August 20th, 2010
17:45 PM EDT
The cave's living room was a mess of tension and frustration, the air thick enough to cut with a knife. Zeke slouched on one of the couches, his head pounding from the constant barrage of questions he'd been fielding for what felt like forever. Across from him, Artemis had claimed the other couch, looking about as thrilled to be there as he felt.
Kaldur and Conner stood off to the side, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion, with a healthy dose of the uncaring irritation that Superboy was known for. Kaldur's dark eyes were narrowed, his brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of the situation. Conner, on the other hand, just looked like he wanted to punch something. The kitchen area wasn't far, and Zeke could see Robin perched on the counter, sunglasses hiding whatever look was in his eyes. The Boy Wonder's jaw was set, his lips pressed into a thin line. M'gann hovered nearby, behind the counter Robin rested his keister on, her green skin a stark contrast to the stainless steel appliances.
And then there was Wally.
The speedster had been pacing for the last half hour, zipping between the kitchen and living room like a red-headed pinball ever since he burst out of the Zeta Tube. His constant motion was making Zeke dizzy, or maybe that was just the aftermath of nearly dying.
Again.
"—ow do you not know where the helmet went?" Wally demanded for what had to be the millionth time, coming to an abrupt stop. Throwing his hands up into the air disbelievingly, the speedster took a few more steps further, his sneakers squeaking against the polished floor. "It's a big shiny gold thing!"
Zeke squeezed his eyes shut, willing away the urge to scream. Count to ten, Zeke. Just count to ten, he told himself, taking a deep breath. When he opened them, Wally was still there, still waiting for an answer. Great.
"I told you already," he hissed through clenched teeth, each word precise and laden with barely restrained frustration. "The old man cast a spell and it went off flying through space. No, I don't know what spell he cast. And no, I can't remember what he said. It was kind of a high-tension moment, you know, with the whole almost dying thing?"
Wally folded his arms, his foot tapping against the ground so fast it was practically vibrating. The constant motion was giving Zeke a headache.
Or maybe making his existing headache worse.
It was hard to tell at this point.
Zeke closed his eyes again, wishing he could just sink into the couch and disappear. Maybe if I concentrate hard enough, I'll develop teleportation powers. That'd be nice.
"And what happened to the Witch Boy?" Robin's voice cut through Zeke's desperate attempt at mental escape, sharp and demanding. He had his arms folded, the sunglasses on his face doing little to hide the displeasure he had already voiced at missing such a major mission. His lips were twisted into a scowl, a far cry from his usual smirk.
Oh great, here we go again. Zeke opened his eyes, fixing Robin with a look that he hoped conveyed just how done he was with this whole situation. "Like I told you already, like I told Zatarra, like I told Batman," he emphasized, his voice rising slightly with each name, "he acted all weird, called me a demon or something, and then just teleported away." I don't get it either, but hey, who am I to question the logic of a dark-magic-using pilgrim boy?
Artemis shifted on her spot on the couch, her eyebrow raised skeptically. "Sounds kinda fishy, though. Isn't that a little weird of him?"
No, what's weird is that I'm still here answering the same questions over and over. Zeke bit back the retort, settling for a small eye roll instead.
Kaldur stepped in, his voice calm and measured, "Lords of Chaos are highly unpredictable, especially compared to the strict nature of those of Order. Acting strangely is well within their purview. We cannot hope to understand their motives even at the best of times."
Conner glanced over at Aqualad, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Why didn't he kill the old man, then? Aren't they like mortal enemies?"
Zeke shook his head, the memory of Kent's limp form flashing through his mind. The old sorcerer might have survived whatever Klarion hit him with, but that last spell seemed to have taken the last of his energy. Putting him into a comatose state was apparently the side effect of whatever Earth's former Sorcerer Supreme did.
"Yes, but capriciousness is the nature of the Chaos Lords," Kaldur replied, his frown deepening as he spoke. "Their actions are not guided by logic or reason as we understand it."
Zeke glanced around the room, taking in the varied expressions on his teammates' faces. Robin, still scowling. Artemis, skeptical. Kaldur, pensive. Conner, confused. M'gann, worried. And Wally...
Wally was still pacing, his feet wearing a path into the floor.
Never one to stay quiet for long, the speedster chimed in. "Besides, the guy's one-hundred and six. Being in a coma at that age is basically a death sentence anyway. Might as well call it what it is."
Real sensitive, Wally, Zeke thought with a roll of his eyes, shaking his head. Maybe try stand-up comedy next time.
M'gann's gentle voice cut through the tension. "Guys, I think Zeke's had enough. He's been answering questions all day. He really doesn't need anymore."
Zeke smiled over at her. Thanks, Meg. You really are the best.
Wally groaned, his whole body sagging like a deflated balloon. The speedster shook his head, mouth opening to unleash what was probably another pointless question when he was interrupted by—BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
By a—BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
— by a blaring alarm that ripped loudly through the cave like a foghorn, making Zeke jump. His heart raced as he spun around. What now? The rest of the team was just as startled, heads snapping towards the mission room faster than Wally could run.
The holo-computer in the center of the circular space flickered to life, bathing the cave in an eerie blue glow. A face appeared on the screen, familiar but not quite clicking in Zeke's brain.
Who's that? He squinted.
The team rushed over all at once, their footsteps echoing off the cave walls. As they gathered around the hologram, Zeke got a better look at the mystery caller.
"Hello, anyone there?" The voice belonged to a girl, probably around Kaldur or Wally's age. She had an oval face framed by long, dark hair that fell past her shoulders like a silky curtain. Her almond-shaped eyes gave her a piercing gaze that made Zeke want to stand up straighter. A slender, straight nose led down to full, well-defined lips, all resting above a soft but defined jawline.
In short, she was stunning.
Zeke blinked, trying not to stare. Dude, focus.
Kaldur, ever the leader, stepped forward. "Who are you?" he asked, arms still crossed like he was bracing for bad news.
Artemis chimed in, her voice sharp with suspicion. "How do you have this number?"
And then there was Wally, because of course. "And would you like mine?" he added with a grin that probably worked better in his head.
The girl's eyes narrowed, flickering between the three of them quicker than Zeke could follow. Her gaze lingered on Wally, looking about as impressed as Zeke felt. Smooth, Casanova. Real smooth.
She shook her head, sighing like she was already regretting this call. "In reverse order, no, I would not." Wally deflated faster than a popped balloon. "This number was given to me by my sister if I was ever in need of assistance. And finally, my name is—"
"Donna Troy," Robin and Zeke said in unison, the words tumbling out of Zeke's mouth before he could stop them. All the features suddenly clicked into place in his head like the world's most obvious puzzle. Oh. Duh.
Both of them snapped to look at each other, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. The rest of the team turned to stare at them, confusion written all over their faces.
"How do you kn-" They stopped again, words colliding mid-air. Zeke's eyes narrowed as Robin's eyebrows furrowed above his sunglasses. "This is weird."
Oh, for the love of... Zeke slapped a hand over his mouth, gesturing for Robin to go ahead and talk with the other. You're the detective, Boy Wonder. Explain away.
The acrobat raised an eyebrow, then shrugged before turning back to the team. "Her name is Donna Troy. Codename: Wonder Girl. She's the younger sister of Wonder Woman. Only been active for about a month."
The questioning looks continued, boring into Robin like laser beams. He shrugged again, somehow making the gesture look both casual and exasperated. "What? It's kinda my job to know things." He jerked a thumb in Zeke's direction. "I don't know his excuse."
And just like that, all eyes were on Zeke again. Great. Thanks a lot, Rob.
He lowered his hand from his mouth, forcing a smile that he hoped looked more confident than he felt. "Superpowers and Google, plus..." he gestured towards the screen, "I mean, come on, she looks like a younger Wonder Woman. You can't tell me you don't recognize that face."
Donna's frown deepened, eyes locking onto Zeke like heat-seeking missiles. What'd I say? He wondered, his stomach doing an uncomfortable flip. Okay, maybe don't comment on the appearance of super-powered Amazons.
Kaldur, bless him, stepped in to smooth things over. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Donna Troy," he announced, slipping into his role as team spokesperson. "What can we assist you with?"
Donna's gaze reluctantly shifted from Zeke to Kaldur, her frown morphing into a grimace that was only slightly less intense. "I've got a situation in New Jersey. It's not something I can handle alone. Can I count on your assistance?"
Kaldur glanced back at the team, a silent question in his eyes. One by one, they nodded, even Wally, though he still looked a bit deflated from the earlier rejection.
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Kaldur turned back to Donna, his voice steady and sure. "Of course."
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
Lakewood, New Jersey
18:01 PM EDT
The Martian bioship touched down with a gentle thump, its techno-organic structure settling into the grassy field, tall blades giving way to its weight like a green sea parting for a sleek, red island. Zeke felt the ship shudder beneath his feet as the door hissed open, a ramp unfurling to the ground below like a giant metal tongue. Show time.
He rushed out behind Superboy, the brisk fall air hitting his face like a welcome slap as he dropped his goggles over his eyes. The world took on a blue tint as Zeke landed between Superboy and Wally, his sneakers sinking slightly into the soft earth, the scent of crushed grass rising up to meet him. Robin and Aqualad took point up front, while Artemis and Miss Martian flanked the group on either side, their postures alert and ready. Man, we're getting really good at this posing thing. Now, all we need is a cool theme song.
Flexing his fingers in his fingerless gloves, Zeke tugged at his jacket, eyes darting around for any sign of trouble, his senses on high alert. The field stretched out in every direction, empty and quiet, the only movement the gentle sway of the grass in the breeze.
Too quiet. Zeke frowned, a slight furrow appearing between his brows. Okay, world. Any time you wanna throw some action our way, that'd be great.
Five seconds ticked by.
Then ten.
The silence stretched on, broken only by the rustle of grass in the late afternoon breeze. Or not. Cool. Cool cool cool.
"So... uh, am I gonna have to be the one to say it," Kid Flash finally spoke up, his voice dripping with impatience, "or are we just looking at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, New Jersey?"
Robin straightened up from his crouch, his cape settling around his shoulders. "Yeah, I don't see the emergency, either."
Zeke had to admit, Wally had a point. The only building in sight was a sad-looking gas station about half a mile down the road, its faded paint and rusty pumps giving off a distinct 'abandoned chic' vibe. Its neon sign flickered weakly, like it was one power surge away from giving up the ghost entirely. Some emergency. What, did they run out of Slushies?
"Hate to agree with motormouth," Artemis chimed in, her tone dry enough to give the Sahara a run for its money, "but he's right. Where's ol' Little Miss Wonder? Wasn't she supposed to meet us here?"
"She's right here," a voice called from above, clear and commanding.
Zeke's head snapped up so fast he almost gave himself whiplash. His jaw dropped, and he had to fight to keep it from hitting the ground. Holy... wow.
Seeing Donna on the holo-monitor was nothing compared to the real deal. It was like comparing a black and white sketch to a full-color painting. The Themysciran princess hovered above them, backlit by the sun like a halo, the golden light setting her raven hair ablaze. Her fitted red and yellow bodysuit hugged her athletic frame, a large white star emblazoned proudly on her chest. Silver bracers gleamed on her wrists while her red boots and gold belt with its stylized "W" buckle completed the look, screaming "I'm here to kick butt and look fabulous doing it."
Observe.
> Wonder Girl Lv ??
> ???
>
> ???
Oh, great. Someone else so strong I can't see.
Donna descended from the sky with all the grace of a swan and all the intensity of a hawk eyeing its prey. Her eyes, dark and piercing, swept over the team as she touched down, the grass barely bending under her feet.
Still, though… Zeke nodded to himself, a lightbulb going off in his head. A girl Conner. Cool. Maybe with less anger issues. Hopefully.
"And she doesn't appreciate being referred to in that manner," Wonder Girl continued, fixing Artemis with a glare that could probably melt steel.
Or not.
Artemis reddened slightly under her mask, looking like she'd just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "Yeah, yeah, sorry. Where's the fire, though?"
Before Donna could answer, Kid Flash zoomed up to her, hand extended and a grin plastered on his face. "Yeah, 'cuz, no offense, you're the hottest thing I've seen for miles."
Oh my God, Zeke cringed behind his goggles, feeling secondhand embarrassment wash over him in waves. I need you to stop trying, bro. Like, forever.
Wonder Girl's eyes dropped to Wally's outstretched hand, then slowly traveled back up to his face. The seconds ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity as Wally visibly wilted under her unimpressed stare.
Finally, mercifully, Donna turned back to Artemis, completely ignoring Wally's existence. "Apt choice of words," she said, her voice tinged with dry amusement. "But first, apologies for my delay. The suspects abandoned their car but not before causing an explosion with it in the middle of a busy intersection. I had to handle that lest innocents be at risk."
Aqualad stepped forward slightly, his webbed hands tensing into fists at his sides. "Suspects?"
Robin chimed in, frowning slightly. "Yeah, what suspects? You were kind of light on the information earlier."
Wonder Girl shook her head, frustration clear in the way she set her jaw, the motion sending her dark hair swaying. "Again, apologies. I've been occupied chasing the trail of two metahuman bank robbers for a few hours now. A couple."
"Oh great," Artemis snorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Superpowered Bonnie and Clyde."
Wonder Girl nodded, her expression grim. "Unfortunately. I received a report from the police regarding the two. Both their abilities seem to be somewhat new, but their criminal record is far from it."
Robin's fingers flew over the holo-computer embedded in his glove. "One second," he muttered, his tongue poking out slightly in concentration.
A screen popped up, showing two images. One was a young woman with fiery red hair that looked washed out in the blue light of the holo-computer. The other showed a blond dude with sideburns and a soul patch that made Zeke frown at the sight of it. "Kendall Attigan and Hunter Bryce. Former juvenile delinquents, they seemingly got powers out of nowhere around the time they turned eighteen and started a sporadic crime spree, calling themselves Heatstroke and Coldsnap.If you couldn't already guess by their names, she apparently throws fire, and he absorbs heat to create extreme cold."
Jeez, could their names be any more on the nose? Zeke wondered, rolling his eyes behind his goggles.
Wonder Girl's voice cut through his thoughts. "Accurate. And that's why I contacted you. I need assistance to take them in without widespread damage."
Miss Martian floated closer, her eyes wide with concern. "And where are they now?"
Superboy finally spoke up, cracking his knuckles. "Yeah, enough talk. Let's take them in."
"I appreciate your eagerness for battle." Wonder Girl shot Superboy a grin, one he returned confidently, before she pointed behind her at the gas station, its neon sign still flickering weakly in the distance. "This is the only residence for miles and they abandoned their car behind them many miles back, their trail heading this way."
Aqualad's brow furrowed. "And you are certain they are at this location?"
Wonder Girl's grin faded before she fixed Aqualad with a stare that could probably freeze lava. "The non-conventional means of transportation available to the both of them are rather noticeable. You would see them from a good distance away."
Aqualad nodded, looking suitably chastised. "Underst-"
The rest of whatever the Atlantean had to say was drowned out as the gas station erupted in a massive plume of flame. Zeke's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as Wonder Girl whirled around, her hair whipping behind her.
> Mission Gained!
> Disastrous Duo
>
> Kendall and Hunter, AKA Heatstroke and Coldsnap—the couple that slays together. They're turning New Jersey into their personal sauna and ice bar, murdering at least a dozen people in their wake. Time to crash their disaster date—bring mittens and sunscreen.
>
> Objective: Assist Wonder Girl in defeating Heatstroke and Coldsnap.
> Success: $50,000, 15000 XP, +2 to Resistance: Cold, +2 to Resistance: Heat, Increased reputation with Wonder Girl.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit! Zeke's brain went into overdrive as he saw a portion of the flame intensify, a mass of fire congealing at its base.
His blue irises narrowed to pinpricks as realization hit him like a truck. We're about to get barbecued!
"DUCK!" The word tore from his throat before he could think.
Zeke's body moved on autopilot, launching himself to the side. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Robin, Artemis, Aqualad, and Kid Flash leaping for cover. Wonder Girl burst into the sky like a red and gold rocket.
Miss Martian whipped her head from side to side in a panic, her green skin paling to an almost sickly shade. She seemed frozen by the sudden sight of so much fire, her eyes wide with terror.
And Superboy... well, Superboy wasn't one for dodging.
The fire storm launched their way, a wall of heat and death that made Zeke's skin prickle even from a distance. It slammed into two targets with devastating force.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The scream pierced the air, raw and agonizing. Zeke's heart leapt into his throat as he whipped around, his body moving before his brain could catch up.
"Miss Martian/Miss M/M'gann!" Zeke, Wally and Aqualad's voices rang out with fear.