Oh my goodness! HERE WE GO
00000-00000
Sports Master hated following orders, but even he knew there were times that you needed to step down to reach a larger goal later. As for now, you could call him 'The crazy Doctor's assistant."
He was Cenver's henchman, and oddly enough, it wasn't a job that he couldn't stand. Cenver let him do what he wanted, and the pay was quite nice. Plus, he always enjoyed messing with those young heroes.
The only thing that bugged him were the Projects Cenver spoke of. He knew of Project N, has even met her once before, but it frustrated him that the last time he encountered her he couldn't fight back.
Cenver's been assuring him that he'll have his chance for payback.
"To think of everyone project Match would end up with, it would be her. It is quite amusing." Cenver chuckled
If things weren't good enough, turns out, as a precautionary measure since they lost their previous projects before, Cenver placed a tracking chip within the secondary super clone, Match. They had sent the Riddler to investigate the location, and he came back with the interesting news that this clone was not alone.
From the pictures he took, Cenver became quite pleased when they realized these other people were in fact their missing projects. The convenience.
They would be sending someone to pick them up shortly.
For now, he had to focus on getting the Justice League and their little side kicks to do what they needed them too.
"I received the package." He spoke into the monitor. There was a slight shift behind him. He didn't move or turn around, but he could sense it. Someone was in the room with him. He ignored it for now however and continued to talk with Cenver.
"Very good SportsMaster. I shall wait for its arrival. For the time being I am getting into position and meeting up with Savage." Cenver said. He couldn't see their face, but it wasn't often that they showed it anyway. Their voice sounded similar to static and it was hard to fully make out what they were saying, "I trust it wasn't too difficult however to collect the package?"
"A simple bank robbery is never a problem for me." Sports Master smirked, "Though I wish you would have given me a better target. One with a little more challenge."
"I'll keep that in mind for next time. Our next stage is already in motion. Bat Man and a few other Justice Leaguers have begun to look into the disappearance of our Projects, as well as the death of Joseph Kentin." they announced.
This didn't surprise him. In fact, he thought it took them long enough to get this far, "Then they already know about the other projects?"
"Not necessarily." Cenver disagreed. "I believe the Justice League is aware of that they are alive, but not of what happened to them after the fire. I believe that is what they are looking into. They are most likely even trying to figure out how Project A ended up at Cadmus in the first place."
The smirk pulling at SportsMaster face was starting to hurt his cheeks. Things were just going too well for their plan. How Cenver managed to plan this all step by step and those stupid heroes follow it perfectly is a mystery to him. "Then Phillis Kentin?" He asked.
There was a small pause on the other line, "… We change her location tomorrow night."
"Roger that." Sport Master nodded. "And what should I do with Red Arrow?" he glanced over his shoulder.
Red Arrow, who had heard the call of the bank robbery had followed Sports Master all the way here, flinched within the shadows.
No one ever snuck up on Sports master, and he wouldn't be tracked by a pathetic side kick today. He was well aware Red Arrow had been there the entire time, but what was the point of stopping the conversation just to kick the red nuisance out?
"Oh, would you be a dear and get rid of the little bug? Speak with you later." Cenver sighed, ending the call.
Realizing he was caught red handed, Red Arrow leapt to his feet, firing a few arrows. Sports Master easily avoided them, grabbing the suitcase and flipping back. Tossing the suitcase into a car, he threw a few knives at the young hero.
Barely avoiding them, one grazing his arm, Red arrow hissed at the cut, "Give up Sports Master!" he yelled.
"Sorry kid. Not in my nature." He lifted a bomb from his belt, chucking it before he leapt into his car and started the engine. Red Arrow gasped at the sight, firing one last arrow at the car before he leapt out the window. It stuck to the back bumper, leasing a small tracking device to attach to it before the arrow fell to the floor.
Seconds later, the building erupted into flames and smoke.
Hitting the ground, Red Arrow rolled into the closest trash can, grunting. "Well… not my best exit." He grumbled, heaving himself up. Reaching into his pocket, he looked down at a small device. The tracker would be his only way to track Sports Master from here. It wasn't much, but he had a lead on where he was going.
Phillis Kentin.
He wasn't sure who that was, whether it was an ally or a hostage of Sports Master, but either way, he had to be there when they moved her. To do that though, he would need help from the team.
00000-Arinna-00000
"So… Are we not gonna talk about this?' Zatanna asked casually from her bowl of cereal.
"I don't really know what to say." Artemis admitted. Wally, Zatanna, Artemis and me were seated around the circular table in the kitchen. Robin had left some time ago saying there was something he needed to do and the rest of us were sitting in silence.
We had left the closet in a similar fashion, no one speaking a word.
How could we?
"Well, we have to do something." Zatanna continues, "Force them to talk to us or something. Demand to know what they know."
"Yeah." Wally agreed heatedly, anger in his eyes. "I mean, I was sick of this back in July with them keeping secrets from us. I thought with us forming this team some trust was earned or something but apparently not! They still treat us like… ugh, like side kicks!" he roared. Artemis reached a hand out, running her fingers along his shoulder to calm him. He lowered himself back to his seat, huffing. "Sorry…"
"It's legit rage." Zatanna sighed. "I hated when my own Dad would do this. Having a whole League do it doesn't feel much better."
"And the way they talked…" Artemis mumbled, "It's like they figured out something about Arinna's past." She glanced at me. "And you would think that they would tell her if they did. Not keep it to themselves."
I tightened my grip around the cup I was holding. I hadn't taken a bite of anything since this morning. Even with an empty stomach I felt ready to throw up. "…Maybe it isn't good news." I say weakly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Corpses… a fire… T-They…." I paused to take a few breaths. "They said I was dead. Or… suppose to be dead?"
The others frowned, glancing at each other. "Hey." Wally reached around to grip my shoulder. "We'll figure this out. Together." He promised. "You're not in this alone."
I nodded numbly. Wally always knew the right things to say. "T-Thanks Wally."
"For now we need a plan." Artemis concluded. "Or better yet, make a decision. Do we wait, or go question the League."
"I say we question. No- we force the answers out of them." Wally growled. "They got no right to keep anything from Arinna."
"I agree, but just because we go to them doesn't mean they will answer. If nothing else, they may just shut us out, preventing us from finding out anything at all." Zatanna says. "We might want to consider the option of us finding out the information without letting them know."
"What do you mean by that?" I inquired.
"They have to have proof of your past somewhere right? In their computers or a flash drive. If we can get a hold of that and look through it, they can't deny anything once we ask them where they got it later." she explained.
"If they even have anything…" Artemis trailed off.
"You don't just have a conversation like that without knowing something first." Wally glanced at her. 'They know something, and from what I can tell, they've known it for a while. I'm with Zatanna on this. I'm not waiting for the League. I say we find it out ourselves."
Artemis looked perplexed, "Well say they do and it's one some computer or what not. I'm not really a hacker and if it is on a flashdrive in Bat Man's possession, I'm not too keen about stealing from him. Well, not that is a lie. I would be fine with stealing from Bat Man, I'm just not sure if I could."
"True." Zatanna nodded knowingly. She glanced at me. "...What do you wanna do Arinna?"
A breath caught in my throat, "I…" I choked, coughing. "Sorry."
"It is okay." They say. "Take your time. This is some big news."
I was grateful for that, "I don't know." I admit, "I don't like the idea of the League hiding something from me. But after what I heard, I'm not sure if I want to know what they found out." Well, I already didn't want to know about my past, but now I'm really not looking forward to it. "If they have something, I want them to at least admit they do. I don't like being in the dark and then expected to do things for no reason." forcing down my doubt, I tightened my grip on the cup.
You can't run from this forever Arinna.
Feeling as if a voice was coaxing me into this, I nodded. "Okay. I wanna see just how much they know."
"Alright." Wally grinned. "That is what I'm talking about." he gave me a high five. "So, how do we go about this?"
"First we need to figure out where they are keeping this information. I mean, it is Bat Man, he always makes a written copy of information he has learned somewhere right? We just gotta find out where." Artemis says.
Zatanna looked a little pale, "Then, probably the Bat Cave, right?"
"Pfft, I can get in there easily." Wally scoffed.
Artemis rolled her eyes almost… affectionately, at him, "Yeah, but can you hack into the computers there?"
He deflated, "Well, no… I mean, if you gave me some time maybe." he shrugged. "I'm not Robin okay. But I'm sure he could if we got him on board with this. He hates it even more than I do when Bat Man keeps him in the dark." he paused, "I wonder where he ran off to anyway?"
"Who knows." Zatanna shrugged. "Let's consider some other options though. The information probably isn't in any of the Cave's computers. But, it might be up in Red Tornado's room. Or in his own memory banks." she offered.
"Are you suggesting we hack Red Tornado?" Artemis gawked at her. Can one even do that?
I blinked once, then twice. ...Red Tornado.
"He wouldn't ever tell us." Wally folded his arms. "He follows the rules of the League, not the team."
"Well maybe but-"
As the three of them talked about it, my mind seemed stuck on Red Tornado. He always answered every question I ever had, no matter how awkward or strange it may be. He promised to be truthful with me at all times and under order of the Leagues and his own agreement, he would answer any question I had.
"I could-" my voice cracked, catching the other's attention. "I could ask him." I offered.
"Red Tornado?" they blinked. I nodded.
"He always answers my questions."
Wally hesitated, "Well, yeah he does." he agreed, "But if the League told him to be quiet about this-" he glanced at the others.
Zatanna was rubbing her chin, "It might be worth a shot."
"Just go up and ask him huh? Yeah, that won't inform the League that we were spying on them or anything."
"If I ask him not to say anything to the League he won't." I assure her quickly. "Red Tornado has always kept secrets for me if I asked. Like- Like one time, I went all the way to Hawaii in the middle of the night and when I got home I asked him not to tell anyone and he didn't." I paused, "But now all of you know that…"
"Yeah." they narrowed their eyes.
"Why?" Artemis questioned my middle of the night road trip.
"And why wouldn't you take me with you?" Wally's eyes were wide.
I shrugged sheepishly, "I couldn't sleep."
Deciding to put that aside, the others exchanged looks. "Okay, we should try it. Let's go ask Red Tornado."
00000- Later-0000
I had never felt more nervous to ask one question in my entire life. I mean, I once asked Red Tornado where babies come from for Pete's sake. And while the conversation was strange and confusing, I wasn't the least bit nervous to ask it.
But this was different. I was about to ask him about my entire life. About my very being and everything it included.
Glancing over my shoulder nervously, I could see the others peeking out at me from behind the corner. Wally gave me a thumbs up.
I hesitantly gave him one back, shuffling to the center of the room where Red Tornado was. He was on the computer, typing in a report from earlier that day. His head turned and he spotted me. "Arinna." he says.
"Oh uh… h-hey." I waved to him. "W-What are you doin?." stop stuttering!
"Filing a report from my mission earlier this morning." he answered automatically. "Is there something you need?"
I nodded slowly, reluctantly. "...Yeah."
"Then I assume this topic involves the conversation you overheard between the League and me earlier." he didn't turn his head from the screen. My whole body tensed, my heart skipping a breath. I could tell the others were going stiff behind me.
"You-" I stumbled, "You knew we were listening?" I whispered in shock.
"I always know where you are Arinna. As your, as you say, "Den Mother", it is my job to assure you are in the best state of health you can be. I can not do that if I am unaware of your location throughout the day."
That didn't sound comforting, "What so-" I glanced at myself. "You put a tracker on me or something?"
"I would never do that." he assured me. "I focus all of my scanners to your biometric signature every 30 minutes to check on you. I suppose that almost counts as a tracker however. If that bothers you I will stop."
I didn't know what to say to that. I mean, it was almost sweet in a way-okay to me, having Red Tornado do that when he had no gain from it and is doing it just for the sake of seeing if I was okay is extremely sweet, and it was nice to know he was watching out from me. "I mean… it is kind of weird but really sweet and I'm touched and you are amazing-" he never tells me I can never go somewhere or do something. He just keeps an eye on me when I do. I can live with that. "It is fine." I say. "Thanks for always looking out for me."
"We are friends."
I teared up my hand moving to my chest, touched, "You're gonna make me cry." I say
"Unintentionally, I assure you."
This strange watery laugh comes out of me and I rub my eyes, "So then, about earlier. About what Bat Man was talking to you about. You know something about my past?"
"Yes." he says.
I took a few heavy breaths, "A lot of it?"
"Yes."
"...Is it bad?" my vision blurred.
He didn't reply for a while, "I am not sure what your definition of Bad would be for this situation." he admitted, "However, there are tragedies that are within your past."
I bit my lip, my knees buckling. Just as I felt ready to fall over, Red Tornado moved towards me, grabbing my arms and leading me to a chair. "It would be best for you to sit down." he offered, lowering me to a seat. "Perhaps the others would care to join us?" he looked to the hall.
Wally stuck his head out, his cheeks puffed out, "Man, how do you always do that?" he grumbled. Stepping out, the others moved to join us.
"Alright Red, spill." Artemis folded her arms.
He turned, and as he did, the rest of the team began to enter the room. He paused as they entered, glancing at me. I didn't know what to do.
Conner on the other hand looked confused as he walked in on the scene. "What's going on?" he asked.
Wally and Artemis glanced at each other. "Uh…."
"An intervention?" Zatanna guessed.
"An intervention for who exactly?" M'gann question, seeing that I was the only one sitting in a chair, but there were plenty of other people in the room.
"Red Tornado?" Wally shrugged. "Or, maybe Arinna? Most Red Tornado."
"Actually, I would say this is more of an interogation over an intervention." Artemis admitted.
The others were confused.
"Is something wrong then?" Kaldur moved forward, stepping behind my chair and putting a hand on my shoulder. He attempted to give me a look, hoping to ask the question if I was alright. I couldn't answer.
"The decision is yours on what we do from this point on Arinna." Red Tornado's voice echoed. "If you wish to know what knowledge I have come across, I shall tell you it all. If you wish to wait, I will do so as well."
"What is he talking about?" Rocket inquired.
"We- uh… it is a long story." Wally looked nervous. "Basically, if you want the short version, we were spying on the League and learned some things."
"Spying?" Kaldur looked shocked. "Why would you do that?"
"Because they are keeping something from us, that is why." Artemis grunted. "Isn't that right, Red Tornado?"
"I shall not deny it." he agreed
This seemed to anger those who just joined us. "I thought we had moved past lies and deceit." Kaldur said in a dark tone.
"Guess the League still doesn't trust us." Conner growled. "So, what is the big secret? What have you been keeping from us?"
"...Me." I say. Conner's expression fell into confusion. "They… they know about my past."
"Whoa…" Rocket's eyes widened. "Heavy stuff."
This words seemed to enrage him and he lunged for Tornado. "Conner don't!" I say as my brother slams into him.
"And you didn't bother to tell us!" Conner was screaming.
Red Tornado, the voice of reason now and forever, says, "I was asked by the League to tell no one. However, a previous order always involves me answering any question Arinna asks. I only waited for her to inquire about her past. As they say, if one wants to know an answer, they should go looking for it, not wait for it to come to them."
Conner's grip didn't falter, but his shoulders slowly relaxed when M'gann flew over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Let's hear what he has to say Conner."
With a begrudging acceptance, he dropped Tornado back to the floor and sauntered back. "Okay fine. Tell us then."
"Only if that is what Arinna wishes."
The eyes on the room turned to me. This was it. I either learn everything now, or run back to my room and pray to forget this day. I knew I couldn't do that though. The others wanted to know, even more than I really did. And I can't just run away from this. It is cowardly.
I didn't want to be seen as a coward in my friend's eyes. They all had tough pasts, didn't they? What right did I have just to turn my back on mine?
...But oh how I wish I could.
"T-Tell me." I stammer.
"I was hoping you would say that." From the ringing in my ears, I hadn't even noticed the Zata tube burst to life and Robin step out.
"Robin." I gasp. His expression was grim as he approached us.
"Dude, where have you been?" Wally demanded.
"Gathering information. As well as hacking into the Bat Cave." he held up a flash drive, stating that he basically broke into to his mentor's files with a casual shrug, like he did it every other day. I wouldn't put it past him if he did. "I think it is about time you explain all of this Tornado." he narrowed his eyes at our Den Mother. The robot nodded, allowing Robin to plug the flash drive into the cave's main computer, pulling up multiple pictures and new reports.
We watched quietly as this happened, our eyes scanning wildly over the screen.
"W-What is…" my heart caught in my throat as a picture of a younger me slid over the screen. At first I almost wanted to pray it wasn't me, but the eyes, hair and smile were unmistakable.
"Bat Man had all of this?" Kaldur demanded. There weren't any positive answers yet from what we could see, but these were definitely pictures from my past. How he got a hold of these were still unknown.
"Yes." Robin grumbled.
"Of course he did." Conner growled venomously. "Why should we be surprised?"
"Why…" I trailed off.
Robin looked away, "I thought he would have told me about this, but after what we heard earlier, I had to look into it." he said to no one in particular. "Bat Man probably knows by now that I took it."
"Heard earlier?' Rocket leaned in towards me.
I bit my lip, "When we went spying on Bat Man and the others. That is how we knew they found out something."
"So then they had all of this?" she demanded. "Can someone please explain to me what is goin' on? Why would they keep this from you? I mean, this is some serious stuff right? All the stuff in your past that you don't remember. This is stuff you should know."
"I don't know." Robin turned away, frustrated in that question too. "All I do know is that this is all the information Bat Man gathered up until you turned 9 years old."
"Why only up to 9?" M'gann frowned. Robin looked away, something bothering him.
"Well… this isn't easy to say-" he cleared his throat. It is never good if it is something Robin struggles to talk about. "I've looked through it all." he announced, "I thought you would want to see this for yourself over me just telling you." he hesitated, "If you think you are ready."
Was I ready?
No. No I definitely wasn't.
"Can I… b-before we start, how did you find all of this?' I asked Tornado.
"The picture." he answered.
"The… picture?" I was confused. Before he could explain, my mind flashed back to Psimon. The picture he had given me. "Wait-" I cut him off. "That picture."
"What picture?" Kaldur glanced at me.
"One that mission to stop Queen Bee." I explain quickly. "W-When I was alone with Psimon, he said he knew about my past. Then he gave me a photo of when I was little." The team looked torn between yelling at me for keeping this to myself and assuring me it would be okay. "I didn't know what to do with it, so I gave it to Red Tornado to look into it if he could. I guess that picture was all you needed to figure everything out."
"Not everything." he disagreed, "It did send me on the right track however." he reached his hand out to the computer, clicking a button. The picture I found came up on the screen. It almost pained me to look at it again. To stare at those faces that I don't remember. "The building you are standing in front of is the Star Labs facility in Philadelphia."
"Philadelphia." Wally murmured, eyes flashing to a sort of realization. He glanced at me, but said nothing. He didn't need to say anything for me to know what was on his mind. He already connected it together. Most likely, I once lived in Philadelphia.
"Using the records from the facility, we found out your last name and the rest of the information just followed suit. Turns out, you were enrolled in many programs at Star Labs." Tornado finished.
"Enrolled?" Zatanna asked. "Don't you have to be like a genius or something to be put in programs there?"
"Yes." Red Tornado answered, like the answer should be obvious. Conner on the other hand was pursing his lips, giving us a strangled face.
"Wait are you saying… Arinna is a genius?" his voice cracked and he was struggling to keep a poker face.
"Thanks Bro." I grumbled.
"Yes." Red Tornado nodded despite the looks. "A prodigy." Realizing he was being serious, Conner gawked at him.
"Seriously? No way. This log?!" he pointed wildly to me. I swatted his hand away.
"Hey-" I paused, "Wait really?" I asked. "ME?" Okay, I'll admit, maybe Conner was right about this. There is no way I could be considered a genius in anything.
Instead of trying to explain it to us, Red Tornado pulled up a few files to show us. The proof was in the fine print. I was enrolled in college level courses, top of the class that were all adults.
"...And it's official, my mind is blown." Wally put his hands to his head and made an exploding sound. The next 2 to 4 minutes were taken to consider the fact that I was supposedly once a genius but now can barely count to 70. It gets hard when it reaches 60, don't judge me!
"Arinna Revnec Kentin." Rocket readaloud. "So that is your name." she smiled. Arinna Revnec Kentin. The name set me on edge. I didn't like it.
But… it felt familiar A distasteful nostalgia, if that makes sense at all.
There were so many files and pictures to look at, I didn't know what to read. Honestly, as much as I tried, I just couldn't seem to process the words, so I relied mostly on what the others noted on. How they were shocked I entered Star Labs so young, or how it seemed that both of my parents appeared to work at Star Labs.
"Parents…" So I had some. I mean, obviously I would need some to be alive.
"Am I reading this correctly?' Artemis spoke up, catching our attention, "Or is this report telling me that Arinna is dead?"
I sputtered, "W-What?"
"Dead?" M'gann covered her mouth, scanning over the words. Green Arrow and the Flash said I was dead earlier too…
"What do you mean I'm d-dead?" I asked. Red Tornado was quick to explain, pulling out the files.
"When you were nine, you as well as a few others were caught in a fire within Star Labs." As the report read, the fire was devastating, killing all within that side of the building but one; Phillis Kentin. The wife of Joseph Kentin and Mother of Arinna Kentin. I was dead. At least, I should be.
What was I supposed to say to that? What was I supposed to think about about?!
I…
Mother…
I had a Mom who was alive. Phillis Kentin.
My knees buckled and rolled off the chair hitting the floor. "Arinna!' Kaldur moved with me, catching me before I hit the ground and letting me lean on him. "Are you alright?" he asked quickly. "Is this too much?"
"I… no I- I mean yes-" I waved my hand around frantically. "I don't know…!" I breathed heavily. "Just give me a second." I pleaded.
Kaldur's hand was on my shoulder, steadying it. "Take all the time you need." he said soothingly, rubbing circles in my back.
The Zata tube burst to life. We froze as Canary, the Flash, Green Arrow and Bat Man entered the Cave. All those who were keeping these secrets from all. Who knows, the whole League might know about this.
Swallowing the feeling of needing to throw up, I brushed the sweat off my brow as they approached. Canary's eyes widened as they trailed up to the screen, seeing everything that had tried to keep from us.
The team turned to them, expressions dark and angry. The Justice League were decent, I suppose, in keeping poker faces, but Bat Man was as stoic as ever, as if he expected this to happen eventually.
It shouldn't have had to happen this way. They should have just told us.
My stomach tightened, twisting horridly. "You knew about this." I say forcing myself to sit up and face them. To look them dead in the eye and accuse them of these secrets. A part of me wondered if this is how the others felt when they learned Kaldur had kept the secret of the potential mole from them.
It was hard to swallow and my heart hurt so much and I felt so confused and angry that I… That I want to think I truly understand what it meant to trust someone. To grant someone trust for the first time since waking up in that pod.
Trust is sacred. It is earned and shouldn't be messed with, because if you don't have it, the words of those around you are empty.
"Say something." I command.
The silence in the from and cold and unforgiving. I hated it. I hated that this was happening.
"Arinna we didn't-"
"You knew all of this and you didn't tell me?!" I did not want them trying to act like they didn't want this to happen. That they had a reason for doing this, "Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Why didn't you tell any of us?" Wally agreed, his anger mostly pointed to his uncle. "I thought we went over this back in July that we didn't like being kept in the dark. You still don't trust us!"
"Kid, that isn't it." Flash tried to insist. "We do trust you."
'Then explain that!" Artemis jabbed a finger at the screen. "That looks like a lot of untrust right there."
"Does my Uncle J'ohn know about this?" M'gann narrowed her eyes. Canary lowered her head and sighed, nodding.
"Not everything, but a few details, yes. He knows we found something about her past. Do not blame him for this. He most likely assumed we told you already."
"And why didn't you?' Robin folded his arms.
"The whole point of this team was to establish trust between the League and the team." Kaldur spoke solemnly, "Yet here we stand now, still in the dark on information that is not yours to hide." his hand on my shoulder was solid and warm. He was angry…
I could feel it radiating off of him in waves.
"We wanted to figure out all we could before we did." Green Arrow said, "And… we thought you wouldn't want to know."
"Yet it seems Red Tornado told you anyway." Bat Man was sending him a look.
"As you required of me when I first arrived, I answer any question Arinna had for me. She inquired about this. In truth, I do not believe keeping this from her was the correct decision."
"Great to know you'll go against what we ask without a second notice." Flash grumbled, not pleased with that.
"I'm glad he did." Zatanna says, "This is Arinna's past we are talking about here. You can't decide whether or not she gets to know it. That isn't your call."
"From what Tornado told us, she didn't exactly want to know of her past either." Bat Man spoke up. Zatanna faltered, glancing at me for an explanation."
"I didn't… exactly say that." I disagreed. "I asked that he tell me if he found something."
"That still doesn't sound like you wish to know it." he pointed out.
"And what do you know Bat Man?!" I demanded. "Stop acting like you've got me all figured out!"
"Arinna." Canary stepped between us "There has been a lot on your mind and we didn't want to worry you over this."
"Worry me?" I demanded. "It's too late for that! Way too late! Of course I'm worried! This is- my life. This is who I am, where I am from! Everything that makes me… me! And everything that makes me who I don't even know! Past me! And now, after seeing this out of the blue-" I motioned to the screen, "I learned that I should be dead! Everyone I once knew is apparently dead but I'm not and I'm a genius but I'm not and Star Lab and-" my breathing was coming out in odd puffs. "Ugh! This is so messed up."
"Arinna." Kaldur was wrapping his arms around me to steady me. "You are breathing too fast. Calm. Calm breaths." he said soothingly.
I couldn't take this, "Is this why you were trying to keep me in the cave?"
Flash looked away, rubbing his head. "We… Bat Man?" he asked hopefully.
"It was to keep you under constant surveillance." he answered calmly, like that should be normal. Like that should be something I should accept and anyone else would do it if they were in his shoes.
"Why?"
"After the episodes you have been having and having found all this, it was not hard to connect that your memories are starting to return, even if you don't realize it yet. Your trip to Philadelphia. I looked at the GPS log the Arinna Mobile. You went to the exact location of the house you once lived in."
I almost bit my tongue. So I really did live there.
"Wait what?" Robin was confused. "Since when did you go to Philadelphia?"
"Seems we're not the only one keeping secrets." Green Arrow muttered under his breath. Canary elbowed him.
"It was a few weeks ago." seeing that I could not find the words to answer, Wally spoke for me. "After that…. exercise." everyone went stiff at the mention of it.
"Exercise?" Rocket and Zatanna inquired.
"Nothing." Robin waved it off. "I'll explain it later." he motioned for Wally to continue.
"Arinna went there and I followed her. When I asked her, she said she didn't understand why she was there she just was. I'm assuming though, now you do."
I nodded numbly. 'I… I remembered the Address but I didn't know what it was. If it was somewhere I lived or a friend lived… maybe a grandparent. I couldn't tell. I couldn't bring myself to go inside. I haven't gone there since.' I whispered.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Kaldur asked with a frown.
"I didn't know how." I said brokenly. "In a way, they're right. Some part of me just wanted to keep my past forgotten and just move on with this life. But…" I narrowed my eyes. "I can't even seem to be able to do that anymore." I glared at Bat Man.
"It was precautionary." he said simply.
"You kept this from me for months, lied to my very face and kept me in this cave for weeks. How is that precautionary?"
"And keeping her from school?" Artemis said in distaste. "Sounds to me like you are just trying to keep her in a little cage. Not really the best way to keep an eye on her if you ask me."
"You told her she couldn't go to school?' Conner was livid. "As much as I hate it, she loves it. How stupid are you people?"
"And if she had an episode while at school?" Bat Man inquired. "Or on missions. We are not the only ones keeping secrets in this room. She has been for months. It is hard to trust someone when they are never honest with you."
"Uh, hello. That is called being a teenager Bat Man." Zatanna snorted.
"Yeah man. I may not fully understand what is happening. New and all, as you all know. But this is some seriously heavy stuff and a girl needs some personal space. You can't just expect her to just throw everything at you freely. It's not like you do that to us."
"I am honest with you." I agreed so happy I had the team for support on this, "Excuse me for wanting a little privacy now and then. I'm not obligated to tell you every little thought I have Bat Man." I almost started pulling away from Kaldur to get my hands on the guy. Man this was so… infuriating!
"Arinna please." Canary gave Bat Man a look, as if to tell him to back off for a few minutes, "What we did wasn't right. But we just wanted to protect you."
"I don't need your protection!" I screamed. "Do you have any idea how freaked out I've been about all of this?! I can't even trust myself anymore with what I've been seeing!" I gripped the sides of my heads.
"…Seeing." Canary murmured.
"You've been seeing things?" Bat man folded his arms.
"You don't get to ask questions!" I pointed to him. "Not anymore. I'm not going to be honest with any of you anymore cause you can't have the decency to do the same with me!"
Canary lowered her gaze, sighing. "Arinna I… we're sorry."
"Sorry doesn't cut it!" I pulled away from Kaldur, moving across the room to pace. I need some air or something. I needed to get out. I was so mad.
"Arinna, you need to calm down." Red Tornado said. "Your heart rate is continually elevating."
I don't care!
"I-you- UGH! That is it!" I snapped my fingers, disappearing without another word.
0000-0000
Staring at the empty spot Arinna stood seconds before, Robin exhaled, "Well that could have gone better."
"Way better." Zatanna agreed. The young heroes stood together as they looked at their senior heroes and mentors. The trust between them the two groups and all in all practically been shattered. And this was not the first time this year that this had occurred.
"So…" Wally stretched. "I'm angry." he admitted casually. "So I'm gonna leave." he pointed to the door.
"I'll join you." Artemis' look could kill at this point.
"Seems we are all in agreement of that." Kaldur's voice was chilling, his demeanor seconds from breaking. Without another word and some nasty glances, the team left the Justice league. Despite it all, they felt no ill will to Red Tornado. He had an obligation to the Justice League, but he had come clean about everything when Arinna asked him about it.
They were positive almost none of the League would have been as open as he was.
"I'm worried about her." M'gann said when they were a few good couple halls away.
"She has a lot on her mind." Robin agreed.
"Where would she go?" Rocket inquired, still amazed of Arinna just disappearing on them. Teleportation was cool.
Kaldur and Conner shared a glance, "We have a guess." they say.
"And where is that?" Rocket asked.
"The same place she always goes to when she needs to calm down." Conner said. "Just need to double check though." moving through the cave, the group paused as they came across Arinna's room.
"Uh…" Zatanna's jaw dropped as Conner opened her door and stepped in. "Not even gonna knock?"
"She's not here." he snorted. "Besides, we go into each other's rooms all the time. She steals my fan on a daily basis- ah look! She took it again!' he pointed to HIS fan that sat neatly on her dresser. "I even told her to get her own which she keeps saying she will but she never does and I'm not gonna go buy another cause this one is mine."
"Huh, big bad Conner can't share his things?" Wally smirked.
"Shut up." Conner began to search around the room for something.
"Nice room." Rocket smiled. "I like the stickers."
"She likes them too. You should see Conner's room." M'gann giggled quietly to her.
"Stickers aside, what are we looking for?" Robin asked, "I don't think Arinna would appreciate us snooping through her stuff. Especially after everything that just happened."
"I just need to find her- there it is." Conner snatched up a basket pushed up against the closet. It was Arinna's laundry basket. "Empty."
"...And why would you need her dirty clothes?" Rocket's shifted her gaze, confused.
"Laundry day is every Friday for Arinna. Today is Wednesday. So, if the laundry is already gone, it means she is probably doing her laundry right now." Conner explained.
"It is true." Kaldur agreed. "Meaning she would go to her favorite Friday location."
The team was at a lost. It wasn't until Conner and Kaldur lead them out of the cave and down to the city that they began to understand. They were heading straight for a laundromat.
"…A laundromat?" Rocket questioned. "She goes to a laundromat to relax?"
"I know. It is super weird. She likes washing machines." Conner shrugged, opening the door and stepping in. Old 90's music echoed in the almost abandoned room. Rows of washing machines and dryers stretched out as far as the eye could see.
Stepping in, the team got a few odd glances from an elderly man and three middle aged workers. Robin gave them an awkward nod and the shuffled into the first row. It didn't take them long to spot Arinna crouched in front of a washer, eyes focused on the spinning motion of the machine.
She said nothing as the moved to sit next to her, just tightened her arms around her knees, pulling them deeper into her chest.
"Doing your clothes?" M'gann asked casually. Arinna nodded.
"Fancy." Zatanna glanced around.
There was a small silence.
"Pretty quiet here." Robin noted. "Nice music."
"They have a disco theme on Friday nights." Arinna mumbled. "But it's not friday so... yeah."
"Come here a lot then." Rocket guessed. "Are washes cheap?"
"Yeah." she nodded.
"Oh cool, sweet. Definitely coming here from now on then." Rocket nodded to herself. "If you don't mind of course."
"You can come every Friday. They have discounts. So it is super cheap." Arinna offered, her tone brightening.
"Yeah girl. Sounds like a plan."
Another silence soon followed, but at least it wasn't as uncomfortable. Especially when Kaldur moved to sit on the floor with Arinna and she moved to rest her head on his shoulder. "Thanks for stopping by." she says. "How did you know I was here?"
"Went snooping through your room." Conner said bluntly. Some much for being subtle about it. "You took my fan again." he accused.
"It gets hot in my room." she pouted.
"Then buy your own." he sighed.
Arinna's eyes never left the washer, "But your fan fits so perfectly on my dresser."
Conner snorted. "Whatever." he nudged her a bit. "You left out of nowhere."
"I did." she agreed.
"How are you doing?" Wally asked. "Or um… feeling?" he didn't know what to say.
"Furious." Arinna admitted. "But honestly, I don't know if I should be."
"What do you mean?" he inquired.
Arinna sighed, "They didn't mean any harm from not telling me, right?" she asked as if she had been really considering every option ever since she left, which she probably did, "I mean, what Bat Man said was… it was true. I don't really… I'm not looking for my past right now."
"Why is that?" Artemis folded her arms.
It was making her uncomfortable to talk about this, and they could see it clearly on her face but Arinna couldn't avoid it forever, "I'm afraid to know."
"Well that is stupid." Conner snorted. M'gann hit his shoulder.
"Conner." She scolded.
"Well it kind of is." He argued. "What was the point of us trying to figure out your past this whole time if you didn't-" he trailed off realization slowly forming across his face when Arinna's shoulder sunk and tears welled in her eyes. "…When did you first feel like this?"
"A couple months." She scrubbed at her eyes. "…After that stupid mental exercise." The sour taste in her mouth seemed to be shared with everyone as they looked away. "I saw something that day, a memory I think. It wasn't a good one. I think it involved me… hurting someone. I started to think that maybe I hurt a lot of people in my past. That scared me."
"Then Philadelphia?" Wally cut in. Arinna seemed to expect him bringing it up and bowed her head.
"What I said before was true. I remembered an address. That was the house I went to. I'm positive that house was something from my past. Perhaps even somewhere I once lived, which turns out it was. Weird. I thought if I went there, maybe I could figure out what it was exactly I should do, but it only confirmed the fact that I'm too terrified of what I might find to actually look into my past. It's cowardly but… I just-" she slammed my head into my knees in frustration. "If I learn that… that I have blood on my hands. I don't know what I'll do…"
"And what if you aren't who you fear you might be?" Robin inquired. Arinna went still. "What if you didn't do anything wrong in your past? Or you were forced to do things against your will?" he continued. "Have you thought of that?"
"….I guess not." Arinna whispered,
"Maybe you've been so caught of in what a terrible person you might have been, that you haven't even considered the great person you might have been too." He offered.
"Yeah." Artemis spoke up for the first time that day. "I… listen Arinna, I might not be the best person to be taking advice from, but you need to know, your past doesn't define you. Everyone makes mistakes and do things they regret because they didn't know any better or just couldn't tell the difference between right and wrong. Whatever happens Arinna, who ever you use to be, that isn't you anymore. This is you." Artemis concluded. "What you decide to do with your life from this point on decides what kind of person you are. The past doesn't define anyone unless they let it do that. Everyone can change who they are if they are willing to put in the effort to do so."
"Wise words my friend." Kaldur nodded in agreement.
"Who are you and what have you done with Artemis?" Wally joked.
"Shut up Wally." she grumbled, but the smile was unmistakable as she hit his shoulder.
"Guys…" Arinna smiled at them, brushing a tear from her cheek. "Thank you."
"It's what friends do." M'gann patted her back. "So, don't think you have to go through this alone, okay?"
"And next time, when you are completely terrified about doing something, how about you tell us instead of keeping it to yourself." Zatanna offered.
She laugh, nodding. "I'll keep that in mind."
Robin grinned, letting out a deep breath, "So, I guess the remaining question is; what do you want to do about it? You know you supposedly died in a fire with a few family and friends, but that doesn't mean you are alone."
It was strange for Arinna hear that. To hear that people she once knew were dead now. She didn't feel anything about it now, but if she remembered one day, would she feel something then?
"Your Mother is alive but missing." M'gann added. "I mean, we could look at the rest of those files if you wanted, but the decision is up to you."
They hadn't gotten to look at all the files before Bat Man arrived. There was still so much they could learn. All she did know was that most of her family and a few others died when Arinna was 9 and the only known survivor was her Mother, who is now missing as of the past year.
"Phillis Kentin." She murmured. The name rolls of her tongue like velvet, but the after taste is horrid, leaving her uncertain and confused. "I like the name Phillis."
"Isn't that the name you gave yourself when we got the dose of amnesia with that Simon mission?" Wally snorted.
"Yeah."
"Doesn't seem like a coincidence." Conner folded his arms. "It's… almost kind of funny." he said awkwardly
Arinna was puzzled, "Funny?"
"Arinna Kent. Arinna Kentin. The names ended up being super close. Then of course you calling yourself Phillis." He explained.
"… Oh." She nodded slowly, "Yeah I uh, I guess they are."
"Super coincidence." M'gann blinked.
"Perhaps that is not what it was." Kaldur agreed, reaching down to grab arinna's hand. "If nothing else, I believe we should locate your Mother, Arinna." He announced. She looked up at him with wide eyes. "She has the missing clues to your past, and may be in danger wherever she is now. When we find her, you can be the one to decide whether or not to reveal yourself to her and learn what she knows."
"Sounds like a plan to me. Arinna?" Robin glanced at me.
"I… yeah." she agreed hesitantly. "Yeah, that sounds good."
"Then shall we head back?" Rocket offered.
There was a ding, and everyone snapped their gazes to Arinna's laundry which had just finished. "Guess that is a yes." Wally said, getting up to grab a basket. Allowing Arinna to pack up her clothes, they moved to the door. They were surprised when as they were about to reach it, a large buff man wearing a big coat burst it.
"Arinna!' the man yelled. He made a jump towards her, scooping her up and swinging around. "I heard what happened!" he sobbed. "Are you alright!? I swear I didn't know about all that stuff! I would have told you if they told me, I swear!"
Arinna gagged at the tight embrace, shocked to realize it was Captain Marvel in some odd… disguise. It was literally just a giant trench coat over his super costume. "Billy…" she grunted.
"That's me." he grinned, placing her down. "Are you okay?" worry was pooling in his big blue eyes. "I… I heard from the League." he whispered, glancing around. News spreads fast.
"W-What? How?" she stammered.
"Well, I thought I would visit you guys cause you are my buddies, but when I got there Bat Man was all grumpy and the others were just moppy. Then I asked and asked and asked, and then they finally told me what was going on. Well, no, Red Tornado told me what was going on." he explained at a rapid speed, "I was so angry! I called them jerks and then I flew off, and then I realized I needed to find you, and then I tried to find you but I couldn't, so then I thought, Hey! Arinna might be here. So I came here and here you are! Yay!" he grinned.
"O-Oh… Well, hey there Billy." she nodded slowly, "I'm fine. How did you know I would be here?"
"Well you always like to come here when you are stressed." he snorted in a 'that question is easy' sort of way. Arinna chuckled at him.
"Thanks for coming."
"Of course. Do you need me to beat up anyone?" he asked seriously. "I can do that. I'll beat up Bat Man if that is what is needed. But uh-" he leaned in to whisper, "I can't guarantee that I will win."
"That is okay. You don't need to try." she whispered back. "We were just heading back to the cave anyway."
"Really? Then everything is okay now?" he glanced at the team. They nodded. "Oh wonderful!" he clapped. "I'm so glad. I hate it when we all fight." he pouted.
"Thanks Billy." Arinna took his hand. "I appreciate it, really."
He grinned giving a thumbs up. "Anything for my bestie."
000000- Later-00000
It was awkward when the team returned back to the lair with Captain Marvel. Bat Man was still there with the others, but it seemed J'ohn had joined them, not looking happy. "It was my understanding that she was aware of this discovery." he said heatedly.
"J'ohn, I'm sorry." Canary said honestly, "To be honest, I assumed you realized we hadn't yet."
"We had no intention of keeping you in the dark on this." Flash insisted. They paused when they realized we had returned.
"Hey jerks!" Captain Marvel waved to them. "Hey J'ohn." he said in a more friendly manner to Martian Manhunter. "They not tell you about this too."
"I would seem so." He folded his arms, frowning. "M'gann." he greeted his niece.
"Uncle J'ohn." she hugged him. "You're here?"
"Captain Marvel informed me of the situation 20 minutes prior to his arrival." J'ohn announced. "Needless to say, I am not pleased."
"Join the club." Conner folded his arms.
"Arinna, you return." Red Tornado greeted.
"Hey." I waved back with a little smile. Glancing at the team, I went to Black Canary, my head down. "Um so… took a little breather, thought it through… Still mad."
"That is expected." Canary glanced away.
"Sorry for snapping at you." I apologized, "I know you meant well."
"I am sorry for keeping this form you Arinna." Black Canary nodded in agreement. "I should have at least told you what we were doing."
I shrugged, "Probably but… if I think about it, I wasn't exactly helping anything along."
"Kid, you're under a lot of pressure." Green Arrow shook his head, "Us uh- old folk, forget that kids need space." he said sheepishly. "And you were right before. We can't just control your life, even if we think it is for the best." he glanced back at Bat Man, trying to give a subtle message with the tilt of his head.
Bat Man did not react, not instantly at least. "When we found you at Cadmus you did everything we asked, almost no arguments and no questions asked." he said. "I suppose I got use to that and still expected that from you now." he paused from typing on his computer to look at me. "Time with this team has helped you grow as an individual that I didn't realize existed till now. Whether or not it was wrong or right to keep this from you I can not say, but I can not change what I have done. Instead, I will answer anything you wish to know from now on."
….Guess I'll keep Bat Man as a friend on tumblr for a bit longer.
"You can start by explaining how keeping me in the cave would help anything."
"If you want honesty, that I'll admit that I couldn't tell if I could trust you." Bat Man turned to me. The team opened their mouths, anger crossing their faces. Before they could get in a word, Bat Man continued, "I had to be sure that your amnesia was real. As the one under seeing all of this team's missions I had to be absolutely certain you were not a mole. You going to Philadelphia, then lying and saying you went to Star City instead did not help your case. I would not put it past any villain to attempt to sneak their way into the League by placing in an unknowing sleeper agent. Keeping you in close proximity would give me better access in surveillance towards you."
...Oh. Okay. That is a lot.
"And you didn't tell me any of this?" Robin was furious.
"The last time possible moles or the possibility that Arinna's amnesia was being faked was brought up by Red Arrow, you took a deep offense to that. I could not guarantee that your emotions would not get in the way of your inspection of Arinna's actions".
Robin opened and closed his mouth. "That is what you think." he grunted turning away. "Honestly. What is the point of training me for all of this if you can't even think I can do it…" he stepped away for a second to collect his thoughts. None of us bothered him. Bat Man stared at his back for a long time, but slowly forced himself to look away. I suppose they would talk about it in private later.
"...That is all… yeah it makes sense." I nodded. "I did lie to you about that. I lied to everyone about that. Even Wally, who was there, I lied to. Because I was afraid." I sighed. "But-" I took a few deep breaths. "Okay, I'll put my cards on the table if you do the same."
"I'm listening." Bat Man nodded.
"I'll be completely clean with you and you do so with me. You answer my questions, I answer yours." I offered.
He considered this and nodded. "Agreed."
"Great so… You can start."
"How long have you been seeing these, as you say, visions?" Bat Man inquired. I had to think about that.
"For a- a while. " I nodded. "Can't exactly say when because most of them I think are just wacky dreams." I explained. "I guess they only really started after the exercise. Am I really uh… dead?" I asked.
"That is what the article stated. However, we investigated the grave site where you were buried. While it claimed you were dead, your body was never found."
"Or at least, not in the coffin like it should have been." Flash pointed out.
"And it wasn't just you. A total of 8 people died that night in the fire. 3 adult and 5 children. The adult bodies were there, but there were no signs of any children being buried there. The bodies were gone." Canary narrowed her eyes.
"...Creepy much?" Rocket paled.
"This is seriously starting to sound like on of the CSI investigation crimes." Zatanna whispered back to her.
"Right?"
"So… then I'm not dead. I mean, I dunno." I bit my lip.
"It is unproven. For all we know you could have died that night and whoever started it simply took your body and made a clone of yourself. Or, you survived and the media was only told that you died. Either way, we have 5 missing corpses and death has not been confirmed for any of them." Bat Man folded his arms.
"That isn't precarious or nothin'." Wally snorted.
"Hey wait-" Artemis stepped forward, "Just a second ago, you said something about someone starting the fire. So, you mean to say, you don't think it was an accident."
"Not in the slightest." Bat Man agreed. "All signs point to this fire being purposively started, or at least the device that caused the explosion and fire being tampered with."
Bat Man then began to explain the full report. Joseph Kentin, my birth Father, and brought our family and friends together for a celebration. These people consisted of some fellow workers to my… Father. The Sterling. They were his co-workers and our neighbors. They had 3 children. Nicole, Giovanni, and Giotto.
I was apparently good friends with Nicole. Strange to hear that.
My Mother was also there that night as well as, this was a shocker, my brother. I apparently had one. Another one I mean. One other than Conner.
Anyway, uh… back on topic. That night of the fire was suppose to be about the invention my dad made.
It was an early reveal of his master piece. A device that would be able to see the future potential of Meta-human powers in children and future children.
That night of the celebration however, something went wrong in the device and it self combusted, most likely killing all those in close enough range at impact. Whoever was left, if anyone was, had suffocated from the flames and burned alive.
Horrible way to go. And I was apparently there that night and survived to this day. If I really am the real Arinna Kentin and not just a clone. I was in Cadmus, a place highly known for cloning. I wouldn't put it past them.
Anyway, Bat Man continued to explain how when they interrogated the man that buried us, he had been aware of my body not being in the coffin, along with the 4 other kids.
He had told Bat Man that someone name Cenver had paid him off to do it. Cenver.
The name sent chills down my spine, and I know this hadn't been the first time I heard it.
This Cenver seemed to be working with Sports Master and who knows how many other villains. They were most likely the one behind this whole thing, but currently, the League had no leads as to where they are or why they would be doing this.
It wasn't much, but at least the name was a start.
"Thats a lot to take it." Rocket admitted. "This is every day for you, is it?" she asked
"Not… usually?" I shrugged. "Some days are actually really boring or involve more people shooting at us."
She blinked. "...Yeah, I'm gonna like it here." she concluded.
"Recognized: Red Arrow"
This long and rather mind blowing talk was suddenly interrupted as Red Arrow came stumbling through the Zata tube, huffing and puffing and looking like he had been through a battlefield.
"Roy!" Green Arrow's eyes widened.
Robin got to his feet in shock, "Where have you been-?" the older male pushed past him, stumbling to the table.
"Red Arrow?" Canary questioned.
His movements were rushed, unorganized. He was mumbling something, then focused his eyes on him. A moment of clarity washed over him, "Robin!" he made a grab for his arm Flinching, he tensed.
"W-What?" he blinked
He tugged him to the table, "Listen, this is important." He shoved the papers to the side and placed a device in the center. "I was on patrol in star city-" he began to explain. Curious, the rest of the team shuffled after us, listening intently as he rambled about his night. "I got word of a robbery downtown and went to stop it, but I was just a little too late when I arrived. But, I managed to see who got into the getaway car and follow it." He paused to take a few deep breaths, "Sports master."
"Sports Master?" Artemis tensed, "Why was he robbing a bank?"
"Yeah, doesn't really seem like his style." Wally agreed.
"I was confused too and followed him to this warehouse. When I snuck inside he was talking to this person I don't know. Calver or something-"
"Cenver?" Canary stepped forward, eyes wide and searching. No way.
"Yeah." Red Arrow paused, shocked, "Yeah, that was it. How do you know that name?"
Canary glanced at Bat Man, furrowing his brow. "We've been attempting to track down Cenver for the past two weeks." She explained. "We believe they had something to do with- well, with Arinna's past."
"Arinna?" Red Arrow snapped his gaze to me, "You serious?"
I froze under his gaze, unsure of the proper reaction to this news. Cenver…
The name sounded sick and twisted, but I couldn't explain why.
"Yes. I can't believe you ran into them." Canary nodded.
"Talk about convenience." Flash grinned.
"Well, not exactly. I didn't see their face. It was more of a phone call before Sports Master attempted to blow the building up with me inside." Red Arrow scowled
"You always get caught when you follow the bad guys, don't you?' Robin snickered.
"Like you are one to talk." Wally nudged him.
"Red Arrow, what was Sports Master doing when you found him? Did Cenver say anything?" Bat Man moved to join us.
"Yeah, they were planning something. Said something about how the League were onto them." He raised his eye brow, "Didn't know you were in on this case."
"We weren't aware you went off on your own tonight either." Bat Man countered, "What were they planning?"
"Some sort of move for some woman. Phillis Kentin." Realizing the room grew dead silent, Red Arrow raised an eye brow, "What?
...Someone get me a paper bag or something, I'm getting woozy.
'Phillis Kentin?" Robin repeated slowly,
"Dude…" Wally gawked, "Please tell me you are serious."
"I am." Red Arrow frowned at them, "What is up with you guys, do you know her or something?"
"Know her?!" Robin smacked his computer and brought up the files, "Well, not much other than the fact that she is Arinna's Mother!"
Red Arrow's eyes couldn't grow more wider at the sudden news, "How come no one told me about this?!"
"Cause we just learned about it too!" Wally said.
"This is a good thing, right?" Artemis looked to Canary and Bat Man, "I mean, we know where she will be, right?"
"If they haven't moved her already. We need to act fast. Where did they say they would be moving her from Red Arrow?" Bat Man demanded
"They didn't." Red Arrow grabbed the device, which turned out to be a tracker, "But I think it is safe to say it will be here."
Bat Man look it over, nodding. "We don't have much time."
Everyone scrambled to collect their stuff and get on our gear. I on the other hand was freaking out! This was happening way too to fast. I don't know what I accepted to happen, but I definitely thought it would take longer to find my… Mother. It sounds weird to say.
And I'm not saying I'm not happy we found her or anything, but what if she is mean or something? Or- Or what if she doesn't like me? Or is super strict? Or doesn't like Conner and Kaldur and the team?
What if she is mad I forgot her?"
"Arinna?" Kaldur's voice brought me back to reality. 'Are you okay?"
"I'm not sure if I am ready for this." I admitted, placing on my mask.
"You'll do fine." Red Arrow patted my back. It was an odd sort of comfort, but not unwanted. Honestly, I was shocked that he was so willing to help.
"Red Arrow. Why…" I paused, "Why are you doing this? I mean- You don't have to do this-"
"Hey, I owed you one." He cut me off. "For the whole, suspecting you were a mole thing."
"So that's a thing?" Artemis asked.
"Well where's our sorry gift?" Conner folded his arms. Red Arrow frowned at them.
"I would like a new bow please." Artemis grinned.
"Some cookie mix!" M'gann wiggled her fingers.
"Food." Was Conner's request.
"You three don't get anything." Red growled.
"Stingy." They snorted at him.
"Stingy!?" he yelled.
I somehow managed to laugh at them through my little panic attack. At least Kaldur held my hand the entire time.
-0000 Nicole 0000-
It had been hours since Stephan had begin the process the would hopefully save Match's life and keep his DNA where it was suppose to be. But man, Mark hated nothing more than just waiting around, unable to do anything.
He attempted to distract himself by looking at everything else in the room, but that go boring at some point. So, he attempted to strike up a conversation with Nicole. Didn't start well.
"You look awful." Mark noted.
"Just what every girl wants to hear, thank you Mark." Nicole rolled her eyes.
"...Didn't mean to say that." he admitted. "But seriously, you okay?"
She pinched the bridge of her nose, the sides of her eyes looking red and puffy. "I'm usually asleep right now." she admits. "I'm not use to having my enhancer charge link in this long."
"Enhancer charge what?" he question.
She gave him a look, "It's… this little device that enhances the capabilities of my eyes. I keep it in all day and usually take it out a night to rest my eyes. It hurts for it to be in there too long." she announced.
"You can just take it out?" mark was shocked to hear that. "Doesn't that hurt?"
"At first, yeah. Hurts more to keep it in, but it is the only way I can scan things long distance. It's how I've survived this long. You could think of it as a sort of Contact or sorts. Enhances all of my eye's abilities."
"Why don't you take it out then if it is bothering you?" Mark inquired.
"One, this isn't a safe location. 2, I always lose them if I just lay them around and I don't have pockets." she explained simply
"We'll I got some pockets." Mark offered. "I'll hold it for you and give your eyes a rest."
Nicole gave him a bewildered look. "...Really?' she questioned. "You wanna hold a piece of my eyes in your pocket?"
Mark paled at her words, "Well… no." he admitted, "Especially if you put it that way."
She smirked at him, finding the offer amusing. "You know what Mark?" she snorted, "Sure, why not." lifting her hand up to her temple before he could protest, she pushed down on the side of her eye. Mark had to hold back the urge the throw up when the side of her eye just… opened up.
"Oh god…" he was turning green.
Opening what he could only describe as a panel, Nicole scrapped her fingers along the side of the metal. It was gross. Part of it was metal but he could clearly see signs of skin and living material- oh gosh was that part of her brain?
"Im gonna be sick." he looked away. She snickered, gently pulling out a chip. It was small and glistened red.
"Here you go." she held it out to him, closing the panel. "Don't lose it."
He didn't want to touch it, but he said he would. Hesitantly, his fingers shaking, her left her drop the chip into his hands, jumping. She smirked as she watched him fumbly to stuff it into his pocket and be done with it.
"O-Okay." he cleared his throat. "Not so bad. Just uh- you know, have part of your eye in my pocket."
"To be fair it is only a chip I can attach to my eye. Be glad I'm not actually handing you either of my eyes." she grinned.
"Be careful with it." she repeated to emphasize the point. "If I see even one scratch on it when I get it back there will be hell to pay."
"Right but uh...Please… warn me… next time you… open part of your…. skull up…" he squeaked out the plea.
"Sure thing princess." she patted his shoulder.
Letting the conversation drop at that, the two went separate ways, hoping to keep themselves busy in anyway they could. There wasn't much they could do though but wait.
As the fourth hour rolled around, Nicole glanced out the window to see the sun had begun to slowly peek over the horizon. "We don't have much time left." Shade announced solemnly. "Tell me you are almost done."
"I am. This can't be rushed though." Stephan dabbed the sweat off his brow.
"Take your time.' Nicole commanded. "But-" she cut herself off. "Just get it done." she couldn't bring herself to ask Stephan what would happen if they were discovered in here. They could escape, no problem. But what about Stephan? He could very well lose his job and go to jail for all of this.
But Stephan was right, it didn't take long for him to complete his work. They knew he was done when he took of his gloves and stepped away from the table.
They gang surrounded him a second later, eyes wide for answer. "So?" Nicole asked.
'It's done." Stephan sighed.
"Then... he'll be okay?" Mark asked hopefully. Stephan glanced at the screen one last time, relief washing over his face.
"Yes." He nodded, "He'll be just fine.'
"You sure? You said that last time and look where we are." Nicole motioned to the clone on the table. "I don't want to repeat this a third time."
"I am positive. With this equipment, his DNA will remain stabilized. He'll be a little weak for a few hours, and I can't say we should move him just yet, but yes, he'll be okay."
"OH YEAH!" Mark cheered. "That is what I am talking about!" he lunged for Stephan. "Way to go buddy!" he ruffled Stephan's hair. Stephan weakly hit his hands away, smiling bashfully.
"It was the least I could do."
"You're so modest." Gio gushed, running forward to hug his knees. "Thank you!' he said cheerfully.
Shade and Nicole shared side smiles, giving Stephan a fellow nod of gratitude. "How long till we can move him? Not saying this isn't great news, but the longer we stay here the harder it will be to get out." Nicole pointed out.
"30 minutes at the least." Stephan glanced at the young clone. "To be honest with his Kryptonian DNA, he might be fine to move now, but I don't want to take that chance."
"Then we wait as long as we can." Shade concluded.
Stephan nodded in agreement. Mark was too overjoyed to worry about getting out there. Match was going to be okay. "Hear that buddy?" he patted the clone's head affectionately like Match was his very own brother. "You're gonna be okay."
The group smiled at this, sharing in a moment of joy. A joy that didn't last long.
"Wait, shh." Nicole lifted a hand. Mark and Stephan froze, while Shade made a grab for his gun.
"What is it?" he demanded. Nicole turned her head to the door. Moving towards it she grabbed the door handle and turned it slowly. Cracking it open, she peeked out.
"Nicole?" Mark whispered. She motioned for him to be quiet. Opening the door, she took one step out of the hall and glanced around. "Nicole what are you doing? You are gonna get us caught." Mark panicked. She snapped her gaze at him angrily motioning for him to shut up. Taking a few seconds to scan her surroundings, she suddenly ducked down.
Ice suddenly shot over her head, slamming into the back of the door.
"Aw! I missed!" A wild voice screeched.
Panic began to overwhelm Mark as Nicole scrambled into the room, slamming the door shut. "We got company!" she yelled, lifting her hands. The metal around the door began to shift, tightening around itself to fortify the door from anyone else entering. For extra support, the metal tables in the room began to build themselves up against the door.
"Who was that?!' Mark demanded, flinching when something began to slam itself against the door in an attempt to get in.
"Icicle Jr and some friends." Nicole stated dryly.
"You know him?" Stephan questioned.
"Ran into him 6 months back." she slide back to Shade, "How did they find us?"
"Does it matter at this point? We have to figure a way out of here." he tightened his hold of Gio's shoulder. His baby brother looked up at him with wide and confused eyes.
"Wouldn't be a problem if we didn't have Mr. Sleeping beauty over there." Nicole glanced at Match. Infact, with Match like this, it gave the Ice freak a large advantage. Plus, that barricade wouldn't last long.
"Any other exits doors?" Nicole asked Stephan.
"Only that one." He said weakly
"Then there is no where to go!?" Mark yelled furiously. "And we can't get far with Match like this."
"What about the cars?" Stephan asked. "Is there anyway we can possibly get back down to the van?"
"No." Nicole said bluntly and idea shooting into her head, "But, I can bring the van to us." she smirked and lifted her hands. With a snap of her fingers, the room fell silent. The only noise heard would be the banging noise of Icicle Jr. and his gang attempting to break down the door.
"Oh Project N~" he cackled. "I know you are in there. Are you happy to see me? I'm here to pick you are your little friends up. You are just putting off the inevitable. I'll get in there in no time-" he cut himself off. "WHAT THE-!" There was a large crash outside the door and the room seemed to resonate from it.
Stephan looked pale, "...What was that?"
"Our ride." with another snap of her fingers the doors swung open and Mark's van rolled in. Behind it there was an Icicle jr imprint on the wall. Mark could only assume the Van had somehow showed up and slammed the guy into the wall.
"How did the van get up here?" he questioned.
"Used the stairs of course." Nicole opened the door. "Come on, we gotta get Match inside."
The next set of motions we by so fast that Nicole could only remember it as a blur. They grabbed Match, tossed him in the back and were scrambling to get inside.
At one point, one of Icicle Jr's gang friends attacked Shade. It was this girl that she thought she had seen before. Shimmer or something.
The two found in hand to hand combat, but Shade overwhelmed her in pure strength, taking only a few seconds to hit her to the floor and knock her out with the heel of his foot. "Move!" he was screaming at them.
What in the world did he think they were trying to do?
Then…. an explosion.
A bomb.
Perhaps had she kept that chip in her eyes she would have scanned the area for it sooner, but she hadn't seen it coming. It tossed her into the side of the van so hard she saw stars. The room was spinning when she opened her eyes again and could feel two arms dragging her.
SHe fought against them, and the hands moved to her face to calm her. "It's me!" Shade was saying to her. "We have to go." he lifted her into the back of the van where Stephan was there to meet him. Blood was dripping from the side of his face. He must have hit his head in the explosion.
Wait… Match was there. Gio was there. Stephan was there. Good.
She felt a sickening chill. "...Mark?" she croaked. The car was starting and moving suddenly, shifting her weight before she could stop it. Tossing herself to the side, she scrambled to look out the window. "Shade wait!" she screamed when he stepped on the gas and started shooting towards the windows. "Mark!"
"I know that!" he yelled. Obviously he didn't because Mark wasn't in the car! Infact, he was out there, under the foot of… Sports Master. It wasn't just Icicle Jr that was there, many other villains had shown up for this. How had they figured out they were there?!
How… Mark wasn't moving. He was limp, his head lolled to the side and his eyes closed. From here she could scan for a heart beat and it was there, but he was out cold. He wouldn't be escaping by himself.
"Mark! Mark!" Nicole screamed as they rolled the boy over suddenly, taking ahold of his legs and dragging him away. Sports Master made hand signals to follow their car.
"Nicole!" Shade made a grab for her arm over the seat, tugging her back. "We don't have time! We have to go."
"We have to go back for Mark!" she argued.
"There is no time!" he says. "He… I'm sorry Nicole but we can't. There are too many."
No… No!
In the end, all she could do was scream as the van shot out the windows, dropping 4 stories below. "NICOLE!" Shade was screaming at her. With a snap of her fingers, the van landed with the grace of a feather, shooting out into the town before anyone or anything could stop them.
They had escaped…
But… But Mark had suffered because of that. And now, he was gone. And Nicole knew where they would take him.
They would take him to Cenver and do who knows what to him.
T-They… They hat to get him back before that happened!
They had to!
I seem to always end chapters on cliff hangers people