Trust Chapter eleven: The challenge

Artemis P.O.V

"Artemis? Artemis wake up! Batman wants to see us in the debriefing room!" I heard Robin shout through the door, I groaned and turned to see what time it was. Two o'clock! What is so important that Bats had to send Robin to wake me up at...two o'clock in the afternoon? Ah now I remember we were catch up on the sleep that we all missed from the night before.

"Artemis come on! You know how Batman can get if he is kept waiting!" Robin shouted, banging on the door. I slowly got out of bed and opened the door wiping the sleep from my eyes.

"Why does he want to see us? I thought that everything had been sorted out?" I asked curious with the urgency.

"We will find out when we get there. Now come on!" Robin shouted, grabbing me around the arm and dragging me toward the debriefing room. We arrived to the room and were stunned with what we saw. Wally was sitting at the table with a pair of crutches leaning beside him, a frown forming when he noticed us walk into the room. Without a word we both ran up to him, ignoring to glares we were receiving from Bats and Flash.

"Wally your alright!" Robin beamed as he stopped in front of him and took in the sight of his best friend.

"Wally!" I couldn't help myself, I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a big hug. I felt him tense at my touch and I winced when he tried to break free.

"Get of me you traitor!" He screamed and I released him, stepping back to look in those angry green eyes. What the hell was I thinking? Get a hold of yourself Artemis, there's no way that he will ever like me. No matter what I do.

"I take it that no one has explained to Wally what really happened?" Kaldur said with a frown.

"Oh I know what happened. Artemis has been working with the enemy and telling them our secrets and now she has told you some story to convince you all to believe her." Wally said angrily, glaring at me. I have never seen him look at any one with such hatred and a feeling of guilt and dread filled me at the thought that I might have really hurt him.

"She isn't the traitor. Artemis is working for me." Batman said sharply causing Wally to look up at him in surprise, "Now can we get on with this meeting? Gotham isn't going to protect itself." Bats growled causing us all to stop arguing and sit down so that we could start the meeting that he had called.

"Now first of all we will recap everything that has happened so that Kid Flash can understand the situation. Like I have just said Artemis wasn't the mole. She's working for me as a spy to infiltrate the league of shadows and find out how they were getting there information. At first I thought that they had somehow planted a device in the cave so that they could eavesdrop on our conversations, but it has now been revealed that it was far worse." Batman explained to Wally about Conner and the device that's inside of his head.

"No way! Conner was the mole!" Wally shouted surprised to hear that his friend had been the one that had been unwillingly giving the enemy information on the missions that we had been deployed on.

"I-I'm sorry Wally, I honestly didn't know that they were doing this." Conner apologised bowing his head in shame.

"It's ok Con you didn't know. So how are you going to remove the device?" Wally asked looking over to give Conner a sympathetic look.

"The only way is to use kryptonight." Superman replied.

"The problem is now that Cadmus, or whoever it is that ordered Dr Desmond to do the experiments. We already know that they know were you are based and there is a possibility that there could come here to try and kidnap Conner." Batman explained.

"So I guess you owe someone here an apology." Kaldur said nodding towards me, Wally turned to Robin with guilt in his eyes.

"Your right Kal, I'm sorry Robin for what I said before. You know that I would never want you of the team, know matter how annoying you become." Wally said earning a glare from Ollie.

"Robin isn't who Aqualad's talking about Wally and you know it." He said standing next to me and placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Hey I didn't know that she was really working for Batman." Wally said in defence.

"You also didn't know that Robin was apart of the plan and helping Artemis so that she wouldn't get caught out by anyone on the team." Ollie replied, "But you seem to be alright apologising to him."

"Yeah...well...ok fine I'm sorry Artemis, but this doesn't mean that I still don't think that your annoying because you are!" Wally said pouting.

"Aw come on Bay watch I'm not that annoying. I think you win the Nobel prize for that." I teased receiving a glare back in return.

"So what are you going to do to help protect Conner? We will have to take him somewhere where no one will find him, but I can't think where. Do you have any suggestions?" Megan asked Superman.

"Well I can't take him back home with me, too many questions will be asked and I don't think I will be able to explain to my girlfriend why I have a boy that looks like me living with me in my apartment." Superman said sounding exasperated.

"There is somewhere he could go and you won't have to worry about it affecting you personal life." Batman said.

"That is an option but first I need to talk to them and ask if it will be alright, after all they will be putting there life at risk." Superman replied.

"Well I suggest that you go and give them a call, the longer we wait the easier it will be for the enemy." Bats said sternly, Superman sighed and stood up to leave the room. He quickly gave Conner a glance with sympathetic blue eyes before leaving. Batman pulled up the computer and started typing, turning his back on everyone in the room. I turned and looked over to Wally, who was watching Bats analysis some details.

'Why does he hate me so much? Is it because of my dad?' I thought, a feeling of anger and loneliness twisting in my stomach.

"What's wrong? Is it Wally? If you want I can talk to him for you." Robin asked sitting down next to me.

"Wally? As if, no I was just worrying about Conner that's all. I can't imagine what he's going though." I lied, Robin smiled reassuringly at me and moved closer so that he could place his arm around me.

"You don't have to lie to me, I'm your friend remember. It's ok to feel sad when someone you like hurts your feelings." Robin replied surprising me, I blinked and turned to face him, my face burning from the embarrassment of being caught in a lie.

"Ok, I was thinking about Wally. I just don't understand why..."

"Artemis can you come up here please. I would like you to give me the information that you were unable to give me last night." Batman said sternly cutting of the words I was about to say.

"Yeah stop chatting with your boyfriend and do your job." Wally shouted bitterly. I frowned and was about to respond when Robin grabbed my arm and said quietly. "We'll talk later." With a sigh I stood up and walked over to Batman, handing him the other disks that I had managed to take before I was discovered as a spy. Batman then let me go and sit down again.

"Um...Batman can we go now? I'm sure that it will take you awhile to analysis all that information and I'm sure that Conner will want to prepare himself before his operation." Robin asked, Batman looked up from his work and scanned the room.

"Yes you are all dismissed. Flash are you and Dr Midnight going to be performing the procedure on Conner?" Bats asked, Flash said that they were and Batman gave him some instructions before allowing him to leave. We all walked out of the room and I followed Wally into the living room, holding the door for him so that he didn't have to struggle with his crutches.

"So...Rob you and Artemis seem to be getting on well. Is there something that you wish to tell us." Wally asked, his voice strained and nervous, like he was afraid of the answer. Robin laughed and somersaulted onto the couch.

"Ha jealous much?" Robin asked in reply and I giggled at the look of horror that Wally gave him. His face bright red with embarrassment.

"Me-me jealous? As if, I was just curious since you two seemed really cosy cuddling in the debriefing room." Wally replied with a stammer, Robin just smirked at him. "You know Wally I was going to tell you all what my real name is," Robin teased causing everyone in the room to freeze and stare at him in disbelief. "But now I think that I may have to be cruel and make you all try and figure it out."

Robin's P.O.V

I know that I shouldn't be doing this. But it's fun to mess with Wally, especially when I can get him and Artemis to admit there feeling for each other. All I have to do is convince them to play my game.

"No way! Your just bluffing. There is no way that Bats would allow you to do that!" Wally shouted in disbelief.

"If you don't believe me then why don't you go and ask him," I replied. "I was told that I can tell you all after everything is back to normal. But I'm sure that Bats won't mind if you tried to guess."

"And how are we going to do that? Even the greatest criminals in Gotham haven't ever been able to deduce your identities. So what makes you so sure that we can?" Artemis complained.

"Simple, I will give you little hints. I mean you already know that I live in Gotham, and I have already accidentally let Batman's real name slip." I replied. "Just think of it as an extreme game of truth or dare. The difference is that you have to try and deduce what is the truth and what is a lie." I explained, Wally and Artemis contemplated this whilst Kaldur, Megan and Conner sat down and excepted the challenge.

"Will we have to do the same?" Wally asked curiously, I smiled and nodded my reply.

"Then count me in, what about you Artemis? Are you up for the challenge?" Wally asked teasingly recieving a glare in return.

"Your on! So what does the winner of the challenge get?" She asked sitting down on the other couch next to Megan.

"I don't know, I supposed the winner can choose what they want for their prize."

"Cool! Well I'm diffidently going to win."

"In your dreams Bay watch, I'm going to be the one to figure it out first."

"Figure what out first?" Flash asked speeding up behind us.

"Robin has issued us a challenge to try and deduce his identity." Wally explained.

"That sounds like fun, but unfortunately it's time for Conner to have his operation." Flash said, "Don't worry I don't think it will take long and then Superman will take you to were you will be safe."

"But why do I have to go? I could help stop the league of shadows." Conner asked annoyed that they were sending him away.

"It's because you will be temporarily weakened and we can't risk them capturing you." Batman explained walking out of the shadows, "But I will assure you that we will stop them." Conner glared at Batman in anger before sighing in defeat.

"Ok But as soon as I get my strength back I'm coming back to help." Conner replied with determination on his face. He gave Megan a hug, reassuring her that he will be ok before following Flash to the medical bay where Dr Midnight was waiting for them.

"I suggest that we go somewhere else to talk, it could become noisy in the cave and I don't want any of you becoming distracted." Batman said signalling us to follow him, we stood up and followed him to the zeta beams. I wondered what Batman meant by "it could become noisy" when we heard a scream piece through the silence.

"Is that Conner?" Megan asked shaken by the sudden scream from her boyfriend, Batman simply just replied with a "Yes" and proceeded to set the zeta beams to take us to the watch tower.

"Lets go! I have a mission for you all." Batman said sternly pulling Megan so that she would go into the tube. We all arrived at the watch tower and everyone on the team was staring at Batman like he was the enemy.

"Conner is in pain we have to help him!" Megan shouted running to go back through the tubes. Batman growled and grabbed her by her arm, spinning her around so that she was face to face with him.

"Now you listen to me! You all have a job to do and no matter how hard it might be to leave a friend behind when they are in pain, I'm afraid that it has to be done." Batman said quietly, "Now I know that you are worried about him but I can assure you that he will be fine."

"But he was crying out in pain!"

"He will be ok Megan, trust me when Batman tells you that someone will be fine then they will. Now come on lets go and find out about this mission." I said reassuringly giving her a smile. We followed Batman into the meeting room and sat around the table facing him.

"As you all know Artemis has been 'stealing' information from the League of Shadows and reporting what she has found back to me. I have analysed the information on the disks you gave me earlier and have got a mission that I wish for your team to do." Batman explained, "Kid Flash I'm afraid that due to your injuries you will have to stay here during this mission but I have got something else that I would like you to look at for me whilst the others are busy." Wally pouted at that, he always did hate it when he is unable to do anything.

"Batman what kind of mission will we be going on?" Kaldur asked sounding nervous for some reason.

"It will be a covert mission. If you are worried about the number of people currently incapacitated on the team then don't, I have asked Red Arrow and Batgirl if they can help on this mission during Superboy's and Kid Flash's recovery."

"Is Batgirl capable of completing the task at hand? I don't mean to sound rude but I haven't worked with her before and am unfamiliar with her skills." Kaldur said as Roy and Babs walked into the room.

"If you are worried that I will get in the way then don't, this isn't the first time I have had to go on a covert mission. In fact I am probably more qualified than you." Babs replied with a frown. Kaldur turned to me to confirm and I laughed, smiling at Babs as she sat down next to me.

"Trust me Aqualad Batgirl is capable of the job, besides if anything was to happen I'm sure that we will be able to handle it." I replied.

"Ok now that that has been cleared up lets get on with the debriefing." Batman said in exasperation, he debriefed us on our mission before telling us to be careful, we promised that we would and left the watch tower through the zeta beams and returned to the cave to board Megan's bio-ship. It was quiet when we arrived back and Flash was walking towards the Zeta tubes to head back to the watch tower.

"Flash is conner ok? Where is he?" Megan asked concerned. Flash turned to her and smiled warmly.

"He's fine, the operation didn't take long and Superman has taking him somewhere where he will be safe until he regains his strength." He explained to Megan's relief, she thanked him for telling us and then hurried to the bio-ship.

"Wow! This is so cool! Is this how you always travel to your missions?" Babs asked impressed with Megan's ship.

"Yea, she's amazing isn't she!" I said sitting down next to her, Babs gave me a curious look.

"She? Why is it that machines always have to be females?" She asked.

"But she is a she, she's a part of me." Megan explained confusing Babs, who looked at me for an explanation.

"Miss Martians ship is a bio-ship that is telepathically connected to her. What ever happens to the ship Miss Martian feels." I explained. Babs nodded seeming to understand the explanation and turned to look out of the window as we approached Metropolis.

'Megan is everyone except Batgirl online?' Kaldur asked through the mind link. I looked at him and frowned, why would he want the mind link up without Batgirl?

'What's going on?' I asked him, "Is something wrong Kaldur?'

'How well do you know Batgirl?' Kaldur asked me.

'I know her really well, why?'

'I'm concerned that's all, how skilled is she? What is her specialised skill?'

"Um...is something wrong Robin? You look like your ready to pounce." Babs asked. "Are you all having a physic conversation without me?"

"We are sorry Batgirl. I was just asking Robin about you skills so that I know how to plan our mission. I am sorry to have offended." Kaldur apologised.

"Your angry about Bats going behind your back and getting replacements for the team without talking with you first, aren't you? Don't worry I'd be angry to if he did that to me." Babs said surprising Kal. "I'm not that good with computers but I am very stealthy and know how to fight if I need to. Robin is still teaching how to prevent my information from being stolen."

"In that case then you can go with Robin since you two work together, Artemis will go with Red Arrow and Miss Martian will stay with me." Kaldur said.

"Hey why do I have to go with him?"

"ETA to LexCorp five minutes" Megan announced setting the ship to stealth mode.

"My decision is final! Now when you all go in be careful. I don't want anyone else having to be send to the hospital tonight." Kaldur said, we reassured him that we will be fine and prepared for the mission.

KF's P.O.V

"Why does this always happen to me? I should be out there with the rest of the team not sitting here examining the device that was taken out of Conner's head twenty minutes ago." I complained slouching on the desk as uncle Barry looked though the notes that Bats had sent him.

"This is really important Wally, we need to check the technology to see if it can be traceable. We may be able to find the person responsible for this." Barry explained. "Just think of this as training, besides it better than sitting around at home doing nothing."

"I'd still rather be with my friends. I wonder how their doing?" I asked, Kaldur hadn't looked too pleased when Bats told him that Roy and Batgirl would be joining them.

"I'm sure they will be fine. So how are you and Artemis getting along now that you know that she isn't really a spy?" Barry asked me with a grin.

"Ok I guess, I still think that Roy should have joined the team. I can't believe that Bats did that."

"If there is one thing that I have learnt from working with Batman is that he will do anything to ensure the safety of his city. He's a really intense guy who only thinks about the protection of Gotham and her citizens." Barry said as he examined the device that had been in front of me.

"I thought the one thing you had learnt was to never disobey his orders?" I asked sarcastically.

"Ha ha, no Green Arrow leant that lesson the first week he joined the team," Barry laughed.

"You like Artemis don't you?" Barry asked me causing me to freeze. Why would he ask me that?

"Well...yeah, I know that act like I hate her but I really don't. She's a good member of the team." I replied, my face turning red at the thought of Artemis and I being together.

"Then why do you do it? It isn't like she's done anything to hurt you."

"Because...I don't know, she's aggressive and annoying."

"Is that really the reason? She looks like a nice girl to me, just very misunderstood. I think if you started being more considerate towards her she might want to open up to you about herself."

"I am considerate! Besides it isn't like she likes me."

"Oh I don't know, I heard that she likes you and wishes that you two could be friends." Barry said with a smirk, I felt my checks heat up and put my head on the desk with my arms over my head.

"Your not going to give me a speach about woman are you?" I asked him wryly, Barry looked like he was contemplating doing that when he laughed and ruffled my hair.

"No I'm not going to do that, it looks like I've embarrassed you enough already. Just remember that there is no shame in admitting that you like someone, you never know she might like you in the same way back." Barry replied before turning back to his work, I thought about what uncle Barry had just said to me and cleared my mind of the thought of Artemis liking me. There is no way that she would ever like me in that way, she's only interested in Conner. I sighed again and continued helping Barry analysis the device, ignoring the concerned look that my uncle was giving me.