Author's note: Sorry for the gap between chapters, I've been really busy lately. I'll let you get back to the story after a friendly reminder to please review! I can't make the story better if I don't receive any feedback!
-thegirlwhoisstillwaiting
Sylvia Wayne "Wildcat"
The Cave
September 23rd, 2010
The sounds of the Justice League repairing the Cave echoed in every room. I had returned from the medical bay a few minutes ago, being told by the Flash and Batman was that their estimation of my injuries sustained from my escape, covered about sixty five percent of my skin, giving me the choice of either minimizing the blows I take from enemies of missions, or sitting them out entirely. I might have protested both, but my entire body was riddled with black and blue splotches from abrasions that went deep into my tissue as well as multiple corrupted blood vessels from the pressure. Even the slightest movements burned.
Currently, Black Canary and Green arrow were keeping a close eye on us as we sat in a newly added table in the mission room. Kid Flash and I were resting our heads on our folded arms. I disheveled Robin sat with his head drooping while M'gann just seemed out of it. Artemis was on my other side, just straddling the bench next to the table as she watched the Justice Leaguers mill about. Superboy, Conner, was standing with his arms crossed, his head angled down as he gave Leaguers sideways glances. Green Arrow only left for a moment, returning with a bowl of pretzels, setting it in front of the speedster.
"Thanks, but no thanks." KF replied, for once actually ignoring the food before him. I noticed him turn to face me out the corner of my eye.
"Yeah. What we want are answers about Red Tornado and his siblings." Robin said, getting Kid's attention for the moment, him actually sitting up.
"Exactly!" Kid exclaimed as Green Arrow moved to take the pretzels. "Leave the bowl." Kid told him as he took it out of G.A.'s hands. He started munching down on the pretzels before slowing down, resting a hand on my back, but I winced in pain. He noticed and looked down, keeping his hands to himself. I looked over and watched Aqualad talking to Batman. I knew it wasn't any of my business, so I focused my hearing on heartbeats and the sound of pretzels crunching in Kid's mouth. But I lost focus when Superboy walked over to Aqualad with the scariest look on his face.
"You knew?!" The Kryptonian barked, grabbing Aqualad by the shirt and pushed him into the cave wall. "That android and his maniac family nearly killed M'gann!" He roared, his voice echoing all over the cave.
"Connor, what are you doing?" M'gann questioned with worry as she flew over to him from the table.
"Kaldur knew we had a traitor among us, and said nothing!" He yelled, still pinning the Atlantean. Everyone bolted out of their chairs but me. I just had to get myself out and protect Superboy and Wally, causing myself a great deal of pain in the process. I just sat there as I watched them fight. Ruminating over my own anger over the fact that not even Robin nor I were trusted enough to at least aid in carrying the burden of that kind of secret.
"You knew?" Robin questioned angrily, Artemis standing closely behind him. The two of them were near inseparable since the incident.
"But didn't tell us?" Wally snapped with irritation. He kept looking back as me as aggravation boiled beneath his skin.
"I sought to protect the team from-" He tried to explain, but Artemis cut him off. I understood what he was trying to say.
"Protect us from what? Knowledge that might have saved our lives?" She was livid, her knuckles white as she gripped her bow.
"You almost died!" Superboy barked, looking back at the martian girl.
"You're all idiots." I said under my breath, no one paying attention to me, so I stood up finally, putting a hand on Superboy's shoulder. "Sure, I feel a bit annoyed that he didn't trust us with the information, but you people ask why he did something and didn't even let him answer, jumping to conclusions. He's our leader and you just turn on him like that?" I asked, but Superboy wouldn't even look at me, his eyes locked on the floor. He just kept looking back at M'gann.
"We all could have died. He had no right to keep this secret." Artemis said, and I just gave up as the roast continued. People yelling and arguing as I just stood by.
"Enough." Batman shut them all down with one word, giving Superboy a look that made him voluntarily let go of Kaldur. Two of my father's many talents at work. "With Red Tornado missing, the team will now be overseen by rotating supervisors. Captain Marvel has volunteered to take the first shift." Batman informed us as the red clad hero approached.
"I'm really looking forward to hanging with you guys." Captain Marvel said with a smile. I just sighed as the beef cake was happy to be our supervisor after what happened with Red Tornado.
"After I dismantle Red Tornado, you and I are gonna-" Superboy was going to threaten Kaldur, but Batman interrupted.
"Red Tornado is a member of the Justice League. That makes him a League responsibility. You will leave him to us. I have another assignment for this team." Batman gestured back, the holocomputer now displaying a newspaper article. It switched to another more local news paper after a moment.
"Gotham Mayor attacked by Guerrilla Gorilla?" Kid Flash spoke with disdain, glaring at the newspaper articles. After the occurrences of the last twenty four hours, this was going to be a long day.
"Batman, please! Tell me you're not sending us on this joke of a wild ape chase." Robin was questioning our mentor, but I understood that this wasn't that.
"I never joke about the mission." Batman made Robin look like a deer in headlights, asserting his dominance over his irritated protege. "I've checked the sources. I've studied the patterns. Mayor Hill's encounter is only the latest in a series of incidents. Aqualad, you and your team will depart for India and check this out." Batman ordered, and the Atlantean nodded in understanding. "Wildcat, you should sit this one out." He said suddenly in an oddly different tone than usual, everyone looking between us strangely.
"Is this an order, or a recommendation?" I laughed, tilting my head slightly at the fact that I've taken a lot worse from actual criminals, still continuing my work through those injuries. Why now does he suddenly care about simple bruising? But he just remained silent as I walked away with the others.
"Huh, your team." Kid Flash gave Aqualad this look as he passed, but I punched him in the shoulder.
"What was that for?" He hissed quietly. I glared at him.
"He's still our leader. You heard what I said earlier. We still owe him respect since he's the reason we've survived all of our missions so far." I reminded him as we walked to the Bioship, but he shook his head.
"Not Bialya. You saved his life." KF reminded me, my face growing hot as I remembered what happened at the end of that mission.
"That wasn't anyone's fault. No one knew that there was a telepath in the vicinity that could hack our link." I reminded him before speeding ahead, biting back the soreness in my limbs. I passed everyone and boarded the Bioship after M'gann. After I strapped in for launch, Kid boarded and sat down next to me, but I just pulled an ipod out of my utility belt and turned up the music to ignore him. But I broke after an hour and a half, giving him one earbud so we could be bored on the flight together.
Northern India
As the Bioship descended in camouflage mode, a hatch in the floor opened as Robin, Artemis and I dropped below into the night. The the three of us quickly scoped the perimeter before reporting back to the rest of the Team as they all exited the back of the Bioship. The three of them were looking around, hesitantly. Right now, we didn't really seem much like a team.
"All clear." Robin reported to the rest of us. Kid Flash was hanging uncomfortably close to me, something that he usually never did.
"Switch to stealth, and we'll review mission parameters." Aqualad ordered as he activated his own stealth, the red tank top of his wet suit becoming a dark grey.
"Parameters? We don't need no stinkin' parameters." Kid Flash snapped from right next to me, I just pinched the bridge of my nose in annoyance.
"Seriously?" I asked him, but I noticed Robin glaring daggers at me as I spoke.
"It's recon. We know what to do." Robin grumbled before walking away, Kid grabbing my arm, trying to take me with them.
"Kid, Robin-" Aqualad tried to stop them, and it worked, but only for a moment.
"The four of us started this team because the Justice League was keeping secrets from us!" Rob half yelled, the words making me uncomfortable. I understood the League had secrets, I was honestly just along for the ride when we decided to investigate Cadmus and ended up finding that the four of us and Superboy working as a team was definitely an important experience. But this was a new low. Aqualad keeping a secret that there may possibly be a mole, or the Justice League deciding we were too young and untrustworthy to know basic Justice League information? I would be more upset with the latter.
"Or did you forget that, like you forgot to tell us about the mole?" Kid held onto his grudge as he and Robin dragged me along with them, the two of them hanging a lot closer to me than they usually did.
"Can the two of you let go of me? I'll stick with you guys, but not if you're going to hang onto my bruises." They immediately let go of me as I stretched out, rubbing my arms before picking back up on the run with them.
"Sorry." Kid said shamefully as the three of us slowed to a walk, hiking through the jungle. My only distraction from the mission was the incessant need to look up at the sky where I saw the faint shadows of birds circling over head. The first few times I assumed it was because something else made a kill nearby and there were scavengers, but the more and more I looked up, the more I realized that these birds were low flying and circling us. There was a strange sound of elephants and attacks coming from somewhere in the distance. The three of us stopped and checked if there was anything visible in our vicinity, but that was when the birds trailing us dove out of the sky, the closer they got, the bigger they became. We all bolted as one's tallongs shredded right through a log where Kid was standing.
"I thought vulture only ate dead meat." Robin observed as he chucked explosives at the birds in an attempt to deter their flight path. I just smiled, the adrenaline pumping through me voiding the soreness in my lips.
"Yeah, these are some very proactive scavengers." Kid shouted as I ejected my claws as one swooped down at me. I swiped at the side of its face, just missing the left eye, but it was enough for it to fly back and rejoin the other one.
"Proactive and super-sized." I remarked as I sped up, throwing Robin onto my back so we could move just a few miles faster. Kid took the hint and pushed on with me with ease. I knew this was still slow for him, but every bit counted as the birds gained on us.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Robin asked the two of us from my back as he chucked another explosive at the birds.
"Kobra Venom?" Kid and I were on the same page as my little brother.
"Yeah, what else do we know of that increased body mass and physical attributes?" I commented sarcastically, ducking below a low hanging branch. The bird both swooped down once again, and this time I launched Robin into the air to Kid before I flipped out of the way, pushing myself to my limits at I sprinted with Kid to get away from the birds from hell.
"Go for the trees!" I yelled, diving into the brush as I used the branches to swing myself around, getting the bird to attack the trees instead of me. Robin gave on the slip in the trees, copying my method of evasive action. Kid was finally at a high enough speed that he bounced between trees until he propelled himself high into the air, cannonballing into one of the birds as it crashed into the ground. He just grabbed a vine and swung down to safety. The second the bird hit the ground, I noticed a collar around its neck, flickering with electricity. It looked a lot like the one's M'gann and Superboy had to wear when they went into Belle Reve as the Terror Twins. I lunged and dug my claws deep into the metal, ripping the collar off and the bird just flying away with no problem.
"That's it!" Robin exclaimed as he watched me. "Kid! Go for the collar!" Robin ordered aloud the speedster trying to get away from the second bird. He acknowledged and stopped in his tracked, charging the bird before sliding under and punching the collar as Robin threw an explosive, destroying the collar. The bird blinked before just flying off like nothing happened.
Link established. I heard M'gann say in my mind as Kid, Robin and I overlooked a river, keeping an eye out for more animals on Kobra Venom.
Should you really still be giving us orders? And should you really be following them? I heard Artemis in my head. I guessed this was going to be another conversation of childish grudges. With a sigh, I sniffed the air, hoping to be able to track the animals.
Listen, please. Aqualad tried to get a hold of the Team's attention, but no one seemed to care.
Oh, good, Aqualad's voice in my head. I've so missed that. Kid Flash droned sarcastically as I punched his shoulder.
Just tell him what happened, and spare us all the sarcasm. I glared at Robin, giving him the go ahead as I gave Kid a look that made him stop, looking at the ground.
Hey, Kaldur, KF, Cat and I were attacked by giant vultures. He was off to a good start, but ruined it the moment another thought seemed to pop into his head. 'Course, since we're moles, you probably think we attacked ourselves. Robin added, soaking his mental statement with angry sarcasm.
What did I just say. I stood up, looking down upon my currently ignorant little brother. He couldn't follow a simple direction I gave him to avoid causing problems with the leadership of the Team.
If he did, he wouldn't tell you. Artemis quipped, but I just pinched the bridge of my nose as I knelt back down to the shrubbery, concealing myself as I saw rustling in the treeline on the other side of the stream.
Superboy, are you online or just pouting? M'gann asked, giving me a little hope that this entire conversation would be us berating Aqualad.
Busy. Call back later. He said calmly, giving me the assumption he was probably duking it out with a Kobra Venom animal that I really wouldn't want to meet.
What gets me is how nonchalant he is about not telling us. Kid said as I saw the culprit of the rustling come out. I was just a plain looking monkey, not enhanced in any way.
He should be chalant. Way chalant. Extremely chal- Robin was going to say his stupid word one more time before Artemis stepped in with her own suspicions.
How can we be a team if he doesn't trust us with his secrets? Artemis asked, but I knew she shouldn't be the one to talk since I knew for a fact that she wasn't Green Arrow's niece. I wasn't going to say anything since it would make me feel guilty for not telling anyone about Catwoman, but I couldn't lose their trust. Besides, I needed to be alone for my meeting with her tomorrow.
Or if Connor doesn't trust us to take care of ourselves? M'gann chimed in, her irritation with Superboy's overprotectiveness since the Red Fiasco.
Did he really think you or I could have been the mole? Kid said as I watched the monkey move down stream before entering back into the trees.
We've known each other for years! Robin said and I started laughing despite the need to be covert at the moment. What? He just looked at me in confusion. I just shook my head, knowing that there are plenty of things I've kept from him despite knowing him longer than anyone else on the Team.
Trust is a two-way street, and you know they'd hate it if we kept secrets from them. M'gann said with disdain, but I just kept laughing, knowing that only Kid and Rob could hear me. This was ridiculous.
Not that we'd do that. Artemis quickly added.
Never. M'gann laughed uncomfortably. We're teenagers that have a desire for privacy, of course we all have our secrets.
Enough. Aqualad finally barked into the link, everyone stopping what they were doing. Captain Marvel has been captured, and we must act as a team to save him. But Kid just scoffed.
Under your leadership? I don't think- He tried to protest, but Aqualad finally had the guts to take over.
This is not up for debate. You all chose me to lead. When the mission is over, if you wish to select a new leader, I will happily step down. But until that time, I am in command here. Aqualad ordered, each of us finally doing what he said. After a bit of hiking back to where we started, we rejoined as a Team, finding Aqualad. When I saw the tracks, I immediately crouched down and touched the dirt, smelling the area as I got a sense for what might have taken him. The tracks were a mix between Captain Marvel, a large ape, and a tiger. We all silently followed Aqualad as he lead us, following the tracks to a compound. We all surveyed the territory as Artemis knocked an arrow and Kid Flash set his goggles to infrared. M'gann was in camouflage mode above everyone in a tree. I analysed the pylons surrounding the compound. The design is meant as a security system, an electromagnetic force field.
I'll fly over. M'gann said, ready to move. But it couldn't just be that simple.
Negatory. The field is stamped like a dome over the whole compound. Kid reported as he scanned the head signature generated by the pylons.
Pylons are insulated, but one good shock could cause a momentary gap. Robin reported as he worked out probability and statistics for out getting into the compound to retrieve Captain Marvel.
I see a target. Artemis announced as she knocked a punching arrow. I tracked her line of sight and saw what she meant, a power button next to the entrance.
Then be ready to hit it. Be ready, all of you. Aqualad ordered as he left his water bearers in his pack, approaching the field with his hands empty and ready. His tattooes glowed as he electrocuted the field, managing to get it to react.
Now! Kid ordered Artemis and she fired the arrow, it hitting the button and the force field shutting down. All of us bolted through, ready to retrieve Captain Marvel. But I heard movement above. I stopped in my tracks as a Baboon howled, alerting the rest of the troupe as alarms flashed and blared.
"Remove their collars!" Aqualad yelled aloud as he set the first monkey free from control.
"Sounds easy when he says it." Robin grumbled as I slashed through the collars from the Baboons attacking him. Robin immediately threw batarangs, slicing the collars of the monkeys about to attack Artemis. The second he did, a massive Gorilla stepped out of the building, dressed with decal like a french soldier. M'gann tried to sneak around it in camouflage mode, but caught her, throwing her to the ground. He pointed his machine gun, ready to disable her, but I looked to Aqualad. He grabbed me and threw me right at the stupid ape. With a battle cry, I tackled the massive ape to the ground, digging my claws beneath the thick fur to hold him off as M'gann picked herself up from the ground. In a fit of rage, I dove out of the way as she psionically blasted him through a wall. We all entered through the hole in the building and looked in awe as we all saw Captain Marvel on an operating table as none other than the Brain electrocuted a tiger.
"It's The Brain!" Kid exclaimed, torn between being excited and repulsed.
"Uh, I can see it's a brain." Artemis sassed, but she really didn't get it, being a newbie and all.
"Not a brain, The Brain." He corrected her as we all stood off against the little droid.
"In the flesh, so to speak." His french accent was still strong despite his automated voice. "Mallah." He called the Gorilla and blue glowing pylons rose from the ground above us. Rendering everyone inert on the ground.
Miss Martian, Superboy, now! Aqualad ordered in the psychic link. M'gann willed the remote to leave Mallah as float above her as she deactivating the paralysing pylons. Superboy busted through the far wall, a white wolf at his side. The wolf attacked Mallah with Kid Flash as we all dodged the ape's gunfire. I leapt over the ape, removing the sash with extra reloads as M'gann flipped him onto his pack with her telekinesis. He tried to fire the gun again, but Robin, Artemis and I began setting off explosives against his back, destroying the gun. The three of us then joined the fight against the Brain, who was firing lasers as Aqualad. I jumped in the way and the Brain just stopped firing as I charged him.
"Why attack moi, when I can take you to your creators." He said with his mechanical french voice, and I stopped in my tracks. "Come with me, my dear kitten, and I can show you the Light, " He said, and it seemed like a play on words, but I knew the term from somewhere. I suddenly felt weak, falling to my knees before him. I heard Mallah roar in the background as I melted in front of the Brain, completely unable to move. My mind was running blank as his suit opened up, an additional mechanism extending outwards from him as it sounded like it was charging.
"No, Mallah, this will not be our Waterloo. Au revoir, mes amis." The Brain said as I fell over, curled up, motionless on the ground before him.
"Get down!" I heard Kid yell as I felt his arms encircle me, pulling me away from the brain and shielding me. The lights all switched off for a moment before the flood lights came on. "Wait, that big weapon thing was... a light switch?" Kid asked as the Brain and Mallah were nowhere to be seen. My fingers twitched as I got the largest headache of my entire life. I slowly stood up from the ground and saw that Kid had found Mallah's hat. We all trekked back to the Bioship and got ready to board.
"What are you grinning about?" Artemis glared and Kid, drawing my attention to the unfaltering smile.
"One word. Souvenir." He said with excitement as he put on the hat. I was completely grossed out as Artemis glared at the speedster.
"Two words. Gorilla lice." Artemis told him as she walked ahead.
"Huh? Oh, man!" Kid tore the hat from his head and held it away from himself as I laughed at him. We caught up to the others just as Superboy started talking to the massive white wolf.
"The rest of the pack is gone. What are you still doing here?" He asked, petting the fur of the massive canine.
"I think he wants to stay with you." M'gann laughed, the wolf nuzzling its nose of Superboy.
"Can I keep him?" He asked like a little five year old with a stray puppy. Kid just started laughing lightly.
"First the sphere, now this beast? Dude, you sure make a habit of collecting strays." Kid remarked, eyeing the happy wolf as Superboy continued to rub the beast behind the ears.
"Maybe because he's such a stray himself." M'gann commented, the two began having a silent conversation, so I turned, drawing Kid's attention.
"So, need me to check your hair when we get back?" I asked, gesturing to the hat in his hand and he just groaned. I couldn't stop laughing as he slowly started getting the stick out of his butt, laughing with with me.
"Well, he's gonna need a name. How's about Krypto?" Kid offered up the name, but the albino canine snarled.
"Pass." Superboy smiled, glancing at the beast.
"Besides, isn't that taken?" M'gann asked, probably referring to Superman's dog. I left them as I went to board the ship, Aqualad had the same idea, but robin stopped him.
"Look, I need to know. Why did you keep the mole intel a secret?" Robin asked. Aqualad turned and found the entire Team awaiting his answer.
"The source of the tip was Sportsmaster." Aqualad finally revealed, setting off the most unlikely of the group.
"What? You can't trust him!" She snapped at him, and he simply let her.
"I do not. It seemed possible, even likely, that he was attempting to divide the Team with false information." Aqualad clarified for her. I understood that he was trying to protect us, it just made a lot more sense now.
"And given how this mission went, he nearly succeeded. But you had to consider it might be true." Robin was finally understanding why Kaldur did what he did.
"Yes. As leader, I did. In which case, I did not wish to alert the traitor." Aqualad spoke calmly, basically diffusing everyone. I was sure that the rest of us were no longer upset with him… or at least I hoped.
"Hate to say it, but makes sense." Robin gave in, and he usually never backed down when he was wrong. I've been on the similar end of that for a lot longer than I would have liked.
"I am still prepared to step down." Aqualad reminded everyone. After his speech about being in command, I wasn't sure I wanted him to step down.
"All in favor of keeping Aqualad as leader?" Kid Flash said happily, knowing what was going to happen. Everyone raised their hands, including Captain Marvel, who wasn't actually on the Team. Robin and Aqualad shared a look as I noticed Artemis not taking her eyes off of the two of them.
"Guess it's unanimous." Captain Marvel said, putting a hand on Aqualad's shoulder. "See you tomorrow." He waves, walking back into the clearing. Something seemed off about him, but I shook it off.
"You're not coming back with us?" Aqualad questioned as the hero walked away.
"Nope, gotta fly." He waved once again with a big smile before taking off into the sky. Kid suddenly put his arm around me as the two of us walked back onto the ship, my soreness slowly returning.
"So, what are you gonna call him?" M'gann asked Superboy behind us.
"What's wrong with Wolf?" Superboy questioned, and I smiled, enjoying the fact that Superboy didn't really care about putting so much thought into the name. He just cared about the animal.
"Generic, but acceptable." KF said with a smile as the two of us sat down next to each other, once again sharing music as the Bioship launched, leaving Northern India behind us. As we flew back to Mt. Justice, a thought pushed itself to the front of my mind. I was meeting with Catwoman tomorrow.