The SECRET Training: Young Justice Seasons 1 & 2

Episode 12: Homefront

Stephanie Kyle was excited.

Today was the day.

Today she was going to meet Aqualad and the rest of the team. So she went through her closet twice for the perfect outfit. She couldn't find one so she spent $100,000 at the Mall of America for her outfit, including her magenta-colored sneakers that lit up with her every step.

She also ate a double German chocolate cake with rainbow sprinkles for lunch.

So sugar rush in tow, Peter drove the Diablo to the Zeta Tube teleporter, disguised as a broken photo booth located behind a clothing boutique in Coon Rapids. She waved at Peter before she ducked into the photo booth. She sat down on the seat, grinning.

A green scanning beam came out of the small screen to scan her. "Not recognized. State name and designation."

Stephanie took a deep breath to calm herself down and smiled. "Shadowcat. B-2-0."

That was right.

Robin had thought ahead. To make sure none of the adults in the League knew about it, there was plenty of room between the current team and her. In case they got more members.

"Recognized. Access granted."

"Cool." Then she was gone.

At the same time as the Reds attacked the Cave…

Oliver Queen watched Batman pull up phone records on his bat computer. The Emerald Archer had no idea why the Dark Knight had called him and Flash to his cave. Once he had gotten there, Batman deftly ignored him. He tried to find out what he wanted.

He was just ignored.

But Flash wasn't there yet, so there was hope.

"Does this have anything to do with Roy?" Green Arrow asked Bruce.

"In part."

Oliver sighed. Why wasn't he surprised?

A red blur raced by Green Arrow, knocking his hood off by the forceful gusts. "Sorry I'm late," Flash offered as he skidded to a halt.

Batman turned in his chair to stare down his two friends for several moments before speaking. "Roy, Dick and Wally are hiding something from us," he stated. "It has something to do with Stephanie Kyle."

Flash gave a blank stare. "Wally's keeping a secret!? Bats, you know how my nephew is!"

"I'm not surprised," Green Arrow commented. He saw how both Barry and Bruce looked at him. "I'm talking about Roy! He hasn't been using any of my resources since he quit being my partner."

"Maybe Stephanie is letting him use her money, out of gratitude for saving her," Flash offered.

"All three of them have been calling and receiving calls from her. Long before Deathstroke tried to kill her," Bruce told them. "I intend to find out how. They are not her personal bodyguards."

"Bruce, Dick deserves to have a life away from the mask," Oliver told him. "As long as she isn't a threat, you need to accept that he can be normal, have a normal life."

"Not at the expense of his life!"
"Is this because she's Catwoman's daughter?" Flash asked the Dark Knight directly.

He didn't say anything.

"First off, she doesn't know their real names, right? So she must respect them for that. Maybe they're training her, to protect herself so she doesn't have to rely on a hero to come save her," Oliver scolded Bruce.

'Like hell,' he thought to himself.

"You know, I've wondered. Since she's Catwoman's kid, why doesn't she have all of those cat reflexes?" Flash asked.

"Selina wasn't born with her abilities. She was given those powers."

Oliver and Barry blinked.

"Batman! This is Red Arrow! Priority One! The Cave has been attacked! Then team is down! I need full League response!"

"Acknowledged."

"Crap!" said Green Arrow.

5 Minutes Earlier…

"Recognize: Shadowcat, B-2-0."

She still felt the tingling of the teleporter as she exited the Zeta Tube. She whistled at the sheer construction of the base. Her cave looked nothing like the team's!

Her cat sixth sense went crazy.

It was quiet.

Where was the team?

Stephanie's 'cat sight' kicked in, and she took in everything slowly, checking everything.

She saw the patches of scorched floor along with the puddles of water. In her mind, she was going through the list of villains. Mister Freeze and Firefly? No. Weren't they in Bel Reve?"

Taking cautious steps forward, Shadowcat moved her head to take in every detail, checking for the slightest of movements.

"Recognize: Red Arrow. B-0-7."

She pivots on her heels as she saw Roy materialize before her. "Red Arrow!"

"Where's the team?" he asked her as he pulled out his bow and loaded an arrow on it in seconds.

"Don't know. Two villains attacked is my guess. See the scorch marks and water puddles?" Stephanie pointed out.

"Stay behind me," he barked at her, moving to stand in front of her.

Shadowcat crossed her arms in annoyance. "I don't need protection. I can fight!"

"Please, just don't fight me on this," Red Arrow took several steps forward.

"I don't need a shield."

"Your agility and speed will be needed in case they are still here. I'm just a guy with a bow."

Shadowcat followed close behind him, whispering, "You're not just a guy with a bow."

Roy grinned. Ever since he helped save her from Deathstroke, the two were closer. "Thanks sis." He followed the puddles and scorch marks, Shadowcat right on his heels.

"It took a few minutes but the two found the hanger, where the puddles of water were larger and the scorched ground was more prominent.

Roy took his time, checking everything. He saw the patterns on the ground. "The team was held here. The soot marks show a cage of fire."

"Yeah. Two people were in it," Shadowcat confirmed.

"Most likely Aqualad and Miss Martian," Roy told her. Stephanie looked confused. "They're vulnerable to fire," he explained.

"Ah."

"The puddle here shows someone was here, most likely almost drowned."

Shadowcat kneeled next to it. "Robin. He almost drowned."

Roy's eyes took in her serious expression. She was certain that at some point, Robin had laid there. "I think the team left. Maybe to escape."

"I hope so." Stephanie stood up and noticed the stairs. She headed for them with purpose in her steps. "Where do the stairs go?"

"To the water," he told her.

She got to the edge and saw the whole team unconscious. "Robin! Kid Flash!" she cried, distressed. She leaped over the staircase.

"Steph!" Roy ran to the stairs and caught his sister twisting in mid-air like a cat would, flexing her body to land on her hands and knees. He stood there watching her twist her body just so.

She landed perfectly. On all fours. She stood up carefully and ran over to Wally, who was trapped in some mangled metal beams. She checked his pulse, which she found quickly.

Roy ran down the stairs as fast as he could without tripping all over himself. He checked Robin and Kaldur for a pulse first, before checking the girls and Superboy. "They're all okay." He hit the comm link in his ear. "Batman, this is Red Arrow! Priority One! The Cave had been attacked. The team is down! I need full League response!"

"Achknowledged," came the response.

The comm went dead.

"Roy?"

"Crap!" Roy face-palmed himself. "You've got to go, NOW!"

"But…I was suppose to be on the team," Stephanie whined.

"Please sis! The team is in no condition to handle you and the League! Go now!"

Shadowcat gave an exaggerated, frustrated sigh. She leaped from the bottom of the staircase to the top of it. "Why do I have to go?"

" 'Cause Batman doesn't know that Robin gave you full access to the Cave yet! He'll be livid! NOW GO!"

She ran straight for the Zeta Tube. She wanted to protest more until the world ended. But Roy was right-she couldn't be on the team right that moment.

She would have to try again later.

"Recognize: Shadowcat. B-2-0."

***So…what you guys think so far? Is she ever going to be on the team? And I thought Roy being the protective big brother was the way to go in this chapter. ***