FudoTwin17: Hi! Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but school's back.
Goldfish # 1: Which is no excuse.
FudoTwin17: I disagree.
Cat: On to the chapter.
Goldfish # 2: Yeah. She doesn't own YJ.
Goldfish # 1: She started it.
Chapter 10
To say Batman was angry was an understatement. After working for hours trying to find Robin, he came up empty-handed. Then, when he desperately needed something to do, he went to Mount. Justice to find out that the team, including Batgirl, were gone. This was bad. And after informing the league, well, they weren't too happy either.
He took a deep breath.
Roy had been there, too. He knew where Robin was. That was enough for Batman.
Which was why he was searching Roy's computer. Red Arrow was in big trouble.
. . .
When Diane woke, the group she had encountered were gathered around an unconscious figure in Red Arrow's arms. She figured he was Robin. She shakily stood as a loud screech came from the truck.
They were stopping. That was probably bad.
And it was.
When the doors burst open, several guards stood outside, shocked that they were awake. The group, including Diane made a protective circle around Red Arrow. They moved forward, out of the truck.
They could see the shock on Tony's face, "How did you escape?"
"Your tests backfired." Wally growled. "Robin freed us."
Then, he smiled. Tony started laughing so maniacally that they could see him in Arkam in his straight suit, "So he finally broke."
The team frowned. This was going from bad to worse.
"Men, obtain the weapon." Then, they were attacked.
The guards were, however, no match. The teens, and twelve year old, took them on without any problem. But they weren't the problem.
"I suppose this means that I have to go to jurassic measures." Zucco smiled, making the team tense. They were tired of this nightmare.
Diane rose her arm, the laser pointed directly at Zucco's head. The heros didn't move.
"Ah, Bionica. Slade must be angry. Is it your job to get rid of me?" He smiled.
"My job is to retrieve the boy by any means necessary." She replied easily.
"Why not come to my side?" He asked.
"No one crosses Slade." Her laser hummed to life.
"Well, I gave you a chance." His hand slipped into his suit pocket and brought out a small remote control. He pressed a button.
Before he could be hit, a strange, colorful current of electricity raced through her body. She gasped before she crumbled to the ground. And she wasn't the only one. No one screamed. No one remained standing.
What happened next shocked everyone.
. . .
When Artemis opened her eyes, she was walking into the school lunchroom. She glanced around. She saw her usual seat with Caitlynn and her usual bright smile inviting Artemis over once she got lunch, but she wasn't hungry.
After peeling her eyes away, she searched again, this time finding her objective. She walked over and sat at Dick's table. He had a plate of untouched food in front of him.
"Eleanor?" He asked surprised.
"No, it's Artemis." She replied a little shakily, "My real name is Artemis."
He stared at her for a second. "Why are you telling me?"
"Because . . . I see you alone a lot. And I'm tired of ignoring it. You need a friend and I need a real one." They sat there for a second in silence. Artemis wondered if she said something wrong until-
"Thanks." He was so quiet she almost missed it.
She smiled.
After lunch, Andrea walked up to her, "Why'd you sit with the reject?"
Artemis glowered at the other girl, "I made a friend. He deserves one." When she saw the look on the other girl's face, something in her snapped, "More than you do."
"The circus freak? Oh, please."
"That 'circus freak' has been through more than most adults have, and he still smiles as if it's nothing. He's nice to the people that make fun of him, that beat him up," she paused for a moment, "that are like you."
Andrea looked shocked, "Well I guess the circus freak and the scholarship girl make a good match." The prep growled before stalking off. She would ruin Artemis's social life latter.
Then, Caitlynn touched her shoulder and smiled, "How did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Stand up to her?"
"Oh." Artemis frowned, "Last night I saw the news and there was a picture of him when he was eight, crying over his parents bodies and . . . it made me realize something. There are always going to be other people hurting worse than me."
Caitlynn smiled. "Thanks."
"For what?"
"For reminding me." Caitlynn smiled, "Do you mind if I sit with you tomorrow?"
Then, it clicked. Even though she knew Robin and Dick were the same, it hadn't registered in her brain. Now it was a painful fact, one she knew. Robin was the orphan. Robin was the one hurting. Robin was the one hurting. Dick was the hero. Dick was the boy wonder. Dick was the one who every day put his life on the line. Dick was Robin. Robin was Dick.
That's why when she woke up, it was Dick's name that she screamed, not Robin's.
Dick was the hero.
His hand fell limp.
FudoTwin17: Okay, I probably confused you guys with the cliff-hanger, so I'll fill you guys in. The team fell unconscious from the pain. That was like a dream/memory. You don't know why she shouted Dick. And it was all hero central, because (1) I was listening to hero by Superchick, the remix, and (2) Robin is a hero.
Cat: Long list.
GoldFish # 2: Yep.
Dog # 2: R&R! Bye!