Chapter 26
Last chapter Mariko joined the Team, whether or not she's actually joining for good is still to be discovered. In regards to the actual show; I love Green Beetle's smile. It's funny. Anyway ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!
Mariko laid on her bed in her room. She had joined the team yesterday, and was now spending time thinking over her situation. She then sat up.
"Can I really do this?" she mumbled to herself, she looked over to Tony who was fast asleep in his own bed with his dog. She sighed, it didn't matter if she could do it—she'd have to. To get revenge, to destroy Vandal Savage; for everything he did. For killing Takumi.
"In this loose, unstable, crumbling world, I'll create a revolution, I turned 'Love' into the solution." Mariko mumbled to herself as she laid back down on her bed. She then sighed, "I hate moving."
~0~
Later that day the male half of Team was sitting in the living room of the Cave playing video games. When Mariko came in she was ultimately ignored by the boys, which she was fine with. She walked to one of the chairs and sat down she then began to silently watch them as they played. After a while Wally hit pause and looked to Mariko.
"What is you're deal?" He asked, Mariko looked up at him.
"What are you talking about?" she asked with a frown. "I haven't done anything."
Wally stood and glared down at her as there was a lingering silence over everything, Mariko frowned, she knew what this was. He didn't trust her—not that she really blamed anyone there for that—but still weren't the good guys supposed to be…well, good?
"Yaknow I don't want to be here either!" She shouted as she stood, "But like it or not I am. And there's nothing I or you can do about it."
"You could always go back to Arkham—that's where you belong." Wally said Robin looked up as Mariko glared.
"Have you ever been inside an asylum?" She said in a low hiss, "They aren't fun, and no human being sane or not deserves to be there. You're not a human being there; you're garbage. Perhaps you should take a trip there and see what it's like, then maybe you'd understand why I'd rather join a team than go back, Wally."
Wally glared, and grabbed Mariko by the shirt collar, "How do you know my real name?"
"M'gaan told me; she told me everyone's name," Mariko said calmly, then looked to Robin, "Except his of course; seems no one knows who you really are Robin."
Robin frowned and looked back to the paused game silently. Wally huffed and dropped Mariko on the ground. She straightened up her shirt and frowned, she hadn't been able to change out of the clothes she had gotten from Arkham. She sighed.
"Whatever; I can tell I'm not wanted here." She mumbled, and walked away. As she walked out she bumped into Zatanna. She glared down at her.
"I see no one knows how to conceal their anger around here." Mariko mumbled as she looked up at the black haired magician. Zatanna glared.
"You're insane." She said.
"Am not; I'm a genius. There's a difference." Mariko said sweetly, "Not that an idiot girl like you would know. Even Robin knows that I have a superior mind."
Zatanna frowned, and shook her head as she walked away towards the living room. Mariko sighed, and walked off to.
"I'm starting to wonder if Batman's a sadist." She mumbled.
"Mariko!" M'gaan shouted happily as she flew over to her. "I've been wondering where you were, when I went to your room I only found Tony. That guy can really sleep."
Mariko nodded. M'gaan frowned.
"Yaknow we should probably get you some new clothes," she said, Mariko perked, "and some stuff to put in your room; it'll make you feel more at home here."
Mariko suddenly felt shy; the only person that had ever shown her that much kindness ended up betraying her. She didn't know what to think anymore.
'Don't worry Mariko; you can trust people here, I promise. No one will betray you here. Just give it some time they'll come around.' M'gaan said via link. Mariko frowned.
"No offence but after all the crap I've done with Savage; I don't think I can be trusted." She said, M'gaan shrugged.
"I told you; there's some good in you, you just have to let it come out. I'm sure when we go on a mission you'll see that too." She said, "And I'm not the only one who thinks that."
"Come on; we'll invite Artemis and Zatanna to come with us. We'll have a girls day." She then said, Mariko looked down the hall.
"Yeah I don't think that'd be wise; Zatanna isn't a fan." She said, M'gaan nodded.
"Don't worry, she'll come around too." She said, as the two looked for Artemis and headed toward the Bio-ship.
As the trio rode on the bio-ship Mariko took off her belt and began fidgeting with one of her gadgets when Artemis looked over.
"So, uh Mariko, have you thought of what you're going to call yourself once you go out into the field?" She asked, Mariko looked up.
"Not really, and as far as field work goes; I'm more of an intellect, I'm not so good with combat." She said.
"Oh that'll change when you start training with Black Canary. She trains us all; even Robin." M'gaan said, Mariko shrugged.
"Right; usually I leave all of that to Tony," she said, as she put her remote back together.
"So what is that you're doing?" M'gaan asked, Mariko looked down.
"Just some hardwiring my old remote; it used to fire a low level beam of electricity, but I've modified it to a higher frequency." She said. "If I'm going to help take Savage down, I'll need something bigger."
"Speaking of which, Mariko," Artemis began, "What did make you change your mind about the Light."
"That's not up for discussion." Mariko said matter-o-factly, "If you don't mind I'd like to keep some secrets to myself."
"Fair enough," Artemis said, then looked to M'gaan who shrugged.
~0~
"Where'd the other girls go?" Zatanna asked as she walked into the den of the Cave.
"Last I heard they were taking Mariko to buy some new clothes." Robin said, Zatanna frowned.
"I don't see why we have to trust this girl." She said, Robin shrugged.
"I don't blame anyone for that; but right now she's probably the thing we have against the light." He explained.
"That is assuming she decides to turn on them." Zatanna said bitterly. Robin frowned.
"I don't think she's on their side anymore; I don't know exactly what happened but Mariko no longer sees the Light as her ally anymore." He said, Zatanna gave Robin a confused look.
"You trust her?" she asked.
"I do."
"Why?" Zatanna asked, confused that Robin who had been ready to send Mariko to Arkham the first time she kidnapped him, why was he being so trusting of her now?
"Mariko knows who I am my real identity," Robin said, Zatanna stared, "She hasn't told anyone not even Savage when she first found out. That's why I trust her."
"Because she's kept your secret all this time?" Zatanna asked, Robin nodded.
"If you trust her; then I guess I can too." She said with a slight smile.
"Good. Now we just have to convince the others to trust her too." Robin said.
"Shouldn't be too hard." Zatanna said, Robin shrugged.
"I'm not so sure." He said. "I'm hoping that once we're on a mission she'll show that she can be trusted; I think Batman might be thinking the same thing to be honest."
"Guess there's one way to find out." Zatanna said.
~0~
"Alright usually I don't do special training exercises; however since our newest members don't have any actual training, I've made an exception." Canary said, then looked to Tony and Mariko, only to see that Mariko was nowhere to be found. "Where is Mariko."
"In her room," Tony mumbled, "She doesn't really do much fighting."
Canary scowled, and looked to Tony and his dog who growled.
"Go get her; these training sessions are mandatory." She said, Tony nodded.
"I can try; but she doesn't really listen to me." He said, then went to find Mariko. When he did she was in the room, as originally thought, she was tinkering with her belt.
"Miss Mariko," He called Mariko looked up and turned to him.
"What?" she groaned removing her goggles.
"Black Canary needs you to report to the main hall for combat training." Tony mumbled, Mariko scowled.
"Pass." She said then turned to her belt, Tony sighed.
"She said it was mandatory." He said, Mariko frowned.
"I don't do fighting; that's your job Tony-boy." She said, "So shoo-shoo; I have work to do."
Tony sighed, then a thought came to his mind. He walked up to Mariko and grabbed her around the waist.
"What are you doing?" Mariko shouted, "Put me down! Hey!"
"Sorry Miss Mariko; but she says its mandatory. I don't want you getting into trouble." Tony said as he carried Mariko to the Main Hall.
"You stupid cyborg! Put me down NOW!" Mariko shouted. "I swear when I get through with you you'll be scrap."
"Oddly I think I'll take that chance. Miss." Tony said a little confidently. Mariko frowned.
"Oh great the one time you grow a backbone." She grunted.
Yay filler! Ugh I hate it; it took me an entire week to do this chapter and it's mostly filler. I'm sorry, but hey this week's Young Justice was good; I kinda like green beetle. His grin made me laugh. Haha man I want to see a Klarion episode; *pouty* haha oh well such is life no? anyhow review and I hope to have a much better chapter next time. 'see you later armadillos—unless I see you first. Haha!'