Chapter 80 : The Culling - Prelude

[Author note : Check out my Patréon page (e instead of é), looking for Cathbel on the website, if you want to read more of my stories as well as earlier chapters. Enjoy !]

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As she looked up in the air, the sky was nowhere to be seen. Only a dark artificial ceiling of some kind. Mel was quite impressed by the sight, since it was thousands of feet above, much higher than any ceiling ought to be. Another thing that impressed her, was the post-apocalyptic environment. It was a cross between a lunar landscape, and a volcanic environment, with lava flowing here and there.

Although she was pretty sure, it, too, was artificial, the means to produce such a thing must truly be massive. The problem, though… Was that she had no idea where she was exactly. This wasn't Kansas, for sure… And it surely wasn't Antarctica anymore. Unless it was underground somewhere.

Also, she, Symmetra and Bastion were in a bit of trouble. From the little time they spent here, it was obvious that the whole thing was designed as a survival, and perhaps Battle Royale exercise of some kind.

The place was filled with aggressive, sometimes even feral, Metahuman teens. A wonder, really… Despite the fact that they had saved quite a number of Metahumans from the clutches of N.O.W.H.E.R.E., they were still a lot of them here…

As for how they found themselves there ? It all happened some time ago. No idea how long since she and her siblings had been knocked out somehow…

* * * * *

A undetermined amount of time ago, Antarctica, near the secret N.O.W.H.E.R.E. facility.

The leader of N.O.W.H.E.R.E. was either supremely arrogant or sure of himself. Robin and his allies weren't sure which… He just about strolled over to them, looking like some kind of alien devil with the wings of a fallen angel and introduced himself :

« Who am I ? » He parroted the speedster's question while Solstice started to shiver uncontrollably at the sight of him (or maybe the sight of the girl by his side). « You can call me either Harvest or Master. And it is time for you all to surrender. The Culling is at hand… I'll have you all participate. Soon, you'll die or join my Ravagers ! » He said the last part with his arms outstretched to his side, turning his eyeless face to the left and right where his own allies were.

Needless to say, they didn't like this much. Kid Flash, like the hot head he was, was the first to attack… and fall. Bunker, angered by his new friend's state, was next. Solstice only seemed to faint. And Wonder Girl… While she put up a fight with the 'Ravagers' as Harvest called them, she wasn't able to stand against Harvest for some reason. Robin didn't see or understand what happened. One moment, she was swinging wildly trying to punch and kick Harvest who casually avoided her strikes. The next, she collapsed, blood coming out of her nose and ears.

With Superboy still out, Robin was left alone. That's when the Overwatch team joined the hopeless battle. Robin tried to use his agility, speed and his weapons to put up a fight… Only to feel something… painful impact his mind. Like a phantom hammer or battering ram on his brain. That's when his lights went out. And soon, the Tech Spirits, despite their non-human status, joined the Teen Titans on the ground, unable to fight against the present Ravagers and their leader.

* * * * *

When they woke up, the Titans were nowhere to be found. In fact, Mel, Symmetra and Bastion woke up alone in this alien landscape. It was easy for them to join back up, though, as they all were equipped with tracking beacons for their allies to find them.

Now the trio were learning the rules behind this place and what the 'Culling' mentioned by Harvest was. Although the douche bag talked about it like some natural event or disaster, it was actually a sick game meant to… Well, cull the number of Metahumans. The survivors would join the Ravagers, Harvest's top team of enforcers.

Mel scoffed at the idea. She had not been impressed by the Ravagers so far. Rose Wilson, although quite the super-powered mercenary, had been unable to deal with her. In New York, on New Years' Eve, they lost to the newly formed team of superheroes. And earlier, they had been left helpless in front of a group of teens and had to retreat and hole up. Granted, they had been facing a full-powered, and cautious Kryptonian.

Speaking of the Kryptonian, Mel couldn't remember what had happened to her. Was she defeated as well ? Or did they use some other means to subdue her ? She really couldn't see how they could have defeated her without the use of Kryptonite…

After all, there was a reason why Ned was both fascinated and terrified of them. He called them cheaters, winners of the genetic lottery, radiation-powered alien Swiss army knife and a few other names. He was fascinated by the idea of deciphering and perhaps reproducing their genetic make-up (though he wouldn't be all 'Luthor' about it) but he was also terrified because… they only needed one truly bad day, to become the nightmare of the whole planet ! Perhaps even the galaxy and beyond ! Or… if you discounted the boy scout who was raised on Earth, and the female immigrant which did everything to fit in on her new world, he feared the survival of other, less well-intentioned Kryptonians. He especially dreaded someone called Zod for some reason.

In any case, Mel didn't see and didn't know what happened to Supergirl. As she was thinking back on the latest events they went through, the cultured and crisp Indian-accented voice of her sister suddenly brought her back to the present.

« I think we should find the Titans… They probably have no idea what to do in this place. They might get killed carelessly. »

Bastion added his two scents in his coded beeps and boops. Idly, Mel wondered why he was the only one of their siblings without a voice box…

« Robin will probably be fine. His training could probably make faint a special ops operative. Wonder Girl and Superboy would be pretty tough to kill. If Supergirl is here… Idem. » Mel paused. « … As for Kid Flash, Bunker and Solstice… Okay, they might be in trouble. Especially Kid Flash. Quite the meathead for a speedster… »

« I guess his brain isn't moving as fast as his legs… » Symmetra commented, a barely repressed smirk trying to stretch her lips.

Bastion giggled in his own way.

Mel looked at her siblings for a moment.

« Tu as raison, Sym ! » (You're right, Sym !) « We need to team up with someone. None of us can take on those Metahumans in close combat. Especially those with enhanced physical abilities. Unfortunately, we don't know if the Titans are even here… Harvest might have several of these… killing grounds. »

Sym sighed, echoed by Bastion whirring noise. Mel got up and stretched, before picking up her rifle and laying it on her shoulder casually, barrel pointing at the ceiling.

« Let's go. We need to do some recon. »

* * * * *

Meanwhile, the Titans awoke to a completely different sight, but no less foreboding and terrifying. They were strapped to metal tables, lying down and unable to move. Wonder Girl tried to work and tear her restraint with her strength… To no avail.

Robin, who woke up a little later, found himself helpless : he was stripped of his utility belt. However, thankfully, his domino mask was still on his face. Hopefully, they didn't use his unconsciousness to find out his identity… He looked around the place, trying to find something he could work with, make a plan to get out.

Bunker's psionic abilities were impaired as well. As were those of Solstice and Kid Flash. For some reason, they didn't seem able to use their abilities, chained as they were. Whether it was because of the restraints themselves or something else, the boy wonder was trying to figure this out, as well.

Kid Flash was trying to vibrate fast enough to… Robin wasn't sure. Loosen the bindings ? Phase through them ? Although he never met the guy, the Flash in Central City was rumored to be able to phase through walls thanks to his speed. He didn't know how that was possible but according to Theoretical physics, it should be possible for two solid objects not to get in contact with one another if their molecules were vibrated fast enough at different frequency.

Just as he was thinking about that, an eery woman's voice sounded not far from them.

« That's quite enough of that. It is useless anyway… »

A pale, blonde woman with a kind of goth make-up and clothing appeared. Despite her beauty, Robin couldn't help the shiver that ran through his spine when he saw this woman…