The training room at Mount Justice hummed with holograms of moving targets. Robin flipped through them like they were toys. Superboy slammed his fists into a training drone, reducing it to scrap. Wally zipped around a laser grid, narrowly dodging the beams.
Damien stood off to the side, stretching, his jacket tossed aside. He was in a tight black training shirt, every line of his lean muscle visible as he rotated his shoulders.
Black Canary circled the floor like a hawk. "Today's about coordination," she said. "Yesterday you stopped a shipment, but you didn't stop Sportsmaster. That was a team failure. Fix it."
Her eyes flicked to Damien. "And that includes our new member."
Damien nodded, expression calm. "Understood."
Wally snorted. "Mr. Perfect probably doesn't think he needs it."
"Mr. Perfect thinks you talk too much," Damien replied smoothly.
"Enough," Canary barked. "Pair off. Robin with Kid Flash. Superboy with Miss Martian. Artemis with CrossCut. We're running drills."
Artemis raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Damien only offered her a small nod.
The simulation began — a holographic cityscape full of hostiles. Robin and Wally zipped into action, bantering as they went. Superboy charged ahead like a tank, Miss Martian covering him with shields.
Damien and Artemis moved more cautiously, clearing alleys with precision.
"You're not bad," she muttered as she loosed an arrow.
"You either," he said, vibro-gauntlet slicing a drone clean in two.
They reached a choke point — too many drones. Damien pivoted low, spun into a sweeping kick, then sprang off a wall to slice another drone in midair. Artemis covered his back with arrows, each one exploding with flash powder.
But then Wally zipped through their line of fire, knocking Artemis' aim off. Her arrow detonated near Damien, sending him rolling.
"Hey!" Damien barked, coming up in a crouch.
"Watch where you're aiming!" Wally shot back.
"I was," Artemis snapped. "You're the one who—"
The simulation alarm cut through the shouting. "Exercise failed," an AI voice intoned.
Black Canary stepped forward, unimpressed. "You can't win in the field if you're at each other's throats here."
Damien straightened, brushing dust from his shirt. "Noted."
But as Wally walked off muttering, Artemis glanced back at Damien, conflicted.
Later, the zeta-tube flared as Batman appeared. His presence silenced the room instantly.
"Another shipment," he said. "This one bound for Santa Prisca. Sportsmaster isn't working alone."
Robin's face hardened. "Bane's territory."
"Correct. Intel says The Light is arming Bane's operation," Batman continued. "Your objective: intercept and destroy the shipment." His eyes cut to Damien. "Second objective: assess CrossCut's ability to work under pressure."
Wally whispered to Robin, "He's on double-secret probation."
Robin smirked.
Damien simply nodded. "Understood."
The humid night air clung to them as the Bioship hovered above the jungle. Miss Martian cloaked it before they dropped into the underbrush.
"Stay low," Aqualad ordered. "We move as one."
Robin led with his holo-map. "Dock's just ahead."
They crept forward — Damien near the front, eyes scanning. He moved like he belonged there, quiet, efficient, but not overstepping.
Up ahead, the glow of floodlights revealed a small army of Bane's men loading crates. Bane himself stood at the pier, muscles bulging under his vest, venom tubes snaking into his body.
"Great," Wally muttered. "Mr. Musclehead squared."
The Team sprang into action. Superboy barreled into Bane like a freight train. Robin took the high ground, raining down batarangs. Miss Martian disarmed guards telekinetically.
Damien and Artemis moved as a unit. She loosed an arrow that pinned a gun; Damien darted forward, slicing the weapon in two before the man could recover. He vaulted off a crate, spun midair, and cut through a drone's power core.
Bane roared, injecting more venom, tossing Superboy aside. "Weaklings!"
Damien darted in low, vibro-blade humming. He struck at Bane's venom tubes, slicing one free. Green fluid sprayed.
Bane howled, swinging a massive fist. Damien backflipped out of reach, landing beside Artemis.
"You cut his supply," she said, eyes wide.
"Let's finish it," he replied.
Artemis fired a rope arrow, tangling Bane's legs. Superboy surged back in, smashing him into the dock. Robin hurled an explosive batarang that sent the remaining crates into the sea.
Mission complete.
Batman stood waiting again.
"You intercepted the shipment," he said. "And you're learning to coordinate." His eyes flicked to Damien. "Better."
Damien inclined his head. "Thank you."
Wally muttered, "Teacher's pet."
But this time, Artemis spoke up. "He saved my life out there. He's not just showing off."
That silenced Wally.
Robin smirked. "Told you he wasn't just flash."
Superboy gave Damien a short nod — his version of approval.
Aqualad smiled faintly. "You are becoming one of us, CrossCut."
Damien exhaled slowly. "Good. Because I plan to be."
He walked past them, heading for the training room. For the first time, the Team's eyes followed not with suspicion, but with curiosity.
Behind them, Batman's voice was low. "He's effective. But keep watching."