Third Person's POV

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 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 of 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 store 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 theirs, 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, knocking 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.

"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 waterline, where something is covered in a camouflage tarp. Speedy rips it off to reveal a blue speed 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

-Scene change-

Mount Justice, Rhode Island; 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 every day."

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.

Superboy also notices something "Isn't Neo coming?" he questioned.

"Neo texted saying that he'll be a bit late, and that we can start having fun without him" Robin said sounding genuine sad.

-scene change-

Central City; August 8th; 9:00 CDT

The school bell 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.

-with the others minus Neo-

M'gann and Robin splash each other in the water. Kaldur stays 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

-with Wally-

Wally stands in front of a fountain, 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.

-with the others-

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.

"If only Neo was with us, I just hope either Canary or Harley aren't making him do anything last minute" 

Kaldur nods "Sure Harley Quinn was once a villain but she isn't causing problems more like fixing them" he agrees.

Superboy frowns and doesn't say anything which M'gann sees this making her giggle which the three boys look at the female confused.

"O-Oh, is nothing I just thinking of past memories" she lied.

-with Neo-

Some other part of the same beach Trivia rocking in a buttoned white shirt with half of the bottom buttons unbuttoned exposing his stomach light brown booty shorts underneath what seems like a pink miniskirt. and pink sandals. Instead of his pink and brown hair Trivia's rocking a full brown hair and but the hair not that noticeable due to his big pink hat he walks around the beach while happily drinking a milkshake in hand.

He sees a group of people mostly teenagers and they seem to have a dance competition this seemed to caught Neo's attention and walks up and they see a girl standing on what seem like a stage.

"Give it up one more time for miss Halsey, so now this up now who's gonna take the dancing queen title?" the announcer that seems like a teenager. No one seems to want to and Neo with no shame walks up to the stage raising a hand meaning that he wants to try it "What do you know we have a volunteer, and she seems like not from our school" he whispers that last part seeing Neo walking up the stage Neo with a blink changes his pink eye to a brown to avoid suspicions "what's your name gorgeous?" he asks. Neo hides his cringe at the nickname with a forced smile shakes his head "I see you want to keep your name anonymous, right?" Neo nods "Well, Miss anonymous, show us what you got" the girl watches Neo with a frown normally she would always win these types of competitions but now that someone challenged her for her dancing queen title, this makes her frow of jealousy as Neo gets in position as he takes off the hat revealing his brown hair and music plays and Neo begins to dance.

With Trivia's charismatic, and facial expressions were enough to impressed that he even lip-syncs with the song he's dancing to as if he's singing the song that cause a huge attraction that even are people recording him when he finishes the dance, the crowd of teenagers were dead silent before erupted with cheer as he turns his back towards the crowd taking few steps forward before looking back at the crowd and smiles and picks up his hat and walks down stage and leaves without caring if he won or not while drinking his still not melted milkshake.

-back with Wally-

The school bell rings once more at Keystone High. Now 3:29. 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 "Wahoo!" because now he can finally get to the Mountain.

-scene change-

Recognize: Neopolitan; B-0-0

Trivia appears skipping while being in uniform and notices that he is the first to arrive as he sees Batman, Green Arrow and a female wearing green clothes before him he points to himself.

"You're the first to arrive while the others are suiting up" Green Arrow explains.

Neopolitan nods "So this is Neopolitan I heard about?" Neo hears the female walking up to the short boy "I'm Artemis, I'm aware of your inability to speak" the female known as Artemis said to Neo.

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 goes 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.

Neo looks at him with knowing smile and hold no remorse at him making a fool of himself. and goes to help Wally up.

"T-Thanks, Neo" he thanked the shorter boy who smiles brightly.

Artemis seems the interaction with a thinking expression but shrugs off, later she sees the other protégés arriving in their uniforms.

"Wall-man, huh?" Artemis asks, Neo steps aside so Kid Flash can see her. "I love the uniform. What exactly are your powers?" she questions

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 protégé." He tells Wally

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 protégés are both relieved and tensed to see him in the mountain, but it's Green Arrow who reacts the fastest.

Red Arrow formerly known as Speedy then notices Neo who gives him a playful bow, which made the barely-eighteen-year-old teenager smirked and playfully returned the gesture. this causes Robin, Kaldur, Wally, and Superboy to look surprised before frowning

"Roy. You look-" Green Arrow begins, but Red Arrow cuts him off as he walks to the center of the training circle.

"-Replaceable." he nearly growls, his gaze zeroing 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.

Neo gets in between the two of them and makes a X with his arms signaling them that they should not argue for something not more worthy than what they're really here for.

"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 Robin pulls up the data on his HoloGlove. "Nanorobotics genius and claytronic 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 its 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."

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?!"

Neo patted Wally's bare shoulder calming the speedster down.

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 her at 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 protégé?"

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 hers now, too." Green Arrow says calmly.

Roy scoffs. "Then my job's done." he says walking back towards the Zeta Tubes, but stops and turn back walking up to Neopolitan "May I borrow your phone?" he asks.

Neo confusingly takes his phone out and hands it to Roy who types on it and shows him his phone number.

"If you want to chat you can reach me out" Roy tells the ice cream themed boy before walking away smirking at the dumbfounded and jealous looks on the other four boy's faces, knowing that he made the first move before they did.

Recognize: Speedy-

"That's Red Arrow, B-0-6, update." Roy corrects. The Zeta Tube beeps, recognizing the update, and transporting him away.

-scene change-

Happy Harbor, Rhode Island; August 8th; 21:59 EDT

Outside Happy Harbor High, M'gann, Neo 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." Kaldur tells Miss Martian in his thought who she heard.

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 less RAM than a wristwatch is hard enough." she stops typing and starts moving her body as if she were speaking aloud. "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 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."

Neo rolls his eyes "First of all, Wally you're wrong about that, I may not know anyone here much, but Red Arrow never was a official member of the team in the first place, And second to Artemis and the ungrateful doctor here, you'll get used to it shortly" Artemis and Roquette startles at the soft yet sassy voice.

"Was that Neopolitan's inner voice?" Artemis questions.

"Yeah, too bad he can't actually speak, but is nice to hear him speak through the link" Wally said.

"Muted?" the doctor asked.

"Yep" Neo replies ignoring Wally's comment completely.

"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. Neo swap places with Artemis" Aqualad agrees, his tone formal as ever but there's a noted edge of stress to his simple words.

"All right" he responds before looking back at M'gann and Superboy waving at the two not human members of the team and goes to where the lab is located.

"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. 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.

"The Nile is a river in Egypt" Neo comment making Artemis hold back a laughter.

"Neo, I know we just met, but I like you already" she said.

Neo smiles proudly to himself "Guilty" he sassily responds flipping his hair making M'gann giggle to herself.

Superboy smiles at himself which the Martian notices this and smiles brightly.

Kid Flash manages to huff in his head. "Well, still not giving her the satisfaction." he gripes.

Neo enters the room raising his eyebrow at him "You know we can all still hear you, right?" Neo reminds Wally.

Wally grips his head and groans aloud.

"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 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.

-meanwhile-

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 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 Holo Screen appears, 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 the screen. "Who we have near... Happy Harbor, Rhode Island?" he questions.

-with the team-

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 had her bow strung. Though, seeing both are more relaxed than he is, brushes it off and walks 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.

Neo feels a twisted feeling in his gut, and he dislike it so much but shakes his head ignoring the feeling

"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."

"Is not necessary with words, you can already tell by the facial expression" the two hear Neo's voice sounding dark.

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 depth of the pool. Then running off without another sound.

Neo has a uneasy gut feeling "Aqualad" Neo calls.

"Yes?" Aqualad responds.

"don't you ever feel like someone had snuck in without neither, Miss Martian or Artemis noticing?" Neo questioned sounding unsure.

"I get how you feel, but you mustn't worry too much"

Neo sighs silently "If only it was as easy as it sounds" he then said.

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 shuriken 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 sai held in a reverse grip as she runs towards the doctor and Atlantean. "That had to hurt." she said 

Aqualad pulls 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 sai.

"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.

Neo charges at Cheshire hitting her with a Cartwheel kick follow up by striking a few times with his umbrella knocking her to a wall.

"you're a interesting one" Cheshire said as Neo's blade pop out on the tip of Hush "and feisty" she adds before both charge and exchange blow trying to land a hit on one another but the other swiftly either dodge or block the other's attack.

"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 and Neopolitan, who are keeping the doctor behind his water bearers, umbrella and body. In retaliation, Aqualad strikes at 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". But Neo returns the favor by hitting Cheshire square in the face with his umbrella sending her flying on the wall.

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 WaterBearer becoming a sword once more as she takes 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 kicked out of her hand by Neo who strikes at Cheshire giving her a cut on her clothes luckily it didn't cut her skin. Before she could try anything else Cheshire turns to find Artemis already prepared with a arrow.

"Don't. Move." Artemis states slowly.

-with M'gann-

Miss Martian's eyes glow red as she raises Kid Flash's unconscious body out of the pool.

-with the others-

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 single-handed collapsible sword. Standing ready for Artemis.

Who releases the arrows in rapid succession, however Cheshire slices through them, nearly in half every time.

Neo gets in between Cheshire and Artemis and blocked the masked assassin pushing her back despite the size difference.

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 Neos' 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." Neo nods agreeing with the Martian.

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." the addition of a new voice 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 at an image on his HoloGlove as he flies the Bioship. "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."

-scene change-

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.

-outside-

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 a 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 sweep 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 them 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 counters 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. 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 in 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 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 but only for Roquette dodges in time; her distraction is rewarded by a hook to the face. The hook returns to Hook's hand while Cheshire looks over Roquette and Leaps backwards startling seeing Roquette charging at her with a familiar umbrella as everything is seen in slow motion. Cheshire narrows her eyes at Roquette only for her eyes blinking and changes to pink and brown realizing she caught a imposter Roquette does a 360-rotation swinging the umbrella on Cheshire's left rib sending her flying on a wall.

Cheshire groans in pain and chuckles to herself "Interesting...feisty..." she turns and sees Roquette turning herself into Neopolitan realizing that he was a decoy for the Shadows "And sneaky" she finished "We've been duped!" she calls out, both angrily and to alert both men working with her.

-meanwhile-

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.

-with Robin and Superboy-

"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, "its system software could be used to hack the-" he cuts himself off.

"What?" Superboy asks expectantly.

"Doesn't matter." Robin tries to brush off. "Wh-what matters is Wayne Tech 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.

-with the team-

Miss Martian reappears from to her camouflage 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 two running 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.

"I'm coming with!" Neopolitan informs as he follows Artemis.

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 speedster's neck as his right-hand grips the ginger hair tightly.

-with Neo and Artemis-

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 the 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 sai 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.

But Cheshire gets knocked down by a camouflaged Neopolitan while undoing his illusion.

"Artemis, can you hear me?" He questions checking on the blonde.

Artemis groans while waking up looking at Neo "Neo?"

Neo smiles "Rule number one of a combat never let your opponent distract you" he said.

Artemis gasps as she sees Cheshire about to strike Neo with her Sai.

"Behind you!" she calls out of panic.

Neo quickly turns and block Cheshire's attack and the two continue on exchanging blows.

"Artemis, go to Aqualad and warn him about Cheshire!"

"I can't leave you here with her!" Artemis argued.

"Is not up to debate, go!" he snaps pushing Cheshire back.

Artemis sighs before running off. Neo smiles at Artemis' direction before turning to Cheshire and charges forward. Cheshire uses her Sais to block Neo's attacks.

"You're quite skilled for a feminine boy" One of Neo's attacks hits Cheshire in the face. Her mask falling off due to the impact

As it clears, she's on her hands and knees, her back to Neo's. Cheshire hears a shing sound of a blade from Neo's hidden blade of his umbrella.

Despite the warning, Cheshire stands. "Wow." she murmurs, turning to face Neo over her shoulder. Her eyes open to reveal the same murky, dark, expansive brown as Artemis' own. "I am completely at your mercy" she said.

Neo's eyes widen slightly as he gasps; despite the years passing, he hasn't ever forgot a face.

"It's been a while hasn't it...Trivia Vanille" Cheshire said.

"Neo! We did it!" Neo and Cheshire heard Artemis from a dropped comm.

"So, you've finished the virus," she states, "eliminating the reason for Roquette's elimination," despite her words her sai is getting closer to Neo's neck and face, "though not your entertainment value" she gets right in front of him and watches as the boy's mismatched colored eyes go wide. "Lucky for you, my orders are clear. You live to program another day. After all, doctor, Shadows may find another use for her" she begins to back away "It's a shame that the two of us are on opposite side we could've been good partners in crime, business wise; I suppose now you bring me to Justice. Let your new friends interrogate me." she taunts. "I wonder if her position's secure enough to survive them learning everything I know." There's a long pause where neither of them so much as breath. "I mean your new teammate, Artemis" she explains "as by comparing our eyes you can already tell we're related; you'd lost your family despite them being the shittiest parents, you don't want her to feel the loneliness that you've faced at a young age?" Neo stands down. "What I thought." she starts backing up, smoke comes up behind her. "So, like the Cheshire Cat, I'll just disappear. Until we meet again, old friend." with that even her shadow has gone missing.

Neo charges and before she could leave but only for Neo's face to be hit by ink blinding his eyes making him fall off the roof to the concrete hard on his back. which fortunately the roof wasn't high enough to make him break a bone or worse kill him, but the sting in his eyes still there he was struggling he was scared. His body trembled with agony he wanted to scream for help and call but can't as he crawls, he feel two different things on his gloved hands on one hand is his Umbrella and the other hand was Cheshire's mask.

The smoke stays for another moment then it too disappears.

Aqualad runs out and sees his muted teammate on the floor and his eyes widen with shock and worry as he runs to the shorter teenager follow by Dr. Roquette and Artemis 

"Neo!" they called 

Aqualad helps him up which Neo panics tries to fight off "Neo, is me!" Aquala tells the panicking young male.

Neo shakes and let out some horrible rasping sound, like he was gasping for breath.

Aqualad noticed the ink in his eyes before trying to calm the male "Neo is me, Aqualad!" Aqualad pulls Neo to a tight embrace "Is Aqualad!" he stated to Neo's ear.

Neo stop struggling and lowered his head.

Artemis and Roquette looks at the shorter male with concern "Neo..." Artemis whispers.

"Neo, where's the assassin?" he questions.

Neo shakes his head and gives Aqualad Cheshire's mask.

Artemis gasp "her mask, did you see her face?" She asks Neo shakes his head again looking down with shame "I see..."

However, Kid Flash and his big mouth are right beside her in an instant. "Oh, got away from you?" he taunts. "Oh, big surprise. Notice we got ours."

Miss Martian lowers the still-knocked-out assassin closer to the ground.

the two then notices Neo's inked face "Neo, what happened?" Wally asked with worry

"I let her get away, I couldn't see her face it was dark, despite we were equally matched in terms of combat, but she outsmarted me, I'm sorry" he apologized he gets up and open his eyes now managing to see he walks away.

"Neo where are you going?" Miss Martian asks with worry.

"Getting the ink off my face, tell that to Robin and Superboy in case they ask for me" Neo responds through the link before disappearing shattering his body like glass

He looks down and his eyes lighten, a small smile on his face. "Cool." then picks up Cheshire's mask. "Souvenir." he states

"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." Aqualad tells Artemis.

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.

-scene change-

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 blind spot. 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 but remains silent.

"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. Especially him" he practically growls. Then walks away.

Behind his turned back Artemis' shoulders sag though she seems taken a back of the last part before realizing who he's referring to.

-at the Mountain-

Neo finishes cleaning his face as he walks out of the bathroom only to see Superboy and Robin running up to him.

"Aqualad told us, what happened!" Robin tells the shorter boy with concern.

"Are you okay?" Superboy asks looking worried

Neo types his phone and shows them to the duo. "I am now, just emotionally, and mentally exhausted, sure it was scary, but I'llget over it, promise, and I'm sorry I worried you" he hears Robin reading out loud.

Neo smiles sadly at Robin and Superboy.

"I..." Superboy hugs Neo "I'm glad you're okay..."

Neo smiles and hugs back before the two of them then let go before Robin jumps in and hugs Neo.

"I'm also glad you're okay,  Neo" the Boy Wonder states making Neo giggles silenty and hugs him back.

Robin then let's go "I'm gonna go, good night guys" he said as he runs off.

Neo stops Robin who turns to the muted boy "what's wrong?"

Neo shakes his head before giving both Superboy and Robin a peck on the cheek and they leaves skipping off to the Zeta Tube.

Recognized: Neopolitan; B-0-0

Both Robin and Superboy shared a look and looked determined.