Metropolis August 3rd...(see what I mean)A school bus is travelling on a bridge, filled with children on their way to school. When the concrete begins to crumble and two of the support cables fall into their path. Knowing he can"t drive over them the driver slams on the break. Turning the bus so it hits the divider and comes to a full stop.
A moving truck behind them couldn"t stop fast enough, and as they jerk away from the bus they don"t fully collide but do nick the back of it to nudge them through the divider and closer to the edge. While they and a small car crash into the opposing divider. A red car continues to speed, unaware until they crash into the back corner of the bus. Knocking it through the wall on the outside of the bridge and completely destroying their engine compartment.
The bus teeters dangerously on their middle, threatening to fall into the river below.
From a high room in a Wayne Tech building, Bruce Wayne can see the situation. Moving to his desk he tips back the head on an Alfred-bust. Revealing a red b.u.t.ton. Which he presses to reveal a hidden drawer with his Batman costume. Though he doesn"t grab it as he hears a sonic boom go off.
Turning he finds Superman flying towards the bridge.
He flies past the bus and instead goes under the bridge to support the crumbling portion. Then using his heat vision to mend the cracked horizontal supports.
Superboy jumps from tower to tower of the bridge with ease, getting himself closer to the accident. Then landing on the deck without even denting the concrete.
Though below him Superman feels the sudden strain on the area he"s keeping up.
Superboy, seemingly unaware, runs to get the white car away from the edge where they too crashed the through the wall. Picking up the car on its back b.u.mper with ease and turning it a full 180° to place it back in the lanes.
All of which Bruce is observing from his Tower with high power binoculars.
The bus tips further over the edge, causing the kids inside to scream in fear, but he grabs the rear b.u.mper of the bus, his combat boots trying to find purchase and he holds the bus so it won"t fall over the edge. Surprisingly Superboy slowly lifts the bus and places it safely next to him. Superman who finished restabilizing the bridge then flies up 10 feet in the air before land in front of Superboy
"your landing could"ve destabilized the entire bridge," Superman states emotionlessly.
"It didn"t." Superboy counters.
"But it could have." Superman persists. "We don"t yet know the limits of your powers."
Superboy pauses before he continues in a far more hesitant tone. "Well, maybe you could, you know, help me figure that out."
Superman looks away before finally replying. "Batman"s got that covered."
"I know, but-" Superboy tries, just as Superman"s communicator beeps.
"Superman," he responds instantly, cutting Superboy off. "Wait, Arrow. Slow down," he tells who is now noted as Green Arrow to be on the other end the call as he walks away from Superboy. "What"s attacking?" he asks, then listens to GA"s reply. "No, I"m definitely available. Coordinates?" he says, not even glancing at Superboy. "Acknowledged; on my way." only then does he turn back to Superboy. "Sorry, Super... boy." his hesitance only cementing the way Superboy thinks he feels about him. "Duty calls." then takes off without another word.
Superboy clenches his fists, looking away for a moment before glaring at the fading speck that is Superman.
While flying Superman"s communicator beeps twice more, he reaches up and opens the line." Already got the alert, Bruce."
Inside the Wayne Tech building, Bruce is on his phone, watching Superman fly away. "I know, Clark, but we need to talk."
Superman doesn"t say anything as he disconnects his communicator and continues flying.
Mount Justice August 3rd...
Kid Flash and Aqualad are playing virtual air hockey, Kid Flash gets one right past Kaldur, and into his goal. Kaldur looks stunned for a moment, then glares compet.i.tively at Kid Flash who is eating a banana.
Recognize: Superboy; B-0-4
Glaring as he appears in the Zeta Tube he stalks across the room.
"Hi, Superboy." M"gann tries, as Superboy walks right through their game board. Causing Robin to step out, looking at Superboy in a cross between curiosity and slight glare. "How was Metropolis?" M"gann continues.
"I should have stayed here" as Superboy walks past them all.
Black Canary clears her throat behind Kid Flash, catching their attention as she and Martian Manhunter step out of the shadows. "Ready for training everyone?" she questions.
M"gann is the first to react, as peppy as ever. "Black Canary! Uncle J"onn!" she goes up and hugs her uncle. Though he doesn"t reach out and embrace her back, he does duck his chin to meet the top of her head before she steps back.
"M"gann, I was in the neighbourhood so I thought I"d see how you were adjusting," J"onn says, placing a hand on his niece"s shoulder.
"A few b.u.mps, but I"m learning," she a.s.sures, as Superboy watches from the hallway entrance.
Going to walk away, but Canary sees him as J"onn replies "that"s all I can ask."
"Stick around," Canary calls out, getting Superboy to stop in his tracks. "Cla.s.s is in session." he turns back but crosses his arm over his A.
Recognize: Captain America; B-0-6
Steve walks out of the Zeta Tube catching the attention of Canary, J"onn and the Team "looks like it started already" he thought as he joined in the group.
"where were you?" Robin questions Steve as he stands next to him.
Without looking at him Steve answers "I was working on something." hearing this Canary raises her eyebrow thinking what he said is suspicious.
Canary then walks to the centre of the ring, turning the tiles pure white with a blue barrier. "I consider it an honour to be your teacher." she prefaces, turning towards the larger grouping of teens as she pulls on her jacket slightly. "I"ll throw a lot at you everything I"ve learned from my own mentors." she continues as she pulls off her jacket, getting it just beyond the tear that was showing off a wrapping around her arm. She grunts through the pain but finishes taking it off. "And my own bruises," she confesses, holding the wrapping.
"What happened?" M"gann asks, worriedly.
"The job," Canary replies simply, throwing her own jacket away. " Now, combat is about controlling conflict. Putting the battle on your terms. You should always be acting, never reacting." she tells them, before lightening her tone slightly. "I"ll need a sparring partner."
"Right here. Yeah!" Kid Flash calls out raising his hand, as he still has food in his mouth. Stepping up, Aqualad frowns and Robin has a sly smirk. He meets her in the middle, finishing the banana in one bite and swallowing before he continues. "After this…" he starts, aiming his banana peel for the garbage. "Swish…" commentating as it makes it in. "I"ll show you my moves."
Black Canary smiles knowingly as her eyes narrow. She throws a quick jab, which he blocks, but finds his feet being taken out from under him. Before even he can react. He hits with a thud that causes M"gann to look on worriedly, Aqualad to lean back, and Robin to frown with confusion.
On the floor, it reads in big letters. Kid Flash > Status: Fail
Oh. Hurts so good." he manages to still be his joke making self, even when he"s in pain.
"Good block," Canary admits. "But did anyone see what he did wrong?" she asks as she helps him back to his feet.
Robin is all too excited to answer this one. "Ooh, ooh. He hit on teacher and got served?"
Kid Flash holds the shoulder that hit first, which just happens to be the one he blocked with as he looks back, annoyed and horrified that Robin said that. "Dude!"
"He allowed her to dictate the terms of battle by underestimating because he had powers and need up getting served," Cap says causing black Canary to smile.
"Oh please." Canary arches an eyebrow as turns her head to look over her shoulder at annoyed Superboy. "With my powers, the battle"s always on my terms." he jabs his thumb inadvertently at the S, but clearly means himself not because of the S, but because of how he sees himself. "I"m a living weapon" clenching his hands to prove his point and make it very clear how he sees himself. " and this is a waste of my time."
Canary now has her injured shoulder facing him as she smiles, a craving for the fight ahead in her eyes. "Prove it."
Superboy"s eyebrows raise, not expecting that answer before he schools his features and walks into the ring. As he stands before Canary he crosses his arms and Kid Flash quickly walks back towards the other members of the Team.
Both drop into a fighting stance at the same time. Superboy comes in with a cross, that Canary takes a singular step back from. Giving her plenty of time to reach out with both hands, grab his forearm and throw him across the ring. Where he lands on his b.u.t.t, then to his back.
Robin points and laughs until Aqualad elbows him in the side. He doesn"t stop laughing but covers his mouth with his gloves.
Superboy remains on the ground for a moment the words Superboy > Status: > Fail showing, before he pushes himself back to his knees with a growl.
Though that doesn"t sway Canary. "You"re angry." she merely states, standing calm. "Good, but don"t react. Channel that anger-"
Superboy gets to his feet and charges at her with another punch she jumps up and uses his shoulders to flip over him. Landing closely behind him, but still able to see him out of the corner of her eye. As he turns to hit her with a back fist she drops taking his feet out from under him.
Once again the floor read Superboy > Status: > Fail
From the sidelines, M"gann flinches back, Robin m.u.f.fles his own laughs, Aqualad looks worried and Kid Flash frowns.
By the time he"s ready to stand again, Canary already is, offering her hand. "That"s it." Superboy growls, standing without her help. "I"m done."
"Training is mandatory." Canary says as he starts to walk away, placing a hand on his shoulder, which he turns towards her as he shakes it off. His rage flowing under his eyes.
"Connor! calm down" Superboy then glares at Steve before finally calming down a little.
the whole room beeps. Opening a holoscreen. "Batman to the Cave." the Dark Knight calls, all rush to join Superboy and Canary. As they do, Batman continues. "A new menace attack Green Arrow and Black Canary. The attacker was capable of studying, the duplicating the powers and abilities of its opponents."
On a smaller screen the image of the attacker become a video feed, where Superman goes for a ma.s.sive punch, only for it to get caught and the attacker to then use the Kryptonian to take out Red Tornado, and Flash, before throwing the alien. Then turning to use its newly acquired laser eyes to take out two Batarangs.
"Arrow called in reinforcements," Batman continues as the video pauses. "which nearly proved disastrous as our foe gained more and more power with each new combatant."
"Whoa." Kid Flash is the first one to vocalize, though Kaldur looks worried and Superboy clenches his jaw. "One guy with the powers of the entire League?" it seems unbelievable, which even Robin reacts to, looking just as worried at Kaldur, his mouth even dropping open slightly, While M"gann looks on nervously but Cap is was completely calm as if he saw it all before.
"In the end, it took eight Leaguers four hours to defeat and dismantle the android." Batman informs, which catches Robin"s attention.
"An android?" he questions. "Who built it, T.O. Morrow?" he continues to ask stepping up since this is where he thrives.
"Good guess, Robin." Batman states, causing Superboy to look down as he sees, even more, working father/son relationships within the League and Team. "But Red Tornado doesn"t think so."
"The technology bears the signature of Professor Ivo." Martian Manhunter tells them.
"Ivo?" Aqualad questions, shocked. "But Ivo"s dead."
Canary looks over her shoulder. "So we all thought or hoped." clearly it is later
"To make certain this threat is permanently neutralized" another small screen pops up on the opposite side of the where the footage from the fight was. "we"re sending two trucks carrying the Android"s parts to two separate STAR Labs facilities" a point between the four noted cities- which are Springfield, Gotham, Boston and NYC- becomes a red triangle. "in Boston and New York" the two paths going in completely separate directions, but beginning at the triangle"s base which is now a glowing red dot. "for immediate evaluation. Every precaution is being taken." their attention comes back to Batman on the main screen. "We"ll have four additional trucks to create confusion in case Ivo or anyone tries to recover the remains." This is where they come in. "You will split into undercover teams to safeguard the two real trucks."
Yes!" Kid Flash says excitedly. "Road trip." Canary turns to Kid with an angered look while Aqualad and M"gann look to him rather confused. Robin joins and glares behind his mask.
"So now we take out your trash?" Superboy questions angrily.
"You had something better to do?" Batman counters, Superboy looks away just Aqualad"s transmitter goes off.
"Coordinates received. On our way." Aqualad confirms, everyone but Superboy and Cap run off.
As walks away Canary grabs his arm. "When you"re ready, I"ll be here." she tells him honestly. He doesn"t respond, merely looking away before continuing to walk off.
Cap walks over too Canary and says "sorry about my brother he"s just been on edge lately" Cap says sincerely before walking off leaving Canary in the centre of the room.