The team was wound tight by the time they returned to Mt. Justice. Attempts at distracting themselves by treating injuries fell flat. Though they took their time, Batman hadn't arrived yet leaving them to loiter in the living room waiting for the inevitable. All of them were deep in their own thoughts, processing the mission. Fighting against their former teammate had taken a mental toll on everyone. Robin watched the clock intently, running through different scenarios in his head. M'gann made an attempt to stir up conversation but petered off not long after she began.
His footsteps were heard before anyone saw the Batman. In the past, Robin and Red Arrow had their fair share of scoldings from the Dark Knight but both knew that this would bring a new meaning to "in trouble." The black-clad figure appeared in the doorway. "Briefing room. Now," he snapped before turning and leaving. Robin cringed. He'd only heard that tone once and never pointed at him. Some of the newer members of the team looked ready to run off crying but they followed anyway.
Robin was reluctant to let the clock out of his sight but when Batman orders you to do something, you do it, even if you were his protégé. Pulling up a small clock on his wrist computer, he followed the others as they filed out of the room. He needed to keep track of the time.
As the team stood in front of the Dark Knight, Roy was impressed. He had known Robin and Kalder'am for years and he knew that they would never back down from taking responsibility for their actions. The others surprised him. He'd considered some of them as nothing more than children playing at being heroes. Yet, every one of them held their ground, defiant as ever. True, Batman hadn't spoken yet but it was impressive none the less. He stared them down in complete silence for what seemed like hours.
"Kaldur'am," he began darkly. "You were given specific directions to keep your team here. You failed to complete those orders and lost control of the team."
"You should be upset with me. Not Aqualad," Robin interjected. This was his hunch and he needed to be responsible for pursuing it. After all, it was Batman that had taught him that. The Dark Knight turned on his partner. In spite of the mask and controlled expression, Dick knew the older man was surprised. "I took control of the team and ordered them to do this mission. They were following my orders. I take full blame."
"No, Robin," Aqualad spoke up. "This is my team. I deserve the blame."
"I told you I'd form my own team and take the blame. Meet my new team." He couldn't waste time arguing with Kaldur, not with everything progressing so quickly. Turning to Batman, he continued, "When, and only when, we stop this new team of villains and capture our former ally we will disband, but until then-"
"Do you think this is a game," the Dark Knight snapped. "We have the biggest security breach in the history of the Justice League and you run off against orders. Artemis knows enough to potently jeopardize the Watchtower. This is bigger than you can imagine."
Before he could get out another word, the zeta platform announced the arrival of Kid Flash, surprising everyone. The blur entered the room and stopped in front the youngest member of the team. "He's gone! He's gone!" The rest of his words were a blur, too fast for even Robin to understand.
"Wally! Slower." Robin struggled to keep his calm as Kid Flash steadied himself. He gulped down a few breaths before he could even think about speaking again. His body shook and, while that wasn't uncommon for the speedster, anyone could tell he was alarmed.
"Oliver's gone. Dinah left for a few minutes and when she came back he was gone. We searched all over Star City. His costume is gone. He went after her." The revelation hit like a brick for everyone in the room. For the team, any truth about Artemis disappeared with Ollie. Robin had hoped to hear from Green Arrow before putting the team at risk with the rest of his plan.
"Care to explain what's going on, Robin," Batman barked. There was a new sense of urgency in his voice. Almost a hint of panic. But Robin had never heard Batman panic before.
"Let's get this over with then," he answered, tapping away at his wrist computer.
x
"Boy Wonder-"
"Artemis?" Robin's voice crackled through the metal disc. The archer breathed a sigh of relief. She had expected the birdarang to explode. She fell back on her bed once more, closing her eyes. "Artemis? Please tell me Sorrow didn't get a hold of this."
"I'm here, Robin," she muttered as she brought it closer to her face. "Sorrow has no idea."
There was a pause on the other end before he answered. "Oliver went looking for you. We can't find him."
"He's… fine, for the moment. He's here." Artemis almost thought she heard the young protégé swear under his breath. "Sportsmaster went a little overboard on him," she sighed quietly. "If Sorrow sticks to his word, though, Ollie will get some medical care." Looking at her bow sadly, she forced her voice not to show the tears forming in her eyes. "Robin, I didn't betray you guys, I-"
"I know you didn't."
Artemis sighed and pushed herself up using her elbows. As she sat on the bed, she realized that it was actually comfortable in a way. Stifling a yawn, she tried to rub the sleep from her eyes. She hadn't seen a clock since before she left the Cave but she knew it was at least midnight, probably later, in Gotham. More than anything she wanted to fall back and just sleep away all of her troubles. Maybe she would be too exhausted for her nightmares but she doubted it. Sorrow's loss, he'd never get to sleep with her around.
Shaking the dreary thoughts from her head, she stood up, making her way to the door as she forced herself to focus on the conversation with Robin. However, he was silent. She took advantage of the break to quickly open her door and check the hall for any members of the Injustice Society.
She closed the door with a muted click and leaned against it. The silence enveloped her, closing in around her to fit the shape of her body perfectly. She waited patiently for the other vigilante to say something, to pour forth one of his flawless plans that had always managed to save them before. He was the brains of the team. She vividly remembered the day the Reds had attacked the Cave, leaving just the two of them to save not only their teammates but themselves. He'd thought of the EMP emitter, going through the air ducts, even simply turning on the water in the showers to slow the fire tornado. Things like that, she would have never thought of. Without Robin, she would have gotten herself killed ten times over from stupid mistakes and missing simple solutions. But as he had said, he'd been doing that sort of stuff since he was nine.
Artemis's father had technically started her out younger than that but she'd been trained to be a killing machine, not some technical genius capable of keeping up with the Dark Knight himself. She knew Batman thought of the Boy Wonder as his equal. Something no one else in the world might ever achieve.
The thirteen-year-old had all that under his belt but he still hadn't even mentioned a plan to take down the Injustice Society. He'd been silent while she waited for him to tell her what to do, hoping that he could help her get out of the situation that she was in.
"Robin, please tell me you have a plan," she whispered into the piece of metal in her hand.
"Not quite," he answered finally. "I've been looking into Sorrow, doing some research. From what I've seen of his team, he's the biggest problem we have, seeing as how you're not loyal to him or anything." Artemis flinched at the idea of being loyal to the man who'd killed her mother. "There's so little information on him, though. The Leagues files on him are... well, lacking. I'm hacking the confidential files now. Hopefully, it might give us a lead."
"Um, Robin?" Artemis bit her lip, nervous about her actual question. "Is Wally there? Can I speak to him?" There was a heavy sigh on the other end as she waited for a response.
"He's in another room. I don't think it would be best to let you guys talk right now. I'm sorry."
Artemis slumped, her back sliding down the door until she sat on the rough carpet of the floor. "It's alright," she murmured, trying to push back the memory of his reaction to her betrayal. A thousand tiny pins pricked her heart as she thought of how he'd come to see her at Queen Manor after her mother's death. All the things he had done for her, despite their hate for each other in the beginning, and he still believed she would do that to him.
"Got it," Robin chirped suddenly, surprising the archer. "Bats changed the password again," he murmured more to himself. "What's the League hiding from us this time?" In her mind, Artemis could see the younger boy tapping away at his wrist computer, his brain whirling as he processed the information scrolling passed his eyes too fast for anyone else to understand.
"Why would the League be hiding information like this from you. Isn't information over enemies open to all members and their partners?"
There was a pause on the other end before she got a reply. "They're locking me out because I'm not supposed to be working on this. This whole situation could potentially lead to the biggest security breach in Justice League, or Justice Society, history. Now that they have Green Arrow, the League is doubling down on security. Consider yourself lucky, you missed the wrath of Batman when I explained everything." The blonde archer shook her head. All of this had started with what she had thought to be another Gotham murder, something average... or average for Gotham at least. "Ok, I think I actually have an idea. Sorrow was defeated before, it is possible. However, we need to know where Sorrow's headed next. Based on what he stole from Wayne Tech he can't be done with his shopping list."
"Queen Industries," she replied, immediately. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember all the details of Sorrow's grand plan for the night. His speech was so self-aggrandizing she'd tuned him out. Rookie mistake, Artemis. "We're hitting it before morning. He wants to stay ahead of the League."
"In Star City? Where are you at?"
Artemis shook her head. She hadn't taken note of the location. Another mistake but she would have never guessed she'd be in contact with Robin. "Not far from Gotham. Sorrow's got his hands on a jet. He didn't name names but it doesn't take the World's Greatest Detective to think Luthor donated to the cause."
"Right," Robin chuckled. "Why not break house arrest twice in one night? It's not like Bats can get angrier at this point. We'll need your help, though."
Fifteen minutes later, Artemis rejoined the Injustice Society as they prepared for their next mission. She wore her obnoxious orange costume and carried her bow loosely in one hand. As she entered the room and scanned the faces of the assembled villains she smiled at her father who smirked back. He probably thought she was finally accepting the whole family business but really, she was silently thanking him for teaching her how to be such a great lair.