In the days after she had met with Mandy Bowin, Wonder Woman felt a calm she had never experienced before. Though she was still uncertain about who wanted her out of Super Hero High, the question no longer plagued her. She stopped stressing so much and instead used the extra time to focus on her super hero training. After all, soon the Super Hero High’s Super Triathlon team members would be announced.

It would have been a fib for Wonder Woman to say that she didn’t want to be on the team. In fact, she wanted more than anything to represent her school in the competition. In every class Wonder Woman focused as hard as she could, asking questions, listening, taking notes. She honed her skills with her lasso, bracelets, and tiara. Wonder Woman worked and worked, and when she got tired, she rested, recharged, and worked some more. She was so exhausted at night, she slept soundly. She didn’t even hear Harley telling jokes and laughing at herself in her sleep.

Wonder Woman stopped watching the HQTV videos of herself and reading the comments. The only emails she opened were from her mother, and when an anonymous note was left for her, she handed it over to Hawkgirl or Lois, not bothering to read it.

Although she was tired, Wonder Woman had no problem getting up the morning of the team announcement. An assembly was scheduled, one that would change the lives of four of the students in the room. It usually took a couple of minutes for everyone to settle down. But on this day, no one was flying around or floating above their seats. No, everyone was where they should be and facing forward.

Onstage, the teachers sat on oversized thrones—Crazy Quilt’s idea—behind Principal Waller.

“Today we announce the members of Team Super Hero High,” The Wall began. The only sound in the auditorium was an infinitesimally tiny ping caused by a minor computer malfunction in Cyborg’s titanium circuitry system. “This designation is a high honor. Not only will those called represent the school, but their actions will be on display for the entire world, and beyond, to see.

“Team Super Hero High members, when I call your name, please join me on this stage,” Principal Waller said. There was a discernible shift in the auditorium air as she held up a sealed envelope. “Even I have not seen this final list yet.”

Wonder Woman could barely breathe.

“The first member of Team Super Hero High is…”

Wonder Woman leaned forward.

“Katana!”

The auditorium erupted in cheers. Doing cartwheels and landing on the stage, Katana gave Principal Waller a deep bow before doing the same to the teachers and then to the audience.

Wonder Woman clapped wildly for her friend, then sat down. There were three more team members, plus the alternate.

“Will Frost, please join us!” The Wall said.

The temperature dropped when Frost stood tall, surveying the audience. Wonder Woman thought she saw the hint of a warm smile on Frost’s face.

“And now, will Beast Boy make his way up here, please!” Principal Waller called out.

Shape-shifting from a boy to an elephant to a German shepherd to a gazelle, with several other animals in between, Beast Boy raised both arms in victory and blew kisses to the audience.

There was only one spot left on the team. Who would it be? Wonder Woman could hardly sit still. She looked around. Harley was bouncing up and down in her seat. Poison Ivy was twirling her long ginger locks. Bumblebee had gone from girl-sized to bee-sized and back again. Green Lantern was cracking his knuckles, and Cheetah looked miffed.

“The fourth member of Team Super Hero High is…”

Wonder Woman closed her eyes. She remembered how embarrassing it was when she thought she had been named Hero of the Month and stood up when Poison Ivy’s name had been called. She wanted to be sure not to make that mistake again.

Wonder Woman recalled her first day at Super Hero High, in this very auditorium, when she tripped while heading to the stage. That was only a couple of months ago. So much had happened since then, and…

“Wonder Woman!” Principal Waller said—again.

Wha…?

“Wonder Woman, are you just going to sit there, or will you be joining your teammates on the stage?”

Huh?

“Go, Wondy, go!” Bumblebee said, pushing her up from her seat and down the aisle.

As she stood with the other members of Team Super Hero High, Wonder Woman could not believe she was there. Harley was videotaping.

“Hi, Mom!” Wonder Woman called to the camera. She almost added, “Hi, Mandy!” but caught herself, and instead said, “Hi, Virtuoso!” knowing that her new friend was watching and would understand the code name. Wonder Woman’s heart was about to burst with pride.

“We aren’t quite done yet,” Principal Waller said, clearing her throat. “These talented super heroes you see standing in front of you were selected not only for their individual talents, but for how their skills and powers complement each other’s. The final member of the team is an alternate. However, that person’s role is no less challenging. That’s because as an alternate, they must be able to step in at any time, taking over if one of the other team members cannot compete for any reason. Not only must the alternate have their own unique powers, but they have to be able to adapt their skills and abilities to the team’s.”

Wonder Woman looked out at the audience. Everyone was sitting still. “Our Team Super Hero High alternate is…”

Who would it be? Wonder Woman searched the crowd.

“Hawkgirl!” Waller called out.

The second her friend stepped onstage, Wonder Woman rushed over to hug her. Hawkgirl seemed to be in shock.

“Congratulations to all these fine young super heroes,” Waller said. “And to all of you. Each and every one of you has powers that you may not even be aware of yet. Though you are not on the Super Triathlon team, you are all part of the team here at Super Hero High, and together we will strive to make the world a better place.”

After the assembly, the coaches let the team members jump up and down, bounce off the buildings, fly through the clouds, slice things up, and run around the world—before asking them to meet in the gym.

Without regular classes, the team had one month to focus on training for the Super Triathlon. Star Sapphire, whose costume in Crazy Quilt’s class had earned her an A+, was put in charge of the team uniforms, and Bumblebee was named weapons/equipment manager. Harley, of course, was team videographer.

Even though she wasn’t on Team Super Hero High, it seemed to Wonder Woman that wherever she went, whatever she did, Cheetah was always right there.

“It should have been me instead of you,” she hissed, motioning to her bandaged leg. Others were always around, too, such as Barbara Gordon, the team statistician. Lois Lane was doing a Web series called The High Price of Competition, featuring team members not only from Super Hero High, but from other top-ranked schools as well. And the Riddler kept showing up and joking constantly that he was the alternate’s alternate. Hawkgirl didn’t find it funny.

The students had always been closely watched, but now they were really put under a microscope. The public couldn’t get enough about the private lives, or, as Harley called her series, Super Secret Lives, of teen super heroes.

The weeks flew by. All the teammates had their challenges. Beast Boy refused to double-check his work. Liberty Belle, who was in charge of the academic portion, had to keep telling him to slow down.

When it came time for the on-the-spot super hero interview, Frost had to be coached not to freeze out the judges. During the practice A/P test, which counted for a full 50 percent in prelims, Katana was so eager to show off her skills that she would whip out unregistered swords and knives. Bumblebee had to keep a special watch on her lest she cause the whole team to get penalized.

The only person who was stellar in all three categories was Wonder Woman.

“Hey, I’ve heard that a new super hero might be joining the student body soon,” Lois said as she took notes on everyone’s progress. “Know anything about it?”

Hawkgirl stopped doing pushups. “I’ve heard a rumor that they’re from another planet.”

“That would be great,” Wonder Woman noted. “It would be fun to learn a lot from someone different.” As it was, Wonder Woman was learning how to be a triathlete. Soon she would find out if she’d succeed. The one hundredth Super Triathlon competition was looming.