Secrets and Lies

Summit

Santa Prisca
June 19, 00:00 ECT
The first one to energe from the darkness was Black Beetle. After him came Deathstroke, all the way on the other side. They shared a nod before the Reach Ambassador and Scientist came in behind Black Beetle, surrounded by their security guards. From behind Deathstroke, the villains of the Light filed in, including Vandal Savage, Ra's Al Ghul, Ubu, Queen Bee, Lex Luthor, the Brain, Mousier Mallah, Black Manta, his son, and his son's friend, the Hunter, along with all of their own security.

"Ambassador." "Savage." "As head of security for the Reach, I must insist, no masks be worn." Black Manta removed his helmet. "We are so in over our heads.", Hunter whispered as he removed his masks. Deathstroke was the last to remove his mask. "Satisfied?" The Ambassador smiled. "Excellent. Then with these formalities out of the way..." "Let us begin.", Savage said, smiling sinisterly.
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As Black Beetle fought off Deathstroke and the Hunter, Hunter fell back into Ra's Al Ghul while using his sword to protect him from a blast. "Apologies, Great One." "None necessary, child. You have my-". He saw the golden drop pendant strung around Hunter's neck. "Thanks..."

Kaldur put himself between his father and Black Beetle. "Enough! We are allies! Not enemies! Any conflict between us only benefits our true opponent—the Justice League and their sidekicks." "Kaldur'alm is quite correct." "Agreed. We must not allow petty disagreements to drive a wedge between us. Gratitude, Kaldur'alm."

As the two allied forces talked things over further, Ra's Al Ghul's green eyes were narrowed into slits as he glared at the Hunter standing nearby, focused on his gold pendant. Slowly, he made his way towards the young assassin. "Though the tide has turned on a certain degree, it will be a simple matter to build on the foundation of half-truths we have already used to discredit the League, in order to...discredit them...further..." All eyes fell on Ra's as he stood before the Hunter. "Great One?"

Hunter gasped as Ra's reached for his throat and ripped his gold pendant away. The moment it was off his neck, his features disappeared to reveal those of a more familiar face. "Superboy?!", Lex Luthor exclaimed. "I...don't understand,", the Ambassador said. "I thought Superboy was dead." "So did we all.", Queen Bee said. "But it seems that the Hunter is Superboy." Ra's held up the pendant. "This is a glamour charm. Created, I'd wager, by Zatanna or Doctor Fate, to hide Superboy's true identity."

"But...Kaldur'alm killed Superboy. If he lives, and in disguise as his lieutenant, than that means..." "Aqualad duped them all. Including his own father." The Ambassador sighed. "Kill them both."  Black Manta stood between Black Beetle and Kaldur.  "No!  You will not kill my son!"  "He's right."  Suddenly, two gunshots rang out into the air, and Aqualad and Superboy fell to the ground, blood pouring out of their chests.  "The Light takes care of it's own."

Out of Aqualad's palm fell a tiny device.  Out if it came a holographic projection of Kaldur'alm, who explained everything about the so-called "partnership" between the Reach and the Light, and how each side had manipulated the other.  The Reach Ambassador was furious.  "You Earthlings are a pestilence and a plague!", he roared at Vandal Savage.  "You dare betray us?!  Dare sabotage us?!  Have you forgotten who controls the War World?!  The Light is fortunate that we do not carve up your planet as we speak!"  "That would indeed impress.", Savage said, coming up to him.  "As I have the War World's crystal key."  "That is all I needed to know."

All heads turned to see Kaldur getting up.  "You're..."  "Alive?  Yes."  Ra's stared in horror.  "Hey?  Giving me away?"  He turned sharply to see Superboy standing behind him, smirking.  "Great way to repay me for saving you from being blasted."  Savage was horrified.  "Impossible!  Deathstroke killed you both!"  Just then, he found a sword being levitated near his throat.  "Well, I wouldn't wanna do any permanent damage..."  At once, Deathstroke shape-shifted into...Miss Martian.  "To my best friends!  Not when a little misdirection and Hollywood special effects will do instead."