12889/Hidden Agendas

Hidden Agendas
Date of Scene:	26 September 2022
Location:	Chelsea Residences
Synopsis:	Artemis and Jade finally get it out in the open what they've been doing all these years. A betrayal is made.
Cast of Characters:	Artemis Crock, Jade Nguyen

---

Artemis Crock has posed:
It's been a rough week, Art has been busy pulling double shifts trying to make enough money to pay for college. Thankfully she had some scholarships lined up. But for now it meant lots of hard work on top of er usual suoerheroics. When she finally makes it back to Jade's place she is pretty exhausted, mentally and physically and still without an inkling of how to handle her encounter with Talia the other day.

With a sigh and yawn, Art fixes herself a quick meal if canned soup, too tired for anything more complicated than that.

Jade Nguyen has posed:
Jade Nguyen gets back to the apartment not a lot later, still wearing her business attire. She's continued to keep up the 'temp' job at the software company, as much out of curiosity as well as for keeping up appearances with Artie.

Stepping inside, she is removing her shoes when she smells cooking. "Canned soup? Put that away, and I'll order take-out." she calls. Blazer and shoes off, she pads into the kitchen in the skirt and blouse.

Artemis Crock has posed:
Artemis Crock blinks slowly, glancing towards the door and tenses slightly at the sight of Jade..More out of concern for her Sister's safety than anything else. "Jade! I haven't seen you in forever! I guess our working hours haven't intersected much lately.." she sighs, moving quickly towards her to give her a sisterly hug.

"We need to talk..Something happened recently, and we might both be in danger."

Jade Nguyen has posed:
Jade Nguyen returns the hugs and adds a smile as they separate. She turns off the stove and takes out her phone, neatly-trimmed nails tapping away. "Chinese good for you?"

Jade looks up from her tapping, curious about the word 'danger'. "So tell me what's happened."

Artemis Crock has posed:
Artemis Crock nods at the suggestion of Chinese food, licking her lips hungrily. Its probably better than some cheap canned soup and she could use the energy.

"Well actually..I was in Gotham the other day helping out some heroes ti break up a gang fight..Talia Al Ghul of the League of Assassins was there and I think she recognized my fighting style from back when I used to work for them..I'm pretty sure she'll have her feelers out for me next time. Maybe for your too..I'm sorry I inadvertently put you in danger.."

Jade Nguyen has posed:
Jade Nguyen taps a little while longer, separating her attention between the screen and Artie now. "Good. There's a place nearby..." she offers, then shifts into listening mode. When Artie mentions Talia al Ghul and working for the League of Assassins, she lowers her phone and lifts a curious brow.

"We clearly have some gaps in our respective histories that need filling in." she offers. "How long did you work for the League of Assassins, just out of curiosity?" As for the possibility of danger, perhaps it still hasn't registered yet.

Artemis Crock has posed:
Artemis Crock sighs, "Oh you know..Back when we trained together for a few years.." she leans tiredly against the back of the sofa. "Oh, but I guess you left a few years before me..Didn't you marry some guy or other?"

Actually she never really thought about who Jade married or where she went after she left. "I mean after my training was completed, I was hired out to the League and served them for nearly two years, before I.."

She sighs, staring sued at her hands.

Jade Nguyen has posed:
Jade Nguyen pads over to sit down on the sofa, stretching her legs out and crossing feet at the ankles. "I did, yes. I left our training to marry Kreun. He was also a mercenary, and we trained together when we weren't doing jobs."

Jade wiggles her toes. "So why did you leave the League? I didn't think that was allowed."

Artemis Crock has posed:
Artemis Crock arches a curious brow at Jade as she listens thoughtfully. "Mercenaries, huh. So that's why the costume..That's cool. Wish I had a choice. mom and dad wanted me to follow in their footsteps before someone else could put silly heroic ideas into my head. But.."

She frowns, hugging her arms. "I..Didn't just up and leave. I bided my time and planned and plotted til the time was right. Then I went out on a mission..And skipped town and never came back..But I made a mistake coming to Gotham to seek information on an operation I've been busting. Something linked to one of the League's members."

Jade Nguyen has posed:
Jade Nguyen nods slowly at that. "Your mom and dad, they weren't exactly on the 'good' side of the costume set, were they?" she asks, already knowing the answer. Jade smiles a little, then. "Kreun and I worked as a team until he died, yes. I work alone, now, but I learned so much from him. And I've built my own knowledge even more..."

She rises, then, beginning to pace slowly. "My dear, naive, Artemis. One simply does not -leave- the League of Assassins without disappearing altogether. They find and kill people as a part of their business. What were you possibly thinking?"

At this point, Jade gestures towards the sofa. "You might want to sit down, actually."

Artemis Crock has posed:
Artemis Crock laughs a bit nervously. at that. "Heh, it was a fool's errant I know...But I just couldn't do it..I couldn't keep on killing people anymore. I only ever succeeded at one job and it left me so shaken I just had to get out of there."    
She glances back at her, blinking slowly. "For that matter, how were you able to avoid getting drawn into the league? You were really allowed free rein after our mentor trained us specifically to be inducted into the League..?"

She tenses visibly at a thought, a horrible thought. "Jade...What's really going on..?"

Jade Nguyen has posed:
Jade Nguyen shakes her head, putting one hand on Artie's shoulder to guide her towards the sofa. "That was one of the reasons why I left. Kreun was the other. He had a fascinating amount of knowledge about poisons, by the way. Did you know there is a jellyfish toxin that can numb a subject without killing them or causing permanent harm? One has to be careful with the dosage of course. And I really do think you should sit, dear. It starts at the extremities."

"I have avoided -joining- the League, but I have not actually avoided them."

Artemis Crock has posed:
Artemis Crock blinks slowly at Jade. And why does she suddenly feel so strange? "Huh!?? Wha.." she moves a bit unsteadily towards the sofa to sit down rather than leaning on it like before.

"What..Did you do..To me..?" her words strike a strange fear into her. Even as she feels the poison start to numb her. "It was you wasn't it? You poisoned those guard members at your company.."

Jade Nguyen has posed:
Jade Nguyen continues standing as numbness creeps into Artie's hands and feet, working steadily inward. She folds her arms, watching almost clinically as Artemis sits. "The toxin can be atomized, of course. I have an app on my phone that I used to release some into the room a little while ago. I'm immune to it, of course."

She chuckles, then, and smiles her unnerving Cheshire-grin. "You always WERE a clever girl, weren't you? Except for that part about visiting Gotham. Seriously, what -were- you thinking? My professional name is Cheshire, now, as you probably could guess from the costume. Did you have anything more to say while you can still talk?"

Artemis Crock has posed:
Artemis Crock gasps at the realization of what Jade did, shock and horror evident on her face..She..She should run but..She feels so weak. The 'how' is answered easily enough, too easily. Who would have thought it would be so easy to poison someone without even touching them?

Tears start to trickle from her eyes, struggling uselessly against the drug, only to flop helplessly against the sofa again. Ah the pain of betrayal.

"Why?" she whispers, her voice breaking. "I thought we were sisters..She'll kill me.."

Jade Nguyen has posed:
"We had a very nice chat after your unfortunate encounter, actually." Jade replies, beginning to change out of her street clothes. Stepping into the bedroom, she returns a moment later with her green silk costume and begins to put it on without missing a beat.

"She is paying me a lot of money to bring you in alive, actually. If she wanted you dead, that would have been a different conversation altogether." Would Jade have actually -killed- her sister-in-arms? At this point it's difficult to say.

As Artie flops over, Jade/Cheshire crouches down beside her, face to face. "I would very strongly suggest that you think before you speak when you are in her presence. For once in your free, sassy existence, that is. Do not forget that woman could order your death with a single nod. Answer her questions directly, and only her questions. Do not volunteer anything, do not meet her gaze, do not so much as compliment her shoes. Do all of this, and perhaps you will live long enough for us to continue this conversation."

Artemis Crock has posed:
Artemis Crock gasps a bit now, finding it hard to breathe, to stay awake as her body begins to numb, even as she fights with all her might against the poison. The tears fall freely now, feeling betrayed by yet another person, and this time she is unable to do a thing..

"Jade...Sis..Please don't..Even if I do what you say..She'll still kill me once she learns all I know...Pleaase..." but it's too late, her head falls to one side now, barely conscious now.

Jade Nguyen has posed:
Jade Nguyen watches her blonde sister's expression, reaching out to touch fingers to the carotid artery and check Artie's pulse as well. The assassin watches carefully as her sister battles with consciousness.

In truth, Jade doesn't know the extent of Talia's plans for the woman she calls 'sister'. It's not that she doesn't care, but this was a job. And business is business.

As her vision begins to darken, Artie feels her body shifting as Jade hoists her over one shoulder. And the last words she hears are Jade's.

"Remember what I told you. I will bring you back."

That was a promise, right?