Disclaimer: I do not own the existing characters that we know and love of Young Justice, although I do take ownership over the new characters i.e. The majority of the Team's children

A/N: The squad had finally taken care of its first villain, but how long will it be before a new villain appears?

Chapter 20 – Lola Allen-Reyes

With Double M out of the picture, the Justice Squad thought that we would be able to have some rest bite. I pestered DA01 and DA02 to organise a vacation from the group to a place that was hot, sunny and full of beaches. They delivered. Kind of. We were set to investigate the radio silence and absolute blackout from a remote desert location. The whole team – minus Firewing and Diana were piled onto the transporter to take us to the nearest city, of which was still many miles away from the blackout site.

As the transporter rocked from side to side, I kept my head in the file on my lap. The town was known at Bocaton. Famous for its hot weather and nearby oasis – getting closer to qualifying for that vacation I begged my dads for. Bocaton had a relatively small population, with most of the workers travelling to the main city for work. The workers had stopped coming, which after a prolonged duration, set off alarm bells.

Distracted by the reading, I didn't even realise that my phone was buzzing in my bag that was perched on the empty seat beside me. It took Mari pointing it out to me for me to notice. It was a message, from Ace Spencer.

Hey Lola, I'm going to be in Gotham City with my dad next week – have dinner with me? X

I wasn't sure how to respond and simply frowned before tossing my phone back into my bag with a message in the outbox. The whole Ace versus Kyle situation was messing with my mind. One was practically a work colleague who showed genuine attraction, but his downside was his lack of relationship experience as I would have to teach him everything. Chelsea certainly wouldn't have taught Kyle that much. Then there was Ace – the suave and sophisticated older guy who knew how to successfully woo a lady. He had sent a private helicopter to collect me one evening from home. We had dinner on the roof of an observatory he had rented out for us. Each guy had their pros and cons, but my heart felt in similar ways towards them and I worried that eventually I was going to have to hurt someone because I couldn't carry on in this way.

"Okay kids – home for the weekend." Angel, or as I was now instructed to call him, Quill, brought the vehicle to a steady stop. "Briefing in fifteen. Get yourselves set up in the rooms, but remember- we're here for work. This is not a vacation."

Remind me in a couple of minutes' time, Quill…

"Come on Lola, we'll bunk up…" Mari linked arms with me as I scooped up my handbag. "It is strange without Willow here, isn't it?"

I nodded, whispering. "If it's okay, I'd really like my own room- only if it's possible."

Her green eyes widened. "You aren't expecting … company, or anything, are you?" She kept her voice low and quiet as we grabbed out little Justice Squad cases. "I mean, that would still be okay – I just want to make sure that you understand that if things could wrong within the squad for you, that it puts the whole team out of balance."

I put a hand on her arm, squeezing hard. "Before you get carried away thinking I want a romantic night, I don't. I genuinely just want to be alone."

"Oh… Alone." Mari winked at me and I rolled my eyes.

That was not what I meant at all.

The building was sleek and modern looking, with walls that were the coloured to that of a dark caramel and blackout windows were on the upstairs floors. Architecturally, it looked like it was an L-shaped box. There was nothing unusual about it. Apart from the balcony that had a pool on it.

"Might not be a holiday, but at least it's a holiday home, right ladies?" Zac exclaimed boldly, leading the way up the path to the black double doors. "Welcome to my crib!" He squealed in that low and laddish way that makes them want to exclaim 'sick!' afterwards.

Upstairs, I managed to secure a room to myself that even had a double bed in it. With everyone here- Finn, Zac, Kyle, me and Mari, I did wonder if there would be enough space to give us all a room – even with Quill and Olivia who we were pretty much convinced were dating. Or about to start dating. I didn't bother to unpack, but I changed into my sleeveless yellow Stealth suit. The goggles were dirty, so I started to clean them on my way out, accidentally bumping into Mentalist. He was holding his cape over his arm as if he were a waiter at a fancy restaurant.

"Mentalist…" I said calmly, realising that I hadn't really spoken to him much since the film night at base.

"Stealth, how are you doing?" he asked, words slow and almost uncertain.

"I'm good thanks." Overcome with nerves, I sped away, sitting down in a seat between Nightstar and Zachara. "Thanks for saving me a seat."

Zachara glanced at the doorway and refused to mask his smirk when Mentalist entered the room. With a sharp finger jabbing his side, it disappeared. He frowned at me, making sure I wasn't about to do it again.

Green Canary had a projection unit set up in the middle of the room that depicted the layout of the town of Bocaton. "This here is Bocaton. There is a strange magnetic disturbance that means drones and planes cannot be in the airspace. We suspect Metallica, but Uppercut has been spotted in a club Star City."

Zachara let out a raucous whoop. "Yeah- Uppercut knows how to party! Am I right?" He elbowed Aqualad sat on his other side. A splash of freezing water slapped Zachara square in the cheek. "Oh come on Aqua-lad!"

Our den mother continued to explain the strange events that were happening in Bocaton that she had mentioned in the file, but knowing that me and Aqualad were probably the only ones who have properly read it, I didn't blame her for repeating it. There were spikes in electro-waves, missing people, rockslides blocking any vehicles that tried to send aid and even Mayor Compton had been secretly pumping funds into Bocaton without explanation of what for.

The door opened and we all turned to see Angel stroll in with folded wings. "Hope I'm not too late." He grinned broadly as he passed us all. "So what's the plan, G-C?"

Green Canary rolled her eyes, before rubbing her temples. "Angel. You're supposed to have devised a plan!" she exclaimed in an exasperated tone.

Watching them bicker was like watching an old married couple fight over which one of them had the last biscuit in the packet. Cringeworthy. I looked down at my utility belt and couldn't help but smile at the insulin and snack case that had been secured to it. It reminded me of the one Kyle gifted to me that I had up in my temporary room.

"I'll go," I blurted out, eager to get this mission going. "You said there are sandstorms in the area. Well there's nothing faster than a speedster. It'll be a piece of cake."

Green Canary was concerned. She had been doubtful of my abilities ever since I started needing to monitor my insulin more regularly. At least that's how it came across.

Mentalist stood up quickly. "I'll go with her."

Great... Just what I needed. Mentalist tagging along like a lost puppy. He definitely wanted to get me alone so that we could properly talk about everything that had happened in the last week. The little things that neither of us could properly address.

At the exact moment I started to utter a feeble protest, Green Canary agreed that myself and Mentalist would be the perfect unit to go and complete surveillance on the city of Bocaton. Nightstar squeezed my hand reassuringly, trying to tell me it would be a good thing. She never really seemed to understand where I was coming from when I tried to explain my inner thoughts about Mentalist.

"Are you ready Stealth?" Mentalist asked calmly, pointing a thumb over his shoulder. "Angel has agreed to assist in getting us into Bocaton. He'll take us by sky as far as he can." With a swift turn, Mentalist turned away and strode out the main room.

-o-

Outside, Angel was waiting for us, wings out and at the ready. He had always been one of the ones looking out for me, but I had a sneaking suspicion that he did this for everyone. The son of Hawkman and Hawkwoman had a big mantle to take up after the torture Parasite put them through. Parasite plucked them of their wings, feather by feather. Angel insisted on continuing the training programme of the Justice Squad instead of filling their place.

"Ready kids?"

Kids? Ouch.

"Ready as ever," I replied, trying to sound cheerful, holding out my hands for him to take. "Come on Angel."

Angel started laughing, clearly another idea was in his mind. "Oh no, that's not what's going on here. Mentalist is your aide this time. I'm just along for the flight."

"Right." I turned to see Mentalist standing there with extended arms. "What?"

Mentalist's cheekbones twisted, red flushing to the sight. "I thought- that if Angel was not going to carry you, that I would. Have I- misunderstood?"

"Yes. Of course," I mumbled, putting a hand gently on his shoulder and kicking my legs up for him to catch. "Sorry."

His hands were warm on the backs of my thighs and my back. "It's okay. I don't mind," Mentalist replied, lifting off the ground. "Have I done something wrong to you, Stealth?"

I tried to avoid eye contact, feeling fidgety in Mentalist's hold. My eyes caught Angel frowning at us as we skimmed through the air, investigating our body language closely. "Back off!" I wriggled, making Mentalist struggle to maintain a steady flight plan.

"What did I do?" Mentalist whispered miserably, freezing in place.

"Leave it, Mentalist..." I rolled out of Mentalist's grip, caught immediately by his sharp reflexes.

"No!" he cried out. With me dangling from his grip, he angled himself at a downwards slope, ignoring his cape floating down one side. "I do not like the way you are being with me. Blowing hot and cold as Aqualad says... I cannot keep up with you, and that is not in reference to your speed."

"I can't do this now," I snapped quickly, feeling a burning in my shoulder from the strain. "Please Mentalist. Now is not the time."

"When is?" Mentalist roared angrily.

A flash of fear shone in my eyes and I panicked, thinking he was about to go into his beast mode. "I don't know because I don't know whether I want to be your girlfriend!" I blurted out, gasping in shock that my brain had taken control and just said what I was thinking. "I'm sorry Kyle, but I'm not a hundred percent sure what I want now. I'm still not over Ryan. I really do care about you, more than I'd like to admit..."

Angel scooped me up in his arms. "As much as I want you two to work out your problems, I think now is not the right time. Put some time aside kids."

I took one for my girl Green Canary. "Only if you talk to Green Canary and take her on a date."

"Is that so? You got yourselves a deal." Angel flapped his wings, flying along on the flightpath. "You got to decide whether you two can work this out, or whether you want to be with this Ace Spencer kid from Al-Resha," he said, speaking as quietly as he could over the wind. "It's alright- the report is only shared between myself, GC and maybe AJ sometimes."

"Watch out!"

A wide sand tornado whipped through the air towards us and slammed into Angel.

"Stealth!" he screamed hoarsely as I fell from his grip, plummeting through the air.

-o-

When I came to, I could feel a thin material over my shoulders. A cold wind blowing my hair, disturbing the wispy bits that framed my face. Opening my eyes, I looked out through shattered goggles. They must have broken on impact. DA01 was going to be so mad at having to source out a new pair.

"Kyle?" I called out, startled when I noticed him said shivering across the way from me. "Kyle, you're shivering." The cloak over my shoulders was Mentalist's. "Take it back- please, you're cold. I can use my speed to warm myself up."

"You needed it more." Mentalist breathed into his hands. "We are inside the sand shield now. Angel could not follow. We are alone now. Bocaton is nearby, in the valley outside this cave." Still his amber eyes didn't look at me.

"Mentalist, I want to get everything out in the open once this mission is over, would that be okay?" I asked, crawling over to him and forcing the cloak around him, clipping the fastener into place. "Maybe you and I should go on a date when we get back or something?"

"I think so too, but let's do our job first."

Another voice spoke, startling me. "Oh that won't be necessary." Standing at the entrance of the cave was a tall and slender man. He wore a brown outfit that made him look like a desert scavenger, teamed with an old pilot's helmet. "You're the ones that they sent to help us, aren't you? The supers from Gotham City? When they said you were coming, I didn't expect you to be teenagers. Come, there is work to be done." The boy dropped a visor from the helmet and jumped down from the cave ledge.

"Come on, Mentalist- this is our way in. They'll know the place better than we will."

-o-

"Welcome to Bocaton." The man sidled alongside a narrow building, leading the way for both myself and Mentalist. "There is a problem here. That we need to sort. Come along, no time to lose."

"Lead on..." I mumbled, following him out across the square.

Something was wrong. I could sense it and the shadows moved slightly. There were movements that you don't normally notice – out of the corner of your eye where don't pay attention. Something just didn't sit right with me. The man darted across the way, leaping up onto a little stairway down a little alley. He waved two fingers at us, beckoning Mentalist and I to follow.

I let Mentalist go first, knowing that I could be by the man's side in a second. Mentalist looked about, backwards and forwards around the square before shuffling calmly across the way. A single click sound echoed across the square when Mentalist entered the alleyway. His foot pressed a pressure pad. Mentalist's head dropped to the floor as he realised the same.

My feet pounded the square, bundling into him in an attempt to push him out the way of whatever booby trap had been set for us. "Mentalist!" I shouted, shoving my weight into him, only for a large rope net to catch us.

Suspended above the alleyway, we struggled and flailed, trying to free ourselves. In the end, something pierced my neck and I slumped down into Kyle's chest.

Out for the count.

-o-

When I woke up, I could hear the swings of a punch accompanied by a male grunt as he struck the target. I opened my eyes to see the scavenger punching Mentalist. Swing after swing. Pushing off the concrete, I stood up and tried to move, but something stopped my feet from moving.

"Ah, you're awake," the scavenger said. "That's perfect, because I wanted to know who you really were and who sent you here. Now your friend was awake first, so he took the first innings. As for you, I reckon you'll be weaker. You'll crack faster."

"No!" Mentalist shouted, held in place by shackles on either wrist that stretched his arms out to the side.

"Oh, touched a nerve, have I?" Scavenger man asked, looking between us. "This just gets better and better." He walked towards me. "That feeling in your legs, it's a simple telekinesis trick. You're not going anyway any time soon. You're a speedster, and a powerful one at that. Oh what I would give to have you on my team." Once beside me, scavenger man brushed a finger over my chin.

I jerked my head to one side, listening to Mentalist snarl and rattle the tight chains. "Well you have to hope that my friend can control himself more competently than on previous occasion. Who are you?"

"I am Maverick." He bowed dramatically to me. "You think I don't know about Project GMK? The superhuman who will bring about great events. Whilst nothing tells of whether it will be good or bad, then it is up to whoever can control him to tell what will happen."

"You can't control him. Mentalist is a human being just like you and me."

"But he's not. He's a machine." Maverick grabbed me by the hair, tilting my head up to look at him. "You don't hold the cards here. Not now." He swung me around to face an angry Mentalist. "Come on 'Mentalist', let's see you act."

Mentalist shook his head, shaking his clenched fists. "Do not hurt her. Let her go!" There was an immediate and apparent sense of vulnerability in his voice that hit me hard. "You have to let her go. Please."

Maverick kicked the back of my right knee, forcing me to hit the ground hard because of the lack of feeling and control I had in my legs.

"No!" roared Mentalist, screwing his eyes shut. "NO!"

Maverick gasped, releasing my hair. He clawed at his neck, scratching his throat with his jagged nails. Gasping for any last mouthful of oxygen to fill his lungs.

Remembering Nightwing's clear instructions to not intervene whenever Mentalist was on the brink of raging out, I stayed routed to the spot. I resisted the urge to cup my mouth in shock.

Something clicked in Mentalist and he stopped, allowing Maverick to drop to the floor, where he muttered, "No more... Please no more." Maverick waved a hand at the chains on my companion's wrists.

Mentalist rotated his wrists before grabbing Maverick's collar. "Why Bocaton? What is planned? Why me? What are you after?"

Maverick started to laugh. "Salvation have their plans, and their leaders are keen to show their faces in due course. You might think that the Light were the worst enemy, but you're so wrong. The best thing is that the leader of Salvation is hidden amongst your own ranks somehow."

I gasped loudly, knowing that this news was terrifying. "We have to leave. We have to report back. We take him with us."

-o-

Taking Maverick worked well, until he managed to control the transport officers into letting him go. Part of me wished that someone was there to record my angry tirade. On my way out of the girls' locker room, I pulled my cardigan across my body tightly, feeling a chill in the corridors of the base. I caught Nightwing in the training room going over the latest report of our mission.

"Nightwing... Can I talk to you about something?" I asked, leaning onto the door, holding it ajar.

The super looked up from the report, closing the file. "What is it, Lola?"

"It's about Ky-El. I wanted to let you know that he is getting better at controlling the rage. He stopped it all by himself." I brushed my hair to one side, nervous about my next question. "And I have a bit of a dilemma."

"Yes. Angel has already informed me that you and Kyle are in something of a predicament. Whatever you decide, I want to ask that you put the Justice Squad's needs and the safety of the people first."

I felt like I was facing an impossible scenario. "Why don't you just tell me to keep away from Ky-El?"

"The League just doesn't want him to be distracted or compromised," Nightwing replied ruthlessly.

I stormed out of the room in a huff, striding towards the double door exit. The doors parted for me and I noticed a call was coming in from Ace. I told myself that sometimes the truth hurts and he had to know how I truly felt.

"Ace, hey."

"Hi Lola. Are you ready to fly?"

"Ace, I'm so sorry, but I need to be honest with you." I sat down on the wall near the doors, looking across the way at the large fountain. "There's a lot going on in my life right now and after everything-"

"After everything that's happened, you still can't ignore that you feel something for your friend, Kyle. My sister's ex-fiancé." Ace was calm and collected as he finished my sentence. "I would have thought that being introduced to your dads meant something more than it did, but obviously I was wrong and couldn't compete with someone who you've clearly been waiting to be single for a while now. Promise me one thing, Lola?" He paused, listening for my acknowledgement. "Don't call me when it doesn't work out with him. If you're choosing Kyle now, there's no more you and me."

I stopped thinking, trying to urge time to slow down as I let my heart take control. To make a definitive decision. "I'm sorry Ace. I choose Kyle." A lump in my throat was suffocating me so hard that I could have burst into tears when I heard the call go dead.

"Is that true?"

"Kyle." I stood up and turned to look at the doors to see him standing there. This was my opportunity to show him how much I cared, or at least start to show him. "I want to see where things go. I want to see what boyfriend material feels like..." My voice went timid and shy, nervous about what he might say.

Words weren't needed though.

Kyle strode towards me, taking my head in his hands and pressing his lips onto mine, allowing me into his heart. And it just felt like we were meant to be.

Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = I wish I could explain how long I have been waiting for these two to sort their stuff out but it never seemed like the right time. Oops!