YJ2: Misadventures in Time
By: Kelly M. Maraglia
*Disclaimer: Young Justice characters, story & concepts are property of DC Comics & no matter how hard I pray I will never own them. The YJ2 characters are the creations of my good friend, Brandon "Impulse" Johnson & myself.
Author's Note: I recommend reading "YJ: Second Generation" first, even though these short stories are what-ifs & do not correlate with the original storyline. This chapter is dedicated to the Boston Red Sox & all their fans who were devastated at their last game. You guys went down fighting & your true fans are proud of you! Win it for us next year! ^_^
Adventure One: Baseball Tribute
As the team made a chain again with Impulse at the head, Marcus reached for Keelia. With tears in her eyes, Keelia waved good-bye for the last time, took Marcus' hand, and sped off into a future where she knew her parents were both dead.
At least, that is what was supposed to happen…
"Danny, are you sure that device your Dad gave you will lead us back safely?" Cathie asked as the bright, moving lights of the time stream made her stomach churn.
"A little too late to asking that Sis," mumbled Kon.
"Here's our stop!" Impulse yelled joyfully as he began to slow his pace.
He had not yet mastered time travel for he ended up stopping short again. The others were prepared this time and managed to hold on. The group fell one at a time, piling on top of each other starting with Impulse, then Cathie, then Kon, then Haze, then Marcus and lastly Keelia.
"Why can we never land in a pillow factory?" Keelia complained sarcastically as she nursed her injured head. Her vision was blurry as she looked down at Marcus' back, where her mask lay. She quickly scooped it up over her eyes and scooted off the pile so the others could get up.
"Where are we?" Haze asked, looking around at a huge crowd, all staring at them.
Young Justice Generation Two were in the middle of a huge baseball diamond.
"Look it's a girl wearing red and green tights, let's surrender!" A huge alien yelled and fell to the ground with his arms outstretched in surrender. Many other aliens of his size followed suit.
"Not again," Keelia murmured, shaking her head.
To say that much confusion ensued due to YJ2's untimely arrival would be a vast understatement. The crowd was in hysterics, curious as to whom the newcomers were.
"Well, it seems the Young Justice team from Earth has brought some back-up players, but they will not be allowed to use them in this series!" The Slag announcer ….well, announced.
The Slag Team was picking itself off the ground for the second time that day, after their leader yelled at them once again about coincidences.
"What the frag?" Lil' Lobo exclaimed aloud the confused thoughts of his teammates.
"Aren't they Young Justice 2?" Kon asked, peering at the other set of teens.
"If that's true I thought they went back to their own time." Cassie commented.
"Maybe they got lost?" Secret suggested.
"So it would seem. They look as bewildered as we feel." Empress observed.
"Who are they?" Cissie asked with a perplexed look on her face.
"Oh that's right, you weren't there last time. They are Young Justice: The Next Generation!" Bart gave a dramatic pose as the opening theme of the popular science fiction saga blared through the speakers of the stadium.
"Um…okay. Hey Robin, where are you going" As Cissie absorbed this new development and added it to the ever-growing list of strange occurrences involving Young Justice, she noticed Robin walking across the field to the pitcher's mound.
************************************************************************ "Where are we?" Haze asked as YJ2 entangled themselves from each other.
"It looks like Myrg." Kon-al noticed the familiar stadium and surroundings.
"It looks kind of like it, but it seems to be lacking modern technology." Cathie added.
"Which means we're still in the fraggin' past, Imp?" Marcus growled, grabbing Danny by the scruff of his neck when he noticed that the latest version of Impulse had fainted. Out of the corner of his eye, Marcus noticed Keelia walking toward the pitcher's mound. When she reached it, Robin was waiting for her.
"So we meet again after all." He commented with a small smile.
"I was uncertain as to whether you would remember our first meeting, but I suppose you do." Keelia replied.
"I'm really glad we got to meet again actually. Spoiler and I were … concerned after your last visit." Robin said, carefully choosing his wording.
"What do you mean?" Keelia said aloud, mentally cursing herself for the slight tremor of nervousness in her voice that her father would definitely notice.
'Why is she so nervous?' Tim thought to himself, before continuing aloud.
"Well, before you left…" He trailed off, not sure how to phrase it.
"Oh, when I hugged you both?" Keelia suggested and mentally kicked herself for saying it.
"Yeah, you were crying and all and we were … concerned." Robin reiterated, and although he and Stephanie were concerned, his detective mind was thirsting for why she would act that way.
Keelia smiled on the outside, showing Tim that she appreciated the concern, but on the inside she cringed.
'I know I lost my mask for a second, but I didn't expect to see them again!' Keelia was unsure how to answer her father's unspoken question, when she was saved by the Slag Leader.
"Shall we begin the game?" He asked. Robin nodded.
"Do your best, we'll be your cheering crowd!" Keelia smiled briefly and raced back to her friends.
Tim smiled back at first but then his face took on a quizzical nature.
'She deliberately avoided me, hmm…interesting.' He thought to himself before walking to his field position at second base.
*For the game, read Young Justice issues 27-28 for I doubt that I could write it as well*
Danny awoke in time to see the last inning.
"Hooray, they won!" He cheered.
"We knew they would." Haze reminded him.
"Spoilsport" he mumbled under his breath.
As Keelia took Marcus' hand, she heard a voice call out to her.
"Robin, wait up!" It was her father and she knew what he would ask. She squeezed Marcus' hand and was surprised when he squeezed back slightly. Keelia was thankful for the support Marcus always gave her, but when they returned to their time, she would have to push him away. He was too close to her secret and she did not want to lose anyone else. Keelia did not turn toward him as she felt her father stand behind her.
"You never answered my question." Tim said plainly.
"I am well aware of that." Keelia confessed.
"So my successor just randomly hugs people?" Tim questioned further.
"I have no answer to your question, Robin. None I can give you at least." Keelia confessed her voice softer than usual. Her grip on Marcus' hand tightened.
"Let's go Imp!" Marcus called out.
As Impulse started to run, Keelia chanced a look back at her father and smiled sadly at him.
Leaving her clouded thoughts on the baseball field, Keelia's thoughts joined those of her teammates, wondering if this time, they would make it home.
To Be Continued …