Chapter 5

Mount Justice

Recognize: B06 Dracula

As Draken steps out of the Zeta Tube, he notices Batman alongside his teammates, except Wally, who all seem to be waiting for something.

"Draken." M'gaan greeted as he approached them

"Anything the matter?" He asked

"Batman said we're getting a new Teammate." M'gann said. As if on cue, the Zeta Tubes activated and Red Tornado and Green Arrow walked in, followed by an unfamiliar girl in a green top with a full-headed mask and green pants with combat boots. Across her back were slung a quiver and a compound bow. On her chest was an arrowhead emblem.

"Team, meet your newest member," Batman said as the new girl came closer, "Artemis."

"Hi," she greeted them, "What's up?"

Across the room, the Zeta Tube activated and Wally ran into the room with a cry of victory. He was wearing a bathing suit and carried various beach paraphernalia.

"The Wall-Man is here!" he crowed, "Now let's get this party star-" he tripped over the beach umbrella he was carrying and fell to the ground with a grunt. Batman and Red Tornado looked down on him with the rest of the team. "-ted?" he said sheepishly.

"Wall-Man, huh?" said Artemis with a smirk, "Love the uniform. What exactly are your powers?"

Wally stood up with a scowl and brushed himself off. "Uh, who's this?"

"Artemis, your new teammate." The girl said

"Kid Flash, never heard of you."

Green Arrow stepped forward and put a hand on Artemis's shoulder. "She's my new protégé."

"What happened to your old one?" Wally asked

Almost as if on cue, the Zeta Tubes activated and Speedy stepped out, wearing a new red and black getup with combat pants. "For starters, I don't go by Speedy anymore," he growled, "Call me Red Arrow."

Green Arrow slipped around Artemis, almost as if protecting her from his former student. "Roy," he said quietly, "You look-"

"Replaceable?"

"It's not like that, you told me you were going solo."

"So why waste time finding a sub? Can she even use that bow?"

Artemis stepped past her mentor and stood before Red Arrow. "Yes, she can."

"Who are you?" muttered Wally.

"I'm his niece," she said, jerking her thumb at Green Arrow.

"She is not your replacement…Red Arrow," said Kaldur, "We have always wanted you on our team, and we have no quota for archers."

"And if we did, you know who we'd chose," Wally interjected with a pointed glare at Artemis.

"Pssh, whatever, baywatch," she said, folding her arms, "I'm here to stay."

"I feel loss." Draken said

"Ah, yes," Red Arrow sneered, "I've heard about you, Dracula. So new to the game but already leading your own team. Tell me, do you really think it's a good idea to have another rookie on your team? You've already got Ms. Martian and Superboy, not to mention yourself."

"Wait his name his Dracula?" Artemis asked

"Codename." Draken corrected

"You came here for a reason." Batman said

"Yeah," snorted Red Arrow, "A reason named Dr. Sterling Roquette."

"Nano-robotics expert at Clayton University in Star City," Robin said as he quickly drew up a hologram screen filled with the doctor's personal records, "Vanished two weeks ago."

"Abducted two weeks ago," Red Arrow corrected him, "By the League of Shadows."

"Whoa!" exclaimed Robin, "You want us to rescue her from the Shadows?"

"Hardcore!" agreed Wally, fist bumping the boy wonder.

"I already rescued her," Red Arrow said lazily, "Only one problem. The Shadows coerced her into creating a weapon. Doc calls it the fog." Red Arrow brought up his own wrist computer and showed them a picture of a capsule. "It's comprised of millions of microscopic robots. Nano-tech infiltrators, capable of disintegrating anything in their path. It can melt anything, but its true purpose isn't destruction, it's theft. The infiltrators eat and store raw data from any computer system they come across and deliver its stolen intel to the Shadow. They can get their hands on any information they want."

"Perfect for extortion, manipulation, power brokering," Artemis nodded in agreement, "Sounds like the Shadows alright."

"Like you know anything about the Shadows," scoffed Wally. Artemis just smiled knowingly and Wally glared at her incredulously. "Who are you?!"

"Roquette's working on a virus to disable the fog," Red Arrow continued.

Robin rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But if the Shadows know she can do that-"

"They'll target her," Red Arrow nodded, "Right now she's off the grid. I stashed her at the local high school."

"That does not seem like a logical location to keep someone targeted for assassination." Draken noted

"Shut up, Dracula" Red Arrow growled curtly, "She's safe enough for now."

"Then let's keep her that way," Green Arrow pleaded as he walked towards Red Arrow.

"Together?" Red Arrow arched an eyebrow, "Don't you want to take your new protégé?"

Batman put a hand on Green Arrow's shoulder and they shared a look. Green Arrow sighed deeply. "You brought this mission to the team," he said reluctantly, "Which means it's hers now too."

"Whatever," Red Arrow shrugged as he walked to the Zeta Tubes, "My job's done." As he approached the Tube, the computer recognized him as Speedy. "That's Red Arrow," he snapped, "B08. Update." With that, he was gone in a flash of light.

"Well he was pleasant." Draken sarcastically noted

"Tell me about it." Artemis grumbled.

"Alright then, I think it's time to head out." Draken said before facing Wally. "And Wally, put your uniform on, you look ridiculous."

Wally glared at Draken as Artemis grinned. She slung her arm over the Vampire's shoulder. "Dracula, my man," she said, "I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship."

"Personal space." Draken simply muttered

Happy Harbor High School

It took them less than ten minutes to reach the Happy Harbor High School. M'gann picked the lock with her telekinesis and they all walked in. Dr. Roquette was in the computer lab on the second floor.

"Dr. Roquette?" Draken asked as he walked in.

The young woman looked up from her computer screen. "Yes?"

"We're with the Justice League. We'll be protecting you while you create the virus." He said

"Good to know."

Draken turned back to the team. "Ms. Martian, link us up, but keep Dr. Roquette out of it. I doubt it's easy to organize a complex virus with multiple minds in her head."

"Much appreciated," intoned Roquette.

" Everyone online?"

" Ugh," Artemis mentally groaned, " This is weird."

" Right," Draken said in their minds, " Artemis and Aqualad will stay with Roquette. Robin, Kid Flash, roam the halls. Superboy, take the roof. Ms. Martian and I will watch the perimeter. Understood?" They all nodded and Draken dismissed them with a wave.

" Seriously, how do you deal with someone else inside your head?" asked Artemis, " I mean, there are some things I'd like to keep private."

" Like what?" snarled Wally, " Some kind of secret perversion?"

" Relax, Artemis," Draken signed. " Ms. Martian doesn't probe our mind's just connects them." He and M'gann had reached the door to the building and began to walk around the school grounds.

" Good to know. The last thing I would want is to know what exists in the dark recesses of the Wall-Man's mind."

" Hey!" snapped Wally, " I don't need attitude from the newbie who drove Red Arrow off the team!"

Artemis began to protest, but Draken beat her to it. " I would not have allowed Red Arrow to join us. A team needs to work as just that, a team. Red Arrow is too headstrong and unpredictable. His involvement would be counterproductive at this time."

" As much as I hate to admit it, our leader is correct," Kaldur sighed, " Red Arrow would not work as part of this team."

" That being said, the last thing we need is infighting," Draken thought dryly to the others.

" You should cut her some slack, bro," said Robin, " It was her arrow that saved you from Amazo, you know."

" What!? No! It was Shinobi's Dracula's Hellfire attack!" Wally protested.

" Yeah, but the arrow that kept you from becoming a paraplegic? You know, your little souvenir?"

" That was Speedy's! I mean, Red Arrow's!"

" Not so much." Robin said

" Well, still not giving her the satisfaction."

Artemis sighed. " You know I can still hear your thoughts, right?"

Draken rolled his eye and turned to Ms. Martian. " Get Dr. Roquette online. I need to speak with her."

M'gann nodded and focused for a moment. " Dr. Roquette? Can you hear me?"

" So much for no distractions," the scientist grumbled, " What do you want?"

" The virus won't be much good if we can't find the weapon," Draken explained, " Can you track it?"

" First off, it's not a weapon," snapped Roquette, " It's science, brilliant, brilliant science. And of course I can track it, but I'd have to go online. Might as well buy a billboard that says 'assassinate me'."

"Dr. Roquette, we will protect you with our lives, you don't have to worry." Draken said quietly, but sincerely.

The doctor hesitated for a moment before her fingers streaked over the keyboard with a flurry of movement. "Tracking the fog now." A map appeared on the screen and focused in on Philidelphia.

" Ms. Martian," called Draken, " Dr. Roquette has located the fog. Reconfigure the Bioship so Robin and Superboy can pursue." Superboy and Robin nodded and made their way out of the room towards the Bioship. " Artemis and Kid Flash, fall back to the lab. Ms. Martian, keep up the patrol. Aqualad, you're with me. I believe our enemies are already here" Draken said as he noticed movements in a bush

Stepping out of the building, Aqualad turned to left to scan the area, but just as he did, webbing of some sort came down and latched itself to Aqualad's shoulders, he could feel the pressure of being pulled, however; this feeling ended as Draken flew through the air snapping the webs and allowing Kaldur to land on his feet.

With Kaldur free, Draken took to the trees as he was engaged in an unseen battle and not a moment later, a man in a slick-burgundy suit flew through the air slamming back-first into a van as Draken flew from the shadows and landed in front of the injured assassin. Aqualad ran from the forest and prepared two water-hammers as two other Shadow members appeared to assist the spider-themed one still recovering from Draken's attack.

Cheshire stepped forwards with Black-Spider and Hook standing behind her; Hook being a large, rough-looking man wearing a long green trench coat and a thick metal hook for a left-arm.

"You two stay and occupy them; I'll complete the mission," She back flipped over the van and headed for the building as Hook leapt forwards sending his hook-arm into Aqualad's stomach pushing him back on his feet, retracting the hook as he moved in for a right-hook but, Kaldur dodged under.

Spider sent his webbing into Draken's hands pinning them to one another leaping in for a roundhouse kick which landed but the Vampire didn't budge from the attack. In a single moment Draken open the webbing and forced Spider to back flip away.

Meanwhile

Cheshire peeked in through the ceiling window of the lab; neither Kid nor Artemis noticed her until she dropped to the ground with a crossbow aimed directly between Roquette's eyes.

"No!" Artemis shouted intercepting the assassins poison-tip arrow with one of her own which split the shaft in two, "Don't stop working!" She shouted at Roquette who silently continued typing as Kid attempted to grab Cheshire by her shoulders.

She slipped down and swept the speedsters feet ironically out from under him as he landed square on his face; she turned to catch an arrow inches from her face, "Oh, you aren't playing around!"

Cheshire pulled her retractable blade from her belt and swung only being deflected by Artemis' bow which wouldn't hold up forever. Kid stood to his feet, swinging his arms at super-speeds and creating a vacuum that forced Artemis and Cheshire off their feet and into the tables and chairs several feet behind him.

"Oopsie," Kid spat as Artemis got off of her ass and glared at him.

Cheshire immediately back-flipped to a standing position and launched a shuriken at Roquette whom was suddenly protected by a floating nearby desk.

"The Martian is here; it's now or never time!" she jumped over the floating desk and tackled Roquette in face-down straddle, pulling her sai above her head prepared to finish the job once and for all when suddenly… Stirling's skin turned lime-green and her hair crimson red as her head spun 360-degrees with a wide smile.

"We've been duped!" Cheshire shouted as she ran outside and found both of her comrades on their knees tied up. "I do not like being played," she tapped a miniscule button on her mask and infrared vision appeared as she noticed two sets of footprints moving off towards the east-coast closer to the beach.

Meanwhile

Robin and Superboy floated in wait as the Bio-Ship approached a large tower, "We've got the Shadow's next target! And it's a Wayne Tech facility, in theory, its software could be used to hack the-" Dick caught himself quickly as Superboy raised a brow in concern.

"Doesn't matter," he looked back at the building and sighed, "What matters is that Wayne Enterprises operates on a 24-hour work force; we'll never evacuate the building in time!"

As he said this, a white van pulled into the Wayne Tech parking lot; inside was the weaponized-man preparing the FOG for launch

Meanwhile

M'gaan, Kid Flash, and Artemis came rushing out of the café approaching Cheshire, "You'll never find Dr. Roquette!"

"Never is such a long time," Cheshire remarked dropping tear-gas bombs to cover her escape towards the east-coast following the foot-prints; M'gaan and Kid coughed loudly as their eyes watered too much for them to see their opponent.

Artemis saw through this though; She closed her eyes, held her breath, and ran through the smoke after her. Once through the smoke, she aimed her bow and arrow at the escaping assassin and launched one that was deflected by a sai of her own, "I was hoping it'd be you."

Cheshire kept running and Artemis sprinted after her, running through the streets and towards the real Roquette's hide-out; a closed restaurant with a 'free wi-fi' label plastered on the window.

The assassin turned a corner and hoped on a dumpster before back-flipping onto the roof of the buildings that lined the streets, she turned back as an arrow narrowly missed her face and cut into the concrete of a chimney next to her. The arrow spilled pressured purple gas as it completely wafted over the assassin's face, she coughed several times before collapsing.

Artemis leapt up to the roof-top just as she had and aimed an arrow at the unconscious villain, lowering her guard she approached to bound the villain when suddenly she sprung upwards swinging her legs and knocking Artemis' feet right out from under her causing her to land on her back and Cheshire on her feet, "Built in gas-mask," she noted as Artemis looked up raising her foot, the fall caused small trauma to her head and a momentary daze but, that didn't stop her from throwing her kick from the ground up where Cheshire caught it. She used that leverage to get back on her feet using momentum to throw a round-house kick which was deflected and spun around putting Artemis back first and arms bound facing the ally two stories down. The assassin could have killed her just by pushing her head first but, instead knocked her out with a slick elbow to the back of her neck causing Artemis to collapse to her knees and then to the side.

"Better luck next time, kid."

Meanwhile

Draken and Aqualad sat in the room waiting whilst the one-and-only Stirling Roquette worked diligently on creating and uploading the virus; suddenly they heard a loud thud from the room, which was from Artemis' body collapsing, and Aqualad shouted in response, "We've got company!"

Roquette smiled victoriously, "Uploading now!

A small silver orb rolled into through the darkened hall as Aqualad reached for his water-bearers and manifested two sharpened machetes'.

Unbeknownst to everyone else a ceiling-tile slipped itself up and out of the way revealing the darkness of the buildings attic; Aqualad noticed this and turned but, not in time to notice three darts aimed straight for his chest.

For the second time, Draken appeared before Aqualad catching all three-darts mid-air in a single hand.

Cheshire grunted as a massive ten-ton metal hook slammed through the glass window and bashed Draken in the chest sending him flying backwards through the drywall and into the brick-wall of the building.

Cheshire round-housed Aqualad across the face dodging his slashes and dicing with ease, "Jellyfish toxin slowing you down?" She dodged a downward slash by leap-frogging above the Atlantean and leaving a dart deep in his skin. Cheshire landed on her feet and turned around, "Let's test that immunity shall-we?"

Aqualad shook his head and slashed at the assassin who effortlessly dodged and kicked him in the face sending him onto his back where the needle dug deeper, "There. Tested."

Hook was now outside holding M'gaan by the cloak in one hand and his other pinned Draken to the wall. Glaring at the new arrival, Draken ripped the steel-hook apart and tossed it aside.

In a flash of speed, he vanished and appeared behind Hook backhanding the would-be assassin's back causing his bone to snap and for him to scream in pain dropping M'gaan but, she didn't hit the ground as Draken caught her unconscious form still looking into the café and lowering her safely.

"Now Doctor," Cheshire pulled a knife from her belt and approached the scientist slowly, "About my appointment," she stopped and turned at the sound of foot-steps, "Ugh, not you again!"

Sterling backed up, darting her eyes back and forth between the computer monitor and her assassin; the screen read 'Upload Complete'.

She looked between him and the scientist, "You completed the virus, thus, eliminating the reason for your elimination…" She turned before tossing a smoke bomb to the ground before disappearing. Artemis seeing this rushed outside

Meanwhile

Outside, Artemis was leaning down to pick up a fallen mask. It was the grinning cat.

"Cheshire," she sighed, "She got away."

Wally ran up out of nowhere. "No, from you? Big surprise! Notice, half a dozen Shadow foot soldiers captured and ready for interrogation. M'gann drifted down from the sky with a group of black-clad men tied up and floating behind her having regained consciousness.

"Cheshire. Was that her name?" Draken asked. "Did you see her face?"

"It was dark," said Artemis curtly.

"Alright then, next time." Draken said

Wally ran forwards and grabbed the mask from Artemis's hands. "Cool, souvenir."

There was a chirp and Draken winced as Robin spoke to him over the com links. "The fog is neutralized," called the boy wonder, "And we got a couple Shadow assassins as well. Everything good on your end?"

"Fine, Robin, return to base after you get the assassins to the League," Draken looked up at Artemis, who was looking out over the bay as the sun began to rise. "The fog is neutralized and Roquette is safe. Thanks in no small part to you. Welcome to the team."

M'gann squealed and flew forwards to shake Artemis's hand. "I've always wanted and Earth sister! I mean, I have twelve back on Mars, but trust me, it's not the same."

"I, ah, wouldn't know." Artemis said sheepishly

Draken glared at Wally causing him to grunt. "Yeah, welcome."

Draken sighed. "Let's go home."