JustIce League: The Malignant Uprising

Monsoon Season

I stare at my blurred reflection in the mirror. The figure that appeared to me earlier was familiar, but distant. It was probably a side effect of the cuffs, but I didn't really know. 

I glanced at my outfit. Seeing the combat gear on my body was unsettling in a way I didn't understand. The suit was fitted, tailored to me, yet that was the part that made me unsure of it. 

The top of the gear had a heart shaped chest plate with angled sleeves. My arms were exposed, but the new cuffs on wrists made it feel like my arms were protected. Around my hips, hung a serrated, knee length battle skirt with a weapons belt. I smirked at that discovery. There's nothing in it since my cuffs would be my sole weapon. 

But I was most surprised by my face. A black mask covered my cheeks and forehead, making me unrecognizable. It was like it made me a new person. 

I shook the confusion away.

I walked away from the mirror with my head still throbbing, but I tried to show some optimism for my new gift. I could change the world now. I could change the very existence of mankind. 

But suddenly, I fell onto my hands and needs. I winced as my ears rang and my head pulsed. I clutched my head. I felt my wrists pound as my pulse quickened. I was beginning to have visions of space and stars and darkness. 

I think the cuffs were making me see things. They made me see different parts of the world and different places of culture and change. The visions stopped and started randomly. They flashed images of the Justice League fighting monsters and aliens and villains. The pictures were moving faster and faster until they all merged into a jumbled thought. I blinked and they were gone. A warm sensation powered through my veins.

I gasped in surprised and collapsed to the ground, chest panting from the exhilaration. I turned my head up to the white ceiling. These things on my wrist just made me see things I never thought I would see in my lifetime. These cuffs I wear on my wrists just generated my clothes with a single thought. They could make things I wanted. They could generate powers I've seen before. I could copy powers. 

I could use the ones from the League Father had made me study.

I got up onto my feet with a new confidence and focused my stare forward. I can almost do anything. I'm dangerous. I'm powerful. 

I now know that I'm the weapon Father always wanted. He should be proud of what he's made.

**********

The Commander's Office:

The leader of the Complex stood a towering height over his mahogany desk as he admired the collection of researchers and soldiers in his space. They were standing in clumps near bookshelves that lined the walls. Their feet shuffled back and forth on top of his vintage, ivory rug. He gave them all a deadly look that turned the room cold.

"Fools," his voice was deep and menacing, "today is the day that we all march into battle, the one that will make history, the one that we've been preparing for years, and you tell me that you just killed the most essential part of the plan?"

No one wanted to answer out of fear of what he would do. After moments of bitter silence, a thin man with glasses chose to speak, his lab coat rustling as he moved forward. He swallowed. 

"I'm afraid you," he cut himself off, "we," he swallowed, "pushed her too hard."

The Leader smashed his hand down on his desk with a raging force. He laughed a laugh that made the room cower and then he smiled. "Pushed her to hard? You did nothing of the sort! She's the hero that will draw all of the attention away from me. Tell me, Thomas," he looked over at the man with the glasses and approached him like a predator does prey. 

"Did you, or did you not, help with the surgery?"

Thomas whispered, avoiding eye contact, "I did sir."

"Is it true that you have been questioning the motives of the men that stand here, loyally, today?"

He swallowed. "I did sir, yes."

"Is it true that the surgery had a chance of death that you said you could fix." The Leader stared blankly at Thomas, fixated on his weakness.

"Yes." Thomas shrank.

"Then why are you blaming everyone else here for your mistakes?"

"I-"

"I don't appreciate this new attitude, Thomas." The Leader quickly drew out a gun from his belt and fired at the man's foot.

Thomas fell to the ground in agony.

The Leader looked around the room at faces afraid, but mesmerized by his actions. 

"Does anybody else want to explain the problem?" Everyone looked to the ground in silence. "Good. Now someone better damn well bring her back," he looked at everyone and held the gun up as a demonstration, "or I may have to find some new scientists." The soldiers and researchers saluted and filed out of the room with a new sense of urgency.

Thomas tried to get up, to follow the rest of the group, but struggled. The Leader came close to him and placed the gun under his chin, smirking at his power.

"Now Thomas, you better figure that out," the Leader gestured to his foot, "because you're marching first raid."

Thomas stared defiantly into his eyes for the first time. "And if I don't?"

The Leader marched over to the exit and then turned to looked over his shoulder. His shadow cast a bulky black figure over Thomas that seemed to devour him. The Leader smiled once again and said, "God controls all things and has honored me with control. So Thomas, guess."

***********

Hallway C: Morgue Entrance

I made my way out of the Morgue, and went to the hot spot of the Complex. The halls were  bright and strangely silent. My guess was that everyone was in the mess hall having one last meal before the fight started. 

The white lights on the ceiling looked brighter as my shoes clicked through the emptiness. The hallway stretched and turned, making my walk seem long and lonely. I passed the Med-Area, our ship launch pads, offices, the training grounds, and the hallway that contained my room and the overlook of the empty seating area. I took a left turn at the end of the hallway to discover muddied yells and chants. I arrived at an open doorway. 

I stepped through it to walk into the middle of an ocean of tables and chairs. Everyone in the circular room looked at me. I glanced up at the balcony above that surrounded the room. All of the soldiers teetered over the edge, perplexed. The laughing stopped, but stares and whispers began. It then dawned on me that everyone must have thought that I was dead. I was in a sheet at the morgue. 

I stood firm in the center, making sure everyone got a good look at me. Everyone stared more intently as I readied myself to make a speech that reminded them of my father.

"I know what you're thinking! The innocent experiment's alive?" I smiled like father to show them I was not afraid, "and yes I am!" I paused and looked around. My voice started with a low whisper then echoed into a roar. 

I thought of a fighter father made me study. Etrigan. He had fire abilities. Focus. Use your hands. My cuffs began to glow orange as my voice rose to a loud boom in the room. My cuffs were hot with fire. "You might as well tell the Commander that the Tempest has arrived!  And I can't wait to see the storm!"

They cheered with fists in the air. Let the Justice League feel Heaven's wrath.