Freya's POV:

Since Sylvester wasn't very clear about what the meeting was about, it left Yolanda to nervously pace back and forth in the workshop. Beth continued to use the satellite feeds to try to get ahold of Rick by using her goggles.

"Yolanda you've been going back and forth for so long, I think you're starting to leave scuff marks." I deadpan from beside Beth, adjusting my posture on the stool which earned a light crack. "It's making me dizzy."

"Well, could you blame me? Sylvester's text message was vague." She rubbed her arms in discomfort, keeping her back faced towards us. "Usually texts like that are rarely good."

Noticing her goosebumps, I stand up from the stool as I unbutton my jacket, and take my arms out of the sleeves. I drape it over her shoulders and move to stand in front of her, meeting her smile.

"It might not even be bad. It could be more stuff about the Ultra-Humanite." I say, adjusting her loose braids so that they weren't hidden under the jacket. "Hell, we deserve some good news for once."

"Thank you." She quietly spoke and pressed a quick peck against my lips. "Hey...what happened to your amulet?"

"Oh, I gave it to my mom last night."

Her eyes slightly widen in surprise before she tilts her head to the side. "Wait what? Why?"

I tilt my head to the side in confusion. "Why...not?"

"You love that amulet. You've told me it's the only thing that's made you feel like your father is still with you." I feel her brush her thumbs across the palms of my hands. "Why would you take it off?"

"Inza spent these past couple of years looking for my father and I. She might have gotten lucky to find me but...she didn't get him so I didn't think giving her an amulet would hurt."

"But...are you sure it was a good idea to give it to her now? When we're in the middle of dealing with the Ultranite?"

"Ultra-Humanite." Beth chimed in which caused us to turn to her, meeting her awkward smile. "Not the time to correct in the middle of a couple's argument, right. I'll go back to work."

"I'm just saying, Freya," She awkwardly clears her throat. "maybe you should get it back from her until we're done with the mission?"

"It's fine, Yolanda." I dismiss, pulling my arms away from her. "You're worrying over nothing."

"Worrying about your safety isn't nothing."

"I survived without the amulet or even without powers from Doctor Fate before and I can do it again. I can take care of myself."

"Okay, I get that but—"

"Okay, I know I just interrupted but..." Beth sighed which caused us to turn again, watching as she unplugged the long wire connected to the laptop off of her glasses. "Rick's still not answering."

"Shocker." Yolanda sarcastically muttered, putting her arms through the jacket sleeves. "Any news on that creature?"

"Not yet."

"I could always take my helmet and fly over to Rick's house again?" I suggest. "Maybe he'll be home this time."

Beth shook her head. "I'm not too comfortable with you going over there by yourself without backup."

"Yeah, neither am I." Yolanda bumped my shoulder in annoyance. "Not with that gigantic mutant ape on the loose."

"Yolanda, I'm capable enough to fight him."

Soon enough, the door clicks as it swings open and we see Sylvester enter the room with a neutral expression. "Mr. Pemberton."

"Are there any updates?" He curiously asked, shutting the door behind him.

"I've been tapping into the satellite feeds, searching the woods around Blue Valley for The Ultra-Humanite." Beth explained, moving the goggles away from her eyes. "But...now that you burned down the barn, I think he's taken shelter somewhere new."

"Not your brightest idea, Starman." I cross my arms over my chest but Yolanda harshly elbowed my side. "Ow! Well, it wasn't!"

"Okay, but you can say it in a less meaner way...like what we talked about."

"It's not mean if it's the brutal truth."

"Freya—"

"No, no. She's right. My bad." Sylvester winced until he looked around the workshop. "Where's Rick?"

"Still not answering anyone's calls." Beth muttered.

"Where's Courtney?" Yolanda questioned.

"Yeah, didn't she get your text?" I ask.

"Well, I didn't tell her we were meeting."

Beth raised a brow. "Wait. Why not?"

"Because she already knows the plan." Sylvester casually explained.

Yolanda narrowed her eyes in curiosity. "What is the plan?"

"I'm gonna face Icicle myself."

He stepped around the table but I immediately shake my head. "There's no way Courtney agreed to that."

"Yeah, we should come with you." Yolanda insisted.

"No. Jordan's stronger now." Sylvester shook his head, grabbed the stool I previously sat on, and took a seat. "He's too dangerous."

"After what he did to me and The Crocks, he's due for a beatdown." I harshly remark. "I mean no offense but when you went against Icicle, you...well to put it simply, he stabbed you and you bled out to death."

"What she means," Yolanda emphasized, sending me a pointed look that practically said 'stop talking'. "is that with Cameron and his crazy grandparents, Jordan won't be alone."

"Yeah, he will. I dropped a bug in the Mahkents' living room when Pat and I were there." Sylvester stated. "Cameron and his grandparents are going to a vigil tonight for his art teacher."

"Mr. Deisinger?" Beth asked in surprise.

"Yeah. Apparently, he's been missing for days."

"Wait, what? What happened?" Yolanda worriedly asked.

"Well, with the Mahkents and The Ultra-Humanite running around," Sylvester weakly shrugged. "nothing good, I'm guessing."

"My money is on the deranged hag and her husband." I mutter, shaking my head in disbelief. Poor guy...he was still recovering from when Eclipso corrupted his mind. "So you're positive that Jordan Mahkent will be home alone tonight?"

"Yeah, until I show up for our little chat."

"You're sure you don't want our help?" Yolanda hesitantly asked.

"Actually, I do." We watch as he stands up from the stool and walks a bit closer to Pat's STRIPE robot, admiring the machine in front of him. "When the JSA died, they left family members behind. Sandman has a nephew, The Atom, a son, Green Lantern's kids, Jennie and her brother, Doctor Fate...you, Freya. But there are other JSA members whose bloodlines died that night."

Out of habit, I try to reach for the amulet around my neck but then instantly felt nothing. Oh right...forgot.

Sylvester turns away from us to look back at the STRIPE suit. "Heroes like me who had no families to pass their legacies on to, Mr. Terrific, The Spectre, Flash...And others who shouldn't be forgotten." He turns to face us again solemnly. "So I'm asking you three, when this is all over, go find someone like yourself, someone worthy of taking one of these mantles on for their own. Keep my friends' legacies alive."

"You're talking to us like we're never gonna see you again." Beth nervously smiled.

"Don't be silly. I'll catch up with you guys later." He reassured us before walking around us and exiting the workshop without sparing a glance.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

I carefully wipe the smudges on the helmet with the old rag, seeing that it brightly shined under the light from the lamp.

Even with Sylvester telling us that he wanted to face Jordan alone, I'm not going to listen. Compared to all of us in the JSA, I'm the one who knows Jordan the most. I know his tricks, what makes him angry, which buttons to push, I know it all. For god's sake, he even said I almost became his protégé.

If that doesn't say I know him more, then I don't know what will.

I owe it to Artemis and her parents. I had the chance to help someone and I didn't, but now with this opportunity, I can.

Footsteps descend the basement stairs and I glance behind, seeing as Sylvester walked down but his expression shifts into confusion once he sees me. "Freya? What are you doing down here?" His eyes flicker at my old ISA suit in curiosity. "Why are you suited up?"

I gesture to my helmet. "Isn't it obvious? I'm going with you."

He shook his head with a sigh and walked over to his dresser. "Freya, you're not coming with me. You--"

"I'm not afraid to go against him, Sylvester. Just like you, he and I have unfinished business to take care of." I interrupt. "Not only did he murder innocent people, but he also took away my only chance to have a normal childhood by forcing Tigress and Sportsmaster to raise me as their perfect weapon against the JSA. I've always forced myself to believe it was them but in reality, it was Jordan calling the shots. He killed my father and Artemis's parents. So whether you like it or not, I'm going with you and--"

He slams the dresser shut with a groan of frustration which instantly makes me stop talking. "You're not going with me!" He angrily yells out before he shook his head in disbelief. "God, it's like the new JSA can't understand simple orders! You're just as impulsive as Kent."

I take a deep breath, mustering every bit of me to not raise my voice. Nabu or whatever mystical being is listening from the helmet, give me strength not to drop kick him in the mouth.

I clench my jaw. "Do not talk about my father."

"See, that just proves my point on why you cannot come with me." He scoffed, tossing his suit on his bed.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's little comments like this that'll set you off and distract you. Come on, didn't you learn that in the ISA?" I furrow my brows in confusion but due to my silence, he turns to me with a sigh as he walked closer to me. "I forgot, I have to dumb this down for a kid to understand. If you go with me, which you're not, Jordan knows exactly what buttons to push with you. You won't be able to think of the logistics of how to stop him because you'll be blinded by your rage against him."

"You're one to talk. I didn't go burning down a barn or demolishing a grocery store! Do not lecture me about my emotions when the whole reason you're going after Jordan in the first place is coming from a place of revenge!" I remark. "After what he did to me, I'm making sure Jordan stays dead for good this time."

"That so? I wonder how Yolanda will feel if she hears that her girlfriend is touching back in the old roots of murder."

My eye twitches at the mention of her name and I quickly let out a scoff. "Girlfriend? Please. I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh give me a break, Freya. You two are terrible at hiding the fact you're together I wouldn't be surprised if Jordan knows about it too."

I take a step closer with a glare. "I don't see your point of what my relationship has to do with this."

"Your relationship is going to be the cause of your downfall because he'll use that against you! Think about it, Paula and Larry's love for Artemis and wanting to change ended up costing their lives because Jordan saw that they were a lost cause. He knew that by cutting them out of your lives, you'll end up just as unfocused as they were and he's right...except for one thing. You've been weak ever since you joined the JSA and switched morals to stay in the good graces of your little relationship with Yolanda and the rest of your team."

I clench my fists tighter, digging my nails into the inside of my hands as I watch him walk away from me. "You're wrong."

He paused in his steps. "Excuse me?"

"Ever since I changed sides, I became stronger. It wasn't easy but with obstacles thrown my way and having moments of wanting to quit, my friends were there to pick me back up. Yolanda, my girlfriend, is always there to pick me up and it's one of the many things I adore about her. She gives me the strength to keep fighting, even if it seems hopeless. I care..." I trail off, unable to fight the smile on my face before I shook my head. "no, I love her. I love Yolanda and not even Jordan can take that away from me."

With a neutral expression, Sylvester walks close enough to where he practically looked down on me.

"Funny...it's exactly what your father said about you that night minutes before he died." He dryly chuckled, causing my heart to sink. "When Pat burst inside the burning building like an idiot, your father saw you outside talking to Wildcat before you ran to the bushes. I begged him to go with us but obviously, he refused because he thought the Gods, Nabu, or whatever mumbo jumbo he had, could save you two."

"S-Shut up--"

"So like you remember, Pat chose to rush me out of there over some kid hiding in the bushes like a coward, the ISA murdered your father, they took and trained you, and—well( you already know the whole tragic story of how it went. But you know what?" He tilted his head to the side. "I think about this a lot. I'm glad I wasn't stupid enough to stay behind to see your father fail."

I stay quiet but I wouldn't be surprised if he could hear my heart erratically beating out of my chest.

The corners of his lips perk into a smirk. "You see? This is barely scratching the surface of what Jordan could say to you. You will be the downfall for Yolanda because villains will prey on your relationship and use it against you to take down the JSA. You say that you finally found a family but the longer you keep this up, you won't have anyone. You'll be left all alone again. I hope you come to realize that your father made a mistake to choose you."

Unable to hold back the anger anymore, I swing my fist across his nose which sends him to stumble back with a grunt. "Argh! Son of a—agh!" He curses, using his dresser to hold his balance while he tightly clutched onto his nose that began to drip blood. "You broke my nose!"

"And I hope Jordan stabs you again." I harshly remark before I snatch my helmet from the table.

The basement door opens as I storm up the stairs but immediately get stopped by Pat, meeting his concern. "Woah--Freya? Is everything okay? Your knuckle—"

"I-It's fine but...I'm so sorry for the way I treated you for months, Pat. You didn't deserve that when in reality," I nod my head behind me. "It should've been directed to him." I step around him and continue up the stairs, ignoring his calls as I shut the door behind me.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. *✭˚
A/N:

Not me cheering for my OC at her finally getting a good hit at 'Sylvester' lmaooo

Also I know I know, it's been almost a month since the last update. It's just I haven't been satisfied with how they drafts look like at the moment. Like I literally hesitated putting this one out lol.

I hope you all have/had a great day! Bye!

~Cimbello