Chapter 9 – "Team Dynamics"
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The sound of sneakers hitting the mat echoed across Mount Justice's training room. Gwen ducked under Kid Flash's punch, flipped him with a clean hip throw, and stepped back just in time for Miss Martian to come at her from above.
"Sorry, Ghost!" M'gann called as she swung downward.
"Don't apologize mid-punch!" Gwen shouted back. She dropped to one knee, caught Miss Martian's wrist, and rolled her over her shoulder.
The redhead floated back up instantly, grinning. "You're really good at this!"
Gwen smirked under her mask. "You should see me on a good day."
Weaver-12's voice hummed quietly in her ear.
> "Observation: Your reaction speed has increased by 8.3%. Adrenal response stable."
"Thanks, Weaver," she muttered. "Remind me to ice my back later."
Robin was next. He slid across the floor, throwing a flash pellet. Smoke filled the air instantly. Gwen's spider-sense pulsed like radar — she sidestepped a kick, caught his ankle, and webbed it to the ground before he could vanish again.
Robin coughed, waving away the smoke. "Not fair. You can see through everything, can't you?"
"Instinct," Gwen said simply.
"Cheat code," Kid Flash added, rubbing his shoulder. "I barely saw her move."
Black Canary folded her arms from the sidelines. "She's fast, but you're not working as a team. Gwen reads your moves like an open book. Don't give her the pattern she wants — change the tempo."
Aqualad nodded and gestured for everyone to spread out. "We go together this time."
Before Gwen could comment, the floor lights dimmed. The training simulation engaged, and hard-light projectors built the environment around them — a warehouse with metal scaffolds, hanging cables, and flickering lamps.
> "New simulation: urban infiltration," Weaver reported.
"Oh great," Gwen muttered. "Home turf."
The moment the countdown hit zero, Robin vanished into the rafters. Artemis climbed up the opposite side with her bow drawn. Aqualad charged straight down the center with twin water-bearers activated, while Miss Martian and Kid Flash flanked from both sides.
They were coordinating better — Gwen noticed that instantly.
She fired a web at a pipe above and swung across, landing silently on a catwalk. The training drones came out next — black and silver combat bots with red optics, moving fast and hitting hard.
Kid Flash zipped through the first wave, disarming two, but one bot caught him mid-run and sent him spinning into a crate. Artemis' arrow detonated beside it, covering him.
Gwen jumped down, wrapped another bot with her web, and slammed it into the floor. She fired an electric burst through the web line, frying its systems.
"Don't get used to me bailing you out," she called.
"Wouldn't dream of it!" Wally yelled, brushing dust off his suit.
Miss Martian phased through a wall and solidified behind two bots, slamming them together with a grunt. "Target zone clear!"
Gwen's spider-sense flared again — a sharp warning. She twisted around and barely dodged a projectile fired from above. Artemis shot the drone that fired it.
"Got your back," Artemis said, lowering her bow.
Gwen nodded. "Thanks."
From the observation deck, Canary watched with interest. "She's syncing to their rhythm faster than I expected," she said quietly.
Batman, who stood in the shadows behind her, didn't respond at first. His gaze stayed fixed on Gwen. "She adapts like someone who's done this for years."
"Or like someone who's had to survive," Canary added.
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Down below, the last drone tried to flee upward. Gwen ran across the wall, chased it mid-air, and flipped over it — her web shooters snapping twice in rapid fire. Two precise shots wrapped its limbs and slammed it against the wall.
"Simulation over," the system voice announced.
Everyone was panting except Gwen. She leaned on a crate, breathing steady through her mask.
Kid Flash flopped down on the floor. "Okay, you're officially terrifying. Do you ever get tired?"
"Sometimes," she said. "Mostly when I talk too much."
Artemis gave a small smirk at that. "You fit in better than I expected, Ghost."
Robin nodded in agreement. "Batman's been watching you since the pier incident. Guess he saw something in you."
Gwen turned toward him. "Yeah, well, he could've just said hi instead of sending his teenage army after me."
That got a laugh from Wally and even a smile from Aqualad.
From the deck, Canary pressed the comm button. "Good work, team. Especially you, Ghost Spider."
Gwen blinked. "Wait, you know that name?"
"You said it yourself yesterday," Canary replied with a small grin. "We listen."
Robin looked at her curiously. "Ghost Spider, huh? Kind of works."
Gwen shrugged. "Beats 'Ghost Girl.'"
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Later that afternoon, Gwen sat outside on the ledge overlooking the mountain's waterfall. She had removed her mask, letting the cool breeze hit her face. Her comm buzzed — a call from home.
She sighed and answered. "Hey, Dad."
"Gwen? Where are you, kiddo? You didn't come home last night."
"Uh, study group," she said quickly. "Physics. It ran late."
There was a pause on the line. "You're working too hard," he said softly. "You've been off lately. Is everything okay?"
Gwen forced a smile he couldn't see. "Yeah, Dad. Everything's fine."
"Alright. Just… be careful. Gotham's not kind after dark."
"I know," she said quietly. "I'll be home soon."
She ended the call and stared at the sky for a moment.
> "Emotional stress detected," Weaver said gently.
"Just family stuff," Gwen replied. "Don't analyze that."
> "Too late. Logged under 'emotional synchronization.'"
She rolled her eyes, but smiled faintly. "You're evolving too fast for your own good."
> "Correction: for our good."
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Down in the main hall, the team gathered again. Batman's hologram flickered to life above the table.
"Your next assignment is a reconnaissance mission," he said. "Possible Kobra activity resurfacing in Star City. Minimal engagement — observe and report."
Aqualad stepped forward. "Understood."
Batman's eyes shifted toward Gwen. "Ghost Spider, this mission will test your ability to work as part of a unit. Do not act alone."
"Yes, sir," Gwen said, crossing her arms.
The hologram faded.
Robin leaned against the wall. "You're in now, Ghost. No backing out."
She looked at him, then the rest of the team. For once, she didn't feel like she had to.
"Good," she said with a grin under her mask. "Let's see what this team can really do."