Chapter 23
Chapter 23! W00t! does anyone use that version of computer speak anymore? Hm…IT'S ALMOST SATERDAY! I soooo hope we have an episode with Klarion soon on young justice! There need to be more! Eh ah, Sou….that has nothing to do with this story since Klarion only pops up when he feels like it. . haha but hey I'm a fangirl for the Witch-boy. Yaknow? That would shine true in my first 2 YJ fanfictions. 'Klarion gets a girl' and 'Dark Beloved.' Oh yeah and when I've typed the Arkham chapters I always picture the old Batman The Animated Series characters, no one does a better Joker laugh than the original voice. Anyhow I'm babbling so without further delay, ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!
It had been several weeks since Mariko had been admitted into Arkham. Dick Grayson thought it would be a good time to check up on her, as a civilian. He arrived at Arkham around noon and asked to see her; claiming to be a friend—which wasn't a complete lie at this point. One of the nurses led him down the halls; past Joker, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, so many people he helped to put in here. All the people inside shouted or called out to him.
"Aw are we admitting another kid in this place? Really maybe you should set up a Daycare." Joker said with a laugh. Dick leered.
"Don't mind them hun; they just want attention, it's nice that you wanted to see your friend," The nurse said, Dick nodded, "Though I don't know if Miss Miko will be up for visitors."
"How come?" Dick asked, she shrugged.
"We've had to sedate her several times this week." She explained then stopped at Mariko's cell. She sat in the middle of the room her eyes empty of emotion as she stared outward, while sporting a straightjacket. She didn't even flinch when she saw him.
"She's completely docile." He said, "Why would you do that?"
"It had to be done," The woman said fixing her glasses, "She tried to escape from her cell using the spoon, and the tray from her lunch one day."
"Yeah, that sounds like her," Dick said, then sighed, "Can I talk to her?"
"Yes; but not for very long." The nurse said, then left the two. When he was sure the nurse was gone he looked to Mariko, who didn't move.
"Mariko…?" He tried.
Nothing.
"Mariko it's me," He said then whispered "Robin."
Mariko's only response was a blink of the eyes before she fell onto her side and rolled over, her back to him. Dick sighed, at least she could hear him.
"Mariko listen to me; we've been looking for your friend Tony," he said, Mariko snorted.
"Jigoku," She mumbled, Dick frowned, "Shonen."
"What's that?" He mumbled to himself, then shook his head and dug into his pocket. "Anyway I probably shouldn't leave this here; but I figured it could help you stay a little sane while you're in here."
He then set something down on the ground and scooted it towards her. Mariko stared at the wall, unresponsive. Dick bit his lip.
"A few weeks ago I would have enjoyed seeing you back here," He said bitterly, "But now…it's just not right what they've done to you."
After he said that he turned and walked back down the hallway, away from Mariko, and out of Arkham.
Meanwhile Mariko sat in her cell completely dazed, she heard the voices but she wasn't sure if anyone was actually there. They had her filled up with so many pills and other drugs that she didn't know what was real anymore. She was even starting to believe she was going schizophrenic. When she heard the footsteps that were walking away she rolled over. She then saw what the voice left her. She inched herself close to it, and placed her cheek against it. It was small, covered in plastic, and hook shaped, and had the faint scent of peppermint. She smiled as a single tear treaded down her cheek.
"Takumi…"
Later that day Mariko's drugs finally wore off and she was back to her old self again—sort of. She spent the rest of the day in the rec-room where she sat and watched an anime program she had found, sucking on the candy cane Dick had brought her. She was quiet up until someone changed the channel. She scowled and looked around.
"Oi! Who changed the channel?" She hissed, she looked around and saw the Riddler with the remote.
"Cartoons rot the brain; how about a program that stimulates the brain?" He inquired, Mariko narrowed her eyes then smirked and stood walking over to him.
"Hey riddle-guy," She said, "You like riddles right? Well I've got one for ya; what's lack and blue and red all over?"
The Riddler frowned; not sure where she was going with what he would loosely call a riddle.
"That'll be you if you don't change it back," Mariko hissed. Riddler scowled, but having seen what she did to a guard's hand a few days ago he changed the channel, Mariko smirked and walked back to her seat and sat down. Ivy looked over to her.
"I like you kid you've got spunk;" She said, Mariko cocked an eyebrow still sucking on her sugary stick. "But you'd better be careful with that or else you'll be in the straightjacket again."
"Noted." Mariko said, then went back to her program, out of the corner of her eye she noticed the Riddler walking to one of the guards, he mumbled something to him and he soon stood over Mariko. She scowled.
"Miss Miko, where'd you get that?" He asked, pointing to the candy cane in her mouth. Mariko smirked.
"My big brother gave it to me." She said sweetly, "And it's mine so don't ask me to share."
"Give it here." The guard said, Mariko scowled.
"No." She said, then stood up, "You wouldn't even have done anything if it weren't for Nigma over there."
The Riddler looked in the other direction. Mariko smiled.
"Yaknow I like riddles too," She said, "In fact here's one for you tough guy; what's as sweet as can be but will kill a man if he's not careful?"
The guard frowned at her question. Mariko then grinned like mad and removed her candy cane from her mouth; revealing a sharpened end. She then brought it over her head and plunged it deep into the guard's shoulder. He let out a scream of pain as he fell to the ground. Mariko let out an twisted insane laughter as the people inside the room stared. She then took the guard's keys and opened the door.
"How's that for spunk?" She asked, everyone paused then began shouting 'Jailbreak' as they all ran out of the room. Mariko stood in the room as they all filed out, and watched the inmates have their way with the staff members.
"How's that for chaos?" She mumbled, then walked out of the rec-room into the halls, where there was a loud crash. Mariko looked to her right and saw a familiar face.
"Miss Mariko!" Tony shouted running to her, she narrowed her eyes and smiled.
"Hello Tony-boy; did you bring my belt?" she asked, Tony nodded and held out the brightly colored yellow belt, Mariko took it and placed it around her waist. She sighed happily has it hung loosely on her hip.
"I feel like a human being again!" She said, "Now to just get out of this uniform."
"Miss Mariko we should probably go." Tony said, Mariko nodded and followed Tony outside Arkham where a car waited.
"Where's you get that?" she asked, Tony shrugged.
"Side of the road." He said.
"Can you even drive?"
"Well I have my permit—it's expired though." Tony explained, Mariko shrugged.
"Works for me." She said then climbed into the front seat, she looked back and saw Tony's dog Yukie yipping behind her, "Yukie!"
~0~
"Biggest break out in Arkham history." Batman said to the Team, it didn't take long for Mariko's escape to make headline news in every city.
"Looks like Mariko decided to bail." Kid said, Batman nodded.
"The League can handle the cleanup of the other inmates," he said, "However Mariko was a Team problem; I expect her to be dealt with. Is that clear."
"We won't fail this time." Aqualad said, Batman nodded then left the Team to plan a course of action.
"Where would she go? Now that the Light's turned their backs on her?" Zatanna asked.
"Let's keep in mind that to her they haven't abandoned her; she still thinks that Savage wants her around." M'gaan said.
"You don't think she might have gone looking for him do you?" Conner asked.
"It would not be surprising." Aqualad said, Robin nodded.
"We have to find her before she find him." He said, "If not he might get rid of her; for good."
"Tell me again why we want to save this girl?" Conner asked.
"Because she's…damaged, it's not all her fault." M'gaan said, "If we help her she might go back to how she was, before all of this."
"Might; key word there, M'gaan." Conner hissed, M'gaan frowned.
"Look it doesn't matter; we'll find her. She can't be too far; she only broke out today. She has to still be in Gotham." Robin said, then looked to M'gaan, "M'gaan do you think you can do that thing you tried to do when you were looking for me?"
"You mean try to create a long distance mental link with Mariko?" M'gaan asked.
"Uh yeah that," He said, "Can you do it?"
"Yea…but it could be dangerous doing it with someone not used to the link." M'gaan explained.
"We'll have to try; it's the only way we'll be able to find her before she finds Savage." Robin said, the group nodded and went to get ready.
~0~
"So Jigoku shonen kept you guys safe all this time?" Mariko asked sitting in the passenger side seat Tony nodded, "That's a surprise; oh well I guess I'm grateful."
"I missed you…" Tony mumbled, looking over to Mariko in the corner of his eyes. Mariko cocked an eyebrow, as if noticing his feelings but decided to ignore them.
"Right; so how long do you have until your battery dies?" She asked, Tony paused.
"W-what?" he shouted in surprise. Mariko laughed.
"I'm kidding! You don't have a battery; well unless you count your heart as one." She said, "And that should be just fine."
"Y-you're cruel, Miss Mariko." Tony mumbled, Mariko sat up.
"I'm a super sadist." She said happily, then felt a sudden stabbing pain in her head, "AH!"
"Miss Mariko are you alright?" Tony asked, stopping the car, Mariko placed her hands on her head and let out a loud cry of pain.
"It hurts—it hurts—it hurts!" She shouted, leaning her head against the window.
~0~
Once again M'gaan was surrounded by darkness as she entered Mariko's mind. She stood and waited for Mariko to calm down and realize she was inside. When the crying stopped it left an eerie silence. Then a growl bubbled from the darkness.
"Not you again," Mariko groaned appearing in front of M'gaan, "Why are you in my head again?"
"I'm establishing a link between us." M'gaan said. Mariko scowled.
"Why? I have enough voices in my head; I don't need you." She hissed. M'gaan nodded.
"It's not permanent," She said.
"Still doesn't answer my question," Mariko said, "How many others can hear my thoughts right now?"
"Just me for now. Once you're used to me being inside your mind I'll set up the link with the others." M'gaan said, Mariko nodded.
"Well that's good," She said nonchalantly, then growled, "I've got a bone to pick with you Martian."
M'gaan flinched as Mariko mentally approached her, standing up her toe to be at eye level with her. Even in her mind she was still short.
"You showed Robin everything!" she hissed, "Why?"
"Eh? O-oh, th-that. I had to," M'gaan began, Mariko frowned and crossed her arms; then it came to her.
"You really pity me don't you?" she asked, M'gaan was silent for a moment, Mariko turned her back, "Don't, it'll do you no good."
"How can you say that?" M'gaan shouted, Mariko looked over her shoulder at the Martian.
"Ugh; why am I even telling you this?" She asked, mostly to herself, "Hellloooo! I'm the enemy! You shouldn't pity your enemy, you should be destroying them! No mercy!"
"You guard yourself too cautiously." M'gaan said. Mariko snorted.
"And you're stalling." She said, M'gaan went wide eyed, "Mind reading is a two-way street. At least for a mind as brilliant as mine!"
"You know?" she asked, Mariko nodded.
"You won't find me; I plan on going back to Savage-sama, then I'll be gone and back to tearing up Gotham." She said, "I'm Savage's favorite after all; he'll take me back, and then I'll deal with Gemini."
"Mariko, don't you understand? Savage was using you! he doesn't care about you!" another voice shouted, Mariko paused.
"Robin?" She mumbled, "Of all the voices in my head yours is a bit more pleasant."
"Now's not the time," Robin growled, "Mariko he left you in Arkham, he doesn't care about you."
"He does too! You wouldn't know it because you don't know Savage-sama! I'm his favorite!" Mariko shouted, "You'll see!"
Suddenly everything went black, and everything went quiet.
~0~
Robin and M'gaan let out a howl of pain as they were forced out of Mariko's head. Zatanna and the others looked to them.
"She's not listening." Robin said holding his head. M'gaan nodded.
"On the Brightside I managed to find out where she is." She explained, then pointed out the window, "Go that way."
~0~
"Miss Mariko; are you alright? Miss Mariko?" Tony shouted, nudging Mariko; she had passed out, "Miss Mariko, wake up!"
Mariko opened her eyes and leered.
"Why are we stopped?!" She shouted, Tony sighed in relief.
"I thought something happened to you; so I pulled over." He explained, "Thank god you're ok."
"Shut up and drive!" She shouted, Tony nodded, and then stepped on the gas. Mariko glared out the window as Tony headed toward Savage and toward salvation.
Oh and the plot thickens! Haha to Readingisdabest I'd wanna be Catwoman; the only Catwoman with Halle Bary's clawed gloves, that would be so awesome; and I bet learning how to use a whip would be such a work out yaknow! Maybe even get abs! w000t! haha DC FOREVER! Reviews please! 'See you later armadillos—unless I see you first. Haha!'