A/N: I've been meaning to update this story, man, it's a good thing it's spring break, right guys? Haha...So this is undoubtedly where the plot thickens to the point where some people might take guesses as to what it actually going on in this story. I have gotten a review asking when Lex Luthor is going to figure out that Super Boy is related to him. The answer is soon.
Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice.
DTS! 11: Solving the Puzzle
Miss Martian smiled lightly to herself as she floated down the corridors of the watchtower. It was early in the morning, but as they say: evil has no time table. She saw Star Girl walking through the hallway, as she was constantly looking over her shoulder. Megan's smile grew slightly larger at seeing a familiar face, after not being able to see Martian Manhunter all morning. "Star Girl!" She yelled in excitement as she hovered closer to her.
The girl jumped slightly in surprise as she quickly glanced up at the Martian. After taking a second to realize who it was, she smiled warmly as a greeting. "Miss Martian! What's up?" She asked with a raised hand. She then glanced over her shoulder again in caution.
"Still hiding from your step-dad?" Megan asked sheepishly as her feet settled on the ground lightly.
"You know it!" Star Girl admitted as she sighed, "He thinks that I don't have a high enough grade in Chemistry!" She yelled with her hands up in astonishment, "Chemistry!" She repeated in disbelief before putting her arms across her chest, "Can you believe that?" She asked with a scoff and a slight roll of her eyes.
Megan narrowed her eyes in thought as she placed a finger to her chin in thought, "What do you have in the class?"
Star Girl chuckled nervously as she looked down at the ground, "A Sixty-eight…" She trailed as she looked up slowly to meet the girl's gaze. After Megan gave her a knowing look, Star Girl immediately felt guilty as she tried to justify herself, "I'm not failing!" She argued as she looked back down at the ground, "Yet…" She mumbled.
"I'd say that's failing…At least according to Batman's rules," Robin said as he stood directly to Star Girl's left.
"Nobody asked you, Traffic Light!" Star Girl yelled with a huff as she turned slightly away from him with attitude before narrowing her eyes in confusion and looking at the boy again. "How'd you sneak up on me, anyway?" She asked with a slight glare.
Robin shrugged off the question with a smirk as he turned to Miss Martian, "Miss M!" He greeted as he did a slight nod.
"Is there a special occasion?" Megan asked, thoroughly confused as to why he was at the Watchtower.
"Yup!" Robin stated with a nod, "Aqualad smelled something fishy…" He trailed as his smirk slowly started to fade away and was replaced with a scowl, "Great, now I'm making puns like KF…" He trailed in shame as he placed a hand to his head dramatically.
"Hey! My puns are great!" Kid Flash stated as he appeared to Robin's left in a sudden beam of light.
Star Girl jumped as she covered herself protectively, "How do you guys keep doing that!?" She yelled out in annoyance and frustration as she glared over at the two boys.
Kid Flash shrugged off her question, same as Robin did before and looked at Miss Martian with a grin, "Megan! You hear about the meet up?" He asked as he shuffled on his feet a little.
Miss Martian nodded, "Just now…I was busy taking care of a guy who called himself…Dr. Light?" Megan questioned herself with slight hesitation as she thought over the name a little before nodding to herself in confirmation. "What about the two of you?" She asked with a teasing grin, "You guys take down any bad guys?"
"Mirror Master," Kid Flash said with a grin as he looked over at Robin with his arms crossed in an 'I'm better than you' way.
"Merlyn…" Robin stated with a straight face and then with a smirk, "And Deadshot," he said as he crossed his arms as well. "And last time I checked, KF, you let the villain get away!"
Kid Flash scoffed, "Well, I would have had him if the Flash from this Dimension didn't get in the way!" He justified as a glare etched itself on his face.
Miss Martian cocked her head to the side in a teasing manner as a small grin, "So…Yourself got in the way?" She asked rhetorically.
"Good one!" Robin complimented with a snicker.
"Dude!" Kid Flash yelled in a flustered way as his face lit up red. "It wasn't mine -his- fault!" He yelled as he thought about it for a minute, "Wait…" He trailed as he looked down at the ground in slight confusion at the pronoun game that was running through his head.
Star Girl smiled but stopped when she saw a man in machine armor come running through the hallway, looking for his step-daughter. "Courtney!" He yelled as he spotted the girl.
"Aaand, this is my cue!" Star Girl stated as she winked at the teens that were around her and started to sprint down the hallway.
"Good luck!" Robin yelled with a smirk on his face.
Star Girl turned around and pulled out a staff from mid-air and smirked back at the boy, "Say that to someone who needs it!" She yelled as she disappeared in front of everyone.
"Courtney!" Pat yelled as he sighed. "She won't get away this time! Her mother won't be pleased with a D in Chemistry!" He yelled as he ran past the teens, not paying any attention to them as he did so.
"Team," Aqualad stated as he walked towards them in the direction that Pat had entered from. "I have some vital information that we must discuss…" He trailed as he looked over the heads of the members and noticed two of them missing, "Where are Connor and Artemis?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
Connor huffed as he turned back around to greet his floating stalker the eighth time that morning, "Do you mind?" He asked in an annoyed tone.
Kara glared at him with her arms crossed as she landed on the sidewalk in Metropolis in her Super Girl outfit, "Do you?" She spat back.
"Look, as much as you think I'm doing something suspicious…I'm heading to the Watchtower…" He trailed with a roll of his eyes.
"Yeah, right! You're plotting something! I know you are!" Kara yelled as she placed her hands on her hips. "All clones are bad…And you're no exception," she stated in a dark tone. As she was talking, Connor continued to a Zeta tube area where Martian Manhunter could teleport him up easily. "Using this plan to escape? That's just what a clone would do!"
Connor sighed in annoyance as it was longer. Her constant bickering was getting on his nerves, causing him to receive a headache. He usually got this from Kid Flash, and by the time he would get to the meeting, his anger levels would flare up to an exceptionally high rate. "Would you like to…Come with?" He asked as he turned towards the girl. She looked taken aback from the offer as she stayed silent. "This way you'll see that I'm not planning anything."
Kara glared as she kept walking, stopping as she was side to side with him. "Fine. But I'm doing this for Uncle Clark's safety. My Uncle Clark!" She scoffed as she started to walk again.
"Whatever…" Connor stated as he rolled his eyes again as he started to walk again.
Artemis was having no fairer luck trying to find a suitable place for J'onn to teleport her for the meeting. She was in dire need of seeing Wally, and she didn't know why. There was this panging feeling in her heart, and whenever she saw the young speedster; it would disappear. However, a red hooded stalker was following her as well. "I didn't want to see you last night…And I don't want to see you now," She said in her normal volume, but she only received a chuckle in response.
"Harsh…Kind of felt that one," Roy said with a grin as he stepped into the sunlit sidewalk rather than in the shadows, where he used to be.
"Leave me alone," Artemis said with a dark tone. "I wasn't ready for you then, but I am now," she threatened as she pulled out an arrow with a glare.
Roy chuckled at her threat and walked a few feet with his hands in his pockets, "You know, taken out of context…" He trailed as he stood a few feet in front of her, "That sounds so un-lady like."
Artemis let out a growl, "I'm not kidding around. I could break your neck in ten seconds flat," she threatened again, tightening her grip around the arrow slightly.
"Wonder if they have you in my universe?" He asked rhetorically with a smirk, "You're feisty."
"Knowing your luck, I'm probably evil. And taken," she snapped back as she pivoted on her feet and started to walk again down the sidewalk.
Roy sighed as he shrugged, "Heading to the Watchtower?" He asked with a grin on his face.
Artemis stopped in her gait as she turned around to glare at the boy, "Why do you care?" She asked snidely.
"Well, I'm not a member of the League. You won't see me up there…" He trailed, after seeing the slightly relieved look on her face he frowned slightly, "Sad, isn't it?"
"At least they know not to place a pervert on the League," Artemis retorted as she started to walk again.
Roy chuckled lightly at her comment, "Be careful up there. Last I heard they've been having…Issues," he stated, which alarmed Artemis to an extent as she quickly turned around to see him, only to find him gone.
"Probably hiding in the shadows, the pervert…" Artemis trailed with a roll of her eyes. She continued to walk again, now knowing that she was going to be late to the Team's meeting.
"Sorry I'm late," Super Boy said with a defeated tone as he approached the group from behind. He had a close observes by his side, so he tried to not notice her as he kept his focus on the Team in front of him.
"Connor!" Miss Martian yelled in excitement at hearing his voice as she turned around to greet him. She stopped in mid-motion as she noticed Super Girl standing to the side of him. "Super Girl?" She asked in confusion.
Aqualad turned around with an unamused frown, "This was a Team meeting only," He stated with a stern look.
Super Girl scoffed, "What? You actually trust him?" She asked as she pointed her thumb towards Super Boy, who sighed in annoyance again.
"Yeah, we all do," Miss Martian said with her hands on her hips. "If you have a problem with that, feel free to leave any time," she said calmly with a warm smile.
Super Girl rolled her eyes but decided to remain silent after some thinking, "Fine. I'll have a mutual understanding for the sake of staying," she said with an equally kind smile.
Kid Flash whistled at the small cat fight that he witnessed, "You can cut the atmosphere with a knife, dude!" He whispered to Robin, who nodded slowly in agreement.
Artemis entered the hallway with a small smile on her face, "Never thought I'd say this, but I'm happy to see you guys!" She yelled as she approached the Team with her arms crossed. She saw Super Girl and rose an eyebrow, "I thought this was supposed to be a Team discussion?"
"I'm part of the Team now, I've decided," Super Girl said with a smile, "That won't be a problem, right? After all, I can fly, and use heat vision," she stated as her smile turned into a smirk.
"I am sure you will provide to be a great asset to the Team. We should get this discussion underway," Aqualad stated as he started to walk to a conference room, away from any prying ears who may choose to listen in.
Kid Flash looked surprised, "Seriously?" He asked as Aqualad remained silent, "She could rat us out to Superman! Or Batman!"
Aqualad sighed, "I know this, Kid. However, if we chose to delay this discussion, the assassins may choose to act now, rather than later."
Artemis was walking by Robin and she looked down at the boy, "What's the deal with Super Girl and Connor?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"From what I get, she hates him," he said with a shrug.
"Why? Connor didn't even say anything to her during the ceremony. Just the fact that he's a clone?" She asked with a slight glare.
Robin nodded, "Must be from past relations," he said but then paused, "Or she just dislikes clones."
Artemis faced forward but decided to not say anything as she continued to walk. She glanced at Kid Flash and immediately felt relief surge through her. Forgetting about the events of last night, she focused on what was happening around her.
Miss Martian was holding onto Super Boy's arm tightly as she glared at Super Girl, who tried to keep her eyes forward, though it was hard to do since she was standing right beside Super Boy.
"I have called you all here today because of recent events that have transpired. Since we have all been here, there have been instances in which our mentors have been attacked," Aqualad addressed at the head of the table. This gained everyone's attention and Kid Flash was the first one to speak up.
"Alright, that would be suspicious, if only they weren't heroes," Kid Flash said as he had his legs propped up on the table in a relaxed position.
Miss Martian shook her head, "This dimension's J'onn was attacked at the Watchtower," she said, gaining interest with Aqualad, Artemis, Super Boy, and Super Girl. "I know that in our dimension, he hardly ever gets attacked, except when he's on League missions."
Super Girl nodded, now getting interested in the group discussion, "I can vouch for that," she said as all eyes shifted to her. Even Super Boy's eyes shifted to her, and was making her feel only a little embarrassed. Sure, she got recognition in the League, but never had they taken her seriously, mostly because of her age. "I mean, J'onn only goes on League missions, and whenever the Watchtower does get attacked, it's because of an ulterior motive."
"Yeah, this man named Dr. Light was after the central power core of the Watchtower," Miss Martian nodded in agreement.
Aqualad nodded, "I see. This has escalated far more than what we were prepared for," he stated, gaining all eyes on him. "Would each of you like to share your experiences these past days?"
Robin nodded as he stood up, pulling up three images on his holo-glove, "As you can see there are three images. The one with a red scope over his eyes is known as Deadshot," he stated as the image grew larger.
"I know him!" Super Girl yelled as she stood up from her seat, sending it backwards against the floor, "He was going to shoot Lois Lane a couple of months ago on Lex Luthor's orders!"
"That doesn't seem like our Lex…" Kid Flash trailed as he looked at the screen again.
Robin nodded, "He's an assassin, just like this other one," he stated as the other picture was enlarged, it showed a black robbed man with a bow and arrow, "Merlyn."
Super Girl shook her head, "Sorry, I haven't heard of that one before," she said sheepishly as she bent down to pick up her chair to sit in it.
"I checked through the League's data base…Turns out that he taught Oliver Queen for a few months," Robin stated as pulled up another picture of the Green Arrow.
Artemis rose an eyebrow, "But he went after Batman, didn't he?" She asked, confused as to why he wouldn't go after the Green Arrow if he had such close ties to him.
Robin nodded, "That's the confusing part…I don't understand why he would go after Batman aside from the fact that he's an assassin."
"And the other picture, Robin?" Aqualad pressured with curiosity.
"These are the robots that they were using, their faces had masks; one with half orange, and the other half black," he said, enlarging that image. After seeing the silent room he frowned, "No takers on this one?" He asked rhetorically with a teasing smirk on his face as he sat down.
Super Boy stood up, "All we have on these robots are that they were not in affiliation with Merlyn or this Deadshot?" He asked, and Robin nodded in agreement. "Then we know that someone else is pulling the strings."
"Who dons the colors orange and black?" Kid Flash asked out loud with a frown. "Rob? Check the League's-
"Already on it," Robin said in a bored manner as he typed away at his holo-glove.
Kid Flash scowled, "Of course he's already on it…" He trailed as Artemis smiled slightly, but had her hand over her mouth so no one could see it.
Super Boy nodded, "Anyway, on my first night in Metropolis…Superman got attacked," he stated, gaining the attention of Super Girl.
"Who did it?" She asked, slightly skeptical.
"Lex Luthor and this other villain…Called her name Livewire," he said with a shrug. "He used Livewire to send Kryptonite sparks through him and to weaken him."
Super Girl stood up with her hands over her mouth in shock, "He's okay?" She asked nervously.
Super Boy sent her an annoyed look as he kept on getting interrupted with his story, but Aqualad came to his rescue, "Perhaps he should continue?" He asked in a slightly rude manner to his tone. Super Girl nodded as she sat down silently. Super Boy sent the leader of the Team a look that meant 'thank you' as he continued.
"I was taking on Livewire; distracted. Then as Lex took out a gun, I managed to get it away, all the while punching Lex into a car," Super Boy said with a small accomplished grin.
"Nice," Robin said with a grin as he looked up from his hologram for a second before looking back down, focusing on his hacking again.
Miss Martian furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "I thought that the Kryptonite weakens you?"
Super Boy smiled over at her gently, "It does," he said as she nodded in understanding.
"You…Saved him? Why?" Super Girl asked as she stood up again.
"Why…?" Super Boy questioned with a raised eyebrow. "Isn't that was heroes do?" He asked as she grew silent.
Artemis scowled as she crossed her arms, "Lex Luthor? Sounds like the Light to me," she said as she looked over at Aqualad.
The Atlantean nodded in agreement with her, "I was thinking the same thing, only for one exception…" He trailed as everyone looked at him, "There's no Klarion, or Vandal Savage."
"Speaking of that stupid witch boy, shouldn't he have shown up here to gloat?" Kid Flash asked with a glare. "He did when he separated the world into kids and adults."
"What?" Super Girl asked in genuine confusion.
Super Boy looked at her, shaking his head slightly, "It's a long story…"
Aqualad nodded at Kid Flash's words, "That is curious…" He trailed as he glanced at Artemis, "Is there anything that you would like to report?"
"No," Artemis stated as she tensed a little, "Nothing to report. Nothing happened aside from Ollie and Dinah going on a date. I think that was a mental battle in itself," she said dryly with a small smirk.
Kid Flash looked over at her with a concerned look on his face, "Are you sure that…Nothing happened last night?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
Artemis looked into his eyes with a stern expression, "Nothing. Why are you so worried for anyways?" She asked rhetorically with a scoff.
"I'm not! Who said I was worried?" Kid Flash asked as he crossed his arms, "Because I wasn't! Not at all!"
"Good! Don't be worried!" Artemis yelled.
"Then I won't!" Kid Flash argued.
"Fine!" She yelled again.
"Fine!" He stated, ending the argument.
Aqualad sighed as he rubbed a thumb over his right temple, "Kid? Anything you would like to report?"
Kid Flash looked over at Aqualad with a smile, "Fought with Mirror Master, nothing too big. Could have easily taken him."
Robin snorted, "Except you didn't," he mumbled as Kid Flash glared.
"Dude!" He yelled as he huffed, "He trapped Flash in a mirror, and as Flash ran out, he ran into me when I was almost defeating Mirror Master, single handedly I might add!"
"Until you lost," Robin mumbled again with a smirk.
Kid Flash tried to not show his annoyance or shame as he slammed a hand on the table, "Anyways! That's all that happened. Flash and I tried to track him down again, only to come up empty."
Aqualad nodded, "I see…I am not sure if Mirror Master is in league with the others…" He stated as Kid Flash nodded in understanding, "However, we cannot cross him off the suspect list. A similar event happened to me on my way to Atlantis," he said as the attention was on him now. "An Atlantean known as Black Manta attacked us with his army. His aim was to kill Aquaman, however, we prevailed."
"Black Manta is in the same boat as Deadshot," Super Girl stated. "They're both high class assassins here, and only take hits that they can take."
"Yeah, but Mirror Master and Lex Luthor aren't assassins…" Artemis stated with a small glare on her face. "Why would they be part of this team?"
Miss Martian nodded, "This Dr. Light…Cyborg called him Arthur Light?" She asked as she shook her head slightly, "He doesn't seem to be an assassin either."
Robin smirked as his holo-glove pinged, "It took me a while, but I managed to pull up a Slade Wilson…" He trailed as he made it a larger hologram. A picture of a man with white hair and an eye patch over his right eye showed up. "His mercenary alias is Deathstroke the-
Alarms were sent off, making all the teens in the room be put on high alert. Robin was immediately exited from his hacking screen forcefully as his screen went dark. "Something bad is happening…" Aqualad stated as he stood up and the lights in the room went dark for a second. An eerie red light illuminated as the emergency lights were flipped on.
"Uncle J'onn should have the lights up in no time!" Miss Martian stated in optimism. As soon as she said it, the lights had turned on, and the Watchtower was silent. More silent that what it usually was. Super Boy strained his super hearing and frowned.
"Only the machines necessary to run the Watchtower are on," Super Boy alerted.
Aqualad frowned as he pulled out his water bearers and his black tattoos lit up a vibrant blue. "M'gann, link us up," he ordered as he walked over to the door.
Miss Martian nodded as she linked them all up telepathically, and although the initial invasion of the mind made Super Girl uncomfortable, she didn't visibly show it as she fisted her hands slightly at the threat of the incoming threat.
"This is weird," Super Girl stated off-handedly.
Aqualad ignored the statement and opened the door and peered into the hallway. He noticed the hero known as Question was knocked out cold and was laying in the middle of the floor. "It seems as if everyone has been put to sleep," he stated as he took a cautious step outside.
"Do you think it's Dr. Light?" Artemis asked Miss Martian, but she shook her head in response.
"He couldn't put people to sleep last time," she said as she took to the air. Super Girl followed her lead as they entered the hallway, alongside the leader. The rest managed to walk out stealthily as they were prepared to face a battle.
Super Boy became alert as he glared at the footsteps that he heard with his super hearing, "Someone is coming," he alerted, and Robin nodded in response as he took out a bat-a-rang from his utility belt. Artemis took out an arrow and readied it on her bow. Aqualad made his water bearers from into two water swords.
"Metal shoes…Precise movements…" Super Girl added as she stood up straighter.
"Be ready to deal with anything," Aqualad stated, and the rest of the Team nodded as Kid Flash placed his goggled over his eyes.
The footsteps got louder before they finally stopped as a figure dressed in orange and black metal armor and a fabric mask over his face that only exposed one lone eye. "Hello children…" He trailed as his stern eye seemed to soften a little, as if he were smiling under the mask.
A/N: Guys...I wonder who this mystery person is. Oh my. I wonder, I just wonder who it is. I think it's Batman. Pfft.
