21. Cheshire

(POV General)

Artemis being who she was began to run towards Shift's location with MM at her heel levitating after her.

-On it-

Aqua-Lad understood the message behind Shift's words and urged the Doctor to leave only for his warning to fall on deaf ears.

-No I need to stay and finish the Virus and then upload it!-

Dr. Roquette ignored Lad's pleas and then soon gave up after Shift spoke through the link.

-Understood. Artemis bringing the Shadow to your location.-

Artemis who began running with MM to Shift's location suddenly stopped and then MM gave their location away.

-We're in the main hall.-

Shift smiled under His mask and spoke aloud startling Cheshire.

"Perfect."

Cheshire caught off guard was further surprised at the man in front of her as he simply sheathed his sword away and then slammed his hand on his wrist.

And with a shining green light Shift transformed.

"Astrodacytl!"

Shift now had the form that was between both a pterodactyl and a glider. He has a large yellow beak-like mouth, green eyes, red skin, black and green clothing on his shoulders and waist, green bracers around his wrists and ankles, and small yellow retractable wings that resemble a glider in appearance which are connected to a jet pack like structure on his back.

After the transformation, Cheshire playfully asked.

"Cool look. Are you Alien at all?"

Astrodacytl simply ignored Cheshire and raised his left wrist aiming what seemed to be a hole directed at her.

Cheshire felt a sudden sixth sense and jumped out of the way as Astrodacytl fired a green energy shot. Which was first aimed at Cheshire was now hitting the floor causing a large scorch mark to take form in its place.

Cheshire after analyzing the mark was suddenly a football tackled by Astrodacytl using its jetpack over its back shooting a green energy burst for flight. While his wings provided traction in the air.

Cheshire was then knocked out through the window only to go down another floor hitting again the windows coming from the outside and then inside.

Once Cheshire connected with the second batch of windows she used all the strength she could muster and broke out of Astrodacytl's grip and somersaulted over him kicking Astrodacytl down to the ground.

"Wow I like it rough but this might be killing the vibe."

Cheshire joked to fight off the pain of some glass hitting her back mainly by using her shadow training and muscled through.

*Swoosh*

An arrow was then fired from the young archer Artemis. Whereupon fire was given back up by MM.

Cheshire swiftly dodged the arrow but she was now met with new enemies and then simply reached behind herself grabbing a smoke pellet saying.

"Later cutie."

Right before MM could react the smoke pellet had hit the ground and the smoke filled the room within seconds.

After a few seconds though MM directed the smoke out the broken window saying with a sense of remorse.

"I'm sorry I let her get away."

MM stood on the ground looking down to apologize but was met with nothing but appreciation.

"It's alright. Our mission is only to stop the Fog and protect the Doctor. So you did good, but we may have to work on your reflexes back at base."

MM at the response looked up and smiled at Astrodacytl's voice sounding like a squeaky parrot and smiled brighter saying.

"Understood."

"So this is your power?"

Artemis now joined the conversation asking with a hint of curiosity. Where before Astrodacytl could answer MM spoke.

"Yeah about that I've seen you take many inhuman Alien forms yet I've never heard of their species?"

Astrodacytl simply shrugged at MM's question and first faced Artemis who was wearing a face saying 'there's more?'

"I have the ability to transform into different Aliens."

He said sweet and simple which Artemis found suspicious but that soon subsided with MM backing him up.

"And to answer your question Miss Martian I don't know I just stumbled upon this power."

'A little lie and at the same time it isn't.' Was all Astrodacytl thought until Aqua-Lad spoke through the link MM established.

-How shall we proceed?-

Astrodacytl took a thinking posture and simply said well thought.

-Relocation-

…..

Inside the BIOSHIP Kid Flash, Robin, and SuperBoy were en route to stop the Fog.

Outside their view screen provided by BIOSHIP could see STAR labs in a destroyed state looking as if a simple gust of wind could destroy it.

"STAR lab is lost. We need their location."

Robin spoke through His com to Shift who hopefully heard his plea which He did.

…

Still in Happy Harbor though this time instead of the school. The Team was on a pier where the Doctor continued her work while being protected by Artemis.

Aqua-Lad was ser valence outside keeping track of any intruders.

"Miss Martian stay in camouflage mode and servile the area!"

As both Lad and MM proceed with the outside of the building and Artemis on the inside.

Shift was nowhere to be seen.

—-

(POV Cheshire)

After that weird fight with that guy who transformed into a weird thing. I can only assume it to be Alien.

I retreated this time but once the target tries to find the assets I'll be waiting.

That last thought didn't take long for it to become reality as I was given a new location where the target was now located.

I won't let myself be beaten twice so I'll bring some help who owe the Shadows some favors.