**1745 HOURS - MOUNT JUSTICE BRIEFING ROOM**
Connor stood in the briefing room reviewing holographic displays of their new team member's file, his quantum-level consciousness processing the information with typical analytical intensity while trying not to be *too* obviously invasive about scrutinizing someone who hadn't even arrived yet.
**ARTEMIS CROCK - PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT**
- Age: 17 (civilian cover)
- Skills: Expert archery, hand-to-hand combat (multiple disciplines), tactical infiltration
- Background: [REDACTED BY BATMAN - NEED TO KNOW BASIS]
- Family: [REDACTED - SECURITY CONCERN]
- Threat Level: Unknown
- Recruitment Status: Probationary - Batman vouched for character assessment
"That's a lot of redactions," M'gann observed, reading over Connor's shoulder through their telepathic link. "Batman really doesn't want us knowing about her background before we meet her."
"Which suggests complicated family situation that could compromise trust if disclosed prematurely," Connor's tactical analysis provided automatically. "Standard protocol for recruits with criminal connections or family members in villain community."
"Connor, you're doing the thing again where you analyze new teammates like they're potential security threats," Dick said from where he was organizing the briefing materials. "Maybe try approaching this with 'welcoming new friend' energy instead of 'calculating optimal containment strategies'?"
"I can do both simultaneously," Connor protested. "My parallel processing allows for tactical threat assessment *and* friendly welcome protocols. They're not mutually exclusive."
"They kind of are when your 'friendly welcome' involves calculating how quickly you could disable someone if they turned hostile," Kara observed with amusement. "Connor, try to remember that Batman already vetted her. If he trusts her enough to recommend recruitment, that's significant endorsement."
Connor's tactical precognition was showing him probability branches for Artemis's integration, most of them relatively positive but with concerning outliers involving betrayal, hidden agendas, or family complications creating team conflict.
*[TACTICAL ASSESSMENT: 73% probability of successful integration, 18% probability of complications requiring intervention, 9% probability of catastrophic trust breach]*
"Those are actually pretty good odds," Connor muttered to himself.
"Did you just calculate probability percentages for our new teammate betraying us?" Roy asked with mixture of amusement and concern. "Connor, that's deeply paranoid even by our team's standards."
"It's not paranoia if there's legitimate basis for concern," Connor defended himself. "Batman's redactions suggest family background that could create divided loyalties. Tactical assessment of potential complications is just responsible team security management."
"Or you could just meet her and judge her character through actual interaction rather than running probability simulations like she's a quantum physics problem," M'gann suggested gently.
Connor felt his parallel processing recognize the wisdom in that advice even as his analytical nature resisted abandoning systematic threat assessment. "Fine. I will meet Artemis with open mind and judge her based on actual behavior rather than hypothetical betrayal scenarios my precognition is generating. But if she turns out to be secretly evil, I'm saying 'I told you so' at least three times."
"Deal," Dick said. "Though Connor, Batman's character assessment has been accurate for literally every recruit we've had so far. His judgment is generally reliable."
"Generally reliable isn't the same as infallible," Connor pointed out. "What if this is the exception? What if her family complications create situation where she's forced to choose between team loyalty and family obligations?"
"Then we'll handle it with compassion and support rather than assuming betrayal," Kara said with the kind of firm wisdom that made Connor remember she'd navigated her own complicated family dynamics. "Connor, people with difficult backgrounds deserve opportunity to be judged by their choices rather than their origins. That's literally the principle our entire team is built on."
Connor felt his enhanced emotional processing recognize that Kara was absolutely right—he was a Cadmus clone, M'gann was a White Martian, Kara was decades-displaced Kryptonian refugee. Their entire team consisted of people whose backgrounds could have defined them as threats but who'd chosen to be heroes instead.
"You're right," Connor admitted. "I'm being unfair by assuming Artemis's background creates automatic security concern. I should judge her by her actions and choices rather than running paranoid probability assessments about hypothetical betrayals."
"Character growth!" Wally announced from where he'd been vibrating impatiently near the entrance. "Connor's learning to trust people before calculating optimal containment strategies. That's progress."
"I can still calculate containment strategies," Connor clarified. "I'm just not leading with them as primary analytical framework. My tactical awareness maintains threat assessment protocols regardless of my conscious intentions."
"Baby steps," M'gann said warmly through their telepathic link.
The Zeta-Tube announced new arrival: "ARTEMIS - B07"
Connor's enhanced senses immediately cataloged details as Artemis Crock entered the briefing room—blonde hair in practical ponytail, athletic build suggesting serious training background, confident movement patterns indicating combat experience, and most notably, the subtle tension in her posture that suggested someone expecting potential hostility despite Batman's introduction.
She was carrying a compound bow that Connor's technological interface immediately identified as custom-designed with sophisticated targeting systems and what appeared to be self-reloading mechanism for specialized arrows. Impressive equipment for someone their age.
"Hi," Artemis said with carefully controlled casual tone that Connor's empathy detected was covering significant nervousness. "I'm Artemis. Batman said you'd be expecting me?"
"Welcome to Mount Justice," Dick said, stepping forward with his characteristic friendly leadership presence. "I'm Nightwing—" he gestured to each team member, "—Superboy, Miss Martian, Supergirl, Aqualad, Arsenal, and Kid Flash. We're glad to have you."
"Thanks," Artemis replied, her posture relaxing slightly at Dick's welcoming tone. "Batman mentioned this was probationary recruitment? That I'd need to prove myself before official membership?"
"Standard protocol for all new members," Kaldur explained with diplomatic calm. "We conduct joint training exercises, mission simulations, and team integration assessments. It's less about proving combat capability and more about ensuring personality compatibility and establishing trust foundation."
"Makes sense," Artemis agreed. "I wouldn't trust someone immediately either if they showed up with complicated background and family connections Batman won't disclose for security reasons."
Connor felt his tactical precognition spike at Artemis's direct acknowledgment of her situation. She knew the team would have questions about her redacted background, and she was addressing it preemptively rather than pretending the elephant wasn't in the room.
That was actually smart tactical communication—acknowledging potential concerns before they became problems.
"We've all got complicated backgrounds," M'gann offered warmly. "Connor's a Cadmus clone, I'm a Martian pretending to be human, Kara's a displaced Kryptonian refugee. Complicated is kind of our team specialty."
"Plus I'm the son of a supervillain," Roy added with casual acceptance. "My father's serving multiple life sentences for weapons trafficking and murder. So yeah, family complications are something we understand."
Artemis's posture relaxed significantly at the team's casual acknowledgment of their own complicated origins. "That's... actually really helpful to know. Batman said you'd be understanding, but I wasn't sure if that meant 'tolerant' or actually 'we get it because we're in similar situations.'"
"Definitely the second one," Kara confirmed. "Though Artemis, we should clarify—understanding complicated backgrounds doesn't mean we won't have questions or concerns. It just means we're willing to judge you by your choices rather than your family connections."
"Fair enough," Artemis agreed. "What kind of questions?"
Connor felt his analytical mind wanting to immediately launch into tactical interrogation about family loyalties, potential conflicts of interest, and contingency protocols for if her background created complications. But M'gann's gentle telepathic reminder about approaching with trust rather than suspicion made him pause.
"Maybe we start with the easy stuff," Dick suggested diplomatically. "Like your archery training. That's seriously impressive equipment—custom design?"
Artemis's expression shifted to something approaching pride. "I've been training since I was six. Started with traditional recurve bow, moved to compound at twelve, built this—" she gestured to her bow, "—last year with help from some contacts my dad had before his incarceration. It's got targeting assist, arrow variety loader, and stability systems that compensate for wind and movement."
"That's remarkable engineering," Connor said, his technological interface analyzing the bow's systems with professional interest. "The targeting algorithms are sophisticated—did you program them yourself?"
"Most of it," Artemis confirmed, seeming pleased that someone appreciated the technical aspects. "I'm decent with programming, not quantum-level genius or anything, but enough to customize systems for my specific combat style."
Connor felt warmth at the compliment that wasn't quite accurate—he wasn't actually quantum-level genius at programming, he just had quantum-level technological interface that made complex systems trivially easy to manipulate. But Artemis didn't need to know that detail yet.
"We could compare notes," Connor offered. "I work with advanced systems integration—might be able to help optimize your targeting algorithms."
"That would be awesome," Artemis said with genuine enthusiasm. "Though I should warn you, my programming style is... let's call it 'functional chaos.' It works, but it's not pretty."
"Functional chaos is still functional," Connor replied. "Beauty is less important than effectiveness for tactical equipment."
"Okay, you two can nerd out about programming and equipment modification later," Wally interrupted with characteristic impatience. "Right now we should probably do the standard new member integration thing where we show Artemis around Mount Justice and explain team protocols?"
"Agreed," Dick said. "Artemis, Mount Justice serves as our headquarters and training facility. Some team members live here full-time, others maintain civilian residences and come for operations and training. You're welcome to either arrangement."
"I'll be living here," Artemis said without hesitation. "My civilian housing situation is... complicated. Batman said Mount Justice has residential quarters that would work better than trying to maintain cover while living with family."
Connor's tactical assessment immediately flagged that statement as significant—Artemis's family situation wasn't just complicated background information, it was actively problematic enough that she needed to separate from it for operational effectiveness.
*Don't analyze her family dynamics,* M'gann transmitted through their telepathic link. *Just accept that she's dealing with something difficult and offer support rather than interrogation.*
*I'm not analyzing,* Connor protested. *I'm just noting that—*
*You're absolutely analyzing. I can feel your parallel processing spinning up probability assessments about family complications. Connor, trust first, tactical assessment later.*
Connor felt his consciousness reluctantly agree that M'gann was right. Artemis deserved opportunity to integrate before he started running security protocols on her family connections.
"We'll get you set up with quarters after the tour," Dick said. "Artemis, one thing you should know—this team operates with significant independence from Justice League oversight. We handle missions that require specialized approaches, but we're not just League junior division. We make our own tactical decisions within strategic framework Batman provides."
"That's actually perfect," Artemis said with obvious relief. "I work better with operational autonomy rather than rigid command structure telling me exactly how to execute every tactical decision."
"Then you'll fit right in," Kaldur observed. "Though Artemis, autonomy comes with responsibility. We trust each team member to make sound judgment calls, which requires confidence in each other's character and capabilities."
"Which is why probationary period exists," Artemis finished. "You need to see that I can make good decisions under pressure before extending full trust. Makes sense."
The tour proceeded with practiced efficiency—Dick and Kaldur showing Artemis the training facilities, briefing rooms, equipment storage, and residential quarters while the rest of the team followed along contributing commentary that ranged from helpful (Kara explaining the advanced holographic combat simulators) to less helpful (Wally's enthusiastic description of the kitchen's industrial-grade coffee maker that could brew enough caffeine to power a small city).
Connor found himself observing Artemis with analytical interest that wasn't quite tactical assessment but wasn't quite just friendly curiosity either. She moved with combat-trained grace that suggested serious martial arts background, her questions showed tactical awareness and strategic thinking, and her interactions with team members displayed social intelligence that made Connor's enhanced empathy detect genuine effort to make positive impression rather than just going through recruitment motions.
*She's trying really hard to fit in,* M'gann observed through their link. *Her emotional signature shows anxiety underneath confident exterior. She wants this to work out.*
*That's actually reassuring,* Connor transmitted back. *If she was secretly planning betrayal, she'd probably be more relaxed rather than anxious about team acceptance.*
*Connor, that's still tactical analysis of potential betrayal scenarios.*
*It's tactical analysis that *supports* trusting her though. That's progress.*
M'gann's mental laughter was warm and affectionate. *I suppose that is progress. You're using your paranoid analytical tendencies to argue for trust rather than suspicion. Baby steps.*
The tour concluded at the residential quarters—individual rooms that provided privacy while maintaining easy access to common areas and operational facilities. Artemis's assigned quarters were next to M'gann's, which Connor's tactical awareness approved of for integration facilitation purposes before he reminded himself that he was trying to be less tactically paranoid about everything.
"This is actually really nice," Artemis said, surveying the space with obvious appreciation. "Significantly better than my civilian housing situation. Batman wasn't exaggerating about Mount Justice providing good living conditions."
"We've worked to make it feel like actual home rather than just operational facility," M'gann explained. "Common areas are available for team activities, but residential quarters provide privacy when needed. Plus the kitchen is fully equipped if you like cooking or just eating food that doesn't come from tactical ration packages."
"Cooking sounds amazing," Artemis said. "I basically survive on takeout and whatever processed food requires minimal preparation. Actual home-cooked meals would be a nice change."
"M'gann's an excellent cook," Connor offered. "She makes comfort food that's actually comforting rather than just nutritionally adequate."
"I'd love to learn," Artemis said with genuine enthusiasm. "I've never had opportunity for domestic skills like cooking. My training focused more on combat effectiveness and tactical operations than household management."
"Then we'll teach you," M'gann said warmly. "Team cooking nights are good for bonding and also for preventing Wally from ordering pizza every evening because he claims cooking takes too long."
"I heard that!" Wally called from down the corridor. "And for the record, pizza is efficient nutritional delivery system that requires zero preparation time. That's tactical meal planning!"
"That's laziness disguised as tactical thinking," Roy corrected from where he'd been helping Artemis organize her equipment. "Wally, you order pizza because you don't want to spend twelve minutes cooking when you could spend those twelve minutes eating pizza."
"Exactly! Efficiency!"
Connor felt his analytical mind wanting to generate statistical analysis of optimal meal preparation efficiency versus nutritional delivery speed before he consciously chose to just appreciate his teammates' comfortable banter rather than turning everything into optimization problem.
*That's progress,* M'gann observed through their link. *You almost let a conversation happen without statistical analysis.*
*Almost counts, right?*
*Baby steps.*
---
**1830 HOURS - TRAINING FACILITY**
"Alright," Dick announced once Artemis had settled into her quarters and rejoined the team in the primary training area. "Standard new member protocol involves combat assessment so we understand your capabilities and fighting style. Artemis, you comfortable with that?"
"Absolutely," Artemis confirmed, already checking her bow's systems with practiced efficiency. "What kind of assessment?"
"We usually start with individual demonstrations against holographic opponents," Kaldur explained, activating the training room's sophisticated systems. "Then progress to coordinated exercises with team members to assess integration potential."
The holographic combat scenario loaded—multiple opponents with varied capabilities requiring tactical thinking and precise execution rather than just overwhelming force. Connor's enhanced senses tracked Artemis's performance with professional interest that definitely wasn't tactical threat assessment and was absolutely just friendly curiosity about new teammate's capabilities.
Probably.
Artemis moved through the scenario with impressive skill—her archery was legitimately expert-level, arrows finding targets with precision that suggested years of dedicated practice rather than natural talent alone. She used her bow not just for ranged combat but as melee weapon during close engagements, demonstrating hand-to-hand skills that Connor's newly integrated combat mastery recognized as multiple martial arts disciplines synthesized into personalized fighting style.
*She's good,* M'gann observed through their link. *Like, really good. Her tactical awareness and combat execution are significantly above baseline human capability.*
*Agreed,* Connor transmitted back. *Her training background is extensive—suggests professional instruction from early age rather than self-taught or casual learning.*
*You're doing tactical analysis again.*
*It's hard not to when someone demonstrates combat skills that indicate potential special forces training level. My consciousness wants to understand capability profiles for team coordination purposes.*
*Sure, "team coordination purposes." Not at all because you're running background threat assessment despite claiming to trust her.*
Connor felt his parallel processing recognize that M'gann was absolutely right—he was still treating Artemis like potential security concern rather than new friend, despite his conscious intentions to be more trusting.
The combat assessment concluded with Artemis neutralizing all holographic opponents with efficiency that impressed even Connor's ancient Amazonian battle protocols (which tried to provide tactical critique before Connor told them to please be supportive of new teammate rather than analyzing everything like they were Diana grading combat students).
"That was exceptional," Kaldur said with obvious approval. "Your tactical awareness and combat execution suggest extensive professional training. Artemis, your skills are definitely League-level material."
"Thanks," Artemis replied, though Connor's enhanced empathy detected complicated emotional response underneath casual acceptance—pride mixed with something that might have been shame or regret about the training's origins.
"Now for team coordination exercise," Dick announced. "Artemis, you'll partner with different team members on various scenarios. We need to see how you adapt to diverse combat styles and coordinate with enhanced individuals."
Connor found himself partnered with Artemis for the first coordination scenario—combined assault on defended position requiring precision ranged support and technological warfare operating simultaneously. It was designed to test whether Artemis could work effectively with someone who approached combat through entirely different tactical framework.
"Okay, so I know you've got Kryptonian abilities and quantum-level technological interface," Artemis said as they reviewed the scenario parameters. "How do you want to coordinate this? I'm guessing you take point on tech warfare while I provide covering fire?"
"That's standard approach," Connor agreed. "But Artemis, I'm curious—can you adapt your firing solutions in real-time based on dynamic tactical intelligence? Because my technological interface can provide constant updates on enemy positioning and optimal engagement angles."
Artemis's expression showed genuine interest. "You can feed me targeting data during active combat? That's incredible. Yes, absolutely I can adapt to dynamic intelligence—my training included extensive work with spotters and tactical coordinators providing real-time information."
They proceeded into the scenario with coordination that surprised Connor with its immediate effectiveness. His quantum interface mapped enemy positions and optimal firing solutions while Artemis executed precision shots that demonstrated she could process complex tactical data while maintaining combat awareness.
*She's adapting to your coordination style remarkably well,* M'gann observed through their link. *Most people require practice time before they can effectively use your real-time tactical intelligence.*
*Her training included professional spotter coordination,* Connor transmitted back. *That's not typical civilian self-defense training—that's military or paramilitary operational experience.*
*Connor, you're analyzing her background again.*
*I'm just noting that—okay, yes, I'm analyzing. But M'gann, her combat skills and tactical coordination abilities suggest she's had professional special operations training. That's important context for understanding her capabilities.*
*Or you could just appreciate that she's skilled and figure out background details through normal conversation rather than treating her like puzzle to solve through analytical processing.*
Connor felt his parallel processing grudgingly acknowledge that M'gann had a point. He was approaching Artemis like intelligence analysis problem rather than person to build relationship with.
The coordination exercise concluded successfully—Connor and Artemis had neutralized the defended position with zero casualties and optimal efficiency that impressed even Batman's tactical assessment algorithms (which Connor had absolutely not been monitoring during the exercise because that would be obsessive even by his standards).
"That was remarkable coordination," Dick said with obvious satisfaction. "Artemis, your ability to process real-time tactical intelligence while maintaining combat effectiveness is exceptional. Most operators require significant practice before achieving that integration level."
"I've had good training," Artemis said carefully, and Connor's enhanced empathy detected the deliberate vagueness—she was acknowledging her skills without revealing their problematic origins.
The coordination exercises continued with different team pairings—Artemis working with M'gann's telepathic reconnaissance, coordinating with Kara's heavy assault capabilities, adapting to Wally's speed-based tactics. Each scenario demonstrated her versatility and tactical intelligence.
By the time the training assessment concluded, even Connor's paranoid analytical tendencies had to admit that Artemis was legitimately skilled and appeared genuinely committed to team integration rather than secretly planning betrayal or maintaining hidden agendas.
Probably.
*Connor, I can feel you running probability assessments through our link.*
*I'm not running probability assessments.*
*You're absolutely running probability assessments. Your parallel processing just spiked to seventy-three percent and I can practically hear the statistical analysis happening.*
*Fine, I'm running some probability assessments. But they're trending positive! Artemis appears to be genuinely committed to heroic operations with low probability of betrayal or hidden agendas. That's good news.*
*That's progress,* M'gann transmitted warmly. *You're using your analytical paranoia to conclude she's trustworthy rather than assuming she's secretly evil. Baby steps.*
---
**1945 HOURS - COMMON AREA TEAM DINNER**
The team gathered in the common area for casual dinner that had become unofficial tradition after training exercises—M'gann had made enough pasta to feed approximately three normal families or one team of enhanced individuals with metabolisms that required enough calories to power small vehicles.
Artemis settled into the comfortable chaos with visible effort to appear relaxed despite Connor's enhanced empathy detecting significant nervousness underneath. This was her first team social gathering, and she was clearly uncertain about proper social protocols for group of teenage superheroes eating dinner together like normal people.
"So," Wally said with characteristic inability to let comfortable silence exist without filling it with conversation, "Artemis, your archery skills are legitimately incredible. Where'd you train? Because that's not recreational archery—that's professional competition or military operations level precision."
Connor felt the team's attention immediately shift to Artemis, everyone suddenly interested in the background information she'd been deliberately avoiding during the tactical assessments.
Artemis was quiet for moment, clearly weighing how much to disclose. "My family has... connections to various operations that aren't entirely legal. I learned archery from my father before his incarceration, continued training afterward through contacts who probably shouldn't be teaching teenagers advanced combat skills but did anyway because family relationships are complicated."
The team absorbed this with varying reactions—Kara's expression showed understanding sympathy, Roy nodded with recognition of similar background, Wally looked intrigued rather than concerned, and Connor felt his analytical mind immediately wanting to generate probability assessments about family loyalty complications before M'gann's gentle telepathic reminder about trusting first.
"That's actually really brave to share," M'gann said warmly. "Artemis, acknowledging complicated family background shows character rather than weakness."
"Thanks," Artemis replied with obvious relief at the team's accepting response. "I wasn't sure how you'd react to finding out my training came from criminal connections. Batman said you'd be understanding, but I was worried 'understanding' meant 'tolerant' rather than actually 'we get it.'"
"We definitely get it," Roy confirmed. "My father's a supervillain serving multiple life sentences. Family background doesn't define who we choose to be, it just makes our choices more meaningful when we choose differently than our families did."
"Exactly," Kara agreed. "On Krypton, my family had specific expectations about my future and role in society. Coming to Earth meant choosing my own path rather than following predetermined trajectory. That choice matters more than the expectations I rejected."
Connor felt something resonate with the team's casual acknowledgment of their complicated backgrounds. They weren't pretending their origins were simple or uncomplicated—they were just accepting that background didn't determine character, choices did.
"For what it's worth," Connor offered, "I was literally created as weapon by people who intended me to be their tool for eliminating Superman and other enhanced individuals. My genetic programming included psychological conditioning toward violence and obedience. I chose to be hero instead, which required actively resisting my designed purpose. So yeah, complicated backgrounds and choosing differently—that's something I understand completely."
Artemis's expression showed genuine gratitude for the team's openness. "That actually helps a lot. I was worried you'd all have uncomplicated hero origins and I'd be the only one dealing with family baggage that creates security concerns."
"Literally none of us have uncomplicated origins," Wally said cheerfully. "M'gann's a White Martian pretending to be Green Martian while maintaining human disguise and secretly being one of the most powerful telepaths on Earth. Kara's a displaced Kryptonian refugee who arrived decades too late to protect her infant cousin and is now trying to find her own purpose on a planet that wasn't supposed to be her home. Connor's a Cadmus clone with quantum-level consciousness and ancient Amazonian battle protocols living in his brain that occasionally try to provide tactical dating advice—"
"We don't need to discuss my combat mastery's inappropriate tactical suggestions," Connor interrupted quickly. "That's not relevant to Artemis's integration."
"Your combat mastery provides dating advice?" Artemis asked with obvious amusement. "That's possibly the weirdest superhero complication I've heard, and I know someone who can turn into literally any shape including inanimate objects."
"It's a long story involving Level advancement and ability absorption that we absolutely don't need to get into right now," Connor said firmly. "Point is, we've all got complicated situations. Yours isn't unusual for this team."
"Plus," Dick added, "Batman vouched for you, which carries significant weight. His character assessments are generally reliable, and he doesn't recommend recruitment lightly. The fact that he brought you to our attention suggests he sees something in you that goes beyond just combat capabilities."
"He said I was wasting my potential doing solo vigilante work in Gotham and that I'd be better served with team providing structure and support," Artemis explained. "Also that working with other young heroes who understand complicated backgrounds would be better than trying to prove myself alone while dealing with family complications."
"That's very Batman," Roy observed. "Identifying someone with potential and providing framework to develop it properly. He did similar thing with me when my father's activities became too problematic for me to continue operating independently."
The conversation continued with comfortable team dynamics that gradually integrated Artemis into their established social patterns. Connor felt his analytical mind cataloging her responses, social integration style, and adaptation to team culture, but he was consciously trying to do so as friendly observation rather than tactical threat assessment.
*You're getting better at this,* M'gann transmitted through their link. *Your parallel processing is still running analysis, but it's trending toward 'understanding new friend' rather than 'calculating security risks.'*
*Progress,* Connor agreed. *Though my tactical precognition is still occasionally generating probability assessments about potential family complications creating loyalty conflicts.*
*Baby steps,* M'gann repeated with warm amusement.
By the time dinner concluded and team members began dispersing toward their various evening activities, Artemis had visibly relaxed. Her emotional signature showed she was beginning to believe the team's acceptance was genuine rather than conditional tolerance waiting for her to prove herself or reveal hidden problems.
"Hey Artemis," M'gann said as people began cleaning up, "Connor and I are planning to watch a movie later if you want to join? Nothing tactical or training-related, just casual civilian activity."
"That sounds great," Artemis agreed with obvious pleasure at being included. "What kind of movie?"
"We're democratically deciding between action thriller and comedy," Connor explained. "My combat mastery wants to analyze the action scenes for tactical accuracy which M'gann finds annoying, so comedy might be safer option."
"Your combat mastery analyzes movie fight scenes?" Artemis asked with delighted laughter. "That's simultaneously the nerdiest and most on-brand thing I've ever heard."
"Welcome to Connor Kent's neurotic analytical existence," M'gann said warmly. "Where everything from dinner choices to romantic moments gets processed through quantum-level consciousness and ancient warrior protocols that think life is tactical operation requiring strategic briefing."
"I'm working on it," Connor protested. "My consciousness is learning to distinguish between actual tactical situations and civilian experiences that don't require extensive probability assessment."
"How's that going?" Artemis asked.
"Progress is slow but measurable," Connor admitted. "I've achieved approximately thirty-four percent reduction in inappropriate tactical analysis of non-combat situations over the past month."
"He calculated a percentage," M'gann said to Artemis. "That's the most Connor response possible."
"I like him," Artemis declared. "Anyone whose brain is so thoroughly analytical that they calculate percentage improvements for reducing analytical overthinking is my kind of person."
Connor felt warmth at Artemis's acceptance—not just tolerance of his neurotic tendencies, but actual appreciation for his analytical nature. That was increasingly rare and genuinely valuable.
As evening progressed toward casual movie watching and team bonding, Connor reflected on how Artemis's integration had proceeded better than his paranoid probability assessments had predicted. She was skilled, tactically intelligent, genuinely committed to heroic operations, and most importantly, she fit naturally into team's established social dynamics.
His tactical precognition was still occasionally generating concerning scenarios about family complications creating problems, but those probability branches were becoming less prominent as his consciousness recognized that Artemis had chosen team loyalty over whatever family expectations she was managing.
*You're learning to trust people,* M'gann observed through their link as they settled in for movie watching with Artemis joining them on the common room couch.
*I'm learning that my paranoid analytical tendencies aren't always helpful,* Connor corrected. *Trust is still challenging for consciousness that wants to calculate risk probabilities for every possible outcome. But I'm working on it.*
*That's all anyone can ask,* M'gann said warmly. *Progress, not perfection.*
Connor looked at his teammates—M'gann beside him, Artemis settling comfortably into group dynamic, other team members scattered around common area engaged in various relaxing activities—and felt like maybe his analytical paranoia was finally learning appropriate boundaries.
He didn't need to calculate threat probabilities for everyone he met. He didn't need to run security assessments on new teammates before trusting them. He didn't need to treat every situation like tactical operation requiring strategic planning.
Sometimes he could just... be present. With people who accepted his neurotic analytical nature and liked him anyway.
That was progress.
Even if his combat mastery was currently trying to provide tactical analysis of the movie's opening action sequence before Connor firmly told it to please shut up and let him enjoy casual civilian activity without constant warrior protocol commentary.
Baby steps.
*[CURRENT STATUS: Team expansion successful, Artemis Crock integration proceeding optimally]*
*[PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: Measurable progress in trusting new people without excessive paranoia]*
*[RELATIONSHIP STATUS: M'gann Morse (girlfriend), strong team bonds established]*
*[TACTICAL ASSESSMENT: Team composition now optimally balanced for diverse mission types]*
The evening continued with comfortable team bonding, and Connor allowed himself to just enjoy the moment rather than analyzing every variable.
Progress.
Definitely progress.
---
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