Chapter 8: Independence Day part 1.

9th April 2010

Gotham

Little Artemis had lived with her adoptive parents for 6 years and a half now. She had to admit she was very young and very naïve when she was adopted after her real father, a B-rate villain and an off-time assassin was caught and sent to jail in a coma. Her mother was already in jail when she was crippled and took one for the criminal team. Her big sister abandoned her with her abusive father and never looked back. It must be a divine intervention that she wasn't sent to an orphanage.

Apollyon and Delirium were a godsend couple that swooped in out of nowhere and adopted her. Literally.

She was 8 then. A young and innocent girl who didn't understand the wrong her real parents had committed in their jobs. A little girl who didn't know better. A little girl who had no choice.

She's about to turn 15 now. Still young she might be, but innocent no longer. Especially when the mind-boggling shenanigan that Delirium cast when they first met started to wax and wane.

Which means she realized that her adoptive parents were not really human. At first, she was afraid. She was petrified. …. But she got used to it. An angel and an Endless for step-parents was not a bad thing to have. Everything surrounding them made life very interesting. Especially, Apollyon's crew at the night club.

One of which, had babysat her many, many times. Auntie Ran was … unique. At first, she thought that her auntie spent a lot of effort to look young, as she always told her that "she was a lot older than she looks".

Who would have thought a 30 years-old looking MILF was the current supreme ruler of hell. It would explain why she was able to boss everyone else around. It would also explain why Abraxis, the club's bartender, always address her as Milady.

If there is any being who can out-Alfred Alfred Pennyworth. Abraxis would be on top of that list. The damn guy would rather go shirtless to show off his magnificent peck than wearing anything apart from a tuxedo. Bowler hat and a monocle was also his common choice of attire, but not always. If he wanted to go casual, he would take those off.

Speaking of the devil, literally, some of the crew gathered at Morningstar manor. It was not for business or satanic ritual or anything. It's Friday night, and somehow, they were the poor souls that got roped into Delirium's Magic the Gathering playgroup.

Sat around the large round table were Artemis, Ran Va Daath, Abraxis, Delirium, Apollyon and Kent Nelson.

Yes, that's right, Kent Nelson. The former host of Nabu had nothing to do these days. Age over a hundred years old, most of his friend was either immortal like Wonder Woman or already dead. His wife already left him 12 years ago, passing to the afterlife. Ever since he sought a way to talk to her out of the loneliness in his heart. That's why he was here now. He made a deal with Delirium, now he paid for it by playing a card game with them every Friday.

At least all the thinking helped him delay his Alzheimer's. Too bad, he was facing an opponent that went full monored-burn.

What can you say? when you have a big sister that ruled the domain of Death in the multiverse, getting a lost soul like Kent Nelson to do your bidding was easy.

"How is it going, grandpa Nelson?" Asked the young teen.

"I hope you didn't drive a pickup truck through a farmer's market. I mean I saw one on the newspaper Master Abaddon read yesterday, he looked like you. Then again, all old human looked the same to me, somehow." Said the Bartender. "By the way, Act of Treason your Craw Wurm, swing you for lethal"

With a long sigh, the old man scooped his card. "Well. One, I'm just old, not senile, so you can go to hell. Two, drafting mono red, are you kidding me? Damn you demon."

"Anything is possible when you chaos draft, . As for going to hell, I'm afraid I need Master Abaddon permission to leave for that. Don't want someone to take over my bartender job." The demon bartender responded with a massive grin on his face.

"To answer your question Arty, I started doing tai chi at home. It really helps with my shoulder. Wait … Is that a cookie?" His eyes focused on a plate full of delicious-looking cookie.

"Yeah. Try it! I baked myself." Delirium eagerly handed the plate to the old man.

"No! Don't. It tasted like Vietnam's 1967. Napalm, Human abuse, Landmine, Genocide. It would be the best experience you had in your life, … because you will die right afterward." Apollyon took the plate off his pretended-spouse hand. "As much as I want you to be with your wife. I will not hear the end of it from the League if you die in my house."

"Speaking of the league …" Asked the queen of hell. "How's your training going, Arty? Abaddon trained you for years now, right? Are you really joining those crime-fighting clown?"

The queen spoke in disgusted. To her, crime-fighting is a joke. Whatever they do, sinners end up in Hell all the same.

"Abaddon. You already trained one for this city. Why do you need our precious Arty here doing anything?"

Merciless, heartless, remorseless, she may be. But the demon queen had a soft spot for Abaddon's little girl, no matter how hard she would like to deny it.

"There are a lot of wicked, petty people out there who couldn't do anything to us. The same fools who will see her as an easy target. Remember about two weeks after we starting the nightclub? Those fools tried to extort us for a protection fee. we refused, they tried to cause trouble, we beat them up, they tried to gun down the club, we sent their goons back in pieces, then they tried to kidnap our Arty from her school, so we sent Abraxis and Mephisto to 'resolve' the problem with their family."

By resolve, Apollyon meant to unleash the might and fury of Hell's vanguard. No mercy, No survivors.

"She can't be under our protection all the time. If she wants to choose the life of a costumed hero, then so be it. It's her life. All we can do is to support her on her choices."

"Damnnnnnn … We have a father of the year right here. How …. Sickening. If Etrigan said something like that, I would slap him so hard he unbounded himself from Jason Blood." The queen jested.

"What a great mother you are, Ran." The fallen angel retorted.

6 years had passed, and he still learning a new thing about the meaning of family every day. Although he wasn't sure was this what his Dad want from him, he wouldn't want this moment to be taken away. For all he knows, all the grand speech Dad told him could just be a way to assert another control over his non-existence freewill.

"By the way, Arty. Twincast. Then, Traumatize. Then, Tome Scour to mill the rest of your library. I win again." He slammed down the card in triumph. "Boom! Who always draft monoblue and never lose? This guy!"

Sometimes Apollyon was the best dad anyone could ask for. Sometimes, he was just … ridiculous.

…

4th July 2010

Gotham

It was the same day as any other Sunday. Late breakfast, shopping, finishing homework, and an afternoon tea in the back garden. A normal afternoon for an unconventional family. Across him sat Artemis who was now 15 years of age. A full young adult with more of her repressed memory unlocked. Delirium was nowhere to be found. She was busy attending to her domain. A rare occurrence, considering how little she needed to work with it, for she was Delirium. Chaos and Order made not much of a difference there.

The thought of living under the same roof and have the man who beat your real father half to death for 6 years was …. Riveting. Scary and messed up as it might be, she had to thank the supernatural couple for taking her in. At least, it kept her away from becoming a criminal, or worse, an assassin for hire.

"Your mother will be released in a few months, isn't it?"

"Yes. So?"

"Remember the deal with your mom that I told you? When she is out, your choice is yours. She could live here with us. I will pay her as a housekeeper, like Bruce's Alfred. Or …. You can find a place and live with her if you prefer."

"Is that you want a crippled lady to be a housekeeper? Or you just want to kick me out?"

Ah, Teenagers. A flesh bag full of emotions and hormones. This one was well-versed in the art of sarcasm.

Laughing, the fallen angel replied. "Sweetie. I kept Paula crippled to help her get even earlier parole. You are and always will be welcome here dear. Unless you bring a boy home, or a girl if you swing that way, then I might need to skin them alive."

"…." Artemis was lost for words. Sometimes it's hard to tell whether Apollyon is kidding, giving a threat, or being dead serious.

"I'm kidding!"

Thank God. Literally.

"But if two of you, or more than two if you that kinky, need to bang at the house, please notify me ahead of time. It will be awkward if I walk in in the middle of it."

"Ewwwwww." She spat the tea she was drinking. "That's gross."

"Hey. You are about that age; we couldn't be too careful. I mean Delirium and I always arrange to keep you out of the way. Why do you think we get Ran to babysit you or drop you off at Wayne Manor from time to time, huh?"

"For the love of God! Please stop!"

"I'm sure Dad wouldn't stop me, dear. But, very well. Let's change the subject. I heard Diana want to take you under her wings. … Where did you two meets anyway?"

"Well. Take a wild guess, Polly." The teen replied. A silence of her answer was more than enough. There was one place she would meet anyone that knows who he really is.

"You snuck into my nightclub?!"

"No. I just walk right in. I mean I know everyone who works there. Abraxis even gave me a free drink from time to time and auntie Ran make sure I was safe in there."

"You're 15!"

"And you are an ageless omnipotent angel who beat up my dad half to death! I see no problem here."

They stared right into each other eyes. No one wants to back down from the other's challenge.

Then they laughed. A sweet genuine laugh.

"That's my girl. So fierce. I'm so proud. Come on, give your daddy a hug."

"One, no. Not after the topic you just brought up. Two, No! You never age, and it would get even weirder from now on. Three, you are not even my real dad."

"Well, Arty. I'm the best one you got!" He raised his voice. There was no seriousness in their conversation, however. All was just a game of words to them. "… But I get your point though. Well then, about being a hero."

"You're not against it?"

She was surprised. Normally Apollyon and the others were very protective of her. She might no longer be a kid, but that had never stop them from going above and beyond to make sure she was safe.

"As I once said, your life is yours. All I can do is support your decision."

"Wow. Just. Wow. …. I don't know what to say."

"Then you don't have to. But in case you really want to become a hero …" He summoned vault from the darkest depth of hellish dominion. "Check these out."

It was body armor and a mask resembled a tiger. A body armor that fit the name of Tigress. Its color was as black as a starless sky. The aura it radiated was so inspiring she felt like she could take on the entire world just by wearing it. And the blade ….. The blade was unnaturally beautiful. A mere sight made her lost an ability to talk due to sheer joy from looking at it.

"As a homage to your mother's previous career, even though it was a misguided one but I had to admit she had quite a fashion sense. So, I commissioned a new Tigress armor. This one just for you."

"But my mother alias was Huntress."

Aww. Shit. He must hear it wrong all those years ago. No wonder, why Paula had a weird reaction when he told her that.

"… Oh. … Ballocks." His mouth was opened wide. He knew he fucked up.

"No. No no no no. It's fine. It's fine. Tigress sounds cool too. It's not that your ears were messed up or anything."

That's one thing he unknowingly thought her too well. Kicking people when they are down.

"Anyway ... Last question." He leaned in. "Why do you want to be a hero?"

"Because you train me these skills, create this armor and sword, I need to use it to do good, right?" She quickly answered. Choosing her words to make sure that the fallen angel would be proud.

It was a trick question, and she walked right straight to it. Well, she should learn something.

"No, Arty. I didn't ask why you should be a hero. I want to know why you want to be a hero. There is a big difference."

Artemis sat there silently for a while, contemplating the question she just heard.

Why does she want to be a hero?

To do good. Is it though?

To have fun. Her name was not Saitama, whoever he is.

To be something better than just Artemis Crock. Nahhh.

To cleanse her family legacy of sins committed by her parents. Don't be dramatic.

In the end, she couldn't answer.

"Don't worry. You don't need to answer that. Just give it a thought is okay." He patted her on the head. Smiled, the fallen angel finished his tea.

"Alright then. Let's go meet the League, shall we? Don your armor. I will get Diana to be your supervisor. Remember three rules and you will be fine."

"Rule number one, never let anyone know who you really are. If they know, make sure they do not talk about it by any means necessary."

"Rule number two, when you're in that armor you are Tigress, not Artemis. Don't mix your two lives together. Unless you are a being like me, it's going to mess you real up."

"Rule number three, I might pop up when you are being Tigress from time to time. I will try not to interfere with it, but when I do it will be under the alias Halo."

Artemis was taken back a bit … with a huge grin on her face.

"Halo, huh. I thought Guarding angel would sound better."

"Huh. As if …" He snorted.

They both wore the same wicked smile. A trait that somehow Artemis inherited from him.

…

Hall of Justice, Washington, D.C.

It was a disappointment for Speedy. When his partner said that they would get the first step to become League members today, he was so hyped up. Yet, touring of the front for the real base was a letdown.

He thought they would trust them more than this. Especially after all the years he in this hero business. But they still treat him as a sidekick, as a child, and that was unacceptable.

"….. You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass." The teen archer voiced his displeasure.

As the argument about to erupt, a hole in the reality collapsed, creating a tunnel that two people walked out. One was a woman no older than they are. She wore black armor and had a sword on her back. She was stunning enough to take their breath away, in a dangerous way.

Damn these teenage boy's hormones.

The other person was a man with radiant magenta wings, probably a Thanagarian but with a marbled white skin. He also had a halo floating on the top of his head.

The entire hall of justice was clouded with black fog. No one from the outside could see what happens in there.

When it comes to privacy, Apollyon spared no expense to hide their identity, with arcane and eldritch means if he needed to.

Alerted by the intruders, the Leaguers and their sidekick alike were at their battle station. Well. Everyone except Batman.

"Are we late? My bad." Apollyon/Halo sarcastically asked. His voice was altered too. One couldn't be too careful.

"Stop right there!" Arrows were drawn, Bows were strung, Trident and sword and pole were readied to strike, and Flashes …. Well the speedster did what they need to do.

"Come on Batsy. Rein in your friends before they get hurt. I swear whoever get dirt on my Italian leather shoes, I gonna break their legs. "

"Everyone. Stand down." Commanded the Dark Knight. He turned to the fallen angel with a serious look. "Sire? This is unexpected. You should notify me first if you want to do something like this."

"I thought Diana already told you. Hmm." Apollyon/Halo floated to the side of Batman and swing his hand over the Dark Knight shoulder. "Last week, Diana tried to take my little girl here under her wings. It's not my fault that you guys have poor communication skills."

He looked around the room to meet the glance of disapproval from the heroes. No matter, they would change their mind in a short time.

"Well then, sire. The League would be honored to have her with us." Respectfully replied Batman.

"Are you kidding me!" screamed the red archer. This day could have not been worse. It was one thing that the League threat him like a child. It was another to have some no-name girl to become accepted to the league ahead of him.

"I work as his partner for years." He pointed at Green Arrow. "Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and I even trained together, yet you all treat us as a kid, worse a sidekick. What's her excuse to get special treatment from the League?"

"You want me to answer that, or you want to do it yourself?" The fallen angel asked the Dark Knight. Of which the hero responded with a light nodded.

"Well. Young man. There's no need to feel down." He flicked his finger once. The shockwave was strong enough to put Speedy on the ground.

"I said, young man. Pick yourself off the ground." He pointed his finger up, and Speedy was thrown across the room.

"I said, young man. 'Cause you're in a new town. There's no need to be unhappy." He slightly yanked his hand backward, Speedy was dragged across the floor back to his original position.

"Did he just sing YMCA?" Green Arrow whispered to Flash. They were shocked at the new development. The power was one thing, the choice of his song was another. But who could blame him? If had a chance to do so, anyone would do the same. At least, Oliver would.

"Many of you might not know of me. That's typical, I suppose. That's the point of laying low." He levitated above the floor. He also unleashed a sliver of his aura just to be more intimidating. "You can call me, Halo. I trained Batman. Her name is Tigress. I trained her as well. Any fucking questions?"

As expected, nobody has any objections. They know what's Batman capable of. Now, Imagined Batman with extremely powerful superpowers. Not a good target to pick a fight with.

"That's what I thought."

"That's not fair! We work our asses off, just to get a fake treatment. We didn't even get to see the real HQ." Speedy threw his hat to the floor and walked out. "Fine. I quit. You can keep three of them here and get her to your watchtower or whatever. I don't care anymore."

The last sentence made every Leaguers stared at Green Arrow. A hard-penetrative stare.

"What? I thought we could make an exception." He shifted his eyes to Batman just to receive a signature Bat-Glare. "… or not."

Speedy's last words kicked the side-kicks hard. They tried to voice concern but was too obedient to do anything. Before the tension would die down, they were interrupted. A typical day for the Justice League.

"Superman to Justice League. There has been an explosion at Project Cadmus. The building is on fire." A transmission cut them as Speedy walked away.

"I had my suspicions about Cadmus. This might be a good opportunity to …"

"Zatara to Justice League." Another transmission was received. "The sorcerer Wotan is using the amulet of Atin to blot out the sun. Requesting full League response!" The magician quickly said in his Italian accent.

"Cadmus had just a small fire. Let the kids handle it. By the way, how's it going Zatara? Didn't see you since you were a kid. And you Kal-El, I didn't see you since you were an infant. You guys grow up fast."

Everyone except Batman and Artemis/Tigress was stunned. Who the fuck is this guy?

"Since many of your peers doubt me, Batsy. I will lend you a hand just this one occasion. Alright bitches, LET'S GO!"

With a snap of his fingers, a mass teleportation spell was cast. Within a blink of an eye, all the Leaguers were gone. Leaving 3 boys and 1 girl in the room.

"Oh, By the way. If anyone of you punk takes this opportunity to hit on my little girl, I will break all of your bones." His voice message echo inside the hall. Follow by a series of sinister laughter.

…

And that's the 8th chapter folk. My upload schedule is non-existent at the moment. So busy with my grad. Project right now.

Anyway, thanks for all your support and see you all next time.