A man sat in his office, filling away papers with esoteric symbols into files. The soft buzz of the news feed rolling on his tv, when the scene changed. A girl in red clothes, a long fine tabard like only seen in a long forgotten, her blonde hair tied back. Her bright green eyes, shimmering like the day they last set out to war.

"Who are you?" The reporter Lois Lane asked.

That voice, the voice of a person he had once followed into battle.

"I am Red Saber." Mordred said to the seasoned reporter.

"My king..." The man said sitting back in his chair, the sounds of a battle fought long ago raged in his mind."

Chapter 10 The Beach

Late at night a red and black clad figure slips through the shadows of a guarded island, bow in hand. Stopping to fire an arrow into an guard, the tazzer prongs igniting with the electrical charge upon impact rendering the man unconscious. Keeping to the shadows he slipped undetected within the central building's defenses. Nocking and drawing another arrow with a cord attached he let loose in a steep arc to allow him to scale the side of the compounds main structure, avoiding search lights and Patrols. Slinking behind a corner he drew another arrow taking aim at yet another target. Loosing the arrow just shy of a camera it stuck to the wall, tip lighting us as the arrow remotely hacked the camera. Waiting a couple seconds He slipped from cover firing two more shock arrows to silently take out the masked guards.

With the path open he slipped within the main building looking for his target. Keeping out of sight as he grew closer to his target, a secured door. Harshly knocking on the door before kicking it in knocking a guard to the floor. The second guard brought his gun up firing few shots a only for Red Arrow to push the barrel up, drive the end of his bow into the man's stomach, then slam up into the chin. Finishing off with strike across the face before a right hook driving him to the floor. Walking to a glasses wearing, blonde woman in a lab coat. "Dr. Roquette?" He asked, in side the room was a makeshift lab and workshop full of computers and equipment.

"Tell me your the advance guy." The doctor said sarcastically.

"The only guy." Red Arrow said drawing a arrow in his bow.

"You couldn't bring backup? What were there budget cuts?" She asked sarcastically when the island's bell started to ring. Red Arrow fired an explosive arrow at the wall blasting it apart.

"Now or never time doc." The red haired hero glanced back at the doctor.

"We can't leave this." She said looking down at a device that she had been forced to create.

"Look, I take it or I take you." The hero said aggressively.

"Right, take me." The doctor said taking off her glasses. Red Arrow drew another arrow aiming down at the beach before sending the arrow with a zip line attached into a distant tree. Lashing off the line he hooked onto the line.

"Hang on." He ordered taking hold of the woman. Flying down the line with the doctor clinging to him as more league of shadows assassin guards rushed into the room taking aim at the pair in their escape. Roquette screamed the entire way down to the beach. Running under fire to a speed boat covered by a camo tarp Red arrow ripped the cover off. The doctor got in as the hero shoved it in the water before jumping in himself.

"So what you call this? The arrow boat?" She snapped at him.

"I call it a rental. Now get down!" Red arrow pushed her head down as he fired up the engines as the on ship computer came to life as explosive charges were primed along the coast of the island. The boat sped away from the island under heavy fire before the explosion rocked the island. "I think were in the clear."

"Great... that just leaves only one problem." The doctor said looking back at the island.

Back on the island in the lab two men stood over the doctors work. A older man with white hair and a cybernetically augmented man, a single red eye assessing the device. "Did she finish?" The older man asked.

"Yes she did. We are good to go on our plan." The cyclops cyborg replied much to the satisfaction of the older man.

Mordred stepped out to the beach next to cave behind her teammates, Superboy, Kaldur, Robin and Megan. They were all dressed in swim wear, the boys trunks and Megan in a yellow two piece with shorts bottoms. "Hello Megan, we should hit the beach everyday!" She laughed cheerfully.

"A moment of silence for our... absent comrade." Robin held a silent vigil.

Mordred rolled her eyes. Wally West, kid Flash was starting school today and as such was unable to hang out. "Oh Mordred you aren't changed yet." Megan looked back at her.

Mordred smirked and snapped her fingers, in flash of lightning, her crop top and denim shorts were replaced with a red and black bikini picking up her surf board she smiled at her team. Robin blushed and looked away while Superboy rolled his eyes, but Kaldur seemed to stop for a couple seconds before composing himself.

"Oh my god! It looks so good! Oh why didn't you let me go shopping with you?" Megan asked as she floated in the air around Mordred.

"Probably because she has to shop in the kids section." Robin cracked a joke only to have to dodge a surfboard. "You're only upset cause it's true Hahaha!"

"I'm a homunculus! It's not my fault I didn't inherit my mother's of father's fuller figures!" Mordred shouted at the younger boy which only made him laugh louder. Mordred rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. She smiled as they all layed out their things before the 5 of them ran out to play in the water Mordred shortly behind them.

It was tranquil. Peaceful. Happy. As the wave died down Mordred sat on the board float. looking at the team.

Happy.

It was a odd thing to think, she was happy in Camelot, overjoyed to learn her father was the king, the rush of the thrill of Battle... yet... this. This Team. This made her feel happy. Perhaps she really did have a proper second chance at her life. Kaldur glanced over his should at her before swimming over to her.

"What's with the smile?" He asked.

"Nothing... just... happy."

"Well I think happy suits you great." The two of them swam out deeper. "I doubt you have any real surfing experience." Kaldur said with a smile.

Over with Megan, Superboy and Robin. "Awe that's sweet." Megan smiled as they watched Kaldur talk Mordred through surfing.

"I think they pair together well." Robin said as he floated in the water. "Though I wonder what Wally is up to in school right now."

Wally sat in his current events class as the tv cart was wheeled in. "Yesterday a new hero was made know to the world. And our top reporter Lois Lane was able to secure a interview with this young new hero." The news reporter said as he moved to the right of the frame. "This is that interview."

Lois Lane was sat across from a young blonde girl in a restaurant booth. One that Wally knew personally. "So, I am Lois Lane with the Daily Planet. And earlier you mentioned your name was Red Saber?"

"Yes, I'm quite new to this hero stuff." Mordred said as she sat in the seat across from the reporter.

"How new?" Lois asked eagerly.

"About a month." Mordred answered.

"What drove you to becoming a hero at such a young age?" Lois pressed further.

"It's complicated." Mordred tried to deflect.

The interview went on for a few more minutes about Mordred's fight with Black Briar before the teacher paused it. "Can anyone tell me why this is important?" He voice droned on. "Mr West think you can explain?"

"Babes love swords?" Wally shrugged.

"No, it's dangerous, this Red Saber is setting a dangerous example much like Speedy, Kid Flash, and Robin are. Kids aren't meant to get involved with fighting criminals. Tell me Mr. West, if you were in a situation like this Red Saber was what would happen?"

"I would run away." Wally said sarcastically much to the humor of his fellow students.

"You would be dead. We should not be celebrating heroes that recklessy put themself and others in danger. What would have happened to London if Red Saber wasn't strong enough to defeat that villain? No she should have gotten the Local hero to the UK, Icon. But instead she was chasing fame. At least with these other young heroes they have mentors to guide them, teach them. This Red Saber is going to get some one hurt or killed in her inexpirence."

Wally just rolled his eyes. He knew Mordred could handle anything thrown her way.

Mordred with a bit of Kaldur's instructions was soon surfing up and down the coast line that the team had to enjoy. A big smile on her face as Kaldur used his water bearers to make the waves surge in size so Mordred could really get into it. Coming into shore Superboy and Robin had the grill going. Running up to join her friends she sat on a bucket they had brought she sat next to Megan who handed her a hot dog.

Kaldur sat across from her taking his from Superboy. Laughing at each others jokes, this was something nice, and different. "So Mordred ever have go swimming anywhere cool before?" Megan asked.

"There was this beach off the southern coast of France that I visited while hunting for the Grail. beautiful waters. And the vineyards and the wine, I had brought back a few bottles to my estate. Only opened them on the nights when I was victorious in battle." Mordred said thinking of her old home. "But the fact i could never remove my helmet around others meant I couldn't join in the grand feasts, I was always eating alone. Even the smallest of meals."

"Well with us you never have to hide who you are." Megan rubbed Mordred on her back.

Mordred smiled at her friends content.

The five of them would continue to play around the beach. Playing games, burying Kaldur. The day seemed to keep going Till the sun started to dip towards the horizon. Robin, Superboy and Megan all made their way back into the cave. Mordred Sat on the beach next to Kaldur.

"You enjoyed today?" He asked.

"You asking as a leader or a friend?" Mordred asked back a smile on her face.

"As your friend." He said as he offered her one of the last sodas.

"Yeah... I did." Mordred took it and popped the top taking a large gulp from the can. Setting the can down Mordred looked back at Kaldur. "I did miss Wally though. Would have had free entertainment. Anyone you wish could have been here?"

"Well I have some friends from the Atlantean conservatory of sorcery, Garth and Tulla. Garth and I fought side by side with our Anax, our king to drive off Ocean master. And Tulla... well she is a prodigy with magic as well as one of the Queen's personal students." Kaldur explained.

"They must mean a lot to you then, right?" Mordred asked her leader.

"Yes, some of my best friends. Garth and I had both been given the opportunity to become the student of the King. That was when our paths split. But Tula, she always seemed to know to say. When I arrived in the capitol of Poseidonis Tulla was the one to show me around the city. What about you what was your first time arriving in Camelot like?"

"I first entered the city in disguise, with my mother Morgan, she wanted me to see the king, to hate them. But I remember being awestruck. When I first joined the round, it was the first time I was truly free of Morgan." Mordred said looking up at the sky. "Camelot was meant to be the beginning of something great. I wanted to carry on that greatness. To be a worthy successor of my father." Her look soured. "Night and day I fought, rebellions, barbarians, celts, Saxons, Norse raiders. I did what was needed, as a weapon of my father, yet the other knights, I heard them whispering, of my violence, of my rage, of rumors of my birth." Mordred sighed.

"You were made to be a weapon, but your so much more. You have this rage, but what I see is passion, you wouldn't have fought so desperatly for Camelot if you didn't love your home, your people." Kaldur looked at her, "You aren't your father, or your mother. You are our friend. My friend."

"It's hard to see that. This time, this world, I visited Londinium... and it holds the bones and ghosts of my old world. Broken. In the books, I'm remembered as a monster, accussed of crimes far worse then just killing my father." Mordred looked up at the moon rising above the sea.

"What's important is how you spend this life. We're in this together." Kaldur put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, Kaldur, Mordred, you got to get in here!" Robin called from the door way before running back into the cave.

"What do you think that is about?" Mordred asked.

"No need to wonder." Kaldur said as he stood up. Offering a hand, "Shall we go discover whats so important my good knight?"

"We both know I'm anything but good." Mordred took his hand she was pulled up to her feet, slipping a bit in the sand she took a step forward to keep her balance, right into the atlantean's embrace. "Thank you." She stepped back out of the hug.

"You're welcome." Kaldur smiled as the two of them walked back into the cave, went to change and Mordred went to take a quickly shower off the sand and salt. Heading to the main zeta chamber Mordred saw the other team members as Kaldur arrived in thier costumes, Batman, Red Tornado and Green Arrow and... teenage female Green Arrow?

"A bikini, that's a choice for a hero costume." The blonde asked as he inspected her bow.

Hey, leave your thoughts down below.