The team slowly filtered into the lounge, eyes bugging out over Wally willingly doing homework, but every time his mind started to wander the little brunette seemed to gently coerce him back to the problem. Robin didn't bother pulling out his books as he sat with them, having already completed beyond the classwork required, but M'gann was quick to invite Artemis to sit with them, the martian girl taking it as an opportunity to learn more about Earth. Kaldur watched with a careful eye as the blonde archer reluctantly added her own books to the table, her eyes darting to the speedster and the girl tucked under his arm more often then was natural while Conner merely stared at the blank TV screen. It was to this picture that Batman stalked in, announcing for them to suit up and meet him in the Training Room.
Shadowcat walked into the Training Room feeling very self-conscious in her new uniform. The black leathery fabric hugged her body while the golden v-shape falling from her shoulders to down between her legs emphasized her curves. Black boots with a little gold stripe at the top of them, soft, gold leather gloves and a gold belt completed the look. Her belt buckle was the only detail that symbolized where she'd come from. The black X surrounded by red marked her as an X-man and a mutant. The twin Adamantium katanas Logan had given her were resting against her back, their solid weight in the holster a comforting presence. She brushed her long dark curls over one shoulder, preferring to wear them loose, as she stepped into line with the rest of the team, a slight smile reaching her face at Wally's low, appreciative whistle.
The mission looked routine, fly in, do a little re-con, assess the situation and then report back to the League. It wasn't until they were on board that Wally accidentally stumbled onto a little problem. "So, I gotta say Kitkat, you're one fine looking kitty," Wally grinned as she walked past him to the only available seat, "Anyone else feel like agreeing with me here?" While everyone else shot Wally exasperated looks, Robin glanced over at their newest member, his bright eyes instantly noting the one thing everyone else had overlooked. The acrobatic hacker quickly dug in his pouches, tugging a spare mask free. "Here" the raven teen handed the mask to Kitty, "Put this on." While Kaldur, M'gann and Conner refused to wear masks, none of them actually went to school either so there was no risk of exposure. With Kitty attending school with Wally, it made the need to conceal her identity even more of priority since it wouldn't just be her life on the line if she was ever found out.
Kitty muttered out a thanks, quickly slipping the domino mask into place before checking with M'gann if it was sitting right. The martian girl beamed, glad the young girl felt comfortable enough to come to her, before nodding that it was fine the way she had it. "Aw, how come you're not wearing anything of mine Kitkat?" Wally whined, pouting at her accepting Robin's mask while M'gann steered the ship out of Mount Justice and towards their destination. "Your goggles would be too big," Kitty giggled back, glad the raven teen had a delicate face or she wouldn't have fitted his mask either. Artemis snorted, before nodding towards Kitty's weapon of choice. "You know how to use those?" the blonde asked, one eyebrow rising in a challenge. The brunette shrugged, shifting her gaze to the archer. "I guess we'll find out," Kitty replied before fixing her gaze back out the front window, leaving Wally and Robin to snicker at Artemis's livid face.
M'gann landed the craft in a small clearing letting the woods, and it's cloaking abilities to conceal it from unwanted eyes. Robin brought up his wrist computer, checking their location before leading them into the woods. The group halted by the edge of the trees, trying to find the best way in. "This is no good," Robin muttered, "I need a clearer view." Kitty glanced around, the shrubbery was so thick they could barely make out the building, let alone guard details and entrance points, before breaking in to a smile. "Or height," Kitty replied, pointing to the trees, "Flash, give me a boost." Wally stepped up to help lift her up high enough to latch on to the lowest branch, from there she proceeded to scurry up the tree, sitting up the top for a few moments before scampering back down. "What's it look like?" Kaldur asked, they needed a better grasp of the situation and by the grin on Kitty's face, she had an answer.
"The front's a no-go," Kitty told them the moment her feet touched the ground, "There's too many guards and no cover, same with the sides but it looks like there's a drainage system at the rear. If we can find a storm-water entrance we should be able to back-track using the sewer system." Kaldur nodded, one entrance was all they needed, they could fight their way out if they had to, but stealth was a must for the trip in. Robin took off, blazing a trail through the trees to the back of the building before they found an old drain large enough for them to walk in. Robin eyed the rusty old padlock holding the grate in place before grabbing his trusty lock-pick set. "I got it," Kitty told them, drawing one katana over her shoulder, ignoring the raven teen's snickers as she brought the blade down sheering the lock clean off. "It's Adamantium," she replied, stowing her weapons while staring at their incredulous faces.
Robin took point on the tunnel system, once more navigating the labyrinth with his usual ease. Finding a suitable exit, the team climbed up the cast iron rungs and burst out through the man-hole. Kaldur gave them their orders before turning to M'gann, asking the girl to link them when Kitty felt the presence of a telepath brushing against her mind. Blue eyes widened as she turned to the martian girl. "Stay out of my head," she snapped, earning her a reproachful glance from the green-skinned girl and angry glares from the rest of the team. Wally shook his head, knowing how upset they had all been when they'd first felt the presence in their minds. "It's just the way we do things Kitkat," the red-head explained, "Makes us more efficient." Kitty stepped back, her eyes still wide with what Wally could only place as fear, shaking her head repeatedly. "I don't care," Kitty bit back, "Stay out, I'll stick to comms." The last thing they saw was the brunette slipping out the door to do her part of the mission.
The mission was actually going quite well, Robin and Kitty were downloading data while Wally, M'gann and Aretmis sifted through the Store Room for evidence with Kaldur and Conner standing guard, until they realized their mission had become a hostage situation. Robin uncovered a couple of rooms flagged as Holding Rooms which turned out to be hosting scientists being held against their will. The team made to meet there and release the prisoners and had led them almost halfway to the front doors before the alarms went off.
Wally slapped a hand to his forehead as he realized they'd forgotten Kitty wasn't privy to their mind-speak. "Shadowcat? Baby?" Wally asked, silently begging her to answer, "Please tell me you can hear me." Kitty muttered a reply, her voice barely audible over the sounds of her fighting her way through the crowds. "Head to the front doors," Wally told her, breathing a sigh of relief that she was okay, "We'll meet you there." Kitty burst into the main room just as they reached the doors, the team herding the scientists towards the trees as the brunette brought up the rear.
Kitty saw the team reach the trees when the crack of a whip right in front of her face stopped her dead in her tracks. Her heart hammering in her chest drowned out the voices of her team mates begging her to run as she turned her wide blue eyes to face the thing before her. It looked like it had been human at one stage, but the only humanity left now was it's bipedal physique. Fangs and fur covered what looked like it belonged in a low-budget horror movie while a clawed hand gripped a whip that looked like an energy-conducting filament. Reversed kneecaps shifted as the beast balanced its weight for another swing at her. Kitty hadn't even realized she'd started shaking until her katanas slid from her hands, the tips stabbing into the ground.
The young heroes stood at the edge of the trees silently pleading with her to make a break for it. The moment her blades bit into the earth, Wally was off, racing to reach her before the whipe did, his body colliding with hers and sending them both sprawling just moments before the whip cracked the place she'd just been. The moment they hit the ground the rest of the team was off, M'gann flew over to Wally and Kitty, using her powers to protect them as the speedster attempted to gain a reaction from the brunette. Artemis and Robin played distraction to allow Conner and Kaldur room to get close.
Kaldur was the first to fall, the beast using his own water attacks against him, forcing electric charges back onto water boy. Artemis fell next, a lucky blow sending her flying backwards to the treeline. Conner was next, the burly lad tossed in to Robin, sending them both sprawling across the floor. "Stay with her," Wally told M'gann, as he dashed off to help his friends "Get her to safety." The martian girl tried to rouse the girl as the speedster raced around the creature, zipping this way and that to buy time for the rest of the team to get back up.
Wally soon joined the others, his bright form sailing past the brunette enough to shock her back to reality. The rest of the team looked up just in time to see Kitty throw herself at M'gann as the whip cracked down on both of them. A blinding light filled the space, indicating it had connected with something, but when the light cleared the girls seemed to have rolled just far enough away to be safe. Stretching a hand out, the green-skinned girl summoned a large rock to drop on the creature's head, allowing the others the chance to finally overpower it.
The team breathed a collective sigh of relief as Robin placed the call to Batman, the beast now bound and secured. It wasn't long before transport vehicles filled the air, bundling up everything from within the building and letting the Young Justice team finally make the trek back to their aircraft. Kitty paused, collecting her katanas before following after the group at a small distance, her head hung low. She hadn't expected that last surprise, and she certainly hadn't expected the memories it had brought crashing back to her. Maybe she wasn't ready for a team after all.
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May your thoughts and creativity flow,
Lady Ami DragonHeart
