A/N: So to make up for my long very long absence here is a big chapter because I want to move this story along, and get to Artemis's teenage years. The next chapter will be an interlude, because I truly enjoy the constructive criticism and I to was noticing the disconnect between the past and the present, so I'm going to slightly change the format a bit and have the next chapter more of a catch up and more of a discussion with Liara and stuff going on in the "present". This chapter is marks the end of Artemis's childhood, and the next arc will be the arc that makes Shepard who Shepard is. This version of Shepard anyway, there will be a cameo which may turn into something later, but eh I'll cross that bridge when I get there. The next arc will probably be broken up into three years but it will span from the time Shepard is 15 till she finally joins the Alliance on her 18th birthday, each year will probably be a few chapters long but again there is the bridge that I have to cross when I get there. So I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review, because seriously I've had this laying around on my computer for ages, constructive criticism is more than welcome.
The blood, there was so much blood and Artemis resisted the urge to hurl. She could feel the warm blood dripping down her face and cooling off in her shirt, she had been caught in the blood splatter. She shook herself once and then a second time trying to force herself into reality as she looked at Fox's prone body. The acidic taste of the bile rising to her throat as she fumbled to get herself out, stumbling out of Fox's apartment scanning the halls quickly, no one seemed to be around and she leaned against the wall she wondered why Fox had insisted that she actually the pulled the trigger. There were so many easier ways to fake her death that didn't involve her shooting her mentor. She could only trust that Fox knew what she was doing, She inhaled deeply trying to stop her thoughts from racing and wondering about the what-ifs. Bo had been right she hadn't been ready and there was a difference between shooting targets and shooting humans.
Taking a deep breath struggling to catch her breath she looked at her hand activating her omni-tool. With shaky hands she sent a quick message to Bo stating that it was done. It was merely a second later that her omni-tool pinged. Artemis opened the message reading it carefully. Without hesitation she hit her hand against the fire alarm and raced down the stairs. The sprinklers drenching her body and washing away any evidence of the blood which had spattered onto her face. She kept the contents of her stomach until she was well away from the building and hurled into a nearby trash can, several blocks away. Wiping her mouth she looked around, thankfully no one had seen her, and if they had they didn't seem to care enough to check on what she could only imagine was a strange soaked girl who had been puking in a trash can. It was a moment of weakness which bothered her, she hadn't been this weak, not since, well not since she had watched her first man getting tortured in front of her. She hadn't even killed Fox, merely incapacitated her until Fox's contacts in the emergency services could announce her dead. But the panic was there, what if she had accidentally killed Fox, after all this plan what if she had screwed up. It wouldn't be the first time, and she doubted it probably wouldn't be the last. Killing the only person who had saved her life more times than she could count, the thought caused her eyes to water in despair. She inhaled sharply choking back a scared sob; she didn't cry she was strong. Crying was for the weak, she was no longer that scared little girl. She rubbed at her eyes, and slapped her cheek trying to swallow the feeling of panic. She was better than this, Fox had trained her better and so had Bo, but she was scared. It was an inexplicable feeling, she had stepped in front of bullets, but she was not blind as to what was going on. If this plan didn't work, if it fell apart the war would be bloody, and Fox might actually truly die. It was that thought that terrified her above all else. She repeated the mantra in her head, keep Fox happy, keep Fox safe. If it came down to it she would kill Bo herself if it meant that she could at least pay Fox back at least once for saving her life.
"Is she-?" Bo asked looking up at Artemis who had finally entered their apartment, noting the dead look on her face. It was a sharp contrast to the determination that had been etched in her eyes a few hours ago. He resisted the urge to pull her into a hug he needed to know if Fox was still alive, that would be the worst scenario. Artemis would never be safe as he had no doubt that Fox would hunt her down and put a bullet in her skull, and that was if she was being nice. He locked eyes with Shepard as he listened to Salvatore.
"Two shots, one in the chest the other in the shoulder, the kid is good apparently the first shot was to the chest right through her heart tearing the aorta, she would have bled out in seconds, without the need for the second shot. Fox is dead Bo the kid pulled it off."
A shaky relieved breath escaped Bo's lips he hadn't even known he had been holding it in as he ended the call staring at Artemis who stared back. "You did it," he said with a small nod in her direction struggling to contain himself, he wasn't ecstatic like he believed that he would be, he had lost the person who was his best friend for the longest time. He studied Artemis before closing the distance between them and wrapping his arms around her. "Salvatore just called she's dead, she can never hurt you again. You're free Artemis."
Artemis's body went rigid when Bo pulled her into his hug, she didn't want to be touched she didn't want to be held, she needed to think. Was Salvatore on their side, or was he loyal to Bo. She couldn't remember the names that Fox had given her of people who were loyal to her. If Salvatore was on Bo's side she may have just accidentally killed Fox. Her body began to shake in response to her thoughts and her breathing quickened as she began to panic. This plan had been too risky to begin with, why had she suggested it to Fox. It required her being vulnerable with someone who didn't have her best interests at heart.
Bo immediately began to rub her back mistaking her panic attack as Artemis going to into shock at her actions, "Calm down Artie, it's over now," he muttered into her ear with a calming voice. "She won't be able to hurt you ever again; she won't be able to hurt anyone ever again. You did a good thing, for the greater good. Fox was going insane, seeing threats that weren't there. She would have turned on you eventually as well." This did little to settle down Artemis whose body continued to shake as she slipped closer to a full blown panic attack. Bo grimaced she hadn't been prepared for this, at least not emotionally. If this had been any regular old person Artemis might have been fine, but he had failed to take into account that for years Artemis had worshiped Fox, revered her as some god. "You didn't betray her you saved her Artemis."
Artemis half listened to his words, and pulled away from him pushing against his body as she looked at him, she had actually caused physical damage to her mentor if she hadn't accidentally killed her. "I—I need to be alone," she finally managed as she escaped towards her room closing the door and locking it behind her. She covered her ears ignoring Bo tried to check on her as she replayed the events in her head not wanting to skip over any detail. It had all happened so fast. Fox had been barking instructions at her, handing her the gun that she would use, quickly telling her how to get rid of the gun pointing at a rather safe point. Fox telling her to pull the trigger, screaming at her when she hesitated. That hadn't made things better, but she had done it. She had pulled the trigger in what she thought was at best a half thought out plan.
Her omni-tool pinged and she looked at it, a message from Salvatore. Congratulations; at least that's what she took from the subject heading and she opened it. It was simple message but she felt the panic that had overwhelmed her dissipating, as she re-read the message over and over again.
"You did alright."
It was Fox's greatest compliment. Fox was alive, she hadn't done anything wrong and the plan was moving forward. A small sigh of relief escaped her lips as she slid onto the ground, tears of relief and joy streaming down her face. She hadn't screwed up anything, everything was running smoothly. She cocked her heads towards the door listening to Bo plead with her, and twitched angrily as she listened to him justify what he had asked her to do, what he had wanted her to do.
Bo rested his frame against Artemis's door; she hadn't been ready to do this. And he should have said no when she had told him what she was planning. She wasn't meant to be a killer, but she was the one who had the best opportunity to kill Fox and he had taken it. "Artie, I'm sorry," He apologized, he had always told people that she would never kill anyone while he was alive, but he had used her to gain their freedom. "But it needed to be done."
Artemis closed her eyes, willing the disgust on her features to disappear into her usual neutral mask. Bo was a coward and a traitor, and she hoped that all this fighting would soon be over so she could once again be near her Fox.
Bo tried Artemis's door again, while he knew that he could easily break into the door he didn't want to crowd her. She needed her space and he would be right there if and when she wanted to talk. He wouldn't allow her to walk down the path that that he had chosen of his own free-will. He would put her on the right path, she would go to a real school. She would make friends, maybe become a doctor or a lawyer, but most importantly she would be safe. He smiled to himself, she would grow up to be alright he would make sure of that. But first he needed to make sure that this…incident wouldn't break the child. "Artemis are you going to be okay?" he asked softly, as he wondered what was going through her mind. He remembered his first kill, it had been in self-defense and it had become easier as time had gone on. Artemis had performed a cold-blooded execution to someone she knew personally, he couldn't imagine what she was going through.
The door to Artemis's room slid open causing Bo to fall flat against his back onto Artemis's floor. Artemis looked down at him, "She gets a funeral, and she deserves that. She deserves a funeral."
Bo studied Shepard, her voice was void of emotion but her tone had indicated that this was not something he could negotiate. And the thought pleased him, that even though Fox had made their lives a living hell she was willing to forgive and move on. A funeral was the least he could do for his former friend. He pushed himself to his feet and wrapped his arms around Artemis, "We can do that," he responded softly running his hand through Artemis's hair just like old times.
Artemis stood quietly at the funeral watching as the mahogany casket was slowly lowered into the ground. She knew that Fox had been switched out in the hearse, and she briefly wondered who was being buried today. The whole plan was simple, and it had gone off without a hitch. It was amazing to know that a simple drug from a pufferfish, had managed to trick people into believing that Fox was dead, a drug and amazing make up had managed to trick the hundreds of people who had come to her funeral and pay their last respects.
There wasn't much respect going around, and Artemis made note of all the lieutenants and the basic foot soldiers who had come up to her and come to congratulate her on her first kill. It was quite clear that they were the ones that were firmly on Bo's side as they didn't even bother to hide their disdain for Fox, the same people who feared her madness were glad to see her go and were openly disrespecting her. And many of them were shaking hands with Bo and exchanging words, of course many of them were happy since Bo was for all intents and purposes the heir apparent to Fox's throne. She still made a list, Fox would be able to tell her who was loyal to her and who was loyal to Bo.
The first bit of dirt hit the casket and Artemis flinched at the sound, she was no stranger to funerals. She had been to many of them, but she hoped and prayed that one day that it wouldn't be Fox. Judging from everyone who hated her, chances were Bo wouldn't be the only one who would make an attempt on her life, she would have to be smarter, be more skilled, and more dangerous than everyone at this funeral to be able to keep Fox safe.
"I didn't see this coming you know," Artemis looked up to see Johnny crossing his arms his eyes focused on the casket. He glanced over at Artemis, before returning his attention to the scene in front of you. "Knew you were going to be something when I handed you to her, but this?" He motioned to the casket and Artemis returned her attention to him.
"You told me to keep her happy, and I did, and I learned," Artemis responded brushing a strand of hair from her face. She had liked Johnny, or had at least found him tolerable. "There was no reason to fear her; she is human just like rest of us."
Johnny studied the child it had been years since he had last spoken to her and the maturity and the difference was palpable. She was only going to become more dangerous, more efficient, and better. She was one of the rare people who could adapt to any situation, and he suddenly felt grateful that she was on his side. Bo didn't know what he was trying to protect with her, she would go far no matter what she did. "Fox was mad as a hatter," Johnny said looking at her. "And she was getting worse, she was getting more paranoid and more delusional, if you didn't do what you she would have set her sights on you eventually. You're going to end up being greater than her maybe all of us, I knew that the day I watched you fight."
Artemis looked at him, "Is it still paranoia when people were actually after you?" she questioned him. "She's dead now, she was killed, I don't think her delusions and paranoia were unfounded."
Johnny smiled, Bo had taught this child well. "If you rule by fear, this is what will happen to you every single time. You were born to lead, people will follow you through hell, but you must never let them fear you not like she did. They must respect you and love you and be willing to give up everything for your cause. Somewhere along the line she lost that and as you've seen, as you've heard people hated her. When years ago before your time she was one of the most loved members of the Reds."
Artemis nodded; Johnny had always given her sound advice. Keep Fox happy, and that's what she planned to do for the rest of her life. She would protect Fox, she would keep her safe and happy. She had no intention of being a leader, she was quite happy following Fox. "You've never given me bad advice Johnny," Artemis turned to him and gave him a small smile and nodded in his direction. "Thank you," it was a shame that he had sided with Bo over this.
The funeral ended soon after and she took Bo's hand causing the bigger man to smile, "It was a nice ceremony," he said, "The men are gathering tonight to pay their last respects at the Anvil. Salvatore's organized a tournament of sorts. It's been booked for the Reds."
Artemis smiled, "She'd like that, she loved that place. Is everyone going to be there?" she asked him.
Bo grinned back happy to see Artemis pleased, "Everyone but Craven, which is probably the best those two hated each other. If this funeral wasn't such a big deal he wouldn't have come. But he refuses to go anywhere without a gun these days and the Anvil has become a gun-free zone since Fox shot that fighter ages a few weeks ago."
"I didn't want that bastard here anyway," Artemis said with a shrug as she got into Bo's car relaxing, watching as Bo got the details from Salvatore who waved at her, she smiled back. Everyone had their part to play and this was his. She knew what would happen from day one, it was simple really. Every piece had fallen into place almost seamlessly. It had been her idea all those weeks ago to fight in the Anvil, and get her ass kicked only to have Fox save her by shooting the man. The man who ran the Anvil was a close friend of Fox's and it had been easy for him to simply ban all guns from his premises, few complained. He did have to protect his fighters and his interests and she was sure Fox had paid him to get this plan into motion. No one would be suspicious when they were frisked at the door; it had been common place for weeks now. No one would notice that very few lieutenants who had chosen Fox over Bo would be allowed to bring guns in, and Fox who was currently recovering in the Anvil would share the rest of the weapons they had smuggled in with the people whom she trusted, and were trusted by Salvatore.
Artemis wasn't naïve, she was aware that she had just orchestrated what would possibly turn into a blood bath. But Fox had been impressed with the detail and how simple the plan was to pull off in only a few weeks' time. Bo wouldn't see it because he had wanted to believe in her, believe that she had turned against Fox, and that she believed in the lies that he fed her. He was weak, and Artemis would never leave herself open to his weakness. She would prove to Fox that she was not weak like Bo, that he hadn't infected her in that way.
Artemis had wandered off as soon as they hit the Anvil, as he watched her talk with all the people who knew Fox and told her stories and he smiled. She was distracting herself and she had yet to take him up on his offer to talk to him. He wondered briefly if she regretted killing Fox,, and shook his head, Artie had talked to enough people in the past few weeks to realize that Fox needed to be put down like the rabid animal her namesake was known to be. He was still waiting for his time to rejoice, respecting Artemis's grieving period and allowing her to choose what was right and how to honor Fox. He was very aware that she was still in awe with the woman, but he chalked it up to a form of Stockholm syndrome, he was sure that she would grow out of it. Despite the fact that she was being raised by criminals she seemed to have a good moral compass. He only hoped that one of these days she would open to him like in the past and he could truly be the father-figure to her that he wanted to be. Something about her made him wanted to be a better person, he thanked Fox for giving him the child all those years ago.
It wasn't just him either, so many of the men who worked under Fox loved her as if she was their own daughter. Someone wise had once said that it took a village to raise a child, and they had all chipped in with her education costs. Even Johnny who had only known the kid for a week had chipped in everyone held such high expectations for Artemis, and she wasn't even aware of how much she was loved. He could only hope that Fox's poison would soon be gone and Artemis could be normal. He could barely believe that she was turning thirteen in about ten minutes, with everything that had gone on in her life he was still surprised that she had lived this long.
Bo returned his attention to the fight that was going on in front of him as a nostalgic smile crossed his face and a tear rolled down his cheek, getting lost in the scruffy beard on his face. The realization had hit him now, he had lost his best friend, he had all but ordered her execution. Despite everything that had happened in the past seven years, Fox had always been there for him when they were kids. Before the madness took in, they had done everything together. Fox had always protected him, she was the one that had wiped his tears away as children and saved him so many times from himself, in a way she was exactly like Artemis was now. He had no idea what had happened that had changed her, which had steeled her heart to the point where she had become the very thing she had fought against all those times in the past. And he had still ordered her death, instead of desperately trying to save her.
"Remember what I told you Beauregard, crying is for the weak," the woman who had been sitting beside him the entire night said as she gently brushed away the water trail on his face.
Bo froze in place his eyes widening in horror as he pulled away, there was only one other living soul who knew his full name and he knew that voice well. He hadn't thought nothing of it when Salvatore had been handing out Japanese Fox masks at the door, he had of course rejected it but Artemis had been delighted at the idea and had grabbed one and put it on laughing as she looked for a mirror to see herself in. Some of the other lieutenants had seen it and laughed as they too had taken one and worn the masks. He had been perplexed when he saw several people wearing one and had asked Salvatore about it, who shrugged. He had seen them around and thought it was an interesting way to honor their fallen comrade and he thought the idea would please Artemis, it had been a logical explanation even if he had thought the whole idea was rather silly. Salvatore had bitched about the price as an explanation of why he had only brought ten masks to the event, and given the fact that Salvatore was just as notoriously cheap as he was again a logical explanation.
"You dyed your hair," he finally replied reaching gently and touching the now brown locks, a resigned look on his face as all the pieces began to slide into place. He hadn't even given it consideration that Artemis would betray him like this he had believed that she was on his side. But he had also believed that Salvatore was on his side as well.
"It's a wig, didn't want to give myself away early," Fox replied cheerfully under the mask. "You're no longer the brain standing in the shadows anymore Bo, you got weak and sloppy," her tone changed rapidly into one of disdain as she stared at her former friend.
"And you're losing your grasp with reality," Bo responded with a shrug turning to look at Artemis who was still going around the room, she hadn't noticed what was going on yet and he smiled softly. Despite his current situation, he was suddenly impressed with the simplicity of Artemis's plan, she had pulled strings that he hadn't even thought of and he had no doubt that she would continue to grow. She had surpassed him and he had no idea when it had happened, but even he could appreciate the brilliance in pulling this off. She had taken care of a gang war breaking out on the streets turning something that could have dragged on for weeks with hundreds of people being collateral damage as he and Fox went to war. She had minimized any possible bloodshed and made this confrontation come to a head much quicker than he had realized.
"You were plotting against me Beauregard, I have hardly lost my grip on reality," Fox snapped back, following his gaze onto Artemis who had finally noticed that they were talking and under was the events unfold wordlessly, her face hidden under the mask. "You know tonight she's going to be baptized by blood and fire, I was thirteen when I killed my first person. And I think tonight is time for her to become an adult."
"She will grow to be better than you Fox. And the men will love her rather than fear her like they fear you. And one day she's going to realize that you've been torturing her from that day you told me to drop her at Cravens just so you could rescue her."
Fox chuckled amused at Bo's ramblings. "I've never tortured her, I just showed her kindness and she loves me, she worships me because I am the only person to show her kindness. I make her happy Bo, something you weren't capable of doing."
"One day she'll see true kindness from someone and that day will mark the beginning of your downfall Fox, because she'll see through all the smoke and mirrors that you've set up to confuse her and she'll see you for what you really are."
"I will not make the same mistakes with her that I made with you Bo, and unlike you Artemis will love me forever, she won't betray me." Bo said nothing in return instead going back to watching the fight in front of him, only turning back to Fox when her omni-tool pinged alerting her to the fact that it was midnight.
It was at that moment that she stood up pulling off the mask and the wig and throwing it at one of the lieutenants, "Happy birthday my protégé!" she said with a smile on her face as the room went deathly silent as people stared at what they believed was a ghost.
A grin spread across Artemis's face as she pulled off the Fox mask looking up at Fox, it had been the first time they had spoken since she had shot her. It was only through discipline that she didn't run up to Fox and hug her. "Fox, you're okay."
"Of course I am," Fox walked up to Artemis wrapping her arm around her shoulder as she lead her back to the table where Bo was still seated handing her the gun and pulling out another. "Now before the real bloodshed begins, I think it's about time we popped your cherry don't you? And I think Bo would be the perfect man for the job."
It suddenly became clear to everyone in the room who had been taken aback by Fox's sudden reappearance what was going to happen as all the men who had conspired against her, and as they begun to make moves to start fleeing they were suddenly made very wary of the guards at the entrance with military grade assault rifles.
"Now, now we're about to see one of the most beautiful things in the world," Salvatore said from where he was leaning against the bar a gun pointed lazily at Johnny who had a grim look on his face. "A young girl becoming an adult, it's precious. I'm sure we can all remember our first times, didn't have this many witnesses. But don't worry Artie, it may be bloody, and it may hurt, but you'll get used to it soon, and may come to enjoy it."
Artemis looked between Bo and the gun, she hadn't enjoyed the first time she had shot someone, but that had probably been because of who it was. And it was time that she proved to everyone that she wasn't a child anymore and that she would do anything to make Fox happy.
Bo watched Artemis carefully he saw the brief hesitation in Artemis's movements as she slowly raised the gun. He looked up at Fox who had a smug smile on her face and cocked his head smiled at Artemis. He only hoped his shot in the dark worked and that one day Artemis would be free. "I'm sorry I was weak Shepard."
Artemis paused for a second as a wave of grief and guilt coursed through her body, as she pulled the trigger. The gunshot noise was followed with the sound of Bo's body hitting the ground. It was only after Fox put her hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner did she open her eyes and looked at Bo's body. There was a pool of blood around his head and she watched quietly as the liquid expanded. A surge of emotions cursed through her and she resisted the urge to hurl again, not in front of Fox, there would be time for that later. There would be time to recover later a time to reflect later. She tuned to look up at Fox, searching for the older woman's approval.
Fox smiled warmly at Artemis, not bothering to glance at the man who used to be her best friend as she rubbed Artemis's back. "Who's next?" she asked pleased as Artemis immediately pulled the gun up aiming at Johnny. She smiled inwardly, Bo was wrong she would never make the same mistakes again. She would make sure that Artemis would never leave her side.
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