
[π.π] ππ‘ππ©πππ« [π.π] - ππππ«πππ¬ πππ―πππ₯ππ
Bruce, Cass, and Tatsu approached the Batman monument, farthest to the right. He extended his hand and pressed the Bat-Symbol on it, which began to glow. Suddenly, the circle in the center moved away to reveal a secret passage, which he began to descend along with Terry and Lucy.
"Did you know about this?" Lucy asked her brother. He shakes his head.
"No. I wonder what other things Dad is hiding from us." Terry said.
They never noticed the five sets of eyes watching after them in the trees.
"We're gonna follow them, right?" Henry asked.
"Yeah," Jonathan replied.
"Aye." Aaliyah agreed.
"Obviously," Natalie said.
"No, no," Arthur said, walking out of the forest area into the clearing, standing in the other way, "Absolutely not! Bruce said wait, so we'll wait. He'll explain everything; we need to respect his wishes." Arthur looks menacingly at them as his eyes and Atlantean tattoos glow blue. His trident in hand ready to strike.
Aaliyah glanced at him mischievously. She then whipped out her mace and moved closer towards him.
"You really wanna do this, AJ?"
"What afraid I'll win," Arthur smirks stepping closer as their bodies pressed against each other.
She then sweeps Arthur's legs and gets on top of him.
"You're cute."
"Right back at ya."
"Get a room, you two!" Natalie said.
Henry made gagging noises teasing them.
"Nat, I know Lucy is the tech head around here but do you think you can open the doors?" Jonathan asks.
"I'll try," Natalie answered.
A few minutes later. The group of teens walked down into the void.
"Did any of you know about this place?" Henry asks. The rest of the group shakes their heads except for Jonathan.
"I knew," He said.
The group looked at him shocked.
"X-ray vision remember." He said and points to his eyes.
"And why didn't you or Bruce tell us about this place?" Natalie asks crossing her arms.
"I knew something was down here. I just didn't know exactly what that was because parts of the hidden area are made out of lead. I can't see through lead."
"How could we have lived here all this time and not known about this?" Aaliyah wondered out loud.
"Bruce didn't want to tell us because he probably felt we weren't ready," Natalie answered.
"But why not?" Aaliyah asked.
"Because he thinks we're kids still," Jonathan commented.
As they walked, a door ahead of them opened automatically.
"Come on!" Henry called.
"Guys, we're gonna get in so much trouble!" Arthur warned.
"Oh wah, wah, wah!" Henry mocked as Jonathan rolled his eyes and countered, "We've been getting into trouble since the day we were born. If you're ever gonna get promoted from prince to king, you'd better get some guts."
"I think it's sweet that you're trying to look out for us. I love a strong man with a big heart." Aaliyah said pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Arthur and Aaliyah looked at each other and blushed.
"I think I've been here before when I was a kid," Jonathan said, causing the others to stop and look back at him as he continued, "I remember hanging onto this rail, I was falling on it. I remember being scared."
Henry laughs.
"That sounds like you! Big ol' scaredy-ah!" He yelled as he ran into something.
He turned around to see something he never thought he'd ever see: Their parents.
First, they saw Superman, and then the others began to light up, one by one. They stared in amazement at them all, noticing for the first time that they were all robots.
"What is all this!?" Natalie asked.
"They're our parents," Jonathan replied.
"He's right!" Henry exclaimed, "It's just like the story! That's my Dad! The Scarlet Speedster! That's my Mom! The Goddess of Snow! That's Jonathan's Dad, The Man of Steel, and his Mom The Princess of Themyscira! There's Arthur's Dad, The King of Atlantis! And that's Aaliyah's Mom and Dad, The Royal Hawks!"
Aaliyah stepped forward. "I-I thought... No, they have to be alive." She whispered.
Arthur walked over towards Aaliyah and held her hand. The Thanagarian Princess has been dreaming about her parents recently. She could hear them call out her name and in her dreams, she would imagine flying with her parents and being back home on Thanagar. It had to be a sign that they were still alive, right?
"There's the Emerald Archer and his Pretty Bird! As well as the Hero from Mars, The Girl of Steel and The Emerald Knight! Looks like the only one that's missing is The Dark Knight and-" Henry continued.
Natalie elbowed him in the ribs to get him to stop talking.
"Ow! What was that for!" He whispered.
They all turned to look at Jonathan. He stood in front of his parents, staring at them intently. He remembers that day it was his birthday and he was turning seven. He remembers how happy he was on that day with his parents as they ate cake and opened presents... That was the last time he ever saw them.
"Why would Bruce keep this from us?" Aaliyah asked.
"As I said earlier," Natalie responded, "For whatever reason, he felt we were not ready. We shouldn't be in here."
"Natalie is right," Arthur agreed, "If Bruce did want us to know about these, he would tell us. Now we should keep going if we want to spy on him. FIND him, I mean."
"Going with the flow, are you?" Henry smiled and bumped his elbow."There may be hope for you yet, Fish boy."
With that, they began to walk away.Β Aaliyah turned back and noticed that Jonathan had yet to move from his place in front of the robot Superman. Aaliyah came back and grabbed his bicep, trying to get him moving. He ignored her and looked at the machine instead. "Jonathan..." She said worriedly. He didn't answer.
Cassandra slowly opened her eyes. The last thing she remembers was her and Tatsu entering Brainiac City. She looks around the room groggy.
"Okay, looks like I'm in the Med Bay but, where's Father?" Cassandra then felt something cold pressed against her side. It was an ice pack taped to her ribs. She slowly tried to get up off the bed but couldn't and let out a loud groan.
"Whoa, easy there, Cass," Lucy said entering the room with her brother.
"Dad! She's awake!" Terry yelled as they helped her get back into bed.
"What happened?" Cassandra asked.
"You got injured during your mission to Brainiac City. You have a broken rib and a concussion." Bruce said.
Cassie touched her head and winced.
"Here take this." Bruce handed her a pill and a glass of water. She took the painkiller and drank the water.
"Dad had to do surgery on you. Terry and I helped stitch you back up." Lucy said.
"Is Tatsu hurt?" she asked.
"Yes, but she'll be alright. Just a few cuts and bruises." Lucy answered.
"Where is she?" She asked.
"She's resting in the other room. I have to go and talk to her about the mission." Bruce kissed her daughter's forehead and walked away.
Cassandra looked up at the ceiling and groaned. "I'm screwed."
"You think he's mad at you?" Lucy asked.
"I failed him. He's not gonna let me go out anymore." she said sadly.
"What were you even doing in Brainiac City? I thought we were forbidden to leave this place." Terry asked her.
"Tatsu and I are Dad's eyes and ears. We keep track of Brainiac's capabilities and movements so we can find a way to defeat him." She explained.
"And you kept this secret from us. Why?" Lucy asked.
"Dad told me to keep it a secret. He didn't wanna put you guys in danger." Cassandra explained.
"But we could have helped you out," Terry said.
"Brainiac is too powerful. You aren't yet ready to fight him."
Lucy let out an annoyed groan.
"Sooner or later we are gonna have to face him. We can't keep on hiding forever." Lucy said frustrated.
"I agree. But for now, we have to stay hidden." Cassandra said.
Lucy left the room in a huff. "I'll go talk to her and you go get some rest," Terry said.
Cassandra looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh. She decided to get out of bed and find her Father. She needed to explain to him what she saw in Brainiac City. It's the reason why she got distracted and also hurt in the process.
"Father will think I'm crazy," Cass said to herself. She laughed a little bit and ended up regretting it. She cursed in Chinese and touched her side.
The others emerged onto a catwalk, smoke and steam rising into the air.
"Looks like some sort of cave," Arthur observed.
"What did you learn, Daughter?" Bruce asked his voice coming from somewhere below.
"We were successful in accessing the mainframe. All of Europe has been subjugated by the machine forces since our last report. Drones are gathering along the Pacific Rim and Eastern Europe. The invasion of Asia will soon commence, along with phase three." Tatsu answered.
The teens glanced at each other.
"What's phase three?" Natalie's eyes narrowed.
"Bake a birthday cake," Henry smiled nervously.
"In ten years, he's conquered half the planet," Bruce muttered.
The main door slid opened to reveal Cassandra wobbling towards them.
"Cassandra, what are you doing up? I thought I told you to get some rest!" Bruce said worriedly. He ran over towards his daughter and caught her in his arms before she fell.
"Father... I need to tell you something important." She said weakly.
"What is it, Daughter?"
"Harleen... She's alive."
"What!?" Bruce said stunned.
"Holy crap!" Natalie whispered.
"We've gotta tell Lucy and Terry about this," Henry said. He along with Natalie and Arthur were happy to hear that Lucy and Terry's mother had survived the invasion.
"I wonder if my father has survived as well?" Arthur asks.
"Maybe all of our parents are hiding just like us," Natalie answered.
"I hope so,"Β Arthur whispered.
"Jon, we should go," Aaliyah said quietly.
"What if it has my Dad's voice," He replied. "Or it's programmed to be like him or has his memories. Do you think he can hear me?"
He looked towards her and then back towards the machine.
"Um, Dad?" Jonathan said uncertainly. "Can you hear me? Hello? Are you awake?"
"Jon, this is not your Father." Aaliyah said quietly as she placed a hand comfortingly on his shoulder, "It's a robot. Even if it was like your Father or Mother it would be a poor substitute."
He shook her hand off and stepped forward, his foot half in the spotlight that illuminated the android, "Sir? Um... Superman? Are you, Um... Online?"
Its eyes lit up, causing them to stumble back in fright.
"Justice Leaguer!" It exclaimed.
"Designation: Superman, now online! Accessing the mission database. Mission acquired. Destruction of Alien threat, designation: Brainiac, commencing!"
"Brainiac?" Aaliyah gawked.
The robot had walked to the end of the platform before it turned around to face its companions.
"Justice League, Unite!" It called.
All the others appeared activated and began to follow the robotic Superman out of the room.
"Whoa, wait!" Jonathan called out as he realized what was happening.
He turned and sprinted after the leaving robots.
"Stand down! Stop! Dad!" He yelled. "I don't wanna hurt you."
Jonathan was about to land a punch on the machine when all of a sudden the robot blocked it.
"Accessing Superman." The robot said.
The robotic Superman then grabbed him by the arm and launched him back towards Aaliyah. His body crashing into hers.
"How is that possible?" Jonathan asked.
"I-I don't know..." Aaliyah said shocked at the strength of the robot.
The robots entered what appeared to be a large launching platform. The two followed them, only to be stopped as the ground they were standing on moved away.
Superman was the first to launch. He rose into the air on a pair of jet boots that had been built into his feet. The two teens could only watch in horror the others began to rise into the air after him.
The ground began to rumble, knocking Bruce's equipment over, causing him to blink in shock. An alert began to sound, focusing his attention.
"Justice League launch sequence: initiated," Alfred the A.I. said.
"Oh no," he whispered, fear in his voice.
The Hawks were the last to launch, spewing smoke in its wake.
"Shit," Jonathan cursed.
He was about to fly and catch up with them when Aaliyah grabbed his hand.
"No, It's too dangerous. We have to tell Bruce." He nods and they run out of the room.
In a spaceship far away, a figure stood tall, watching multitudes of video screens displaying images from all around the world.
"Energy source detected," An electronic voice reported. "Location: Arctic Circle. Energy analysis matches fugitive, designation: Batman."
"Finally," the figure said.
"Alfred, send reserve power to long-range radar!" Bruce commanded.
"Bruce, this was not my idea!" Arthur tried to explain, "It wasβ"
"Tatsu go help your sister to the Javelin and get it ready," Bruce ordered, ignoring him.
They all blinked, confused. She picks Cassandra up bridal style and runs off with her.
"Multiple radar contacts, designation: Justice League," they heard Alfred say.
They all moved over to the radar screen.
"What's going on?" Asked Henry, worry creeping into his voice.
"Yeah," Natalie agreed, "Give us some answers Bruce!"
Before he could reply, Alfred spoke, "New contact, suborbital trajectory. Designation:β" It showed a picture of Brainiac.
"Bruce!" Yelled a voice behind them.
They turned to see Jonathan and Aaliyah.
"I'm sorry!" said Jonathan, "Th-there were these robots, and they looked just like our parents! And then..."
He trailed off as he noticed the look on the old man's face. Annoyance and anger came to mind. Without a word, he turned back to the computer screen.
"I think he already knows," Aaliyah said.
"Gee, ya think?!" Terry called out.
They turned to see a very angry Terry walking towards them with Lucy close behind.
"What the fuck did you do!?" Terry asked Jonathan.
"I-I am sorryβ"
"Oh, you're sorry! Jonathan, you just revealed to Brainiac where we are." Terry yelled.
"Maybe if someone didn't keep secrets from us none of this would be happening right now!" Jonathan retorted.
"That's enough!" Bruce yelled getting everyone's attention.
"We don't have time to argue. We're leaving." Bruce said.
"What do you mean by leaving?" Natalie asked confused.
"Leaving?" Henry gawked, "As in, leaving here? But- but, we've never left here!"
"Come on, Bruce!" Jonathan demanded, "Give them some answers! They have the right to know!"
Bruce just sighed, knowing they didn't have time for this.
Tatsu ran into the room. "It's ready, Father." She announced.
"What's ready?" Aaliyah asked.
"Get to the control center!" Bruce ordered. "We don't have much time! Katana will explain!"
"What about you?" Jonathan asked.
"Alert, Green Lantern: offline," Alfred called out.
"Get to the control center NOW!" Bruce yelled.
"Martian Manhunter: offline." Alfred's voice continued to echo as they ran up the steps, "Hawkwoman and Hawkman: offline."
Aaliyah stopped dead in her tracks. "We shouldn't have left him!" She yelled angrily.
"Frost: offline."
"She's right. We can't leave without him. It's too dangerous to go by ourselves." Natalie agreed and turned around.
Terry moved toward her, "We have to get to the control center, that's where we'll be safe... Do you trust me?" He said offering his hand. She nods and holds his hand.
"The Flash: offline." They kept running.
"Wonder Woman: offline." Alfred continues.
"Those robots, the Justice League?" Jonathan asked Tatsu, "Why are they going offline?"
"Brainiac the enemy can infect machinery, corrupting and overriding its programming with its own." She replied, "The robotic Justice League has been compromised."
"Superman: offline."
"He was the last." She continued. "Brainiac will be coming for us."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Henry interrupted her in shock. "Brainiac? Brainiac is coming? Here?"
"Look guy's the sky's falling!" Natalie yelled pointing.
"You've got to be shitting me." Arthur cursed.
"Everyone get down! Find cover!" Tatsu yelled.
While the debris was falling. Terry used his cape to protect Natalie, Aaliyah carried Arthur over her shoulder, and Jonathan shielded Lucy and Henry with his body.
Terry blinked as snow rained down on his face. He looked up to see a hole torn in the sky. Suddenly it began to get dark in the dome. Red lights and alarms lit up, illuminating the area.
They watched a giant spaceship shaped in a skull descend from the sky. The spaceship opened its mouth and a large green robotic alien touched down in front of them. It smiled wickedly.
For the first time in their lives, they stared into the eyes of Brainiac.
BαΊ‘n Δang Δα»c truyα»n trΓͺn: Truyen247.Pro