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Mallory was visiting her parents two days later when she got a call from Megan.
"Hey, what's up?" she asked when she walked out of the room.
"Nightwing found out who the Blue Beetle is. He talked to him last night, and he agreed to come to the cave today to meet the team and hear about the circumstances around him getting the powers," the Martian said.
Mallory's heart skipped a beat. "That's great! And there weren't any complications, no one tried to stop him?" she asked.
"No, I don't think so. He's going to bring him over in half an hour. Do you want to come meet him?"
"Yeah, of course. I just need to tell my parents what's going on," she said.
"Ok, tell them I said hello. And bring Peter to the cave with you, we're calling the team in to meet him, too."
"Ok, will do," Mallory replied, and she hung up. She went back into the living room where her family was.
"What was that?" Elaine asked.
"Megan, she wants me and Peter to come to the cave. Nightwing found the new Beetle," Mallory replied. Peter jumped to his feet and ran upstairs to put on his suit under his clothes.
"Do you need to change, too?" Darrin asked.
"Yeah, but my suit's at the cave. I'll send Peter in the training room and I'll go in through the lab and sneak around to my room," Mallory told him.
Darrin nodded, then started laughing.
"What?" Mallory asked.
"Oh, nothing, it just seems like a lot of work to go through in your own home. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you're so dedicated to keeping your identity secret, but really? You're going to sneak to your room? You're twenty years old, and you're still sneaking around like a little kid."
Mallory chuckled. "Please, that's nothing. Have you seen Batman?"
Her parents laughed, and Peter came back down in sweatpants and a zipped up jacket. "It's a little hot for that, don't you think?" Darrin asked.
Peter shrugged. "It's just around the corner. My suit's a little harder to hide than Mallory's. At least hers can look like regular clothes."
Mallory chuckled and slung an arm around her brother's neck. "And whose fault is that?" she asked teasingly. He rolled his eyes, and they walked to the phone booth together. Mallory let Peter go in first, then set her coordinates for the zeta tube in the lab. When she came out, she went through the back hallway and made it to her room without being seen. She was in her suit and on her way to the training room a minute later, just in time to hear the zeta tube shutting down. When she stepped into the room, she broke into a grin.
"Donna!" she exclaimed, jogging over to give her friend a hug.
"Inferno, it is good to see you," Donna said, returning the hug.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were in litigations all week," Mallory said.
Donna nodded. "I am, but we were done for the day, and I wanted to be here when Cassie is introduced to the team."
"Who's Cassie?"
Donna tilted her head. "Nightwing didn't tell you? Diana is training a new girl."
"When did that happen?" Mallory asked.
Donna shrugged. "She has been on Themyscira being trained for about a month, and she asked to come back and start field experience. They'll be here soon."
"Huh, well, Dick's bringing a new Blue Beetle to join the team in a few minutes," she told her.
"Hey, Donna!" Peter said behind them. Mallory turned to see her brother running over.
Donna grinned and opened her arms. "Hello, Vigilante," she said. "I trust you haven't had any more trouble with this one?"
Peter laughed. "Nothing I couldn't handle," he replied. She nodded, keeping a hand on his shoulder. The zeta tube came on, announcing Lagaan, and Megan, Gar, Conner, and Wolf came in from the rooms.
"Hey, Troia! What are you doing here?" Lagaan asked when he saw her.
"I came to–" she was interrupted by the computer announcing Wonder Woman's arrival. As soon as she appeared, she went to the computer and authorized the new girl. The computer announced, "recognized, Wonder Girl, B21," and a tall, blonde girl appeared in front of the group. She was wearing a black sleeveless shirt with a gold W across the chest and red pants, with a lasso and metal cuffs matching Wonder Woman's and Troia's. When she saw everyone looking at her, she grinned and started bouncing on her toes.
"Oh my gosh, I can't believe it! Superboy, Miss Martian, Inferno? Wow, this is so, just wow!"
Mallory glanced at Megan, and the Martian linked her and Conner. "Is it just me, or does she remind you of Sandy, you know, future Inferno?"
Megan smiled and shut the link down, walking over to the new arrival. "Hi! You can just call me Megan, we're not in the field now."
"Wow, ok. I'm Cassie. I am so excited to work with all of you."
Mallory subtly backed up to stand with Conner and out of the bubbly personality zone. "Where's Zatanna?" she asked quietly while Diana and Donna helped Cassie get to know the others.
"She's not coming, she and Artemis got last minute tickets to that band they like," he replied.
Mallory nodded. "And Raquel?" she asked.
"She, Karen, and Mal are together. She wanted to see how the suit works, and Mal pretty much goes where Karen goes."
"Ugh, that sounds like it would get old fast," Mallory muttered. Conner shrugged, and the Zeta tube announced Rocket, Bumblebee, and Mal the next second.
"Hey, Donna!" Raquel said when she saw her. Donna greeted her and the two new additions, then introduced her own.
"Well, it seems Donna has this under control. I believe I will leave you to it," Wonder Woman said. She said goodbye to Cassie and Donna and went back to the zeta tube.
Almost as soon as she was gone, the tube brought Dick and the Blue Beetle in. The group stared at the newcomer in stunned silence. Mallory didn't know why, she'd known exactly what to expect, and yet she hadn't expected it at all. The Beetle in front of them looked nothing like Ted's costume. It looked like armor as opposed to a cloth suit, and he had antennae-looking structures coming off his shoulders. His face was completely covered, with blue dots on his eyes.
Nightwing put a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "Well, guys, this is the Blue Beetle," he said, looking at the older members of the team.
Mallory shook herself out of her daze and stepped forward, extending a hand. "Hi, I'm Inferno. It's great to meet you," she said.
He shook her hand cautiously, staring at her like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Inferno, and Rocket, wow, you're on this team?" he asked.
Mallory glanced at Rocket. "Oh, uh, no, not anymore. We were, though. Uh, but Miss Martian and Superboy are the other senior members, and this is Wonder Girl's first day, too." With that, the two Leaguers and Donna took a few steps to the side to distance themselves from the introductions.
"He seems nice," Rocket mentioned.
Mallory nodded. "Yeah, he does. I just hope he can help us figure out why the Light thought whatever that is was worth a public murder."
Rocket stared at Mallory, shaking her head.
"What?" Mallory asked.
"It is hardly fair to put such a burden on him when he is still new to the burden of being a hero," Donna said.
"Yeah, I know, but—"
Rocket put a hand on her arm. "Mal, let's just give him some time to work himself into the team. Remember, he's not exactly here by choice."
Mallory sighed and nodded. "Ok, fine, you're right."
They watched the team talking for a few minutes, then Gar walked over to them. "Why aren't you over there?" he asked.
Mallory smiled. "We'll have plenty of time to eet them, we're giving you guys some space," she said.
He shrugged. "Ok. I like them. I think Blue Beetle is gonna fit right in."
"And what of Wonder Girl?" Donna asked.
He shrugged and nodded to the group, where Cassie, Karen, Megan, and Lagaan were deep in conversation. "I thought that went without saying," he replied with a grin.
"Hey, where's Batgirl and Robin? They should be here to meet the new people," Raquel said.
Mallory looked around the room and shrugged. Honestly, she hadn't even missed them. She was still getting used to all the new faces around the cave.
"I am sure that Nightwing knows where they are," Donna said. They nodded.
"Well, you guys should come back for training. I know you want to see them in action," Gar said with a grin, and he went back to join Dick, Conner, Peter, and Mal talking to the Blue Beetle. "So, Donna, do you have time for a little sparring?" Mallory asked with a grin.
Donna smiled. "Of course," she said.
The three girls grinned and went to Mallory's training room to catch up some more over a fight or two.