Chapter 17
Last chapter Mariko caught the Young justice Team, unknowingly captured Robin, and took a short trip to Arkham. Little fun fact; Mariko's afraid of asylums. Do you blame her? Anyway you also saw Savage being well parents-like. At least I hope that's how you viewed him. I'm trying to portray Savage as a father figure—which is hard since you rarely see him until later in the story, not much later mind you however. Anyway I thought it was cute, ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!
Mariko sat in her room inspecting the status with Match; so far she had made no progress in being able to control his anger. Which made her extremely frustrated, she decided to take a break from her work and sit in her room. Vandal Savage had told her to get some rest; after coming back from Arkham Asylum. However she was restless; she wanted to keep working, to help Savage reach his goals. She sighed and flopped onto her bed, her face down in a pillow as she reached for a remote. She pressed a button and a loud Japanese punk song blared from the speakers. She then rolled over and sighed.
"TONY! Get in here!" She shouted. Soon Tony and his dog popped their heads into the room.
"Yes Miss Mariko?" He asked, Mariko sniffed the air and made a face.
"What's that smell?" she hissed, Tony made a face then remembered.
"Oh; I was giving Yukie a bath," He explained, Mariko groaned and rolled over on her bed.
"Dry her off; she smells like wet dog." She said, Tony nodded, noting Mariko's less than pleasant mood. It had been a day since she returned from Arkham. From he remembered Savage had returned Mariko to her labs. She had clung to him like a child, as if he was going to disappear forever. It was dramatic looking. Since then Mariko had been acting strange; she wasn't her usual self—of course he also noted that to a lot of people that was a good thing—he looked Yukie who yipped and shook herself dry.
"Miss Mariko; are you alright?" he asked, Mariko sat up in bed and glared at him.
"I'm fine! Stop asking!" She growled, Tony shrunk back.
"I-I only asked once," He said Mariko laid back down, "Yaknow it wasn't right for them to do that."
"Shut up Tony." She hissed.
"But you didn't even have Robin; they had no right—"
"I said shut up! Before I dismantle you for real!" Mariko shouted, sitting up again and glared blue and purple daggers at him. Tony nodded and left the room. Mariko huffed and stood up going to her computer, "How did Robin even get in here anyway? And Miss Martian? How'd she break through my barriers?"
She flipped through the security camera footage, until something caught her eyes. She smirked evilly.
"Oh, what do we have here?" She asked, zooming in on the pod she used to contain Dick Grayson. He had broken out of the pod and was changing into a costume. What she saw next made Mariko's smirk turn into a full on evil grin.
"TONY!" she shrieked, soon Tony and Yukie were in her room.
"Yes Miss Mariko?" he asked, Mariko stared at the screen.
"What was the name of that boy I kidnapped?" She asked, still staring at the screen. Tony cocked an eye brow.
"Dick Grayson; why?" He asked. Mariko gestured for him to come over to her computer.
"I think I know who Robin is." She said Tony's jaw dropped.
"Dick Grayson….is Robin?" he mumbled, "Then does that mean that Bruce Wayne's—"
"Batman? Gotta be; oh Savage-sama is gonna be so happy when I tell him—oh but I can't tell him. He might not be happy; Sagave-sama never seemed all that interested in their true IDs." Mariko said, "I don't think he'll want to know about this."
"Know about what?" Klarion asked as he appeared on Mariko's bed, his cat Teekl beside him. Mariko and Tony looked to him as Mariko place her hand against the computer screen.
"I know who Robin is!" She shouted happily. Klarion's brows rose.
"Oh that's interesting information indeed." Klarion said, "What will you do with it?"
"I haven't figured that out yet." Mariko said, Klarion floated over to her and went to look over her shoulder.
"Mind if I take a peek?" He asked, Mariko pressed a button and the screen suddenly went blank.
"Sorry Jigoku Shonen; this information is too valuable to let a boy like you know." She said, Klarion frowned and looked over to her.
"I don't suppose I could torture you to get the information?" He mumbled, Mariko narrowed her eyes.
"No; that won't work. This information is mine and mine alone." She said. "Now I must figure out what to do with it."
~0~
"I heard Mariko Miko was sent to Akrham Asylum the other day." Batman said, Robin nodded. The duo were inside the Bat Cave under Wayne Manor.
"She kidnapped me out of costume," He explained, "She went willingly; however she thought she was going to Belle Reve."
"And you sent her to Arkham." Batman mused, "Why didn't you send her to Belle Reve?"
"I have reasons to believe that maybe she has an inside person, she wasn't in Belle Reve more than a week before she was released." Robin said.
"I believe you; I also think that Belle Reve's staff is corrupt. However if we inform the public of this it might start an incident." Batman said, "How long will she be in Arkham?"
"Not long I'm afraid," Alfred said walking into the cave, "According to the papers she was released just yesterday."
"What? How?!" Robin shouted, "How could they release a person like that!?"
"According to the article someone paid for her release." Alfred said, "Her father."
"That's impossible; Mariko's father was murdered ten years ago." Robin said. Batman cocked an eyebrow.
"How do you know that?" He mused. Robin frowned.
"Miss M saw it in her mind and showed it to me; I knew it was a lie." Robin growled then slammed his fist against the wall of the cave, "And to think I actually felt sorry for her."
With that Robin stormed out of the cave, removing his costume and going back up to the house. He couldn't believe he was starting to feel sorry for the girl, and it was all a lie! If that part was a lie what else about Mariko was fake?
Dick walked back up to his room and lied down on his bed; to think things over. Everything he saw from M'gaan looked legit, so then how could Mariko's father possibly pay for her release? He let out a growl of frustration.
"Not whelming, not whelming at all." He mumbled.
~0~
"Miss Mariko." Tony mumbled, Mariko looked over her shoulder at the boy and narrowed her eyes.
"What is it?" she hissed, the duo was in Mariko's lab working on Match, he was a wake and struggling to get loose from the straps that kept him on the metal slab. However Mariko was on the other end of her lab working on a machine she hopped to show Savage by week's end. Tony and Yukie were watching Match.
"Well I was wondering; how are you going to get Match to do what you want?"Tony asked, "You're controller was destroyed when Miss Martian broke through."
"Hmph, don't under estimate me Tony-boy." Mariko said, "I can handle Match; even if he doesn't have much of a mind to mold with I can still manipulate him into doing what I want."
"What about Miss Martian?" Tony asked, Mariko paused.
"Never again will I under estimate her powers, She much stronger than Psimon when she wants to be." She said, "However even Miss Martian has a weakness. I just have to figure it out; if only I had a martian to use as a lab rat."
"Such is life." Tony mumbled, looking at Match who was glaring at him, "Hey couldn't you just crack his skull like you did me?"
"No, Match is a cryptonian clone; you know from Superman." She said, Tony frowned.
"Then how come Superboy can't do what he does?" He asked. Mariko crawled up inside the machine she was working on.
"I wondered that too until I hacked Cadmus labs—Savage-sama wasn't happy about that—and discovered that our boy of steal is half human." She shouted from inside the cockpit of the machine. "With Luthor's DNA."
"Luthor? As In Lex Luthor? Of Lex corp?" Tony asked, "I thought Luthor hated Superman, why would he help clone him."
"Luthor wanted a way to beat Superman, how he got Superman's DNA I'll never know. Nor will I care; I don't like baldy Lex Luthor." Mariko explained, "OK! Let Match free!"
"Yes Ma'am." Tony said then pressed a button and Match's bonds were released, Tony grabbed Yukie and pulled her out of the way. Match let out a howl of anger and ran after Mariko as she activated her machine; it sprang to life and stood as Match punched the haul of it. Mariko felt the impact; however smirked when the metal didn't break. She then flipped a switch and the machine swatted the boy across the room.
"Oh yeah! Savage-sama is going to be so proud!" She shouted, as she grabbed Match in the Machine's claws and began to clamp down on him. Match screamed in anger as he struggled to be released.
"Miss Mariko," Tony shouted, from below them.
"What is it?" Mariko asked from the Cockpit.
"Mr. Savage is waiting for you in your room." Tony shouted, Mariko smirked, then shut off the machine and climbed down from the cockpit. She looked up at Match who still wasn't able to get free.
"Don't go anywhere alright Match-book?" Mariko said mockingly, then looked to Tony "Watch him."
Tony nodded, as Mariko then walked to the elevator that would take her back up to her room, she was followed by Tony's dog Yukie.
"I wonder what Savage-sama wants from me today?" Mariko mused, scratching Yukie behind the ears absent mindedly, "I hope he's not mad at me about not taking it easy."
When the elevator reached Mariko's room it opened and soon Mariko was greeted by Vandal Savage, and a woman with long black hair. Mariko scowled.
"Who's she?" She asked glaring at the girl. Savage nodded.
"Mariko this is; Gemini De Mille." He explained, the girl—Gemini, nodded her head to Mariko. Who crossed her arms and said nothing. Savage continued, "I have borrowed her from Brain,"
"You mean the guy with the talking gorilla?" Mariko interrupted. "I didn't know he was part of the Light."
"Yes; she will be your assistant for the time being." Savage said, Yukie growled next to Mariko as she sensed Mariko's displeasure of the girl.
"I have an assistant Savage-sama; he's downstairs watching Match," She said calmly, "What's this really about?"
"On top of being your assistant Gemini will also serve as your body guard." Savage said, "Recently it has come to mind that I leave you unprotected, and that my dear is something I plan to fix now."
Mariko glared at the girl, she looked normal—something Mariko didn't like—she also didn't look like she could do much, however Mariko sighed.
"Fine she can stay, but she better stay outta my way!" She shouted, Savage nodded, "By the way Savage-sama I think I may have created a machine that's equaled—if not better than Superman's strength."
"Is that so?" Savage asked, Mariko nodded.
"It's in the process of being tested now; against Match of course, I hope to show it to you by the end of the week." She said, Savage smiled and placed his hand on Mariko's head.
"Very good Mariko; I hope to see it as well. Do get to it." He said, then left Mariko's room to do whatever else he had planned. Once gone Mariko glared at Gemini, who had remained quiet.
"You better stay outta my way you got me girly?" She growled, Gemini frowned.
"It's Gemini." She said, Mariko leered.
"I don't care; come with me downstairs you can meet Tony." She hissed, Gemini followed with Yukie not far behind her, growling. When the trio arrived back to the labs, Mariko stopped and spun around to glare up at Gemini.
"You touch anything down here and I'll have Yukie use you like a chewtoy—got me?" She growled, Gemini nodded and Mariko turned back around and muttered; "I hate assistants."
"Miss Mariko," Tony called running up to her. He paused when he saw Gemini behind her.
"What is it Tony?" she asked, Tony shook his head shaking whatever thoughts were there away.
"You got a call; from some guy saying he's from the Light." He said, Mariko scowled, the only person who ever called her was Savage. The rest of the Light she had no contact with—except Klarion but he was a friend, not really a business partner.
"Show me." She said plainly, Tony nodded and led Mariko back to her computer where a bright silhouette of light showed on the screen. Mariko frowned; she wasn't going to be allowed to see this person's face.
"Who are you?" She hissed, not at all happy to be disturbed, "Are you really from the Light?"
"Quite." The voice said, it was a male voice that much Mariko could tell. She glared at the screen. She didn't know anyone else from the Light, and they weren't supposed to know about her either.
"Which one are you?" She asked, not exactly hoping for an actual answer. There was a long pause before the voice spoke again.
"I hear you're the smartest person in your league." He said, Mariko glared.
"I'm the smartest person alive! And don't you forget that!" she shouted, "Now what do you want and be quick about it; I'm busy."
"I have a job for you."
"Obviously; but I don't work for people I don't know—or like for that matter." Mariko hissed. Behind her Tony's dog Yukie growled, Tony place his hand on her head and shushed her.
"I will be sending one of my associates to meet you at these specified coordinates." The voice said ignoring Mariko's comment. Mariko frowned—she hated being ignored.
"Why should I take orders from you?" She asked, she was getting very unhappy with this person who dared bother her at this time.
"I can pay you handsomely." The voice said, Mariko made a face.
"Got everything I want right here." She said, "Now unless you have something of value this conversation is over."
"I have nothing that you particularly want however I do have an opportunity that I assure you." The voice said, Mariko thought for a minute.
"You don't really work for the Light do you?" she asked, as she began to type in codes to her computer. The voice paused.
"I am."
"Liar. Oh well, doesn't matter in a moment I'll know exactly who you are." Mariko said, then pressed the enter button on her keyboard. Soon the screen revealed a man with blonde hair. Mariko laughed.
"What's the meaning of this?" the man shouted, Mariko pointed on the screen.
"You're Vertigo! HA! You look like some vampire from a manga; haha!" She laughed, "It's hilarious! There's…there's no way Savage-sama would let some loser like you into the Light! Ahaha!"
"Mock me…"
Mariko immediately stopped laughing and looked to the screen with a serious look. Her smile no longer existed as she stood from her chair.
"You mocked me. Fair's fair." She growled, "How did you find me? No one knows where I am."
"It does not take much." Vertigo said, "Do we have a deal."
"No; I'm much too busy to help small fish like you try to destroy what my Savage-sama is trying to build." She said looking off to the side and ignoring him, "In fact if you ever try to contact me again; I'll be sure to make you regret it."
With that she pressed the end call key, and the screen went blank. She then spun around in her chair and looked to Tony.
"Well that was fun." She said, then narrowed her eyes, "Tony-boy if someone calls this computer again claiming to be from the Light and he's not Savage-sama, ignore them."
She then stood and walked back to her machine; Match had given up struggling and stared at her, cautiously.
"My time is much too precious to be wasted on idiots like the Injustice League." She said.
"Uhm Miss Mariko what are we going to do?" Tony asked, Mariko looked over to him.
"About what?" she asked. Tony looked to Gemini who gave him a seductive wink. He flinched then looked to Mariko.
"You know about that 'data' you found yesterday?" He asked, Mariko paused then realized he was talking about Robin. She climbed back into the cockpit of the machine and began tinkering.
"Oh that; I'm storing it away until it is needed." She said, "In the meantime keep Gemini over there out of my way."
Tony looked back to Gemini who smiled at him. He groaned.
"Yes Miss Mariko." He mumbled, not at all excited about having to look after this new person who he did not know.
That last part was filler, I was going to have another member of the Light contact her but I'd be going off story. Then I thought maybe I could make Klarion play a prank on her—but that was lame when I wrote it out. so I decided to have a brief moment with the Injustice league! Whom Mariko thinks of as just another pawn for Savage. Gemini is going to be playing a large role—I don't own her though so uh…yeah review! 'See you later Armadillos—unless I see you first hahaha!'