Chapter three is just background for those of you who wondered about how Wally and Artemis ended up alone together at a stake-out.

Chapter 3:

"To break the League, we break the sidekicks."

"How?"

"Use them against each other."

... Fourteen Hours Earlier ...

"Recognized, Kid Flash."

Wally darted into Mount Justice and was standing by the others before the portal could finish introductions. "So, now that the Wall-man's here, what's your emergency? Got a DID situation?" He turned to Artemis and winked. "Damsel In Distress," he whispered. "One of my specialties."

Artemis snorted. "Yeah, Kid Rash, we all know about your aptitude for distressing damsels..."

Kaldur's glare kept Wally from saying his comeback, which Wally didn't mind so much because his comeback REALLY sucked. He couldn't choose between "Your face is distressing," "Your mom didn't seem to find me particularly distressing," and "'Aptitude,' that's a new word. That brings your vocabulary up to about... 312 if you count death, died, and dead separately..." So, instead of proving that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, he turned to Batman's holographic image with a grin.

"What have you got for me, Bats?"

"This mission isn't mandatory, it is simply recon and observation based on some tips the Justice League received. If anyone wants to volunteer for a stakeout..."

Wally waved his hand in the air as he thought of the stack of homework sitting on his bedroom desk. It could wait. If he got lucky, the villain Cerebus might attack. Then Uncle Barry could give him a note that said that the dog ate his homework (not saying which dog), and he wouldn't have to turn in the half-finished essay on Beowulf that he spilled his Mountain Dew on yesterday. "Hey Bats, count me in!" Wally exclaimed. "Is it a warehouse or a secret lab this time? Because warehouse missions are currently in the lead, six to..." Wally was interrupted by the masked hero.

Robin would later swear his formidable mentor was grinning when he said. "Good. Your other teammates have already agreed, too. You'll accompany each other in groups of two. Kid Flash, how about you're paired with... Artemis."

"WHAT!" Two voices yelled simultaneously, each struggling to be heard over the other.

"Baywatch is..."

"... So annoying. Artemis..."

"...thinks he's so cute and special..."

"... and she won't shut up!"

"...but he's not..."

"...Mean!"

"...Flirts..."

"…To Everyone!"

They were so absorbed in yelling at each other that they didn't notice when Batman's image disappeared, but not before winking to Robin, who, you would know if you could read lips (never let everyone know all of the cards in your hand), said 'I owe you for that one.'

"And I CAN'T..."

"…STAND HER!"

Robin interrupted the two screaming fifteen-year-olds. "Wally, add a point in favor of abandoned warehouses."

Mentally Robin added 'And another point to Bruce. Wally: 176. Bruce: 218. And counting.'