Young Justice: Masters and Servants, Part II

(Front cover. The members of Young Justice are attached to strings, being manipulated by the Puppeteer, who looms large above them.)

Cap (N): Young Justice… manipulated!

(Page 1, panel 1. Picking up where we left off, our heroes are still at the Fite house, looking over the robotic foot that Empress found.)

Cap (N1): Picking up where we left off,

Cap (N2): Donald Fite has recognized the handiwork of the Puppeteer.

Robin: Are you sure, Fite?

Donald: Yes. I've dealt with him before. I haven't heard from him in awhile, though…

(Panel 2.)

Donald: Unfortunately, naming your demon doesn't always get rid of it.

Robin: We're going to have to do some more research into the matter.

(Panel 3. A police station. Wonder Girl is sitting at a table, getting the third degree from two police inspectors. Wonder Girl is still in her outfit; the detectives are in suits and ties.)

Detective1: So you were with your friends all this time, hmm?

Wonder Girl: Yes.

(Panel 4. The detective approaches Wonder Girl.)

Detective1: So how do you explain that the officer arriving on the scene first said he saw you flying away from the scene of the crime?

Wonder Girl: It wasn't me, it was some kind of clone or robot made to look like me.

(Panel 5. The door bursts open and another detective enters.)

Detective3: You're free to go - by the way, your evil twin is tearing up downtown, Wonder Girl.

Wonder Girl: Wonderful.

(Panel 6. Wonder Girl stands up, going out the door.)

Detective3: Your friends are en route to the place, Wonder Girl.

Wonder Girl: Right.

(Page 2, Splash page. Leave room for credits here. Wonder Girl, Superboy and Secret are fighting a robotic Wonder Girl. The robotic Wonder Girl is striking Superboy with one hand, and he is striking her back. The two of them are in the air above several 4-5-story buildings.)

Cap (N): Shortly thereafter…

Superboy: They said never hit a lady, but you sure aren't a lady!

(Page 3, panel 1. Secret slips inside the Wonder Girl robot, using her mist form to do so.)

Superboy: Whoever you are, this ends now.

(Panel 2. Suddenly Wonder Girl short-circuits, throwing sparks everywhere.)

SFX: ZAPT!

(Panel 3. Secret comes streaming out of the Wonder Girl robot as the robot continues to shoot sparks and fall.)

Secret: AH!

(Panel 4. The Wonder Girl robot falls on the ground, and continues to throw sparks from it.)

Superboy: Let me handle this, Secret.

(Panel 5. Superboy tears the head off of the Wonder Girl robot. The robot then deactivates, and stops shooting sparks.)

SFX: SKRENCH!

Secret: Who would make something like this?

Superboy: There's a note in here…

(Page 4, panel 1. Superboy pulls the note out, and reads it as Wonder Girl flies in.)

Superboy: Help I'm being held prisoner against my will please rescue me at this address, signed Jordan Weir.

Wonder Girl: What did you find there?

(Panel 2. Superboy turns toward Wonder Girl as she lands.)

Superboy: Trouble with a T that stands for trap. I think Robin should look at this.

Wonder Girl: All right. I want to see my mother first, though…

(Panel 3. A hospital bedroom. Helena Sandsmark is lying on a bed, resting. She is covered from waist to toe with the sheets, and is wearing a hospital gown. There is an IV bag hanging from a hanger with a tube attached to her arm next to her. Wonder Girl is standing next to her, looking at her mother with concern. A female nurse is on the opposite side of Helena, wearing hospital scrub shirt and pants.)

Cap (N): Shortly thereafter.

Nurse: Your mother will be fine, Cassandra. Fortunately, she was able to call 911 in time. We managed to pump her stomach out, and very little of the poison got into her. She should be waking up soon. Well, I've got other people who need my help. Visiting hours are almost over, by the way.

(Panel 4. The nurse exits.)

Wonder Girl: Mom, I never wanted to hurt you… I always thought I could be there to protect you from anyone who would try to hurt me through you… but I was wrong.

(Panel 5. Wonder Girl holds Helena's hand.)

Wonder Girl: I'm sorry, Mom.

Helena: It's all right, Cassie.

(Panel 6. Somewhat surprised, Wonder Girl lets go of her mother's hand.)

Wonder Girl: Mom! You're o.k.!

Helena: Yes. What hit me?

(Page 5, panel 1.)

Wonder Girl: They said that you drank some poison. Mom, there was another me out there that tried to poison you. It was a robot built to look just like me.

Helena: So it's finally happened. Someone tried to get to you through me.

(Panel 2. Wonder Girl turns away from Helena, emotionally.)

Wonder Girl: They stole information out of the Young Justice computers. They know everything about me and who I am. Empress' family was attacked as well. I really am sorry about this, mom.

Helena: Well, I had a feeling something like this would happen sooner or later…

(Panel 3. Wonder Girl turns back to her mother. Helena smiles reassuringly.)

Wonder Girl: But we know who did it and we're going after him.

Helena: Just be careful, Cassie. You know I worry about you.

(Panel 4. Wonder Girl smiles slightly.)

Wonder Girl: I worry about you too, mom.

(Page 6, panel 1. YJ headquarters. The team is gathered around, sitting at a table, except for Wonder Girl. All of them are in their uniforms.)

Robin: I really don't know what to think. Frankly, we're working in a vacuum here. There's been no information on the Puppeteer in quite awhile. This address he gave us - it's in Gotham's Suicide Slum.

Empress: So do we go or not?

(Panel 3. Robin thinks.)

Robin: I think we should send in half the team to the place and have half the team as backup. Suzie and Anita go in with me. K'on, you, Cassie and Bart stay here and don't come in until we say so.

Wonder Girl: Good luck.

(Panel 4.  They head out toward the supercycle.)

Robin: Remember, come in only when we say so.

Superboy: Right.

(Page 7, panel 1. Robin, Secret and Empress enter the place to see the Puppeteer standing over a robot. The robot is lying on a slab with a sheet over it.)

Puppeteer: Forgive me… they made me do this…

Robin: Do what?

(Panel 2. The robot stands up, removing its sheet and showing it to be a clone of Empress.)

Puppeteer: I was on the level when it came to the note… I'm being forced to make these robots for my captor.

Robot Empress: You got a big mouth, mon… time someone shut it up for good.

(Panel 3. Empress tosses her staff, hitting the robot Empress, and knocking it off trajectory slightly as the Puppeteer dives out of the way. The Robot Empress was about to kill the Puppeteer.)

SFX: WHACK!

Robin: Wonderful.

(Panel 4. Robin talks into a comm. device as robotic duplicates of Young Justice enter.)

Puppeteer: Be careful! They know everything in your profiles! They can duplicate everything you can do!

Robin: Gang, come on in. We've got a fight.

(Panel 5. The other members of Young Justice enter as the robots advance on our heroes.)

Impulse: A robot version of us?

Robin: Just do your best, gang.

(Page 8, panel 1. The YJ robots attack the real things.)

Superboy: So you think you can beat me, hm? When I'm done with you, you're going to be a pile of scrap metal!

(Panel 2. The Superboy robot unleashes a green beam from his left hand.)

SB robot: I think not.

Superboy: UH!

(Panel 3. Wonder Girl and her robot companion struggle with each other. The two of them are hovering in the air.)

Wonder Girl: You may have the power, but can you use it right?

WG robot: You're about to find out.

(Panel 4. The WG robot slams Wonder Girl into the ground.)

Wonder Girl: AH!

Cap (WG): What happened? I feel as weak as a kitten!

SFX: WHAM!

(Panel 5. The WG robot stands over the fallen Wonder Girl.)

WG robot: (1) I suppose you're wondering what happened to you.

WG robot: (2) Well, we know that your weakness is that your mother can stop your powers with a touch. It was a mere case of scanning her DNA and coming up with a compatible match.

Wonder Girl: This… can't be… happening… again….

(Panel 6. Impulse and his robot are trading rapid punches.)

Cap (I): Got to hold out… the team is counting on me… but his strength is more than mine…

(Page 9, panel 1. Secret and her robot fight each other.)

Secret: Well, you're not in a mist like I am -

Secret robot: But I have other advantages.

(Panel 2. The Secret robot electrocutes Secret.)

SFX: FZAPT!

Secret: AH!

(Panel 3. Empress tries to strike her robot counterpart, but the robot counterpart vanishes in a teleportation puff.)

Empress: Oh, mon… not this.

(Panel 4. The Empress robot appears behind Empress, striking the real thing with her staff.)

Empress robot: Tough.

SFX: WHACK!

(Panel 5. Superboy is down on his hands and knees while the SB robot stands over him.)

Cap (S): Something's got to give here… I have to do something…

SB robot: What's the matter? Kryptonite got you down?

(Panel 6. Superboy looks up to see the Wonder Girl robot beating on Wonder Girl.)

Superboy: Can't let that happen…

(Page 10, panel 1. Suddenly Superboy leaps over, and tackles the Wonder Girl robot, sending her to the floor.)

(Panel 2. Robin pulls away from his robotic counterpart.)

Robin: That's it! Everyone, fight someone other than your robotic counterpart!

(Panel 3. Empress kicks the Secret robot while Impulse strikes the Empress robot.)

Impulse: Hey, you're right! This sure beats getting beaten up!

SFX: POW! WHOK!

(Panel 4. Wonder Girl races over and strikes the Impulse robot, sending it into a wall.)

Wonder Girl: I'm back and bad!

SFX: WHAM!

(Page 11, panel 1. Secret engulfs the Robin robot.)

Secret: You were right, Rob. They didn't take into account our powers.

(Panel 2. The Robin robot slumps over, deactivated.)

Secret: Pretty easy for me.

(Panel 3. Superboy tosses the Wonder Girl robot at Wonder Girl as she throws the Superboy robot at Superboy.)

Superboy: Heads up, Wonder Girl!

Wonder Girl: On it, Superboy!

(Panel 4. The Wonder Girl and Superboy robots collide, destroying each other.)

SFX: SCRUNCH!

(Panel 5. The robots now are but mere scrap metal and busted silicon wafers. They lie in various piles on the floor.)

Puppeteer: Oh, thank goodness you saved me.

Robin: We've got a few questions for you. Who are you working for?

(Panel 6. The Puppeteer joins the YJ members.)

Puppeteer: I really don't know, Robin… The voice was altered, and I never saw the person.

Robin: Not good. 

(Page 12, panel 1. Suddenly a young man, about 12-14 appears out of a flash of light. He is dressed in a green spandex outfit. He is about 5' 1", brown hair, and brown eyes. He looks the situation over. This is Sidestepper.)

Cap (N): Speaking of something not good for the moment…

Sidestepper: My, this looks really bad.

(Panel 2. Suddenly the Puppeteer vanishes in another flash of light.)

Sidestepper: Now, I think the Gotham Police station would be a good place for you.

Puppeteer: But -

(Panel 3. Sidestepper turns towards the members of Young Justice.)

Robin: Hey! We were trying to question him!

Sidestepper: Are you all right here?

(Panel 4. Sidestepper approaches Secret, smiling and smitten with love.)

Sidestepper: Well, hello! My name's Sidestepper, and what would your name be?

Secret: It's Secret.

(Panel 5. Sidestepper cozies up to Secret.)

Sidestepper: Oh, come on, you can tell me…

Robin: (not amused) Uh, excuse me, who are you?

(Panel 6. Sidestepper turns toward Robin.)

Sidestepper: The name's Sidestepper. Didn't you hear me?

Superboy: How did you do that?

(Page 13, panel 1. Sidestepper turns to Superboy.)

Sidestepper: (1) That's my superpower. I'm a metahuman like some of you. Anyway, I heard there was some trouble here, so I thought I'd come and help out.

Sidestepper: (2) I certainly wouldn't mind joining up here. You've got a real hottie here.

(Panel 2. Sidestepper holds up his hand, in which a red rose appears.)

Sidestepper: I have the ability to make things travel through space. I'm also a gardener as a hobby.

(Panel 3. He holds the rose up for Secret, who smiles.)

Sidestepper: For you, my dear.

Secret: >giggle.<

(Panel 4. Secret takes the rose.)

Sidestepper: How about I take you to a nice restaurant where we can have a good meal and wonderful conversation?

Secret: Well…

(Panel 5. Robin intervenes.)

Robin: Wait just one minute here. We know nothing about you, mister. Not only that, He was innocent of everything!

Sidestepper: What's the matter? Are you her boyfriend or something?

(Panel 6.)

Robin: I am her friend, and I don't want to see her hurt.

Sidestepper: Now, why would I want to hurt a lovely young woman like this?

(Page 14, panel 1. Secret intervenes.)

(Panel 2. The others try to stop Secret from getting very angry.)

Robin: Whoa, Secret. I was just looking out for your best interests.

Secret: I think I should be the one who does that.

(Panel 3. Secret takes the arm of Sidestepper.)

Secret: I would love to find a nice, quiet place to talk.

Sidestepper: I'll have her back home before 10.

(Panel 4. Sidestepper and Secret vanish in a flash of light.)

Wonder Girl: Now what?

Robin: I still don't trust him. I just wish there was a way we could follow him.

(Panel 5. Impulse raises a finger.)

Impulse: Why don't we use a dimensional displacement-tracking device?

Superboy: Because they haven't been invented yet.

(Panel 6. Crestfallen, Impulse lowers his finger.)

Impulse: Bummer...

(Page 15, panel 1. Later on, at Young Justice headquarters. Robin is working on the computer there, scanning for Secret. Frustration and disgust are written on Robin's face.)

Cap (N1): Later that evening...

Cap (N2): Robin uses the computers at Young Justice headquarters to scan for Secret.

Robin: Nothing.

(Panel 2. Suddenly Sidestepper and Secret teleport to the scene in a flash of light.)

Robin: Wha?

(Panel 3. Secret and Sidestepper hold hands. Both of them look into each other's eyes with love.)

Secret: I've had a wonderful time. Thank you so much.

Sidestepper: It's been great to talk to you, Suzie.

(Panel 4. The two of them embrace, and kiss.)

Robin: Ah-hem.

(Panel 5. Sidestepper and Secret part.)

Sidestepper: Oh - hi. Well, I had her back by 10 like I promised.

Robin: That's beside the point.

(Panel 6. Sidestepper, not amused, turns on Robin.)

Sidestepper: Man, you are getting so anal about this. You're not her lover, why are you so against me dating her?

Robin: I am her friend. I don't want to see her hurt.

(Page 15, panel 1. Secret intervenes, standing between Sidestepper and Robin.)

Secret: Rob, I think you're overreacting. He's been really nice to me. I had a wonderful time walking through his garden with him.

Sidestepper: I understand your concerns, but they are unfounded.

(Panel 2.)

Sidestepper: Well Suzie, I'll give you a call, all right?

Secret: Sure thing, Alex.

(Panel 3. Sidestepper exits in a flash of light.)

Secret: He really is a nice guy.

Robin: He's nice now, but will he be later?

(Panel 4. Hurt, Secret storms out of the room, angry.)

Secret: How can you talk about him like that!? You hardly know him like I do! He is a good young man!

(Panel 5. Robin, slightly stunned, merely stands with a stunned look on his face.)

Cap (R1): Oh boy.

Cap (R2): That really did it.

Cap (R3): As if the affair with Steph and her didn't set her against me enough in the first place.

Cap (R4): Now what do I do?

(Page 16, panel 1. Robin thinks.)

Cap (R): Maybe if she heard from someone else…

(Panel 2. The next day, Wonder Girl and Secret are talking in the YJ living room. Both of them are in their uniforms.)

Cap (N): Later…

Wonder Girl: So how did the date go last night?

Secret: Oh, it was wonderful! He's cute, he's caring, and he has a wonderful garden that he showed me last night. I got to see all these wonderful plants. He's good at gardening.

(Panel 3. Wonder Girl smiles sinisterly.)

Wonder Girl: Come on, Suzie. I want the real dirt.

Secret: Cassie, we just talked and walked through his garden all the time. When we got back, I did kiss him though…

(Panel 4. Wonder Girl gets closer to Secret.)

Wonder Girl: So how was it?

Secret: He's a great kisser, and I wanted to kiss him for a long time. Too bad Robin cut us short though…

(Panel 5. Wonder Girl and Secret giggle, smiling.)

Wonder Girl: >giggle.< I think it's cool that you're happy.

(Panel 6. Enter Empress. She is in her uniform as well.)

Empress: Sounds like someone has some juicy gossip, mon…

Wonder Girl: Suzie was talking about her date last night.

(Page 17, panel 1. Empress joins our heroines.)

Empress: I gotta hear this one. So was he good kissing?

Secret: (blushing) Yeah…

(Panel 2. Robin enters. He too is in his uniform.)

Robin: Cassie, I'd like to talk to you for a moment. Alone.

(Panel 3. Wonder Girl and Robin are standing outside the room in the hallway.)

Robin: You were supposed to tell her that it's a bad idea to date him!

Wonder Girl: Rob, I know he just came into our lives and was suddenly taken with Suzie, but I don’t really see the harm in it. I know you just want to protect Suzie, but this time it seems pretty real.

(Panel 4. Deadpan, Robin stares at Wonder Girl.)

Robin: My instincts tell me he's trouble.

Wonder Girl: You worry too much, Rob.

(Panel 5.)

Wonder Girl: Look, there are no guarantees in this world. But Suzie seems happy now, and who knows? It just might work out after all. Besides, he could prove a powerful ally.

Robin: I just don't know, Cassie…

(Panel 6. Secret enters.)

Secret: You sure are taking awhile. What are you talking about?

Wonder Girl: Well… it's not that important.

(Page 18, panel 1. Robin exits.)

Secret: He doesn't want me seeing Alex, does he?

Wonder Girl: Suzie, he's just suspicious. Give him time.

(Panel 2. Secret goes back into the room.)

Secret: I really don't want to fight him over this…

Wonder Girl: You shouldn't have to, Suzie.

(Panel 3. Wonder Girl and Secret enter the room, and the phone rings.)

SFX: Ring! Ring!

(Panel 4. Empress answers the phone.)

Empress: (1) Hello? Hold on, mon.

Empress: (2) Suzie, it's some guy named Alex. He wants to talk to you.

(Panel 5. Secret takes the phone, and talks into it.)

Secret: [in a heart shaped word balloon,1] Alex…

Secret: (2) I don't see why not, I'm free Saturday.

Secret: It's a date. Pick me up at 7ish.

(Panel 6. Secret hangs up the phone.)

Secret: [in a heart shaped word balloon] I love you too.

Wonder Girl: Sounds like someone's got herself a hot date.

(Page 19, panel 1. Impulse enters.)

Impulse: Bad news, gang. We just got word from Gotham. Someone was manipulating the Puppeteer, but he doesn't know whom.

Secret: Oh no…

(Panel 2. The others roll their eyes.)

Impulse: The Puppeteer retired from action due to an injury a few years ago. Well, we've got a mystery person on our hands.

Wonder Girl: I take it there were no clues left behind.

(Panel 3. Impulse nods.)

Impulse: Whoever it was, they did a very good job covering up their tracks.

(Panel 4. Pull back to see an unseen figure watching the previous scene. All we see of this figure is a shadow across the electronic equipment surrounding the screen.)

Wonder Girl: I have a feeling that we're going to have to deal with them soon.

Figure: Sooner than you think, Wonder brat…

--End--