in North America. The only other ones active, all pretty much stick to freeze gun levels of skill.

"If you want to stop playing around and really threaten me..." I let the challenge hang as I let my ice skin form. "I'll show you exactly why I'm the one being recruited and you're a disposable asset."​

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 17: Finding The Strings
​

Mission Silo, Nebraska
September 23, 3:41 PM MDT​

Returning to the base after his road trip, Roy barely even says hello to the current occupants. Far too focused on connecting the bugs he spent all night hiding in the van.

"This is starting to seem like an obsession Roy." Dannette resists the ghost girl's best efforts to even make her fingers wiggle.

"It is one," He admits to the shock of the pair. "Only, I admit I was wrong about the actual culprit. Glenn really does want out of this life and we need to make sure the Shadows let him."

Poking his head up from his spot lounging on the couch, Wally frowns at the team leader. "And you know this, because?"

"Because Cheshire tried to put me into some kind of trance and give me some kind of hypnotic suggestions." Roy can't remember how she drugged him, but he can remember being frozen in the tent most of the night.

"She what!" Eyes blazing with rage, Artemis leaps out of her own recliner.

Admitting his failure is hard, though something Roy forces himself to do. "She wants me keep her up to date on all of you. And I'm supposed to leave Glenn alone, until he gets back to America."

"Why didn't the hypnosis work?" Rocket grunts as Captain Marvel zips between five different dummies. "Too thick headed for that kind of thing?" It forces her to move the violet barrier faster than she thought possible and fills Raquel with confidence.

"All the training with Greta, I guess it really paid off." Roy gives the spirit a grateful smile. "I could recognize something was trying to distract my mind. Was able to fight it off enough, I could remember most of the instructions."

Captain Marvel stops mid flight and watches the teens with a frown. "You're not going to let the League handle this, are you?"

"Of course not." Ducking under a flock of confetti filled pinata birds, Robin takes down most with his dulled birdarangs.

Agreeing with the acrobatic rich boy, Zatanna redoubles he efforts with a blast of marshmallow goo. "The whole forgiveness is easier to get than permission thing."

"The Shadows tried to control Roy." Greta's voice echoes eerily. "I don't like them."

Knowing he can't warn them off, the magical champion tries a different approach. "Alright. But we're only investigating the reason." Making sure each of the teens nods in agreement, Billy waits the longest for Roy to consent. "Once we find it, I decide if we need to call in back up."

"You aren't going over our heads with this?" Wally blinks in shock, speaking for the rest of the equally amazed team.

"This is a training team. As long as you let Firebrand and I help with the investigation, it counts." Grinning at the teens who aren't aware they outage him, Billy Batson enjoys the moment.

As the mood in the room shifts, Kirk hangs up with a promise to call Cassie back later. The lure of going back for Easter, something he can't quite explain his desire for.

<Hey Sweetstuff.> Wally sends a quick mental update to the Martian still tucked away in the kitchen. <We got a mission,.>

Sending back her sight of the counters and the pile of dishes, M'gann shows off the timer at three minutes. <Almost done, just need to get the dishes finished and I'll bring out the first batch.> A mumbled 'be right back' from the next room and suddenly a gust of wind is in the kitchen.

<You focus on those masterpieces and I'll wash.> The smirking speedster doesn't even try speaking with a mouth full of cookie.

With the pairs teamwork, the reemerge from the kitchen bearing cookies that are eagerly devoured. Wally squeezing the chef's hand in thanks, for the tray she made special for him.

Roy gets a clear connection to one of the microphones after switching between the lot. Three of them have already been found, only twenty nine left. Glenn's voice comes through crystal clear, concerning all three who went to Bialya.

"Psimon..." Kirk growls the name.

Not anymore excited, Wally brings up a valid point. "Didn't M'gann turn him into a coma patient?"

"If she did, it makes sense why the Shadows would offer him to Glenn." Artemis reasons with a growing scowl.

"But it doesn't explain why Glenn wants the psychic. He was terrified of Megan." Remembering the reaction at Arkham, Kirk starts to feel a surge of empathy.

Roy nods and starts putting the rest of the puzzle together. "Senior must have hired Psimon to make his son a better criminal. But something went wrong... That would explain his sudden shift in personality."

"I can't wait until I can put all this in a report," Blurts out an eager Captain Marvel. "The League is going to be so impressed at you for this."

Red Arrow's fingers slow enough, that Robin can tell the words meant something. "That I left Glenn alone with the Shadows?"

"That you could admit the mistake you made. That was really the only thing Batman said you needed to work on before..." Eyes suddenly wide, Captain Marvel thinks fast for a way to save himself. "Before you come of his super secret probation and get to work international cases. The one I just finished back in January."

Everyone else can hear the lie plain as day. But Roy's mind narrows in on this apparent secret test, set by the head of the Justice League.

"So if I keep proving myself..."

"He's going to invite you to the covert team!" Robin cheers for his friend.

Beeps and musical chiming comes out of the red sphere, nudging Kirk who nods in agreement. "Sphere is right, we should all start training with Greta."

"Especially if we're actually going to interfere with the Shadows plans. They aren't going to go easy on us because of our age." Artemis slams a fist into her other palm. "We need a plan."

"Follow in the bioship and find out what Ra's is looking for," Explains her fellow archer. "Firebrand can melt us a path through any ice, as soon as Glenn and Cheshire leave each site." It's hard for him to separate who she pretended to be and who it seems Jade really is.

​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 28: Sleigh My Name
​

Mojave Desert, California
September 23, 6:38 PM PDT​

With the gauntlet thrown down, the mood in the van becomes charged with danger. My cold stare meets her venomous sneer and I refuse to bend like Cameron always did.

"I'm not scared of you anymore Jade. I know what I'm capable of now." It must hurt, knowing her life means almost nothing.

I can see it in her eyes. Jade knows that even if she kills me, I'm right about which of us is replaceable.

"We'll see how much you've really grown." Her growl speaks volumes as I pull into a rest stop.

"Last chance to apologize and call this water under the bridge." Opening my door and standing under the setting sun, I wait for Jade to grab her gear out of the back.

I can't leave any doubt in her mind about who wins. She needs to use everything she brought and still lose.

Otherwise, she's just going to come at me the second my guard is down. If that happens, Jade probably will find a way to kill me.

"We keep going until you yield." I don't let even a shred of doubt enter my voice.

"Don't you mean until one of us does?" She slams the back doors and emerges without her mask.

The club in her hands looks like a samurai one, a bunch of metal stud bound in leather and wood. Not quite as heavy as a mace, but fast enough for a ninja to use.

She charges at me when I'm halfway through saying 'on the count of three'. The club shatters my hastily created wall of ice. But it does give me enough time to send a carpet of rolling snow at the assassin.

Leaping over the wave, Jade drops enough smoke pellets to blanket the area. The sand and snow are soft enough, that I need all my focus to react in time.

Jade comes at my from behind. Her weapon cracking the ice around my left arm, when I bring it up to block the attack.

"Which one of us is the replaceable one?" Her snarl comes from the right and is followed be throwing stars. Ones that I know are poisoned.

"Is it my turn?" Pissing her off would be great. But I'll settle for the hiss of frustration, that my snarky comment brings.

Instead of sending beams of blue or shards of ice in any one direction, I send the energy out in every direction at once. Remembering how it felt to create the chilly mist, gave me an idea.

The smoke screen shields my freezing cloud as it expands. Drawing a snarl from Jade, when she makes an attempt on my left flank.

"That's a pretty neat trick. Got anymore?" Her mocking words, are accompanied by something whistling fast for my face.

Creating a blade of ice in one hand, I roll under the weighted chain. With a quick thrust up, I make contact with one of the links.

The ice extends over the chain and snaps in half, leaving me free to counter attack. Even in freezing temperatures, Jade proves herself a far superior warrior.

She's barely slow enough for me to keep up. My ice clashes with yet another knife of hers, drawing no reaction when it too shatters. It's replaced so quickly, I'm almost convinced I imagined it.

My snow already surrounds us from my first attack and I back into it as we clash. When we're knee deep in the powder, my eyes shine with blue energy.

The snow snap freezes into a rink of ice, leaving Jade trapped in front of me. After my practice at Belle Reve, I can now confidently freeze a person. Without killing them.

"Yield?" Knowing the answer already, I still give her a chance to avoid anymore pain.

Not answering with words, Jade starts stabbing at the ice around her legs. Of course she isn't going to quite.

"Just remember..." Bringing my palm to the sheet of ice, I send a surge of energy towards Jade. "I gave you a chance to stop."

The energy pools beneath her feet and shoots upwards, creating a pillar dozens of feet high. The speed it was created, sends the shocked assassin flying through the air.

She goes way farther than I intended and I frantically start skating after her. Shit!

As I watch her arc towards the ground, I blast a beam of white energy where I think she's going to land. The snowbank blossoms just in time, catching her like a Russian leaping of his roof.

Her legs stick out of the snow, with neither looking broken. They aren't moving either. But I'm pretty sure I made the snow deep enough and try not to panic. Yet.

"Jade?" Her legs start to twitch and I sigh in relief.

Grabbing her ankles as she kicks at me weakly, I yank her the rest of the way out. "Did I get my pint across, or you want to go for round two?"

"Alright. Partners until this is over?" She sighs and holds out a hand, trying not to wobble too much.

"Which one of you is the bad guy?" A terrified voice calls from over here I parked the van, now surrounded by vehicles.

A state trooper is trying to keep the crowd from leaving the pavement and I realize how many drivers pulled over. Hope this works.

"Neither of us Officer. This was just a promotional demonstration, for the new Mortal Kombat spin off." Thinking fast, I wrack my mind for anything usable. "Sub-Zero gets trapped on Edenia and teams up with Jade to free Princess Kitanna. Once they overthrow Shao Khan, the Lin Kuei hero can finally go back to Earth Realm."

To sweeten the pot, I have Jade start signing autographs and ask the trooper who his favourite character is. It takes him a few tries before he gets a character in the right franchise, his first few being from Tekken and Street Fighter.

But eventually Trooper Carlos tells me he loves the four armed guy and I sag in relief. With his 'blessing', I create a statue of Goro towering over us in all his ferocious glory.

While the crowd 'oohs' over the nearly twenty foot tall display, I also create replicas of Jade and me ready to fight the monster. "Can you turn towards the headlights please?"

As the confused trooper does so, I get a really good look at his face. The final champion I create to face Goro, is a cowboy with Carlos' snarling mug.​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 29: Noeledge Is Power
​

Mount Elbert, Colorado
September 28, 1:49 PM MDT​

The snow on trails is thick enough for Jade to need snowshoes, while I break the trail for her. The bitterness I was expecting after my victory is absent. Instead she actually seems willing to work as a team now.

Repeating my question about why she became a Shadow, actually gets an answer this time. "When I first took off, I needed to hide. Who better than the Shadows?"

"So is the plan to hide, until dear old dad dies of old age?" Jade doesn't necessarily care about beating anyone fairly. But this seems kind of cowardly for her.

"The plan is to do enough jobs for the Great One, that he eventually allows me to be trained by Lady Shiva." She growls at my back and I decide it's safer to change the subject for now.

After three days searching, I'm starting to think it's just a waste of time. "You keep telling me that I'll know what we're looking for. But I haven't seen anything but ice and rock for hours, so give me something to go on."

"You ever hear the legends of the Thunderbird?" With binoculars up to her face, Jade peers up the ridge.

"The indigenous phoenix?" Does she think I'm an idiot? If they ever existed, they died out a long time ago.

"In seventeen thirty six, the Great One saw a Thunderbird fall to Earth in these mountains." She explains smugly. "He was unable to get through the Ute people and eventually it slipped from his mind."

Handing me the binoculars, she directs my sight to cliff side ledge. A large bird has been carved from the stone, overlooking the entire valley like a warden.

"How did anyone climb that?" It's a couple hundred feet above the ground and at least that far again from the peak of the mountain.

"Good thing we don't have to find out." Jade has been quite pleased at how many shortcuts I've made.

Rolling my eyes at being reduced to an elevator, I start trudging up the ridge once more. "Why though? What's a dead bird going to do?"

"The creature was supposed to be able to resist magic and pierce any mystic protections." She waits for me to create a bridge, her eyes constantly scanning the area for trouble. "We're here to find the bones and find out if the property remains." Confirming the Shadows have 'allied' with someone magical.

"And why hasn't Ra's sent anyone before now?" That's a long time to just forget.

"He did," Admits the ninja. "The Sabuagana band and the snow, kept the Shadows from finding anything until now." Doesn't that just make me feel special.

Reaching the base of the cliff after another twenty minutes or so, I create a pillar of ice beneath our feet. Going slow so we don't get launched into the air, we get an incredible view of the valley.

The ledge is far larger than it looked from below, with an entire cave system at the back. The ruins of three longhouses astound me just for existing. But it's the dozens of carved birds that gleam in the sun.

All of them except for the largest granite hawk, are made from glittering aquamarine. Most are the size of a cat, with a few nearly reaching man size.

"I think we found the right place." If we didn't, this is a pretty good decoy. "You think Ra's will mind, if I take one of these?"

Nora's surgery is in November. It would be nice to have something pretty for her to wake up to.

"Take as many as you want. He has an island full of trinkets." She disregards my question and marches straight for the mouth of the cave. "What I want, is in here."

She puts a homing beacon onto the rock wall, raising an eyebrow at the rows of graves carved into the cliff side. "They lived up here for quite a while. At least three generations."

"Would have been hard for any Shadows to get up her. At least until recently." I concede this find wasn't the simple task I first assumed.

The walls of the cave have been carved into a smooth heart shape, leaving far more room at the top. Hawkman could walk through this. Why did they go to so much effort?

"Oh..." Rounding the last bend in the tunnel, brings us to our reason for being here.

The cavern widens, with sunlight filtering in through another opening. Only that one looks like something crashed through.

In the middle of the cave, is a light grey ship that resembles a bird of prey. It's wings curve like a hawk mid flight, with an elongated centre that looks like a beak.

"My finders fee is ten percent." Before she has a chance to step towards the ship, I try breaking the growing tension.

"I told you to take the birds..." Jade scowls at me, though doesn't argue any further. "Fine. Ten percent, but only if you can figure out a way in first."

Challenge accepted, I start running my hands across the craft. It's so smooth, I just need to find a seam.

Jade tries the more direct approach and goes through quite a few knives in her own attempt. Her growls of frustration start to shift into snarls of fury, making me redouble my efforts.

"Aha!" Finally finding a groove in the metal, I let my azure energy trail from my fingers.

It expands like normal. But instead of the shattered steel I'm used to, the alien metal tears outwards. The hatch does end up open, but I'm incredibly impressed at how well it stood up to the pressure. What kind of metal is this?

"Just don't touch anything connected to the ship." I can see Jade trying not to react with anger and it kind of looks like she's counting to ten.

"I really just want a helmet." If this stuff has anti magic properties... It might just be able to block psychic attacks.

We find three mummified bodies, each one with metal laced through the bones. The wings have the most and I'm confused how that helps with flight.

The helmets look almost identical to the one worn by the Hawks and I pull one closest to my head shape. Should probably call Artemis and see if her Martian friend can test this out for me.

We find a few systems still active and a few weapons that crackle with energy. Jade ends up taking a couple curved knives to replace her broken ones and tells me to bury the valley.

"I marked the site, the recovery team will be here in a few days." He words sound a little sharper with the helmet snugly in place. "So turn this back into a glacier and we can get out of here."

"I hope you're ready to pull me back on the sled." I look over and frown at how little food is left on it. "Because this is approaching volcano levels of effort."




Notes: The Ute people in Idaho/Colorado/Utah (with hunting grounds in Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming.), has 12 historical bands. I tried to accurately use the band that claimed this area of Colorado. But I might be a couple valleys over. If I'm using the wrong one, I do apologize.​

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 18: Finders Keepers
​

Mount Elbert, Colorado
September 29, 7:18 AM MDT​

Hovering above the cloud of falling snow in the cloaked bioship, Young Justice waits for M'gann's signal. Glenn's mind vanished last night and Roy almost ordered a rescue.

Captain Marvel managed to spot him on the ledge of the cliff, wearing a helmet he recognizes as Thanagarian. The beam of blue energy that gets shot into the sky, almost completely fills the basin by sunrise.

Peering through the swirling snow, Red Arrow makes out a moving shadow. "I think he's finished."

The cliff side village has been entirely buried in the night, with less than ten feet of jagged stone still visible. A line in the powder descends far faster than anyone expected, with Robin letting out a guffaw at the sight.

"Did your sister tie him to a sled?"

Shutting off the recording of Jade landing face first in the snow, Artemis joins the acrobat at the window. "Looks more like a sheet of scrap metal."

"Did she wax it or something?" Wally frowns, knowing something is wrong with the speed on display. "Because that's reaching bobsled speeds."

Impressed at how much ice and snow created, Captain Marvel admits as much. "He's stronger than he was at Yellowstone. Sub-Zero couldn't even last an hour and now he nearly made it through the whole night."

"He did get struck by lightning you know." Defending her unconscious friend below, Huntress remembers exactly how hot that place was. "And it was hard enough just breathing anyway."

Rolling his eyes at the indignation, Roy nudges Firebrand with his elbow. "You're up. Just remember-"

"Only melt as much as I have to." The gyndroid with sensibilities from the fifties, cuts off the red headed archer. "I am aware of the dangers a flood would bring."

"Sorry. We just had to deal with a lot of clean up this summer." Roy's left eye twitches. "I'm not letting my team get yelled at, for yet another mudslide we didn't cause."

Firebrand drops from the open hatch, a trail of flame arcing behind her. The tunnel melted, is wide enough for three men to walk abreast and spirals gently downwards.

Once M'gann lands her spacecraft on the snow, the rest of the heroes start the trek into the glacier. The slick ice makes for slow going, which gives Danette enough time to find the cavern.

When the teens find her beside the entrance to the mountain, Firebrand waits with a flaming fist. "It's not much farther. Be prepared for traps."

"I feel like Indiana Jones or something." The disguised Billy Batson tries not to let on how giddy he really is. "This is so cool!" And fails miserably. "Batman always does the investigating, waaay before I show up."

"Which movie did he find aliens?" Rocket gasps at the gleaming silver ship.

Even though he knows it's a rhetorical question, Robin can't help himself. "Was going to be the plot of the fourth one. But it went through some rewrites and was unrecognizable to the first draft."

"The Sunken City was going to be about aliens?" A very relieved Wally snorts.

"Thank my king next time you see him," Explains a very proud Aqualad, filling the speedster in on the cruise ship rescue a few years ago.

Peering up at the section of mountain the ship crashed through, Captain Marvel points up at it. "Firebrand. Once you melt us a way out,, Superboy and I should be able to lift the ship up."

"Can the bioship tow this thing, or will we have to fly it all the way to Nebraska?" Concerned at how big the ship is, Kirk never the less grabs onto one of the wings.

"Let's just see how heavy it is fir-" Holding unto the other wing, Captain Marvel is stunned at how light the craft is.

Just as aware that this isn't normal, Superboy feels no strain from the weight. "What is this thing made out of? I could probably do this with just one hand." With a nod to the team's chaperone, he carefully sets it back down.

"We can examine it at the silo. Just focus on making sure everything inside is safe to transport." Roy grunts impatiently and is the first one to step inside.



Bayou Bartholomew
September 29, 9:27 PM CDT​

Atomic Skull cuts off the flow of energy and pants. "That should be enough juice. Are the seeds ready for transport?"

The screaming of the plants is muted in Poison Ivy's mind. Since her first session with Harleen, the botanist has felt more like herself than she has in years. A few compromises for a rational mind, is more than a fair trade.

"Ask Wotan. It's the viking's job." Even as her body fights against the foreign control, Pamela is unaware the battle even takes place.

Muttering under his breath about incompetent children, Wotan assures his comrades that things are going according to plan. "The seeds will be planted in dozens of cities around the world. We strike on the first."

Growling at the centuries old wizard, Ultra Humanite directs her fellow gorillas in the construction of the transmitter. "As long as the clown can do his part, the heroes are going to be far too busy to come looking for us."

"What's the worst that could happen?" The manic Joker cackles up at the moon. "I go crazy?"

"Just remember to deal with Perdita, before you lose the rest of your mind. "Count Vertigo grimaces at having to work with such a wildcard.

​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 30: Powder To The People
​

Denver, Colorado
October 1, 7:22 AM MDT​

When my eyes flicker open, it's to the welcome familiarity of my van. The curtains aren't pulled all the way shut, letting a beam of sun strike my face.

"I've had a few complications." Jade's voice is low, clearly trying not to wake me up with her call. "But everything is still on track Great One."

"Tell Ra's I said hello." My comment gets a curse from the front seat and comes with the click of her phone.

Taking a few seconds to collect her thoughts, Jade pulls the curtain open the rest of the way. "You really did sleep for day. Good thing you're not just all talk, or I would have left you up on the mountain."

Pride seeps into my bones as I revel in such a pure victory. "I finally created something that helps the world."

It wasn't just another selfish piece of art so I could make a quick buck. I made a glacier and that's something that will endure long after I'm gone.

"The Shadows are impressed." That explains all the photos you took. "Even if the Great One wasn't happy about your finder's fee. He has deemed it acceptable negotiations."

"You grabbed the door?" I wasn't really in any state to enforce the command.

The mane of silky black hair bobs up and down. "You kept freezing through the ropes, so I had to use some cable from the ship to tie you down."

"What about the sled?" I brought it for just that reason.

"Maybe you shouldn't have buried it under a glacier!" The hissed response, has more than enough heat to make me back off.

"My bad." But a thought strikes me as I pull on the cleanest shirt I can find. "But does this mean I get to name the glacier?" It is a new geographical feature after all.

Grunting as I climb into the passenger seat, Jade looks like she hasn't slept this whole time. "Don't really care."

"You want me to drive?" She's not swerving or anything, but I'm uncomfortable never the less. "I'll even let you crash in back while I check out the campus here."

I already know where I'm going in the spring. But this is my chance to have some of the normalcy I lost back in July.

"What about rule number one?" She only offers a token resistance and pulls into a Wendys' parking lot.

"You get a pass for not leaving me on a mountain." I know she's not a huge meat eater and get surprised at her damage for two combos.

The sheet of space metal is tied down to the roof with the pencil thick wire and I get a ridiculous idea. I'll have to give that a try later.

Once I give Jade her food, I stretch my legs before getting behind the wheel. Dialing the first number in my phone, I wait for Artemis to pick up.

"... What's going on?" She sounds stressed out and I hope I'm not interrupting a mission.

"I got a new helmet and I think it might be able to interfere with telepathy. Could I bribe your Martian friend into finding out for me?"

"That's all you're calling about?" The sudden relief in her voice, makes me raise an eyebrow. "Yeah, Megan would love a chance a chance to start over."

I try not to grimace at how foolish I must have looked that day in Arkham. Cowering away from the pleasant girl, did nothing to help my rep.

"Me and Jade are going to be swinging by El Paso again. Could you ask Ted to book some time off for a meeting?" I'd rather work with him on this.

Blue Beetle uses more high tech gadgets than any other active hero. He's my best bet at turning the scrap metal into something useful. As long as he can get some plates shaped the same as the blue bits on my costume, I even have a few ideas for my heroes.

Nightwing was always my favourite hero growing up. And it's still a little hard to separate the legend from the preteen I know. If possible, I'd love to be able to gift him a pair of batons.

Roy and Artemis may not have been people I gave much thought before waking up here. But now they're some of the closest people I have in my life. A bow with an indestructible string would only help the both of them.

After sending Superboy on a wild goose chase, I kind of feel responsible for his own... head trauma. He doesn't really need a weapon with those rippling muscles. But what about a shield?

Jade said the Thunderbird was supposed to have anti magic properties. That's pretty much the only weakness Kryptonians have naturally on Earth.

"I'll ask him to give you a call before patrol," Artemis agrees easily.

Tommy went to jail for me. Any real knight is going to need a sword to call his own.

"Oh and can you get Wally's shoe size for me." Justice League Unlimited and the Flash's defeat of Brainiac, that made me a fan of any version of the man.

Some upgraded shoes and something to pad his knuckles. That should help him get over his slower speed.

I'm about to respond to the archer, only to drop my phone in shock. The ground rumbles all around me, with giant vines bursting through the asphalt.

Diving for my phone, I grab it just before it's crushed. "Artemis, I'll call you back later. I think you're about to get really busy."

"What are you talking about Gl-" I end the call and dash towards the van.

Banging on the side as I run, I fling open the back doors. "Either get dressed and give me a hand, or get the Mystery Machine somewhere safe!"

She reacts by throwing my new helmet at me. "Have fun and try not to die."

The doors slam shut in my face, with the engine growling to life a moment later. Wasting no time, Jade peels away in a cloud of black smoke. I really need to get that thing tuned up.

The first vine has been joined by a garden of it's friends, making me grit my teeth anxiously. When a fresh tendril emerges from the Wendys, I leap into action with a series of azure blasts.

The roof stops crumbling and gives the people inside enough time to escape. But the sudden cold definitely made me the primary target. Swinging down at me one after another, the vines will leave the entire crowd a gooey smear if I don't stop them.

"Stay in a group, I can't cover you all if you scatter!" I roar at a couple who try to make a break for it, making them cluster up tight with the rest.

Let's try something new. Sending discs of ice upwards at the vines, I freeze one side faster. It puts enough of a spin on them, that they slice two vines right in half. Only a few dozen more to go.

"Go!" The crowd listens and races away from downtown like it's a grade school fire drill.

Any vine that swings for them, finds out exactly how determined I am. Spears of crystal blue pin the plants to buildings, while a cloud of freezing mist makes the smaller ones wither.

I lose track of how many groups I escort from the area, only skating back faster each time. The League hasn't shown up and neither have the sidekicks, making the grim reality set in. I'm on my own here.

It's not like I think the heroes have just left a city to be destroyed. But that only makes me worry for me friends. What could be worse than a bunch of kaiju sized plants?​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 31: Everyone's A Winter
​

Denver, Colorado
October 1, 2:07 PM MDT​

Another of the seemingly endless vines, bursts forth from city hall. Torn messily in half, the building crumbles around the plant.

The attacks have gone on for so long, I barely have the energy to send out feeble blasts. Instead of facing the vines head on like I had been at first, Now I worry about stopping the pods from popping. Whatever that pollen is, it seems that everyone is deathly allergic to it.

Dozens of people I was too slow to save, fill the streets of downtown Denver. Pushing myself onward despite the burning in my lungs, I force my grim thoughts aside. How bad is the rest of the world?

Having terrified people running towards me... That brings a strange sensation. one I can't quite explain yet. The closest I can come, is shocked relief.

When a pair of vines emerge from the ground, I react just a fraction of a second too slow. I get sent flying along with the rubble of the road and skid to a stop almost a block away.

"And that's why I want out." Spitting out a glob of pink spit, I grit my teeth and unleash everything I have left.

The beam only manages to freeze the closer tendril, which shatters into hundreds of steaming chunks. It's friend strikes down at me again and I know it's moving too fast. I'm going to make it hurt at least.

My icy skin turns erupts with jagged spikes and I wait for the impact. Only it never comes.

Prying my eyes open, I peer up at a beautiful miracle. Did my luck actually not suck for once?

A raven haired woman hangs in the air effortlessly, her sword dripping with green ooze as she carves through the vine. The form fitting black bodysuit is speckled with what looks like silver stars and it almost stops me from seeing her ally.

My 'cousin' Black Lightning is zipping through the air, blasting apart dozens of spore pods at a time. Really hope I don't get shocked again. It's one of the few things my numbness has no effect on.

"Sorry we're late Sub-Zero!" Calls down the woman, her accent vaguely Greek. "We had to save a Queen first. Besides, it seemed like you had things well in hand." For the first couple of hours,... Maybe.

"What about everyone else?" Doesn't the League have three whole teams to through at things now?

A boom of thunder echoes behind me and I turn to watch Black Lightning fry another vine that lunges for my spine. "Busy around the world. Belle Reve and Black Gate have already been cracked open and the League is trying to keep it contained."

"Don't forget the other four super-max prisons!" The raven haired beauty calls down, her silver lasso wrapping around a mass of green.

"Arkham?" My heart drops at the thought of Nora trapped in her tube. Viktor wouldn't leave her.

"Was one of the last ones hit..." She trails off to heave an uprooted plant towards the mountains. "But one of the Green Lanterns has it in a bubble now. The older one from the Justice Society."

Before I have a chance to ask, she clarifies with a roll of her eyes. "We really do need to number them all or something. Because Guy says they have thousands in space."

"And what about the teens?" How the hell would Roy and Artemis take one of these things on?

"Dealing with the source of the problem." Black Lightning lands beside me and we exchange awkward looks. "... Sorry about trying to kill you last time we met."

"Don't worry about it. Dad tried lots of times, he just never apologized after." I can see the guilt in his eyes and I'm not having any of that. "I'm fully aware you had even less control than I did."

Relief flashes across his face and I keep going before he can interrupt. "Besides... You're making up for trying to end the world. Dick move to blame you now."

"Kinda got inspired by one of my few decent family members," He admits with a shrug. "Hard to look at myself in the mirror, if I ran away from what I did. Not after some kid can face his own crimes with a head held high." Does he mean me?

The idea that I inspired a genuine superhero... Wow.

"Thanks?" Unsure how to respond to such heartfelt words, I try to keep an eye out for more vines.

"No, thank you. I may not have known about you before Yellowstone." He holds out a hand and shakes my own firmly. "But you're family now Glenn. You can call me Jefferson."

Returning my own greeting with a tired smile, I point up at the flying warrior. "And what do I call her?"

"Donna." I get a knowing smirk from Jefferson, not reacting outwardly after days of Jade's far more crass teasing. "Or you might know her better as Troia. She felt a bit too old to go by Wonder Girl." Because that graceful angel is all woman.


Infinity Island
October 2, 5:16 AM EEST​

Smirking at the blacked out profiles of his fellow members of the Light, Ra's al Ghul plots to take all that they have. Once they have served my purpose of course.

It wouldn't do to throw away a resource, before it spoils. And we still have a few mutual enemies.

"It's a relief having one of our plans go off so perfectly." The only woman among them is smug. "We may have lost Count Vertigo for now. But we know the Starro-tech works." Not that any of us feel otherwise after such a success.

"Arkham surviving our attack is no great loss," Adds the robotic voice of the Brain. "The test proved that those more mentally unstable, are the ones most likely to overcome the control."

"But only after weeks of subservience. By that point, it will be far too late for the heroes to stop us." Gloats Vandal Savage, the current leader of the organization. "Are the Atlanteans ready for deployment?"

Glad to finally be rid of the 'freaks', Ocean Master's laugh sounds more like a cackle. "Nearly three thousand of them are ready to revolt on my signal. It will be easy enough to replace my brother in the chaos."

"And our replacements? Is your 'son' and his team ready to replace the Justice League?" The immortal caveman directs his next question to Lex Luthor.

"They can finally tie their shoes without a babysitter," Klarion the Chaos Lord cuts in with a sneer somehow felt through the monitor. "But Waller has her work cut out for her with those idiots."

"My daughter will join them. It's vital we control the public's perception of us." Growling at that, Vandal's words echo true in the mind of Ra's.

Young Glenn has made that very apparent. In such a short time, he has gone from one of America's most wanted to one of it's celebrities.​

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 19: Sitting In A Tin Can, High Above The World
​

Watchtower
October 2, 8:19 AM PDT​

After recapturing less than half of the fleeing convicts, the Justice League meets to discuss the herbal assault. As current chairman, Batman quickly summarizes the more surprising events. At least to the rest of the League.

"Even though Patrick O'Brion has turned down the League's offer of membership. Plasticman has proven himself willing to act in a time of global crisis." The stretchy man's face appears on everyone's personal display.

"The guy came in handy on the bridge. He caught a school bus that Canary and I, had no chance in heck of catching." Green Arrow praises the hopeful actor. "Though he did make sure all the camera's caught his good side."

Nodding at the words, the Martian Manhunter brings up the help provided to him and Aquaman. "The attempt to spread us thin, would have succeeded without such surprising aid."

"Thomas Berensford was already clearing away the Eiffel Tower by the time we arrived," Adds a distracted Aquaman. "Kiteman's tour company was performing aerial rescues and swarms of rats lead the rest to safety."

"Leaving us free to attack the plants directly," The Martian takes over once more.

"Alan Scott managed to keep Arkham from facing anything but cosmetic damage." A grim Superman clenches his fists in frustration over not being better. "But the same can not be said for the Belle Reve or Black Gate."

Hawkman chuckles darkly at how easy it was to spread the heroes too thin. "Russia and China have similar issues. Though they haven't reported it yet."

"Australia, Japan, Brazil, Egypt, and Spain, are all in the same situation," His wife growls beside him.

Agreeing with the assessment, the Flash knows he could have done better. "We're going to be working double shifts for a while."

"Britain was the only other country to keep it's super-max prison intact." Shaking his head in frustration, the Atom raises an amusing point. "It sounds like Weather Wizard will be receiving a lordship for his services."

"Sir Jack will be getting one as soon as his prosthetic finishes human trials." Blue Beetle has been following the research with rapt attention and confirms the man deserves the praise. "And if anyone here happens to know any billionaires, I recommend you tell them to invest now." I know I already have.

Superman snorts at the name left out. "Toyman isn't getting one for his amusement park?"

"No." Batman's blunt response makes the Man of Steel smile ever so slightly. "But all the vehicles he's providing the British military, those have gotten him one."

"Oh..." The smile on Superman's face is replaced with a shameful grimace.

"The covert team's recruits all performed acceptably." Hal Jordan brings up the faces of Chief, Negative Woman, and Robot Man. "I see no reason to keep them on probation after yesterday."

His fellow Green Lantern Jon Stewart, raises his own hand in support. "Seconded."

"If we're discussing promotions. What about Red Arrow?" Trying to act casual, Green Arrow strokes his forked beard. "Is he still in the running?"

"Yes. But I think it's better if we raise the age of membership to the League." Batman holds a hand up to stall any of Oliver Queen's arguing. "He's doing an exceptional job and you cannot deny being a leader is good for him. So three more years should mean you can finally retire."

The other heroes chuckle at the archer's huff of annoyance and quickly vote to set the minimum mental age at twenty one. With Roy's improvement being praised by all of them, even Green Arrow ends up coming around to the idea.

"What about the kids?" Giovanni Zatara scowls at his daughter once again being sent on a mission outside the team's capabilities. "These are not the missions I was told Zatanna would be taking part in."

"They did admirably in the face of such odds." Wonder Woman's voice is filled with respect.

"Has Captain Marvel told them yet?" Concerned at the harm such a secret would cause, Black Canary reminds everyone that the villains knew his true age before most of the League. "Or does it need to be made an order?"

Shaking his head firmly, Batman denies the suggestion. "Not going to happen. William will tell Young Justice, when he is ready." Probably around the same time he gets over being stuck on the team for the better part of a decade.

"Like he told us?" Wonder Woman is still unhappy at her allies deception.

"He is aware that Sub-Zero knows," Icon brings up the difference in situations. "And that he gave the list of names to both Red Arrow and Huntress."

"Maybe you should have your sister remind him." Snorting at the idea, the Flash directs his words to the restored Red Tornado. "Because I think he forgot."

Glad to change the subject, Wonder Woman grabs her chance. "My own sister gave a glowing report of Glenn's performance in Denver. Though he was as taken by Amazonian beauty as when you first met me."

Flash flushes at the words and tries not to remember his fast mouth. "At least I know where Wally gets it from... Probably should talk to him about that."

"Can't believe you trusted the kid enough, to leave him the whole city for so long." Superman raises an amused eyebrow at Batman. "He must have really impressed you."

"Only because he was trying to suck up to you," Retorts the detective with a smirk, getting confused looks from most of the other heroes present. "Thanks for playing along with the kids' scheme. It's giving them an outlet to just be children."

"Robin's a great kid. He's so enthusiastic about everything, it's really starting to bring Superboy out of his shell." Giving the Flash an apologetic shrug, the Man of Steel's forced to admit that Sonic can really monopolize a conversation.

Still confused at the mistaken identity, Green Arrow asks the question on everyone's mind. "But why does he think Superman is Bruce Wayne? They don't even live in the same city."

"I had the guy help me out a few years ago. Bruce helped me throw Lex Luthor of the trail of my actual identity." Superman fills them in on some of the times people have gotten them confused. "And Lois Lane was getting pretty close for a while, until I had Bruce help out again. Sub-Zero could have spoken to either of them."​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 32: Coldly Going Where No Man Has Before
​

Denver, Colorado
October 2, 7:25 AM MDT​

Deciding it would probably impress Donna if I helped search for survivors, I end up working well past sunrise beside her and Jefferson. The two dart in and out of the buildings in danger of coming down, while I add as much extra support as I can. Which is really hard with most of the road in the sewer.

By the time Jade finds me, I've moved onto creating single lane bridges. The van has picked up a few dents and a massive crack in the windshield. But I'm impressed it's still in one piece.

"Don't tell me you're going to stick around to clean all this shit up." The assassin scowls at me as she slams the door behind her.

I want to screw with her and say yes. But the escaping yawn is enough to betray how tired I really am.

"You never actually told me where to come find you. So I figured it was best if I waited in the last you saw me." My eyes drift towards the Amazon and her beauty that must be a divine gift.

Jade snorts as she follows my gaze, the sound almost daring me to act. But I manage to restrain myself to words that could probably be interpreted as only friendly.

"I can barely stay on my feet. You two want to join us for breakfast?" I've seen a few places start opening up and will have my victory waffles. "My treat."

Jefferson is the one who accepts with a grateful thanks. While Donna's eyes locked onto Jade, the two appraising a fellow warrior by body language alone.

"Feel free to tell me to shut up." My 'cousin' tilts his head and stares at the sheet of scrap metal still strapped to the hood of the Mystery Machine. "But why do you have that?"

"Some kind of space metal." I keep the answer vague, knowing Jade is glaring daggers into my skull. "It's super light and yet somehow still capable of space travel. Makes some of the best weapons as well."

That seems to intrigue Donna, who waits for my permission to reach a hand up. "It is strong."

She's clearly exerting a lot of force as she squeezes, but no deformation appears in the metal at all. It doesn't even bend.

"And what are you going to do with it?" I can see the want plain as day and realize I have a way to extend her stay a bit longer.

"See if Blue Beetle can shape it for me." Now Donna's sapphire eyes gleam. "Make some things for a few friends."

Grabbing one of the knots in the wire, I undo it with a final tug. "I could be convinced to save some for you. If you can do a little favour for me first."

Rolling her eyes at the expected come on, Donna still seems willing to put up with me. "As long as it's nothing illegal or shameful. I will consider it."

"Whoa... You got me all wrong Donna." No, you really don't. "I just wanted to know if you could show me how to use a whip. Saw how good you are with the lasso you got." If I can't make a good impression in that amount of time, it's just not meant to be.

"That's all you want, some lessons?" The annoyance on her face is quickly swapped out for embarrassment.

"I'll be back in Gotham by February." Nora isn't going to leave Viktor alone in that hellhole. I better start looking for a two room place if I want to be a good son. "That enough time to free up your schedule?"

Donna gives me a slow nod as we enter the restaurant. "It should be."

My response gets interrupted when everyone inside starts to clap, with a few of the cooks even throwing in some whistles. Shocked at the reception, I freeze in place.

"What's going on?" No one acted like this after Yellowstone and I helped save the world that time.

"That's what happens when you bail right after the emergency." Jefferson laughs at my stunned expression and lets the hostess know how many are dining. "You miss out on the gratitude."

"I'm not a super hero like you two." I've been very clear about that.

Pointing at a family of five in the corner and the little girl I vaguely remember saving, Jefferson has an easy time proving his point. "Tell that to everyone you saved before we got here."

"Wasn't good enough to save all of them." The faces of the survivors may blur together. But I'm never going to forget the ones I was too slow for.

Jade rolls her eyes at the comment, not liking when I get mushy. But Donna seems to reevaluate me once again.

"Word around the Hall of Justice..." Waiting until he has my undivided attention, Jefferson shares his hopefully useful advice. "That's how all of us feel and it only gets a little bit easier. Superman said it's why so many heroes retire within the first five years."

"I'll help out if it's something on this kind of level. But I'm not looking for trouble." Not once I deal with Psimon. "Costumes are for special occasions, not something I want to slip on every day."

The waiter is almost offended when I say I'll be covering the bill. Letting me know in no uncertain terms that the waffles will keep coming until we burst. All on the very grateful house might I add.

"Can I quote you to Batman on that?" Smirks Jefferson as he pours six packets of cream into his coffee. "Because the League was stretched pretty thin yesterday."

"I gu-" I'm interrupted by a nervous tap on the arm.

"Yes?" I turn to find a line of kids, teens, and even a few adults waiting patiently.

The girl who got my attention is indeed the one I rescued from the parking garage, now with a Johnny Cage shirt on. "Could we please have your autograph?" Clutched in the twelve year old's shaking fist, is a brand new copy of Mortal Kombat ten. "And Miss Jade's too?"​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 33: Going Snowwhere Fast
​

El Paso, Texas
October 4, 2:51 PM MDT​

With a hood pulled tight over my head, I check the parking lot nervously. When I don't see any fans, I sigh in relief. "Alright. Go find something we can go to Gotham in and I'll ask Ted to do something with the van."

"I can pick whatever I want?" Jade's calculated smirk sends a shiver down my spine.

"No bikes. The vibrations rattle my teeth too much." It's only got to get us across a few more states, I can put up with almost anything for a couple days.

After I get the sheet of metal untied, I am once again amazed at being able to lift it alone. If this thing was made out of steel, it would weigh at least a thousand pounds.

Jade's cab pulls up while she loops the fancy wire over my shoulder and she gives me a vague time to expect her back. Once I give my own farewell, I make a beeline towards one of the loading bay doors.

It's not one of Ted Kord's most fancy buildings, I note to myself as I bang on the door. But I guess that's better for staying discreet.

The door clanks up after only a few seconds, revealing a workshop a few lines past the top. Dozens of projects fill the hangar sized space, with a grinning Ted waiting at a free table.

"Glad you thought of me for this," He admits with a grin. "I'm always up for some cutting edge science."

When I drop the sheet in front of him, the melodic chime makes his jaw drop. "Do you have any idea what this is?"

"Of course I do." I did find it. "It's Thanagarian metal. The mummified bodies kind of gave it away." Shrugging at his shock, I let him know that I made sure to entomb them among their people.

"I know it's really strong, incredibly light, and should carve through magic like butter." Ted nods dumbly as I explain what I want made.

"That's barely going to use half of this..." His eyes shine with an unfamiliar excitement. "What are you going to do with it?"

Realizing he was going to do the work for free, I smirk at the excited scientist. "Pay you."

"Was this all that you found?" It doesn't sound like greed in his voice, more like objective curiosity.

"This was my cut. So don't ask where I found it." I make a deal, I keep it.

"Fair enough." His business mind accepts the words, clashing with the idea of just being handed such value. "I can really have whatever is left over?"

Nodding at the eager man, I even pull my helmet off. "Yeah and I was wondering if you could reshape this into something more game accurate."

The black parts of my costume are going to remain the new military body armour, very flexible and capable of stopping most small arms. But I want all the blue parts to be replaced with the alien metal.

Which means I need all the jagged parts trimmed off the helmet and turned into a mouth guard. Otherwise it will be pretty much impossible to pull the hood over it and really complete the look.

"Really going all in on the brand?" He doesn't seem judgmental about my choice and that's all it takes for me to open up.

"I finally understand the reason for wearing a costume." Fame is not something I know how to deal with. "The pressure of all those kids staring at you..."

Laughing at my horrified face, Ted tries using a diamond tipped drill on the sheet. The bit explodes almost instantly, sending shards of metal flying across the workshop.

"Glenn!" The shocked Blue Beetle calls out. "Are you alright?"

I don't feel anything at first, only glancing down at my left arm after it starts to itch. "Little bit of shrapnel, doesn't look like it went in too deep though. You got a first aid kit in here?"

He ends up freaking out more than me, none of the metal deep enough to bypass my numbness. It's only when I grab some pliers and pull the first one out without flinching, that Ted starts to believe me.

"It's like a dentist rubbed Novocain all over my body." I ignore his grimace, pulling the final piece out without flinching. "Was really useful growing up with Icicle." I refuse to call him Senior ever again.

Uncomfortable with how much I just let slip, Ted's jaw twitches as he searches for something to say. "... You're cutting the trip short before hitting all fifty states?"

"I've always known it would be Gotham." I just had fun keeping everyone guessing. "Figured I may as well clean my slate before becoming a student." Get the last four jobs done and wash my hands of the Shadows.

"Lets try this again, with some proper safety gear this time." Ted hands me a sleeved apron and points to a box of gloves. "Ear plugs and safety goggles are on the shelf."

I lose track of time as I hand the brilliant man whatever he needs. The different attempts Ted comes up with all fail and that only excites him even more.

It's only when we take a break and pull out our ear plugs that we hear the strange jingling. "Is that what I think it is?" A glance at the clock reveals we've been working well past seven and my stomach rumbles.

"We get food trucks out here sometimes. But I've never heard one of those." Ted is just as confused as I am, tossing his apron onto a chair.

I glance out at the security display and my eyes widen at the confirmation that greets them. "It's exactly what it sounds like."

We both start sprinting for the door, desperate to be first in line. It's only when I hip check him to the pavement, that I realize who exactly is waiting inside the ice cream truck.

"You said I could get anything with two seats." Jade smirks down at me, taking a long and deliberate lick of her chocolate cone. "So I put a cushion on the cooler for you."​

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 20: We All Scream
​

Gotham, New Jersey
October 7, 3:04 PM EDT​

The end of day bell rings and Artemis Crock finds a very amused Dick Grayson waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. Beside him, Barbara Gordon is trying hard to keep a straight face.

"You are never going to believe what's outside." The teen Artemis knows is Robin thanks to Glenn, bounces on his heels.

"The kind of thing Batman needs to take care of?" The school hasn't been attacked yet this year, but it is only the fifth week. Considers the slightly older blonde with a concerned scowl.

Understanding the worry, Barbara rushes to assures her. "Nothing bad, I promise."

"Is it raining candy?" Not sure what it could be, Artemis tries to play along. Not really used to good surprises.

The comment gets Dick to hold one hand up and wiggle it back and forth. "Closer than I expected."

"You can explain anytime you know. Not all of us love playing Nancy Drew." Eyebrows shooting into her bangs, Artemis is even more confused.

"Try to stay whelmed." The Boy Wonder leads the way to the front doors of the school, the hallways far emptier than normal.

Exiting one of the oldest buildings in Gotham, the trio find an ice cream truck surrounded by classmates. Instead of the laughter the other two expected, Artemis grinds her teeth in annoyance.

"What is her problem? She knows Glenn is lactose intolerant." Her glare is directed at Jade handing out free treats from the window of the truck.

"Psst!" A guy standing in the shade of a tree motions for the trio, who approach the nervous guy carefully.

"Glenn?" Dick notices the skin colour first and blurts out his name. "What are you doing?"

The ice user looks around frantically and sighs. "Keep it down. It took forever to ditch the AV club."

"Why are you here?" Arms crossed, Artemis is not happy at so much commotion around her private life.

"Just got back in town around noon and wanted to pick you up. See what happened with the Biollante babies." He hunches down a few inches and tries to stay in the middle of the trio.

Dick smirks at the artist and gestures to the new vehicle. "What happened to the van?"

"Getting tricked out by Kord," Explains a suddenly shifty Glenn. "You're going to love what I got you for Christmas."

"You're getting me something?" That shocks the acrobat, not thinking them that close.

"I've followed your career for a long time and you've always been an inspiration to me." The casual way Glenn speaks, has the other three suddenly concerned about secret identities. "Being confident enough to run around in a skin tight leotard, that's real bravery. And I can't even work up the nerve to do a flip into the water."

Relief fills Dick as he realizes it's only his circus career being referenced. "It's really not that hard." And I'm honestly a little surprised Artemis never made you try.

"Hope you liked the sculpture and found somewhere cool to keep it." Glenn smiles at the boy before turning to the red headed girl. "And I saw your dad kept the bats up in front of the police station. Hope that means we're good."

Only remembering at the last second, Barbara manages to keep the charade going. "... He doesn't really have the time to think about the people on the right side of the law."

"So no super secret plan to kill me in the most painful way possible?" A very relieved Glenn asks.

"He has a few. But they didn't really take him that long." Dick is quicker on the uptake and steers Sub-Zero's mind down a very specific lane. "I know we had a salt shortage in town a few weeks ago."

Rolling her eyes at the run around, Artemis put the very obvious pieces together only days after learning Robin's identity. "So why are you back in town already? You barely hit a third of the states."

"Nora's surgery first surgery is coming up and I thought I should have a place ready for her." The very embarrassed Glenn kicks a rock down the sidewalk. "After I get her settled, Jade and I are going to zip through my jobs."

The mention of the tasks has Dick share an uncomfortable look with Artemis, one that Glenn thankfully misses. "Heard about the glacier. You're really naming it after the Frieses?"

"The first one at least," Agrees a very proud Glenn. "Next one's getting named after Paula."

"Any idea where that's going to be?" Artemis tries to keep her voice casual.

"Jade said our tickets are to France. Which will give me a chance to look up Tommy and let him know he can stop laying low." The reformed villain's eyes light up. "That reminds me. I should see if Tuppence wants to work for me again."

That concerns Barbara, knowing how many big names the girl has strong armed over at the Iceberg Lounge. "What do you need a super strong minion for? Thought you went straight."

"I go both ways." Smirking at a suddenly cherry red Barbara, Glenn wiggles his eyes like a fool. "Give me a call in a few years. I'll show you what I mean."

"Not what she meant," Interjects a suddenly tense Dick.

"I know." Grins the teen who looks like a frostbite victim, finally deciding to stop teasing his younger friends. "Want someone to keep Nora safe while I'm gone. Viktor made more than a few enemies and everyone who busted out of Belle Reve is probably gunning for me now."

"Still can't believe you tried to stop a prison break all by yourself." Barbara Gordon shakes her head in disbelief.

The phrasing makes a tick grow above Glenn's right eye and he must correct the foolish girl. "What do you mean tried? Only people who got out that day, are the ones I arranged a deal for."

"So not only did you stop one. But you also arranged your own at the same time?" Clarifies Barbara, her nose crinkling in amusement. "Really glad you decided to turn a new leaf before moving to Gotham."

Blushing a shade of dark purple instead of the standard red, Glenn points at a free spot on the lawn in an attempt to divert the six eyes. "What's the school mascot?"​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 34: A Ho Ho Horrible Idea
​

Gotham, New Jersey
October 8, 6:13 PM EDT​

"Mom said Nora can have your room. I don't see why you need to talk to the Penguin about this." Artemis is more annoyed at having to come back to such a shady place, not any really frustration with my overall choice.

"I didn't give Paula the gold so I could be her sugar daddy." My comment has Artemis gagging instantly.

"Never say that again." Her words come out in a snarl. "Or I will hurt you in ways Jade could only dream of."

It's easy to tell she doesn't mean it. The blonde sister really just don't have it in her be that vicious and her eyes betray the fact.

"Fine..." Taking a few seconds to laugh in her face, I smirk gleefully. "But I gave you and your mom the gold because I trust you. Not because I wanted you to work for it."

"Barbara's right, I'm really glad you aren't going against us anymore." She shakes her head at the idea. "You'd end up with an army of fanatics. Probably focused on reshaping national monuments or something stupid."

"Whose face is right beside Lincoln?" And once I finish my degree, I do have to fix Jefferson. "Maybe I should think about politics."

That gets a full belly laugh out of my best friend and I hold up a fist in victory. "You even consider doing that. You better give me and mom enough warning so we can go visit family in Vietnam."

"Mister Fri... er." I don't even have to wait in line this time, the bouncer waving at us before we even reach the stairs. "I'm not actually sure what to call you now. We already have a Mister Friese in our files."

Offering a pleasant smile to the suddenly nervous man who towers over me, I realize being called Junior isn't going to piss me off anymore. "How about you tell me your name and I let you call me Glenn?"

I know Artemis is rolling her eyes at my back. But I make sure to find out about Doug and his girlfriend Lark, Oswald's very own personal chauffeur.

The next words could be ominous with the wrong tone, but I don't even get a hint of danger when the smiling bouncer fills me in. "Mister Cobblepot is expecting you in the back. Probably shouldn't keep you any longer Glenn."

"Just let me know Oswald gives you any grief about maternity leave. I'll be around pretty regularly come the spring and I look after my friends." The man with wrists thicker than my waist nods vigorously and opens the door to the illicit business going on inside.

"Why didn't you get Jade to come with you. I can see at least eight people I should be taking down right now." Artemis fails at keeping the scowl off her face as she surveys the room.

"Because she might have been able to convince me to talk to one of the crazy ones." Would be just like Jade to try starting a bar fight in a place this fancy.

I notice a few empty glass tanks that seem to be refrigerated on the way to the back and groan. Of course Oswald wants a monopoly on my work.

Waiting for us in the private room, is Oswald and Tuppence. He looks like the same short pudgy little man. But Tuppence has definitely come into her own, wearing her pristine white suite with pride.

"Glenn my boy, so good of you to return." He gestures for Artemis and I to take the only other to chairs at the intimately size table. "How can I, the humble Oswald Cobblepot, possibly be of service to such a splendid artist as you?"

"I was going to cut straight to the chase. But if you want to keep buttering me up..." I don't mind, it's kind of nice.

"You're one of the few who has not once judged me on my looks or past. I'd rather deal with you honestly my friend." He has dollar signs in his eyes. "It's much more profitable to skirt the line of law and it's so nice to finally have someone else who understands."

I fill him in on my travel plans and the need for someone to keep Nora safe. Oswald isn't so happy at the idea of losing Tuppence so soon and offers an alternative.

"Tuppence can keep an eye on Nora until you return with her brother the knight." He even offers to pay for all of my flights and I realize he truly does value my former help.

"The idiot says he ain't going to leave France until you give him the all clear." Snorts a very frustrated Tuppence. "So go give it to him and I'll make sure yer ma is happy as can be."

Feeling bad at not having Ted make her something, I realize it's probably hard to find someone capable of training her. "I'm going to be getting some lessons from an Amazon in the spring. You want to join us for a few sessions?"

"For real?" Her eyes nearly pop out of her skull. "That would be amazing!" The raw excitement is unexpected until I realize she had heroes growing up too.

"How come I don't get the same offer?" Artemis frowns at me, only half teasing.

"You really want to watch me hit on her?" Now annoyed at me, Artemis seems to lose interest. "I figured that would be a little awkward for you."

Nodding firmly, she gives me an unnamable expression. "Thanks."

"I'll let you rent one of my penthouses. For a very good deal might I remind you." Oswald isn't going to let that go for a long time. "And all I want in return, is for you to fill my new gallery with your work."

"And a fifty percent commission on everything you sell for me." I heard the numbers at Arkham. I know how valuable my work is going to be.

"Only until you finish your bachelors degree," Oswald clarifies with a calculated smirk on his face. "I shall of course give you seventy percent once you do."

With how big the numbers are, I honestly can't even tell who the deal works out better for. "Alright. Until I get my degree."

Once we shake on it and I finish my dinner, Oswald has me fill a few of the empty displays. It seems the richer villains paid quite a hefty sum, for the Lounge to display the greatest victories against the Bat.​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 35: I Don't Want To Mistletoe A Thing
​

Arkham Asylum, Gotham City
October 9, 2:02 PM EDT​

Several large cracks have appeared in the walls since my last visit and I'm relieved it withstood the attack. The original Green Lantern is definitely getting an exhibit in his honour, with my half of the proceeds going directly to him.

I'm not really sure how to get a hold of the man to work out such a thing. But Wally should be able to arrange a phone call at the very least.

Viktor greets me with the warmest smile yet and ushers me into his cell. "I don't know how Morrow created such advanced organs. Even today, it's a feat beyond any but our most brilliant scientific minds."

"So they'll work?" I try hard to avoid thinking about where the synthetic organs came from. "Nora doesn't have the wrong blood type or something?"

"She will be walking around at the end of the month." The sheer glee is strange to hear coming from such a reserved man. "And dancing by the summer!"

"Since Morrow is dead, I ended up getting most of his patents by default." Red Tornado and his sister are robots and Jefferson doesn't want his secret getting out. "How do you feel about making this your full time gig? I can get my legal team to start getting you a deal if you do."

His lips quirk into an amused grin. "I'm serving three life sentences. What does it matter if you get it shaved down to two?"

"Oswald and I stayed up most of the night..." I fill him in on the loophole we found around four in the morning. "Five years and you can bring Nora to my graduation yourself." I just have to sign over the patent and Viktor has to switch to non profit work.

"Do you have any idea how much money you're losing out on?" He tries to talk me out of the idea, but I remain firm in my choice.

"Do you know how much it sucks to think you're alone in the world?" I snap back with a little heat and Viktor's eyes drift to his frozen wife. "She doesn't count. Everything you did was for someone you know loves you back."

"So you'd just give up billions for me." It's not a question, just a statement of shocked disbelief that takes a while to sink in.

Shrugging at what sounds like some great sacrifice, I know I'm never going to worry about my bank account. "I'll make more."

We spend most of our hour talking about my trip. Viktor even remembers to ask about the angry blonde and he seems impressed at how I handled the situation.

"I was always too nervous. Nora was the one who had to make the first twenty moves." He tells me about the first time he saw her perform Swan Lake and how graceful she was. "Even now I'm scared, that I'll wake back up the day before she asked me for tutoring."

When I tell him about the glacier I named after 'our' family, his eyes start to shimmer with pride. "I don't think Batman found all of my stockpiles. If it truly drained you so much, maybe you should bring one of my freeze guns with you to France."

"Kind of hard to sneak that past customs." But if it works anything like Icicle's own weapon, it would be a hell of a lot easier to get the job done.

"You've already proven you can do the job without one. Use those League connections and get yourself an exemption." Viktor explains the process with even smaller words after it becomes clear I'm still lost.

By the end of the second hour, I finally know where to search and how to get the tech to Europe. Viktor even comes around to the idea of figuring out how to reduce the radiation produced by the artificial organs. Hopefully we can stop anyone else from ending up like me.

"Any other patents you want to hand out?" As I'm about to leave, Viktor is happy enough to tease.

"Nothing else that uses a fuel source you have experience with." I gave Red Tornado everything that had to do with his construction and the same with Firebrand.

Since I made sure to give the League permission to hold onto Jefferson's... That really only leaves me with Torpedo and Volcano's files. And I'm pretty sure it's better if those stay buried.

"Tuppence will be here to pick Nora up next week." The penthouse isn't anywhere close to being ready and I can't put off my flight much longer. "The Crocks will keep her company until I get back with Tommy."

I still need to go to Kenya, Greenland, and China after this. Starting to run out of time if I want to be finished before school starts.

"I really can never thank you enough Glenn." He puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. "I have indeed made more than a few enemies."

"Well I've really been learning how much better it is to make friends instead." Somehow I even managed to flip Roy around to my side. "I recommend you try it."

Letting out a little gasp of laughter, Viktor of course makes it difficult. "I rather doubt any of my former colleagues wish to collaborate."

"The parents are supposed to be the ones setting up play dates you know." I know Ted would love to get a crack at the tech. "I can get you in touch with a few minds that even you would admit are brilliant." You all sound like you're speaking gibberish to me.

"Hey Viktor..." I pause at the door with my hand raised to knock. "Did they throw Joker and Ivy back in here?"

"For now. Word is that the government is moving away from housing everyone at one location," He confirms the words with a frown. "Eight people with powers to a prison and none of them will be marked down for the public to find."​

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 21: Step Right Up
​

Omaha, Nebraska
October 10, 7:48 PM MDT​

Roy sees Zatanna and Megan out of the corner of his eye, as he strolls with Danette through the fair grounds. The two younger girls succeeding at their attempt to get Dick and Wally to compete at the games.

The frustration he started the day with is still brewing just under the surface. Why didn't she put the tracker in Glenn's bag?

The reports of this place having Intergang activity was more than enough for an observation mission to be called. But Roy's annoyance with his team continues to grow.

"You're still upset." Danette stops in the middle of the dirt road and tilts her head to one side.

"Of course I am!" His nostrils flare with each word. "We have no idea what the Shadows are sending Glenn after and Artemis refuses to do her job."

Doesn't help that Dick has given up on fixing the ship. All we got out of it is a bunch of shiny toys that we can't even use.

"She's not the only one uncomfortable with spying on a friend," The gynoid disguised so well she thinks herself a human retorts. Thankfully with no judgment in her voice, just the cold facts.

Nodding at the woman, Roy knows she's right. "Promise not to tell the others?"

"You are team leader. I would not betray your trust like that." Her response is immediate and that just reminds Roy of another one of his frustrations."

His growled response comes almost as fast as her own. "I thought I was finally being taken seriously by the League. But you and Captain Marvel are still babysitting us."

It's not that he blames the woman sixty years out of her own time. It's just hard to overlook who is really in charge.

"You do know why the League raised the minimum age, don't you?" Danette frowns at the only person her own 'age' among Young Justice. "It's so the world governments don't cause trouble for us."

"I know that intellectually..." Sighs the archer as he spots Kaldur keeping watch from a nearby roof.

"But you still feel like your efforts are thought of as lesser?" Understanding fills her face. "That is one thing I am still adjusting to. Not being forced into the role of secretary like I was with the Justice Society and actually being your left hand woman."

Now confused, Roy has no problem letting Danette know that fact. "Don't you mean Captain Marvel?"

"William is only ten. He needs your guidance as much as anyone in Young Justice." Firebrand leads him past a smirking Raquelle and Artemis who refuses to make eye contact. "You are the one we all look to and that is why the League wants you to remain in your role. They think you are doing such an excellent job, it would be nearly impossible to replace you at this time."

"Really?" The anger stops churning for the first time today and he looks at her with hope filled eyes.

She feels a strange sensation in her chest, but none og her system diagnostics come back with anything amiss. "I'm still learning what it means to be a human now that I know the truth. Adapting to the changes that feel so sudden, would not have been so easy without you and Greta living at the Silo."

"Oh..." Trailing off awkwardly, it seems like Roy understands more about the situation.

After telling him that he's supposed to be answering these kinds of questions, Danette feels no shame in asking her first one. "Why does my face get warmer when you smile? And does that have anything to do with my mouth stops producing enough saliva."

Roy is saved from answering, when Kaldur hisses through the mental link. <Plastique is here and heading towards the fun house. She has six friends with her, all armed.>

<Remember this is just observation. We aren't starting a fight with this many civilians around.> After sighing with relief, Roy fills in the his partner. "Kaldur spotted her, let's move."

They get on the ferris wheel and tip the operator enough to leave them at the top longer than normal. Danette spots the second group first and points them out, getting a grateful nod from Roy.

<Looks like the supplier is here. Greta and M'gann, you're up.>

Greta may not be able to 'hear' the psychic link, but she can follow the now camouflaged Martian into the house of mirrors. The mental image M'gann sends through the link, is all Kaldur needs to identify the man.

<That's Black Manta.> The Atlantean teen is just as confused about why he's so far from the sea though. <Why is he meeting with Plastique, here?>

<Something about keeping up the deception and arming the freaks,> Answers M'gann as she floats nearly invisible to the human eye. <Overthrowing a king and getting revenge for his stolen son I think. Or maybe he's the one who was stolen as a child.>

<Have they mentioned any names?> Intent on stopping on of his people's greatest foes, Kaldur'ahm is desperate for more information. <A target of any kind?>

She doesn't answer right away, very careful to only observe the surface thoughts on display. <The sharks are going to do the work for them. I'm not sure what that means though.>

<I do.> Kaldur shares his own memory of one of the shark-men of the Antarctic sea. <Tensions between our territory has been growing more stained as the temperatures of the waters rise. Food shortages are becoming an ever more common grievance with the decline of their krill population.>

<Blow up enough important places and make it look like it was an attack from the capital...> Wally's mind fills in the rest faster than even his mental words could have. The idea of a city seeking revenge and the oceans turning red enters the minds of his teammates.

<I must warn my people!> Kaldur's panic is well earned and no one begrudges him for it.

Deciding it's time to stop being petty, Artemis thinks something that finally settles Roy's nerves. <Just because I wasn't going to tag one of my friends for you, doesn't mean I feel the same way about my sister. I know she needs to be watched.>​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 36: The Birds And The Freeze
​

Brest, France
October 13, 11:19 AM CEST​

Surprising Jade with the travellers french I know, I take charge as soon as we make it through customs. Tuppence told me where her brother had gotten a job and I'm eager to get him on a plane back to the States.

"Did you see the passenger kites when we landed?" I take just a little bit of pride at my involvement in Kiteman's new life.

"The brochure says he already has a hundred tour guides and is going to be expanding into Spain next year." Jade holds up one such pamphlet from the cab's centre console. "You should give Kiteman a call, would save us a lot of time hiking up the Alps."

The idea nearly makes me gag in fear, something I hope I managed to keep off my face. "... Not really into the whole heights thing."

"Says the guy who jumped off the Grand Canyon." Jade's retort gets a gasp of shock from the driver, who nearly crashes as he peers over his shoulder at me.

"The ice I make is more like really cold clothes or maybe even fingernails." I have a connection to it for quite a while after it's creation and can still shape it with some effort. "It's not really a part of me, I know that. But it's close enough to fool my brain."

"You are one strange man." Shaking her head as we pull to a stop a few blocks from our destination, Jade pays with the wallet taken out of my back pocket.

I had that when we got in the cab.. How did she pull that off when I was sitting on it the whole time?

"I'm a celebrity now. It's kind of expected for me to be eccentric." Exiting onto the packed street is a breath of fresh air after the driver's spicy body spray.

At first nothing seems that unusual about the area. But Jade directs my attention towards a line of rats exiting the sewer.

Each one has a little yellow hard hat on and what looks like rubber gloves on each paw. A thick electrical cable is on their backs and disappears below the road.

"They're everywhere." Her eyes start darting around wildly, with dozens of similar scenes taking place.

Some are picking up the odd bits of trash on the ground, while others are emerging from the sewer with lost trinkets. Both cops that I see have a rodent partner, with one tucked into the sergeants breast pocket very comfortably.

"It is France you know." I cock an eyebrow at the assassin only a couple years my elder and smirk. "French people do live here."

"You know what I mean," Her hiss of frustration just makes my grin grow. "The rats."

How hard is it for my handler to keep track of my very few contacts? "Ratcatcher didn't limit himself to just one of my ideas I guess. Seems like he had more than enough help to try them all at once."

We get to the beach and Jade waits for me to chicken out. "You probably shouldn't go swimming. Someone will call in a dead body as soon as they see that skin."

"You can always leave and meet me back at the hotel tonight." Striding past the nude beach sign, I start to disrobe to Jade's shock. "I worked hard for this body and I'm going to show it off."

She joins me with no hesitation on her part, even more proud of the body she spent years sculpting. I give her one quick look over to remove the temptation and give her a thumbs up.

"The Shadows could start an exercise program if they all have bodies that good." Jade waits for my eyes to dip back down again and she seems impressed when I resist.

"Just don't tell my sister about this." The words make me think about the overreaction and I quickly nod in agreement.

"Or Roy." I don't want him hunting me down again.

Snorting at the archer's name, Jade rolls her eyes with very obvious frustration. "Not sure who he'd be more jealous about."

The sand should be hot against my feet and I know I'll end up with black soles by the end of the day. Just like Jade warned, hundreds of eyes follow me. And I do mean me, Jade's shapely behind doesn't even bat an eyelash out here.

"Told you I was a celebrity now." Ignoring the whispers about a potential skin disease, I strut right towards the lifeguards chair.

"Boss..." The muscular blonde hops down to the sand, his silver whistle the only thing he has on. "Is that really you?"

"Huh. You really want to just go back to being some regular stooge?" Jade elbows me in the ribs/

Before I get out a response, Tommy lifts me in a nearly bone crushing hug. "Saw you on the news in Denver. Was so worried the Justice League was going to leave you to handle it by yourself." Worried about offending me, he holds up both hands to placate me. "Not that I don't think ya couldn't have."

"I was about four seconds from being crushed ice." I'm probably being too generous with how much time I really had. "Troia saved my life."

"Is that you?" Tommy turns to Jade with grateful eyes.

"Jade was following my instructions on the other side of the city." I gave her the choice, not going to let Tommy blame her because I was cocky. "She made sure nothing hurt my baby."

That was the wrong thing to say judging by the shock on Tommy's face. "You're a pa?"

That's thankfully easy to clear up and so is getting Tommy to accept the care aid job. "I promise ya Boss, I ain't gonna let anything mess with yer ma." He beats his chest like Tarzan. "I'd swim all the way back if ya asked me to."

"How the hell did he get you wrapped around his finger?" Jade pokes the taller blonde right in the sternum, forcing him back a half step with each jab.

"Let me keep all the loot." Frowning as if she's the crazy one, Tommy's loyalty warms my heart.​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 37: Froze Your Eyes
​

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France
October 14, 2:27 PM CEST​

A few thousand feet above the ground, I steadfastly refuse to even peak at the French landscape. Nothing Chuck promises will make me believe this is actually safe.

Tommy's excited cheers let me know he's still alive. But Jade is taking great pleasure in taunting me with her silence.

"You know that you can catch yourself even if you did fall, right?" Kiteman's laughter isn't mocking and that's the only reason I keep my snark PG-13.

"If I open my eyes, someone down below is ending up with a free lunch." That remark has his laughter take on a hint of uncertainty.

His advice makes sense and it actually gets me to smile for a half second. "Don't tilt your head. The updraft will cover us in it."

"Common sense or experience?" My curiosity keeps me talking.

"... Experience." The embarrassment in his voice makes me feel a little less like a coward. "And can you maybe not tell the other guys that part?"

"Well if we're trading blackmail materiel, I woke up in a dumpster once. Sometimes I think I can still smell the sweet and sour pork in my hair." But at least that's one bit of revenge I already took care of.

We angle to the right and I snap my jaws shut. "You looking for anything special?" Thankfully Chuck takes over the conversation and lets me breathe.

"After last time, I honestly have no idea what to expect." Jade had mentioned some legends about an escaped demon back in the eighth century and some kind of Bigfoot creature for even longer than that.

"Well I guess you're about to find out," He warns me of our arrival and I finally pry my eyelids open.

My stomach drops instantly and I lock my eyes on the rising summit. "If you don't hear from us in a week..."

"You're all probably dead?" We exchange looks of gratitude and he gives me the signal. "Well good luck!"

He shouts after me as I plummet towards the mountain, a tube of spiralling ice the only reason I don't end up splattered on the rocks. Tommy and Jade are released thirty seconds apart, just like I instructed the guides.

He cackles with glee the whole way down, the echoes only ending when finally reach the ground. The momentum has me roll almost a hundred feet, only stopping when gravity takes back over.

"That was awesome!" Roars Tommy as he tumbles to a stop beside me, Jade the only one of us to emerge gracefully. "When can we do that again?"

"Never." My muttered response isn't heard, the shrieking wind covering anything but full on shouting.

"The last hiker to report the mountain man was on that peak." Jade points up the slope and to the jagged summit that makes our own look like a mere foothill. "So stay alert and keep up." The last part is meant for Tommy and I roll my eyes at Jade's need to establish a pecking order.

"Should we really be looking for a demon?" The knighted blonde grumbles back. "That don't really sound very safe."

Growling at Tommy, the raven haired assassin reminds him that he chose to come. "You could have been flying back to the States right now. So stop whining and get climbing."

"It's probably just some alien tech that the Shadows want," I reassure him with calm words. "But even if it is something magical, Jade can keep us safe with her new 'claws'."

The snow gets deeper as we climb and before long it's falling from the sky in droves. By the time the sun starts to drop, we can barely see ten feet in front of us.

Bellows and roaring can be made out as we push on, confirming that something is in the blizzard with us. Knowing that we're sitting ducks in the storm, I take charge with a hopefully understood shout.

"Head towards the caves!" We need to see if that thing's going to attack and I start creating walls behind us. "It's getting closer!"

Tommy starts hurling anything in our path back down the mountain, giving Jade a chance to reach the mouth of the cave. Only seconds after her, Tommy and I slide into the strangely warm tunnel. A beam of blue sealing us inside for now.

"Stay and fight or see if we can find another way out?" The voice outside sounded human enough that even I'm starting to get worried about possession.

"I'd prefer a more defensible position before we set up an ambush." Jade sneers at the narrow tunnel that bores deeper into the mountain.

"And I'd prefer we forget this whole thing. I've seen enough horror movies to know this is a terrible idea." Resolute in his warning, Tommy peers into the darkness with wary eyes.

"So that's two votes for going deeper." I give Tommy one final chance to escape down the mountain.

Instead of taking the opportunity he so clearly wants to, Tommy squares his shoulders. "Alright Boss. I trust you to get us out of here, haven't let me down yet." And I really hope that's not about to change today.

Jade's eyes narrow at the interaction and I can't quite decipher the emotion behind them. One by one we twist on our head lamps and start the deceptively long hike.

The tunnel twists and turns so many times that I'm only mostly sure we're still going down. As we descend, the temperature rises every few hundred feet.

"This mountain isn't supposed to have any geothermal activity," Jade mutters under her breath, the smooth granite walls bouncing the sound back to me. "The Great One had the whole area surveyed, so why is it warm?"

"Hell is hot," Retorts a nervous Tommy, as he pulls off his winter jacket. "Sure this isn't an entrance?"

Well if it is, get ready for a shit ton of miracles." Because I'll make it the coldest day on record and freeze the whole place over.

Jade doesn't respond, though she does allow me to take the lead. She glares at my knowing smirk and I press on despite my own terror.

Moss and lichen start covering the rocks, only not any kind I've seen before. The lichen glows a sickly green, almost like a glowstick was spilled over it. That seems to be enough for the moss to thrive.

Any bare patch of rock is covered in glowing cave paintings that grow more primitive as we descend. The images are made with more than one bio luminescent shade and soon we get an explanation.

The tunnel emerges into a cavern more than a few football fields across, with several varieties of glowing mushrooms towering as tall as trees. Bats dive after bugs that are approaching prehistoric size and our eyes have a hard time focusing through the glare.

The bubbling of a small waterfall somewhere in this strange place isn't the only noise. A constant hum fills our ears, that makes me let out one of the largest yawns in my life.​

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 38: Completely Piste Off
​

Womb of the Earth, France
October 15, 1:34 AM CEST​

As soon as I feel a powerful presence trying to exhaust me, I hastily reach into my pack. By the time I get my helmet on, my limbs are moving like slugs.

It takes a few moments for the pressure on my skull to abate enough to stand and I frown at my snoring companions. Bones of past hikers litter the undergrowth and I realize how lucky I was for Ted to drop drop by before my flight.

The humming has gotten louder and now comes with a pulsing silver light on the far side of the cavern. Hot and humid air makes me sticky, causing swarms of fireflies to land on me.

Hopping across the stream, I find a rather large footprint in the mud. When I compare my own against it, it ends up being almost double the size. At least I know it's a who and not a what that's hunting us down.

The glow leads me to the largest diamond I have ever seen. Nearby is a nest of moss and an overturned mushroom cap, the indent big enough to be from whoever left the tracks.

Broken bits of crystal blanket the area and oddly I notice none are diamond. Some ruby pieces and chipped topaz, that might even be sapphire if I know my rocks.

A large and unnaturally smooth sphere of multi coloured obsidian lays cracked in half. When I step closer and find it hollow inside, I realize it could have very easily contained someone.

A guttural snarl from behind me is my only warning, with me ducking under a mass of savage muscle and hair. The man ho lands in the knee deep stream with a mighty splash, is at least eight feet tall. And looks like even Tommy would have a challenge wrestling him.

The rock under him cracked right down the middle and I'm very glad it wasn't my spine. He waits long another for the humming to intensify before grunting a response.

"This is your home? Sorry for breaking in here Dude." I hold my hands up in an attempt to appear non threatening, though the cave man doesn't seem to care in the slightest. "Let me grab my friends and I'll leave. I promise to never tell anyone what I found here."

"Gnaark!" He doesn't understand or believe me and grabs a rock big enough to crush every single one of my bones.

"Sorry about this!" I blast the guy with a full power beam of blue energy, encasing the primitive man in just as the boulder leaves his fingers.

With him immobile, I'm finally able to get a good look at the caveman. Right above his heart, a shard of crystal is embedded between two ribs.

It pulses with white light each time the massive diamond does. "What would Ra's do with you?" I can't think of anything humane and my frown intensifies.

Stepping closer to the cracked stone shell, I find a desiccated woman muttering in her sleep. Pale blue skin and long wispy white hair are on a head larger than the rest of the body.

Amazed at life still being in the being's body, I try to place the red and white robes. I know the species from somewhere and know it would really help explain things. But I can't quite put my finger on it.

The humming turns into an anguished ringing when I reach out a hand and I don't feel the sensation of peaceful sleep anymore. Now I can only sense rage being directed at me and the promise of pain.

The diamond shifts and reforms itself into the shape of a young human girl. It's hard to make out any specific features with her body being made of diamond. But I can tell when she decides to attack.

Her face shifts to an expression of sorrow and I feel the entire cavern rumble. Time to get the hell out of here!

Unleashing another blast of freezing blue, I pant in relief when the crystal inside finally stops moving. The relief is rather short lived though, when the massive block of ice starts to crack.

"Stay put!" Roaring with just a hint of fear creeping into my voice, I bury the area in ice and snow.

"And now it's time for some damn answers." Snarling to no one, I turn back to the blue senior the size of a child.

I realize awkwardly I still don't have any idea on how to wake to woman up. With the humming gone, it seems to have solved the problem for me.

Her eyes flicker open slowly and I crouch beside her. "... Don't let him wake."

"Who?" The voice is weak and I strain to hear her words that definitely aren't English. But somehow I understand exactly what she means.

"Or your world will burn too..." The words crumble away like dust in the wind and I realize the woman isn't breathing anymore. The once emerald eyes, now dimming to a dull green as her essence passes on.

Her words ring in my ears and it's hard to comprehend such a warning. "That's both ominous and incredibly vague."

One the eyes stop glowing, I can finally notice the very faint shimmer of green in the dirt. Brushing away the centuries old dirt, I'm amazed at finding something I actually recognize.

The Green Lantern ring doesn't react at all when I pick it up, not even when I send every single one of my stubborn thoughts toward it. Sliding it on my finger does nothing and I figure out it must have been drained completely after so long here. Otherwise it would have flown off and chosen someone by now.

"Well I'm not letting Ra's have you." I said I was keeping ten percent as my cut. "Not letting him find any of this."

Mind made up, I march with purpose back towards Tommy and Jade. Bring down a few tunnels and I can tell Jade whatever I want.

This is bigger than a bit of shiny loot and I'm not giving the Shadows this kind of weapon. Ra's might not be happy when Jade tells him. But I'm only doing this shit to get him off my back so I can live my own life.

If he wants to make an issue out of this. I have think I finally have enough friends that I could ask for help.

Grabbing an ankle in each hand, I start dragging the two sleepers back through the tunnel. They start waking up a little faster than I would like and I'm forced to bring down a section of the ceiling to conceal the cavern.

I remember only after the tunnel is blocked by a dozen feet of rubble, that I left Jade's bag and the map it contained behind. "At least going down the mountain is a pretty easy direction to follow."​

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 22: Alpine Spelunking
​

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France
October 17, 5:51 AM CEST​

As soon as Glenn called the Crock residence to let them know he was staying in Paris a few more days, Artemis let the rest of her team know. Only a few hours later, the cloaked bioship was waiting above her house.

The glacier they find, buries the surrounding mountains beneath nearly a mile of ice. With his eyebrows rising into his hairline, Superboy confirms the depth for everyone.

"It's almost twice as thick as the other ones we passed on the way here." His eyes strain as he focuses on the core of the mountain. "But this mountain is warm on the inside and I don't mean hot like lava."

Red Arrow drops his hand as the Kryptonian clone answers the question on the tip of his tongue. "The last active tracker is inside. So we need to find the tunnel they buried."

"I'm on it!" Excited at taking part in another secret mission, the aptly named Secret dives through the floor of the ship.

She phases right through the ice and starts her search. Floating down until she finds an opening in the rock, the rest of Young Justice prepares for the weather.

Stark white versions of each costume to help hide them in the storm, only make the teens stand out all the more in such cramped quarters. As the ship lands on the fresh powder, the heroes disembark with all senses strained.

"Think Sub-Zero was trying to warn us?" Rocket points at one of many towering sculptures.

Each one of the icy creations is a uniquely crafted demonic horror. At least eight are within visual range and none make the teens feel invited to the summit.

"He has no idea we're here," Reminds a shivering Red Arrow. "Otherwise he would have left something to screw with us."

"If Jade knew, we'd be finding traps meant to maim." Artemis scans the horizon, her high tech goggles let her see a couple hundred feet through the storm.

Greta's blonde head pokes through the snow with a wide grin. "This way Danette. Follow me."

A flash of flame pushes away the cold, Firebrand diving into the ice like a comet. A spiral tunnel gets melted downwards, with Superboy's thermal vision the only eyes able to follow the entire way.

"Sure we don't need someone to stay with the ship?" Hex Girl mutters under her breath, as they all warily descend into the darkness.

"Glenn and Jade made it back down," With a charming grin hidden by the shadows, Robin tries to ease the magician's nerves. "We can handle this. We already saved the world, didn't we?"

"Thanks. And I guess we're going to find out if Wally's right..." She glares back at the cocky speedster who claims she just doesn't understand her own powers.

Sighing at the comment, Wally actually apologizes to Zatanna. "The Flash talked to me about that and I was wrong to talk to my friends like that. I'm sorry for not respecting your beliefs."

"But you still don't believe yourself." Robin points out the specific phrasing.

"Doesn't matter if I do or not, how I talked to Zatanna and Kaldur was completely out of line." Hanging his head at the recent memory of his uncle's disappointment, Sonic admits his failure with a red face. "If God is all powerful, no one can ever prove or disprove they exist. Unless I can prove the science, I should respect peoples' beliefs."

"How long did it take him to hammer that lesson home?" Snorts Red Arrow in relief, glad the team has one less bit of friction to worry about.

The speedster doesn't answer immediately, growling back at his fellow redhead when he finally does. "Five hours..." He sighs when M'gann sends him a mental nudge. "Over three patrols."

"You aren't going to be a jerk about it anymore?" Zatanna waits for his answer before making up her mind on whether or not to forgive him.

"Nowhere but in my own head and Ameganzing is the only one ho has to put up with that." The Sega brand hero shoots his girlfriend a look of adoration.

Huntress however shoots the Martian girl a look of amazement. "How have you not got lost in all that insanity?"

The ice tunnel is replaced by stone, Secret and Firebrand waiting at the mouth of a cave. The warmth of the rock is apparent immediately and most of the teens start sweating.

"We only needed you to melt the ice, we didn't need a recreation of Red Volcano." Complains Sonic, which has the gynoid's eyes widen in alarm.

Huntress catches the expression and snarls at the speedster's careless words. "What did we say about bringing up the criminal family members of the team?"

"... Stop doing it unless I want to find out what the bottom of my feet taste like." Wally's eyes glance to Firebrand and he's forced to utter another 'sorry'.

"It's all pretty much the exact same temperature. I can't make anything specific out." Reverting to his normal vision, Kirk sighs in annoyance.

He ends up working through his frustration when they find part of the tunnel collapsed. The water pooled around everyone's feet, is more than enough evidence for who was the cause.

"I don't think my cousin wanted anyone coming back down here." Even Danette starts to feel something powerful is waiting for them. "Are you positive we should enter?" She gives Red Arrow the final say, her eyes only narrowed in concern.

Captain Marvel can also feel a presence beyond the rubble. But he really wants to find out what it is and says nothing.

"If it's actually that dangerous, we need to find out exactly what's in here." Scowling at the idea of something horrible being inside, Roy tries not to think about Balrogs.

"Alright." Superboy lifts the last boulder blocking the way and crushes it to rubble against his knee. "Who wants to go in first?"

"Does anyone mind if I go first?" Captain Marvel is too excited to notice the others are more nervous than eager.

Roy waves him on with a grateful smile. "Knock yourself out Captain. Just shout if something kills you."

The mystical champion ducks through the opening and is first to emerge inside the lush cavern. "Whoa... It's like a jungle in here."

The rest file in behind him, eyes widening at the surreal sight. Robin is first to tear his eyes away from the fauna and see the fluorescent cave paintings.

"It looks like a meteor fell from the sky and a tribe searched for it." The acrobatic boy points to a series of images. "They found it..." He traces the glowing paint and frowns at the nest design. "But a single man killed all but one of them."

"So do you think he's the lone survivor?" Raquelle Irving jerks her chin towards a melting block of ice and the hairy behemoth inside. "Or the savage slayer?"​