Young Justice: "Masters and Servants"

Part I: Operation Infodump

Author’s note: I kinda lost track of the Puppeteer. I think he’s either dead or in jail now, and I hope you will forgive this little screw-up if it’s true.

(Front cover. The members of Young Justice are attacking each other. All of them are in their uniforms. Superboy strikes Robin in the jaw with a fist. Next to them, Wonder Girl and Empress strike each other with their fists. Nearby Secret and Impulse fight each other. Each member is attached to a bunch of strings, and above them the Puppeteer is manipulating the strings. He too is in his uniform.)

Cap (N): Servants of the Puppeteer!

(Page 1, panel 1. Prologue. The Puppeteer is standing alone in his uniform, on a darkened stage. He looks around the place.)

Puppeteer: Wha? Where am I?

Voice (from off panel throughout this scene): Jordan Weir...

(Panel 2. The Puppeteer spins around, looking around.)

Puppeteer: Who are you? What do you want with me? Show yourself!

Voice: We have need for your talents. A team has arisen that could prove most detrimental to us...

(Panel 3. A television screen appears, showing the members of Young Justice on it.)

Voice: This is Young Justice... and they have the potential to ruin quite a number of plans that we have... and they are the only ones with the ability to discover them all before it’s too late... they must be eliminated.

Puppeteer: What makes you think I will help you?

(Panel 4. The screen vanishes.)

Voice: If you do not, you will definitely regret it.

(Panel 5. The Puppeteer suddenly drops to his knees, and grabs his head.)

Voice: We have our ways.

Puppeteer: AH!

(Panel 6.)

Puppeteer: You win! I'll help you!

Voice: Good. I am glad you are seeing things my way.

(Page 2, panel 1. Young Justice headquarters. Secret is sitting in a chair, wearing her uniform. She is watching television, specifically PBS. The show she is watching is called the Hillbilly Chef.)

Cap (N1): Later on, at the headquarters of Young Justice in New York,

Cap (N2): The young woman known as Secret is supposed to be learning via videotapes.

Cap (N3): Instead, she's watching one of her favorite TV shows, the Hillbilly Chef.

(Panel 2. Focus on the Hillbilly Chef. He is dressed in an old T-shirt, overalls, and a Caterpillar baseball cap. He is standing near a barbecue grill, and plates covered in aluminum foil are nearby.)

Chef: Ah'd like to welcome y'all to the Hillbilly Chef. Mah name is Billy Ray Bob Jack Joe John Smith. Now, today mah brother done got us a really good deer. Seems he was drivin' along route 13 and the dang thing jumped out in front of his truck. Wellp, nature's loss is our gain.

(Panel 3.)

Chef: Now, before Ah git started, Ah gotta talk about grill safety. If'n you're gonna cook, cook right. Don't do somethin' foolish now. Use the right tools and don't be a-touchin' the food without cleanin' your hands first.

(Panel 4. The Chef then opens up one of the plates, removing the foil. On it is a bunch of venison parts.)

Chef: Now, we got here some really good venison parts rightcheer, and we've been a-soakin' them in some good stuff.

(Panel 5. Red Tornado enters. He looks over the television.)

Red: I thought you were supposed to be watching those instructional videotapes, Suzie.

Secret: But it's the Hillbilly Chef! It's my favorite show!

(Panel 6. Red Tornado turns the television off.)

Tornado: I think your time would best be used watching something else.

Secret: Bummer.

(Page  3, panel 1. Red Tornado turns back to Secret, trying to keep her calm.)

Red: I do have your best interests at heart.

Secret: I know, Tornado… but sometimes I just like to watch something that will teach me what things are like for other people. It's not easy, since the only real human contact I have is with my friends here… Haven't you ever wanted to just cut loose and be weird for awhile?

(Panel 2. Red Tornado folds his arms across his chest.)

Red: There is a proper time and place for everything, Suzie. Unfortunately, this time was set aside to learn algebra.

Secret: Bummer…

(Panel 4. Secret returns to her books, and starts to work on Algebra again.)

Tornado: You'll thank me later.

Secret: Right.

(Page 4, panel 1. The Puppeteer's hideout. He is busy crafting robots of Arrowette Superboy, Impulse, Wonder Girl, and Robin. The four robots are lying on separate slabs, covered by sheets except for their heads, which are uncovered. However, the faces are incomplete; the electronic circuitry that lies beneath them is visible.)

Cap (P1): Patience is a lost art.

Cap (P2): Everyone wants everything yesterday.

Cap (P3): I can't work miracles here!

(Panel 2. A light shines on the Puppeteer.)

Puppeteer: I told you this would take time.

Voice: (From off panel) You are moving far too slow. I am sending two technical experts to help you out.

(Panel 3. The Puppeteer shakes a fist at the sky.)

Puppeteer: Do you want it right now or done right?

Voice: Both. That is why I am sending my experts.

(Panel 4. The Puppeteer turns back to his work.)

Puppeteer: All right, the more the merrier, I guess.

(Page 5, panel 1. Later on, two other men, who are dressed in spandex outfits, join the Puppeteer. The robots look almost finished.)

Cap (N): Several days later…

Puppeteer: All right, start it up.

(Panel 2. One of the others throws a switch, causing energy to flow into the Superboy robot.)

Puppeteer: Here we go…

(Panel 3. The Superboy robot sits up.)

Puppeteer: All right, you've got your Superboy robot.

(Panel 4. They examine the Superboy robot over.)

Man: What's your name?

Sb Robot: I'm Superboy, duh!

(Panel 5. The man flips another switch, and then power flows into the Impulse robot.)

Puppeteer: Now you've got an Impulse robot.

(Page 6, panel 1. Later, the YJ robots are all activated, and running. They stand in a line opposite the Puppeteer and the two men.)

Puppeteer: All right, you've got your Young Justice. Now let me go.

Man: Not so fast. We have to test them out.

(Panel 2.  The Puppeteer turns to the men.)

Puppeteer: And how do you propose to do that?

(Panel 3. Young Justice headquarters. Secret is reading a copy of Romeo and Juliet.)

Cap (N): We have a plan…

Cap (S): *Sigh…*

(Panel 4. Secret continues to read the play.)

Cap (S1): I wish I had some boy fawning over me like that.

Cap (S2): Why can't I find me a man?

(Panel 5. Secret rolls her eyes.)

Cap (S1): That's because I don't really look.

Cap (S2): Then again, most people would be frightened if I came up to them.

(Panel 6. Enter Arrowette, in her uniform.)

Arrowette: Hey, up for a practice together?

Secret: Cissie???

(Page 7, panel 1. Secret, confused, drops her book.)

Secret: I thought you said you would never be a heroine again.

Arrowette: (confused) Uh… I changed my mind.

(Panel 2. Secret stands.)

Secret: Well, sure, I wouldn't mind a practice in our training room.

Arrowette: Cool! Let's go!

(Panel 2. Arrowette and Secret walk down a corridor together.)

Secret: Your mother put you up to this, didn't she?

Arrowette: How'd you guess?

(Panel 3. The two of them arrive in the training room.)

Secret: So what do you want to face? Aliens? Someone we've run across?

Arrowette: Program 26, activate.

(Panel 4. Suddenly the room becomes one massive vortex, with winds swirling around very quickly. Secret is lost in the winds.)

Secret: HEY!

(Panel 5. Secret tries to maintain her cohesion, but this is very difficult. Arrowette, meanwhile, is unmoved except for her hair.)

Secret: (straining) This… is… not… funny, Cissie…

Arrowette: But it is necessary.

(Panel 6. Secret manages to slip a hand inside Arrowette's ear.)

Secret: (straining) You're… a … robot…

Arrowette: You catch on fast, Misty.

(Page 8, panel 1. The winds slow down and Arrowette activates a vacuum in her arm, sucking up Secret.)

Secret: No! Not… again…!

Arrowette: Oh yes…

(Panel 2. Arrowette has sucked up Secret into her systems.)

Arrowette: Computer, deactivate program.

(Panel 3. The winds stop as Arrowette casually walks out of the room.)

Arrowette: Unit 04 to base. Operation: Foggy Night completed. Returning to base.

(Panel 4. Go over to see Impulse working on the computer.)

Computer: Voiceprint match confirmed. Access granted.

Impulse: Computer, download personnel information into the ZIP disk.

(Page 9, panel 1. Arrowette enters.)

Arrowette: Foggy Night is here.

Impulse: I'm almost finished here.

(Panel 2. The computer screen reads : "Downloading: 59% complete.")

Impulse: We're getting it.

(Panel 3. The screen then reads "Done. Impulse ejects the disk.)

Impulse: Unit 02 to base. Operation Infodump complete. Returning to base.

(Panel 4. Go back to the Puppeteer. He is busy working on some other materials. He is in the same lab, working on another robot.)

Cap (N): That evening…

Puppeteer: (grumbling) Make another robot, they got another member.

(Panel 5. The Puppeteer moves away from the robot, and we see it is a young woman type with dark skin.)

Puppeteer: I have to take a break. This is too much.

Man: (from off panel) You'll take a break when we say you will.

(Page 10, panel 1. Go over to see Secret trapped in a glass box. She is looking around the place. Around her, there is nothing but darkness.)

Cap (N): Later on…

Secret: Hello? Can anyone hear me? What's going on here?

(Panel 2. She continues to look around some more, still seeing nothing.)

Secret: Whoever you are, my friends will not let you get away with this! I'll find a way out of this place!

(Panel 3. Young Justice headquarters. The rest of the team has assembled and is in the living room of the headquarters.)

Cap (N): A little later than that…

Robin: Well, everyone's here -

Superboy: Except Suzie.

(Panel 4. Confused, Robin turns to a comm. panel.)

Robin: Hmm… That's not like her at all.

(Panel 5. Robin pushes a button on the comm. panel.)

Robin: Suzie? We're about to have a meeting, we'd like you to join us.

(Panel 6. Silence answers back.)

Robin: Computer, locate Secret.

Computer voice: Secret is not in the building.

(Page 11, panel 1. Now worried, the members of the team rush to the computer room.)

Superboy: Now I know something's wrong.

Wonder Girl: Suzie wouldn't leave and not tell us.

Empress: I sense foul play here, mon.

(Panel 2. They arrive at the computer's controls, and look them over.)

Superboy: Someone's hacked into our computers!

Wonder Girl: Who could do something like that?

(Panel 3. Robin pushes some buttons.)

Robin: We're about to find out. I'm asking it to display the last time index for this room before we came in here…

(Panel 4. The screen then shows Impulse entering the room by himself, approaching the computer.)

Robin: This was done six hours ago…

Impulse: Uhm… I was at school in Mancester at the time, Rob.

(Panel 5. The screen then reads "files deleted.")

Superboy: Something smells fishy around here…

Robin: Computer, who deleted the access of Impulse here?

(Panel 6. The screen reads "Impulse.")

Impulse: (realizing he's in trouble) Uh-oh. Uh, guys, let's not jump to conclusions here…

Superboy: Let's discuss this rationally, Bart. What did you do here?

Robin: (dryly) Our personnel files have been replicated. It doesn't say where the copies went.

(Page 12, panel 1. Nervous, Impulse is sweating bullets.)

Impulse: Look, I swear that I was in school all day! You can go down there and ask them if you don't believe me!

Wonder Girl: You can very easily run from your school to here and back in less than an hour, Bart.

(Panel 2. Backing into a wall, Impulse nervously tries to defend himself. His mannerisms are one of desperation and panic.)

Impulse: I swear to God that I'm innocent!

(Panel 3. Robin intervenes in the situation.)

Robin: Calm down, he is still innocent until proven guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Impulse: Whew! Thanks, Rob.

(Panel 4. Robin turns to Impulse. The shadow of the bat is behind Robin.)

Robin: You're far from being off the hook, Bart.

Superboy: I think you should prove that you were at school all today.

Impulse: Well, I was with some friends for most of the time… I think they can vouch for me.

(Panel 5. Wonder Girl pushes some buttons, and we see a picture of Arrowette with Secret.)

Wonder Girl: CISSIE? What's she doing back in her Arrowette costume?

(Page 13, panel 1. Impulse gets an idea. He raises a finger, and smiles.)

Impulse: Inertia!

All but Impulse: HUH?

(Panel 2. Impulse gets excited and makes sweeping gestures with his hands.)

Impulse: He's a clone of me from the future. He can make himself to be an exact copy of me - it even fooled Max and Helen.

Robin: Naming your demon is something different than getting rid of it.

(Panel 3.)

Empress: If that wasn't Cissie, who was it?

Impulse: That's a good question… Cradyl was destroyed awhile back…

Superboy: Do you think he got more of that stuff?

(Panel 4.)

Impulse: I sure hope not…

Empress: So where do we find him?

(Panel 5. Impulse thinks, stroking his chin in contemplation.)

Impulse: Last I saw him was near the speed force… and I haven't seen him since. He really could be anywhere or anytime.

(Page 14, panel 1. The Cademus Project. Dubblex is standing there, looking stern-faced. His arms are folded across his chest, and he is wearing his usual attire. Next to him is ?, wearing a nice shirt and blue jeans.)

Cap (N): At the same time…

 Dubblex: It's not like Superboy to keep us waiting this long.

: I agree, but what can he be doing?

(Panel 2. Enter Superboy.)

Dubblex: Nice of you to join us now.

Superboy: Yeah, whatever.

(Panel 3. Dubblex is not amused by Superboy's response, and stops him.)

Dubblex: We agreed that if you were going to be gone from this place for a long time, you would inform us of why.

Superboy: (insincerely) Oh, yea. Sorry.

(Panel 4. Superboy walks off, leaving Dubblex frustrated.)

Dubblex: Something is not right here…

(Panel 5. ? approaches Dubblex.)

: Man, what got into Superboy?

Dubblex: I don't know… but I do know this: I can't read his mind. It was like it was not there.

(Page 15, panel 1. The Sandsmark residence. Helena enters the place, tired from a long day of working. She is wearing a woman's business suit.)

Helena: Oh, what a day…

(Panel 2.  Enter Wonder Girl, wearing a blouse and blue jeans.)

Wonder Girl: Hi mom.

Helena: Cassie? Weren't you supposed to be meeting with your friends tonight?

(Panel 3. Wonder Girl smiles.)

Wonder Girl: Ah, we've already finished. Say, you look tired, can I get you anything?

Helena: Yea, I could use a glass of water.

(Panel 4. Wonder Girl heads off.)

Wonder Girl: No prob. Lemme get you one.

Helena's thoughts: There's something odd about Cassie…

(Panel 5. Wonder Girl draws a glass of water for Helena.)

Wonder Girl's Thoughts: Sucker.

(Page 16, panel 1. Wonder Girl now is back in the living room, handing the glass of water to Helena.)

Wonder Girl: I'm kinda tired too. I think I'll go to bed.

Helena: Thanks. Goodnight, Cassie.

(Panel 2. The Fite residence. Donald Fite is in the kitchen, cleaning up the dishes. He is wearing a collared shirt, tie, and slacks.)

Cap (N): About the same time…

Donald Fite's thoughts: This is a bad time for the dishwasher to go out.

(Panel 3. Enter Anita, wearing a green T-shirt and blue jeans.)

Donald: Ah, you're just in time. Help me with the dishes, won't you? Hand me the knife.

(Panel 4. Anita picks up the knife.)

Empress: Oh, you'll get it…

(Panel 5. Donald starts cleaning a large plate.)

Donald's thoughts: Something's wrong here.

(Page 17, panel 1. Anita attempts to kill Donald with the knife. However, he spins around and she hits the plate with her knife.)

Donald: Whoa!

SFX: CLANK!

(Panel 2. Donald connects with a foot to Anita's stomach.)

Donald: You're not Anita! Who are you!?

Anita: Wouldn't you like to know.

(Panel 3. Donald dodges a second swing from Anita.)

Anita: DIE!!

(Panel 4. Donald takes Anita down with a foot sweep.)

Donald: Not so fast.

SFX: Wham!

(Panel 5. Donald disarms Anita.)

Donald: I'm gonna ask you again: Who are you?

Anita: Damn you. I'm going to have to go to plan B.

(Panel 6. We see from outside the Fite residence a large explosion emanate from the kitchen area.)

SFX: THOOM!

(Page 18, panel 1. Back with Young Justice, our heroes receive a call from Red Tornado.)

Red: I believe you should turn on the news, there is something that is very important to you.

Impulse: What's going on, Red?

(Panel 2. On a side-screen they turn on the news to see the Fite residence on fire. Fire trucks are nearby, and fire fighters are fighting the fire.)

Empress: (shocked) MY HOME! FATHER!

(Panel 3. Empress turns to the others.)

Empress: Come on, we got to get out there now!

(Panel 4. The screen then changes to show the Sandsmark home with an ambulance leaving the scene.)

Wonder Girl: Oh my God… MOTHER!!

Robin: Cass, you K'on and Suzie check out your home. Bart, you're with Anita and I.

Impulse: Gotcha.

(Page 19, panel 1. The Sandsmark home. Flying in are Wonder Girl, Secret and Superboy. They survey the scene.)

Wonder Girl: What's going on here?

(Panel 2. The three of them land next to a policeman.)

Wonder Girl: Officer, what happened here?

(Panel 3. The officer spins around, and pulls his gun, pointing it at Wonder Girl. The three YJ members are shocked at his accusation.)

Policeman: All right, don't give me trouble here, little lady. You're under arrest for attempted murder!

 Wonder Girl: WHAT!?

(Panel 4. Keeping one hand on his gun, the policeman reaches for his handcuffs.)

Policeman: Everyone! Backup here! I found her!

Superboy: Just what is going on here? Why are you accusing her of murder?

(Panel 5. Several other policemen enter, weapons drawn and ready for a fight.)

Policeman: Look Ms. Wonder Girl, we don't want a fight here… just come along quietly and nobody will get hurt.

Wonder Girl: (Still in shock and confusion): I demand to know what the charges are! I am innocent of any crimes!

(Panel 6. The policeman, still nervous, approaches Wonder Girl.)

Policeman: The woman who lived in this house was poisoned. She's at county general recovering. She said you did it.

Wonder Girl: POISONED!? Why in the world would I want to poison someone!?

(Page 20, panel 1. The policeman starts to handcuff Wonder Girl.)

Policeman: I'm sorry.

Superboy: Now, just hold on a moment here! Wonder Girl was with me all this evening!

(Panel 2. The policeman finishes handcuffing Wonder Girl.)

Wonder Girl: Superboy, we'll sort this out at the police station. I know I'm innocent.

Superboy: All right, Wonder Girl.

(Panel 3. The police lead Wonder Girl off. Panel 4. The Fite residence. Robin drives the skycycle into the place. With him are Empress and Impulse.)

Empress: (worried): Oh mon… I hope my dad is all right.

Robin: He's one of the top-trained secret agents in the world, Anita… if anyone can survive an explosion, he can.

(Panel 4. Robin lands the Skycycle, and Impulse and Empress jump out.)

Empress: I hope he's here now.

Voice (from off panel): I'm fine, Empress.

(Panel 5. Empress is seen putting her arms around her father.)

Empress: Dad! Oh, I'm so glad you're all right.

Robin: What exactly happened, Fite?

(Panel 6. Empress and Fite part.)

Donald: Someone sent a robot duplicate of Anita to try and kill me.

Empress: A robot duplicate of me?

Impulse: You think they might have done this to all of us?

(Page 21, panel 1. Impulse rushes off.)

Impulse: I've got to check out Max!

Robin: Impulse, wait!

(Panel 2. Frustrated, Robin grits his teeth.)

Robin: Wonderful.

Empress: Come on, mon. We should get in there and look for clues.

(Panel 3. Later on, the Fites are with some policemen and Robin, in their kitchen. They are searching the place over.)

Cap (N): Later…

Empress: I found something, mon! Get the box.

(Panel 4. A policeman enters with a pair of tongs and a shoebox. Anita gestures to a robotic foot she has found.)

Empress: Here it is…

Donald: Let me see that…

(Panel 5. The Policeman uses the tongs to put the robotic foot in the box.)

Donald: I'd recognize that workmanship anywhere… that's the Puppeteer's handiwork.