New Metropolis, 5/25/2018, 2:00 PM
The team sat in the waiting room in the Hall of Justice, the new Hall was still something they were getting used to, but the building was beautiful, filled with statues of Leaguers from over the years and memorials honoring the fallen. The group sat around the waiting room, Cassie was laying on the couch while Kyle and Megan both stood by the door to the League's command room discussing something, Kara and Eddie were playing a board game while Tara, Tula, Wally, and Artemis sat in a circle at one of the tables.
"So why do you think Diana called us here anyway?" Wally asked snacking on a bag of chips.
"Maybe we're getting a new big mission?" Tara asked leaning against the table with her hand pressing against her cheek, "I'm ready for something big!"
"I bet we're getting a new team member." Artemis said twirling her hair, "I wonder who it could be though..."
"A new member of the team?" Tula asked, "How often does that happen?"
"Well given our numbers... more often than you'd expect." Artemis shrugged looking around the room, "Who knows what it could be, I mean they could-"
The metal doors leading to the meeting room slid open as Wonder Woman and Black Lightning walked in and the Team all stood up as they did so. They moved over to congregate around the League members ready to hear what the news was.
"As you know, the Team has done some amazing things in these past few years." Wonder Woman smiled looking around at them, "We have someone we'd like you all to meet." She looked back and signaled for someone to come in.
A young teen walked in, he had to be only seventeen, but the group all knew who he was. It was the new Robin.
"Hey everybody." The boy smiled looking around at them, he was in his costume, the classic Robin outfit, "My name is Tim, I'm the new Robin and I'd like to join you."
"How is there a new Robin without Batman?" Wally asked crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes, "Unless... there is a NEW Batman?"
"There is." Black Lightning nodded looking to Tim, "We haven't had much luck in bringing him into the fold though. Guess that's something these bat types have in common."
The group gasped looking at each other in confusion and excitement until Wonder Woman cleared her throat and looked to Tim.
"Yes there's a new Batman." Tim nodded, "He's not entirely open to leaving Gotham right now, but I've heard so much about the work you all have done and... I figured Gotham is in safe hands right now and I could use a break from the dark streets of Gotham."
"You're welcome here with us, Robin." Megan smiled, "I think you'll find us to be something like a new family."
"I hope so." Tim smiled, "I'm ready to help however I can!"
"Great." Wonder Woman smiled, "Tim already put his things in his quarters on the Watchtower, so its time for your new assignment." She turned as the doors swung open and the Team followed into the League briefing room.
The Team gathered around as Wonder Woman and Black Lightning stood in front of the holographic screen, "We've been hearing reports of a strange seismic activity near Los Angeles. Alpha Squad will investigate, the squad will consist of Blue Beetle, Wondergirl, Miss Martian, and Kid Devil. Meanwhile, we've also received reports of organized crime rising in the south, Beta Squad will be heading to New Orleans, the squad will be Kyle, Aquagirl, and Terra. Finally, Gamma Squad will be investigating reports of strange power outages in New York City, the squad will be Kid Flash, Supergirl, and Robin. Keep in contact with each other, be smart, you've all done this for a long time, but we know how surprising this world can be."
The Team nodded and murmured amongst themselves as the holograms shut off. Wonder Woman nodded back, "Good. Cyborg will be on the Watchtower coordinating, keep in communication and report what you find. Good luck to all of you."
***
New Orleans, 5/25/2018, 3:45 PM
Kyle looked out upon the city of New Orleans as the sun shone down reflecting upon the rooftops and buildings. He looked over to Aquagirl and Terra as they crouched next to him, they watched a warehouse below where Cyborg had been able to track communications surrounding the movement of a powerful drug called Overhaul.
"Beta Squad, I'm seeing communications outlining that a new shipment of Overhaul should be arriving at that warehouse any minute. Keep on the lookout and see if you can identify who's moving it. If you can apprehend them, then move in, but if not stay out of trouble." Cyborg's voice spoke in their ears as a line of trucks began moving down the street towards the building.
"Got it." Kyle nodded and turned to Aquagirl and Terra, "Aquagirl move in, stay silent."
She nodded back and began moving down the building towards the warehouse. She flipped from the building they stood on to the next running to leap to the side of the warehouse. Kyle looked down at the trucks as one turned into the warehouse lot moving towards the building.
"Keep eyes on that truck." Kyle said to them as he watched the doors swing open, "Let us know what you see in there Tula."
"Understood." Tula's voice responded. Kyle watched as she climbed up the building and slipped inside through a window, "Target sighted, but I'm not sure who it is... One of the ones who seem to be in charge is wearing a mask... wait. There's someone else."
"Who?" Kyle pressed as he watched the doors swing closed, the truck was inside and the men outside the building began to move inwards.
"Its... Livewire!" Aquagirl responded, "I think she's in charge of this."
"Don't move." Kyle replied turning to Terra and smiling, "I think its time to crash this party."
Kyle leaped into the air flying towards the building while Terra hopped on a piece of concrete she lifted from the street flying behind him. Kyle raised his fist blasting through the glass windows and inside the building, he looked down at the ground as the drug traffickers below all looked up startled by the sudden intrusion. Terra crashed in as well landing on the floor as her boulder smashed into the truck carrying the Overhaul. Aquagirl leaped down as well taking out several thugs as she landed with her mystic atlantean magic. The masked man quickly sprinted at Tula slamming her in the chest with a small explosive knocking her against the wall. The man quickly moved in knocking her head against the wall again and throwing her to the ground.
"Move out! We've been compromised!" The mask hid his voice with a voice modulator, to Livewire as Kyle flew towards her, she raised her hands sending electric currents racing at him, but he raised his ring creating a shield to bounce the electricity off of. Meanwhile, Terra raced towards Livewire raising the ground beneath her, but the masked man fired on her and drew a baton racing towards Terra as Livewire leaped to the ground. Kyle blasted energy at the man in the mask, but he retreated with Livewire as their men moved towards the back. Tula slowly stood up, but the rooftop quickly burst open as a helicopter lowered down towards them, a man was aboard who quickly raised his hand, he was holding what seemed to be a wand. A blast of energy flew down hitting Tula away and then another blast knocked Kyle down as well. A wire lowered down as Livewire and the masked man quickly grabbed hold and were lifted upwards by the helicopter. Kyle shook off the pain flying after them as Terra was blasted back as well. The masked man dropped a small package down from the helicopter and Kyle widened his eyes as he heard a beeping sound coming from it. He quickly turned around rushing towards it as he lifted up his arm concealing the package in an energy sphere. The package exploded in the energy field and Kyle was able to contain the blast. He looked over as Tula slowly stood up and Terra ran over as well.
"Who was that guy in the chopper? And who was the one with the mask on?!" She exclaimed looking around at the destroyed building, "We didn't get anywhere here."
"That was Abra Kadabra." Kyle sighed as he knelt down from the exhaustion, "He's a... magician? He uses technology for most of his tricks though. I don't know who the one in the mask was... I've never seen him before. We...We need to report in."
"Great." Tula sighed, "You can deal with that one, squad leader. We should probably move though, I imagine the police will be arriving soon."
"Right." Kyle nodded in confirmation standing up, "Lets move."
***
New York City, 5/25/2018, 3:30 PM
"So uh...what do you think of the Team so far?" Wally asked as he walked beside Tim in the alleyway. The new Robin was quiet, but that didn't surprise Wally, all the so called "Bat Family" members were. Although Dick never seemed to keep his mouth shut sometimes.
"They're... nice." Tim replied, "I've never really had a family before, the Titans were great, but I had to go back to Gotham because I was needed there, but Batman... well, he is still growing on me and this life is... just insane."
"You can say that again." Kara said floating down to them.
"See anything?" Tim asked as Kara touched the ground.
"No, nothing. No sign of any disturbances or anything, no clue what could be causing these power outages." Kara shook her head and Tim quickly raised his wrist and tapped a few buttons on his suit.
"I'm looking at the power grid again and... I think I found something!" Tim looked up at them and showed them the map he was looking at, "I'm seeing random spikes all around the city, but I think they're originating somewhere... Here!" He pointed at a spot on the map.
"And where is that exactly?" Wally asked, squinting at the screen.
"Beneath the city." Tim looked over in the alleyway at a sewer grate, "We need to go in."
Kara lifted up the sewer grate and the three of them slipped down inside. It was dark and murky in the sewer system, there was little to no light so Robin quickly cracked a small neon stick to allow them to see. Kara led them down the tunnel, she raised her hand as they reached a corner though and looked back at them nodding.
Wally quickly sped over to take a look, there were three figures a few yards away. He moved back to the others as Kara raised her hand and quickly flew around the corner. Wally blinked as Tim looked back at him blinking as well and they both turned the corner to see Kara standing over the three goons.
"Well, you could've left us one to deal with." Wally huffed as he walked over, Tim knelt by the thugs and widened his eyes.
"These are League assassins." He looked up at Kara and Wally with wide eyes, "The last time I saw the League was when Ra's came back."
"But Ra's is dead!" Wally widened his eyes looking to Tim, "I read the report from the Titans, I know he was killed after being resurrected, so who is in charge now?"
"I have a few guesses." Tim narrowed his eyes, "But we should keep moving." The group moved through the sewer corridors until they reached a waterfall leading into a larger chamber. The room was filled with league assassins moving around with scientists surrounding different computers and large devices. In the center of the room stood one large spire emitting electricity into smaller coils running from it down to the other devices around the room.
"What the hell..." Kara whispered in shock as the three stared down at the operation.
"I think we should get back up..." Wally said backing away with wide eyes, "We have no clue what we're dealing with here."
"I think we can take them." Tim said clenching his fist, "We have Supergirl."
Kara looked to Wally as his mouth gaped open, but he snapped back to reality as he responded, "Are you crazy?! Thats an army right there and we have no clue what the hell that thing is!" He pointed to the giant machine in the center, "We could be walking into a trap!"
"The rest of the team is busy." Tim retorted, "We can do this!"
"We report to Cyborg and call for back up, that's the smart thing to do," Wally said looking to Kara, but suddenly Tim was gone. Wally widened his eyes looking around, "Oh no..."
***
Los Angeles, 5/25/2018, 3:10 PM
"Keep in contact through the mind link." Miss Martian's voice echoed in Artemis' head, "You see something, say it."
Artemis flew through the sky in her Blue Beetle armor watching below for any signs of activity. She flew above the coast as the waves crashed against the beach, Los Angeles was in the distance and she could sense they were getting closer. Her scanners were showing no signs of seismic quakes, but the scanner was detecting large spikes in energy. Wondergirl flew by her also scanning the ground she looked to Artemis who shook her head in response.
"I've got nothing but strange energy signatures." Artemis reported to the others.
"Um I think I've found something." Kid Devil sounded out and Artemis quickly turned towards his position flying his way, "I don't know if I exactly... know what it is."
Artemis landed behind Kid Devil and moved up next to him while Wondergirl and Miss Martian landed shortly after. The four gazed down at a burning fire on the cliff facing the ocean, a figure stood before with his arms raised.
"I'll go down first, you all flank him." Artemis said raising her helmet and quickly taking off for the figure.
"Artemis be careful!" Miss Martian scolded, but Artemis landed on the opposite side of the fire from the man.
"Hello there." She said moving up slowly, he was muttering words under his breath.
"The time is soon upon us..." The man said turning towards her, he was covered in tattoos and he wore simple robes as if he were a monk, "I am but a Pariah of the coming age."
"I'm sorry, but what are you talking about?" Artemis narrowed her eyes, this guy was some sort of crazy.
"Don't you see child?" The man smiled creepily turning towards her as the fire grew stronger, "Apocalypse is upon us, a new age of darkness will soon overtake the world. You cannot stop it, it cannot be thwarted, the dark one is rising, the Horsemen are here."
"The who? Look... Pariah, is it?" She asked lowering her helmet to reveal her face, "I don't know who you are or what you think is going on, but the world is most definitely not ending. Not while the Justice League has anything to say about it."
"Ah...the Justice League." The Pariah said breathing in the smoke of the fire, "The Justice League is weak, a poor excuse for heroes. None of you can stop the end from happening. The Justice League is a police force, a scourge upon this world enslaving us from reaching our full potential. I have found my full potential through the darkness." He raised his hand towards Artemis with his palm facing her, "Watch." He smiled as his eyes grew dark and a blast of energy shot from his hand, Artemis widened her eyes as it hit her head on knocking her back into a clump of rocks. Pariah began to laugh as the fire grew, but Wondergirl quickly landed behind him and punched him through the flames and into the ground. Miss Martian landed in front of him next and raised her hand lifting him into the air with her psychic abilities. The man continued laughing though, unbothered by the lack of control over his body. Kid Devil teleported behind Miss Martian moving in front of Pariah as well.
"You're too late!" He snarled, "You have even brought the one they desired..." His eyes moved to Eddie now as he stood in front of him, his yellow eyes gleaming in the sun.
Artemis stood up slowly widening her eyes as the ground began to shake. She looked ahead as the ground shook again, harder this time as the group struggled to stay on their toes. Artemis quickly flew into the air while the others did so as well, but Eddie stood unmoving in front of Pariah.
"Kid! Move!" Wondergirl yelled, but suddenly the ground quaked again and burst open as a giant man stood from the earth clad in bronze armor carrying a massive hammer, pointy rocks protruded from his armor and his eyes glowed a bright white.
"Ah..." The man sighed as he breathed in the air, "This world... so young..." He turned towards Eddie now who trembled before the massive giant, he had to be seven feet tall at least, "My brother," He reached his hand out to Eddie, but Wondergirl quickly flew in punching the man back, but he barely felt it and quickly headbutted in her in return knocking her through the air and out into the ocean. Artemis widened her eyes and raised her arms forming a plasma cannon and shot an energy blast at the man. The blast did little more than anger him though as he turned amidst the smoke and leapt into the air flying towards her. He flew above her raising his giant hammer and Artemis quickly flew back dodging a swing.
"You DARE challenge me?!" He boomed as he reached out his hand grabbing her by the arm and swinging her down towards the earth, "I am ATRIUS! Titan of the earth!" He raised his fist and the earth bent to his will as rocks pointed up out of the ground trapping Artemis as she landed. She looked upwards as Miss Martian raised her hands attempting to invade Atrius' mind, but he raised his hand and shot her out of the sky with an energy blast. Artemis quickly opened her communications with Cyborg.
"We need back up! ASAP!" Artemis yelled as she blasted her way out of the rocky prison with her cannon on the chest piece of her armor, "We need heavy hitters! Now!"
"On it." Cyborg replied, "Whats going on down there?"
"Nothing good." Artemis replied as she watched Atrius land near Kid Devil, but Kid quickly teleported behind him hitting the giant with his fiery breath. It did little though as Atrius swung around reaching for Kid, but he quickly teleported out of the way. This guy was going to take way more than four teens to be taken down.