NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: Going Places
Superman:
"Superman," Felix Faust says as he enters the New Metropolis's command center. Wonder Woman, Black Adam, and I all turn toward him. As Faust is approaching us, Black Adam shoots out his hand and fires a bolt of lightning at him.
Faust screams as he is sent flying into a wall.
"Do not interrupt us," Wonder Woman shouts. "We are in the middle of a meeting."
"We have news about the Insurgency," Faust moans as he pushes up against the wall. Upon hearing this, I grab Black Adam's hand and lower it. I quickly fly to Faust as he climbs back to his feet.
'What news do you have," I ask.
"We got calls from both Hub City and Star City," Faust answers. "According to the people in the cities, there are attacks on the streets."
"So," Wonder Woman asks with crossed arms. "We have bigger issues than a few small fights. You mentioned something about the Insurgency."
"Yes," Faust goes on. "According to the people, the ones who are attacking are the Insurgency."
"The Insurgency is attacking the cities," I say. I shake my head. "No. That's not possible. There's no way Kara would be attacking cities. At least, not without a reason."
"Whatever the reason," Wonder Woman says. "This may be our chances."
Wonder Woman walks up to the command center's outpost. There, she pushes the intercom button.
"Cyborg," she shouts. "Are you there?"
"I'm here," Cyborg answers through the intercom. "What's up?"
"Bring Bruce up here, and make sure you two have it."
"Got it," Cyborg says. The call ends and a few minutes later, Cyborg and Bruce are walking into the command center. In Bruce's hands is a long silver laser cannon with glowing purple wires.
"Is that it," I ask. "The disruptor cannon?"
"Yes it is," Cyborg says. "The latest in the string of inventions. With this, we can disrupt the man with the sunglasses power and stun him."
As soon as Cyborg says those words, Black Adam rushes toward him. He flies to Cyborg in less than a second and pushes him to the floor.
"We don't want to stun him," Black Adam says. "We want to destroy him! Build it again!"
Cyborg glares at Black Adam. His arm starts to transform but I step in front of him and hold out my hand. Cyborg sees this and stops.
"No," I say, taking the cannon from Bruce. "It's fine. I asked Cyborg to design it like this."
"Why," Wonder Woman asks. "I thought we wanted the man with the sunglasses destroyed."
"The Lords of Order want him destroyed," I say. "But if possible, I want to turn him. Like Bruce."
I line up the shot, my eye looking straight through the sight on the top of the cannon. When I'm done, I hand Bruce the cannon.
"How is the other project," I ask.
"Unfortunately," Cyborg sighs. "Not well."
Cyborg brings up his arm and taps his wrist. A hologram display comes up with pictures of me, Wonder Woman, Black Adam, Cyborg, and Hawkgirl.
"The excellneno-suits, as the man called them, are unlike anything I have ever seen before. I could spend decades studying the wiring alone."
"Hopefully it doesn't come to that," I say, making circles with my hand. "Go on. What have you discovered?"
"Nothing," Cyborg says.
"Nothing," I repeat.
"Nothing," Adam and Wonder Woman repeat.
"How is that possible," I ask. "The man gave them to us and never took them back. So I gave them to you to study them. How is it possible you haven't learned anything about them?"
"The suits are sealed," Cyborg answers, "And I tried cracking the seals anyway I know how. I tried breaking them with brute force. I tried welding into them. I even tried hacking into them but when I did, the suits unleashed some sort of virus that blew up my computers. And the materials alone. Despite all my scans and examinations, I can't figure out what they're made from. It's unlike anything on Earth or any of the other planets we know. All I know for sure is that whatever material that is, it can withstand extreme force and heat."
"Damn," I say, closing my fists. "Fine! Cyborg, you and Bruce go back to studying these suits. I want to know something about them before the day is over. Meanwhile."
I take the disruptor cannon from Bruce and walk back to Wonder Woman and Black Adam.
"Prepare a squadron," I order. "We're going to Gotham City."
The Man:
I slowly open my eyes when I feel the power slowly calm down. I stop pulsing and I can exhale without fire coming out. I look down at my hand and see the black glow gone.
"Finally," I say. I stop meditating and get up. Walking up to the glass wall, I swing my hand and the glass wall shatters. Cracks cover the wall before it breaks and glass flies everywhere. I walk onto the bridge and toward the exit. Before leaving, I look back at the shattered wall.
I hold out my arm and with a flick of my wrist, I grab all the pieces of glass and place them back together. I then fill the cracks before leaving. Walking through the hallway and into the base's infirmary, I'm surprised to see only Iris there.
"Iris," I say as soon as I step in.
"You," Iris says. She drops the book in her hands and looks up at me. She takes a step toward me but stops. "Wait. You. Are you...safe?"
"For the moment, yes. Where is the Doc?"
"He went to that portal built into the wall," Iris answers.
"The wall portal," I repeat. "Why would he use that when he had a teleporter in his pockets?"
Whatever Iris is about to say, she doesn't because the doors to the infirmary swings open. Turning around, I see the Doc holding the Professor. Besides him are Cheetah, Harleen, and Jason, all of which are covered in cuts.
I ignore the question buzzing in my head and walk to one of the infirmary's incubators. Preparing and setting it up, the tube opening, I then help both the Doc and Harleen gently place the Professor into it. Once he is inside, I close the tube and the healing process starts.
"Can I ask what happened or would you rather I not?"
"Honestly," Harleen pants. "I'd rather you not, but what the hel--hey! What the hey? I said hey."
I nod my head.
"We were attacked," Cheetah shouts, taking over. She looks over at Iris as she disappears and comes back with some bottled water. Iris hands her one and she rips off the cap before drinking the whole thing down. "By Raven."
"By Raven," I repeat.
"Yeah," Harleen says after a drink of water. "She used some sort of spell that summons a flock of ravens."
"A murder," I say.
"Murder," the Doc shouts. "Wait, what? Who died?"
"No one dies, you jumpy moron. That's what a flock of ravens is called. A murder."
"Oh. Wow. Really?"
"Yes really. Anyway, you said she summoned a murder of crows."
"We didn't get these from pigeons," Jason shouts, pointing at the dozens and dozens of cuts on him. He doesn't go for his water bottle. Instead, he's waiting for either Iris or the Doc as the two prepare some supplies.
"Raven summoned a murder of crows," I say to myself, thinking it over. "Her spells are getting stronger, fueled by both her father and the Lords of Order."
As I think of what to do, I look around the room.
"Where are the others," I ask. "Where is Kara? Iris. Doc. Have either of you two heard anything from the other teams?"
"No," the Doc says. "We just assume since everyone minus Mr. Jason and the Professor had excellneno-suits, they would just call us if something is wrong."
"Doc," I say, pulling out my cell phone. "Never assume anything. 9 out of 10 times, you assume wrong."
I press call and wait for the dial tone to end.
"Come on. Come on. Pick up. Pick up."
"Hello," Kara answers.
I let out a sigh.
"Kara, it's me."
"The Man," Kara says. "Oh, my god. You're out of the glass box? Are you okay? Are you still... pulsing?"
"I'm fine," I answer. "More importantly, are you okay?"
"Yeah," Kara answers. "I'm fine."
"What about your team? Who's on your team? What city are you patrolling?"
"We're all fine," Kara says. "It's just me and Ivy, and we're patrolling Central City. Nothing so far."
"Okay. Listen, come back to base."
"Okay, sure."
I hang up.
"Look like you were wrong about that 9 out of 10 times," Iris says.
"Believe me," I say, calling another number. "I want to assume the others are safe, but I think not."
I put the call on speakerphone and show it to everyone.
"No one on Beetle's team is picking up."