The events that take place in this chapter are important. Highly disturbing but important. Mainly because they allow me to remove two of the characters that I am struggling to write for from the picture at the present. They may make a comeback but for now I need a fairly plausible way to remove them to the outside of the story. Hope you continue to enjoy the story.
It had been five minutes since Batman had asked Black Canary to go see how Artemis and Conner were, seeing as they had failed to come back from their talk. He was just about to go look for the three of them himself when Canary entered the room and approached him. He noticed that when she came to a halt on his left side that she had deliberately angled herself so that the team was behind her. She then gave a slight nod of her head indicating for him to face away from the team. This intrigued Batman. What could be so important that Canary wanted kept from the team.
The team was also intrigued. Without Conner around though they had no way of knowing what was going on. Unless M'gann used her telepathy. Which they all knew would end disastrously. Kaldur kept a close eye on everyone making sure none of them tried anything too obvious. As he did so he noticed that Wally and M'gann seemed to be dividing their attention between the adults, who seemed to be waiting for Red Tornado to come over and the corridor that Artemis and Conner had disappeared down. The truth was that they were all shooting glances towards the corridor. As time had passed all of them had become worried about their teammates absence. As time stretched on the team's concern grew, what could the pair possibly be doing that would take so long. Red Tornado seemed to finally be joining the others and at this point everyone bar Wally and M'gann returned their full attention to the adults. Kaldur knew that they were all hoping that the answer to where their missing team members where would lie in the adult's discussion.
When Red Tornado had joined Batman and Black Canary she began to tell them what she had discovered.
"Okay I found Artemis and Conner. It seems Artemis is injured and Conner was concerned for her safety. Rightly so as it seems Artemis was going to come up with an excuse to avoid the mission and having to tell us about her injuries. I've asked Conner to take her to the infirmary and to stay there with her seeing as she is so determined to avoid having her injuries looked at. Unfortunately it means that neither can attend this mission."
"Are you sure that she is injured. Is it possible that Conner overreacted?" Red Tornado queried.
"I am sure. Conner wasn't happy when she accused him of overreacting." Black Canary responded.
"Alright I will let the team know. However the fact that she is trying to avoid being checked out is worrying. Do you have any idea as to why?" Batman questioned trying to avoid displaying the worry that was creeping into his heart.
"I have lots of theories but Artemis isn't talking."
"Okay. You had best go check her out. I'll have Green Arrow and Red Arrow attend the cave and see if they can't get anything out of her. Tornado could you please stay here in the Control Room in case Artemis slips through."
"Of course." Red Tornado responded before heading over to the computer.
Black Canary just nodded before heading for the infirmary. The team watched her leave and noticed that she avoided making eye contact with them. Realising that they would get nothing from her they turned back to Batman hoping for some type of information.
"Black Canary has just informed me that Artemis is injured and will not be able to take part in this mission. Superboy is currently with her and will be remaining here at the cave and will also be unable to take part in this mission." Batman spoke as if these were simple facts and then waited for the uproar.
"What do you mean injured?" Was Wally's rather panicked cry.
"Why does Conner have to stay?" M'gann called out.
"Is she alright?" Zatanna asked.
"Is Conner also injured?" Kaldur queried, hoping that it was nothing serious.
"How did this happen?" It was Robin who called this out, Batman knew he was running over today's school events in his head. Trying to figure out if he had missed something.
It was Rocket's question that caught everyone's attention and caught Batman off guard. "What aren't you telling us?"
When Rocket spoke everyone turned to look at her and then back to Batman. All of them wearing Rocket's half worried half accusing look. If it wouldn't have betrayed the seriousness of the situation Batman would have sighed. Instead he decided to ignore the question as much as possible.
"Nothing is being hidden. You have all the information that I have at the present time. If you wish Miss Martian can contact them via telepathy on your way out. Right now you all need to get moving and focusing on the mission." Batman dictated it was a clear enough order.
The team looked mutinous for a minute, until Kaldur stepped in.
"Everyone, we need to get moving."
All of them slowly turned their backs and headed towards the Bio-ship. Once they were out of earshot Batman started contacting Green and Red Arrow, whilst Kaldur ordered them to link up so that they could speak to Artemis and Conner. When they got through however they found that the pair were in the middle of an argument.
"I am fine."
"No you're not."
"We are not doing this again, I am fine."
"Liar."
"Oh would you shut up. M'gann call him off."
"Don't you drag her into this."
"She called. She is therefore involved."
"Okay in that case, Wally tell your girlfriend to stop acting like an idiot."
It went on like this for several minutes, by which time the team had reached the Bio-ship and it seemed Kaldur had had enough.
"That does it. Both of you quit it. I do not care who started it I am ending it. Now."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Babe are you alright? Why didn't you tell someone?" Wally asked voice full of concern.
"I am fine. I honestly didn't think it was that big a deal and I didn't want everyone fussing over me."
"Conner are you alright?" M'gann asked worried.
"I'm fine. Canary wants me to keep Artemis company. That's all."
"Alright. Now is there anything that either of you aren't telling us?" Kaldur asked, everyone else was worried about setting off the argument again and so were keeping quiet.
"No." Artemis and Conner responded a little too quickly.
"Alright. We are headed out now. We will see you on our return and Artemis we will be discussing this." Kaldur signed off knowing that whatever was going on, he wouldn't be getting information from either of them at the moment.
A groan could be heard of the mind link. "Yippee. I can't wait." Was Artemis's sarcastic response. There was then a chorus of goodbye's and get well's from the team.
"See ya Babe. Hope you feel better."
"Yeah. Can't wait Baywatch."
"We will be back soon Conner. Don't be too hard on Artemis and take care of yourself."
"I will be fine. You're the one who had best take care of yourself."
As soon as there farewells were done the link disconnected as the team headed out. At the same time Black Canary entered the infirmary.
"So ready to tell me the truth Artemis?"
Artemis replied by making a huffing sound and looking away.
"Okay. Has she been like this the entire time?" Black Canary turned her attention to Conner.
"Worse actually." Conner stated he was leaning against the opposite wall to the bed he had deposited Artemis on.
"I have no broken bones, no concussion and no internal or external bleeding. Just what is going to be a lot of bruising." Artemis announced shocking both Conner and Black Canary.
"Forgive me if I don't take your word for it. Okay Conner you are gonna need to leave the room for a minute while I examine Artemis. Then you are getting a full body x-ray. Okay?" It wasn't a question that Black Canary would accept a no to. It intrigued her however that at the mention of the full body x-rays Artemis had flinched, as if she was afraid of what would be revealed.
"Fine." Artemis had resigned herself to what was about to happen and felt it best to just get it over with.
"Alright. Let's get started." Black Canary announced as Conner exited the room.
It took the better part of an hour to complete all the tests. Black Canary noted that Artemis's assessment of her own injuries seemed to be correct. There was no bleeding, no concussion and Black Canary doubted that any bones were broken but decided to run the test anyway. She was curious about what the result would be and why it would worry Artemis.
The reason it had taken so long was that halfway through the physical exam Roy had burst in before Conner could stop him. He had been in the process of demanding an explanation out of Artemis when he realised she wasn't wearing a shirt. Luckily she had her back turned to the door. Roy hadn't been able to run fast enough. Then Green Arrow had burst in half way through the x-ray and had been forcibly removed by a Canary Cry because he was upsetting Artemis which was causing her to move and ruin the X-ray's. The last thing Canary did was to tell Artemis that she wanted to talk about her hiding her injuries and to come see her over the next couple of days so she could monitor her progress.
When they were finally finished the x-ray's Batman showed up. He asked Conner to stay with Artemis for the moment whilst Red Arrow, Green Arrow and Black Canary went with him to the Control Room. The three caught on that something was going on almost immediately; Conner who wasn't paying close attention missed it as he entered the infirmary to see Artemis.
"Alright, so what is going on?" Green Arrow asked.
"Magic." Batman stated. When the three proceeded to give him interesting looks he continued.
"You have to see it for yourselves. Zatanna, Zatara and Dr. Fate are all working on a solution and Ollie please don't do anything drastic."
As he finished they entered the Control Room and after taking it all in both Canary and Red Arrow grabbed on to Green Arrow, partly to prevent him from attacking the perpetrators of the offence and partly to prevent themselves from doing the same.
At first glance there was nothing really odd about the scene. Kaldur, Rocket and Robin were standing off to the side talking very quickly and looking very worried. Red Tornado was standing with Zatanna and Dr. Fate at the computer. They were pouring over files on the computer and several old looking books, every now and then they would confer with each other on what they were reading. Standing on the opposite side of the hall, as far away from the others as possible were M'gann and Wally. They were standing extremely close and when the group had walked in, had been in the middle of kissing. That fact made absolutely no sense and was causing everyone in the room to shoot them glances every few seconds. The pair however seemed oblivious.
"What-When-Where-Why-How?" Green Arrow was absolutely fuming, he would never admit it but Artemis was what he and Canary imagined their own daughter would be like. He knew that Roy thought of her as his little sister too, even if he would never admit it.
Batman stared at Green Arrow for a few seconds and decided that he was taking this fairly well. Red Arrow and Black Canary both looked incapable of speaking. He led them over to where Aqualad and the others were, just as Flash, Superman and Martian Manhunter arrived. The three took in the little display M'gann and Wally were giving before approaching Batman.
"I assume your protégés have a good reason for what they are doing?" Superman asked, sounding as angry as Green Arrow as he joined him and the others. Flash and Martian Manhunter stood opposite them.
"Well-um..."
"It may be best if Batman explains as he is the one who called us here." Martian Manunter cut across Flash, as Superman looked as if he was getting madder. The group turned to Batman.
"Aqualad, tell them what you told me."
"Well we went to the warehouse in Gotham as planned. With both Conner and Artemis missing I changed the pair offs. Zatanna and M'gann, Wally and Robin, Rocket and I. Unfortunately Wotan and Professor Ivo were also present at the warehouse. They detected our presence through the use of external cameras. It seems they were hoping Batman would come alone so they could trial some sort of death ray the three had been constructing with their talents. Rocket, Zatanna and I used our combined skills to destroy the ray and the only plans the group had. Robin took care of Professor Ivo whilst Wally and M'gann took on Wotan and Klarion. Both became incensed at the destruction of the ray. They were able to corner Wally and M'gann and launch individual spells which combined upon hitting them before any of us were able to reach them. After they finished their attack they disappeared before we could apprehend them. When we approached Wally and M'gann, they stared at each other before... kissing each other. Zatanna told us to contact the league and have Dr. Fate meet us here. They examined them both and are now looking into the cause." Kaldur had been professional throughout the summary until he got to the word kiss, which just seemed awkward. The three then moved away to discuss what to do about Artemis and Conner when they found out.
"So basically, I should go pound Klarion and Wotan?" Green Arrow said, the other mentors of those involved nodded in agreement.
"Whilst that sounds like the most satisfying option, we need to wait. This situation is bad enough without us rushing into the unknown. Until Zatanna and Dr. Fate tell us their conclusion we have nothing to go off." Batman stated trying to calm them all. Indeed his first instinct was to go show both Wotan and Klarion why people feared the Batman but that would be foolish.
"Do Artemis and Conner know?" Flash asked, worried for Wally's safety.
"Not yet. I felt it might be best to wait and find out the prognosis before we cause any major problems." Batman stated calmly, before turning to Black Canary and addressing her.
"So did you find out anything?"
"Artemis is great at first aid. She was able to assess the seriousness of her own injuries. She has no concussion or bleeding in any form. I'm waiting on x-ray's to confirm but I do not believe that she has any broken bones. However when I mentioned that I was performing a full body x-ray she became afraid for reasons that are currently unclear." Black Canary stated.
"She didn't say anything about the cause?" Batman asked.
"No. I tried to get her to open up to me during part of the exam when I asked Conner to leave, however someone came in and she clammed up." At this statement Roy turned bright red and refused to look at anyone.
It was then that the group noticed the approach of Zatanna, Dr. Fate and Red Tornado. Kaldur, Rocket and Robin also rejoined the group. Zatanna and Dr. Fate looked at each other before he addressed them.
"We have come to the unfortunate conclusion that the spell is irreversible."
"What?" the entire group called out.
"Because the spells combined there isn't a counter spell. We don't even know if this was the intended cause or whether the combination of the spells caused this." Dr. Fate continued.
"It wasn't the intention. Klarion and Wotan both got angry at each other when the spells combined and without knowing what the original spells were we have no way of reversing it. They would have to break rule number two." Zatanna added, to which everyone stared at her.
"So what is their condition?" Martian Manhunter asked as M'gann let out a high, girly laugh.
"As far as we can tell they are in love with each other. The both report that up until the attack both had strong feelings for Artemis and Conner but that they now have feelings for each other that they can't ignore. They understand that they are both still in relationships with the others but are intending on breaking it off with them as soon as they are allowed to see them. Basically it is as if their feelings for Artemis and Conner never existed for them and new one's have sprung up between them." Dr. Fate stated as if this was normal.
"There not going to change their minds?" Batman asked.
"Nope. Wally said that he could only view Artemis as a sister and it would be weird for them to continue dating. It does not seem like this spell will wear off either." Zatanna added.
At this point everyone looked to Batman. He had listened to everything and was now thoroughly depressed. If this was the case the team could be absolutely broken but he hoped that they would be able to move past this. He sighed before addressing everyone.
"Alright. Black Canary, Green Arrow, Red Arrow, Superman and I will speak with Artemis and Superboy about the situation. Dr. Fate, Flash and Martian Manhunter address Kid Flash and Miss Martian. Make sure they are fully aware of the effects of their decision and the impact it will have on everyone. Team it might be best if you keep a low profile for a while." Batman gave out his orders and without waiting for acknowledgement headed towards the infirmary.