Infinity Island, August 7th, 23:49 ECT
Atop the outer walls of the castle-like structure built into the mountain island runs a red suited man. Reaching to his back for something.
~
A/N
Okay, I know what it is if you've seen this episode {or possibly read the comics} you know what it is, but you honestly can't tell and I think that was the original point.
~
A red arrow latches onto the black kevlar of a masked, armed guard. Looking down in confusion for a moment, before they can grab it they're hit by a flow electricity. Running past the fallen guard, the red hero has an opening.
A red arrow is shot up, with a rope attached to the shaft. As it hits the floor of the next story it opens up to form a tripod that spikes into the ground. He climbs up without getting noticed.
Now there's finally a clear image of the hero, red top, red bow, red quiver all lined in black, ending with black pants, boots, domino mask. The hair is unmistakably orange, though the costume has changed it's Speedy. Standing behind a corner he strings a red-fletched arrow onto his red bow, looking to the security camera pointed right where he needs to be. Just outside its range he fires, the arrow tip circles through, creating a loop that is then overriding what's happening on the security footage.
Coming out from behind the corner he releases an arrow, hitting a guard, it's another electrical arrow that knocks them to the ground quickly. The guard beside them notices and takes aim, but before he can fire he's shot in the gut by another of his arrows.
In a room, that has been turned into a modified computer lab a woman sits before the screen, typing away.
Two guards stand by the door, blocking her exit.
"We're losing patience. Complete the project or forfeit your life." a computerized, though likely being transmitted from another location to her.
"I'm completing as fast as I can." she responds not even looking away from her computer screen.
A pounding at the door hinders any further response from the guards. One walks in front of it to open it, but can't as it's kicked in with a boom.
The other guard turns his gun to Speedy firing quickly. Though he manages to duck underneath the shots, using the heel of his hand to knock the gun out of their's, hitting them in the gut with his bow, lifting it to catch under their chin. Then continuing the motion over his head to swipe it across their face. Then finally launch a hard cross at their nose. Knocking them to the ground.
The woman looks up at him in surprise.
"Dr. Roquette?" he questions, walking past her.
"Tell me you're the advanced guy." she pleads, annoyance flooding her words.
Speedy pulls an arrow from his quiver. 'The only guy." he admits, nocking it.
She looks to the just barely-maybe eighteen-year-old. "You couldn't bring back up?" she demands. "What, were there budget cuts?"
A bell tolls from outside the room, they've finally realized something's wrong. Henchmen head down the halls.
Speedy aims an arrow at the wall, this one tipped with a blue/grey canister rather than an arrowhead. Releasing it into the wall creates a rather impressive explosion and a giant hole that the two can get through.
Roquette coughs from the smoke, while Speedy doesn't care. "Now-or-never time, doc." he says over his shoulder.
She looks down at the device that stands just below her waist height while upright on the ground. "We can't leave this."
"Look, I take it, or I take you." Speedy snaps.
~
A/N
It is surprisingly easy for me to call him Speedy.
~
"Right." she mutters, removing her glasses. "Take me."
Speedy fires another arrow with a rope attached to it. Which he ties to a now exposed cross-member. Holding his arm and hand out to offer his right side to the doctor. She grabs on. "Hang on."
Just as the guards make it into the room they're zipping down the line. They shoot at them, even as she screams, and they let go to drop to the sandy beach. Speedy covers her, as they make it to the water line, where something is covered in a camouflage tarp. Speedy rips it off to reveal a blue speedy boat. Roquette climbs in, letting Speedy push the boat into deeper water.
Henchmen storm the beach.
"So what do you call this, the Arrow-boat?" she questions as Speedy makes the jump into the boat's rear seats then up to the driver seat.
Weapons begin to fire, and Speedy puts his hand behind her headrest. "I call it a rental." he grumbles. Then pushes on her head. "Now get down."
Once she's down his hand goes to the throttle, kicking it into high gear, and tapping on the touchscreen. Watching as red dots begin to appear on the beach.
Back on the beach triggers are whirring near where the guards are shooting from. The combined sound of the whir catches their attention, just before they all blow.
"I think we're in the clear." Speedy tells the doctor, who sits up and looks behind them.
"Great." she says sarcastically, which catches Speedy's attention. "Leaves only one problem."
Back in the room that Speedy just busted Roquette out of is the device. An old man and a guy with a cyclops helmet stand over it.
"Well?" the old man questions.
The cyclops taps away on a controller. "She finished." he states then turns to the old man. "We're good to go."
The old man grins maliciously.
Mount Justice, August 8th, 9:58 EDT
Kaldur, M'gann, Robin, and Superboy all make their way out of the cave and to the beach. Dressed in swimsuits, carrying a picnic lunch, a volleyball, and a bogey board. M'gann stands on the beach, her arms stretched wide. "Hello, Megan." then turns towards the boys over her shoulder. "We should hit the beach everyday."
Robin smiles, then lowers his head into his free hand. "First, a moment of silence for our… absent comrade." he says, his voice empty.
M'gann drops her head too. "Poor Wally." she echoes.
Central City, August 8th, 9:00 CDT
The school bells rings at Keystone High School.
"Welcome, class, to the first day of Sophomore Year." a teacher's voice started, his voice broken and scratchy.
Wally leans back, falling low into his chair as he groans.
M'gann and Robin splash each other in the water. Kaldur stay out because that would just be unfair. Though Superboy jumps into a cannonball, landing right between the two, drenching all of them. M'gann laughing as she dodges the wave he created.
Wally stands in front of a bubbler, the pressure weak and uneven. As he leans down it sprays him in the face. Clenching his jaw and frowning Wally stands back up straight.
Looking down he gasps, seeing that it makes it look like he wet his pants, letting out a shaky, gasping groan as he drops his head back.
Hot dogs roast on the grill the Team has set up, Robin picks one up with a fork to eat it. Rather than with a bun like the rest of the Team.
Orange mush is placed on a lunch tray, where there already an apple, and something brown that might be bread. Wally looks down, groaning, though this time more in disgust than anything.
Kaldur serves the volleyball, getting it over the net, where Superboy bumps it to M'gann who spikes it back at the other two.
Wally gets hit in the face with a dodgeball. Groaning he holds his fist up wanting to react, but can't. Mainly because waves of more dodgeballs come at him, though he wisely uses his arm and leg to keep them from hitting his face or stomach.
M'gann pats the tip of the sand mountain, while Robin pats the other side. The mountain built on a sleeping (or relaxing, you can't tell) Superboy. While Kaldur holds a red bucket, pouring more sand onto the side closer to Superboy's face with a smirk.
~
A/N
Hence why I think he's asleep.
~
The school bell rings once more at Keyston High. Now 3:29.
~
A/N
I'm 90% sure it's meant to ring at 3:30, but if he's in high school and he starts at 9, that's good and bad. I mean seriously, I used to complain about 7:30- or rather 7:28, which is why I'm only 90% sure about it being 3:30 because some people are just weird-though now that I don't start till 10 and don't finish till 4, I miss being done before 3.
~
The doors to the school fly open as Wally speeds out, coming to a skidding stop at the sidewalk throwing his hands up in the air. Crying out "wa-hoo!" because now he can finally get to the Mountain.
Recognize: Kid Flash, B-0-3
As he reappears in the Zeta Tube, carrying all the necessities for a day at the beach. "The Wall-man is here!" He calls out, running his flip flops. "Let's get this party star-uhn!" He's cut off as he trips on the pole of his umbrella, falling flat on his face. The beach ball going bouncing into the main room just past an angry Batman as he watches Wally skid towards them. Lifting his head he sees them dressed for a mission. "...ted." he finishes weakly.
All the other protogés look to him with knowing smiles and hold no remorse at him making a fool of himself.
"Wall-man, huh?" a new voice asks, Aqualad stepping aside so Kid Flash can see her. Decked out in green with an arrow on her chest and a bow in hand, it's pretty obvious who she's imitating. The colors accent slightly darker skin tone, brown eyes, and bright blonde hair. "I love the uniform. What exactly are your powers?"
Wally ignores her question as he steps up beside Robin and M'gann. "Uh, who's this?" he asks Kaldur, gesturing to her.
"Artemis, your new teammate." she says almost teasingly.
"Kid Flash. Never heard of you." Wally continues in the same insultingly teasing tone as Artemis.
Green Arrow steps up. "Um, she's my new protogé."
Wally's eyes go wide. "Wha-what happened to your old one?" He questions, clearly worried, but can't ask further as the Zeta-Tubes behind him are put in use.
Recognize: Speedy, B-0-6
"Well for starters, he doesn't go by Speedy anymore." Roy states, walking out of the Zeta Tube. "Call me Red Arrow." the three original protogé are both relieved and tensed to see him in the mountain, but it's Green Arrow who reacts the fastest.
"Roy. You look-" Green Arrow begins, but Red Arrow cuts him off as he walks to the center of training circle.
~
A/N
And annoyingly hard to call him Red Arrow... Damnit Roy.
~
"-Replaceable." he nearly growls, his gaze zeroed in on Artemis.
"It's not like that." Green Arrow tries. "You told me you were going solo."
"So why waste time finding a sub?" Roy rhetorically questions angrily. "Can she even use that bow?"
Artemis steps up to defend herself. "Yes, she can." she says, almost chipper sounding as she gets right in Roy's face.
~
A/N
Yep, I'm calling you Roy until absolutely necessary. I don't care if you're wearing a mask or not.
~
"Who are you?" Wally finally questions.
"I'm his niece." Artemis says
"She's my niece." Green Arrow says at the same time.
This response gets a smirk to grow on Robin's face. "Another niece?" He questions, knowingly.
"But she is not your replacement." Kaldur assures, speaking to Roy. Stepping up as Roy actually turns to look at him. "We have always wanted you on the Team, and we have no quota on archers."
From his left Wally pipes up, cheery once more. "And if we did, you know who we'd pick."
Artemis steps up once more. "Whatever, Baywatch, I'm here to stay."
Roy immediately walks away from her. Right by Kaldur who stops him by speaking up. "You came to us for a reason."
"Yeah, a reason named Dr. Serling Roquette." Roy admits, looking to Robin who tenses immediately at the name.
Then smiling he pulls up the data on his hologlove. "Nanorobotics genius and claytronics expert at Royal University in Star City- vanished two weeks ago." he states as screens around the whole circle come up.
"Abducted two weeks ago by the League of Shadows ." Roy corrects.
Robin's joy shows through on his face. "Whoa. You want us to rescue her from the Shadows?" he asks as he, Wally, and M'gann all step up.
"Hard-core." Wally agrees, offering a fist to Robin. Which the Boy Wonder hits on top, then underneath, then on top again.
While Roy replies tensely. "I already rescued her." walking towards the lined up holo-screens. "Only one problem." pulling out a small grey box which brings up a larger screen in front of the ones Robin put up. "The Shadows had already coerced her into a weapon," glancing at the screen to make sure the data's up. "Doc calls it the Fog, comprised of millions of microscopic robots, nanotech infiltrators, capable of disintegrating anything in their path- concrete, steel, flesh, bone.- but it's true purpose isn't mere destruction. It's theft. The infiltrators eat and story raw data from any computer system and deliver the stolen data to the Shadows."
Miami Beach University, August 8th, 21:38 EDT
As Roy explains, the Shadows are getting ready to use the technology at the university. In a blue convertible the cyclops sits in the backseat with the container for the Fog. Opening the top of the container right in front of the Robotics Lab. The Fog comes at the nearby window, where a young woman looks on in shock, then runs as the Fog punches its way through the glass. Coming out from the walls and floors. Everyone in the whole building evacuates.
The Fog comes into a computer lab, taking over all the computers and loading up all the files on them at high speeds.
Near the computer towers is another mass of the Fog, which when enhanced the databanks are being removed- or rather eaten- by the infiltrators. Which look exactly like image Roy has on his holoscreen.
Outside the cyclops works on a laptop, controlling the Fog. Even bringing them back into their storage tank where all the data is uploaded.
They drive away as the building begins to collapse in on itself.
Roy stands before the group, letting the horrible information fully sink in."Providing them access to weapons, strategic defense, cutting edge science and tech._ he finishes.
"Perfect for extortion, manipulation, and power broking." Artemis picks up, decidedly ignoring the angry look from Wally and the knowing look from Robin. "Yeah. Sounds like the Shadows."
"Like you know anything about the Shadows." Wally scoffs, a smirk falling onto his face, but what he doesn't expect is for her to smile tauntingly at him. His smirk falls and he looks confused before finally shouting out what's on his mind. "Who are you?!"
Roy deliberately ignores the spat. "Roquette's working on a virus to render the Fog inert."
"But if the Shadows know she can do that…" Robin begins, quietly.
Roy agrees with him instantly. "They'll target her. Right now, she's off the grid." the picture changes again. "I stashed at her the local high school's computer lab."
"You left her alone?" Green Arrow questions, shocked.
"She's safe enough for now." Roy rebuttals.
"Then let's you and I keep her that way." Green Arrow offers stepping closer to the young man he mentored.
"You and I?" Roy questions, sounding both angry and surprised. "Don't you want to take your new protogé?"
Before Green Arrow can say anything, Batman places a dark hand on his shoulder. Stopping the blonde in his tracks. He glances back at the Dark Knight before turning back to Roy. "You brought this to the Team. It's their mission, which means it's her's now, too." Green Arrow says calmly
Roy scoffs. "Then my job's done." He says walking back towards the Zeta-Tubes.
Recognize: Speedy-
"That's Red Arrow, B06. Update." Roy corrects. The Zeta Tube beeps, recognizing the update, and transporting him away.
Behind his turned back Wally turns to Artemis with a glare, M_gann looks over as well, but she's more confused than confrontational. Artemis looks away from the gingers' looks.
Happy Harbor, August 8th, 21:59 EDT
Outside Happy Harbor High, M'gann and Superboy are on the roof with the Bioship camouflaged over their heads. While inside the school Aqualad checks the window to the hallway by the Computer Lab.
"Miss Martian, link us up. We do not want the Shadows intercepting our comms."
~
A/N
So, I've seen this question before, and one of my friends asked me too, League of Shadows is the kid-friendly terms for League of Assassins. They are one in the same, hence why we see Ra's when Roy is spying on the Shadows.
~
From outside Miss Martian finds the other minds with ease. Connecting them quickly.
"Everyone online?" she asks.
"Ohh." Artemis half groans, sitting down on the desk Dr. Roquette is working at to keep from losing her balance."This is weird."
"And distracting." Dr. Roquette's voice cuts in as she continues to code quickly. "Coding a distributive algorithm virus on a kiddie computer with RAM than a wristwatch is hard enough." she stops typing and starts moving her body as if she were speaking aloud.
~
A/N
Something all characters should really work on fixing.
~
"Now I have to hear teen-think in my skull?" she grips her head with annoyance and perceived pain from a headache she's bound to get.
Wally sits on the window ledge eating a granola bar, Robin is looking out on of the partially opened blind of the same window row, but hidden by the pillar. "Lady, do you always complain when someone tries to help you?"
"Pot, kettle." Artemis offers. "Have you met?"
Kid Flash is immediately defensive. "Hey. Hey, I do not need attitude from the newbie who drove Red Arrow off the Team."
Artemis stands instantly and points directly at him. "That is so not on me." behind her Roquette stops typing to give into her annoyance.
"Fate of the world at stake." She tries to remind without getting too angry.
"She started it." Kid Flash defends childishly.
"How about I just help Superboy and Miss Martian patrol the perimeter?" She offers, already walking away from her spot by the doctor.
"Good idea." Aqualad agrees, his tone formal as ever but there's a noted edge of stress to his simple words.
"You might cut her some slack. It was her arrow that saved your butt against Amazo." Robin points out, smirking at the last tidbit of knowledge.
Kid Flash's eyes go wide. "What? No!" he denies instantly "That was Speedy's—I mean, Red Arrow's… arrow. (Yep, there's no good way to say THAT.) Right?" he tries, giving the Boy Wonder a small smile as if that would change his answer.
"Not so much." Robin admits, teasing clear in his tone.
Kid Flash manages to huff in his head. "Well, still not giving her the satisfaction." he (crap, I want to say says and I really shouldn't and am really trying not to. Gah!) gripes.
Walking out of the building Artemis is quick to remind him that's ineffective. "You know, I can still hear you!"
Wally grips his head and groans aloud.
~
A/N
Which I actually didn't know until I read the cc.
~
"I couldn't get the Justice League." Roquette grumbles to herself, gripping the bridge of her nose before going back to coding.
"The virus won't be of much use if we cannot find the weapon." Aqualad
~
A/N
Crap, comments wouldn't work either.
~
surmises, stepping up to stand behind the doctor. "Can you track it?"
"My utility fog is not a weapon." She quickly defends, turning towards Aqualad. "It's science, brilliant science, and of course I can track it, but I'd have to go online." she turns back to the computer but doesn't continue coding."Might as well rent a billboard with this address and assassinate me written in neon." placing her head on the fingertips of her left hand.
Aqualad places his hand on her shoulder. "We will protect you." he promises.
She glances back as the dark skinned Atlantean then hitting the enter key to begin tracking the Fog. "Tracking the Fog now." she tells him, though it's obvious by the way the targeting system is moving across the digital form of the globe on her screen. Coming to a stop on a fully zoomed in image of a plane sitting on a runway.
Philadelphia, August 8th, 21:57 EDT
Inside the plane the cyclops man holds a drink as the plane slowly moves across the runway. Until the desk beeps. A holoscreen appearing, which is now automatically tracking the doctor's signal.
An old man's image rises on the left-hand side of the globe. "Roquette has surfaced to track us, but that link's a two-way street." his screen zooms right in on Happy Harbor High. "Sending her location… now."
The old man continues to sit in a lotus, watching the events unfold on screen. "Who we have near… Happy Harbor, Rhode Island?" he questions.
Superboy walks the perimeter, coming to a guarded stop as he hears bushes rustling. Following the sound, he leaps to the roof of the school and strides across it with precision, grace, and ease. Landing behind a tense M'gann and Artemis. The archer even having her bow strung. Though, seeing both are more relaxed than he, brushes it off and walking away from the girls.
"Mmm...that boy." Superboy turns back, but upon seeing her look at him his eyes widen, realizing she meant him.
"He can hear you. We can all hear you." Miss Martian points out, a tenseness to her tone that is not normal for her.
Artemis is either oblivious to or just doesn't care. "Oh, I know." Miss Martian's eyes widen in shock.
"Miss Martian," Aqualad's voice cuts in, Miss Martian calming, while Artemis forces her gaze out of the corner of her eye to the sidewalk leading to where she and Miss Martian are. "Dr. Roquette has located the Fog. reconfigure the Bioship so that Robin and Superboy can pursue."
Miss Martian raises her right hand and the Bioship lands in the small field before the fence. "Ready."
Superboy and Robin run out to it quickly, the open hatch closing right on their heels. The ship takes off quickly and smoothly, whichever one of the boys are flying has clearly been working at it.
Turning to walk back Miss Martian gives Artemis a small glare that's gone before the archer could even blink. Both miss the raven haired woman behind the bushes wearing a jade green tunic with black under layers and a mask with a Cheshire grin splayed for all to see.
Miss Martian keeps her back to Artemis, her arms crossed before she finally gives in and talks to the girl. "You embarrassed Superboy."
Artemis smiles at the green skinned girl. Almost looking innocent. Almost. "Didn't hear him say that."
Miss Martian turns towards the archer, even though she's looking away. "Must you challenge everyone?" Behind her turned back, the jade colored, Cheshire-grin-mask wearing woman leaps over the fence. Silent.
"Where I come from, that's how you survive." Artemis states, dropping the conversation there. Though Miss Martian's frown lessens slightly.
Kid Flash is leaning against the wall outside the classroom. The woman's shadow on the floor catches his attention. He follows it to the intersection but then sees it at the end of that hall. He uses his speed to try and reach the source. Skidding to a stop just before the pool, her shadow visible in the window for just a moment. He speeds into the natatorium, unaware of the hundreds of small spheres on the already potentially slippery floor.
He loses his footing, letting out a shocked "whoa." before landing on his back with a grunt. Groaning he looks up just in time to see the woman kick him in the face before all goes black.
She kicks his unconscious body into the pool, the 3m.
~
A/N
It's like 9ft 9.6in, so, for anyone that has ever seen a pool where your lap lanes get deeper the closer to the diving well you get, that's what this is. You can tell in the next shot.
~
Depth of the pool. Then running off without another sound.
In the Computer Lab Aqualad stands beside Dr. Roquette as she continues to type.
The door only creaks slightly as it opens, but it is only open a very small amount before a shuriken comes whizzing towards the back of Roquette's head. Aqualad takes the hit for her. The doctor goes to stand, but Aqualad sees movement. "Doctor, get down." he calls out.
Roquette looks to the source of the shuriken, only to see the Cheshire grin. Her eyes widen and two more shurikens fly towards her, which Aqualad takes to the outside of his right arm as he knocks the doctor to the floor.
The ravenette- Cheshire- pushes the door fully open, running behind the computer desks. "Hmm." she muses, twin sais held in a reverse grip as she runs towards the doctor and Atlantean. "That had to hurt."
Aqualad pulls out the last shuriken out of his arm, his right tattoo glowing brightly. "Atlantean skin is quite dense." He states, as he pulls out his Water-bearers to form dual swords. Just in time to block her sais.
"And my shuriken are quite poisoned." she says, slashing at his stomach, then dodging under his strike at her head, then striking towards his arm which he blocks once more and pushes her away. Kicking her in the chest. She flips through the hit, landing silent and confident in a crouch on a computer table.
"M'gann, Kid, Artemis, we are under attack in the computer lab." Aqualad calls out.
Miss Martian and Artemis storm through the double doors, Artemis knocking an arrow as she runs towards the computer lab. "We're on our way." the archer assures
Miss Martian stops short, her eyes going wide. Before flying back to the last intersecting hallway she and Artemis passed.
Cheshire slashes again at Aqualad, who is keeping the doctor behind his Water-bearers and body. In retaliation, he strikes as her head, which she ducks under and she once again slices at his core, which he jumps back from. She fakes a high roundhouse and gets both her legs over Aqualad's shoulders and yanks him to the ground with an "oof".
Roquette watches the fight like a tennis match.
Cheshire throws her shuriken at the bystander, forcing Aqualad to turn his sword into a whip to change the trajectory of the sai. Though it still lands mere inches from her face, finally getting her to move and jump back with a yelp.
'Almost." Cheshire mutters, as both she and Aqualad stand up, his Water-bearer becoming a sword once more as she a knife from her hiding place. "Poison slowing you down?" she asks as he strikes with both swords once more.
"Jellyfish toxin, I'm largely immune." he tells her, getting her face.
She uses it to her advantage and headbutts him. Giving him all the pain and her none, despite the height difference, due to her mask being what makes contact. Knocking him to the ground and both his Water-bearers out of his hands.
"Largely." she agrees, raising her sai. Only for it to be shot out of her hand. Turning to find Artemis already prepared with another arrow.
"Don't. Move." Artemis states slowly.
Miss Martian's eyes glow red as she raises Kid Flash's unconscious body out of the pool.
Cheshire chuckles, hearing Aqualad get back to his feet and bear his swords behind her since she's been watching Artemis step closer to her. "This gig's getting interesting." she brings out a singlehanded collapsible sword. Standing ready for Artemis.
Who releases the arrows in rapid succession, however Cheshire slices through them, nearly in half every time.
Miss Martian and Kid Flash enter the door and find Doctor Roquette standing in stunned shock as arrow halves fall at her feet. Artemis pauses upon seeing them. Which is what prompts Cheshire to look as well. Now finding herself outnumbered four to one.
"Maybe a little too interesting." she admits as Artemis knocks another arrow. She deflects it and drops a flash grenade.
Kid Flash jumps through the smoke, hitting nothing and stumbling right into Artemis' arms. Both of them bumping foreheads. Shocked to find them so close together, and practically sharing breaths, he stumbles back with his eyes wide. Then looks to the now empty space. "Gone." He grunts.
"She's getting away! You're letting her get away!" Roquette yells at Aqualad.
"This was all your fault. You were on the perimeter! How'd that Shadow get in?" Kid demands of Artemis, who boldly stands before him.
Her eyes merely narrow at him, but enough to make anyone's skin crawl.
"That's not really fair." Miss Martian says calmly, walking up to them. "I was outside too."
"Outside being distracted by her." He retaliates. "Besides I can't be mad at you." his tone gone flirtatious and almost sweet as he changes who he's defending. "You gave me mouth-to-mouth."
Miss Martian's eyes go wide, realizing something he hasn't yet. "We heard that!" Artemis snaps angrily, while even Aqualad seems annoyed.
Kid Flash turns and walks away, dropping his head. "Dang it!" he gripes. Giving Miss Martian and Artemis the ability to talk without him separating them.
She gives the newest member a genuine smile. "I didn't do half as well in my first battle," she offers, even placing her hand on Artemis' shoulder in an attempt to increase her comfort by offering it physically. "and I know you can't have been Green Arrow's sidekick for very long."
Before she can respond Aqualad cuts in. "Focus, everyone." though out of the two Miss Martian seems the most annoyed with the interruption. "The Shadows will be back."
The radio beeps. "Robin to Aqualad." it catches the Atlantean's attention immediately.
With Robin and Superboy
The camouflaged Bioship flies over the coastline of a big city. "We're over Philadelphia." the Boy Wonder continues. Looking to an image on his hologlove as he flies the Bioship.
~
A/N
Master multitasker, who knew?... Actually,that makes total sense.
~
"We've located the Shadows' next target, STAR Labs."
All he can do is watch as the building crumbles beneath them. 'We're too late."
His eyes go wide at the efficiency and completeness of it. "It's destroyed, totally destroyed."
Even Superboy's eyes have gone wide with shock. "The Fog decimated it."
They look over the broken remains of the entire lab, everything sharded and cracked. "This is bad. STAR Labs is cutting-edge science, and now their secrets are in the hand of the enemy." there's actually a bit of anger starting to show through in his words.
He and Superboy share a look. "What's our next move?" He asks Aqualad.
Aqualad looks to the unhurt Doctor Roquette. "Rescan for that Fog. Find it." then he glances back at the Doctor once more. "We're moving the doctor."
Buoy Bells ding in the distance, while Artemis walks around behind the doctor Kid Flash sits on top of the computer tower. When the blonde comes to a stop and glances at him, he glares right back.
"Stop it, both of you!" Aqualad's telepathic voice cuts in and draws their attention away from the glaring contest that was about to begin.
"What?" both ask at the same time.
From within the bushes outside their location, Aqualad remains calm. "I can hear you glaring." He informs them. Then heads off towards the slight treeline. "Miss Martian, stay in camouflage mode and make a wide perimeter sweep." He instructs, but aloud.
The trees rustle behind him as a shadowy head appears. This one covered.
Aqualad is snagged by red vines before he could even hope to react and brought up with only a slight cry of shock. There are hits and grunts, leaves that fall to the ground below, but the attacker and now Aqualad are covered by the foliage.
Until he's kicked out and slammed hard into the side of a parked van, leaving a dent and him to rebound until he falls to the concrete. Looking up he sees the shadow leap out of the trees. As the assassin- Black Spider- lands in a crouch before the Atlantean he stands, only to get hit in the shoulder blades by a man with crane hook for an arm- accurately named Hook. It knocks Aqualad down and out.
Cheshire flips beside his fallen body. "The Martian could return any second, and I'm not keen on evening their odds." she tells the men. "We end Roquette now." With that she's gone again.
In the single room building, Kid Flash is watching Roquette as she types, still hanging out on top of the computer tower. The doors burst open and from the doorframe, Black Spider flips out.
Kid flips to a similar position, but his left leg out to the side which allows him to stand and pick into a run with ease. Going to swipe out Black Spider's feet, but the man lives up to his chosen name. Flipping to the ceiling and clinging there. Before shooting red webbing at Kid Flash.
Who rolls out of the and towards the narrow cylinder trashcan which he throws at Black Spider to get him to drop back down to the ground. The assassin springs through his crouch, coming in with a cross that Kid Flash easily dodges and counter with a hit to the ribs.
Artemis goes to shoot the assassin when the glass window in the ceiling behind her shatters and Hook drops to the ground.
~
A/N
And now I can only think of Captain Hook.
~
She changes her aim and shoots at the white haired man, who dodges the shot, and the next three by diving between the pews.
Artemis knocks another arrow, while Roquette stops typing and turns to her. "Don't stop working." she instructs the doctor, before releasing the arrow. Roquette says nothing and turns back to the computer.
From the double windows, Cheshire lines up an arrow it a crossbow. She releases it, but a desk is telekinetically put in the way of the shot. "Martian's here. It's now or never." She commands of Hook and Black Spider, ditching the crossbow.
Kid Flash runs at Black Spider, but the acrobatic assassin executes a sudden spin which places him under Kid Flash and able to kick him in the stomach and away with both feet. Finding his footing with ease he shoots red webbing at the desk blocking Roquette.
Artemis has another arrow ready to be shot at Hook, but when she sees Cheshire drop down before Roquette her distraction is rewarded by a hook to the face. The hook returns to Hook's hand while Cheshire looms over the fallen Roquette.
She twirls her sai, finding her expert hold and ready to stab her in the back. When the doctor's skin suddenly turns green and her head turns to look right at Cheshire. "We've been duped!" She calls out, both angrily and to alert both men working with her.
At the Sandbar Internet Cafe is the real Doctor Roquette working on a computer as Aqualad stands guard. "I've almost got it." She tells him.
"The next target's a Wayne Tech Facility." Robin says, shocked as the camouflaged Bioship comes to a slow just outside the building. "In theory." Now he has Superboy's attention, the clone can hear the emotions raging through Robin's voice. "it's system software could be used to hack the-" he cuts himself off.
"The what?" Superboy asks expectantly.
"Doesn't matter." Robin tries to brush off. "Wh-what matters is WayneTech. operates a 24-hour workforce. We'll never evacuate the building in time."
In the parking structure across the street, a dark grey van pulls into a parking space. Inside is the cyclops and the Fog. Which he quickly begins activating.
Miss Martian returns to her classic form, levitating in the air a good four feet over Cheshire and Hook's heads. "You'll never find Doctor Roquette." she tells Cheshire with conviction.
"Never's such a long time." Cheshire teases. "Pursuing target. Keep 'em busy." she calls out. Running off.
Hook launches his hook at Miss Martian to prevent her from following.
Artemis is just starting to get her feet when Cheshire runs by. She quickly gets back to her feet. "Pursuing their leader." She calls out. Kid Flash is still fighting Black Spider, blocking his punches, then managing a cross to the assassin's face and knocking him down. "Take the rest down." he watches the blonde run out the double doors.
"You are so not the boss of me.' Kid calls after her, annoyed and purposefully dragging out the so.
"Just do it!" she snarls over her shoulder, not losing stride.
Behind his turned back Black Spider gets to his feet and throws his arms around Kid Flash so he can't move his arms. His left arm slides closer to the speedsters neck as his right-hand grips the ginger hair tightly.
Artemis follows Cheshire outside the building, but the cat-themed assassin notices the lack of an unconscious Aqualad immediately. "Oh, I do not like being played." she murmurs to herself. The lenses of her mask light up and she can now see Aqualad's footprints as they lead down the road. She takes after them quickly.
Artemis stops in nearly the same spot Cheshire did, knocking an arrow. Releasing it.
Cheshire strikes it out of the air. "I was hoping it'd be you." she says, the smugness in her voice shows that smile on her mask is almost definitely on her face. Then she takes off down the street again.
Getting to the rooftops and running across them rather than on even ground with Artemis. She lands before two chimney stacks, but before she can make her way around them another of Artemis' arrows is released. This one sticking to the chimney on the left and releasing a purple gas. Causing the assassin to cough a few times before she loses a grip on her sais and falls unconscious with a groan.
Artemis lands in a crouch, bringing another arrow out of her quiver, stringing and bringing slight tension to it. When she's close, Cheshire turns to her side, putting her hand underneath her body, and knocking Artemis' legs out from under her.
"Mask has built-in filters." the assassin taunts.
Artemis goes for the sidekick, which Cheshire blocks with her arm, moving through the motion Artemis goes for a roundhouse to her head. She whiffs but gets back to her feet. Unfortunately, Cheshire gets her hands locked behind her back and knocks her bow out of her hands.
"Better luck next time, kid." Cheshire teases with ease despite the amount Artemis is struggling. She hits the archer in between the shoulder blades. Knocking her to the ground with a cry.
Aqualad hears a thump on the roof and immediately turns to Roquette. "We have company." he says tensely.
~
A/N
Not that I can blame him if I had to watch her I'd be annoyed too.
~
"Uploading now." She says, typing even faster. "And by the way, you said you'd protect me." She snaps.
A singular sphere rattles its way down the dark hallway, coming to a stop just within visible range. Before stopping and immediately releasing a smoke screen. Aqualad whips out his Water-bears quickly, forming solid swords in seconds. Roquette stands up beside him when nothing happens for a few seconds.
From behind his a ceiling panel is pushed lose.
Sensing something he turns, only to get three darts to the chest in rapid succession.
Cheshire drops to the ground confidently. "Let's test the limit of you Jellyfish immunity, shall we?" she taunts.
Aqualad shakes his head in order to clear it before charging at the assassin. He strikes high with his right. Which she ducks under, then at where her face is now with his left. Which she tightly flips over. He strikes downwards, but she steps out of the way and lets his momentum throw him off balance. As he turns towards her she unleashes a roundhouse kick to his face. Which knocks him straight to his front on the floor. Both his Water-bearers losing their integrity and the tattoos dimming in unison.
"There, limit tested." Cheshire says simply. Then turns to Roquette. "Now, doctor, time for my appointment." she enunciates by bringing out a sai, which gets Roquette to cautiously move away from her.
All while the upload is being processed.
With the bioship still camouflaged Superboy and Robin wait by the opening back hatch.
"It's downloading." Robin informs, watching the progress on his hologlove.
What catches Superboy's attention is the sound of a van door opening. He recognizes the Fog's storage container instantly. "Don't need it!" he growls.
Jumping despite Robin's cry of "Superboy!" but the Boy Wonder can only watch as he jumps right at the cyclops.
Before he can reach him the man uses the grey control panel hanging from his shoulder to release a red laser beam at Superboy. Strong enough to knock him back and to the parking surface on his back. Unmoving.
The cyclops turns back to the container and releases the Fog.
"No!" Robin calls out, grappling to the nearest light pole then flipping to get to the next and land before the surface level of the Wayne Tech facility. A hole eaten through the double doors.
The security guard can only watch the cloud go by in shock. "What in the-" he cuts himself off as he sees Robin run past him. "Hey! You can't come in here!" yells at the not stopping Boy Wonder. Moving to grab his walkie talkie. "Unauthorized entry!"
The gated doors start coming down ahead of the Boy Wonder. "WayneTech override- RG4." Robin calls out.
~
A/N
It says Archie in the cc, but judging by the fact that they can't tell the difference between A and eight, + B and Speedy. I'm guessing they fun goofed.
The nearly closed gate rises giving him enough room to roll underneath and keep running.
Miss Martian manages to dodge the large hook as it comes back to its source. Once she's out of range she throws her hand out telekinetically moving the pews beside Hook. He obliterates the first one but barely manages to get the one that rises to his turned back.
Knowing she's vulnerable he turns and launches his hook at her once more. She spins away and it sticks to the ceiling. "Kid Flash, we need to end this now." she tells him.
As the speedster avoids the red webbing by flipping over the row seating. Coming to a pause with a smirk on his face. "It's like you read my mind, beautiful." in his distracted state the red webbing clings to his left shoulder. Looking over it for a mere second until he starts spinning at high speeds.
Black Spider is too shocked to be able to counteract it before he's whisked off his feet.
Kid Flash jumps, while still spinning, and lands a dual set of kicks to Black Spider's chest, breaking the webbing and sending the assassin back into a pew and breaking it with the force Kid Flash hit him with.
Hook's hook retracts and he launches it once more at Miss Martian. She creates a telekinetic wall that sends the hook crashing back into its wielder. Hitting him in the jaw and knocking the man out with a strangled cry of pain.
"Woohoo!" she says happily, aloud. "I got mine."
"Great." Kid Flash says, then tries to work against the webbing finding it not anywhere near budging. "Uh, a little help?"
The Fog crashes through a set of windows low on the left side of the second tier of the building.
~
A/N
I'm 99% sure that's not the right term, but I don't really care, plus I think with that description you know what I'm talking about.
~
The lights go black in that segment, the Fog continues on taking out more windows and lights as they overrun the building.
Inside the cafeteria three of the workers yell as the run out of the room, only a young woman with brunette hair remains by her work station. Robin runs in through the other door. Heading right for the computer. Slowing as he pulls out the cable from his hologlove.
"What's going on?" she asks, confused but not seemingly frightened. Then sees Robin attach the cord to the computer. "What are you doing?"
Robin ignores her as his screen comes to life. "Please be linked to the mainframe. Please be linked to the mainframe." He begs, tapping on the projection.
Cheshire continues to back the nervous doctor up, away from the unconscious Aqualad. Grabbing the front of her shirt elicits a gasp from the doctor as she closes her eyes, expecting her end. Before that, she looks to the computer with the download progress showing.
Cheshire cocks her head and follows the woman's gaze. Just as the bar shows full download and the computer beeps in agreement. The assassin turns back to the doctor." So you've finished the virus." She states. "eliminating the reason for your elimination." Despite her words her sai is getting closer to the doctor's neck and face. "Though not your entertainment value." She gets right in front of her and watches as the blonde's eyes go wide. The sudden release of her grip sends the doctor to the ground. "Lucky for you, my orders are clear. You live to program another day. After all, doctor, Shadows may find another use for you." she shies away from the assassin, the final statement more terrifying than any proceeding it.
At the Wayne Tech. Facility the Fog is still running rampant, but Robin is fully focused on the download status of the virus. Once it's fully uploaded to his hologlove the result is instantaneous. The screen of the computer he's logged into goes red.
Inside the computer, the Fog Bots turn red mere seconds before exploding.
Robin turns to watch as the Fog Cloud behind him turns red before disappearing. The woman behind the counter breathes out a sigh of relief.
"Yes!" he cheers, clutching his unoccupied hand. "The infiltrators have been outfiltrated!"
The cyclops can only watch as the Fog turns red before disappearing. What catches his attention is the fact that Superboy is standing once more and walking towards him. Reacting he shoots another beam at the clone.
Superboy grunts as he blocks it with his forearm, but is able to charge ahead as he blocks most of the beam. Some smaller ones still hitting him, but not enough to hinder his movements.
Gritting his teeth he faces the source, pushing harder despite the pain. Once he's close enough he fully faces the man, then reaches out with his hand and stops the beam from even leaving the helmet. The backlash knocks the man into the side of the van and limply to the ground.
Cheshire walks out of the Sandbar Cafe. Only to be stopped as four of Artemis' arrows land before her and explode quickly.
Her mask falling off and out of the smoke.
As it clears she's on her hands and knees, her back to Artemis' taut bowstring and very sharp arrow tip. She subtly pushes up, but Artemis sees it. "Don't move a muscle." The archer snarls.
Despite the warning, Cheshire stands. "Wow." she murmurs, turning to face Artemis over her shoulder. Her eyes open to reveal the same murky, dark, expansive brown as Artemis' own. "I am completely at your mercy."
Artemis' eyes widen slightly as she gasps. "You."
"I suppose now you bring me to Justice. Let your new friends interrogate me." She taunts. "I wonder if your position's secure enough to survive them learning everything I know." There's a long pause where neither of them so much as breathe. Then, Artemis silently lowers her bow. "Didn't think so." She starts backing up, smoke curling around her. "So like the Cheshire Cat, I'll just disappear." with that even her shadow has gone missing.
The smoke stays for another moment then it too, disappears.
Aqualad pants as he's mostly supported by Dr. Roquette as she helps him out the door. "Artemis, where's the assassin?" he questions.
"She, uh- she got away." she stutters out quietly.
However, Kid Flash and his big mouth are right beside her in an instant. "Oh, from you?" he taunts. "Oh, big surprise. Notice we got ours."
Miss Martian lowers the still-knocked-out assassin closer to the ground.
He looks down and his eyes lighten, a small smile on his face. "Cool." then picks up Cheshire's mask. "Souvenir."
Aqualad recognizes it instantly, walking towards Kid Flash without Roquette's support, but the doctor remains close, just in case. "Her mask?" he questions, wincing as he yanks one of her darts out of his chest. "Did you her." He cuts himself off as he rips out another dart. "her face?" He finishes, yanking out the last dart.
"It was dark." Artemis defends, then looks towards the bay.
"It is fine." Aqualad assures, reading her body language since she won't say anything. "Robin and Superboy neutralized the Fog, and Dr. Roquette is safe, thanks in no small part to you."
She glances over her shoulder before fully turning to face him as Miss Martian lands beside Kid Flash.
"Welcome to the Team."
She gives a small smile in return.
Aqualad steps up before her and offers his hand. After a slight hesitation, she takes it.
"I always wanted a sister." Miss Martian says sincerely. "Here on Earth, I mean. I have twelve back on Mars, but trust me, it's not the same." she clarifies, even Kid Flash is willing to get close to the 'newbie who kicked Red Arrow off the Team'
"I wouldn't know." Artemis decides to say, though a small chuckle does come through. "But thanks."
Miss Martian elbows Kid Flash in the chest. "Ow." he grumbles, but still no one says anything. "Yeah. Welcome." he says begrudgingly.
Artemis offers her hand, he only hesitates slightly before taking it. Though he does look at it the whole time like he thinks it's going to either explode or eat him.
Gotham City, August 9th, 1:16 EDT
An out of order telephone booth glows gold, as it shuts off Artemis opens the doors. Looking around as she walks into the center of the alleyway. Her eyes narrow as she looks to her right blindspot. Spinning tightly she crouches to her knee, aiming her bow at the shadowy figure whose only noticeable features are their bright-white eyes. "Step into the light." she demands, her arm shaking slightly from the effort of holding her drawstring back so long and moving into that position so quickly. "Now."
Nonchalantly Red Arrow does. "Nice move." he says with a slight scoff as he walks towards her. Artemis releases the drawstring, and stands up. "Almost made me believe you are Green Arrow's niece.' he says a resentful tone to his words as he stops before her. "Though we both know you're not." Artemis glares. "Still, I'm sure G.A. and Bats had a reason for lying, so your cover's safe." he leans down and into her personal space. "But I warn you: do not hurt my friends." He practically growls. Then walks away.
Behind his turned back Artemis' shoulders sag.
"Report." a voice demands.
The old man's eyes open, sitting in the center of a semicircle with Light Screens above his head. 'Masters, before Ojo's capture he transmitted the STAR Labs data you required, but the WayneTech intel still eludes us.
"Once again the young... heroes interfere." L-2 states. "So it's fortunate that we have an operative... on the inside." The old man smiles dreadfully.