The Rider of Young Justice Season 1: Beginnings

Denial

Mount Justice: 7:39pm, August 19th, 2010:

Within the zeta hanger, Kaldur and Superboy decided to spar today, testing their newfound skills. While Superboy recommended to train with me because of my strength, I told him that sparring is about improving our skills. While I might want to spar with him, there are others to fight. Which is why I recommend that Kaldur takes the spar. Kaldur is strong but not Superboy's level, but Kaldur is quick and resourceful. He would be a better challenge. I decided to bring my Charger into the hanger and give it a quick look over to make sure the engine is in tip top shape. M'gann and Artemis, with their civilian wear walk into the room as they watch the spar. Superboy decided to forgo a shirt, and that decision has now made me sense M'gann's attraction. Sometimes......I can't stand being in the same room as those two. "Having fun down there?" Artemis says as I pull out from underneath the car. She is leaning against it so nonchalantly. "I'm doing fine.....now get your ass off the car." I say as I roll back underneath. I just heard a chuckle from her. I hear the spar going as the two girls watch.

"Kaldur's, uh, nice. Don't you think? Handsome, commanding. You should totally ask him out." I hear Artemis say to M'gann as I fumble my spanner. "He's like a big brother to me. But you know who would make the cutest couple? You and Wally." She says as I spit laugh. I roll out from underneath the car. "Yep, spot on." I say as Artemis glares at both me and M'gann. "You're so full of passion and he's so full of...of..." M'gann doesn't finish as Artemis butts in. "It?" She says as I chuckle. "You two are such fun. Loving the gossip and the crush talk. Oh and Artemis, let's make a bet." I say as I roll back underneath the car. I feel her pull the roll board as I look up at her. "What's the bet?" She demands as I smirk. "Bet is that by the end of the year, you and Wally will be a couple." I say as M'gann squeals, quietly though. "That's a sucker bet, I don't even like him." She says as I give her a look of 'really'. "What's the prize?" She asks. "The prize is that if you win, you can have the Charger.......for a week." I say as her hopeful expression lessens but still remains slightly. "And if I win.........and you two aren't a couple. You have to at least go on a date with Wally." I say as her eyes widen. "That's a shit bet. Become a couple by the end of the year and if I lose I still have to go on a date?" She says as I explain. "A date can go either good or bad......let's see what yours is." I say as I pull myself back under the car. "I think he has put you in a.....what's the say, 'a rock and a hard place'." M'gann says as I hear Artemis sigh. "Fine......deal." she says as I wheel out and shake her hand. "Pleasure doing business." I say cheekily as she scoffs and walks off. Me and M'gann chuckle before fist bumping. Mission accomplished.

"Fail. Aqualad." The training voice lady says as I wheel out from underneath the car to see Superboy standing tall and Kaldur flat on his back. "Black Canary taught me that." Superboy says as he wipes his hands. From the ceiling, a red vortex lower as Red Tornado enters the room. Wally speeds over to him. "Do you have a mission for us?" He asks as Tornado turns to him. "Missions are the Batman's responsibility." He replies as I walk over with the others. "Batman is with Robin in Gotham. We're just wondering if we could be useful with something." I say as everyone nods. Tornado looks at me before nodding. He turns as a hologram popa up with an image of an old man on it. "This is Kent Nelson, a friend. He is 106 years old." Tornado says as I nod. Impressive. "He has been missing for 23 days." Tornado states as I ponder for a minute. "Kent was a charter member of the Justice Society, a precursor to your mentor's Justice League." Tornado continues as Nelson's image changes into that of a strong looking man with a blue suit, yellow details and yellow cape but the most obvious feature was the yellow helmet which covered everything but the eyes and ears. "Nabu." I hear the Rider in my head as I drone out the conversation. "Who?" I reply mentally to him. "Nabu.....two thousand years before the birth of the Son. I met the man Nabu in Babylon. He was a powerful warrior and a wise leader. He along with his father and sister went to battle against a conqueror from the stars which resulted in his death. Based on the insignia on his belt. He was chosen by the Lord's of Order to represent them in this nexus. He is a powerful sorcerer and the only one on this planet at this moment who could rival my might." He says as my eyes widen. An equal to the Rider, never thought I would see the day. But something he said made me confused. "What are the Lords of Order?" I ask him. "Primordial elementals of the universe. When the universe exploded into existence, the Lord's of both Chaos and Order were born. Their constant conflict is what keeps the universe in balance, it's what makes it flourish. One can never be more powerful than the other, otherwise the scales will tip and the consequences could be catastrophic." He says as I nod. Wait a minute. "How do you know all this......how old are you?" I ask him as I feel his pride and amusement. "I was old when I saw your Big Bang......still to this day the most beautiful thing that I've ever seen." He says as I choke and cough on that information. "You all good?" Wally asks me as I notice that everyone is looking at me. "Yeah. I just had something in my throat." I say as I clear my throat. "So what's going on?" I ask as they all looked weirdly at me. "Weren't you paying attention?" Superboy asks as I shake my head. "Sorry, I droned out for a bit." I say as the Ride laughs in my head. "Tornado is sending us to the Tower of Fate to find and guard the helmet. With Nelson missing, and the helmet unguarded, it's at risk of being possessed or destroyed." Kaldur says as I nod. "Cool. Magic road trip." I say as Wally scoffs but Artemis nudges him to shut up.