The Young Justice team stood in the Justice League's briefing room, their expressions ranging from frustration to unease as they recounted the events of the previous night. Robin gestured animatedly, Kid Flash leaned casually against a wall, Superboy remained stoic, and Aqualad stood with his arms crossed, speaking calmly but firmly.
"We were outmatched," Aqualad admitted, his voice level but tinged with frustration. "The robots were a diversion, and we walked right into it. Then... whatever that thing was, it overpowered us."
Kid Flash chimed in, smirking despite the tension. "Yeah, 'overpowered' is an understatement. That guy moved faster than me, hit harder than Superman, and—"
"—and didn't hold back," Robin interrupted, his tone sharper. "He wasn't just strong. He was precise. Every move he made was calculated."
Superboy clenched his fists, his anger bubbling just beneath the surface. "We barely slowed him down. And then he just vanished. Teleported. Like it was nothing."
Across the room, Batman stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable as he silently reviewed footage of the battle. The faint glow of the monitor reflected in his cowl as the team continued to voice their concerns.
"We need answers," Aqualad pressed, his gaze on Batman. "Who was that? And why were they testing him there?"
Batman didn't respond immediately. Instead, his focus remained on the screen. The footage slowed to a frame-by-frame crawl as he studied Sonic's movements. Then, just as Sonic leapt to deliver a devastating blow to Superboy, Batman froze the video. There, in the corner of the screen, almost imperceptible against the creature's uniform, was an insignia.
A circle divided into five distinct sections by intersecting lines.
Batman's eyes narrowed, and he straightened. Without a word, he turned to leave.
"Hey, wait!" Robin called out, jogging to keep up with him. "You saw something, didn't you? What is it? Do you know who that was?"
"Robin," Batman said, his voice low but firm.
"But—"
"Enough." Batman's tone carried an edge that made the young hero halt in his tracks. The Dark Knight didn't even glance back as he left the room, his cape billowing behind him.
Robin scowled and crossed his arms as he returned to the group. Kid Flash raised an eyebrow. "That go how you thought it would?"
"Shut up," Robin muttered.
Before anyone could say more, Martian Manhunter stepped forward, his calm presence immediately commanding attention. "There is something else that requires your attention."
The team turned toward him, their frustration giving way to curiosity. The tall, green-skinned hero gestured to the doorway, where a girl stepped into view. She looked about their age, with red hair and a warm smile.
"This is my niece, M'gann M'orzz," Martian Manhunter said. "She will be joining your team."
"Hi!" the girl greeted enthusiastically, waving. "But you can call me Megan. I'm so excited to be here!"
Her cheerful tone was met with varying degrees of awkwardness. Kid Flash grinned and gave her a once-over. "Well, hello, Megan!" he said, emphasizing the phrase like a cheesy sitcom catchphrase.
Robin offered a polite nod. "Welcome to the team."
Aqualad smiled warmly. "It is an honor to meet you, Megan. We are glad to have you."
Superboy, however, remained silent, his jaw tight.
Megan beamed at them. "Thank you! And, um, I hope this doesn't freak anyone out, but I can communicate telepathically. Like this."
Her voice echoed softly in their minds, catching them off guard.
"Woah!" Kid Flash exclaimed, his grin widening. "That is so cool!"
But Superboy's reaction was immediate and visceral. He clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing. "Get. Out. Of. My. Head!" he roared, his voice reverberating through the room.
Megan recoiled, her smile fading. "I—I didn't mean to upset you," she said, her tone apologetic.
Kid Flash stepped between them, holding up his hands. "Easy, big guy. She didn't know."
Superboy glared at him but didn't respond.
Kid Flash turned to Megan, his tone more serious. "Look, it's not you. It's... complicated. Superboy's had some bad experiences with telepaths. The Genomorphs at Cadmus—where he was created—they messed with his mind. A lot."
Megan's expression softened with understanding. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I won't do it again unless you give me permission."
Superboy grunted but said nothing, his posture relaxing ever so slightly.
The tension lingered, but Martian Manhunter stepped forward once more. "This team is about trust and cooperation," he reminded them. "I believe you will learn much from each other."
The young heroes exchanged glances. There was still unease in the air, but there was also a shared determination.
Megan smiled hesitantly. "I'll do my best."
"And you'll fit right in," Kid Flash said, giving her a thumbs-up. "Just watch out for grumpy over there."
Superboy shot him a glare, but it lacked the earlier intensity.
As the team began to disperse, their newest member cautiously approached Aqualad. "Thank you for welcoming me," Megan said quietly.
Aqualad nodded. "We are stronger together. Remember that."
In the shadows of the Watchtower, Batman worked silently, the insignia from the footage burned into his memory.
The puzzle pieces were beginning to align, but he knew this was just the beginning.