Mount Justice, August 8, 2010, 5:22 p.m.
Back at Mount Justice, after a fun day at the beach, the Team got washed up and suited up in their mission uniforms. They all headed down to the main hall, where Batman and Red Tornado awaited them.
Miss Martian looked around, puzzled. "Hey, have you guys seen Lunaris?"
Superboy shook his head, and Robin turned to Batman. "Is Lunaris at the Watchtower?"
"No," Batman replied. "I don't know where he is, but we're all gathered here to meet someone."
On cue, the Zeta tubes activated:
Recognized: Green Arrow 08, Artemis B-09.
Out of the Zeta tubes emerged a familiar face and a new one. Green Arrow, AKA Oliver Queen, one of the Justice League members, and a 15-year-old girl with blond hair tied into a ponytail. She wore a green combat tank top with a light green arrow symbol on her chest, a green mask, dark green pants, combat boots, and carried a green bow and a quiver of green arrows on her back.
"Team, meet your newest teammate, Artemis," Green Arrow announced.
"Hey, nice to be here," Artemis said, stepping forward.
Suddenly, a whirling sound rang out as a portal of black and green opened in the middle of the room. The Team stood on guard, only to see Toneri float out of the portal, eating a glazed donut.
Robin, half-amused, half-exasperated, said, "Dude, where did you disappear to this time?"
Toneri shrugged, "Trying to see if the big black guy with horns on his big throne would let me go home... but unfortunately, no. He's still quite insistent on me staying in his castle."
"Uh huh," Superboy muttered as the Team calmed down.
Miss Martian walked up to Artemis, who was still shocked by the portal's sudden appearance, and introduced herself. "It's nice to meet you," M'gann said with a smile, and the others waved hello.
Artemis waved back, trying to be polite despite her surprise. Toneri thought, 'Hoo, it's her.'
Robin moved closer and began introducing everyone. "I'm Robin, that's Aqualad, Superboy, Miss Martian, and our pseudo mentor, Lunaris."
"Kid Flash is also with us, but he hasn't shown up yet," Aqualad added.
As if on cue, the Zeta tubes activated again:
Recognized: Kid Flash B-03.
Wally appeared, wearing swim trunks, with sunscreen on his nose, and carrying a cooler, beach ball, and beach umbrella.
"The Wall-man is here! Now let's get this party star-" he began, only to trip and fall face-first in front of everyone. Staring at Batman's unimpressed gaze and Toneri's amused smile, Wally finished lamely, "-ted...?"
"Wall-man, huh?" Artemis smirked. "I love the uniform. What exactly are your powers?"
Wally glared at her, then turned to his teammates. "Uh, who is this?"
"Artemis, your new teammate," she introduced herself with a cocky smile.
"Kid Flash, never heard of you," Wally said.
"She's my new protégé," Green Arrow said, patting her shoulder.
Toneri thought, 'Protégé? Well, that didn't take long.'
"What happened to your old one?" Wally asked, but was cut off as the computer sounded again.
Recognized: Speedy B-07.
"Well, for starters, he doesn't go by Speedy anymore. Call me Red Arrow," Red Arrow said gruffly.
Toneri looked at Speedy in his new outfit, thinking, 'Hmm, is that supposed to be an improvement? Merely changing his outfit and name?'
Green Arrow stepped forward. "Roy, you look–"
"Replaceable," Roy interrupted.
"It's not like that. You told me you were going solo," Green Arrow defended.
"Why waste time finding a sub?" Red Arrow shot back. "Can she even use that bow?"
Artemis walked up and looked him in the eye. "Yes, she can," she replied.
Toneri suddenly muttered, "Idiots," thinking, 'Are they seriously about to start an argument over such trivial things?'
"Who are you?" Wally asked.
Green Arrow said, "She's my niece," at the same time Artemis replied, "I'm his niece." The synchronized response made everyone suspicious.
'Well, that's an obvious lie, and their life forces look and feel completely different. How interesting,' Toneri thought.
"Another niece?" Robin asked with a raised eyebrow, suspecting the League was hiding her true identity. He resolved to hack the Watchtower's databases if necessary to discover who "Artemis" really was.
"But she is not your replacement," Kaldur said firmly. "We have always wanted you on the Team, and we have no quota on archers."
"And if we did," Wally added, "you'd know who we'd pick."
"Whatever, Bay-Watch," Artemis said annoyed. "I'm here to stay."
After glaring at Artemis, Red Arrow turned his cold stare towards Toneri, who hadn't spoken much since his arrival, making him uncomfortable. "So who are you supposed to be, newbie?"
Superboy thought, 'Oh, he doesn't like that tone.'
Toneri sighed and asked, "Tell me, Speedy or Red Arrow, what is the point of all that anger you feel right now?"
Roy narrowed his eyes. "None of your business, newbie. I asked for your name, or are they just allowing strays on the team now?"
Toneri sighed as Roy suddenly felt chills all over his body. "I don't appreciate that tone of yours. Imagine an imitator trying to compare himself to his master, raging over being unaccepted and replaced, speaking to me as if we are equals."
Roy tried to speak but couldn't, feeling as if his life would be forfeit if he uttered a word. Toneri then released the pressure, looking plainly at Red Arrow. "That attitude displays a certain amount of arrogance, and frankly, I don't see what you have to be arrogant about."
Aqualad stepped in to diffuse the situation. "You came to us for a reason."
"Yeah, a reason called Dr. Serling Roquette," Red Arrow said.
Robin's eyes widened, then he smiled. "Nanorobotics genius and claytronics expert at Royal University in Star City," he said, pulling up information on his holo-computer. "She vanished two weeks ago."
"Abducted two weeks ago," Red Arrow corrected. "By the League of Shadows."
Toneri asked, "Who are the League of Shadows?"
Batman explained, "The League of Shadows is a covert group of assassins led by Ra's al Ghul, operating globally with the aim of restoring balance through chaos and destruction."
'So they are like the shinobi's back at home, with their leader being exactly like Danzo,' Toneri thought.
"Whoa, you want us to rescue her from the Shadows?" Robin asked excitedly.
"Hardcore," Kid Flash said, fist-bumping Robin.
"I already rescued her," Roy said, walking toward the monitors. Toneri raised an eyebrow before Roy continued, "Only one problem." He took out a portable holographic monitor. "The Shadows had already coerced her into creating a weapon. 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 its true purpose isn't merely destruction - it's theft. The infiltrators eat and store raw data from any computer system and deliver the stolen intel to the Shadows, providing them access to weapons, strategic defense, cutting-edge science, and tech."
'Impressive,' Toneri thought. 'Their science can create and fuse concepts similar to the Aburame clan's insect techniques for infiltration and assassination.'
"Perfect for extortion, manipulation, and power broking," Artemis said. "Yeah, sounds like the Shadows."
Wally rolled his eyes. "Like you know anything about the Shadows," he said, but Artemis just smirked, annoying him more. "Who are you?!"
"Enough, Wally, stop antagonizing her," Toneri interjected. "Continue what you were saying, Red Arrow."
"Roquette is working on a virus that would render the fog inert," Red Arrow said, regaining everyone's attention.
"But if the Shadows know she can do that..." Robin said.
"They'll target her," Red Arrow finished.
"Then where is she now?" Toneri asked.
"Off the grid," Red Arrow answered.
"Off the grid where?" Toneri pressed.
Red Arrow brought up an image of the local high school. "I stashed her at the local high school's computer lab." Their eyes widened, and Toneri looked at Roy as if he were an idiot.
'He left her alone just like that? Unawares if the Shadows have people around in the locals who can track her down?' Toneri thought.
"Local? You left her alone?" Green Arrow demanded, unhappy with his former partner's decision.
"She's safe enough for now," Roy answered confidently.
"Then let's you and I keep her that way," Green Arrow suggested, hoping to mend their relationship.
"You and I? Don't you want to take your new protégé?" Red Arrow asked crossly. Green Arrow stepped forward to respond, but Batman placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a meaningful look. Green Arrow nodded.
"You brought this to the Team, so this is their mission," Green Arrow said, then gestured to Artemis. "Which means it's hers now too."
"Then my job is done," Red Arrow shrugged and walked to the Zeta tubes.
Before he left, Toneri briefly activated his Byakugan, which transformed into the Tenseigan, to observe Roy. 'Now that's interesting,' he thought, before turning his gaze to Superboy. 'Very interesting indeed.'
Recognized: Speedy–
"That's Red Arrow, B-07, update," Red Arrow said as the computer beeped and he was teleported out by the Zeta tube's light.
After he left, Batman moved to Toneri, who was staring at Superboy. "Everything okay?"
Toneri chuckled. "Just a little surprised, is all."
Batman narrowed his eyes. "Will you join them for this mission?"
"Oh, certainly. This fog has piqued my interest," Toneri replied.
The League members returned to the Watchtower as the Team prepared for their mission. Aqualad approached Toneri to apologize for how Roy had spoken to him. "I apologize for Roy's behavior. He is usually not like this."
"It's fine," Toneri replied calmly. "Let's focus on the mission ahead."