Ok, I'm sorry for the long wait. I hate writer's block but I think I fix it! So enjoy!

Warning: Blood and death

Unknown August 27, 23:58 EDT

And that's my story, Richy and I were just talking and got hit in the neck by a drug. I woke up tied to this chair and the boy is nowhere to be found. Luckily I'm still wearing my metal bracelet and anklet so papa can find me. I hope he's not too worried... Nope, he's definitely worried.

Gotham August 28, 00:23 EDT

In an abandoned building about 40 miles away from the loud city is a group of people. Two teens who are the same age, an older man in a wheelchair and they are watching another man throwing pieces of metal at the wall but careful enough to not hit his family. The boy is out of breath as if he's been running for a long time and the girl is in a trance, lost in another world and the man in the wheelchair is waiting patiently for his friend to be somewhat calm to talk.

"Where is she?! She is never this late! And if she was, she would have called hours ago! Or at least send a message by an animal!" Erik screamed in fury and worried for his youngest daughter.

"Dad, we know you're worried, so are we. We'll find her and bring her home." His eldest child and daughter tried to reassure her father.

Erik took a deep breath in and slowly let it out, "You're right, sorry about this." He looked around the building they are in, with metal twisted like vines, the chairs are destroyed and all the arts are in different areas. Tables are flipped over and if anyone walks into the room wouldn't understand how a table got wielded into the ceiling or outside… on the fifth floor.

"It's ok Pops, I would do the same too." His only son said while eating a banana.

"Can't you track her?" Wanda said to the last member of the group.

"I've tried but something is blocking Erik and I…" Charles tried to explain that certain metals can block his mental capabilities. But for Erik it shouldn't be a problem because all three of his kids have a piece of jewelry of a very rare metal that Erik and Charles found back when they were dealing with some heavy hitters back in the day.

"Damn!" Peter or rather Pietro and Quicksilver cursed at loud.

"But I think I have an idea…" Charles said, he looked at the metal bender, "How do you feel about…?"

Erik got the message but… "...No."

Unknown August 28 01:33 EDT

In a dark gray room is a single chair with Nina in it, with two others watching her.

The man is tall and filled out with muscles, he usually wears a hockey mask but for the moment it's to the side. He wears what seems like a sleeveless blue muscle shirt, with a collar that covers some of his neck. He wears arm and elbow pads on both arms, as well as fingerless gloves. On his left arm, he has metal plates attached that act very much like armor. He wears black pants with pockets that hold his weapons. He also has a belt that mimics the utility belt Robin used, so it may hold some interesting surprises.

The woman has crazy black hair, dark gray eyes and olive-colored skin. It's obvious she's a relative to Paula. She has a slender but fit build, standing at 5'6". She's wearing a dark green kimono although it has been shredded and ripped at the bottom. It's tied around her waist and the length reaches just above her knees. The black knee high boots make the outfit complete. The mask is also missing from when Nina first met the woman so she knows there are weapons hidden in her clothes.

The only thing Nina doesn't like is them just staring at her… It's a little unnerving.

"So are you gonna say something or are you going to stare at me all night?" Nina tilted her head.

"Be quiet, girl." The blond man barked.

"Whatever…" She rolled her eyes.

"You got some nerve Baby Girl."

"Baby Girl? Who the hell do you think you are?" she demanded.

"Who am I? I believe you know who I am." He gave her a grin that promised all the hurt in the world.

"Yeah, Sportsmaster and Cheshire Cat also known as Lawrence Crock and Jade Nyugen." Nina stated with a bored look on her face.

"See, told ya!"

"But that doesn't explain why the hell you call me Baby Girl. I don't know you like that old man."

He slaps her, "Show some respect girl!"

Nina spitted out some blood and glared at the man, "Haven't you heard? Respect is a two way street."

He was about to really put some damage on the girl but was stopped by the young woman behind him, "Enough already. Leave. I want to talk to her alone."

Lawrence was about to argue but realized he's got all the time to get reacquainted with his youngest daughter. "...Fine, be quick about it. I'll be back."

Jade looks at the girl in front of her while waiting for the door to close. She took a closer look at Nina, long blond hair reaching her hips, gray-blue eyes, olive-tone skin that's just a tint or two lighter than her own. Slender in stature yet has an athletic build and stands at 5'5". But what Jade notices is the clothes, attitude and style of a stranger, not the little girl she left behind all those years ago.

"Artemis…"

"Actually it's Nina, if you really want to know." Nina said, cracking her neck it got a bit of a knot in it.

"How are you alive?"

"Well when a man and a woman-"

"That's not what I meant!" Jade wasn't used to this attitude, mostly fear and slight whimpering but not relaxed and completely unafraid of the outcome. "About nine or ten years ago I was told my sister died, so what happened?" When Sportmasters told her Artemis died... She lost it. She killed, destroyed, and did everything that was wrong, cruel, harmful and dangerous just to get her baby sister out of her head… But it didn't work. All she could see was her sister and how she failed her.

Nina can see the hidden pain, the woman in front of her had lost someone important to her. But she doesn't remember her, all she can do is give a few answers and the truth. "I don't know… That's the truth… I woke up in the hospital. I did not know who I was. How I got there or why my body showed signs of abuse. All I knew was that I was scared and confused as hell. Not to mention, all I remember was the urge to scream. You have no idea how badly I wanted to scream but something changed and I got better... Slowly but still I had nightmares... of a big, blond man beating the crap out of me and throwing me at a car. Those weren't the only nightmares I had as a kid; the really bad ones are under lock and key for reasons unknown to me. So tell me, why am I so important to you?"

"You…" Jade is slowly understanding that Nina is not Artemis anymore but she couldn't help but try. "Look, I know we don't have a good dad and our childhood wasn't good or the best but to me you're my sister, we are still sisters! I just want you to know you can at least reach out to me!" Jade, still holding on to, what she dares call hope, that her sister will come back to her even in a small way. But we can't always get what we want.

Nina glared at her, "Bitch, I don't know you." Nina can't be someone else even if she used to be that person years ago. She has a life, a family that cares for her, and friends who won't abandon her. This woman wants her to be the little girl from before, the one she remembers, not the young woman tied up in front of her.

"Look, I'm trying to help-!"

Nina couldn't help but laugh at the irony of it all, "Oh are you now? I couldn't tell from the kidnapping, the drug, or my favorite... tried up in a fuckin' chair."

"Artemis-"

"It's Nina, you can leave now. Bye."

"Fine that way, don't come crying to me."

"As you fuckin' wish."

Jade leaves Nina alone in the room and slams the door. Jade steps closer to the wall in front of her and punches it to the point her fist is bruised and bleeding. She sighs and walks away from the blond girl, who no longer remembers her or their past.

Nina on the other side of the door sighed in relief but doesn't show it just yet because rule number one is observe your surroundings. Nina finds the pull that connects her to animals. They tell her how cameras, mics, and traps are in the room, plus how to get out to escape. But she can't leave just yet, Nina doesn't know where she is or where the boy is. After a few minutes of planning an unknown person comes in and knocks her out. By punching her in the face and inserting a sleep drug into her system.

Unknown August 28 07:29 EDT

"Ugh, what hit me?" Nina grumbled and really hated how many knots she could feel.

"Your guess is as good as mine." A boyish voice said.

Nina looked to the side and saw the boy from early. He looked a little worse for wear; his hair is crazy and slightly greasy from not being washed for awhile, his clothes were dirty and a bit messy. Honestly he reminds her of Robin. "Hey, it's Ricky Rich, you're alive…"

"Are you drunk?" He asked with a degree of concern like any person would do after talking their heart's out and getting kidnapped the same day.

"Nope, they had to give me drugs to keep me quiet. Fuck, my head hurts." She moaned in pain and really wanted a nap.

After 30 minutes or so they finally got food after a long night. They started talking about how to escape and what would be the fastest way to do so. So far air vents were the way to go. Doors are likely to be guarded, and windows are probably locking and need a key. So, air vents. The right ones have enough space for their build and size. Luckily Nina knew which ones to go to because of her little friends. A few hours later they get ready to enact the plan.

"You ready?"

"This is a crazy plan."

"True!"

"It might not work."

"True."

"Many flaws."

"Also true."

"...and the only idea we got so far."

"Yep! So let's go!"

They got out of the ropes, more like Nina had the mice cut through the ropes and loose them. Richard was a little shocked to see mice and birds helping them but didn't question it for the time being. They were able to avoid the cameras and goons for a while and finally found a vent that would fit them both but they needed to unscrew it first.

"Hurry up! Ugh, this is hurting my back." Nina complained.

Richard was on her shoulders, they found a tool kit and took it to escape and finally found the right air vent that fits them both and leads outside.

"I'm almost… Done!"

"Good! Go!"

The boy climbed swiftly and held out his hand, "Grab my hand!"

Nina nodded, "Got it! Okay, let's-" Just as she got in the vent something grabbed her foot and pulled her down. "Whoa!"

"I don't think so, girl."

Nina looked down and saw Sportsmaster holding her foot, "Fuck! Run!" She screamed at the boy and fell painfully to the ground.

Sportsmaster grabbed a handful of her hair and dragged her back to the room she was in. As he was doing this a woman saw the whole thing and disappeared into the shadows to make a call.

"Now you've done it. I'm going to teach you some respect and give you a healthy dose of fear." He threw her at the wall, picked her up again and punched her in the stomach, making her gasp for air. Then all of a sudden she was seven years old getting kicked multiple times in the ribs, then back to reality which she's pretty sure he broke a rib or two. Some of her fingers are painful to move as well meaning that he broke them too. And knock her unconscious once more.

Richard leaves the building as fast as he could and somehow makes it outside. He manages to disable a few of their secret protocols and runs like hell while getting into contact with his adopted father, Bruce.

Lab August 29 08:45 EDT

A beeping noise wakes Nina up, she slowly looks around and notices she's in a lab.

"Subject is awake. We'll start the operation in five minutes." One of the crazy people said, while setting up their tools and fixing up the cages.

Nina didn't see what's in them but she can feel it. She remembers another time she was in a lab and they experimented on her with animals, so she figures out they're going to torture her with animals once again.

All of a sudden she feels death in her soul. Looks to her left and sees a squirrel with a small knife in its heart. A blood curdling scream escapes her from the hand of death and the needle going through her chest.

As she was distracted by the small creature the one of the doctors stabbed a big needle in her chest to her heart to get blood samples. It was the best way to get fresh blood and control the subject.

"Subject 01; the blood is clean but a little heavy in iron, as expected in a female. It was connected to the rodents and experienced its death as if it was shot. But no further indentations of a wound. Mental pain may be the cause of the reaction." One of the doctors recorded on a tape nearby.

Nina was now fully awake and breathing heavily but it was causing her discomfort because one of her ribs is broken and a few of them are bruised up badly, thanks to Daddy Dearest, also she can barely move her fingers but it was causing her more pain. She got no rest because the crazy people were at it once more, this time they had a puppy.

During those three hours all anyone can hear are her screams, no one but the doctors knew what was going on. They found out they can use animals to test her but that was barely scratching the surface of what the girl can do with animals. With the puppy they slowly cut off pieces of the poor creature and see how the girl would react. First they cut the nails off then pulled them off completely causing the girl and the dog to scream in pain. Next was the tail, an ear, and an eye. The dog was covered in blood, Nina can smell the copper, iron and urine coming from the small pup. Nina had tears building up in her eyes but never letting them fall, they weren't for her but the poor creature next to her that was slowly dying. One the torturers grabbed a small knife again and turned the puppy on its back, while the other one was taking notes and watching Nina react. They made a Y cut on its chest going down to its sex. The puppy was drugged up and didn't move but low whimpers could be heard, then cut out the spleen, then the sexual organs.

Nina can feel all those things as if it was happening to her and she trash around and left out another scream, she tried to hold them in but being connected to the dog couldn't help but let the puppy's voice be heard. After 15 minutes they had enough data to go over for the next few days, but for the hell of it they collapsed the puppy's lung and let it die painfully and slowly. Nina can feel part of her soul dying with the young creature because it never had a chance to live it's life. That was the worst three minutes of her life.

The doctors also wanted to test if she had other abilities like fast healing but first they wanted to test the birds out and see how she would react to a bird's broken wing and flying into fire…

Gotham August 29 09:00 EDT

A shadow fell over the group of people but they were all looking at the man who just walked in with a grim frown. Charles, Erik and his kids stood from their spots to greet the man.

"Hello Wayne..." Erik drew out his accent just a bit to annoy the man.

"Let's keep it professional Mr. Lennsherr." Bruce narrowed his eyes at the magnetokinesis.

Bruce and Erik had a few meetings here and there but their reputation makes things hard for the two men to agree on things. They don't have the best opinion on one another, after all Erik used to be a freelance killer and Bruce made threats to Erik's family and to the X-Men. That put a strain to the already very thin relationship between the Justice League and X-Men.

"But of course Mr. Wayne… It's no problem." Erik gave him a fake grin as he stared down the so-called dark knight.

'Pompous playboy.'

'Arrogant mutant.'

Those were some of the more tame insults they thought. Charles is rubbing his forehead as he can hear everything they are thinking… It's not pleasant. "Can you two please stop? You both are very loud." The two men stopped making insults in their thoughts and just glared at one another.

'Like father, like daughters.' Charles laughed on the inside as he remembers both of Erik's daughters do the same thing.

"Professor…" Wanda trailed off and spoke to him by telepathic, 'We need them to think on the same page someone important to both of us is missing, we don't need this tension… Even though dad has the right to.'

Charles nodded to the young lady telling her, she is correct. "Yes, yes. Now we have business, so would you two please behave so we can find the kids faster."

"The Professor is correct, the faster we get this done the better chance we have." The silver speedsters said to his father and Bruce freckin Wayne.

"Alright."

"Mr. Wayne, do you have any information?"

Bruce signed, completely out of his element with the X-Men, they can be far more dangerous and it doesn't help he mess up with their so-called treaty. "...Yes. I was tracking my ward after he left the mansion. I follow his trail to a park a few miles from my place. It's closer to the Narrows, a place I would feel comfortable if they weren't there at all..."

He explained how he saw his son and Nina at the park talking, then the Shadows grabbed them and took them away to an unknown place. Surveillance and security is tighter than usual because the Shadows realize they have a mutant and want to experiment. That is a big no-no and Charles had to quickly calm Erik down before he destroyed the building they are in. Wanda listened to every detail Bruce gave them and made a semi plan but first they needed to be at the locations for the plan to work and be finalized.

Unknown August 29 13:55 EDT

The group made their way to where the signal ends, at least on Batman's part. Charles was connected by an old friend who gave a tip. He also found some Shadow men who knew the location, plus some extra details. Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch got to the site first to scout around.

"Pietro…"

"Got it sis." The kleptomaniac runs for a second and comes back a bit winded and has a bag of chips in hand,"Ok. They got 20 people outside, ten on the roof and ten on the ground. Inside is a bit more crazy, there are 12 rooms and at least five people in each room, two rooms have security footages, and three rooms are labs. Nina is in one of them. There's a dark room filled with screens, kind of like a conference room. The rest are like bathrooms, kitchen, weapons room and sleep rooms. Plus one training room where a group of people are at. I also had some time to kill to find any vehicles, which were mostly black vans, motorcycles and a helicopter but I had enough time to pull this out." He throws a tangled mess of cords on the ground and finishes off the bag of chips, "I hope this isn't important."

The witch nodded her head as she took in the information and was impressed with her twin once more, "Nicely done." A thought flew in her mind and made a clicking sound with her tongue, "What about the boy?"

The speedster mostly paid attention to the food but answered, "Hm… Oh he's about half a mile northeast, and slowly making his way here."

She nodded again after a few hours of scouting and making the final steps of the plan when they saw the three older men make their way towards them. Batman is in costume but Erik and Charles are not. They have a different mission.

Wanda took charge and gave out the orders, "Ok listen up. Professor, you are going to connect the boy and direct here. Also give us the heads up if anything goes from bad to worse." Professor X nodded and got right to it. "Silver, make a path for us inside and take out the guards on the roof and the security rooms. Take Batman with you. I'm sure you can gather information and destroy the rest of the copies and keep on eye on things, I'll take care of the ones on the ground and whoever gets in my way. Dad you get Nina, whatever it takes." Quicksilver and Magneto nodded in agreement with Scarlet's plan and took their place. The only one who had a problem is the dark knight but he also knew they don't have time to get a second plan as well.

"That was the plan?"

"Awesome!"

"Let's go."

Quicksilver sped over to Batman and grabbed the back of his neck so he wouldn't get whiplash and drop him off so they can take out the guards in their areas. Scarlet Witch made a perfect distraction and knocked out the soldiers guarding the doors and grabbed everyone's attention while Magneto sneaked in to find his youngest daughter.

On his way there, Silver found what was causing the block on his dad and uncle. He made quick work to disable it and destroy it and race over to Professor so he can take a closer look. Magneto was able to find Nina faster and ran all the way there leaving a trail of bent metal injuring the Shadows. As he got closer a small bomb was thrown in his way, but with a wave of hand the bomb went back to its owner, Sportmaster.

"Well I never thought we got on the X-Men radar, it's an honor to meet you."

"I wouldn't know about that but you did take someone who is important to me."

"Who? Ah the girl. Well technically she belongs to me after all I am her father."

Erik's jaw tightened and his whole body tense, "Actually that's where you're right but wrong… Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad. And you sir are not that man."

The blonde man narrowed his eyes and gave a harsh laugh, "I get the job done. Usually. Besides, those girls were only brought into the world to be soldiers and assassins. But they failed me and what we believe in."

"Be that as it may… You don't understand do you? That girl is the best blessing I have ever gotten. You try to make soldiers, shadows, ones who follow without question. From what I have seen and learned, those girls will never be followers, they'll make their own path. I have raised a fighter, a believer, and a leader… I'm proud to be their dad and call them my son and daughters. She didn't fail… You fail her. Both of them." That was the last word Erik conveyed and with a wave of his hand, made the roof fall on the man who caused unimaginable pain to his youngest daughter.

Erik felt nothing for the doctors that were laying in a pool of their blood with metal poles piercing their skulls. Or the huge guards that are currently upside down with their throats cut open and blood spilling to the floor. Erik found his daughter, peacefully sleeping but with a quick look he realized that's not the case. He grabbed his child, and for a second he remembered the little girl from all those years ago and how small she felt then and now the little girl is a young lady but still has much to learn and grow. The twins took care of the rest of the guards to where no one can ever find them again. The Professor, while he doesn't agree with how Erik handles things, but what they do agree on is that no one messes with his students and family and gets away unscathed.

Batman while holding his kid understands how dangerous the X-Men can be when someone messes with the wrong kid. He's just grateful they're on the same side but things aren't perfect, not by a long shot.

Gotham August 31 11:24 EDT

It's been a little more than a day since the rescue of Nina and Richard. Richard mostly needed rest and had to take it easy for the weekend. Nina on the other hand had worse injuries, mostly broken fingers, bruised ribs, blood loss, burns and large bruises covering her body. Luckily she didn't have internal bleeding and she heals fast. Once she has a good night's sleep she'll be good as new but whatever is going on in her head is a different story.

A soft lullaby filled the room slowly woke Nina up. The song was one of the few things Erik' mother had gifted him before she passed. He would sing it to his kids if they were ever hurt or sick and reminded them, their family is always there for them.

"Hey, look who's awake." Wanda spoke softly once she finished the lullaby.

Nina giggled but grim when she felt her ribs in pain, "Well isn't this a pleasant surprise? I'm happy to see you guys." in her room at the loft was her sister Wanda, who is in bed with her and best friends Marie and Kitty, they're also mutants and stay at the boarding school mostly. Marie is in a chair by the desk, reading a book and Kitty is on the floor messing around with Nina's laptop.

"We wanted to make sure you're alrigh' suga." Marie's slight drawl came out because she was worried for her friend.

"Thanks but I'll live." She winked at the southern girl before yawning.

"We know." Kitty called out.

Wanda chuckled and pulled the blankets higher to cover them, "Just get some rest, we'll be here."

Gotham August 31 17:37 EDT

Nina walks out of her room and sees her dad stressing out. He's pacing back and forth like he received bad news. But as soon as he saw Nina his face lit up and made quick steps to hug the ever living daylight out of her.

"Hi papa."

"Nina…" He chokes up as he hugs her tightly, "I'm so happy... You're... awake."

She gave a peaceful sign in his chest, she knew what he really meant, "Me too."

They held onto each other for a while, just relieved the other was ok. It may not have been the first time she or her siblings have been kidnapped but it still scares him because someone decided to mess with his kids and he goes off the rails just a little. The things he does for his family and makes sure people remember who he is and what he does to people.

He prays to God that the darkness he has doesn't touch his kids. The world can break his soul, take his life, beat him, or hurt him. Hell, even kill him but he'll be damned if anyone touches his kids and survives. They will know pain and become very good and torturous friends to one another.

His kids are everything to him and love can make anyone do... well, anything.