Batman was combing through various aerial footages of the earth in search of any evidence to show that the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo had truly left the planet. He didn't like the situation they were currently in. In a span of 24 hours, earth has had the presence of not one but three top tier aliens; two of whom were on the green lanterns top 5 most wanted criminals and the other a powerful entitled Queen. It was only a matter of time before any of them returned or whichever war lord took an interest to earth next.
"Hmph!" he sighed. So far there was no sign of the bounty hunter anywhere.
"He could be using stealth technology too advanced for your satellites to detect." Iron man's voice suggested from behind striding in looking up at the screen.
"I know" he said stoically still typing on the computer keyboard.
"Of course you do. Is there anything you 'don't' know?" Hawkeye retorted walking in after his partner and also scanning whatever was on the monitor.
"Why you are on my planet" was the Batman's simple response.
"That's easy, to help you kick butt and look good while doing it." Iron man's suit disentangled and he stepped out of it to come and stand beside him.
Batman and Hawkeye scoffed at the same time briefly glancing at him.
His gaze travelled to Hawkeye "I'll let you have this one" and returned to whatever he was typing.
"What?" Iron man turned to him.
"We both know they don't need our help."
"Well then it's a good thing your opinion doesn't matter." He retorted back shrugging his shoulders.
"Come on. I know you don't like or want to hear this but they may actually be better than us. They have a Superman!" He pointed out the obvious.
"We have a Hulk!"
"Wonder woman"
"Thor!"
"A living Cyborg"
"Iron man!" gesturing to himself.
By this time Batman had a subtle smile on his face.
"Watchtower"
"Avengers tower!" He shot back.
"Come on!" Hawkeye knew his friend had an ego but in this battle he had to know he wasn't going to win. Batman turned to look at him.
"Nothing so special about it anyway. I would have thought of it eventually."
"Sure you would." This time Batman retorted.
"Let's just call it a tie then" Iron man conceded and added before the two could comment. "Have you tried scanning for any foreign fuel residue in orbit or on the earth's atmosphere?"
"Didn't get to it yet" Batman minimised the video footage tab and opened another in its place.
"You know I can help, right?" he mentioned glancing down at his seated form. "Just grant me access to some of your servers."
"I know you have access. Do it. Time is of the essence." Batman simply stopped typing and moved aside gesturing to the huge monitor.
"Of course you do. Jarvis!" he commanded.
"Scanning in progress, sir" came his computerised British voice while displaying his progress on the screen.
"You two remind me of Thor and Loki arguing" Hawkeye thought out loud.
"Dibs on Thor!" came Iron man.
"Is he as strong as Thor?" they both looked at the dark night.
"When magic is involved he surpasses everyone" Hawkeye offered to a still pondering Batman. Ever since meeting Thor he had been studying about mythical gods and anything to do with gods. That is how he came to know Thor was somehow equated to the Zeus of their universe.
"Okay, so what do you want?" he asked the two heroes.
"What makes you think we want something?" Iron man retorted but backtracked from the look he received. "Just some information, nothing serious."
"Whatever I have on the bank heist is insufficient and merely speculation" he supplied then looked at the scan Jarvis was performing which had already identified four foreign fuel samples but was not complete.
Both heroes peered at the dark night for a few seconds each deep in thought on how he could possibly know that was what they wanted since they had not detected or found any surveillance set up at the deactivated bank site.
"Well that's disappointing." Iron man sighed and looked to Hawkeye. "Now what?"
"Maybe he'll accept it since he didn't specify for a detailed report" his partner pondered a loophole to their predicament.
At that statement, Batman turned to Hawkeye, a stern expression taking over his facial features. "Who are you referring to and what did he want?" Initially, he thought the two heroes were bored and had decided to investigate what happened after his surveillance spotted them at the dissolved bank.
"Just a weird sketchy guy who lured us into a building to try and make a trade."
"What was so weird about him?" Iron man had never heard him describe anyone as weird as he had seen almost everything in his hero/assassin life.
"He had a black face"
"What did he want!?" "Like a mask or...?" Hawkeye hesitated on who to answer first.
"He wants your report on whatever happened at the bank and in exchange he would give me information on how we can get back to our universe." "Oh, and his face is black."
"How are you supposed to contact him?" This could be the breakthrough he needed in both his cases.
"In metropolis at the Superman museum." He answered suspicious. "Do you know him?"
"His name is Black mask. I know of him. He has an extensive criminal record and I'm actively searching for him." Batman offered, completely turning to face him already devising a plan in his mind.
"So he is a gangster" came Iron man's retort after he commanded Jarvis to bring up everything he could find on him. "So he is a discreet gangster" he added when Jarvis barely found any information about him.
"He is a crime boss. There's a difference" said the dark night as he turned and began typing on the computer again.
"Does this mean we are giving him the report?" Hawkeye couldn't tell the direction of their conversation anymore because he had minimised the tab indicating Jarvis progress on scanning the foreign fuels.
"I have to get to him first before she does." was the only answer he supplied.
"She who...?" Silence befell the room. He knew he won't receive an answer. "Guess we are going to have some fun for a change. I was getting bored." Hawkeye added extending his hand for Batman to hand over the flash disk containing his report.
The dark night popped open one of his utility belt compartments and inserted it. "I will hand it over to him."
"What!? His terms was I do the drop and basically everything..."
"You're not the one he wants" Iron man couldn't believe his team mate was so gullible at times forgetting he also did not see the play earlier. Hawkeye had a confused expression.
"Do you think you would have gotten that report without him (gesturing to Batman) or cyborg knowing about it?"
"No but I don't think he would know that. He doesn't know me."
"True. But he knows him and how to get his attention." He pointed to the targeted party again.
"I hate this place" Hawkeye concluded realising he was just a pawn. "I'm going to kill him."
"Only after I'm done questioning him." Batman stood up and started walking out of the control room. "I thought you wanted to kill him." He commented after noticing they were still standing about watching the screen.
"What about the scan?" Iron man gestured to the complete analysis Jarvis had conducted and looked around to find that he was alone in the room.
"Damn it. So that's how it feels to ghost someone." He cursed them getting into his suit and hastily following them out.
Elsewhere.
"How are they doing?" Black widow enquired when she entered and found J'onn walking from bed to bed checking up on Green Arrows team progress as well as Nightwings who currently had company from Batgirl.
"Oliver has already recovered and is resting while the rest still get affected by nightmares from time to time." No sooner had he answered than Felicity Smoke sat up screaming at the top of her lungs and thrashing about wildly.
J'onn hurriedly hovered over to her and put his palm on her forehead and his eyes glowed white. Felicity calmed down, slumped on her bed and fell asleep albeit she was trembling.
"It will take them a long time to completely purge the fear they were exposed to." J'onn voiced out to the two ladies staring openly at the woman. "They are making progress but not as fast as I had hoped they would."
"What of Green Arrow? He was exposed to the same thing as them but you have just said he has recovered. "Why him?" Batgirl inquired after leaving Nightwings side to stand next to Black widow. She had never interacted with the Martian Man hunter, so when Black widow joined, she mustered the courage to approach Arrows team and ask about their wellbeing.
"He has been through a lot of trials and suffering and although this was way above anything he ever experienced, his mind could cope better than the rest thus he significantly improved under mine and Wanda's sessions." He explaimed to them. Actually Wanda was the first to note on how he was improving faster than his team since his fears stemmed from certain things and it seemed he had overcome most of them in real life so it was only some bits that were a problem.
"So they will make a full recovery, won't they?" Batgirl expressed concerned. Felicity was the third person to wake up screaming and thrashing about from the time she had arrived.
"Eventually." "I hope they will." He added not sure of the end result.
"What do you mean you hope they will? You're the telepath here." Black widow turned to J'onn with a questioning gaze. If there was anyone who could know the fate of their condition was either him or The Scarlet witch.
"I am but there is only so much we can do. It reaches a point where the individual must will himself or herself to fight and overcome his or her own fear, otherwise they may drown in it and never wake up, despite anything we do to aid them." He explained then motioned to Green Arrow. "He fought and overcame the fear induced by scare crow, that's why he is so relaxed now. His mind is resting after all that and in his case I know he will wake up soon."
"Whoever did this to them will pay." Batgirl suddenly pledged, her gaze moving to Nightwing who had started groaning. His facial expression showcasing various emotions.
"His is physical pain together with regret and self-blame among other things." J'onn couldn't help himself.
"Regret?" "Self-blame?" The two heroines repeated moving towards him while J'onn merely hovered.
"He blames himself for getting captured so easily and not being able to escape despite the extensive training he underwent. His subconscious thinks he is a failure."
"But he's not!" Batgirl's voice was high pitched and loud making her to cover her mouth in embarrassment.
"With that set up they had him on, I'm afraid even I would have not been able to escape without help or luck." Black widow added watching him with a saddened expression. That was why she killed anyone she came across during the rescue. That was a highly professional group of mercenaries who knew what they were doing and putting them down the Batman way would not have helped theirs situation.
"He may have Post – Traumatic stress Disorder when he recovers." She added. All the signs were there.
"Not may. He will have PTSD and if not handled well it may result to depression." J'onn stated.
"Oh no"
A quiet sob alerted them to Batgirl who had a single line of tear falling from her left eye no doubt listening to what they were saying about her team mate and friend.
They looked at each other.
"This is all just speculative, nothing has been confirmed yet." Black Widow came up beside her and put an arm around her, hugging her in a comforting way. The two of them had already experienced so much that they were merely speculating based on what they had seen before, forgetting Batgirl's inexperience.
"Yeah right. He knows because he's probably scanned his mind and you..." she gave her a sideways glance. "You know." That was the worst part for her. One was a telepath and the other was the one who helped him escape so she saw the condition he was in before being brought here.
"I am sorry. I did not mean to...." J'onn began.
"It's alright. At least I know what I am up against and supposed to do to help him when he wakes up." Batgirl wiped the tear away and took in a few deep breaths to calm herself down.
She went to his bedside, took hold of his hand and wiped the few droplets of sweat on his forehead.
"I am going to check up on my father. I'll come back later." She looked at them.
"Don't worry, I will keep an eye on him and get the doctor should anything arise." J'onn gave her a reassuring smile no doubt aware of how seeing your teammate and friend in such a state could affect a person.
"Thank you." She walked out.
"I thought she is Batman's sidekick." Black widow questioned after the door slammed shut to which J'onn simply nodded.
"I thought she would be tougher." She continued.
He looked at her then back at Nightwing.
"Surely she should know that this could have easily been her because of her connection to the Dark Knight right? I know she's aware she stays in Gotham and Batman is her boss." The last being a statement more than a question. Her short time researching this planet made her conclude Gotham was the most dangerous city to live in and having visited it she seconded that fact. Batgirl should have already been exposed to this kind of violence by now since she decided to be a hero in that hell hole.
"He tries his best to shield her from all of it." He motions to Nightwing. "In fact they all do."
Her face lit up in understanding. "Then they should assign her to a more friendly city."
"He has tried to do that but she won't have it. Something about equality in the workspace that women fight for these days."
"Well good for her for knowing her right but I doubt she would have held out on the torture the he went through." She again gestured to Nightwing.
He turned again to find her looking at him with an eyebrow raised. It took a few moments for him to catch on by the concerned look his face took.
"I am afraid to even consider that thought."
"I think I'll talk to her." Black Widow decided.
"He would be grateful for that." He responded.
She scoffed. "I doubt that."
"Don't doubt it. He won't tell you this, in fact no one in the justice league will tell you this but if it were not for you he would have crossed a line he vowed never to."
"In a way you saved both of them." He looked at Nightwing still groaning from the pain.
"Really?" she looked at him bewildered. "He's never..."
"Never!" he confirmed.
"Then he must really be uptight about his morals and all that. Didn't even get a thank you from anyone. Just stares everywhere I go."
"They are just surprised. They haven't interacted with a hero willing to kill the bad guys before." He explained but he could see something was still troubling her thoughts. "What do you wish to say?"
She raised an eyebrow at him," I thought you could read minds."
"I must seek permission first otherwise it would be invasion of privacy on my part."
These people are powerhouses but are just too good for their own good she thought.
"There comes a time when you will all be forced to cross that line. What then?" she asked showing genuine curiosity. In the avengers everyone on her team had killed someone or accidentally killed someone and it was not a problem because they knew it's either you kill or be killed.
"We shall deal with it when the time comes." He answered because he had no doubt thought about it too and sure enough he wasn't the only one.
"Another question if you don't mind." She had never had the time or chance to talk so extensively with him and she found him to be pretty reasonable to talk to just like Cap.
He nodded.
"How do you keep in contact with them if they ever need help and want to contact you..." she gestured to the side of her head. "You know."
"You mean telepathically?" she nodded. "I have established a link with the minds of all the willing members. All they have to do is call out my name and I'll hear them if I'm active."
"Oh. I see." But before she continued he asked. "Do you want me to create you a link?"
"I think I do. But don't go snooping around inside there. You may not like what you find."
"I will not. I only need a second." He looked into her eyes while his turned white.
"I have not felt you do anything." she didn't feel any different.
"That means I have done it right."
This time it was John Diggle who woke up screaming while thrashing about and J'onn went to put him at ease then came back to black widow and continued talking about various things.
Black site
There was a soft knock at the door startling her from whatever report she was reading in her laptop.
"What do you want!" she demanded as she had left specific instructions to not be disturbed unless the world was ending or it was an emergency that would further ruin her bad mood.
Yvonne opened the door, shut it and came to stand in front of her boss holding a tablet close to her chest. "We have found something." She started.
Silence.
Waller looked on. "Do I look like a telepath to you!?"
"Oh, no sir. Sorry....We've found him." She laid it out.
Waller sat up. Good news for once.
"Well not really found him but we know where he was." She corrected and Waller's facial expression changed from mild relief to neutral. She gestured to the tablet. Yvonne handed it over.
"What was he doing here?"
"He was meeting two members of the team aiding the justice league. It's the next video." She leaned forward swiping right gesturing to the tablet.
"After his departure using the hover board you can see the two of them follow quickly using the roof no doubt trying to avoid any onlookers." She explained. "The building has no definite owner and has been under 'renovation' for close to 5 years now."
Waller replayed the video over and over again watching the thug who thought he could out manoeuvre her, swindle her and make a fool out of her in both the legal and underworld community just because he had a few billions in his arsenal.
CRACK!!! The tablet broke into two from her squeezing it too much while watching, anger evident in her features.
Yvonne jumped a little startled at the sudden display of anger. Having already been warned it tended to happen, she hastily retrieved another tablet from her back and handed it to her boss.
"And where were these two from to be meeting him here?" she zoomed in. It was the one who wore an all American costume and the archer.
"We traced them to the Superman museum and before that the hall of justice. In between we believe Black mask made contact via this lady here." She stepped forward again and tapped something that brought up their interaction with the lady at the hotdog vendor captured by a nearby CCTV.
"Good work." She applauded them. "Activate Death stroke and give him all these information and anything else he may need." She ordered then opened up her laptop again.
"But we haven't found his exact location or know what he would do next." Death stroke was a finisher, someone you point to a target so she did not understand her move.
"That is why I have told you to activate him. Don't forget. Anything he needs he gets. He'll know what to do." Her focus on the laptop resumed and Yvonne walked out.
She looked up at the door. Ever since she informed the Dark Knight about him she knew she was on a clock and he knew it too. It was only a matter of time before one of them got a hold of Black mask and he better pray Batman to be the winner in this race of theirs. Fucking thug or better yet fucking soon to be dead thug she thought it had a nice ring to it.
She popped open video feeds from her internal cameras monitoring what her subordinates were doing. When I get that fucking mole....
Apokolips.
Steppenwolf and Kalibak were walking along the dimly lit hallway heading to their control room passing by the occasional parademon standing guard at specific doorways.
"He knows we are back." Kalibak figured he should put it out there.
"I know but we need to have facts before we give our report or we won't walk right in the next 24 hours." He replied.
From the asteroid they had travelled to the coordinates Desaad informed them the three harvest vessels had lost contact with Apokolips.
They did not find anything at that location. No ship wreck, no sign of a battle and no sign of their three huge vessels. The tracking beacon in them were also turned off so they had no way of knowing the route they took.
Kalibak insisted they raid the nearest planet for information or access to their satellites in case they recorded whatever happened.
Once the planets leaders knew who they were or represented, they were very willing and happy to surrender any footage or scans they needed to find their missing vessels.
Unfortunately for them, the satellites were not advanced enough to conduct long range scans, thus they did not capture anything. In anger Kalibak slaughtered a few of their scientists punishing them for not developing better satellites. The planets leaders did nothing about it and even gave them a send-off akin to a president when they were departing that underdeveloped world.
To make matters worse, the bounty hunter Kalibak hired had not gotten in touch with him as per their contract which gave the duration of the job a couple of days. They had to meet Darkseid with no good news to offer but a whole lot of unknown.
"Desaad might know something." Steppenwolf added. That was why instead of heading to the throne room immediately, they were nearing Desaads control room to find out who indeed hacked their system and how three enormous harvest vessels would just vanish without a trace.
"General." Kalibak spoke at the reinforced control room door.
'Access granted' the AI responded and the door slid open. They entered.
Steppenwolf who was a foot behind Kalibak bumped into him when he faltered in his step his whole body tensing a bit before moving striding forward.
"Watch how you wa..." Steppenwolf's voice bellowed before shutting his mouth so fast he nearly bit off his tongue while at the same time nearly losing his balance from what startled Kalibak who paid him no mind and continued walking inside.
In front of them was their lord and master Darkseid and Desaad who had turned to look at whoever had just waltzed in without announcing themselves. If they didn't know any better they would say Desaad was smirking at their theatrics.
Darkseid was clenching and unclenching his fists an indication on how angry and ticked off he was at whatever information Desaad was conveying to him. His presence in the control room spoke volumes.
They came to a stop in front of them and knelt down on one knee. "Lord Darkseid."
There was an eerie silence that enveloped the room.
Kalibak glanced up, stiffening when he noticed his father was looking down on them and the omega beams were dancing around his flaming eyes ready to be unleashed any second.
"Steppenwolf has the report of the results from our mission."
Steppenwolf on the other hand inwardly cursed at Kalibaks cowardice and trickery leaving him in the spotlight with nothing to report
"Lord Darkseid" he looked up and held down an involuntary shudder at the sight of him.
"We have questioned and tortured everyone who may have possibly known about the Almerac invasion but none had any useful information regarding it or the mortal with the green lantern." He reported then faced down waiting for the inevitable.
"Kalibak." He looked up. "What were you doing at the asteroid?" Darkseid questioned his son who did not want to take any responsibility for whatever happened. If they weren't related he would have sent him to be reconditioned and work in the mines for his cowardice actions every time.
"We were questioning every war lord there, Father. They had nothing to report." He answered his voice faltering a little.
"Is that all you have to report?" he asked.
"Yes father. That's all."
Darkseid's eyes sizzled producing twin omega beams which criss crossed around the room so fast before connecting to Kalibak's back who groaned out in pain before slumping forward his back scorched and the smell of burnt meat in the air. The omega beams were recalled.
"Is it true your ship was hacked while at the asteroid or is Desaad giving me false information?"
Desaad on the other hand was thoroughly enjoying this for he loved when other people suffered by his hands or another person's. The generals fear and uneasiness was the highlight of it all since every chance he got he reminded the scientist / torturer how weak and pathetic he was.
"No Lord Darkseid." Steppenwolf answered before continuing giving Kalibak some time to recuperate. "It is true we were hacked at the Asteroid but it was not extensive and did not do any damage to the ship or us."
This time it was him who was the recipient of the twin omega beams to his back and to his credit he only groaned but did not slump on the floor like his counterpart.
Desaad was having a blast and wished he had a recording device to capture this auspicious moment for the future. Luckily for them anywhere his lord went the cameras in the tower of rage automatically shut off and no one was allowed to record his presence.
"The mother box informs me it was the hack from your ship that culminated to everything that happened to those harvest vessels." Darkseid's hoarse base voice informed them while looking down at them, a tempting thought to blast them again creeping up.
They both looked up at him bewildered.
"How?" Kalibak wondered. "They did not access any valuable information on the ship."
The omega flames in Darkseid's eyes increased in intensity and shot out for the third time navigating through the air to connect on Kalibaks back again making him to groan out loud and slump further on the floor while clenching his teeth from the severe pain it induced.
"Silence!!!" Darkseid growled in anger. Someone out there had the guts to cross him and take what was his. This kind of disrespect he could not let stand. Worst of all the culprit was tech-savvy enough to outright compete with his trusted AI, the mother box.
"The hacker was able to access and retrieve data from your ship's tracker the respective packets containing data of the harvest vessels." A mechanical female voice was heard from the computer.
"We shall not rest until we deliver the severed head of the one responsible for all this, lord Darkseid." Steppenwolf vowed while he bowed.
Darkseid looked at his two trusted minions for a long time contemplating his next move. This new enemy of his not only had he proved he was intelligent enough to take over his vessels system right from under his AI but also attempted to hack his main server here in Apokolips. These two fools don't have the brain capacity to hunt that perpetrator out.
"I cannot trust you to deliver that head for me because I want that head in here working for me." He gestured around the control room.
"That responsibility I leave it in the hands of Desaad." It was final.
Desaad who was having the time of his life almost chocked on his saliva at that revelation. "Lord Darkseid...?"
He turned, his gaze falling on his torturer and strategist.
"Your will be done Sire!" he rehearsed and could feel the heat from his flaming eyes making him tremble where he stood. He could not survive any dose of the omega beams like Kalibak and Steppenwolf. Darkseid knew this, everyone knew this but torture was something that could be done to him.
"Your will be done lord Darkseid." Kalibak and Steppenwolf also rehearsed both breathing a sigh of relief knowing how large that bullet they had just dodged was.
We will see how well you do you stupid little shit Kalibak thought no doubt having witnessed Desaad's glee as they were being questioned and tortured.
"You two will retrieve the kryptonians database and a sample of his DNA." He gave out his next order. Steppenwolf deflated at that command while Kalibak had a renewed sense of purpose, straightened up and looked at his father.
"We shall not fail you, lord Darkseid!" he said in conviction.
"I know you won't otherwise I won't have the need for you as my general or you as my executioner." His fiery gaze moved between the two kneeling down. "Get out."
They did not have to be told twice as they scrambled out of the control room limping, their injuries healing at a snail's pace.
He turned to Desaad and the mother box. "What can you tell me about the hacker?"
"I believe it is a sophisticated artificial intelligence designed to take over network systems." The mother box voiced out displaying to them what information it took. "It should have been difficult but not impossible to retrieve the harvest ships data from Kalibaks ship. The attacker knew what to look for and where to find it. No living being can infiltrate that fast let alone go up against me."
"It could have been the Green lanterns core." Desaad gave his opinion. "They are the ones capable of achieving such a feat with their AI." They had done it once, a long time ago.
"I have interacted with their AI and I am 100% certain it was not it." Mother box refuted that claim.
"Should I be worried?"
"No Sire. The only minor thing is that the culprit now knows the mother box is an AI and not just a tool to open boom tubes." Desaad reassured him. "We will wipe the owner's memory after the mother box has taken over their AI." That was their next course of action.
Darkseid turned and walked out.
"That was close." Desaad was sweating profusely. Having his Sire's sole attention was very frustrating and intense.
"Mother box, begin a long and wide range scan to identify if the foreign AI's code has been used anywhere." He instructed. On the screen, orange lines of code appeared and processing...0% was displayed.
Elsewhere.
"What are you so happy about!? This assignment will be next to impossible without invading that back water planet." Steppenwolf complained while limping and although Kalibak was also limping and groaning he was in high spirits.
"We don't have to do anything. Just wait for the bounty hunter to deliver the database and we are set. Back to being the top trusted generals again." He explained producing his mother box to see if he had any unread message.
Steppenwolf stopped walking and looked at his retreating back. "It is already 24 hours passed his deadline to deliver. He failed which means it's on us!" his last statement came out a bit commanding and forceful but that was it.
Kalibak stopped walking and turned around. "Lobo doesn't fail." He limped towards him. "He can't fail!" Everybody who's a somebody in the universe knew as long as the bounty had an amount that pleased Lobo attached to it, he never failed. He has never failed.
"Queen Maxima and Granny Goodness." Was Steppenwolf's simple answer.
"He is the reason she never leaves Apokolips after that incident at the resort." Kalibak countered "meaning there is still a contract on her head so he has not failed but just waiting to deliver." He hated speaking about one of their own that way but it was the truth and everyone knew it, even his father. None knew why his father chose to never get involved in that matter.
"And in Maxima's case there was a loophole where Granny would have paid him the full amount after...." Kalibak looked deep in thought his mood slowly changing "...the job was completed so nothing had sealed the contract..." He supported himself on the wall suddenly weak from the pain.
Steppenwolf caught on, "Tell me you already paid him in full for the job." That way they know he would honour Kalibak's contract and not try to weasel his way out of it lest he be forced to return the money. His silence and angry expression told him everything he needed to know.
"Can't you do anything right!!!" Steppenwolf bellowed and punched the wall making it shake a little creating a dent that was visible.
"Shut your fucking mouth!! He will still honour the contract! He can't double cross ME!!! I am Kalibak, the general of Apokolips armed forces!!!" He shouted, no one in their right mind would double cross him lest they incur the wrath of Apokolips.
"You cheap stupid spoilt brat! The only reason you're the general is because you're his son!" Steppenwolf bellowed back. "You think Lobo is afraid of you!!?" Despite the anger he felt, Steppenwolf actually chuckled watching Kalibak stand upright clenching his fists.
"He hunted Granny Goodness because of a contract on her head paid in full by the same person she hired him to kidnap." He stated not caring whether anyone was listening in on their argument. "She hasn't been off world for over 40 years because that contract is still on her head. Granny Goodness!!!!" He repeated her name to him. "The second most feared after our lord Darkseid himself!!!" He then pointed at him. "And you think he's afraid of you!? He started walking again chuckling passed him. Kalibak was a naive fool. Dealing with Lobo was never easy and that was why he was both the best and the worst bounty hunter in the universe. He will hunt down anyone for the right price and a solid contract.
"Laugh all you want." He shouted after him. "Let's see who will get that database first you weak ass uncle of mine. I'll have you training the hell hounds!!! Just wait and see!!"
Steppenwolf stopped chuckling and turned, "Good luck with that!!" then continued limping away. "Can't even make a deal right! Useless piece of shit!" He disappeared around the corner.
Kalibak stood still cursing at himself and the bounty hunter. Come to think of it, Lobo usually reached out when the bounty would take a longer time passed the deadline but he had not heard from him. True he didn't pay him first but he thought they had a mutual understanding and respect since they were both titans in the universe. After Steppenwolf's backlashing he knew Lobo had most likely used the same loophole as the Granny Goodness one.
"I'll show him" he turned to where Steppenwolf disappeared to, "I'll show them why I am the general!!!" He vowed then started walking away but not after beating a random parademon to death to vent his fury.
At the fortress of solitude.
"What are you doing?" Supreme asked hovering ten feet from the ground watching Hal scan the whole area using his rings' scanner.
"I'm mapping the whole area in 3D in case we need to review it for later while also looking for clues."
"That's actually a good idea." Supreme commented at the same time watching his HUD screen in case any incoming message is received from Superman or Wonder woman regarding their rescue mission.
"I know and I'm full of them," he was smug continuing his work before his ring started making pinging noises.
"What do we have here?" his ring dug into the dense snow to retrieve three metal discs. "Huh!" he exclaimed. "I haven't seen these in a long time."
Supreme activated his telescopic vision, "What are those?" he inquired aloud.
Trixx scanned the three devices and brought up a detailed diagram showing every part of the device in his HUD including a demonstration on how to use it.
This is a device used by the Man hunters to subdue rogue prisoners who have enhanced strength and abilities. It attaches itself to the targets body before electrocuting them with the right voltage calculated by the device to take down the host. Its production was halted after the man hunters were decommissioned and they were phased out. Trixx mentally explained to Supreme.
"I used to call them Flakes because their design reminded me of a snow flake. We used them when subduing all kinds of criminals but the guardians put a stop on their production citing it was too lethal." Hal answered him at the same time.
"I guess they are." Supreme agreed still focusing on his HUD. Trixx was scanning the vast area containing deep craters that were gradually filling with snow, an indication of the fierce battle that took place here as part of the walls of the fortress of solitude had holes in it and various robots were busy repairing them. Kelex, as it had introduced itself to them when they had first arrived.
Earlier at the watchtower when they were grabbing something to eat in the cafeteria even though they weren't that hungry due to the overlaying circumstances, his ring lit up and a projection of a guardian appeared to Hal. He instructed him to follow up on the whereabouts of Lobo, and give an extensive report on whether the bounty hunter was still in his sector or he had moved on. If he was, then he should investigate and report on his activities as soon as he could. Ben decided to join him or else he would find himself heading for war world.
The fortress of solitude was the true definition of a fortress according to Supreme and Trixx's scans.
Supremes' x-ray vision could not penetrate the outer layer of the wall making him come to the conclusion lead was utilised during its construction. The holes the robots were furiously repairing showcased just how thick the wall was, the outer layer naturally covered by ice. He wondered the amount of force exerted by the Hulk, Mongul, J'onn and Lobo to make these huge holes in that reinforced wall.
Earlier on as they hovered high up in the sky at the exact location J'onn teleported them, all they could see was a vast continuous spread of mountains covered in thick layers of ice. The fortress was nowhere to be seen. Supreme had Trixx scan the entire area and continent from above but the scanners did not pick up anything. After a confirmation from J'onn they descended down though still unsure.
Descending past a certain altitude, Trixx scanners started picking up on the huge structure that lay beneath camouflaged by its white exterior and powerful clocking machine. Trixx's scanners could not fully penetrate the wall and could only identify lead among the things used in its construction. In his HUD, Trixx outlined the components as 'unknown materials'.
Kelex had confronted them upon arrival but it seemed Superman had listed Hal as a 'friendly' in his guest list and when it scanned Supreme it noted he was a kryptonian thus the robot resumed working on the walls.
Trixx scanned Kelek's robot body and the results were the same as the fortress itself. In his HUD she outlined her theory on how the robot was assembled and the material used in its development, most of which were marked 'unknown'.
What's up with this place? Why are you having a hard time scanning these things? The mental question was directed to Trixx who was busy attempting to rescan everything his eyes landed on.
She paused everything and popped up a file about Kryptonians at the front of his HUD.
Over 100,000 years ago, Krypton had already developed scientific advancements far beyond those of present-day Earth, and within a few millennia had conquered disease, learned to delay the aging process, and perfected cloning. Krypton was considered the most developed planet before their demise. They have developed complex technology and had sent out scouts to every potential solar system in a planet that could be used as a refuge for their people in case of anything. Trixx explained displaying all information she compiled from every source she could get including the potion of data she retrieved from OA's database.
The fortress of solitude is one of the scout ships that arrived on this part of the galaxy and landed on this barren continent then built all these structures according to the design programmed in it Trixx highlighted a model of the entire structure in his HUD. The lower levels was blurred on the model showcasing how deep into the earth it went.
"What's that AI of yours telling you?" Hal called out to him when he noticed he was zoning out again looking at the huge structure. He couldn't find anything or any trace that could tell him where Lobo went to after his escape. The weather was too harsh and the snow fell so quickly that any evidence of the fight was disappearing under big volumes of it.
"Nothing new. I'm just amazed at how huge this place is. It's a wonder how you can't see it from high above." He mentioned watching the robots patch up the remaining hole.
"Yeah...that's Kryptonian tech for you. Any civilization highly respected by the guardians is most likely a highly evolved one." Hal pointed out. They have a whole building dedicated to Krypton. He doubted even superman knew about it.
"Have you found anything?" Supreme asked descending to where Hal was standing exasperated.
"Nothing. By now it's all buried beneath this." He kicked up a bunch of snow.
"What if we go in and look at the surveillance system?" Supreme suggested. He would very much like to go in there, Trixx too apparently because she had highlighted that as the next course of action.
Hal looked around at the huge tall white walls but couldn't see any sign of CCTV or any motion sensors. Just a plain wall like a dam or something. He looked at Supreme.
"Keep in mind they don't need our kind of tech." Supreme pointed out guessing what he was thinking.
"You're right. Let's go in." Hal decided. He hovered up heading for the nearly patched up wall, Supreme close behind.
Kelex stopped welding and turned to them. "Access denied." Its robotic voice stated and it blocked their path.
Hal looked incredulous at the robot. "What do you mean!? I am the Green Lantern in charge of this whole sector." He gestured all around them.
"Access denied." Kelex repeated. The other robots working on the hole stopped and turned towards them.
Can you override them? Supreme enquired watching and hovering at the back. This could turn violent very fast.
I can but it will take a long time. Their firewall has been heavily fortified in a programming language I am unfamiliar with. My intrusion will also be detected. Trixx informed him. He could see how these simple robots were very technological advanced.
"I thought I was in the 'friends list'" Hal argued. They had just mentioned it a few minutes ago.
"You are but no one is allowed access without the explicit permission from Kal-El." Kelex stated his orders.
I detect a steady rise in energy output in the robots. A sign of combat preparation. Trixx alerted him.
"The only thing we need is your surveillance video the day Lobo escaped and then we will be on our way. Nothing else." Hal swore putting up his hands.
"Access denied." Kelex repeated. The other robots moving next to the main Kelex.
"Stupid robots!" He groaned.
"We can use the footage J'onn was using in the watchtower." Supreme suggested grabbing hold of Hal's hand and dragging him back.
He looked at him. "Why didn't you say that earlier? I almost flattened that tin can. I am the Green Lantern! Damn it"
"It must have slipped my mind." Supreme defended himself.
"Really? Just slipped your mind you say." He wasn't convinced.
"Fine! I wanted to see what's inside." He admitted. Getting inside was also highlighted as a priority by Trixx.
"Everyone's got hidden agenda's these days." Hall mumbled while Supreme was retrieving the video from the league servers.
The omnitrix projected a video feed between them. They watched Lobo climb out of the hole carrying his space hog before jumping high out of view and probably the fortress' protective clocking field.
"We will never trace him." Hal groaned. In this harsh snowing weather the footprints he might have left when landing could have already been covered by snow. Not knowing his whereabouts was more dangerous than knowing what he was up to.
"Follow me." Supreme lifted off having a rough idea on his trajectory. They stopped to hover high up.
"Now what?"
"Now we see exactly where he went." Supreme told him looking around and below them.
"I know you have telescopic vision and a bunch of powers right now but how will they help us here?" he gestured around them. It was heavily snowing and windy plus the ground was white covered in thick layers of snow.
"You of little faith." He shot back smirking.
A bright green light filled the sky forcing Hal to instinctively shut his eye for a few seconds. "Is it too much to ask for a warning!" He complained squinting his eyes open.
What he saw floored him and that said a lot since he was a Lantern who had seen almost everything in their universe.
Standing before him was a robot-like alien with skin that was made of golden metal, with black stripes and a key / dial on top of his head. His face had a blank expression, and he had a transparent piece of green glass-like material on his chest, revealing the gears inside of him. The omnitrix symbol was attached to the transparent piece of green-like material on his chest.
He kept on staring at Ben's new alien form from head to toe on repeat trying to figure out whether he was a robot or a toy or something else but what he wasn't was a living being.
"I can't get enough of that expression each and every time." Clockwork's mechanical voice which had a hint of British accent in it took him out of his stupor. "Take your time, you of little faith" he repeated.
"Huh? What...?" Hal stammered looking up at his face with two green dots as his eyes and a thick green line in place of his mouth. He had the power of flight too.
"Meet Clockwork." He brought his fists forward for a fist bump.
Hal brought his fist forward too but instead his ring lit up and a green beam scanned him from top to bottom twice. He conjured up a screen that displayed the result which marked everything about Clockwork as 'Unknown' and 'Error'.
He looked up, "What are you?" he studied him. Definitely looked like a robot.
"I told you I am Clockwork." He repeated hovering behind him.
Hal turned around as fast as he could. "Impossible!" he exclaimed. Anything that bulky couldn't move that fast. He didn't even blink.
"How did you do that?" He pointed at him.
"Do what?" He was behind him again.
"Cut that shit out!" He turned again this time positive he did not blink. Super speed maybe.
"My name's Clockwork." He spread his arms gesturing to himself. "The King of Time."
"Yeah, right." Hal scoffed. "And I am the King of Will." He retorted. Definitely super speed and his connection to the speed force he thought just like the flash. "So how will you help us know where he disappeared to? Go back in time...?" That could work if he won't mess up the timeline. What am I thinking about? Everything's already messed up.
In his universe everyone already got used to him changing so much that there wasn't genuine surprises in their faces like the people in this universe. He missed that part and almost forgot they were on a mission.
"Something like that." Clockwork agreed then the middle part of the dial on his head glowed green and started spinning anti clockwise.
The entire part of the sky in which they were hovering turned colour green and Hal saw the clouds reforming and developing in reverse while the snow was also ascending back. What was weird was that extending his hand out he could still feel the snow falling and saw the clouds from earlier continuing normally. He and Clockwork were not covered in the green 3D or 4D or whatever it was that was being emitted.
"Good for nothing! Frucker!!! I'm going to get him!!" Loud curses drew their attention to Lobo who was also jumping in reverse carrying his space hog on his shoulder and heading towards them and the fortress.
"There he is!" Hal shouted put his hand out, his ring conjuring up some sort of cell around him but his form just phased through it no matter how many times he did that.
"That bastich is going to regret messing up the Main Man's big payday." He passed them and disappeared into the fortress clocking field.
"You can't catch him. He's not really here." Clockwork spoke up the dial on his head stopping and starting to spin clockwise. Lobo appeared again and when he neared their position the dial stopped making Lobo's projection to freeze.
Hal wasn't getting it. He could see Lobo as clear as day, well now he was green but he was right there. He pointed at him. "There he is."
"Yes but that is just a projection of him. It's a part in time that already happened." Clockwork explained.
"So you really can reverse time." Hal spoke up flabbergasted looking around him. Whatever was in the green thing Clockwork emitted was frozen in time.
"Yes I can do that too but right now I am just observing what happened back in time." He still had a confused expression. "It's like when a football match ends, I can either look for the highlights that summarises the game or I can go back in time and watch it live again if I want to." Clockwork tried the simplest analogy he could think of. Hal's facial expression was finally that of a person who understood. This was the part he hated too, explaining constantly what he could do.
"I concede."
"What?"
"That is the most powerful weapon in the universe." He admitted staring at the omnitrix badge at the centre of Clockwork's chest. He has an alien that controls time. That beats everything.
"Yes it is." He agreed. "Now let's follow him" pointing to Lobo. The dial started spinning again clockwise.
"That bastich is going to regret messing up the Main Man's big payday." He passed them again and disappeared into the clouds this time the two of them following closely behind. The green projection moving with them.
"I didn't know Lobo could jump this high." Hall muttered.
"Neither did I." The report Trixx showed him earlier did not have this information. Right now though he couldn't connect with her. Clockwork's physiology did not allow that.
Lobo landed after a few miles creating a small tremor and a huge crater. He surveyed around him and spotted something in the distance then went trudging through the snow heading to it. They followed.
They came to a cave's entrance where they followed Lobo's projection inside. No sooner had they stepped inside the cave than they both heard a beeping sound and looked at each other with one thought in mind. "A bomb."
Which detonated immediately, Green Lanterns reaction too slow to put up a force field around them.
To his shock, they were both alive and he could see the blast originating from all sides of the caves opening but it was somehow in frozen though he could feel the intense heat it generated.
"What's happening?" he looked to Clockwork whose dial had stopped spinning.
"I've frozen time around us. We need to get out of here now!"
"Why can't we just continue?" he walked near the explosion and could feel the heat and energy wave that would have blasted them apart and away.
"I can't continue projecting and freezing time all at once." True enough the green projection all around was no longer there.
"But we won't know what he was doing in here."
"I know. Or you could put up a shield around the bombs and contain them because it will destroy the entire mountain." Clockwork suggested.
Hal studied the explosions. If it were only one, he would be able to contain it but these were close to six and knowing Lobo, he must have used advanced ones. The force would decimate them plus the barrier.
"No." Was his defeated answer. They hovered out of the cave and stood at safe distance. Hal could see everything around the mountain was frozen. Even the falling snow and clouds.
The explosion obliterated the mountain sending chunks of it flying into the air creating craters everywhere they landed and caused avalanches in the nearby snow covered hills and mountains.
Hal had to put up a barrier for them to shield them against the force and debris. "Who uses that much explosive on a simple cave?" It was unreal. What if someone else stumbled on that cave.
"He's covering his tracks but he hasn't met me yet." They both watched the crater where the mountain used to be and the flaming debris quickly dying down because of the weather. "Come on." He beckoned.
They flew to a height similar to the level of the cave and hovered there. The dial on Clockwork's head started spinning clockwise again and the green projection returned.
The heard motorized rumble and Lobo appeared from the caves projection riding his space hog. "Nobody screws over the Main Man. The Main Man does the screwing!!!" He was enraged and his projection accelerated as soon as he passed by Hal and Clockwork heading towards space at top speed. The dial stopped spinning.
"How do you know?"
"What...?"
"How did you know? I mean when he would come out."
"I am Time" was his simple answer. "One of my powers is chronopathy, which grants me a fine-tuned sense of precise time and determination of the exact time an event had taken or will take place and for how long." Clockwork's British voice revealed, much to Hal's surprise again.
"At least we know he's no longer on earth and soon to leave this sector." Hal stated his gaze returning to Clockwork before moving to the huge crater that was the mountain.
"I still can't believe you just did that." He exclaimed before he tapped his earpiece. "Yes, it was us." He listened in. "Lobo is no longer on earth." "Got it."
"That was J'onn. All the satellites picked up on the seismic wave the explosion produced. He will handle the bureaucratic part of it." Hal informed him. The governments would no doubt investigate but it's a good thing Lobo chose a place so far away from the fortress that no one would trace it.
"That's good. The last thing we want is to cause more problems for superman." Clockwork noticed Hal was still staring at him.
"What?"
"What do you mean what!" He exclaimed suddenly. "I just found out you can control TIME! That's what!!!"
"Tell me something I didn't know already." Clockwork answered before tapping the omnitrix badge and vanishing in a bright green light again.
This time Hal just shielded his eyes with his hand. "And now you're a version of Thor!!!" He couldn't help but shout finally grasping just how powerful the omnitrix was.
"FREAKING WATCH!!!" he exclaimed.
"Yeah yeah... Let's go." Blaze spoke up ascending followed by Hal who was mumbling to himself forgetting Blaze had enhanced hearing which made him grin.
As they flew over the ocean, Blaze suddenly felt his skin tingling and his senses warning him of something causing him to slow down, Hal did not noticing this.
"What's going on?" he asked Trixx. "Why am I feeling weird?"
"All systems are running at 100% efficiency and my scanners do not detect anything out of order." She reported and sure enough in his HUD he saw everything was fine plus they were currently high up in the middle of the ocean with nothing around them for miles.
He picked up speed again but the tingling sensation was getting stronger.
Somewhere in Space
The residents of any planet he passed by thought he was a meteor burning up in space.
Space travellers avoided and changed their trajectory so that they could not meet as their radars showed them exactly who he was.
Any meteor in his path was blown to smithereens as target practice.
The Space hog was cruising at top speed, its trajectory set and the owner smoking cigar after cigar cursing out once in a while.
He had just officially cancelled the second contract ever since he became a bounty hunter. The first one was worth it, in fact he grinned thinking about the sequence of events that lead to its cancellation.
Thinking of the second one wiped away his grin. Betrayed by his former partner who he was sure would get what was coming to him and some back water planet having the gal to humiliate the Main Man. He threw away the cigar and a compartment on the Space hog opened, a mechanical arm put another one in his mouth and lit it. He'll be back.
Themysciran Embassy.
Thor had successfully convinced Queen Hippolyta to return to the embassy and await news there so as not to cause panic because none of her people knew of princess Cate's abduction or that princess Diana was currently off world on a mission to bring her back.
The Queen had spent the first few hours locked in their prayer room trying to summon any god she could to aid her daughter but so far none answered her.
Thor on the other hand was pacing up and down constantly checking in with J'onn in case the rescue team needed any rescue themselves. The amazons in the embassy took turns delivering anything they could to Diana's office just to get a glimpse of the mythical god of thunder. Oh how their sisters back in the island would be jealous was their thought as they were giddy every time Thor acknowledged any of them.
Ironically, even though they resided in an island blessed by the gods, none of them ever interacted with a god so they were really excited.
"Any news?" He turned and looked at Queen Hippolyta. This past couple of hours had been hard on her. She cried, prayed, cried and prayed on repeat all in the confines of that small prayer room princess Diana set up for her daily prayers. Deep regret was also plaguing her. The Main thing on her thought, why did I have to allow Cate into man's world where nothing good ever happens.
"They have arrived and will communicate on their progress." He relayed what J'onn reported to him.
"So nothing of importance then." She turned heading towards the prayer room.
"Your sisters are getting curious as to why you've been locked up all this time while me, a stranger, receives and signs packages meant for Princess Diana." He voiced out then handed her a brown package that the secretary had brought in earlier.
"Have they questioned you!?" she demanded stopping dead in her tracks turning to face him.
"No they haven't but..."
"Do they know you are Thor, prince of Asgard and that they should be bowing in your presence!" her tone was getting higher and higher clearly angry and looking for an escape goat to release the anger. "Where are they!!" she strode towards the door seething disbelieving her sisters could look down on their queen let alone a god.
She swung the door open nearly taking it off its hinges but before she stepped out Thor pulled her back in and slammed the door shut. "You did not let me finish..." He blocked her path. Her eyes were blood shot red and minute wrinkles which were previously absent could be spotted around her face from not having an ounce of sleep. Her royal dress also had creases from being folded every time and prolonged usage.
"I know you are a god but you do not get to tell me how to rule my people." Her voice low and full of anger. She side stepped Thor but he still blocked her path.
"I have experienced what you are going through and I know how you feel. You are hurting and feel responsible and that can make you do things you will regret later. So forgive me but I am not letting you out of this door until you calm down and can present yourself as a Queen." Thor tried reasoning with her. He's never been too good with emotional conversations but he would try and aid Themysciran people.
Hippolyta relaxed taking a step back in turn making Thor to relax. "You need to trust on your Daughter and my friends to bring them back safely." He voiced out but that statement seemed to have reminded the queen what was at stake because she dashed to the door and opened it once. "Nicole!!" she called enraged. "How dare you..." she was pulled back again and the door shut with a loud bang and Thor blocking the door again while pushing her back little.
"I know you don't want to..."
"Un hand me you...!" she punched him. Thor saw the punch coming but was so shocked he couldn't do anything and it landed right on his cheek.
'Crack' "Are you alright." He asked concerned when she held her hand clearly holding down a scream by the way she was pumping it.
By the love of God I sprained it on his face she could see him talking but couldn't concentrate because of the pain.
"Your majesty, you should get that looked at." His voice full of concern but Hippolyta's pain and duress made it seem like he was mocking her and how weak she was. What made it worse was her thought on Diana rescuing her daughter instead of her, her mother.
"Shut up!" she threw another punch but this time Thor caught it as he knew she was just looking for a way to relieve her anger.
She kneed his stomach forcing him to let go stepping back and delivered a kick to his torso which propelled him to the door banging against it. Her knee hurt as it felt like colliding with a stone wall. Thor was surprised by how flexible and skilled she was.
The door was broken down and three amazons fully dressed in combat gear branding swords stormed in and moved to attack Thor.
"Halt!!" Hippolyta commanded from her crouched position. The warriors paused but their swords were aimed at Thor.
"Your majesty, he attacked you!" she pointed her sword at him looking at their queen holding her hand and sweating a bit.
"No, he did not. We were sparring." Her voice was strained. She stood up letting go of her hand and putting much of her weight on the other leg.
The amazons lowered their weapons but did not put them away and that's when she noticed them. They weren't the ones working or guarding the embassy because those ones wore dresses. These three had on full amazon warrior amour down to the not so concealed weapons. "What are you doing here?"
Thor relaxed when they lowered their weapons.
"Your majesty" they bowed. "General Phillipus has sent for you and Princess Diana. We were about to knock when we heard the commotion inside and thought you were in trouble."
That made sense to her because all those in the embassy knew Thor was the one with her. "What happened?" Phillipus never sent for her unless it was an emergency.
"Mount Chuom is active."
Hippolyta stood up straight and her shoulders tensed a bit. "Let's not waste time. Lead the way." She moved towards the door. "See yourself out." She called to Thor who was standing there confused at what just happened. One minute she wanted to fight everybody, the next she was acting like a queen hastily going back home all emotions forgotten.
"What's wrong?" he followed them as they hastily passed through various doors. The three warriors kept looking back at him and then to the Queen thinking all kinds of questions to themselves wondering why they were not returning with their champion. They were heading to the portal room and surely that was supposed to be a secret, right?
"Something has come up and it needs my attention" Hippolyta came to a halt and turned to him with Thor noticing how tense she was now. "My people need me." She beckoned one embassy worker who stood beside a door guarding it. "She will escort you to the Hall of Justice. I thank you for your assistance." Her demeanour completely changed from earlier.
"You are welcome your majesty but I can still offer my help as the protector of Midgard during this time." He looked and stepped towards her hoping she would accept it now that their champion was still off world. Whatever happened to warrant three fully clad amazon warriors to seek out their queen and champion was probably an emergency.
Mount Chuom being active meant that trouble was brewing for them as it was a gateway to very many dimensions and realms. The gods had given them the responsibility of guarding it and not letting anyone through when they were blessed with their island of Themyscira.
"Men are not allowed in Themyscira." The warriors mumbled to themselves giving Thor a once over checking him out and the armour he downed. He was definitely a man and not welcomed.
Hippolyta's mind and emotions were on overdrive as she stood outside the room housing their portal. Her daughter was taken, her other daughter was out putting herself in harm's way and now she had a bad feeling on whatever awaited her back at the island. She was barely holding on bottling up all these emotions because right now her people needed the Queen. If you didn't need his help you wouldn't have let him follow you this far. A thought in her head popped up. After all, he's not a man.
"Very well Thor, son of Odin. You may come with us."
"But my Queen he's a..." she shut her mouth as soon as Hippolyta turned to face her reminding her she was about to argue with her Queen. They parted letting them enter first and looked at each other. The senate won't like this at all.
OA
Warning! Warning! Warning! Alarms had been blazing for the past one hour in the sanctuary as the guardians meditated furiously to shut them down.
The green ambience had turned to red flashing every now and then.
It stopped as sudden as it had begun and the hub was calm again with the guardians stopping meditating one by one opening their eyes.
In the middle of the room was a huge hologram of Hal Jordan, the cause of it all, as the systems attached the word 'emergency' across his form with his ring glowing red.
One guardian gestured to the ring and it detached from the hologram and floated to him. The hologram representing every data the ring had ever collected. He attached it to his work station and began to peruse the data.
"What has he done?" one guardian asked irritation in his voice. Ever since this whole multi-dimensional fiasco started, most of the problems they dealt with was either linked to Hal or caused by him.
Proof of that sentiment was currently being studied in their underground hanger hosting various confiscated vessels. Though they weren't complaining as they never got a chance to study an apokolipian harvest vessel before.
The room suddenly changed colour again to red when a scan of Clockwork appeared.
"Another alien, a robot." Another guardian stated when he noticed the omnitrix's symbol on its chest. "Why am I not surprised."
"But why all this?" he gestured around their hub at the ambience that was still red signifying an emergency. "That was a protocol designed for extreme emergencies." All the guardians had been automatically teleported to the hub from wherever they were. A contingency in case universal destruction was imminent.
The guardian with the ring projected the image at the centre but as usual everything about Clockwork was tagged 'unknown'.
The guardian retrieved video footage after when Hal scanned him. All of them moved forward to the centre trying but failing to comprehend what they were watching.
"Impossible!!!" "How!?" "It's merely a robot!" They exclaimed and tried scanning it to have a vague idea on how it was built or its parts. All they got was 'Error'.
"So that's why our systems reacted the way it did." One guardian pointed out. "We're dealing with a time traveller."
"It's not a time traveller." Their strategist spoke up for the first time and they turned to him.
He extended his hand and the ring flew to him. He forwarded to the part where Clockworks explains his powers to Hal. He knew eventually he would have to explain it to Hal. The Lobo matter forgotten and far from what they were thinking. "He is a master of time. If my theory is correct he can manipulate it however he sees fit."
"How is that even possible!?" No being is that powerful. Not even gods could manipulate time. Not even Amazo who had amassed a variety of powers and evolved significantly could manipulate time. They had also been tracking his movements and activities. Only celestials have been rumoured to control time and no one had ever seen one before.
"He is not from our universe. Who knows what is possible in theirs." One guardian stated as they watched how he somehow rewound time, froze it at the cave and forwarded it again.
"Not all things were frozen on earth" as they accessed surveillance from a nearby settlement and everything was going on as usual. That showed his prowess in controlling it.
"The omnitrix is more dangerous than we thought." A guardian declared and this time everyone supported that statement. "If it ever were to land on an evils person's hands they could change history as we know it."
They watched the two heroes hovering out of the cave after triggering the bombs which not even a speedster would have escaped unscathed.
"So we're all in agreement it needs to be in our possession?"
"Yes." They agreed unanimously and watched Clockwork turn into Blaze. They tracked the video back to Clockwork and just started watching again. Turning into a bunch of species was not a problem for them or their universe but the capability of having complete control over time was out of the question.
"I warned you a mortal should not be trusted with this kind of power." The guardian usually campaigning against Ben reiterated.
"No one should be trusted with this kind of power." One guardian declared. "Once we retrieve it, we should destroy it." Everyone was in agreement. "That kind of power corrupts everything it touches."
"How will we retrieve it? From everything we know about him and it." Gesturing to Clockwork. "We can't declare war on him and win without suffering major losses."
"Leave that to me." Their strategist hovered above them. "All I need from you is your assurance we are all in agreement and you will not interfere with any plan I device." They all looked up at him then at each other all nodding. He was their strategist after all.
"You have it." They all agreed in unison.
"We will need allies in the Justice league." Their strategist mentioned. "We need to send a team to war world to assist Superman and Wonder woman in their rescue mission." He ordered, a semblance of a plan already forming. He waited for any disagreement but none was put forward. Good. He left the hub to go assemble the team.
"I hope we have not strayed from our path." One guardian voiced out breaking their silence and concentration on the video being on repeat.
"We have not brother. It is for the good of universes everywhere." Since Ben told them it was also the only one in existence in their universe too.
"I hope you're right." He considered staring at Clockwork who had unwittingly set everything in motion.