The drive had continued on, leaving Maryland in their wake. Now the journey to Washington D.C would be a short one as it was a nearby area.
And at last, they had finally arrived at Washington D.C. The capital of the United States was a city full of bustling people, towering skyscrapers, and a wide array of historic monuments. As they drove along the streets, they could see the White House in the distance, along with the Washington Monument, the Capitol Building, and many others.
And of course, the Hall of Justice, the headquarters of the Justice League, which was the whole purpose of coming here.
"Aw, so cool..." Ben just admired the Hall of Justice from a distance. "We're gonna get to meet Superman and other heroes....!"
"Ahem. We're here to get Raven help, not fanboy." Gwen nudged his arm. "Remember?"
"Hey, I didn't forget." Ben huffed. "But can't a guy just get excited over his heroes?"
"Excited is an understatement. You're the kind of person who would faint when meeting his idol." Gwen pointed out as they each started leaving the RV. "Anyways, how do you want to do this? Just walk up to the Hall of Justice and ask to see the Justice League?"
"Well, yeah. How else would we do it?" Ben looked back at her, shrugging his shoulders. He believed that was a good plan of action. "We're gonna show up, explain what happened with Raven, and then the Justice League will handle it from there."
"Are you kidding me?" Gwen scoffed. "They'll never let us in. The Hall of Justice is heavily guarded and has tight security. I think that security is other superheroes. We're not even sure if the Justice League is currently present in the Hall of Justice. For all we know, they could be out on a mission."
"So? It's not like we're criminals. We'll just wait until they return. And besides, I've got the Omnitrix." Ben pointed to his watch. "Maybe I can transform into a hero and show the guards that I'm legit."
"Ben, that's a terrible idea. They'll think that you're trying to sneak in." Gwen shook her head. "And what if the Omnitrix malfunctions again and turns you into an alien that's too big or dangerous to be in the Hall of Justice?"
"Yeah...This thing's weird like that." Ben sighed, looking at the Omnitrix. "Sometimes, I think it knows what it's doing and probably gets a kick out of it."
"I don't care how its done. Just get me all the help I can." Raven said, crossing her arms.
"Don't worry about it." Ben grinned. "This'll be a piece of cake. Trust me."
Eventually, they got to the Hall of Justice, standing before the massive building itself. Inside, the place was bustling with activity. People were moving about, some of them in costume, others in civilian clothing, but everyone had an air of importance and authority about them. There were also many superheroes in the background, walking around and talking to each other.
"Let me do the talking." Ben insisted, stepping forward. Gwen and Raven sighed, letting Ben have the stage here.
At the front entrance to the hall stood two security guards, one on either side of the door. They were dressed in blue uniforms with white trim, and they wore black caps that hid their hair. Both of them were tall and muscular, and they had the look of people who were not to be messed with. As Ben approached, they immediately turned their attention to him, their eyes scanning him up and down. One of the guards raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. The other guard, however, seemed to be more welcoming, giving a small smile.
"Let me guess. You here for help?" Already, he was able to read Ben, Gwen and Raven.
"Woah! That easily?!" Ben was impressed. Did he have an intuition like Gwen or something?
"You can thank these." He tapped on his helmet. "Mr Terrific hooked us up with special helmets that allow us to better identify and read people and situations." That explained it. With technology, they could easily figure out who needed what. "You're here for some help. Well that's just fine."
"Hm. Saves up a lot of trouble. Is anyone in the Justice League inside?" Ben asked.
"Right now, most of them are currently out dealing with the recent weather problems." The second guard answered. "The only one inside that we know of is Batman. And no, you can't meet him." The guard added, noticing the excitement on Ben's face.
"Agh...Aw." Ben groaned. "Fine. But uh, we're here to ask for a little bit of his time. This is important." Ben motioned to Raven. "Her especially."
"Sorry. Batman's too caught up with a lot right now to see anyone. Unless it's a really big deal."
"It involves a demon. That's a pretty big deal, isn't it?" Gwen added. It certainly sounded like a big deal, but they had to make it a bigger one. Not that they were lying, but making the situation sound even worse. It was the best way to get the Justice League's attention. Or at least the only member in the building.
"....That is pretty big." The guard admitted. "You're not messing with us, are you? This is a serious issue. We wouldn't joke around about something like that. And we wouldn't want to get on the bad side of Batman. I mean...we're kinda new here anyways so..." Ben made his point and the guards understood it.
"Alright. We'll let Batman decide if he has any spare time. But no promises." The first guard replied as they both stepped aside, allowing them entry. "Welcome to the Hall of Justice." Ben, Gwen and Raven stepped through the doors, entering the Hall of Justice. As they did so, the guards closed the door behind them, locking it shut.
"See? Told ya. Easy peasy." Ben bragged, feeling a lot of pride in getting inside.
And once inside, the trio got a good look at the Hall of Justice from within. The very first area was one big publicly accessible museum dedicated to heroes and souvenirs of their battles, and the ground level was where visitors could enter and buy tickets to get a glimpse of the main part of the Hall.
"Wow...Look at all of this..." Gwen looked around, seeing the exhibits. "Looks like this is their public-facing area. A museum of sorts."
"Ooh! Yeah!" Ben's eyes sparkled. Naturally, the fanboy in him was exuding out. "Look at all of this! There's the Kryptonian Battle Armor! And the Helmet of Nabu! And the Trident of Poseidon! And-"
"Those aren't the real deal, right?"
"Nah. Of course not. Dr. Fate still has the real helmet. These are just souvenirs. Memorabilia." Ben assured, knowing full well the heroes would never leave anything so powerful and dangerous on display. "It still looks like the real deal though! And there's the Invisible Jet!"
"Where?" Gwen had to take a moment to process that. She then looked at Ben, who snickered at her. "Oh. Ha ha, Ben. Real funny."
"Rrgh..." All while, Raven was feeling Ben's emotions. And it wasn't helping her current mood. In fact, Ben's fanboying state was rather powerful, much to her chagrin. "Can you keep those emotions of yours in check?" Raven spoke sternly, glaring at Ben. "I don't think I can take anymore of them."
"Wait, that counts?" Ben looked at Raven. "Seriously?"
"I...react strongly to emotions. More than anyone. And I can feel yours in full." Raven replied, sighing. She wasn't annoyed by Ben, but her emotions were. "No one in Azarath was all that expressive. Not as much as you. You're the most expressive person I've ever met." Raven admitted. "Your feelings are strong. Very strong."
"Oh. Sorry about that." Ben rubbed the back of his head. "But I've wanted to be in a place like this for so long! It's a dream come true!"
"You don't react to your own emotions, Raven? Then again, you don't look like you emote that much. Um...no offense."
"I can't. I'm not allowed to. Or rather... I shouldn't." Raven looked down.
"Why? Expressing yourself is so wonderful." Gwen had her hands behind her back while smiling. She was a firm believer in expressing yourself in positive ways. But Raven seemed to have a reason to suppress herself.
"I can't. I have the psionic ability of empathy, the power to read, manipulate and absorb emotions. It's why I can feel the emotions of others and sense them from certain distances. But...I left Azarath in a state where I hadn't fully mastered the power to fully stay calm while taking them in. I regret that greatly. But if I did, I'd be able to sense them but without such a pain in my head."
"Oh that's...awful. And was that meditation an extra way of mastering it?" Gwen asked.
"It was. The good news is that I know I'm close to mastering it, so it's not a big deal. But as for my own emotions, no matter what, I can't let them be elevated." Raven looked up, her expression becoming a little more grim. "My power runs strongly on emotions...if I get too happy, too angry or any other emotions..."
"Your power will overtake you. I'm guessing that's what it is." Gwen had a guess. If Raven's powers grew from her emotions, then she had a hunch that her powers would overwhelm her and possibly lead to something bad.
"Yeah, basically." Raven sighed. "I've never had it happen to me...but my mother told me that if it does, it would be terrifying. Something fierce. And knowing who my father is, I can't risk that at all."
"I didn't know, Raven..." Gwen was beginning to feel bad for Raven. Having to bottle up her emotions was a cruel fate, and she felt sympathy for her. "But you're not alone here. We'll help you through this. Right, Ben?"
"Uh, yeah, sure." Ben nodded, not exactly the best with words when it came to comforting people. "And I'll try and tone down my excitement, I guess."
"Thanks." Raven looked away. "Where do we even go from here though?"
"Looking for something?" Speaking up was someone all the way up ahead. Standing in front of a door was none other than the only person inside the Hall of Justice.
Batman.
"Ooh...No way! The Batman!" Ben's eyes widened, seeing the Dark Knight in person. It was his first time meeting him and his heart was pounding in his chest. He had to play it cool here, even if he was geeking out.
"Who are you three?" He asked, looking at them closely.
"Ahem!" Ben cleared his throat, stepping forward. "The name's Ben Tennyson, and this is my cousin, Gwen. And this is our friend, Raven." Ben introduced.
"I'm not their friend." Raven quickly corrected.
"We're just for a quick little something. She needs help with something big that comes from her dimension. Or world...realm. I'm not sure what it is. So I figured that we'd come straight to Justice League, 'cause that only makes sense. And now that we're here, we wondering if you could hear us out." Ben explained as simply as he could while grinning. That grin was full of admiration.
"..." Batman just stared at them silently, analyzing their expressions. He had to see if they were telling the truth. But then, he noticed the Omnitrix on Ben's wrist. "We're already full with a situation. One involving temperature drops across the states. We have no time to handle anything else."
"That's fine. We've been handling that problem already." Ben added. "Gwen and I, that is. It's not too hard. Just some monsters that are being a pain, is all." Ben shrugged his shoulders, acting all nonchalant.
"That so? Then you two must've been the ones that took down those monsters in both Maryland and Bainstead." Batman pointed out, making the connection. He was aware of their heroics.
"Oh, yeah that was us!" Ben gladly pointed at himself. "Pretty great, right?"
"Hm. Not bad." Batman did have to give some props. "Looking at your age, I'm surprised you didn't cause any major damage to the either locations."
"If he was still 10 then no doubt." Gwen joked.
"So, the ice thing isn't too much of a problem, right? I sent Killer Frost running, took down Weather Wizard and dealt with those ice monsters. Plus, the rest of the Justice League's handling the rest, right? So think you can spare some help for us, Batman? Sir."
"Ben. I don't think Batman alone can handle a literal demon." Gwen said, having her hand on Batman's shoulder. She had to be the voice of reason. "And besides, we're not that desperate yet. We can wait until the rest of the Justice League gets here. I'm sure they can help us out."
"But we're already here, Gwen. I'm sure Batman can handle it." Ben looked back to the caped crusader, hoping to hear a positive answer.
"Demon, you say? You'll have to wait." Batman replied.
"W-Wait?" Ben stuttered. "Wait for what!"
"Please." Raven stepped forward, wanting this conversation done as soon as possible. "I've come all the way from an interdimensional realm to gain as much help as I can to defeat the demon Trigon. My father. I know for a fact...if he gets the chance to enter Azarath, he'll conquer it with absolute power and destruction. It'll become a hell. And if he conquers it, the same will happen to every other realm that he comes across. Including this Earth. I...I think so at least. I was able to show up to Earth after all."
Batman raised a brow. Raven wasn't joking. He could tell that from her stern tone of voice. "I said wait. For the others." But Batman's word had an extended part. He didn't actually shut it down. He was just trying to refer the other members of the league.
"Really?" Ben's eyes sparkled.
"I can't say I'll get involved." Batman turned around. "But I know some of the Leaguers who will. Wonder Woman. Martian Manhunter. Green Lantern. Potentially the Flash and some others. But there's one person I know who will help you out without question."
"Oh..." Ben stepped forward with glee. "You mean..."
Superman.
The Strongest Man in the world.
The Last Son of Krypton and the well-known hero of Metropolis. There was no better superhero than the Man of Steel himself, and the world would never stop looking up to him, both literally and figuratively.
And right now, he was in the midst of dealing with the weather crisis across the states. Currently, the Man of Steel was in Florida, helping the people of Miami recover from the sudden snowstorm and the cold weather. He was clearing the streets of snow and ice, using his super strength to lift cars and move debris out of the way. Superman was also using his heat vision to melt the ice and warm up the air. He was working tirelessly to ensure the safety of the citizens and the integrity of the infrastructure. His blue and red suit was a beacon of hope in the otherwise dreary landscape.
"Thanks again, Superman." A police officer saluted to him. "These snowstorms have been out of control."
"It's no problem, officer. Anyone get taken away?" Superman asked.
"Just recently. We saw this monster run off with some of the people, but we were too frozen to catch up or even fire at it." The officer answered.
"A monster, huh? Must be the same that were spotted in Maryland." Superman narrowed his eyes before focusing his Superhearing. His hearing went past the ferocity of the snowstorms and the people screaming for help. And he was able to pick up on something else. Something monstrous. "There it is. It's not far. Let me finish up here."
Superman zipped off, still having to deal with the damages done to Miami. But in no time, he would make his way to the source of the problem.
In no time, he found himself in the Everglades. A swampy and wetland area, where alligators and crocodiles roamed freely. The swamps were a haven for a variety of wildlife, including snakes, birds, and fish. The trees were covered in a thick layer of moss, and the water was murky and dark. It was a place of mystery and wonder, where the unknown lurked in the shadows.
The snow had reached even the Everglades, and the air was cold and damp, the wind blowing the snowflakes through the trees, making the place look like a winter wonderland. Even the animals had adapted to the sudden change in temperature, finding ways to keep warm and survive the cold.
That wasn't all though. There was also an ice monster that had appeared in the middle of it all. A huge creature, standing over ten feet tall, with long, sharp claws and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. Its skin was a pale blue, and its eyes were a bright yellow. The monster roared loudly and stomped its feet, sending shockwaves through the ground and shaking the trees around it. The monster had taken the people from the city, but it was clear that its rampage would not be limited to the city. It had ventured into the wilderness, leaving behind a trail of destruction in its wake.
Superman flew down, ready to engage with the monster and end its threat. But before he could do anything, the monster stopped in its tracks, almost as if it sensed the Man of Steel. The beast turned its attention to the skies, and its yellow eyes locked onto Superman. It let out a loud, piercing screech, unleashing a spiralling soundwave with ice particles within it. Superman braced himself, blocking the incoming soundwave that enveloped him.
"This chill is much colder than the snowstorms themselves." Superman said while the cold spiralling soundwave kept pouring onto him. The cold was enough to freeze even Superman to a standstill, and the Man of Steel had to focus on keeping himself warm.
He knew he had to act quickly, or else the cold would start to slow him down. He had to find a way to fight back against the monster. With a burst of energy, he used his super speed to break free from the soundwave, and then he blasted the monster with his heat vision, melting the ice that surrounded its body.
The monster screeched in pain, and Superman took the opportunity to launch a powerful punch to the monster's head, sending it flying back into the swampy waters.
The monster splashed into the water, and Superman flew after it, landing on the ground and ready to continue the fight. The monster was not done yet, and it emerged from the water, shooting out icicles as projectiles towards the Man of Steel. Superman dodged them with ease, even grabbing one of the icicles along the way.
"You're cold, but my Heat Vision seems to work wonders on you." He said, promptly launching the icicle at the monster, striking its chest. "Sorry, but I have to catch up with another one of you."
He declared before taking off and flying straight at the monster, delivering a powerful punch to its face, knocking it back into the swampy waters. And with that strike, its body would disperse, shattering into pieces and melting away. After defeating the monster, he turned his attention to the city once more.
Particularly the one Ice Monster that was running off with the captured people of Miami. Superman took off, zooming through the skies and rushing towards the location of the Ice Monster.
The very Ice Monster had 12 people in its grasp, its tall stature allowing it to hold that many. And it was currently in the middle of running away, trying to escape from the city. It was moving quickly, its icy body glistening in the light, but it was no match for the speed of the Man of Steel.
"Hm. It's heading into the thick of that snowstorm." Superman observed, seeing how the snowstorm's thickness, which was thicker than fog itself, was right up ahead. If it enters it, the Ice Monster could easily hide. Not from Superman though. But he wasn't going to let that happen regardless. The people inside the ice prisons that the monster carried had true fear in their eyes, needing help desperately.
And Superman would give them that. With his Superbreath, he unleashed a torrent of mighty air, equal to that of a tornado. This caused the monster to stop in its tracks, its balance being disrupted. The people fell out of its grasp, but Superman swooped in, catching them each. In just a split-second, he caught each of the frozen people easily as the monster tumbled across the ground.
Once caught, using his heat vision, he melted the ice that held the captives. As they were freed, Superman grabbed them and set them down safely.
"Th-thank you, Superman!" One of them said, shivering.
"I'm just doing my job." He replied before looking at the monster, which was now in a weakened state. It got right back up, staring at Superman with this eerie eyes.
But it did not engage.
Instead, the Ice Monster an off as fast as it could, choosing not to fight him. It ran right into the snowstorm which prompted Superman to pursue. "Hold it there! If possible, I'll need some-"
But as Superman spoke, what he saw next surprised him. Once the Ice Monster ran into the snowstorm, a light blue pulse of energy emerged as the visage of the monster vanished.
"answers..." Superman ended his own sentence, still in a shocked state. "What in the world?"
As the Ice Monster had gone inside the storm, Superman witnessed the monster's disappearance, seeing it vanish into thin air. It was as if the monster had been swallowed up by the snow and ice, leaving no trace behind. But Superman was a bit of a man of science, and he knew that something like that couldn't just disappear. He scanned the area with his X-Ray Vision, but the storm and the Ice Monster had seemingly disappeared from sight. He had to look harder and even then, he found nothing. Nothing was left behind.
Not even Superhearing could let him hear the growls or footsteps of the Ice Monster. It truly was gone. "Great Scott...it's gone. That pulse must be behind it..." Now this had him very curious. Mainly as to where these monsters were coming from. And that snowstorm could be the answer to it.
And speaking of which, Superman knew that he had to clear it out as soon as possible. The Metropolis Marvel would hold his breath, inhaling and sucking in all the cold air that was around him. He was taking in the cold, freezing air, and the storm was starting to dissipate.
He continued to breathe in the cold air, and the snowstorm started to shrink, and eventually, it was completely gone. And as he exhaled, he would spread the cold air he breathed in, not wanting to freeze anyone in the area.
The people of Miami cheered, happy to see their city back to its usual tropical climate, and the sun shining brightly in the sky. Superman smiled, feeling proud of his accomplishment. He was glad to have helped the people of Miami, and he great happiness knowing that he had saved them from the snowstorm and the Ice Monsters.
But he couldn't stick around for too long. What he saw, he had to report back to the others. Particularly Batman. With a wave to everyone below, he flew off into the distance, heading back to the Hall of Justice.
In just a few seconds, Superman was already at Washington D.C. and making his way to the Hall of Justice. He landed right at the entrance, speaking to the two guards.
"Are you two doing alright? Your first day here after all." Superman asked, concerned.
"Not so bad, honestly. Thought it'd be worse." The first guard said. "It's actually not a bad first day."
"Glad to hear. How are things here?"
"Well, three people just showed up here for something big. We told them that Batman was the only one in there, but now that you're here..."
"Hm. Must be the weather problem. Excuse me." Soon, Superman would open the doors, entering the building. He was greeted to the sight of Raven, Gwen, Ben and even the Batman himself, talking to each other.
"Ah, Superman." Batman acknowledged.
And when hearing that name, Ben turned his head around as fast as possible. "Wait! You're here!?!"
"Hello." Superman smiled, greeting the kids. "Nice to meet you three."
"Superman!" Ben had his hands on his head, screaming at the top of his lungs. He didn't think that he'd meet his favorite hero today. "I-I can't believe it! I'm actually looking at Superman right now!"
"Whoa, calm down, Ben." Gwen tried to calm him down. She understood that Ben looked up to a lot of superheroes, but she didn't know just how much he admired Superman. She always knew he was his favorite but now she was actually seeing his reaction to him in person. "You'll scare him away."
"I can't help it!" Ben squealed. "This is awesome!"
"Please, don't make a scene." Raven was getting a bit annoyed. His excitement was not helping. At all. "We're not exactly here for a casual chat or anything like that."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Raven." Ben stepped back, remembering why they were here and trying to keep his emotions in check for her. "Sorry. Got a little carried away...I wanna get way more carried away right now though!"
"That's alright." Superman approached the trio, standing before them. "You three need something? Is Batman being too stubborn for you?"
"Hm." Batman let out a light scoff, stepping aside. "Just a few questions. Something that you should handle. Of course, I'd like to know about what happened in Miami."
"I stopped the snowstorm, thankfully. But I saw something shocking. One of those monsters ran right into the snowstorm. Then there was this energy and suddenly, it vanished. No trace of it at all. Not that I could find at least." Superman explained what he had witnessed. "If that's the case, then we're not dealing with just monsters. There's someone else involved. A source. Perhaps the one that's causing the monsters to show up and the temperature drops across the states. We could be dealing with some teleportation of sorts."
"Or dimensional transportation." Batman mumbled to himself, thinking about the idea. He looked at Raven. "...Hm. Teleportation is a possibility, yes, but not the monsters themselves. It's not like they're being teleported from one location to another. They're just appearing out of thin air. Like magic." He was already thinking of the possible culprits behind the sudden temperature drops. "Then that could mean that the monsters aren't from anywhere in the States." Batman thought to himself, coming up with an idea.
"We didn't see any of them run off into a snowstorm." Gwen shook her head. "Then again, we defeated them before that could happen anyways, so..."
"And we did an awesome job at it too!" Ben proudly said, looking at Superman and trying to prop himself up. "Turned into XLR8 and took it down with a bunch of speed and agility! It was no big deal. I looked pretty awesome doing it, ya know?" Naturally, he was trying to sound impressive.
"Ahem. We both stopped them." Gwen crossed her arms, frowning a bit.
"You two? Well, great work." Superman complimented them both, making Ben's eyes shine from that. Getting a compliment from Superman was a dream come true. "But if that's the case, that means the monsters are being summoned through some other method. Or perhaps, that snowstorm is taking them somewhere else."
"Hm. Then I'll leave this demon thing to you." Batman would go investigate, opening the door to the other room as he left Superman to speak with the kids. Before leaving, he'd turn back. "Keep me updated."
"Now then, what's the problem? And what's the issue with a demon?" Superman asked.
"I'll explain everything. It's a lot." Raven sighed.
The Ice Monster that escaped re-emerged. Entering that snowstorm brought it somewhere. The same place Killer Frost and the alien known as Veddeh converge at. This warm underground cave underneath a certain city. The Ice Monster was the first to arrive, having returned from its rampage.
"Excellent. You've returned." Veddeh said as Killer Frost looked over. "But it is only you...No matter. You still brought someone here regardless. Release the human that is your host." Upon returning, the front of the ice monster's body would start opening up. And from it, the human within it was shown. Despite the different appearance, it was still a human being used a shell.
The man was dropped to the ground, falling out of his ice shell. The man groaned, slowly waking up. The Ice Monster would fall to the floor, unmoving.
"I would've prepared more...but progress is progress." Veddeh walked up to the unconscious man.
"How many times do we have to do this?" Killer Frost crossed her arms, sighing.
"Patience." Veddeh said, picking up the downed man. "The total amount is 100 people maximum. Luckily for you, we already have 34. Now 35 with this human."
As he carried the man, he brought him over to something. Something sitting in the middle of this hidden undeground area. It was covered by a ton of cold mist, obscured by it. But it would soon part ways, revealing what was sitting there.
A massive Ice Crystal in the shape of a diamond.
"Another person to add to Crystal of Nilaa." Veddeh said, walking up to the giant ice crystal. He placed his hand on it, letting the mist envelop him. The Ice Crystal absorbed the downed man, drawing him into its icy depths. The man's body would disappear, and his soul would be drawn into the crystal, adding to the growing collection of souls that were trapped inside it. "Hm, yes. A cold enough body. But it must be colder. So much more."
"If you wanted it to be as cold as possible, why didn't you just show up in England or any cold place in the world?" Killer Frost asked, annoyed at the fact that she was still in the states.
"I was not in control of my location when I landed on this planet. I was in a hurry, Killer Frost. This place had to do. But knowing there are colder places is rather annoying. Not exactly a lost cause though. I do think about those areas from time to time. What matters is that the Crystal of Nilaa is fueled to its full potential. As soon as a 100 people are within it, the crystal would begin its glorious process and reverse its own power...turning it into tremendous heat. Enough heat to truly free you of your condition, I promise you."
"It'd better. If you're lying about freeing me of this cold form, I swear..." Killer Frost threatened.
"It is the way my planet works. Reversing the cold to heat, and vice versa. And you will be freed of your coldness, so long as the process is not interrupted."
"Tch. If only we had the likes of Captain Cold and Mister Freeze with us. I've heard about those two...but they sound so lame and I doubt they'll be of much help." She sighed, pulling her head back. "Not only that...their ice just doesn't compare to me." She raised her finger, generating a snowflake.
"Ah, but my Icenauts suffice for that lack of numerical assistance, don't they?" Veddeh added, revealing the name of the Ice Monsters. "Not only that, but with each person caught and brought back to the crystal, they only grow stronger and stronger. Soon, you can safely work alongside them without any issue."
"Well how good is it now with just the one guy added?"
"A new kind of Icenaut will form. 35 counts as a bit of a milestone, does it not? Now. I suggest heading back out there and continue collecting frozen individuals. And I will assist you with a new Icenaut." Veddeh faced the crystal. He began to chant, uttering words from a language that only he could understand.
The crystal started to glow, and the air around it became colder and colder. Suddenly, a new figure emerged from it, stepping out of the cold mist and revealing itself to the world.
It was a massive, hulking creature, standing at least 15 feet tall, with an icy blue skin and a face that was a mask of pure malice. Its body was muscular and powerful, much like the rest. The new type of Icenaut was ready to be commanded.
Killer Frost was impressed. "Well, that is much better than the ones we've been using. This is the power of 35 people in the crystal?"
"Indeed." Veddeh turned to the newly formed Icenaut. "You, take these 34 Icenauts that are stored in the crystal and go gather people to freeze. And kill anyone that stands in your way. Do not fail me." With a grunt, the Icenaut would step forward. 34 smaller sized ones came out of the Crystal of Nilaa, following the bigger one. They went past Killer Frost, who had a slight grin on her face. "I will join you shortly. I shall leave in a minute. You should do the same, Killer Frost." With that, the 35 Icenauts would leave, heading back to the surface to bring in more people.
Once they were out, Veddeh would be left alone. Killer Frost would soon follow after them. "But these hero types are a bit of a nuisance, getting in the way so much.." He mumbled to himself. "I need to know what their weakness is. And then I will destroy them. I will not fall to such measly beings. No matter the powers they wield."
Back at the Hall of Justice, Superman had been told everything from Raven. Everything about her home dimension of Azarath, the demon Trigon and his growing influence. Superman was taken aback by the scope of the situation and the weight of Raven's words. But despite that, he was still willing to help.
"That's...al of it." Raven said. "I just need help. Help to stop Trigon as soon as possible. Please."
"Hm. Well, I'm glad you told me." Superman smiled. "I don't know about the others, but I'll be happy to help stop your father. I'll talk with the others about it and see if I can get them involved. Hopefully, this ice situation doesn't occupy us too much. If you want, you can stick around for a while. We'll get to you, Raven."
"Stick around...?" Raven blinked a bit. That wasn't really something she planned for. She already made it clear to Ben last night. At least, it wasn't something she wanted to do for so long. "I'm not sure if I can be around for too long. I don't want to get attached. I just want to get back to Azarath safely."
"I understand. In that case, I hope it doesn't take too long to solve this issue. In the meanwhile, you were with them both, weren't you?" Superman looked over at the Tennyson Cousins. "I'd recommend sticking around them both."
"Huh?" Raven then looked at Ben and Gwen, then at Superman. "Are you saying I should be around them? Why?"
"Well if I had to guess, you've been around them both the most as of recently, haven't you? Not exactly from Earth, are you?" Superman explained.
"Not really...I've only been here for a day now. These two did find me out there in the cold..."
"I'm speaking from experience here, honestly. Getting found by two people while all alone...can lead to some good things most of the time." Superman gave her a warm smile, remembering the kindness that was shown to him. When Raven saw that look in his eye, she had a hunch that he knew exactly what he was talking about.
"I don't really have anywhere else to go right now..." Raven added. She was right on the mark about that. No building to stay in to really focus on herself. "Well...as long as it's brief, then I don't mind. If that's fine." She was reluctant about staying, but if it was just for a short while, that wouldn't hurt, right? Besides, the two of them didn't seem to mind at all.
"I hope you two are up for the task." Superman then looked at Ben and Gwen.
"Superman's...asking me to do something." Ben's eyes were shining. He couldn't believe it. His favorite hero was actually asking him for help. "Whoa...I can't believe it! Don't worry, Superman! I'll take good care of her. I'll be the best at it!"
"Same for me." Gwen added. "We're more than willing to keep her safe, Superman."
"Great to hear. Well, I-" But before he could finish, his superhearing went off. He heard the sound of screaming from a distance. A faint sound of panic that he could easily detect. With a surprised look on his face, he quickly realized that another problem had just surfaced. "Another cold crisis."
"Another one?" Ben spoke up.
"It's coming from around the west coast." Superman focused. "Not too far from here. It's been hit with an intense snowstorm that's just been whipped up by those monsters probably."
"Oh! Can we help?!" Ben asked, eager to work alongside Superman. He's always wanted to, ever since he was a kid. He couldn't pass up on this opportunity. "C'mon! I can help you take care of it."
"Hm." Superman looked at Ben, then to Raven and Gwen. Then back to Ben. "...You three are capable, aren't you? You're not too young though, are you?"
"Nah, nah. 18 here." Ben grinned, raising his arm.
"Same here." So did Gwen.
"And you just want to help out because you can. Right?"
"Well, he always does. But this time, I think it's because he wants to work alongside you." Gwen revealed, placing her hand on Ben's shoulder.
"Hm. Then show me your best." Superman smiled. "I'm picking up three snowstorm attacks. One's on the east coast, one on the west, and one in the mid-west. The Justice League should be spread out enough to deal with those. For us, we're taking the one in the west coast. Follow me. Hope you can keep up though." With that, the Man of Steel took off and flew through the sky, heading towards the west coast.
"We...can't actually keep up with him, can't we?" Gwen said, looking up at Superman.
"XLR8 can..." Ben propped up his Omnitrix.
"And do you really think it'll give XLR8 for a second time like it did with Heatblast?" Gwen crossed her arms.
"Uuhhhhh..." Ben groaned.
"You're not even thinking of carrying me along if you do become XL-whatever." Raven bluntly said.
"Hah...We'll use the RV." Ben lowered his head, opting for the RV instead.
The west city of Bellsay. Another place that was hit by a snowstorm. The citizens were running to safety, trying to escape the freezing temperatures and the sudden blizzard that had swept over the city. The streets were covered in a thick layer of ice, and the wind was whipping around, making visibility almost impossible.
The people were struggling to find their way, their hands and feet feeling numb from the cold. And it wasn't just the weather that was causing them distress. There was a monster out there.
The newest Icenaut that Veddeh had formed from the crystal. And currently, its capabilities were on full display. From its body, tiny ice fleas were fired from it at a constant rate. Flying through the air at high speeds. They would fly into the bodies of people and cause them to freeze from within.
"Agh!" And it certainly felt like a flea was on them, the collision coming with a bite. Soon, they would transform into Icenauts, becoming monsters in their own right. They would fire their fleas at others, turning more people into frozen minions of the icy creature. Their bodies would be consumed by the ice, their eyes would glow a bright blue, and their skin would turn a pale white.
The new Icenauts would then continue the cycle, freezing even more people and transforming them into Icenauts as well. The original Icenaut stood in the center of the storm, its body glowing a pale blue.
Its power was immense and its control of the ice was undeniable. It was a force to be reckoned with, and the people of the city were helpless against its might.
And once frozen, the people were being dragged into the snowstorm, that same pulse showing each time they went through it. The Icenaut was sending them back to where the Crystal of Nilaa was located in order to add more fuel to its power.
The 35th Icenaut that had been created from the crystal was proving to be a powerful addition to the army.
All it took was 35 to reach this level. As it continued to grow in strength, the city of Bellsay would slowly but surely become a frozen wasteland, and the people would be trapped in an icy prison.
The fate of the city and its inhabitants was in the hands of the 35th Icenaut and its creator, and the outcome was uncertain.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the streets, and Superman arrived on the scene.
"It's Superman!" A man said, pointing to the sky.
"Hm." Superman looked down at the 35th Icenaut which looked right back at him. "There's a lot more here compared to the last time." He noticed the other 34 Icenauts as well, and their targets. Those were the people that were being taken away to be absorbed into the Crystal of Nilaa. "You won't be taking these people anywhere." The Man of Steel flew in, aiming to stop the giant Icenaut.
It let out a low rumble, responding to his challenge. Its body began to glow a brighter shade of blue, and its claws extended, approaching Superman. The Man of Steel flew out of the way, avoiding the extended claws, and then launched himself at the 35th Icenaut.
But another Icenaut got in his way, shoulder tackling him away. The 35th Icenaut was too important to be stopped. "Ough!" Superman bellowed as went flying back. He soon recovered, halting himself in the air. Soon, the many Icenauts that were all humans trapped in an icy shell gazed at him, ready to engage.
But Superman was aware of one thing. He was aware that inside the Icenauts were innocent civilians. So right now, getting them out of there was the big priority. But he also thought about seeing where that snowstorm led to in case one of them retreats again.
The Icenauts roared as they all attacked, creating ice constructs from their hands to fight him. They would fire a flurry of projectiles at him, and the 35th Icenaut would join in as well, launching a barrage of tiny ice fleas.
Superman was dodging and weaving through the onslaught, using his super speed and reflexes to avoid the attacks. He would dodge the incoming icicles that came at him, but would have to block the icy fleas that were coming in. He was having a hard time dealing with the combined assault of the Icenauts, and he was struggling to find a way to counter their attacks.
Just then, one of the fleas managed to latch onto his neck, biting him in the process. But to his surprise and relief, he didn't feel anything. No sudden drop in temperature. No freezing from within. And most importantly, no transformation.
"Sorry about that." Superman smirked as the tiny flea would suddenly have its entire being melt in an instant, the bite mark vanishing soon after.
His Kryptonian biology was at work, his powers negating the effects of the cold that the Icenauts were generating. "The Sun in me just won't allow it."
All the while, the RV was one the move, heading to where Superman currently was. And there as only one way to reach Superman's location as quickly as possible. Once more, the jet boosters were used, zooming high above the streets and flying right to the destination. It was the only way to get to him fast enough.
"Urgh! Ben!" Gwen hated it the first time and she certainly hated it the second time, gripping onto the seats. All Raven did was use her magic to make herself as still as possible.
"I see the Snowstorm right up ahead!" Ben exclaimed, pointing to it. "Almost there..."
"I'm not getting involved." Raven added. "You two go on and deal with whatever that is. I'll just stay here in focus."
"Come on. I bet you could do some real damage if you chimed in." Ben looked back at Raven.
"No."
"Alright. I understand. Gwen and I will take care of this one!" Ben shouted as the RV was now slowing down with the destination this close. It lowered itself on the streets, stopping right in front of the bridge that leads to the island of Bellingsay.
Soon, the two of them would step out of the RV. It was definitely colder here, and the snowfall was heavy. Just like the last time.
"Man, it's really coming down hard. Almost like the last time..." Ben commented, looking around.
"Look! The bridge!" Gwen pointed at the bridge which was fully covered in ice. But because of that, it was incredibly fragile now. Bits of it had already fallen apart, dropping into the waters below. They could barely see the other side due to the thick fog.
"Geez..." Ben gawked at the rather terrifying sight below, hopping out of the RV. He then saw the blast of Heat Vision in the distance, showing that Superman was hard at work trying to solve the problem. "Alright. Gimme someone good, Omnitrix. Stinkfly or Big Chill will do. Especially Big Chill." He propped up the Omnitrix.
"Wait..." But Raven was quick to stop herself from meditating right away. "Someone's coming." As Raven sensed trouble approaching, Ben and Gwen looked right ahead. It was on the other side of the bridge. Yet another Icenaut approaching. Or five of them, rather.
"They're coming this way? Guess they don't know we're just as much as a threat to them as Superman is." Ben proudly smirked.
"Don't do anything wild! The bridge!" But Gwen halted him. After all, that bridge looked fragile and those Icenauts still had people inside. "Let's draw them out of our range."
"No problem." Ben nodded in understanding before slamming down on the Omnitrix. As the green light enveloped him, he took on an alien form once more. This time, emerging as the crystal-bodied alien known as Diamondhead. "I'll just make a spare bridge!"
And right away, he got to action. Putting is hands on the ground, he spread his crystals across the water. This formed a thin, yet sturdy bridge that was strong enough to hold weight. It was long enough to cross.
"Try not to fall off of that. Now come on!" He yelled at the Icenauts, who weren't exactly the brightest. They were more focused on attacking than the stability of the bridge.
As the Icenauts approached, Ben and Gwen made sure to stand on the bridge that he had created. It would've been better if the Icenauts were lured in to an area where the ground was solid, but at least they were away from the main bridge. That's all that mattered. The five of them came in, and so the fight started.
Diamondhead would block the icicles that were thrown his way, even cutting some of them in half. And that's when one of the Icenauts managed to approach him, getting close.
Gwen backed off as the Icenaut turned its arm into a bladed weapon. But so did Diamondhead. He made his right arm into a bladed weapon too, blocking the slash of the Icenaut.
Then, with a mighty swing, he cut right into the Ice monster, slicing the creature in two. Once cut in two, the human that was trapped in the ice shell would be freed, falling to the ground, covered in frost. The Ice Monster was no more. The ice melted from around the man, and he was left lying on the ground, shivering from the cold.
Gwen would help him up, leading him to safety. She then looked over to Ben, seeing him do battle with the four other Icenauts. One of them fired at him, attempting to freeze him from afar. But Diamondhead's crystalline body was able to deflect and absorb the impact of the ice blast. The force of the blow was redirected, and it caused the ground beneath the creature's feet to crack and crumble.
However, one of the Icenauts intervened in Diamondheads attack. Manipulating the ice that was around the area, it managed to grab him from behind with a hand that was made of frozen water. With a mighty toss, it threw Diamondhead aside.
He skidded along the ground, rolling until he was on his back. The three other Icenauts were going to converge on him. "Ben!" Gwen called out, wanting to help him in some way. Even if she didn't know how.
But her concern would be for nothing. As the Icenauts drew closer, the bridge that had been formed from Diamondhead's crystals was starting to break. Slowly but surely, the Icenauts were losing their balance, their footing starting to give way.
"Ugh!" Gwen groaned, promptly using her Manna. She unleashed Manna constructs, adding to the faltering crystal bridge and reinforcing it. In doing so, she saved the Icenauts from falling into the waters below. But that was the least of their concerns.
One of the Icenauts would have its back suddenly tremble. Really, its whole body was starting to shake violently. Gwen looked in awe and confusion as right afterwards, a third and longer arm would suddenly burst out of its back. This new, longer ice arm would fly forward, approaching Gwen specifically.
Seeing this, Gwen had her left hand focus on the bridge while her right arm was there to deal with the incoming arm. She unleashed Manna discs at the arm, hoping to break it. But it proved to be rather potent, charging through and breaking the incoming Manna discs. Soon, the icy arm would be upon her.
"!!" She didn't think it would be that durable compared to the rest. So her best option was to dodge it. And so she jumped to the side, evading the arm. It hit the concrete, causing an icy mist to form in the air, obscuring her vision for a moment.
But the arm did not retract. Instead it, it wildly moved around, swinging everywhere. And with each swing, it sent ice shards flying everywhere.
These sharp projectiles were like bullets, and they could easily pierce the skin of anyone that was unlucky enough to be hit. Gwen put her right arm up, narrowly making an Manna shield to protect herself. The ice shards ricocheted off of the shield, scattering everywhere. She was protected, but Ben was not. He was still on the ground, and the ice shards were flying at him.
They bombarded his body, beating down on him aggressively. Thankfully, Diamondhead's natural body proved to have great defense, but that didn't mean this didn't hurt. "Argh! Geez! Knock it off!" Diamondhead shouted, covering his head and taking the hits. The onslaught continued, the ice shards raining down on him relentlessly.
With all that swinging, the arm then came down on Gwen's shield, hitting it hard. The impact of the blow was powerful enough to knock her back. She fell backwards, sliding a bit on the ground.
"Gwen!" Diamondhead shouted as Gwen was a bit vulnerable now. Vulnerable enough for the ice arm to come crashing down, ready to grab onto the redhead.
But it didn't get the chance. A beam of darkness flew in, intercepting the arm and stopping it. Both cousins looked back at the source, and they saw Raven floating towards them, her arms extended in front of her. Her eyes glowed white, and her hands were surrounded by a dark aura that seemed to be exerting a powerful force on the arm. The Icenaut was stunned, unable to move its arm. It struggled against the force of Raven's magic, but it was no use.
"Raven! Didn't know you were gonna help!" Diamondhead said.
"All of this ruckus wasn't gonna help me focus anyways." Raven rolled her eyes, bringing the Ice arm closer to her, forcing the Icenaut to walk in her direction. Her grip on the limb was tight, and she was determined to keep it from harming anyone else. As the Ice arm drew nearer, Raven could feel the coldness emanating from it. The chill was intense, and it sent a shiver down her spine. But she remained steadfast, not allowing her concentration to waver for a second. She was going to stop the Icenaut from attacking, no matter what it took.
"You okay?" Diamondhead asked Gwen, who was still on the ground.
"Y-Yeah. I'm fine." She got up, brushing herself. "Why did that one suddenly improve out of nowhere?"
"Beats me. But that just means we bring them all down before the others start improving too."
Raven would use the Icenaut's own arm against itself. Using her magic, she'd bend the arm, moving it around and using it to beat down on the Icenaut's head. The creature was helpless, struggling to break free of her grasp. Once she was done, she'd send a wave of magic through the arm. The arm would start cracking, and then shatter into hundreds of pieces. Raven's magic had proven too much for it. And with that, the Icenaut fell to its knees, weakened and in pain. Its head was cracked, and its body was broken. It could barely move.
Gwen would take care of the Icenaut that had nearly grabbed her, wrapping it with a rope of Manna. "Ben! Extend the bridge! Wider!"
Hearing his cousin's request, Diamondhead did just that. Extending his crystal bridge, making it wider. As he did, Gwen would use her rope to spin the Icenaut as fast as she could on the spot, building momentum until she had enough. Because of the amount of force it was spun at, the ice shell that its whole body was made out of would come flying off, revealing the frozen human inside.
After that, the only one left was the one that was grabbing onto Diamondhead's bridge from earlier. It was still holding on, keeping the three other Icenauts from slipping in the water below.
"Leave that one to me." Raven's eyes glowed white once more. Using her powers, she separated the bridge's crystals and the concrete. Then, she'd create a black sphere, containing the three Ice monsters that were now in the water, and the one that was hanging on to the edge of the bridge.
They were all trapped in a single, confined space, unable to escape. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" With a powerful burst of her magic, the Icenauts would all be shattered. Their bodies would break apart and scatter, leaving only the frozen humans that were trapped within. Raven would lower the sphere and let the water flow out, letting the humans go as well. They were safe.
"Whoa...nice one, Raven." Diamondhead was amazed at her power as he the Omnitrix timed out, bringing Ben back to normal. "You're really good at this."
"Thanks..." Raven was a little hesitant. She didn't want to admit it, but she was feeling a little proud of herself. Just a tiny bit. "It's no big deal..."
As for Superman, he had the situation under control. At the same time, he heard the conflict near the bridge the whole time. And a smile formed on his face, knowing that Ben, Gwen and Raven had dealt with that problem already. He was handling the remaining 34 Icenauts, using his heat vision to melt them into a puddle of water.
Soon, he would be face to face with the 35th and strongest Icenaut. "You're the last one left. Are you going to run like the last one?"
But it wasn't. Not at all.
With a mighty swing of its claws, the 35th Icenaut attacked. But Superman was quick, dodging the blow with ease. He then flew up into the sky and used his heat vision to attack the Icenaut. The creature staggered back, the intense heat burning its body. But this one seemed to be a bit more resilient to the heat than the others. It was a stronger variant than the rest.
And it was quick to act, too. It unleashed a powerful wave of cold energy, which Superman narrowly avoided. The blast of cold air was strong enough to cause the snow and ice around the area to freeze in place, creating a large, frozen landscape. The temperature in the city plummeted, and the wind howled fiercely. The people who were still outside were forced to seek shelter, and the buildings and streets were coated in a thick layer of ice.
"Hm!" But Superman wouldn't allow it. The Last Son of Krypton would then start spinning around on the spot, picking up great speeds in a few seconds. By spinning around, he was whipping up a tornado of hot air that was able to thaw the frozen landscape and warm up the temperature in the city. The snow and ice melted away but there was more.
Superman was pulling the Icenaut towards him. He was in control of this tornado and was able to bring the 35th Icenaut closer and closer until it was fully caught in the air current. The Man of Steel was relentless, and he kept spinning faster and faster, increasing the intensity of the tornado and the temperature of the hot air.
The Icenaut was caught in the vortex, unable to escape or fight back. And in the process, the monster was getting smaller and smaller. Soon, it was melting, its body shrinking until it was completely gone.
The 35th Icenaut was defeated, its body reduced to nothing more than a puddle of water as the person inside would fall out. Superman was victorious, and the people of the city were safe once again.
As the tornado subsided, Superman was floating in the air. "Hmph." With that, he would fly down to the ground to check on the people that had been transformed into Icenauts. So far, none of them have been taken away and no Icenaut retreated into the Snowstorm. Things were looking to be in control.
And just now arriving at the scene were Ben and Gwen with Raven heading back into the RV. Thanks to the temporary bridge, Ben and Gwen safely crossed it, meeting up with him.
"Aw, we missed it!" Ben groaned, wanting to actually be alongside Superman. But he was a few distances away the whole time. "Bummer..."
"Don't worry about it. You two and Raven did a great job at dealing with the situation at the bridge. That was important." Superman smiled, patting both of the Tennyson Cousins. "As for the Snowstorm..."
Superman had the idea of going into the Snowstorm, but it had already started fading away with all the Icenauts defeated. "Missed it too..."
"One of the Icenauts we fought...It changed out of nowhere, Superman." Gwen said. "It just improved all of a sudden."
"Did it now?" Superman raised an eyebrow. "The one I just dealt with was different from the rest. It wasn't just stronger, but it could fire these ice fleas from its body. Fleas that would cause a freezing transformation on contact." He would point to the bite wound on his neck that had disappeared, but the faint remains of it could be seen.
"Just what's up with all this ice stuff? I'm starting to get so chilly now with this back and forth." Ben pondered.
"Either way. We aren't quite done here. I need you two to help me clear things up here." There was still some work to be done. Such as making sure the people were warm and see to any casualties. "Let's get to work." Superman would fly off, ready to do some good.
"Oh, uh, right." Ben was a bit surprised, but he nodded in agreement. "We're on it." He and Gwen would start helping people. Helping them recover from the cold and getting them to safety.
But then there was Killer Frost. She was elsewhere, doing all that work with a few other Icenauts of a lower calibre. And with no interruption from any heroes yet, she and the Icenauts already managed to freeze a lot of people.
With the Icenauts backing her up, her rate at freezing people had increased substantially. With them frozen, they would be brought through the snowstorms and taken to the location of the Crystal of Nilaa. Their energy would fuel the crystal, powering it and giving it life.
"This is nice, I guess." She said. "Could do without them being so brutish though." The Icenauts weren't the brightest bunch. But that was to be expected.
Killer Frost then felt her own arm, sensing that the heat Heatblast unleashed on her yesterday was still present. Indeed, just as she had hoped, that heat would be enough to sustain her urges for a month. But to her, it had to be forever. The Supervillainess was then on her way, walking through the snowstorm with over 25 captured people.
"Veddeh. I've got 25 more for you." She said upon returning to the source of all the snowstorms, the Crystal of Nilaa. She would then place her hand on the crystal, and the 25 victims would enter the crystal's body, adding to its power. As the 25th victim entered, the crystal would pulse, and its power would increase, making the snowstorm even stronger. With the power of the crystal at its peak, the blizzards that would form would be even harsher, and the world would become an icy wasteland.
"Thank you, Frost. This will be useful. Very, very useful." Veddeh replied.
"Does it add up? You should know those heroes have been freeing the people trapped inside." Killer Frost questioned.
"Not to worry. It does add up regardless." Veddeh grinned. "The power it has is now 60 in total. Just 40 more to go."
"And I need more. The Justice League is getting more and more involved. I could get caught by them at any point and I don't wanna risk that." Killer Frost crossed her arms. "If you're gonna make some more Icenauts from that thing, at least make something more capable."
"More capable, you say? Oh, well if you are asking for every single Icenaut to come from this to be of that caliber,, you will need more people for the crystal, Killer Frost."
"Forget the number. Give me at least one or two Icenauts that are, I don't know...smart enough to use their brains." Killer Frost groaned. "I don't mind having these dullheads being by side. Makes it easier for them to listen to me. But I can't be the only capable one being out there freezing others."
"Hm. I see your point. You need help. Then..." With a smirk, Veddeh looked at the Crystal of Nilaa. "I will give you a little extra help. At least two. Partners. Equal to you." The villain then touched the crystal, and it glowed a bright white. From the crystal, emerged two more Icenauts. But they weren't like the rest of the ones. These two had an intelligent look in their eyes and a cunning expression on their faces. They were smarter than the average Icenaut and would be a great help to Killer Frost. Even better, their bodies were more developed compared to the rest, having a defined muscular build that was far more balanced.
Their intelligence was certainly much greater than the average Icenaut. "There we are. These two will help you greatly, I assure you. Using up 60% of the crystal's power will bring wonders indeed. Isn't that right, you two?"
Both of them let out an affirmative growl. Having them as her own personal partners, Killer Frost would have a much easier time with her task. "Thanks. Now you two..." She would look at the Icenauts, pointing at the Snowstorm. "Let's get to work."
Once the city had been fixed up and the people were warm now, Superman was ready to head back to the Hall of Justice, seeing Ben and Gwen off. "Alright. Thanks for you help, the both of you. I'm leaving Raven to you two. I can trust that you can help her through this in the meanwhile. I'll be checking in on you three." He would tell the two cousins.
"Oh! Before you go...Can you sign my jacket?!" Ben held out his arms, revealing the signature of the Green Lantern that he had gotten. "Right next to the Green Lantern's would be awesome!"
"Sorry. I don't have a pen with me." Superman shrugged while smiling.
"Aww...." Ben lowered his head as Gwen pat him on the back.
"But I'll be sure to do it the next time we meet. Keep a good look out for any cold activities you two. And good luck." Superman would then take flight, heading back to the Hall of Justice, leaving the two Tennysons alone.
"Hah...Awesome...Best day yet." Ben grinned, remembering the fact that he and Superman were now on a first name basis. "That's it. Tomorrow, I'm getting a pen from home."
"Let's head back to Raven. We've got a lot of work to do, looking over her. By now, maybe she's gotten a good handle on registering emotions."
"Yeah. But I've got something in mind. Later, let's look for Killer Frost. With all this cold stuff going on, if you ask me, Killer Frost's the biggest threat here." Ben added. "I mean, she's not a monster like them."
"We'll handle that when we can." Gwen affirmed, the trio heading off.
They soon returned to the RV, seeing Raven in usual meditative state. At least, she was. Because just now, she left that meditative state, taking in a deep breath .
"Hey there. Got a grasp on those emotions now or something?" Ben asked.
"...Yes." Raven confirmed. "I should be able to register them without that pain now ."
"Good. How are you feeling?"
"...Better." Raven stood up, walking towards them. " So...you two. I don't know how much I can count on you but...for these upcoming days , I'm going to have a lot to deal with. So please..."
"We've got your back, don't worry." Gwen smiled.
"Yeah. You can count on us." Ben added.
" I hope so." But Raven wasn't 100% on that. She had to see it for herself. So far, they proved they were strong, but how strong they could be had yet to be seen. Raven would take what she could get for the time being. "For starters...I'm not living in a vehicle of any kind."
"What? The RV's cool though." Ben shrugged . "What's wrong with it?"
" It's not really fit for her like it was for us 8 summers ago, Ben." Gwen nudged him. "We are gonna have to find a building of some kind. Especially since Raven has to focus. Magic is that delicate after all."
"Mmmrgh..." Ben grumbled, scratching his hair, trying to think of a place . " Alright. I've got an idea of somewhere we can go. You can count on me, Raven.
"I hope so."