The young teens walked onto the beach alcove wearing swimsuits. M'gann took a deep breath and stretched her arms, holding onto a boogey board. "Hello Megan! We should hit the beach every day!"
"First, a moment of silence for our…absent teammate," Robin sighed, dropping his head.
"Poor Wally," M'gann agreed.
"It sucks that he has to be back in school already," Sakura nodded, lowering her head for a second. "Alright, silence is over! Let's have some fun!" She turned to Robin, and grabbed him, making him drop the volleyball. "Bet I can swim farther than you can!"
"Oh, you are so on!" Robin cheered, taking the towel off of his shoulder. He ran after her, diving into the ocean.
The team spent the day at the beach, playing in the water. For lunch they had grilled hotdogs and had some ice cream that Sakura had brought along. After lunch they had played a few rounds of volleyball. But, due to the uneven numbers they were switching on who was referee on each round; needless to say, when Robin and Sakura teamed up, they quickly beat Kaldur and Superboy. After the games they decided to retire to the sand and even buried Superboy. Their fun was halted when Red Tornado came to fetch them, telling them to suit up.
Recognized Kid Flash
"Alright the Wall-man is here! Let's get this party start-Whoa!" he shouted as he tripped over the beach umbrella he had brought. The beach ball bounced out of his hand, jumping to the other side of the room, passing a glaring Batman. "-ted?" Wally finished weakly. The teens moved, to show a blonde, green clad archer.
"'Wall-man' is it? I love your uniform," the girl smirked. "What exactly are your powers?"
"Who are you?" Wally asked, approaching the circle.
"Artemis, your new teammate," she answered.
"Kid Flash, never heard of you," the red head.
"She's my new protégé," Green Arrow informed them, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"What happened to your old one?" Wally asked in anger.
Recognized Speedy
"Well, for starters, he doesn't go by 'Speedy' anymore," the older teen answered. "I'm Red Arrow now." Sakura whistled and winked playfully.
"Love the new uniform, especially with the fact that you ditched the hat. It looked a little ridiculous," she laughed.
"Roy, you look-"
"Replaceable," Roy growled, cutting off his former mentor.
"I would have chosen the word 'hot'," Sakura smirked. She blinked when everyone stared at her. "What? I'm just saying what's on my mind."
"Did your teacher rub off on you or something?" Robin asked, crossing his arm. Sakura looked up at the ceiling with her finger on her chin, before looking back at him and nodding.
"Well, that explains a lot..." Wally muttered, crossing his arms.
"Roy, it's not like that, I swear," Green Arrow said, turning back to his old protégé. "You told me you were going solo, so-"
"So why waste time finding a sub," Roy interrupted again. "Can she even use that bow?"
"Yes, she can," Artemis answered, glaring at him.
"Who are you?" Wally repeated.
"I'm his niece."
"She's my niece." The two green clad archers answered without missing a beat.
"Another niece," Robin muttered. "I didn't know so many Leaguers had nieces."
"And she is not your replacement," Kaldur assured Roy. "We have always wanted you on the team. Even when you refused, we liked to believe you were still with us. And we have no quota on archers."
"And even if we did, you know we'd pick you," Wally smiled. "Right?"
"Yeah, I mean, we know how to work with you," Robin nodded. He turned to Sakura who looked down in shame.
"I don't know," the pinkette sighed. "Roy is our friend, and he's pretty awesome, but Artemis seems so cool!" She smiled looking at blonde in admiration.
"Here we go," Robin sighed. "Kunoichi's admiring the strong independent type girl again. So does this mean Black Canary is no longer your idol?"
"I can have more than one idol, ya know," Sakura snapped.
"You came to us for a reason," Kaldur said, directing the attention back to Red Arrow.
"Yes, I did," Roy nodded, "The reason is named Dr. Serling Roquette."
"You mean the nanotech genius and claytronics expert at Royal University in Star City?" Sakura asked, while Robin pulled up files on the woman.
"She vanished two weeks ago," Robin told them.
"Correction, she was abducted two weeks ago. By the League of Shadows," Roy informed them.
"Whoa, you want us to rescue her from the League of Shadows?" Robin asked in amazement.
"Hardcore," Wally smiled, bumping fists with Robin.
"I already rescued her," Roy informed the team.
"Then what do you need us for?" Sakura asked. "There has to be more, you wouldn't have come here just to tell us what you did."
"Correct," Roy nodded. "The Shadows coerced her into making a weapon, and it had just been completed when I rescued her. Doc calls it 'The Fog'. It's made out millions of microscopic robots, more specifically, nanotech infiltrators capable of disintegrating anything in their path. Concrete, steel, flesh, bone, you name it, they can destroy it."
"So, the Shadows could unleash this 'Fog' and destroy whole cities?" Sakura asked.
"It could, yes," Roy nodded. "But destruction isn't what they were created for. They were created for stealing. The bugs store any and all data they can gather from the computer systems they devour. And then they deliver the stolen Intel to the shadows."
"Whoa, with that kind of knowledge, they could get weapons defense systems, anything they wanted," Sakura realized.
"If they chose the right facilities to infiltrate, who knows what they could do," Robin added.
"Exactly," Roy nodded.
"It's perfect for extortion, manipulation, power broking, yeah, that sounds like the Shadows alright," Artemis sighed.
"Like you know anything about the shadows," Wally scoffed, crossing his arms. Artemis glanced at him, a smirk present on her face. "Who are you!?" The red head shouted in frustration, throwing his hands back.
"Artemis, Green Arrow's niece," Sakura smirked in reply. "You've met Green Arrow, haven't you?"
"Okay, I don't need lip from you as well," Wally shouted at the pinkette.
"The doctor is working on a virus that can render the Fog useless," Roy told them.
"But if the Shadows know that she can do that then-" Robin was cut off by the red archer.
"They'll target her, yes," Roy said. "Right now, she's off the grid. I hid her in the local high school's computer lab."
"You left her alone?" Green Arrow asked in shock.
"She's safe for now," Roy answered harshly.
"Then why don't you and I keep her that way?" Green Arrow suggested.
"'You and I'," Roy scoffed. "You don't want to take your new protégé?" Green Arrow was about to respond, when Batman placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a silent warning.
"You brought this mission to the team," Green Arrow sighed, "Which means it's her mission too."
"Then my job here is done," Roy muttered, strutting towards the zeta tubes.
Recognized Speedy
"That's Red Arrow," Roy growled "Update." The tubes sprang to life and Red Arrow disappeared.
"We have a mission to do, Kid Flash, suit up," Aqualad answered.
"Yeah, fine, don't have to tell me twice," Wally huffed, throwing his hands off. "Can't believe I missed out on the beach." The red head continued muttering as he sped off to change.
"Is everyone online?" M'gann's voice rang through their minds.
"This is weird," Artemis said, looking around the computer lab.
"And distracting," Serling huffed. "Coding a distributive algorithm virus on a kiddy computer with less RAM than a wrist watch is hard enough! Now I have to hear teen think in my skull?"
"What did she just say?" Sakura asked, looking at Robin.
"I thought you knew everything," the boy wonder snickered in his head.
"I do! I just don't understand the tech talk, no matter how hard I try," the pinkette groaned. "You're forgetting, I grew up in a small village, we don't really electronics. We don't need them, so I was never taught anything about them. But I did catch one thing. 'Teen Think' would be a good name for a teenage band."
"I will never understand how your mind works," Robin sighed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Neither will I," Cherī grumbled.
"Lady, do you complain about everyone that tries to help you?" Wally grumbled, taking a bite of his protein bar. He quickly tore Artemis's attention away from Cherī before she could ask.
"Pot, kettle, have you met?" Artemis asked.
"Hey! I'm not going to take attitude from some new girl that threw Red Arrow off the team!" Wally told her.
"Oh! That is so not on me!" Artemis shouted, jumping up.
"Hello! Fate of the world is at stake! Did you two forget that!?" Serling shouted at them.
"She started it!" Wally defended indignantly.
"Wow, mature," Sakura and Cherī muttered.
"How about I end it?"Artemis huffed, walking towards the door. "I'll help Miss Martian and Superboy patrol the perimeter."
"Good idea," Aqualad nodded, glaring at Wally.
"Dude, cut the girl a break," Robin smiled, looking at his friend. "It was her arrow that saved your butt against Amazo."
"No! That was Speedy-I mean Red Arrow's arrow!" Wally protested. "Wasn't it?"
"Nope," Robin, Sakura, and Cherī answered.
"Whatever! I'm still not giving her the satisfaction," Wally grumbled.
"You know that I can still here you, right!" Artemis shouted through the link. Wally growled out loud and gripped his head in anger, causing Robin and Sakura to snicker.
"Ugh, I couldn't have gotten the Justice League," Serling groaned, rubbing her forehead.
"Lady, you're dealing with teenagers here. And we're pretty bored just sitting around here," Cherī reminded her.
"Besides, we handle the more covert and off the radar stuff. If we had the Justice League here the Shadows would be over this place in ten seconds," Sakura smiled.
"Really having a bunch of teenagers is the better thing," Robin agreed.
"Okay, before I go out of range, why do I keep hearing a female voice that I know doesn't belong to any of you?" Artemis asked.
"You're hearing things," Sakura answered quickly.
"Whatever," Artemis scoffed.
"The virus won't be of much use if we can't find the weapon. Can you track it?" Aqualad asked.
"My Fog is not a weapon," Serling said harshly. "It's science, brilliant science! And of course I can track it, but I'd have to go online. If I did that, I might as well rent a billboard with this address and 'Assassinate Me' written in neon."
"No doubt the shadows are waiting for her to go online to try and track it. They probably have some device waiting to intercept the tracking once it connects to Fog. Then, once they get that interception they'll be able to quickly track us in return and send someone here to try and kill the woman! We should wait until she's nearly done with the virus," Sakura told them.
"We will protect you," Kaldur assured Serling.
"Alright, I'm tracking Fog now," Serling announced. "Well, things are about to get very interesting," Cherī said. The others could hear the smirk in her voice.
"I mean, every time I tell you something, I'm right, but do you listen to me? No! And every time you say 'We'll listen to Kunoichi next time', and do you listen? NO!"Sakura growled, crossing her arms.
"Sorry Blossom. We're guys, how often do guys listen to girls?" Robin smiled, pulling her in for a hug.
"You have a point," The pinkette nodded, leaning into him.
"Mmm that boy," Artemis said through the link.
"He can hear you! We can all hear you!" M'gann reminded her.
"Oh, I know," Artemis replied.
"Oh! I'm liking this girl more every minute," Sakura giggled.
"Miss Martian, Dr. Roquette has located the Fog. Reconfigure the bio ship so Robin and Superboy can follow it," Aqualad ordered. Robin jumped up, slapping Wally and Sakura on the hands as he left.
"Good luck," Wally smiled.
"Make something explode for me," the pinkette requested.
"If reasonably possible," Robin answered, closing the door behind him.
"Ready," M'gann announced.
"I'm going to keep an out outside," Wally told Aqualad and Sakura.
"Sure, we can handle the good doctor in here," Sakura nodded.
"Keep a sharp eye out," Kaldur ordered.
"Uh, given," Wally muttered, exiting the room. Kaldur sighed and rubbed his forehead. He felt his hand being pulled away and Sakura placed hers on his head.
"Don't worry. He's just in a mood. He'll listen," Sakura assured him. "Feel better?"
"Yes, thank you," Kaldur nodded, feeling his brain clear up.
"No problem Aqualad. It's what I do," Sakura smiled, lowering her hand. She walked back over to the desk and sat on it, keeping her ears and eyes open for an attack. The door quietly opened and a shuriken was thrown at Serling. Aqualad jumped in front of it and growled.
"Doctor, get down!" he ordered. He jumped in front of her once more and pushed the doctor down.
"Mmm, that had to hurt," a masked girl smirked, walking into the room and taking out two sai swords.
"Atlantean skin is very tough," Aqualad answered, taking out his water bearers.
"And my shuriken are quiet poisonous," the woman smirked. She ducked her head to avoid a flying kunai. Sakura was crouched on the desk, several kunai out.
"Haven't you learned anything? Never let your guard down," the pinkette growled, narrowing her eyes.
"Oh, so you're like me, are you?" The masked girl smirked, holding up her sai.
"No, I'm a whole lot better," Sakura growled, lunging at her. Sakura swung her kunai around, trying to hit her, but the woman blocked them with her swords. "Let me guess, you're just a mercenary for hire, not a real shinobi."
"How'd you guess?" the woman taunted, swinging her sai.
"Only a coward wears a mask," Sakura shouted, kicking her leg up. The woman caught it and slammed her sword into Sakura's leg. The pinkette let out a gasp of pain and was kicked in the head, sending her flying. The ninja turned around, throwing her other sai. Aqualad swung his water sword, deflecting it.
"Almost," she hummed as it missed Serling by an inch. Aqualad jumped at the enemy, and she pulled out two small knives. "Poison slowing you down yet?"
"Jellyfish toxin," Kaldur smirked "I'm largely immune." She spun around and kicked him in the back.
"Stop right there, little girl," She smirked, throwing one of her knives at Sakura. The pinkette, who had raised her hand with another kunai, froze when the knife flew through her skin, and stuck to the wall behind her, pinning her there. The assassin turned to face Serling, raising her other weapon. It was knocked out of her hand by an arrow.
"Don't move," Artemis growled lowly.
"This gig's getting interesting," the woman hummed, taking out a collapsible sword. She sliced and deflected every arrow that Artemis shot. M'gann and Wally flew into the room, making the assassin stop. "Maybe a little two interesting. She took out a smoke bomb and threw it at the ground, just as Wally ran towards her. He ran into Artemis, who caught herself before they could both fall. Wally gasped and backed up, turning back to the assassin, only to find her gone.
"She's getting away!" Serling shouted. "How can you let her get away?"
"She won't be, not for long," Sakura groaned, ripping the swords out of her body. She coughed up blood and groaned, pushing herself off of the wall. Wally rushed forward to help the pinkette steady herself.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, just give me a moment," The pinkette nodded, rubbing her head. "I think her boots had steel toes or something." She tried to stand up and fell into Wally's arms once more. "Okay, more than a minute," she whispered, taking deep breaths.
"This is all your fault," Wally shouted at the blonde archer. "You were doing perimeter, how could you let that shadow slip in?"
"That isn't fair," M'gann protested. "I was outside as well. I'm to be blamed for letting the shadow get in, not just her."
"Yeah well, you were being distracted by her!" Wally shouted, pointing at Artemis. "Besides, I could never be mad at you," he smiled sheepishly at the Martian. "You gave me mouth to mouth."
"We heard that!"
"Dang it," Wally growled, hanging his head. He turned back to sakura and looked at her wounds. "Hey, you going to be alright?" he asked softly.
"Yeah," Sakura nodded, pressing an arm against her wrist. "I just need a minute or two to heal."
"Unfortunately, we don't have a minute or two," Aqualad told them. "The shadows know where we are."
"Robin to Aqualad," Robin's called through the communicators. "We're over Philadelphia now. We've also located the next target. But, we're too late. S.T.A.R. labs has been destroyed, totally and completely decimated."
"This is bad," Sakura panted. "S.T.A.R. labs was one of the leaders in cutting edge science. If the Fog was there, then the enemy just gained some very valuable information."
"What do we do now?" Robin asked.
"Scan for the Fog again, we're moving the doctor," Aqualad ordered.
