Chapter Six: On Apokolips
"FINALLY!"
The Furies, who sat peacefully in the room, stared at Gilotina who barged right in the room, nearly breaking the hinges of the door. Not far from her was Lashina who just nodded in acknowledgement to the other Furies.
"So—" Stompa started, leaning back on the couch with her hands placed on the back of her head, "how is Earth?"
"Boring sh*t." Gilotina muttered as she sat down between Stompa and Speed Queen.
"Lashina glared at her comrade before crossing her arms and staring at Stompa. "It was nothing special— plain and dull." She said.
Mad Harriet, who was (not surprisingly) sitting above a low cabinet, laughed. "Well that's mundane! What the hell did you even do in there? Man hunting for the dogs (1)?"
Speed Queen let out a disgusted sound. "Eh, I'm pretty sure the dogs would have stomach aches for consuming such toxic waste."
They all laughed, Gilotina snorted and Lashina sighed and just went to the counter to grab herself some drinks.
"You idiots, we captured some superhuman girl the Lord wanted. Oh, and went face to face with their so called heroes."
"Oh..." Speed Queen said as she leaned in Gilotina's direction. "Tell us 'bout it."
Lashina looked up from the counter and a cup of tea (2) on her hand. "It wasn't even a fight. They were just two wanna-be-heroes trying to interfere." She said.
Gilotina once again snorted. "Some dude in black was there, I think he's name's Bat-something (3). He had skills but that's all there is." The blonde said.
Stompa raised an eyebrow. "Had?"
"He was killed by Gem."
Silence filled the room. Feelings of anger, hatred and inferiority for the said Fury spread through their beings as they recall the line a while ago, each of them silently promising to themselves to beat her one day and earn the admiration their Lord and master gave her.
Lashina silently begged to differ though as she stared absentmindedly at the cup on her hand. Unlike her teammates, she knew herself well enough to know that she will never be able to defeat Gem. The secretive Fury was far beyond her reach. Despite having the same strength, their techniques and abilities were polar opposites. Gem seemed to be a flexible soldier— being able to adjust to different weapons, styles, environment, situations and so much more. Lashina, on the other hand, had to work hard on mastering combat trainings and her whip techniques. Lashina was also aware of how intelligent Gem might be if the latter wanted to.
Gem could be many things, and Lashina was not sure if she would like to find out what were the other things the former could be.
"That makes how many ever since she came?" Mad Harriet asked with a tone of menace and seriousness, breaking Lashina out of her thoughts.
"Oh I don't know— a few hundred and fifty two?" Gilotina sarcastically said.
Lashina bit her inner cheek. Five hundred and seventy-eight she wanted to say, but she knew it would just set the others off and might cause a riot that would displease their Lord.
"By the way, where's that super human girl you're talking about?" Stompa asked.
Gilotina waved her hand. "A special cell in the dungeon."
"Ah, so that was the purpose..." Stompa thoughtfully said.
"When you guys were gone, Granny Goodness made us work on a cell. The golden one with green shards."
Gilotina tilted her head. "Green shards?"
Mad Harriet raised her leg so that her chin would rest on top of her knee. "Uhuh. I heard that this girl has some special abilities same as Superman."
Gilotina shrugged. "I wouldn't know. The goons that ordered us around just said to capture the girl that will fall."
"That's it?" Stompa asked bewilderedly. "And here I thought you'd have more information than us." She continued.
"They said our Lord would be the one to tell us about the girl when "all is ready"" Lashina quoted, remembering the meeting they had on the first day they arrived on Earth.
A low tone of horn made them looked up. Hurried footsteps and several voices ordering around were heard outside the room. The Furies stood up and proceeded to head to the door. Mad Harriet stopped however and stared at Lashina, who was seemingly on a trance.
"You okay?" Lashina stared at Harriet, surprised. "I'm fine. I'll finish this and catch up with you." Lashina said as she motioned her tea.
The green-haired woman stared at the ravenette for a while before nodding and leaving.
Lashina sighed and headed to the sink to dump her tea.
What a waste.
It was official.
The stupidest hero award goes to him— the Red Robin, Timothy Drake.
The young hero let out a low groan before banging his head against the crooked wall of the palace.
He was really, really lucky that no one caught him yet as soon as he came in this world. He did not see any of the Furies or guards. He quickly went into hiding and thought of plans he could do while here in this foreign land.
So far, the most effective one his mind came up was stay alive.
OH. That is such a great plan. A voice in his head piped in. Robin's face contorted in frustration, anger and fear.
What should I do?
He didn't know what to do. Usually, he would just go find a place he can hide and try to contact the League for rescue. But in this situation, it was nearly impossible. He swallowed thickly as he hoist himself up the wall and once again went off to the unknown.
Run, scurry, survey, repeat. That was the only thing he had been doing for hours (he thinks). After a few more, he finally reached what seemed to be the throne room. Panic surged through his body as he heard a tone of a horn followed by footsteps approaching the room. Robin quickly fired his grappling hook up.
As soon as the door opened, he pulled the trigger and quickly went up to a balcony inside of the room. He peaked from above, hands on the balustrade and took in what he saw (for safety measures, he told himself).
Tons of soldiers were coming into the throne room and he became sure as hell that if he was caught, his tomb would be the very place he would likely die.
He shook his head at the thought and took in the soldiers' appearance. They were clad in dirty gold armor on their chest, forearms, knees, elbows and a helmet that covers half of their face. Their helmet, Robin thought, signified their position in the army. The plain ones, which is most of them wore, were the soldiers without any rankings while those with fancy ones were most likely generals of sort.
He continued mentally taking down the soldiers until he saw two female soldiers enter the room. The other soldiers seemed to give them high regards and respect. He realized that they might be Furies. As a confirmation on his theory, the blond girl who was facing off with Batgirl entered the room with a grinning green-haired woman. The black-haired woman who was facing off with Batman then entered a few moments after.
Robin started to observe the interaction between this Furies. The buff woman and the grinning woman seemed to be "close". The blonde woman though seemed to have a permanent scowl on her face and would apparently intervene with the other two's conversation. The black haired woman, however seemed to be apathetic. But Robin later reconsidered the word apathetic seeing that the black haired woman had a leader vibe. She probably just keeps it in herself to prevent conflict. He thought.
Robin continued his observation until one thing came to his mind.
Where's the girl who killed his mentor?
Gem was adjusting the bars for her routines when the horn resonated through the entire palace. Underneath the helmet, a scowl etched on her face. Knowing her master, he would just flaunt the achievements they made on Earth. After adjusting the bars, she positioned herself beneath the lowest bar, which was in front of the wall mirror of the room.
She took in her appearance. For today, she disregarded her armor and wore a sleeveless black turtleneck that went up to a fourth of her neck, fingerless gloves that almost went up to her shoulders, black tights and fitted boots. She just stood there for a while before raising her right hand and tracing her tattoos and scars on her left shoulder.
She hastily stopped staring on her reflection and focused on the bar. She held onto it and jumped a few times before circling thrice and launching herself onto the next bar. She continued to do this while adding other tricks such as somersaults, twirls and tumbling before a guard disrupted her routine.
She paused in a handstand position, with one hand on her back. She raised her head to stare at the guard standing at the door.
"Mam, I didn't mean to interrupt your routine but most of the soldiers and the Furies are already there." He plainly stated.
Gem opened her legs on a V position and swung down. Her feet, while maintaining the V position of her legs, touched the bar and she once again hoisted herself up, her one hand still supporting her position despite her foot planted on the bar.
The guard stared at the Fury before clearing his throat and trying once again, "Mam, General Kanto said the Lord would announce something important."
Gem then firmly planted her feet together and suddenly jumped off the bar, doing a back flip in the process. She landed gracefully on her feet on as she slowly rises, she could feel the intensity of the stare the guard was giving her.
She knew this guard very well. Everyone in Apokolips knew this guard very well. He was in the lowest ranks of the army— a measly guard, not a soldier that can fight in honor of Apokolips. But Gem knew more than that. She had seen this guard training and needless to say, he was more than capable of being a soldier. He has skills and intelligence enough to lead the army. The reason why he was just a guard was because he was not one of them. He was far lower than them—
— a human.
That— and everything else that Gem may or may not know or suspect.
Gem waved and strode towards a bench.
The guard just nodded and sprinted away. As soon as the guard left, Gem felt her lips twitch in annoyance.
She still had to get ready for the announcement.
A man in purple and yellow medieval suit, along with an old looking lady (Robin was not sure) in green suit made the young hero stared in disbelief. As much as he wanted to be a judgemental kid at the man, he held back his thoughts due to the high respect all the soldiers and the Furies gave them. The pair made their way up towards the throne seat and positioned themselves on either sides of it. Not a moment later, the double doors of the room opened and there stood the proud Lord of Apokolips. Robin watched intently as Darkseid made his way towards the throne. He was intimidating. His buff figure screams ALL HAIL THE GREAT DARKSEID. His red eyes seemed to ready to kill—
—actually, if looks could kill, everyone in the room would be dead by now.
On his peripheral vision, he saw a figure entering the balcony next to the one he was staying on. He crouched down and turned his head on his left. His eyes widened at what he saw.
Gem stood there, arms crossed and apathetic posture.
Cold sweat started to form from the boy's forehead and back. Robin swallowed thickly and slowly backed away.
Why was she here?! Shouldn't she be down there with the others?! Robin frantically thought as he back away and hid to safety. He stopped when a voice resonated in the room, ready to speak with pride and honor.
"Gentlemen! Ladies! We have gathered here today to announce the achievements made the Furies of Apokolips."
Robin crouched towards the balustrade and watched the happenings down below in between the metal bars. He could see Darkseid with his fist clenched and a smirk on his face as he continued to speak.
"As you all know, an alliance between us and an organization on Earth was made, making both parties stronger."
Robin bit his lower lip as he realized they were talking about the Light.
"One of the arrangements made was a replacement for Big Barda, while we give them some of our technology."
Oh, so that must be the payment Slade was saying.
"And today, the three Furies that were sent to Earth have returned with a future warrior, with capabilities to help us achieve greater heights of our victory and kingdom!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd and Robin was fear-stricken. He shifted his masked eyes to see Gem, her head lowered and one arm dangling lifelessly. A scowl immediately made its way to his face at Gem's display.
The cheers died down and Darkseid stepped forward to speak once again. "For now, the new Fury is still resting, still adjusting, but once she is already well, I expect all of you to treat her with respect. Now go and celebrate on your home. You all have a day off."
Another round of cheers erupted and Darkseid turned to the two people on either side of the throne to converse to them. Robin took this opportunity to evacuate while the soldiers were still cheering and without looking at the Fury close to where he was.
He quickly dashed away from the balcony and once again he found himself on the hallways. He sprinted and prayed he wouldn't get caught, despite not knowing where his feet would take him. He couldn't remember how many turns he already took, or the direction— he needed to get out of here, now.
He let out low panting noises before taking a right turn and immediately halted. He thought he would freeze due to the cold sweat and fear coursing through his body.
A few meters away from him stood the green-haired, grinning Fury, with her back facing him,
Robin clenched his jaw and decided to turn back when he heard heavy footsteps behind him. He dared to stare behind him and saw the buff Fury carrying weight bars, preventing to see him. He turned his head back to the other Fury and saw that she was slowly turning around.
Robin frantically search for somewhere to at least hide and saw a turn but to get there, he would have to run quickly for the grinning Fury to not notice her. He was contemplating what to do, but the heavy footsteps of the buff Fury behind him gave him no other choice. With great dread, he launch forward and raced towards the turn and run as fast as he could.
"Hey!"
As he heard that call, adrenaline rushed through his veins and ran until he sensed a presence behind him, trying to catch him.
Robin pushed himself to his limits and exerted more energy. But he knew he would last for long. His body was still tired from the battle against the Furies. Plus the mental and emotional baggage he was currently carrying was affecting his state of being as well.
His breath hitched when a cold hand held onto his right elbow and right after that, everything came to a blur for him. He could feel himself falling along with another body and something metallic. His mind didn't register the resonating sound of a heavy metal crashing down, the pain that was absorb by his muscles or the person on top of him.
The sidekick blinks his eyes before his trying to focus on the position he was currently in.
Straddling him was a guard— a young man in a plain armor and helmet covering half of his freckled face.
Robin felt his face slowly showing fear until the guard smiled and held one finger up in a silence position. He watched as the guard slowly turned around stiffened. The latter then hastily pushed him into the darkest corner of wherever they were, and making gestures of what seemed to say whatever you do, stay here.
"Where the hell's that guard Gemmy?"
Robin's eyes widened behind his mask. He wanted to see what was happening but with the guard in front of him, it was impossible. The only thing he could see was the fallen armor and a silhouette of a woman.
Mad Harriet glared at the Fury in front of her. The green-haired Fury thought she saw a flash of red a while ago and decided to follow it, and then a running lowlife guard stood of her way, distracting her. She decided to run after him and when she was finally able to catch him, this person showed up.
They stared at each other and it irritated her to no end that Gem was so apathetic she can practically not say anything despite everything they throw at her and it was pissing her and the other Furies off.
Harriet snickered and crossed her arms. "Well? You deaf or something?" she said, trying to gauge a reaction from Gem.
It was not noticeable due to his helmet but the guard was staring at notorious Fury, standing in front of the armor he intentionally knocked down. He wondered how she got here and if she saw him helping the intruder. The guard was actually petrified of her. She was a quiet hurricane— as others say due to her skills when it comes to combat and her not speaking— keeping everything to herself makes, her a mysterious mass of destruction. Like many others, even the head of the Furies Granny Goodness and General Kanto, he did not know any single information about her. The fact that even the Lord knows little about her and yet trusted her to be a Fury was something not to be overlook. Danger emitted around this Fury, and it would likely end in a disastrous way should their Lord saw it fit for the situation.
The stare-off between the Furies continued, and the guard was beginning to feel the immense tension between them. He realized what great danger he and the intruder were in if Gem actually saw him help the intruder.
"There you are you two!"
A gust of wind passed through Harriet and there in between them stood Speed Queen, looking exasperated.
"Granny's been looking for you! The soldiers are already celebrating. We should too!" Speed Queen strode to Harriet and took her by her elbow to lead her away from Gem. Harriet snarled and ripped her arm from Speed Queen's hold. "I can take myself there." And with that, she left the two Furies alone, pissed.
Speed Queen put her hands on her hips and turned to Gem. "I know you're not gonna show up, and I rarely get you in this situation so I'll make this simple, short and clear." She then appeared in front of Gem, who was unfazed, and stared right at her eyes beneath the helmet. "We don't like you. I don't like you. In fact, we despise you. You're apathetic and quiet and not one of us. If you do something stupid, I won't hesitate to run you over again and again and again." Speed Queen then created a gap between them before turning her back and continuing, "You'll fall down someday and we'll make sure you stay down." With that, she left, just like the way she came in.
Gem stared there a few moments before turning her attention to the fallen armor. She quickly bent down to grab it and fixed it. She aligned the arms and legs, adjusted the helmet and sword. A few more adjustments and she stood back, as if taking in her work. Once she was satisfied she turned to the turn to check if the guard Harriet was asking about was there.
There was none.
(Quick AN: I was going to end it right here but you deserve to know this part. I'll explain it later in the AN.)
While the Furies were having their stand-offs, the guard and Robin it was the perfect time to escape.
Robin was obediently walking behind the guard. He was surprised that the latter hadn't cuffed him or surrendered him to the Furies. But he knew he couldn't think about that now. He was caught and he was trapped in a very unpleasant situation just a while ago. He swallowed thickly; thinking about every possibility that could happen after the guard throws him in jail. Not to mention the fact that Gem was there just moments after he left the balcony.
The guard stopped when he reached a door. He quickly opened it and pushed the young hero inside. Robin blinked in confusion. Their prison cells were pretty neat. It seemed like a normal room. It had a decent bed, a bathroom and a sink. It even had a closet!
"Wait." The sidekick thought out loud. "This isn't a prison cell."
The guard laughed and it made Robin's every strand of hair stood up. "What are you talking about? I'm not going to put you in jail. Why do you think I knocked down the armor?"
Robin inhaled sharply.
That voice.
"You're a guard. It would be the logical thing to assume." He stated.
The guard once again laughed and went to the closet. He rummaged through it and grabbed a box. "Oh come on. I'm actually more than that! Don't be so overwhelmed."
Robin's eyes widened at his answer but said nothing. He watched as the guard sat down on the bed and opened the box to grab two loafs of bread.
"Don't be stiff! Come sit here and eat with me! Well, if you're hungry yeah but whatever! I'm not like them." The guard said while munching one loaf and gesturing the other towards Robin.
Robin walked towards him and sat beside him, like he instructed and grabbed the loaf. "Not like them?" he whispered, but the guard heard him clearly.
"Yep! They treat me like dirt because I am to them. Apparently I'm the lowest of the low and they never really paid attention to me. Not like I care though! Man this loaf is hard, but beggars can't be choosers!" the guard said with such optimism.
"Wait. Hold up. Back up!" Robin said, grabbing the guard's shoulder. "What do you exactly mean not like them?" he asked sternly.
"Don't be uptight kiddo! And what I meant is I'm just like you!" and with that, the guard placed his half-eaten loaf down and removed his helmet to reveal his dirty red hair, freckled face and green eyes all too familiar to Robin.
AN: I want to kill myself for not updating. The reason why it took so long is because I was debating about this part or not. That and of course the additional character's debut in this story. Also, college sucks for me but I'm hanging there.
I'm still writing my stories but the updates will be slow. I hope you guys bear with me
I hope you guys enjoyed! And please, someone please give me a constructive review of this story I badly need it.
1.) I remember having those creatures in the comics but I'm not sure if they are dogs.
2.) She seems like the kind of person who drinks tea :/
3.) I don't know if the Furies know the Justice League that well.
Disclaimer: Young Justice is not mine. It is a property of DC Comics and Warner Bros.
