A/N: My third chapter. Yup.
Summary: (of this chapter)
16:24 March 06, 2012 Palo Alto, California
This was the second hotel Artemis had ever been in. Of course, the first time was when her father had taken her along to watch him assassinate some one, so she supposed that didn't count.
It was just her luck that the person she would have to be sharing with would be an annoying, condescending, arrogant, jerk-face.
"Shouldn't guys bunk with guys?" Wally said meekly at the sniggering Dick.
Dick smiled slyly, "Well, Bruce actually originally put it like that, but… Connor wanted to bunk with Megan."
Wally fell to his knees, gripping Megan's legs, "Please switch with me!"
Artemis scoffed, grabbing her bags and slipping into the hotel room.
It was spacious, with, thankfully, two beds and wide windows. There was a large TV, and… only one bathroom. There was a beautiful portrait of mountains on the wall, and modern-looking lamps graced the bedside tables.
The door shut behind her, revealing a forlorn Wally holding his bags.
He went to the bed closest to the door, flinging his bags and himself on the bed and groaning loudly.
"I noticed that Dick can be evil sometimes," Artemis said quietly, folding her clothes and organizing them.
Wally grunted his approval, his arms spread wide on the crisp sheets.
It was another awkward silence for a bit, and Wally spoke up, "Well, I'm gonna go to bed now… Night!"
20:16 March 06, 2012 Outside of Arcadia, California
Wally peered in through the dusty, grimy window. Shouts of raucous laughter and the clinks of beer bottles were audible from the warehouse.
There were about five men. Each were heavily armed, but their rifles were stacked carelessly in a corner.
"Wally, report the perimeter," Kaldur's voice said over the com.
"All clear on my side," Wally reported back quickly.
Connor's deep voice than resounded over the com link, "Clear."
"Artemis and I are moving in," Megan said.
"Proceed, but with caution, suspects are armed and loaded," Kaldur said.
Wally also walked slowly inside, taking sure to remain quiet and make his footsteps inaudible.
"I'm moving in," Wally said, slowly opening the door.
"Wally, hold for back-up!" Kaldur said, but it was too late.
Wally entered, his own rifle aloft. However, the five, burly men who were earlier playing poker were standing now, holding their rifles up.
Pointed at him.
"You're in a whole lot of trouble, son," one of them said. He had blonde hair, and was heavy-set, and looked much like… Artemis.
The blonde one adjusted his gun, changing the aim for a kill-shot, "It would be best to surrender now."
Artemis and Megan chose that moment to burst in, followed by Kaldur, Dick, and Connor.
The man turned, facing these new foes, "Well, well, well, little girl, what are you doing here?"
oOoOoOo
"What does he mean by that, Artemis?" Megan said, confused.
Artemis let out a sigh. They were bound to find out eventually, "He's… my father."
Dick grinned, "Called it!"
Kaldur turned to Dick, "Did Bruce tell you as well?"
Dick shook his head, "World-class detective!"
Wally was dumbfounded, "You're his daughter?"
Artemis' dad then cut in, "If I may interrupt your cozy conversation, I'm going to kill you."
Wally watched frozen, as Artemis' dad pulled back on the trigger, he shut his eyes tightly, anticipating the bullet, when he heard a shriek and was pushed aside roughly as the gun went off.
Artemis was on top of him, breathing hard from the adrenaline, Wally stared at her in confusion.
Why had she saved him?
21:04 March 06, 2012 Palo Alto, California
The team agreed to have dinner together, choosing to order take-out and to eat in Dick and Kaldur's hotel room. They sat on the floor, since there weren't enough chairs, and ate wontons in silence.
"… I guess I should tell you who that man was," Artemis said quietly, awkwardly scooping up some fried rice.
"No kidding," Connor muttered, only to be elbowed my Megan.
Megan smiled sympathetically, "You don't have to tell us if you don't want us to know."
Artemis shook her head, "No, I should tell you. That guy, that guy you just arrested, is Sportsmaster."
Dick, Kaldur, and Wally gasped audibly.
"Who's Sportsmaster?" Connor asked reproachfully.
"He's one of the main members of the Light, the criminal network that deals with all kinds of shady stuff, drug trafficking, child slavery, you name it," Dick said grimly.
"My… dad… is a close friend with Vandal Savage," Artemis said solemnly, "That must've been why he was there."
"Bruce did tell me that he suspected Savage to be part of a criminal network of some sort, but I did not inform me that the organization may be as big as the Light," Kaldur said, deep in thought.
"How come we can't just arrest Savage?" Megan said, displaying her rookie knowledge in police knowledge.
"We don't have any evidence of his crimes, meaning that if we put him up in front of a jury with no concrete evidence, than we'll lose the case. It would also be the second time that he's been on trial, so this is our last chance to get him before it would become a double jeopardy," Dick said calmly.
"We are way in over our heads."
oOoOoOo
"… Hey Artemis?" Wally called out suddenly.
Artemis moaned, and then sat up in her bed, "What?"
Wally paused, contemplating how to put his feelings into words, "…Thanks, for saving my butt today."
Artemis' voice softened, "Your welcome, Baywatch."
Artemis got the hidden message. She would forgive him, as he would forgive her.
23:48 March 08, 2012 Anaheim, California
"Here's the plan. Artemis, you will interrogate Cameron Mahkent, see if he knows where Savage is located and where his base of operations is," Kaldur said smoothly, "Wally, you and Dick will discreetly follow and record any and all information. Megan and Connor, you are back-up. I will be profiling at the bar if needed."
With that they set off.
Wally watched in nervousness as Artemis sashayed her way over to where Cameron was drinking a beer.
Artemis would be undercover. Megan had offered to go, but because of the combined variables of Connor's protest and Artemis' knowledge of Cameron, Artemis had been chosen to go.
Artemis was decked out in a leather jacket, her long blond hair that was usually in a ponytail plaited down her back. Her grey eyes were sharply contrasted by the green tank that stuck out underneath the black leather, paired with tight black leather pants. Megan had even gone so far as to put lip gloss on Artemis, snickering at Artemis huffy mood.
Cameron looked up from his drink, smiling dumbly and beckoning Artemis closer.
"Hey, Art! What you doin' here?" he said, slurring his words together.
Artemis grimaced internally, but put on a sultry smile, "Looking for you, handsome."
Cameron grinned, his already red face growing redder as he took another swig from the cup, "Come on over, I was just getting to know the bar keep, here."
The bar maid giggled flirtatiously, a blond with purple painted lips and piercings coupled with suspenders over a white t-shirt and a plaid skirt.
Artemis smiled, and tugged on Cameron's shirt sleeve, "Do you wanna do it just like old times?"
Cameron nodded, grinning maliciously.
Cameron had been first introduced to Artemis through their father's, of course. Her father only wanting her to get close to him because Cameron had a tendency to know a lot more than he should. Artemis and Cameron had struck a deal. One kiss= One piece of information. It was a rather disgusting deal, Artemis thought, but Cameron rarely willingly gave away information for that low a price.
Artemis leaned forward, and whispered in his ear, "Vandal Savage, where's his base of operations?"
Cameron leaned forward, nearly falling off the bar stool, "He runs his business through CADMAS."
Artemis nodded, "Where is he? Where is he staying?"
Cameron frowned, "If I tell you that I should bonus, because that's very sen-si-tive information."
"Fine," Artemis said, wanting to get it over with.
"He's staying in Palo Alto, in some hotel. I think he's using a fake name though, sweetheart," Cameron said, winking, then he leaned over, and whispered in her ear, the reek of alcohol and cigarette smoke washing over her, "His name's gonna cost you even more."
Artemis nodded, knowing that the information was crucial.
"He's using the name, Burt Villers."
Cameron smiled, "Pay up."
He crashed his lips roughly on Artemis' and she nearly puked from the taste of alcohol and vomit.
She pulled away, wiping her lips, but Cameron pulled her in again. This time, he laid a hand on her thigh, drifting it slowly upwards.
In the distance, Artemis heard a chair scraping, and she opened her eyes, and saw Wally coming towards them.
She stood up, backing up, and Wally delivered a crushing blow to Cameron's face.
Cameron snarled, hyped on adrenaline and alcohol, and launched himself at Wally.
Artemis intervened, kicking Cameron on the shin, and then smacking Wally. She then huffed, and stomped out, Megan, Connor, Kaldur and Dick following quickly before they made a scene.
Wally huffed angrily, and pulled himself off from against the bar, and followed the team out.