"Are you handing your leadership back to Nightwing now?" Lagoonboy asked Aqualad while they were waiting for the rest of the team, not really caring how rude the question seemed.

"Possibly. But we should at least give him some time to get used to the missions first. Being gone for a year, he needs refreshing." Aqualad replied. As they talked, the rest of the team started entering the mission room.

"Hey, Zee? What are you doing here? I thought you were with the Justice League now." Nightwing asked Zatanna as they walked in.

"I've been helping out the team the past year!" Zatanna smiled. Then Artemis came up next to her. Zatanna elbowed her and wiggled her eyebrows, which earned her a slap on the arm from Artemis.

"Okay. So we have a new lead on Vandal Savage. We think he is preparing to start another Light Apocalypse. Of course, they will be searching for a new partner, but without the Reach, we have no idea who else they have to choose from. Team Alpha will be on that right away. Then there's a new Earth-Mars Com-Sat relaunch. We need to be there to defend it, and, hopefully, the mission will succeed this time. Team Omega, you're in charge of that." Aqualad said. Then he turned to Nightwing, who nodded.
"Now, I will hold my leadership for a few more missions, and then I'm returning the leadership role back to Nightwing." Aqualad said. Everyone started cheering. They've all missed Nightwing, and now they're all glad he's back. Aqualad understood that, so he didn't take it personally. He knew Nightwing would make a much better leader from the start.

"Team Alpha, following Savage's lead in Iraq is Superboy, Beast Boy, Blue Beetle, Impulse, and Miss Martian. Your leader is Blue Beetle." Aqualad continued.

"Nice!" Impulse said and fist-bumped Blue Beetle.

"Team Omega, watching the new Earth-Mars Com Sat Relaunch is Zatanna, Artemis, Wonder Girl, Robin, and Nightwing. Your leader is Nightwing. The rest of you will be here with me and Batgirl researching the rest of the Light's moves. Let's go." Aqualad finished and they all dispersed.

"Yes! On Team Omega with you! And another person!" Zatanna said to Artemis and gestured towards Nightwing. Artemis smiled nervously.

Hmmm....should I do it? Should I ask him? No. Not now. Maybe never. Ever. What do I do?! I mean, we're close friends, but not THAT close.....oh man... Artemis thought to herself.

"Okay, so we don't have M'gann, so we have to go back to old-fashioned transmitters." Robin sighed and held a hand full of ear-piece transmitters.

"It's okay guys. I learned a spell that can link our minds telepathically!" Zatanna said.

"Good. Thanks, Zee." Nightwing thanked.

"So, how are we doing this...again?" Artemis asked.

"We need maximum coverage everywhere. That's basically how it worked last time. Maybe we'll do a better job." Nightwing answered.

"No one's going to die this time...right?" Robin asked.

"I promise." Nightwing answered, then they headed out, "Okay. Let's go."

                                                                                ______________________________

"This is your first time as leader, eh Blue?" Impulse asked Blue Beetle as he elbowed him playfully.

"Okay, we'll see how this will go." Blue responded as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"You'll do fine." Impulse assured him and slapped him on the back.

"So you two are back together! That's great!" Beast Boy said as he walked beside Miss Martian, who was holding hands with Superboy.

"It is great! I finally get to be with someone I've known, and I know I can be myself with." M'gann answered and smiled up at Superboy, who smiled back.

"So, Batgirl found some info about where Vandal Savage might be next. Last we saw him was after summit meeting between the Light and the Reach. That's also where we had our victory." Blue Beetle explained.

"He left with Klarion, the Witch Boy. We had no idea where he went though." Superboy added.

"That's what we have to find out. Batgirl found us a lead in Iraq, which is where we're headed now." Blue concluded.

"Great! Let's go then! We have no idea what to expect when we get there!" Impulse said. Then they took the S-Cycle and left.

                                                                ____________________________________

"With Black Manta...um...un-operational...we don't need as much coverage underwater. Besides, learning from two years ago, we'll be ready for them on land. Robin and Cassie, you two take the Bioship and secure the perimeter. Stay alert. And NO funny business!" Nightwing ordered. Robin and Wonder Girl just smiled.

"Zatanna, Artemis and I will be on land watching the rocket. Zee, is the mind link working?" Nightwing asked and turned to Zatanna.

"knil lla ruo sdnim yllacihtapelet" Zatanna said.

>>The mind link is on. << Zatanna said telepathically.

>> Good. We will not fail again. Move out. << Nightwing finished. They all went to their positions and stood ready. They weren't going to fail a second time. And they wanted to make sure that no one was going to die this time.

"I think I'll go check on the other side of the perimeter, just to be safe." Zatanna suggested and winked at Artemis, who ran over to her.

"What?! You can't leave me here with...him!" Artemis whispered.

"You'll be fine! Just, start up conversation!" Zatanna smiled.

"Etativel!" Zatanna said her spell and she flew off. Artemis clenched her hands into fists and bit her lip. Then she heard Nightwing clear his throat, and she turned to him.

"This...this mission brings back memories. Memories I've been trying to forget...having to fake your death and lying to the whole team and the Justice League, I couldn't forgive myself..." Nightwing said and looked down at his feet.

"It's what you had to do to help the team. It's not your fault." Artemis said and she put her hand on his shoulder.

"...I guess you're right...we have to continue on. We can't be moping back in the past. We have to continue on with today." Nightwing said and he smiled at Artemis, who smiled back at him. They continued keeping watch again for another few minutes. Artemis inhaled and exhaled slowly, then she gathered courage and spoke up.

"Um, Dick...can I ask you a question?" Artemis asked.

"Uh, sure. Anything." Nightwing replied, transferring his full attention to her.

"You know you've been my best friend since we first started the team..." Artemis said.

"I know that..." Nightwing replied.

"And, I just want you to know, that when the reds appeared at the cave a long time ago, I've...had feelings for you since...but I know you can get whatever girl you want, and that you have a lot of girlfriends, but...it's improper if I ask, but..." Artemis said. Nightwing stared at her in shock, then he rubbed the back of his neck and tilted his head down so he looked at the sand from the beach.

"So, I should ask, shouldn't I? It seems more proper." Nightwing said and shot her a quick smirk. Artemis looked up at him in surprise, "Artemis? Would you like to go on a date with me?" He smiled at her. She just stared at him.

"I mean, I've got to admit, yes I've had a lot of girls, and I've loved them all, but I really have had feelings for you too, and when Wally...you know...I knew that I may have a chance with you....but I didn't want to ask so suddenly, but....I guess you beat me to it." Nightwing said, then smiled.

"Wow....thanks!" Artemis beamed.

"Any time. I can pick you up later tonight." Nightwing replied. Suddenly, they heard an explosion.

>> What happened?! << Artemis asked.

>> There are mines planted everywhere here. I don't know if I can track them all, but there are definitely mines. Learned that the hard way. << Zatanna responded. Then they heard another explosion.

>> Are you okay, Zee? << Nightwing asked.

>> Yeah, I'm fine. For now. I'm tossing pebbles everywhere. Trying to locate all the mines is harder than I thought...of course I could try a spell... << Zatanna said.

>> Just, try to figure out what type of mines they are. Maybe it'll give us a lead of some sort... << Wonder Girl suggested as Zatanna flew over to where Nightwing and Artemis were.

"Ekat lla senim tuo fo eht dnuorg dna etativel meht!" Zatanna recited the spell. Then all the mines levitated out of the ground. She inspected all of them.

>> That's weird...they look like...normal military mines. There's nothing alien about them... << Zatanna said.

>> That is weird. Why would the military plant mines here? << Artemis asked .

>> Are they in on this too? After what happened the last time we did this? << Nightwing asked.

>> Wait, there's something else here. It looks like it was trying to be covered with paint, but they did a pretty bad job. << Zatanna said.

>> What does it say? << Robin asked.

>>It's a glowing symbol...the letter 'L'.<< Zatanna described.

>> Weird... okay. We need to bring it back to the cave. Wait, do you here that? << Nightwing asked. They heard a strange whirring sound. They looked around cautiously, then they heard something coming out of the water: it was a drone.

>> What's that?! << Artemis asked.

>>Don't know, but I don't trust it... << Nightwing muttered.

>> Well, you guys take care of it! We'll watch the rocket satellite! << Robin said. Nightwing grabbed his batons and Artemis grabbed an arrow from her quiver and drew back her bow.

"Can it talk?" Zatanna asked.

"Um, hello little drone! Can you...um...talk?" Artemis asked. It didn't say anything. It just continued towards them. Only it looked like it was going around some obstacles.

"Huh, that's weird..." Zatanna said. Nightwing slowly walked up to the drone. He examined it.

"Hey guys, we need to try to take the drone. It could help us with the mission and get us another lead." Nightwing said as he kept walking cautiously towards the drone.

"Be careful..." Artemis muttered. Nightwing looked back at her and shot one of his 'don't worry' looks. He carefully walked towards it. Then it looked up at him. Suddenly,  a contraption that looked like a gun came out of the top of the drone. Then it shot a tiny rocket and the satellite.

>> Robin! Wonder Girl! << Nightwing yelled.

>> On it! << Robin replied, and he shot the little rocket.

>> EASY! << Wonder Girl said. Suddenly the little rocket burst into 10 to 20 tiny mines that all attached to the satellite and were set to explode in one minute.

>> Not so easy! << Robin replied. Then he and Wonder Girl got out of the Bioship and struggled to get each tiny mine off the rocket.

"Hurry, Nightwing! Get it!" Zatanna shouted as the drone slowly made its way back to the water. Nightwing threw a birdarang at it, but it didn't stop working. Instead, it turned back to the three of them. Then it beeped. Suddenly, there were a bunch of red blinking lights surrounding them. Their eyes grew wide.

"Run!" Artemis yelled. They ran, but barely made it. Except for Nightwing, who got caught in the explosion.

"NIGHTWING!!!" Zatanna and Artemis screamed. They ran back through the smoke looking for him. They finally found him laying on the sand unconscious. Then they saw the drone still making its way to the water. Artemis took a special arrow and shot it at the drone. Once it made contact with the drone, the drone immediately shut down and was dysfunctional. Then she ran over to Nightwing.

"Nightwing...stay with me..." Artemis muttered.

>> What happened down there?! << Robin asked.

>>Get the Bioship down here. NOW." Zatanna ordered.

"Etativel!" Zatanna said her spell and levitated Nightwing into the Bioship once Robin and Wonder Girl got there.

"Why did this have to happen again?!" Robin asked.

"We need to get him to the hospital...now." Artemis said as she stayed close to him the whole way back.

-To be continued-

Sorry there just has to be a part 3! I already pre-wrote these episodes, and I guess I wrote them to be too long...sorry!

Does Nightwing survive? Is he dead? Find out in part 3!

Hope you enjoyed!

Please leave comments and constructive criticism!