Disclaimer: No owning here. Sadness
Author's Note: Okay, so thank you to everyone who told me that Vertigo called Artemis "Artemis" as opposed to "Tigress." No, not on purpose, that was just a very, very stupid mistake.
Author's Note #2 (aka the Thanking Note): So thanks to Star's Hidden Fires (welcome! I'm so glad you read my story and am glad you like it! And thanks for the spelling tips, God knows I need it!), Pimu, Redhawk15 (Thank you for having my back. I'm going though a bit of a teenaged crisis, so knowing I have someone who believes in me is really keeping me going.), LadyMysteri (1. Love the use of "fantabulously." Twas fantabulous. 2. No, Vertigo calling Artemis by her real name was me being stupid, forgive me.), Somebody (YESSSSSSS! Words do not describe how happy I am that someone got my Holes reference! You, doll, made my day! And my apologies to your grandmother who walked in on your fangirl squeal (don't worry, mine it SUPERMEGAULTRA awkward as well), also, so I did not make up Injustice League, but the Spongebob thing is E.V.I.L: Every Villian Is Lemons. Aren't I cool that I know that?), Lostie4815162342 (dude, how did you learn nothing! You learned that Artemis isn't a traitor! And what is this sort of loving me forever business? Hmmmmmm?), Allie (Don't ya love a gal with a plan? I know I do...if only Artemis would fill me in...good luck refuging it up in the hotel!), EmiStone (Hello and welcome to my story where I answer your comment because I LIKE PEOPLE! Ha, no, sot really, but I love hearing from you guys! I'm so glad you like my story and yeah, my slip ups make me want to throw something, but what can ya do?), Keepmoveingforward2, sunnydayz56 (Red is somewhere not where everyone else is. He's coming in soon, don't you worry. And yeah, Batman is regretting saving her life right now. Teehee! That's my girl!), GrayAreas (Let's be totally honest here: I can't wait to find out where I'm going with this as well...and you called me mate. Day = made!), anon (well, now I have an excuse not to go to church tomorrow, cause, guys, anon just blessed my soul. I'm good. Ha, thanks! =)), 1103469 (I'd love you to Beta me, but seriously, only if you have time. And yes, I did have fun writing this chapter! XD), Wilhelmina Silver (Green Arrow is a-comin', don't you worry your amazing long-reviewing head about it! And yeah, her plan is something like that...)
Artemis was alone. Again. She sighed, thinking that she should be used to solitude by now. But, in her time with the team, with the Justice League, she'd become accustomed to being with...people. Weird, no? And now that she was on her own again, she felt hollow, empty. She missed her friends, she wanted to be with them, but, Artemis thought, feeling a cold bitterness settling over her, they wouldn't want anything to do with her. She'd made sure of that.
As soon as the League wasn't scouting her out any longer, Artemis had made her way to the Bio-Ship, knowing the craft would alert Miss M as soon as she made a move, but Artemis planned to be long gone by then. A shrill shriek screamed though the mental link and Artemis could feel Miss Martian come running, her mind briefly touching Artemis's to see who dared attack her beloved spaceship. Artemis grinned, allowing herself to be seen for a mere second before disconnecting, and blasting back into the woods.
"You can't touch me." Artemis had clawed into the pliable exterior of the ship. "Pathetic."
She needed more time, more time to figure out what the hell was wrong with her. Why the memory lapses, how had she survived...there were just too many questions to answer. And as long as she could turn into that psychopathic monster, they were all at risk. Suddenly, Red's face flashed behind her eyes. Then Robin, Wally, Oliver...everyone. All the friends she'd made in the League – her family. Their loss was like someone had carved out a piece of her heart. And she knew what they felt like – or at least, she knew what it felt like to have her heart completely shredded. Not fun. Artemis felt her throat close, her breathing become ragged, but fought the urge to break down. She was Artemis Crock, goddammit! Her dad was a monster, her mother was a saint, her friends were too good for her and she was the horrible abomination who was ruining all of their lives. The least she could do was stay tough while she did it.
A soft buzz rang in Artemis's pocket, like a cell phone vibration. Artemis peered at the name on the device's screen. Zatanna. Who was that? See, Artemis had rigged the Zeta beams – beams, as in plural – to alert her through her "cell phone" whenever anyone went in or out of the cave. The phone would buzz and a readout would appear of who had been transported. That way, they wouldn't get caught off guard like they did with the Reds. But Artemis had no idea who Zatanna was.
She dismissed it, too busy with her own business if someone who wasn't welcome in the Cave tried to beam in, an alarm would go off and Artemis would be there before the enemy could raise a weapon. Now, she needed to deal with the whole issue of her survival. And how. And why. Ugh, only a few of the millions of questions that were bouncing around in her skull. The headache didn't help matters much. Gritting her teeth, Artemis cracked open a window on the third story of the hospital and slipped through.
"Hello?" Crap. Figures that she would go into a room with a patient in it. Artemis hissed angrily. She needed to think this through. "Who's there?" the patient exclaimed, on the verge of panic. Artemis tightened the bandana around her nose and mouth and stepped into the artificial light, her bow nocked and ready to fire.
"One sound and it's the last one you'll ever make." Artemis threatened, not bluffing. The frail old man in the bed jerked and stiffened, silent at last. Artemis crept closer and peered at him. His eyes were milky white and opaque. He was blind; maybe someone was looking out for her after all. Artemis softly pressed a button on his hospital console and the old man's sightless eyes fluttered and closed. He wouldn't remember her when he woke up.
No one knew who she was here, no one would recognize her, so Artemis lost the mask and all-black ensemble, instead donning normal civvie clothing and walking through the halls like she had a right to be there.
"Can I help you?" a nurse asked kindly.
"No," Artemis sniffled. "I was just visiting my...sister. I'm fine, just going home for a while."
"Okay, dear, just let one of the nurses know if you need anything."
"'Kay." Artemis let a little tremor into her voice. The nurse patted her arm and went on her way. Artemis suppressed a grin. No one could lie like she could. Now all she had to do was...ah. There is was. She slipped into the little office, then locked it from the inside. No one would know.
"Artemis...Artemis..." she murmured, searching her name in the hospital database. There was nothing, no recollection that she'd ever been there. And yet, Gotham General was where she had woken up without her memory. Snarling and frustrated, Artemis slapped the desktop. Damn, why wasn't anything ever easy for her?
Unknown Patients. One file jumped out at her. They admitted patients who didn't gave their names? Hospitals could do that? Well, hospitals that admitted superheroes could, she guessed. Not daring to hope, Artemis clicked on the file, eyes widening marginally at the long list. Heroes got hurt a lot. There! One Jane Doe, fatal bullet wound to the chest that had somehow – through the grace of God, and, Artemis thought wryly, sheer stubbornness on her part – she'd pulled through. Artemis knew that it was her that the file spoke of. The date was right; just over a month ago, and it said that the patient had disappeared without a trace. Yeah, that sounded like her. But there was something else, as well.
"The patient was disconnected from the various machines keeping her alive. There was no signs that the equipment was tampered with, however, a small device designed to emit an electromagnetic pulse was found."
Someone had planted a bomb in her room, a bomb meant to kill her by shutting down the machines that kept her breathing. Artemis hissed. Someone. She knew who wanted her dead...besides almost every criminal in Gotham, that is. The League of Shadows. They were the only ones with the technology, intelligence and hatred to go to these kinds of lengths to kill her. She should be honored. Then, struck by a sudden thought, Artemis laughed harshly. They had thought that shutting down the machines would kill her, when really the electric pulse had jump-started her heart, made her stronger. Kept her alive. Oh, irony, how you keep things interesting.
"This is where the records are kept?" Oh for the love of all things holy.
"Can I never win?" Artemis grumbled to herself, exiting out of the file and shutting down the computer. It was just her luck that Oliver Queen would be in a Gotham hospital the very day that she was snooping through the medical records.
"Yes," another voice said – the nurse from before. "But, the door seems to be locked. Oh," she sighed distractedly. "I do hope that the girl was alright."
"Girl?" Oliver repeated sharply. "What girl?"
"Oh, just a girl visiting her sister."
"What did she look like?" Oliver demanded. Artemis scrambled to get the window open faster. He knew she was there.
"She was young, tall and blonde," the nurse said and Artemis swore.
"Artemis." Oliver murmured, then with an earsplitting crack, the door was knocked completely off of its hinges. Artemis stiffened and turned around, flashing Oliver an obnoxious, hundred-watt grin.
"Hey, Ollie." Artemis said, putting her hands on her hips, the embodiment of confidence, of defiance. "Miss me? Oh, who are you kidding, I know you did."
"Artemis." Oliver whispered again, looking stunned. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Oh, you know. Making mayhem, causing trouble. Consorting with the Injustice League and royally screwing the rest of you over. Your welcome for the plant-creatures, by the way." She took a half-step towards him and Oliver whipped out his bow and aimed it at her. Artemis tutted and wagged a finger at him. "Ah ah ah," she tsked. "Serious breach of security, Green Arrow. You really should work on your anonymity. Besides, you wouldn't shoot me."
"Why not?" Oliver spit through tightly clenched teeth.
"Oh," Artemis said airily, waving a hand, "because you love me."
"I would do it because I love you." Oliver said with conviction. "We need to get you help, get you home, where you'll be safe."
"Please, I am safe. I don't need any of you. Hell, you're the reason I got shot, remember?" Artemis laughed at the chagrined look on her old mentor's face. "Your emotions are going to be the end of you, Oliver." Artemis said coldly. "You won't shoot me because if you do, this entire place gets blown halfway to hell. And you, being the oh-so-noble hero that you are, won't let me do that." Artemis slowly lifted up the edge of her jacket, revealing six different grenades strapped there, connected by a single string that she held in her hand. It was a little trick she'd learned form the Joker, and now, Artemis was glad that she hadn't left her hideout without the explosives.
"You're bluffing."
"Have you ever known me to bluff? Come on, Ollie, you claim to know me so well. You know I don't give a damn about my own life. In fact..." Artemis popped one of the grenades out of her jacket, pulled the pin and rolled it to Oliver's feet.
"Get down!" Oliver tackled the nurse and shoved her out of the way as noxious smoke began puffing out of the grenade. With an eerie laugh, Artemis dove through the window like an Olympic high-diver, breaking form only to grab hold of a light-post and swing herself onto a building's roof. Artemis had been bluffing. The grenades were live, but they emitted a potent knockout gas, as opposed to an explosion. Oliver and the nurse would live, in fact, they'd probably wake up in less than an hour, but they'd have one hell of a headache.
Besides, she'd found what she'd been looking for.
Robin couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He hated that feeling.
"So, there's one thing that I don't get." Zatanna said, not picked up on Robin's unease. He tried to get back into the conversation. It had been his idea to show her around Gotham after all. They were walking down the street that separated High Side from the Narrows and Suicide Slum. Zatanna had insisted on seeing the slums of the city, as well as the nicer areas. "Why put the Zeta beam in Suicide Slum? Wouldn't it be easier to have it in a safer neighborhood?"
Robin snorted. "Nah. Me and Art – I mean, I'm the only one who uses it. And I'm not worried about the scum in this city." Nice going, Boy Wonder, Robin thought. He was an idiot sometimes, truly he was. Maybe it was Zatanna. She made him stupid. He really liked her, he did, but he couldn't help feeling guilty. He should be completely focused on finding Artemis, but being with Zatanna made him...happy. Was that horrible? That he was finding happiness when his whole life had gone to hell? They'd only hung out a couple of times – Zatara was overprotective like you wouldn't believe – but Robin had had fun, and it had been easy, like they'd known each-other for years.
"I know." Zatanna said softly. "I know about the girl who you're all looking for. Artemis. My dad told me."
"Well then you know that she wasn't afraid of the things that stalk around Gotham after dark." Hell, she used to be one of them. Maybe she still was.
"What is she like?" Zatanna asked after a tense silence that seemed to stretch on forever.
"Angry." Robin said immediately. "Artemis hates just about everything." He grinned suddenly. "And everyone. She's impulsive, reckless, sarcastic and has absolutely no regard for her own safety. She is a vicious fighter and will kill without a second thought. She's kicked the crap out of he more often than I'm willing to admit. She's my best friend."
"Your best friend was an assassin?" Zatanna asked skeptically, crossing her arms.
"No. Not an assassin." Robin corrected sharply. "Artemis isn't an assassin." Damn, now he sounded like he was trying to convince himself. "She would give her life for any of us. Even hers. She's the only reason that I'm alive. She took a bullet that was meant to me and it almost killed her. Artemis would do anything to keep us safe."
"What do you mean?" Zatanna asked, eager for details.
"Artemis was captured by the League of Shadows." Robin explained. "They tortured her, they almost killed her and they used a hallucinogen that almost drove her insane, and all she had to do to make it stop was tell them who we were and where we were stationed. She didn't. Not when they threatened her life, not when they electrocuted her so brutally that her organs almost shut down. Artemis wouldn't give them anything."
"You all really care about her." Zatanna said, feeling a small pang of jealousy. The way he talked about Artemis, the way they all did, made her feel inferior. They idolized her, as if she was infallible.
"Well, yeah. She was like my sister and my best friend. Artemis was always there for me. She was the only one who would spar with Superboy; she and Wally had some of the most epic, ridiculous fights I've ever seen in my entire life; she strategized with Aqualad and she was M'gann's Earth sister. Long story." He added, seeing Zatanna's confused look. "But she wasn't just part of our team...she was a part of our family."
"I wish I could've met her."
"Me too." Robin said quietly. "You two would've gotten along great." They walked along in silence for a while, both content with silence. Robin felt Artemis's loss more acutely than ever now that he had unloaded on Zatanna. What he wouldn't give for her to be herself, safe and home, now. He needed advice. He wanted her for girl advice. Robin suppressed a laugh. The famous Robin, partner to the Caped Crusader, wanted his psychotic friend to tell him how to act around a girl. Classic.
"Get down!" a frantic, hoarse voice shouted from above them. Robin pulled Zatanna and forced her down onto the street as a bullet whizzed by their heads. Arching his neck, Robin saw an arrow fly though the air and nail a masked man in the chest. Another shot rang through the night and the owner of the voice grunted in pain and then the dark figure tumbled off of the roof above them towards the ground.
"hctaC!" Zatanna shouted, her voice laced with power. The shadow slowed before laying suspended in the air. In the light.
"Artemis?"
Artemis hadn't been following Robin and Zatanna. Really. She'd been following the creepy guy with a gun who was clearly stalking someone. The fact that his target was Robin and a dark-haired girl who she didn't know was just a cruel twist of fate. Protective and pissed that they were in danger, Artemis had kept a close eye on the man following them, armed and ready to take him out.
"Get down!" Artemis screamed, seeing the man raise his gun and shoot. The two obliged on instinct and Artemis loosed an arrow that buried itself in the man's chest, killing him instantly. Unfortunately, the bad guys always seemed to have friends. Another gun fired and this time, Artemis was the target. She bit her lip to keep from crying out as the bullet slammed into her arm, probably shattering the bone. Yeah, but that wasn't the worst part. The force of impact sent Artemis reeling and she fell backwards over the edge of the roof.
Honestly, it was the first time where a free-fall wasn't fun.
"hctaC!" a girl's voice rang out in the night and Artemis felt herself slowing through the air.
"Artemis?" She would've recognized Robin's voice anywhere. Artemis jerked, landing on the balls of her feet and rocking back and forth, her back against the wall with Robin and the girl – who Artemis now figured was Zatanna – blocking her exits. Her arm was useless; she couldn't use her bow. And the only other weapon she had on her was a small dagger. She tried for a moment to connect to the electricity that coursed through her veins, but it was no good, she was too rattled, in too much pain to concentrate the energy. Artemis knew one thing with terrifying certainty.
She couldn't get out of this.
As soon as the thought solidified in her mind, the edges of Artemis's vision began to blur, the pressure in her head increasing until she almost couldn't handle it anymore. Artemis moaned, dropping to her knees, her hands pressed to her temples.
"Artemis!" Robin cried, rushing to her side.
"Get...away...from me." Artemis managed, spitting the words through her teeth.
"Are you okay?" Zatanna asked. Even through the pain, Artemis fixed her with a venomous look.
"No...I'm doing this...for...fun." Artemis snarled. "Leave...me..." She was losing the fight against herself and if she blacked out, when she woke up it wasn't going to be pretty. For them, at least. She knew her crazy self would revel in their destruction.
"I'm not leaving you again." Robin said stubbornly.
"Take me out then!" Artemis screamed, panicked.
"laaF peelsa." The pain ebbed away, the darkness changed, becoming peaceful, inviting, and Artemis submitted gratefully into its embrace.
When she came to, Artemis was herself. Weird, no? Next time she was about to lose herself to her alter, all she had to do was have someone magic her into unconsciousness. Then again, Artemis wanted to stay about as far away from magic as possible. It was bad enough having Miss M in her head sometimes, she didn't need a magician screwing with her mind as well.
"Are you awake."
"No, Boy Wonder, my eyes are open and I'm staring at you because your girlfriend spelled me. Are you done with the stupid questions now?"
"You can't get out of this." Robin warned her. "Zatanna is guarding the exits and Batman and Green Arrow are on their way."
"Ooh, you tattled on me. Not very nice." Artemis drawled, nonchalantly observing her surroundings. She was strapped to a chair, in a large building. And she had about two minutes to get the hell out or she was screwed. And if she was, so were they. Robin, I'm so sorry. Artemis thought, then closed her eyes, focusing. When she opened them, her irises danced with sparks and the room smelled faintly of ozone the second before she released an enormous amount of electricity into the air. Every gadget in Robin's tool belt short-circuited and died, and Robin looked at her for only a moment more before his eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped. Artemis wriggled out of the ropes binding her and went to him, gently pushing his black hair off of his forehead and almost drowning in regret, guilt and pain. Smoke filled her nostrils and Artemis stole a look upward. She'd set the ceiling on fire. Oops. Artemis bolted towards the door, then turned back towards the fallen form on the ground. She couldn't leave him, he'd be burned alive. Robin was small, he didn't weigh much, and Artemis hefted him over her shoulder with little difficulty. She got him out through a back door and made sure he was safe in one of the alleys, but then hurried away herself. She couldn't be caught.
From her perch high on the rooftops, Artemis watched Zatanna find Robin, check his pulse, make sure he was alright- ish. Artemis thought hard at the girl, searching for a glimmer of – yes. She'd been connected to the team once.
Zatanna. Artemis's mental voice was different than her physical one; the new girl wouldn't recognize it. She saw the dark head jerk around, looking for whoever was speaking to her and Artemis was glad that M'gann had taught her the trick for having a one-on-one mental conversation. Don't worry about Robin, he's fine.
Who are you? Zatanna demanded, clearly freaked out. Well, if she was expected to be Artemis's replacement on the team, she'd better get used to voices in her head.
Someone who needs you to send a message. Tell the team that Artemis is beyond saving. She's not worth coming after and that she'll never go willingly. Artemis swallowed the lump in her throat. Tell them that she's never coming back and that if they're lucky, they'll never see her again. Tell them not to get themselves killed over her. She's gone. Artemis didn't wait for a response, but killed the connection. Her mouth made a tiny O of surprise and Artemis raised a hand to her cheek, shocked to find it wet. She hadn't shed tears in years.
And so, for the first time in five years, Artemis wrapped her arms around herself and let tears spill down her cheeks.
Soooo what do we think of this new twist? Hmmmmmm? And what do we think our girl has up her sleeve?
Now, on a more serious note, I just want yu guys to know that all the positive feedback means a lot to me, even (especially) the constructive stuff. I've been having, what you might call, an identity crisis with friend drama and all that crapola that seems to come with being a teenager, and this has really been keeping me sane, so to you all, thanks, from the bottom of my heart. And to top off my horrible week, I got punched in the face and now look like I was jumped by the Joker and he missed my mouth and slashed open my chin instead. A word to the wise: avoid being hit by people with rings on. Not fun.
So, tell me what you think (and some words of encouragment would not go amiss) and I loves ya!
~Fae