Drop Zone

Santa Prisca: 1:12am, July 14th, 2010:

No P.O.V:

On the formidable island known as Santa Prisca, the notorious Bane and his men are surrounded by dozens of men and women in red cloaks. Men stands there as his men raise their arms as the rifles cock at them. One of the Reds approaches Bane who communicates in Spanish. "Our sublime Master proclaims...he will depart this facility...if...one of you defeats his champion in single combat." The towering Bane barges his way forward, past his men as he stands in front of the red cloaked speaker. "Just make it interesting." Bane declares as an alarm rings out as the bar door opens. Bane walks in, not realising the smug look on the red speaker's face. In the makeshift arena, Bane narrows his eyes across to the other side as the other door opens. A skinny man with red hair enters with a confident look. A woman next to him, with familiar features, walks him in.

Bane turns back to see the red spraker drop his Venom enchancer in the arena. "You give back my greatest weapon?" Bane asks questionly as the red spraker smirks. "It would barely test his champions prowess...if you didn't have it." He says as Bane smirks and attaches the enchancer to his wrist and to the back of his skull. Bane grunts in pain as the Venom drug courses through his veins. His eyes narrow in pain as his muscles bulge and expands. The already towering and muscled Bane is enchaned further with huge muscles. "Your funeral, little man." Bane says as he turns and looks at the man across from him as he cracks his neck.

The woman, next to the man, injects a purple serum as the man begins constricting and groaning in agony as the serum rushes through him. The man collapses holding his torso as Bane narrows his eyes. The other man behind growling as his teeth sharpen, his skin hardens into something like scales, the right side of his torso and arm split open to revealing the bulging red muscle underneath, but the man shows no sigh of pain. The man is now a huge monster creature with huge muscles, harden skin and a fierce temperate. The monster charges at Bane with incredible speed which surprises the luchador but he quickly shakes it off and shields himself from the massive overhsnd of the bigger opponent.

Bane delivers an uppercut and a straight right hand to the monster's chest but he barely registers any pain, almost like he didn't feel anything. The monster grabs Bane's neck and delivers a powerful short punch to the gut which blows out Bane's air from his lungs. A quick uppercut and right hand, followed by a grab, Bane is thrown into the adjacent wall with a thud. Bane has barely anytime to register what has happened before the monster is on him again. The beast shoulder checks Bane into the wall which makes a few cracks. The raging animal grabs Bane's head and throws him away before jumping and landing a powerful punch to Bane's head. The resulting contact leaves a small crater in the ground. "Hail Kobra." The red speaker says as he repeats it. Soon enough, all the present red cloaks begin chanting as a large man with a red snake themed cloak looks down with a satisfied look adorned on his face.

Caribbean Sea, 9:08pm, July 22nd:

P.O.V Change: Matthew Spectre

It's late at night, as I sit at the back of the bio ship's bridge. We are currently on a mission heading to Santa Prisca. A notorious island nation, known for making and selling the street drug known as 'Venom'. The drug acts as a strength enchancer, capable of making anyone strong enough to lift a truck with relative ease. Batman gathered us to observe and report the findings of the islands activities. The island's heat signatures reveal that more Venom is being made but not shipped. Batman wants us to figure out the why and to report. However, a tension is in the air as Robin asked in the briefing, who's leading? Batman and Red Tornado left the choice to us to figure. I understand the need for a leader but to leave it to us is only going to invite conflict with the group. Especially with this covert mission, where we can't reveal ourselves.

"We are approaching Santa Prisca." M'gann says as I snap out of my thoughts. "Drop zone 'A' in 30." She says as Kaldur stands and presses the insigina on his belt. His red coloured suit turns into a black colour, perfect for concealment. "Ready when you are." He says M'gann. "Putting bio ship in camouflage mode." She says as the ship cloaks over, leaving us invisible to the naked eye. M'gann moves the ship low to water as the floor opens up. Kaldur dives in as the ship pulls up. First part of plan is going good, so far.

M'gann slows the ship as we wait for Kladur to complete his part. "Heat and motion sensors are patched. Data is now being looped. Move in." He says over the comms as M'gann pushes the ship forward. "Drop zone 'B'." M'gann says as we all stand. The seats morp back into the ship. M'gann telepathically lowers cables from the ceiling as I fix my clothing and chains. After being with the team for about two weeks. I decided that I needed an upgrade from my simple jeans and shoes. Batman had outfitted me with a set of combat boots and pants. He also took my jackets white 'U' design and applied it to an upgraded kevlar jacket. A simple white t shirt was fitted underneath. My gloves were also more tactical and reinforced with padding for extra damage. My chains were still the same as I test the hellfire on the chain by pulling my hands across it as it lights. I kill the flame as I wrap the chain back around my arm. I notice that both Robin and Wally have connected their cables to their belt buckles. Wally presses his insigina as his yellow and red suit becomes a black and darker red colour. He turns to M'gann with his arms open. "How cool is this?" He says flirtatiously as I roll my eyes. "Very impressive." She replies as she raises her arms as her skin and clothes become black, leaving only her hand and face green. Her cloak also adds a hood. She stares back at Wally as I notice his bewildered expression. "That works, too." He says as I lean over to him. "Yours was good...hers was better." I say as he narrows his eyes at me before turning to Superboy. "Hey, Supey, not too late to put on the new stealth tech." He says as Superboy crosses his arms. "No capes, no tights. No offense." He says as I feel M'gann's attraction and arousal spike. "Totally works for you." She says dreamingly as I look at her surprised. "In that you could totally do good in those clothes." She says really quickly as Superboy just turns away. I stand beside and lean into her, she notices my look. "Smooth." I say as she pulls her hood up and goes invisible from embarrassment. I chuckle. The ship comes to a stop as the floor opens up. Robin and Wally head down from the cables as I wrap a chain around one of M'gann's command balls. I fall down to the ground, I land and call the chain back to me, it wraps around my arm as I dive away from Superboy who decides to just jump down the ground.

The dust clears as Superboy stands from the crater that he created. "Knew that I didn't need a line." He says cockily as I push through the bush. "You plan on alerting everyone on this island?" I ask sarcastically as he simply shrugs. M'gann flies down from the ship as she spots the crater before staring at Superboy. He simply looks away but I can sense his embarrassment from her stare. "This covert mission is going off to a great start." Robin says as he walks over, clearing off the dust and shrubbery. "Aqualad. Drop 'B' is a go." M'gann says over comms to Kaldur. "Head for the factory. I'll track your GPS and rendezvous with you as soon as you get there." He says to everyone as we head into the direction of where the factory is. I tell the Rider to keep his senses sharp, especially in the jungle where so many souls are present. He grumbles at the order but does it nonetheless. We come by a cliff face pass by a waterfall. The Rider is getting upset that he is not doing anything, of importance to himself mind you. I tell him that the mission is covert, I tell him that he might not get a chance to come out tonight. He growls in irritation.

We come to a straight path as the Rider feels something close by. "Did you hear that?" Superboy says as we stop. "Uh, no. Wait. Is this a super hearing thing?" Wally asks as I nudge him quiet. "I feel something coming...a lot of something's." I say. "Ok Rob. Now what?" Wally says as we turn and see him gone. I groan in irritation, hate it when he does that. "Superboy, Kid. Switch to infrared. Rider, keep your senses sharp. We don't want to be caught by surprise." Kladur says over comms as I kneel down and focus the Riders senses.

"Got a squad of armed bozos incoming." Wally says. "Two squads. They meet in the middle before they notice us." Superboy says as I feel the souls of the hostiles. "A lot of blood has been split...and that goes for both squads." I say to them. Gunfire is heard as M'gann ducks to the ground. "No super hearing required for that." Wally quips as Kladur sounds over the comms. "Steer clear." Kladur says as Wally moves forward. "Yeah, as soon as I find Rob." He says as he runs off. "Kid, wait!" I whisper yell but he is long gone. We rush forward to keep up with him or to save him if he blows his cover. Myself and Superboy hear Kid grunt as I mentally slap my face. Of course he tripped and fumbled right into the line of fire. "So much for the stealthy." I hear him say over comms. "Aqualad. Our cover is blown, I'm moving in." I say as I feel the Rider's anticipation. Gunfire rings out as I let the Rider take control.

P.O.V Change: Ghost Rider

I burst through the shrubbery with a mighty yell as I swing my chains in a wide arc. Some of the hostiles are incinerated as I land in front of Kid and pick him up. "This is why you don't run ahead!" I yell as I push him out of harm's way. I see a big man with a luchador mask rush me and deliver a powerful punch to my gut. The surprise at his speed and force, sends me flying into a tree which breaks off a piece of the trunk. I hear the grunting and screams of fighting as I push myself up. I get up only to find someone punching me across the face. I turn my head back slowly as I watch the man in the red cloak stare in fear at my gaze. Before he can run, I grab his face and twist his neck. The loud crack echoes across the jungle as the man's head nearly turns a full 180. The woman in front of me is wearing the same red cloak as the man I just killed. She turns to flee but I wrap my chains around her and pull her into me. I clothesline her as all her ribs break under the force. I reach the group and see Kid, Superboy and Miss Martian fighting the hostiles. Robin is also in on the action. Nice to see him come back to the group. I see the massive man that punched me into the tree. He is tactically overpowering Superboy's sheer strength with technique. Let's end this. I send a chain at the big man which wraps completely around him, he turns his head to see me as I pull him in. "Get over here!" I scream as he is flung off his feet and straight into my clothesline, unlike the woman from before, this man is more resilient. I twist my arms and bring them both down onto his torso with a classic slam, he smashes into the ground with a massive thud as I wrap my chains around his legs and swing him into the adjacent tree behind me. The force cracks the tree, I watch as the masked man gets to his feet, slowly, as he spits out blood. "Is...that...all...you...got?" He says as I growl and charge him, he swings tiredly as I duck under and tackle him into the tree. I push my left hand against his face as he tries to push me away, his strength is no match for mine. I clench my right fist and smash it across his jaw which breaks through the trunk of the tree. I push the man down to ground, light snoring can be heard from him. I notice the other hostile leaving as I grip the broken tree and push it with all my might, the broken trunk splits open as the tree falls and lands on the unlucky hostiles that couldn't get away in time.

I turn back to the others who have widen eyes. Not in fear bit in surprise. "What?" I growl at them which makes them look at anything besides me. A red cloak that hid away jumps out and makes a run for it, but Aqualad jumps out of nowehere and shocks him with his electricity. The man drops to the ground, completely out of it. Awhile later, after Kid ran back to the ship and gotten some rope, we wrap the hostiles, double wrap the big man that I pummelled. Just in case. "I recongize those uniforms. They belong to a cult group known as the Cult of the Kobra." Robin says as we gather around. "In certain Batman would have inform us if an extremist group of radicals had taken over Santa Prisca's Venom operations." Aqualad points out as I walk in between all the hostiles, those that make eye contact with me, regret it, as I give them a mellow version of the penance stare as they whimper under my gaze. "Agreed. And since that there is no love lost between the cultists and those goons. I'm betting Kobra came in and tossed them out. That's why normal supply lines have been cut off." Robin finishes as I rejoin the group. "We get it. Kobra wanted super cultists. Mystery solved. Radio Bats and we'll be home in time-." He doesn't finish as Robin nudges him. "These cultists aren't on Venom. And that's the problem. Kobra's hoarding this stuff. We don't leave. Not until I figure out why." He says as I growl at him. "Until you figure it out?" I say as I turn to him. "This team needs a leader." He says as Kid Flash butts in. "And it's you? Dude, you're a thirteen year old kid. Who ducked out on us without a word." He says as Robin laughs. "HA, HA! And you're a mature 15? You blew out cover the first chance you got." As Robin and Kid argue, I notice Superboy and Miss Martian have a conversation. Hmm. I turn back to Aqualad who is running his face as well as swing his head slightly. He looks a t me with a knowing look. I nod and walk over and pull the two bickering kids apart. "That's enough!" I scream as I shove them on their asses. "This bickering is pointless. We are not here to discuss who leads. We are here to figure out what's happening on this island. Robin is right, the cultists aren't on Venom. So we figure out why they are hoarding it." I say as I feel Robin's smugness. "But also, Kid is right. You shouldn't have disappeared when you did. If you want to lead than tell your teammates what's the plan. Otherwise, don't bother trying to lead. Also, a fact...you're terrible at it." I say as I rip into him. We hear someone talking as we all walk over to the masked man. He starts chuckling as we approach. "Such clever Ninos. You only know half the story. Let me show you the rest. I can get you into the factory via my secret entrance." He says as Miss Martian kneels down and holds her hand in front of his face. "There is a secret entrance. But he's also bidding something." She says as her eyes glow white. "Ah, ah, ah, chica. Bane is not that easy." He says arrogantly. "He's mentally reciting futnol scores en espanol. This could take awhile." She says as I place my hand on her shoulder and move her out of the way. "Mind reading didn't work." I say as I grab his neck and pull him close. "Lets try my way." I growl out as I hold my hand up to his face and focus a hellfire ball in it. The heat form the ball is making Bane sweat as he tries to get away from it, but my strength is keeping his face from moving anywhere. "Rider!" Aqualad calls out as I glance at him. "We don't torture." He says as I glance at Bane. I disperse the fireball as Bane sighs. I pull in close quickly as I headbutt him, visibly breaking his nose. "Ahh!" He screams as he hangs his head low. I get up and walk by Aqualad. "You figure it out then, genius." I say to him as he sighs. "Look, it's not complicated. Enemy of my enemy is my friend." Bane says as I lean down. "You're not our friend...you're a means to an end." I say as I cut his ties.

Bane leads us to a cliff as he points out the massive factory down below. As everyone walks to the edge, I stand close to Bane who keeps giving my the eye. I brighten my eyes with hellfire as he looks away. I always love doing that to people, to make them feel small and insignificant. "Look at all that product. A buy is definitely going down. But Kobra is not selling to the usual suspects then-." Robin says as Aqualad interrupts. "We need to identity that buyer." Kid Flash stands up as he scratches his head. "Yeah, just what I was thinking." He says as Robin laughs. "Yeah. You're the thinker." He says as I hear another argument coming. "Sarcasm, really?" Kid says as I light a chain on fire. The sound alerts everyone as I stare at them. "The next one to start an argument will get a fire chained fist up the ass. So please...keep arguing...I dare you." I growl out as I notice both Kid and Robin gulp in fear. I disperse the fire and I wrap it back around my arm. We hear a grunt as we look and see Bane lifting a large boulder with relative ease, he reveals a tunnel to us. "This way." He says as I wrap a chain around him and pull him back. He grunts in surprise as I pull him down to my level. "You do anything that I don't like." I start as I lightly apply hellfire on the chain as Bane grunts in pain. "A simple tug and a burning pit in Hell will be your new home for the rest of eternity." I threaten as he nods. He walks forward, down the tunnel as I follow close behind, my chains don't have hellfire on them, but I made sure that the chains are tightly fitted on Bane's large frame.

Walking doesn't he tunnel, we reach a large steel door with a fingerprint scanner on it. I push Bane forward as he places his thumb on it. The door clicks and opens up. "Move it." I say as I push him more roughly this time. We reach another door as Robin walks ahead and opens it slowly. He surveys the room before giving the all clear. We walk in and see that the factory is huge...with towering cannisters that must mass produce the Venom drug. We walk a bit more until I notice Robin missing. "Has the little fool already been caught?" Bane says as I tug the chains tighter as he grunts in discomfort. "No...he just does that." I say as Aqualad follows up. "Its very annoying." Kid Flash pulls his goggles down. "Stay put. I'll get the intel and be back before the Boy Wonder." Kid says as he speeds away. "Wait, Kid." Aqualad says but Kid is long gone. "Great chain of command." Bane says sarcastically as I punch him in the stomach. He grunts in pain and leans over his torso. "Shut up." I say as I pull him up.

We move over to one of the Venom crates and hide as a truck comes. "It's a massive shipment." Aqualad says as I move into the shadows, my flaming skull is a dead giveaway for anyone. "Yeah, but they're only taking the new product off the line. They aren't touching this Venom." Superboy says as the take cover. "Maybe freshness counts?" Miss Martian says but Bane chuckles. "Oh, little chica. All my Venom has the same potency. Age doesn't matter." He says as I glance around the corner of the crate. "Helicopters coming." Superboy says as he looks up to the window as we follow his gaze. "If a chopper's coming then it must be the buyer. Miss Martian?" I say as I turn to her. "Go invisible, be by the buyer and report back to us." I say as she nods. Aqualad puts his hand on her shoulder. "Don't take any unnecessary risks. Get the intel and get back to us." He says as she nods again and goes invisible. She feel her soul float above us as he flies outside. "Now we wait." Superboy says as I nod.

We move up to a railing above us as to not draw attention. Me and Bane stick to the shadows as I reel in the amount of hellfire I'm spewing out. I notice Aqualad kneeling with his eyes closed. "Sportsmaster. He's the buyer?" When Aqualad said that, I perk up. Sportsmaster? Here? I grin in delight. I can finally deliver vengeance down on his head. Aqualad tries to contact Red Tornado but he grunts in fristation. "Can't reach the League, Robin, or Kid. Comms jammed. We need a plan now." He says as he looks at me and Superboy. "I have a suggestion." Bane says as he punches me across the face andnuooerxuts me towards the others. My mental control over the chains loosen as Bane shoves them off and jumps off the railing to the cultists below. I get up and blast my skull with full hellfire. "Now I'm pissed." I growl out. I feel a beast-like soul coming as a large shadow breaks the window and lands on the railing. lt breaks under the weight. We land near Bane as I ready my chains. The beast stands and reveals itself. It's greenish, grayish skin is harden with a split on the right side which shows exposed muscle. The beast has red hair and sharp teeth. I feel it's soul and feel that it was once a man, now it's something else. It's soul signature is very similar to the beast that the doctor at Cadmus trained into to but still radically different. A red cloaked man and a redheaded woman walk into the factory with an army of cultists. "Destroy them!" The man calls out, the leader, my best guess. Superboy charges the beast who catches him and slams him into the ground. Aqualad forms a shield with his water bearers as myslef and Bane and testing through the cultists. Bane with his brute strength and myself with my chains cutting through the cultists like butter. One cultist gets close enough the fire a machine gun to my head. As he fires, I move my mouth over the muzzle as I devour all the bullets in his magazine. After he is finished. I cough out smoke before blowing pure hellfire at the man which turns him to complete ash.

I swing my chains as I see Sportsmaster. He notices me and even from this distance, I can still see his eyes widen and his fear spike. I grin as I twirl my chains around, taunting him. I notice a slightly transparent figure. Guessing the chaos has made Miss Martian lose slight control over her invisibility. I see the Sportsmaster pulls out one of his collapsible javelins and throws it at Miss Martian. She dodges but it explodes. She is sent flying, Ingo to check on her beige I hear Superboy struggling with the brute. I growl and wrap both my chains around him and with my strength, I swing him around twice beige flinging him at Sportsmaster and the red cloaked man. "Miss Martian! Radio is jammed. Link us up!" Aqualad yells as I cut through another cultist. 'Everyone online?' I hear her speak in my mind as I pull a cultist up and break his back over my knee. 'Yeah.' Superboy thinks. 'You know it, beautiful.' Kid thinks as I scream at him mentally. 'Shut up and get your head out of your pants and in the game!' Aqualad stops us from arguing. 'No time for this. We need to regroup.' He thinks. 'Busy now.' Robin thinks as I sense him outside. 'Robin, get here now before I drag you back in.' I think as I feel Matthew stir. 'You better listen Rob. Trust me, he will.' Robin ignores the both of us as Aqualad interjects. 'Robin. Now!' He thinks as he turns his water bearers into whips. 'Strategic retreat. Kid, clear a path.' Aqualad thinks as Kid Flash rams full speed into the cultists, the force of the impact knocking them out and sending them flying. We retreat back to the door that we entered from. I notice that Superboy is getting overpowered by the beast. But instead of trying to power through, Superboy grips the beasts' arms and spins him around and throws him at the cultists coming after us.

We run through into the tunnel as Superboy closes the large steel door. We get a few metres ahead before the beast barrels it down. "Superboy! Rider! The support beams!" Aqualad shouts as I turn down the tunnel and blow hellfire onto the floor, ceiling and walls. I hear Superboy breaking the beams as the tunnel collapses. I fling my chain to Superboy who catches it and pull me forward, out of the end of the collapsing tunnel. In the darkness, I light a hellfire ball, which brightens the entire corridor. "How could have my first mission as leader go so wrong?" Robin says as he faces the wall. "You do have the most experience." Aqualad says as I put my opinion it. "And in that lies the problem. Fighting alongside Batman, your roles are defined." I say to him as Aqualad finishes. "You two do not need to talk. But this team is new. And a leader should be clear, explicit. He cannot vanish and expect others to play parts to an unknown plan." He says as Robin turns angrily. "Oh, so I'm supposed to hold everyone's hands." He says as I walk forward. "Yes...a leader is the one responsible for everyone. He or she is the one that looks out for everyone and makes sure that everyone makes it back home safely. If you vanish and someone gets hurt...than that is on you." I say as he hungs his head in shame. He thought about the glory of being leader...not the responsibilities. "Who am I kidding? You should lead us Rider." He tells me as I shake my head. I'm too ruthless. You might not know it but I'm a loose cannon that can go off at any point. It's only Matthew's will that keeps my dark...well, darker tendencies at bay. I'm not fit to lead but I know someone who is." I say as I turn to Kaldur. He looks surprised as we all stare a him. "Me?" He ask in disbelief and I nod my head.

"Oh please. I could run circles arou-." Kid Flash starts but a simple look from me shuts him up. "He's right Wally. Kaldur is only on that is most fit to lead. We all know it." Robin says as Miss Martian puts her opinion in. "Hello M'gann. It's so obvious." She says as Superboy follows up. "Could've told ya." He says as we all stare at Kid Flash. "Ok." He says after some time. Aqualad approaches Robin. "Then I accept the burden...until you are ready to lift it from my shoulders." He says as he places his hand on the smaller boy's shoulder. "You were born to lead this team. Maybe not now, but soon." Aqualad says as Robin nods. "Now that we have decided...let's get back to why we are here." I say as I pull everyone back into the mission goal. "Alright. Our first priority is preventing that shipment from leaving this island." Aqualad says Robin follows up. "I was just thinking the exact same thing." He says cockily as I breath out fire out my cheeks, cheeky bastard.

After coming with a plan, we head down an alternative route towards the factory. "Sportsmaster's the buyer slash supplier but it still doesn't track. He doesn't have the juice to acquire the Blockbuster formula or to get Kobra to do his dirty work." Robin says as he reads off the formulas from his hologram projector. "And neither of them have the brains to mix both formulas and perfect it. That takes some serious nerdage." Kid Flash speaks as I follow up. "Someone else is pulling the strings and playing everyone for chumps. I hate being played." I say as we reach the tunnel entrance and see Bane standing there. "Halt, Ninos. I'm feeling explosive." He says as he holds up a trigger. I loosen a chain as he stares at me. "Ah, ah, ah. You move and you go boom." He syasas I growl. "I survived the worse kind of Hellfire. A bomb is the least of my concerns." I say as he gestures to everyone else. "Do they share your lack of concern?" He says cockily as I growl. "You betrayed us. Why?" Aqualad says to him as Bane smirks. "I want my factory back." I feel Aqualad talk in my head. 'Kid, you'll need a running start.' He thinks as Kid prepare to bolt. "So I forced you into a situation where you would have either take down my enemies or die trying. If the latter, the Justice League would certainly have come to avenger their sidekicks. And when the smile clearesd. Santa Prisca would be mine once again. Blowing the tunnel with you inside should have the same effect." He says as he goes to pres the button. I flash of blue and red zooms past him as Bane presses nothing. "With what? This trigger thingy." He says teasingly as he holds up the trigger. Bane swings his fist in fury but Miss Martian catches him and lifts him in the air. Myself and Superboy walk forward. "Finally." He says as I wrap a chain around my fist. "Drop him." Superboy says as Miss Martian drops her hand. Bane acres in panic as he falls into mine and Superboy's double uppercut. Bane drops down, completely knocked out. "That was incredibly satisfying...let's do it again." I say as Superboy chuckles but we walk back to the group.

We wait within the bushes as we watch the last shipment be put on the chopper. We see Sportsmaster walk over to the chopper as Aqualad gives Kid Flash the word. The speedster rushes over and rams into cultists. "Take the shipment!" The leader, Kobra, yells at Sportsmaster. The mercenary bolts as I run out and intercept him. "Long time no see, mercenary." I taunt him as I feel his anger. "You will not stop me, Rider! I do not fear you anymore." He says as I feel his fear deep down inside himself. I chuckle as I stare at him. "You're a liar...and not a very good one at that." I growl as I fling my chains at him which he narrowly avoids. I spin around and twirl the chains at him in a wide arc. He ducks as he pulls at a javelin and throws it at me. The javelin lands in front of me and explodes. The blast sends me back but I barely feel the burn. I fling my chains and wrap them around him. I pull myself through the dust and shoulder check him. The force of the impact sends him skidding. I pull my chains away as I approach him. "Getting slow, old man." I mock him as I notice Superboy taunting the beast before Aqualad blasts him with a continuous water barrage. I stare at Sportsmaster before heading to the beast. While he is the plan, that beast is a heavy hitter and needs to be taken out. "Superboy, let's go!" I shout to him as he nods. "Aqualad! Drop the water. We'll deal with this bastard." I shout as he nods and heads to deal with the cultists. "Hey, Rider! Let's do that fancy slingshot thing. We are going to take big ugly out!" Superboy shouts at me as I wrap my chains around him. "Batter up!" I shout as I spin him twice and fling him at the beast. Superboy rotates in the air, generating more momentum as he lands a thunderous right hook to the beasts face. The shockwave sends me back as all source of combat ends.

Superboy stands up and picks up the beast and throws him away, the beast groans and falls back on its face. Superboy walks up to me and smiles as I nod. We turn back to everyone as we walk forward. "Whose next?" I say as I pull out a chain and light it with hellfire. Superboy simply bangs his fist against his palm. The cultist break from their shock and start firing at us. I swing my chains and cut through the weapons...and anyone else for is unfortunate to be there. I notice Sportsmaster heading to the chopper as I call out to Superboy. "Stop Sportsmaster!" I say as he leaps away. I cut through cultists as Kid Flash slides under my chains and barrels into a cultist. Her mask is knocked off as Kid catches it. "Souvenir." He says as I roll my eyes. I turn and catch a woman's fist as she groans under the pressure. I pull my fist back and force it into her sternum. I puncture her flesh and slip past her ribs as I hold onto her heart. She is breathing really heavily and sweating in a mass panic. I growl as I lift my fist on fire. She screams in agony as the fire burns through her, she incinerates from the intensity of the hellfire. I turn around and see that the chopper is starting to fly away. I run off and throw both my chains as it wraps around one of the legs of the chopper. I can't seem to pull it back but Superboy leaps forward and grabs the chains as well, helping me keep the chopper from flying away.

"Blow it!" Superboy screams as Miss Martian holds up her hand, revealing the trigger that Bane was going to use on us. Aqualad came up with the plan of blowing the chopper and the product if it ever got off the ground. Miss Martian presses the button as the back end of the ship blows. The helicopter loses altitude as Superboy let's go. I swing the chopper towards the factory with a frecious roar. The chopper crashes through the roof as it explodes, burning and blasting the rest of the Venom product with it. I pull the chains back in as I watch the fire spread to the factory, the walls are crumbling as I gaze lovingly. "Beautiful." I state as I watch the fire. I try to feel for Sportsmaster soul, hoping that he has finally died. I feel his soul in the jungle, I curse under my breath as I lose him, the souls of the jungle cloud my senses.

I turn and see Robin being overpowered by a bald, white skinned man, this is Kobra. I feel all the sins that he has committed and it sickens me. "I am plagued by mosquitoes." He states as he notices my approach. "Not even you can best a god." He says as I smile. "You're no God. Just a pest that I will purge from this world." I say as I light my chains. Robin kicks Kobra's foot off his chest. The rest of the team stand together as Robin hops over to us. We stare down at the cult leader who backs off. "Another time, then." He says as he backs into the shadows. I fling them chains forward but they connect with nothing. Robin rushes and moves the bushes out of the way, but Kobra is long gone. We gather around as we watch the factory burn. Robin walks forward. "We picked the right guy to lead. Which automatically makes you the one to explain this mess to Batman." He says as he laughs at the sheer damage done. Aqualad frowns his eyes at the statement...good luck.

Mount Justice, 2:12am, July 23rd, 2010:

P.O.V Change: Matthew Spectre

"A simple recon mission. Observe and report." Batman says as he closes in on Kaldur's face. We stand shoulder to shoulder as Batman walks in front of us. "You'll each receive a written evaluation, detailing your many mistakes. Until then...good job." He says as we turn bewildered at him. "No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. How you adjust to the unforeseen is what determines success...and how you choose who leads determines character." He says as I feel Kaldur's and Robin's pride shoot to the moon. I realize as to what this mission was. It wasn't about the shipment, although that played a part. This was about how Batman can learn about how the team can adapt to the unknown and how they can sort out ego problems amongst the group. I smile as I realize this. Well played, Bruce. Well played indeed. "Very much indeed." I felt the Rider state as well.

Unknown location:

No P.O.V:

"All I recovered was a simple ampoule of Kobra Venom." Sportsmaster says to six unknown identities. "Peut-etre the drug can be reserve engineered. Mais, what of our young heroes?" An accented voice says as another speaks up. "First, Cadmus. Then Mister Twister. Now, Santa Prisca." Another voice follows after. "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. But three is enemy action. And enemies of the Light must not stand." The voice says as Sportsmaster speaks up. "I don't mind thrashing a bunch of kids. But the Ghost Rider is another matter altogether. That thing is more ruthless than anyone I know, and I want assurances if I have to face him again." He says as the last voice speaks up. "The Rider will be dealt with in due time. The Light will offer you a higher pension for your continued service. Do no fret...the Light always keeps their promises." The voice says as the screens cut to black. Sportsmaster stands there in ponder. "How will the Light fare when the Rider pulls you into the darkness? How about that?" He says as he walks away, gritting his teeth at the idea of facing the only thing that he ever is truly afraid of.