YJ The Story Chapter 5 - A Game of cat and mouse

Chapter 5
A Game of Cat & Mouse

January 10 - 23:00 - Star City

Artemis was sitting on her bed looking at the Cheshire mask that Wally had kept from his third mission and her first. She sat looking at the large grinned face and black hollow eye sockets.
"Why... Why have I got you" Artemis said to herself while looking at the mask.
"Why... Why are you tormenting me?" Artemis asked as she picked the mask up and was just about to throw it when there was a knock on the door.
It was Canary as she said,
"Artemis, can I come in?" she asked.
"Sure doors open" replied Artemis as the taller Justice Leaguer walked in and Artemis with the mask. She sat beside Artemis and said,
"Artemis I've been thinking at what you said earlier and I might have found a way to get through this difficult time" she explained.
"How?" asked Artemis as she dropped it down onto the soft bed.
"It seems to me that the only way is it put it on yourself" explained Canary.
"What no I said I don't want to wear it, It makes me look like her" claimed Artemis referring to her sister.
"Artemis do you trust me?" asked Black Canary when she picked the mask up and looked at it.
"I do Canary but..." started Artemis before stopping.
"But nothing Artemis, You see when you realize nothing happens then your mind will be clear and it accept that your worries are not real" she explained as she flipped the mask around and looked at Artemis.
"Now Just relax and remember its only a mask" continued Canary as she lifted the mask up in front of Artemis' face and placed it over it.
"Artemis, open your eyes and look at me" said Canary as Artemis did and saw Canary sitting beside her.
"Well how do you feel?" asked Canary.
"Better" said Artemis as she reached up and felt the mask over her face.
"Good now take the mask off and get some sleep. I want you up at 6am for training" explained Canary as she got up and left Artemis.
Artemis removed the mask and placed it on its stand and went to the bathroom before retiring for the night.

January 11 - 00:00

Cheshire was keeping to the shadows and made excellent progress but along the way she did have to stop to check on Lian. Lian was one of only two people she actually cared about, Lian her daughter and Artemis.
Cheshire knew she had to keep going and while on the move she discovered a delivery truck that was heading to Gotham.
"What great luck We'll be safe enough in there" she said as she swiftly climbed into the back of the truck without being noticed and laid low. With her safely laying low, the truck was on its way.
"We should be in Gotham by morning sweetheart" as she took Lian out of her holding sack and removed her mask and fell asleep with Lian in her arms.

January 11 - 02:00 - Star City

Artemis tossed and turned in bed as she was continuing her nightmare. She was frozen and was wearing Cheshire's outfit. Her hair had magically put up in her sisters style and her face remained free and on show. It was while in this state she looked at the silhouette of Wally who hadn't moved for the length of the nightmare.
While Artemis was in her dream something began to change.
The silhouette of Wally began to run towards her. He said only one word and that was 'Help' before he slowly began to slip away like sand in the wind.
"WALLY!" shouted Artemis as she watched him turn to dust in front of her.
Artemis then cried as her head dropped but then Artemis began to hear voices not only in her head but all around her in the shadows and darkness. The voices were whispers and as they began to sing and chant; liar, lies and secrets. Just then the team appeared one by one starting with Aqualad who called her a liar. Superboy was next who called her a traitor. The other members of her team then turned up and called her awful names that were like arrows to her heart. All of her team's faces then went black as a chorus of Liar, Secrets, Lies and Traitor rang all around her.
"Stop it, I'm no Liar, I have no Secrets, I don't tell Lies and I'm no traitor" shouted Artemis defiantly. Just then the shadows of the team began to slip away just has Wally did.
After the last of the team had slipped away, Artemis was left on her own frozen in the darkness as tears dropped from her eyes. Just then from out of the shadows came Cheshire wearing her mask. She walked up to Artemis and said,
"Awwww… what the matter sis? Where’s all your friends gone?" "Oh wait I know, you have none" she questioned and began to laugh from behind her mask.

Artemis was speechless.
"Well sis I told you it was every girl for ourselves but don't worry I'll will be your only friend you'll need" said Cheshire slyly when she reached up and began to remove her mask.
Artemis looked up and watched her sister slowly pull the mask away from her face but Artemis was shocked to see that it wasn't her sister but instead it was herself. It was her shadow self and what could be her future self could have been.
Artemis looked at her shadow self as she says,
"Don't worry let's put a smile on that pretty face of yours" said Artemis' shadow self and pushes the mask onto Artemis' face.
Artemis is released and fell into the darkness as she screams so loudly she woke up with a fright and a cold sweat.
"Artemis... are you alright?" asked Canary when she comforted the younger blonde heroine.
"Yeah, I'm fine just a nightmare but I now know what I must do" said Artemis as she picked up Cheshire's mask and hands it to Black Canary.
"Artemis?" said Canary as Artemis got up and went to the bathroom before getting ready in her training attire.
Black Canary was smiling, 'That's it Artemis, I might not know you are going through but now we step the training up' she thought as Artemis wrapped tape around her wrists and over her knuckles and went to the training room where she worked on her punches and kicks on a punch bag.
Black Canary then came up with an idea as she went to her room with Cheshire's mask.

January 11 - 07:00 - Gotham City

The sun was rising over Gotham and Cheshire was woke up by Lian tugging on her top as she opened her eyes and said,
"Morning darling, today you meet your aunty" she said when she found the truck turning as she took her mask and placed it over her face. The truck took a left and then a right through the streets of Gotham. Cheshire took her Sais and cut a slit in the side of the truck and waited for the opportunity to jump out and into the shadows.

January 11 - 05:00 - Washington, D.C

Sportsmaster was in DC as he was on the hunt for Cheshire. He hadn't seen Cheshire for almost 2 and half years since cut ties with the league of shadows and went her separate way. He was in the same derelict flat and looked around. There was nothing that he could use to track Cheshire down but just as he was about to leave he noticed something. He walked over and there on the floor was a picture of Artemis. Sportsmaster laughed behind his steel hockey mask and knew exactly where she was heading. He jumped back into the copter and threw a small discus into the open and on impact it exploded as he had been pulled out by the auto pilot and watched it explode when he took the controls and turned the copter and headed for Gotham.

January 11 - 08:00 - Star City

Artemis was continuing her punch and kicks on the punch bag when Black Canary watched her and said,
"Looking good Artemis, but your losing your balance time and time again" as she walked over and showed her how to use the top of her foot that would help her keep her balance.
Artemis tried and kicked the heavy punch bag with the top of her foot but lost her balance and instantly fell to her butt.
"Damn it" she shouted as she hit the mats.
"Artemis, calm down and take five as I have something that will help you regain your balance" replied Canary as she went over and brought over a box.
"Whats in the box Canary?" asked Artemis.
"Please Artemis, call me Dinha and in this box will help you find your center of gravity" replied the older blonde heroine as she took the lid off the box and took out a pair of thigh high ballet boots, a arm binder and a blindfold.
"What are those?" Artemis asked.
"These boots were what I wore when my mother trained me" said Dinah as she turned to Artemis and told her to put them on.
"These heels are so high, I'm never gonna balance on them" said Artemis.
"We'll never know until you try them. Now put your arms behind your back with your hands together" said Dinah as she turned and walked behind Artemis.
Artemis didn't disobey her command as she did what she was told as Dinah placed the arm binder up Artemis' arms and began to tighten the straps and buckles and fasten them so that Artemis couldn't use her arms.
"There we go, nice and tight" said Dinah as Artemis couldn't move her arms.
"Dinah what is the meaning of this let me out of this thing" commanded Artemis.
"Just relax Artemis, this is all a part of your training" explained Dinah.
"You serious?" asked Artemis.
"Always" replied Dinah as she took one of the boots and bent down and began to put the boots on Artemis.
Artemis could only watch as her leg was being enveloped by the slick but stiff black leather boot. Artemis's foot slipped easily into the sole of the boot that forced her foot into a good tight point as the ends were flat but had plenty of foam padding inside. Dinha then took the zipper and zipped the boot up the back of the boot before taking a small strap and putting it around the top of the boot and fastened it tight.
Dinah did exactly the same with the other boot before she looked at the defenceless Artemis and said,
"Now try and get up" said Dinha as Artemis tried to stand but hit the mat.
"How am I going to do that in these things?" asked Artemis.
"Easy you have 20 minutes to get to your feet from the downed position, that is the first lesson of the day" said Dinha as she set the digital clock for 20 minutes.
"Oh I almost forgot so you don't know how long you have left you will wear this" she continued as she held up a eye blindfold that she bent down over Artemis and pulled it over her eyes and strapped it.
"Dinha where are you and why are you doing this to me?" quizzed Artemis as she squirmed around on the floor.
"To improve your concentration, You have 20 minutes" replied Dinah as she started the clock and went to sit down as she watched from the side lines.

January 10 - 09:00 - Gotham City

Cheshire was on the move once again cutting over the rooftops and down through the back streets of Gotham. She reached her moms apartment and entered the way she did any other time, through a window.
"well this place hasn't changed over the years" said Cheshire as she looked at the Alice in Wonderland poster up on her side of the room.
She then unclipped the baby carrier from first around her waist and the down off her shoulders and carefully lifted Lian out who just smiled and laughed as Cheshire placed her down on her bed.
While sorting Lian out still with her mask on, she didn't hear someone behind her as she was hit with something hard.
"Nice hit mom" said Cheshire as she slowly got up removed her mask and turned around and smiled at her.
"JADE!" said her mom.
"Nice to see you too" said Jade as she looked at her mom.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I need your help to look after Lian... my daughter" said Jade as she picked up her treasure and showed her to her mom.
"Lian... is my... grand daughter?" asked her mom in her wheelchair.
"Yes mom, here hold her" said Jade when she handed Lian over.
"Hello Lian, my beautiful rose" said her mom when she started to rock her gently in her arms.
"So how you been mom?"
"Not bad, got in touch with your sister at last the other day as she's still having a hard time since Wally's death.
"Just like Artemis, always in wonderland" said Jade with a chuckle.
"Now Jade, don't forget you are her sister and should be more supportive of her during hard times, You remember when I was in jail and you lived with your fath..." said her mom when Lian fell asleep in her arms.
"Don't say another word, I said this to Artemis the night I left this place. Its every girl for herself." said Jade who despised her dad, Sportsmaster.  
"Sorry Jade, I didn't mean to bring it up but I was in jail for six years and I never stopped thinking of you in that time.
"I know mom, I wanted to come and see you but I was out of town and grew stronger. I've had to" explained Jade as she turned and looked at the poster.
Jade's mom then took her daughters hand and looked up her and said,
"Jade, you are my daughter and I will be here to support you if you promise me something" she said.
"I promise mom, what do you want me to do?"
"Just help and support Artemis, your sister as I want us to be a family again. Just you, me and Artemis" said her mom.
"Uhm, so when do you see my sister?" asked Jade.
"Saturday" replied her mom.
"Ok so I'll come and check on Lian then" said Jade when she took her mask and placed it upon her face and headed for the open window.
"Jade wait why don't you stay here for a while" she said wanting Jade to stay.
"Sorry mom, I've gotta be like the Cheshire cat and simply disappear but I'll come back I promise" said Cheshire as she went out of the window and out of sight.  

January 10 - 8:10am - Star City

Ten minutes had passed since Dinha put Artemis in a arm-binder, took her vision away with a blindfold and her balance and feet away in a pair of thigh high ballet boots.
Artemis didn't know how long she had left or if she could get up from the downed position. Artemis while blindfolded began to have flashbacks of her past and seeing how her dad, Sportsmaster had taught her to use her bow in numerous ways and the tasks she was made to do under his eagle eyed watch.
Artemis shook her head and then began to crawl around.
"I'm not with Sportsmaster anymore, I am Artemis I belong with the team" she said when she somehow got to her knees.
Dinha watched in amazement as Artemis tried to find her footing in the ballet boots but when she got a footing she slipped and hit the mats again and landed on her side.
Flashbacks continued as Artemis laid there on the matted floor as she saw how she went out alone after overhearing her parents argue and how she met Green Arrow and Batman.
Dinha then looked at the clock and said,
"You have 5 minutes left Artemis" she said when she stood up and wanted to help but stopped herself.
Artemis heard this and continued to relieve her past. She remembered everything and once again began to fight her way first to her knees. She tried numerous times but kept slipping on the tight block padded toed boots and kept falling down. Artemis had only a couple of minutes left as she said out,
"I can do this, I can" she said when she got to her knees and then with only seconds left she planted her toed boot into the mat and slowly dragged herself up. She wobbled as Dinha stopped the clock with only a second left.
"Well done Artemis, you did it you got to your feet" said Dinha as she walked over and removed the blindfold.
"I did?" said Artemis as she looked down and saw that she was on her feet. Wobbly yes but on her feet she was when she turned around and saw the time on the clock.
"I did do it" said Artemis when she was helped over to a large box and began to remove the boots.
"Good work Artemis, Now take five and come back for session two" said Dinha as Artemis rolled and rubbed her ankles and took a small break with a drink from a sports bottle.
"Right Artemis, are you ready for stage two of your training?" asked Dinha.
"Always" replied Artemis.
"Good now follow me" said Dinha as she took Artemis to a different room with traps all set up in different positions.
"Welcome to stage two, now the aim of this stage of your training will be for you to dodge them.
"So I'm working on my agility in this one?" asked Artemis.
"Pretty much, Yes. now I will set off swinging punching bags down on zip lines and you must dodge ten in a row to pass, if not you'll have to start from scratch" explained Dinha as Artemis had a look around first.
After having a look around, Dinha looked at Artemis and said,
“So Artemis, this is how it will work. You will stand on that red cross on the mats in the centre and then I shall blindfold you so to hone your sharpness and agility. The I will say a command for example right left duck dive and so on and if you fail you have to start from scratch" she explained.    
"Do I have to be blindfolded?" asked Artemis.
"Yes Artemis you do, it is important to hone all of one's senses, you may not always be able to trust your eyes." replied Canary as she walked towards the younger heroine.
"If I must" replied Artemis as she sighed and walked onto the mats and stood in the middle of the red cross.
Canary then walked with the blindfold in her hand and stood behind her.
"Are you ready Artemis?" asked Canary.
"I guess so" replied Artemis as she sighed and Canary raised the blindfold up over Artemis' head and placed it over her eyes and slipped the strap down the back of Artemis’s head before walking to the controls.
"Ready Artemis?" said Canary.
"Ready" replied Artemis as she saw complete darkness ahead of her.
"Now then let's begin" replied Canary as she started the second session.
Canary although she said that she would give commands, to Artemis' surprise she didn't when suddenly Artemis heard a rusty steel like noise come towards her. She couldn't see what was coming as she was hit and landed on her back on the mats.
Artemis sat up and slipped the blindfold up and asked,
"I thought you were going to give out orders?" she shouted at Canary.
"I lied Artemis has you said yourself you don't take orders, you give them. So get up and try again" said Canary as Artemis walked back on the red cross and pulled the blindfold down over her eyes and said,
"Ready Dinha" she said.
"Good" she replied when she released another bag.
Artemis heard it coming and spun to the right and dodged the first bag. She then was hit by another from her right and was down on the mats again.
"That was 2 Artemis, now again" said Dinha as Artemis slipped the blindfold up and returned to the red cross.
Artemis took a quick look and saw her mistake. She pulled the blindfold back over her eyes and prepared for another attempt.
Canary didn't even say a word as three were sent down. Artemis dodged the first and the second but was hit by the third.
"Damn it!" said Artemis as she hit the mats and slipped up the blindfold.  
"Don't let your anger take control, you need to control that anger and complete this task" explained Canary as Artemis got up and sighed.
Artemis walked back on the red cross and pulled the blindfold down once again. Canary set three going and Artemis dodged all three. Canary then set 5 punch bags off and Artemis dodged the first 4 but was hit from behind with the fifth bag.
"Close Artemis at least you are starting to get the right feelings now and going the right direction as that was 4 that time" said Canary as she watched Artemis pull the blindfold up and like before got up to try again when Canary reset the program.

January 10 - 10:00 - Gotham City

Meanwhile back in Gotham, Selina was just waking up after another long night stealing jewels and other valuables. She got up with a tired yawn and stretched just like her numerous pet cats. She got up and had a nice hot shower before slipping into her outfit of the day.
she slipped on a white bra and hooked the clasps shut. She then buttoned up a white blouse shirt and slipped on a black knee length skirt. Selina then walked into the kitchen were several of her cats were waiting for her. Selina slid in a slice of bread into the toaster and set it going before feeding her cats.
After feeding her cats, Selina swayed into the living room and turned on the
TV. The first channel that came on was the Gotham City News channel where Commissioner Gordon and his detective in command were being interviewed by the reporter.
“Commissioner, who do you think is responsible for the theft of the rare Siberian panther cubs taken last night?” asked the reporter.
“We are following leads as we speak, we think it could have something to do with Catwoman but that is only one of many leads. I have no further details at this time” replied Commissioner Gordon.
“What? They think I did it, as cute as they are, I know that in the wrong hands they could be dangerous” said Selina when she turned the TV off not wanting to hear any other news.
“Great, it looks like we have a copycat” Selina as she slumped into her chair as midnight, one of Selina’s cats jumped up and looked at her.
Meow” purred the jet black cat as Selina stroked her under the chin as she purred.
“Oh Midnight, what am I going to do?” she sighed.
Meow” replied the cat as Selina looked down and knew what she needed to do. She had to clear her name and catch the copycat Catwoman. She got up and was followed by Midnight into her room. Selina placed her hand on a door as a built in scanner read Selina’s hand. Once scanned, a sealed door opened and there standing in front of her was her Catwoman outfit, shining in the light.
"Tonight is the night Midnight, We find those cubs and return them to their owners" said Selina as she looked at her costume and smiled with Midnight rubbing against her long sleek feminine legs.


January 10 – 12:00 – Star City

Four hours passed since Artemis started the second stage of her training and wasn’t getting very far. She was however improving.
“Let’s break for lunch” said Canary as she stopped and reset the training system.
Artemis stood there with the elasticated blindfold on top of her head when the two went for something to eat after freshening up.
“How long do I have to continue this?” asked Artemis as she walked beside Canary.
“At the rate you’re going a few more hours” replied Canary as she prepared a meal for them both.
Artemis was getting annoyed at herself; she punched the wall and left a mark.
“Artemis, don’t let that anger get you down, you’ve come on in bounds the past few days.  A couple more hours and I think you’ll crack it” said Canary as she took a look at Artemis’ hand.
“You think so Canary?” said Artemis.
“I do” smiled Canary as the two went into the kitchen and ate lunch.
The two blond leaguers sat at a small table that overlooked the skyline of Star City when Canary asked,
“So Artemis, Have you any secrets who want to tell me about?” she asked.
“Secrets… no.. I haven’t” replied Artemis.
“You have I can see it in your eyes, Artemis. Please tell me.
Artemis looked away for a moment and took a huge sigh when she replied,
“When I first joined the team, when we rescued Dr. Rochette, I chased Cheshire and took a shot at her and hit her mask off, and then I froze. I knew I couldn’t arrest her or she would spill the beans on me” she began.
“Go on Artemis” said Canary.
“Well after that I plucked up the courage to tell the others and they didn’t matter” finished Artemis.
“I see… you know Artemis; everyone misses you, Nightwing, Megan, Zatanna and the others. They all want you back. What happened in the past is just that. The only way to move on is to step forward. You are nearly ready but after this lesson there are 2 left” replied Canary.
“Seriously?” said Artemis.
“Yes Artemis, I will help you through them but first you need to complete the training in hand.
Artemis nodded at Canary and said,
“So have you been released from watchtower duty for me?” asked Artemis.
“Yes, Batman has given me permission and I’ve been told to not push you back into the team too soon” said Canary as the two ate and drank their sodas.