13 Chpater 13: The Team part 1

[Third Person's Point of View]

Maxwell Lord IV was born to a wealthy businessman named Albert Lord and his wife Maxine in the town of Marblehead. From an early age, Lord developed limited psionic powers which allowed him to persuade people into doing things they wouldn't normally do, however, this process gave Lord frequent nose bleeds.

Fear for the worst as he was just a child, he opted to stop using his powers and since he had never told anyone about his abilities, he was never told that the nosebleeding was just the result of overusing his brain at such a young age.

When Lord was a teenager, his father killed himself after he realized that the weight loss medical pills he made his fortune off of were giving people cancer. At his father's funeral, Maxwell was told by his mother that his father was too compassionate and weak, as she would have covered the incident up instead of admitting to the problem. Maxine made her son swear to deprive people of power that he deemed unworthy at all costs.

Although she meant it as financial or decision-making power, Maxwell took it literally. His mother's priority was their wellbeing and she viewed her husband's suicide as him abandoning her and their child. Her words were out of grief and rage yet they would later become the source of a plague.

After he graduated from college, Maxwell was secretly recruited by Checkmate, a secret global peace-keeping organization, he joined them and quickly rose the ranks until he obtained the second highest rank in the organization.

They mainly fought terrorists but everything changed when the Justice League was founded. At first, they believed that their work- their burden would be lessened and most including Maxwell believed in the Justice League but everything changed when one year ago, Superman turned rogue.

The Justice League was able to stop him before he did any more damage than he had already done to Metropolis. The citizen easily forgave him after learning that he had been poisoned by a substance now revealed as a variant of Kryptonite, red Kryptonite.

Maxwell was livid about the fact that they forgot that Superman had almost razed Metropolis to the ground just because one of the sidekicks had fixed the damage done by Superman. This rage opened his eyes. The majority of the people, him included, had overlooked how dangerous the League was.

'I love this world... but something has happened... there has been a change. It seems like I'm the only one who can see that humanity is broken. And the people with the powers to fix it don't know how.'

He decided to voice his internal concerns to the leader of Checkmate and was relieved to see that he had the same worries as him. Seeing this as an opportunity, Lord "persuaded" the leader to allow him to infiltrate the league via his company while said leader gave Checkmate's entire service at his disposal.

To do this Cameron, Maxwell's "superior" needed to sacrifice himself for the greater good. He incriminated himself as well as the other leaders, leaving Maxwell to become the sole head of the organization.

To the outside world, Maxwell Lord is an up-and-coming young executive at a major corporation known as Innovative Concepts who indulged in any means necessary to reach the top of the corporation.

Maxwell established a friendship with the CEO of Innovative Concepts and became his protégé. Maxwell and the CEO went on a frivolous cave-spelunking expedition where he saved the CEO from almost falling and dying on accident during the trip.

Feeling nothing but gratitude towards his savoir, the CEO helped Maxwell start his own business which allowed the latter to become one of the richest men in the world and create the multinational company dubbed "Maxwell Lord Enterprises."

After becoming one of the most powerful humans on planet Earth and witnessing Superman's rampage his views changed. He no longer wanted to believe in every super-powered individual that claimed to be a hero.

He asked himself, how much harm do they bring about? How many crazed psychopaths spin plots just to entangle or destroy them? It pained him. So much promise. So much power. And yet, it seems to go wrong.

That is why he has taken it upon myself to watch them. If they choose to put on these uniforms and claim to protect the Earth, then they should be held accountable. He used his company to become a sponsor of the League and started getting close to Superman.

He subtly started using his ability to "persuade" Superman little by little without ordering him to do anything to better gain control over the latter's mind first. It would take some time but he was patient.

This was shown by how he only used his power on Superman and no one else and only when they were alone which was rare and slowed the process even more but each time he did this he remembered his promise to his mother, to deprive people of power that he deemed unworthy at all costs.

[GOTHAM CITY- July 4, 12:00 EDT]

On a sunny day in Gotham, people could be seen having fun in a park, family barbeque, healthy jogging, dog walking, and other park cliché. Suddenly, screams could be heard as people ran away from something.

"Hurry-"

*VREEE*

A ray hit the civilians that ran way encasing them in ice. A father that was grilling meat on his barbeque saw the ray hitting the large rocks behind the bench his kids were sitting creating a platform of ice. His kids rushed behind him as they saw Mr. Freeze walk to the end of that Ice platform.

"Enjoying family time?"

He asked before firing his cold machine gun at the family.

*VREEE*

"My family has other plans!"

He added after encasing the family in ice. He slid on the ice that was encasing the family to reach the ground and prepared to fire once more when a bat-a-rang hit his massive gun preventing him from firing at the escaping civilians.

"Batman? I was wondering when-"

He said turning to face Batman only to find no one facing him.

"Haha!"

He heard laughter echoing through the park but saw no one there. He looked left and right but still saw no one. As he turns once more, he was greeted by two feet pressing his glass helmet and pushing him to the ground. Robin had lunged at Mr. Freeze, he used his helmet as a platform to leap once more.

Once Mr. Freeze was on the ground, Robin threw two circular and sharp projectiles that damaged Mr. Freeze's glass helmet upon contact.

"Oh, Boy wonder, the Bat sent you to drag me off to prison. Frankly, I am underwhelmed."

Freeze said as he got up.

"Great but I am kind of in a hurry here!"

Robin retorted.

"Kids, always in such a rush."

Freeze said with a smirk.

"Not talking to you."

Robin said with sassiness in his tone. Freeze heard an engine running and turn only to see Batman leaping in the air before launching a punch at him. The last thing Freeze saw was the glass helmet breaking, making way for Batman's right fist.

[Hall of Justice, Washington DC. July 4, 14:00 EDT.]

After defeating four different ice villains in their respective cities, the heroes and their younger companions convene at the Hall of Justice. Batman, Robin, Green Arrow, Speedy, Aquaman, and Aqualad stand some space away from the paparazzi snapping pictures in front of the League's headquarters. Batman places a gloved hand on the shoulders of his protégé, the Boy Wonder.

"Today is the day."

He said with a barely noticeable upturn of his lips… for one that has a microscopic vision.

"Welcome to the Hall of Justice."

Green Arrow said beaming with pride for his protégé.

"Headquarters of the Justice League."

Aquaman adds.

"Aw, man,"

The group turns around at the sound of approaching speedsters. Flash and his sidekick, Kid Flash, come to a stop beside each other.

"I knew we'd be the last ones here."

Kid Flash continued crossing his arms. Robin and Aqualad greeted Kid Flash with a smile while Speedy kept his sight on the Hall of Justice. The mentors and students walked toward to reach the entrance of the Hall of Justice the swarm of onlookers taking photos and whispering among themselves.

"Is that Batman?"

"Ooh, I see Flash and Flash Junior."

"His name's Speedy, duh."

"No, Speedy is Green Arrow's sidekick."

"Well, that makes no sense."

The four mentors ignored most of the whispers while the mentees basked in the glory that was awaiting him. Speedy was outright relishing it.

"Ready to see the inner sanctum?"

Said Green Arrow as he leaned toward his sidekick not realizing the state of his protégé.

"Born that way."

Speedy instantly replies with relish.

"I am glad we're all here."

Aqualad spoke after he looked around at the people, quiet enough so the photographers and fans would not hear, but the heroes beside him can. Unlike the other young heroes, he was more composed and humbler about the situation.

"Have all four sidekicks ever been in the same place at the same time?"

Standing on the extreme right of the group, Kid Flash said after turning to the others. He meant well but Speedy did not see it that way. 

"Don't call us sidekicks. Not after today!"

Speedy criticized him sharply.

"Sorry."

Kid Flash apologizes after flinching at his friend's remark before changing the subject.

"First time at the Hall. I'm a little overwhelmed... Also, has anyone seen Supergirl? I thought she and Triton were supposed to be here."

Robin could not help but to add something.

"Don't know but dude, you have to quit and accept reality, she is not into you. Also, you're overwhelmed, Freeze was underwhelmed, why isn't anyone just whelmed?"

They walk through the front doors into the air-conditioned building. Robin stops to gape at the hundred-foot-tall statues of the founding League members.

"Oh, maybe that's why."

He adds quietly.

A pneumatic door labeled "Authorized Personnel Only" slides open to reveal Red Tornado and Martian Manhunter, who step forward to greet them. Paparazzi and fans alike are lining the area, taking pictures and videos.

"Robin, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash. Welcome."

Manhunter greeted them. They all walk into the restricted area, the press unable to follow. Manhunter then gives a small explanation.

"You now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked galley, and of course, our library."

They walk into an expansive room with bookshelves lining the walls, plush armchairs circled around, and a large monitor with a computer system. A golden statue of a woman with a set of scales, which symbolizes justice, stands on a pedestal above it. Data banks and smaller computers fill the spaces between bookshelves.

"Make yourselves at home."

Flash said warmly as he lifted his arms and spread them wide. Robin and Kid Flash immediately sit in the closest armchairs while Aqualad seats himself on a spinning chair bolted to the floor. The three sidekicks seem contented but not the last one.

He seems to be waiting for more. After looking at the others, Speedy decides to remain standing as he observes the Leaguers who gathered away from the sidekicks to talk to each other.

"This place is quite cozy."

A voice can be heard from behind the sidekicks who turn to see a beautiful five-foot-five, blue-eyed and blond-haired girl in a tight suit that consisted of a skin-tight long-sleeve blue shirt that was connected to a red skirt by a v-shaped golden belt that hugged her waist.

She had red boots that reached her knee. On her blue shirt was an emblem in yellow and red over her chest which consisted of an S inside a Kryptonian shield. This was Supergirl and behind her was Triton who looked bored.

"It's even better now that you are here precious."

Kid Flash said with a goofy smile.

"Quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of four ice villains attacking on the same day…"

Batman tells the other leaguers before his gaze moves to the young protégés. He spoke in a higher tone than when he was speaking to the other leaguers.

"We shouldn't be long."

After addressing this, he turns to the back door of the room and a hole opens in the ceiling, allowing a camera to pop out and scan the adult heroes. The door had the label "Justice League Members Only".

[Recognized: Batman, 0-2. Aquaman, 0-6. Flash, 0-4. Green Arrow, 0-8. Martian Manhunter, 0-7. Red Tornado, 1-6.]

A computerized voice intones through the speakers before the door opens. The leaguers were about to leave the room when Speedy decided to speak.

"That's it?"

Everyone turns to him.

"You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass!"

He angrily exclaimed with a vein threatening to appear on his forehead.