Sorry for the delay! I'm honestly the worst at updating and keeping up with stories.
2.
The mountain was surprisingly comfortable. The team was given a brief tour before they were assigned their rooms, and it was hard for them not to stop and marvel at all the features of Mount Justice. It was nearly impossible to pull Wally away from the fully stocked refrigerator in the kitchen, and Dick was awestruck with all the new technology available to him. He could've stayed in the control room for hours.
After they were given their rooms, the team was instructed to meet in the center of the mountain – the cave – for proper introductions. Artemis was the first to arrive. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she kept a carefully guarded expression on her face as the others slowly filed in. Wally was the last to stumble into the wide room, his arms holding as much food as they could carry. Artemis rolled her eyes, and he glared at her.
Black Canary and Batman stood at the center of the room in front of a holographic computer. The screen floating in midair displayed a list of the names of each sidekick on the team.
"Before we begin official training, introductions must be made," Black Canary said, her hands on her hips. "This team is expected to work together on missions. A certain amount of trust is required in order for that to happen."
"For that trust to be established, there can be no secrets," Batman said darkly. "Everything will be out in the open."
"Everything?" Wally's eyes widened, and Batman nodded.
"Why?" Artemis asked him, her tone teasing. "Got something to hide, Kid Idiot?"
"No, but I have a feeling you do," he snapped at her. "Considering no one's ever heard of you before. I didn't even know Green Arrow had another sidekick."
"That's enough." Black Canary stepped forward, cutting off the conversation. "This is exactly why we're doing this. There can't be any doubt among the team, or this whole program will have been for nothing. We chose the six of you because we believed you would work well together as a team. Don't let us down."
Wally and Artemis looked away from each other angrily.
Batman pressed a few keys on the holographic keyboard, and the screen changed to show a detailed profile of each sidekick present.
"We'll start with you, Wally." Black Canary read from his profile while he crunched on a bag of chips. "Wallace West, otherwise known as Kid Flash. Age 15. Partner of Barry Allen, AKA The Flash. Powers and abilities include super-speed and telescopic goggles that enhance his vision. Incredibly intelligent, but known to be impulsive and competitive."
"Hey, I'm not competitive!" Wally protested over a mouthful of chips. Next to him, Dick laughed.
"Oh, yeah? Remember the last track meet I went to? You almost ran that poor kid into the ground."
"Hey, he deserved it. He was a jerk," Wally said with a shrug, and Dick grinned and shook his head.
"Next," Black Canary said, and the boys automatically turned their attention to her. "Richard Grayson, otherwise known as Robin. Age 13. Protégé of the Batman. Powers and abilities include amazing acrobatic skills, martial arts expertise and genius hacking skills. Tech expert and most experienced in the field. Has a habit of being immature."
"Right, just 'cause I'm the youngest it means I'm immature," Dick rolled his eyes.
"Kaldur'ahm," Black Canary continued without missing a beat. "AKA Aqualad. Age 16. Apprentice to Aquaman. Powers and abilities include amphibious traits, electric eel tattoos that allow him to conduct electricity, and water-bearers. Trained warrior, with an air of confidence. Has a tendency to daydream."
"Conner Kent. Superboy. Cloned from Superman, aged 6 months. Age 16 in human years. Powers and abilities include super-strength, infrared vision, and the ability to jump extremely high distances. Notes on the subject say that he is untrained and has an explosive temper."
Everyone saw Superboy's fists clench angrily, but no one said anything.
"M'gann M'orzz, or Miss Martian. Age 16. Niece of Martian Manhunter. Powers and abilities include shape-shifting, telepathy and telekinesis. Extremely vulnerable to fire. Personality is described as sweet and optimistic, though naïve."
Miss Martian winced and looked down at the ground.
"And lastly, Artemis."
When Black Canary said her name, Artemis tensed visibly. Wally narrowed his eyes at her.
"Artemis Crock, age 15. Powers and abilities include being a master archer and martial artist. Strong-willed and dedicated, but a tough attitude."
"I do not have a tough attitude." Artemis raised her chin and crossed her arms over her chest. Black Canary gave her a look and continued speaking.
"Notes on the subject say she has a dangerous past. She is the daughter of ex-con Huntress and Shadow villain Sportsmaster. Sister to Cheshire. Taken on as a sidekick by Green Arrow."
Artemis was intensely aware of everyone staring at her.
"Her family's part of the Shadows," Wally interjected. "And you want us to trust her? She could turn on us at any minute!"
"Nice to know you have my back," Artemis snapped at him.
"Yes, we want you to trust her," Black Canary said. "The point of this was so that there would be no secrets. Like Batman said, everything is out in the open. We specifically chose Artemis for this job because we truly believed she was capable of what we are asking of her. Her skills are highly impressive, and Green Arrow took her on as a sidekick because she didn't want to be a part of the Shadows. She chose to lead a life fighting against crime instead of committing it."
"Thanks for giving them my life story, Dinah," Artemis sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, and Black Canary frowned disapprovingly at her.
"Artemis, you knew what would –"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." She waved a hand in the air dismissively and refused to look at anyone.
Black Canary sighed and turned back to the team. "Here's what's going to happen. Over the next few months, you will train together as a team. You will each be given different exercises to test your strengths and weaknesses, and you will learn to work together to accomplish tasks. You will not be given a mission until the League feels you are ready."
Wally opened his mouth to protest, but a sharp look from Batman made him close it again.
"While you are living here, you won't have to go to school –"
"Yes!" Wally and Dick bumped fists and grinned ecstatically.
"- but you will still have to keep up with your academia. Special teachers will be brought in to instruct you when you're not training," Black Canary finished, and Dick and Wally groaned in unison.
"I will be your combat instructor, and Batman will be your official mission advisor. He will assign you missions and send you out into the field. Red Tornado will be your official supervisor while you're living here. If any circumstances arise where the three of us will not be available, you will have an assigned . . . den mother, as it were, from the League to watch over you in our absence," Black Canary looked at each of the team members individually, her gaze landing on Artemis last. "Is that clear?"
"Clear," the team said together.
Black Canary smiled. "Good." She sighed with a note of finality. "Official training doesn't begin until tomorrow, so you have the rest of the day to explore the mountain and relax. In each of your rooms you'll find your training gear, as well as your costumes."
"Do not leave the mountain without clearance from either one of us," Batman said, stepping away from the holographic computer. The screen and the keyboard disappeared. "Only way in or out is through zeta tubes, and we'll be able to tell if one of you has gone through. You've all been authorized in the system, and you each have your own designation number."
"This is so cool," Wally whispered excitedly. He grinned at Dick. "We're part of a team."
"I know all of this might be a little overwhelming at first," Black Canary said, spreading her arms wide to encompass the mountain they were standing in, "but try to take it all in stride. You'll get used to it in time."
As Artemis watched her new teammates disperse from the room, she clenched her fists and took a deep breath. Black Canary leveled her gaze on the archer.
"Everything all right, Artemis?"
She forced a smile. "Yes, Dinah. Everything's fine. Just peachy."
"You shouldn't be nervous. You have nothing to hide from them."
"I'm not nervous," Artemis snapped.
Dinah gave her a look, but didn't push the subject. Batman had disappeared, as well as the rest of the team, and the two blondes were the only people left in the cave.
Dinah put a hand on Artemis's shoulder and squeezed it.
"I made a promise to Ollie that I would watch over you," she said quietly. "Please don't make it harder for me, Artemis."
Artemis opened her mouth to say something about how she didn't need a babysitter, but the look in Dinah's eyes made her shut it again. She huffed indignantly.
"Fine. I'll be in my room."
"You should interact with your teammates – "
"I will be. In my room." And with that, she turned her back on Black Canary and strode from the cave, down the hallway to where her new bedroom was. Her suitcase lay unopened in the center of her bed. Artemis sighed and unzipped it. Lying on the top was her favorite book, Alice in Wonderland.
She picked it up, holding it with care, and placed it on her bedside table with a smile.