Caribbean Sea, June 22, 8:08 PM
The bio-ship flew above the clouds in the night sky. Within the ship, the team sat in the cockpit in silence, save for Hunter who walked to the back to change into his less colorful armor. The tension was high this is their first real mission and if they mess up the League may not send them on another. They were held for the island of Santa Prisca infamously controlled by Bane.
"We're approaching Santa Prisca." M'gann announced from the pilot's seat.
Many thoughts ran through the team's heads. Robin thought of one thing in particular.
In the cave, Batman was debriefing them on the mission. Before them stood the Dark Knight and Red Tornado. The team was still in their street clothes. They all listened intently while Wally ate his chips.
"Isla Santa Prisca, this island nation is the primary source of a dangerous and illegal neurosteroid." He explained as the holographic screen showed pictures of the island, "A strength enhancing drug, sold under the street name Venom."
They all knew what Venom is and who was behind its production. A drug lord who goes by the name of Bane. Diana had warned Hunter of Bane before. He is more than a brute, he has a tactful mind and armed men at his disposal. Justice League records state that he took control of Santa Prisca at a young age and through peaceful means. He was truly a dangerous man.
The screen was replaced with infrared pictures of the island, "Heat signatures indicate that their factory is still operating at full capacity but all shipments of Venom have been explicitly cut off." Batman turned to them, "That's where this team comes in. This is a covert recon mission only, observe and report. If the Justice League needs to intervene it will." He simply stated before turning back to the screen. Batman changed the screen to a large map of the island and two red circles appeared on the map, "The plan needs two drop-zones."
"So who's in charge?" Robin suddenly asked.
Batman and Red Tornado glanced at each other before the Dark Knight replied, "Work that out between you."
Robin smiled confidently. He had the training and the mindset of a leader.
"Drop-zone A in 30." Miss Martian stated getting Robin's attention.
Aqualad stood up from his seat. The chair sank down into the ship. He tapped on his buckled and his red shirt turned black to match his pants. He turned to the Martian. He nodded to her, "Ready."
"Putting Bio-ship in camouflage mode." She informed and the exterior of the ship became transparent.
The ship descended before flying just above the water. The floor opened a small opening large enough for Aqualad to fit through. The Atlantean dived through the hole and into the water below.
Just as Aqualad dived out Wonder Warrior walked back into the cockpit. His new armor looked more like gladiator armor. His torso was clad in black armor with a silver 'W' logo with no sleeves, he abandoned his leggings in favor of a gladiator skirt that exposed his upper legs, replaced his red boots with black ones and kept his shin guards, bracelets, lasso, and crown the same. He also had his sword and shield strapped to his back.
Kid Flash glanced at his arms and legs, "So you replace your full body armor in favor for a skirt." He laughed.
Hunter glared at the ginger, "It's called a pteruges and this armor was forged by Hephaestus himself. It could handle anything you can throw at it."
Before Wally could retort Kaldur's voice came through the come link of the ship. "Heat and motion sensors are patched, data is now on a continuous loop move in."
M'gann flew the ship over the island. Wonder Warrior looked at the jungle below. The climate, sound of the waves it all reminded him of Themyscira. The Amazon snapped out of his own homesickness and focused on the mission.
M'gann didn't miss the wave of emotion from Hunter, "Drop-zone B." She stated and the rest of them stood up. She waved her hand and zip lines grew out of the ceiling.
Robin and Kid Flash attached the lines to their belts. Wally tapped his logo and his colorful uniform turned black. Personally, Hunter preferred the black instead of yellow. The speedster turned to M'gann, "How cool is this." He boasted.
"Very impressive." She replied before she mentally turned suit into a full-bodied black suit with a red 'X'.
"Now that's impressive." Wonder Warrior retorted.
Wally looked at her with dreamy eyes before glancing at Superboy, "Hey, Supey, not too late to put on the new stealth tech."
Superboy crossed his arms, "No capes, no tights no offense."
"I couldn't agree more." Hunter added, "I prefer more functional armor." He said getting a small smile from Superboy.
"Totally works for you." M'gann commented, "I mean you could totally do good work in those clothes." She quickly added.
"Thank you." Wonder Warrior replied.
"Yea a functional skirt." Wally mumbled.
M'gann pulled up her hood and activated her own camouflage. A new hole opened up on the floor and Miss Martian and Wonder Warrior flew down quietly. Kid Flash and Robin used the zip lines to follow close behind. They all landed and noticed Superboy falling down towards them. All of them, except Hunter, dived out of the way when Superboy landed making a crater.
"Knew I didn't need a line." He declared standing up with a smirk. He then looked at Hunter who gave him an unimpressed look, "What?"
"Dude, you created a seismic event which isn't exactly helping with the covert." Robin scolded.
"Aqualad Drop-B is a go." M'gann informed through the coms.
Robin activated his holographic computer and they all gathered around him to look at the map.
"Head for the factory, I'll track your GPS and rendezvous A.S.A.P." He replied.
"Roger that." Robin confirmed and they all moved out.
Hunter took point of the group. He memorized the entire island in case of emergency. He leads them through a hidden passage behind a waterfall and a series of thick trees. They continued to walk until both Wonder Warrior and Superboy heard a few twigs breaking.
"Did you hear that?" Superboy asked.
"Yea." Hunter quickly replied.
"No." Wally replied, "Wait is this a superhearing thing?" He asked glancing at Superboy.
"You do have great ears." M'gann commented.
"Rob, now what?" Wally asked to find that his friend has disappeared. "Man, I hate it when he does that."
"Superboy, the Kid, switch to infrared. See if your being tracked." Aqualad ordered.
Wally put on his goggles and activated his infrared vision. He looked around until he saw a group of armed men, "Got a squad of armed bozos."
Superboy activated his own infrared vision and saw more men, "Two squads but they'll meet each other before they meet us."
Suddenly gunfire was heard echoing through the jungle, "Opposing factions?" Hunter wondered.
"No super hearing required now." KF stated standing up.
"Swing wide, steer clear!" Aqualad ordered.
"Roger that." Hunter replied.
"Yea, yea just as soon as I find Rob." Wally quickly said before speeding off.
Hunter sighed, "If we die it's probably going to be his fault." He stated before they ran after the redhead.
The gunfire grew louder as they followed the tracks left behind by Wally. The ran down a hill before they broke out of the tree line. One group of shooters wore regular clothes while the other wore borderline religious robes.
Hunter easily blocked the bullets the two groups fired at him. He quickly flew up before letting himself fall into the group of the five robed men. Before any of them could act Hunter picked the centerman up before throwing him into another man. He blocked the bullets when they fired at him and deflected on into another man's thigh causing him to fall over. He quickly somersaulted between the men and used his arms to push up and wrapped his legs around the man's neck and flipped back using his own weight and momentum to flip the man on his back.
Robin jumped down from a tree and easily dispatched two men, "What is wrong with you guys? Remember covert? Why didn't you follow my lead, vanish into the jungle." He reprimanded them.
"You could've put that into words earlier."
"Seriously." Wally surprisingly agreed with the Amazon as he beat down a man. He knocked the man out with a backflip kick to the chin, "We're not mind readers you know." He stated before Miss Martian telekinetically sent two men flying into a tree, "Or I'm not anyway."
"You told me I could only read the bad guys mind." She stated.
"It's a figure of speech." Hunter clarified.
One of the robed men tried to run away from the fray but Aqualad landed before him and grabbed him. His tattoos glowed and he electrocuted the man. Hunter looked around to find all the men knocked down.
"Let's tie them up and question them." Aqualad said.
After tieing them up to two trees the team began to discuss amongst themselves. "I recognized those uniforms." Robin stated, "They belong to the Cult of the Kobra."
"I am certain Batman would've mentioned it if he knew a dangerous extremist was running Santa Prisca's Venom operation." Kaldur replied.
"Agreed. And since there's clearly no love lost between the cultist and those goons I'm betting Kobra came in and tossed them out. That's why normal supply lines have been cut off." Robin deduced.
"We get it." Kid Flash stepped forward, "Kobra wanted super cultists, mystery solves. Radio Bats and we'll be home in time for-"
"These cultists aren't on Venom." Robin cut in, "Kobra's hoarding the stuff, we don't leave, not until I know why."
This quickly caught the speedsters attention, "Until you know why?" He leaned down to meet his eye.
"This team needs a leader." Robin simply replied.
"And it's you?" He asked in disbelief, "Dude you're a 13-year-old kid who ducked out on us without a word."
Robin laughed in reply, "And your a mature 15? You blew our cover first chance we got." He pointed in reply.
Hunter easily tuned the two teens out as they began to argue.
"Don't you wanna lead?" M'gann asked Superboy.
The clone shook his head, "You?"
"After the Mr. Twister fiasco?" She replied skeptically.
"You did alright." He smiled at her.
M'gann blushed but she hid it. The martian turned to Hunter, "What about you Hunter? I think you would be a great leader."
He looked up at her and shrugged, "I was trained to lead armies into war not strike teams." He explained before he glanced at the two arguing heroes, "Besides I don't think I could handle a day of being responsible for those two."
Both Superboy and Wonder Warrior heard someone else's voice. The man spoke in Spanish hoping to make them wonder what they're saying but Hunter knew the language fluently.
"Look at them argue!" One man said, "Free yourself and take them while they're distracted.""Quite!" Bane replied, "For now play along. They'll give me what I need.""Think again." Hunter whispered.
"Yea? You don't even have superpowers!" Wally pointed out getting the Amazon's attention.
"Neither does Batman." Robin argued.
"Duh! You're not Batman." The redhead countered.
"Duh! Closest thing we got!" Robin replied.
Before they could continue to argue Bane began to chuckle, "Such clever niños, but you only know half the story. Let me show you the rest get you into the factory via my secret entrance." He offered.
M'gann stepped forward and peered into his mind, "There is a secret entrance." She confirmed, "But he's also hiding something."
"Ah, ah, ah Chica, Bane is not that easy." He replied smugly.
She groaned, "He's mentally reciting football scored in Espanol. This could take a while." She turned back to the team.
"It's not complicated the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Bane explained.
"And happens when our mutual enemy is taken care of?" Hunter asked suspiciously, "We go our separate ways peacefully?" He added sarcastically.
"You want to find out what Kobra is doing with my Venom and I want Kobra gone from my island." Bane replied, "It seems our interests aline."
Hunter glanced back at the team who exchanged looks before Aqualad nodded. Hunter took out his sword, "Should you betray us, I warn you, I've taken lives before." His gaze boring into Bane.
"I believe you." The villain smirked.
With a single swing of his sword, Hunter cut through the rope.
Bane lead them through the jungle. Hunter never let his gaze leave the drug lord. It would be foolish to believe Bane is a man of his word. Should the event of his betrayal come he will easily dispatch of the villain himself.
Robing crouched down and pulled out a pair of binoculars. He saw the cultists moving crates with Kobra logos. "Look at all that product. A buy is going down but if Kobra's not selling to the usual suspects then-"
"We need to identify that buyer." Aqualad states.
Hunter and Superboy noticed Bane walking away. The two followed him as he walked up to a large rock.
"Just what I was thinking." Kid Flash replied.
"Yea, you're the thinker." Robin joked.
"Sarcasm? Dude a real leader would focus on getting answers." Wally pointed out.
Hunter smirked, "If you're deciding by that basis then you're not leader material either."
They all turned as Bane tossed a large rock aside to reveal a cave. "Answers are this way." He gestured.
The team walked up to the cave entrance, "So el luchador is our leader." KF says sarcastically earning a shove from Robin.
"And now we follow the known supervillain into a dark cave. Perfect." Hunter grumbled as he walked inside.
They followed Bane in silence. Hunter took the rear of the group in case of any sort of ambush. They stopped when they reached a bronze door. Bane used his thumbprint to unlock it revealing a small room.
Bane walked ahead and quietly opened the only door. Robin crouched under the villain and looked around for any of the cultists but found none, "All clear." He walked out ahead of the group.
They walked out after him but found no sight of the boy wonder, "Has that little fool already been caught?" Bane asked.
"No, he just does that." Kaldur replies.
"Stay put I'll get our intel and be back before the boy wonder." Kid says quickly before zooming away.
"Great chain of command." Bane commented sarcastically.
Wonder Warrior sighed, "Let's cross that bridge when we get to it."
Aqualad nodded, "We should see where they are taking the venom. Miss Martian fly ahead in camouflage and check if the coast is clear."
She nodded before becoming transparent. M'gann flew ahead looking around for any guards and luckily saw none. She landed behind a crate and visible again. She peeked out and spotted the rest and gave a thumbs up.
The three of them quickly caught up to her and ducked behind a conveyor belt. They had a perfect view of the main entrance of the factory. The cult is moving multiple crates of venom outside with forklifts.
"It's a massive shipment." Aqualad observed.
"Yea, but they're only taking new product off the line, they're not touching this venom." Superboy replied.
"Maybe freshness counts?" M'gann guessed.
"Or maybe that isn't venom." Hunter stated.
"Helicopter's coming." Superboy informed.
Hunter just now heard the helicopter, he was too focused on the sound of the forklifts. "I think the buyer just arrived. We need a vantage point." He looked up and saw a steel catwalk. He grabbed Superboy and Bane and looked to M'gann, "I got these two." She nodded before telekinetically picking up Kaldur.
They both flew up and dropped off their passengers on the catwalk above them. From here they could see who the buyer was without being found.
"Miss Martian, fly ahead again and identify the buyer." Aqualad ordered and she nodded before going camouflage and flying away.
M'gann flew right over their heads. When she made it above Lord Kobra the helicopter opened. A blonde man in a hockey mask and sportswear walked out.
"Lord Kobra." The man greeted.
"Sportsmaster." The cult leader greeted, "The shipment is ready." He stated and the girl next to him walked up and opened a small box full of viles with purple liquid in them.
Sportsmaster picked up a vile and inspected it, "The new Kobra Venom?"
"Complete, success." Kobra gestured to the large behemoth of a man next to him. "Our friends will not be disappointed."
"This is a game changer." The blonde replied, "Finally we can go mano a mano with the Justice League."
M'gann telepathically contacted Aqualad, "Aqualad sending you a telepathic image of the buyer now."
Back inside the factory the four of them still waited on the catwalk. When Aqualad received the image of the villain he immediately recognized him. "Sportsmaster, he is the buyer?" He quickly reached for his com, "Aqualad to Red Tornado, do you read?" He only got static, "Can't reach the League, Robin or Kid. Coms jammed, we need a plan. Now."
"Have any suggestions?" Hunter asked.
"I do." Bane smirked before jumping off the platform.
The drug lord immediately began to fight the cultists and fired their guns at him. Before any of the heroes could do anything they heard a growl before the window behind them broke. They all turned to see a large man. The catwalk broke in two when he landed on it. The three heroes easily landed and looked up ay the beast of a man who roared at them.
Lord Kobra walked in the factory and saw them, "Destroy them." He ordered.
The man charged at them and Superboy intercepted him and picked him up. Aqualad used his water barriers to make a shield to block the incoming fire while simultaneously firing water bullets at them. Hunter quickly flew at ahead and landed a hard punch at the man's stomach making him let go of the clone. Superboy landed on his feet and ran at him again.
M'gann flew over the cultists and began to throw them around with her mind. Sportsmaster saw her and reached for a retractable javelin holstered on his leg and took aim. Hunter saw this and quickly flew between them when the blonde expertly threw the javelin and caught it. The Amazon glared at the blonde and prepared to throw the javelin back but it exploded.
When the smoke cleared the Amazon floated unfazed with his shield and sword in hand and glared at Sportsmaster. Before he could engage the blonde the man on Kobra Venom tackled him down to the floor, grabbed him by his head and threw him across the factory. The man pounced at Hunter but Superboy tacked him from the side away from the Amazon.
Hunter stood up and flew towards the man. "Hey!" He yelled catching his attention.
He turned around just in time for Hunter to bash his head with his shield. The Amazon span around and slashed him across his chest with his sword. The monster roared in pain and threw a punch but Wonder Warrior blocked it with his shield. Superbot took the chance and punched the man across the face making him stumble back.
Aqualad dived behind a boiler ss the men continued to fire at him. Two more men rounded the boiler to fire at him but Kid Flash dropkicked the both of them down. Three more men fired at the speedster from the catwalk above making Wally hide behind a metal beam.
"Miss Martian, radio is jammed link us up!" Aqualad yelled.
M'gann stopped throwing men around and connected their minds, "Everyone online?"
"Yea."Superboy answered taking a punch.
"Here."Wonder Warrior used his lasso to bind the man before kicking him in the back of the head.
"You know it beautiful." Wally replied with a smirk.
"Good we need to regroup-" Aqualad began.
"Busy now." Robin cut in.
Hunter groaned blocking a flurry of bullets with his shield, "He is going to get us all killed." He states flying forward and flipping over to deliver a dropkick.
Aqualad was inclined to agree but didn't say so, "Robin now!" He ordered before whipping down three men, "We need to retreat, Kid clear a path, Warrior cover us!"
The two quickly did as commanded. Wally ran ahead and knocked men down with his speed while Hunter stayed back and used his shield and shin guards to block and deflected any incoming fire. The group retreated back to the cave they came in. Superboy was grappling with muscled man before he tightened his grip and threw him into the group of armed men. Hunter waited for the clone to run back in the cave to fly in himself and Superboy closed the door behind him.
They all sprinted down the cave as the door behind them was broken down. Men flooded in and fired at them. "Superboy, Wonder Warrior, the support beams!" Aqualad ordered and they nodded.
They each punched two beams down and the cave began to collapse. Hunter quickly grabbed the clone from his underarms and flew as fast as he could but the cave collapsed above them. They all narrowly made it away from the falling rocks and stood in darkness for a moment until Aqualad cracked on a few red glow sticks illuminating the cave with red light.
Robin stared at the blocked off end of the cave, "How can my first mission as leader go so wrong?"
"We're all alive at least. Could've has been worse." Hunter shrugged putting his sword away.
"You are the most experienced." Aqualad spoke up, "But perhaps that is exactly what has left you unprepared." He stated, "Fighting alongside Batman your roles are defined, you two do not need to talk but this team is new and a leader must be clear, explicit. You cannot just vanish and expect others to play parts in an unknown plan."
Hunter understands where Robin is coming from. With his mother, they barely ever need to talk to each to understand what they are planning. He trained to know what every Amazon could be thinking during battle especially Wonder Woman and his queen grandmother.
"Oh, so I'm supposed to hold everybody's hands." Robin snapped before groaning, "Who am I kidding? You should lead us Kaldur, you're the only one who can."
Wally scoffed, "Please, I can run circles-"
"Wally, come on, you know he's the one we all do." Robin cut in.
"Hello, Megan! It's so obvious." M'gann exclaimed.
"You do have the traits of a great leader." Hunter added.
"Coulda told ya." Superboy stated.
They all stared at Wally who shrugged, "Ok."
Kaldur walked up to Robin, "Then I accept the burden. Until you are ready to lift it from my shoulders." He placed his hand on Robin's shoulder, "You were born to lead this team maybe not now but soon." Robin nodded. Aqualad turned to the rest of them. "Alright, our first priority is preventing that shipment from leaving this island."
"Funny, I had the same thought." Robin spoke up.
After Robin informed them that he sabotaged the helicopter they ran. They didn't have much time before they fixed the chopper.
While they ran Robin pulled up all the information the League had on Sportsmaster, "Sportsmaster is the supplier slash buyer but it still doesn't track. He doesn't have enough juice to require the Blockbuster formula or to get Kobra to fo his dirty work."
"And neither of them have the chops to bond Blockbuster to Venom, that took some major nerdige." Wally replied.
"Perhaps an unknown third party is in play." Hunter assumed
"I believe the expression is 'tip of the iceberg'." Kaldur replied before stopping abruptly.
They all saw Bane stand at the mouth of the cave. His muscles were larger than before. Syringes with Venom littered the floor. He held some sort of trigger in his hand, "Halt, niños, I'm feeling explosive."
They all looked up to see bombes strapped to the support beams. "You betrayed us, why?" Aqualad asked feigning ignorance.
"I want my factory back." The drug lord answered simply.
"Kid, you'll need a running start." He ordered and Wally discreetly took a step back.
Bane smirked at them, "So I forced you into a situation where you would either take down my enemies or die trying. If the ladder, I'm sure the Justice League would certainly have come to avenge their sidekicks and when the smoke cleared Santa Prisca would be mine once more. Blowing the tunnel with you inside should have the same effect." He raised the trigger and went to activate the bombs but the trigger vanished.
"With what?" Wally asked from behind him leaning on a tree, "This trigger thingy?" He asked sarcastically.
Bane launched his fist at the speedster but he was lifted off the ground by M'gann. Superboy smirked and walked up to the villain but Hunter put his hand on the clone's shoulder, "Oh no you got him last time. Now it's my turn." He clenched his fists hard enough the bones popped. He looked up at the villain, "I did warn you. Drop him."
M'gann let go of her hold on him. When Bane fell down Hunter quickly threw his fist forward connecting with Bane's face.
With the blades of the chopper spinning and the shipment loaded in it was time for Sportsmaster to leave.
"The helicopter is operational exalted one." The cultists bowed.
Without a word, Sportsmaster walked to leave. Before he could make it for a black and red streak rammed down two cultists. Kid Flash made a U-turn and dodged fire and kicked the man who was shooting him at him down.
"Take the shipment!" Lord Kobra yelled and Sportsmaster ran towards the chopper but Superboy jumped in the way shaking the ground.
He stared down the man with Kobra Venom, "Go again?" He teased and the man ran at him before a blast of water knocked him over. "Sorry, not the plan." He turned to the chopper and was about to wreck but Sportsmaster walked out and fired a grenade launcher at the clone making him stumble back.
When the blonde fired again the projectile was blocked by a shield. A pair of blue eyes glared at him from behind the shield. Sportsmaster didn't hesitate to fire again but with zero effect. He saw Hunter smirk and immediately knew that someone was behind him. He ducked and grabbed the Martain by the neck.
"Drop your weapons." Sportsmaster ordered.
Hunter did as order and dropped his sword and shield but quickly grabbed his lasso. He swung his lasso and wrapped it around Sportsmaster's gun and yanked it out of his arms. The villain quickly shoved the martian forward who was caught by Superboy. He ran inside and started the chopper.
The chopper left the ground and began to fly away. "He didn't even say goodbye." Hunter crossed his arms, "But we at least gave him a parting gift." He smirked at M'gann who held the trigger to the bombs. She pressed it and the rear of the chopper exploded. They watched as the flaming chopped fell down from the sky and into the factory causing another explosion. "Killing two birds with one stone." He turned his gaze to see Robin struggling against Kobra. "I'll make it three." He flew across the clearing and delivered an axe kick down on Kobra before punt kicking him to the tree line.
The team all gathered and faced down Kobra. The man stood up with blood running down his face from a broken nose. He glared at the Amazon who smiled back at him, "Another time them." He says before disappearing into the jungle.
Robing quickly followed but he was already gone.
Hunter scoffed, "The man calls himself a god." He crossed his arms, "Then runs away like a coward. Hubris at its finest."
Robin walked back to the group and smiled, "We picked the right guy to lead." His smile turned to a smirk, "Automatically making you the right guy to explain this mess to Batman."
Mount Justice, August 4, 1:06 PM
After they returned they all took showers to get the smell of the jungle off of them. They changed into their street clothes. They barely had a chance to breath when Batman called them in for debriefing.
"A simple recon mission. Observe and report." Batman scolded in Kaldur's face. "You'll each receive a written evaluation detailing your many mistakes." He states walking down the lined up team, "Until then, good job." They all looked up at the Dark Knight confused, "No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. How you adjust to the unforeseen is what determines success and how you choose who leads determines character."
They all watched as Batman made his exit. Hunter broke the silence, "He's an enigma of a person."
"You don't know the half of it." Robin piped in.
"I thought were goners." Wally added.
"Well since our mission was a success, should we celebrate?" M'gann asked unsurely.
Wally zoomed to her side, "You read my mind, you, me candle-"
Hunter cuts in, "I say we go out and eat the nectar of the gods." He announced getting confused looks from the other, "I mean ice cream."
"I'm down." Robin spoke first.
"I've never had ice cream before." Superboy informed.
"Neither have I." M'gann added.
"Then it is settled, today we shall feast!" Hunter announced.