A little info for this chapter:

I didn't want to incorporate what happened in Failsafe just yet, partly because that episode made me cry myself to sleep and partly because it's a little too serious for this chapter to incorporate.

So far I'm not having Zatanna because she hasn't been mentioned again and I don't really know her personality.

In the flash-back Robin is only seven so that the reason for some of the dialog.

I swear I thought of Alexis before they introduced Wolf.

If Scarlet sounds a little weird when she talks, just remember she was born in the fourteenth century.

Thanks, read on!

The bioship was silent on the way to Lawson Parks, for different reasons. Artemis was still upset that she had to back down the last time she and Alice came face-to-face, Wally was similarly upset, as were M'gann an Conner, Kaldur was… well he was in denial honestly, he was impressed that Alice could put up with Roy and that she stood up to the team, but at the same time he was angered by those incidents, Robin was fighting a smirk it was obvious that Ali had rubbed the team the wrong way and Robin found that hilarious.

"Approaching landing point," Miss Martian said the green landscape of northern California flying by.

"Camouflage the bioship M'gann, and prepare to land," Aqualad instructed the Martian, "Change into stealth-tech."

The perimeter of the nature preserve that was Lawson Parks was clearly outlined by both a sudden clean-cut of the foliage and a barbed chicken wire fence that had a red 'danger wild animal preserve' signs every half-mile. The bioship landed in camouflage mode a hundred yards away from one of the signs.

"Miss Martian establish telepathic link," Aqualad said.

Everyone here? Miss Martian asked her voice echoing in everyone heads.

Here beautiful, Wally responded

I got cha Miss M, Robin thought pulling up a heat map of their location.

Here, Artemis said calmly.

Here, Superboy mimicked

I believe we are all here, Aqualad assured the Martian.

Wolf barked mentioning his head at the door of the bioship.

Looks like somebody's ready to go, Robin though with a smirk, the heat signature shows that the man-made power source is exactly where we are now, well a few hundred feet below us.

Alright let's go, Kid Flash said running over to the door like the canine companion and baring a similar expression.

First we need a plan, Kaldur thought to the over-anxious redhead, Robin can you locate an entrance to the power source?

Yeah, about a quarter-mile to the north there's a small manhole that's the only entrance other than a similar manhole a half-mile to the west, but that enters Lawson Parks, Robin replied.

So we have an entrance and an exit a good and bad thing, Artemis said.

Isn't it a bad thing that we only have one exit? M'gann asked.

Yes it is, what makes it even worse it that the exit is in Lawson Parks, Robin thought back showing the team a 3D depiction of the tunneled cave that the team was about to infiltrate. It was spherical shaped with two tunnels at the top and left side.

What's so bad about a nature preserve? Kid Flash asked.

Do you not see the signs that say 'danger?' Robin questioned his best friend.

Sure but everybody has those to keep people off their property, Wally said nonchalantly.

You keep that philosophy in mind, KF, Robin said nodding and silently thinking that Wally was an idiot.

Are we going to actually get any recon done or are the two of you just going to stand there and continue to debate the authenticity of 'warning' signs? Artemis asked.

Let's go Blondie, Kid Flash thought running out the door.

Don't call me BLONDIE! Artemis shouted back.

The five remaining members of the team in the bioship shared a look before following their arguing teammates to the manhole. It only took the team about two minutes to reach the manhole and Kaldur rehearsed the plan one last time before the team entered the manhole.

Robin and Artemis will reach and observe the main power source and any of the technology, Conner, M'gann, Wolf, and I will back up Robin and Artemis and observe the enemy, Kaldur relayed to the rest of the team as they crouched around the manhole.

Understood, the word rang throughout the heads of all the team as they all said the word.

Kaldur nodded as Wolf went down into the tunnel followed by Robin, Artemis, M'gann, Conner, Wally, and finally Kaldur closed the lid of the manhole after he went down. The tunnel was just tall enough so that Robin didn't have to crouch but the rest of the team did have to slightly bend to fit.

It's amazing that for once your shortness is actually beneficial to you, Wally thought to the raven hair.

Wally, Robin growled at the ginger in his I-want-to-kill-you-now-but-I-can't way that made him shut-up immediately.

Okay, you have to teach me that, Artemis told the Boy Wonder.

You've already got your own version, Robin thought back.

You're too sweet, Artemis thought as she and Robin split from the rest of the group when the tunnel expanded into a large cavern, it was void of any people but in the center of the room was a complex collection of chemistry equipment.

Kid Flash do you know what they could be doing with this equipment? Kaldur asked their favorite Science Olympiad.

Based on this they, whoever they are, are trying to change the chemical balance of an element, but that's only a theoretical experiment, Kid Flash thought back.

What element are they changing? Robin asked.

Uh, looks like Mercury if I had to guess, he replied.

Crap, Robin thought slowly.

Robin! M'gann scolded.

"As much as I enjoy your company, you lovelies really shouldn't be here," Blood said from behind Robin and Artemis.

Artemis and Robin spun around to face the fourteen year old redhead. She just smiled at them and crossed her arms behind her back.

Please tell me you guys are getting this? Artemis asked the rest of the team.

Miss Martian and Superboy are on their way to assist you, Wolf, Kid Flash and I will remain guarding the perimeter. Robin can you distract her? Kaldur thought back.

On it, Robin thought back.

Fat lot of help that'll do! Remember two days ago, she took us all down, Artemis thought at the same time.

"Well Ruby, sorry to trespass but it turns out that I actually did miss you," Robin said sweetly.

"Mhm, you wanna try again or should we just start fighting?" Blood replied with one of her 'really' looks.

Well that didn't work, Robin thought.

You thought it would? Artemis questioned.

No, not really, Robin responded.

"What do you mean we shouldn't be here, you shouldn't be here either," Artemis snapped at the younger girl.

"Why shouldn't I be here? This is my place of employment after all," she smiled at the blonde archer.

"I was really hoping you wouldn't say that," Robin said back. Scarlet looked at him and winked with one of her dangerous smirks.

"Now if it was up to me I wouldn't mind you lovelies being here but—" she was interrupted by a bullet hitting just a few feet in front of her feet.

"This is my lab and I don't take well to trespassers," Artemis whipped her head around to see an eighteen year old male with silver hair and a smoking gun in his hand.

"That would be the 'but'," Scarlet said, looking over at the silver haired male who wore a pair of tight silver pants with a red belt and two holsters for the guns he had.

"Who are you supposed to be?" Artemis asked as she drew her loaded bow back.

"My employer, Mercury," Blood said bowing in the direction of the silvered haired teen.

"And you my love, would be the beautiful archeress, Artemis, correct?" he asked tilting his head.

Artemis was a little stunned, she wasn't used to flattery from the bad guys. Mercury looked at her with a smirk as her re-holstered his gun. "Why so fluttered, love?"

Artemis swallowed quickly and raised her bow to his face. His smirk just grew.

You guys are almost here, right? Artemis asked their backup, M'gann and Conner.

We're right above you, M'gann responded.

Then what are you waiting for? Artemis responded.

An opening, Superboy though.

"Well I'm going to bow out before you lovelies tear this place apart. Have fun," Scarlet said as she turned around and started walking away.

"You're not staying?" Mercury asked the redhead nonchalantly.

"I'm not so stupid to stick around when Nightshade finds you flirting with the archeress, (Stateren, Mercury, Blood)" Ruby told him placing a hand on her jacket-covered hip.

"What makes you think she'll be attending? (Stateren, Mercury, Blood)" Mercury replied.

"I never said she would be attending, but I'd rather not witness your digging your own grave, (Stateren, Mercury, Blood)" Ruby said before continuing her exit. It looked like Ruby was going to walk into the wall as her exit, but only a foot away from the wall of the cave her form was concealed by a silver mist and she disappeared, like the Cheshire Cat.

Artemis, Robin hurry and join us we are under attack, Kaldur thought to them.

"Who's attacking our friends?" Artemis growled at Mercury.

"What kind of stereotypical villain would I be if I didn't have Hench-Men?" He smirked back. The area filled with smoke when Robin threw down one of his Gas Pellets.

Artemis you M'gann and Superboy help Aqualad and KF, I've got Mercury, Robin instructed as he jumped into the smoke.

Robin— M'gann started worried.

Just go, Robin thought back cutting her off.

Artemis headed off in the direction that Kaldur, Wolf, and Kid Flash were with Miss Martian and Superboy following close behind. There were a little more than twenty armed Hench-Men that Aqualad, Wolf, and KF were doing their best to hold back, but they were slipping. Artemis, Superboy and Miss Martian jumped in to help as soon as they reached the rest of their team.

It was like fighting Kobra. Except I don't have a personal history with Kobra, Alex was blocking everything I threw at him. It's really amazing how differently two people interact after only four year and one of them going completely insane.

I was looking for Sparrow, Mom had said that it was time for practice and it was weird for Cee not to be near the high wire or trapeze when it was training time. I was going to check the costume trailer when I ran into Alex.

"Alex, have you seen Sparrow?" I called to the twelve-year-old.

"No, but I'm looking for her too little bird, maybe we should look together," he proposed. I really didn't want that, he had been acting funny around Cee, and she had been acting funny back; I had talked to Mom about it and she had called it 'puppy love' whatever that meant, I didn't like it no matter what weird name it had.

"Uh, I think I can find her," I said hopping to be able to find Cee by myself, or at least first.

"Wouldn't it help to have two people looking for her?"

"No."

"Why not?" he asked raising an eyebrow at me. Alexander Haly had known me since I was born, Cee as well; it came with the territory of being the son of Jack Haly, the owner of the circus. He was the same age as Cee, a few months older, and had been friends with both of us, despite him being five years older than me. But as soon as the 'puppy love' started I just wanted him as far away from Sparrow as possible.

"Because," I said back.

He just kept his eyebrow up. His dark-brown hair almost fell in his golden-brown eyes; I really don't understand why Cee has 'puppy love.' "Because why?" I think he might know that I want him away from Cee.

"Hey guys, Kassia said you were looking for me," Cee said walking up to the two brunettes.

"Good old Mom," Alex said smiling at Cee.

"Yeah," Cee smiled and bit her bottom lip slightly.

"Come on Sparrow, Mom said it was time for practice," I said grabbing her hand and pulling her in the direction of the main tent. Cee stumbled a little at being pulled, her freshly pixie-cut hair flopping in the wind.

"I'm coming, I'm coming, sheech little bird excited to fly much?" She said picking up the pace and walking next to me.

I just walked a little faster still pulling my older sister. I really hated 'puppy love.'

It wasn't Alex's fault, per say. The whole Statera thing was extremely complex but in a nutshell, Cee had inherited it (not from our parents), ran away when she found out about her powers, Alex had followed her, she kissed him accidently gave him a giant power like hers while completely frying his sanity in the process, and finally made the two of them have a very confusing love/hate relationship lasting to today. And to think, by biggest worry for the two of them used to be puppy love.

I lashed out a kick towards the silhouette of the teen in the smoke, but ended up just kicking the smoke-filled-air, exactly like Kobra. I always used the smoke pellets because they worked to my advantage, I could see and the enemy couldn't, that wasn't the case today; I would have laughed if this was anyone else, to distract them if nothing else. I saw the kick a millisecond before it hit my side, I instinctively tried to block it but wasn't fast enough to match a Statera.

"What's wrong Robin?" Alex asked as I hit the floor.

Rob we could use some help, KF thought into the mental link.

Working on it, KF, I thought back. The smoke was starting to clear and I could see the bright-silver color of Alex's hair, when he had been infected with the Statera power his hair and eye color changed to silver and black; the same thing had happened to Cee, except she had been infected before he was born so it looked like her natural color was a brunette.

Robin, run! Kaldur shouted at me. I was confused until I heard the explosion, then it made sense.

I ran towards the second tunnel the one that I really didn't was us to use. This wasn't going to end well.

The six other members of the team followed Robin out of the tunnel, unfortunately so did the Hench-Men. Kid Flash was the first out of the manhole, the entrance had been covered with leaves and dirt to disguise itself. Robin followed KF out then Miss Martian, Wolf, Artemis Aqualad, and Superboy followed. The Hench-Men only took an extra second but they came out guns blazing. The team was fighting against the Hench-Men, but Mercury was nowhere in sight.

Where's Mercury? Robin called out.

Don't know, you were the last person to see him, KF said trying to run and unarm the men, but they were firing too quickly for an opening.

Kaldur used his water-bearers as a shield to block the bullets as he went in closer. But didn't see the unarmed goon that was about to hit him from behind. Before the goon could hit Kaldur, he was blasted away by a torrent of water.

"Nice save Kaldur!" Kid Flash yelled as he managed to disarm one of the men.

"It was not me, once again," Kaldur said unhappily.

"Then who?" Superboy asked. Another guy jumped at the team but was intercepted by a midnight-black wolf.

Soon all of the Hench-Men were under siege by wolfs of all different sizes and colors, yet none were the same size of Wolf being that they had never been injected with Kobra Venom.

"Um… friends of yours Wolf?" Wally asked the startled canine.

"Who knocked the guy out with the water blast?" M'gann asked confused.

"Her," Robin replied nodding in the direction of the fight.

A young girl, about fifteen, was taking the Hench-Men out with a bamboo bow-staff. She had twizzled locks of pale-blonde hair that was tied back with a blue band, and her eyes were covered by an aqua domino mask. She had green shorts and an aqua skirt-like covering that was open in the front, a waist-less halter-top covered her top. The bow-staff had flowing marks carved into it, much like a sea anemone's tentacles. Her neck had three sets of near-translucent gills on either side, and her hands and feet had a soft webbing.

"I didn't know there was an Aqualass," Artemis said.

"There is not," Kaldur replied a bit unsettled by the girl.

The men were disappearing in the same kind of mist that Scarlet had disappeared into, the ones that were still here were completely overwhelmed by the wolves. When the last of the men had disappeared the wolves and the girl turned to the team.

"Thank you for the assistance with the—" Kaldur started.

"Did you just miss the giant red lettering that said 'danger, stay out?' Do you know what would have happened to both of you if I hadn't been here?" she asked clearly mad, the wolves growled almost like they were agreeing with her.

Well that's what we get for thanking her, Artemis seethed.

In retrospect we are trespassing, M'gann thought sweetly.

"We are sorry for trespassing, we—" Kaldur tried again.

"Do you know what would have happened?" She asked again some of the anger replaced by weariness.

"No, I do not," Kaldur answered.

"Most wolves won't ever attack humans unless they are forced to, but the wolves at this preserve are so territorial that if anyone trespasses they will attack and hunt. If I hadn't been here they would have tried to kill you," she said motioning towards the wolves behind her. The largest wolf was a cream-colored one that was directly behind the girl.

"Thank you for not allowing that to happen, we can leave now if you would prefer," Kaldur said, nodding.

"Please," she asked.

"Before we leave," Wally started, "can we get a name?"

"Sprite," she said back.

"Like the pop?" Wally asked.

"Not quite, like a River Sprite," She said back with a smile.

The medium sized black wolf that had first attacked advanced on the Team growling at Wolf. Wolf growled back his hunches starting to rise. The cream colored wolf ran in front of the black one and snapped it jaws at the smaller wolf first before giving a half-growl at Wolf.

"Get your mangy mutts in order," Superboy growled at Sprite walking up to Wolf.

A resounding growled echoed around the field coming from every canine mouth and from Sprite's. "Get yours off our land."

"Happily," Superboy growled raising a fist.

"Superboy!" M'gann said stepping in front of him.

"We will leave before there is an incident," Kaldur said before he thought to Miss Martian, Call the bioship before we have a war on our hands.

Calling bioship, M'gann thought still standing in front of Conner.

"So why haven't we ever heard of you before?" Wally asked super-speeding a little closer to the Atlantean, "You obviously have a face for the camera."

"You'll flirt with anyone, won't you?" she asked giggling slightly her hand covering her mouth.

"Only when they're pretty like you," Kid Flash responded super-speeding so he was only a few feet away from the girl.

"Oh, grow up," Artemis scolded him.

"Nobody asked you!" Wally shouted back. The wolves turned their heads back and forth with each person talking, it also looked like they were smiling.

"Nobody needed too," she snapped back.

"Nobody wanted your opinion either," KF yelled pointed at the blonde archer.

"Nobody wanted you to flirt with every female on the planet either!" She retaliated.

"Are they always like this?" Sprite asked Aqualad.

"Yes, they are," Aqualad responded as the speedster and the archer continued to yell insults at each other.

Sprite started to laugh so she covered her mouth with her hand, the wolves behind her also looked like they were laughing. The bioship landed behind M'gann a few minutes later.

"We will leave now," Kaldur informed her.

"Thank you," she said cutting off her laughter, "and if you ever decide to come back, use the front door."

"Will do beautiful," Wally said as he ran into the bioship.

When the entire team had boarded the bioship the door closed, and the ship started to rise. The wolves disappeared into the forest until only the cream colored one and the black one remained by Sprite. When the bioship disappeared Sprite started to talk.

"Well that was interesting," Sprite said.

"Very, Pip. You did not inform us of the wolf with them, (Wolfish, wolves, Sprite)," the cream-colored wolf tilted her head towards Sprite as her jaws moved.

"I didn't know, Speedy didn't mention it, (Wolfish, wolves, Sprite)," Sprite responded. "Did you have to make a fuss Luna?"

The black wolf huffed turning around and walking in the direction of the rest of the pack.

"Teenagers, (Wolfish, wolves, Sprite)," Alexis growled after her.

"Maggie's going to kill us if we're late, let's go, (Wolfish, wolves, Sprite)," Alice said with a smile running in the direction of home.

"I'll repeat, teenagers, (Wolfish, wolves, Sprite)," Alexis said before running to catch up with her Pip.

I finished! If you didn't understand, Alice is Sprite and Pip, both are her nicknames. River Sprite is her Navajo name and Pip is Wolfish for prized pup.

A/N: I was sick all this week too, but I got to finish chapter 14 because of it so I guess that was good.

Review!

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