Anthony Higgins:
"Hmm..."
I stare at all the data in front of me, watching the 1s, 0s, and weird alien languages shoot past. Putting my hands back on the keyboard, I try typing in another program.
"Come on," I say, "Come on. 10th time the charm. Fingers crossed. Here goes nothing--Ahhh!"
The screen freezes and glitches, with the program lagging before copying and pasting it over and over. The computer, besides the monitor, starts sparking. Three sparks later, a small but orange and purple flame burst out. I jump out of my chair and step back. Watching as the monitor turns itself off and the small fire turns into a big one, swallowing the whole computer, I slowly nod.
"Yeah. That makes sense."
I slap myself on the forehead while shaking my head. Reaching over and grabbing the fire extinguisher, I shoot the white foam at the computer, putting out the fire. Dropping the fire extinguisher, I remove the hard drive, pick up the burnt computer and corrupted monitor, and throw them onto the growing pile.
"I am really glad that the man in the sunglasses is so filthy rich," I think to myself as I open another box with a new computer and a monitor. As I set them up, plugging the HDMI cable into both the computer and monitor, I turn to the two hard drives lying on the desk.
"Can't believe I still haven't been able to break the encryption on those yet. Then again, Batman himself encrypted them, and also has been encrypted with alien languages, so I feel a leeway is in order."
As I plug the power cable into the wall and wait for the computer and monitor to boot, I get a call from someone. I check the caller ID.
"Supergirl? Why is she calling me?"
I tap the green button and answer the call.
"Hello, Supergirl. How have you been? You know, considering that none of you call me in a while, I was beginning to think you guys forget about me--"
"Anthony," Supergirl yells, cutting me off. "Listen, I need your help. I tried calling the man in the sunglasses, but he isn't picking up. Can you call him, or maybe at least track him? Please tell me you can."
"Uhhh..."
I check the monitor again and see a black screen with dots running around in circles.
"I'm...afraid I might need a few more minutes," I answer. "What's wrong with the man in the sunglasses? Wait. He is with someone, right? He isn't by himself, is he?"
".....He is," Supergirl answers after a weird, long silence. "Anthony. You know, don't you? About what happens when the man is by himself?"
"Yeah. I know."
I lower my phone and look at the monitor. The same dots are still going in circles.
"Supergirl. Right now, my monitor is booting up. As soon as I can, I try to track the man. For now, let's hope he can take care of himself."
"Thank you, Anthony."
Supergirl ends the call. When she does, I pocket my phone and sit back down. Staring at the dots, waiting for the monitor to finish loading, I lock my fingers together and place them against my nose.
"Be strong, Sunglasses Man."
Harleen:
"Ahhh...", I moan. As I fight through the burning headache, the stiffness in my arms and legs, and, for some weird reason, a strong spicy taste.
"Tsk, tsk, blah. What did I eat before?"
Trying to stand up, hearing the sounds of my bones as they crack or break, I look around and see what looks like a low-key, sci-fi apartment studio. There's a fancy table with a holographic display of Earth above, metal hallways leading in different directions, and two empty seats with an ocean view. Except, as I look closer, I realize something.
"That's not an ocean view. That's the ocean! Where the heck am I?"
Looking around, and also seeing an unconscious Aquaman sitting at a rusty table surrounded by a long, curved seat, I jump when I hear a voice.
"Hello, Ms. Harleen. I am glad to see you are awake."
Punching myself in the chest, trying to keep my heart from crawling through my throat and out of my mouth, I look around again but don't see anyone.
"Uhh, hello, you? Who are you?"
A single blue and white light shoots out from a projector overhead. The light shines and turns into another holographic display; this time, instead of Earth, it is a robot with two yellow eyes, a small oval-shaped head, and a thin metal body.
"I am Proxy-2," the voice starts. The holographic robot then holds his hand over his chest and bows his head. "I am the onboard computer and pilot for the Rouge Shadow."
"The Rouge Shadow? You lost me, robot dude."
"The Rouge Shadow is a spaceship. At the current moment, it belongs to--"
Before Proxy-2 can finish whatever he's saying, the whole place shakes, knocking me off my feet and onto my knees.
"Apologies, Ms. Harleen," Proxy-2 says, looking around. "But the captain is currently engaged in a fight on top of the Rogue Shadow. It is vital that I monitor the fight so that when the opportunity presents itself, I can activate the ship's hyderdrive."
The light on the projector slowly dims, and the holographic robot begins to fade away.
"Wait, stop," I shout, pushing myself back onto my feet. Thankfully, the robot, pilot, Proxy-2, stops fading and looks at me. "Before you go to watch a fight, just answer me really fast."
"What is it?"
"The captain that you just mentioned. Is it the man in the sunglasses? About this tall, black hair, emotionally distant, clearly has a lot of issues?"
"Yes, though I am uncertain what you mean by 'the man in the sunglasses'. According to my data, the captain's name is---."
"Is what? You didn't finish."
"Yes, I did. The captain's name is---."
"Yeah," I say, shaking my head. "I'm not going through this again. You said the fight is happening on top of this spaceship."
"Affirmative."
"Awesome. Listen, robot dude. Can you, I don't know, open a window or a cockpit or something that will let me see what is going on?"
"Yes, I can. Please wait."
A holographic screen appears in front of me. It shows me a tall golden man, the same one who knocked me, Jaime, and Firestorm out, but with wings this time, and someone else I don't recognize. Despite the unfamiliar black armor, cape, and helmet, I still know who he is based on the way he holds his two laser swords.
"Proxy-2," I shout. "I ask for a window or a cockpit, whatever that is. Not a screen. Where's the exit?"
I'm about to pick one of the hallways to walk down when Proxy-2 stops me.
"I would suggest not exiting through the ramp door, Ms. Harleen. We are currently flying at 700 miles per hour. If you really do wish to see a window, please pick this hallway."
Proxy-2 reappears in a holographic display and points down a different hallway.
"Thank you, robot dude," I say, running through the holographic display.
Darth Slayer:
Picking up his mace and charging toward me, the Amazo Android swings his copy of Hawkgirl's mace, but I backflip, dodging the mace swing. Landing on my feet, I shoot my hands out, unleashing lightning bolts. The Android raises his hand with the copy lantern ring and summons a wall to block the lightning.
Dropping the wall, the Android, using Flash's super speed, charges toward me. Dropping slightly and swinging my lightsaber, I cut the Android's mace in half. His eyes widen as he holds up only the handle.
Running toward the Android, I jump and swing, cutting and slicing both the Android's head and chest. However, even after losing his head, the Android quickly regrows it. Raising his hand, the Android starts firing green energy blasts from his ring. Bending back and jumping to the side, I dodge most of the green blasts before spinning my lightsabers to destroy the others.
As I spin my two red lightsabers, I feel something. A series of vibrations coming from inside the Rogue Shadow.
"What?"
Following the vibrations as they go on, I look toward the window and see Harleen's head, still beaten but alive, and moving.
"Harleen," I shout.
Harleen sees me and shouts something. I read her lips.
"Behind you."
Turning around, I see the Amazo Android running toward me. Using a combination of Hawkgirl's mace, Flash's super speed, and Superman's super strength, the Android hits me, the sound booming louder than thunder as I am knock off the Shadow.