Green Lantern's Protégée

37: "Why didn't you hit me first? I feel insulted."

Mount Justice

December 5, 17:04 EST

"Recognized: Artemis, B07."

"Artemis, just in time," Green Arrow grinned, "look who decided to join the Team."

Cyra watched as Artemis's features shifted from a smug tilt of her chin to a mouth fallen open in outrage, the same expression Cyra developed once seeing the redhead archer and being informed of his new decision.

"Finally!" Wally announced happily, and Cyra shot him a glare that he ignored.

The Green Lantern crossed her arms. "I'm not happy about it either," she assured her fellow blonde.

"Sure," Artemis said, her tongue coated with nonchalant venom, "the Team's been needing a real archer."

"Okay, Team, listen up," Green Arrow announced, breaking up the moment of silence from Artemis's quip, and walking over the computer, typing on it quickly. "The Dynamic Duo is on a case in Gotham but Batman gave me a heads up. Sportsmaster was spotted coming through New Orleans National Airport."

The man's photo appeared on the monitor, blond and packing with hockey gear.

"In full costume?" Zatanna questioned. "Nerve-y."

"In street clothes," Green Arrow corrected. A grainy video feed popped up of the man easily recognizable as Sportsmaster wearing a ball cap walking through metal detection. Cyra assumed his weird armor couldn't get through it. Green Arrow explained, "Recognition software picked up the I.D. Find out what he's up to."

"All of us?" Connor asked drly, motioning to the Team, consisting of: Cyra, Wally, Kaldur, Zatanna, M'gann, Artemis, himself, and the new arrival—Red Arrow, but no one liked him so Cyra didn't count it. "Seems like an overkill for a shadow job."

"Perhaps a small squad," Red Tornado suggested. "Miss Martian's camouflage abilities would be ideal."

"I thought the sidekicks—sorry—ex-sidekicks could suit up on this. Aqualad, Kid Flash, Green Lantern, and Red Arrow," Green Arrow said.

They all grinned at each other, Wally even punching the air, except for Cyra, who frowned. Artemis looked away, her foot shifting on the ground.

"Good," Connor breathed. "Stake-outs make me crazy."

"We could use the night off," M'gann added.

Cyra raised her hand. "Um, there's far too much testosterone on this team for me. Plus, four is an unlucky number. I'm out."

"What?" the Team, plus Green Arrow, all exclaimed together.

Cyra shrugged. "Just not feeling the stealth mission. I'm in a blowing things up mood, you know? And I have homework."

"When have you ever cared about homework?" Connor snorted.

Cyra gasped, a hand to her chest. "For your information, I take my studies very seriously. It's cool to stay in school, kids." Cyra wiggled a surfer sign on her hands.

"I would have thought you'd like to go beat thugs up," Red Arrow grumbled, leveling Cyra with a suspicious glare.

"What can I say?" Cyra put her hands up before sighing as if he had caught her in a lie. "Honestly, I just don't think this mission is on my level."

"Excuse me?"

Cyra went on nonchalantly, "Yeah. I'm a cosmic entity, stealth missions with some hockey player isn't really my cup of tea. Feel free to call me if you run into a real villain like Sinestro or Vandal Savage."