Chapter 4, Simulation Part 4

The FBI prepared it's agents for a variety of situations in the field, terrorism, hostages, and shootouts. Most of the time you have to adapt in disasters you weren't trained for. How do you adapt to an Alien invasion? Jacob had a feeling he won't live long enough to find out.  Jacob steered the wheel to the left missing another fleeing pedestrian running in the street. Jacob understood that fear made people do wild things but that doesn't mean they had a right to abandon common sense. That guy was the lucky one, considering the other people he passed were made into a puddle on the road, so far there are several 'hit and run' incidents that occurred in one hour than six months.

Complete chaos overtakes the streets of New York, civilians scattered like frightened mice. They gave no regard to the crying children who lost their mothers, they carelessly trampled the fallen oblivious to their pain, people fought to get in their vehicles only for the desperate to attack them in an attempt to steal their keys. Jacob lost count of the numerous crimes committed before his eyes, while law enforcement was being dispatched even they couldn't be everywhere at once. Wise men once said when order is lost, anarchy will spread and horrific acts will go unpunished. If you told Jacob that an hour earlier, he would say that humanity would come together as a whole to protect their own. Present Jacob would slap some sense in his past self, self-preservation is a base human instinct even the kindest of people have it. Society existed to keep the animal inside us caged, humanity is a fragile species that can be shattered if pushed to the edge.

Jacob Cadman honestly thought nothing else would surprise him, he had literally watched two grown men get skewered on flying swords and a no good politician  being carried away via Aliens to god knows where, Jacob secretly hoped that asshole got probed by the way, Leonard is a sociopathic criminal that will only be remembered by the poor minds he convinced into following him. At least he had one highlight this morning, take your victories where you can get them.

Shadows loomed overhead prompting Jacob to instinctively look through his window. His jaw nearly touched the wheel when his eyes came across a fleet of hulking aircraft's, black as the night and shaped like a sphere with a glowing red center. Each ship was equipped with massive guns on the sides, unleashing a barrage of laser fire upon the buildings. The spacecrafts dwarfed skyscrapers in size, easily demolishing them by merely flying straight through. The same aliens Jacob saw before were replaced by humanoid androids, emerging from the pillars of light, they wore black steel plated armor on their chassis, shoulders and kneecaps, their built in optics with customized red lenses  searched the area for god knows what. The weaponry in their cold metal hands  appeared beyond this world, high tech and made in a strange material that Jacob can assume was otherworldly but not any less dangerous.

Whatever is happening breached the walls of realism, even the most adventurous of children would call this bull. Jacob felt like he was starring in a sci-fi movie, he was tempted to jump off the highest building to see if he would start  flying to Neverland. Jacob paused to get his thoughts in order, he needed to think rationally about the situation. New York may not be the only place they're targeting, the JLA could be stretched thin and if that were the case, New York won't be receiving any hero help for a while. Jacob reached down with one hand to grab his phone and dial his wife's number. He needed to contact Karin , she should be dropping Sarah off at school right now, she could pick up Dwayne and they'll meet up--

'I'm sorry the number you're dialing is not in service, please try again-'

Jacob's body froze like a statue causing his breath to hitch in his throat. He dialed the number again so intensely that his fingers almost cracked the screen. He got the same answer again, he tried Dwayne's phone and no answer, he tried Sarah's phone for his fourth attempt to contact his family and no answer, afterward, he decided to call the FBI'S communications center to no avail. There is no possible way all five calls would fail unless...damn it.

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M'gann was not your typical teenage girl, she liked pretending to be but it wasn't easy to integrate into human society when you're a Martian. Don't get her wrong, she loved her race and wasn't ashamed of it, she just thought it would be best If her teammates didn't know what she truly looked like, if they became closer as friends and if their relationship was refined then maybe they'll accept her for what she was. For now there were more urgent matters that she needed to address, a life or death situation where if she failed they'll be no recovering from, everyone must do their part in order to succeed. Her teammates were scattered around homebase, gathering their equipment because without it the operation will be a complete failure and their team could fracture as a whole. Fear gripped Artemis's heart as she held two items of importance unable to decide which one, the choice will affect her status greatly the wrong one could potentially lead her to abandon the team out of shame.

Wally was having the same conflict. Sweat dribbled down his temples when he turned to his first option, the perfectly round red snack bowl, it's quality matched the quantity of popcorn it can hold, the common choice to use for a Monday Movie night but Kid Flash wasn't common. No, this decision needed to be rare which brought his eyes over to his second option, a large square bowl having the same benefits but the shape was wrong, all wrong. This was like a puzzle, the wrong piece could ruin the board, so why go with the second? Because it was new, a trend that Wally will start every movie night, this he swore on.

Kaldur slipped on the appropriate gear for this night, he wore a white tank top and black pajama pants. He pulled up a pair of grey ankle socks for the occasion, comfortable on his feet and easy to walk in.

The apathetic expression that Connor wore hid his secret dilemma...or maybe it was true apathy. Two identical shirts sat folded on his bed, one was two sizes smaller and the second fit just right. Superboy cared nothing for his apparel, he had no qualm about what he wore or how people thought. He would go to school shirtless if they allowed him to. It didn't really take him long to decide he wanted to wear the first shirt. Dick had a simple job with setting the DVR to play a variety of movie genres such as Horror, Action, and Romance, the last one was M'gann's request,they love the alien girl but she had a terrible taste in movies and television worse than Connor's.

M'gann focused and with the power of her mind she grabbed the baking sheet from the oven and watched it critically as it floated through the air and onto the kitchen counter. They looked... good, she determined. She also quite liked the smell, now that it was devoid of smoke. Curiously she let her mind lift one of the small, brownish things and let it fly to her, feeling the heat still radiating from it. She hesitated for a moment, but then took a small bite. The texture was interesting, somewhat soft but with a crunchy edge and the taste... she had no idea how they were supposed to taste if she was honest. She had still not really acquired the kinds of instinct for recognising earth-food flavours she would need to pass as a human girl.

"So what will it be tonight?" Kaldur flopped on the couch next to Dick Grayson , M'gann walked in soon after holding a plate of cookies in her hand, each of them plucking one as she passed. "Any suggestions?"

"How about a Horror?" Artemis asked. "Feeling in the mood for something scary, how about you Connor?" the blond said, adding a suggestive wink towards him. M'gann knew that the girl was eyeing his body more than his face, of course she would take notice that his shirt was tight on him. M'gann's cheeks became flushed when realizing she was looking too. Luckily the boy was oblivious to it all since he responded with a shrug.

Meanwhile, Robin nudged Kaldur's shoulder and whispered. "My bet is on Megan, hands down. "

"I would be a fool to bet against M'gann," Kaldur smiled, taking a sip from his soda.

All debates stopped when Wally came waltzing in the living room holding a square-shaped bowl of popcorn, while whistling a tune. Robin, Kaldur and Artemis eyed the atrocity like they would a poisonous snake scooting away from Wally as he sat down.

"Sup guys, what's first on the playlist-" Wally's cheerful attitude died an ugly death when his teammates were glaring at him similar to how Batman stared down his foes, that went double for Robin since he's his sidekick. "What's going on with you guys? Do I smell or something?" Wally proceeded to smell check himself while the Team shared glances with each other then nodded in silent agreement, and just like that Wally was banished from Snack duty.

"What about action?" Dick looked through the massive stack of DVDs.

"We get enough of that as it is, " Artemis sank in her seat releasing a stressed filled groan. " I speak for everyone when I say, hero work is exhausting work."

"You're preaching to the choir, " Aqualad sighed in exasperation, he had sore muscles to prove it.

"Yeah... I guess you're right, " Robin understood, Bruce wasn't the type to take brakes in his careers. Waynetech may be a cover for a dangerous lifestyle  but an expensive one to say the least, being a billionaire playboy requires you to play the part of one. Batman focused his time on the streets more than he did his injuries, there was a cycle where Alfred would patch him up and cautioned him to be careful, Bruce claims he will but the next night he's fighting venom-addicted Luchadors barehanded.

"Comedy it is then, I can go for a laugh-"

"Who are you?" Artemis cut the speedster off in mock-confusion.

"Umm...what?" Kid Flash tilted his head at the archer.

Kaldur chuckled deciding it would be fun to play along. "Isn't he that guy who brought that travesty?" He gestured to the bowl.

"Oh now I remember, the guy who was banned  from ever laying a hand on our snacks again until he fixes this mess." Artemis gave him a flat stare.

"Come on guys, what's the difference they both get the job done!" Wally argued. "Connor back me up here-"

"Do I know you?"Connor's words cut deeper than Ra' Al Ghul's sword, making Wally recoil like he had been slapped.

"Megan..." Wally turned to the alien girl, desperation oozing in his voice. The Martian girl wanted to put Kid Flash at ease and tell him that she appreciated it, but she remembered a word that her instructor taught  her in school called 'Survival of the fittest'. Basically When a pack of hungry Lions chases down a group of Gazelle, the stronger and more graceful Gazelle will leave the weaker ones to their fate so it may getaway. M'gann wasn't sure if animals mourn their dead, but they definitely didn't envy them. Gathering all the pity she could muster and transferring it to her voice.

"I'm sorry but do we know you?"

That was the straw that broke the camel's back as Wally clenched his chest much like when a person was having a heart attack and right now his was ready to burst from his chest and curl up like a dead cockroach.

"I-I...I'm going to change the  bowls." Wally learned the ultimate lesson that day...stay in your lane and you won't crash.

"No, the popcorn is already tainted. Make another batch." Robin waved him away like a pesky fly.

"Bring me a soda while you're at it, Square boy." Artemis smirked, the nickname felt nice on her tongue indeed.

Kaldur internally smiled at his Team's antics, although he missed the calming waves of the ocean and his dear Tula, these were his friends on the surface. Soon their team would be expanding once again, he heard about a new girl joining their weird family next week. He thought back to what Batman said...something about Superman's lost cousin?

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"Ugh...what the fuck exploded?" Dwayne's eyes flicked open as he began piecing his thoughts together. Leaning forward to get up from whatever it was he was laying on only to be slammed back down by an invisible force. The teenager soon understood he wasn't going anywhere, his head whipped to the sides to see clamps made of pure energy held down his arms, legs, and neck to a metal slab. He triple checked his surroundings to see find himself in a gold room, yes everything he saw was gold. There were golden Floor panels so clean they could display your reflection, computer consoles that projected a holographic screen where it depicted a diagram of the human body.  Was he abducted by the most richest aliens in the universe? These things really knew how to show off their cash flow. For now, he'll put his amazement on hold and exchange it for irrational fear.

"Shit!" Dwayne fought against his hard light restraints, growling like a caged pitbull. These aliens obviously had less wholesome intentions, considering there was a surgical diagram of him. "They're going to cut me open like a fucking lab animal." He said to himself. He stopped his struggles when he heard the sound of voices...one synthesized and one distorted and deep. However, the voices he heard weren't speaking English nor any language he recognized.

That confirmed it, these things were aliens ready to probe.

Suddenly he saw something approaching in his peripherals, a creature tall and lanky nothing like the last alien he saw before. This masculine creature had skin blacker than the endless void of space. The only thing that presented color we're the strange glowing tattoos that shined yellow, they went in a strange pattern and design. The creature had curved spikes jutting out of his shoulder plates, and longhorns set in a backward curl, it had one glowing yellow eye while the empty spot was covered in a tattoo shaped like a butterfly's wing. There was glowing yellow jewel embedded in his chest, emitting heat that Dwayne could feel from his position. Whatever the jewel is, the amount of radiation it was producing could rival a nuclear plant.

"Me puedes entender, humano?"

"...da fuck?" Dwayne blinked owlishly.

"Kannst du mich verstehen, Mensch?"

'Now it's speaking German, what is it-wait...is it trying to communicate? How could it speak without a mouth?" Now that he thought about it, the White one probably didn't have a mouth either. Maybe the creature is wearing a mask  or it's using telepathy. Neither was the case since the alien would've spoken English by now and it's voice would be a bit muffled.

"Вы понимаете меня, человек?"

"It doesn't know which language I speak , ' Dwayne thought as he immediately responded. "English, do you know what English is?" The alien narrowed it's eye then

"Do you understand me now, Human?" The distorted deep voice gave Dwayne pause until he nodded in affirmative. "Excellent, your species is quite fond of creating an assortment of languages. It's unnecessary and vexing at the same time." The creature spoke so casually like he wasn't strapped to a  table at all.

"What the hell are you?!" Dwayne skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the fury.

"What am I?" The sophisticated alien stood tall, arms behind it's back. "I' am a philosopher, a mind that carries a bottomless well of knowledge and secrets beyond your comprehension. Knowledge that only our Golden Queen and myself  can access.  But if it pleases your minuscule mind you may call me Luxon, a Darkfall."

"Nothing you just fucking said made sense!" Dwayne glared at the supposedly superior creature.

Luxon dragged his claws down his forehead and let out a bored sigh. "Must I degrade myself to simple human vocabulary, so be it. I fam what you call a Darkfall, a powerful warrior created to serve the Paradon Empire and it's Queen--"

"Stop right there, I think I'm not asking the right questions. Why. Am I. Here?" Dwayne said, each word oozing venom. The alien had the gall to snicker.

"You are certainly the rebellious type I can tell." Luxon said having a hint of mirth in his voice. "Galeon will break you of that soon enough."

"Galeon? Who's that?"

"One of the Darkfalls, he's not as controlled as I am, his discipline methods of the Darkfalls tend to be brutish. I'm sure your 'strong' will can survive it." Luxon's tone was mocking, like a pet owner teasing their puppy.

"You bastard--"

"I shall no longer conversate with a lesser being. After we begin your...Descent, I'll be happy to answer your ridiculous questions."

"My w-what?" Dwayne looked up to see one of the panels on the roof, opening and out came a glass globe with a swirling black mist, surging with orange electricity.

"Your Descent my dear boy, every Darkfall had to go through the process of having their inferior genes erased from their bodies and replaced by the glorious spawn of our Golden Queen."

That sounded a lot like probing, were they going to probe him? Holy shit they were going to prove him. Dwayne struggled hoping to what mystical entity that was out there to free his limbs now so he could get the hell out of there.

"Server," Luxon ignored the boy's pleads, focusing on the robotic proxy standing at the control panel. "Make sure the process goes swimmingly, Wnight requests my presence in the Hall." The creatures body disbursed into yellow particles, vanishing from the room.

The glass globe opened and smoky black tendrils emerged then stretched to Dwayne, the leveled down to his height wrapping him in a cocoon of smoke that drowned out his dreams.

Then Darkness fell.