It had been a week, a long week, since the team was shaken to its core. Nightwing and the other original members gathered in the conference room to talk about the mission at hand, one that would change the team around them. Nightwing finally spoke, still grieving over what had happened.
" As you know last weeks mission was a failure for more than one reason, and that is why I have decided to push our drive to add more members to our ranks forward. You have all been given intel on those who you will be talking to, but I encourage you to find other heroes as well. One last bit of information before you go team, it seems the light has the same idea and may try to convince members to their cause and you may come into direct contact with them. Do not let your guard down around them, we have all seen the results..."
It replayed over and over again in M'ganns head, the image of Artemis laying in the sand with no thought or pulse. That day hit her hard, She had lost two people that night. The only one hit harder may have been Wally or Nightwing at least she could get L'gaan back, Artemis was gone for good, and Nightwing had asked for her, he was one of the causes. M'gann shook her head, she could not think like that. Aqualad was the one to blame for what happened, he had been against them, and he had been the one to attack her, he was the one that took L'gaan from her. The rest of the trip was quiet, even in her head there was barely a sound. She knew what she had to do but before she got to her real target she was going to make a quick side trip.
It was night by the time Miss Martian landed the Bio-Ship and began to scan the town. She was looking for someone, and this was the fastest way to find them. Megan did not have to search for long, minutes after she landed and began she felt telekinetic presence, M'gann knew she was here, and that she was in the middle of a fight. She flew as quick as she could, she didn't know what to expect, but she wanted to help her friend in whatever way she could. Of in the distance a young girl is facing of with what looks like a gang of thugs. As she comes into view Miss Martian can see that she is wearing a Navy blue longed sleeve mini-dress along with black leggings and gloves and a hooded clock, proving that this is the one she was looking for. For a moment it looks like the girl is overtaken but a telepathic pulse sends the gang into convulsions, and then unable to move at all. Seeing the opportunity to let her presence be know, she lifts the now disabled brutes and disposes of them in a nearby garbage bin, using her powers to seal them in for the police to find later.
"That was quite the an attack Jo. If I had not been prepared you would have taken me out just like them" Miss Martian laughed at the statement, even with everything going on it was good to see her old 'student' again. Jo was glad for the help and to see M'gann again, but her main question quickly became why did Miss Martian visit her so suddenly.
"For your information it's Psylum when I'm in costume and I didn't need your help; but thank you. I haven't seen you since you left and I have gotten really good since then, want to have a little one on one?"
M'gann laughed at the thought and quickly began to explain herself and the situation at hand. "So you see Jo, er.. Psylum I couldn't think of anyone I would rather have on The Team besides you, what do you say would you like to join us?"
For a moment Psylum was speechless, she finally found what she wanted to say to her friend but did not know how to say it. "Miss Martian.. I don't know if I would fit on the team. I really have to think about this before I commit to anything."
M'gann nodded after a moment and tried to comfort her friend and pupil "It's a big step Jo, and I will not make you do anything you do not want to do." She thought for a moment before finally speaking again "I have someone else to meet, another young hero that we hoped would join. After I am done with him I will come back, that should be enough time to think about it, right?" Jo nodded her head slowly and M'gann smiled and waved as she took to the sky, it would be good to have another old friend on the team. M'gann punched in the coordinates and set the ship for auto pilot, staring out the window one last time as she took off towards her next destination.
Kaldur'ahm thought quietly to himself as he closed in on his destination. This wasn't right, he would be adding to the forces he fought every day. He and Nightwing both knew that he would have to make hard decisions to find the information he wanted, but this was something he was not prepared for.
"Manta Sir, we have arrived at the location and are closing in on the target. How would you like to proceed sir?"
"Stay here, I will meet the target alone. We will return to base when the two of us return." Kaldur exited the ship and pt his helmet on, making him virtually identical to his father Black Manta. Manta continued towards his target, and eventually came to a clearing near a small lake. A large young man is sitting in the clearing, wearing only a white shirt and black jeans, with a brown jacket folded up not to far away. The man seems to sense Mantas arrival and stands to meet him. After a tense moment between the two of them the man finally confronts Manta.
"What business do you have here with me?"
"I'm here with a proposition Mr. Thorn, your unique talents have peaked the interest in a friend, and they wish to offer you employment in a sense of the word. They have asked me to come retrieve you." Manta stands ready and watches the young villain, preparing for the worst. The two stared one another down, before the young villain smiled and covered himself with rocks from the earth around them.
"It's Gaia. And if you wish to have me as part of whatever you are planning, you will have to best me. After all I don't work with weaklings." With a wicked smile sends two rocks in Mantas direction. Quickly destroying the rocks with two well placed laser blast, Manta sends a small rocket towards Gaia.
"Good, I would not want someone weak on my team, Prove to me that my superiors were correct." Gaia gritted his teeth as the rocket hit him, only knocking a few rocks away from his body. Seeing his opening Manta readies his water-bearers and sends it in Gaias direction, hoping to hit him and end this fight early. Gaia quickly replaced his rock armor, only feeling a slight tickle from the water hitting his side. Trying to take the advantage Gaia began to break the ground beneath Manta, lift it up into the air and begins to throw his captive around. Manta is shaken up a bit, but quickly recovers and begins to dodge the flying rocks and makes his way back to the ground below. If the ground was the enemies weapon, he would just take to the water. Manta dived into the water and quickly dodged the large rocks that followed him he was faster in the water and Gaia could not see him, let alone hit him. Gaia became frustrated at his lack of success with his attacks began to break away bigger and bigger pieces of land around the lake, weakening its stability and forcing Manta to surface.
"I'll admit you fight well, but with my armor I am all but invincible to your attacks. You're running out of water, and I wonder how much punishment you can take before you crack? Why don't we just call it a draw for now, maybe you can work under me after I report back to whom ever sent you to find me." Gaia laughed as he surrounded Manta with rocks, knocking his helm off with a well placed attack. Manta needed to end this quickly and sent water at the one place on Gaia that did not seem to be covered in rock, his face. Gaia saw the water coming but thought nothing of it, and was mostly unaffected by the stream initially hitting him. He readied his final attack planning to crush Manta under the rocks and drag what was left back to wherever he came from. The chance never came for Gaia as Manta sent an electrical current through the water to the now soaked man, shocking him and causing him to fall. As the rocks around him fell harmlessly away from his path, he walked over to Manta.
"I guess you do not know as many tricks as you expect, I am sure that you will enjoy working for The Light."
" I will have to, that was a good fight and you have proven that you guys are no joke." Gaia picked himself up after the shock wore off, and shook Mantas hand. "I have a feeling that you were not going all out as well. Well, do you have a car or are we walking there." Manta retrieve his helmet before leading Gaia back towards the ship. He felt badly about helping The Light boost their power but he knew he had to stop at nothing to get the information, and prepared for what came next.
Miss Martian felt a sense of dread as she landed and cloaked the Bio-ship. The last hero that she asked was wary of joining, and she did not feel any better about this one. At least she would have some help from Vixen supposedly she was the boys mentor and related to him somehow, and M'gann had a feeling she needed the help. Miss Martian cloaked the ship and headed to the home of Mari Mcabe and hopefully her new teammate Kane Mcabe, the hero Fang. She didn't have to wait long before the duo arrived from their night of crime fighting and their unexpected guest. After greeting them and explaining why she was in their home, Miss Martian began to discuss what business brought her there.
"I wanted to ask you to join us Fang, we feel your talent would be of a great asset to us and the world." Miss Martian waited patiently for Fangs reply, hoping for the best from the young hero. Fang was a tall person towering over M'gann easily wearing a skin tight suit with a large mane around his neck. He thought for a while until he finally accepted the offer.
"I am humbled by your offer, and I am sure that you and your team will have much to teach me about being a better hero. I do have to tell you I am strong maybe to strong for my own good, There is a change I could hurt someone ever attack the team itself and I do not want to put anyone in danger."
"Kane we understand your powers, and any of us will be willing to help you control your powers. And don't worry about going berserk around us, Superboy is more than just a name." Miss Martian laughed at the last part, thinking about how they had all have problems with their powers at various times in the Teams career. "Nightwing and the others are great trainers, we can help you with anything you are having trouble with." Kane thought to himself before smiling and nodding his head at Miss Martian.
"If you are so sure about this, I would be glad to join you and help with whatever I can. When can I expect my first mission as part of this team?" Miss Martian explained that he would be contacted soon about his mission and that she was glad he was joining, making her way back to the ship after saying her goodbyes. M'gann still had another person to talk to, a quickly returned to Psylum for the young heroes answer. As she flew over the scenery towards her friend she began to feel hopeful for the first time since this had all started. Even with everything that had happened to them the team wold go on, and she would find a way to save who had been taken from her. Even the loss of Artemis seemed to fade for a small moment, she knew that they would win this fight and she would be avenged. As she landed the ship M'gann noticed Jo waiting for her nearby. As she approached Jo spoke before any question could be asked.
"I sensed you were coming and I thought I would meet you here. I have my answer about your team, and even though I don't know how well I would fit into it with everyone I would like to give it a try. " M'gann smiled as she herd the news, both heroes had decided to join them without much hassle. She explained to Jo about being contacted and that she can continue to watch over her city along with being part of the team. The two shared a short hug before M'gann left to report her progress back at the cave.
At the cave things were unusually quiet, even for such a late night. The original members of the had just left for a top secret mission, leaving Nightwing with a few of the younger members. Before leaving to find his own assigned hero he needed someone to do a task for him. Robin and Batgirl were back in Gotham, while Beast Boy was busy with school. The only one that seemed to not be busy was Jaime Reyes, the Blue Beetle.
"Blue, I have a favor to ask, a somewhat special mission that I think you can help with. I need you to go to Blüdhaven, meet a contact, and help stop a crime spree that seems to have overtaken the city. I would go myself, but like the others I have to leave for this special mission we have." Beetle nodded and agreed to go, using the Zeta tube to travel quickly. Nightwing, happy with the result left to complete his own mission. Beetle arrived in Blüdhaven looking around at the seemingly broken city. As he wandered wondering how he was going to find his contact he felt a hand on his shoulder, that soon was accompanied by a voice.
"Nightwing said that help would come, looks like you made it to the city alright. Follow me and I will explain everything when we get there, trust me you are going to end up loving this place." With that the two heroes were off into the darkness of the city.
A/N: I am sorry for the wait, I am currently looking for a replacement document program and only get a few chances to write until I can find one. It didn't help that they threw the curve ball about Aqualad in during the latest episode. I hope you all enjoy it, and the next one should be out soon.