MOUNT JUSTICE
DECEMBER 5TH 2010 17: 00 EST
Honeybee stepped into the Cave; her sunglasses hastily being readjusted on her face from where they fell before the Zeta tube lit up. Her pink dress swished in the wind of the Zeta beam, and she walked forward with a soft smile. The others (sans Robin, who Honeybee knew was on a case with Batman tonight, and Artemis) stood assembled before her, Red Tornado and Green Arrow among them. All of them except for the Leaguers were dressed in civies.
Honeybee stopped when she saw who else was among them, her mouth dropping open in shock.
It was Red Arrow, as in former sidekick of Green Arrow and her friend. A friend she hadn't talked to in months in all the craziness that was her life, a friend she had frankly missed, even with all his grouchy tendencies. With all that had happened in her civilian life, it was nice to see a familiar and friendly face.
"Roy?" Honeybee asked, brushing non-existent from dirt from the skirt of her dress. Roy didn't smile, but he also didn't scowl at her, his look almost fond.
"Hey HB," Roy greeted. "Good to see you." Aqualad stood beside his land-side best friend, smiling earnestly. Honeybee crossed her arms behind her back and cocked her head to the side curiously. What exactly was Roy doing here?
"Not that I'm not excited to see you," Honeybee said, "but what are you doing here?" Roy had made obvious that he had no interest in the Team or ever joining it. Last Honeybee heard, they only got his respect a few months ago when Aqualad helped him on a mission, the same mission that had started the whole mole nonsense. Roy never came to the Cave, not ever. So was something wrong?
"You haven't heard the great news yet!" Wally said. He raced forward, standing between her and Roy. He slung an arm around Roy's shoulder and grinned exuberantly. "Red Arrow's joining the Team!"
Wow. Honeybee had not expected that, not in a million years. What could possibly have happened to make Roy flip on a dime and join them? He must have had an ulterior motive hidden in there somewhere. Honeybee smiled at her friend regardless. No matter why he was here, he was here now. He would be a wonderful asset to the Team.
"That's great news!" Honeybee exclaimed. She patted Roy's arm excitedly and then stepped back from him. "It's been a long time since we've got to work together."
It had been a year and a half since Honeybee had last worked a case with the Arrows. A Star City based shell-company had started making waves in the Narrows, as it was a front for drug dealing, and her and Waspia had accidently managed to get on the trail as well. Her and then Speedy had been paired off to take care of the much smaller Narrows operation while the older heroes had taken care of the Star City base at the same time. It had been a success, and one of the few times Honeybee had gotten a chance to work with someone besides Robin and Batman before the creation of the Team.
"Recognized: Artemis – B08."
Honeybee looked over her shoulder to see the blonde girl materialize in the same tube that Honeybee had just used, her hands on her hips and a determined upturn to her lips.
"Artemis, look!" Wally said excitedly. "Guess who finally decided to join the Team!"
Artemis cast her glance onto Red Arrow, and the determined look fell into something akin to frustration. Honeybee furrowed her brow and stepped back to join Conner, M'gann, and Zatanna where they stood away from Red Arrow. Conner was giving the exchanges he witnessed a critical glance, while Zatanna kept her face impassive for the most part, reserving judgement. M'gann seemed excited, wearing her trademark grin.
Honeybee tried not to feel the sting of anger when she looked at M'gann, but it was a futile effort. M'gann had hurt Conner, even if the boy wouldn't admit it to M'gann, and that made Honeybee upset. Conner was her friend, perhaps her closest after Robin, and to hurt him was to hurt Honeybee. She didn't let her anger show, however, instead giving M'gann a kind smile.
"Sure," Artemis drawled. "The Team's needed a real archer."
Wally's face fell, remembering his words from when him and Artemis first met. Can she even use that bow? It seemed Red Arrow joining might have drudged up some of those feelings of hurt.
"Okay people, listen up," Green Arrow interjected. "The Dynamic Duo are on a case in Gotham, but Batman gave me a heads-up." Green Arrow typed on the holocomputer, and a picture of Sportsmaster in profile appeared alongside one of a man in a baggage claim at an airport, a baseball hat tipped down in an attempt to try and hide who he was. "Sportsmaster was spotted coming through Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport."
"In full costume?" Zatanna asked. She nodded impressively. "Nervy."
"In street clothes," Green Arrow said, a bit exasperated. "Facial recognition software picked up the ID. Find out what he's up to."
Conner raised a brow.
"All of us?" Conner said. "Seems a little overkill for a shadow job."
"Perhaps a small squad," Red Tornado reasoned. "Miss Martian's camouflage abilities would make her ideal."
Green Arrow smirked knowingly. "Thought the sidekicks – sorry, ex-sidekicks could suit up on this one. Aqualad, Kid Flash, Honeybee, Red Arrow."
Honeybee shared a look with the other heroes that Green Arrow had mentioned, a seed of excitement growing in her chest. There had never been a sidekick only mission before, not with the original squad. If Robin were here, it would make it complete. Even without him, it made Honeybee excited and wistful. For old time's sake, it sounded fun to go on a mission with her old friends.
"Good. Stakeouts make me crazy," Conner grunted. Honeybee rolled her eyes. What didn't make Conner crazy again? The list was always growing.
"I want in," Artemis butted in, crossing her arms. "With M'gann and Robin out, no one else has logged more hours piloting the Bioship."
That was true. Honeybee had only learned to fly the Bioship out of necessity several months ago but hadn't really flown it since. Something about piloting never appealed to her, it just wasn't her cup of tea. She would do it if necessary, but not if she could keep from it. Artemis being on the mission could be an asset given M'gann's exclusion from it.
Green Arrow seemed unsure, giving his new protégé a critical look.
"Artemis, are you sure?" Green Arrow asked. There was a tone to his voice, a soft lilt that betrayed something, some deeper meaning that none of them knew. Honeybee bit her lip. Was there some secret that Honeybee didn't know?
"Absolutely," Artemis answered, resolute. And with that, the mission parameters were set.
ORLEANS PARISH
DECEMBER 5TH 2010 22: 45 EST
Honeybee helped load her bike into position on the Bioship, Red Arrow and Aqualad doing similar with Kid Flash's bike. Kid Flash and Artemis were in the front part of the ship, making sure they were staying on course. Honeybee made sure the wheel hooked into the correct slot and then smiled to herself, a little proud that she was able to do it by herself.
Beside her, Aqualad and Red Arrow hooked Kid's bike into place. Aqualad looked up at Red Arrow, his brow furrowed and face stern.
"I assume you did not join the Team for the camaraderie," Aqualad ventured, and Honeybee turned on her heel to look at the two of them. Her eyes widened, but Red Arrow paid her no mind.
"And not to please G.A. either," Red Arrow said. "There's a mole on your team Kaldur. You won't face it, so I will. And suspect number one is Artemis."
Honeybee shook her head. Artemis? The mole? That was impossible. If Artemis was the mole, wouldn't she have given them up to the Injustice League when they fought them? Artemis was many things, determined, headstrong, temperamental; but she was not a traitor. Honeybee was sure of it.
"No offense Red," Honeybee cut in, putting her hands akimbo from where she stood behind him. "But you haven't been here. You don't know Artemis like we do."
Red Arrow narrowed his eyes beneath his mask and turned to look over his shoulder at her, his scowl so deep it could fill a hole.
"Making me the most impartial person to see what's up," Red Arrow countered. Honeybee returned his scowl but did not counter with a remark of her own. There was logic in his words, but there was also a frustration to his voice. Like he wanted the mole business over and done with, and he was in no business to quibble over if there is one or not.
Kid Flash appeared at the back of the ship, wearing a set of bike-riding civilian clothes. Honeybee was dressed similarly, with black riding pants and a dark yellow shirt beneath a leather jacket, all of which covered her normal hero suit. It was meant to be an incognito mission, so if she was spotted it was meant to appear she was just a normal citizen that happened to be out for a bike ride.
The Orleans Parish had a bayou, as did most of Louisiana and it's neighboring states, so that meant Sportsmaster was most likely going to be traveling via water. That meant they had to try and tail him from three different areas – land, water, and air. The plan was to keep Artemis in the air since she had the most hours with the Bioship, while Kaldur would follow from beneath the waves. Red Arrow would track by water as well, using a jet ski, while Kid Flash and Honeybee would use their bikes to follow on the nearby street. It was all in all the best plan they had, and it was going to make sure they always had Sportsmaster in their sights until they got close enough to track him with electronic help.
Artemis parked the Bioship above a drop-zone, and Kaldur and Red Arrow disappeared out of hole in the bottom of the ship whilst Kid Flash and Honeybee were dropped by the road. Kid Flash and Honeybee stayed close together, their yellow bikes matching as they drove along the road.
"Having fun yet?" Kid Flash asked. Honeybee rolled her eyes beneath her motorcycle helmet.
"Loads," Honeybee said. She squinted down at the waterway the road traveled alongside and saw a boat zipping across. Target acquired.
Honeybee and Kid Flash remained silent the rest of the way, their eyes focused on the target. Honeybee narrowed her eyes as the ride went on and on.
"Target's headed north. Pursue, but maintain a discrete distance," Red Arrow jutted into the comns. "That goes double for you Artemis. Sportsmaster has proven adept at spotting Martian camouflage when in motion."
Honeybee shook her head. It felt strange to hear sound coming out of a comn again after relying on M'gann's telepathy on missions for so many months.
Sportsmaster suddenly stopped and stepped off the boat, and Kid Flash and Honeybee stopped their bikes. They could just make out Sportsmaster disappearing into the foliage when Red Arrow's voice returned.
"He's stopped. Hold your positions," Red Arrow continued, "I'm moving in for a closer look."
Honeybee kept her hand on the handles and feet ready to move back to the gas at a moment's notice. This was a stake-out after all, and the name of the game could change at a moment's notice. Honeybee noticed out of the corner of her eye a piece of the sky move, and she was willing to bet that was the camo'd Bioship coming to a stop. Something dropped out of it, and Honeybee furrowed her brow when she realized it was Artemis.
"What is Artemis up to?" Honeybee whispered. Kid Flash bit his lip and cocked his head to the side curiously but did not say anything. Honeybee kept her eyes trained on the wooded area of the bayou, and did not know how best to help, as she felt useless just watched Artemis and Red Arrow get closer and closer to their enemy.
Honeybee heard movement on the other end of the comn line, and she furrowed her brow. There shouldn't be so much commotion that she could hear it.
"What? No!"
Red Arrow was insistent on something, and apparently was having a conversation with someone. Honeybee unfurrowed her brow and turned to face Kid Flash giving him a nod.
"Kid, run ahead and see what's up, I'll catch up to you."
Kid nodded and dropped off of his bike, disappearing into the woods with his superspeed. Honeybee parked their bike on the side of the road, kicking up the stand. She jumped over the edge of the railing separating the road and the wood and took off running in the direction her friends were. She could only hear bits and pieces of the conversation and fight that was brewing only yards away from her.
She could gather that Cheshire was there, who they last encountered on Artemis's first mission when they saved Dr. Roquette. Honeybee had only barely regained consciousness when they encountered here, so her memories of the masked assassin were fuzzy at best. But for whatever reason, Cheshire was now working with Sportsmaster it seemed, and now they had to find out why.
Honeybee managed to burst through the trees just in time to see Red Arrow jump into a jet ski in the water and disappear after a boat that was taking off. Kid Flash and Artemis were watching, Artemis dumbfounded, as Cheshire rose to standing height, her sword in her hands. Honeybee frowned and pulled out stingers from her pockets, weaving them between her fingers so they were ready to throw.
"That's gotta sting," Cheshire teased, looking at Artemis. "He made the shot you were afraid to even try."
"These are gonna sting too!" Honeybee shouted, throwing the stingers out. Cheshire turned, and used her sword to block them, effectively slicing them in two pieces. Honeybee narrowed her eyes and rushed forward, avoiding the sword's trajectory for her face. She tried to swing Cheshire's feet out from underneath her, but it was of no use, as Cheshire was too smart for that, jumping back and away from Honeybee. Honeybee raised a fist which Cheshire blocked with her arm, but their fight was cut off by Artemis shooting an arrow at Cheshire.
"Artemis, Kid, Bee, listen. You need to throw the fight!"
Honeybee blanched at the order but did as she was told, putting away her stingers.
Cheshire used a backflip to avoid the arrow sent her way by Artemis and Kid Flash raced past, hitting Cheshire in the face once. It was not enough to bring her down, and Cheshire dropped her sword, sticking it point down in the dirt. She used sai's as projectiles to aim at the running Kid Flash. Kid Flash avoided it with the aid of his superspeed, and Artemis used the distraction of Kid Flash to take her sword.
Artemis raised the sword and swung it at Cheshire, who avoided it with a quick lean. She kicked Artemis clear in the chest and took the sword from her, sending Artemis flying back into a tree.
"Artemis!" Kid Flash called and raced over to Artemis. Honeybee followed after him and arrived as Kid Flash was pulling Artemis to her feet.
"Forget about me!" Artemis said. "What about –"
And Cheshire was gone. Honeybee exhaled sharply and watched in bewilderment the empty spot before them.
"Did you…" Kid Flash cut off, looking at Artemis. Artemis smiled at him.
"Tracer on her sword," Artemis answered. Kid Flash smiled at her, putting his hands on her shoulders, and Honeybee furrowed her brow, feeling like she was watching something she shouldn't be.
"Brilliant! You're—" Kid Flash turned his head, and Honeybee followed his line of sight to see Aqualad and Red Arrow headed their direction. "Oh look, there's the guys!"
"So, we threw the fight, as ordered," Kid Flash said in lieu of greeting. "After Artemis planted the tracker."
"Cheshire is headed north." Artemis held up the tracker's beckon, showing a screen with a point headed to the north. Honeybee crossed her arms and turned to Aqualad to receive the next orders.
"Sportsmaster is headed south," Red Arrow said in response, seeming disbelieving of Atemis's claim. "Kind of like this mission."
"Maybe he'll double back," Artemis tried. "Maybe she will."
Red Arrow narrowed his eyes at Artemis, and raised a finger, like he was going to say something else. Kid Flash cut him off, stepping in front of Artemis protectively.
"Either way, they'll rendezvous, and we'll find them!"
"We had better," Aqualad said, taking back control of the group. "Sporstmaster acquired an attaché case." Aqualad crossed his arms. "We need to learn what it contained."
"If you had stayed inside the Bioship –" Red Arrow started.
"I saw Cheshire sneaking up on you!" Artemis retorted. Honeybee frowned at her old friend. It seemed to be more than believing Artemis was a mole, he seemed to have it out for Artemis. Nothing she did was good enough for him. Honeybee hoped that that didn't ruin this mission, or any other mission going forward.
"Then you radio a warning!" Red Arrow exclaimed strongly.
"And have her find you by hacking our frequencies!"
"It's true," Aqualad defended. "We have to come to rely on M'gann's telepathy over our radios." Aqualad was ever the placater, and Honeybee knew he was going to need all the skills in his arsenal to keep Red Arrow and Artemis on the same page.
"So, let's stop looking to place blame and find Cheshire!" Kid Flash said. Artemis narrowed her eyes at Red Arrow and threw the tracker beacon at Red Arrow, who caught it with a frown.
"Here," Artemis grumbled. "Since I clearly can't be trusted, you track her."
Kid Flash frowned at the exchange. Honeybee noted it was not just her that was catching onto the tension between Red Arrow and Artemis. Kid Flash, however, seemed to be taking it much harder than Honeybee. Kid Flash took the tracker beacon back from Red Arrow and went to hand it back to Artemis. Red Arrow seemed affronted by this, pursing his lips, and pinching his eyebrows together.
"Artemis," Kid Flash said softly. Artemis didn't take the beacon, instead throwing her hands up and walking away from Kid Flash.
"It's fine. I'll follow in the Bioship."
The group watched Artemis walk away and back towards the Bioship, and Honeybee felt a sinking feeling take her over, much like when she realized what was going to happen with Jason. Artemis was going to do something, she could feel it, she just wasn't sure what.
Honeybee shook her head. No. That was ridiculous.
"Go, Kid," Aqualad ordered. "Arrow and I will return to the river, and Honeybee will follow on her bike. And we will all follow as originally planned."
ORLEANS PARISH
DECEMBER 6TH 2010 01: 23 EST
Honeybee rushed into the warehouse beside Kadlur, her bike left back on the road about a mile back. She wished her bike ran on the bayou mud, but otherwise it would get stuck and then where would they be? Honeybee and Kaldur raced for Sportsmaster, while Cheshire was currently locked in battle with Kid Flash and Artemis. Red Arrow was in battle as well, shooting arrows in their direction.
Kaldur raised his waterbearers, creating large hammers that he held high to thrust down at the man. Honeybee joined him in the attack, reaching for her lasso, which sat on the belt of her riding clothes. She swung the lasso around his leg and pulled him back, sending him flying onto his back. Kladur raised his hammers to hit the man straight on, but he rolled himself out the way. He pulled on the rope so that Honeybee fell forward, and she fell onto her front side, using her hands to break her fall.
Sportsmaster returned to his feet and raised his arms to block another onslaught from Aqualad. Honeybee growled and returned to her feet. Honeybee rushed forward, sending stingers flying at Sportsmaster. Two nicked his side, creating two thin lines of blood from cuts. Honeybee smiled to herself when Sportsmaster let out a hiss of pain.
Aqualad managed to get a hit on Sporstmaster in his surprise, but it was of no use, as in an instant, Sportsmaster turned to ice before breaking into pieces on the floor. Honeybee narrowed her eyes and looked over her shoulder and saw the same had happened to Cheshire. Artemis returned from where she had burst into another room, looking frustrated and dumbfounded.
"They're gone," Honeybee said in bewilderment.
MOUNT JUSTICE
DECEMBER 6TH 2010 03:17 EST
"Let me be clear. We failed."
Aqualad's words crushed Honeybee hard, and she looked down at her feet in shame. The mission had quickly spiraled out of control – they were clearly out of their depth when dealing with Sportsmaster and Cheshire. Or at least, they had been tonight. Somehow, they had gotten the upper hand.
"Though the Injustice League is in custody, their allies still scheme," Aqualad continued. The Team stood waiting, looking between themselves as they processed the information. Honeybee had thought they had put the Injustice League nonsense to bed with the battle in the bayou, but it seemed it was far from over. And they had no idea what their next move was going to be. "And we have learned nothing of their plans."
"Gee, I wonder why," Red Arrow said dryly. He shot a glance at Artemis, who was none too pleased with the attention and glared at the other archer.
"Who found out that Sportsmaster was working for Brain, Klarion, and Ivo!" Artemis spat back. That was another thing. According to Artemis, Ivo had been one of the ones who had hired Sportsmaster and Cheshire. Honeybee was prone to believe it – Ivo was a tricky fellow for all that he was, and Honeybee had no doubt her father was still cooking up schemes while incarcerated. Or was incarcerated, it seemed now.
"Yeah, great intel! Except Ivo's been in Belle Reve the whole time!" Red Arrow shot out. "And the guards just checked, it's the real deal, not a robot."
That meant nothing, Honeybee knew that. Her father could have easily found a way to sneak himself out and back in. Most likely Sportsmaster had even helped with it.
"Ivo is a mad genius, I'm sure he could figure out a way to be in two places at once," Honeybee interjected. Conner and M'gann looked at her, considered her words, but she was ignored by everyone else. Kid Flash rounded on Red Arrow, face flush with irritation.
"You know, I'm getting real tired of you dumping on Artemis," Kid Flash said. Red Arrow said nothing in response, merely holding up a small tracer between two fingers. "Her tracer? So? Cheshire ditched it."
Red Arrow shook his head.
"No, Artemis ditched that to send us on a wild goose chase," Red Arrow corrected. He held up a second tracer for them all to see. "She put this one on Cheshire."
Kid Flash and the rest of them were silent for a long moment. Honeybee blinked and turned to look at Artemis, feeling akin to betrayed. Had Artemis really put her personal vendetta and feelings above the mission?
"Artemis?" Kid Flash asked softly, clearly hurt. He turned to her, and the hurt vanished into anger. "Were you so freaked out about Red Arrow joining the Team….you had to prove yourself by taking down the bad guys solo? Please tell me I'm wrong."
But Artemis said nothing, merely looked down and away, unable to answer him.
"Well, nice going," Kid Flash said angrily. "All you proved was that you're insecure and selfish." Kid Flash threw the sai he had held onto down onto the floor at Artemis's feet and took the tracer from Red Arrow. "Keep the sai. This is the right souvenir for this mission."
"So?" Red Arrow said, turning on Artemis. "How will you betray us next?"
Artemis, clearly hurt, frowned sadly at the assembled Team and looked away from Red Arrow.
"Enough," Aqualad cut in. "If making a mistake was a betrayal, we would all be traitors." Aqualad in took a gentle sigh, gray eyes looked wizened and tired. "I must report to Batman. The rest of you, get some sleep."
The assembled Team began to disperse, and Honeybee sighed and put her hands on her hips, still dressed in her riding outfit. Honeybee could not wait for a shower, ready to wash away this mess of a mission and forget about this whole mess with Artemis. She was tired and ready for this to day to be over already.
"You headed home?" Conner asked. Honeybee rubbed at her eyes and turned to her friend, lips downturned sleepily.
"Think I might just spend the night here," Honeybee said. She had her own room here that was set aside for nights like tonight, when it was far too late. Honeybee really did not feel like walking all the way home from the Zeta port, and she had a pair of pajamas she kept here anyway. She nudged Conner's shoulder and smiled at him. "We can have a sleepover! I can paint your nails and we can talk about boys."
Conner rolled his eyes, and the two of them fell into step towards the living quarters area of the Cave.
"Not a fan of nail polish, HB," Conner retorted, and Honeybee frowned over-dramatically, almost in a pout.
"Party pooper," Honeybee said. Conner scoffed and crossed his arms.
"You're incorrigible," Conner muttered. Honeybee raised a brow and yawned.
"Incorrigible?" Honeybee repeated. "Someone is using those million-dollar words."
"Excuse me for trying to add some spice to our conversation," Conner uttered, and Honeybee laughed.
The previous feeling of betrayal and hurt was completely washed away now that she was with Conner. Conner had become like Jason and Robin – a balm to her life, someone with whom she could be herself and be able to feel. Someone that it was just joyous to be around because their was no expectation to be anything but herself. She loved Conner, like she loved Robin and Jason. A deep love that made Betty want to do anything to keep Conner from being upset or hurt.
If only Honeybee knew what Conner was up to, and the pain it was putting him through.
Chapter Bible Verse:
"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God, in him I will trust." – Psalm 9:2
That last bit is in reference to Conner's dealings with Lex and the SHIELDs he was using.
I've also decided to drop the song lyrics for the rest of the fic, as going back and reading it's kind of confusing and I have to reach to find a song for every chapter. It'll pop up every now and then, but will not be an every chapter thing.
Review replies:
MsRosePetal: I have plans for Betty moving past Honeybee and on to new things and names, but it is going to be awhile before Betty even thinks about taking on Waspia. What with Aunt Melody now having it and everything. And M'gann really does a lot of shady things that are never addressed or are just glossed over. I wouldn't be so bothered if she wasn't presented as this beacon of compassion and goodness, but she is, so her doing these things are just a hard pill to swallow. Thanks for leaving a review and have a blessed day!
Questions, comments, or concerns, let me know! Have a blessed day!
-PrincessChess