"This is Isla de la Luna." With Red Robin beside him, Batman addressed the assembled heroes. He gestured to the giant, translucent screen behind him. "During a recent mission, Robin and I flew over this island and witnessed a giant beam shooting into the sky, nearly hitting our jet. Upon further investigation, we realized that someone is trying to create a bridge or portal of some sort. Your mission is to figure out who is doing it, why they're doing it, and to shut it down if necessary. Red Robin will lead the team; he's already received a detailed briefing, and together, we've formulated a plan."
Batman zoomed in on an image. "The island's security is extremely high-tech, possibly even alien. According to Aquaman, there are underwater sensors that can detect anything that comes within a five-mile radius of the island. Additionally, the island appears to be surrounded by an invisible force field. Thankfully, this force field doesn't extend under the sea."
"Beast Boy, Miss Martian, and possibly Raven—we'll rely heavily on you in the beginning," Red Robin said. "Beast Boy and Miss Martian, you'll approach the island from below. Your job is to find the sensors and attach these," he held up tiny computer chips, "so I can enter the security mainframe. I'll make the cameras see what I want them to see."
"You got it, dude!" Beast Boy said with an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
"Raven," Red Robin turned his masked eyes to her, "once I take control the cameras, you'll portal Superboy, Kid Flash, and myself onto the island... if you can," he added with a hint of doubt. Raven narrowed her eyes at his tone. Clearly, I'm not wanted on this mission, she thought. "Just make sure you don't drop us on a landmine," he added derisively.
"Enough," Batman quickly intervened. "Make your way into the facility. Scout, report, and engage if necessary. Be aware, you're going in blind. While I don't want to send you on this mission, I have to. With everything happening in space with Darkseid, we're spread thin. I'm counting on you."
"No problem," Beast Boy grinned, "it's as easy as cake." Raven frowned. Isn't it 'easy as pie'?
"I await your report," Batman said. "You're dismissed."
Raven sat in silence as the bio-ship zoomed across the sky. Beast Boy, who had been chattering nonstop, finally turned his chair to face her. "You excited, mama?" he asked jovially, nearly bouncing in his seat. Raven only shrugged her shoulders. She didn't know how she felt. At the moment, she felt awkward. The atmosphere was stifling. Kid Flash, Beast Boy, Superboy, and M'gann were doing their best to break the heavy tension she and Red Robin were creating. Their constant, upbeat chatter was grating on Raven's nerves, but she said nothing. She understood why they were doing it. "I'm excited," Beast Boy continued. "This is your first mission with the team; we should take a selfie."
"Once you portal us in, return to the ship," Red Robin said to Raven, interrupting the conversation.
"But—" Raven began.
"Why?" Beast Boy asked.
"Is that a smart idea?" Superboy questioned.
"You heard Batman," Red Robin said as he checked his gadgets. "It's a simple scout and report mission. We won't need her."
"Yeah, he also said we're going in blind," Kid Flash countered.
"We need someone to stay with the bio-ship. Raven can easily teleport us out of any trouble we may find ourselves in." The other four heroes exchanged glances. "Look, I know what I'm doing."
"Okay," Superboy held his hands up in surrender as the rest of the team began to mentally prepare for the task at hand. Beast Boy turned to Raven and gave her an apologetic look. Raven simply pulled her hood up. I can't wait for this to be over.
Raven's eyes flew open. Did I seriously fall asleep? Sitting up in confusion, she looked around. Something had jolted her awake.
"Nice nap?" Red Robin asked while checking his gadgets.
"How long was I...?"
"About 10 minutes," Beast Boy answered.
"Okay," Miss Martian spoke up. "We're about eight miles out."
"Alright," Red Robin stood and walked over to Miss Martian, handing her the computer chips. "I don't know how many sensors you'll find down there, but here's 100 chips. You only have to stick them on, the connection will be automatic."
Miss Martian nodded. "Everyone good?" she asked testing their mental link. Raven shuddered. She still wasn't used to the psychic link the team liked to use. Why can't we just use the earpiece? She hated the feeling of someone in her head.
Beast Boy stretched his arms and legs and cracked his back. "This is going to be a long swim."
"Afraid you can't keep up?" Miss Martian smirked as she placed the computer chips in her skirt pocket.
"Nah, I'm worried about you," the 13-year-old changeling replied. "I'm going to turn into a sailfish. They're really fast. I'll let you hold on to my fin."
"Or," Miss Martian smiled gently, "I'll just turn into an xfedrgly."
The team stared at her with raised brows. "A what?" Beast Boy asked aloud.
"It's a really fast sea creature...from a different planet."
"O-kay," Red Robin said, "whenever you're ready."
Beast Boy and Miss Martian transformed before hitting the water. Swiftly swimming, they reached the barrier in just two minutes.
"Okay," Miss Martian spoke into the team's minds, "we're at the beginning of the barrier - five miles out."
"That was fast, babe," Superboy beamed.
"You know the rule!" Kid Flash immediately chimed in. "No lovey-dovey remarks or mental PDA when we're linked up like this."
"Sorry," Superboy apologized.
"Okay, let's go," Beast Boy said.
Meanwhile…
Raven's eyes were closed in concentration. Something felt off about that island—it vibrated with magic. Is vibrate even the right word? Should I mention this to Red Robin? She glanced over at him; he was deeply engrossed in a mental conversation with M'gann. Probably not, Raven decided. He wouldn't appreciate the interruption, and the chances of him believing me are slim.
With Beast Boy and Miss Martian…
They'd been swimming for less than a minute when Miss Martian froze.
"What is it?" Beast Boy asked.
"Look around," Miss Martian said urgently, "there's absolutely no fish in the area."
Beast Boy scanned the surroundings and realized Miss Martian was right. They had passed countless schools of fish while swimming, but now the ocean was eerily empty, devoid of any marine life.
"Something is not right," Miss Martian stated nervously.
"Come back to the ship," Red Robin ordered. "We'll figure something else out."
"Copy," Beast Boy responded.
Miss Martian turned to swim back but suddenly froze again, her expression tense as she listened intently. Her eyes widened in horror. "There's someone else in the water!" she alerted her teammates. "To your right, Beast Boy! Look out!"
"Miss Martian!" Red Robin's voice crackled urgently over the earpiece. "Miss Martian!"
"M'gann!" Superboy echoed desperately. "M'gann, answer!"
Raven prepared to summon her soul self when Red Robin spoke again, his voice determined. "Their trackers are still active," he said. He activated a translucent screen on his wrist, showing two red dots racing toward de la Luna. "There they are. They're being taken to the island."
"What's the plan?" Kid Flash asked, trying to hide the worry in his voice.
Red Robin's expression hardened as he turned to Raven. "Get us to the island. Now."
A figure clad in black materialized in front of the two unconscious heroes. "What have we here?"