"So, the Light actually sent another Superman clone after you, but this one was a full-blooded Kryptonian that has also been enhanced to take on you, Superman and Match at the same time?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"And how hard did you guys actually had to try?", Wally asked and I glanced at the amused smile on his face before shaking my head.
"Pretty hard. For some reason, it felt as if he was adapting to our strength and abilities as the battle continued to the point that I had to use my tactile telekinesis to disrupt his body from the inside out to disorient him."
"Wait, disorient and not knock unconscious?"
"Like I said, he was made to take on Supes, Match and I," I said with a shrug and Wally grimaced at that before I looked to Dick to see him typing away at his portable PC gauntlet.
"What is he up to?"
"Oh, well, remember the assassin chick and her group that tried to kill that General guy?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, while you and Match were out fighting Kryptonians, we had to deal with them because they wanted to stop a scientist before she could destroy their fog of nano-machines that destroys matter as well as hack into any system and retain the information."
'Oh, right. Yeah, that did happen. Red Arrow saved her from the League of Shadows, right? Man, it's only been a couple of months and already I've forgotten some parts of the story.'
"Huh, sounds like a lot of fun," I said with a sarcastic smile before I blinked as Artemis giggled while patting my bicep.
"Oh, it was, but unfortunately, a certain speedster messed up and nearly cost us the mission."
"Hey, it's not my fault they put that ice floor there."
"Wally, what's the one thing I've always told you when you're running?"
"Always pay attention to my surroundings."
"Precisely. You're fast and you have the best reflexes on the team, but you can't phase like your uncle…or can you?", I asked, watching as Wally just grumbled before looking to Match as he stood up.
"Tired, Match?"
"Going to sleep. See Brother tomorrow."
"Sleep tight, Match," I waved with a smile, watching as he left before Artemis spoke in a soft tone.
"You have gotten quite good in keeping him calm."
"Oh, I don't do anything other than make sure he doesn't get too excited or angry."
"Hmm, perhaps you could give me some of those lessons?"
"With how you're barely keeping it together thanks to Wally, I'd be happy to," I said with a chuckle, a giggle escaping her lips while Wally stood up with a huff.
"I'm going for a jog."
"Stay safe and Wally, don't forget your energy bars," I said as he rushed out of the entrance before smiling amusedly as he turned and quickly ran to the kitchen, running out the entrance just a second later.
'Huh, look at me being the responsible one…This shit's a lot of work.'
"Dick, wanna say what you're typing on your PC?"
"Trying to figure out the routes and assassinations the League of Shadows have done in the past three weeks. It's a lot easier than I was expecting and that makes me wonder whether or not it was actually them or decoy assassins done by amateurs that they hired."
"What if it's both? Half of them are the League of Shadows and the other halves are that of amateur assassins trying to catch the group's attention and become part of their group?"
"That's what I've been doing for the past hour. Unfortunately, there have been ten assassinations and over a hundred assassination attempts."
"Maybe you should look closely at the recent assassination you all fought off instead of the numerous ones around the world. What do you see that matches the assassins that you fought off? Weapon marks, any poison residue, battle markings, remnants of tools found in the aftermath."
"…Since when are you a master detective?", Dick asked even as he continued to type away at his keyboard and I shrugged as I leaned back in my seat.
"I've done my fair share now and again…in my mind. Wait, was I saying the right stuff?"
"You were using simple terms, but I think I get what you meant overall. I guess Batman was right. The insight of someone new helped me see what I'm missing."
"And you're about to go on a twelve hour detective streak again, aren't you?", I said with a knowing look, watching as he simply nodded before making his way back to the rooms.
"Remember, you've only slept for six hours last time so eight hours and no caffeine an hour before you sleep."
"You're not my dad."
"I will call Batman," I said with a raised eyebrow, watching as he turned to me before smirking as he sighed and continued walking to his room.
"So, you just threaten them with Batman and they listen, huh?", I heard Artemis say, turning to see her typing away at the holographic computer and looking through…restaurants near us?
"Usually, yeah, but if they still don't listen, I just rip out a street sign and tie them up with it."
"And how many times does that work?", She asked and I sighed as I leaned back in the chair and shook my head.
"Robin slips out from it, Wally just runs away before I can catch him and Kaldur usually sits for a minute before I feel bad and let him go. So, I threaten them with their most prized possessions and they quickly start dancing to my tune."
"Ooh~ How villainous~"
"Hey, someone's got to be the villain and besides, most of them are terrified whenever I name Batman so I don't have to pull out the big guns."
"Hmm, is that for the guys or are you softer with us ladies?"
"Nope, everyone gets fair treatment, equality and all that other crap," I said with a shrug, to which she hummed before she stood up with a smile. I did tense slightly as she trailed a finger up my arm, a soft giggle escaping her lips as she walked past and nodded.
"Glad to hear. Perhaps one day, you can show me how rough your punishments can get."
'…Okay, so she's definitely hinting at something else,' I thought as I watched Artemis leave and I'll be man enough to admit it. I did look at her ass as she walked away and she didn't seem to mind considering she caught me looking and just…smiled.
Oh, these Kryptonian genes are good~
"Chris! You're back!", I nearly jumped out of my seat as M'gann's voice came from behind me, flailing a bit before remembering that I could fly as I caught myself and narrowed my eyes at her giggling form.
"You were wanting to do that, weren't you?", She just giggled at my words, to which I turned my gaze to Connor who was looking everywhere but at me.
Yeah, he's definitely in on it too.
"S-Sorry. It's just, you looked like you were in thought so I wanted to surprise you."
"Well, it was a nice surprise. Where have you two been anyway?"
"With Dubbilex and the other Genomorphs. They've been helping M'gann and I train our telepathic abilities."
"Crap. I forgot that they wanted to see Match and I."
"Well, we can still go."
"I can, but Match is tired from our battle so I want to give him some time to sleep it off," I said with a smile, to which she nodded as she pulled the seat that Artemis was sitting in closer before plopping down into it with a smile.
"Is that Artemis' perfume?", She asked as she sniffed the air and I just slowly looked at Connor who shrugged before turning my gaze back to the frowning Martian.
"How do you even remember what she smells like?"
"Super senses and an enhanced smell. What, you're telling me you can't smell her?"
"Of course I can. Anyway, she was here along with the Team, yeah. We were discussing the last mission you guys went on."
"Oh, right. Wait, did Wally tell you what happened?"
"No? Is it something bad?", I asked with a frown and she giggled before giving a shrug.
"Depends on how you see it. One of the assassins had this red webbing and when Wally ran into it, we found out that it was electric."
"Oh, that's not that bad, then."
"He slipped while trying to show off and went crotch first into it," she said and I winced as Connor nodded from where he was sitting on the edge of the table.
"Yeah, it was rough, especially since it smelled a bit like burned flesh and he had to walk bow-legged for a few minutes while his legs tried to get any feeling back."
"Huh, that will teach him to stop taking everything for granted."
"I know. Anyway, how did your time to Supes go?"
"It was good until we had to fight against another clone from the Light."
"Oh, does that mean a new addition to the team?", She asked before her eyes widened slightly as I sighed and shook my head.
"Unfortunately not. They, uh…they made this one not only stronger than Superman but also rid him of his conscious mind to make sure that we didn't save him. So, in order to ensure that no damage was done, I had to keep him distracted along with Match and Supes while Wonder Woman decapitated him."
"…Oh…Are you…?"
"Doing good? No, not in the slightest, but hey. At least we made sure no one else had to suffer. I just wish there was a way we could have helped him, you know?"
"There could have been, but I think I know a better way to help you."
"Oh, really? And what way is that?", I asked, not surprised when she grinned and took out what seemed to be a recipe.
"My uncle gave it to me. It's a recipe for chocolate brownies. You want to help?"
"…Yeah, let's do it."
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"Hey, Dubbilex," I waved with a smile as I landed on the shores of Geotopia, my eyes widening slightly as I caught sight of the bustling city behind Dubbilex.
"Chris, great to see you and you too, Match," Match waved in greeting even as he continued walking, the G-Goblin looking amused at the interaction before he looked to me as I walked closer.
"How have you been, brother?", I asked as I shook his outstretched hand before he grunted as I pulled him into a hug with a grin.
"Better than you, I hear. Apologies for Doomsday. I should have warned you about him."
"You knew?"
"About him? I only knew that he was not even halfway done when our brothers and I escaped Cadmus' grasp."
"So what you're telling me is that he was pulled out early as a test? Oh, now I wish I could find the Light or Lex at least."
"Anger is not a good colour on you, brother, though I understand your want to put Luthor in a coma."
"Oh, not a coma. He's shown that he doesn't care for the lives of Kryptonians so why should I care for his?", I asked with a frown, catching Dubbilex's narrowed eyes as he walked closer.
"Because stooping to his level makes you no better than he is."
"Who says I want to be better? I tried, Dubbilex. I always hear that one should see the good in others, but right now, I want nothing more than to beat the ever-loving shit out of Lex Luthor and his conspirators. Whether they survive it or not is up to the gods."
"…Now, you're sounding like a Genomorph," He spoke with a smile as he patted my shoulder before walking to the city and I smiled as I followed after him.
"Sorry for my outburst there."
"Oh, no need to apologize. Like I said, you sounded like a real Genomorph in your wording and I could not be more proud to have you as my brother. Now, what do you think of our town?", I was thankful for his attempt to shift away from what just happened, looking around at the city and smiling at where Match was having a tug-of-war match with five G-Trolls.
"It is incredible what a gifted leader and a dedicated group can do in just a few months."
"I wouldn't exactly call myself gifted."
"I would. Not many can create a working civilization in the span of a few months with no prior experience of doing so," I spoke with a smile and he looked grateful as he bowed his head with a smile.
"Now! Take me on a tour. I want to see how the rest of the town looks."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"A power surge in the middle of the Bialyan Desert. Is that something that usually happens?", I asked as the Titans and I sat in the Bio-Ship, Ms. Martian steering it while Robin shook his head.
"Something like this has not happened in the past fifty years. That is why Batman has asked us to go and see whether or not there's anyone responsible for the surges."
"Got it. So, Chris, what kind of food do you like?", Artemis asked as she turned to me and I raised an eyebrow at the question before shrugging.
"Depends on what the occasion is and what time of day it is."
"Okay. It's early evening and you're on a date, but the girl in question isn't classy and is good with anything."
"If that's the case, we're looking at a homemade meal. If the girl is good with anything, that means she won't mind if we eat at home and if I cook for her, that will show her that I actually appreciate her agreeing to coming on the date."
"And how many girls has that trick worked on?"
"Oh, I just think that's what I would do considering I've never been on a date."
"Really? Hmm, good to know," She murmured, going back to looking out the window before I leaned over to Wally as he moved closer.
"What's that about?"
"Honestly? I think I know, but I don't want to make assumptions."
"Huh…think I can date M'gann then?"
"You've already done so a thousand times and failed every time, but sure. Go ahe-," I stopped as I heard a faint sound in the distance, standing up with a frown and catching everyone's attention before I spoke.
"Ms. Martian, change of plans. Titan, do you hear that?"
"Someone…in pain?"
"Where?"
"Twenty miles south-east," I answered, M'gann nodding as she turned the ship and flew in that direction.
"Formation Aegis. Artemis, Titan, Aqualad, you three follow at a reasonable distance to keep an eye on both the team and the ship. Ms. Martian, Robin, Velocity, you three stick to the ship just in case we need to make a quick getaway. Goblin, you're with me."
"Wait, really? You sure you don't need more help?", Artemis asked with a frown as the ship landed, to which I smiled as I walked out the doors to the ship as it opened.
"I can survive the most out of all of us. Remember, do not attack unless you see my signal and please keep to the formation."
"Got it," They mumbled in agreement before everyone winced as I snapped my fingers and created a high-pitched shockwave in the ship.
"No mumbling. This is a mission that could cost us our lives so please take this seriously, okay?"
"Don't worry, Chris. We will."
"And no telepathic links! We don't know who might be listening in out here."
'Especially since this is the mission where Psimon supposedly makes us all forget the past six months,' I don't know exactly what would happen since I didn't exist until two months ago and honestly, I didn't want to find out.
'Now, what the hell is that?', I thought as I continued walking, the second team slowly following around three yards back. I kept my attention focused on the smoldering crater in front of me, the black ethereal smoke making me a bit wary as I clapped my hands and frowned as it didn't disperse.
'Okay, that means we're dealing with magical smoke here. Lovel-Someone's coming out,' I thought with a narrowed frown as my body tensed, stopping just a few yards away from the crater as the sound of a girl groaning became audible.
"Urgh~ Why did I think that was a good idea?", The voice murmured as a figure walked out of the smoke, a cold chill racing through my body at the pale girl in a dark purple cloak wearing a black leotard under it and a blood-red diamond symbol on her forehead.
'Oh, this is some bullshit.'
A/N: And we're shifting things around~! it's still the same story, but the team is ever-expanding and soon~ The Titans will be here~!
A new character is introduced and the mission is already off to a crazy start. What else can happen? Let's find out next time.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until next week...
Ba-Bye~!