Disclaimer:No... nothing really to say...
True Mortal:Yeah... me either...
Assassin Of Chaos:Wow! That's a new- you know what... It's not even worth it.
Bane Of The Fallen:Agreed...
Swordsman Of Kronos:So... what do we do for the rest of our commercial...?
Dark Kronos:You could bring me and the Personalities back!
True Mortal:NO! I'd rather sit on DEAD PAGE!
SofK:... This may be our worst intro yet...
BotF:Hard to say, all our intros and endings together are terrible.
AOC:... No arguments...
True Mortal:For once... We agree...
SofK:...
BotF:Well... we're nearing the end so... True Mortal? AOC?
True Mortal:Huh? Oh... I got nothing...
AOC:Then... um... Aw, here it goes?... JUST PAN AWAY WRITER! PAN AWAY!
Important Note:The League finds the Blockbuster Formula when they go through Cadmus' base wreckage. That is all...
Chapter 4:Don't get me wrong... it's for the job...
A figure dressed entirely in black dropped through the air, his form taking on multiple flips similar to that a professional athletic would do in a competition before finally landing on the ground in a crouched stance. The figure was that of Taskmaster with a slightly modified 'Stealth Suit'. He wore the same mask and skull attachment as before but replacing his usual bullet proof vest was a black military one that stretched out to come just short of the ends of his shoulders, and was strapped near his collar bone. The collar of the vest came up to the very top of his neck to protect it. Painted onto the front was a bright white skull.
This was pulled on over a black sweater like, skin tight, long sleeved shirt. The shirt had a black hood that came out of the military vest to cover the top of his skull. His shirt extended down into black leather gloves that had fingers on all but his thumbs and index fingers. Pulled onto his elbows were a pair of black military elbow pads.
Wrapped around his waist was the same bulky black utility belt he always wore. They held up a pair of black military combat cargo pants with black military knee pads attached on over them. These pants continued down into military steel toed combat boots. Attached to either side of the bullet proof vest were gun holsters which held his two Silenced Beretta's. Strapped to his back was his black and white sword.
Strapped to the sides of his utility belt was his M1911's and to the back his AK-47. Strapped to his right thigh was a Caliber .50 GL 1st model pistol. And attached to his combat boots were his four military combat knives.
Behind his mask, Naruto smirked as he cracked his neck before pressing an earpiece, invisible underneath his mask before speaking."Thanks for the lift." It was a moment before a reply came over the small earpiece.
"Just remember our deal... Now, the team will be there soon, and I'll be lingering nearby. Press the emergency button on the earpiece and I'll be right there if you need help."
"Got it." Taskmaster replied as he smirked before rushing of into the forest of Santa Prisca for observation. Hiding in the treetops and jumping from them, Naruto stopped as he heard a Spanish Accented voice talking. Stopping and holding himself in place he looked down, his eyes narrowed as he saw the luchador masked face of...
"Are you sure of this Bane?"
"Trust me Ninio, We'll take down Cobra and get the factory back..." Bane spoke, all the while secretly thinking,'Or I will, by myself.'
Naruto continued to watch the scene below, his eyes narrowed as he quickly left the tree he was in, before he was found by the group below him. Dropping to the ground with a roll, Naruto ran throughout the forest of Santa Prisca, looking for a short time Hide- Away before coming to a skidding stop as Kid Flash and Robin zipped down from, seemingly, thin air, followed by Miss Martian and then Superboy... who seemed too be intent on causing a cosmic event.
Shaking his head in despair as Kid Flash voiced his thoughts, Naruto pulled himself into the trees. Using what Cadmus taught him so that he could avoid being detected by the Martian, silently biting his tongue as Superboy looked around, suspicious with narrowed blue eyes. Smirking, Naruto quickly and silently jumped from tree branch to tree branch as he followed the team throughout the forest of Santa Prisca.
Of Course, it hadn't taken Robin long before he disappeared into the forest before The Clone and Kid Flash became suspicious that they were being followed, before Aqualad, over an Earpiece similar to his, gave Superboy and order to use his heat vision and Kid Flash his techno heat vision. At the revelation that he could be discovered, he popped a pill from his utility belt into his mouth which cooled his 'Viewing Temperature' down to that of the foliage around him.
With this the two stared straight past him before Kid Flash rocketed off into the foliage of the forest to find Robin, forcing Naruto to curse before moving through the trees at a much faster pace before flipping out and taking off down the same path Kid Flash had, leaving the boy's two teammates to follow off behind him. Pushing the limbs of the trees behind, Naruto dived forwards just in time to knock Kid Flash out of the firing range of Bane.
Quickly jumping to his feet, Taskmaster withdrew his AK-47, allowing it to fire off into the night and join the bullets of Bane's Forces and, what Naruto assumed, were the 'Cobra Cultists'. Rolling from behind the tree he sat, Taskmater allowed his bullets to fly through the air and enter the stomach of one of Bane's followers, the man instantly falling unto the ground. Reacting quickly, he withdrew his sword and swung around, lopping off the head of one of the 'Cobra Cultists'. Smirking, Taskmaster kicked the body of the 'Cultist' allowing it to fall onto one of his former comrades, knocking him off balance before he was met with the same fate,
Ducking and rolling to the side, Taskmaster was able to dodge more bullets from both sides, his AK-47 returning to its resting place before withdrawing his M1911's and opening fire on the, far, less gun experienced men as most fell to the Ground, wounded or dead. Naruto smirked behind his mask as Aqualad and Robin dropped from the treeline just as he lashed out with a right kick to Bane's face, allowing the man to crash into a tree behind him before delivering a devastating spinning kick, Bane quickly falling to the ground.
Smirking, Taskmaster quickly and silently gathered up the, still living, members that had been firing at him before using a small amount of Military rope to tie them to the tree within the immediate area, the team of 'Young Justice' watching in, slight, awe and disbelief at Taskmaster's action. Kid Flash stepped forwards with Robin, growling at Taskmaster,"Alright! Who the hell do you think you are! You just come out of no where when we're on a mission and KILL EVERYONE IN SIGHT!"
"You can't do those things!" Robin called as Taskmaster snarled at the two boys standing in front of him.
"Check your attitude sidekicks. I'm here on a mission, given too me by your oh so great Batman. Meaning, I'm being paid to protect your sorry asses! So, bar Miss Martian who seems to be the only one not being almost killed every five second, don't delve far into it when I save your little bastard asses by killing someone." Hearing the insult, in front of Miss Martian no less, was a shot to Kid Flash's pride as he stepped forwards even more.
"Check our attitude? Maybe you should check your attitude you sorry Son Of A Bit-" Quickly, Taskmaster lashed out with an upper cut that sent Kid Flash reeling back into Robin as his teammates tensed, bar Miss Martian who had assured herself he was a 'friend', at the current time.
"Watch it Flash Jr. or I'll give you, and your little team of wannabe Super- Friends, the reality check you need. You're not Flash, You're not Batman, step up to me again I'll knock you both right back onto your asses." Taskmaster pushed past the two Side-Kicks, knocking them back to the ground, stopping by Miss Martian on his way to confront the now conscious Bane. Miss Martian stared at him out of the corner of her eyes as he looked to her."Excuse me language." He spoke, though those within the clearing had a problem telling if he was sincere or not.
Walking forwards, Taskmaster kneeled down to be eye level with Bane."Now, I want to know everything about Cobra."
"After you untie me Ninio." Bane spoke with a smirk as Taskmaster growled. Bane, sensing Naruto's annoyment spoke again,"There is something I can tell you. There's a secret passage to the factory, but only I know where it is."
Taskmaster snarled before looking to Miss Martian."You, Martian Girl, do the whole mind reading thing, see what you can get." He ordered as Miss Martian made a surprised yelp before nodding and quickly doing as she was ordered before shaking her head.
"Uh-uh-uh Chika, Bane... Is not that easy."
"There is a secret passage but he's... hiding something." Hearing this, Taskmaster glared directly into Bane's eyes as the man smirked before growling.
"Alright, Bane, what are you hiding? Ambush? Hidden Agenda?"
"Sorry Ninio-"
"Call me Ninio one more fucking time and I'm going to put a bullet in your lap first!" Taskmaster growled as he withdrew his right side Beretta before aiming it at Bane, though his hand was knocked away by Aqualad.
"That is enough. If Batman truly sent you on this mission you will be kind enough to follow the 'No Killing' rule. For now, I say we trust Bane, we have no other choice." The white haired teen spoke as Bane smirked at Taskmaster who put his silenced gun away before walking on ahead of the group, leaning on a tree for support. He sat there for a moment, waiting until Bane and the group of 'Young Justice' passed him before walking behind them.
Cracking his neck, Naruto watched as Robin and Kid Flash began to fight about the leader of their team as Bane continued to lead the group to his Secret Tunnel. Of course it didn't take them long to break from the tree line as the two, as Naruto had decided to so affectionately call them, 'Super- Friends' feuded. "Sarcasm?" Kid Flash questioned Robin after one of his come back remarks,"Dude, a real leader would focus on getting answers." Kid Flash whispered as Taskmaster sighed, shaking his head.
"Answers... are this way." Bane spoke with a gesture of his arm, motioning to a tunnel he revealed by moving a giant boulder.
"So, now El Luchador is our leader?" Kid Flash questioned as Robin hit him before Taskmaster came forwards, chuckling.
"Kid, I don't even think you have a team to lead." Taskmaster spoke as he trailed down the tunnel behind Bane and Robin, leaving Kid Flash to follow behind with Superboy and Miss Martian, scowling.
The tunnel, to Naruto, seemed to be short as they arrived at a metal door where Bane pressed a button on the side, a bright light turning from red to green before the door opened, Bane leading them through."Has that little ninio already been caught?" Bane questioned as Aqualad responded, Taskmaster tuning them out as he examined Bane, sizing him for the, more than likely, battle to come as Bane watched Kid Flash 'Flash' away, followed quickly by Robin.
~Within a few Minutes~
"It's a massive shipment." Aqualad stated, Taskmaster sighing as he watched the three teammates ducking down behind the crates, standing beside Bane.
"This wasn't in my job description..." Taskmaster grumbled to himself as Bane smirked, his arms crossed.
"Yeah, but they're only taking new product off the line." Superboy added, ignoring Taskmaster and Bane.
"Maybe... Freshness counts...?" Miss Martian suggested as Bane shook his head, Naruto smirking behind his mask at the man's disbelief of the team.
"Helicopter's coming." Superboy spoke before said flying craft ever actually made itself known to the others, bar Taskmaster.
~Inside the factory, on the catwalks~
"Sportsmaster." Aqualad spoke as he raised his head from his kneeling state, Taskmaster raising his eyebrow at the sudden name."He is the buyer." The white haired teen finally summed up before pressing his earpiece."Aqualad to Red Tornado. Do you read?" Aqualad questioned as Taskmaster sighed, cracking his knuckles and observing the Cobra Cultists below."I can't reach The League, Robin, or Kid. We need a plan... now."
"I have a suggestion." Bane spoke before jumping over the side of the Cat walk and attacking the cultists, one firing a machine gun sure to be heard by the dealers outside the building.
"What is he doing?" Aqualad questioned as Naruto smirked behind his mask, jumping over the catwalk just in time to avoid it being brought down by a gigantic, gray, skin torn montrosity.
"Starting up a party!" Taskmaster called to Aqualad as he grabbed one of the Cobra Cultists, slicing his throat with a small thin blade that shot from the wrist of his glove before tossing the dying man aside, the blade disappearing. Kicking the other Cultist to Bane, he withdrew a throwing knife from his utility belt, he allowed itself to embed in the man's skull.
Smirking, Taskmaster turned around and faced the new arrivals."Destroy them!" Cobra called before the monster and Cultists rushed forwards. Jumping into the air, Taskmaster landed on the shoulders of the monster before lodging one of his combat knives into the back of its neck. The things roared before throwing him of into the air where he preformed an aerial backflip before landing in a crouched state, watching as the monster rushed forwards before being blind sighted by Superboy.
Growling, Taskmaster rushed forwards, his foot slamming into the monster's face and knocking him away from Superboy before slipping into the air, his feet crashing into its neck and sending it stumbling back as the Cobra Cultists began to unleash fire, forcing Naruto to growl as he rolled away, withdrawing his AK-47 and allowing Superboy to deliver a vicious upper cut.
Pulling the trigger of his gun, Taskmaster watched as Cobra's Cultists screamed in pain, blood spilling from their bodies and their bodies falling to the ground. Smirking, Taskmaster withdrew the throwing knife he had used before from the man's skull, slitting a nearby man's throat before pocketing the item and withdrawing his sword. Using the sword, he was able to deflect the bullets of Cobra's Cultists back at them while still firing.
Taskmaster frowned as he heard Aqualad call for a retreat, the gray monster and a few Cobra Cultists rushing after the retreating team. Snarling as he was surrounded, Taskmaster put his AK-47 away before opening fire with his Beretta's, the Cobra Cultists quickly falling to the ground before he rushed from the room, jumping into the air and landing, feet first, on the monster's shoulders as Superboy took out support beams of the tunnel. Putting a bullet into the monster, Taskmaster jumped through the falling rubble with a ducking roll, just barely making it to the other side where Aqualad lit a red glow stick.
Taskmaster growled as he sat up with has back against the rubble he had barely escaped, glaring at the team of 'Young Justice'."How could my first mission as Leader go so wrong?" Robin questioned as Taskmaster laughed.
"Leader? Like I said before, I don't think you have a team to lead!" He called as Robin scowled at him, Aqualad ignoring the remark and answering.
"You are the most experienced. But perhaps that is exactly what has left you unprepared. Fighting alongside Batman, your rolls are... defined... You two do not need to talk. But this team is new. And the leader must be clear. Explicit. He can not vanish and expect others to play a part in an unknown plan."
"Oh, so I'm supposed to hold everyone's hands!" Robin snapped as Taskmaster seemed to choke back laughter at the remark, Robin looking to the side."Who am I kidding? You should lead us Kaldur. You're the only one who can."
"Please! I can run circles-"
"Wally C'mon." Robin spoke to the red head as Taskmaster smirked, hearing part of Kid Flash's true identity due to the team's failure to realize he was still there."You know he's the one. We all do."
"Hello Megan! It's so obvious."
"Could have told ya'." Superboy added as Kid Flash looked away for a moment before speaking.
"Okay!" A few eyes turned to Taskmaster afterwards, who smirked.
"Don't look at me. I don't give a fuck who leads your little band of Sidekick Super Friends. I protect you, get paid, that's it. Other than that, bar the lady, you little bastards won't even get my attention unless you're either on a mission site or a place where I get pulled into a fight."
Once again ignoring him, a fact that made Naruto smirk, Aqualad walked forwards,"Then I accept the burden, until you are ready to lift it from my shoulders." He spoke, placing a hand on Robin's shoulder."You were born to lead this team. Maybe not now, but soon. Alright, our first priority is preventing that shipment from leaving this island."
"Funny. I was thinking the same thought."
"Sportsmaster is the supplier slash buyer, but it still doesn't track." Robin told everyone as they rushed down the tunnel."He doesn't have the juice to acquire the Blockbuster formula. Or to get Cobra to do his dirty work!"
"And neither of them have the chops to bond Blockbuster with Venom. That took some major nerdage."
"I believe the expression is: Tip of the iceberg." Aqualad spoke as they came to a stop just short of the exit of the tunnel, Bane standing there with enlarged muscles and an emptied syringes.
"Halt Ninios." He spoke with something in his hands, a growl escaping Taskmaster as his right eye gained a tick underneath its mask."I'm feeling explosive." He said as the team of Young Justice found bombs above them.
"You betrayed us! Why?" Aqualad questioned as Bane smirked.
"I wanted my factory back. So I forced you into a situation where you had to take down Cobra or die trying. If the latter, the Justice League-" Bane's sentence was cut short as a bullet escaped Taskmaster's silenced Beretta, the bullet going through the hand holding the detonator. Rushing forwards, Taskmaster jumped into the air, spinning before kicking the man in the face and sending him crashing to the ground before his military boot came crashing down onto Bane's face.
"I told you to never fucking call me a damn Ninio again!" Taskmaster snarled as he stomped on Bane's face and chest multiple times before Robin stopped him.
"You can't just go shoot somebody! That's almost as bad as-"
"What did I tell you kid?" Taskmaster questioned as he grabbed Robin by the front of his tunic, yanking him forwards."Don't cry over spilled milk. Now, if we're stopping Sportsmaster from leaving Santa Prisca with that Venom/Blockbuster, we have to go... now."
"He is right."
~Helicopter Of Sportsmaster~
As Sportsmaster prepared to load onto his helicopter. A red and black blur cut the door off, taking out multiple of Cobra's armed cultists. One opened fire before Taskmaster came from the shadows, a combat knife slamming into the man's neck before his body hit the ground, the master mercenary taking his knife back."Take the shipment!" Cobra called to Sportsmaster who rushed forwards.
As more Cobra Cultists prepared to shoot, Superboy came down, creating a crater and taking out multiple men before stepping forwards, looking at the gray monster."Go again?" He questioned. The monster growled before rushing forwards, only to be blind sighted by water from Aqualad."Sorry, not the plan."
Immediately he was blasted by Sportsmaster multiple times before Taskmaster dropped to the ground a few yards away as Sportsmaster wrapped his arm around Miss Martian's neck. Narrowing his eyes, Taskmaster threw one of his throwing knives that buried itself in Sportsmaster's metal mask, more than likely still causing damage as he tossed Miss Martian Forwards, where she landed in Taskmaster's arm.
"Thanks for the work- out, but I gotta' fly." Sportsmaster spoke as he entered his helicopter, which quickly took off from the green grass it had sat on. Looking up at Taskmaster with a smirk, Miss Martian held out the same Detonator that Bane had had, which the master mercenary took with a smirk, before pressing its button. Immediately, an explosion went off in the escaping helicopter from which Sportsmaster was forced to parachute from.
A few yards away, Robin hit the hard ground before Cobra stomped his foot onto his chest."I am plagued by mosquitos!" He called before a red arrow shot out from the darkness of the forest, its sharp edges digging into Cobra's skin as blood spilled from the wound, forcing him to stumble away from the downed form of Robin.
From the trees of Santa Prisca, Red Arrow jumped down to stand side by side with Taskmaster. He wore a domino mask that came into sharp, jagged points on his temples and the tops of his cheeks. For a shirt, he wore a black sleeveless, bullet proofed shirt with a skull that seemed to be painted on with blood, and seemed to be running down.
On his left elbow he wore a black elbow pad and on his right arm he wore a black arm guard that came from his wrist all the way to the bottom of his elbow. On both hands he wore fingerless black gloves with spiked studs on the knuckles. Wrapped around his waist, he wore a belt eerily similar to that of Taskmaster, though his was reversed where red was black and black was red, as well as it being less bulky.
He also wore a pair of black combat pants that seemed to be made out of the same material as most all heroes seemed to prefer to wear. Over his knees, he wore black knee pads. Fore shoes he wore black military steel toed boots that seemed to resemble those of Batman. Over his shoulder were his quivers and in his hand his bow.
Red Arrow rolled his shoulders as Cobra backed away, breaking the arrow that protruded from his wound as Red Arrow and Taskmaster stared him down, their hands on their weapons and ready to fire. Backing into the wood, with his hands raised in surrender, Cobra spoke,"Another time then." Robin rushed forwards, searching for the man before swirling around and growling.
"SPEEDY! What was that!" He questioned as Red Arrow narrowed his eyes, grabbing Robin by the front of his tunic, much like Taskmaster.
"Listen to me you son of Bitch. First off, it's Red Arrow now, get it straight rookie. And Unlike you Sidekick Bastard wannabes, I've went my own way."
"And that way is following- him?" Kid Flash questioned as he gestured wildly to Taskmaster.
"Following me? No, we're partners, unlike he would have been with you all or, worse off, the league." Taskmaster shot back as Red Arrow shoved Robin away before turning to Taskmaster who held out one of his two Beretta's. Smirking, Red Arrow took it before twirling it and pointing it at 'Young Justice'.
"Besides. Following Taskmaster, it beats following any of you, and it sure as hell beats following anyone from the Justice League."
"Speedy... What happened to you?"
"Red Arrow! Get my name right you fucking brat! And what happened to me? Unlike you lot of wannabe Bitch heroes, I was given the better ultimatum, and took it. Now get out of my fucking face before I take the first shot of my new Beretta out on you."
With that, Red Arrow looked over to Taskmaster, who nodded before gesturing to the forest with his arm."Lead the way back Arrow." He spoke as Red Arrow nodded before the two mercenaries quickly left through the forest, disappearing in a similar fashion to Cobra.
"We picked the right guy to lead..." Robin spoke, looking to where the two had disappeared,"Automatically making you the right guy to explain this mess and Speedy to Batman!" With that the Boy Wonder saluted Aqualad with an, albeit, reluctant laugh as Aqualad frowned...
True Mortal:I'm done, and going to bed.
BotF:Finally.
SofK:To finish this, please, True Mortal, AOC, just, FINISH IT!
True Mortal:AOC, meet me in my room with a submarine, a flagpole, and a whale.
AOC:What?... Oh no... True Mortal where you going? To bed hopefully... Oh great, everybody, stop him... Aw, here it goes... Night night...