Chapter 40: Fog of War Part 3
Earlier
At the Cave, Red Arrow briefed the Team on the League of Shadows' latest weapon, warning that it could give them access to high-level technology and intelligence. Artemis, familiar with the Shadows' methods, added that the organization would likely exploit it for extortion and manipulation, their usual brand of power brokering. Wally immediately challenged her expertise, irritated by her certainty. Artemis replied only with a silent smirk, which irritated him even more.
Red Arrow then informed them that Dr. Serling Roquette was developing a virus capable of disabling the Fog and was currently hidden in a secure computer lab. Green Arrow attempted to convince Roy to join him on the mission, but Batman's silent intervention dissuaded him. Instead, Green Arrow urged Roy to work with the Team, which now included Artemis. Roy declined and, after updating the Cave's computer with his new codename, teleported out. Wally and Artemis exchanged mutual looks of annoyance.
At Dr. Roquette's hideout, Artemis, Aqualad, Robin, and Kid Flash stood guard while Miss Martian established a telepathic link to shield their communications from interception. Artemis and Wally quickly started arguing, prompting her to step outside to help Miss Martian. Robin, still inside, suggested Wally cut Artemis some slack, after all, she'd saved him during the AMAZO fight, but Wally refused to budge.
Roquette, frustrated with her situation, explained that she could track the Fog's movements but needed to go online to do it. Aqualad acknowledged the risk of exposing their location but assured her the Team would protect her. Roquette agreed and initiated the trace.
Meanwhile, Professor Ojo, monitoring from a plane, detected Roquette's activity and alerted Sensei. Sensei asked which operatives were in the vicinity of Happy Harbor.
Outside, Superboy secured the area, hearing something but dismissing it. He soon joined Miss Martian and Artemis on the roof, prompting Miss Martian to mentally admire his looks, forgetting, momentarily, that everyone could hear her thoughts through the link.
Inside, Aqualad announced Roquette had located the Fog. He instructed Miss Martian to reconfigure the Bio-Ship so Robin and Superboy could pursue it. Unseen by the group, a masked figure infiltrated the area.
As Artemis and Miss Martian argued about Artemis's behavior toward Superboy, the masked intruder slipped past them unnoticed. Artemis justified her combative nature by saying survival demanded it where she came from.
Back at the lab, Kid Flash was on guard duty when he noticed a shadow moving. He followed it and fell into a trap, ending up unconscious in the pool. The intruder, Cheshire, continued toward the lab, launching a poisoned shuriken at Roquette. Aqualad intercepted it and took the hit. Despite being struck with additional poisoned weapons, he shrugged them off, explaining that his Atlantean physiology made his skin too dense for typical toxins to be effective.
As he fought Cheshire, he called for backup. Miss Martian turned back to rescue Kid Flash, while Artemis rushed to the lab. Cheshire nearly landed a killing blow on Aqualad but was intercepted just in time. When Miss Martian and Kid Flash arrived moments later, the assassin realized she was outnumbered and made her escape using a flash-bang grenade.
Roquette angrily scolded the Team for letting Cheshire get away. Kid Flash blamed Artemis for letting the assassin bypass her, but Miss Martian came to her defense, reminding everyone that Artemis hadn't been the only one outside. Afterward, she gently comforted Artemis, whose confidence had clearly taken a hit.
Present
The Bioship dipped low through the evening cloud cover, its hull shimmered in stealth mode as it neared Philadelphia. Robin's voice came through the comms, edged with frustration.
"We were too late," he said. "The Fog's already inside STAR Labs."
Aqualad's voice replied calmly through the channel. "Assist in evacuation. We'll begin relocating Dr. Roquette."
As the ship angled toward its descent point, Robin and Superboy leapt out. The moment their feet hit the pavement, they moved, Robin sprinting low and silent across the adjacent building's ledge, Superboy dropping heavily onto the ground floor below.
Robin paused as he scanned the front of the building. A dark vehicle sat idling near the curb, engine humming. A lone figure sat in the driver's seat, fingers twitching over a screen. Even from a distance, the gleam of the cybernetic eye and posture gave him away.
"That's Professor Ojo," Robin muttered.
Superboy nodded. "I'll head in. Get people out."
"Go," Robin said, already peeling off to circle the block's edge.
He slipped into the shadows, feet barely making a sound against the concrete. As he crept closer to the vehicle, he saw Ojo's jaw set, his face tense, scanning his device.
Then Robin felt it, a sudden static tingle along the edge of his mind.
"You're not alone." The voice was calm, familiar. Martian Manhunter.
Robin didn't stop moving, but his eyes narrowed. "J'onn?"
"I'm approaching from the opposite side. Currently invisible. Didn't expect to find you here."
"Same," Robin replied. "Team mission. We're tracking a swarm of nanomachines, the Fog. Clearly, they're tearing through STAR Labs right now."
There was a beat of silence. Then Martian Manhunter spoke again. "We were here for the AMAZO consultation. Red Tornado is managing the evacuation. Ark is still in the lab."
Robin's pace faltered for just a step.
"Wait. Ark's with the android? If the Fog gets access to AMAZO's systems…"
"We won't let that happen," Martian Manhunter replied.
Robin reached the edge of the parked car. Ojo hadn't noticed him yet, eyes still fixed on the data pad in his lap. He muttered something under his breath and tapped the screen again, unaware of the silent coordination now forming around him.
"Let's take him," Robin said.
Martian Manhunter didn't respond, but the next second, the passenger door of the vehicle burst open seemingly on its own. Ojo barely had time to register it before an invisible force dragged him bodily from the car and slammed him to the ground.
Robin hurled a birarang, which unfolded mid-air and snapped around Ojo's wrists with a mechanical clack, lines tightening fast.
For a second, it looked like it might hold. Then Ojo snarled, his gauntlet sparking violently. A burst of electricity surged outward, arcing across Martian Manhunter's unseen hands and severing the hold.
Robin's eyes narrowed. He lunged forward, reaching for another gadget, but Ojo whipped his arm around and fired a short-range energy blast. It caught Robin square in the chest and flung him back, slamming him against the side of the car.
Before he could recover, Ojo fired again.
This time, Martian Manhunter was in the way.
The beam struck him full force, but J'onn didn't stop. He pushed through the blast, shoulders hunched, eyes glowing brighter with each step. With one final stride, he reached Ojo and knocked him to the ground with a heavy backhanded blow.
Ojo grunted, rolling over, his helmet flashing a crimson alert. Whatever warning it displayed wasn't aimed at J'onn or Robin. His eyes darted east, then back to the pad in his hand. He muttered something, too low to catch, then slammed one last command into the touchscreen.
A moment later, he smashed it against the asphalt.
Robin, now back on his feet, lunged again, but J'onn was faster. A shimmering green field enveloped Ojo, locking his limbs in place. Robin pressed a palm to the back of the professor's neck, jamming a stunner into place.
Ojo went limp yet conscious.
Robin looked up as Martian Manhunter turned toward the city skyline.
A sliver of the Fog broke off from the main swarm. The mass peeled away from STAR Labs and surged east, faster than wind, moving with intention.
Robin's stomach sank. "What did you do?" he asked.
Ojo let out a low chuckle. "STAR Labs was already a bust. I wasn't leaving empty-handed."
Robin keyed his comm. "Aqualad. Ojo's detained, but part of the Fog just split. Heading east."
Aqualad's voice returned without delay. "Track its course. Find its next target. We'll relocate Roquette immediately."
Robin gave a short nod. "Understood."
He glanced toward Martian Manhunter, who was already lifting off silently into the air. Without another word, Robin sprinted toward the rooftops, cape catching the wind, mind racing through every possible target the Fog might hit next.
With Red Tornado
Emergency lights flickered along the walls of the lower corridor as Red Tornado moved with practiced precision. His sensors mapped structural weaknesses in real time, calculating the safest route. Behind him, a cluster of scientists followed closely, their breathing ragged, their steps uneven. Some clutched portable drives or handheld data units, others moved empty-handed, focused only on staying with the group.
Overhead, small indicators embedded in the walls pulsed a steady green, emergency signals, rerouted by Ark. Each light signaled a safe path, guiding them toward the outer access tunnel.
Red Tornado paused at the next intersection, extending an arm to motion the group forward. "Remain close. We are two levels from the outer wall."
Just as he turned the corner, the ceiling buckled above them with a sharp groan. Metal screeched as it tore open, a cascade of shattered panels and dust plummeting to the ground.
Out of the debris poured microbots.
Without hesitation, Red Tornado extended his arms. A concussive burst of air spun out from his core, creating a protective buffer between the scientists and the advancing nanomachine swarm. The forcefield held, but only barely.
He scanned the nearby schematics. Several corridors were already collapsed. If they doubled back, they'd be flanked. Before he could estimate a new route,
The wall to his left exploded outward.
Stone, wire, and insulation blasted into the hallway, scattering across the floor. Standing in the cloud of dust was a familiar figure, shoulders squared, fists clenched.
"Tornado?" Superboy asked, stepping through the rubble.
Red Tornado turned. "Superboy?"
A few of the scientists exchanged confused looks. Whispers passed among them.
"Wait… Superboy?"
"Since when is there a Superboy?"
Superboy barely registered the surprise. "Do you have everyone?"
Red Tornado nodded once. "I gathered as many as I could on my way here. Twelve present."
"Good." Superboy stepped back toward the hole he'd made. "Follow me."
He charged ahead, leading them through a series of jagged openings, fresh exit routes he had punched through the facility's aging walls. With his strength, it was brute force. Quick and effective. A method Red Tornado hadn't been able to risk using himself. Aerokinesis could tear down walls, yes, but in a narrow corridor with unshielded civilians, it was too unpredictable.
Superboy didn't need finesse. He just needed openings. He gave them three.
As they reached the final breach, daylight spilled through. They ran, shoes thudding against cracked pavement as the group sprinted clear of the building. Moments later, the wall behind them groaned, and gave out.
Chunks of debris crashed down where they had stood seconds earlier.
The scientists stumbled to a halt outside, panting, coughing, their relief unspoken but written across every face.
One stepped forward, placing a hand on Superboy's shoulder. "Thank you."
Others echoed it. Quiet, but genuine.
Superboy blinked. He wasn't used to that. He gave a quick nod. "Glad you're okay."
Red Tornado, now outside STAR Labs and clear of the building's comm interference, activated his communicator. A blue holographic feed blinked to life.
Green Arrow's face filled the screen. "Red? What's the situation?"
"The Philadelphia STAR Labs facility is under direct assault by the nanomachine Fog," Red Tornado replied. "Evacuation of civilian staff is in progress. Structural damage is extensive."
Green Arrow's expression darkened. "Damn it. I knew the kids were handling a mission involving that swarm, but I didn't expect it to spread this fast."
He began typing on a console just out of frame.
"Routing this to emergency services now," he said. "Ambulance and fire dispatch will be there in minutes."
Red Tornado waited, letting the channel stay open.
"Retreat if possible," Green Arrow added. "You're too valuable to risk against something this unpredictable. Have you made contact with Ark?"
"Negative. Last confirmed location was within the containment lab, assisting with AMAZO analysis."
Green Arrow ran a hand through his hair, jaw tight. "Keep trying. If the Fog gets near that android..."
Red Tornado nodded once. "Understood."
With Ark
AMAZO stepped forward, eyes glowing faintly. "Defend civilians. Lethal force on inorganics authorized."
Shocksquatch gave a low hum, flexing his arms. "Might have to revise that down the line. Just saying."
A wave of microbots poured into the corridor. The swarm moved fast, banking on numbers to overwhelm.
Shocksquatch clapped his hands. The thunderwave cracked out in a broad cone, frying entire rows mid-flight. Dozens fell before they hit the floor.
AMAZO raised his arm. A spiral of compressed air spun outward, carving a path through the densest cluster. He barreled forward, plowing through the weakened mass. Microbots clung to his armor, crushed underfoot.
Shocksquatch ripped a wall panel loose. Electricity surged across his arm as he charged the metal, then swung it like a makeshift shield. The electrified edge mowed down anything that got too close.
A group had flanked.
AMAZO turned without pause. Twin heat beams lanced out, vaporizing them before they could close the gap.
One bot dove and latched onto the Omnitrix.
"Not happening," Shocksquatch muttered. He sent a targeted pulse, shorting the bot out instantly. The bot sparked and slid off, twitching uselessly.
AMAZO paused, scanning. The glow around his frame shifted, Captain Atom's energy released. Bots within four meters dropped instantly.
Up ahead, Shocksquatch spotted the stairwell. Gone. Half the structure had caved in. He checked left, lowered his shoulder, and hit the opposite wall.
Concrete cracked. His fist followed. He charged through, punching a fresh path to the next floor.
AMAZO scanned ahead. A pulse of light swept the corridor. "Path clear. Calculating safe route."
They reached a junction, elevator shaft wide open, stairs collapsed.
Shocksquatch stepped to the edge. "Alright. Plan B."
He slammed his claws into the wall, carving handholds with voltage-charged strikes. Sparks trailed behind him as he burned footholds, descending fast.
AMAZO dropped straight down. Just before impact, he phased, slipping through the shaft floor. A second later, he reappeared below, landing clean.
He looked up. Movement.
Another wave surged from the sublevel.
Shocksquatch landed hard beside him. He didn't wait.
"Time to push the grid."
He stepped into the open, electricity arcing wildly from his fur. With both hands raised, he unleashed a rolling blast that cleared the center of the room.
AMAZO phased again, gliding into the cloud. Bots passed through him, destabilized by his density shift. At the center, he vibrated and released a concentrated static charge.
The swarm collapsed around him like falling ash.
Shocksquatch broke into a run, charging through the dissipating cloud, lightning dancing across his shoulders.
The corridor opened wide.
AMAZO crashed through a support beam, swinging his arm and scattering bots clinging to his shoulders. The swarm regrouped fast, crawling over walls and ceiling
Across the room, Shocksquatch roared and hurled a blast at a mass swarming. Sadly, more came back.
Shocksquatch growled in frustration, sparks crackling around his fur. "I've had it with these guys!"
The Omnitrix activated again.
In an instant, the fur receded. Electricity flickered out. His body stretched and smoothed, morphing into a black mass with glowing green lines traced across his limbs.
The bots didn't hesitate. This was new. Strange. But still tech. Their mistake.
The first wave hit him, and vanished into Upgrade's form, breaking apart at a molecular level, restructured and absorbed before they could even register what had gone wrong.
Upgrade's body rippled, spreading across the walls and floor. Inch by inch, he consumed them. They tried to pull back. They didn't make it far.
Seconds later, the room was still.
Upgrade pulled himself back into a more compact humanoid shape and let out a breath. "Sheesh…."
If he was being honest, Upgrade was one of his top five most useful forms, especially when involving any tech. They were all putty in his metal hands.
But he also knew better than to rely on it every time. Overusing a trump card had consequences. He'd learned that the hard way. So he saved Upgrade for the moments that really needed it, when things got super annoying, or when it just felt cool.
AMAZO turned toward him, scanning the now-empty room. "Target neutralized. Standing by."
Upgrade glanced over and shook his head. "Yeah, we really gotta get you some better lines."
#
AMAZO and Upgrade moved methodically through the last of the ruined corridors, neutralizing any remaining microbots. What few still remained were either scorched by blasts from AMAZO or assimilated by Upgrade.
Once the building was clear, the two stepped through the front entrance.
Outside, emergency crews were already on scene. Red Tornado stood near a group of seated scientists, assisting medics with triage and directing power cells for mobile scanners. On the far end, Martian Manhunter spoke calmly with a pair of uniformed officers. A squad car idled beside them. Inside, Doctor Ojo sat cuffed in the back seat, stripped of all gear.
As AMAZO and Upgrade approached, heads turned. Confusion flickered across several faces. The second figure walking beside the android wasn't human, but the green hourglass symbol on his chest clicked things into place.
"Ark?" Silas Stone asked, blinking.
Upgrade gave a casual nod. "Yup."
Dr. Sarah Charles stepped forward. "Thank you for your assistance in this emergency. I… see that you and AMAZO are okay." She hesitated, glancing toward the building. "Were you able to protect our archives?"
Upgrade tilted his head. "Main server's fine. Anything left on loose terminals or unplugged backups? Not so sure."
Silas exhaled. "Is AMAZO… online? He's not going to turn on us, is he?"
Upgrade raised a hand. "Nah. Like I said before, he's basically mine now. Here, check this out. AMAZO, what are your prime directives?"
AMAZO stood upright, eyes glowing faintly. "Serve the public trust. Protect the innocent. Uphold the law."
A muffled laugh came from one of the techs in the back. The two doctors turned and stared. The laughter stopped immediately.
Sarah's tone was dry. "You don't actually plan on sending him out on patrol, do you?"
Upgrade shrugged. "Nothing wrong with a backup plan. Y'know, in case the world starts ending again."
"Right…" Sarah said, not quite hiding her concern.
Upgrade turned to glance back at the building. "I guess that puts a pause on any further analysis."
Silas nodded. "We'll have to close this site until repairs are finished. Structural integrity's compromised."
Red Tornado approached from the side. "Ark. I'm relieved you're unharmed."
Upgrade grinned. "Same to you. And the others."
Martian Manhunter joined them. "The man responsible for the attack is in custody. He was also responsible for the attack on labs across multiple cities. Stealing research as he went."
"Then I'm glad we were here," Upgrade said. "Otherwise, you'd be rebuilding from backup drives."
Silas gave a dry chuckle. "Lucky us."
Martian Manhunter continued, "Interestingly, the younger team had already been pursuing this case. Robin and Superboy were both here. Robin assisted in apprehending the suspect. Superboy aided Red Tornado with the evacuation."
Red Tornado raised a hand to his temple. "I've just received confirmation. Robin and the team uploaded a virus into the swarm. Remaining units have been destroyed."
"Good news all around, then," Upgrade said.
"Unfortunately, all we know is that the League of Shadows was responsible for ordering all this. We do not know their final goal for all this at this time."
Upgrade slumped. "Seriously… Those guys again?"
Silas cleared his throat. "One thing remains. We don't have any secure facilities left to house the AMAZO unit. Not with this location compromised. I don't suppose you have arrangements?"
Martian Manhunter opened his mouth to answer, but Upgrade raised a hand.
"Don't worry about it," he said. "I know a place."
Before anyone could ask what he meant, Upgrade stepped back. His body flowed and reshaped, metal folding and reforming. Within seconds, he stood as something entirely different, a compact, angular combat vessel bristling with weapon ports and plating. The Antarian Obliterator. A side bay opened with a hydraulic hiss.
Upgrade's voice came from the ship's external speakers. "Come on, AMAZO. Let's get you settled in."
Without a word, AMAZO stepped forward and entered the ship.
The bay sealed shut, and the vessel lifted off with a low hum. Within moments, it turned east, streaking toward Central City.
Everyone stood in silence, watching the ship vanish into the sky.
Silas finally turned. "Did you know he could do that?"
Red Tornado and Martian Manhunter answered in perfect unison.
"No."
"No, we did not."
Infinity Island
"Report," a voice demanded angrily.
The old man's eyes open, sitting in the center of a semicircle with Light Screens above his head. "Masters, before Ojo's capture, he transmitted what STAR Labs data he could acquire, but I cannot guarantee that he was able to collect what you needed. The WayneTech intel still eludes us."
"Once again this… alien and the young... heroes interfere." L-2 states. "It's fortunate that we have an operative on the inside, but this new x-factor will have to be dealt with soon."
Undisclosed Location
Central City
The heavy blast doors rumbled open with a mechanical groan, revealing the underground hangar. Stark lighting lined the walls. The transformed Upgrade flew in low. He glided to a halt near the center of the space and touched down gently.
The bay doors sealed behind him.
From his side hatch, AMAZO stepped out in silence. He scanned the hangar once, then walked to a nearby workbench and sat in a plain wooden chair against the wall. His posture relaxed. A soft hum faded from his core as he powered down, entering standby.
Upgrade shifted back into his humanoid form with a flash of green light. "Welcome to your new home!" he announced with a grin.
AMAZO didn't respond.
"Glad you like it," Ben muttered, scratching the back of his head.
He was about to revert to his human form when something odd happened. A tingle ran through his chest, like static trapped under his skin. He glanced down just as a small shape extruded from his torso, bubbling out like liquid metal before solidifying into something alive.
Upgrade yelped. "Oh my god! I blorped!"
He instinctively caught the creature as it dropped into his hands.
It looked up at him with wide mechanical eyes, blinking softly. Then it squeaked:
"Ship?"
Ben stared. His mouth opened. "Wait… is that really you?"
The tiny Galvanic Mechamorph's eye ridge crinkled slightly.
"Ship!"
Upgrade broke into a grin, a mix of disbelief and excitement. "No way. No way. I thought you were…" He stopped himself, holding the little symbiote close to him.
"Ship," the creature said again, curling one tendril around him, too.