"This is Cat Grant, reporting from Taipei, where the historic peace summit between South Rhelasia and North Rhelasia has completely broken down. As a last resort, Prime Minister Tseng of South Rhelasia and North Rhelasia's General Singh Mann Li have agreed to bring in an independent arbitrator. But who is it? Speculation has run from the Secretary General of the United Nations to Superman. But the man of steel seems unlikely, as I'm told the arbitrator is due to arrive by car, not cape, at any moment." Red Arrow is at the summit too, following intel that Cheshire is going to kill the arbitrator.
"Aqualad."
"Red Arrow."
"I need access to the Justice League's database and the exact height of the League of Shadows Assassin known as Cheshire." Roy requested.
"Checking. Cheshire is 5'6". And exceptionally dangerous. Do you require back-up?"
"This is my first solo mission in months and, no offense to the team, but most of them are just immature sidekicks."
"Those immature sidekicks have saved both our lives, more than once." Aqualad reminded his friend. With the knowledge of Cheshire's height, Red Arrow scans all attending women until he gets a match: Cheshire is masquerading as a vendor. Red Arrow assembles his bow, ready to intervene, as the arbitrator arrives by car. Cheshire aims an RPG at the car the moment it stops, but Red Arrow manages to shoot an arrow at her, sending the rocket skyward. Cat Grant keeps reporting.
"Did you get that? Did you get the shot? Aah!" With no other options, Cheshire storms at the car, knocking out all security personnel she comes across. She doesn't reach the car, however, because Red Arrow shoots a net arrow at her, and jumps after it. After a short scuffle, both are arrested by police. The mystery arbitrator steps out of the car unharmed. "We have just witnessed an assassination attempt live." Grant reported. "Thankfully, no one seems to have been hurt, including our mystery arbitrator. Lex Luthor?"
"We have confirmation. This one's Green Arrow's pal, Speedy." Lex Luthor told police chief Xiaping.
"It's Red Arrow." Roy growled.
"He must be questioned."
"Lex Luthor vouches for him, Captain. Release the sidekick." Luthor continues to taunt.
"I'm no sidekick Luthor." As far as Red was concerned he was League material already, but, for the time being anyway, he'd settle for being one of the team's leaders. "And I don't need any favors from you."
"Apologies. I didn't realize you wished to join the young lady behind bars." They head inside, where the violence has not done the summit any good. The two leaders accuse the other of hiring the assassin. Red Arrow is still not convinced of Luthor's motives, and claims to have evidence for LexCorp weapons deals to both Rhelasias. Luthor isn't even fazed. "War income is pocket change compared to the billions to be made investing in a peaceful, united Rhelasia, and isn't it better to have peace, even if that scoundrel Lex Luthor profits from it?"
"That scoundrel may not survive to profit. Cheshire failed, but the league of shadows won't stop until the contract is fulfilled." Red pointed out.
"Which does beg the question, who hired the League?"
"And were you really the target? Or was your death just a convenient way to sabotage the summit?"
"Thankfully you have services to provide, for free to, most helpful. Time to get to work, hero. Now, excuse me, I have a hemisphere to save." After taunting The Crimson Archer even more Lex walks away from the young hero to the shouting leaders. "Gentlemen, gentlemen. Shall we attempt some smiles for the camera?"
In Mount Justice Superboy is working on his bike when Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado come to pick him and Miss Martian up for their first day of school. "Ready for school? I made our lunches." Megan asks.
"The first day of a scholastic season carries great cultural resonance. We want to wish you both well." Manhunter informs Connor along with a wave of greeting from Aqualad. Kaldur reminds them that they have to change, which Megan does by shape-shifting into a new outfit. She also changes her skin tone so 'Megan Morse' can blend in at school.
"Well, Conner Kent, time to change your shirt. You don't want to reveal your identity." He puts it on inside out, and Miss Martian blushes from seeing his torso.
"Will this work?"
"Works for me." Megan sighs.
Back in Taipei, Red Arrow questions Cheshire in her prison cell. "Aren't you going to ask me anything?" Cheshire asks while perfoming kata.
"I think you know what I'm after." Red Arrow growls.
"I do, actually. Do you?" .
"Who hired you?"
"Shadows."
"Who hired them?"
"I didn't ask."
"What's the end game? The peace summit or Luther himself?" Roy was losing his temper.
"Two birds, one stone. Aren't you going to ask anything interesting, like my measuments?" The villainess purred.
"I'm taken and your not in her league."
"And you think you're in mine? Where's Green Arrow when you really need him?" Chesire continued to taunt, slowly pulling herself closer to Red Arrow, who looked deep into her eyes and said.
"I don't."
"You sure about that?" She asked and then suddenly ducked.
Before Red Arrow can realize what is happening, he is thrown across the room by an explosion. Cheshire welcomes the escape, but is not happy Sportsmaster is the one to get her out. They escape over the rooftops. Red Arrow pursues, first by zipline, but Cheshire cuts the rope with a shuriken. Sportsmaster and Cheshire make it to a helicopter that is standing by. Still a block away, Red Arrow shoots a rope directly at the chopper, and holds on.
"Are you even trying to ditch this guy?" Sportsmaster demands.
"I really hate to admit it, but he has a point." Cheshire cuts the rope, and the archer has to create a landing spot with a foam arrow. He does have the location of the two, as the arrowhead still lodged in the helicopter's hull has a tracker. The two assassins make it to the headquarters of the Shadows. "Because I'm a professional, I won't kill you. At least not while we're on the job." You can hear the venom in each word.
"You wouldn't have this job if not for me. Grow up already." Sportsmaster laughs. It is then that Ra's al Ghul cut in between them, and he is not pleased with Cheshire's failure.
"The evening's agenda was to create strife between nations, not my assassins."
"Master." Cheshire drops in his presence.
"And client so twice disappointed in your failure. Luthor has been a thorn in my side for too long. Peaceful countries rarely call upon the League of Shadows, and while we wish for world peace some strife is needed to keep our warriors sharp, until our dream is possible. So I expect better outcome, less interference from that boy." Red Arrow spies on them, but cannot evade Ra's al Ghul's keen senses. Exposed, Red Arrow attacks. Ra's al Ghul leaves in the shadows, leaving his assassins to take care of the interloper. Cheshire makes it to the roof first, and proves to be superior to Red Arrow in hand-to-hand combat. Sportsmaster pole vaults onto the roof, and throws a discus at Red Arrow. He has to block with his bow, which doesn't survive the hit. He is cornered on the edge of the roof.
"I hear you go by Red Arrow now. Ha. More like Broken Arrow." Sportsmaster taunted.
Marvin is skateboarding across the schoolyard, missing all the students except for one—Conner. The new kid picks him up and questions him. "Explain this." Superboy demands.
"Why? What's your problem? Put my man Marvin down." Jock, Mal Duncan cuts in, and threatens Conner. Mal has a Superman t-shirt; in fact, all the students have superhero t-shirts.
"I don't think he likes my shirt."
"Your shirt's fine. Everyone's shirt is fine." Megan introduces herself and Conner, leading Marvin to make a comment about their alliterative names. Mal and Conner stare off, but the teacher, Lucas Carr, breaks them up. He sends everyone to homeroom, everyone except Connor and Megan that is.
"Look I just want you guys to know, I'm a consultant for the Justice League. Thats part of why you were enrolled here. So no fear if you need to run off on a mission or if you guys just need someone to talk to. Alright?" After walks away Marvin and his friend, Wendy, walk over to introduce themselves. They were new last year, so Wendy can relate to them. She invites Megan over for cheerleading tryouts after classes.
In Taipei, the assassins have still cornered Red Arrow on the rooftop. Cheshire lets Sportsmaster finish him off. Red Arrow manages to duck away from the first explosive javelin, but the blast knocks him off the roof and into the river. Sportsmaster throws a second javelin after him. They don't see him resurface, and leave. On the other shore, Red Arrow barely makes it to safety. "Uhh! It's me. I may possibly be in over my head."
Later on Red Arrow discusses events with Luthor in the latter's hotel room. "The League of Shadows wants you dead."
"Doesn't every League?" He is not surprised that Ra's al Ghul wants him dead; they're competitors, after all. He laughs off Red Arrow's suggestion to watch them take each other out. "Your stab at pragmatism is, well, adorable, but the summit and the peace are at stake, remember? We'll increase security. Though, if the Shadows think you're dead, maybe we can surprise them."
"I've got a better surprise." Red assures Luthor.
Back in Happy Harbor, Lucas Carr's homeroom class is watching the news about the summit. "If Lex Luthor's unknown strategy for peace fails, the 2 Rhelasias are looking at all-out war before morning." Cat Grant reports.
"Who can tell me more about Rhelasia? Marvin?" Mr Carr asked.
"Well, , it's Better than Fakeasia."
"Not quite, anyone else?"
"Modern Rhelasia was created in 1855 and ruled by the Boquoon Dynasty until it was divided by the Great Powers into North and South Rhelasia after World War II. But why are they fighting? They're all humans. I mean, Rhelasians. Right?"
"Right on all counts, actually." As he went back to teaching the rest of the class Miss Martian opened a link between the two of them.
"It's no different on Mars. The White Martian minority are treated as second class citizens by the Green majority. Of course, I'm green, but that doesn't make it right."
At the peace summit, Luthor attempts to break the ice by hosting a traditional tea ceremony. As the young maiden pushing the cart moves closer to the Rhelasian leaders Aqualad, who had emmersed himself in the crowd earlier stops her in her tracks. "Thats far enough, Cheshire." Out of options, she activates the bomb in her trolley and shoves it towards the dignitaries. It promptly explodes. Aqualad uses all the water in his tanks, as well as the politicians' drinks, to create a shield, and Red Arrow shoots an arrow to detonate the bomb prematurely. Cheshire only barely manages to duck from the blast.
"It's over Cheshire." Red Arrow informs her.
"You would think so." The hole it blows in the side of the building makes a perfect entrance for Sportsmaster, who arrives with more assassins. "Take Sportsmaster, Cheshire is mine."
"So territorial, and only our second date." Cheshire and Arrow quickly go blow for blow as she continues to taunt and flirt. "You called one of your little sidekick friends, but didn't you tell me they weren't in your League?"
Meanwhile at school Megan is at tryouts. She does a small cheer, and after some deliberation, the other girls throw a tub of water over her. Conner reacts in anger, but Megan telepathically dissuades him. He loses his balance and falls off the bleachers, face first on the track. Wendy apologizes for the shower, but it's an initiation ritual—she's in. While she celebrates, Karen notes Conner on the ground, and thinks he might be hot, but also kind of a freak. Afterwards Conner gave Megan his jacket. "You're carrying my books?" Though Megan blushed, and thought it romantic, Conner only thought of the practical side.
"What you want them to get wet?"
The fight is still on in Taipei, with neither side winning. To drop everyone's concentration, Sportsmaster reveals a secret to Aqualad. "Not bad, Lad. Better than your team did at Santa Prisca - and Bialya."
"How did you..."
"Let's just say I have an inside source. Very inside." While Aqualad is surprised and slightly distraught at the revelation, Red Arrow decides to end the fight. He shoots the sprinkler system, allowing Aqualad a fresh water supply for his magic. He conjures up a snake with which he takes out multiple assassins. Before it reaches Sportsmaster, Cheshire throws a smoke bomb, allowing them both the opportunity to escape. Through the smoke, one last assassin leaps towards the dignitaries, ready to strike.
"Mercy." Luthor replies calmly. Luthor's assistant Mercy intervenes: she shows her arm is cybernetic, and has a cannon installed. She takes out the assassin, and both Tseng and Li are most impressed. "Gives new meaning to the arms race, doesn't she?"
"That technology is most impressive."
"We owe you our lives, sir."
"They owe him their lives?" Red Arrow growled. While Cat Grant reports that the treaty has been signed and reunification is a step closer, Aqualad and Red Arrow discuss matters. Red Arrow is still not happy about helping Luthor. "Is it? I heard what Sportsmaster said. Do you really think there's a mole on the team feeding him intel?"
"I cannot rule out the possibility. We will investigate quietly."
"Not tell them?"
"I don't not want the unit unraveling over baseless suspicions. And if there is a mole, I have no wish to tip him or her off."
"Good luck with that."
In his hotel room, Luthor remarks how well the summit went. "Both Li and Tseng were quite impressed with Mercy's equipment and are quite literally buying into the peace. Our plan to ensure the eventual reunification of Rhelasia under Lexcorp's political and economic guidance is a success." Ra's al Ghul congratulates him, knowing one more corner of the world will see the Light.