GOTHAM CITY

AUGUST 8TH 2010 7:57 EST

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?" Betty asked for what must have been the millionth time. Aunt Melody smiled and handed Betty a bottle of SPF 50, nodding.

"Yes Betty," Aunt Melody said. "I'm twenty-seven years old. I'm a big girl. I can pack boxes all by myself."

That big news that Miss Nettle had to tell them was wonderful – that deed for the new building was going to be the location for the Cookie Cutter Diner's second location. Miss Nettle said she had a new investor, and they had suggested opening a second location to widen their customer base, and Miss Nettle had eventually, reluctantly agreed. And Miss Nettle was putting Aunt Melody in charge of the whole thing, and even was letting them live in the apartment upstairs at a lower-than-normal rate.

All in all, it was news that meant things were looking up for the Bryons Girls. That also meant packing, as the new location was at the edge of the Narrows.

The other members of the Team (save Wally, who's school district started early in August) had decided today was going to be a beach day, since the Cave was right on the edge of a beach. Betty had agreed initially when they suggested it, but now that their was packing to do, Betty thought maybe she should stay behind with Aunt Melody.

"I know that, but -"

Aunt Melody rolled her eyes and walked back into their small kitchen area. She took a stack of plates out of the cupboard and put it in a padded box.

"Betty, you're fourteen." Aunt Melody shut the box and got the tape ready to use. "Go have some fun, let me be the adult and worry about packing."

Betty frowned and –

"Nope, nope, don't fight with me on this Elizabeth," Aunt Melody said. "Or I swear, I will come over there and physically drag you to wherever this Cave or whatever is."

Betty laughed.

"Good luck trying to get the HQ location out of anyone," Betty said smartly. Aunt Melody made a zipping sound with the tape dispenser and slid the box slowly and surely to the edge of the counter.

"I've been practicing my mom glare," Aunt Melody said. "Mom glares are irresistible." Betty scoffed and walked over to the couch. A few other boxes sat scattered around the room, but amidst them was a black backpack with a chocolate chip cookie keychain. Betty had stuffed her bathing suit and hero suit in it, along with a bath towel and book she needed to finish for summer reading.

Betty slipped the SPF 50 into the side pocket and brushed off her dress. It wasn't really dirty, but their was something about packing that made it seem that their was dust collecting on everything and everyone. Betty sent one more skeptical glance over to where Aunt Melody was packing, and Aunt Melody shook her head without looking up from sorting spoons.

"No. Go. Have friends, be normal for five minutes," Aunt Melody said.

Oh, yes. Normal. Hanging out with friends at the beach, talking with them about normal stuff like summer schoolwork. Not this strange life of a vigilante she and her friends had decided to choose for themselves.

Betty slipped the backpack onto her shoulders and walked over to her aunt, giving her a quick hug goodbye.

"Later Aunt Melody," Betty said. "I'll go be normal for five minutes." Aunt Melody smiled and leaned into the hug, but didn't turn around, still holding on to cutlery.

"That's all I can ask," Aunt Melody said. Betty let go and made sure to settle her backpack securely on her shoulders, and then went to leave. And be normal for five minutes – no worrying about Jason, the move, or even her father and missions.

Just a normal girl going to the beach.

Break free and leave us in ruins

Took this dagger in me and removed it

Gain the weight of you, then lose it

Believe me, I could do it

MOUNT JUSTICE

AUGUST 8TH 2010 9:28 EST

Honeybee followed her friends out to the beach and was glad she had the foresight to stick her flip-flops in her backpack. Sand being stuck on her shoes would be no fun. M'gann looked to be near exploding with excitement, and Honeybee found it to be adorable how much M'gann was excited by the world around her.

Honeybee walked beside Superboy, who had shed his usual jeans and t-shirt for black swim trunks. Superboy had been silent as ever, still fueled with anger enough to be palpable at all times, but there was now an inch of calm overlaying it. Like a thin sheet trying to keep it in, but you could still see through it. Regardless, Honeybee was glad to see her friend in person again. Superboy was still reluctant to leave the Cave after the events where Superman blew him off. And Honeybee could not visit the Cave every day, so all communication had been digital the best few days.

Kaldur stopped in front of the ocean with a fond smile, and Honeybee felt an infectious spread of warmth spread over the group. Kaldur had been away from Atlantis for a near month now, she could only imagine what it must be like to be so far from home and to have a piece of it within arm's reach now. The beach was no Atlantis, but it was not dry land either.

"Hello M'gann," M'gann said. She spread her arms wide, like she could take the whole beach in an embrace. "We should hit the beach every day!"

Robin stepped forward now, his eyes downcast beneath his sunglasses, the perfect picture of mourning.

"First a moment of silene for our absent comrade," Robin said solemnly. M'gann drooped and sighed.

"Poor Wally," M'gann said. Honeybee rolled her eyes and dropped her backpack onto the sand.

"He's not dead, he's just at school," Honeybee said. Robin looked over his shoulder at her, smiling his same wicked smile.

"Oh, I know," Robin said. "That's what makes it a joke Bee."

"Shut up, Birdie," Honeybee shot back. Robin laughed and turned back towards the water, taking off like a shot. Kaldur and M'gann followed, while Honeybee lingered on the sand. Superboy looked down at her in confusion, eyeing the group in the water and his friend.

"Aren't you going in the water?" Superboy asked. Honeybee shook her head.

"Are you kidding?" Honeybee asked. "Robin is a vicious water-splasher. I'm gonna let him tire himself out before I get in."

The few aquatic missions they went on were far and few between, they were Gotham heroes after all, but when they did have them, Honeybee always ended up extra wet because of Robin. It was no fun at all to be splashed for no reason, so she was going to wait just a bit to see how much of a splashing mood he was in today.

Superboy nodded slowly, as if considering her words, and then crossed his arms.

"Want me to stay with you and wait?" Superboy asked. Honeybee blinked and then smiled gratefully, putting a hand on his forearm.

"Nah, I'm good," Honeybee said. "I've got a book. You go have fun."

Superboy hesitated but then went off towards the water after another reassuring smile from Honeybee. Honeybee reached into her bag and pulled out her beach towel, laying it out onto the sand. She took out her reading book, The Outsiders, and settled in for some good homework reading.

It's a near half hour of reading, aka just to the interesting part where Johnny and Ponyboy have to go on the lamb, before a certain Boy Wonder is at her side. He's dripped wet, his raven hair flopping water into the ground and creating small puddles of muddy sand.

"Gonna swim Bee?" Robin asked. Honeybee looked up form the edge of her book, raising an eyebrow.

"You going to splash me?" Honeybee asked in return. Robin laughed and plopped down onto the ground next to her, not bothering with a towel and getting his legs and lower back covered in grains of beige sand.

"That's half the fun!" Robin said. He leaned back, resting on his arms. "What's the point of going to the beach if you're not going to get wet?"

"Socialization, sunlight –"

Coldness enveloped the girl as a bucket of water was thrust over her head, getting her book wet in the crossfire. Her hair straightened with the water, and the front of it was sent straight down like they were bangs, and her book lay forgotten in a puddle of water. Honeybee turned around to see Superboy and Kladur holding an empty red pail, both looking rather pleased with themselves.

"Supe! Kaldur!" Honeybee said. She narrowed in her annoyance on the laughing form of Robin. "This was your idea, wasn't it?!" His continued laugh was the only answer she needed. She turned back to Kaldur and Superboy and she stood.

"I'm going to kill you two!" Honeybee shouted. She stood up and made move to chase them. It was not really a fair chase, given that both of them were superpowered individuals. Honeybee gave it her best try, however, and started throwing sand in their general direction. M'gann smiled slyly at Honeybee and thrust her hands forward, trapping Kaldur and Superboy into telekinetic shield.

"M'gann!" Superboy said, seemingly offended. M'gann smirked.

"Girls gotta stick together," M'gann said with a laugh. Honeybee smiled and retrieved the pail they had used to drench her. She filled it with water from the ocean before returning to where the boys were still trapped. Honeybee thrust the bucket onto them, which turned them from where they were becoming damp into full on-drenched much like her.

M'gann finally released them, and they fell onto the sand, sending up flying grains. Honeybee, however, was not satisfied, and she took the bucket again and turned to where Robin was still laughing beside her beach towel. She chucked the bucket in his direction and knew before she let it go there was no way it was going to hit Robin. And sure enough, Robin ducked out of the way.

"That's for my poor book!" Honeybee said. "Look at it, it's ruined!"

That actually was a bit of a concern. She had been forced to get it second-hand in order to be able to read it, but she might be able to get a copy from a library.

"I hate you!" Honeybee said, though the slight laugh to her voice made it obvious she didn't mean it.

"Love you too!"" he called back to her. Honeybee growled and M'gann stepped forward, clapping their hands to get their attention.

"Is anyone else hungry?" M'gann asked. She flew over to where a picnic basket was, and the others followed her so they could cook the hot dogs they brought out with them. Honeybee and Robin began setting up the portable grill while the others attempted to sort our what condiments they had. The hot dogs had that perfect taste they always did when you've been at the beach, all food tasted better at the beach, Honeybee was sure of it.

Though, maybe, it was just better because she was just here with her friends.

I wait by the door like I'm just a kid

Use my best colors for your portrait
Lay the table with the fancy shit
And watch you tolerate it

MOUNT JUSTICE

AUGUST 8TH 2010 4:45 EST

Robin leaned against the Cave wall, watching as the mentors talked amongst themselves. Soon after their beach day had come to an end, they had been subscribed into some kind of meeting. Everyone was still getting prepared for the mission, but Robin had changing into his uniform down to an art form. He could do it in seconds.

Honeybee appeared by his side, hand bustling through her curls in a vain attempt to dry them faster from her shower. He could hear the trademark loud movements of Superboy nearby, and most likely he was going to be here any second.

Green Arrow and Batman were conferring in front of the holocomputer, every once in a while, shooting glances over at the duo and the direction the others would come from. Robin felt a kernel of annoyance pop in his stomach. He hated not being in the know.

"What'cha think they're talking about?" Honeybee asked. She finally stopped playing with her hair and crossed her arms. Robin opened his mouth to say something funny, but it died in his throat.

He had been carefully avoiding seeing Honeybee anywhere in Gotham, he barely had left the Manor on the freak accident he might see her again. Now that he knew that one precious thing about her – her first name was Betty (was that short for something – no stop it), he felt like he had invaded her space. It felt like an unwitting betrayal, and he didn't want to do that. A secret identity was what Betty was entitled too, and she was secretive with it. She couldn't – it's not like – what was he to do? To say?

Now that he was alone, and there was no buffer, he had no idea how to act or what to do. Should he ignore it and pretend he doesn't know? Should he tell her and say he didn't mean to? Which option was better?

No decision had to be made, as Miss Martian landed on the other side of Honeybee. Miss Martian looked untouched by the summer sun, unlike him and Honeybee, who had the faint beginnings of sunburns. Robin hoped that they weren't too bad – having a sunburn on patrol was near murder on his nerves.

"I wonder what they want to tell us," Miss Martian said. Superboy walked up and scoffed, knowing what they were saying thanks to his super hearing.

"Probably a report on all our failings," Superboy said. Robin rolled his eyes.

"That's not till next Tuesday," Robin said. Honeybee gave a huff of laugher. Kaldur made his appearance at last, giving all of them a polite, but not unkind smile. He was already in leader mode it seemed.

"Now that we're all here," Batman said, walking towards them with Green Arrow, "we can begin."

Green Arrow cleared his throat and stepped forward, looking just the tiniest bit sheepish.

"So, uh, this Team was started for side—protégé's of League members to act as a covert team," Green Arrow said. "And, well, I wanted all of you guys to meet your newest teammate."

Green Arrow stepped aside to reveal a girl walking towards them from up the long hallway. She was tall, with dark eyes and long blonde hair pulled into a tight ponytail at the nape of her neck. She was dressed in all green, an arrow symbol emblazoned on her chest. She had a bow in one hand and had a look that told them that she was taking no nonsense.

"Meet my niece, Artemis," Green Arrow said. He put a hand on Artemis's shoulder and smiled. "She'll be joining your team."

"Awesome!" Miss Martian said. She clapped her hands excitedly. "Another girl!"

"It was getting lonely, just me and Miss M," Honeybee said. Honeybee smiled and put her arms akimbo. "My name's Honeybee, that's Miss Martian." Honeybee pointed to the Martian, who smiled and waved at Artemis.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Artemis," Kaldur said. "And I know we are all excited to have you on the Team." He bowed his head respectfully. "I am Aqualad, but you may call me Kaldur'ahn. Or Kaldur, if you prefer." He motioned to the other boys on the Team. "This is Superboy and Robin."

"Hey," Robin said, while Superboy merely gave her a nod of acknowledgment. Robin supposed that was better than the near murder Robin had gotten upon first meeting. "Now all we're missing is –"

"Recognized: Kid Flash, B02."

"The Wall-man is here!" Kid Flash appeared from the Zeta tube, all decked out in beach gear. "Now let's get this beach party start –," Kid Flash rushed forward but tripped on his flip-flops. He skidded forward, dropping all of materials and sent a ball rolling past an unimpressed Batman. ",-ed."

"Wall-man, huh?" Artemis said, raising a brow at Kid Flash, who landed at her feet. "I love the uniform, what exactly are your powers?" Her voice was laced with teasing.

Kid Flash rose back to full height, and looked at her skeptically, ignoring her question.

"Uh, who's this?"

"Artemis," Artemis said proudly. "Your new teammate."

Green Arrow stepped forward unsurely.

"She's my new protégé," Green Arrow said. Kid Flash's green eyes turned acidic.

"What happened to your old one?" Kid Flash asked.

"Recognized. Speedy, B07."

Speedy appeared from the Zeta tubes, frowning and looking decidedly turbed. Robin watched him in shock, mouth agape. He hadn't seen hide nor hair of the boy since they attempted to recruit him just under a month ago. And now, here he was, in the Cave. Robin tried to not get his hopes up that Speedy had finally come around to the Team.

"Well, for starters he doesn't go by Speedy anymore," he said. "Call me Red Arrow."

From next to him, Honeybee stepped forward. Honeybee hadn't seen Speedy since….probably the memorial. Wow.

"Roy, you look –" Green Arrow started, but was brushed off by his former protégé. Red Arrow did have a different look than Speedy – gone was the yellow hat and boots, replaced with black and red leggings and vest.

"Replaceable?" Red Arrow finished, narrowing his eyes in derision towards Artemis. Green Arrow stepped forward protectively in front of Artemis.

"It isn't like that!" Green Arrow said. "You said you were going solo!"

"So why waste time finding a sub?" Red Arrow said. He fumed at Artemis. "Can she even use that bow?"

"Yes, she can," Artemis defended, leaning towards Red Arrow. Robin decided he liked her. She had a kind of spunk that was hard to replicate and essential for this job.

"Who are you?" Kid Flash asked, still skeptical.

"I'm his niece."

"She's my niece."

"Another niece?" Robin asked. Oh yeah, there was no way she was Green Arrow's niece. Two heroes with an identical story on the same team, one after the other? One was lying, and Robin was inclined to think it was Artemis.

"But she is not your replacement," Kaldur said, stepping forward to assure his friend. "We have always wanted you on this Team, and we have no quota on archers."

"And even if we did, you know who'd we pick!" Kid Flash insisted. Honeybee shook her head and looked up at the sky.

"Classy KF," Honeybee said. "Real classy."

Artemis rolls her eyes and ignores the derision and disdain on the faces of the male redheads.

"Whatever, Baywatch. I'm here to stay," Artemis said. Batwatch? Oh yes, he most certainly liked her. She was going to be a great addition to the Team.

Kaldur shakes his head and returns his attention back to Red Arrow.

"You came to us for a reason," Kladur said. Red Arrow stopped and shut his eyes, letting out a breath as he steadied himself from his anger.

"That reason is Dr. Sterling Roquette," Red Arrow said. Robin tensed. He had heard that name before. Robin pulled up his holocomputer on his glove, and inputted the name in his advanced search engine.

"Nanorobotics and claytronics expert at Royal University in Stay City – vanished two weeks ago," Robin said.

"Abducted by the League of Shadows two weeks ago," Red Arrow corrects.

"Whoa," Robin breathes. "You want us to rescue her from the League of Shadows?" The League of Shadows were nothing to mess with. Robin had had too many run-ins with them to count, and that wasn't even getting into the mess with Bruce and Thalia. But they were formidable, the best of the best, and could take down almost anyone in battle.

"Hard-core," Kid Flash says, and gives Robin their secret handshake.

"I already rescued her," Red Arrow said. "But there is a problem." Red Arrow pulled up the larger computer for the Cave, and a window popped up showing various data from Dr. Roquette's experiments. "The Shadows had already coerced her into making a weapon. Doc calls it the Fog, comprised of millions of microscopic robots, nanotech infiltrators, capable of disintegrating anything in their path: concrete, steel, flesh, bone. But it's true purpose isn't mere destruction. It's theft. The infiltrators eat and story raw data from any computer system and deliver the stolen data to the Shadows."

Red Arrow narrowed his eyes and looked out at the Team.

"Providing them access to weapons, cutting edge tech, defenses, and so much more," Red Arrow said. Artemis frowns and looks at the screen, and something bordering familiarity passes in her yes.

"Perfect for extortion, manipulation, and power brokering. Yeah, sounds like the Shadows," Artemis said. Kid Flash scoffed.

"Ah. Like you know anything about the Shadows?" Kid Flash taunted. Artemis merely gave him a mysterious look, one that betrayed neither if she did or did not know about them. "Who are you?!"

"Roquette's working on a virus that will render the Fog inert," Red Arrow said, deciding to ignore the bickering of Artemis and Kid Flash.

"But if the Shadows know she can do that…." Robin started, a million bad scenarios milling through his brain.

"They'll target her," Honeybee finished for him. Red Arrow nodded.

"Right now she's off the grid. I stashed her at a local high school."

"You left her alone?" Green Arrow asked incredulously

"She's safe enough for now," Red Arrow said. Green Arrow put a hand on Red Arrow's shoulder.

"The let's you and I keep her that way," Green Arrow said as means of an olive branch.

"You and I?" Red Arrow almost seemed offended that Green Arrow would even suggest that. "Don't you want to take your new protégé?"

Both Artemis and Green Arrow start, but Batman cuts them off by stepping forward authoritatively and putting a hand on his colleague's shoulder.

"You brought this to the Team. This is their mission now, which makes it hers too," Batman said in that tone that made you not want to argue.

"Then my job's done," Red Arrow said, and Robin's brows almost go up to his hairline. The Roy Harper he knew would never leave a case or job undone, no matter the circumstances. Was he really so hurt by the Fourth of July that he would leave this undone for someone else to clean up?"

"Recognized: Speedy –"

"That's Red Arrow, B07," Red Arrow said as he climbed into the Zeta tube. "Update." And then he was gone with a flash of light. They were silent for a long moment, until Robin's hologlove pinged. Robin checked it, and the coordinates for where Dr. Roquette was hidden appeared.

"I've got the coordinates," Robin said, and then shut the light of the glove off.

Batman looked at where the Team was loosely assembled and nodded.

"You understand your mission," Batman said. "Protect Dr. Roquette, and make sure she is safe at all costs. That is the priority. All of you will go."

I greet you with a battle hero's welcome

I take your indiscretions all in good fun

I sit and listеn, I polish plates until they gleam and glistеn

You're so much older and wiser and I

HAPPY HARBOR

AUGUST 8TH 2010 21: 59

Honeybee sat behind the pillar next to a window ledge, eyes casting over the courtyard of Happy Harbor High. Happy Harbor was where Dr. Roquette had been stashed, and so now here the Team was, ready for anything that might come their way. Just a few yards over, she knew Robin and Kid Flash were doing the same as her, and she could hear them whispering something between themselves.

The dark night made it hard to see, even once her eyes adjusted, so she pressed a button on the side of her mask that switched to night vision. The world was then flooded into a greenish light, but it was still easier to see, so she would take it.

"Miss Martian link us up," Aqualad said into the comns. "We do not want the Shadows intercepting our communications."

Honeybee felt a familiar presence in the back of her mind, the pain from weeks ago now nowhere to be felt. There was a soft buzz of the others, but no coherent thoughts came at first.

"Everyone online?" Miss Martian said.

"Oh," Artemis said. "This is weird."

"And distracting!" Dr. Roquette's thoughts cut in. "It's hard enough coding a distributive algorithm virus on a kiddie computer with RAM than a wristwatch, but now I have to hear teen-think in my skull."

"Lady, do you always complain when people are trying to help you?" Kid Flash thought. Artemis's scoff could be heard through the link.

"Pot meet kettle," Artemis said.

"Hey, hey, I do not need attitude from the girl who drove off Red Arrow."

"THAT is so not on me!"

"Fate of the world at stake," Dr. Roquette reminds them, obviously annoyed. Kid Flash crosses his arms from his position on the window ledge.

"She started it!"

"How about I go help Miss Martian and Superboy guard the perimeter?" Artemis suggested.

"Good idea," Aqualad juts in, and Honeybee could detect just a hint of stress in his voice.

"You might cut her some slack," Robin said. "It was her arrow that saved your butt from Amazzo."

"What? No!" Kid Flash denied. "That was Speedy – uh, Red Arrow!"

"Not so much," Robin said, and Honeybee could tell he was enjoying taunting and teasing Kid Flash over the new girl.

"Well, not giving her the satisfaction!"

"You know I can still hear you?"

"DANG IT!"

"I couldn't get the Justice League," Dr. Roquette grumbled. Honeybee frowned. Okay, so Kid Flash and Artemis were not being the most professional right now, but that didn't make their Team any less capable of protecting her. They were trained by the Justice League, after all.

"The virus won't be much use if we can not track the weapon," Aqualad said. "Can you track it?"

"My Fog is not a weapon," Dr. Roquette insisted. "It's science, brilliant science! And of course I can track it, but I would have to go online. Might as well rent a billboard and write ASSAISNATE ME in neon letters."

"We will protect you," Aqualad promised.

"Tracking the Fog now," Dr. Roquette said, and through her mind's eye Honeybee could see a hazy image of Philadelphia on a computer screen. That must be where it was.

In preparation for the enemies Honeybee was sure to follow this development, she pulled out a stinger for each hand.

"Mhmm…that boy," Artemis said, and Honeybee furrowed her brow. Couldn't she mean Superboy, could she?

"He can hear you," Miss Martian cut in tersely. "We can all hear you."

"Oh, I know."

Honeybee wrinkled her nose.

"Can we please talk about the mission, please?" Honeybee asked. Talking about Superboy has some kind…some kind of…. well, cute object didn't sit well with Honeybee. Superboy was her friend, and a very considerate one if you managed to get beneath his shell. It was as if calling a puppy a piece of meat.

"Miss Martian," Aqualad said. "Dr. Roquette located the Fog. Reconfigure the Bioship so that Superboy and Robin can pursue."

While you were out building other worlds, where was I?

Where's that man who'd throw blankets over my barbed wire?

I made you my temple, my mural, my sky

Now I'm begging for footnotes in the story of your life

Chapter Bible Verse:

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." - 1 John 4:4

And we're back y'all! Infiltrator will be finished up last chapter, then we got some fun original stuff planned! I hope y'all enjoyed this, and I can't wait to be back with part 2.

As you've may have noticed, there are little excerpts in the chapter before scene changes. These are from Taylor Swift songs, and the title of the song used in that chapter is the subtitle for the chapter. I'm a Swiftie, and right now I'm planning on use Swift songs at least up until the end of Season 1. We might change from there.

Review Replies: Reasoning and emotional responses is a hot button for her. She's got a lot of growing to do there! And I'm right there with you! Betty needs to let her friends in now, like right now, but Betty is just not ready for that yet. As she matures, this will be easier for her to do, we just gotta stick it out. And Batman I feel has a lot of responsibility to be the bigger person - he is the adult in the situation. But that doesn't mean he's a doormat about it, as we'll see later. Dick ran because with Honeybee/Betty he's built such a foundation of trust, that to break it like that and learn who she is would be such a betrayal. She has the right to reveal her identity in due time to him, much like how he does not tell the secrets of others (i.e. Artemis). Thank you so much for leaving your reviews! Have a blessed day!

Questions, comments, or concerns? Let me know! Have a blessed day!

-PrincessChess