The Guest Girl: Here's your update! And you're spot-on about it being about Artemis. (and in the next chapter, I start pulling more characters in, so I guess you're right about that too!)

Irenerb and Player Zero: I'm actually surprised no one guessed who it was! Oh well, you'll figure it out in the next chapter ;)

Silence: Thanks :D glad you like it!


Chapter 8~ Daddy's Little Girl

Artemis struggled against the ropes that bound her to the metal chair. She knew it was no use- any of the tools she could have used were on her belt, which had been confiscated along with her mask. The archer sighed angrily, glaring ahead at the dozens of dark screens lining the wall in front of her. From behind her, Artemis heard a door creak open. In the reflection of the monitors, she could make out a large figure.

"Last time I checked, you were locked up in Belle Reve," the archer snarled.

"Guess you should've checked before going on that little mission with your boyfriend." The amused voice of Artemis's father echoed through the room.

Artemis scowled at the masked man as he began to pace around her. "Where's Wally?" She demanded fiercely.

"In due time," Sportsmaster waved his hand, brushing off Artemis's inquisition. "How about you start asking the right questions."

"Fine. Why am I here? What's your endgame?" The archer questioned, snarling like a ferocious animal. Sportsmaster stopped in front of Artemis, pivoting so that he was facing her. He removed his mask, twirling it idly in his hands as he spoke, locking eyes with his daughter.

"Your little team of sidekicks is going to come running to save you, and then you'll all pay for what you've done."

Artemis jerked her arms, the ropes cutting into her skin, her eyes like daggers as she glared at her father. "We beat you before, what makes you think you have a chance this time?"

"Glad you asked. You see, I'm going to get some help from my little girl," he grinned, patting Artemis's cheek. She jerked away from his touch.

"What makes you think I would ever help you?" The archer spat.

"If you want to save your boyfriend, you should oblige."

The archer squirmed in her seat. "What do you mean?" She demanded. Sportsmaster smiled at her unease.

"Let me show you."

The screens in front of Artemis flickered to life, displaying footage of a jungle surrounded by a dome. Upon catching a glimpse of red and yellow amongst the trees, she clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

Artemis stared at the screens as different scenes unfolded on each monitor: Wally stumbling through the jungle, struggling to keep his footing, bloodstains streaking his uniform; Wally laying in the hallway, laughing maniacally as he fought off the effects of the Joker Venom spores; and finally, Wally stumbling and falling as a streak of light shot through him, just before he vanished into the swamp. Her stomach convulsed.

"Why are you showing me this?" She growled through clenched teeth, twisting against the ropes that dug into her wrists and ankles.

Sportsmaster stepped up behind his daughter, grabbing the back of her chair as he leaned over her shoulder, chuckling into her ear.

"Think he survived? That is a lot of damage for one kid to handle, even if he is a super." The images on the screen flickered, changing from the leafy jungle to a sterile, white hospital. On one of the screens, a red haired boy lay on metal operating table surrounded by frantic doctors.

Artemis gasped and looked away, only to have her dad grasp her head, wrenching her gaze back towards the screen. She couldn't close her eyes as the doctors worked, shoving a breathing tube down his throat, cutting open his blood-soaked uniform to reveal a hole in his shoulder and a gash across his side, both pumping blood freely.

A choked whimper broke through Artemis's constricted throat. On a different screen was the monitor with Wally's heartbeat. The lines were rising and falling dramatically. Then, there was no dimension at all, just a straight line running across the screen.

"Wally!" Artemis shouted. The screens went dark. Artemis sat, her eyes locked on the blank screens, tears blurring her vision.

"There there, little girl. You know, there is a way to save him."

"How? Tell me!" Artemis demanded.

"You have to do whatever I say, when I say it."

Artemis knew it was a trap, but she didn't hesitate, she couldn't- not if his life was on the line.

"I'll do it," she declared. "Whatever you want, I'll do it. Just save him."

Sportsmaster smiled as he turned the monitors back on, revealing the doctors buzzing around the blood-soaked speedster. The villain brought a remote. Artemis watched him as he clicked a blue button. She then stared at the screen with the heart monitor. The straight line was interrupted by a little bump, then a bigger one, until there was a steady beat of peaks and dips.

Artemis let out a sigh mixed with a sob as she hung her head, shoulders jerking. Sportsmaster left the room, allowing Artemis to watch as they operated on her teammate, sewing him up, binding his wounds, Artemis watched every second, all too aware that the monitor could flatline at any moment. After the surgery was finished, they wheeled Wally out of the operating room and into a patient room, hooking him up to a dozen machines at least. When the doctors left the speedster, the door behind Artemis opened. She felt a heavy hand grasp her shoulder.

"Alright little girl, let me to tell you how this is gonna work," Sportsmaster sneered in her ear. "That Joker Venom isn't just a neurotoxin, we made a special dose for him. You're smart, Artemis, have you ever heard of nanites?"

"What about them?" She muttered, her voice weary and defeated.

"Well, those microscopic robots are racing around inside of your boyfriend right now, waiting to do whatever I command. If you try to pull anything..." the villain grinned as he drew a line across his throat.

Sportsmaster began to untie Artemis. She saw the outline of the remote in his pocket. Her head began to reel and her heart began to beat against her sternum. She felt the rope around her ankles fall away. If she got ahold of that remote, no one would have to endanger their lives, but if she failed…

The ropes around her wrists slackened. Artemis lunged towards her father, reaching into his pocket. Her fingertips brushed the smooth plastic before a strong hand wrapped around her wrist and yanked her out of the chair. Something heavy collided with the side of her face, sending the archer stumbling.

Artemis fell onto her knees, staring at the ground as her vision refocused. She could make out three crimson circles, which seemed to multiply with every passing second. Artemis brought her hand up to her face, wiping away the blood that was gushing out of her nose and over her lips, dribbling down her chin. She then glanced up at her father. He shook his head and sighed.

"And I though this was going to work out."

He lifted the remote, pressing a yellow button.

Artemis stared with horror as Wally's body began to writhe, the monitor line jumping and dropping sporadically.

"Stop, stop! Please!" Artemis begged, staring up at her father.

"I told you what would happen and you disobeyed. Why should I stop?"

"I won't do it again, just stop! You're killing him!" Artemis was screaming now, tears blurring her vision completely.

"Call me dad." Sportsmaster sneered.

"Dad, dad! Please stop dad, please…" Artemis choked out, the tears spilling down her face.

Sportsmaster made no move. Artemis could only watch as doctors rushed into the room, holding Wally down, sticking needles into him, unaware that his condition was out of their control.

"Stop it! You're killing him! Please, stop! Daddy, please!" Artemis's voice rose into a desperate wail.

The villain sneered, and Artemis heard the click of a button.

Wally slumped back against the bed as Artemis collapsed onto the floor, trying to muffle her sobs.

"Get up little girl, we've got work to do." Sportsmaster hauled Artemis to her feet, stopping briefly to wipe the tears and blood off of her face before dragging her out of the room. The archer threw a glance over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of her partner, damaged and comatose, dozens of machines blinking and beeping, keeping him alive. The scene made her stomach twist. Sportsmaster jerked her forward, leading her away from the sight of her dying boyfriend.


I have the next chapter scripted, so hopefully it'll be coming out soon! If you wouldn't mind actually, tell me when you want it, and I can give it to you! Reviews, critiques, even your own suggestions help me come out with new material, so if you have the time to spare, I'd love to hear what you think!