me: Hey guys I got a new chapter for you! We're getting into the action! yay!
Brain Wave: Just so you know she owns nothing.
me: Not true! I own you!
Brain Wave: That's a little creepy.
Robin: On with the story!
I bladed as fast as I could to my ally way. When I got there the stress of the day caught up at me all at once and I fell asleep on the old run down couch I had in there. As I fell asleep I made a decision. There was no way on earth I was going back to school on Monday. I could never face Dick again.
It had been five days since my visit to Mt. Justice. It was currently Thursday and I had kept my promise to myself and not gone back to school. Unfortunately I knew I would have to eventually considering usually when a kid misses school their parents were called but I had no parents therefore I had not put a phone number down on the registration sheet and the more school I missed the more they'll realize they have no contact info on me or even parent names.
I had decided to go back today and just try to avoid Dick. I wanted to have a least eventful day as possible but luck just wasn't my side that day. I was rounding a corner about three blocks from Gotham Academy when I heard what sounded like visceral screaming. I ducked behind a building to observe and I and what I saw may have been the scariest thing I had ever seen in my entire life, or should I say who? The Joker was wreaking havoc and harming innocent civilians. The scream had come from a boy no older than nine or ten, he was being held at gun point by the Joker himself, being used as leverage against Young Justice. But what struck the most was that that little boy, he looked like Jacob. He looked like my brother, with his brown hair and bright green eyes. When I looked at that desperate little boy the only thing I could think of was protecting him.
Young Justice continued to fight the Joker's goons even with his threat to the boy's life, but it was with hesitation. I knew they had to make a plan they couldn't let the Joker get away but none of them wanted that boy to die.
"NO, MY SON!" I looked over saw a woman pleading for the boy, her son's life. She was staying a safe distance away from the fight but you could tell she was fighting herself not to just run in and grab her son.
"MOMMY!" That broke my heart, I knew I had to do something especially with what the Joker said next.
"Sorry baby boy, but your time is up." He began to pull the trigger and I thought faster than the Flash could run. I threw my hand out in front of me using my technopathy to make the gun back fire. It sent the Joker flying backwards and his grip on the boy was gone. The boy ran to his mother and together they ran to safety.
Young Justice began to fight harder now that there was no civilian in danger. Robin came out of nowhere and started facing the Joker. The Joker pulled out a knife swiping it at Robin. The bird flipped backwards out of the way kicking the Joker in the jaw in process. More of Joker's goons popped up and tried to grab Robin, but I wasn't going to let that happen. I slowed down their arms with my telekinesis from my hiding place. I was only doing little things to help not wanting to alert anyone of my presence. But when the Joker stabbed Robin in the shoulder from behind I lost it. I put my arms in a motion that to any bystander would look like I was hugging myself but I was really holding the Joker still. His arms were stuck to his sides. I made a pushing motion making him fall right on his face. Robin then kicked him the head knocking him out, but not before the Joker looked right at me.
"Good going Miss M!" I heard Robin praise.
"But I didn't do that" Miss Martian said quizzically. I wanted to leave before they realized I had been here but they were blocking my way to school.
"That is strange he was quiet obviously held down with the power of Telekinesis." Aqualad examined. I crouched next to the building praying they wouldn't come the epiphany that I was there.
My prayers were short lived when Artimiss said "But we do know one other person with that power." I started to breath heavier and then I saw Superboy point in my direction. By now there was no one around so I knew he must have heard me breathing. Kidflash sped right in front of me. Why does he always have to come out of nowhere, I thought as I squealed in surprise.
"Well, well, well what do we have here?" He mused looking down at me as the others walked over, "Looks we just found out your secret identity, Brain Wave." I stood up slowly.
"Not, not really, you don't, you don't my real name." I stuttered. He lifted an eyebrow at my speech pattern but didn't say anything.
"Her name's Juliet, Juliet Sowden." Dick stated. My eyes widened.
"Why, why would you, you do that?" I blanched.
"You told them my secret I.D." He shrugged.
"HA" Kidflash exclaimed, I glared at him than looked at the ground.
"I, I did… didn't mean to." I muttered. I looked up into his mask covered eyes, "I'm sorry." He just shrugged again.
"What are you doing here Juliet?" Aqualad approached me.
"Hel… helping you, ka… Kaldur," I stated reminding him I knew his real name.
"I see, and since you did indeed help us and you know two of our secret identities anyway and everyone here knows yours why do we not just begin again properly introduce ourselves." He suggested to my surprise, "I am Kaldurahm, but you may call me Kaldur." He put out his hand for me to shake, but I flinched and he backed away.
"I'm M'gann, but if you want you can call me Megan." Miss Martian said cheerfully. I smiled at her she seemed nice, when she wasn't you know trying to arrest me.
"My name's Artimiss either way." Artimiss stated. I nodded to her.
"Connor" Superboy grunted. I smiled at him and then looked at Kidflash expectantly.
"I don't about you guys but I am not trusting her with my secret I.D. May I remind you we were arresting her the other day!" he exclaimed, "She's evil! She messes with people's minds! She's a freak and we shouldn't trust her just because she helped us once!" I looked down at my feet tears began to well up in my eyes. A freak, my father used to call me that.
"Way to go Kid Idiot!" Artimiss exclaimed smacking the back of his head.
"Maybe he was right." I mumbled to myself. No one knew what I was talking about except for Dick.
"Julie, stop." He stepped forward, his costume was torn on the shoulder, but luckily he had had protection so the knife hadn't touched his skin. I looked at him.
"You know that's not true, Wally was just being a jerk," He continued.
"Dude!" Kidflash exclaimed I assume for giving away his identity. I looked at my feet again.
"But, she called me that too, in her letter." Again only Dick knew I was talking about my mother, and I could tell by his facial expression he didn't know how to respond.
"So what's your name again?" Superboy asked just to change subjects. I looked up at all of them.
"Juliet, Juliet Sowden," My gaze landed on Robin as spoke "But you can all call me Julie." Dick smiled at me and I smiled back.
"Wait," Artimiss said and everyone looked at her, "Do you go to Gotham Academy?" I looked down at my uniform then looked up to her and nodded.
"I know you; you're another genius kid like Dick here. You're like mostly advanced classes. I hear people talking about not ever being able to convince you to tutor them." She exclaimed in realization.
"Um all, all advanced classes actu… actually, and, and I uh I do… don't tutor." I smirked, "I uh can… can't."
"Why not?" Wally asked , "And what's up with the stutter? You never stuttered before." Artimiss smacked him on the head again. I didn't answer either of his questions just blushed and looked down yet again. Shockingly Dick answered for me.
"Don't you remember what Martian Manhunter said? Her powers come from her having the ability to use 100% of her brain. For normal people like you and me 78% of our brain goes unused. Making her super smart, but because of this she can not only retain the knowledge given to her but is able to learn things fast and solve problems of any kind. Because of this unless you had a brain like hers she would not be able to explain information to you in a way you'd understand." Wow, I thought, and I would have just said "I don't know how to explain information." That was kind of creepy. I stared at him wide eyed everyone else looked like they were used to this sort of thing.
"Oh." Was Wally's response, "But what about the stuttering if it's a secret identity thing it's not like you need to keep it up in front of us." I looked down again, but this time also took a few steps back away from the group. All of a sudden I got a splitting headache it was so bad I dropped to my knees and screamed. The team ran to my aide but as fast as it came it was gone and I was left breathing heavily.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Megan exclaimed. I looked at her with wide eyed confusion.
"Why… did you do that" I breathed. Everyone looked at her bewildered.
"I didn't mean to! I was just trying to read your mind! I'm sorry, I don't know what happened!" She panicked.
"M'gann," Robin started, "I did some research on the type of powers Julie has and found out that Martian telepathy and human telepathy function completely differently the powers aren't compatible, that if the two tried to use their power on one another the human would be over powered. I didn't know what it meant but I guess…" He faded the end of his sentence but we all knew he meant he guessed that it meant what just happened would happen.
"But, but I, I didn't get hur… hurt when I, I intercepted, her, men… mental link." I replied.
"You were technically only communicating with Wally's mind but because of the mental link we could all hear you." Dick clarified. I nodded in understanding. Then we heard the school bell ring.
"So, so much for, for going to, to school to… today," I mumbled, "I uh I have, have to go." I began walking back to my ally way when I felt a hand on my shoulder and froze.
"Where are you going?" It was Dick.
"Home," I replied and with that I walked away.
The days after the Joker incident were pretty uneventful. Dick and I started working on our science project again though it was a little awkward. Artimiss would say hi to me at school and Dick and I would hang out in the school yard, but not as much as we used to.
One day about a month later Barbara Gorden came up to me at lunch. Barbara and I knew each other but only through Dick so we didn't talk much unless the three of us were together.
"Hey Julie," She greeted.
"Hey," I replied keeping the confusion out of my voice as much as I could.
We kind of sat there awkwardly for a moment until she asked "Umm listen have you seen Dick anywhere today?" As a matter of fact I hadn't not even as Robin.
"Maybe he's sick or something," I answered nonchalantly. Of course that wasn't likely Dick was never sick.
"Maybe," She replied there was a hint of worry in her voice, "Well thanks anyway. See you later."
"See you later." I echoed. For the next hour I thought about where Dick might be. In Math class I was called up to the board to finish some equation. Right then and there my mind seeing power glitched in front of the whole class, I was lucky that when I use that power it only appears like I'm staring into space and that I was facing the board not the class. But I wasn't lucky in what I saw.
"Oh goody the bird's awake. Time to play!" The joker let out a horrifying laugh as he brought out a crow bar.
"What do want, Joker?" Dick sitting tied up in a chair in his Robin costume spat the Joker's name out like it was poison.
"For the protégé of the world's greatest detective you sure are stupid." The Joker let loose another terrifying cackle, "I want revenge. You know for putting me back in Arkahm." His hideous grin got wider as he lifted the crow bar over his head—
"Julie, are you alright" I came out of my vision to see everyone staring at me. I didn't say anything back just ran out of class room, out of the school, and toward Dick's house. I needed to help him, but I couldn't do it alone and I was sure Bruce would be looking for his protégé and son. But before I could make it all the way to Wayne Manor I was struck from behind. I fell to ground flipping on to my back as fast I could to get a good view of my attacker. It was a large man wearing a clown mask to cover his face and he wasn't alone. I put my hands flat by my head and flipped myself back onto my feet. I wasn't going to let my fear get the best of me. I had to save Dick. The man who had struck me with apparently a bat took a step forward. I flung my arms in front of me making him soar backwards into his buddies. One of them got up and took out a gun I immediately made the gun fall apart, pieces detaching themselves from one another in every way possible. Then I went into his mind and screamed causing him to hold his head in pain and drop to the ground. I thought I had got them all and I turned around to run the rest of the way to Wayne manor. But luck is just never on my side and I found myself facing another clown masked man he grabbed me by the back of my head and I pushed a cloth up to face before I could defend myself. I struggled and tried to use my powers but my mind was going fuzzy and the next thing I knew I was falling into unconsciousness.
me: Dun! Dun! DUUNNNN!
Robin: Why?
me: It felt like the right moment for it.
Brain Wave: DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW! :)