JustIce League: The Malignant Uprising

The Challengers - Part Two

"Geez, for a bird," Flash grunted, "you're really heavy." Barry gave a quick smile to lighten the mood, but Hawk Girl didn't appreciate the humor. Her eyes just wanted to close. She fought with all of her might to stay awake, focusing on the Thanagarian blood pulsing hard in her veins. She knew that she had to keep fighting for the team. Hawk Girl took a deep breath in as she moved her wings.

"H! What are you doing?!" Flash was trying to keep his balance while holding the wiggling body in his arms. "Stop moving! For the love of-" Flash's arms dropped and he skidded to a halt as Hawk Girl flew into the air. She appeared to be fine considering that there was a drug in her system.

With a raspy voice Hawk Girl spoke, "I'm fine."

"No, you're not! Let me he-"

"I'm fine. If you want to help, shut your mouth and fight." She took off again and flew into the most chaotic part of the fighting.

Barry shook his head in disbelief. His team always grew agitated in combat. Flash chaotically followed Hawk Girl into the fighting swarm. He looked for her fighting so that he could watch her back. He wanted to keep an eye on her.

*******

Clarke Kent's eyes gleamed with fear as I grasped his arms. "Well," I said as I pulled him closer, "It's great to meet you." He struggled to get free of my grasp, but my fiery arms began to change colors. The elongated flames coming from my wrists pulsed as they turned into the only green that Superman feared: Kryptonite. I slowed my breathing as I thought of Lex Luthor using the element for his testing videos.

Superman's movements slowed as I squeezed him harder. My left tendril wrapped around his neck and squeezed. I watched his veins bulge out of his muscles. I turned my gaze away. My heart couldn't bear another still and pale face in its memory.

"You'll never win," Clark choked.

"With you gone, I just might." I gave him the Commander's smile in an attempt to keep the power facade alive to the other soldiers.

You said "I." There is no "I'' in team. The voice laughed. I suppose your father isn't on your team though, is he?

Superman's limbs began to fall as his struggling began to cease. The Commander's voice echoed in my head: Who will you punish?

I swallowed and whispered something only Clark could hear. I knew what I was about to say wouldn't mean anything, but I spoke to him out of spite for the apathetic whispers looping in my brain.

"Sorry's aren't enough," I said with gritted teeth, "but I'm sorry."

I would have delivered the final blow to Superman, but I heard a yell coming toward me. When I looked in the direction of the sound, I saw Hawk Girl flying straight for me, mace blazing.

My eyes widened as I let go of Superman. I drew back my tentacles and made it so my appendages were on fire again. My fire propelled me higher into the sky with a quick precision. Superman fell toward the ground with a large thud. Flash came racing to his aid, moving his body out of the action.

A part of me started to shrink. They were tough opponents that fought with never ending strength.

Hawk Girl charged at me again. Her speed was undeniable. With each flap of her wings, she grew faster than anything I've observed from her. It was getting to the point where it was hard for me to predict her agility. I was managing to dodge her hits when I felt a sharp pain enter my back. I turned to the source of the hit and saw that Green Arrow was on the ground firing arrows at me.

I cried out in pain as I felt another arrow land in my back. I extended my fist outward to Green Arrow to defend against his attacks. A column of fire descended upon him, orange hues lightening up the greyness of the battle. Hawk Girl raced past me to try to save Green Arrow.

I knew I had to get the advantage, so I used a trick the Commander taught me. I held my breath and froze my position, staring at Hawk Girls micro-gestures. As she flew past me I felt my cuffs turn ice cold. The cold spread throughout my body and made my vision slow to see the little details in Hawk Girls armor and its weaknesses. I stopped throwing fire with one hand and hit Hawk Girl in the weaker part of her spine that showed less strength.

She gasped as she got knocked to the ground. The Earth below her indented with her body. Pebbles and rocks rolled off of her as she tried to get up. She was trying to flap her wings but they seemed to be broken and wouldn't move. She raised her head to look for Arrow.

As the raging flames reached him he tried to jump and get out of the way, but his right leg got caught in the fire. It became badly burned and he let out a groan that everyone in battle could hear. I saw Hawk Girl's eyes dash away from him in shame. I know she was thinking that she could have helped him if I didn't hit her.

I hovered in the air and watched them as I took the arrows shot into my back out. I smiled as I saw them lay there on the ground.

I thought you were sorry little girl. The voice's words were being spoken to me like the beat of a drum. My heart raced.

The Commander's not. They were punished.

******

The Commander stood tall as he observed the green glow emanating from the fight against Superman through the large windshield of the ship. He felt a feeling of success creep into his stomach as he watched Superman's pain. He felt like he could smell victory.

He turned his attention to the back of the ship to one of the storage hangers. There, there were the large electro-whips that he had developed hanging down from a frame against the wall. To the right of the array, a glowing board held a restrained Wonder Woman, whips binding her with enough electricity to kill a normal person. There was one whip on each of her limbs; one on each arm and one on each leg. She was awake, but only slightly.

The Commander flashed his grin at her when he saw her eyes open to a squint.

"Oh, my darling dear," he faced her, "the one, true God does indeed have great things planned for you." He laughed a loud and icy laugh that only the most cruel of heart could produce.

With slow, calculated movements he faced Amanda who had been staying by his side during this portion of the battle. "Now, Miss Waller, would you be so kind as to give our little friend here the injection?"

He paced back to the window to observe as she went to the back of the ship. She grabbed a syringe filled with a black sticky substance from a white case. She approached Wonder Woman with it as she spoke to her leader.

"Yes, Commander."