JustIce League: The Malignant Uprising

It's Called Leverage

Tempest stared at the faces of the Young Justice, streaks of confusion and fear buried deep in their eyes. The throbbing pain in Tempest's head only began to swell as she levitated the Young Justice's block of ice into the air.

Tempest swallowed. What now?

You can probably guess, Tempest.

Well?

We find the others.

Tempest stood next to her father and looked at the soldiers that were holding a cold solute at her. The Commander glanced her over, taking in every little movement. He titled his head to the side and put a firm grip on her shoulder. She set the block of ice down in surprise and quickly looked at her father.

In awe she asked, "What are you doing?"

He squeezed her shoulder and said, "You are my daughter," he paused and looked at the last few soldiers, "you have proven your strength."

"Comma-"

"You can now call me father."

Tempest held her breath. This wasn't right, he would never say that. He would never say that.

You're right, Tempest.

I am?

Come on, don't be so dumb.

Tempest looked at the ground and crossed her arms. She made eye contact with her father's ocean blue eyes. Like the ocean, she didn't know what mysteries danced in his pupils. She just knew that she would drown if she stared into them long enough.

Tempest began to ball her fingers into fists as they fell to her sides, her mind racing with thoughts of how she could smash all of the bits and pieces of cobblestone into the Commander's head. She clenched her teeth and muttered in an arrogant tone, "It's a test, isn't it?"

The Commander smiled as he unfolded his arms, "You're getting good at spotting the liars."

"Just tell me what's next."

Tempest hid the hurt in her voice, making her tone sound proud and eager. She wanted so badly for him to actually mean those things. She would give anything in the world for those words to be true. They weren't, and it would never be possible for them to be true.

The Commander raised his shoulders and lazily outstretched his left arm. He pointed toward the saluting soldiers, "You've made it clear that you are strong enough to handle anything. You don't need any help."

You don't need any help Tempest, but he does.

He does? He does.

And you just realized that now? The voice scoffed. Please, he only wants you around because you're the only one who can get him what he wants.

I knew he was stalling, and the more that the voice spoke in its cold tone, the more it sickened me. I knew this vile, evil little rat was right. "Get to the point."

He folded his arms behind his back and cleared his throat. "End them."

He gestured with his head toward the saluting soldiers that always stood so tall and still. So perfect and obedient. The ones who have never even moved without being told to do so, and the ones who would follow until the bitter end. It was such a cruel world.

Tempest outstretched her hands and popped her knuckles, delicately walking toward them as her hips swayed left to right. The tension in the air only grew as she gave each of the soldiers a warm smile that hid all of her lies. She knew that it would come to this eventually, she just didn't know when.

The unpredictability of the Commander's stare burned the back of Tempest's neck. No wrong moves here. Do it right.

The soldiers began to shuffle anxiously in place as they realized the reality of what Tempest was going to do. The Commander felt pleased as he fed off the terror that lay hidden behind each of the fighter's masks. Some pushed their shoulders back and kept their head high, not fearing what they knew was meant to be. Others placed their hands at their side and looked at the ground, praying to God to save their souls. A few of them got on their knees as if to say that they knew it was for a good cause. Somehow, Tempest knew that they all wanted to die anyway. After this night, only more demons would plague them.

Tempest soon stood near the line of warriors and placed her hands on her hips. Her voice was smooth and comforting as she whispered to them, "You all fought well." She smirked and raised a fist in the air for them one final time.

"Heaven looks down upon the innocent!"

Each soldier tilted their heads toward the stars and gave their best triumphant whisper, "And Heaven supports the mighty."

Tempest leaned into her left foot as she grew her signature swords from her wrist. She closed her eyes as she zipped by each one and slit their throats, trying to ignore the troubling thumping sounds their bodies made when they hit the cobblestones.

The Commander gave a cold chuckle as Tempest stopped at his side again. He looked into her eyes and saw a deep passionate desire, the same one he saw in his own eyes. They burned with a fire that blazed higher the longer she stared into him. Anger was driving that fire and he knew why she was angry. Things were going perfectly.

He looked toward the spilled blood of his followers. Wonder Woman was licking the largest pools. He gave an empty stare into the distant smoke.

"Tempest, do you know why you are my weapon?" My perfect masterpiece.

"Does it really matter?" Her voice was slow and somber. It was like he was talking to Juliane again.

"It's because you have the fighting spirit."

"Everyone has that."

"Not everyone." He took in her silence and knew that she was questioning things.

"Is all of this," Tempest motioned to the destruction, "for revenge?"

He glared at her. No. Yes. It didn't matter. After moments of listening to the empty space, he called Wonder Woman back and placed her on his chain and replied in his devilish tone while raising his eyebrows, "All of this, every bit of it. This scene. It's called leverage."

******

The Bat Cave

Bruce shook his head as the bright light that transported him faded into the darkness of his lair. His eyes darted around the room, trying to remember where he had put the machines. Find them. Find them. Find them.

Bruce rummaged through old boxes and closets as he heard the footsteps of Alfred come up behind him. They were soft and heavy.

"It is that bad sir?"

"It's worse than bad, Alfred."

"Well then," Alfred raced to Bruce's side, "we have much to do."