Beyond the Limit (DC)

| Gotham City - September 22

Artemis awoke to find the bed beside hers empty, an Alice's Adventures in Wonderland poster hanging on the wall nearby. The sight drew her into memory.

Six years earlier, her older sister—Jade—had been shoving clothes into a bag, preparing to leave. Artemis had begged her to stay. Jade had told her their mother would not be getting out of prison any time soon, and she was not going to keep living under their father's roof. Artemis had pleaded, desperate to hold the family together. For a moment, Jade had hesitated.

Her mother's voice suddenly pulled Artemis back to the present, urging her to get ready for her first day of school. Instead, Artemis burrowed back beneath the covers.

**

The morning sun caught the Gothic spires of Gotham Academy, throwing long shadows across the pristine courtyard. Artemis adjusted the hem of her new uniform skirt, feeling the weight of the school crest on her blazer. Her mother had insisted she accept the Full Wayne Scholarship—had said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She had not wanted to admit it, but walking through the wrought-iron gates had felt like stepping into another world.

"Artemis, right?"

The voice belonged to a cheerful blonde in a matching uniform. She extended a hand with the easy confidence of someone who had been born into those halls. "I'm Bette. Your Student Liaison. Basically, your tour guide and lifeline today."

Artemis gave her a quick smile. "Thanks."

They had not taken more than a dozen steps before a voice cut through the chatter of the courtyard.

"No way. You're just gonna bail like that? What about us?"

"You're making it sound like we were dating. And I already said sorry. But when you get as smart as me, school becomes boring. We'll still hang out, bro."

Artemis froze. She knew that voice.

She turned her head and spotted Joseph, strolling in casual clothes alongside another boy in the Gotham Academy uniform. She blinked. Joseph?

She had never thought of him as the private-academy type. And from the sound of it, he wasn't—at least, not anymore.

The other boy groaned. "Don't call me bro, you traitor! First Jackson, now you. All my friends are abandoning me."

Bette turned at the sound. "Hey, Andrew. Joseph."

Andrew's posture changed instantly at the sight of her—slouch gone, voice casual, almost bored. "Oh. Hey, Bette."

Boys, Artemis thought.

Joseph spotted her. "Sup, Artemis."

"Hi," she replied, keeping her tone even.

Andrew raised an eyebrow. "You know her?"

"Yeah. She's my neighbor."

Bette eyed Joseph's clothes. "Why aren't you in uniform? Leaving the school?"

"I'm actually done with school," Joseph said, grinning. "Graduated. Got the diploma and everything. Just came from the guidance counselor's office—finalized the last of it after taking the Gotham Graduation Proficiency Assessment. Knocked out a few online courses for credits too."

Artemis tilted her head. So he was smart. She thought briefly of Wally—also a science whiz—and immediately caught herself. Why was she even thinking about him?

"Well, that's a shame," Bette said. "You'll come to my birthday party this year too, right? Have you been working out? You look more handsome. Maybe this time you won't get rejected." She laughed.

Joseph laughed too. "Nah, I've got a girlfriend now. But I'll see if I can make your party." He glanced at Andrew. "Catch you later." He leaned in to whisper something in Andrew's ear.

"Bet," Artemis heard Andrew say.

Joseph waved and walked off, disappearing into the stream of students.

Before Artemis could move on, a dark-haired freshman darted up, snapped a quick selfie with her, and said, "We'll laugh about this someday." Without waiting for a reaction, he vanished into the crowd.

"What—who was that?" Artemis asked, bewildered.

Bette rolled her eyes. "Just a freshman. Ignore him."

Andrew reappeared, standing stiffly, as if he had spent the last thirty seconds hyping himself up. "Uh, hey. If you're free tonight, would you let me take you out?"

Bette's smile softened. "Okay. Sure."

**

| Mount Justice – September 22

In the hangar, M'gann and Conner were locked in a kiss when the Sphere rolled between them with a series of sharp beeps.

M'gann glanced at it in annoyance, figuring it was jealous.

A moment later, footsteps approached. Kid Flash burst in, rubbing his hands together. "Hey! You guys working on the bike? I can help."

Superboy and Miss Martian exchanged a look, then patted the Sphere in silent thanks.

**

In the mission room, Red Tornado stood with Aqualad.

"You have shared this theory with no one else?" Tornado asked.

Aqualad hesitated. "I am not certain there truly is a mole in the Team. And if there is, I do not wish to alert them. Should I tell Batman? Or Starfire since she is the leader?"

"Batman generally expects the Team to solve problems internally," Tornado said. "But it is your prerogative."

"Now if you'll excuse me, I must go for monitor duty at the Watchtower. Green Arrow has in his words, 'a hot date' with Black Canary so I have to cover for him despite being exempted from it due to my mentoring role."

With that, Tornado stepped into the zeta-tube and vanished, leaving Aqualad deep in thought.

**

| Gotham City – September 22

That night, Artemis stepped into the dim glow of a streetlamp, her boots clicking against the cracked sidewalk. Ahead stood a nondescript phone booth—the zeta teleporter hidden in plain sight. She reached for the door.

"Funny seeing you here."

She spun to find Robin leaning casually against the booth, smirk firmly in place.

"Shouldn't you be in Star City?" he asked. "Where your uncle, Green Arrow, lives?"

Artemis kept her voice even. "I came for my cousin's spelling bee."

Then she winced internally. That was a weak excuse.

Robin tilted his head, mock-serious. "Of course you did."

He stepped into the booth. She followed.

The world dissolved in a flash of light.

When Artemis's vision cleared, she was standing in chaos. The Cave was ablaze—flames licking the walls, smoke curling toward the ceiling. Sirens wailed in the distance, but the attackers were nowhere to be seen.