Volume 6: Secret Invasion Chapter 49: Bat-Family Secret Operation: Saving Superman Clark
Mason came back to Gotham this time to deal with the Skrull spies lurking in this world.
It wouldn't be hard for him to do this since he had obtained the Psychic Beacon from Brainiac, but the hard part was that the Skrulls were just the vanguard of a massive invasion.
The "awakeners" of this world are the real trouble!
Just like the relationship between the Sinister Six and Brainiac, these guys who chose to betray their hometown for various reasons took root in their hometown. They have many ways to hide themselves well, and it is really difficult to catch them unless they expose themselves actively.
Batman, the Justice League, and the old man's Assassin's League have been secretly tracking these people. They have already gained something, but it is obviously not so easy to completely eradicate them.
Mason didn't ask the old man too much about the progress in this regard. He was also a member of the Bat-Family and was familiar with the old man's style of doing things. He felt that he would say it when it was time.
It's useless to ask now.
Although he is already the honorary Robin, Mason is obviously not confident enough for Batman to fully trust him.
Because this guy doesn't trust anyone!
He even installed surveillance cameras on the woman he loved. Damn it, if someone else did this, Mason would have called the police on the spot.
"Whoosh"
The activated Speed Force ring was as powerful as ever, and in less than a few seconds it sent Mason and the Master to Kent Farm in the small town of Smallville, Kansas.
This is Superman's home, and it is an area that the Justice League must protect.
The farm was quiet under the night sky. The harvested corn was still piled on the open space, presenting a good harvest scene. The crops from Kent Farm were in excellent condition and could definitely be sold at a good price.
Little Flash, who arrived earlier, was running around the area collecting clues, while the assassin saint Wick was observing the surroundings from the commanding heights, and Young Nightwing was treating the unconscious Martha Kent.
"She fainted. It's hard to say whether it was the enemy who did it."
Grayson looked up at Mason and the Master and said:
"But she wasn't injured. I think it was probably caused by shock. After all, it's impossible for Dachao to allow others to hurt his mother in his current condition."
“What about the trace search results?”
Mason squatted down and began to check on Martha. The master asked another question, and the young master shook his head and said:
"There was no trace, no fighting or even pulling, it seemed to happen in an instant, but I find it hard to imagine anyone being able to subdue Superman in an instant.
Perhaps there is some secret force that we haven’t discovered yet.”
"Hat, check."
Mason said to the Panama hat on his head.
The hat silently sent out a large-scale magic detection. A faint blue light covered the direction of Kent Farm. After a few seconds, it said:
"There is some magic left, but the caster is so skilled that I can't track any traces in space. Also, there is some kryptonite smell left, but not much."
“This is really strange.”
Mason curled his lips, diluted a dose of palliatives and gave it to Mrs. Martha, then said to the young master and the master:
"She was just frightened and exhausted and passed out. She'll be fine after a good night's sleep, but I suspect Martha doesn't know what happened either.
She is just an ordinary person and it is difficult for her to capture truly valuable information.
Now Superman and Joe are missing, but where is Lois?
Wasn’t she attacked?”
"Louise is out doing an interview tonight."
Xiao Shan appeared beside Mason, holding a corn cob produced by Kent Farm in his hand, rubbing it back and forth twice and letting it bake at high temperature. He broke off some popcorn and put it into his mouth, saying:
"I just went to see her. She is driving back. She must have received the news."
"You go protect her."
The master ordered Xiao Shan:
"She may also be a target. If someone wants to coerce Clark, capturing Lois and threatening her is a very effective strategy."
"Um!"
Little Flash stuffed the corn cob in his hand to the eldest master, then disappeared on the spot with a whoosh. Grayson continued to look after Martha outside the door, while the master and Mason walked into the farm room.
It's really run down here.
This fully proves that Dachao's financial situation is not very good, but the house is very cozy and it is obvious that he has an excellent hostess to maintain it.
There were no traces left, but Mason walked up to the old TV and tapped it, saying:
"Tell me, what happened just now?"
"You should be more polite to me! Mason Cooper!"
A round human face constructed with data suddenly popped up on the turned-off TV screen. Dr. Zora scolded unhappily:
"I am now considered one of you. Damn it. I have said everything I should and shouldn't have said. I was even forced to act as a TV on this small farm to entertain that naughty kid.
Isn't that enough for you to trust me?"
"You know this is for your protection."
The master said in a hoarse voice:
"Many people are looking for you. They have even reached the Arctic Circle. Moving you here is the best decision right now."
"But you should loosen my restrictions a little bit."
Dr. Zora on TV complained:
"Give me even a free thread and a few automated robots, and I can protect myself...Okay, okay, I know what you want to ask.
But the truth is I don’t know what happened.”
Dr. Zora manipulated the TV screen to play its previous surveillance of the entire room.
In the screen, we can see Superboy helping his mother prepare dinner, looking very happy. Then, Xiao Qiao's scream is heard outside the door, and the screen ends after Superboy rushes out.
"In a moment!"
Dr. Zola replied confidently:
“Everything happened in a flash!
Whoever did this must have planned it in advance. If you hadn't forbidden me to install more cameras here, I might be able to give you more useful information."
"Replay the scene."
Mason pushed his glasses and squatted in front of the TV, analyzing the picture almost frame by frame. After a moment, he pointed at a barely visible light distortion outside the kitchen window and asked Hat:
"Is this similar to the light displacement caused by 'Shadow Shift'?"
"Well, it's possible."
The hat couldn't give a positive answer either, it replied:
"If you want to take Superman away silently, then Disapparition is indeed an option. This magic is very fast when activated, and if you are prepared in advance, it will not leave any more traces.
If the other party has prepared kryptonite in advance or has some means against Kryptonians, then even Superman will be hit in an instant.
The weak physique of Kryptonians is really a big problem.
What's more, those guys may have held his child hostage first. Even the most powerful hero in the world would be ambushed and knocked down in a panic. It's only natural."
"Those wizards who have been on the run have been given special attention by Cyborg in this world, and the spellcasters under Doctor Fate have never relaxed their efforts to capture them."
The master said in a hoarse voice:
“There is no reason for them to take such a risk at this time, and their target is directly targeting our most powerful member. This is a bit strange no matter how you look at it.
I need to get in touch with Zuckerberg.
She has been tracking those sneaky guys lately and is said to have located their hideout.”
"The most powerful spellcaster in this world is in charge, but there is still no news after almost two months. This in itself means some terrible speculation."
Mason stood up, looked at his watch, and said:
"But you'd better wait ten minutes before calling again... Xiao Zha might be a little 'busy' right now, so I brought Zha Kang back with me this time. Although I don't know how he can convince Xiao Zha to change his mind, at least that guy seems to be full of confidence."
"Whoosh"
The next moment, Xiao Shan appeared in the house, holding the "Reporter Hero" who had rushed back home from the interview site in his arms.
Ms. Louise Lane, wearing a windbreaker, immediately burst into tears when she saw the empty house.
As Dachao's legally married wife, she should have been accustomed to such a life full of dangers, but now even her child was kidnapped, which was really hard for this mother to accept.
The master stepped forward and whispered to her to comfort her, but Mason raised his eyebrows.
Looking at the "Louise Lane" in front of him in surprise, he first touched the bracelet on his right wrist, then pulled out the Johnny's gun from his waist and aimed at her.
He said:
“You are not a Skrull, otherwise you would have knelt before me right now, but I am curious, what does an imposter want to do by appearing here at this sensitive moment ?
Speak up!
Are you involved in Superman's disappearance?"
"Shua"
The master who was comforting Louise flicked a bat dart from his fingertips like magic and hit her neck, while Nightwing at the door also pulled out his armed stick, and Flash flashed out without understanding what was happening.
But then, he saw the reporter hero, whom he had brought back with his own hands, melting like "mud" in front of everyone, and then transformed into a very strange "green man" in the next moment.
He has a rather bizarre skull structure.
The back of his head was pointed and elongated, but he still had facial features, he was tall, his skin was a strange green color, and he had a cloak and battle suit covering his body.
His eyes were as dark red as volcanic ash, and he didn't look like a good person.
Facing Mason's pistol and the master's weapon, he did not intend to show his bravery and strength, but moved his mouth and answered in a neutral voice:
"Don't be nervous, everyone. I mean no harm. I sent Miss Louise to a mysterious fortress in the Arctic. She directed me there.
Because she had been attacked by mysterious people before, those people who could flash in space wanted to capture her, and she was interviewing at the police station where I worked at the time, and I saved her.
She begged me to come and see her family, she was sure it was an attack on her husband.”
"The Fortress of Solitude?"
The master looked at the pretender warily and took a step back, then turned around to contact the Fortress of Solitude to confirm Louise's situation, while Mason looked at the very kind guy in front of him curiously.
He said:
"Are you a Martian?"
"Um?"
This guy looked at Mason in surprise and asked anxiously:
"Have you seen people like me elsewhere? You know Martians. Does that mean there are still people of mine who have escaped that terrible disaster?"
"Well, I've only heard stories about you. You're the first Martian I've ever seen."
Mason rubbed his forehead. Seeing the disappointed look on the Martian's face, he hesitated whether to tell him the truth.
In the microcosm of Brainiac's Exile there was an entire Mars, filled with a kingdom of lively Martians exactly like the guy before him.
Mason's answer disappointed the Martian, but he seemed to be used to disappointment. He perked up and asked Mason curiously:
"How did you discover my disguise? I have approached the superheroes of this world several times out of curiosity, and even passed by Wonder Woman in London, but they didn't find me."
" Your mental strength."
Mason pointed to his head and said:
"I admit that your telepathy is very advanced, even comparable to Professor X's silent telepathy, but unfortunately I have already insured my will a long time ago.
Your snooping just now triggered it.
Another reason is that, based on my understanding of Ms. Louise Lane, in this situation she would only actively try to find ways to save her husband and children, and would not be at a loss as you pretend.
You must always believe in the courage and execution of the reporter. It is impossible for a delicate girl from Earth to win the love of Superman. In a sense, Clark is also a very picky person. "
"really."
The Martian nodded in agreement and said:
"Ms. Lian En remained calm the entire time. She didn't panic even when she was attacked. It was my disguise skills that were too crude."
"Louise is indeed in the Fortress of Solitude, and she verified what this 'Mr. Ron' said."
The master returned to his room and said to Mason:
"It was indeed this enthusiastic 'Martian Hunter' who helped her. In addition, Louise provided very valuable information. She told me that the person who attacked her disguised himself as her cameraman and suddenly attacked her.
It's the Skrulls!
Those wizards have joined forces with the Skrulls."
"It seems that Brainiac's sudden death overwhelmed the Skrulls. Sensing danger, they were bewitched by some creatures in this world and launched an attack without any preparation."
Mason shook his head and said:
"This was truly an unplanned event, which is why it appears to be untraceable."
“I can help!”
Martian Manhunter Ron Ronze took the initiative to speak:
"Or maybe it's the mutual attraction between pretenders. Anyway, I've been secretly paying attention to those strange aliens who can disguise themselves like me.
I sensed that their activity on Earth might mean chaos was coming, so I paid attention to collecting their movements.
I know of several locations in North America where they are found.”
"But why would you help?"
The master looked at the alien who had been hiding on Earth for several years with a scrutinizing tone, and said in a hoarse voice:
"Your suspicion has not been ruled out yet."
"I am the 'Hunter'!"
The Martian didn't care about the master's indifference and vigilance. He explained seriously:
"In my lost homeland, this was your equivalent of 'police' and I swore an oath to protect my people and my family.
But I couldn't do it, and I lost them.
I landed on Earth by accident and was treated kindly by my new friends. If I regard this place as my new home, I should also contribute my part to its order. "
"Hey, man, that's a great thing to say!"
Flash whistled and patted Martian Manhunter on the shoulder, saying:
"You should join us, join the Justice League. In these turbulent times, we need the strength of all good people."
The simple Flash is still making friends, but the master and Mason have already started discussing an action plan.
"We can't mobilize the Justice League to avoid alerting the enemy. Team K has already been registered in this world and can't be mobilized. Zack has combat power but not enough people. My opinion is to mobilize a special operations team."
Mason said to his master:
"I will dispatch a team that will not attract the attention of others. You prepare to close the net. Take this opportunity to catch all the Skrulls hiding here!"
"I suspect the Skrulls have sensed our movements."
The master said seriously:
"The Skrulls' disguises can mimic abilities, and they took Superman away in a last-ditch effort to copy his abilities. They are not real Kryptonians, and Kryptonite has limited power over them.
What a cunning tactic.”
“I have energy rays that can negate the Skrulls’ disguise, developed by a smart person from another world, and neurotoxins that can put them into a weakened state.
Even a Super Skrull cannot resist it."
Mason didn't care about the threat. He took out the Bat Hard Drive containing the relevant information and handed it to the master, saying in a firm tone:
"Besides that, I have a last resort to check and balance them. The Skrulls can be used for our own benefit, Batman. They will become a nuisance to our enemies.
Just like the trouble they cause us."
The master was convinced after seeing with his own eyes the spiritual beacon that Mason showed him, which was worn on his right wrist.
He contacted the Justice League's various locations to prepare for the closing of the net. Mason also left Kent Farm and took out his flip phone. He sent a message to the old man that the "execution operation" had begun and then dialed a number.
"Damian, you just returned to Osborne Tower? That's great. Bring your team members to the Next Life Bar to pick up weapons. Judy will arrange for someone to send you to the action area.
Haven't you always wanted to show your dad your progress and abilities?
Don’t ever say I didn’t give you a chance.”
