Chapter 5
Alright last chapter Barbara confronted Mariko who gave her a death threat about interfering in her work. What will Barbara do now? And what will Mariko do to Barbara if she keeps snooping around? Well guess what you're about to find out in chapter 5! ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!
"Hey Tony! Tony Dex!" Dick shouted as he ran to catch up to Tony who was walking toward the Music room. Tony looked over his shoulder and jumped in surprise.
"O-oh, h-hey. Dick Grayson right?" he asked, Dick nodded.
"Yeah; hey I heard you've been hanging out with that new Mariko girl. What's up with that?" he asked. "I didn't think you were uhm all that social. Sorry."
Tony shrugged.
"W-well, how do I explain it," He mumbled, 'Seriously; how?'
"So what are you guys doing? I keep hearing rumors about some kind of project?" Dick asked, Tony froze.
"I-it's nothing! Why do you ask?" He stuttered nervously, Dick cocked an eyebrow as Tony began to go in the opposite reaction, "well I gotta go, nice talking to you Grayson."
With that Tony ran off to a different part of the building, leaving behind Dick who was a little confused and now a little suspicious of him.
"Ok; I guess it's time I start investigating." He mumbled.
~0~
Meanwhile in the 608 science room Mariko sat atop of the abandoned teacher's desk, her legs elegantly crossed as she leaned back on her hands and glared at the opposite wall. Tony sat in one of the desks in front of her nervously. She narrowed her eyes and scowled.
"They're onto me." She said in a low tone. Tony looked up at her.
"You mean Dick Grayson?" He asked, Mariko cocked an eyebrow and stood up.
"Say again?" She growled, Tony bit his lip.
"Uh yeah; he came up to me and asked what we were up to." He said. Mariko walked over to Tony and slammed her hands on his desk.
"Are you kidding me?!" She shouted, "Now I have to deal with a second person?"
"S-sorry." Tony mumbled, Mariko huffed and stood up straight crossing her arms as she thought about the situation.
"It's fine; I can deal with this no problem," She said, "It's just a total pain and it's going to mean adding more people that I originally planned to the Light's project."
"H-how can I help?" Tony said standing up from his seat. Mariko looked over.
"Oh my, someone's eager to help." She said with a smirk. Tony blushed, "Alright then. Listen up Tony; Tomorrow you're going to bring Barbara Gordon; I'll deal with Grayson."
"Yes ma'am." He said with a nod, Mariko smiled.
"I'll show them what happens when someone tries to interfere with Savage-sama's plans." She said, as she and walked out the door towards the front entrance, "Let's go Tony."
"U-uhm miss Mariko; what about my house?" Tony asked, Mariko stopped.
"What about it?" she asked, Tony smiled nervously.
"Well it's just that I kinda haven't been there in a while." He said, Mariko sighed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Tch; I suppose it would make sense that you'd wanna get home." She huffed, "Normal idiots like you have families that worry about you don't cha?"
"Well actually I kind of live on my own." Tony mumbled, Mariko's brows rose, "Heheh; long story."
"Then why does it matter?" She growled. Tony shrugged.
"I haven't fed my dog in a while—"
"You have a dog?" Mariko asked getting closer to Tony, who nodded nervously.
"U-uh yeah." He explained, Mariko smiled.
"I love dogs! What kind of dog is it?" She asked.
"A Japanese Akita." He said.
"Hachiko?!*" Mariko shouted, then grabbed Tony by the hand and dragged him off toward the door, "I love dogs; tell me where you live and we'll go get her."
"Uhm, ok." Tony mumbled as he was then shoved into Mariko's limo. "I actually don't live far from here."
The driver then pulled away from the curb and drove off down the street after Tony told him his address. As the two rode in the back seat Mariko smiled.
"So what's your dog's name?" she asked.
"Uh; Yukie. I named her after the girl from the anime Vampire Knight*." Tony explained. Mariko's eyes lit up.
"Kawaii! What a cute name for a doggy." She said, Tony blushed as the driver pulled over.
"I'll be back; Yukie's not really all that great with company coming into the house." He said, Mariko nodded and waited for him to return. When he did he was followed by a small white Japanese Akita dog; Mariko stared as the dog barked at the window.
"She's so cute!" she said then opened the door to let the two back into the car. Immediately the dog leapt inside and began licking Mariko's cheeks, "Kawaii inu!"
"S-so you really like dogs huh?" Tony asked shutting the door as he slid into the car. Mariko nodded somberly.
"Yeah; but when I lived in Tokyo my dad wouldn't let me have one." She said then shook her head and glared, "Don't distract me Tony; we've got a lot of work to do! Savage-sama wants a progress report, and I have to think of a way of telling him about you without him getting cross with me."
"This Savage guy; who is he anyway? I keep hearing you talk about him but who is he? You're dad?" Tony asked, Mariko shook her head.
"No way! My parents are six feet under back in the slums of Tokyo. Died when I was a little kid." She said nonchalantly. Tony rubbed the back of his neck.
"O-oh I'm so sorry." He said, Mariko laughed.
"Don't be; my mother was a prostitute, and my father was abusive!" She shouted, "I say good riddance!"
"So then who is Savage?" Tony asked.
"An old boring old man with a god complex." Klarion said appearing across from them. Tony's dog Yukie growled as she spotted Teekl sitting in Klarion's lap. Teekl hissed at the dog making her whine and back down towards her owner.
"You said old twice. Mr. Klarion." Tony said. Klarion shrugged.
"Well he is." He said. Mariko glared.
"How dare you say something like that about Savage-sama! He wants to save the world from the Justice League's pathetic coddling." She growled, "Savage-sama is the greatest leader the world has ever known!"
Klarion rolled his eyes making a pouty face while Tony's gaze switched between Klarion and Mariko. The two seemed to have different opinions on Savage; Mariko seemed to idolize the mysterious man, whereas Klarion didn't seem to really care for him. He looked down at his dog who was shaking nervously on his lap and petted her behind the ears.
"Whatever Mariko; the point is he's a very powerful human being." Klarion said, "and Mariko here worships him—for reason I don't know nor care to know. I would suggest staying on his good side."
"Uh thanks for the tip." Tony mumbled, Mariko huffed.
"Hmph. Tony-boy's got nuthin to worry about; I put a lot of work into Tony's improvements." She said proudly, "Besides; I'm Savage-sama's favorite. He won't get too mad. He'll let me keep him, and his cute little doggy."
"If you say so, Mariko Miko." Klarion said, Mariko nodded as the driver pulled over to the sidewalk of the building Mariko was currently staying in. Klarion looked out the window and smirked, "Looks like you'll be telling your favorite leader sooner than you thought."
"Eh? What are you talking about Jigoku-shonen?" Mariko asked as Klarion disappeared. Suddenly the door opened and a man with scars across his face climbed in. Mariko jumped in surprise as Vandal Savage sat across from her.
"S-savage-sama…" She mumbled, Savage nodded then looked to Tony who sat with his dog.
"Mariko; I had heard that you had taken up a side project." He said, Mariko looked down shamefully as Savage looked to Tony who smiled nervously petting his dog.
"I can explain Savage-sama…" She mumbled, Savage put his hand up silencing Mariko's comment.
"I hope whatever this is won't distract you from the task at hand. You know I don't tolerate failure." He said, Mariko nodded.
"Oh yes Savage-sama; I know that, and thanks to my newly created cyborg—Tony—I have been able to give you enough test subjects for The Light's next step." She said, Savage cocked an eyebrow.
"You're tone and mannerisms tell me that there is something else you're not telling me." He said.
"Two students from Gotham Academy are onto me." Mariko said, then sat back and smiled, "But I can take care of that—as long as you don't mind the extra people."
"Do as you please Mariko; I trust you won't fail me." Savage said, then climbed out of the limo, Mariko nodded.
"I would never Savage-sama; I live only to help you." She said. Savage smiled warmly and patted Mariko on the head tenderly. Mariko blushed.
"Good." He said walking away, "And you may keep to your side project; so long as it does not distract you. be sure to send your findings to Brain when you are finished collecting."
"H-hai! Savage-sama." Mariko said, then smiled and sat back in the limo.
"So that, I take it, was Savage." Tony said, Mariko nodded, "He seems to be very fond of you."
"Darn right; I'm Vandal Savage-sama's favorite. He lets me do as I please." She said, "Now about my side project."
"Yeah how did he know about that?" Tony asked, Mariko narrowed his eyes.
"Jigoku-shonen; he probably told him. That Witch-boy gets bored to easy." She hissed, "Now come on; let's get to work."
"Miss Mariko what exactly does the Light do?" Tony asked when he, his dog Yukie, and Mariko were inside. Mariko came out from her closet wearing her usual outfit. (see chapter 1) she smirked and went to her computer.
"So glad you finally asked—stupid." She mumbled the last part. He had been with her for two and a half weeks now and never once been in the least bit curious about her work. Mariko pulled up a file onto her large computer screen.
"The Light aims to save mankind from itself—and the Justice League." She began, "The way we're heading now the world won't be able to protect itself from anything, we'll be too weak. Thanks to the Justice league and their band of sidekicks."
"But the Justice League's a force of good why would you—"
"Save all questions till the end of the show please!" she shouted interrupting Tony's question. "The Justice League won't be here forever—even if they claimed to be immortal like Savage-sama. He wants to help the world by having it help itself."
"I can understand Mr. Savage, but you Mariko? Why would you want to go through with this?" Tony asked, Mariko turned and frowned.
"This world is rotten," She mumbled, "I hate it; and no matter how the Justice League tries they can't stop everything. The only salvation is for it evolve, that's what I believe."
Tony looked down at his dog; who whimpered in response. Suddenly Tony felt someone leaning on his shoulder. Tony jumped when he realized that Klarion had returned.
"I'd just give up on that if I were you; Mariko Miko's mind is a steal trap." He warned, "Once you learn her secrets—if you learn them you'll wish you hadn't."
"So glad you could come back, Jigoku-Shonen." Mariko said, "Stop bothering Tony; he has work to do tonight."
"I-I do?" Tony asked, Mariko nodded still sitting in her chair and now holding up a ball. Yukie barked and wagged her tail as she ran to Mariko.
"Hai-hai," She said as she threw the ball across the room Yukie went after it and came back presenting the ball to Mariko, "You're going to be going after Robin of the Young Justice League."
"You really have a thing for a guy who just hacked you not long ago." Klarion teased, Mariko's face turned red as she threw the ball at him.
"BAKA! It's not like that!" She shouted, "I want him so I can take him apart! No one in the world can beat me!"
Mariko then walked up to Tony and grabbed him by the tie and dragged him toward the other end of the room.
"So you Tony-chan are going to fight him; then bring him back here!" She shouted, Tony stumbled a bit as he tried to follow her and not be strangled by his own tie.
"Huh? But how am I supposed to do that?" He asked. Mariko turned to him and tighten his necktie.
"Stupid! I told you already!" She shouted, "You're not completely human anymore; get creative!"
With that she opened the door to her room and kicked him out. Tony looked up at her with a confused look as she glared down at him.
"And don't come back until you've got Robin in chains!" She shouted then slammed the door shut. Tony sighed then stood up. "And bring me a souvenir!"
'Well; I suppose I've got no choice then.' He thought straightening up his uniform.
"You're a bit of a masochist aren't you?" Klarion asked standing next to him. Tony looked over.
"What do you mean?" he asked, not at all fazed by Klarion's sudden appearance. Teekl meowed atop of Klarion's shoulders.
"Mariko Miko gave you an impossible task; you won't be able to finish it." Klarion explained, "And when you don't come back with the Boy Wonder; she'll beat the crap out of you."
"I-I don't think I have to worry about that." Tony said, "I doubt they'll even show up."
"Don't be too sure; it'd be really boring if you didn't get to do something." Klarion said, Tony gave Klarion a puzzled look, "This is going to be fun!"
"Fun?" Tony asked, though before he got an answer he was surrounded by black smoke. When the smoke dispersed he was in the middle of Gotham's shopping mall. It was closed for the day, took Tony for by surprise. He didn't realize the day had gotten so late.
"How'd I get here?" He mumbled to himself.
"I'm a lord of Chaos, I teleported." Klarion said, "Better get to doing something; Mariko might take you apart if you don't."
"R-right, question is…what do I do?" Tony asked, Klarion frowned, as his hand ignited with red fire.
"This is all the help I'm going to do for you." He said, before Tony could question what he was talking about he hear a loud crash. He looked to see a jewelry shop window burst as the flame landed on the other side. Tony looked to Klarion.
"W-what did you do?" He asked. Klarion shrugged.
"What you're supposed to be doing; now get started!" He shouted then threw a small spark at Tony's feet making him jump.
"Ok, Ok! Sheesh." He said, then went towards the broken jewelers window. He then hesitated a bit. He then looked down at his feet as Klarion's cat padded over to him and looked up.
"You're not very good at this are you?" Klarion asked looking over his shoulder.
"I've never actually done anything like this." Tony said, Klarion pursed his lips.
"You mean you've never had fun?" He asked, Tony shook his head.
"Fun?! This is illegal." He said, Klarion shrugged.
"It's also fun, breaking windows and setting fire to buildings." He said, "Mariko's done it too. She's a very angry girl Yaknow."
"Didn't notice." Tony said, then shrugged figuring he had nothing to lose anyway and then started breaking more windows and vandalizing the mall until he came across something that took his interest.
"What are you doing?" Klarion asked, noting Tony's distraction. Tony looked over his shoulder.
"Miss Mariko told me to bring her back a souvenir; that's what I'm going to do." He said, Klarion looked over.
"You're bringing her that?" Klarion asked tony nodded making Klarion shrug. "Whatever."
As Tony grabbed the mystery item an arrow whizzed by his head. Tony looked around and saw a green masked blond archer pointing an arrow at him. The archer was accompanied by a boy dressed in a red and yellow outfit with a lightning bolt on his chest.
"Tony?" Artemis mumbled, Tony frowned.
"Do I know you?" He asked, Artemis shook her head and drew her bow.
"Put down the necklace!" She demanded. Tony looked to the piece of jewelry in his hand it was a large polished gem stone set in a golden chocker necklace. He shrugged, and held up the expensive looking necklace.
"Sorry, Souvenir." He said plainly with a slight smile, "Say, you wouldn't happen to know Robin would you?"
"Is this guy serious?" Kidflash asked, Artemis shrugged; she never really did understand Tony Dex—he was an oddball. Tony looked around to find Klarion only to discover he had disappeared once again. He sighed.
'Should've figured that.' He thought as another object came right for him. Tony let out a yelp of fear and raised his arms to block whatever it was as it stuck inside his arm. He looked down at it.
"That should have hurt." He mumbled, then looked up to see Robin standing on the second floor of the mall. Tony then removed the baterang (if it's Robin is it really a Bat-arang?) from his arm. He then looked up to Robin.
"I think I'll keep this; just in case." He shouted up. Robin frowned.
"In case of what?" He asked. Tony shoved the necklace into his uniform pocket.
"In case I end up not being able to bring you back." He said plainly, "You see my uh friend wants to meet you, and she might not be too happy if I don't deliver."
"Etativel eth boy ni ria!" shouted voice and suddenly Tony found himself in the air, as Zatanna floated next to Robin.
"Cool, you wouldn't happen to know a guy with a cat would you? His name's Klarion…" Tony asked, Zatanna glared.
"This guy has to be working for the Light." She said, Robin shook his head.
"I don't think so; maybe working under someone working for the Light." He said, "This kid went missing for an entire week."
"Uhm if I could interrupt?" Tony asked. Suddenly he let out a growl of pain as a loud screeching noise sounded in his ears. "Ah!"
"Antana Baka!?" Mariko's voice shouted in his head, "Stop screwing around and attack!"
"Ow…how—I mean with what?" Tony asked. "Wait why can I hear you in my head?"
"Focus you idiot! You're body's a weapon, like Lex Luthor's secretary." She hissed "You're right arm for example, aim it at them. You can fire small rockets!"
Tony did what he was told and raised his right arm at Robin and Zatanna. Suddenly his hand broke apart and turned into a small rocket launcher. Tony stared.
"H-holy crap." He said in disbelief, as he fired a small rocket. The ledge that Zatanna and Robin stood on suddenly collapsed from the impact, and the two dropped. Tony also dropped—given Zatanna's broken concentration. He landed on the ground with a thump.
'Now go get him!' Mariko shouted, Tony nodded and got up to run after Robin. Artemis aimed her bow at him only to have him disappear in the dust of the rubble. When the dust settled Zatanna stood and looked around only to realize that Tony, and Robin were gone.
3,262 words and nine pages long! Rock on! I couldn't figure out how to end this chapter forgive me so this will be my longest chapter yet. Hopfully they'll never be this long again. Mew. I hope you like it! Oh that reminds me for those who don't watch anime the word 'Baka' means stupid or fool. Given the fact that Mariko thinks herself a genius she says this often to people. Antana baka means what are you stupid? I surely hope I spelled those right, I only know that from anime and manga and some translating books. I know very little Japanese.
(*) Hachiko was a Japanese Akita who's very famous in Tokyo. If you don't know about this loyal dog please you have to look this up. It's a touching story. The other starred uh—for lack of a better word—thingy, Vampire Knight is an anime, Yukie Cross being the lead Female character. Good anime—never finished it. Oh well review "See you later armadillos—unless I see you first! HAHA!"