Worst Case Scenario

Chapter 61: Comparing Notes

Bristol County, Massachusetts

December 28, 19:16 EST

"Aqualad, report" said Batman. The holographic display flickered. On one screen was Batman, still in Spain, with Green Arrow and Aquaman behind him. On the other was Captain Atom on the Watchtower. The Team, Flash and Red Tornado were sitting around the holodisplay like a campfire in the back of a van they'd been able to rent thanks to one of Batman's infamous emergency stashes. Black Canary was in the front, driving like a maniac and cursing at the evening traffic.

"Mt. Justice is without power but still secure under lockdown. We have left Superboy's Wolf to stand guard." said Aqualad. "As the Cave's zeta tubes were heavily damaged, we are currently in route to Boston in order to rendezvous with the League."

"Good" said Batman. "We believe we have a lead on the location of Kid Flash and Robin, but it's going to take some time before we're sure. Once we have a confirmed target, we'll need to move fast."

Most of the Team members seemed relieved at the opportunity to rescue their missing teammates, but the topic of discussion soon shifted to a far more depressing subject.

"What happened?" Batman asked.

"It would appear that Artemis has betrayed the Team" Aqualad sadly.

"Not possible" said Green Arrow, pushing Batman aside. "Trust me, she'd-"

"Give it a rest, Ollie" cut in Red Arrow. "We were there. We saw it with our own eyes. She's rogue. She stabbed us in the back twice in a single day."

"Explain" said Batman.

"Well, first, after we crashed, she faked a distress signal in order to lure me over to her position for an ambush" said Red Arrow.

"And it worked?" Flash asked. Roy scowled but nodded.

"She then popped up in order to help me protect Zatanna" Rocket added in. "Or, at least that's what she said. I got attacked and knocked out right afterwards, and she ran off with Zatanna, who had been rendered unconscious beforehand, so it was probably a setup."

"After we were first captured at Cape Chidley," Aqualad said, turning towards the screen, "Rocket, Robin, Red Arrow and I were confronted by Cheshire and Artemis. They claimed to be sisters, and Robin backed up their story."

"All records indicate that that is the truth" Batman said. "Artemis is the daughter of Sportsmaster and the sister of Cheshire."

"Why didn't you inform us?" Red Arrow shouted, slamming his fist on the metal floor of the van. "Why did you claim she was GA's niece?"

"Because everyone deserves a clean slate" Green Arrow said. "If you all had known about her family, that she was the child of criminals, would you all have treated her the same?"

The various Team members looked at each other but said nothing.

"Continue" Batman ordered.

"Artemis declared that she was going into her so-called 'family business' because, as the saying goes, blood is thicker than water" Aqualad said. "She also made reference to a dislike of superheroes and their hypocritical, quote, 'better-than-you' attitudes."

"That doesn't really sound like Artemis" Miss Martian said.

"Well, obviously the Artemis we all thought we knew was nothing more than a carefully crafted mask" Red Arrow spit out. Aqualad glanced at him, worried expression on his face. Somehow, Roy was taking the betrayal the hardest, even though he'd known Artemis the least. Was it because she had been at the top of his list of mole suspects?