Return of a Speedster

The In-Laws (Part Two)

Undisclosed Location
July 5, 2019
1300 EDT

After exiting the apartment, the small group takes a Zeta Tube to some random location on the outskirts of Gotham. From there they walk to over to a bush where two motorbikes are hidden. Artemis and Jade mount up and drive off as Wally runs beside them. They come to a stop along a dusty country road. They ditch the bikes, and continue on foot. They come across a secluded cabin in the middle of the woods. They tread lightly. They hide behind a bush in front of the cabin, and discuss what to do.

Before Jade and Artemis can stop him, Wally breaks for the door. He knocks and waits for a response. He gets one.

Sportsmaster crashes through the door holding a javelin, and aims for Wally's head. Before anyone can respond, a different type of Javelin races out of the underbrush and slams into the wall next to the two men. It lodges itself and fails to detonate. Thinking quickly, Wally grabs Mr. Crock and pulls him to safety right before the missile detonates. The entire cabin explodes and erupts in a giant ball of fire.

After seeing where he ran off to, Artemis lunges toward Wally and embraces him. Sportsmaster is surprised that his enemy just saved him.

"You idiot!!" Jade exclaims. "I was trying to say that we are not alone here!"

"Who? Shadows?" Artemis replies.

"No!" a confident, strong voice exclaims from the underbrush. "Marines!"

At that moment, Mr. Graves and his unit exits the underbrush.

"Nice shot, gunny," he says.

Wally and Artemis are furious. They reply, "NICE SHOT!! Your man almost got us killed!!!"

"Hardly," the military industrialist responds. "In fact, I believe we diffused the situation quite effectively. Wouldn't you say so, Mr. Croc...Ahhh!"

The billionaire dodges the javelin, and rolls to the side. With lightening fast reflexes he pulls out a taser pistol and fires two rounds into Sportsmaster's abdomen. Mr. Crock doubles over in pain, and submits the trillionaire's authority.

"Wait? What are you doing out here?" Artemis asks Mr. Graves.

"UMM....One part target surveillance. One part business deal. Annnnnd, one part support an advance unit." Upon stating that last part he gestures toward Wally. "Alsooooo,...I may have given your father a heads up about your engagement announcement."

"Yeah," Mr. Crock states groggily. "Congrats, baby girl. Now where is the fine young man so that I give him a proper welcome to the family?"

In response to that, Artemis gets up, walks over and kicks him across the face.

"Now that's no way to treat my business associate," Mr. Graves states sarcastically.

"Your what!?!" Artemis and Jade exclaim. They approach the industrialist with looks of intense anger.

Noticing that he and his men may not survive the next encounter, he opens his mouth and tries to defuse the situation. "He's the only member of the Light that we can trust!"

"What!" the heroes and one former-villain respond.

"He's the only villain we can trust! Well, him and a few others. Umm...Clock King. Poison Ivy. The Rogues, and a few others. The rest, they are in league with or have partnered up with The Enemy! They believe--"

"They believe that this confrontation will propel Earth into the center of the Galactic spotlight. Thinking that everyone will place Earth as the center of the Universe. Through some enlightenment, Darwinian, survival of the fittest butshit!" Sportsmaster exclaims.