Young Justice x OC Book 2

Chapter 11: Stop Calling me Ma!

"Any higher power you could damage his spine". I told Dr. Palmer and Karen via radio. I guess I'd become den mother like to Bart and Jaime. Given Bart's parents were yet to be born and Jaime's didn't know what to think about the scarab I'm sure it was relatively nice to be looked after when they were in the cave and now they were joining the list of regular super humans in my parents house. For Jaime it may have also been knowing what it's like to not be alone in your own head that made us close. I held Jaime's hand as he cried out in pain. "It's almost over Jaime". I assured him. His heart rate was spiking and the monitor was going off.

"Shrink back down you're too large for micro extraction". I heard Karen say hitting her comm.

"Atom to Dr. Cross prepare for micro extraction". Atom told us and Dr. Cross did just that. "Extraction, now"! Atom ordered and Cross had to shove a needle into Jaime's neck. He put them on the floor and they resized taking deep breaths.

"What happen in there"? Bart asked.

"There were complications". Atom told us and I realized his gun was missing.

"What about the scarab. Can you remove it or not"? Jaime asked and I helped him sit up.

"I'm afraid it's integration with your bio system is too complete". Atom explained. "It's defense is too thorough. Jaime, I don't believe that scarab is ever coming off. Not while you live". He told us. Jaime got up holding his gown shut in the back and he went to change.

"What happen to the gun you made me spend a week human biology proofing"? I asked.

"The scarab made its own anti bodies and dissolved it". Karen told me.

"Cool, glad to know that's not just floating around inside Jaime". I sighed.

Later we met at a warehouse in Bludhaven. The temporary living and work space for those who had been living in the cave. Nightwing was telling  us about the next mission, our information was from G Gordon's news cast about the criminals of the Justice League and the Reach-Lex Corp farming facilities trying to "end world hunger".

"Obviously, any partner between "The Reach" and Lex Luthor is bad news. So alpha squad is going under cover to recon Lexcorp Farms". Nightwing explained. "Robin you'll be running Alpha". He told them.

"Me running alpha? Uh, right. Whose on the squad"? He asked.

"Blue Beetle-". Nightwing had barely began when Jaime cut him off.

"Whoa whoa whoa. I should not be in the field, ese. What if the scarab goes all Reach Apocalypse on us"? He voiced a valid concern.

"Your scarab has had multiple opportunities to betray us. It hasn't and right now it's connection to "The Reach" may be our best shot at identifying what they're up to". Nightwing explained to him. He seemed reassured.

"Well if Blue's goin' I'm goin'". Bart told him.

"I assumed as much". Nightwing told him. "And last but not least, Arsenal. But you'll have to travel lighter for your first mission. Nothing that won't fit under civilian clothes. Any questions"? I had not noticed him somehow lurking in the shadows, I had not seen him. At all since he was found by Red Arrow.

"Just one. Why are we meeting in this dump"? Arsenal asked.

"With the cave and Hall of Justice destroyed we don't have many other options". I told him with a heavy sigh.

"Except the watch tower it's national news now". Arsenal had a solid point. "You can't pretend it doesn't exist".

"Only Justice Leaguers and senior members of the team are authorized for the Watchtower. You don't qualify". Nightwing told him.