Jade's crossbow was already aimed the second she stepped into the café.

But she didn't aim for Roquette.

She aimed for him.

The bolt fired straight at Samuel's head.

[Samuel used Protect!]

A shimmering, translucent barrier flickered into existence. The crossbow bolt struck the shield with a dull thunk and snapped uselessly against it, dropping harmlessly to the floor.

Jade didn't react. She simply lowered her weapon, her stance poised but still.

She had fought him before.

And unlike the others, she learned.

No sudden movements. No unnecessary attacks. No wasting energy. If she made the wrong move—he could force her to repeat it.

That was the worst part.

His abilities weren't mind control. She knew how that felt. This was something else. Some twist of reality, making her body betray her. She wasn't going to fall for that again.

Samuel adjusted his stance, watching her with his eyes. He didn't attack. Didn't advance. He simply stood between her and the doctor.

But his body was already prepared.

[Samuel used Iron Defense!]
[Samuel's Defense sharply rose!]

[Samuel used Agility!]
[Samuel's Speed sharply rose!]

He had done it before she even arrived. Three times each, in fact. His body was already hardened against attacks, his movements sharper, lighter.

Jade clicked her tongue, analyzing him. "Too afraid to strike first, boy?"

Samuel didn't respond. Instead—

[Samuel used Mean Look!]

An invisible force locked onto Jade. It was subtle but suffocating, like unseen chains wrapping around her. The sensation faded after a few seconds, but...

She felt it.

She couldn't leave.

Jade exhaled through her nose. "Tch. Annoying."

So she moved.

She rushed in, her sai flashing as she slashed toward him—only for her blades to scrape against his skin with a dull clang.

Her eyes narrowed. "What the—"

Samuel barely flinched. He sidestepped her next strike, his body reacting with calculated ease.

[Samuel used Play Nice!]

A strange, almost comical effect took hold. For a brief second, both he and Jade spun around, caught in a rhythm neither of them intended—before Jade snapped out of it, her balance thrown.

[Jade's Attack fell!]

She cursed under her breath, gripping her sai tighter. "What are these stupid abilities of yours?"

Samuel remained silent.

Without warning, Jade threw a barrage of poisoned darts straight at him.

Due to Iron Defense, the attack was weakened...But they still hit.

Samuel staggered slightly as a sharp pain spread from the impact sites. His body may have been tougher, but it didn't make him invincible.

Jade attacked again.

A firebomb exploded at his feet, the heat scorching his arms as he leaped back.

He wasn't going to last like this.

[Samuel used Will-O-Wisp!]

Three eerie, blue flames flickered into existence and darted toward her.

Jade twisted her body at the last second, dodging one, but the other two seared against her arms. The burn spread instantly, a deep, aching heat that gnawed at her muscles.

[Jade was burned!]

She sucked in a sharp breath but refused to acknowledge the pain.

[Samuel used Tearful Look!]

Holographic, watery eyes shimmered in front of her, the effect sapping at her fighting spirit.

[Jade's Attack fell!]
[Jade's Special Attack fell!]

Jade's breathing grew heavier. The burn was draining her. The debuffs were stacking.

She slashed at Samuel again. A direct hit.

But even as her blade connected, it felt… weak. The burn, the debuffs, and Samuel's increased defense had dulled the impact. It barely left a scratch.

Her grip tightened. "Damn it."

So with her last attempt, she threw a sudden flashbang towards Samuel while she lunged past him, aiming for Roquette—

Then—

BEEP!

"Upload complete."

Jade stopped.

She stood there, knife inches from Roquette's throat, body frozen in place.

Her shoulders relaxed. She let out a small chuckle, then a deep sigh. "Well. That's that, then."

Roquette let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

Jade pulled her knife away. "I could kill her out of spite, but that'd just be messy. Not my style." She rolled her neck, shaking out the tension. "Besides… I think I've got a bigger problem."

She turned her head toward Samuel, a smirk playing at her lips. "You're really annoying, you know that? My masters are gonna love studying you."

Samuel rubbed his eyes as he quietly stood against Jade, putting Roquette behind him.

Then—

SLAM!

The doors burst open, and the team rushed in—Aqualad in the lead, Artemis, Kid Flash, and Miss Martian close behind.

"Samuel!"

Jade gave them a two-finger salute. "Well, kids, it's been fun. But I'll be going now."

She reached for her smoke bomb.

Then—

[Escape is impossible due to Mean Look!]

Jade's hand hovered over her belt.

She didn't even need to check.

She felt it again.

The thing Samuel did before...the effects hadn't worn off.

She couldn't leave.

Her head turned slowly, locking eyes with Samuel.

"...Oh, you little—"

Aqualad stepped forward. "It's over."

He reached for her mask—

But Artemis grabbed his wrist, stopping him. "Don't," she said, voice tense. "She could have something else up her sleeve. We can't take any chances."

Aqualad hesitated. But then, slowly, he lowered his hand. "...Agreed."

Samuel remained quiet, but his gaze shifted toward Artemis.

She was looking at Jade, with an incomprehensible gaze...full of such complicated emotions Samuel hadn't felt for a long time...

Samuel met Aqualad's gaze and gave a subtle signal—just the smallest shift of his eyes.

In a low, tired voice, he muttered, "I'm going back to the cave."

Aqualad studied him for a moment before nodding. Samuel had gone above and beyond his role. There was nothing more to ask of him. "You did well today, Samuel."

"This won't happen again," Samuel replied, his tone cold, final.

Kid Flash raised a hand for a high-five, grinning. "C'mon, man, you totally wrecked—"

Samuel ignored him and walked past, teleporting immediately.

The team watched in silence as their so-called Spectator disappeared into nothingness.

Aqualad exhaled, turning back to business. Robin's voice crackled over the comms.

-We've got the guy who was operating the Fog. I used the virus to shut it down.

Aqualad nodded. "Good work, Robin."

With the immediate crisis over, he took a moment to scan the area. Three assassins. All subdued, all restrained. They had won the battle, but now came the problem of what to do with them.

They couldn't take them back to the cave—their location was still a closely guarded secret. That meant they had to hold them here until the League could collect them.

"We'll separate them," Aqualad decided. "Keep them under watch."

Almost immediately, Artemis strode forward, grabbing the ropes binding Jade and pulling them tight. "I've got her," she said quickly. "I'll make sure she doesn't get away."

Aqualad studied her carefully. Artemis's grip on the bindings was tight—too tight. But her face was honest, set in firm determination. After a beat, he gave her a nod.

"Very well. Keep her secured."

Kid Flash stretched, shaking out his arms. "I call dibs on Spider-Guy. I owe him for the drowning thing."

Aqualad shook his head. "No. You could have internal injuries from the near-drowning. You're heading back to get checked."

Kid Flash frowned but didn't argue.

Aqualad turned to Miss Martian. "You'll guard the one with the hook."

She straightened, nodding. "Understood."

That left Aqualad with the final prisoner—the masked assassin who fought alongside Jade.

He looked at each of his teammates, ensuring their readiness. This wasn't over. Not yet.

But for now, at least, they had won.


Artemis tied the last knot, pulling it tight with more force than necessary. The ropes dug into Jade's arms, but the assassin didn't so much as flinch.

She sat there, completely still, watching Artemis with a small, amused tilt of her head.

"No struggling?" Artemis muttered, eyes narrowed. "I expected more from the great assassin of the Shadows."

Jade chuckled, low and quiet. "Why would I bother?"

Artemis clenched her jaw, tightening the restraints even more. "Because you lost. And the Shadows hate failure."

Jade's lips curled into a smirk. "Maybe. But you and I both know this isn't over."

Artemis frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Jade leaned forward as much as her bindings would allow, voice dropping just enough that only Artemis could hear. "Go ahead. March me to the authorities. But then what?" She paused, letting the words sink in. "What do you think will happen when they start asking questions?"

Artemis's grip on the rope tightened.

"You really think I won't talk?" Jade continued, tilting her head. "That I won't mention you? Where you come from? Who you come from?" Her smirk widened, her voice almost taunting. "Do you want your little friends to hear about that?"

Artemis stiffened. She could feel her heart pounding against her ribs.

Jade saw it—the hesitation, the fear—and her smirk turned razor-sharp. "That's what I thought."

For a moment, neither of them moved. The sounds of the team securing the other prisoners echoed faintly in the background, but to Artemis, it all felt distant. Muted.

Her fingers twitched. Then, slowly, she reached out—gripping Jade's mask.

Jade didn't resist.

Artemis pulled.

The mask slipped away, revealing sharp, familiar features.

Artemis inhaled sharply. "...Jade." Her suspicion was now confirmed.

Jade smiled, slow and knowing. "Took you long enough, sis."

Artemis stared at her, her grip on the mask tightening.

A thousand thoughts rushed through her head. Anger. Confusion. Memories she had buried for years clawing their way back up.

But Jade was right. If the team found out—if the League found out—about her past, her family... it would all come crashing down.

Her hands shook.

Jade leaned in just a little. "You know what you have to do."

Artemis squeezed her eyes shut.

Then—

With a sharp breath, she reached down and cut the rope.

Jade didn't hesitate. In one fluid motion, she slipped free, stretching her wrists. "Knew you had it in you."

Artemis turned away, fists clenched. "Just go."

Jade smirked. "As you wish." She took a step back, her voice turning light. "I'll just... disappear. Like a Cheshire cat."

And with that, Jade...no, Cheshire vanished into the shadows.

Artemis stood there, motionless.

The mask was still in her hands.


Samuel watched as the team returned through the Zeta Tube, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and relief. The faint blue glow illuminated their faces, but Artemis trailed at the back, her steps heavier, her shoulders drawn tight.

Aqualad wasted no time. He turned to Batman, who stood alongside Black Canary and Green Arrow, and began his report.

"The mission was a success. Dr. Roquette is safe. The Fog has been neutralized, and the operative responsible has been captured. Additionally, we secured two assassins who attempted to eliminate the doctor."

Batman nodded slightly, taking in the information. "And the third?"

Aqualad hesitated. "...Escaped."

Samuel glanced at Artemis.

She met his gaze for half a second before looking away.

Batman said nothing for a moment, but Samuel already knew what was happening behind the mask. Calculations. Assessments. Next steps. The usual.

"You all did well," Batman finally said. "This was an important victory. But the Shadows do not take failure lightly. They will strike again when you least expect it. Stay vigilant. And as for each of you—"

Samuel had already tuned him out.

The mission was over. The debriefing was nothing but routine. He had no reason to be here anymore.

Turning on his heel, he walked away.

As he left the main hall, he caught a flicker of movement in the corner of his eye. Artemis, standing stiffly as she listened to Green Arrow's feedback.

According to Samuel's information, she was about to leave for Gotham. He already knew that was her city. It was obvious. Even before her identity was confirmed. The new vigilante activity in Gotham had already made the news. And considering that she appeared so quickly at the Amazo scene, it was quite obvious she lived there.

So he teleported.

To his real home.

To Gotham.


Artemis stepped out of the Zeta Tube into the dimly lit alleyways of Gotham. The abandoned photo booth behind her hummed faintly before going dark.

She exhaled sharply.

Tonight had been too close.

Her boots hit the cracked pavement, each step echoing in the emptiness of the alley. Her mind was still racing. She had let Jade escape. Lied to her team. Lied to the League.

None of them questioned it.

Aqualad didn't push. He trusted her.

It should've been a relief.

So why did it feel like someone was watching her?

Her instincts flared. She stopped in her tracks, her fingers already brushing against an arrow, muscles coiled, senses sharp.

Slowly, she spun on her heel, raising her bow, drawing the string tight, aiming at the shadows beyond the alley's flickering streetlight.

"Step into the light. Now."

A low chuckle.

Then, a figure emerged.

Red suit. Bow slung over his shoulder.

Artemis's grip on the bowstring tightened.

"Nice move," Roy Harper—Red Arrow—mused, stepping forward, arms crossed. "Almost made me believe you were really Green Arrow's niece."

Her jaw clenched.

"But we both know that's not true, don't we?"

She forced herself to stay still, to keep her stance firm, her face unreadable. "What do you want?"

Roy's eyes narrowed. "Just making sure you understand the deal. G.A. and Bats clearly have their reasons for lying, so your cover's safe. But I'm warning you—do not hurt my friends."

And just like that, he was gone.

Artemis let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

She lowered her bow, rolling her shoulders, shaking off the tension.

Great. As if things weren't already complicated enough, now Roy was watching her.

She turned to leave—

CRACKLE.

A faint sound. Almost imperceptible.

Her instincts screamed at her.

She spun around—just in time to see him.

Samuel.

But he wasn't standing.

He was floating.

His descent was slow, unnatural—like gravity had momentarily forgotten him. Beneath his feet, faint yellow sparks flickered, snapping at the air like static electricity.

His expression was unreadable. Cold. Detached.

He wasn't looking at Gotham.

He was looking at her.

Then, his voice cut through the silence.

"Artemis Crock."