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Artemis

Artemis had gotten fairly used to the whole 'covert sidekick superteam' schtick by now. From telepathic links to torturously convoluted schemes, to a speedster with an insatiable appetite, she'd long since learned to embrace the weird.

As her familiarity with the strangeness of her new life grew, so too did her appreciation for the little things. Those small, seemingly insignificant moments that provided a modicum of normalcy in her otherwise erratic world. So, when her downtime was suddenly tarnished by the same unpredictability that plagued the rest of her life, she didn't take it too well.

It was because of that frustration that she found herself frowning at two of the most prominent heroes in all the world: Batman and Wonder Woman. It wasn't the first time the dark knight had been the target of one of her scowls, but Wonder Woman? Artemis had nothing but respect for her and, if circumstances were different, might've been fangirling just a tad. As it was, she could hardly feel anything but irritation. The Princess of Themiscyra standing before her was as far from normal as things got, and with Bialya still fresh in her memory, she really needed some normal.

Reluctantly, Artemis shoved her childish frustrations aside and forced her face back to a mask of neutrality. It certainly wouldn't do to set a bad impression with one of the League's most influential members. If Wonder Woman was taking time out of her busy schedule to meet with the team, then something far more important than Artemis' annoyance was at play.

"Batman. Wonder Woman," Artemis greeted.

"Artemis," Wonder Woman replied.

The Amazonian's voice was measured but not unkind. She seemed almost… distracted. Like her thoughts were halfway across the globe.

"You two have a mission for us?"

"Wonder Woman does. I'm only here for logistics."

Artemis' brow shot up in surprise. Wonder Woman rarely spoke with the team, and she never came with an assignment. Batman, ever the world's greatest detective, picked up on Artemis' shock.

"It's unusual, true, but at times even Wonder Woman is forced to seek outside help for… internalmatters."

The agitation was clear in the man's voice, and served to cajole Wonder Woman from her half-present state.

"Ignore his attitude," Wonder Woman advised, "He's just upset that he only learned of this an hour ago."

"About what, exactly?" A new voice called out.

The surprise speaker was Robin, of course. He had a nasty habit of sneaking up on people. A habit that Artemis – and everyone else – found themselves lamenting quite often.

"Not yet. You'll be briefed once Kid Flash and Aqualad arrive. There is too much to explain and too little time to do it. We cannot afford to dally by repeating ourselves." Wonder Woman said.

"Aqualad?" Robin asked, frown evident through his domino mask. "I thought he was working overwatch for Miss Martian and Superboy at Belle Reve?"

"Was." Batman echoed. "This takes priority."

Not even a second later, and the sound of a Zeta-Tube whirring to life filled the room.

Recognized: Aqualad, B02

The tube flashed with a blinding white light, blocking Artemis' sight at first. When the spots in her vision faded, she was met with the sight of a very confused looking Kaldur. His brow, much like Robin's, was contorted into a deep frown. It was evident in his eyes that he was uncomfortable with the idea of abandoning his post. Still, if there was one thing Kaldur held dear, it was respect for the chain of command. If Batman, or more aptly, Wonder Woman, needed him for a mission, then there would be no argument from the Atlantean despite his personal grievances.

"My sincerest apologies for the tardiness." Kaldur called out, ever the epitome of formality and respect. "I was not expecting to be called away from the mission at such a critical time, and I worry that-"

"Red Tornado is more than enough backup for Superboy and Miss Martian. You're needed here." Batman replied.

"Then I am glad to be here." Kaldur said. "Are we still waiting for-"

Before he could finish, there was a rushed shout of, 'here!' and a huge gust of wind. Capes fluttered and hair ruffled, and suddenly Wally was standing by Artemis' side.

"How is it that even with super speed you're still the last one here?" Artemis asked.

He shot her an exaggerated glare and crossed his arms indignantly.

"It's not my fault. I got held up by-"

"Snacks." Robin finished for him. "He got held up by snacks."

"Dude!".

"Enough. There will be time for mocking Kid when the mission is done." Kaldur chided.

Batman gave the Atlantean a subtle nod of approval before stepping away from Wonder Woman. A screen sprang to life between them, and suddenly everyone, even Wally, was all business.

"This," Batman began, "Is Perseus Jackson."

An image of a teenage boy flickered onto the screen. He looked to be about Kaldur's age, or perhaps a bit older. He had a head of wild, black hair as untamed as a runaway train, and an angular, aristocratic face. That, coupled with his Mediterranean complexion, gave him an uncanny resemblance to Wonder Woman. The only thing that ruined the teen's handsome look was the large 'Armed and Dangerous' tag beneath his image. Artemis frowned at that. Since when were bad guys allowed to be cute?

"A few days ago, Perseus, alongside a contingent of assassins from the League of Shadows, intercepted a shipment from Themiscyra that was headed to an unnamed location."

"What was in the shipment?" Kaldur asked.

Wonder Woman hesitated for a moment, as if she were struggling with some intense internal debate, before answering.

"It's called Celestial Bronze. It's a rare metal imbued with godly magic. It's strong enough to withstand the most powerful blows and pierce the toughest armors. It's intangible to mortals, but if combined with mortal metals can create alloys that retain the Bronze's strength while ignoring its selective nature."

Artemis felt the blood drain from her face. If what Wonder Woman said was true, the effects of such a metal reaching the League of Shadows' headquarters – if it hadn't already – would be catastrophic. Weapons, armor, androids, there was no telling what destruction could be caused if such an alloy fell into the Shadows' hands. When she looked to her teammates, she could see that they were all just as worried as she was. Well, all except for one.

"Godly metal?" Kid Flash said incredulously. "First you people tell me that magic is real, and now you're trying to convince me that there are actual living, breathing, gods?"

"I am telling you exactly that. I myself am the daughter of Zeus. I'm living proof of the gods' existence. If that is not evidence enough for you, I trust this mission will succeed where I have failed."

"Doubt it." Wally muttered.

"A question," Kaldur intoned, paying Wally's skepticism no mind. "If what you say about this 'Celestial Bronze' and its odd nature is true, would you not be the best choice to retrieve it?"

Interestingly, Wonder Woman's eyes flickered to the image of Perseus Jackson before answering. When Artemis caught her gaze again, she noticed there was a softer emotion hiding within the Amazonian's eyes. It almost looked like… Like caring.

"Yes and no," Wonder Woman replied, voice guarded now, "While it is true that I would normally be the ideal choice, Perseus' presence complicates things. If we were to meet in battle, I fear the result would be cataclysmic in more ways than one."

"How so?" This time it was Robin who asked the question.

"He and I are… Were close," Wonder Woman answered. "We're cousins, but at times, it seemed more like siblings."

"What happened?" Artemis found herself saying, unable to restrain her own curiosity.

"For almost a year, Perseus… Percy, lived among the Amazonians. He was one of us until, two months ago, he vanished in the night. And now he's resurfaced, working in tandem with the League of Shadows. I fear he's been-"

"Brainwashed," Batman finished. "An unlikely scenario." He glanced toward the normally controlled and self-assured Wonder Woman, and the hopeful look in her eyes seemed to change his tune, "But not entirely impossible. The four of you should observe for evidence of this, but recovering the shipment remains the priority."

Artemis wasn't sure if Batman actually gave a damn about Perseus', or rather Percy's motives, but it was clear that Wonder Woman did. She resolved then and there that she was going to find out for the Amazonian whether her cousin had truly chosen to work with the Shadows, or if there was hope of saving him. After all, Artemis understood all too well what it was like to lose loved ones to the Shadows, and if she could, she was going to give Wonder Woman the hope she could not have for her own family.

"We'll do both. We'll recover this shipment and Perseus. You will have your metal," Kaldur said, looking first to Batman and then to Wonder Woman, "And you will have your cousin back."

"Your confidence is admirable, Aqualad, but proceed with caution," Batman advised. "Perseus is Wonder Woman's cousin on the mythical side of the family tree. He won't be easily beaten."

Wonder Woman nodded her agreement.

"Percy is a son of Poseidon. He wields great power and tremendous skill with a blade. With the League of Shadows behind him as well… May the gods be with you."

And with that, it seemed that Wonder Woman had had her fill of the briefing. With a grim set to her lips, the Amazonian turned and left. The mechanical whirr and robotic voice of the Zeta-Tube were the only sounds to mark her departure. Now, like usual, it was just the team and the Bat.

"Trackers hidden in the shipment indicate it has been dormant in a heavily fortified warehouse since it's theft. Two hours ago, the shipment started heading south. We've identified the shipment as a cargo train en route to a shipyard in Miami, scheduled to arrive tomorrow night. It is your job to intercept the shipment before it reaches the shipyard, recover the Celestial Bronze, and apprehend the thieves… Any questions?"

"Just one." Artemis said. Batman nodded, giving her the go-ahead. "If Perseus isn't brainwashed? If he can't be fixed? What happens then?"

Batman didn't even flinch.

"Then Wonder Woman will have to visit her cousin in Belle Reve. You do what must be done. The mission always comes first."

Artemis

Cicadas buzzed and crickets chirped, drowning out the silence beneath the torrent of their cacophonous cries. The sun mingled with the horizon in the distance, bathing the world in a rosy light that scarcely made it through the treetops. From her spot crouched amongst the bushes, Artemis could almost pretend that she was a simple hitchhiker enjoying the final days of summer. Almost.

"Hey Kaldur, how much longer is this gonna take?" Wally's voice crackled through the comm link.

Artemis frowned at the slight static in his voice. A month ago, she would've found the idea laughable, but now she longed for M'gann's mind links. They were safer, more efficient, and better for team cohesion. More importantly, the earpieces were a reminder of how shorthanded they were. With M'gann and Conner undercover in Belle Reve, they were down their heaviest hitter and their resident telepath. Not exactly the best holes to have in the lineup when facing a potentially brainwashed half-god.

"The train is scheduled to pass through here at any moment. That's why it's crucial to remain vigilant and keep off comms unless absolutely necessary. It would be unwise to let something as simple as an intercepted frequency botch our ambush." Kaldur scolded.

"Right, sorry. KF out." Wally replied, at least having the decency to be a bit bashful.

After that, the line went dead. With the newfound silence, Artemis decided to re-check everything for the dozenth time. Call it professionalism, call it paranoia, but she had a thing about being prepared. The first thing she did was check her quiver, feeling around to make sure each arrow was where she expected it to be. Once she was certain that each arrow was in the right spot and free to be pulled, she checked her bow. She made sure the string was taught and that the draw weight was correct. When that was done, she finally turned her attention outward.

Her gaze flickered to the bridge a good distance down the railroad. The red light of the primed explosive charges blinked back at her, barely visible through the dense foliage. She glanced the opposite direction, peering into the tree line where she knew Robin and Wally were perched. Even to her trained eye and with preemptive knowledge of where they would be, spotting them was still nearly impossible. That was good. Finally, she allowed her attention to drift to Kaldur, who was crouched by her side with a distant look in his eyes.

"Something bothering you?" she asked, giving him a small nudge.

Kaldur blinked, before facing her with a slight grimace.

"No…" Kaldur answered. Artemis quirked an eyebrow and that was all it took for him to break. "Ra's Al Ghul has somehow managed to sway a demigod to his side. Whether he convinced Perseus or brainwashed him, it is concerning that he was able to turn someone as close to a leaguer as Jackson is. If this rapid acquisition of assets becomes the norm… I fear that such manipulations do not bode well for anyone."

"I gotta give you that one." Artemis agreed. "I don't like the idea of the Shadows picking up their recruiting game either. There's already way too many of them for my taste."

Kaldur hummed in acknowledgement but said nothing more on the subject. A more tactful person would've taken that as a sign that he didn't want to talk, but while Artemis might've been a goody two-shoes by her family's standards, she was by no means a rule follower. That was doubly true when it came to something she was passionate about, like her vested interest in seeing Percy safely returned to his cousin's side.

"Did you mean what you said back at the cave? About bringing Percy back? Or was that just to make Wonder Woman feel better?"

"Wonder Woman does not need coddling." Kaldur answered. "I meant what I said. Whether it is to send him to Belle Reve or to Themyscira, I have every intention of seeing Jackson brought in."

"And which do you think it'll be? Good guy gone bad, or good guy gone brainwashed?"

Kaldur paused, face contorted in thought for a moment. She found herself hoping Kaldur was on 'team brainwashed'. It would make things a lot easier if she had at least one person who thought Percy could be helped, and she doubted either of the others would be on board. Robin was too much like Batman, and Wally probably hadn't given the idea a single braincell's worth of thought since leaving the cave. Unfortunately, whatever thoughts Kaldur had on the topic, she never got to hear.

"Train is in sight. Forty seconds to strike point." Robin's voice rang out in her ear.

"Acknowledged. Detonate the bridge on your mark." Kaldur responded.

A few moments later, and the train was in sight for Artemis and Kaldur as well. It was a massive thing – built for tugging cargo across the country in no time flat – and was trailed by a line of cars as long her family's criminal record. Standing on top of the engine car of the train like some sort of human smokestack was one Percy Jackson. It looked like he was keeping watch, scanning the surrounding landscape with vigilant eyes. Just before his gaze could sweep over the ditch she and Kaldur were crouched in, she felt a tingling in her spine, and then…

A massive explosion shook the world. Plumes of dust shot skyward as the bridge was wiped away by fire and ash. The shockwave from the explosion hit Artemis like, well, a train, mercilessly slamming her into the earth and probably permanently damaging her hearing too.

"Okay, maybe we used a bit too much C4." She mumbled into the dirt.

"They're not stopping!" she heard someone shout. Was that Kaldur? Or was it Wally? It was hard to tell over the ringing in her ears. "Why aren't they stopping?"

It wasn't until a second later that she actually registered what was happening. The train was still moving. Suddenly galvanized, Artemis rose from her crumpled heap and looked up. Sure enough, the train was still chugging along. In fact, it seemed to be gaining speed. It rocketed passed her and Kaldur's position in a blur, shooting toward the now bridgeless gap with what appeared to be suicidal intent.

Her eyes shot to the cliff face where the bridge used to be, only where there should've been empty air, there was now a second bridge made of water and ice. Somehow, the train was coasting right overtop of the thing, unbothered by the impossibility of it all. Artemis swore under her breath. Jackson – assuming the water was his doing and not Kaldur's – had reacted quicker than should've been possible. Had he been expecting an ambush? Had he been expecting them?

"Jackson made a secondary bridge!" she growled into the comm link, already unshouldering her bow. "We need to board."

"Way ahead of you." Robin replied.

She felt a touch on her shoulder.

"Can you get us on top?" Kaldur asked.

Artemis didn't even dignify that with a response. She simply drew a grappler arrow and took aim. Realizing her intentions, Kaldur grabbed a hold of her just in time. With a soft twang, she sent the arrow soaring toward the train. A cable trailed behind the arrow like spider's silk, and as soon as the arrow struck home, the cable snapped taut. There was a tiny moment where nothing happened, and then the duo was being tugged toward the train at insane speeds.

They hit the roof of the train in a rolling jumble of tangled limbs and bumping heads. There was a scary moment where Artemis thought they'd overshot it and were about to roll over the other side, but Kaldur's strong grip on her and the train itself held them steady. Once the pair recovered their wits they rose to their feet, fighting against the rushing wind and the motion of the train beneath them to keep steady. They were about halfway down the line of cars, Artemis noted. A long way from Jackson, and an even longer way from things going according to plan.

"Robin. KF. Come in." Kaldur said, voice barely audible over the blustering gales of the train in motion.

"We're here, Aqualad." Kid Flash answered, sounding a bit out of breath. "Made it on just fine. Whaddya need?"

"I need you to search the train for the Celestial Bronze. You're the only one fast enough to get it done before things get too hectic. Disconnect the cars the Celestial Bronze is being stored in, secure the shipment, and radio the league for an extract. Robin, keep the Shadows busy while Wally works."

"Got it." the two boys replied in sync.

"And what about us?" Artemis asked once the line went dead. "Are we on Percy duty?"

Kaldur nodded, and Artemis felt herself grin.

"Then what are we waiting for? We have a demigod to capture."

Kaldur

Percy Jackson was more than Kaldur had expected him to be, even for a son of the sea god. Nothing could've prepared him for the feeling in his gut as he met the gaze of the true prince of the sea. Nothing could've prepared him for the dangerous aura that seemed to ooze from the demigod's very being. And in the name of everything and everyone Kaldur had ever known and loved, nothing could've prepared him for just how sharp Jackson's sword looked up close.

"You know, Ra's warned me there might be interference." The boy spoke. His voice was raspy and weak, like he'd spent the last two months scarfing down spoonfuls of broken glass. "What he didn't mention was that it would be so… Underwhelming."

"Perseus Jackson." Kaldur called out over the wind. His eyes lingered warily on the edge of Percy's sword. "We've come here at the request of your cousin, Diana. We do not wish to fight you. We only want to see you safely returned to her side."

The demigod tilted his head curiously.

"Diana?" He murmured. Her name was soft, almost inaudible on his lips. Like the idea of family, of someone daring to care, was foreign to him.

"Yes." Artemis answered. "She's worried about you. She wants you to come home. To Themyscira."

"Home…" Percy parroted. His voice was even softer still.

Artemis seemed to take that as a good sign. Lowering her bow, the archer stalked toward the demigod, one hand tentatively raised as if she were approaching a baby deer. Jackson eyed the hand as she approached, and something about his eyes set Kaldur on edge. Something that he should've noticed from the start. The eyes that had looked so vibrant and lively in the pictures he'd seen at the mission briefing were not the same eyes he was looking at now. These eyes were empty. Dull. Unfeeling. Whoever was behind that gaze, it was decidedly not Percy Jackson.

"Artemis, wait!" Kaldur cautioned, but it was too late. Artemis' fingers touched Percy's and-

"The league is my home." Jackson snarled.

Forming from nowhere, a tendril of water slithered up Jackson's arm and shot towards Artemis. It wrapped her hand in a tentacle-like grip and tugged her close, bringing her within striking range before Kaldur could blink. Jackson flung his head forward as Artemis stumbled closer, landing a vicious headbutt that made Kaldur's head sting. Dazed, Artemis stood no chance of dodging the follow up kick to her knee. The attack landed, crippling her forward leg. The limb buckled beneath her, and suddenly she was crumpling. She landed head-first, colliding with the train with a massive clunk. If the headbutt wasn't enough to do her in, the ground certainly was. She was out cold, and now Kaldur was alone.

"Brainwashed or not," Kaldur hissed, using his water-bearers to summon a pair of large hammers. "You will pay for that."

Percy rolled his eyes.

"Tough one, are you? How cute," Jackson taunted. "But the Shadows will still break you."

Kaldur didn't give him the chance to throw out any more jibes. With a snarl, he launched himself at the demigod. He attacked first with a heavy overhead blow. Percy raised his sword to intercept, and Kaldur was already following through with a low swing from his off-hand hammer. It should've worked. A feint to keep Percy's weapon occupied, and a secondary attack to take out his knee. It was perfect. And yet, as soon as his hammer got within an inch of Jackson, it stopped dead in its tracks. It felt as if the water itself was fighting against him. Worse, it was winning.

"They sent you after me with water? You can't be serious." Percy drawled.

And then it was the demigods turn. Kaldur's hammers suddenly dissipated, leaving him weaponless, and with nothing to show for it but a pathetically small puddle of water at his feet. Kaldur's heart dropped. Suddenly he was unarmed, staring down the edge of Percy's blade with nothing but Black Canary's hand-to-hand training and his wits to save him. Against most, that would be enough, but right now… He wasn't liking his odds too much.

"I hope you'll forgive me if I don't play with my food." Percy said with a smirk. "It's just that Ra's taught me manners, and I'd hate to disappoint him."

Percy stepped closer, thrusting his sword directly toward Kaldur's gut. Kaldur sidestepped the blow – though only barely – before darting a hand out and striking Percy's knuckles with all his strength. He meant to disarm the demigod, but instead all he did was alter the thrusts course a bit. Unfortunate, but not the end of the world. A stab averted was another second for his luck to turn.

Kaldur made to press the advantage Percy's whiff had provided, only it hadn't provided him one. The demigod had recovered unnaturally fast, and now they were back to square one. Then, Percy did something… unorthodox. Something no one would ever do when they had a deadly weapon and their opponent didn't. He threw his sword.

It wasn't even much of a throw, really. More of a loft. A tiny underhanded toss that sent his sword floating toward Kaldur hilt first. It shouldn't've worked, but somehow the shock of it all had reduced Kaldur to his first instinct when something was thrown at him. To catch it. Suddenly he was distracted, swiping a sword out of the air, and that's when Percy struck.

It was a simple punch to the gut. Only delivered with enough force to make Superboy wince. The pain forced Kaldur to double over, wheezing as the air – and probably a lung or two – shot out of him. Unfortunately, his natural reaction to the pain in his gut put his face directly in line with Percy's knee, and he paid dearly for it.

One bone-crunching strike to the face later, and Kaldur was laying beside Artemis' falling form. He was barely conscious, but he was lucid enough to do one thing. Desperately, he started to reach toward his fallen friend. His hand extended, fingers clawing for one of the tools held in the utility belt on her waistline. He was so close. He made contact, his fingers curled, and then-

"Ah, ah, ah." Percy tutted. "I was going to keep you both, but if you're not going to play nice…"

With one booted foot, Percy gave Artemis' unconscious body a push. Realizing what was happening, Kaldur reached out to catch her, but it was too little too late. She slid toward the edge of the train, and then she was over the ledge and tumbling out of sight.

"Well, this was boring." Percy said, shaking off Kaldur's grip like he was kicking ice from a car's wheel well. "Nothing to be done about it, I suppose…"

Then he raised his foot and stomped Kaldur's consciousness away.

AN:

Yo. Bet you weren't expecting this from me. Not one but two uploads? Crazy, right? Anyways, as you can see, this is a slightly different take on introducing Percy to the team than you usually see. I'm sure there are plenty of questions, most of which will be answered eventually. Which brings me to my next point. Updates.

As of now, school is honestly insane with the workload. This and my other upload of the day are the only things I've been able to write at all since finishing PTB. I'm unsure when things will change, so for now treat these two updates as placeholders/proof of concept/reminders that I'm alive. I have no idea when updates will come to either of them, but know that I have the full intention of finishing them at some point, though the matter of when is a huge question even for me. That's all I have for now though. In the meantime, checkout my previous work, and manifest fewer homework assignments for me. I hope to see you again sooner rather than later, but until that next time,

Peace