Chapter 7​

--- One week later---​

“So why exactly are we walking around the Diamond district?” Jade asks as she gestures at her new clothes without anyone around us noticing, “And why am I being forced to wear this around here along with this makeup?”

I turn my head to look at her. Her hair normally poofed out and wild looking is now appearing tamed and slicked back and elegant looking all tied up into a bun and to contain it all was two metal sticks to keep it in place.

Her normally tan skin is now pale courtesy of a carefully applied makeup that is difficult to come off with normal methods to ensure the disguise is not ruined by unforeseen complications. And her grey eyes are now a nice emerald green thanks to some ‘contacts’ I gave her.

The disguise was all done by yours truly after a heated discussion to get her to do it. Her original clothes are now replaced with a nice black suit jacket with a white undershirt for the top and black knee length skirt for the bottom with leather high heel boots.

“Because my dear friend I thought it would be good for us to see the sights of our fair city.” I say to her with the sweetest honey coated voice that would soothe the most savage of beasts. Unfortunately, Jade seems to be far more unruly than any beast could hope to compare as she glares daggers at me as she steps closer to my ear.

“Why am I wearing this disguise then?” She growls into my ear not asking but demanding I tell her, and I have to fight off a laugh at how adorable she is right now. 

Slowing down for a moment as I take one of my hands out of my suits pocket and subtly drop a small black box onto the side of a building just as it meets an alley all which Jade doesn’t pay much attention to since I first started doing this as soon as we got into the district. I look around without making it obvious and again no one seems to notice as I speed up slightly as if nothing happened.

Looking over to her as she matches me step for step at my side as she tries to subtly cast the occasional glare in my direction as I take my own ‘contacts’ and use them to send her a message as I use my eyes to focus on each letter on the screen to ‘type’ out my message.

“Is it not obvious to you? Look around you and think for a moment if you were dressed in what you had before, do you think people would notice you in a bad way?” I continue with my message and lesson to my bodyguard and protégé, “Furthermore, do you see any homeless people around this area?” She gives a slight nod at my words acknowledging she has noticed this.

“Exactly. If we were in our old outfits, we would stick out severely and they would assume we were up to no good and keep a sharper eye on us.” I say to her as I drop more black boxes in discrete spots as we make our way along the sidewalks of the district around some of the rich restaurants and casinos.

“You need to start using the contacts, learn them. They can and will help, especially in situations where you need to be subtle. And things like this disguise are something I will teach you how to use in the future, you will need them, and you will get used to them with time.”

Jade relaxes at this and seems to ponder what I said for a moment as I drop another box after we walked a few blocks from our original position as none of the rich people or the staff at the businesses here pay us any mind. It helps a lot that we look like the kids of some rich person walking around. Despite this being in Gotham, the Diamond district is a den of criminal activity though somewhat more ‘refined’. Afterall it would explain the Iceberg Lounge of the infamous Penguin being located here.

Show off how he is one of the elites of Gotham. As Jade starts taking what I said to heart she settles down and plays her part as she holds herself in a prideful yet elegant manner. Huh, I will admit I am impressed since if I didn’t know any better, I would say she belonged here with how she is presenting herself.

“-y we here no sparring?” She says to me with an attempt to use the messaging system in the contacts, and I almost fall out of character as I attempt to not cringe at her message. I manage to not show it to the people around us and keep my carefree expression on my face as I keep my hands in my pockets while casually walking. I know she notices me trying to hide it as she looks over to me with cold eyes that gives off some ice queen vibes as she looks down on me.

“This is just as important as sparring, if not more so. As my ‘bodyguard’ and protégé I have expectations for you besides being able to fight well.” I say to her as I take a turn around a casino with some rich people getting out of their cars with valets helping them as I check out the women. I have to say, gold diggers they may be, but they have it going on and I can see why these rich guys keep them around.

I notice that several of them are looking at me, especially the men as they eye up my outfit. It’s amazing how I can go from super subtle and easy to miss to people seeing me and checking me out as if I am the center of attention in a crowd like this.

The outfit that gets their attention that I am wearing is a suit though it’s more casual and I wear it with no tie and just have a ‘simple’ white dress shirt under the black upper suit. Black dress pants and leather shoes. The whole outfit I took inspiration from John Wick, especially the hidden armored parts of it to keep me alive if someone was to try and pull something.

It would stop most small caliber rounds, which may not be much, but I don’t need it to be more than that. I also had Heli give me a makeover as well, so Jade wasn’t alone in the disguise department. After all, it's something I will have to use in the future myself, plus I don’t intend to stay in my sixteen-year-old body forever when I can have a better version of my twenty-five-year-old one instead.

Now sporting lightly tanned skin with teal blue eyes along with a swept back blonde hair. All of this courtesy of Heli, sure I could do what I did with Jade however Heli’s method is faster and it's actually kind of cool being another person for a day. I think I understand why Mystique can just make a new face and enjoy herself.

The stealth potions I have been drinking all this time combined with my perfect memory helps to build up a foundation in stealth, specifically hiding in plain sight and appearing as if I was always there akin to a grey man. It’s really nice to also have that foundation constantly getting raised up because I don’t forget the experience I gained from the time I had the potion active.

I eye a particular blonde that is wearing a silver mermaid sequin dress with no back to it showing all of her bare upper back, and I have to fight to keep my eyes off her chest. Oh, what I would love to do with those if I had the chance. Focusing back on what we are doing I take my eyes off the eye candy as I send another message to Jade.

“There may be things I will need you to take care of and just rushing in to beat someone up is not going to cut it nor is assassinating them. You will find yourself in situations where you will have to appear as if you are a part of a group like these people here to accomplish your objective.” To this Jade is staying silent and continuing to do the things I suggested before we came out here, to get her used to this. Considering it’s her first time to my knowledge she is doing quite well.

I drop the last of the boxes as we make our way away from the Diamond district but not before I get a glimpse of the Iceberg Lounge. It is beautiful as I look at it. The building looks like a giant glittering diamond in the night, and its breathtaking to look at. And I see quite a few people heading into the front entrance as they walk up the stairs leading into it with all the staff ushering them in while the guards stay at the front of the doors eyeing people.

I stare in envy at the life Penguin has made for himself. Well, it won’t be long before I will be living it up as well. I hope. But considering my engineers have been busy this past week after I took Jade on and showed her equipment to her, I would like to think I’m making my way there.

“Remember this Jade, the best hiding spots are not always in obvious places like shadows.” She perks up at that word when I say it and I know full well why she did, “More often than not the best ones are in plain sight. Right under your own nose and you or anyone for that matter would never know until it’s too late.”

At this Jade continues to follow me as we head South of the Diamond district and head into Old Gotham. We make our way down the street as some of the people eye us and some look like they are debating to make a move on us. Ultimately, they seem to decide not to do anything and go back to what they were doing.

I make my way to an alley no different than all the others in Gotham as I head over to a random part of it and look at a battered box and open it up and pull out two small black duffel bags that I had stashed here as I planned for this. I toss one bag to Jade as she catches it and opens it up to see what’s inside.

I pay her no mind as I open a door in the alley after I pick the lock to it that leads inside to an empty store that has been closed for some time. Heading inside to get changed but I stop and speak out loud to Jade, “Come on in, we need to get changed.”

“What about the makeup on me?” She asks me as she moves to walk into the open door.

“I put a container in the bag, has a blue lid on it. Take the clear goo and get the rag I put in the bag and wipe yourself down, it will come off easily with it.” I say to her which makes her body sag in relief. It’s hard to believe this is the Jade Nguyen, the girl who will one day become the infamous Cheshire. Well, we all start from somewhere I guess.

“Also, your pay is in a hidden fold inside the bag. Once you are all clean and have your disguise put away along with the contact lenses, you are free to enjoy the rest of your day unless I call you.”

This gets her to smile and look inside her bag for the money. Looking up from the bag as she has a surprised look on her face before it is replaced by a look of joy. Well, being paid for getting trained by me will probably do that especially when it’s a lot of money compared to what others tend to get paid in this city. She doesn’t hesitate to follow me into the store as I close the door to the shop.

Just as I close the door I am among all the stars again as I reach out like so many other times to grab one and I manage to snatch it and keep it but what it gives me makes me pause. I now have the knowledge to graft demonic parts to my body… oh boy that doesn’t sound good at all, I mean if I must and need some type of immediate power boost maybe? I just am not very comfortable with the idea of shoving random demon parts in my body.

But otherwise, it sounds like a possible bad time and more than likely won’t end well for me at that. Now being able to make weapons from them on the other hand albeit weaker than the augmentations might be useful but again, I don’t think I want to go demon hunting just yet especially when I have no idea how to find them in the first place. So, this ability wasn’t exactly something I am happy with. And as fast as I got into that sea of stars I am back in the building with Jade as I shut the door.

Walking over to an empty cleaning supply closet I step in and close the door before starting to get dressed as I assume Jade found a spot for herself. I got dressed in the jeans and white t-shirt I had in my duffle bag along with some sneakers. Just as I am done, I step back out as I see Jade. Her hair is out of the bun, and she has her tan skin back alongside her grey eyes. Huh, she got out of that fast.

She has a grey shirt with blue jean shorts on as she starts to leave but stops as she sees me still in my disguise. “You are still keeping that on?”

“No, I intend to take it off.” This gets her to raise an eyebrow I assume regarding why I’m not getting it off now. I lie through my teeth as naturally as I breathe air as I tell her, “Just wanted to tell you before you leave that once you calmed down you did good with trying to blend in with the rich people of that district, and I see great potential in you Jade.”

At first, she seems confused on how to respond to what I said for a moment. But she seems to settle on something as she gives me a genuine smile as the corners of her lips go up ever so slightly as she looks back at me. “Well… thanks.” She says to me as if not used to getting praised or saying thank you to anyone. Not surprised considering her home life. Between that and everything I told her was not a lie, with who she is the potential is very real.

After that she walks out and shuts the door taking her duffle bag with her carried over a shoulder. I am interested in seeing if she is going to pay her debt to Jed and then find a better place to live. Or not, since she could just bail and if Jed tries anything I can handle him. Jade is a maybe currently. Now for my next bit of business as I step over to the back door and relock it as I take out my key and the doorway to my entryway.

As soon as the door is open Heli’s head greets me as I step forward and pat her on the head, “Alright Heli time to give me another makeover.” At my comment Heli happily trills to me as she grabs my hand leads me along down the hallway as there is no noise in the hall aside from the Batcomputer room, where only Light is with two of the new Sigma’s while the others are currently still doing the tasks I gave them out in Gotham.

Heli continues to tug me along to the workshop and once inside she sets me down on a proper operating table and straps me in while getting all the containers filled with the various materials she will need for me. She signs to me to see if I’m ready as she is finished setting up, “I’m ready as I will ever be Heli, go for it.” And the next thing I know I am unconscious as Heli gets to work.

I open my eyes and see Heli’s face staring down at me as she undoes all the straps on the operating table. As soon as the last strap is done, I get up and head over to a mirror that Light had put in here for when I need to check myself out when I am donning a disguise to make sure it all looks as it should. 

I note how my legs are longer and packed with subtle muscle in them as I walk over making sure I contain and control my strength considering I have been walking around as a sixteen-year-old or something around that age range so it takes some getting used to, which is thankfully easier after I got my first upgrade from Heli. And what I see brings happiness to me as I see a familiar yet unfamiliar face and body looking back at me.

Long dark brown hair that reaches past my shoulder blades, light brown eyes with a ripped body though not that of a bodybuilder, more of a runner's build. Lightly tanned skin and no annoying body hair besides what’s on my head. And I like the light four pack, not too pronounced but also still noticeable.

Oh yes, being back in not only my twenty-five-year-old body is nice but it’s an even better idealized version of it so it makes it better. I could get used to this, unfortunately I think I should stick with the sixteen-year-old version for some time despite not feeling comfortable with it. I especially don’t want Jade to find out that I can shapeshift considering that will lead to some questions I can’t and won’t answer. Especially since I don’t one hundred percent trust her.

After all, in the comics she was willing to let her daughter die to a bomb in her head after she got herself pregnant with another kid and told the blackmailer to go ahead, she has a replacement. Of course, I know which version of dc I am in, after sparring with Jade off and on to get myself used to my new skills in fighting and to further improve upon them while ensuring I can properly control my strength in a fight.

That and see how well of a fighter Jade is. Proved to me she was trained, but still lacking. Though to be fair I think it’s a mixture of inexperience and her parents not teaching her everything.

After one of our sparring sessions, I managed to get a hold of one of her hairs and had the Batcomputer analyze it and got a match in the civilian database. Jade Crock is her birth name though she uses Nguyen as her last name now, and she had a younger sister by the name of Artemis Crock. 

Their parents being Paula Crock and Lawrence Crock. The instant I saw the name and image of her younger sister immediately set off red flags on where I am. Then the images of their mother and father just further drove home where I am in the grand scheme of things.

Thanks to Jade, I know I am in Young Justice. Despite now knowing where I am, it doesn’t fully set me at ease despite knowing I am in one of the less dangerous versions of dc. After all, despite this being a toned-down version regarding how powerful characters are much like Justice League and its sequel Unlimited, there are still plenty of things in this place that could kill me despite how powerful I have become now.

But that is something I shouldn’t worry about all the time, after all not much I can do about it right now and that’s why I am on this trip now. Setting my mind back at ease by focusing on my plan which is a little trip to get those long overdue extra alchemy supplies for myself, considering I now have two powers that benefit each other and have the potential to one day build off one another. So, getting them is an absolute must.

I did some digging to find any place around that not only has well taken care of and quality plants but is also cheap. I still have some money left over after my purchases and investments, but things change, and I was raised around the idea that cheaper is sometimes better. And after that search narrowed down the list of flower shops to a select few, and I chose this one because it has some of the best reviews out of the handful that were left that I could find on the Batcomputer.

Which is one of the reasons why I took Jade out into that district to get her used to using disguises considering that in the future I may need her to do some subterfuge for me. Efficiency, make my way to Old Gotham, and memorize the sights and areas along the way in the Diamond District in person while attempting to teach Jade how to act and be something she is not.

As I am done checking my old and improved body out, I get the clothes that Heli had Light make for me and get them on, which is a simple black t-shirt with jeans. Once I had everything on and put the contacts back onto my eyes, I made my way back out of the entryway and shut the door.

I walk down the sidewalk as I check out the area around me while one of the newer Sigma’s gives me heads up of any potential threats which from the looks of things is next to nothing. Most of the fighting that happened in this area ended rather quickly especially when it got very close to Wayne tower. Speaking of which, I see the massive building in this place looming off in the distance with the massive glowing W.

More than likely Batman would prioritize his tower considering how much information and valuable things could be in there along with his employees, since who knows what inventions are being cooked up in that place with Lucius Fox, he obviously doesn’t want the gangs or villains gaining any new toys, if I hazard a guess. But I have to admit, it is quite the intimidating site, when compared to the beauty of the Iceberg Lounge inspires.

I drop my gaze from the massive tower and look back to the old and depressing streets I look at as I check the time and start walking to the ride I got waiting for me as I see it’s seven in the evening now. The streets here are not necessarily depressing because they are filled with graffiti and all kinds of trash.

Yes, there is some trash, but it’s just trash. A few things of graffiti but they are few and far between oddly enough. It’s more the atmosphere with the sun close to setting, shadows growing longer from the building may as well have made it night by this point.

It's creepy and depressing, more akin to the streets in some scenes in that movie ‘The Crow’ with Bruce Lee’s son. Also, the gargoyle statues I see in the distance, especially all the ones on the clocktower don’t help, I never understood people being obsessed with those things considering how terrifying they look.

As I make steady progress not rushing too much as I communicate with the Sigma’s with the contacts on how the recent addition to one of the major projects I have them doing is coming along. Looks like the thirteenth manufacturing facility is up and running. The only thing they have left to do is set up the last of the defenses if anyone discovers it along with hiding it from prying eyes.

Between that and talking with Light on how the upcoming information network is going, considering I want to know who is doing what in this city. I have no intention of being caught off guard or unaware ever again, especially after my introduction to the locals of this place when I first got here. And to sum up Light’s description, it’s coming along but not as fast as I want it to.

But before I can give a response I am at my destination as I walk up to an old and abandoned looking mechanic shop that has seen better days. Faded paint, dents along the building’s outer walls and just all around looking like it should be condemned. However, the windows look new and are tinted to pitch black so you can’t see inside along with metal bars in front of them keeping anyone from just getting in.

One of the few places I purchased through my other contacts besides Lorenzo that I own through aliases, and I had Light along with a few new full body Huragok’s do some renovating. Mostly keeping the outside looking the same. Of course that is just how it looks, if someone did try breaking in they would be in for a rude awakening.

The insides however are a different story as I signal through my contacts to unlock the front door and I hear the clicks of the locks. As I step inside, I take my hand and press down on a secret panel set in the metal of the wall next to the door frame as it slowly presses in deactivating the hidden traps I have placed in the building.

I see all the grime has been cleaned away from when I first bought it. Between that and how there are new tools along with machinery around on different tables. I even see a reinforced metal latch behind the register counter that is there in case I need to hide, make a quick escape and arm myself up with some weapons in case I need them along with other supplies. I walked over to what I was after and found what I needed.

An old truck apparently that was from an older model from Lexcorp akin to the old dodge trucks from the 1930’s in appearance that I got from one of my other purchases of a scrap yard for extra material for the engineers to work with. Though it currently looks like it might as well be put out of its misery with how rusted and horrible it looks. But ignoring the appearance on the surface, Light and the new engineers did a fantastic job with it, giving it a similar hydrogen engine to the Warthogs of Halo.

Between that and reinforcing the metal and windows to ensure anyone that attacks me in it will need a lot of firepower. And that is if they can catch me considering how fast this thing can go despite its appearance. I get in and immediately take the key needed for it and start it up as I hear the engine roar to life. Feeling the excitement well in me at the thought of getting a muscle car built for speed but that dies as thoughts of my dad and his car come to mind.

Shaking myself out of that depressing downward spiral I activate the garage doors after making sure the outside surveillance doesn’t see anyone about to try anything and press down on the accelerator and drive out of the shop as I make my way to my next destination as the garage door closes back down and locks back up. I drive along the streets keeping an eye out while multitasking on both driving and keeping up with the reports of any threats.

Still all clear for the most part, besides the occasional mugger holding someone up in some reports or a few kids playing at being gangsters. Between that and a lot of homeless people around the area that I can see with my own two eyes, trying to find or scavenge for whatever they can to help them live another day. Seeing them dredges up more memories of Furgus.

Refusing to dwell on those old memories, I put all my attention onto the road and getting to my destination as the truck coasts down the street. After several turns as I make my way around Old Gotham. Taking in the sights of some of the old buildings around here as they look old but still surprisingly cared for in some cases as some of them I know are over a century in some cases.

Just as I turn another corner, I see my destination before me. The flower shop I have been after. Baudelaire Flower Shop, a simple gray brick building with several windows from the front entrance to the upper floors of the building. It has a big red sign with the name ‘Baudelaire’ written on it in yellow letters, with the name in the bottom right saying the proprietor May Fleur.

Uhuh. Well, the parents that named the owner of this business got it right on their child’s future career. But then again, I have heard far worse names than that in my old life. One of those being a girl by the name of Crystal Water. Poor girl got picked on all through school for that name. Seriously though, my power supplies me with the English translation of that last name, flower, bloom or blossom.

As I back into one the few spots they have for cars with faded lines to indicate it for parking on the side of the building as I see a doorway on the side of the building in front of the bed of my truck.

As I get out and shut off the truck locking the doors and I walk up to the front of the building I see the two front windows with a wide display of the inside of the store has all kinds of plants on display some even being rare plant species my powers supply to me, and I can even somewhat tell they have been well taken care from where I am at.

Just as I am about to make it to the doors I am grasping for a star, and I keep a hold of it as I am bombarded with the knowledge of so many things from Fallout and not just its drugs. Anything that could be crafted in the games I can make, even having the knowledge of what tools or components I will need such as the crafting stations. This is going to help a lot with my secret drug factories along with many other things.

I get to the shop doors and open it as a bell chime goes off alerting whoever is further up the stairs I hear moving around get alerted to my presence. I hear a feminine voice yell out, “I’m coming, be right down just give me a moment!” as I hear hurried light footsteps as it sounds like they are putting stuff away with the sounds of drawers getting opened and closed.

As I walk further in, I see that there is quite the display of plants in here that shows how much the person who owns this place likes their job. I did investigate Poison Ivy before I fully investigated the flower shops for ingredients considering her and plants it would be a given for her to have something to do with a flower shop. I did look to see if she has shown up by this point since I don’t know when she debuted as a villain in the timeline of the show. After all, if she has shown up, I would rather be as far from her as possible.

She may be attractive as can be, but so was Serleena from Men in Black and she was a literal man-eater. I don’t care how hot you are, if you are going to kill me in horrific ways, I am not having anything to do with you. But my search put those fears to rest when the only thing that popped up on the Batcomputer was just the plant species of poison ivy. I did get more specific on my search and looked up Pamela herself.

From what I could find she is currently enrolled at Gotham University and is an assistant to her professor, Jason Woodrue. Otherwise, I can’t find much more about her than that. I know in some comic versions she was betrayed by someone she fell in love with and experimented on, but I don’t know who.

It could be her professor, but I don’t know and as much as I viewed her as a tragic character in that version, I doubt there is much I can do to stop it besides murdering her professor who I don’t even know if he is the one who will make her into Poison Ivy here, and I can’t exactly go and tell her that your love interest is a monster for various obvious reasons.

But putting all of that aside, I couldn’t find anything else about her besides some contributions she did in some papers published under Woodrue’s name, which I wouldn’t be surprised if those were more her accomplishments, and he just took credit considering how colleges can be towards talented students considering the horror stories I had heard in my old life.

I look around the shop and notice some of the plants, ranging from a small still growing Ghost Orchid which would explain why it has plastic covering coming from the ceiling blocking that section of the shop off as those plants would need a lot of humidity. Wow I even see a Hawaiian Yellow Hibiscus with a couple of the subspecies. My powers even helpfully inform me that they are endangered.

Well thankfully good old Uncle Sam has it set up so you can grow and take them from the wild so long as it’s not on federal land. Then again even if they were committing a crime with this plant, I doubt the GCPD are going to do anything considering there are a lot more pressing issues in this city.

Eyeing a few Queen of the Night flowers as they are blooming. Huh, I hope that gives me some good luck considering how brief the blooming is for these flowers, so it’s considered good luck if you get to see one open. They are supposed to represent how you should enjoy the small moments because they don’t last.

Just as I am looking at the other plants in here, I make out the footsteps as they seem to be done with what they were doing. As the steps get closer, I look over to the stairs behind the counter and see the person manning the shop head down. As she comes into view as she descends the stairs, I am dumbfounded at the odds of me meeting her against all odds. I find myself looking at Pamela Isley before she became Poison Ivy.

Perks gained:

-Demonic Augmentation (Hellgate London) (100CP) You can successfully graft demonic parts onto yourself to gain an increase in mana reserves as well as gaining the ability to more easily cast certain spells based on the demon's type. You also learn to craft demonic focus items that, while weaker than augmentations, also don't have to be grafted onto your body.

Starting with a cartload of random junk and ending with high-quality ammunition or power cells, cutting-edge improvements to power armor, overcharged laser weaponry or even entirely new kinds of science is practically trivial for the average Fallout protagonist yet their talents pale compared to yours. This Perk grants you immediate access to pretty much any kind of crafting shown in the Fallout series: from Hand Loader to Science! and Chemist to Robotics Expert, if it somehow involves building things out of other things (from guns to ammo to even entire buildings), you've got it - including perfectly memorized designs for the kind of components and tools you might need, like the Robotics Workbench or Nuka-Cola Mixer station. In fact, you're good enough that you'll never make mistakes while doing this type of crafting (assuming someone doesn't start shooting at you or some such), and you'll be perfectly aware of where you were in the process if you do find yourself interrupted and have to continue later on.