#captain ace

There were a few things that Ace wished had stayed in the past.

Not too many things.

But there was one word that she wished that she would never hear again.

Hydra.

The evil Nazi organization that was fixated on world domination.

The same organization she and the Justice Society had once fought.

The same organization she lost her dear friends to.

The same organization that was responsible for the sacrifice and mourn the life she lost…

Ace remembered asking Batman and some other Leaguers about the organization during the first days out of the ice.

Ace: “Are you sure?” Superman: “We haven’t heard anything about them since your time Ace. Its safe to say they are gone.” Ace turns to Batman for reassurance. Batman: “It looks that way.” Ace sighs in relief and offers the men a soft smile. Ace: “Thank you for letting me know Batman. Mr. Superman sir, are we still going to try those corndogs later?” Superman affectionately pats Ace’s head. Superman: “You better believe it Ace.”

The organization lingered in the back of her mind still, but it was less of a burning presence now a days.

She had her team to thank for that.

Finally, a temporary state of peace.

A peace that would soon shatter after a UN mission.

Ace didn’t remember all the details of what happened during the mission briefing.

All she knew was that the team was supposed to be guarding some important political figures.

Glorified babysitters was what Wally once called it.

It wasn’t long before trouble reared its ugly head.

Ace was walking around the building when she noticed a familiar looking bomb under some stairways.

She hadn’t seen one of these models since her first years with the Society.

Thankfully the rest of the team got the ambassadors to safety while Ace carefully defused the bomb.

Jay would be proud of her for how fast she defused it.

Ace through psychlink: “Bombs been diffused. I’ll be out in a minute.” Connor: “You need help getting it out?” M’gann: “I can fly you out if you want.” Ace hoisting the dead bomb on her shoulder. Ace: “Nah, I’m fine. See you eager beavers outside in a few minutes.” Out of the corner of her eye, she spots a black cloth. Ace picks it up. A burning red Hydra logo was stamped on it. Ace: “Oh sweet mercy no…”

The Justice League came as soon as they heard word about the bomb and was helping the team with ground control.

The team notices that Ace is a bit tense when she comes out of the building.

Even more so, when she was seen talking to Batman about something and leaving with him and the League.

Not even saying anything to the team!

It was something so obscure that Conner didn’t understand.

It was something about calamari…

At the Watch Tower… Flash: “Hey so why’s Ace here?” Ace: “The better question is…” She pulls out the cloth with the Hydra logo on it and tosses it onto the nearest table. The Leaguers look at it, most with faces of confusion. Ace: “Do any of you know what this logo is?” Green Arrow: “Something from that one store the teens go?” Green Lantern: “No that looks a bit like some street art.” SLAM! Ace slams her hand on the table and angrily stares at Batman on the other end. Ace: “This is the logo of a dangerous Nazi organization from the past. My past! These are the same people who are responsible for horrendous acts on humanity! The people who have murdered for less! People who put those nukes were in that plane. The same one I flew before going under!” She pauses, takes a shaky breath and continues. Ace: “I was told that the organization died off. So, tell me, why in the name of Uncle Sam’s short’s is still alive!?” There is a heavy silence in the room. Ace suddenly feels ashamed for the rude outburst. Most of these people don’t even know Hydra anyways. Ace: “I… I’m… I apologize for—” She stops when a hand is placed on her shoulder. It was Flash’s hand. Batman broke the silence. Batman: “The organization has been on the Leagues radar since your sacrifice. The former Justice Society members kept it updated until they couldn’t give anymore. The organization has been dormant until now.” Ace: “Why didn’t you tell me they were still around? Why?” There is silence. Ace: “This is the Leagues business then? Then count me in.” Batman: “No.” Ace: “Why not? Are you going to give up the last source of information about Hydra? As Robin said one time ‘Fat Chance’.” Flash: “I don’t think he—” Superman: “Don’t try.” Ace walks straight up to Batman and crosses her arms in defiance. Ace: “I Will be on the team whenever Hydra is even mentioned.” This wasn’t request. It was a demand. Bruce’s lenses squinted a bit. More painful silence and some sweating leaguers. Bruce: “… You will be acknowledged and called in when needed.” Ace: “No alternative secrets on Hydra?” Bruce: “No alternative secrets.”

So many leaguers had to breathe a sigh of relief that Batman wasn’t going to throw hands with a super soldier.

…It would be interesting to see but still that’s a child!

Well, the child was technically older than most leaguers but that’s not the point!

It was agreed within the Justice League that the news of Hydra would be kept a secret.

Especially from the Young Justice.

It didn’t sit too well with Ace… but she also didn’t want to drag her new family into anything related to Hydra.

She already lost too much to that organization…

Captain Ace enters the base’s main room. A blur of yellow and red sweep her off her feet as she is transported to the couch with the rest of her team watching her. Ace: “Wallace! You can’t just pick people up like that!” Wally: “And you can’t just disappear with the Justice League like that.” Ace was about to retaliate but opts to just remain silent. M’gann gently takes her hand. M’gann: “We were worried about you when you left without saying anything.” Ace sighs a bit. Ace: “I apologize for that one Cookie. I’ll do my best not to do that again.” Connor huffs. Artemis playfully ruffles Ace’s head. Artemis: “You better.” Robin sits down next to her. Robin: “So what did you talk about?” Connor: “And what did you talk with Batman about calamari?” Ace looked a bit nervous with the sudden questions. Kaldur noticed it. Kaldur: “Perhaps we ask questions another day. It has been a… rather eventful day for everyone.” Ace sends Kaldur a grateful look as the guilt racks up in her. Maybe she would get to tell them one day. Just maybe once Hydra has been fully taken down.

5 years.

5 years since Ace had left the Young Justice.

5 years since she had parts of her memories exposed to others.

5 years since she had started working with Batman in secrecy to permanently dismantle HYDRA.

It was all done with only a handful of heroes knowing her activity.

She only asked that no one affiliated with the Young Justice, former and new, be involved with her work.

It would be easier to do this kind of work without any distractions of need to punch someone in the face.

Life outside deep cover wasn’t too bad.

She had gotten a nice place to live a relatively ‘normal’ life in Smallville.

The Kents were wonderful neighbors and helped her adjust to this new lifestyle.

Ace walks up to the Kent’s home with the new sundress Mrs. Kent bought her, a basket of peaches and apples and a mason jar of cinnamon sticks. Pa Kent opens the door. Pa: “Martha! Our guest is here. Come in dear.” Ace: “Thank you again for inviting me over Mr. Kent.” Pa: “Please Ace, call me Pa.” Ace: “Sorry sir, just old habits die hard.” Pa hums. Pa: “I hear you.” Ace: “I also brought you two a gift for helping me figure out how to make those biscuts!” Martha: “Oh dear, its no problem.” Ace: “I still insist on bringing these over, ma’am.” Martha: “well, if you are offering help, how about you help me with peeling those apples you brought in?” Ace: “With pleasure ma’am.”

There were few Leaguers that knew of Ace’s whereabouts.

The two most obvious being Superman and Batman.

But there was one more leaguer given updates and allowed to interact with her.

That was Barry Allen, The Flash.

Is was probably one of the biggest secrets, besides his identity, that Barry had to keep from his loved ones.

Especially to Wally.

He had lost count of the number of times the kid had asked him if there was any news or update on Ace’s whereabouts after the fall out.

But he didn’t say a word.

He couldn’t do that to her.

Barry had a feeling that Jay may have known about Ace’s whereabouts after overhearing about the fallout, but thankfully said nothing of it.

Mainly because he never got time to before her mission got exposed.

Ace had finally gotten enough intel and resources to finally sneak up on a HYDRA rally deep in some swamp.

Not the best area to group a bunch of people, but she wasn’t going to question the logistics behind these so-called leaders’.

Everything was going to plan.

All she needed to do now was wait for the right moment to crash the party, call in Batman for assistance, and get everyone into custody for the interrogations.

If any of this waiting was going to be worth half of the time taken, she was going to need the right information of the next HYDRA bases.

It was a simple ambush mission, years in the making.

… All spoiled by the Young Justice.

Or the new Young Justice seeing as there were way more younger heroes around.

Rookie heroes that had gotten captured by New HYDRA…

…

…

Ace was going to have a word with Batman after all this was over…

Ace was hiding in one of the trees watching carefully as the rookie heroes, tied up in meta proof bindings were dragged to the center stage of the swampy clearing. From what she could remember from some of the files she had read on the new team, the new Robin was there, Wondergirl, Lagoon Boy, Impulse and Blue Beetle were there. The older hero’s grip on her shield tightens seeing a familiar figure come into the light. Nobleman Roland, one of the many heads of New HYDRA. The man in the maroon face covering stepped forward. Nobleman Roland: “Well, well, well, it seems we have some party poopers on our hands.” There is some booing in the background… but not for the heroes. Random henchman: “Boss we talked about this; you can’t say that without looking less menacing.” Nobleman Roland: “Shut it! I know what I’m doing!” Ace whispering from her perch in the tree: “Glory, Roland sure has lost some of his fear factor from the day.” Nobleman Roland: “Your just like those losers from online! I am the Great Nobleman Roland!” Random henchman: “No one is saying you aren’t sir.” Nobleman Roland: “Just you see!” He grabs Impulse by the hair despite the other teens’ protests. The man take out a pocketknife and holds against the speedster’s throat. Robin: “Let him go Nobleman!” Ace’s eyes are now narrowed and focused on the knife. Nobleman Roland: “Or what bird boy? You’ll be next as soon as I—” THUD! Someone lands behind him and takes his arm away from Impulse’s throat, effectively dropping the teen. It was Connor. Nobleman Roland: “AAH! AN ALIEN!” Connor: “Excuse—AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!” The teen shout as their senior leader suddenly got volted by a pocket watch. The half Krytopnian dropped to the ground in a daze. Nobleman Roland: “Like—Like I said, who’s going to stop me?” THUD! The Nobleman turns behind him and all the blood from his face drains away. There are several screams from the henchmen. Captain Ace: “Been a while hasn’t it been Roland.” Nobleman Roland: “AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!”

The mission was a disaster.

Not only had Nobleman end up getting away thanks to some diversion, but now that Ace had gone into the open to defend her fellow heroes, the element of surprise was gone.

All those years of keep her name buried wasted!

And there wasn’t a doubt that New HYDRA was going to be circulating this new information in their inner circles now.

… But she wouldn’t have changed it if it meant those kids got hurt.

The mini reunion between Connor and Ace wasn’t as tense as they thought it would be.

But that was mainly because they were too busy fighting off henchmen and untying the kids to really talk much.

Afterwards, it wasn’t much better.

One moment Ace was picking off the algae from her shield, the next thing she knew she was getting sent through a boom tube with a very clingy Impulse by her side.

Reunions with other original members were… less smooth, to say the least.

Ace just made sure to keep everything professional.

She wasn’t here to reminsate on old memories, she was here to find out why the Young Justice had New HYDRA on their radar and how she needed to smack for coming up with the ‘sane’ idea of attacking them head on.

If that was such a good idea, don’t you think she would have done it by now!?

Captain Ace was pinching her fingers on the brigde of her nose. Doing her absolute best not to lose it. Captain Ace: “Let me get this straight.” She pointed at Nightwing. Captain Ace: “You were keeping tabs on this organization, an organization that even Batman told you was off limits, and you were going to do a solo mission on it. But—” She pointed to Robin and the rest of the younger heroes. Captain Ace: “You bugs thought it was a good idea to snag the plan and do it yourselves? Am I getting everything right?” Robin: “Well, there is more things to it—” Ace narrowed her eyes at the boy. He immdeatly stopped talking. Captain Ace: “Listen, just forget what you all saw. HYDRA is not something you want on your plate.” Impulse: “And what? Let you handle it by yourself?” Captain Ace: “I’ve been doing that for years kid. HYDRA is my business and no one elses.” Connor: “And have you go back into hiding? Ace no one knew where you were.” Ace: “Something I’d like to remain that way.” M’gann: “Ace, we can help. You know you can trust us to help you.” Captain Ace: “Do I, M’gann?” The Martian flinches a bit at the woman’s tone. Captain Ace: “Maybe when you learn the meaning of ‘No’, then we can have a proper conversation.”

Ace would have left the cave immediately after that small exchange of words, if Batman hadn’t shown up.

And now had a new update of her mission.

Due to the failure of the ambush, she was going to have to oversee any HYDRA activity within the Young Justice.

Now that HYDRA knew they were affiliated with one another, the chances of them going after the younger recruits was high.

It would be better if Ace was around and keep an eye on things.

… The young woman wanted to scream out a bunch of words that would have earned her a bar of soap back in the day.

At least she could go visit Barry and Jay without secrecy anymore.