Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice. However, I do own Arinna. No stealing! Though I'm sure if you ask nicely you could borrow her XD I got no problem with that at all.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello my beautiful reviewers and/or simply viewers. Nice to hear from you all again! Super excited for this chapter! :D
Well, lets get to it!
Yeah, even though I've been gone a lot, I never stopped writing! … kind of.
That doesn't matter! We're starting the next chapter!
I'M EXCITED! We get to meet Artemis in this chapter!
I LOVE ARTEMIS! She is so cool!
EPISODE 6
"Today," M'gann stood atop of my bed, her hand placed against her hip, "Will be a day to remember."
It had been four days since our mission with the Amazo android and Professor Ivo. Though they had yet to find and capture Ivo, I know the league was hard at work to accomplish that goal. While I had swiftly learned how soar the body can grow.
Four days of training. Morning training, nighttime training. In the middle training. It was killing my muscles!
I felt like a zombie walking around the place. The other seemed so use to it, except for Wally, who only complained about it. Even he didn't seem to be having that much trouble with it though.
The girl with the flabby arms and chicken bone legs on the other hand was struggling. She was struggling so hard she felt like she was crawling through a desert with no water in sight! Oh the thirst. The utter thirst parched her blistering throat into dust!
If you all couldn't tell that poor girl is me.
This morning however, M'gann had sent out a message to us all, suggesting that we should all go to the beach! It would be the first time ever that I've gone down to the beach below the cave. It was like all my energy had come coursing back through my body and just the idea.
All of us had agreed to go. Everyone except for… Wally.
I need a moment. It was too sad to even think about. Oh Wally… poor Wally.
"Arinna?" M'gann inquired.
I lifted my head. "Oh, sorry. I was listening, I promise. Just got a little side tracked." I smiled sheepishly. She shrugged it off.
"Okay, are you ready?" she jumped off my bad and grabbed her bag. Bright grins grew on our faces. Squealing in sync, clasping out hands together we danced around the room. "Beach!"
"And I've picked out the perfect swimsuits." M'gann pulled out a yellow swimsuit for herself and a red one for me.
"They are so cute!" I clapped. "Where did you get these?"
"I'll have to show you the store. It was so homey and-" a knock came from the door.
"Are you eventually coming out or what?" Super Boy was on the other side. "It's been over 30 minutes."
"Don't rush us!" I called back at him. "We still need to get dressed."
"Still?!" he groaned. "What have you been doing in there this entire time?"
"Going over my Seashell collection." I cracked the door open just enough to see his face. "We'll be out soon. Go wait for Robin and Kaldur."
"Whatever." He shrugged, trudging back up the hallway. Slamming the door and locking it, I turned back around.
This day was going to be so much fun. And the best part, is that we were all going together!
"Does this look weird?" I asked M'gann as I stepped out in my swimsuit. Scanning me over, she shook her head.
"No. It looks perfect." She beamed.
"That is a relief."
"Arinna." Super Boy was slamming his forehead into the door. "Are you done yet?"
"Oh my gosh, it has literally been only 5 minutes. Calm down." I banged on the door. 'Are Robin and Kaldur here yet?"
"Yup." Robin's voice came from the other side of the door. "And we are ready to party!"
Grabbing my towel and seeing that M'gann was dressed, I swung open the door. The boy were all standing there in their swim trunks, no shirts to cover their bare chests. Did you all know Kaldur had tattoos on his chest and not just on his arms?
…Were they even Tattoos? I don't even know.
Robin did a double take. "Hey, those look really good on both of you." He smiled.
"Aww, thanks." We gushed at him.
"Go? Now?" Super Boy was getting pushy.
"Impatient much." I elbowed him away. "If I didn't know any better I would say you were just as excited as the rest of us… if not more." I smirked. He looked annoyed. Grabbing my shoulders, he lifted me off the ground and turned me towards the exit of the cave. "Yup, definitely excited." I chuckled. Exiting the cave, I wiggled out of Super Boy's grip. "Ocean. Ocean." I couldn't help but skip as we left the mountain and moved down the path to the beach. "Do you think we'll find more shells?" I asked Kaldur.
"Most likely." He smiled at me.
"Yes." I pumped my fist. M'gann suddenly ran ahead of me, spreading her arms out.
"Hello Megan!" she said to herself. "We should hit the beach everyday!"
"Agreed!" I nodded. Suddenly, Robin sighed.
"…But first, a moment of silence for absent comrade." He said darkly. We all frowned, lowering our heads to mourn.
"Poor Wally." M'gann sniffed.
It was terrible. Here we were enjoying the day, while Wally had to suffer. He was so young too. And so excited to come to the beach with us.
But… But he…
Had school. His first day of school to be exact. It was something he couldn't miss! At least that is what his parents said, so he was there instead. He said he would try to meet up with us later, but apparently kids are school for a long amount of time ever day. Up to 7 hours of it! How crazy is that?
"Ouch. Ouch." M'gann kept lifting her feet up, the sand too hot for her feet to take. Quickly placing down a cool towel she stepped onto it. "Much better."
"To the ocean!" Robin declared, pointing his finger towards the large body of water. We all cheering, charging towards the waves. Leaping into the water, I dove head first into its salty grasp.
Did you all know the ocean tastes like salt? Cause I didn't. And I had to learn the hard way. It was gross.
"Ew." I lifted myself out, sticking out my tongue. "Salty."
"That is what the ocean is like ya goof." Robin cackled next to me.
"Arinna." Kaldur moved next to me. "Just to be certain, you are aware of how to swim yes?"
"Of course-" I hesitated. I had been so excited to come down here I hadn't even considered the possibility that I didn't know how to swim. Did I know how to swim? "…Maybe?" I shrugged.
Kaldur blinked a few times, his face breaking out into a smile. "Well, to be safe, don't go too far out." He patted my head.
"Will do." I nodded. "I'll stay close to the shore-" a wave of water slammed against my face. Stumbling back, I blinked wildly to find Robin had splashed some water towards my face using his hands.
"Hey!" I called splashing him back. "I wasn't ready!"
"Sneak attack!" M'gann suddenly leapt out from the water, splashing water at the both of us. "M'gann surprise."
"Team up!" Robin and us turned to her, teaming up for a split second to take her down. As we splashed water at her, I could tell Kaldur was a little ways away from us, smiling at us.
"Ah!" I shrieked as Super Boy cannonballed in front of us, causing massive wave to sweep us all up.
It was a really fun day. I ended up finding a new shell for my collection. It was super pretty too. It sparkled in the sun.
I also learned what Hot Dog's are. And trust me, they aren't what you think they are. Though… I did panic when Robin first started talking to me about them.
"What are those?" I asked, wondering what Robin was cooking.
"Hot dogs." He smiled.
M'gann and me gasped in horror. "WHAT?!" we shrieked, stumbling back. How… How could… How could he eat something like those?!
"What?" he looked confused. "They are just Hot Dogs."
"Ahh!" M'gann and me pushed him away. "You monster!" M'gann sobbed!
He was dumbstruck. "What is with you two-" Kaldur placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Arinna. M'gann." He announced with a chuckle. "Do not be alarmed. I too panicked when I first learned of Hot dogs. Rest assured though, they are not actual dogs."
"Oh what." Robin scoffed. "Is that what you two were freaking out about. They aren't actual dogs. That is just their names."
"Are you sure?" I frowned suspiciously.
"Yeah, I'm not too cool on eating dog." Super Boy raised his hand.
"They aren't dog! They are a different kind of meat." Robin sighed.
"…Cat?" M'gann frowned.
"No. Normal meat normal people eat. You know. From Pig-" Kaldur was quick to cover Robin's mouth, giving me an innocent smile. He dragged Robin off a bit to whisper something to him in a hushed tone. Looking as if he had almost made a grave mistake, Robin nodded his head in thanks to Kaldur.
I'm not sure what they were talking about, but it was probably about what kind of meat the Hot Dog was. I mean, it was good, but it still worried me on what it came from. Robin refused to tell me after Kaldur and him had a talk together. He said I don't want to know, so I'll trust his word and not ask.
"Okay Arinna." Robin said. "Now watch carefully. We'll show you how to play, then you'll join." Robin said as they set up for the game known as Volley Ball. I looked it up before we came out here because robin told me we would be playing it, but I was still unsure of how to fully play it.
'Alright." I nodded, hugging my knees and burying my toes within the sand.
Robin nodded to Kaldur, and he served the ball into the air. Tossing it over the net that stood between them, Super Boy tapped the ball gently to M'gann. Leaping into the air, she smacked it hard, sending it shooting back to Robin, who barely had time to try and stop it from hitting his face.
"So you hit people's faces?" I inquired.
"Not exactly." Kaldur chuckled. "More along the lines of hitting the ground on the other side of the net to get points."
That made more sense than my thoughts.
"Alright Arinna. You're up." M'gann smiled, motioning for me to take her spot. Feeling nervous, I moved to stand next to Super Boy.
"I apologize before hand if I mess up." I said to him.
"You won't mess up." He said sternly. "Now, lets do this." He glared challengingly at Robin and Kaldur, who looked ready. And then y'know, there is me, Arinna. Just standing there like an idiot.
"It's yours Arinna!" M'gann called.
"Ehh?!" I panicked, looking up to the ball that Robin had just hit over the net. There was no way I would be able to spike it, I was too small!
"I got you!" Super Boy suddenly lifted my up. "Go for it!"
I shrieked in shocked as we stumbled closer to the ball. As it got closer I narrowed my eyes, and lifted my hand. "Take this!" I screamed, slamming my hand into the ball, sending it over the next. Robin made a dive for it, barely missing.
"Victory!" Super Boy cackled, spinning around, still holding me up. I cheered with him, throwing my arms up high.
"Lucky shot!' Robin yelled at us.
"Luck had nothing- Actually no, Lucky probably had everything to do with that shot." I retorted. "But that doesn't matter!" I called as Super Boy spun around in circles, taking me with him. "Victory!" I felt suddenly sick with how much Super Boy was spinning. "Ugh…" I covered my mouth.
"Don't you dare throw up on me!" he yelled.
Needless to say, I did not throw up on Super Boy that day. Lucky for me. I did get to kind of bury him in sand though.
At some point Super Boy had laid down on the sand with his sunglasses on to tan and had fallen asleep. Taking this as an opportunity, the rest of us approached him. Chuckling we slowly began to pour sand of his stomach.
We piled it up so high it had made a mini mountain.
I'm not quite sure Super Boy woke up at all, but if he did, he made no move to stop us. Maybe he found the sand comfy, who knows?
I only wish Wally were here for this. I feel really bad that he didn't get to join us. We'll definitely have to go another day so he can come with us.
As well as Artemis.
Our new Team Mate. The new teammate who flipping gave me a heart attack when I ran into her.
"Ah!" I jumped as I turned around the corner of the hall towards the living room only to run straight into her. We had just gotten back and I had gone to change. I wasn't sure how this girl had gotten in here, but I definitely didn't recognize her as any of the heroes I had met before.
"Arinna. Robin wants to know if you got Aloe. He got sun burned-" Super Boy trailed off as he came around the corner with Kaldur noticing the stranger.
"…Stranger danger." I mumbled, quickly stepping back and moving behind Kaldur.
"Who are you?" Super Boy frowned at the newcomer. "How did you get in here?" he was ready to pounce!
"Calm down Super Boy." Suddenly Green Arrow stepped in. "I brought her in here. She is an ally."
His shoulders relaxing, he gave her a suspicious look. "…Okay. And who exactly is she?"
"Niece." The girl spoke quickly, as if she had recited that over a million different times.
"I didn't know you had a niece." I peeked out from behind Kaldur to stare at the Green Arrow.
"There are a lot things I don't tell people." He sniffed.
"Oh okay." I nodded. "Um… so…" I felt awkward.
"I think what Arinna is trying to say is; why have you decided to visit us today with your niece?" Aqua Lad stepped in. My saving grace!
"That is actually something we all should discuss." Bat Man suddenly appeared. He has got to stop doing that! Where does he even come from? Oh, and of course, Robin is with him.
Curious, Kaldur nodded for Bat Man to continue. With a flick of his wrist, he gave Artemis a signal to step forward. Doing as told, she moved in front of us. Trading in all green she matched her outfit with puffy blond hair that trailed down her back.
I think her eyes were possibly brown but I couldn't tell from the distance.
"This is Artemis everyone." Red Arrow said as M'gann joined us. "From this day on, she will be joining your team."
"New team mate?" Robin raised his eyebrow, glancing at Bat Man. He apparently hadn't told Robin about this till just now.
"Ooh! Another girl on the team!" M'gann clapped.
"Another girl?" I beamed. "Oh this is great!" feeling my shyness vanish from me as quickly as it appeared, I grabbed Artemis' hand and gave it a good shake. "Welcome to the team!"
"Uh… Thank?" she looked a little hesitant. "And you are?"
"Oh-" I blushed. Fool! You always say you name before asking another person theirs! Common courtesy! "Sorry. Sorry. I'm Arinna."
"I'm M'gann, but you can call me Megan. It's my Earth name." M'gann floated forward, just as excited as me. "It is amazing to have you on the team Artemis. I hope we can be good friends."
"Yeah, me too." She smiled. "And the boys?" she glanced over our shoulders to them.
"Aqua Lad, yet since we are now Team Mates, you may also call me Kaldur." Kaldur was the first to step forward, smiling kindly.
"Robin." Robin pointed to himself with a smirk. Super Boy didn't say anything, not looking overly enthused.
"That's Super Boy." I whispered to her, pointing to him. "He's a grump."
Glancing at him, Artemis had a little twinkle in her eye. "I don't mind that." She looked him up and down in an odd way.
It was strange to say the least.
Recognized: Kid Flash. B03.
Oh! Wally is back!
"The Wall-Man is in the house!" Wally's voice cheered as he ran towards us, his arms filled with beach supplies. Oh gosh, my guilt was growing at the sight of his swimsuit and sunscreened nose. "Now lets get this party start-" he tripped, landing face first into the ground, he stuff sent flying.
"Ooh." I winced.
Bat Man looked un-amused as Wally's beach ball bounced past his head.
"…Ted." Wally finished his sentence from before looking sheepish yet disappointed to have missed the whole get together.
"Wall-Man, huh?" Artemis snickered and Kaldur moved for Wally to see her. "Ah I love the uniform." She motioned to his swim trunks. "What exactly are your powers?" she inquired mockingly.
That would be Super Speed. I'll make sure to tell her later so she knows.
…Oh wait, was she being sarcastic?
"Uh, who is this?" Wally frowned.
"Artemis. You're new team mate." She announced.
"Kid Flash, never heard of you." He smiled. She frowned at him.
"Um-" looking awkward, Green Arrow stepped in. "She's my new Protégé." He announced.
"What happened to your old one?" Wally demanded. Behind him, the transporter suddenly burst to life.
Recognized: Speedy B06
A man dressed in dark red with orange hair and a black mask stepped forward. Strapped to his back was a bow similar to Green Arrow and a bag of arrows.
"Well for starters, he doesn't go by Speedy anymore. Call me Red arrow." The man commanded.
"…Who is that?' I whispered to Super Boy.
"Don't know, don't care." He folded his arms across his chest.
"I heard he use to be a side kick like the others. He was Green Arrows sidekick but he went solo." M'gann whispered to me.
"Ooh." I nodded. "Why'd he leave?"
"Probably got sick of being a sidekick." Super Boy grunted. "I know I would."
"Roy." Green Arrow's eyes widened in surprise as he stepped forward. "You look-"
"Replaceable." Red Arrow growled.
"It's not like that." Green Arrow insisted. "You told me you were going Solo."
"So why waste time finding a sub?" Red Arrow's voice was cold. "Can she even use that boy?"
"Yes." Artemis stepped forward, her eyes narrowed dangerously. "She can."
"Who are you?" It was Wally's turn to ask questions.
"I'm his Niece." Artemis said right as the same time Green Arrow said it, both of them looking away in perfect sync.
"Another Niece?" Robin said disbelievingly.
"But she is not your replacement." Kaldur said quickly. "We have always wanted you on the team. And we have no Quota on archers."
"And if we did, you'd know who we'd pick." Wally added. Artemis scowled at him.
"Whatever Bay-watch. I'm here to stay."
Glaring at her, Red Arrow turned to leave. Kaldur was quick to stop him. "You came to us for a reason." He said gently.
"Yeah, a reason named Dr. Serling Roquette." Red Arrow nodded.
Robin's eyes widened at the name, his interest officially spiked. "Nano robotic genius and clay-tonics expert of Royal University in Star city!" he announced, using his wrist computer to have a few images show up on the holograms around us.
Staring at the women in front of me, I tilted my head at her. She wore a lab coat that all Doctors seemed to wear. Short blond hair and bright blues eyes. Man blond hair was pretty.
"She vanished two weeks ago." Robin noted.
"Abducted two weeks ago." Red Arrow corrected, his voice harsh. "By the League of Shadows."
There was a League of Shadows. I guess just like Aster is for Disaster, the Shadows was the opposite of Justice.
"Whoa." Robin gasped. "You want us to rescue her from the League of Shadows?"
"Hard core." Wally grinned, fist pumping Robin. Those two were way too excited for this.
"I already rescued her." Red Arrow announced, cutting into their little moment. Moving forward, he lifted a little hologram device from his pocket to show a strange machine to us. "Only one problem. The Shadows already forced her into creating a weapon." He motioned to the screen. The weapon was a black cylinder that appeared to be able to hold millions of microscopic spider looking things. "The Doc calls it The Fog."
"Like Phog Allen?" I inquired. Red Arrow looked at me, raising his eyebrow.
"Who?"
"…" I opened my mouth to answer but found that I didn't have one. Just another one of the things I knew about, yet had no idea about. I'm starting to call these Arinna slips. "Never mind." I looked at my feet, hoping to hide my face with my bangs.
"Anyway-" Red Arrow huffed, annoyed that he was interrupted. "The Fog is comprised of millions of microscopic robots. Nano tech infiltrators." He explained. "Capable of disintegrating anything in their path. Concrete, steel, flesh, bone."
I shivered. This was taking a dark turn real fast.
"But's it true purpose isn't near destruction. It's theft. The infiltrators even store raw data from any computer system and deliver the stolen info to the shadows." He narrowed his eyes. "Providing the access to weapons, strategic defense, cutting edge science and tech."
"Perfect for extortion, manipulation and power broking." Artemis said. "Yeah, sounds like the Shadows."
"Like you know anything about the shadows." Wally scoffed. Artemis smirked at him, as if she knew a secret he didn't. "…Who are you?!" he screamed at her, just as angry as when he first started talking to her. It was strange to see him like this. Usually he got along so well with everyone.
"Roquette is working on a virus to render the Fog inert." Red Arrow cut in between them.
"But if the Shadows know she is can do that-" Robin's eyes widened.
"They'll target her." Red Arrow nodded. "Right now she is off the grid. I stashed her at the local high school's computer lab." An image of the school appeared in front of us.
Wait, she was there now?
"You left her alone?" Green arrow questioned.
"She's safe enough for now." Red Arrow hissed at him.
"Then lets you and I keep her that way." Green Arrow said softly, moving towards his old partner.
"You and I?" Red Arrow sounded insulted. "Don't you want to take your new protégé?"
Bat Man placed a hand on Green Arrow's shoulder when he moved to please with the younger teen. Staring at him, Green Arrow sighed. "You brought this to the team." He concluded. "It's their mission. Which means, it's her mission too." He motioned to Artemis. She straightened, her expression unreadable.
Red Arrow made a sound that I think meant he was annoyed. "Then my parts done." He pushed pass us. He paused briefly to glance at Super Boy and me. Feeling awkward, I waved to him.
"…Hi."
"So you're the newbies." He snorted. "Have fun picking up the Justice League's trash."
"What'd you say?" Super Boy growled. I placed a hand on his chest to stop him from charging.
Not looking overly intimidated, or even caring for that matter, Red Arrow moved on, straight to the transporter. "Recognized: Speedy."
"It's Red Arrow." He corrected gruffly. "B06 update." He commanded before vanishing.
The team stood there in silence after he left. I didn't really know him, so his cold shoulder didn't necessarily bother me, despite his comment beforehand. It did bothered Wally, Robin and Kaldur however. He must have been a close friends them.
Wally even appeared to be angry with Artemis. I suppose he blamed her for Red Arrow leaving. It wasn't really her fault but I shouldn't be the one to tell him other wise.
"Well, it appears we have a new mission." Robin was the first to speak up through the silence. He glanced at Bat Man, who nodded.
"Leave immediately. Stopping the Fog and protecting Dr. Roquette is top priority." He declared. "All of you will be sent, Artemis included."
Wally folded his arms, breathing angrily through his nose. Artemis only glanced at him, seemingly just as crossed.
New mission with angry teammates. If all the others missions were indicators enough that something would probably go wrong, this angry issue is definitely going to cause some problems.
Well… better go grab my cape!
YEAH!
And we are done. Oh gosh I am tired and my hand is cramping. But I'm so glad I got this chapter out. So very very glad.
OH! BIG QUESTION!
So I've been talking to a lot of you lately on names and it's getting to the point where I want to give Arinna her official Super Hero name. So, I'm gonna let it be decided by a vote. Below I will list the possible names you can pick. You can choose one and either send your choice by a review or personal message!
Then I'll tally up the results and that will be her name! :D
Here they are.
Ultra-girl
Ari (just a shortened version of her name)
Radiance
Crystal Gladiator (I was surprised how many different people suggested this one)
Shadow Bat (I thought this one was cute)
Phantom (I guess the point for this one is that no one knows how she got there and one day she was just there and apart of the team… like a Phantom XD)
