Hi everybody! Another chapter for you lets clear some stuff up, I think I'm going to try and wrap this story up in 50 chapters so we are getting close. Thank you for staying with me it'll be a year soon. I know this thing has gotten so long, but Thank YOU for reading. Please leave me a review, they keep the updates flowing.

I was still a little disoriented from the Zynothium so I chose to leap from roof to roof instead of pure flight. It was slower, but I was not sure if I fell what the consequences would be. I needed to get this pressure off of my neck before I lost control of my temper. I could simply break or melt the accessory, but it had the tracking charm Raven had placed on it. I did not want to lose it now. Though my annoyance at being summoned this way and being interrupted from potentially my last meeting with X for a while would make destroying it easy.

I hoped X would send my phone a message, but I more so hoped that my message of who was the head of this would reach the Tower. My aim and angle were true, but it was still a long shot. They needed to know who was behind this so they could tell the League. Lex Luthor was a true threat with his genius intellect and resources. He was like Superman an entire level above all of us. Though he was still human which gave me some ease that this was not likely my past coming to haunt me. This was a man trying to play god. I had known many players, ended the game for some, but he was not an easily fooled teenage boy like most of our foes in Jump.

He likely knew my identity, he likely had done whatever research he could on what could be accessed on Earth. He likely knew whatever the League knew. It would be foolish to believe that Lex Luthor was in the dark. I had not faced him directly before, but I knew information from his rivalry with Superman. He was used to countering solar-powered aliens. He likely knew who I was truly, and likely thought he had some way to neutralize me if I did not go directly with his plans. He might, though it did not alter what my job was in Robin's plan.

This was not an ideal situation, especially as I was finding it slightly difficult to move with my same ease. I was feeling how my shoes were throwing me off balance as there was no joy in me for flight. The Zynothium was still processing which could be a problem if they had an immediate job that required precision. There was nothing to do for it. The leaks had proven dangerous in Russia and X would have endangered himself and everyone in close proximity if I had not handled it.

It was a mistake telling him what I had. I did not need to tell him my secret, but I wanted him to know. I wanted to stop lying. Robin telling our friends had been such a relief. It felt like a nail had been freed from my heart. It hurt to hide and see the worry etched on their faces as they knew something, but not the whole story. I wished I had told them earlier. Perhaps it was the great relief I felt that triggered my need to tell X more than I should. I wanted that relief from him knowing. I also wanted him to understand he needed to leave or else he would be fighting a battle on two different fronts. He had seemed…overwhelmed with the new information, but I had left so many hints subconsciously and consciously. I wanted him to see me, to know me. It had been selfish and stupid to reveal so much, but I hoped it would make him run. He needed to be safe and Jump was no longer for him.

Part of me wished to run with him. I did not want to continue this game, especially after knowing that Luthor, a true threat, was holding his own cards. I had not wanted to before this. I had wanted to stop this all Friday and let it be done. Though I had to keep playing so that Robin could plot his next move on what I found. I really hoped my message reached them, but there would be no way to know until I returned to them. My main focus was to free my neck and find something useful about the location Conner was kept.

Though some wishes were best not coming true. I had thought this morning about what I could do differently, but going against Robin meant losing him. I was not happy with him at the moment, the list hurt me in a lingering way which must have been why I brought it up. Though he had his reasons, what I just did was likely a reason. I still wanted to be with him, even when I thought everything out. He was still the best part of my universe even if I did not see eye to eye on everything. I wanted to kiss him and slap him, but I wanted to be his partner more than anything. This was being the partner he needed.

Finally I came into the location of the Matchbox, I rushed the door so quickly I barely managed to open it before colliding. The necklace loosened when I passed through the threshold and I took in a gulp of air. The tightening had been sudden and uncomfortable, but my need to breathe was not as dire as humans. I just enjoyed the sensation of respiration before honing in on Miss Friday.

"Miss Ember, I am so happy you were able to join me and so quickly." She said in greeting as I walked over to the bar. My hair had lit beyond my control as I was annoyed, but she did not seem to be bothered by my body language. She was wearing a very pretty floral dress that had to be designer based upon the unique sleeves. Her hair was also up in a style pinned up with a rosette style. There was not a drink in her hand or food set out. Her face seemed calm, but there was tightness in her eyes.

"Miss Friday." I said and stopped since I was not happy about the summoning mechanism. I touched the skin that had been squeezed to check for tenderness. Luckily the duration had been short. "You requested me?" I wanted to hear what she wanted and accomplish it quickly. Robin had to be worried by my absence by now even if Red X had sent a text. I hoped the voice that escaped by throat could be excused by the necklace's job.

"Yes, we have a situation that would benefit from your intervention. I'll further explain once we arrive. Mr. Wykkyd. " She called and suddenly Kyd Wykkyd was between us, grabbing both of our hands pulling us through the portal that had appeared behind us.

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The combination of teleportation and my unsteadiness due to Zynothium absorption was almost a recipe for disaster. Though my stomachs stayed strong luckily as we were dragged back to the room I had entered last time. Though this time there was clear urgency as the lights overhead flickered red and a faint sound of an alarm. Wykkyd bolted as soon as we made it down the hallway towards the chaos. He had been too distracted to detect Raven's magic on the necklace.

"Do you remember how to get to the subject?" Miss Friday asked. Well something wrong with Connor would explain my presence being needed. I nodded since I had studied the path shown.

"Then let's get going before it gets even more out of hand." She held onto me and gave my arm a tug down. I did imagine running in her shoes was not very practical, and was able to understand her communication. I scooped her up gently even if she was not someone I was particularly happy with. I needed to follow her orders while I was here. I did use some of my flight to increase the length of my strides as I zoomed down the path I knew. I hesitated near the decontamination station, but she just tugged my braid as an order to keep moving. Though she did zip up the jacket I was wearing. She was light and short which made her god cargo. We made it to the dome and everything was on fire. The lights had stopped imitating the sun and the only artificial light provided was flashing red stripes halfway down. The house and foliage I had seen in my last visit were alight. I did not see Connor or Kyd Wykkyd immediately, though I did see a body on the ground with laser marks roasting down their torso. It looked like a Miss Friday, but I did not know the name given to her. Connor finally made his appearance out of the pile of flames that engulfed the house.

"Get him to calm down any way you can." Miss Friday ordered as she once again tugged my braid. I set her down near her Fallen duplicate. Though she didn't seem to be that stunned by the sight of this. Though I was fortunately had experience in disaster situations.

"Connor!" I yelled out knowing if he was what I thought he was he would have no trouble hearing me. The walls must have incredible soundproofing so he did not hear everything in this hemisphere. He turned in my direction though his eyes were a glowing red. He was not happy about something. I just had to figure out how to avoid having that full rage directed at me. I rushed towards him, somewhat staggering my steps so if he blasted then he would not hit me directly. Once I reached him I saw the tears streaming down his face. I crouched down to my knees as a way to get to his level. "What's wrong?"

He blubbered a response and his eyes threw beams in all directions as he could not control himself. I dodged moving left and coming to behind him as it was safer. My battle instincts flared telling me what I needed to do. Though as I practiced on Earth I pushed aside the immediate urge to end it as efficiently as Lord Breva would want me. I instead latched on to his arms from behind making it so his eyes were not pointed my way and pinning his arms to his sides. He was in a hug, and I put pressure that would crush anyone less than us, but knew it was a comfort he could not receive from anyone else. Superman gave me one of the best hugs since my arrival to Earth, Connor likely would need the same. I kept a steady mantra of "It's okay" since that was an Earth favorite even when everything was certainly not okay.

I wondered if I was doing the right thing in calming him and not taking advantage of a vulnerable moment. He was going to be trained and used against those I loved as a weapon. It would be mercy…though I could not in truth. He was an innocent child, who had not asked for the weight of his fate. I just held him as sobs and blasts kept coming.

At one point he pushed against my arms trying to break out. I held fast in my hold though it was not easy. I focused on lowering my heart beat hoping it would encourage his to match. I took deep breathes trying to get him to mimic. He copied and the releases extinguished some of the grass fire. After his third breathe out he wanted to shift and seeming that he was calmer I let him shift so he could put his arms around me. Though I did situate his chin on top of my shoulder to avoid anymore laser marks. He was still not able to get words out, but eventually he slumped his crushing hold allowing me some freedom.

Miss Thursday walked in my eyesight with a familiar device. It looked like a minimized version of the handcuffs and power dampeners I had worn when I landed on Earth. I had never known what had happened to it once I was free, but finding it here did not surprise me now. They must have fixed and refined it so it could be used for Connor. The metal to spare for bangles and Control Freak made sense now. They were using excess, not having a true source. That was a relief, but I feared they had experimented to create replicas. Joy.

She was tentative in her approach, but Connor had cried himself to exhaustion and I was rubbing soothing circles on his back and still mumbling words of comfort hoping he would be near sleep. I was struck with the urge to run with Connor, but it would compromise my mission and I had no clue where to run. That had not stopped me in the past, but being a hero left me with different rules. I could not rampage with a half kryptonian child on my back and continue to gather intelligence. I wished I could as I did nothing as Miss Thursday secured the cuffs around him. A hiss was in my throat, but I kept my lips sealed. Connor drooped when the cuffs attached and I knew it was all too much.

"What happened?" I could not help but ask. I shifted him in my arms so I could follow Miss Thursday. I felt my muscles warning me they were tired from restraining Connor. I used the cuffs to latch his arms on my neck and just held him against my side like I did carrying Mas y Menos.

"Growing pains. Come along we have to get him to the infirmary." The double whose body I had seen was no longer there and the lights had stopped flashing sometime during me clutching him. It seemed simpler to indulge a super powered child if you could not discipline him on your own. Though I could see why I had been summoned, it was a test for my usefulness along with an actual need for a super strengthened individual.

"Remarkable Miss Ember." Miss Friday said as we made it to where I left her. She was smiling which made Miss Thursday shoot her a scowl. I sent a smile to Miss Friday as well since even if I did want to punch her for the necklace she was warmer to me than Thursday, who willingly put handcuffs on a child and was definitely judging my lack of provided clothes. I needed her to remain on my side.

"Happy to assist. Would you also like a lift?" I could easily carry two people when they were this light even with my arms fatigued.

"I am not going to the same place. I will see you later, Miss Ember." She said and gave me a wave as we left her standing there moving forward to wherever the infirmary was. I followed Miss Thursday down more white pathways. They did not have signs or landmarks which would be tricky for me to learn with confidence, but I noted the turns we took.

"You shouldn't encourage her theatrics." Miss Thursday said after an elongated span of time. I had not minded the silence since I was focusing on seeing what I could. Perhaps they had more of a sibling relationship. It had been hard to tell at Miss Friday's nonreaction to a duplicate critically injured. Maybe they were more cold than normal humans, but it was worth noting. I did not have a fantastic comeback so I said nothing. If her theatrics included me being gifted with more dangerous jewelry I would be cautious.

"We are here." She said and opened up a room that instantly sent me back to a different time and place. The infirmary in the Tower was intended to fix injuries and tend wounds. This one was clearly meant to advance scientific discovery. The smells and obvious restraints on the beds made me feel younger smaller and weaker.

"Where should I set him?" I asked as I intended to evacuate immediately after I was no longer needed. Sorry Connor, I cannot save you at the moment, but I can save myself. She motioned to the nearest of the two beds. I actually made the movements to tuck him in as I did not see any immediate injuries. He looked so innocent and tired while sleeping. I wondered if tantrums like this were common and wore him out as much. I fluffed up the pillow before settling him down hoping rest would help him. I put the blanket over him partly to hide his cuffs from my sight and partly to make sure he would be comforted by something soft. I wanted to hit something, someone, and myself. I wanted to free him of this situation and give him a better life like the one I found.

I felt sick with guilt and went to leave out of the room. Though I did not make it before my stomach turned and I was gripping a trash can that had been by the door. Orange juice and French toast though no red glow came up. My emotions had gotten ahold of me along with the sour smell of chemicals and latex. My present and past were too in sync.

"Are you pregnant? That will require you to drastically change your lifestyle if you wish to bring a healthy life into the world." Miss Thursday's tone was full of judgement. Fortunately I was confident that was not the case.

"I believe Connor squeezed me too tightly with a full stomach." It was not wrong as he had squeezed my waist and neck tightly before settling. I suspected I had an imprint of the necklace on my skin. I hoped it would not bruise, but I needed a mirror to see. Though I was sick of being here and being Ember. I had purged the lies from my friends, a physical one was not too off base.

"Hmm possibly, hopefully that is the case. From what I have heard you would have trouble confirming the father." Slut shaming, what an Earthen tactic to weaken their own. This I could brush off from practice, but the petty desire to return the jab remained in me. Though I knew it would not go well with my professionalism if I chucked the waste bin at her.

"It looks as though I am not the only one who prefers having spares." I simply returned knowing that she had to have some resentment or jealousy towards Miss Friday with that scowl. It was surprising when her hand made contact with my face, but it did not have practice or force behind it to be an issue. Though it was loud. She did not hit me with enough power to break bones like Kitten, but it had to hurt her. I was still kneeling on the ground which allowed her to reach me with ease, but I knew when I rose she regretted her action. She would not be able to handle retribution. I saw she went to some sort of tazing rod that had been placed on the wall.

"Miss Thursday, I would calm your temper before I lose mine." I said and pulled a tin of mints out of my boot and wiped my mouth with a paper towel from the wall dispenser. I did not grab my bag so it was bare necessities stuffed in my shoe. I was grateful for the mints now.

"Please leave." She said though her tone had started to shake along with her body. I realized I had hit a nerve when I saw tears behind her glasses. I did because that was original intention.

As I left the doorway I quickly backtracked the way I had come. I did not have a guide if I became lost. Though I realized that perhaps I was also in the wrong with my comment. If I had lost my sister, I would be sad and angry. Perhaps protective over my remaining ones. Miss Thursday called Conner by his name which signaled some attachment. Perhaps she was more emotional than Miss Friday. Though she had tried to be cruel first. It was not a good excuse and not one my friends would accept, but I was counting my attacks being solely verbal in this environment as a win.

I made it back to the start of my journey at the entrance of the dome. Miss Friday was still there with her hands behind her back expectant. She turned when she heard my footsteps which I had not been trying to soften.

"Miss Ember, welcome back." She said as a greeting and I nodded not wanting to say more things I should not. "Hmm why is there lipstick on your cheek?" She said as I got as close as I was going to.

"Miss Thursday found offense to something I said." I did not want to play any more games of act like I was trying to get Miss Thursday in trouble. I did not think it would do me any good in the power dynamics.

"She's too sensitive. What did you do?" She had gotten closer and reached up to wipe the smeared blue. It would likely need a moist towel, but none were immediately available, nor a priority.

"I responded to her accusation I was pregnant in an unkind manner." This made her eyes blow wide with true shock. Her other hand went to cup my face and squeezed my cheeks inward.

"You are not, correct?" There was a bit of panic across her. A need for me not to be pregnant was a universal thing now.

"I am most confidently not pregnant." I put plenty of emphasis on not that I knew she understood. I lowered her hands from my face since I did not want to be touched by them. I did not want her dramatics as Thursday had called it.

"Good, Miss Ember may I show you something?" She kept our hands locked.

"If you would like." I wanted to figure out when I could get home, but this had potential for more information. I needed to keep gathering every time I was here. There was no guarantee when I would be summoned again or if it was to this same place. I was surprised when her hands left mine and decided to clasp my neck. She pulled herself up a little and I caught behind her knees reading her intention of being carried yet again.

"I promise it is a nice surprise this time." She said as I began carrying her in a different direction than before. She seemed way too comfortable being toted around like this. She was somehow able to relax and continued to play with my brain as a way of directing me.

"Does this hurt?" She asked and lifted up her gift to show what must be a mark of some sort. She poked it and I felt that the skin was uneven with her pressure. It must of held some imprint, but it was not actually damaged. It would fade shortly.

"No, hopefully it is not too ugly." I said as she continued to trace the entire length. I wished she would quit as my neck was not a place for her to touch. It had far too many nerves, I suspected it was not bothering me since so many other things were.

"It is like the rest of you, too beautiful for this world." Another unsettling compliment that convinced me further that my cover was blown. Was I walking myself and her into a trap?

"You are too kind." I simply said as a thank you trying to get through this.

"I am right. You will find that is often the case. I was right about you, Ember." She seemed to be rather pleased about this. Though there was some relief in the fact she was using my alternative name.

"May I ask what you were right about?" I asked as she leaned her face into the hollow between my chin. Her hair pins and hair were making contact with my skin. I was tempted to drop her since it was too close for her. She tugged harshly to the right giving me direction to a dead end with a door. I guess this was the place. I had seen Kyd Wykkyd leave a room down this way, maybe they were living quarters.

"That you are underappreciated." She said and it reminded me a lot of what my early conversations with X were like.

"I am content." I said as a response, but it was too automatic.

"You shouldn't be. Content should never be enough. Especially for people like us. Here we go." She said and wiggled so I could let her down. I did not want to hear her definition of why I was like her. She opened the door and I saw a room decorated of navy and stars. It was very much so Ember's costume aesthetic with little boxes I could only assume were gifts. "This will be yours."

A pretty cell was still a cell. If I had not already lost the content of my stomach this would have been another moment that would of made it turn.

"Will I be here often enough to need it?" I wanted to stay tentative and polite.

"The subject as you witnessed tonight is growing unstable with his emotions. He is going to need dedicated assistance in developing control. He is only useful as long as he can be controlled. You are a model he needs. "

"I see he needs help, but I do not remember being asked to live here, as lovely as you have made it." I wanted to stay positive, but I felt trapped. There were no windows or signs of outside. I did not know where I was and now I was being shown a customized cell.

"Your partner let you down in negotiating." She said and walked over to sit herself on the bed with a plush navy duvet with embroidered shapes I recognized as stars. "I imagine it's not the first time. He's let you down." She laid herself back against the bed much to comfortable.

"I am still my own woman." I said in a tone I had tried to keep off my voice.

"You are." She said quickly as if this was not what it actually was. "Though you are a woman with choices. The subject will not be viable if he cannot be controlled. You referred to yourself as a failed experiment, what do they do to actual failed experiments?" She stood up and walked over to a dresser that had one of the boxes. I did not like the way she was treating this conversation how she treated everything else. They were going to kill Connor if I was not able to prove he could be used as a weapon for them.

"How long? How long would I have to stay here?" I was not entirely willing, but I did not want Connor to die.

"There is not a set time limit and you are able to leave with Mr. Wykkyd. We just need your utmost focus for now. I made sure you have everything you could possibly need and more." She said and placed the box in my hands. "If you stay here, you don't have to wear collars and be called like a dog at all hours. You become part of this." She took my necklace off as both my hands held up the box. It was a relief to have it off, but I needed the spell still on it. Hopefully it would still be active off my body. What mattered is that Wykkyd had not taken it off before we traveled.

"And if I refuse?" I was not completely sold.

"There are always consequences to broken promises." She was right often. "You just might not be the one to pay them."

"That does not sound like choices. May I at least let Fallen know what has changed in my plans?" I needed to go home and put an ease on his worrying. He needed an update on the situation. I had been gone too long already.

"Unfortunately Wykkyd has already left and we have no other means of transportation at this time. He can wait until Friday can't he? You can see him then." I really needed to come home and reveal everything so far.

"I may be able to get myself home, would that be allowed? There are things I need from home since this was quite short notice." I tried to soften my tone so my plea would come across a better sound.

"You will find we have everything you need provided for you. We are 40 meters underground and we have no available exits at the moment. You may be able to spend all your time breaking to the surface, but I have tasks your energy would be better spent on until Friday." Luthor was a genius and actually had a good way of containing a Superman clone if something did go wrong. Unfortunately she was right, it would expend time and effort for me to escape. I could release my latent energy…potentially though the casualties would void my Terran card. I was stuck.

"There must be someway to get a message out? I did not get the chance to tell him I would be gone. Thank you." I said and started to work on the gift she had placed in my hands. I was trying to control my panic and still convince her I was accepting of the situation. I was not particularly surprised when I opened the box to find shoes. They were not any use of me at the moment, but I still smiled and went through the steps of admiring their beauty like I would a fine jewel.

"I am sure he will come to the Matchbox eventually. I will make sure a note of your change in residency is left for him. We will continue like we have, you wanted me to deal with him. I shall." She handed me another box as I was done admiring the scarlet of my new shoes. This was much more slender. It was a very pretty hair brush. "Though now I will just be getting my money's worth."

"He will likely not be happy." I said as I set the brush by the shoes. It was not something I could use with the wax in my hair without ruining it.

"He can accept the consequences for his actions of not valuing you enough." She said and like earlier my defense for him froze up. I loved him. I loved him so much, but she was right. He had given in to their terms and put me at risk. Now because I needed to follow along with his agreement I was trapped. My face must of shown something in my thoughts since she put her thumb to my cheek and rubbed off my frown. "I know your potential, let me show everyone else. Be a good girl and you can have anything you want."

Her words reminded me of my exchange into captivity from my conquerors. They told me if I was a good girl I could live and if not… I just wanted to be anywhere else, but I was not left with as many choices as she portrayed.

"Thank you, Miss Friday. I am grateful." She had mentioned being grateful earlier so it seemed a fair idea to replay it. Though I was not feeling the sentiment.

"I knew you would. Settle in, Either me or Miss Thursday will come collect you when you are needed next. I would stay here until you are given a proper tour. I will check on you soon, please try on the gold box. I was not sure about the fit."

She left me and while I appreciated she was gone, the feeling of being alone made my head ache with catch up from my façade. I found a corner to tuck into and let the sobs of a scared 12 year old girl channel through me as her memories did. I was trapped in promises and a cell made to keep people like me uncovered. It was genius and I had let myself be carried along with naivety that I would be able to figure it out or Robin would help. X'hal I hoped he got my note so he knew how out of our league this situation was. X'hal I wish I had never followed him into this mess. X'hal please let him fulfill his promises and save me. X'hal give me strength if he cannot.