Chapter 14: Infiltrator

Mount Justice

August 8, 09:58 EDT

Days like this make me wish summer could last forever.

With summer coming to an end, we all thought it would be a good idea to take the day for ourselves to relax, have some fun, and bond together as teammates and friends. And where better to spend the day than at Mount Justice. Well, more specifically the beach on Mount Justice. So glad to have a secret headquarters with our own beach and ocean.

Robin, Kaldur, M'gann, Superboy and I make our way to the sandy beach, sporting our summer swimwear and ready to have fun.

"Hello, Megan!", she says with utter joy and excitement. "We should hit the beach every day."

"I'm with you there sister", I say in agreement.

"First a moment in silence for our absent comrade", Robin says.

"Poor Wally."

Like I said, with summer ending, school starts this week and Wally couldn't get out of his first day of sophomore year at Keystone High School. I, on the other hand, was able to talk my mom into letting me miss the first day of school so I can spend the day with my teammates. Though I may have not mentioned the surfboards and swim shorts. One day is not gonna do anything, I hope not.

"Where's Sara?" Superboy asks.

"I told her about today, she said she'd be here."

"Like I'd pass up a day of sun, sand and fun with you guys?" Her voice says from behind. We all turn around to see Sara, wearing a very, very nice sky blue bikini and sunglasses.

As she walks to us, Robin nudges me enough to bring me back to reality. "Don't drool all over the sand Rayner." I wipe my mouth clean of some drool apparently. Real smooth, Kyle.

"We're glad that you could join us", Kaldur says to Sara.

"Thanks, Kaldur", she answers back. "And I was expecting you to be wearing green swim trunks."

I look down at myself, seeing my red swim trunks. "I'm not wearing green 24/7. And I thought you'd be wearing white yourself."

"Like you said, I don't wear white 24/7. Especially after Labor Day."

"Then what do you do with your suit? Borrow your sisters?"

"Not if I don't want an earful of her screaming at me." I laugh at her joke, at least I think it's a joke. I can never tell with her.

I have to admit, seeing her like this – and I don't mean in a bikini – outside her uniform and just being herself, she looks more beautiful than ever, naturally for sure. Her blonde hair glowing in the sunlight, and her blue eyes shimmering like the ocean. Almost makes me want to…

Knock it off! You can't, no matter how much you want to, you can't be with her or even kiss her. Not if she wants to stay alive…

"So who're we burying in the sand?", she asks.

"Superboy!", Robin says ecstatically, with Superboy looking at him with a bit of annoyance.

"Come on, enough standing around. Let's have some fun!" M'gann says as she runs into the water, prompting us to follow her lead.

After splashing each other with salty water, we decide to break for lunch and grill ourselves some hot dogs, which are delicious. If I had the time and materials, I could grill ourselves a full course with steak, hot dogs, kabobs, you name it.

Then we play some volleyball, with Kaldur, Robin and I against Superboy, M'gann and Sara, who pretty much nailed me on the head with the ball. Can't tell if she did that on purpose or not. Either way, she knocked me on my back and into the sand.

And now, we're burying Superboy in the sand, who's actually fine with it just as long as he doesn't suffocate on sand.

I walk my way past our friend in the ground and to the ocean, taking in the beauty of the sea. Next thing I know, I'm being pushed into the water headfirst and mouth open. I bring myself back into open air, trying to wipe my eyes and tongue of seawater.

"All right. Who's the wiseguy that dunked me into the ocean?" But no one answers, only laugh at my humiliation.

"Guilty as charged, Lantern." I finally open my eyes to see Sara taking responsibility for the prank.

"Oh yeah? Maybe you'd like to join me, take a nice bird bath?" I run up to her and grab her arms, pulling her into the water. She comes up for air and splashes me in the face, with me returning the favor.

"Shouldn't we stop them or something?", M'gann asks.

"No way, I'm not getting in the middle of… whatever that is", Robin says. "But I will to take bets on it. I've got $10 on GL."

"Robin! They're our friends. We can't place wagers on them for money."

"I've got Sara", Superboy says.

"Same with me", Kaldur joins.

"You guys are ridiculous."

We keep splashing each other in the face with water back and forth, and after what feels like five minutes of it, we both fall back into the water laughing at each other.

"You were so right."

"Thanks. What was I right about?"

"Joining this team. I haven't even gone on a mission yet and I'm already having fun."

"Just wait, you'll get some real action soon enough."

"And your friends seem to be taking well to me. At least I hope they are."

"Just be patient", I say while straightening myself up. "Stick with us and soon enough, they'll have your back no matter what. They'll be true friends to you."

Sara leans forward herself. "You really think so?"

"Do you trust me?"

"So far, yeah."

"Then trust them. You're one of us now."

Sara doesn't say a word back. All she does is smile to me, with a very, very happy really. You're one of us, Sara. I'll always be there for you.

"Hey guys!" Sara and I turn to the shore to see Robin calling to us. "We need to get back to the Cave. Batman has a mission for us."

"You hear that? You're about to go on your first mission. Excited?"

"Absolutely", she says with excitement on her face. "Race you back to the Cave?"

"You're on."

After our day at the beach, we all headed back to the Cave to get ready for our mission. Finally, my first mission as a part of this team. Just be how you've always been, just with other people. Shouldn't be a problem, I hope.

I'm in the locker room getting my white leather outfit on, putting on my mask last. I walk my way to the door when I pass a mirror. I stop for a moment to look at myself.

I can be more than what they trained me to be. What they wanted me to do. This is who I am. A protector. A hero. The White Canary.

"Sara?"

M'gann's voice shakes me out of my state, bringing my attention to her. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Just nervous I guess."

"I get it. I was nervous on our first mission at Santa Prisca. You'll do fine, and you've got us to watch out for you too."

"Thanks M'gann." Kyle was right. I can trust them.

"Now come on, the others are waiting for us", she says as I follow her to the central room of the Cave.

When we reach the room, we find Robin, Aqualad, Superboy and Kyle geared up and ready for action. Batman and Red Tornado are here as well, which is no surprise since Batman debriefs the missions and Red Tornado is, apparently, our den mother. Am I the only one who thinks it's weird to have an android as a den mother?

"Is Wally still not here?", M'gann asks.

"No, he is not", Aqualad answers.

"I thought this guy was called Kid Flash, not Kid Slow", I say.

"You have no idea", Kyle says.

The zeta tube starts to power up now. Hopefully with Kid Flash on the other side.

"Recognized – Green Arrow A08, Black Canary A12, Artemis B09." Artemis?

Next thing I see is Oliver and Dinah walking from the zeta tube with someone I've never seen before. A girl wearing a green outfit, mask and boots, and carrying a compound bow and a quiver of arrows on her back. I didn't know Green Arrow had gotten a new protégé, and so fast. I guess Roy really meant it when he said he was going solo.

Before I can ask him, Dinah comes right up to me. "Sara. I'm glad I caught you before you guys took off."

"Thanks, sis. I'm glad you're here too." I say while I give her a hug. I hope this isn't how I start every mission.

Oliver and his female archer walk up to the team, with me regrouping with them. From the looks on their faces, it looks like they've never seen her either.

"Team", Green Arrow says, "this is Artemis. She'll be joining your team."

"Really? Who decided she'd be joining the team?", Kyle says.

"I did." Batman says.

"Oh, right."

"I hope this me joining will be an issue for any of you", Artemis says to us. "If it is—"

"No, not at all. Don't take what I said a second ago the wrong way. We just didn't expect another new teammate this soon."

"Another?"

"Guilty", I say, everyone looking to me. "White Canary, welcome aboard."

"Thanks. I take it you're the Green Lantern here?"

"What gave me away?" He says laughing at her joke. "And this is Aqualad, Superboy, Robin, and Miss Martian."

As soon as Kyle's done speaking, M'gann rushes over to Artemis. "Hello! Welcome to the team. It's going to be great having you join us."

"Umm, thanks." She says, taken back a bit.

"Don't mind her, she's a very happy and excitable person at heart", I warn— tell my new comrade.

Aqualad steps forward to greet his new friend and raises his hand to her. "Welcome."

She responds by shaking his hand back. "I'm guessing you're the leader. You just look the part for some reason."

"Right again", Kyle says.

"Recognized – Kid Flash, B03."

"Took him long enough. There's one more person on this team, and you're about to meet him."

But when Wally steps out of the zeta tube, he's nowhere near ready for battle. He's in his swim trunks and sandals, wearing sunblock and sunglasses, carrying a beach ball, a boom box, an umbrella and who knows what else. He's more ready to party than to fight bad guys. And how did this guy get on this team?

"The Wall-Man is here. Now let's get this party star—", he says as he trips over himself and drops everything he's carrying, with the beach ball bouncing its way past Red Tornado and Batman. "…ted."

I look over to Artemis and from her expression, she looks very amused. "Wall-Man huh? I love the uniform. What exactly are your powers?"

"Who's this?"

"Artemis, your new teammate."

"Kid Flash. Never heard of you."

"She's my new protégé", Oliver says, stepping in between them.

"What happened to your old one?"

"Recognized – Speedy B06." Speak of the devil.

"Well, for starters, he doesn't go by Speedy anymore", Roy says as he walks out of the zeta tube. "Call me Red Arrow."

Roy definitely looks different from when I last saw him. He's wearing a new uniform, and carrying a new, more updated compound bow.

"Roy, you look—"

"Replacable", he says, interrupting Oliver.

"It's not like that. You told me you were going solo.

"So why waste time finding a sub? Can she even use that bow?"

"Yes, she can." She's got a fire to her. I'm gonna like her.

"Who are you?"

"I'm his niece/She's my niece", both Artemis and Oliver say at the same time. What?

"Another niece", Robin says.

"But she is not your replacement", Aqualad says. "We have always wanted you on the team, and we have no quota on archers."

"And if we did, you know who we'd pick", Wally says.

"But I'm sure if Roy ever changes his mind, we'd have more than enough room for two archers on the team", Kyle says, clearly trying to keep the peace between everyone. Peacekeeper. Must be part of the job of a GL.

"Whatever, Baywatch. I'm here to stay", Artemis says, standing proud and defiant.

"You came to us for a reason", Aqualad asks Roy.

"Yeah, a reason named Dr. Serling Roquette", he answers, to which Robin's face lights up.

"Nanorobotics genius and claytronics expert at Royal University in Star City – vanished two weeks ago."

"Abducted two weeks ago", Roy corrects Robin, "by the League of Shadows." The League of Shadows? Oh man.

"Whoa. You want us to rescue her from the Shadows?"

"Hardcore", Wally says, fist pumping Robin.

"I already rescued her. Only one problem. The Shadows had already coerced her into creating 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 store raw data from any computer system and deliver the stolen intel to the Shadows, providing them access to weapons, strategic defense, cutting-edge science and tech."

"Perfect for extortion, manipulation, power broking", Artemis adds on. "Yeah. Sounds like the Shadows."

"Like you know anything about the Shadows", Wally says back at her. But all she does is give him this look of cockiness and, for Wally, annoyance. "WHO ARE YOU?!"

"Roquette's working on a virus to render the Fog inert", Roy resumes his debriefing.

"But if the Shadows know she can do that…", Robin adds on.

"They'll target her. Right now, she's off the grid. I stashed her at the local high school's computer lab."

"You left her alone?", Arrow says.

"She's safe enough for now."

"Then let's you and I keep her that way", Arrow says as he moves toward Roy.

"You and I? Don't you wanna take your new protégé?"

Before Oliver can get any closer, Batman stops him in his tracks. "You brought this to the team. It's their mission, which means it's hers now, too."

"Then my job's done", Roy says as he heads for the zeta tube. Why do you always have to be so stubborn and hot headed?

"Roy wait", I say to him, stopping him before he leaves. "Your job doesn't have to be done. You don't have to walk away. Help us protect Dr. Roquette from the Shadows. It would mean a lot to me if you did."

Roy turns around to face me, his expression lighter now. "I'm happy that you're doing this now, really I am Sara. But I'm not a team player, especially with a couple of kids who're way in over their heads. I figured you thought that too."

"I did, a long time ago. But times have changed. People change. I've changed."

"So have I." Roy then continues his leave, stopping at the zeta tube.

"Recognized – Speedy—"

"That's Red Arrow B07. Update." And just like that, he's gone. Goodbye Speedy.

Happy Harbor

August 8, 21:58 EDT

We're at Happy Harbor High School, right where Red Arrow said he hid Dr. Roquette, and are on patrol safeguarding her from any Shadows that comes looking for her.

Miss Martian, Superboy, White Canary and I are currently on the roof, keeping a vigilant watch for any of the Shadows, with the Bioship hovering above us while in camouflage mode. Superboy and Miss M are at the front end of the building, while White Canary and I are at the back end of it.

"How long have you know Roy for?" I ask Canary, but she doesn't answer right away. "Sorry, you don't have to answer if—"

"Three years. Ever since he became Speedy. Dinah even had him look after me, protect me sometimes, when needed."

"She does know you can take care of yourself just fine."

"Yeah, it's just her being overprotective. She's gotten better at that."

"Clearly, since she's letting you out of the house this late. And that she hasn't killed me at all", I say while Canary laughs.

"You actually thought she would've hurt you for bringing me into this?"

"No, for you having to rescue me and me getting to know you."

She laughs at me again. "She's not that overprotective. But then again she never did let me date anyone."

"Seriously?"

"Well it's not like anyone wanted to anyways."

"That's ridiculous. Who wouldn't want to take you out?"

"If you hadn't noticed, I'm not exactly the most normal teenage girl in these parts."

"You're talking to a guy who wears a ring that projects green constructs and is a space cop. If anything, you're probably the most normal out of this whole group."

"Don't be so sure of that, Lantern."

Before I can say anything else, I get this short lived headache accompanied with a voice belonging to a certain Martian.

Everyone online?

Whoa. So this is what talking telepathically is like, Canary says in her mind.

This is weird, Artemis says.

And distracting. Coding a distributive algorithm virus on a kiddie computer with less ram than a wristwatch is hard enough. Now I have to hear teen-think in my skull? Roquette says, more like complains.

Lady, do you always complain when someone tries to help you? Kid asks her.

Pot, kettle. Have you met?

Hey. Hey, I do not need attitude from the newbie who drove Red Arrow off the team.

That is so not on me.

Fate of the world at stake, Roquette interrupts their bickering.

She started it, KF says.

How 'bout I just help Miss Martian and the others patrol the perimeter? Artemis says as she heads for the door.

Good idea, Aqualad says.

"And I thought we had issues when we first met", I say to Canary.

"Not compared to those two", she says.

You might cut her some slack. It was her arrow saved your butt against A.M.A.Z.O., Robin says to Kid.

What? No, that was Speedy's—I mean Red Arrow's arrow, right?

Not really. The arrowhead and fletching were both green, and the ones Red Arrow uses are, well red, I tell Kid Stubborn.

Well, still not giving her the satisfaction.

You know I can still hear you.

We all can unfortunately, I add.

I couldn't get the Justice League, Roquette says to herself.

The virus won't be of much use if we cannot find the weapon. Can you track it? Aqualad asks the doctor.

My utility fog is not a weapon. It's science, brilliant science, and of course I can track it, but I'd have to go online. Might as well rent a billboard with this address and 'Assassinate Me' written in neon.

We will protect you.

Tracking the Fog now.

I look down to find Superboy walking around the building, keeping an eye on the fence and anything behind it.

Superboy, do you hear or see anyone out there? I ask him.

No… Wait.

He then jumps up our way, landing over us and heading towards the other side of the building. "I'll take that as a maybe."

Hmm, that boy, Artemis says.

"Did I just hear that, in my head?"

He can hear you. We can all hear you, Miss Martian tells her.

Oh, I know.

Miss Martian, Dr. Roquette has located the Fog. Reconfigure the Bioship so that Robin and Superboy can pursue. Green Lantern, you follow along with them, Aqualad tells us.

I ready myself for flight as White Canary keeps her eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary. "Don't get yourself killed while I'm gone."

"Like that's gonna happen. But I might have to keep Miss Martian from killing Artemis", she says laughing.

"You do that just in case."

Ready.

"Good luck", I say to her as I fly off into the night sky, following the Bioship after the Fog.

Good luck to you too, Lantern.