Disclaimer:
I, Syraxes, do not own the Young Justice Animated Series, the Young Justice video game, the tie-in comics, the original comic series that shares its name, or the new comic series that also shares its name. They are the property of Time Warner, Warner Brothers Studio's, and DC Comics. I am simply a humble fan, making this for the enjoyment of other fans. Please support the official release.
Jump City
January 27th, 2206 PST
"This is home?" Match asked, walking into the small, run-down apartment. The scent of rotting wood and mold assaulted his nose, and he could feel his eyes begin to water. A dirty stained couch were the only things in the living room. A single window, located on the other side of the room, was yellow with dirt and age.
"Home sweet home," Artemis muttered sarcastically. She dropped her bow and quiver by the door, slamming it behind her.
"The guy renting it lets us pay in cash," Harper explained. "Before I got Artemis out, I was living on the ship."
Said ship was parked on top of the building, and Match wondered what was going to happen when someone goes all the way to the top and sees it.
"What did Artemis do?"
"My dad- Artemis' dad, taught me... Us... Her. Taught her more than just how to fight. He made sure she knew the ends and outs of living in the underworld. Where to go to find work, or find false identification. How to find the buildings that will let you pay in cash. Lucky for us, he did teach her and I know everything she does," Artemis explained.
"Most of our money went to getting fake identities," Harper continued when Artemis went silent. "The first Artemis is using her identity, so it's not like our Artemis could use it. Plus the first one is twenty-four, and ours is fifteen. I can't exactly use my real I.D. either. The League of Shadows is still looking for me, and I don't want to draw their attention. If I try and tell people who I really am, they'll take me back to my dad. My brother might get caught up in the crossfire, and that's the last thing I want. So new identities were in order. Hold on, we have some papers for you too."
Harper quickly walked out of the room. Artemis gave him a look before collapsing on the couch. "Hope you don't mind sleeping on the couch. This apartment is has one bedroom, and me and Harper are sleeping it. I think you have a better deal. It's small enough for one person. Barely big enough for two people."
"I don't mind," Match told her. In a bed or on a couch, it hardly made a difference. He took the open spot next to her, noticing how her eyes followed him. Match wished he could remember her. She seemed to know him, and it was a touch bit annoying that he couldn't say the same.
For the first time since he saw Artemis, Match wondered exactly what he was doing here. He didn't seem to have a purpose staying here in this ratty apartment. The two girls were nice enough to him, and he liked them well enough, but that was as far as his feelings for them extended. What was he here for?
Back at that base, he had a purpose. Match didn't know what it was, but he knew he had one. He could help people there, do good. What was he going to be able to do at this place?
Match didn't know for sure if he wanted to go back, but even if he made the choice, he didn't see how he'd be able to find them. It was Harper's ship that transported them here. He had been inside, unable to see where they were going.
Harper came back out and held out a blue birth certificate for him. Caleb Kent was emblazoned as his name. "You told me you liked the name Caleb. You never said anything about a last name, but I found out the other super clone goes by Connor Kent. I figured Kent was as good a name as any."
Match didn't feel anything about the name Caleb, good or bad. If his other self had liked it, none of that transferred to him. Nor did he feel particularly strong about Kent.
"So I was born in 2002?" Match clarified, staring at the date.
"You're fifteen, according to that. I'm the same age, and so it Artemis. We're close enough physically to pass for it."
Match couldn't deny it. He had seen his face once, and he looked like a teenager.
"I don't have any complaints," Match told her. He decided not to mention his feelings about the names. "What are we doing here?"
"About to sleep," Artemis answered, butting in. "Me and Harper have been up for twenty-four hours getting ready to come and get you."
"All the preparation seems to have paid off." Match observed. Artemis shrugged.
"That wasn't exactly what I meant. I mean, why are we here? What is the reason?"
"The reason? To avoid getting caught by the Light and their shadows," Harper said, giving him a strange look. "We don't have any grand purpose. I took the liberty of enrolling us in a local school. Teenagers might be high school cliches, but I got kidnapped before I finished my freshman year. Artemis has memories of being her freshman year, but that's it. My mom always said education was important."
Match crossed his arms. "How exactly did you get us enrolled. Unless you have an adult hidden somewhere, I would think it'd be kind of hard."
Harper smiled. The scarab armor extended, covering her body. Match was going to ask where she was going with it (surely she didn't mean to show up at a school in alien armor) when light flickered around her body. Suddenly an older woman was standing in her place.
"Scarab can project holograms. I asked it if it could project one over me, and here it is. I can play the part of the foster parent. Evelyn Marshal. Nurse at the local hospital."
Match frowned. It seemed that she had it all figured out. "How long have you been planning this?"
"Since I got Artemis out last month. She was able to help with the more illegal part of it," Harper told him. The hologram flickered out of existence, and her dyed blue hair cascaded down her face as the armor retracted. "I know its different for you, but before this thing attached itself to me, I got kidnapped. I was just a normal girl before. Getting back to normalcy sounds nice... Even if I can't see my brother right now."
In that respect, Match was lucky. He might be hunted right now, but he didn't have any family to worry about. Any family who he would miss and want to see.
"I think I'm going to hit the shower before I head to bed," Artemis declared.
"You can go next if you want, Match. I'll get you some blankets for tonight."
Jump City
January 28th, 06:09 PST
Cheshire wasn't the kind of person who tended to take a job from anyone who hid behind a black screen. It was bad business not to know who you were working for, and Cheshire avoided taking jobs like that as much as she could. She had taken a few, and more than a few times she had been burned.
But this job was different. Frankly, the amount of money she was being offered was more than she could turn down. More than that, her mysterious employer offered to help her solve her problem.
Cheshire ventured into the city alone. Until she had been hired, she had never been to Jump City. It was a nice coastal city, a beautiful view of sparkling, crystal clear water. But sightseeing wasn't why she was here.
She stopped in front of the Delirium night club. Looking down at her phone, this was the right location. Cheshire pushed the doors open, walking in like she owned the place. A woman was sitting behind a desk, typing away at a computer. She looked up as Cheshire approached.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
"I have an appointment," she said, following the lines she was given. "With Ms. J."
"Ah. You must be Cheshire. I am Ms. J. A pleasure to meet you," the woman said. She stood up, offered her hand, and Cheshire shook it.
"You're my employer?" Cheshire asked. Ms. J shook her head.
"No, I am a middle man, so to speak. I work for your employer. I'm here to explain what exactly is expected of you," she said pleasantly. "Follow me please."
Cheshire did as she was asked. Down the hallway, through the back door, leading to an elevator. Ms. J pressed the button and the door opened. Cheshire followed her inside, the door closing behind her.
"The first thing you'll need to know is that this is a long assignment. A year at the least. Officially, he wants you to manage his night club. Delirium will be opening in a few days and he needs someone to run it. Unofficially, he wants you to train a team of young meta-humans," she explained.
Cheshire stared at the woman. "What do you mean?"
"Our boss has recently acquired some meta-humans. He wishes to pit them against a team of young heroes, and to do so, he has hired you."
"By acquire, you mean kidnapped meta's?"
"Yes. Not purchased from any meta-human traffickers, but those he had collected himself. You will meet them soon after they undergo the gas."
"Gas?" Cheshire asked. Were these people going to gas untapped meta's?
"Quantum Vapor is a special chemical gas our employer has created. It has a ninety percent success rate for activating the meta-gene. Our employer has goals of running their own trafficking ring, and has thrown considerable resources into its development," Ms. J explained.
"And you want me to train them, how to fight? That I can do, but if you expect me to teach them how to control their powers, you'll need to think again," Cheshire said flatly. The elevator dinged and the doors began to open, revealing a large room.
"We have others for the teaching front," she promised. "We want you to teach them how to fight. How to think in a fight. Our employer is confident that you will be able to teach them."
Well, it wasn't as if she couldn't. "My methods might be a little rough," she explained. Her only experience being taught was at the hands of her father Sportsmaster, and he wasn't the best teacher.
"As long as no lasting injuries are inflicted, we leave the method of teaching up to you. This base will serve as both the headquarters for your new group, as well as living quarters for both yourself, the meta-humans, and your team," she said.
Cheshire looked at the large, furnished room. All in all, it wasn't a bad job. The money was good, her employer would use their resources to help her with her problem, and she would get a free, very nice place to lay her head at night.
"So, when do my students arrive?"
Jump City
January 28th, 07:29 PST
Artemis had already finished a bowl of cereal by the time Match came down. Or Caleb, as she was going to have to get used to calling him. At least while they were at school.
Watching him yawn and grab a bowl of cereal, she was struck by just how different he was. When she had first met him, he was more firey. Upbeat, and outgoing. Always one to return her jabs and laugh about it. This version of him was quiet and subdued. Just so opposite of how he was supposed to be. She didn't like. She wanted her Match back. If that meant that she had to fight for him, she would.
Artemis' eyes drifted over to Harper as she came down the stare's, her blue hair dripping wet. Was that how she felt? Artemis hadn't asked how her Match acted. Was he the same as the one Artemis met? Or was he closer to this more quiet version? While she felt sorry for the girl, she knew how it felt to lose him, she was going to do her best to worm her way back into Matches life.
She didn't even want to consider if Harper was telling the truth when she said she'd share. The idea didn't gross Artemis out as much as she thought it might have.
When the other two were seated at the table, Match spoke: "How are we getting to school? Flying?"
"We're taking a bus," Harper told him. "We can't exactly afford a car. We're getting enough money to pay for this place and food. That's about it. Plus, as far as the law is concerned, we're not old enough to drive."
Artemis snorted. "The law hasn't stopped us yet." She didn't know if the real Artemis ever used what her father taught her, but she had been putting it to good use.
"How are we getting money?" Match asked. He wasn't eating his cereal, instead focusing on her. Artemis returned his look with a flirty smile. His memories might be fried, but he looked damn good still. Just as hot as the day she met him. Mm. That boy.
"We're stealing it," Artemis said bluntly, cutting Harper off before she could speak. "From criminals. Jump City doesn't have any heroes who live here, but it has an underworld of crime. We've been cleaning up the streets while planning to get you out. Taking blood money off the criminal's hands."
It seemed like a fair trade to her. They needed cash, and the city needs someone to clean up the crime scene. The police department didn't seem to be as corrupt as Gotham's, but that didn't mean they were clean either.
"We're stealing money from criminals? That doesn't seem very heroic," Match commended.
An irrational flare of anger shot through her. The Match she had known laughed about the idea of stealing from criminals. It had been him who had given her the idea. What right did this Match have to say anything against him?
"We didn't set out to become heroes, Match," Artemis hissed at him.
The super clone seemed afforded, staring at her in shock. Artemis clamped her mouth shut but didn't turn away from his look. Her father beat not showing weakness into her through his grueling hours of training.
"Hey, I don't like it any more than you do," Harper said, interrupting their stare-off. "But that's the only way we have to make money."
Match didn't speak again until they left the apartment. Slinging the backpack over her shoulder, the last memories of school she had was finishing her freshman year at Gotham North. The last day she remembered of Artemis' life was the day her mom got out of prison.
She didn't want to start a new school. She wanted to go back to school. Back to her friends. Her memories were almost seven years old. Her friends would have graduated years ago.
"School uniform looks good on you," Artemis commented on Match's attire.
Match shook his head as he stopped at the bus stop. "It suits me. When you said we were going to a school, I thought you meant public school. I don't think public schools have uniform requirements."
White shirt (with the crest of the school emblazoned in the upper right corner), blue pants or skirts, a black tie, and black shoes were required for every student attending Murakami High School. It was a school with tuition, but Harper had assured her that they needed to worry about paying. "I'd like to know that too. How'd you swing it?"
Harper, who had been adjusting her book bag, shrugged. "I know the principle," was the only answer they got. Instead of trying to pry more information out of the girl, she focused back on Match. Artemis could see the muscles through his shirt. His body was toned to the nth degree, and she loved looking at it.
The bus ride was short, which she was thankful for. Half an hour was more than enough time to be stuck on a bus full of teenagers. She lived close enough to Gotham North that she walked to school every day. Hard to believe she missed it so much after one bus ride, but was stuck sitting next to a girl who did nothing but face time with her friend was mind-numbing.
Harper had taken the seat next to Match- err, Caleb, before she had even gotten aboard the bus.
Getting off the bus, Artemis was left to stare at the school grounds. Surrounding the school was a large brick wall, a single metal gate opened wide for the students. An elaborate cursive M (the same one on the school crest) was carved into the stone above the gate. The student parking lot was located right in front of the gate. Behind the gates were five large buildings, two of them appearing to be gyms. The grass was brilliant emerald green, and trees littered around the grounds.
All the students around them were wearing the same uniform, a sea of white, blue and black.
"Artemis, Caleb, and Harper, right?" A girl called, waving at them. Artemis had never seen her before in her life, and she tensed up. They were supposed to go straight to the office, not talking to some random girl. "I'm Milagro Reyes. I've been assigned as your student liaison. So are all of you together?"
Artemis smiled at her. "We're all adopted. Just moved here from Gotham."
Milagro's eyes widened. "Gotham City? That's quite the ways away. Well, I hope you'll like it here. Come on, I'll take you to the head office and we can get you situated."
Warworld
January 27th, 01:09 UTC
Around Vandal Savage, the lights dimmed and the screens flickered to life. The first meeting of the Light since the attack on Granny Goode's Orphanage succeeded.
"We have many things to discuss, but I would like to open the floor first," Vandal requested. As the First Among Equals, the five members (their sixth still being chosen) nodded their agreement. "Lex. I got word that Project Match has fallen from your grasp?"
The billionaire nodded. "Regretfully, that appears to be the case. He was liberated by young miss Row and our Artemis clone. As I understand it, the platform they had been held in was suffering mechanical and electronic failure."
Vandal frowned. He scanned the information displayed on his tablet. "The platform was a League of Shadows pacific base?"
"Yes," Slade answered the prompt. "Lex and I arranged to transfer him away from Cadmus two years ago. With the heroes knowing about the lab, we felt it was prudent. Better to avoid him falling into enemy hands."
"Yet he has slipped from our grasp," Vandal noted.
"So it would seem. Though we do not believe Miss Harper or Miss Crock are in contact with either the League, the Team, or the Outsiders," Lex explained. "Perhaps our saving grace."
Author's Note:
Hello! I hope you have enjoyed the second chapter of Teen Titans: Rising
Milagro Reyes is the younger sister of Jaime Reyes in the DC Animated Movie Universe. I don't know if she appears in any other media, but I can only find her in the DCAMU.
Murakami is the school Terra is attending in the Teen Titans episode "Thing's Change".
Pa tr eon . com (slash) Syraxes