Disclaimer:
We do not own Young Justice and Avengers nor its characters.
Without further ado…
Lethe
Chapter 5
Happy Harbor Mall
August 6, 13:41 EDT
Marina yawned, bringing a hand clutching shopping bag up to cover her mouth futilely. M'gann abducted her once she saw Marina step into the kitchen to refill her coffee.
"Shopping!" The Martian announced, blocking Marina from going back to her "office." They were out for the whole morning but were coming up to the last stop. The swimsuit store.
Marina scanned through the onepiece rack. The Team planned to go down to the beach in two days, August 8.
M'gann squealed in excitement as did Wally. Almost. He hollered in happiness.
"I can't wait!" Wally peered expectedly at the excited M'gann talking enthusiastically to Marina.
"Doesn't Star City start their schools on that day?" Robin said with a lopsided smirk.
"W-Wait, no," Wally spluttered before whipping out his phone. "No, no, no, no, nooo!" Wally wailed, staring at his calendar. He physically deflated while Robin threw his head back in a laugh.
"Ooohh! Look at this one, Marina!" M'gann exclaimed, holding up a green bikini from a rack. "This will look great on you!" She pushed Marina into the dressing room happily. She handed the fumbling girl the bikini before shutting the door closed.
"Or are you thinking pink-?" Marina stepped quickly out of the dressing room in the bikini. She stood right outside of the opened dressing room. The door flung wide. M'gann was taken aback by how quickly the girl dressed but went up to the younger girl eagerly.
"It looks great!" M'gann gushed to Marina, who looked at herself in the mirror in front of the dressing rooms. M'gann noticed Marina's shivering shoulders. A flash of shock went through the martian. M'gann's gaze travelled down Marina's shivering arms to her shaking hands. Marina clenched them.
"It looks good," Marina stuttered out while turning from the mirror. That's when M'gann noticed it. The younger girl had a tattoo inked to her collarbone. 122430, it read like a serial number. M'gann stifled a gasp. Marina was only fourteen years old but the tattoo looked completely healed like it was engraved more than a few years ago.
"I-I'm a little on the fence-" Marina staggered, snapping M'gann from her shock. She nodded a little too fervently.
"Right! Maybe we should try a different one!" M'gann nearly shouted before bounding back to the racks. She went down to the long sleeve tops section. Marina's fidgeting lessened.
"Yeah. I think I would feel-"
"Here!" M'gann stated, handing Marina a navy blue swimsuit long sleeve top with a high neckline. It was paired with high waisted bottoms. Marina nodded before walking back stiffly into the dressing room. M'gann sighed. Poor Marina, she vaguely said that her life was hard at some point but to tattoo a young child...
"She must still feel uncomfortable with it," M'gann noted to herself. The Martian recounted the quivering of Marina and her clenched fists. The younger girl must have felt uncomfortable seeing it so clearly uncovered by the swimsuit in her reflection.
"I'm coming out!" Marina called quickly before stepping out. M'gann's shoulders loosened at the sight of the tattoo covered. Marina was slowly relaxed as well. She stared at herself at the mirror with a slight smile before twirling around to M'gann, "What do you think?"
M'gann gave her a thumbs up, "It looks amazing!" Marina brightened. She gave M'gann a full grin.
"Great! I'll get this one then!" Marina bounced back into the dressing room. M'gann slumped over a rack completely drained and relieved. She busied herself with looking for her own swimsuit. She held up a yellow one which she fell in love with completely.
"That looks good," Marina's voice startled M'gann, making her leap a foot into the air.
"Marina!" M'gann sighed, clenching a hand over her heart. "You scared me!" M'gann's eyes flickered to the younger girl's collarbone. Now that she noticed it, M'gann never saw her wear anything that would expose her collarbone. M'gann snapped her gaze back to Marina's face.
"Ok. Let's go!" M'gann said to divert her thoughts. She walked up to the cashier with a confused Marina trailing after her. Marina tilted her head before shrugging it off. Well, the fit will never be a problem for the shapeshifter.
Marina sighed in relief as she handed the cashier the swimsuit. At least she didn't have to go inside one of those stuffy changing stalls again.
Mount Justice
August 8, 09:58 EDT
With the sun high up in the clear blue sky, seagulls cry as they soared through the air. M'gann raced ahead of the Team. The warm sand kissed her skin with each step. A wake board in her left hand, she extended her arms sideways like she was going to embrace the sun.
Marina followed behind her with the rest of the Team. The sun shone down on them as a cool salt breeze swept Marina's hair off of her shoulders.
"Hello, Megan!" She exclaimed as Robin, Kaldur, and Superboy caught up beside her. "We should hit the beach everyday!"
Robin had his usual sunglasses on but instead of his civvies, he wore swimming trunks and a towel hooked over his neck. Robin tapped his finger to his forehead in pretend grievance as he lowered his head slightly.
"First, a moment of silence for our absent comrades," He said, solemnly.
"Poor Wally," M'gann sighed. Her red lips pulled down into a frown. Seagulls squawking filled the Team's silence momentarily before Robin sprinted forward.
"Let's go!" M'gann cheered along with Robin before mimicking his actions. She went straight for the water. Marina eyed the water hesitantly before meeting eyes with Kaldur. He smiled reassuringly at the younger girl. Marina stared up at the blue sky.
"Should I be alarmed that I see you out here and not sulking in my garage?" Tony teased her. Marina shook her head with a smile. She saw herself in the reflections of Tony's sunglasses.
She waved to the powder white beach, "Why miss an opportunity to hang out on your private Malibu beach?"
"I swear, kid, you just like me for my money."
"You're not completely wrong," She grinned. Tony pouted. She sprang up, sand flying around her. Tony made a disgruntled sound. "I'll race you to the water. The last one there will have to order pizza!" She sprinted to the waiting sea, laughter pumping through her.
"Either way, I'm paying!" Tony shouted from behind her. "You forget who gives your allowance, kid." She threw her head back to giggle. She threw herself unhesitantly into the crystal blue water, feeling completely free and happy.
Marina took a deep breath in. She was working nonstop in between missions to get back. A break sure was needed. She ran to the water.
Marina playfully shot water at the unsuspecting Robin. He sputtered from the influx of sea salt. Black hair weighed down on his forehead. Seawater dripped from the tips before getting lost behind his sunglasses.
Robin smirked at Marina, who waded away from him wearily. He chased after her, deeper into the sea. Marina ducked behind M'gann right before Robin retaliated with his own wave of water.
Marina laughed as M'gann yelped from Robin's water attack. Marina helped M'gann send a splash of water to Robin.
Kaldur watched the Team, hands on his hips. Robin laughed as he, Marina and M'gann splashed each other with water. Superboy cannonballed in between them. The impact of the cannonball caused the water to ripple around them. M'gann twisted her body away from the splash, squealing in delight.
Marina got a face full of water. She coughed harshly, wiping away salt from her eyes. Robin howled with laughter, pointing at the doused brunette, "The water must really be salty, huh!"
Marina glared at him before casting a splash right into the laughing teen's face. Robin gagged when it went into his mouth. Now, it was Marina's turn to chuckle, "Taste it for yourself!"
She squeaked when Robin started running after her. She went against the water quickly, trying to evade him.
"You think you can actually catch me, Boy Wonder?" She taunted playfully. She held out her arm, hand folding into a "come at me" sign.
Robin hunched over into a predator-like stance, "Challenge accepted, Marina." Marina went sprinting through the water, Robin following close behind her. Kaldur watched them amused with a raised eyebrow. S.B shook his head with a small smile beside him as they set up the small grill.
"Marina seems to be adjusting well to the Team," Kaldur noted as Superboy started the fire. "How is she faring in the Cave?"
"She doesn't brood as much but is still making the living room filled with smoke from her experiments," Superboy grunted. The flame of the grill extinguished from the sea breeze. He relit it. "I guess she's adjusting. She no longer glares at me or anyone from the League whenever we walk into the room."
M'gann busied herself with the plastic protective layer of the hotdogs. Kaldur fished out the bag of hotdog buns from their bag. "And you, M'gann. What do you think of Marina here?"
"She is quiet in the Cave. She is still getting used to everything," M'gann replied honestly but tried to make herself sound more cheerful. Superboy successfully lit the grill. M'gann finally opened the plastic before levitating it onto the grill. The hotdogs hissed. "Which I totally understand! Of course. But sometimes when she is a little more comfortable, you can see how much she misses her family..."
Superboy watched the two younger teens still at sea. "She's hiding something," he told the two bluntly.
"We all have our own secrets," Kaldur responded to the clone softly. M'gann recalled the serial number tattoo of Marina. The younger girl had an entire life that she hasn't told anyone, which would make anyone uneasy. But so did she. So did Robin. Hidden identities and secrets that are still yet to be unveiled.
"But," Superboy continued, watching the girl who advised him so sincerely that night of the campfire. Whatever reason you were created doesn't dictate how you should live. "She's alright."
Kaldur and M'gann turned to Superboy with mild surprise. Superboy raised his hands.
"She's not the worst person to live with," He explained. "She just has a habit of making things catch fire in the middle of the night. And she never seems to sleep."
"Lunch time!" M'gann called out to the two young teens playing tag in the water. Robin spread his arms wide to catch Marina. Marina moved side to side, thinking of a way to get past Robin and head toward the beach. She feigned right. Robin fell for it, giving her enough time to get a head start for the beach. Marina sprinted as fast as she could to the beach. Robin right behind her.
Marina yelped when a pair of lean arms circled around her waist. Robin twisted his upper body, flinging Marina back into the shallow water. Robin laughed at her shocked and rapidly mischievous face.
Robin turned to the direction of M'gann, Superboy, and Kaldur. Quickly, Marina hooked her foot around his ankle causing him to trip face first into the water. Robin sat up, spitting out the water. Marina guffawed beside him. Robin frowned mockingly at the girl. The corners of his lips twitching up. The two silently agreed to a truce, walking up to the grill.
The small grill sizzled as the Team cooked hotdogs. Kaldur, Superboy, and M'gann ate theirs in a bun while Robin decided to eat his without. Marina leaned over to place ketchup on her hotdog sandwich. They surround the grill; Robin and Kaldur on the cool boxes. Superboy sat, cross legged while M'gann also knelt on the sand. Marina folded her legs underneath herself as she took a huge bite.
"Whoa, easy there!" Robin called out. "I thought Wally was here for a second."
Marina rolled her eyes while smiling. She shook her head at him and licked ketchup from the corner of her lip. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood. Or I would have kicked your ass for that comment."
"I'd like to see you try." Robin raised a brow. He smirked at her before taking a bite. "You. Me. Winner is the one who gets the best wave."
"You're on." She finished her sausage. Kaldur held out another for her to eat. She hesitantly took it.
"Do not return to the ocean until after thirty minutes of eating," Kaldur instructed the younger two. Marina pouted but took a bite of her food.
"Later then," Robin piped up, the grin never leaving his face. Marina nodded, her cheeks full like a squirrel. The Team laughed at her as she bashfully swallowed.
"I'm hungry," she murmured, making them laugh louder.
After their surfing contest with Marina winning, she took a break on the sand. Marina laid back on the peach beach towel, eyes scanning her book. She held the book in her hands, elbow propped against the surface of the towel. The sun dried her hair as she flipped through the book. She wore her sunglasses to protect her eyes from the blazing sun.
M'gann had insisted that they get matching sunglasses. Oversized, slightly cat eyed sunglasses that M'gann gushed over for being "earth celebrity" style. Marina told her that it's an iconic Audrey Hepburn look but was met with the bemused tilt of the martian's head.
Kaldur, Robin, M'gann and Superboy readied their game. Robin turned his head toward their remaining teammate. Marina did not mind them, fully engrossed in her book. Her legs spread out, one straight while the other bent. He never fully saw her legs before.
Whenever they were on missions it was completely covered by her uniform and in the Cave, she always tucked them underneath her. Now, the sunlight glossed over her milky skin. A sliver of silver reflected the light. The slash crept up her right ankle to half of her shin. It's a scar, he noticed.
Thunk. Robin recoiled, something bounced off his head. "Robin!" He fell onto the sand.
"I am so sorry!" Robin heard M'gann shout as he stared at the sky, the sunlight that shone down on him dimmed a little because of his sunglasses. Kaldur appeared in his vision.
"You should focus your attention on the game at hand, my friend," Kaldur reached a tanned hand. Robin chuckled embarrassed as Kaldur pulled him up.
"Yeah, yeah," he agreed half-heartedly. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"You seemed very distracted," Kaldur pointed out. Heat rushed to the thirteen year old's ears. It would have been embarrassing if his other teammates found him checking out- staring - at Marina's legs. Kaldur raised a brow. He followed the gaze of the younger boy before he was hit by the beach ball.
"I'm okay!" he shouted before waving off M'gann's worry and earning Kaldur's attention. Luckily, Robin diverted Kaldur's gaze before it landed on Marina. "I'm okay! We'll serve!"
Kaldur grunted as he served the volleyball to M'gann and Superboy, who received it with ease. M'gann jumped in the air, hovering above the net to spike the ball to Robin.
The Book of Lost Tales drowned the other noises out. Marina flipped a page. In her universe, the author never finished it but one day, Marina stumbled upon this book laying in a corner. The Justice League used Mount Justice as a former hideout and now it proved to her that it still contained some secrets.
A shadow casted over Marina, blocking out the sun. Marina glanced up away from her book. She removed her sunglasses with an arched brow at her human umbrella. "Yes?" She asked the emotionless teen.
Superboy peered down at her. His hands rested on each side of his sculpted abdomen. He stared at her face.
Confusion filled Marina. When she thought that she understood more about this boy after the weeks she's been in the Cave, she was wrong.
"What is it, Superb-" Her question turned into a squawk as the boy took her easily into his arms. Marina's book fell from her hands. It was tossed back to the towel with a soft thud but Marina was too busy flailing her arms to notice.
"What are you doing? Where are you-? No… No!" Marina clung helplessly to the Superman clone as he moved closer to the water. She clawed at Superboy's shoulders, trying to hang on. She had enough salt water for the day.
She briefly heard the sound of a familiar laugh before she was pitched into the water. Marina gasped for air when she broke through the water's surface.
She glared at Superboy irritatedly. He simply shrugged before jabbing a thumb over his shoulder. Marina's eyes trailed to the direction pointed.
She bristled upon seeing Robin laughing his butt off. She grumbled profanity to both Robin and Superboy, who the latter raised an eyebrow but was unfazed. Robin ambled over, clutching his stomach.
"Oh my god, you should have seen your face," he wheezed, wiping away tears underneath his sunglasses. Marina narrowed her eyes at the Boy Wonder. She mumbled something underneath her breath.
Robin went closer to Marina, leaning down to hear her again. He whistled, "What did you say-ack!" Marina wrapped a hand around his wrist and tugged him down to the water. Robin landed beside her. He surfaced, rubbing his face. Marina grinned at him.
oOo
"Translation, complete," a voice rang through her earpiece. Marina exhaled, melting into the living room couch. With the evening approaching, the Team set off to different areas of the Cave.
Aqualad, M'gann, and Superboy were in the training room and Marina didn't know where Robin went. After three weeks of knowing Batman's protege, she grew used to his disappearing act.
"Finally," she grumbled. A blue screen popped up in her sight. She swiped the screen up with two fingers. She rewound the video of Wotan. The shaky video lapsed backwards. The words of Wotan were incoherent and foreign to her. She pressed play to the video.
Water giver, the text beside the video read. Marina cringed at the rough translation. She knew that ALICE rendered the words at her minimum capacity. Seeing that the AI was still a prototype, Marina knew that improvements had to be made. She unpursed her lips and continued reading the translation.
The great and unique deity who arrived at the beginning and because of you everything was arrived. I call upon you, Opener of the Way and Keeper of [undetectable]!
Marina scribbled a note on one of her many sheets of paper lying on the table. ALICE- Increase vocabulary and dictionary.
At this union, may you weave this world's string to one that I desperately seek. At your loom, may you entwine to this world- a weapon that will silence my foes. From the gift of the hand of the destroyer of foes, Marina shuddered. An icy hand gripped her throat, taking her breath.
I call on its aftermath that I may hold! Weaver of existence! Marina forced herself to take in a deep inhale. She exhaled slowly. She curled her arms around herself to warm freezing fear.
Though the video buffered for a considerable length and the translation gave strange words, it was a minor success. "Gods… piece of…" She muttered as she waved her hands through the air to encrypt and delete certain NMT algorithms of the AI.
"I thought I heard the gods being cursed on again," Robin said as he entered the living room. Marina could hear his smirk to his oh-so-funny remark. "I'm guessing that ALICE isn't working the way you wanted then?"
"What makes you say that?" She replied. The blue hologram recorded the code sequences as she pieced together the vectors into encoders and decoders. "For all you know, I could be praising them for ALICE working."
"Nah," Robin said as he sat adjacent to her. "You tend to bite your lip when you are coding NMT. Your hands are still flying and your eyebrows look like they've been glued together."
Marina rolled her eyes and scoffed at his explanation. He continued.
"I just assumed that the "piece of" is not a saying of total success," Robin shook his head as he chuckled. "So what's wrong with ALICE?"
Marina finally looked at him. The blank white of his domino mask stared right back at her. Normally, she would have hesitated and changed the topic but she and Robin were at the stage of sharing. But of course, it was about certain things only.
"ALICE's processing is still too slow and her voice recognition is not rendering as much as I hoped." Marina replied as she removed the earpiece. "It's back to the computer she goes."
"Hey, at least you created ALICE an output device already. Sure, ALICE isn't perfected yet but at least she's getting there. "
"Yeah, I guess…" Before silence could prolong any further between them, Robin glanced at her, opening his mouth then closing it.
"What?" She asked.
"Why ALICE?"
She shrugged as the corners of her lips tugged upwards. "Artificial Learning- Intelligence and Computing Entity," she replied. "I guess I got Tony's love for acronyms."
Robin studied her quietly before nodding, satisfied by her answer. Unconsciously, her shoulders loosened when he didn't press the topic further.
"Batman is arriving soon," Robin told her. Marina nodded, standing up. She made her way to the exit. He raised a brow. "You might want to change."
She turned back with confusion. "Wally isn't here yet. I think I have time."
"Yeah, well, someone else is coming and I think you'll want to wear the uniform already," Robin shot her a secretive smile before leaving her. Marina's gaze trailed after him. She opened her mouth to ask who it was but he beat her to it.
"It's a surprise!" He yelled over her shoulder. Marina slumped her shoulders. She never liked surprises, especially after that incident. She grimaced at the thoughts of the night cloaked stuffed bear with exploding fireworks. Resigning, she walked to the changing room.
When she reached the end of the corridor, Marina was met by the boys sans Wally. Dressed in their uniform, they had their back to her. They stared at the other end of the mission room.
Raising on tiptoes, she peered over their shoulders. The Bat conversed with Red Tornado in lowered voices. M'gann excitedly talked to Green Arrow and an unfamiliar girl who was about their age.
"Who's that?" Marina whispered to her teammates.
"That would be the latest addition to the Team," Aqualad informed her. Her eyes grew wide. She turned her attention to the grinning boy beside Kaldur.
"Surprise," he teased. He waved his gloved hands. Marina rolled her eyes from underneath her mask. She stuck her tongue out. Robin chuckled. He pressed a hand to his chest as if hurt by her actions. "I thought you would enjoy another girl on the Team."
"We're taking in strays now?" Superboy grumbled under his breath. Marina snarled at him playfully. Superboy cracked a smile as she proved his point.
"She was a candidate that Batman looked into for a while. I guess he decided now that she should be part of the Team," Robin shrugged his shoulders.
"Why am I not surprised that you were aware of this?" Aqualad said dryly. Robin shot his friend with an innocent smile.
"You should only be surprised that he found one," Robin pointed out. The life wasn't necessarily a hobby that was overflowing with new recruits.
"I can't believe after all those years- everything he and Green Arrow have been through- he walked out," Marina murmured. Together with Robin, Superboy and Kaldur, she studied the new girl. "He didn't want to join the Team?"
Aqualad shifted his gaze from the Team's joining member to the green clad Justice Leaguer. "Last month, Roy- we- all expected to be confidants of the League's secrets. However, we were treated as sidekicks instead of partners. Displeased, Roy struck out on being Green Arrow's protege, believing we were entitled to such trust."
Robin nodded his head in agreement, "We believed the same thing but when the Team was formed, Roy declined our invitation to join us." Marina pursed her lips. Robin faced the rest of the circle.
"Well, it worked out well. Superboy was on board and M'gann came. Then, you followed." Robin grinned at Marina. Heat bloomed on her chest, working up her neck. Her gaze darted away from the boy. She fought the blush appearing on her cheeks but her ears warmed.
Before anything else was stated, the Zeta tube sounded with energy. The holoscreen displayed the comer's data and information. "The Wall-man is here!" Wally announced as he carried stuff for the beach. "Now let's get this party star-"
The long staff of the umbrella caused him to trip, making what he was carrying scatter all at once when hitting the floor. Oh boy, Marina wanted to laugh at the "poor" guy. She tried to void herself of the emotions that would make her unprofessional but an amused smile crept to her face.
The beach ball bounced in between Batman and Red Tornado. The two Leaguers remained as emotionless as metal, which one of them is.
"-ted," Wally finished looking up from the floor. His face dropped as he saw the Team and their mentors in uniform.
"Wall-man, huh?" Artemis said, smirking. She gripped her green bow. She teasingly commented on Wally's shirtless and sunblocked state, "Love the uniform. What exactly are your powers?"
Wally pulled himself off of the ground, raising an eyebrow at the blond. "Uh. Who's this?" He asked Aqualad, Robin and M'gann at his left.
"Artemis." She replied. She tilted her head to flash a smirk. " Your new teammate."
"Kid Flash," Wally introduced himself. "Never heard of you." He shrugged as Artemis' smile fell. She narrowed her eyes at the speedster.
"Uh," Green Arrow interrupted. He laid a hand on Artemis' shoulder as if to physically remind her to not attack her new teammate. "She's my new protogé."
"What happened to your old one?" Wally stuttered in disbelief. The Cave sounded. Recognized: Speedy B-0-6.
A figure stepped out of the Zetatube's light. "Well, for starters," The redhead- Speedy- growled "He doesn't go by Speedy anymore. Call me Red Arrow." Marina silently rolled her eyes. Another angry boy with an unoriginal superhero name. Green Arrow stumbled at Red Arrow's appearance. He stepped from behind Artemis.
"Roy," The Justice League archer started. He gave Red Arrow a once over. "You look-"
"Replaceable." Red Arrow finished. His cold tone made the Cave's atmosphere drop. Marina held back a grimace.
"It's not like that," Green Arrow stressed. "You told me you were going solo."
"So why waste time finding a sub? Can she even use that bow?" Red Arrow challenged as his eye narrowed.
Stepping forward, Artemis replied, "Yes. She can."
"Who are you?" Wally asked once again, stretching his arms.
"I'm his niece."
"She's my niece." Artemis and Green Arrow answered simultaneously. Both glimpsed at an exasperated Wally from the corner of their eye.
"Another niece?" Robin chuckled lightly. Red Arrow and Aqualad side glanced at Robin. He saddled closer to Marina. "Are you also a niece? Of who? Black Canary?" He muttered quietly to the girl.
"No, I'm not," she replied, equally as soft. She smirked. "That's as much as I can give you, Boy Wonder. You'll have to figure the rest out by yourself." He pouted. Marina laughed.
"But, she is not your replacement," Aqualad stated firmly. He walked towards Red Arrow. "We have always wanted you on the Team. And we have no quota on archers."
"And if we did," Wally interrupted. "You'd know who we pick."
"Whatever, baywatch." Artemis drawled, glaring at Wally. She put a hand on her hip. "I'm here to stay."
"You came to us for a reason." Aqualad said when Red Arrow turned to Aqualad.
"Yeah, a reason named Serling Roquette." Red Arrow replied curtly.
Marina felt the familiar name tug at her mind. She watched Robin's eyes widen at the name. His lips turned into a grin as he pressed his glove to show a holoscreen filled with information
Wait, the news's article and show filled Marina's memory, wasn't she the-
"Nanorobotics genius and claytronic expert at Royal University in Star City- vanished two weeks ago."
Marina softly hummed. Roquette's study on nanorobotics and claytronic was indeed impressive. Marina wanted to go back to her home and tell Tony.
Home…
Marina felt a wave of sadness with a hint of frustration wash over her. She brushed the thoughts away.
"Abducted two weeks ago," Red Arrow corrected. His eyes narrowed. "By the League of Shadows."
The League of Shadows...yes, she remembered them well. They were the criminal and terrorist organization that Canary and the Justice League cautioned her about. Well, along with most of the evils in this universe.
"Woah!" Robin exclaimed as he and Wally grinned. "You want us to rescue her from the Shadows?"
Robin, Wally, and M'gann stepped forward as Robin and Wally fist-bumpped. "Hardcore!" M'gann leaned forward, excited.
"I already rescued her." Red Arrow tensed, walking to the holoscreen. "Only one problem." Red Arrow pressed a gray box which was connected to his utility belt. It projected a holoscreen of itself. From the corner of Marina's eye, she saw Aqualad frown. "The Shadows have already coerced her into making a weapon."
Red Arrow glanced up at the displayed data. "Doc calls it the Fog, comprised of millions of microscopic robots, nanotech infiltrators, capable of disintegrating anything in their path- concrete, steel, flesh, bone. But it's true purpose isn't mere destruction. It's theft. The infiltrators eat and store raw data from any computer system and deliver the stolen data to the Shadows."
"Providing them access to weapons," Red Arrow stood tall in front of them as he continued. "Strategic defense, cutting edge science and tech."
Marina whistled slowly. While the name of the weapon was unoriginal, she had to hand it to Doctor Roquette. The idea was as innovative as it was dangerous.
"Perfect for extortion, manipulation, and power broking." Artemis picked up, ignoring Wally's angry glare. "Yeah. Sounds like the Shadows." Marina tilted her head, studying the data. Nanotechnology, huh? Not bad for 2010.
A small smile crept to her face. A hopeful light warmed her chest. If… No, when I get back, she corrected her thoughts.
I will definitely tell Tony. Nanotechnology for dismantling structures and gathering information. If it can do that, maybe nano tech can create structures.
A nano tech Ironman suit, she hummed to herself. Lightweight, more accessible, almost regenerable. Programming each nanobot will take a long time but we can use FRIDAY to command all of them… The concept is intriguing. While she is no genius like Tony, Marina could see it 's bickering drew her from her thoughts.
"Like you know anything about the Shadows," Wally smirked but it quickly fell when Artemis gave a smug smile. His smirk was replaced by a confused then annoyed look. "Who are you?!"
Aqualad silently sighed in exasperation beside her. The upcoming arguments between Wally and their new recruit was another thing to deal with as their leader. Marina gave him a soft, reassuring pat on his arm. "Roquette's working on a virus to render the Fog inert." Red Arrow announced, ignoring the fight and interruption.
"But, if the Shadows know she can do that…" Robin trailed off.
"They'll target her." Red Arrow agreed. "Right now, she's off the grid."
He pressed the box again, causing the holoscreen to shift the display into a picture of a school. "I stashed her at the local high school's computer lab." He said.
"You left her alone?" G.A asked, astounded. Red Arrow glared at his former partner. He crossed his arms.
"She's safe enough for now."
"Then let's you and I keep her that way." Green Arrow tried to offer, stepping closer to Red Arrow.
"You and I?" Red Arrow asked, angry and in disbelief. "Don't you want to take your new protogé?" He spat out the last word like it was the worst thing he has ever tasted.
"Displeased was an understatement," Marina coughed lightly beside the Team's leader. He shook his head. "He seems like a real hard ass." Especially to G.A, who during the short time in the safe house Marina deemed "okay" compared to other Leaguers.
"It appears that the wound of betrayal festered in a short period of time," Aqualad said quietly. "Though I do not blame Roy." Marina watched the former duo glare at each other.
Batman placed his gloved hand on his comrades shoulder, stopping him from speaking any further. Green Arrow glanced back at Batman before facing Red Arrow again. "You brought this to the Team. It's the Team's mission, which means it's her's now, too."
Aqualad stepped toward his best friend. "The Team welcomes all. Artemis begins her work with the Team. Marina arrived a month prior. We continue to add new strengths but your invitation remains, Roy."
The former Green Arrow protege glanced at Marina, studying the young girl. She crossed her arms, staring back equally as hostile. He ignored her and what Kaldur announced.
"My job's done." Red Arrow scoffed before walking to the Zeta-Tubes.
Recognize: Speedy-
"That's Red Arrow." Red Arrow snapped at the computer. "B-0-6. Update."
The computer for the Zeta-Tube beeped in recognition of the update. It glowed as it transported him away. Wally glared at Artemis.
"That went well," Marina said cautiously. Kaldur shook his head. Understanding remained on the Atlantean's face. He squared his shoulders, returning to his role as leader.
"Let us get ready."
Happy Harbor
August 8; 21:59 EDT
Miss Martian and Superboy are on look out at the roof of Happy Harbor High, blending into the building's facade. The Bioship in camouflaged mood, hovering over them. Inside the school, Aqualad peers through the Computer Lab door's small window, which looks over the hallway.
"Miss Martian, link us up." Aqualad commanded through the comm. "We do not want the Shadows intercepting our comms." Miss Martian pressed a finger to her temple and connected the Team's minds easily.
"Everyone, online?" she asks. The mental link echoed in Marina's head.
"Uh," Artemis said as she propped herself on the table with Dr. Roquette typing away. "This is weird." She watched her hand move as her mouth didn't.
"And distracting." Dr. Roquette added as her finger skated quickly on the keyboard. "Coding a distributive algorithm virus on a kiddie computer with RAM than a wristwatch is hard enough." Her body animatedly moved as if speaking out loud to the Team.
"Now I have to hear teen- think in my skull." Dr. Roquette groaned as she grip her head with annoyance; feeling an oncoming headache.
Marina rolled her eyes, "Oh please. I'm literally surrounded by outdated technology-" Everyone in the room looked at her, confused. Marina paused before shrugging, "I forgot that my thoughts could be heard. I'll try to be quiet now."
Kid Flash sat on another table, eating a granola bar. Robin snuck peeks outside of the blinds, still hidden from the outside or infiltrators' view.
"Lady, do you always complain when someone tries to help you?" K.F asked the doctor, who responded with a glare.
"Pot, kettle" Artemis offered. She waved one hand then the next. "Have you met?"
"Hey. Hey," Kid Flash continued, defensively. He glowered at his new teammate. "I do not need attitude from the newbie who drove Red Arrow off the Team."
"That is so not on me." Artemis hopped off the table angrily and pointed directly at him.
Roquette stopped her typing. She gestured to the computer, trying and failing not getting mad. "Fate of the world at stake?"
"She started it," Kid Flash childishly defended himself.
"How about I just help Miss Martian and Superboy patrol the perimeter?" Artemis offered, walking towards the door.
Aqualad leant against a bookshelf. "Good idea." Aqualad agreed, stress clear in his words. Kid Flash took an angry bite out of his snack. Marina sighed out loud before sitting on top of a table. She twirled a knife in her hands.
"You might cut her some slack." Robin said through the telepathic line. "It was her arrow that saved your butt against Amazo." He smirked at the last bit. Kid Flash munched on the bar and nearly choked. Marina studied her knife.
"What? No!" K.F denied, his eyes widened. "That was Speedy's- I mean, Red Arrow's… arrow. Right?"
"Not so much," teased Robin.
Wally gave a disgruntled sound through the telepathic line. "Well, still not giving her the satisfaction." He huffed.
"You know, I can still hear you!" Artemis sang through their communication. Robin smiled as Kid Flash's eyes grew bigger from the realization. He gripped his head before groaning out loud.
"I couldn't get the Justice League." Doc grumbled to herself. She pinched the bridge of her nose then went back to coding.
"The virus won't be of much use if we cannot find the weapon." Aqualad commented, going behind the doctor. "Can you track it?"
"My utility Fog is not a weapon," she defended, facing Aqualad. "It's science, brilliant science, and of course I can track it, but I'd have to go online." She turned to the computer, staring at the glow in the dark room. Her hesitation froze her fingers.
"Might as well rent a billboard with this address and 'assassinate me' written in neon" Roquettte placed her left fingertips against her temple.
"Well, assassins would take the first chance. Who wouldn't?" Marina's voice said through the telepathic link. Again, Kaldur, K.F., Robin and Roquette snapped their gazes at her. Kaldur's was more exasperated than the last time while Roquette's was more like the look of horror. The older woman gave Lethe a glare.
"Just stating logic," Marina declared, waving off their stares.
"We will protect you." Aqualad vowed when he placed an assuring hand on her shoulder. The Doctor glanced at the tanned teen. With wavering courage, she quickly hit the enter key. She announced, "Tracking the Fog now."
The tracking system processed the map of the globe on the screen.
oOo
After Miss Martian and Artemis argued loudly at one another and Kaldur deployed the rest of the Team, Marina hunched her shoulders as she sat on a table. The babysitting gig, not her favorite thing to do on a mission. Her gaze shifted to Dr. Roquette beside her.
Dr. Roquette typed as Aqualad stood beside her. The glow of the doctor's eyeglasses reflected the screen's. The door is pushed slightly open. Marina glanced over it then met Aqualad's eyes. She tried to make it clear to him but not too obvious to the person behind the door. Intruder.
A shuriken flung from the crack, aiming at the doctor's head. Marina quickly threw a knife at it, causing the projectile to go off course. Metals crashed loudly, sending the other to imbed into the wood of the tables. Another launched from the agape door. Aqualad twisted his body and dove in the way of the shuriken, impaling itself to Aqualad's shoulder.
"Doctor!" Aqualad said. " Get down!"
Dr. Roquette stood still in fright. She made eye contact with Cheshire. She gave a yelp as Aqualad shoved her aside, using his forearm to shield her from the incoming shurikens. Doc crouched down beside Aqualad. Cheshire races to Aqualad. Marina threw knives at the approaching assassin, who blocked it.
"Hmm…" She hummed. "That had to hurt."
"Atlantean skin is quite dense." Aqualad responds as he whips out his waterbearers which stiffened into swords. His enchanted tattoos glowed. Marina took out her gun.
"This gun is armed," Marina said, raising it up.
"Here I thought, they were just for show," Cheshire purred to Marina's scowl as her right sai clashed against Aqualad's crossed swords.
"And my shurikens," Cheshire continued as they fought. Marina fired continuously at the assassin. "Are quite poisonous." The female assassin ducked from a bullet.
Aqualad kicked Cheshire at the chest. She grunted in pain, flipping in a somersault in the air. She landed on a table gracefully. "M'gann, Kid, Artemis!" Aqualad thought through the telepathic line. "We're under attack in the computer lab."
"On our way!" Artemis called out to the link. Lethe placed herself between Aqualad and Doctor Roquette and the female assassin. The female assassin launched herself at Lethe, who pushed off the attack. Lethe rapidly fired three succeeding bullets at the killer, who weaved through them. Lethe's gun flew from her hand, Cheshire's kick clipping her wrist.
The assassin lunged to stab a sai into Lethe's side. Lethe punched the hand holding the sai, causing the assassin to drop her weapon. Lethe twirled away, knocking the assassin across the face with her fist and twisted the other hand holding the sai. Lethe kicked the assassin upside her chin, leaping back to stand in front of Aqualad.
The kimono-clad assassin chuckled in pain, readjusting her mask. "Wanna fight, little girl? Cheshire will give you one." With that, the assassin landed a punch on Lethe's stomach. This time Lethe skidded back. Lethe narrowed her eyes.
Her hand went for the knife in her thigh. She flipped it in her fingers as Cheshire ran straight to her. Lethe swiped the punch easily. She jabbed a knife toward the assassin's neck, which Cheshire blocked. Lethe lunged again at the assassin's abdomen then her face but was blocked solidly by the kimono clad assailant.
Lethe quickly brought her knife down at Cheshire. She sidestepped to avoid it. Lethe punched the assassin's throat. Cheshire choked. Lethe tossed the knife into her other hand smoothly, aiming for the white and red mask.
Face, trunk, face. Lethe's knife moved on its own but was blocked. She hooked her arm right then left but Cheshire weaved through both. It was like her body was on autopilot, launching one attack then another. A dance her body remembered, counter, attack, counter attack.
Pain exploded on Lethe's cheek, forcefully bringing her body back. Lethe's head snapped to the side as another explosion of pain erupted in her chest. Lethe grunted. She fell back into a table. Cheshire's face grew close.
"That was fun but all good things must come to an end," Chesire purred. "Don't worry. I'm not after you." The assassin stepped over a gasping Lethe, making a beeline to Aqualad and Doctor Roquette. Marina's sight blurred.
"Almost," Cheshire said as she whipped out the knife which was tucked away at her back. "Poison slowing you down?"
"Jellyfish toxin," Aqualad identified the poison as he and Cheshire grappled for dominance. He leaned forward with narrowed eyes. "I'm largely immuned."
She headbutted him, knocking him to the floor. His waterbearers also knocked out of his hands. "Largely," she agreed with him.
She raised her sai about to impale Aqualad but an arrow whizzed through the air, hitting the sai out of Cheshire's hand. Chesire grunted in pain, clutching her hand. She swirled to see Artemis ready with another arrow, locked on her position. Marina blinked back the black dots flitting across her vision. "Don't." Artemis hissed. "Move."
Cheshire chuckled at Artemis as she glanced at the now standing Aqualad and Lethe. They bared their weapons steadily.
"This gig's getting interesting." The assassin purred as she brought out a collapsible katana. She swung the sword, brandishing it ready for battle. Artemis' eyes narrowed, releasing her notched arrow. Cheshire sliced through it easily along with the second and third. She twirled around like a ballerina, effortlessly cutting through arrows. Kid and Miss M went in through the other door, blocking the other exit.
"Maybe a little too interesting." Cheshire concluded, facing the newly arrived heroes. K.F ran to the assassin but she quickly threw a smoke bomb to the floor. A cloud of black erupted through the room. Kid Flash jumped to catch the assassin but she was long gone. He stumbled into Artemis' arms.
After bumping foreheads and being a little too close for comfort, they jumped back in disgust. They looked around the space to find Cheshire missing. "Gone." Kid Flash grunted.
"She's getting away!" Roquette yelled at Aqualad. "You're letting her get away."
"Would you like to do something about it?" Lethe snarled at the scientist. Her complaints were beyond just getting on Marina's nerves. Her ingratitude was not helping her head stay on her shoulders. "By all means." She flung a knife at the Doctor.
She yelped, recoiling behind Aqualad, as the metal pierced the board behind her. The knife lodged deeply beside the sai. Kaldur shook his head at the younger girl who bristled. Lethe sulked into her own corner, leaning against the wall while glaring at Roquette.
"This is all your fault," Kid blamed Artemis. "You were on perimeter! How did that Shadow get in!" Artemis only glared at him, narrowing her eyes to slits.
"That's not really fair." Miss Martian said to him. "I was outside too."
"Outside," he continued stuttering. "Being distracted by her! Besides, I can't stay mad at you." You gave me mouth-to-mouth. He thought the latter part.
"We heard that!" Everyone thought. "Dang it!" He said out loud as he dropped his head and walked away.
"I didn't do half as well in my first battle," Miss Martian offered, placing a hand on Artemis' shoulder. "And I know you can't have been Green Arrow's sidekick for very long."
In a moment of sincerity, Aqualad interrupted. "Focus, everyone. The Shadows will be back."
The comm beeped as Robin's voice cut through their comms, "Robin to Aqualad. We're over Philadelphia. We've located the Shadows' next target: Star Labs. We're too late. It's destroyed, totally destroyed. The Fog decimated it. This is bad. STAR Labs is cutting-edge, and now their secrets are in the hands of the enemy. What's our next move?"
Aqualad surveyed the unhurt doctor, the target of the Shadows. His eyes wandered to the two knives behind her. Marina leant against the board beside them. "Rescan for the Fog." He addressed her and the Team. "Find it. We're moving the doctor."
oOo
At the Sandbar Internet Cafe, the real Doctor Roquette worked on a computer as Aqualad stands guard. "I've almost got it." She said. Lethe's covered eyes floated to the ceiling.
"About time." The Doctor scowled at the younger girl who stood in front of the desktop she was working on. Scuffles of a fight echoed down from outside the internet cafe.
When Aqualad heard a thump on the roof, he turned to Roquette and said, "We have company."
"Uploading now," She replied as she typed the remaining data into the computer. She faced Aqualad. She gave the teen Atlantian a scowl. "And by the way, you said you'd protect me."
A silver ball rolled on the floor, releasing a cloud of gray smoke. Lethe jumped forward, being the first to meet any assailants who would appear from the smoke. She readied a knife in front of her.
Aqualad whipped out his water bearers which stiffened into swords. Doctor Roquette sprang up in surprise, looking at Aqualad then at the smoke. Aqualad anticipated the assassin as he stayed on guard behind Lethe. He heard the light shifting of movement behind him.
Immediately as he turned around, three consecutive darts hit him on the chest. Aqualad gave a pained grunt. He staggered into Marina who barely braced herself to counter his weight. Cheshire lands gracefully on the floor like a cat. Her masked eyes gleamed mischievously. "Let's test your jellyfish immunity. Shall we?"
Roquette gaped in shock as Aqualad shook his head, dizzy from the new poison. He charged at the assassin. His swings steadily decreased in speed. A good solid kick from Cheshire, Aqualad was rendered unconscious.
"There," Cheshire drawled. She whipped out a sai. It gleamed underneath the weak light of the Sandbar. "Limit tested. Now doctor, time for my appointment." Lethe moved forward.
Cheshire lunged at Marina with a sai, aiming to slash her face. She parried the sai. Her left hand hit Cheshire's wrist. The hitwoman swung the sai left to the right. Lethe shifted her weight down, dropping herself to dodge the sai. Cheshire used this opportunity to turn her body to slash Lethe's torso.
Lethe jumped away from it. While in the air, Lethe launched a knife. It grazed the assassin's side, blood sprouted from the wound. Scarlet soaked into her green dress. Cheshire cursed before creating more distance between them.
Lethe lurched forward and tried to strike Cheshire with her other knife but it was met with the sai. Cheshire turned and kicked her in the stomach. She brought out a tube with a dart already lunged inside it and blew.
A dart pierced Lethe's right shoulder. Heaviness radiated around the area and slowly worked its way up. Lethe stumbled forward slightly as a throb cut through her head. She hissed, barely holding herself up on one knee. Cheshire chuckled, pressing a hand over her wound, before hovering over the girl.
"That was different from your other friends, little girl," Cheshire laughed. Her voice dropped dangerously, "Not afraid to get your hands dirty... like you… are… one of us…" The words of the assassin swirled around Lethe's mind. It was muffled and harsh at the same time. The world blurred. It slowed so much that when Lethe hit the ground, every step of Cheshire took away from her rang in her ears.
"Lethe… Lethe… Marina!"
With heavy lids, Marina cracked open her eyes slightly. Light pierced her sight, intensifying the headache cracking her head open. Kaldur's figure blurred like an unfocused camera. She groaned, shutting her eyes again.
She blinked at the two figures by her side. They became clearer as she adjusted to the light. Kaldur was kneeling beside her. His handsome face pulled into a frown, looking down at her. Doctor Roquette's blond head peeked over Kaldur, watching her wearily.
"What happened?" Kaldur questioned the situation after he was rendered unconscious. Marina struggled to prop herself up. Her arms shook from her effort. Kaldur laid a hand on her uninjured shoulder, pushing her back gently to the ground. "Rest. Jellyfish toxin causes weakness and muscle spasms."
Marina allowed herself to fall back. She eyed the single light illuminating the cafe above her. "We fought. Her jellyfish dart landed on my shoulder and the next thing I knew, I passed out."
Explosions went off in front of the cafe. Aqualad pulled the doctor to duck behind the computers with them. Glass windows shattering of the next building broke through the night.
"It must be the others," Aqualad commented before standing up. He stumbled forward. Doctor Roquette quickly slung his arm over her shoulders, bearing his weight. Marina fumbled to sit up. She winced when her back muscles twitched painfully.
"No," Aqualad commanded the struggling girl. She opened her mouth to argue but he narrowed his eyes intently. "Stay here. I will handle this." Marina sighed in defeat, allowing her body to sag on the floor once again. Supported by Dr. Roquette, Aqualad panted in pain as they slowly shuffled out of the cafe.
Marina stared at the light again. A stern lecturing from Cap yet again, she thought to herself. She envisioned Steve, running a hand through his hair in frustration. She sits down on a chair with hunched shoulders as he reproaches her for not being aware of her situation and allowing her adrenaline to take control of her head. Natasha stands silently beside him with her arms crossed, wordlessly agreeing to everything that Steve is saying.
"Artemis," Aqualad's voice filtered through the Sandbar's open door. "Where's the assassin?"
"She-uh," Artemis muttered. She shuffled uncomfortably. "Got away." Marina gathered her strength, pulling herself up the counter slowly. She huffed because of her screaming muscles. She inched her way to the edge of the table. From where she was, she could barely make out Kid Flash appear out of nowhere.
"Oh, from you," K.F taunted as he appeared beside her. "Oh, big surprise. Notice we got ours." M'gann levitated the captured villains, tied with rope.
"Where's Lethe?" M'gann asked, alarmed by their leader being the only one to exit the Internet Cafe with the Doctor. Kaldur was quick to answer.
"The assassin poisoned her with jellyfish toxin." Horror covered the faces of the rest of the Team but Kaldur reassured them. Marina lunged between the two tables, quickly clasping herself to another for support. "She is alright. The dose was enough to make her unconscious but was not enough to kill her. She is resting inside."
Surprisingly, Kaldur thought to himself without the telepathic link connecting them. He kept what he noticed to himself, It would be proven fatal for the ordinary person. But this tells me she is otherwise.
"She's hiding something…" Superboy's voice echoed in the Atlantean's mind. He shoved it away. There was no concrete evidence for him to suspect his fellow teammate. It would be more devastating to the current team dynamics if he spoke now.
"Again, you didn't catch her," Wally hissed toward their new teammate. Marina winced quietly from the unusual harshness of Kid Flash. The horror from what Kaldur told them subsided into rage. Kaldur shook his head at the jab Kid Flash took again at Artemis. Wally turned away from Artemis and he grinned when he saw Cheshire's mask.
"Cool," he said. "Souvenir!" Aqualad walked to him, realizing something about the mask.
"Her mask," Aqualad winced as he pulled out the darts from his chest. "Did you see her? Her face?"
"It was dark." Artemis stated. She turned to the open waters.
Aqualad looked at her and comforted her, "It is fine. Robin and Superboy neutralized the Fog. And Doctor Roquette is safe, thanks to no small part to you." Glancing over her shoulder, Artemis turned around fully to Aqualad. "Welcome to the Team."
Miss Martian landed beside Kid Flash. Artemis' lip slightly curled upwards into a smile. Aqualad and Miss Martian stepped forward. He offered his hand to shake Artemis', officially welcoming her to the Team.
"I've always wanted another sister," Miss Martian gave a warm and sincere smile, putting a hand on Artemis' shoulder. Artemis faced her, releasing Aqualad's hand. "Here on earth, I mean." Miss M continued. Aqualad took a step back while Wally grudgingly stepped forward. "I have twelve back on Mars. But, trust me it's not the same." Marina smiled softly at the words of M'gann. At the last table before the door, she pushed her final one.
"I wouldn't know," Artemis confessed with a small chuckle. "But thanks."
"Now, you do," Lethe replied after slowly making it through the door of the Internet Cafe. Kid Flash was beside her in a second, allowing the younger girl to lean against him as they walked to the circle.
"Ow," Wally responded to M'gann elbowing him in the ribs. Marina swayed with Wally slightly. "Yeah. Welcome." He forced out, unenthusiastically. Artemis gave a smirk and offered her hand to Wally who shook it neither the less.
"You guys look terrible," Robin commented upon seeing Aqualad and Lethe, leaning heavily on Doctor Roquette and Wally respectively.
"Thanks," Lethe answered drily. Robin flashed her a not-so-apologetic smile.
"I take it. Things went well on your end?" Kaldur grunted out as the Team walked to the Bioship. Connor nodded shortly, crossing his arms.
"Taken care off," Robin announced happily. The atmosphere of the Team visibly lightened. They slumped on their seats with relief. Aqualad and Lethe strapped immediately in to prevent them from falling to the ground.
"Good work, Team. Let's go home."
Author's Note:
Hi everyone! We hope you enjoyed this latest installment of Lethe! We wanted to show how Dick and Marina were still teenagers so we gave y'all some extra cuteness at the beach. We have made somewhat of a regular posting schedule but we will finalize it in the next chapter. Please favorite or follow this story for that :)
Drop some reviews and show Lethe some love. Thank you for reading! :)
See you next time!