Chapter 36

The Martians were…a strange bunch. I wasn’t sure if the rest of their race was anything like them, but they were the only representatives I could base anything off of. It was similar to Starfire and Blackfire, actually.

However, their personalities couldn’t be more different.

Martian Manhunter was a very serious man. Any emotion he was feeling was very rarely shown on his face. He just didn’t seem to emote at all. Whereas his niece, who I’ve come to know as Miss Martian, was much more expressive. Despite having a giddy side to her, she wasn’t like Starfire.

Miss Martian seemed a bit…everywhere with her emotions. Whereas Starfire primarily had just the one.

And then there was the issue with their telepathy. Most of the time they were able to understand and communicate with me perfectly. With me saying things that I didn’t quite mean to, or rather, thinking things I didn’t mean to.

Yet their responses didn’t always make sense. Perhaps it was due to Martians having different...sensibilities? It would make sense, given that they could read each other’s minds to communicate. Or perhaps…their telepathy wasn’t completely full proof? Some sort of…translation error from the human language to Martian?

Whatever the reason, I wasn’t planning on going on any sort of mission for the Justice League. No matter how easy without an actual good reason to do so.

So, I was going to turn it down…until I learned where we were going.

Santa Prisca. The name means absolutely nothing to me. The island might as well not have existed before today. However, there was another name tied to the island that I did know.

Bane.

The guy who’s gone toe to toe with the Batman before, and even won a few times. Not only was he an accomplished fighter, but he also created his own little drug called Venom that makes people A LOT stronger than normal.

And that was more than enough to convince me to stay for the mission. It was something I only dreamed of getting back in Gotham. And now with an actual chance to grab it…how can I turn that down?

So, I happily went along with Miss Martian on this ‘scouting’ mission. Apparently, there was some sort of conflict on the island. The Justice League wanted to know why.

Due to them being located on an island, we were going to need to fly in. And Miss Martian had just the ship for us to take. She called it a bio ship, and it definitely looked very ship like inside, but apparently it was alive? It was also capable of shapeshifting, which was cool.

Which was a thought that Miss Martian picked up on, as she proceeded to shapeshift herself into different forms to impress me.

She turned into various Justice League members. Even the males, although they looked a lot more off than the females. Like some sort of uncanny valley type of effect.

“So? What do you think?”

Oh yeah, she was definitely trying to impress me. With that thought she started to deflate. But I do have to say…I’m impressed.

She immediately perked up at that. Giving me a look that said I made her entire month with that thought alone. Oh yeah. She was definitely desperate for praise, or any sort of communication at all. Which meant she was easily manipulated.

Hmm, she didn’t react to that thought. Which means she must not have read it. It was an on and off thing with her. The Manhunter reminded her to ask permission before doing it, but she quickly disregarded his advice. Either out of being forgetful, too excited, or just not caring.

Though to be honest…I was having trouble caring. I definitely cared back at the ‘Watchtower’, when I was having trouble controlling my own thoughts. Hell, I was still having trouble, but the difference was just that…they didn’t really react to anything bad that I said.

And I’ve already thought some pretty messed up shit in-between then and now. Who knows, maybe I’ll start caring more when I’m actually called out on my thoughts. But for now, it didn’t really seem to be a big issue.

“So what’s school like? How old are you? Have you gone to prom? What kind of TV shows do you watch?”

Miss Martian was very…chatty. Extremely so. Attempting to turn the conversation back on her and allowing her to talk about herself until she was satisfied was my usual tactic in situations like this. However, she didn’t seem to want to talk about herself at all. She was interested in me.

No, that wasn’t quite right. It was more like…she was interested in what life as a human was like. She wasn’t curious as to who I was, but more for what I was.

She blushed at that thought, before grimacing and looking away.

“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable…”

I waved my hand to dismiss her concerns.

“It’s fine. I don’t take any offense. To be honest, I’m curious as to Martians as well. I’d like to know more about you guys as well.”

She smiled at my words, until I got to the part where I was interested in Martians. To which she proceeded to frown.

“…what do you want to know about Martians?”

“Biology, mostly.”

I answered. It was only as the words left my mouth that I realized they could be taken more flirtatious than I intended. But with one look at her face, it was obvious that she didn’t take it that way.

Right. Mind reading. Leaves little room for misunderstandings. Which is…pretty convenient actually. Wait, did that also mean they were extremely literal with each other on Mars?

She quickly seemed to be…relieved at that answer. There was something else that she didn’t want to talk about then…

I had an idea, but I wanted to be sure. So, I tacked on a bit more.

“I’d like to know a little about your culture as well, if that’s alright.”

She grimaced at that. That was definite confirmation. She waved her hand back and forth with a forced smile.

“Oh, trust me. We aren’t that interesting at all.”

If the other Martians were anything like her, then I’d beg to disagree. She blushed at that thought, and seemed to get bashful due to the praise. Though I feel like she’d be a lot less happy if she realized the reason I said that was because of her transforming into Wonder Woman earlier.

Seriously…did the male members of the Justice League just fight with hard ons when she was around? Christ. I’d have fucking trouble paying attention in a life-or-death situation if she was nearby. And if I would be having trouble, I couldn’t imagine what Kid Flash would be going through…

Once again, judging by Miss Martian’s body language and how she was still happy, she must not have read my mind. Or she did, and just didn’t understand anything that I just said.

After about forty minutes of being given various questions, we finally arrived at the island. Slipping through any sort of security due to being camouflaged. It also helped that the island looked like complete shit, and that it didn’t really have the equipment to keep an eye on anyone coming in.

It was a warzone.

Various areas were actively covered in fire. Gunshots echoed in the distance alongside the noises of the forest. Or…jungle? I wasn’t sure what separated one from the other.

The area was also pockmarked by craters. As if several meteors had crashed into it. The various trails of smoke in the distance didn’t seem to signal anything good either.

We vacated the bio ship in a relatively safe area before heading out. Miss Martian showed that she was full of surprises, and also was able to turn herself invisible. It was times like this that I felt like I got screwed by the superpower lottery in comparison.

“Oh…haha, thanks.”

She giggled from…somewhere. It would probably be better for her to speak in my mind rather than out loud. That way there’s no risk of alerting anyone to our presence.

Oh…okay. Got it!

…I couldn’t help but find her enthusiasm a bit…amusing. I blamed Starfire and Beast Boy. We continued on for several minutes before stumbling on what seems to have been the aftermath of a battle.

No one alive seemed to have remained. It was easy to tell the forces apart as one side wore red robes and a mask, while the other…wore normal looking clothes. For the most part at least. It also helped that one side was overwhelmingly Hispanic than the other.

Considering there were fewer dead cultists than the rest, it would be my guess that they’re winning. And considering Bane was latino, it wasn’t hard to guess what side they were on.

Miss Martian gasped in surprise after encountering the dead bodies, before beginning to wander around them. Examining them closely. At first, I thought it was for the mission, but then I realized that spark of curiosity in her eyes as she lifted one of their arms…

She quickly looked back towards me with panicked eyes.

Sorry, I didn’t mean-

No, please. Go right ahead. I’m fine with it, and it’s not like he’s going to have a problem with it. Not like he can do much of anything now.

Miss Martian still hesitated. After a few moments of indecision, she finally chose to drop the sleeve of a dead cultist and continue to look around. She didn’t seem to be very…used to being around a bunch of dead people.

Which proved that she obviously has never gone anywhere in Gotham. Gang fights were about as common as trash on the street. Though there was one key difference between those and this…

Normally after a gang fight, whichever side won would grab everything of value that was to get. Sometimes even stripping the dead of their clothes entirely. And if they had any silver or gold teeth? That was just a bonus.

But not only did most of the dead still have ammo on them, they still had their guns. That was odd.

If I had to guess, they had to push some sort of advantage very urgently or…there was something more valuable to them then mere guns. Hmm…considering what the Justice League knows about this place, it would be a safe bet to assume that these cultist guys wouldn’t just start some sort of war here for fun. Their goal obviously has something to do with either Bane’s production factory of Venom, Bane himself, or perhaps Venom itself.

I feel like if they were just trying to get the chemical compound of it though it’d just require more espionage and secrecy. Which narrowed it down to Bane or the factory itself. Or better yet, both.

Wow…you’re just like Columbo! So, does that mean we’ve completed the mission?

I don’t know why I was being compared to the guy who founded America, but whatever. And no, we aren’t done.

…Not until I get my hands on Venom, at least.

Miss Martian nodded her head resolutely before continuing to follow me forward. Heading towards the biggest building near this place.

The Factory.

Which was of course heavily guarded. And considering the lack of the color red, it would seem the cultists haven’t taken this place yet. Although considering the sounds of nearby gunshots, that might change in a bit.

Even still, there were guards sitting at their areas. Watching the surroundings intently despite the enemy being on the otherside and making noise. Makes sense, I guess. This would be the best time for a flank attack

Unfortunately for them, me and Miss Martian made a pretty good stealth team. Due to her being able to turn invisible, communicate telepathically, and phase through objects, she was pretty much the perfect spy.

Haha, stop it…

I got the distinct feeling that she didn’t actually mean that.

…

Any obstacles that we came across was pretty easily dispatched. With Miss Martian able to tell me ahead of time about enemies in order for me to quickly take them out with just a touch. Something that got her to compliment me.

Though I did feel like the reason she did so wasn’t so much as to compliment me, as much as it was to further get her on my good side. Which of course there was nothing wrong about. It wasn’t even very manipulative as most people who do that don’t even do it consciously.

Due to not being nearly as good at stealth as Miss Martian, that meant that I left quite a lot of unconscious bodies in my wake. Meaning it likely wouldn’t take long for someone to stumble upon it.

So, we were on a timer.

The gunshots were also getting louder. Shouting and actual battle cries were also thrown in the mix. With one side speaking a language I didn’t know, and the other chanting ‘hail cobra’.

…They must really like G.I. Joe, I guess.

It appeared that my luck must have peaked today, because I finally came across some sort of workshop, with various papers scattered every which way. There was also a computer, of which I tried to get into, before giving up quickly when it asked for a password.

I wasn’t Cyborg or Robin. Machines were about as far away from my understanding as things could get. Which meant it was back to pen and paper for me. As there really wasn’t much time to read, I instead decided to skim the papers before taking everything that looked mildly important.

After a few seconds, Miss Martian began to copy me. Even still, I wasn’t going to leave until…

Jackpot.

A chemical formula clear as day was on a nearby desk, and after a skim through, it was pretty obvious what it was. Now it was time to bail. Miss Martian of course scouted the way forward for me so that I didn’t run into a legion of-

A loud ass alarm started to blare around me. Something that caused even Miss Martian to cry out in pain, and even turn visible again. She covered her ears and I had to resist the urge to do the exact same. Instead, I just grit my teeth, grabbed her arm and pulled her forward.

Seconds later the entire hallway we were just in was obliterated as some sort of hulking monstrosity ran through it. At first, I thought it was Bane, but Bane actually looked human. This thing?

Was some sort of mutant freak. Its skin was unnaturally hardened, and its flesh seemed to be pulled too much in places. It looked like a wound at first, but after a longer examination, the flesh seemed to be stretched at it’s limit in those areas. Exposing the underlying muscle underneath.

And it wasn’t bleeding…eugh.

The monster also had a face. With orange long hair running down it’s sides and chin. It had long teeth that resembled a sort of...

Wait…

Why did this creature look like Mammoth?

The creature glanced towards us for a moment before it looked away. It’s gaze went towards something, or someone else. A fact that was proven true as a hulking Bane smashed into it seconds later. Taking it off it’s feet and into a nearby wall.

It didn’t take long for them to come to blows.

Mammoth, or what was left of him at any rate, seemed intent on just trying to bash Bane’s head in. And to his credit, he definitely seemed to be the stronger and even faster of the two. But that strength and speed seem to come at a cost, as Mammoth was just swinging his arms wildly.

Something that proved to his detriment as Bane focused on the areas where his muscles were exposed. Causing to explode with blood, and Mammoth to howl in anguish. Though it also saw him getting wilder and wilder with his attacks.

As much as I would enjoy having front row tickets to this show, I don’t think the guys with guns would be willing to let me. There was also the fact that I’d probably become the next target, regardless of who won.

Leaving me and Miss Martian to make our escape.

There were various people, all interlocked in a shootout. Spraying bullets at each other, which was pretty fucking dangerous for me. At least Miss Martian was invisible. I didn’t have shit.

So if any of them saw me in the distance and thought that I was an enemy, I’d get my ass lit up. But I also couldn’t take it too slow, or I’d get fucked up.

Which lead me and Miss Martian to make a hasty escape. Miss Martian going so far as to use telekinesis in order to toss guns out of people’s hands. Leaving them completely baffled and panicked as we ran by.

Thankfully I was only shot at once before we escaped into the trees. It didn’t take long for Miss Martian to contact her bio ship, and for us to get off of the island. Miss Martian celebrated pretty loudly at our success, while I was much more reserved by comparison.

Though of course I was also celebrating internally. How couldn’t I? Even if I was to hand over all the documents I had just stolen, it wouldn’t change a thing. Because after a much more careful overview of the documents while talking to Miss Martian, it helped proved without a doubt, that I had just learned the secret to Venom.

Which opened up a lot more windows than I had before.

It wasn’t hard to see that I was going to be very busy in the Lab in the future…