Disclaimer: I do not, nor do I pretend to have any ownership of Young Justice or the DC Universe. I do however take full ownership of Catlyn... and that's about it.
I wanted to give a HUGE thank-you to mahlia, Wheatieluv, spottedfire123, and Megandary for reviewing and giving feedback! You guys make me happy, and the happier I am, the more I want to write more chapters!
I think I've blathered on long enough, so here you go guys!
Captivating Sympathy
Chapter Five: Like Herding Cats
The black latex catsuit molded to her contours, giving her a wide range of movement. It felt like nothing was there, a sensation she would just have to get accustomed to. Everything about the suit was seamless from the sleek boots, to her fingerless gloves with a metal dew claw at her wrist, to the hooded mask.
She secured her whip around the back of a black utility belt and caught her reflection out of the corner of her eye. She was transformed. Even her eyes, usually a vibrant green, radiated white light and seemed alien to her. The corners of her mouth curled upwards upon seeing the pointed cat ears which bent slightly forward, too big for the fabric to support.
Even her temperament had changed. Her excitement chased away the misgivings she was left with after her experience at school. She preformed aerials, cartwheels and flips down the hallway, collecting herself before joining the rest of her team with Batman and Red Tornado. As she walked her attention was drawn to the wall of holographic computer screens, the largest of which displayed the mapping of an island.
"Me-ow," Wally called out to Catlyn between mouthfuls of chips.
She flicked the toy mouse that caused him to scream like a girl in his direction, giving a satisfied smirk when it landed in his chip bag. Not even Wally's wondering eyes could diminish her excitement.
"Eh hem," Robin cleared his throat.
Catlyn stared at him confused until Batman's voice claimed her attention.
"Isla Santa Prisca," Batman began, signaling an end to the time goofing off was acceptable. "This island nation is the primary source of a dangerous and illegal neo-steroid, a strength enhancing drug, sold under the street name, Venom."
The holographs changed. Smaller ones displaying graphs and pie charts were swallowed up, leaving only two large screens to share the space before the team. Detailed drawings of a factory as well as information depicting productivity were now the main focus.
"Infrared heat signatures indicate the factory is still operating at full capacity, but all shipments of Venom have been inexplicably cut off," Batman continued. "That's where this team comes in." He turned to face the grouping of teenagers. "This is a covert, re-con mission only," he emphasized. "Observe and report."
The screens reverted back to statistics and the map, the only difference being a large red 'A' and 'B' depicting set locations on the island.
"If the Justice League needs to intervene, it will," he said, turning to face the screens once again. "The plan will require two drops zones"
"So who's in charge?" Robin asked, a question that sucked the wind from Catlyn's sails.
Batman and Red Tornado turned to face the waiting teenagers and shared a look. "Work that out between you," he answered.
Catlyn crumpled a little bit more. Suddenly this mission was looking more and more like a pissing contest.
The team went to change into their super-suits with the exception the three that called Mount Justice their home.
"Just going to stay in your street clothes?" Catlyn asked, gaining a raised eyebrow from both Megan and Superboy. "Right, stupid question," she said with an embarrassed smile.
She could hear someone approaching and turned to see Batman striding over with purpose.
He explained the components of her suit and that she had different goodies contained in her utility belt. "There are three settings," he started, taking her hand and placing her fingers on a miniscule knob directly below the right cat ear on the hooded mask. "The default just makes images sharper and moving object easier to follow. Turn to the next setting," he instructed.
Catlyn complied and blinked several times, seeing nothing but blackness in front of her.
"Night vision," he clarified. "Turn it again,"
She did as she was told, still seeing nothing but black, although a different shade. She opened her mouth to tell him nothing had changed, when the blackness shifted and moved from view. Catlyn looked around the cave, trying to determine what this particular setting had done.
It took her a few seconds to realize that everything looked so much closer than she knew was possible. She had built in binoculars.
"Now this is cool," she muttered to herself, her gaze landing on the mouth of the hallway where Wally was standing with Robin.
Catlyn couldn't hear what they were saying, but with Robin puffing his chest out and Wally leaning over with his arms crossed and a cutting smirk on his lips, she didn't think she wanted to.
A heavy hand plopped down on her shoulder, making her jump and grasp at the appendage like she had with Wally her first night as part of the team.
"Woah, Catlyn. It's me," came Kaldur's hurried voice.
She released her grip on him quickly and dialed the knob back to the first setting. "Sorry," she apologized as she turned to face him, "but you really shouldn't sneak up on me."
"Even Wally knows better than to do that," Robin chuckled.
"Dude!" Wally remarked.
"We need to determine who is going on what drop," Kaldur interjected, breaking up a potential argument. "The first is just off the coast. I presume I'll be taking that one alone."
"Sure you don't want Cat to come with you?" Wally grinned.
Catlyn shook her head. "Not a big fan of water," she reminded him, as if he needed it.
"It's not a problem. In fact, it would be better to keep as much of the team together as possible," Kaldur said evenly, although it was evident he was losing his patience.
Wally grinned and rested his forearm on Catlyn's shoulder. "Your loss. More for me."
Robin came up beside Catlyn and shoved Wally a side. The phrase 'if looks could kill' came to mind.
"If we're all ready, why don't we head out," Megan suggested, knowing full well that this team was in trouble already. She led the way to the bioship and opened the hull.
Robin and Wally sat in the two seats on the lower level of the spacecraft while the others filed in behind.
The air was tense in the cabin, such a contrast to the first time they had all ridden together.
"We're approaching Santa Prisca," Megan announced, her voice breaking the still and somewhat uncomfortable silence. The monitor beeped and alerted her to their position. "Drop zone 'A' in thirty."
Kaldur stood up and his seat disintegrated. He touched his belt buckle and waited for its effect.
Catlyn watched as his usual attire turned a dark green in color.
"Ready," Kaldur replied.
"Putting bioship in camouflage mode," Megan said.
An opening in the bottom of the ship appeared long enough for Kaldur to dive through it and into the water below.
Everyone in the ship waited for confirmation from Kaldur before proceeding.
"Heat and motion sensors are patched. Data is now on a continuous loop," Kaldur reported. "Move in."
The ship coasted along slowly as not to attract any attention before hovering over a single point.
"Drop zone 'B'," Megan said standing up.
Everyone else followed suit and watched as Megan closed her eyes and manipulated the ceiling of the spacecraft into lines attached to hooks.
Robin, Wally and Cat attached the hooks to their belts.
Wally then touched the insignia on his chest. His suit changed color just as Kaldur's had. "How cool is this?" he grinned, taking a step back and gesturing to himself.
"Very impressive," Megan answered before closing her eyes and morphing her clothes into a black catsuit with a red X taking up most of her torso.
Catlyn grinned at her, impressed with her teasing.
"Uh, that works too," Wally answered with a dreamy look. "Hey Supey. Not to late to put on the new stealth tech."
Superboy stood tall with a deadpan expression. "No capes, no tights," he answered, crossing his arms. "No offense."
Megan looked over at Superboy and smiled softly, enamored. "Totally works for you," she said in an airy voice, snapping to attention when he looked over at her. "In that you can totally do good work in those clothes," she covered, giving him a thumbs up.
Superboy looked away, but not before Catlyn saw his lips form a straight line rather than the deep frown she had grown accustomed to.
Feeling as though she had made a fool out of herself, Megan donned hood of her cloak and became invisible.
She opened the bottom of the ship like she had for Kaldur and was the first to jump.
"Ladies first," Wally smiled, giving Catlyn a half bow.
She raised an eyebrow but jumped through the hole regardless, followed closely by Robin and Wally. They landed behind Megan, who had removed her camouflage, and unhooked the clasps.
Catlyn looked up and saw Superboy cutting through the air and heading right for the group. She felt strong arms wrap around her an pull her out of the way before she had time to move.
Their landing was far from graceful. Robin was crouched with his back against a tree, his arms wrapped around Catlyn, supporting her head and holding her tightly to his chest.
"Knew I didn't need a line," Superboy said from the crater he created, sounding pleased with himself.
"And yet, creating a seismic event, may not have helped us much with the covert," Robin glowered. His expression softened when he looked at the girl in his arms. "You alright?"
She looked up, ready to tell him he didn't have to do that, but the words caught in her throat when she noticed how close his face was to her's. She blushed and settled with a nod, "I'm okay. Thanks."
He released her from his grasp so they could both stand. "You'll return the favor later," he smirked.
They walked toward Superboy, reconvening with Wally, who had jumped the other direction, and Megan, who had flown upward.
"Aqualad, drop 'B' is a go," Megan reported, still hovering in the air while Robin fiddled with one of his gloves, pulling up a holographic screen.
"Head for the factory," Kaldur instructed. "I'll track your GPS and rendezvous with you ASAP."
"Roger that," Robin said before taking off down the path and into the jungle.
They raced across the landscape like living shadows, keeping in the cover of the trees whenever possible. The team followed a winding path up the side of a cliff, sticking close to Robin as he checked the holographic map every once in a while. He led them through the terrain affectively, avoiding traps set by the locals.
On the way down the mountainous path, Superboy paused. "Did you hear that?" he asked in a whisper just loud enough for the others to hear.
"Uh, no," Wally answered as if it were obvious. "Wait, is this a super hearing thing?"
"You do have great ears," Megan said with the same dreamy expression she got whenever she would talk about Superboy.
Catlyn turned just in time to see the hem of Robin's cap disappear into the trees. She followed him, climbing higher and higher, jumping from one branch to an other in order to not be detected.
Gunshots rang loud through the wilderness, surprising Catlyn to the point she nearly fell off her branch. In order to keep from hurtling to the ground below, she dug the metal dew claw from her gloves into the bark. She regained her balance and pressed on.
Wally's grunts floated up through the branches. "So much for the stealthy."
The gunshots resumed, now directed at a new target.
Catlyn dug around in her utility belt for a weapon Batman had stocked. Her fingers closed around something soft. She pulled it out and looked down in disbelief at what looked the be a a fuzzy mouse cat toy. Curses about times for Batman to 'have his moments' raced through her mind.
By this time, both of the original fighters had their attention on Wally and Superboy was coming in fast.
She threw down the cat toy in frustration before searching desperately for something she could use to help.
Superboy had engaged what looked to be the most muscularly developed man in combat, throwing him into a tree by the time he was finished.
"¿Qué es eso? (What is this?)" a man in a plain sweatshirt with a machine gun poised to attack asked. He waved over a couple of his cohorts and pointed down. They had stumbled upon the fuzzy mouse in the sand.
Catlyn nearly groaned in embarrassment. That is, until the mouse gave a high pitched squeak and detonated.
The force of the explosion caused one man to fly backwards, right into three figures in red hooded cloaks with their guns aimed at Wally while the others were sent into nearby trees.
Wally turned and saw Catlyn crouched on a branch, looking absolutely flabbergasted. He gave her a cheeky smile before dashing off.
Catlyn dropped from her branch just as Robin joined the fray.
He fell though the air, knocking one opponent out by practically landing on him. "What is wrong with you guys?" Robin asked, taking on his second target. "Remember, covert. Why didn't you follow my lead, vanish into the jungle?"
Wally answered him first while fighting a man whose gun he had discarded. "That's what you were doing?" He back-flipped, landing a solid kick to his foe's jaw. "Way too fill us in. We're not mind readers you know," he said just as Megan used telepathy to force two of the robed men into a large tree. "Er, I'm not anyway."
"You told me I could only read the bad guy's minds," Megan pointed out.
"Someone's getting away," Catlyn shouted, watching as a red robed man traversed the winding path.
Robin reached behind him for a weapon, but it wasn't needed.
Kaldur blocked the man's path and caught him by the front of his robes. His tattoos glowed and sent electrical shocks through the other's body. He let go and allowed the unconscious man to fall to the ground before crushing the adversary's gun in a powerful stomp.
"Dude, that was shocking," Wally grinned. "Get it?"
Catlyn sighed, shaking her head. She gave his shoulder a shove and pushed him into the trunk of a tree.
"What are we going to do with them?" Megan asked, gesturing to the men sprawled out on the ground, some of which were coming too.
"I've got that one covered," Catlyn grinned, pulling a ball of light weight, highly durable twine with a steel core from her utility belt. She made quick work of securing the fallen opponents to trees with the help of Superboy.
"I recognize those uniforms," Robin said upon closer inspection of the red hooded figures. "They belong to the Cult of Kobra."
"I'm certain Batman would've mentioned it if he knew that a dangerous, extremist group was running Santa Prisca's Venom operation," Kaldur replied in a hushed tone.
"Agreed," Robin concurred. "And since there's clearly no love lost between the Cult and those goons, I'm betting Kobra came in and tossed them out. That's why normal supply lines have been cut off," he said smugly.
"We get it, Kobra wanted Santa Prisca, mystery solved," Wally said, disappointed with the lack of action that came with the mission. "Radio Bats and we'll be home in time for-"
"These cultists aren't on Venom," Robin interrupted, "Kobra's hoarding the stuff! We don't leave. Not until I know why."
"Until you know why?" Wally asked, leaning over Robin, much like Catlyn had seen him do in Mount Justice.
"This team needs a leader," Robin pointed out.
Catlyn closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. And let the pissing begin, she mused.
"And it's you?" Wally asked sarcastically, closing the gap between himself and Robin, towering over him. "Dude, you're a kid, who ducked out on us without a word."
The close proximity didn't seem to phase Robin who only chuckled at his friend's boldness. "And you're mature? You blew our cover first chance you got," he said, a smirk evident in his voice.
"Don't you wanna lead?" Megan asked Superboy in a quiet voice.
Superboy shook his head and scoffed. "You?"
She raised both hands to chest level with her palms facing outward. "After the Mr. Twister fiasco?"
"You did alright," Superboy said with an actual smile.
She turned and blushed, coming face to face with Catlyn who gave her a silent thumbs up. "What about you Cat?" she asked.
Catlyn looked at her surprised. "I just found out that I have bombs in my pocket" she said with a dismissive wave. "I'm good."
Out of the corner of her eye, Catlyn saw Superboy tense slightly, inclining his head in the direction of the secured men.
"Yeah? Well you don't even have superpowers," Wally disputed, walking away.
"Neither does Batman!" Robin argued, following after him.
"Chuh, you're not Batman," Wally practically spat.
"Chuh," Robin mocked, "closest thing we've got!"
A deep chuckle quelled the bickering. "Such clever little niños, but you only know half the story," a voice with a heavy Spanish accent said from the base of one of the trees. "Let me show you the rest," he offered as the rest of the team gathered before him, "get you into the factory via my secret entrance."
Megan had grown more confident in her place on the team and knelt down in front of the masked man who had spoken, trying to unearth the truth from his mind. "There is a secret entrance, but he's hiding something," she said. Her eyes began to glow as she focused harder on his mind.
"Ah ah ah chica," the masked man taunted. "Bane is not that easy to read."
Megan sighed, defeated, and he eyes lost their glow. "He's mentally reciting fútbol scores en español. This could take a while," she admitted.
"It's not complicated," Bane smirked. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
The team shared a look and Kaldur gave the nod to free Bane.
Catlyn quickly cut the ties binding him with her dew claw and retreated to the rest of the group. "I don't trust him," she whispered to Robin once they were on their way, "he's crafty."
He looked down and gave her a reassuring smile, taking her hand in his and squeezed it gently. "We'll be alright," he said before the group reached a cliff which provided a view of the factory below. He released Catlyn's hand and strode to the very edge, taking out his binoculars. "Look at all that product, he marveled. "A buy is going down. But, if Kobra isn't selling to the usual suspects, then-"
"We need to identify that buyer," Kaldur interrupted.
"Just what I was thinking," Wally said, standing up and sliding his goggles to his forehead.
"Yeah, you're the thinker," Robin teased.
"Sarcasm? Dude, a real leader would focus on getting the answers," Wally reprimanded, up in arms.
Bane took hold of a huge boulder, grunting as his lifted it and threw it aside to reveal a secret tunnel. He dusted off his hands and gestured into the newly divulged passageway. "Answers are this way."
The team stood on edge. Was it really a good idea to follow this criminal into the depths of the earth?
"So, now el luchadore is our leader," Wally said exasperated, standing in the mouth of the tunnel.
Robin passed him, and punched him in the shoulder as he became the first of the team to venture into the tunnel.
Megan looked at Catlyn who only shrugged and, against her better judgment, followed Bane and Robin down into the passage way. The only sound came from the traipsing of their feet on the mixture of rock and sand.
The progression halted when Bane stopped in front of a set of large metal doors. He pressed his thumb on a button and smiled back at the teenagers as a faint buzz and the distinct sound of locks coming undone resonated withing the tunnel.
Robin crouched in the doorway, looking out into what seemed to be a boiler room to ensure they would not be walking into an ambush. "All clear," he announced before darting past the partially opened door and out of sight.
The remainder of the team followed behind Bane at a slower pace.
"Has the little fool already been caught?" Bane asked in a whisper.
"No," Kaldur sighed exasperatedly, becoming frustrated. "He just does that."
"Stay put," Wally instructed, donning his goggles. "I'll get our intel and be back before the Boy Wonder."
"Wait, Kid," Kaldur called out in a whisper, but it came too late and Wally was off, the pissing contest as heated as ever.
"Great chain of command," Bane said sarcastically.
As much as Catlyn hated to admit it, she had to agree with him. This team was working about as well as an attempt to herd cats.
The remaining members of the "team" shared a look, not giving Bane the satisfaction of verbally admitting he was right. They continued to follow Bane, crouching behind a large wooden container and watched as red hooded figures operated forklifts.
"It's a massive shipment," Kaldur marveled.
"Yeah, but they're only taking new product off the line. They're not touching this Venom," Superboy observed.
"Maybe freshness counts?" Megan offered.
"Good guess, but I think it's something different," Catlyn said, thinking out loud. "Different," she repeated excitedly after a time, "that's it! They've changed it somehow."
"Helicopter's coming," Superboy said, inclining his head to the sky.
Conversation stopped as Kaldur, Megan and Catlyn strained their ears until the helicopter came close enough for them to hear. The three ducked behind the container completely as a couple of Kobra's armed guards come too close for comfort.
"We need to get to higher ground," Kaldur instructed, looking to Bane.
Bane looked straight up at a catwalk overhead a good fifty feet off the ground. "High enough for you?"
Kaldur didn't dignify Bane with a response. Instead he looked to Megan. "I need you to identify our mystery buyer when he steps out of the helicopter," he said before signaling to Catlyn and Superboy to follow Bane to the stairs leading up to the catwalk above.
Megan put on her hood and became invisible before flying over the armed guards and hovering over the helicopter pad.
Kaldur sat in silence with his eyes closed for some time before he opened them with a start. "Sportsmaster," he said simply and turned to Superboy. "He is the buyer? Aqualad to Red Tornado, do you read?" he asked, putting his index and middle fingers to his temple. He paused and closed his eyes before allowing himself a frustrated grunt. "Can't reach the League, Robin or Kid. Comm's jammed," he reported. "We need a plan, now."
"I have a suggestion," Bane smirked. He took a running start and dove over the railing, proving to be quite acrobatic despite his size. He knocked one armed assailant away with a powerful swing of his left arm and deflected the other foe's gun upward before a shot had been fired.
"What is he-" Kaldur began, only to be interrupted by a monstrous growl.
A beast, which appeared to have been human at one point or another, came crashing through the glass of the factory's upper most window.
I'm sorry that it's a cliff hanger, but I will more than likely have the next chapter out tomorrow afternoon or perhaps even late morning so please don't hate me.
The title is actually a phrase my high school English teacher would use when we were being particularly unruly. I thought it fit rather nicely.