I swear to FUCK if this one doesn't post on time I will very genuinely LOSE MY MIND!

If you get the notification that this was posted after Wednesday, know that I was a GODSDAMN moron and didn't realize it (again), and I'm sorry.

I HATE THIS!!! (It's Thursday, let's be glad it only took me like 12 hours to check this time.)

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Metropolis; January 5th, 17:09 EST

Bibbo's Diner

A snotty, slightly nasally voice that is all kinds of pretentious echoes through the mostly empty diner as two young adults, all bundled up head towards the Diner. It's G. Gordon Godfrey's voice on his "news show". "So, the Justice League finally provided scanners to every government on Earth to root out those filthy little aliens posing as real human beings." he leans so far forward on the desk that he practically drapes himself over it. "But you have to wonder how were they able to whip up this tech so fast?" inside the diner, Bibbo, one of the rescued Krolotean Abductees watches the show. Though when the bells dings above the door he heads towards it. The woman pulls down her hood and her face is instantly recognizable. Bumble Bee. "Or more accurately how long have they been keeping it from us? Oh sure, they operate up like a gift from the Gods-"

"Sit anywhere kids." Bibbo tells the two of them.

"Uhoh!" Gordon continues in the background.

Then he gasps suddenly and, quite springy for a man his age and size, leaps up to kick off the counter and through the bus window.

The two exchange a look.

He throws the back door to the kitchen open, slamming it behind him.

There's a loud clang from the inside before Bumble Bee charges through the now open door, having slammed it open with her shoulder with one hit.

She reaches into the high collar of her sweater to slip on her cowl before jumping just enough to shift down in size. Her clothes falling abandoned to the ground.

Behind her familiar blue armor covers the Latino's clothes, transforming him into Blue Beetle. He too grows wings and takes to the air.

The man glances over his shoulder to see them following him down the back alley, panting, before making a high leap over the wooden boards meant to discourage alley travel. A leap far too high for a normal human to make.

Bumble Bee flies through the already made hole and Blue Beetle slams through it, using his arms as a makeshift battering ram when paired with his speed.

Only one intersection before the street, where there's another alleyway on his right comes out an identical man, though in a winter coat, already reared back for the punch that knocks the other's lights out.

"There's only one Bibbo," the man seethes, rubbing his fist for another hit, "and don't you forget it."

The simulacrum's clothes rip as the abdominal cavity opens in 6 panels, revealing a Krolotean inside.

It moves quickly, climbing the walls before heading straight for the sewer grate, which it rips off.

Bumble Bee takes a few shots, she does manage to hit it in the shoulder and send it teetering, but it falls into the sewer and onto the vehicle it was going for.

As it kicks it into high gear Blue Beetle only has just enough time to see the flames before they're erupting in front of his face.

All three cringe back from the updraft.

As it dies down, nearly instantly, Bibbo makes a half-amused, half-annoyed "huh" his face and clothes covered in black soot on only the left side. "Boy! That practically singed my eyebrows off." he prods the smoking area.

"Yeah." Blue agrees, numb because... "Practically."

Bumble Bee has her hood down, showing she's just as soot-covered on her uncovered skin as Bibbo.

Blue notices. "Uh. You got a little some-" he starts gesturing to his face.

"Blue! Scan for it!" she commands.

"Right! Right!" he agrees, his eyes glowing bright yellow. "Scanning..." he can see the entire system, but...  "Sorry. Nothing. He's gone."

His posture suddenly shifts, "No_" he drawls, a hand coming to his temple like he intends to massage it, "it would not have been preferable to vaporize him back at the diner!" he snaps, then turns, finding concerned and disturbed looks on the other two's faces.

His eyes are wide, and then he looks away guiltily.

X<>X<>X

The Krolotean flies in a messy line, before reaching the bay where it begins to skim across the water to a partly submerged ship that is much larger than the vehicle it's currently using.

It climbs down the ladder on the inside.

"Welcome aboard." a low, modulated voice intones as the Krolotean turns around, finding three other Kroloteans and several Earthlings dressed in black plated armor with large blue-grey visors that while shaped strangely, don't inhibit luxuries, like aiming. (Look, if you know you can hear Kal, but it's subtle, and also YES. I did modify the "luxuries in life, such as aiming" line from the Liminal Spaces Series to use here, but that's because it's still true, irregardless of the fact that I was beaten to the punch.)

Except for the one who spoke, who instead has two red eyeholes atop a helmet that sits far too high on the head to really be in line if it weren't for the fact that the helmet is far more wide than it is tall. What it mostly prevents is any kind of peripheral vision, much-less head-turning due to the 'collar' of the suit having to come up to the person's ears.

"Dive." he commands

The ship sinks back below the surface of the water.

X<>X<>X

THEME!

X<>X<>X

Taos, New Mexico; January 6th, 09:58 MST

(Yes, the State thing is new, however, there is a REASON that it's going to be slightly inconsistent on WHEN it shows up. Metropolis, as we all know is a fictional city that has changed which state it's been in at least once if not three times over the course of not only Superman Comics but DC as a whole. So, real places = state, fake place = no state [unless it's stated in future seasons].)

Star Labs

"Sir. We have received a Rannian signal." a man says, from inside the guarded Erdel Initiative >> Zeta Lab. Inside is a scientist, who was the one speaking, Wonder Woman, Captain Adam, John Stewart- Green Lantern, and Nightwing. "They are arriving now."

The Zeta Tube kicks on.

Recognize:

Adam Strange; A-1-1,

Miss Martian; B-0-5,

Superboy; B-0-4,

BeastBoy; B-1-9.

"Nightwing!" Gar calls out, excited as he leaves the Zeta Tube, directly behind M'gann and beside Conner.  He shoves both M'gann and Adam out of the way to get to the older hero. "Check out my super cool alien souvenir!" he holds up the pilfered identification sash.

M'gann places a hand on his shoulder. "Gar. Business first."

He turns to her, suddenly remembering. "Noted."

Dick hasn't even budged, arms still crossed in front of his chest. "Zeta Squad. Report."

"Our mission to neutralize the Krolotean Zeta Platforms on Rann was a success." M'gann states plainly.

"I have also brought back specs from Rann to create a Zeta Shield to prevent any more aliens from beaming to Earth from off-world." Adam informs, stepping forward to show the projection in the center of the room.

"How will that affect our own Zeta capabilities?" Captain Adam questions.

"It won't." Adam assures. "The Shield will activate at an altitude above the Watchtower's orbit. League Zeta Tubes will still function normally."

"Tell them about Rimbor." Gar says to M'gann, tugging on her arm. "Tell them about the sixteen hours."

The two Leaguers present- who this involves- shift, Wonder Woman looking harsh while John raises an intrigued brow.

"It may be easier to show you." M'gann admits before her eyes glow green. "I successfully interrogated a Krolotean general on Rann who had paid off a member of the Rannian Science Command to allow the Kroloteans to land a secret base in the Rannian jungle." the events play out in flashes to the Mental link. "Once there, the Kroloteans stole Zeta Platform technology from Adam Strange's friend Sardath. They landed another ship in New Orleans and used the Zeta Platforms to beam a few hundred Kroloteans to Earth. They built more platforms brought in more Kroloteans and began abducting and replacing humans." the glow then disappears, and she continues aloud. "Perhaps as part of an invasion strategy, though that's still unclear."

"But why Earth?" Captain Adam asks.

"And what does any of this have to do with the sixteen hours?" Diana continues.

"Well..." she brings her head back to her and her eyes glow again. "As you know... Five years ago, Vandal Savage placed the entire League under his control. Six leaguers: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Martian ManHunter, Green Lantern, and Hawkwoman went missing for a full sixteen hours." the new scenes flash through the MindLink. "It turns out you were teleported to a planet called Rimbor where you spent sixteen hours on a rampage attacking everyone and everything in sight and announcing in several alien languages that you were the Justice League from Earth and that the rest of the galaxy should beware." the glow fades. "That's why the Kroloteans came. The League itself brought Earth to their attention."

"I don't know what to say." Diana admits, gaze on the floor.  "I have no memories of this. None."

Captain Adam places a hand on her shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. Blame Savage, and his Light." he spits the last two names with venom before turning to the Lantern. "But John how is it that you haven't heard about this intergalactic incident?"

"No clue." John says lowly. "Rimbor's not a planet in my sector." he admits. "But I'll head to Oa immediately to consult with the Guardians of the Universe and the rest of the Green Lantern Corps. We'll get to the bottom of this, Cap. I promise."  his posture returning to fully proper.

"In the meantime," then he turns back to Zeta Squad, "we still have a Krolotean invasion force to track down on Earth. You did good work on Rann." M'gann smiles at his praise. "Now we need you at the Hall of Justice."

X<>X<>X

Washington D.C.; January 6th, 12:05 EST

Hall of Justice

Inside the public sections of the Hal are several Hero's costumes, and even several mimicries of those the League defeated.

"And finally," a tour guide's voice says, "we have the four arriving host bodies used by a race of alien energy beings known as the Appelaxians who attempted to conquer the Earth. Of course, the attack also brought together Earth's mightiest heroes to form the Justice League." she finishes with a smile.

"G. Gordon Godfrey says the League is working with the Aliens." one of them whispers as if she couldn't hear him.

"This way to the viewing gallery." she states after clearing her throat.

X<>X<>X

In an interrogation room is Martian ManHunter and the Krolotean Robin, Blue Beetle, and Lagoon Boy captured. Batman stands in the dark room behind the one-way glass.

The door to the viewing room opens.

"You didn't have to come along." M'gann says dismissively.

"I think I did." Conner states sharply while she keeps walking towards the center of the window.

"This is the Krolotean captured by Lagoon Boy, Robin, and Beetle?" she asks Batman.

"Your uncle has been interrogating him for days, but simply achieving Psychic Translation has proven difficult." Batman explains, and M'gann's eyes fix on the Krolotean. "In the meantime," her eyes begin to glow, "the League and the Team have hunted the Kroloteans that had been masquerading as humans." the Krolotean turns away from ManHunter towards where it can't see M'gann but can clearly feel her. "But all have escaped capture despite the fact that we destroyed their Zeta Platforms here and on Rann and that they apparently destroyed their own ship."

The Krolotean starts to screech but begins foaming at the mouth, before slumping.

"After your success on Rann," Batman continues, unaware, but J'ohnn turns towards where M'gann now stands, finished. "Captain Adam though you might be of some assistance-"

"The Kroloteans have an emergency rendezvous point and have standing orders in case of discovery to evacuate there." she cuts him off, brightly.

Conner's face is a mix of anger, shocked horror, and hollowness before shifting to pure rage as what she's done becomes obvious before it suddenly switches to horror as he turns towards her turned back as she continues talking. (Okay, *actually* Conner's face is showing that much emotion at first because the side profile of his face has one expression and his reflection is wearing another [before it switches to only his reflection], which while slightly disconcerting I think is pretty neat. Conner, as I stated in the last episode is a very low-emotion character [he has been since season 1, he just spent a lot of time REALLY pissed off] so using his reflection to show his 'actual' reaction to M'gann's "interrogation" I find to be a neat choice- the whole use of mirrors in visual storytelling is always hard to bring back on to the page though... It's also interesting because in abuse victims they've been known to develop unique workarounds to avoid abuse, like only crying out of one eye because your abuser always sits on your other side. So, M'gann, while being telepathic, is NOT empathic, she still requires the ability to read body language or hear the tone of voice to determine the emotions of whoever she's talking/listening to. And Conner's just... blank. At least where she can see.)

"A base inside a volcano on Malina Island." she informs Batman, smug.

His anger is back home on Conner's face.

X<>X<>X

Malina Island; January 6th, 07:10 HAST

A plane makes a quick and sharp descent towards the island, but rather than slowing to land it shifts and breaks through the water. Coming to a secret entrance below the island.

It breaks the surface of the water inside the mountain and is surrounded by platforms, and a massive device that is still being worked on, showing that this was not a happenstance location.

The door to the ship opens and the guards leave first, the Kroloteans behind them.

"I see the ship nears completion." the injured Krolotean says to another. "And Soon we will leave Earth."

The leader remains seated in the command seat as a projection appears on the front window of the ship hub. "We have arrived with the final shipment of Kroloteans."

On the projection is another operative, wearing the same kind of armor as the one in the chair. "Congratulations, my son."

The younger reaches, up and removes the helmet, revealing dark skin and closely cut blonde hair. "Thank you, father." the familiar, unmodulated voice of Kaldur'ahm speaks as the rest of neck protection opens up. "Initiating Phase Two."

X<>X<>X

South Pacific; January 6th, 20:32 HAST

The BioShip flies close to the water as Batman does the mission briefing from the front of the BioShip as Nightwing pilots. "Remember this is primarily a recon mission. We want to discover all we can about the Krolotean's Invasion strategy before we shut them down and deliver them to the Green Lantern Corps."

"Approaching Drop Zone Beta." Dick calls out, Aquaman and Lagoon Boy share a look before a hole opens in the BioShip. Arthur goes first.

The two go to the underwater do with ease.

"Συμβίωση, άναξ?" [Symvíosi, ánax?] (Together, my King?) Lagoon Boy asks. (Symviosi is LITERALLY symbiosis, but SURE, I committed to doing my best back in S3 so here I am. Remember all those nice things I've been saying about the YJ Wiki, I take them back. Literally, DC, just GIVE ME THE TRANSLATIONS, that all I ask for! I will do the rest, but don't make me play the auditory version of Where's Waldo.)

"Συμβίωση, La'gaan." [Symvíosi, La'gaan.] (Together, La'gaan.) The King confirms.

The two pull the doors apart, La'gaan puffing up as he does so.

They swim through the now stuck door with ease, La'gaan shrinking back down.

X<>X<>X

The BioShip flies close to the mountainside, and as it pulls sharply away, the BioShip takes a more manageable curve. "Drop some Gamma." Dick calls out.

There is an above-ground entrance as well, and the guards patrol with long modified rifles.

There's only a clang and as the furthest guard over turns back, the rest are all unconscious.

Behind their turned back, Batman stands up.

As the guard turns back, Batman delivers a devastating punch, shattering the glass.

X<>X<>X

Inside the mountain, the drones continue to work on the Krolotean ship, the Kroloteans using some of the technology to chart their course off the planet.

"Earth could have been so profitable..." injured Krolotean wheezes.

"If Earthlings had not discovered us." another screeches back.

"The Earthlings? This is the work of the Competitor."

A few Kroloteans working on a small piece that will go into the ship screech at the last word.

"Silence!" the other commands, before turning back. "You cannot know the Competitor is on this world."

"Who else hired the Main Man to expose us?!" the injured seethes back. "And last night I was attacked by a Competitor Warrior."

That has all nearby Kroloteans panicking.

X<>X<>X

Kaldur taps a key on his control panel. "All sectors report status."

"Sector One. Secured."

"Sector Two. Secured."

Silence.

"Sector Four. Secured."

"Sector Three, report status." Kaldur calls out. Nothing.

X<>X<>X

"Sector Three. Report." Kaldur's command comes through on the comms of the unconscious guards.

X<>X<>X

He grabs his helmet and leaves the ship. Sirens begin to go off as he crosses the dock, helmet now firmly in place.

Using a HoloScreen and small buoy camera La'gaan and Aquaman watch inside the mountain from well below the water's surface.

X<>X<>X

Two guards cross by on a higher platform that rings the inside of the mountain.

Nightwing lands silently behind their turned backs.

He raises a fist.

Batgirl and Robin drop in.

He raises two fingers, then raises all his fingers, holding them together before turning his hand so his pinkie is not parallel to the floor.

Robin breaks left as Nightwing and Batgirl break right.

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Okay, so, I had intended to go to the weird commercial break but that's like a good 1000 words over halfway, this is about 500 under, which I am far more content with.