"Hey, Batman. Why do you have a motorcycle for each of us on standby? Also, can I have this one after we're done?"
"For confidential reasons and no." The Dark Knight's tone was annoyed and I rolled my eyes as I heard the others sounding amused at his irritation.
"Hey, just asking."
"Do you see anything of note?" He asked and I frowned as I closed my eyes to enhance my hearing, stretching it over a vast distance.
"The only other humans I can hear for the next six miles in all directions are ourselves and the humans driving the trucks."
"Ms. Martian?"
"The same. Also, Chris, please make use of the telepathic link to talk instead of talking out loud. You tend to have a more…commanding voice."
"What does that mean?"
"It means you sound like you're drunk-shouting every time you talk." Wally spoke with a grin and I looked at where he was sitting on top of his bike with a grin before rolling my eyes as I put my helmet on.
"Hey, I'd take a commanding voice over a voice that sounds like I sucked in a squeaky toy every time."
"Wait, you saying I sound like a squeaky toy?!"
"We do. Superboy, what is our plan of action?" Richard asked and I sighed as I looked at the trucks.
"Right, I forgot you guys like using code names during missions. Alright, Ms. Martian, you're with me on the truck with the body. Aqualad, Robin, you two are on the truck with the head. Kid Flash-!'
"It's Velocity now." Kid Flash answered and the four of us looked at him as he shrugged.
"Really?" I asked before shaking my head as he nodded with a smug grin.
"Yep."
"…Very well. Velocity, you're probably figured out where you need to be considering your bike is the only one that's built heavy-duty."
"Not really. Whe-No. No, I'm not." He spoke with a glare and I smirked as Ms. Martian giggled and both Robin and Aqualad looked amused.
"You are to drive in between the routes the two real trucks are going to take as a failsafe just in case one of the trucks is attacked."
"Oh, come on~ I can drive with one of the groups and run over to the other if they need my help."
"The closest the two routes are going to be near each other takes thirty seconds to cross."
"Oh, that's so e-!"
"At your top speed." I continued, watching as he blinked while looking at me.
"And that's the closest point. The furthest point is two minutes, which means that if the other side is attacked, back-up will take two minutes to get to the other side."
"Fine, I guess if that's the situation, I'll do it."
"Nice plan, Superboy." Superman spoke from up above and I smirked before looking down at Goblin as he looked up at me.
"What is my duty?"
"You're with Robin and Aqualad. You and Ms. Martian are capable of speaking telepathically over long distances so having the two of you separated on different teams will work in our favour."
"Got it." He nodded as he hopped off and onto Robin's bike, who simply gave me a thumbs-up before I snapped the window of my helmet down as the first truck turned on.
"Remember, do not lose sight of your truck, keep an eye out for any suspicious figures that may be tailing you or your cargo and do not under any circumstances get separated from your teams. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!" The group chorused and I grinned as I took off with a wheelie, Ms. Martian giggling happily as she raced after me before keeping pace as I heard the others following after their truck.
"So, what's the plan for keeping track?"
"Can you read every mind within a mile radius?" I asked as we began to cruise after the truck and she frowned before giving a slow nod.
"It's going to take a bit of concentration, but I think I could."
"Good. I'll keep my senses out to that same distance to help. We're going to switch every ten minutes and make sure we keep at a reasonable distance to where we can react at a moment's notice or rush in to take out any individual that tries to take the body."
"Got it. I'll take first." She said and I nodded as I focused on the more immediate surroundings, taking a deep breath as I stared at the truck slowly driving.
'Okay, so that meeting at the Venom factory was not what I was expecting. The fact that Killer Croc was there with that Prometheus-looking guy means that the rogue galleries of the Justice League are most likely all in this world. That means that Ivo might have another super-genius that could help him get Amazo. Hah, am I glad that my deeper thoughts can't be heard by Megan or else I'd be fucked right now. Wait, could she be lying?' I thought with a frown as I glanced to Ms. Martian, who looked to be far too busy to pay attention to me.
'I think Megan is smoking hot. She plagues my mind every second and I can't imagine a life without her.' Keeping an eye on the Martian, I let out a relieved sigh as I couldn't see or hear any shift in her heartbeat, turning back to stare at the truck.
However, my gaze shifted to the other side as I heard chattering getting closer, raising a hand to Ms. Martian to get her attention as I stared at the figures flying down towards us.
'Yep, those are the Monkeys…MONKIs? MONQIs? I think it's the last one. Eh, the robotic monkeys. Alright, time to see how strong I've gotten.'
"Ms. Martian, bogeys at 9! Activate your bike's auto-mode and hop onto the truck!"
"Right!" She nodded as we tapped the interface on the side of the motorcycle, the handlebars coming together and sinking into the bike while both of us flew up and onto the truck.
With a grunt as I spin towards the monkeys, the air shook as I smacked my hands together and unleashed a shockwave that dispersed the group of robotic monkeys.
The blow also brought a few of them down, but the rest didn't waste any time as they all flew down with their jetpacks while chattering happily as if this was a walk in the park for them.
'Which might be true considering they don't need to fear death since they're just pro-Why the hell does he have a bomb?!'
"Ms. Martian, we got one with a bomb heading for the transmission!" I shouted and she didn't waste a second as the MONQI froze midair before she grunted and slammed it harshly into the ground.
I was staying still on top of the truck as I watched the group beginning to latch onto it, grabbing at the few that stayed still for even a second and crushing them in hand before spinning around and catching one that tried to jump at me from behind.
"Robin! Aqualad! Report!" I barked out, throwing the one in my hand away while pressing my finger against the earpiece we were given.
"Kind of! Gah! Busy! Got these little-Aqualad, duck! Little bastards on us!" Robin spoke through grunts and I frowned before switching to Velocity's side.
"Velocity! I need you to get to Robin and Aqualad and help out while Ms. Martian and I handle this side!"
"I wou-Oh crap! I would…but I got a fucking Robo Flash on me!" That threw me for a loop and I quickly slammed my hands together, unleashing another shockwave that knocked the MONQIs away before Ms. Martian unleashed a telekinetic burst that sent them flying even further.
"What do you mean you got a Robo Flash?!"
"Exactly that! The bastard looks li-Gah! Fuck! Get off me! The bastard looks like Flash, but he's a robot! And a lot goddamn slower which I'm thankful for because I would be de-Crap! Dead if he wasn't!"
"Superboy, we're going to need that help fast because we got a Robo Green Lantern and Wonder Woman on us!" Aqualad shouted through the radio and I turned to Ms. Martian who looked just as bewildered.
What the fuck was going on?!
"Batman!"
"Already on it! Superman will be going to help Velocity! I will go help Robin and Aqualad! From the sounds of it, the robotic monkeys have already gotten away with Amazo's head! You must make sure that body stays here!"
"Will do! Ms. Martian, phase into the truck! Destroy anything that tries to break in!"
"Got it!" She nodded before falling through the floor and I frowned as I turned to the horde of MONQIs floating around the truck.
"Let's dance!" With a grunt, I rushed to the first group, stretching my arms out and slicing through their bodies before spinning around and diving at the next group.
Quickly crossing my arms in front of me as the MONQIs unleashed powerful laser beams that ricochet off my skin with slight pain, I roared as I pushed the beams away before swinging a fist down.
The impact shattered the MONQI it had as well as sent the others flying away, giving me time to rush in and destroy a couple more before I spun as I felt one rushing at me from behind.
Swinging my fist that released a powerful shockwave upon impact, I was surprised as the robot caught my fist, feeling my heart stop slightly at the metallic 'S' on the bot's chest as well as the billowing cape on its shoulder.
The Robo Superman swung at my head, but I quickly ducked under the boy, instinct taking over as I grabbed the sides of its head before delivering a headbutt that shook the road while also sending it flying.
'Holy shit, did I get that strong?' I thought in shock as I stared at the head of the robot that had sunk deep into its own neck before shaking my head and rushing after the convoy.
"S-Superboy! G-Getting a bit overwhelmed here!"
"Got an idea! Can you lift the truck up on my signal?!" I asked as I tackled a few off, spinning around and rushing up to the sky as Ms. Martian responded.
"Y-Yeah, why?!"
"Good! Do it!" I shouted as I dove back down, pulling my arms back as I continued to accelerate towards the ground before stopping a few inches above the roof right as the truck stop.
Slamming my hands together, the shockwave accompanied by the sonic boom shockwaves from my speed made the trunk sink into the tar while also shattering the heads of the MONQIs.
Watching as they all shut down while falling to the floor, I took a deep breath as I sat down on top of the truck before looking to the driver door as it opened.
"You good?" I asked the driver as he slowly stumbled out of his seat, not surprised to see him give a thumbs-up before he gagged and threw up whatever lunch he ate.
"Ms. Martian? You okay?"
"G-Good! Although…it's very hard to hear when sonic booms make you deaf!" She shouted in her mind as she floated up and phased through the roof, giving an embarrassed smile as I chuckled and nodded.
"That's my fault. I should have given you a faster warning."
"T-That's okay. Everything's good." She said with a smile as she sat down and I nodded while tapping my earpiece again.
"Everyone okay?"
"Velocity here with Superman heading back to you. Robo Flash is missing his head and chest."
"Robin here with Aqualad. Green Lantern is out, but Robo Wonder Woman is still taking a while. Batman gave us the go-ahead to continue."
"Got it. Since the head was taken, Ms. Martian and I will stay here while we wait for you guys to come to us."
"Got it. Meet you in ten!"
"I'll be over in one!"
"Good. I'll see you all here. Superboy out." I said and turned off the ear piece before shaking my head as I looked down at the destroyed MONQIs.
How did they even find us? I know they knew of this path in the cartoon as well as most likely picked us out because we were driving alongside it, but there had to be some other reason, right?
'Am I just overthinking this? I might just be, but I'd rather be safe.'
"Ms. Martian, can you check whether or not Amazo perhaps had something in him that helped them find out where we are?" I asked and she nodded while phasing through the roof.
The sound of rummaging inside came from the truck before she popped up, this time with a frown on her face and a transmitter beeping away in her hands.
"Found this in Amazo's upper torso. Don't know how it got there, but I think we've figured out how they found us."
"This was just the opening attack. They're going to come with something far stronger next time." I muttered as I took the transmitter from her before smirking as I looked to the bikes.
After all, if this can track an object, why not use it against them?
"Say, guys, how far can an automatic bike drive on its own.?"
"With Batman's modifications? At least a few hundred miles. Why?"
"Because I have a really dumb, possibly brilliant idea."
"What are you thinking, Superboy?" Ms. Martian asked, a curious yet concerned look on her face as I smiled.
"We're going to give them what they want. How good are you with integrating the transmitter into the bike's systems?" I asked and she blinked before grinning slowly as realization shone in her eyes.
"Ooh~"
"Yup! We're sending it off and then go in the opposite direction as fast as we can! Make them think that the torso is being carried away while they come and keep us busy."
"Awesome~" She whispered with an excited grin as she hopped down, popping off my bike's dashboard and beginning to fuse the transmitter with the bike's system.
"Batman, did you get that?" I asked and nothing but silence came from the other side for a few seconds before he spoke.
"Good call, but stay alert. If the robots realize it's a fake, they'll stop at nothing to get that body back."
"Wouldn't expect anything less." I answered before turning to Ms. Martian as she stood up with a happy smile.
"All done~" She said happily and I nodded as I revved the engines while setting the destination for the maximum limit, which was just shy of a Gotham Train Station.
'Huh, I'm still close to Gotham, but I can't go there. Life really is cruel.' I thought with a smirk before pressing a final button, watching as the bike raced off into the distance.
"Think it'll work?" Ms. Martian asked as she looked at me and I sighed before nodding.
"It has to or else we're stuck facing off against probably more MONQIs and new robots based on the Justice League."
"Uh, speaking of robots, I've got eight flying overhead and heading for you. You guys might want to get ready." Velocity spoke with a nervous tone of voice, something he never does unless the situation was really dire.
"Let's go." I said to Ms. Martian, who nodded as we floated up while staring at the eight figures flying directly towards us only for me to groan as I saw seven of the figures.
"That…might be a bit much even for us." She said as we stared at the seven Robo Supermen flying behind a female Red Tornado with a more streamline design and flames coming from her hands and feet that were most likely keeping her afloat.
"Think you could take one on?" I asked Ms. Martian only to chuckle at her bewildered look.
"No! No I don't!"
"Fine, I'll take the seven Supermen. You take on the Red Tornado's twin sister who I think is going to be the bigger threat."
"If I finish my fight first, I'll come help." Ms. Martian said and I nodded before rushing in, the flaming Red Tornado counterpart rushing past me as the seven Supermen rushed at me.
The first one and I crashed shoulder to shoulder into each other and I was a bit surprised as his body only dented slightly before I grunted and pushed him down into the ground.
Punching into his chest and ripping out a core that was glowing with a red light, my eyes widened as I felt the strength leaving my arm, quickly throwing the core away and turning around right as two others dove arms first into me.
The ground cratered as the two tried to push me deeper into the ground, but I growled as I pushed one off with a kick, the other landing a punch that made me bite the inside of my cheek before I swung back and punched its head off.
Ripping my arm out before kicking the second robot-body away, I rolled to my feet as the last four came crashing down, leaping past them before spinning around and grabbing the fifth one by the throat.
With a grunt, I ripped its head, letting the two parts fall to the ground as the other four shot at me. The air rumbled as two of them crashed fist first into me and knocked the wind out of me, but I pushed through and wrapped my arms around them.
With a roar, I flexed hard and crushed them in half, making sure to kick their body parts to the side and shatter them with each kick as the sixth one rushed at me from below.
This time, I dodged the blow while lashing out with a kick to tear it in half, but my eyes widened when the seventh one came in and caught it, giving the sixth one enough time to turn and deliver a powerful heel drop to my forearm.
"I see. Someone's controlling you." I muttered as I caught the first robot's punch, pulling him into the path of the second before kicking him forward and launching a punch at the second robot's head.
The bot quickly dodged the blow, but it didn't dodge the knee to its chest, ripping its red sun core out and making me wince as I felt all the energy leaving my body before I forced myself awake to catch the punch at my head.
Twisting and spinning with the arm still caught, I ripped its arm clean off before stabbing it through its core, slamming my hands together and crushing its head to scrap as its eyes flickered.
"You guys ain't shit." I muttered as I flicked its chest, sending the robot falling to the ground in pieces before looking to the truck just in time to see a giant flaming tornado surround it.
"Ah, right. Fire lady…Holy shit!" I cursed as I rushed in, Red Fire not paying attention to me until the last second as she turned around and unleashed a wave of fire.
I just flew right through the flames while barging into it with full force, watching as the blow sent the Red Fire ragdolling through the air and into the ground a few hundred yards away from the truck.
"Velocity here! I'm ten seconds out!"
"Good! Ms. Martian, you okay?!"
"All good! Amazo is still secured, but blocking that fire was no joke."
"You don't have to tell me. It burned me." I said while looking at the burn marks on my hands, which were not severe but still harsh enough to make me wonder just how powerful its flames truly were.
The sounds of electricity crackling made me grin as I turned, watching the sparking blur rush past me and towards the Red Fire in the distance.
"So, what's the plan?"
"While Robin and Aqualad are on their way, you, Ms. Martian and I are keeping our friend either busy or sending her to the scrap yard. Got it?"
"Got it/ Got it!" Both spoke in agreement and I took a deep breath as Red Fire stood up from the ground before all three of us blasted towards the robotic pyrokinetic with roars.
Time to end this tech onslaught.
A/N: Cliffhanger~! Like I said, I'm changing a lot of stuff and the robot stuff will make sense as we go on throughout the year~!
Next chapter: Terminator ain't got nothing on this bastards~!
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until next week...
Ba-Bye~!