`Five minutes. The fight didn't even last five minutes.'
Cassie's thoughts resounded like a broken record in her mind as she recalled the events of last week. She could still feel the rush of wind, the sound of the leaves as they rustled, the smell of sweat and blood, both her and Artemis', intermingled with the night dew. The sounds of battle were a familiar sound in her ear, like a minuet, a ballet, or, in Artemis' case, a high-octane metal fest.
'Barely five minutes....'
She had seen Artemis battle monsters, best demons, even hold her own against Wonder Woman. But that night, as the stars glimmered in the night sky, and as the creatures of nature slumbered in their dens, she witnessed her be tossed around like a lifeless rag doll, brought to her knees, before a raging storm of a human. And now that storm was coming for her. For days she's been watching her back, paranoid of what may be lurking in the shadows. Every snap of a twig was the pouncing tiger, every creaking floorboard was creeping death. She couldn't sleep, could barely eat.
'Barely five minutes....'
She now sat, head slumped over on the rotund meeting table of her team, Young Justice, physically exhausted, mentally fatigued...and scared for her life.
'Barely five minutes.....'
The lights, EVERY light, hummed with the ozone of electricity, making it impossible for any shadows to exist not only in that room, but in every room. She had been there for the past day or two, using the excuse that she was spending the night with Cissie to explain to her mother her long absence. After all, how could she tell her that she had a trained killer after her. A killer who left one of the greatest warriors with three broken ribs, a shattered jaw, concussion, several bruises, and, most of all, hospitalized in critical condition.
'Barely five minutes....'
Voices! She jumped literally five feet from her seat at the sound of voices. Multiple voices, she quickly noted. FAMILIAR voices....
"And so that's how Batman and I saved the day," Impulse boasted as he strode into the room, chest puffed with pride. By his side was, of course, the Laurel to his Hardy, Superboy. His face was a mix of boredom and disbelief. Close behind was their newest member, Empress. She was in full costume, save her mask, which allowed her the luxury to yawn at Impulse's story. Secret was also with them, floating past them. She seemed to be the only one really interested in his retelling of how he and Batman defeated the Joker.
"Rrrriiiiiggggghhhhtttttt," Superboy said.
"Yeah, you shoulda been there, I was all like BAM, POW, BIFF," he exclaimed, each word punctuated by wild air punches. "And it was wild, and he was so proud to be working with me and he said that if he ever needed a new side-kick he'd call me and....why is it so bright in here?" He squinted as he looked about, each light blaring as bright as it can get.
"Yeah, I was about to say the same thing," Superboy said.
"Here, I'll dim the lights," Empress said.
"NO!" Cassie's plea stunned them all. Her eyes were wide and bloodshot, her arm outstretched towards them, urging them to leave the light levels alone.
"Cassie?" Superboy said as they made their way over to the table. "Cass, what's wrong?"
"Yeah, you look like you've seen a ghost," Impulse said. He looked back, and noticed Secret standing right behind him. "Uh...figuratively speaking."
"Barely five minutes...." she muttered.
"What?" Empress asked.
"Barely five minutes. Artemis barely lasted five minutes."
"What's an `Are-Tay-Miss'?" Secret asked, perplexed. "Is it like a microwave?"
"No, Secret," Superboy said, whispering. "Artemis is a friend of hers. She's an Amazonian warrior who's been training her."
"Ah, I see."
"What do you mean by `She barely lasted five minutes'?" Empress asked, leaning over.
"We...we were training..." she stammered. "And, out of nowhere, this woman...wearing a bat head....just dropped out..."
"Whoa whoa whoa, pause!!!" Superboy said, motioning her with his hands for her to stop speaking. "Did you say `bat head'? Like a bat mask?"
"No...like...some kind of ancient...totem pole-like bat head. And...she attacked Artemis...challenged her and....and...." She broke down for a second, shivering violently.
"And?" Impulse asked, impatient.
"And she almost killed her....and now she wants to kill me....and..and....I have no idea what to do! She said she'd attack me when and where I feel most safe, and...."
Without warning the room grew dim, as if all the light was being sucked away by a large void of darkness.
"Oh my!" Secret said.
"This IS serious?" Empress said.
"What's serious?" a voice from across the room asked. They turned, and there, followed by a constant shadowy void, was The Urban Legend known as Robin.
"Someone's trying to kill Wonder Girl," Secret said very matter-of-factly.
"Ah, I see," Robin said, not really taking them seriously.
"Say Rob, question," Superboy interrupted. "What did Batman say to you about him having to team up with Impulse?"
"He said it was one of the only times he wished he'd had a gun. Now, unless there are any more stupid questions that seem to have no bearing on the problems at hand, I'd like to ask Wonder Girl who's out to kill her and why."
He pulled up a chair next to his distraught companion, and moved in close so he could pay close attention to what she had to say.
"Someone attacked Artemis while we were training, Rob. She's in pretty bad shape because of it."
"Do you know who it was?" he asked, now taking this very seriously.
"Artemis did. She even said her name, but I can't remember it. But she was wearing some weird mask. It looked like a bat's head, and...."
"The bat mask of the Tengu?!?" Robin said, his eyes widening to the size of dinner plates.
"Yeah, I think that's what...." He rose from his chair, suddenly very alert.
"Was her name Shiva? Lady Shiva?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Yeah, it was, why do you..." She didn't get to finish. Robin was already at the command consul.
"Computer, initiate Code Red Security! Lock down all exits and entrances. Impulse...."
"Yeah boss," said the Lad of Lightning.
"Head to Gotham City, as fast as possible. Try to find this person." He handed him a piece of paper from his utility belt. "They may be the only one that can help."
"Gotcha," he said, and sped off just before the doors could close all the way.
"Wait, what's the big deal Rob?" Superboy asked. "I mean, we're all here. This Shiva can't be all that bad..."
"No, Kon," Robin said. "She's worse." He began to stride away, until a voice called on the monitor. "
"This is Red Tornado here," Red Tornado said. "I was enjoying the view of the outdoors when a large steel curtain came down, thus obstructing my view. Might I ask why?"
"I'll explain later, Red," Robin said, his voice shivering with the sounds of urgency and nervousness. "Just stay there, and whatever you do, do NOT move! I repeat, if you value your life, DON'T MOVE!!!" With a flick of his wrists, he cut the communication.
"Where are you going?" Secret asked. He said nothing, made no noise save for the fluttering of his cape as he spun to leave, and melted into the shadows.
"I don't know about you guys," Superboy said. "But I think he's legitimately scared."
"He has every right to be," Wonder Girl said. "This woman tore through Artemis like she was a paper cut-out."
"I've heard about this Lady Shiva," Empress said. "My dad had to do a case on her once. Took out a whole cadre of ninjas, including their leader. No one's been able to catch her. Hardly anyone knows what se looks like. And as far as I know, in all the people she's challenged, none have survived."
"Maybe that's why she's after you Cassie," Secret said. "Since Artemis survived because of you, she needs some kind of sick and twisted retribution."
"Oh, gee, you think," she retorted in her typical sarcastic manner.
"Poppy cock," Superboy said. "I'm gonna ask Red Tornado about this Shiva chick."
"`Poppy cock?'" Wonder Girl asked. "Does anyone ever SAY that anymore?"
"Superboy to Tornado," he said. No response. "Superboy to Red Tornado, do you copy?"
"I'm afraid your friend won't be able to speak to you at the moment," a fatale voice whispered from across the room. Their gaze shot to see a beautiful female standing in the doorway. She appeared as black glass, seductive and deadly to the touch. Her dark hair, black as sackcloth, hung just off her shoulders. In her right hand she drug the motionless body of their mentor, Red Tornado.
"But fear not young ones. You'll be joining him shortly."
************************************************************************
Cassie's thoughts resounded like a broken record in her mind as she recalled the events of last week. She could still feel the rush of wind, the sound of the leaves as they rustled, the smell of sweat and blood, both her and Artemis', intermingled with the night dew. The sounds of battle were a familiar sound in her ear, like a minuet, a ballet, or, in Artemis' case, a high-octane metal fest.
'Barely five minutes....'
She had seen Artemis battle monsters, best demons, even hold her own against Wonder Woman. But that night, as the stars glimmered in the night sky, and as the creatures of nature slumbered in their dens, she witnessed her be tossed around like a lifeless rag doll, brought to her knees, before a raging storm of a human. And now that storm was coming for her. For days she's been watching her back, paranoid of what may be lurking in the shadows. Every snap of a twig was the pouncing tiger, every creaking floorboard was creeping death. She couldn't sleep, could barely eat.
'Barely five minutes....'
She now sat, head slumped over on the rotund meeting table of her team, Young Justice, physically exhausted, mentally fatigued...and scared for her life.
'Barely five minutes.....'
The lights, EVERY light, hummed with the ozone of electricity, making it impossible for any shadows to exist not only in that room, but in every room. She had been there for the past day or two, using the excuse that she was spending the night with Cissie to explain to her mother her long absence. After all, how could she tell her that she had a trained killer after her. A killer who left one of the greatest warriors with three broken ribs, a shattered jaw, concussion, several bruises, and, most of all, hospitalized in critical condition.
'Barely five minutes....'
Voices! She jumped literally five feet from her seat at the sound of voices. Multiple voices, she quickly noted. FAMILIAR voices....
"And so that's how Batman and I saved the day," Impulse boasted as he strode into the room, chest puffed with pride. By his side was, of course, the Laurel to his Hardy, Superboy. His face was a mix of boredom and disbelief. Close behind was their newest member, Empress. She was in full costume, save her mask, which allowed her the luxury to yawn at Impulse's story. Secret was also with them, floating past them. She seemed to be the only one really interested in his retelling of how he and Batman defeated the Joker.
"Rrrriiiiiggggghhhhtttttt," Superboy said.
"Yeah, you shoulda been there, I was all like BAM, POW, BIFF," he exclaimed, each word punctuated by wild air punches. "And it was wild, and he was so proud to be working with me and he said that if he ever needed a new side-kick he'd call me and....why is it so bright in here?" He squinted as he looked about, each light blaring as bright as it can get.
"Yeah, I was about to say the same thing," Superboy said.
"Here, I'll dim the lights," Empress said.
"NO!" Cassie's plea stunned them all. Her eyes were wide and bloodshot, her arm outstretched towards them, urging them to leave the light levels alone.
"Cassie?" Superboy said as they made their way over to the table. "Cass, what's wrong?"
"Yeah, you look like you've seen a ghost," Impulse said. He looked back, and noticed Secret standing right behind him. "Uh...figuratively speaking."
"Barely five minutes...." she muttered.
"What?" Empress asked.
"Barely five minutes. Artemis barely lasted five minutes."
"What's an `Are-Tay-Miss'?" Secret asked, perplexed. "Is it like a microwave?"
"No, Secret," Superboy said, whispering. "Artemis is a friend of hers. She's an Amazonian warrior who's been training her."
"Ah, I see."
"What do you mean by `She barely lasted five minutes'?" Empress asked, leaning over.
"We...we were training..." she stammered. "And, out of nowhere, this woman...wearing a bat head....just dropped out..."
"Whoa whoa whoa, pause!!!" Superboy said, motioning her with his hands for her to stop speaking. "Did you say `bat head'? Like a bat mask?"
"No...like...some kind of ancient...totem pole-like bat head. And...she attacked Artemis...challenged her and....and...." She broke down for a second, shivering violently.
"And?" Impulse asked, impatient.
"And she almost killed her....and now she wants to kill me....and..and....I have no idea what to do! She said she'd attack me when and where I feel most safe, and...."
Without warning the room grew dim, as if all the light was being sucked away by a large void of darkness.
"Oh my!" Secret said.
"This IS serious?" Empress said.
"What's serious?" a voice from across the room asked. They turned, and there, followed by a constant shadowy void, was The Urban Legend known as Robin.
"Someone's trying to kill Wonder Girl," Secret said very matter-of-factly.
"Ah, I see," Robin said, not really taking them seriously.
"Say Rob, question," Superboy interrupted. "What did Batman say to you about him having to team up with Impulse?"
"He said it was one of the only times he wished he'd had a gun. Now, unless there are any more stupid questions that seem to have no bearing on the problems at hand, I'd like to ask Wonder Girl who's out to kill her and why."
He pulled up a chair next to his distraught companion, and moved in close so he could pay close attention to what she had to say.
"Someone attacked Artemis while we were training, Rob. She's in pretty bad shape because of it."
"Do you know who it was?" he asked, now taking this very seriously.
"Artemis did. She even said her name, but I can't remember it. But she was wearing some weird mask. It looked like a bat's head, and...."
"The bat mask of the Tengu?!?" Robin said, his eyes widening to the size of dinner plates.
"Yeah, I think that's what...." He rose from his chair, suddenly very alert.
"Was her name Shiva? Lady Shiva?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Yeah, it was, why do you..." She didn't get to finish. Robin was already at the command consul.
"Computer, initiate Code Red Security! Lock down all exits and entrances. Impulse...."
"Yeah boss," said the Lad of Lightning.
"Head to Gotham City, as fast as possible. Try to find this person." He handed him a piece of paper from his utility belt. "They may be the only one that can help."
"Gotcha," he said, and sped off just before the doors could close all the way.
"Wait, what's the big deal Rob?" Superboy asked. "I mean, we're all here. This Shiva can't be all that bad..."
"No, Kon," Robin said. "She's worse." He began to stride away, until a voice called on the monitor. "
"This is Red Tornado here," Red Tornado said. "I was enjoying the view of the outdoors when a large steel curtain came down, thus obstructing my view. Might I ask why?"
"I'll explain later, Red," Robin said, his voice shivering with the sounds of urgency and nervousness. "Just stay there, and whatever you do, do NOT move! I repeat, if you value your life, DON'T MOVE!!!" With a flick of his wrists, he cut the communication.
"Where are you going?" Secret asked. He said nothing, made no noise save for the fluttering of his cape as he spun to leave, and melted into the shadows.
"I don't know about you guys," Superboy said. "But I think he's legitimately scared."
"He has every right to be," Wonder Girl said. "This woman tore through Artemis like she was a paper cut-out."
"I've heard about this Lady Shiva," Empress said. "My dad had to do a case on her once. Took out a whole cadre of ninjas, including their leader. No one's been able to catch her. Hardly anyone knows what se looks like. And as far as I know, in all the people she's challenged, none have survived."
"Maybe that's why she's after you Cassie," Secret said. "Since Artemis survived because of you, she needs some kind of sick and twisted retribution."
"Oh, gee, you think," she retorted in her typical sarcastic manner.
"Poppy cock," Superboy said. "I'm gonna ask Red Tornado about this Shiva chick."
"`Poppy cock?'" Wonder Girl asked. "Does anyone ever SAY that anymore?"
"Superboy to Tornado," he said. No response. "Superboy to Red Tornado, do you copy?"
"I'm afraid your friend won't be able to speak to you at the moment," a fatale voice whispered from across the room. Their gaze shot to see a beautiful female standing in the doorway. She appeared as black glass, seductive and deadly to the touch. Her dark hair, black as sackcloth, hung just off her shoulders. In her right hand she drug the motionless body of their mentor, Red Tornado.
"But fear not young ones. You'll be joining him shortly."
************************************************************************