New Metropolis

'The':

Dropping in through the portal, I look back at the teleporter as it flips into the air. Catching it in mid-air, I place it back in one of my jacket pockets.

Turning back to see Green Arrow, Black Canary, Flash, and Kara, I nod my head and walk past the four of them.

"Welcome to New Metropolis," I say, climbing up the dust pile.

The four of them following after me, I spread out my arm to show them all Superman's military headquarters. The whole place is almost as big as Metropolis itself, with just as many helicopters, cars, and even tanks moving in and out of it. The main building is surrounded on all four sides by a massive wall, the wall not only covered in cameras and turrets but also protected by more One Earth soldiers than drops of water in the oceans.

"How in the hel--" Green Arrow says before a lump in my throat cuts him off. "I mean, how in the heck are we supposed to get in there? The place is an impenetrable fortress!"

Without looking, I can already sense everyone's eyes slowly look my way. Rubbing my chin, thinking it over, I raise my shoulders.

"I don't know," I say, turning to look back at them.

"You don't know," Flash repeats, "Really? Didn't you say you used to be a One Earth soldier?"

"I said I used to be an engineer on the Watchtower and a prison guard on Stryker Island. I never said I used to be a One Earth soldier. Now, however, I am saying that. Before the engineer and prison guard thing, I was also a soldier."

"Whhhaaattt," Flash says, shaking his head. "You were an engineer, a guard, and a soldier? How?"

"I moved fast," I reply, turning back to New Metropolis and thinking back to my time as a soldier. "I doubt my old passcode will work but luckily for us, I learned the layout very well."

Eyeing all the incoming and outgoing traffic, however, I realize we would have to change plans.

"I know the layout but that doesn't mean anything if we can't get past all those soldiers. We can't face them head-on, so we need a way to sneak past them."

"Why can't we just use one of your portals of teleport right in," Green Arrow asks.

"Because we can't see where exactly we'll be teleported, "I reply. "As I mentioned before, I know the layout but I don't know how many soldiers are in the room. If we do teleport in, we could be dropping right into a room full of them."

"Nothing we can't handle," Greenie says, pulling out an arrow.

"I rather this be a stealth mission rather than a 'punch and kick everyone and hope for the best' mission. Besides, even you have to admit, that is a lot of soldiers to punch and kick."

While pointing at the army of soldiers, I notice what looks like a small delivery truck heading for the base. Moving at about 60 miles an hour, and only ten miles away from being visible, I run and grab Flash.

"Hey what are you doing," he screams while I drag him. Dragging him to the edge of the dust pile, I point at the truck.

"Think you can stop that truck before it reaches the clearing."

Seeing the truck, he nods his head before running off, kicking up some dust in my face. Blowing some dust off from my shoulder, I watch as Flash, now nothing more than a red dot, intercepts the trunk. Running in front and cutting it off, he rushes to the driver's side and pulls out the driver. Quickly knocking him out, four guards then jump out from inside the trunk. Even before they can aim their guns, Flash runs and knocks all five of them out.

"Come on," I say, waving at the others. "Flash just got us a ride."

Seeing the truck in the far distance, Kara grabs Black Canary and carries her toward the truck. Meanwhile, I grab Greenie and raise my hand. The sand around us gathering into a snake-like monster lunges at me and begins carrying the two of us.

"Hi," I say, the two of us passing Kara and Dinah.

Flash:

"What the hell," I say, thankfully away from the man as I watch him being carried by some sort of "sand snake". The "sand snake" being faster than Supergirl, the man and Oliver reach me first. The second it did, it dispenses, the grains of sand falling back to the ground. Also, the second the sand dispenses and the man lets go of Oliver, he immediately starts splitting.

"Seriously," he screams, still splitting. "Seriously? Why? You, that thing, you got sand in my mouth!"

"Sorry about that," the man replies, "After a while, you just learned to keep your mouth shut."

Still splitting when Supergirl and Dinah join us, Dinah places her hand on Oliver's shoulder.

"Ollie, what happened?"

"I accidentally threw sand into his face," the man answers, raising his hand. "My fault, completely my fault, and I am sorry."

"What was that thing," Supergirl asks, looking at the sand around our feet. "Did you summon it?"

"Kara, no offense or anything, but we don't exactly have time for a whole explanation about my sand summoning skills. Right now, the four of you need to get in the back while I borrow this guy's uniform."

Grabbing the driver, the man starts stripping him.

"Do you mind," he says, turning to me. "I prefer privacy when changing."

Pointing to the back, the four of us climb in.

"Sand summoning skills," I say, the last one to climb in. "The guy had 'sand summoning skill'? What is that even?"

"I think it means he can summon things with sand," Oliver answers, shaking his hair and sand falling out. "Though I'm a little more curious on how sand doesn't get in his hair. Or mouth."

"That's not what I mean Oliver. I mean, like what else can this guy do? Sand summoning? Talking to giant roots and grass? See-through bow and arrow?"

"Wait what," Dinah asks. "See-through bow and arrow?"

"When we first met, he and Supergirl were saving me from Hawk girl, Wonder Woman, and Killer Frost. When I first saw him, he was holding a glowing, see-through, bow, and if that wasn't weird enough, there was also a glowing, see-through quiver on his back, filled with glowing, see-through arrows. Do you remember, Supergirl? What I'm saying is that there is more to that man than meets the eyes."

"You think," Oliver says.

"No, I mean, like so much more than we can possibly imagine. So much so I think maybe we should try and at least stay away from him."

"Stay away from him," Supergirl repeats, "No! As little as we know about him, we also know he has been nothing but help."

"Yes but for what reason? What does he get out of this?"

Before anyone can think of an answer, the truck roars to life and starts to drive. Hearing tapping on the other side, we then hear the man's voice.

"We'll be arriving in New Metropolis in a few minutes. We first have to get through the outer gate before we can get to the main building. When we reach the gate, be quiet! One peep and I swear bullets will be raining down on us.