51 Pushed To The Limits.

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(General P.O.V)

"Superman Rendezvous with Gamma team and make your way towards our position. We are going to need all hands on deck for this."

Batman informed the Man of Steel who had been preoccupied with other matters, namely a flood in North Rhelasia when the junior team had gone dark. 

"Copied. What is the current situation?"

"Green Lantern has identified the energy signature making up the shield around the structure to be of Apokaliptian origins."

Batman answered while reading the report on the alien dome.  

"The same place Intergang have been getting their weapons from."

Superman concluded grimly. 

"Batman, none of our attacks are doing anything. Physical blows and energy attacks are useless on this thing."

The Batman frowned and controlled his bat-jet to hover above the structure.

"What is that?"

Green Lantern asked through the comms. 

"I see activity on the lower sections of the dome."

Wonder woman reported, flying down. 

Batman clicked buttons on the ship's computer and the holographic visual feed of the red dome enlarged. 

"It seems to be a type of alien creature. My god, Batman are you seeing this?"

Hal's voice sounded surprised, matching the moods of everyone present.

"Yes. These creatures seem to share some similarities with Red tornado."

(Aden's P.O.V)

I could fire-bend now. That however didn't mean shit before a powerhouse like Captain Marvel. The dude had the strength and the speed of literal gods. Benching 80+ tons wasn't exactly groundbreaking before a guy like that. Not to mention he had his own version of energy manipulation through the control of lightning. I reiterate, this wasn't a fight I was going to win with my fists. Good thing I wasn't going to try that. 

"Robin, you ready?"

I inquired.

"Yeah. I'm ready. I'll have to make another trip, but I can repurpose my line Launcher for atleast one more jump. That is if you can guarantee a way through."

He answered. Meanwhile my heart was pumping inside my chest like the drums of hallelujah. I chuckled to get rid of the tension while studying the roof.

"Watch me. And I'll even throw in a little surprise."

I grabbed at the warmth in my belly. Flames for explosive power and air bending for body control, with that combination I turned into a human missile aimed at the hole my opponent had created with his body. I shot off at the first sight of Black Marvel. Oh shit, that's actually a really cool name. Sorry Marvel, let me steal that name just this once. 

My opening move was the same as before, however this time it would serve as the distraction I needed to put down Shazam. Hot flames licked at my costume and the smell of singed material made its way to my nose. Shazam stared at me with that same blank look in his eyes and I thanked god I wasn't fighting the whole him. 

My leg kicked out and planted itself into - the only thing that saved me was the rebound effect of the air shield surrounding my body and a hasty cross guard. Otherwise, I would have been turned into a bloody mist by his fist. Nevertheless the fast attack threw me back a little and Shazam took the chance to follow me. 

The speed of mercury was impressive. I couldn't react to any of his numerous and thunderous blows, Fortunately, I didn't need to. I read the trajectory of his movements by the vibrations caused through the air and then evaded them with the skin of my teeth, fully employing the philosophy of Air bending, redirecting energy away. The sudden barrage advised me not to underestimate him just because he was being controlled.

I was careful not to lead the fight towards Robin but that was all I could do, even the aftershocks from his blows sent a ripple through my body that was only negated due to my air bending. I flew up and my opponent followed me. He smashed the ceiling, aiming at me and I took the chance. 

My mouth opened up and I let loose a point blank sonic attack at the hole in the roof above us. Shazam had almost gone through it on his own so the 10 percent left was taken out by my own attack. The roof started caving in but I grabbed hold of the pieces of rock and arranged them into a makeshift stairs/ ramp to make it easier for Robin to transport our two passed out teammates to the roof.

I expelled the dust from our closest vicinity and gave Dick a thumbs up before flying through to the next floor.

"Hope you like the surprise."

I flew out of the hole and touched down on the ground before an immobile Captain Marvel. I studied him for a few seconds and once I was sure he wasn't going to attack me, I turned my attention to my new location.This floor was different from the others. For starters, the rest of the team were placed in status pods, covered with a red energy and constructed on the left side of the walls. Behind Shazam, was a huge screen showing the Justice League trying to break the whole structure and failing.

Below the screen was a a sleek machine placed above a platform. The device was a black and red color about the size of a jukebox. It had a marble like ball the size of a soccer ball placed on the top that glowed a deep red. Circuit lines spread from the device to cover the floor and walls of the whole room.

The vibrations of energy emanating from that thing was immense. Enough to send me on edge even more than fighting Shazam. The energy fluctuations registered as sinister in my senses. Maybe if I destroy it then I can get a chance to free Aqualad, Miss martian and Superboy, together we can…no, the mountain of a man standing before me killed off that first plan. Ok second plan, 

"Miss Martian can you hear me?"

I tried to telepathically connect with her but got no response. Had it been successful, she could have broken whatever mental control Shazam was under. Second an is a no go then. Third plan, I distract Shazam while Robin tries to finagle a way in his tech oriented brain to free the others. That plan all revolved around me successfully keeping Captain Marvel busy while ensuring that the core of the structure did not send more Para-mentals to attack us. 

"I believe you're wondering why I have not attacked you."

A robotic voice stated from through out the chamber. I looked over at the device and saw it pulsing. Now that he mentioned it…

"My upgraded processing suggests I wait for the rest of your team. It's more efficient to take you all down at once. Tell me, are all humans so annoying."

Fuck this dude.

"Just the ones you mess with. Unfortunately for you, I'm on that list as well."

The whole chamber flashed red a couple of times while I was speaking. The unexplained phenomena made me jump back closer to the hole. That lined up perfectly with Boy Wonder's Line Launcher digging itself onto the roof of the floor I was on. He pulled on the line and shot out of the hole, landing next to me with Wally and Artemis on his shoulders. One look at the scene and Robin fell to his usual stance.

"What's the situation? Thanks for the ramp by the way."

"The machine behind Shazam seems to be the one responsible. You're welcome."

I answered, while priming my powers.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Robin asked me, sparing a brief glance towards the pods keeping our teammates captive. 

"Definitely."

"On 3,2,1. Move."

I had wanted to question the machine some more and find out about it's origins but rescuing the rest was the first priority. We could really use some Kryptonian strength right about now. A smoke bomb exploded from my position covering Boy Wonder. The signature chuckle he usually did when doing the disappearing trick left echos in it's wake. I spread out the smoke to cover him better and then sprang forward. Captain Marvel was still essentially human and that meant he required the same biological needs as the rest of us. That gave me options.

My body glided on the floor as I came up before him from the sides, I flicked my finger and a multitude of wind constructs sped forward from all around to assault Shazam. The wind buffetted his position and the Avatar of the gods covered his face with his hands to spare himself the blunt of it all. 

Now! I flew above him and let loose a concetrated sonic attack on his body. He tried to cover his ears to block it out but the shockwaves were too concetrated and unexpected. He knelt down and I moved in for the killer blow. A wind bubble appeared around his head and sucked out all the oxygen inside his lungs. Marvel widened his eyes and tried to break the bubble. Flashes of lightning escaped his form while he suffocated. 

Finally, his body slumped to the ground, unconscious. I breathed out a sigh and turned my attention to the machine. 

"You've lost. Stand down or else I'll turn you to scrap metal."

I hit my fist on the palm of my hand.

"Abilities Analysis complete. Creating counter measures."

Above us on the ceiling of the chamber, huge round plates of metal were created. They turned on and sent a pulse resonating through the air. Instantly felt the difference in how I wielded air. My eyes widened and I sprang forward to attack The Machine. I felt something grab my leg from behind and slam me onto the ground. Breath was knocked out of me and my body thrown away to smash onto the walls of the chamber. An imprint of my body appeared on the wall.

I fell down to my knees, breathing heavily. Something… something was in the air. The damn metal plates were funneling something inside the chamber. 

"Voice Module upgraded."

The robotic voice came again.

"I see that the counter-agent to your powers was successful."

I looked up. His voice had changed from it's robotic tone to a normal man with undertones of a Brit accent. Not only that but Shazam was up once more, looking no worse for wear.

"Get the other boy."

The device beeped and Shazam blitzed off towards Robin's position. I reached out a hand to send a wind construct that would obstruct him but the air felt unwieldy. Robin tried to flip away but Captain Marvel was not playing anymore. A quick chop on the neck and Boy Wonder was sent to dreamland. A place I would soon be following him to.

"What did you do?"

I slurred out the words.

"Easy, I simply analysed your abilities, then used a unique frequency to disrupt your control over them. I will admit I could not completely cut off your connection to your aerokinesis but this is more than enough to ensure that my pet takes you down, then I can start the process to turn you all into my agents."

"Why? What's your endgame? The Justice League will take you down even if you succeed in beating us."

"The Justice League will get the same treatment the rest of you did and due to the data I have received from this altercation, I will upgrade my repertoire in preparation for their…incursion. I wonder how they will react once they find themselves facing off against their own Proteges. As for endgame? Plan? What do I need that for? I do what I want because it is what I want. Aren't you humans the same? Don't you chase desire and satisfaction? Now goodbye little pet. I'll see you on the other side."

He finished, ominously.

Shazam stepped forward menacingly. I didn't pay him any mind however. My attention was somewhere else. Somewhere inside my psyche where 'it' was locked up. I stared at Shazam, my teammates then the surroundings and finally addressed the machine with a chuckle.

"I'll admit it. You've pushed my limits more than anyone ever has before. But this ends now. I hate letting it take over but if I don't do it, then we're all probably going to die here."

I opened the door to the Avatar state and promptly blacked out.

*We're hitting 200 chapters on this guys. It's a promise.