Gateway City
March 19
Sleep in my room is almost non-existent.
Even after Han drained my energy, I woke up not too long after he left, my mind plagued with more nightmares.
'How is this even happening?' I wonder. 'I don't think about death subconsciously enough for this to be a regular occurrence…'
I have been trying a few other methods though. NyQuil being a life saver.
It tastes nasty, but it does the trick.
The problem is that I have to sleep through the nightmares. I can't wake up to give my mind any sort of relief.
All I can do now is hope that nothing triggers my subconscious to begin to actively think about death.
As I prepare for our mission today, I hear my home phone ring.
As I hop over a sleeping space-dragon, and move to the receiver, I notice the familiar number.
"Artemis," I smile, picking up the phone. "And what might compel you to call me today?"
"Hey, Adds," Her raspy, but strong voice greets. "Just thought I'd give you a heads up about 2 things."
"Alright, shoot," I state, leaning against my kitchen counter.
"1. Mister Conspiracy theory plans to be at the launch, and there's no doubt he's gonna question M'gann as her uncle," She begins.
"Of course he does," I groan. "Wait, how did you know about-?"
"That's the second one," She interrupts. "Nightwing called me earlier this week. Guess who's jumping out of retirement for a night?"
"Artemis! You're serious?!" I shout in joy.
"Yeah," She confirms. "I figure it's time to stretch out the dusty bow-strings-"
"I'm so excited!" I shout again. "Is Wally coming too?"
"No, he's got some homework to catch up on," Artemis smirks on the other side of the line.
"Hey!" I hear Wally's protest from a distance behind her. "That is so not my fault!"
"Sure it's not," Artemis and I both retort in unison.
"I can't wait to see you there!" I exclaim.
"Maybe we should go out and get something to eat first?" She offers. "It's been way too long since we hung out."
"Agreed," I nod. "You think the other girls will be up for it too?"
"We can see," Artemis agrees. "I'll admit it, I've kinda missed you all…"
"We've missed you too," I assure. "But proceeding with an education is a worthy aspiration, and one that requires much attention."
"Too much attention if you ask me," She chuckles. "Well, I guess I'll see you later then. Should we plan for 4:00 then? That way we can all catch up, and still have time to get ready for the mission."
"I think 4:00 will work," I smile. "I'll see you then."
"See ya'," She says, hanging up a second after.
I place the phone back on the receiver just as a knocking rapps on the front door.
'Well isn't my life exciting right about now?' I joke with myself.
"Skotádi, diamoní," I order to Sko in the the other room.
I hear a huff of confirmation as I reach my tiptoes to see out of the peep-hole.
'Steve,' I note, moving to open the door for the soldier.
"Good morning, Major," I smile at Steve.
"Please, Adeline, you know it's just Steve when I'm off duty," He smiles brilliantly at me.
Usually Steve would just be in his army greens, but today, he is dressed in his formal attire. He wears a fitted blue suit with his honorary medals placed on his breast. He has his hat tucked neatly in his belt, and his blond hair is combed to the side.
"And you know I go by Addie," I tease back. "What can I help you with, Steve?"
"Well, I know you must be sick of me asking at this point, but…"
"Where is Mom?" I finish his question. "She called not too long ago. I've been meaning to let you know, but I am quite overwhelmed with… well, life. She said that grandmama isn't doing too well, and she'll have to be out for a long while. She had to keep it short, you know, with how cell service is."
Yeah… yeah that was a whole lie… I know… but what else am I supposed to do?!
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Addie," Steve states sympathetically, his bright blue eyes softening. "Hey, how about you pack a nice dress, and join me in Cape Canaveral? They're launching the first Mars to Earth Communication satellite, and I have to be there representing our base. Why don't you tag along with me? Take your mind off of things?"
See, I'd like to think of Steve as a father figure. Sure Bruce is there, and we've been getting along better, and communicating, but Steve is the 'I'll come to your soccer game and cheer you on' kind of father figure. I'm not sure if mom realizes that he has an infatuation with her, and would do anything to cheer her up. But I do know that he is a kind, and caring guy with a heart of gold. That's hard to find in these days. Grandmama would approve, and that's saying something.
"As awesome as that sounds, I do have plans today with a friend," I smile sheepishly. "If I didn't, I would totally go with." I reassure.
"That's fine," He smiles. "But if you change your mind, the plane leaves base at 17:30."
"Aye, Aye, Major," I salute jokingly.
He laughs lightheartedly.
"Have a good evening, Addie," He smiles, taking out his hat, and getting ready to place it back on his head.
"Same to you, Steve," I wave.
As he bids his good-bye, and I shut the door, I begin to get ready to pack for my day out.
Before I know it, it's almost 4 P.M.
'Well, I'd better go get ready to go see Artemis,' I realize, moving to go change.
After about 15 minutes of debating, I decide to go with a Simple grey t-shirt with a white elephant outline lined with fake jewels on the front, and a line of white lace down the back. I put on some nicely fitted blue jeans with rips on the knees, and I put on a pair of grey flats.
I throw my hair into two dutch braids, tying them up at the base of my neck, letting the rest of the non-braided hair fall down my shoulders, and end at my abdomen. I put on some black eyeliner, then decide to get creative and put a line of silver eyeliner above the black.
I put my black glasses on, and decide that I'm ready to go.
"Sko," I call over to the Dragon. He pops his head up from his bed. "Mission?"
His large crimson eyes widen, and his hood picks up.
"You wanna go on a… mission…?" I say slowly, hoping to get the same reaction from him.
He all but jumps out of bed, and begins to rush around, and run to the window as if to say: "YES. A MISSION. I LIKE THOSE. I WANT A MISSION NOW. YES, COME ON. LET'S GO. NOW. I WISH TO LEAVE THIS INSTANT HUMAN. HUMAN. HUMAN, NOW."
"Yes, Sko, we're going now," I laugh, opening my window, and jumping out to the alley floor.
Since I bent my window open a little all those years ago, I haven't gotten around to fixing it. Sko likes jumping out from there! How could I deny him the happiness-
Okay. Fine. I'm lazy and don't want to. Happy?
As Sko jumps out from the window, and into the old Zeta tube with me, I notice something yellow fly away out of the corner of my eye.
'Either I'm super paranoid, or that was something watching me…' I deduct as I freeze in place, my eyes scanning the skies.
"Come on Sko," I motion over to the old Zeta, noticing that Sko had his head cocked to the side.
"Recognized: Wonderbat B-00-"
Cape Canaveral
"Artemis," I greet happily, giving the taller woman a large hug. "It is truly great to see you after all this time!"
"Hey, Addie!" She smiles, pulling away, our hands still connected. "It's been way too long."
"Hope you guys don't mind me," M'gann states, moving from behind the table of the cafe's outdoor set.
"Never, M'gann," I smile, side hugging the now Caucasian martian.
As we all take a seat at the white table, and wait for the waitress to come around.
"So, how are you?" I ask. "I see you've cut your hair!"
"Yeah," She says, moving her blonde hair around her shoulders. "It was time for a new chapter. But, I guess this chapter had an epilogue."
"I blame Wally," M'gann jokes.
"It's always Wally," I agree satirically. "Speaking of, is he okay with you picking the bow up again?"
"Not really, but Dick needs me. He wouldn't have called if he didn't," Artemis explains.
"True enough," I agree. "Alright, no mission talk right now. That can wait till later."
"Agreed," M'gann states. "So where's Han? I thought he and the 'coven' would be with us today?"
"Uh, no. Han and his brothers are going on a trip for a while. It's some spiritual connection enhancing thing they do once in a while to reconnect their bonds with each other," I explain.
"Glad we don't have to do that with the team," M'gann says. "I love you all, don't get me wrong, but a few weeks with all of them non-stop? I don't think I could handle all of that."
"Ditto," Artemis chuckles.
The time passes by slowly as we ate, and gossiped, and caught up with each other.
'Zeus, I missed these times,' I recall thinking as Artemis recounts the story of how Wally surprised her with a puppy.
"Guys," M'gann states, suddenly serious. "It's almost time…"
I glance up at the clock inside the cafe, and realize she is right.
"Well, I guess we'll have to make another date to catch up," I say, moving to pay for my drink and sandwich.
"Next time, only girls, spa day," Artemis states.
"We could even invite Rocket and Zatanna next time," M'gann smiles.
"I'm sure they'd love a day to refresh," I agree.
"Well, I'll see you two out there," Artemis waves as M'gann leads us to the Bioship, where we are to dress and prepare for our mission.
"Alright, La'gann is in the water, Superboy will be with me and Sko in the Bioship, Nightwing is with Artemis in a nearby scaffolding, and Wonderbat, Nightwing is having you guard the beaches, in case something gets past La'gann," M'gann explains as she turns into her Uncle, Martian Manhunter, and I twirl around into my working uniform.
"Got it," I nod, placing a comm in my ear. "W.B comms on."
"I hear you W.B," Conner replies.
"Alright, plan 'hope-nothing-blows-up' is a go," La'gann states, diving into the ocean.
8:00 P.M
E.S.T
"Miss.M, link us up," Nightwing orders over the comms.
"Link established," Miss M announces, switching gears.
"Good. Begin aerial sweep of the cape's perimeter," Nightwing orders.
"Hey boss, I'd be happy to join my Angelfish on that assignment," La'gann tries.
"Negative, Lagoon Boy. You're right where I need you giving me maximum coverage," Nightwing states. "In the water, on land, and in the air. In case there's any attempt at sabotage."
"Wonderbat, Sweep the walls on your side. Invisibility and camouflage aren't uncommon," Nightwing orders me.
"I'm on it," I answer, beginning to hover above the sand, making sure not to leave any prints in my path as I search for any activity. "So far the wall's a negative."
"Good. Keep it that way," Nightwing replies.
"Yes'sir," I salute.
52 minutes until lift off
"Whoa… Heads up minnows, we got bad guys. Black Manta's troopers working some kind of platform beneath the surface just offshore," La'gann reports. "I'm taking taking them down!"
"Belay that. Wait for backup," Nightwing counters.
I begin to set my gaze over the horizon, looking for any sign of rippling water, but it proved to be futile. It's the Atlantic Ocean. It's constantly moving.
"I'll scrounge a re-breather from the cargo hold and help the rookie out," Conner states.
"Rookie?! Neptune's beard! I don't need any help from the 'boy-of-steel'!" He shouts, his voice getting deeper, meaning he's transforming.
"Lagoon Boy! Stand down!" Nightwing shouts.
"Sorry- Ckkkkkkkk... You're breaking up- ckkkkkkk-" La'gann tries.
"There's no static on a psychic link!" Nightwing shouts at the Atlantian.
"Anóitos!" I exclaim, looking into the water. "Where are you, I'm coming in!"
"Wonderbat, no! It could be a diversion!" Artemis notes.
"Artemis is right. Stay in position!" Nightwing orders.
I growl, and begin to pace back and forth on the beach, my heart thundering in my chest, and my muscles twitching, ready for a fight.
Seconds later, Black Manta troops emerge from the water, and storm the beach.
They pause for a moment when they spot me standing in front of them with my arms crossed over my chest.
I smirk, cracking my knuckles.
"Now, you can do this the easy way, which is go back home without a fight. The hard way, which is me tossing you back in the water. Or my way, where you won't be breathing water or air ever again," I offer.
One of the troops arm themselves, and shoot a laser bullet at me.
I easily hit it away with my cuffs.
"The hard way it is," I deduct.
I let out a war cry, and rush at the soldiers.
It's hard to tell how many I took out at one time. They just kept being replaced by ones emerging from the shore.
"Company!" Artemis shouts, launching a grappling arrow down into the wall used to block residual flames from the beach.
They are forced to duck behind the wall as the troopers begin to aim up at them as they descend to the beach.
"Superboy. You have that re-breather?" Nightwing asks as he ducks behind the wall with Artemis.
I begin to kick, and tear the troopers guns in half, and crunch them with my strength, but as I said before, new troops keep coming from the water.
"Negative. La'gaan didn't restock," Conner spits.
"Then take the helm. Miss Martian, gill up and help Lagoon Boy. Superboy, we need cover fire down here," Nightwing orders rapidly.
"Acknowledged," Mis.M states. "Bio-ship reconfigured for manual flight," I spot a small black dot being dropped into the ocean, making a large splash. "La'gaan, I'm on my way!"
As I smash one of the trooper's helmets in, I hear a voice from behind me.
"Long time no see, Princess,"
'No… not now…,' I pause in my efforts.
I whip my head around, and floating above me is the one who betrayed us all in the beginning.
Yellow Lantern: Nash Jordan.
He looks older, obviously. But his hair is different. Now it's more of a golden yellow rather than a sandy blond. He has a yellow glow about him, and his normally green uniform is now an eerie yellow and gold. The solid yellow sits on his muscles, and golden vein like things outline it, leading to the Lantern logo that sits in the center of his chest.
But what hurt me the most is the fact that his soft green eyes have been completely taken over by the sliver of gold I saw all those years ago.
"Oh, Nash… what have you done?" I ask him in sympathy.
"I enlightened myself," He smirks cruelly, lifting his ring in my direction. "And now, I want to destroy everything that stood in my path."
He makes a machine gun out of his ring, and begins to rapid fire on me.
"Guy's! It's Nash!" I shout over the link.
"Nash?" Artemis asks.
I manage to block the bullets with my cuffs, following his arm movements around with my wrists. He then takes a different course of action, and begins to fight me using hand-to-hand combat.
"Yep, and he's pissed!" I state, blocking his punches.
He throws his fist at my face, and I hit him away with the spines of my cuffs, scratching his forearm. He jabs at me with his other arm as I go in for a shin grab. His fist connects with the armour of my belt, and I shoulder him in the stomach with my shoulder piece.
"Nash, I don't want to hurt you," I try to reason with him as he recovers from the blow.
"You won't," He smirks, using his ring to surround me in images of Jason. "But you see, my intentions severely differ from yours."
I faintly hear a missile being launched from the ocean.
"Nash, what are you doing?" I ask as I look around at the golden images of the late Robin.
"Breaking you. Mind, heart and soul," His deep voice replies. "Surely you've seen my... tokens...?"
'My nightmares… he knows where I live… he's the one-' My eyes widen at my realization.
"Now you're getting it," He smiles. "Now do you see how insignificant your little street magician is? He can't even protect you from a little dream…"
A small golden strand comes from one of the images to caress my cheek, but I snap my head away.
"Haneul is not useless," I growl. "And I certainly don't need him to protect me!"
I storm past the images, and move to begin fighting Nash again.
At this point, if there's any chatter going on in the psychic link, I can't tell. I'm zoned in on taking Nash down.
'He should've kept Jason out of this…' I growl in my head. 'Now I want to hurt him.'
He takes down the images of Jason, and uses his ring to create a shield and mace.
He slams the mace down against my side, but I let gravity take me down to the sand before it hits me.
As I use my flight to lift me up, Nash slams his shield into my chest, making me fall back down.
"Conner! Deploy Sko!" I mentally shout as the Bioship moves to shoot missiles out of the air.
I see the outline of the bioship fly over, and a black hole opens up, releasing my antsy space dragon.
"Skotádi, epíthesi!" I order as Sko makes a crater in the sand.
He bares his large fangs at Nash, and his red-to-gold hood stands upright on the back of his neck.
His golden claws dig into the sand, and he launches himself at Nash, attacking him from behind.
Nash topples over on top of me, surprised at Skotádi's attack.
He cages me in between his arms, and I use my flight to propel myself up and out of his reach.
As I regain my footing, I see Skotádi using his teeth to try and rip Nash's face off, but Nash is using his arms to hold Sko back by the neck.
I take my chance, and I untie my lasso from my belt, and toss it over his head, and around his neck.
He tries to claw it off, but I yank him out from under Sko faster than his arms can react.
I can see him struggle to breath, but I don't let him go.
"I told you I didn't want to hurt you, Nash," I say to the guy I once felt strongly for. "But then you brought Robin into this."
"I… will take… them all from… from you," He says in between trying to catch air in his lungs.
'Quit smiling!' I hiss, tossing him from side to side like a rag doll.
I spot Sko watching my movements, his head bouncing back and forth as if I were taunting him with a toy.
"No matter how… hard you try… fear will always… consume your… thoughts… I will… win…" Nash smiles crookedly.
"Never," I deny.
I see Nash's gaze move over to the ocean.
I follow his sight, and I spot three figures emerging from the sea foam.
The one in the center is Kaldur'ahm. And he looks pissed.
"Kaldur. You don't want to do this," Artemis tries.
"I believe I do," He states, using his water bearers to create a large sea serpent. He moves his arms up, then tosses the serpent into the shore, knocking Nightwing and Artemis away.
Seconds after, I hear the tell-tale signs of lift off. The alarms blare, and I hear the ear-drum exploding sound of the rockets being turned on.
Kaldur says something to his cronies, then a small missile flies out from his shoulder armor, aimed at the satellite.
Artemis quickly recovers, and notices the missile.
She knocks, and launches an arrow up at it, meeting it half way up to the rocket, making it explode pre-maturely.
"No rust on me." She quips with a smirk.
"Artemis, behind you!" Nightwing shouts.
Kaldur had created two hammer maces out of his bearers, attempting to attack Artemis.
Nightwing meets him half way, but Kaldur expects it, hitting him straight in the chest, knocking him a few yards away.
Artemis tries to defend herself with her bow, but Kaldur hits it away easily. She then tries to elbow him in the stomach.
Then you could practically hear a pin drop.
Faster than my mind could comprehend, Kaldur'ahm switches his mace into a blade, and stabs Artemis straight through the ribcage.
"Welcome back," Kaldur whispers, unsheathing his sword from her ribcage.
"ARTEMIS!" I scream, forgetting about Nash and my lasso, and all but breaking the sound barrier with how fast I flew to her side.
"Artemis! I got you!" Dick states, catching her before she hits the ground.
"Merciful Minerva…" I gasp, seeing the blood covering her suit. "Hang on Artemis! Don't you dare let go!"
"Move out. The mission is a failure," Kaldur states, making his way back into the sea.
Dick begins performing CPR on Artemis.
I can't hear her breathing.
Then, without warning, the Earth-Mars satellite explodes, fire and debris falling from the skies.
But I can't bring myself to care.
'...Artemis… ARTEMIS… She can't… no… no, no, no, no, no, NO NONONONONONO!'
"We are done here," Kaldur scowls.
"Dick, she's… she's not…" I begin to panic.
"Count!" He shouts at me as he slams his fists into her chest to begin compressions.
"She's… She's not… No… no, she can't…" Is all I can think and say.
I hear thunder roll across the skies, and lightning crackle through the air.
"No… not Artemis… No… no… not… Kaldur… KALDUR… KALDUR'AHM!" I shout in anger as a flash of lightning illuminates the beach as I turn to face the paused form of Kaldur in the Atlantic.
Faster than I could think it through, I flew over to him, grabbed him by the shoulders, and threw him back onto the shore.
The wind blew harder around us, and more lightning flashes and cracks across the skies.
"YOU HURT ARTEMIS!" I scream, beginning to tear his armor away from his form.
He tries to fight back, but at this point, it's useless.
I've gone feral.
He reaches for his bearers, but I crunch them underneath my armored boots.
He tries to block his face, but I tear the armor off, leaving his skin bare.
"NO ONE HURTS MY FAMILY!" I shout.
It all happened so fast.
I hear the thunder.
I see the lightning.
And I conduct it down with my hands, and slam them into Kaldur's chest.
I hear him shout in agony.
'Now you know my pain!' Is my last thought before I am thrown off of him by a golden fist.
The lightning and thunder dissipate, and I am left on my back, trying to catch my breath.
"That's the last time I save you," I hear Nash say to Kaldur.
'That's right… I left him alone… he untied himself…' I remember faintly.
As I regain some of my strength, I see Kaldur being carried down into the sea by his cronies, and Nash fly off into space, leaving a golden trail of fire behind him.
My focus snaps back over to Dick and Artemis.
I see Conner, M'gann, and Sko run over to them, waiting for orders to assist.
"I-I don't hear her heartbeat…" Conner's eyes widen.
'No… not Artemis… please Hades, not her…' I pray, trying to crawl to her side.
"She's dead," Dick calls it, after three counts of thirty, and three counts of breathers.
"No…" Is all I could think.
"No… NO… SHE CAN'T…" I back away to the boulders on the shore as Dick falls on his rear, his head between his arms. "NO… NO!" I scream at the top of my lungs in agony.
I hear Sko howl faintly in the background as I run out of breath screaming.
I fall to my knees, and let my tears free, running miles down my face as the realization sets in.
'She's gone.'
Mount Justice
March 20
3:58 A.M
E.S.T
Everyone gathers in the living room of the Cave.
'She's gone…' I think, sitting in the corner of the kitchen with my head bowed.
It's the only thought running through my head.
M'gann already changed back into her normal clothes, and if Conner had any, he would have too. Dick went to go tell Wally.
I haven't changed.
I still sit in my uniform, my armored boots clinking against the tile of the kitchen, and my shoulder piece slams into the cabinets under the sink.
Sko sits at my side, lying his head on my knees in attempt to comfort me.
I hear a rustling come from the doors.
"Where?" I hear an accented voice ask to the room.
'Han?' I wonder.
Either he heard my thoughts, or someone pointed to where I was, because low and behold, Haneul came rushing into the kitchen, his brothers in tow.
"Love," He says, seeing me in my tear-stained state.
He falls to his knees beside me, and I crawl into his arms.
"Kaldur killed her…" I cry. "He just… killed her… after everything…"
"Shhh… I know… and he shall pay for it with his life," Han growls, trying to calm me down by pushing my cheek into his chest, and fitting my head under his chin. "But for now, let's get you home."
"...No…" I shake my head.
"No?" Han asks.
"He knows…" I say shakily.
"Who?" Han asks.
"Nash," I answer.
"You saw him?" He asks.
"He's the one making me have nightmares," I sniffle.
"Okay… no home…" I feel him turn around, then nod. "You're coming home with us, okay?"
I nod into his chest, fresh tears beginning to make their way down my cheeks.
"Okay, love. Let's get you home," He says, shifting us around so he could pick me up bridal style, and bring me around to the zeta tubes.
As I pass by M'gann, I reach out for her.
Han pauses in his trek, and lets me do whatever I needed.
Garfield motions his eyes up to me, and M'gann's copper gaze follows.
She reaches out for my hand, and we just reassure each other for a moment.
'I'm going to make him pay,' I say in my head.
"We both will," M'gann growls in my thoughts, and we make a mental pact.
Next time we see Kaldur'ahm, he's a dead man.
Paradise Island
Inside the temple of Zeus, Queen Hippolyta stands at the altar, gazing up at the statued figure of her past lover.
Her long, midnight black hair well past her shoulder blades, fly freely as her violet robes in the slight breeze that the door lets in.
Firelight flitters across the large temple, and the new sacrifices sit on top of the stands.
"My Queen," A warrior approaches. "It has happened."
"Where?" The Queen asks.
"Cape Canaveral, Florida, The United States of America," The Warrior reports.
"Send Troya with the cuffs," The Queen orders her warrior. "Adeline won't be able to control it just yet."
"Majesty?" The warrior pauses. "Why not tell the Princess who she really has in her? What Princess Diana, her mother, has in her?"
"We will, eventually," Hippolyta answers. "But not yet. She would only release and control this much power under large amounts of emotion. Anger, and grief. Putting this realization upon her shoulders would drive her very near to the edge. And that is an edge we cannot risk."
"But should this happen again?" The warrior asks.
"Then we must be in a position to take her out of play, and back to the island. Only Hera may help her here." the Queen explains. "No one is to speak a word of this. Am I understood?"
"Yes, your highness," The warrior salutes.
"Good. Deploy Troya. Give her coordinates, and Diana's...err-apartment number," the Queen orders. "I want her in America by sunrise."
"Understood, Majesty."
What's good. I'm back with an update. Now to my peeps:
Anime Hotty lover.18: Well, if you need me to beta, just send me a P.M! I'm usually pretty free :)
Digidestined10: I do try and mix it up a little bit :) And if I get enough requests for it, I might do a chapter in Nash's P.O.V... O_o
Luna Star Phantom: We may not see W.B interact with Bart all that much for a few chapters. Yeah, the things we do for cosplay...
Boyy2k: Thank you good sir.
josephguy217: So you're not gonna make a different review orrr...? Lol
Hellfire-Princess: In most of the books I read, they don't usually alert you to the change in character (Rick Riordan being the acception) So I thought I'd just let the viewer figure it out based on the previous context. I can try and fix myself on that, but it's just been engraved in my mind, so If I do slip up -_(:/)_-
That's all for reviews! So If you like this stroy, comment below and let me know! And If you like what you've read here, and you want to read more, go ahead and click that fave button, and go on ahead to my profile to read more, and see my recommendations for other serieseses...
That's all for now!
-Gargoyle77