Northern India; September 10th, 14:43 IST
The birds call to each other across the dense forest of the mountainous and hilly landscape the region is known for. In the soft earth is a large footprint that clearly belongs to a big cat.
Two fingers reach down and brush against the shallow print.
"Indian Tiger prints boys" the lead man in a group of three said to the other two behind him. All three of them are armed with long guns.
"I told you Hamilton Hill didn't need any superstitious guide to lead us to big game" he says over his shoulder.
"Devil Beasts. Ha!" he barks out a sarcastic single laugh thinking back to a story the locals were telling him about before they left.
He stands and the other two are eager to follow him.
The three come up on a rock that looked over a small valley. Suddenly they heared something growling from the lower area beneath them. Or rather in a tree that took root in the lower area. In the tree was a large male tiger that was resting in the shade of the tree branches. That was until he caught a whiff of something upwind from him.
The tiger turns towards the trio, another low growl in its throat. Despite this, the lead man takes aim.
Watching as the tiger makes its way down the tree with his scope. The Big Cat moves slowly forward, the floor is undisturbed, except for three small spheres to create a triangle that seems haphazardly placed.
It was all calm until the tiger steps in the middle of that triangle. The leader gasped as the three spring up from the ground showing that their Tesla Coil style.
They emit a triple pitched whine and create what almost looks like a disturbance field. The tiger roars for a few seconds before falling over.
"What is that?" one of the other men asked, spooked. However, the leader just smirks.
"Who cares? I just made my quota" he takes aim again.
However something growls behind him, drawing their attention to it, because it sounded a lot bigger than the tiger.
Turning towards the source of the sound, the first thing the men can see is a machine gun and a large silhouetted figure. As the figure moves forward, it continues to growl. Stunning the men as they realize it's a large Gorilla.
The lead man is the first to take off running.
The gorilla growls as it fires off the machine gun. The only thing that can be heard in the distance is screaming and the gunfire.
Back in the cave Green Lantern and Shazam were lifting heavy pieces of equipment with a crane, resulting in getting the power back on.
Meanwhile Martian Manhunter and Captain Atom were re-arming and reinforcing the Cave's security systems while Manhunter patted Sphere affectionately as he came up to the elder Martian.
In the common area of the Cave, the entire team, minus Aqualad, sat on a table with Canary standing by them.
M'gann was awake but was resting her head against Connor's shoulder as she was still feeling the effects of the tranquilizer that the Reds had given her.
Most of the others were sitting with defeated looks on their faces. Except DJ, he had a look of rage on his face and kept pacing back and forth to keep his anger in check.
Green Arrow walked in and placed a bowl full of pretzels on the coffee table. However none of the team made any movement towards them.
"Thanks but no thanks" Wally said harshly. Green Arrow was surprised and took a step back from his hostility.
"Yeah, what we want is answers about Red Tornado and his siblings" Robin said as Wally straightened himself up in his seat, silently backing up Batman's protégé.
However Green Arrow face doesn't change meaning he was staying silent.
"Exactly" Wally said harshly again. Although it loses some of its heat as he sees GA reach for the bowl and start to walk away with it.
The Blonde hero doesn't even manage to fully turn around before Wally's hands are around the bowl, taking it back.
"Leave the bowl" he murmurs quietly, taking a handful of pretzels into his hand and eating them.
Connor rolled his eyes in annoyance while keeping an arm around M'gann protectively. However he then turned his head to Kaldur who was talking with Batman and thanks to his super hearing, he heard it all.
"It would seem the Sportsmaster's tip about the mole may have been true. The Androids discovered our base somehow. And in light of last night's attack, Red Tornado would appear to be the traitor. But whether he betrayed us willingly or was pre-programmed is still-" Aqualad was cut short by a roar of anger.
"You knew!?" Connor shouted as both turned only for Aqualad to get slammed into the wall by Connor.
"That android and his maniac family almost killed M'gann" he said as both boys gripped each other's shirts, Kaldur in defense and Connor in rage. M'gann flew over quickly with DJ right behind her.
"Connor what are you doing!?" She questioned as DJ tried to pull Connor and Kaldur apart.
"Stay out of this, Razor. It isn't your business" Connor said when suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his neck. Looking down, he seen that DJ had unsheathed a claw and was holding it against his neck.
"I'm Second in Command of this team. Meaning when someone attacks the team leader of said team, then it does become my business. Now Connor you let go of Kaldur, Kaldur let go of Connor and neither one of you gets to feel how metal bones effect pressure points in the neck" DJ said as both did what they were asked, with Connor being very reluctant to do so.
"Kaldur knew there was a traitor among us and he said nothing" Connor said as the rest of the team had now appeared around the three.
"You knew?" Robin questions, betrayal clear in his voice.
"And didn't tell us?" Kid speaks so closely behind Robin that it's hard to tell if they're just that in sync or it was actually meant to be two separate questions.
"I sought to protect the Team from-" Kaldur only looking at Conner as he speaks. Both trying to talk him down and keep an eye on him.
"Sought to protect us from what?" Artemis finally speaks up and she's just as mad at Robin and Wally.
"Knowledge that might've saved our lives?" She added as Conner turns to a silent M'gann.
"You almost died!" he said. She doesn't say anything but looks shaken nonetheless at the betrayal. DJ was also silent at the reveal but he did have a look of anger in his eyes. However he then began to think the invasion of the mountain over in his head and the fact Kaldur kept the mole a secret. But he wasn't thinking with a teenage brain, he was thinking with the brain full of training that Cadmus had given him.
"Enough" Batman said as everyone looked at him.
"With Red Tornado… missing the Team will now be overseen by rotation supervisors. Captain Marvel has volunteered to take the first shift" Batman said as the man of honor stepped forwards.
The mountain of a man, in a red and gold super suit and with a white cape over his left shoulder, stepped forwards. His face was completely unobstructed to show off his blue eyes and slicked-back black hair. As he stands next to the Dark Knight you can see he stands taller than him.
"I'm really looking forward to hanging with you guys" he says simply, a small smile coming over his features.
DJ looked over his shoulder and seen that most of the team were too busy either exchanging wary looks with each other or staring at Aqualad with hateful looks.
And seeing how Aqualad was also too busy watching Superboy, DJ walked forwards and extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Captain Marvel. I'm Razor, team's second in command" he said as the man immediately began shaking his hand with lots of enthusiasm.
"Wow it's an honor to meet you, Razor. I'm a huge fan" he said as DJ smiled back but on the inside, he was slightly worried about if his arm would come off. Plus why would a Leaguer be acting like this?
"Always nice to meet a fan" he said unsure of what else to say.
Meanwhile Connor turned to Kaldur and poked him in the chest.
"After I dismantle Tornado, you and I are gonna-" He started but was interrupted by Batman
"Red Tornado is a member of the Justice League. That makes him a League responsibility. You will leave him to us" Batman said as Connor grumbled facing the Dark Knight.
"With all due respect, Batman, Red Tornado attacked us in our own base. We deserve a shot at him more than anyone else" DJ said stepping up. Batman turned around and stared at the teen. For a few moments, neither would look away until Batman finally looked away and sighed.
"... I can understand the anger of being attacked in a place you feel should be safe. But this team was made for convert missions, under the radar" he said as DJ just continued to stare not giving in.
"However, if it is that important to you, then when we find him, your team will have your chance to take him on first. But the League will be standing by. Tornado is one of our powerhouses and we do not know if his 'siblings' are with him or not" Batman said as DJ nodded.
No one had anything else so he turns and calls up a HoloScreen of a newspaper article.
"In the meantime, I have an assignment for the Team" Batman said as everyone began reading over the screen.
'Gorilla trades bananas for bullets'
"Gothem mayor attacked by Guerilla Gorilla?" Wally reads the skepticism is clear in his voice.
'Was this the only thing he could find to distract us?' Conner asks M'gann telepathically.
"Batman please! Tell me you're not sending us on this joke of a wild ape chase" Robin pleaded
"I never joke about the mission" the Dark Knight said as he gives his protége no room to try to argue. Robin kept quiet at that and looked down in shame at having lost his temper at his mentor.
"I've checked the sources" he continues. "I've studied the patterns. Mayor Hill's encounter is only the latest in a series of incidents" he then turns to the eldest of the group.
"Aqualad, you and your Team will depart for India and check this out" he said. But before Aqualad count even nod Wally stepped up.
"I think I speak for the whole team when I say we would like DJ to lead this mission" he said as everyone nodded. Aqualad looked down.
"If that is what the team wishes, then I will accept that" he said. The worst part was... He couldn't even really blame the team really for their anger. He lied to them.
"I cannot lead this mission if I agree with what Aqualad did" DJ said shocking the team as well as some of the League members. They thought he'd be like Superboy, ready to beat Kaldur into the ground.
"What? He knew there was a traitor and he said nothing, how can you agree with that?!" Artemis said as many of the team surrounded DJ.
Black Canary and Green Arrow went to defend him, or even stop his instincts from reacting being surrounded, but Batman held a hand out blocking them. He wanted to see how far the boy had come.
"It would not have made any difference of the outcome that happened today" DJ said.
"That's not true! We could've prepared a counter attack if we knew" Robin said with Wally nodding behind him.
"Okay, ignoring everything that happened today, would any of you suspected Red Tornado? An android who has served beside the world's greatest detective for years?" He asked. Nobody spoke up not wanting to insult the Dark Knight since he was listening to the conversation eagerly.
"So what would you have done then?" He then asked. This time Wally spoke up.
"We would've kept tabs on everyone, including Red Tornado, for a period of time and then taken them off a list of potential suspects as time went on if they didn't meet with anyone or do anything suspicious" Wally said. However, Artemis rounded on him next.
"What? 'Keep tabs on everyone'? So what, you'd put cameras in my bathroom? Make sure I don't have a secret phone in there?" Artemis said.
"What? No I'd never-" Wally said red faced and backing up.
"See, this is why Kaldur kept this from all of us. None of you truly know everything about me. Wally, do you know everything about Robin? Or Artemis? Or M'gann?" DJ asked. Once again the speedster stayed quiet as did everyone else.
"Now instead of immediately putting blame on him, why don't we hear Kaldur out about what his reasons were for keeping this from everyone?" DJ said now. Everyone had frowns but kept quiet and turned to Kaldur.
"Firstly, thank you DJ. Secondly, I know it was a serious betrayal of your trust to keep this from you all but I had my reasons" Kaldur said before he paused for a moment.
"This information came from Sportsmaster" he said. Artemis immediately gasped at that.
"What? You can't trust him!" she said.
"I do not. It seemed possible, even likely, that he was attempting to divide the Team with false information" Kaldur informs them.
"That's smart" DJ said nodding as all eyes turned to him. "Destroy an empire, it'll rebuild. Crumble an empire from within, it'll never rebuild" he added.
"And considering how we almost tore each other apart just now, he almost succeeded" Robin said before turning to Kaldur.
"But you had to consider it to be the truth" he added as Kaldur nodded.
"Yes, as leader I did. In which case, I did not wish to alert the traitor" he said looking directly at Robin, knowing that one day when Razor and himself join the league or leave the team, it'll fall into his hands.
"Hate to say it but makes sense" he said smiling as everyone seemed to agree. Superboy still had a look of anger on his face but it wasn't towards Kaldur anymore.
"However I am still transferring leadership for this mission to Razor. Simply because I have a suspicion that emotions are still running high with some of you" Kaldur said his eyes shifting to Superboy though nobody else noticed.
"Okay, let's get into the Bio-Ship and head over to India" DJ said as everyone nodded and began running to the ship. Minus the temporary leader of the team who stayed with the Justice League members.
"It was good of you to keep your cool in that situation" Canary said with a smile. DJ nodded.
"I was mad at first. Thank you for the lessons to keep my anger under control, Dinah" DJ said before he began walking off to join the rest of his team.
Meanwhile the League members created a circle of themselves.
"Could Red Tornado really the mole Aqualad told you about?" Green Arrow asked Batman who remained silent for a few seconds.
"It is possible. But he could've also been given a virus to turn on the team since Robin said he touched one of the other Androids just as the EMP wore off" Batman said.
"Alright, so where do we start looking?" Arrow asked.
In the Bio-Ship/Over India
"Okay, mayor Hill's attack was here" Razor said pointing to a red x on a map along with three others.
"Now a fisherman reported that a group of abnormally large alligators tore apart an elephant at this section of the river. An zoologist that was camping in the area had his campsite ransacked and destroyed. And finally a mountain climber seen large eggs, he said quote ' were the size of bowling balls' " he explained pointing out the other x's on the maps as the Bio-Ship landed and the door opened.
"We'll break into four teams. Kid, you and Robin head for the cliffs. Artemis, you and M'gann have the river. Aqualad and Captain, the two of you head for the site of mayor Hill's attack. Me and Superboy got the campsite" Razor said as they exited.
Superboy looked mad at that but said nothing about it.
"Alright Miss Martian, if you don't mind" he said gesturing to his head. Miss Martian nodded before creating the link between the team members as well as Captain Marvel.
'Ow, that's weird and cool at the same time' he said as many of the team laughed at that. Superboy immediately grunted and jumped away towards their search area. Razor just shook his head and followed his partner.
"This is the place" Razor said looking around a trashed campsite. The tent had huge slashes in it, the cooler had a bite mark the size of a dinner plate and all the food had been eaten.
"Well it's a canine, we know that much" Razor said looking over the bite mark along with a paw print.
"Why didn't you send me with M'gann? I need to keep her safe" Superboy asked staring at his temporary team leader's back. Razor turned to look at him and shrugged.
"I guess I can understand that. But I noticed she and Artemis hadn't really had any pairings since the Dr Roquette mission, and even then they weren't on good terms, so I decided to see how they will work together in that pair" he said. Superboy didn't say anything but his face said it all. He still didn't agree with it
Suddenly Razor froze looking at Superboy. No, behind Superboy.
"Don't move" he said as Superboy looked at him with a confused look until he became aware that he had super-hearing and picked up the sound of low growling behind him.
Ignoring Razor's advice, he did a 180 and came face to face with a black wolf less than fifteen feet from him, although this wolf was huge. It was about the size of an African Lion with teeth and claws to match. It also had a black collar that nearly blended into the fur of the animal with the exception of the red lights on it.
Superboy scoffed that his leader would think something like this would preset them a challenge. Then suddenly another one came out from it's right and another to the left.
"Oh shit" he heard Razor said behind him. He quickly looked behind him and he seen that Razor was also staring down several giant wolves.
Superboy heard a louder growl in front of him so quickly turning back he seen that through the darkness was another wolf further in the woods. This one however was pure white and was bigger than the others.
It's eyes narrowed at the intruders in their territory as Superboy's did the same. Then at a growl from the white one, the pack attacked.
Aqualad walks through the easiest path, pausing as the Captain lands beside him. Across the jungle floor are a multitude of footprints and bullet casings.
"Guess this is where Mayor Hill's... 'monkey business' went down" Captain Marvel says to Aqualad as he stands up. The teen's eyes, however, are focused on something in the distance.
"So at least we've confirmed his story, right?" still no response. "Aqualad?" he questions curiously turning back to the teen.
"Forgive me, Captain. I'm just... my mind is elsewhere right now" he said before sighing and leaning up against a tree, still staring off into space.
"I am wondering if maybe Razor would be a better leader than myself. Back at the cave, when everyone was angry, he took control of the situation and defused it almost without a problem... I do not know" Aqualad said. Captain Marvel nodded and crossed his arms.
"He said he agreed with the decision you made, right? So if he was leader, he probably would've don't the exact same thing" Captain Marvel said.
"Perhaps" Aqualad said keeping his response short.
"Look the team made you leader for a reason. Did you make a mistake by not telling them? Maybe you did. But your human-" a quick look at the Leaguer made him rub his chin.
"Uh Atlantean... Anyway, you're not a pretty programed machine. You're allowed to make a mistake or two in leadership only if you learn from them" Captain Marvel said as Aqualad took a few seconds to process what he had just heard.
Suddenly they heard a loud trumpeting noise within the jungle. Aqualad looked down at the ground and seen several small rocks bouncing up and down.
Suddenly the duo found themselves starring down a large elephant with tusks and a trunk like a mammoth. It also had several small spikes on it's forehead, down it's spine and shoulders as well as several large gashes on their hides.
Captain Marvel rocketed forwards and slammed into the beast's face, knocking it back a few feet.
However that's all it did as the elephant then grabbed him with his trunk and whipped him away with enough strength to fly a few hundred feet away as well smash through a few trees.
Aqualad was shocked at that but snapped out of it when he heard something behind him. Turning around, he seen another elephant. This one was more grey in colour but none the less huge.
Aqualad stared down the first elephant as it charged him, bringing down it's foot only a second after Aqualad jumped out of the way.
Captain Marvel looked up due to growling that was heard. Looking up he came face to face with a large red eyed tiger.
Captain got ready to do something however Aqualad landed in between the two spooking the tiger.
Razor caught a wolf by the throat and slammed it into the ground however he was tackled by another as Superboy was tackled by three.
Meanwhile the white wolf just kept staring down at the two. However it suddenly looked into the woods behind Razor, it's eyes narrowing.
As Kid Flash and Robin were looking up at the edge of the cliffs, they suddenly heard a screech behind them.
Turning around, they seen a group of vultures the size of Pterodactyls. The two just barely avoided being grabbed by the claws.
Kid takes the lead in clearing the way.
"Thought vultures only ate dead meat!" Robin shouts, throwing an exploding disk before following Kid. Though the device did nothing to even slow them down nor scare them off.
"Yeah, these are some very proactive scavengers" Kid said as they duck under the claws.
"Proactive and super-sized. You thinking what I'm thinking?" Robin asks easily.
"Kobra-Venom?" He said as he and Robin barely managed to split in time to avoid being caught.
"Yeah" was all he said as he watched the Birds circle back for another attack.
A gaping mouth jumps out of the water, rocketing at M'gann's turned back. The gigantic alligator was barely stopped by her one foot and hands, keeping its mouth open. However the large reptile still pushed her backwards.
Artemis, seeing this, grabs an arrow before taking aim and firing. Only for the log she stepped on to have another gator come underneath and knocking her completely into the air.
The snapping teeth barely missed her once, but the second time it catches her quiver and drags her down as gravity catches up.
Artemis tries to grab ahold of her quiver to unclip it but the alligator starts to deathroll, causing her to become dizzy.
M'gann dives in, heading straight for her teammate. Gaining a hold on her forearm when the supersized gator stops spinning, she ripped the strap of her quiver so Artemis can swim away.
The gator turns towards them, mouth opened wide, but M'gann creates two more hands and uses her telekinesis to create four spirals of water to stop the creature.
The gator flys completely out of the water, leaving M'gann and Artemis in a dry circle in the middle of the river.
Artemis coughs up the water out of her lungs, as M'gann goes back to having two hands.
"Okay, nearly drowning two nights in a row is way less fun than it sounds" she said.
"It doesn't sound fun at all" M'gann said as Artemis smiled.
"Eh, all depends on what you're drowning in" she fired back at the confused Martian.
Robin ducked and weaved away from a vulture before he vaults over a fallen tree root.
He ran towards the base of a tree as the vulture came in close behind him, talons opened wide. He grabbed a low hanging branch and swung up as the vulture tried to follow him under the branch however it got tangled in some vines.
Kid Flash has to use his superspeed to evade the other three. Running up a tree and bouncing between two of them, he turns himself into a pinball and knocks one of the birds out of the sky.
It crashes to the ground not far from where he managed to catch a vine and swing to safety.
Superboy, now with some scratches and bites on his shoulders and a torn shirt, punched a wolf to the ground before seeing that Razor wasn't with him anymore.
He was about to call him over the mental link when a loud growl echoed throughout the area. Turning around he seen the large white wolf was now on a lower rock still staring at him.
Narrowed blue eyes met narrowed yellow eyes as neither one would break eye contact.
Superboy took a stance as the white wolf growled before charging, kicking up a large amount of dirt as it did.
"Ah, yeah!!" Razor yelled as he grabbed a wolf by the scruff and twirled him around before throwing him into another who was going to jump at him.
His uniform was also cut up and ripped like Superboy's but thanks to his healing abilities, there was no wounds only blood. Although he had worked his way away from Superboy.
"Come on who else wants some!" Razor yelled as all the remaining wolves that were currently surrounding him suddenly whined and backed away from the teen.
"Yeah, that's what I-" he was suddenly cut off by two things. One he noticed that the wolves weren't looking at him but instead looking above him. The second thing was the loud hissing sound that also erupted from above him. He looked up and seen the source.
It was a python but it was huge. It was about fifty feet long and it's skin was darker than normal but the most weirdest thing about it was it's tail. At the end of the tail was a spear-like tip with a barb.
"Oh shit" he mumbled as the snake struck, mouth open wide for it's meal.
Captain Marvel hits the brown mammoth like creature, finally managing to take it down.
Only for the grey one to come up behind him and swat him out of the air like a fly.
Kaldur's eyes catch something sparking around the beast's neck. A mammoth-sized shock collar.
He takes out his WaterBearers, surprising the animal to fight, but he dodges the giant foot.
He landed behind it's shoulder and seen he had a good angle on the collar.
Jumping high, slashing at the metal with one whip as he wraps the other around the collar before taking another slash at it and yanking the collar to the ground with sheer force.
There's an instantaneous change as the beast calms from it's rage, completely undisturbed by Kaldur's presence as if a second ago they weren't just fighting.
"Remove the collars" Aqualad shouted at Captain Marvel who nodded.
"On it" he replies with a smile. Easily punching through the collar so that it falls off the beast and lands on the ground under the elephant. The elephant came back down onto all fours, it's front two feet landing on the collar. Stomping the collar to pieces.
Both beasts communicate for a second before they left together, uncaring of the two humans they were just fighting.
The Captain lands beside Kaldur and smiles at the younger hero.
"Pretty sweet the way you figured out the problem was the collars" he stated as Kaldur turned to him.
"But the collars indicate an intelligence behind this attack" Kaldur points out. Captain Marvel's plain face returns as he realizes Kaldur is right.
"The rest of the Team may also be at risk" he turns to his earpiece.
"Team, this is Aqualad. Report status" the piece rings back at him causing him to wince at the high pitch whine.
"Comm is jammed" he said before closing his eyes.
'Hello?' He questioned through the mental link.
'Aqualad!' M'gann's happy voice thought through the link.
'Me and Artemis were attacked by large animals wearing inhibitor collars. Kinda like the ones at Belle Reve. Once we got them off though, they went away as if nothing happened' she thought as Captain Marvel looked around for something, finding the conversation a little boring and he felt something was watching him.
'The same happened to me and Rob. Except ours had wings and beaks' Kid Flash thought cutting in.
Captain Marvel finally found what he was looking for. The tiger that he had seen before was crouching some distance away in some tall grass. It softly growled before slinking off into the jungle.
"Hey cool, the tiger! Be right back" he said before taking off.
"Captain wait-" Aqualad tried but the man was already gone.
"Hey speed of Mercury" he mumbled to himself before following the hero at a much slower pace while also listening to the team's stories.
The tiger ran at it's top speed until it gets zapped by the collar. It came to a stop, roaring as it did.
The Captain's smile fades as he seen the animal was getting hurt. Turning towards the meta-human, the tiger growls again.
"Hey there, mister" he flies slowly over to the big cat with his hands in a non threatening manner.
"Betcha'd like good ol' Cap't to take that nasty collar off ya, huh?" he lands easily and the tiger doesn't attack. It is curious by this human. In the past all humans ever did was try and use their Bang-sticks on him or scream and run away.
The collar suddenly zaps again, causing the animal to roar in pain and stumble back a few steps.
Captain Marvel takes one step closer, hoping to get it off soon. However one step closer is all it takes to spring the trap. The exact same trap that caught the tiger.
The hero instantly fell to the ground, unable to move, but he was still conscious and able to see something wearing a red beret jumps out of the tree. Armed, heavily.
The gorilla that attacked the Gotham Mayor roars, banging on its chest when he sees the hero in the trap.
Captain Marvel is now stunned on top of his paralysis.
Aqualad walked through the bushes hoping he was still heading where Captain went. While he did that, he also placed a hand on his forehead.
'Razor? Superboy? Are you two online?' He thought through the link as neither boys had spoken in the time he had been following Captain.
Superboy was struggling against the white wolf that was on his back biting his shoulder.
'I'm busy, call you guys back' he thought. Suddenly the white wolf threw him across the clearing and into the side of a rock.
'Razor?' Aqualad thought.
Razor frowned as his hands were on the snake's top and bottom jaw, holding them open while some of the rest of the snake was wrapped around his body trying to squeeze the life out of him.
'I'm busy as well' he thought as the snake suddenly snapped it's jaws shut with a amazing amount of strength. However the snap also shot him out of it's coils, sending him backwards.
'Remove the collars' Aqualad thought as Razor looked over at the collar, cleanly sliced.
'I did! It's still attacking' he thought grabbing a large branch and holding it straight up just as the snake sprang, trapping the stick in and keeping the mouth open.
'So it's either been under too long and it's lost it's free will or its just hungry' Robin thought.
'Either way he needs assistance' Aqualad said firmly before coming out to where the still sprung trap was along with three different tracks; a tiger's, a gorilla's, a few steps from a human and then a drag mark.
'And then I need some assistance' Aqualad thought seeing a small torn piece of a red suit.
'Captain Marvel's been kidnapped' he added.
The snake brought it's tail forwards with the spear rocketing like a bullet. It impaled Razor through the stomach pinning him to a tree that was behind him. He groaned before looking up with pure hatred.
"That's it!" he said unsheathing his claws.
The rest of the group minus Aqualad and Superboy, the boy of steel assuring the rest he had the situation controlled now and Aqualad was still tracking the trail, arrived where M'gann felt the connection to Razor. However he wasn't there.
Suddenly the bushes in front of them rattled as everyone got ready for a fight. However only Razor stepped out wearing a bloodied snakeskin jacket and jagged teeth necklace.
"Well, that got dark" he said before eyeing the rest of his team who all had shocked expressions.
"What?" he asked confused.
Captain Marvel groaned lightly as he opened his eyes. As he did he was alerted to the sound of growling.
As his vision became more clearer he could see several screens and IV bags and tunes above him. His eyes went wide as he realized he wasn't in the jungle any more.
He followed the sound of the growling and found that the source was the tiger from before.
"Ze brain enhancement of this tigre already pay dividends, no?" an almost robotic voice with a thick french accent said from the darkness.
The tiger slowly moved away from Captain and out of his sight line. He tried to get up to follow the animal but found he couldn't.
"For has brought us a prize most glorious. Le Captaine Marvel" the voice added added.
"Why can't I move?" Captain questioned as his eyes darted around the room, scanning for his abductor.
"It is obvious, non?" a robotic hand hits a button to rotate a tray of sharp tools towards the robotic center.
"Your collar is set to prohibit votre mouvement from ze neck down. I have allowed you to retain ze power of speech as your reactions may be... instructif during la procédure" it said picking up a small circular saw from the tray.
The saw blade spins at its full speed, but no sound can be heard from it.
"La... procedure? What procedure" Captain said trying to copy the voice but messing up a little.
"I have often pondered the effects of your powers on the cerebral cortex" a small robot has now turned towards a screen, using one of the three-fingered hands to choose what sectors of Marvel's brain to look at. After selecting two it moves to his brain stem to see the readings there.
"I long to see le wisdom de Salomon up close. Monsieur Mallah, prepare for surgery" the robot said.
The red beret-wearing gorilla, who is now wearing surgical clothes, grunts in excitement, a grin under it's surgical mask.
'That where he's being held?' Robin asked as the rest of the group, still minus Superboy, met up with Aqualad who was watching a building with a circle of pylons around it.
'It is where the trail leads' Aqualad responded. M'gann looked at the dome before hovering a few feet in the air.
'I'll fly over' she offered before Kid Flash held a hand up in a stop motion.
'Negative. There's a shield that extends like a dome over the whole compound' he said seeing the shield with his infrared goggles.
'Pylons are insulated' Robin remarked, looking at his HoloScreen.
'But one good shock could cause a momentary gap long enough for us to get inside or even shut it down completely' he said smirking.
'I see a target' Artemis has her eyes set on a large red button on the outside wall.
'Then be ready to hit it. Be ready, all of you' Razor said looking at Aqualad and nodded who nodded back.
The two ran up to the nearest pylon, stopping less than a few feet away before Aqualad's tattoos begin to glow and he pushes the electricity into the shield.
Razor unsheathed his claws and dug them into the ground. Then, using his arms, he raised his legs into the air before wrapping them around Aqualad's waist sending the electricity from both Aqualad and the shield into the ground.
Kid Flash is watching the shield's integrity through his infrared and when he sees a small gap form over Aqualad's head, he doesn't waste time.
"Now!" He shouted as Artemis releases her arrow and it flies through the gap and hits her target right on.
The panel beeps and Kaldur pulls back the electricity as the shield deactivates. Then waves the rest of them forward.
Kid races towards him, M'gann lands while still camouflaged. But as Robin makes his way out of the brush, his eyes go wide.
On the roof was a howler monkey, it had been watching them the whole time. Like all the other animals, he had enhanced size and a collar around its neck. It narrowed it's eyes before it let out a howl/roar.
The two oldest boys jolt in surprise, just before the actual alarms turn on and an entire pack of Howler Monkeys charges at the Team.
While the monkeys attacked, a hatch opened up and a camera popped out.
From inside the building, the gorilla watched the team fighting the monkeys on a screen.
"Go, Mallah. Deal with these intruders" the robotic brain speaks easily.
"I can handle mon Capitaine brain extraction myself" he said bringing a sharp blade in front of the Captain's line of sight, and speaking with complete nonchalance.
The large ape growled, ripping off some of his surgery clothes and walking away to get his weapons.
Aqualad hit away one howler monkey with a blunt club made from his Water-bearers before Razor grabbed it's let and used it like a bat on another.
Aqualad's eyed narrowed as another jumped down from a tree and stared him down. However Aqualad wasn't looking at the monkey but the collar around his neck.
The monkey jumped at Aqualad but he sheathed his bearers before slamming the monkey down to his feet with a punch.
While stunned, Aqualad easily broke the collar with his bare hands.
The monkey's eyes went wide in fear before he ran off scared.
"Remove the collars!" Aqualad commanded.
"Sure sounds easy when he says it" Robin said as he was struggling against two monkeys who were nearly as big as he was.
Artemis kicks the one closest to her away before pulling out two arrows and nocking them before letting them fly, taking out the collars of the two attacking Robin.
The collars fall off with some small sparks while Robin stays defensive as the two monkeys look around before running away.
He turns towards Artemis to thank her when two more drop down behind her without her noticing. Instead of saying anything, he throws two disks, taking out their collars.
She yelps when the disks get close to her, but she has enough time to see them hit their targets and the monkeys scatter.
At that point, a large door opens up at ground level and the gorilla, who was armed to the teeth again, came out.
While the door was open, M'gann, who was still camouflaged, tried to sneak by him. However the ape smelled her and grabbed her before she could react, slammed her to the ground.
As she regained visibility, but not consciousness, the gorilla aimed his gun at her but was interrupted by a voice.
"Get your paws off her you damn dirty ape!" Kid Flash yelled speeding towards the large monkey. He jumped and body-checked the ape.
And then fell to the ground as the gorilla didn't even move. He growled at the down boy before another voice spoke up.
"How about I get this one Kid?" a voice spoke up as the gorilla turned to see Razor running at him. He jumped did the same thing Kid did except with his super strength which sent the gorilla back.
While he did that, Kid Flash quickly recovered and grabbed M'gann carrying her away.
"You're not taking my brain" Marvel says sharply, as a container full of water comes out from the wall by his head.
"Š'il vous plaît, capitaine, do not struggle" the machine says as it moves through the shadows.
"Brain extraction is largely painless" the machinery over Marvel's paralyzed body moves to a new position.
"But the benefits are enormous" the centerpiece of tech extends closer to Marvel, as the robot finally moves closer.
"Just look what it has done for me" finally in the light, Marvel can see that the male voice is coming from a small robot with black metal and with a brain at the core processor under see-through glass.
He gives the Brain a deadpanned look, before looking back up at the still extending laser.
"That thing won't work on me" he comments hoping to deter the machine.
"Perhaps. But it works on solid steel so I'll try my luck" the laser continues to move, tracking out its course before it begins to turn on.
"I'm told you have the courage of Achilles, non? Perhaps you should have asked for his invulnerability instead" he joked.
The tiger suddenly jumps the table and takes out the Brain, knocking his robotic body to the floor. It continues to growl at him as the robot moves back upright.
"Traitor!" the Brain snaps angrily. "You will suffer for that!" He yelled as a compartment opens on the side of the capsule, turning on the electroshock collar.
The tiger snarls as it twitches on the floor in pain.
"Stop it! Stop!" Captain helplessly shouts from the table as the Brain didn't stop.
Suddenly the wall exploded inwards as the gorilla slid to a stop at the opposite wall, growling at the opening.
Turning around, the robot seen Miss Martian hovering a few feet above the ground with a pissed look on her face. Safe to say she got even with the gorilla for knocking her out.
As she landed, the rest of the team filled in behind her.
"It's the Brain" Kid Flash said pointing at the robot. At that Artemis scoffed.
"Uh, I can see it's a brain" she said.
"Not 'a brain' 'The Brain' " Kid Flash explained.
"In the flesh. So to speak" the Brain said before turning to the gorilla. "Mallah" he added as the gorilla held up a small remote.
Pushing a button, pylons rise up from the floor and before any of them could react, they turned on. Taking out the Team the same way it did Captain Marvel.
'Miss Martian, Superboy. Now' Aqualad thought as Miss Martian's eyes glowed white. The remote that was in Mallah's hands flew out of it and it stopped hovering over Miss Martian's face.
Using her powers, she pushed the button and shut off the pylons and the team stood up, ready to fight. The Brain and Mallah also stood at the ready when suddenly the wall behind them exploded inwards much like the first one did.
When the dust cleared it revealed Superboy and the white wolf, now without his collar. He doesn't say anything as the wolf jumps at the recovering gorilla, knocking him onto his back.
The ape tried to get to his feet but Kid Flash kicked him back. However he then had to dodged the gunfire as Robin swings in and kicks him across the face. Finally, Miss Martian floats in and lifts the gorilla into the air then lets him drop. Though it doesn't do anything major to him, only make him angry.
Now he focused his firing on Miss Martian.
However Superboy jumps at his turned back, attempting to slam his fist into the gorilla, but Mallah's reflexes are just fast enough that he was able dodge the attack.
When Superboy lands with his fist in the ground where the ape was just standing, Mallah takes aim and shoots Superboy back. Though he doesn't get any marks, the shots move so fast and hit so hard that he lands by the wolf.
Once the bullets run out, Artemis launches an arrow at the pack on his back, causing it to explode, causing his backpack to smoke and distracting him from reloading.
Robin comes up to her side and they both pull out their detonating weapons which fully knock the machine gun off of Mallah's back.
While that was happening, the Brain was firing lasers at Aqualad who was dodging them with his Water-bearers as shields until Razor jumped in front of him and used his claws to deflect the laser back at the robot. However all it did was knock him back onto his back and into Mallah who were then both surrounded by the team.
Aqualad quickly used the distraction and broke Captain's collar, freeing him of his immobility.
"Thanks" he said before immediately reaching for the tiger's collar as well.
"Now, one good turn deserves another" he said as the tiger rose up to its feet and growled lowly almost as if saying 'thanks.'
Now the Brain and Mallah found themselves surrounded by the team, Captain Marvel and two super-powered animals. Mallah growled and roared in rage.
"Try it" Superboy said cracking his knuckles. "I hate monkeys" he said as the wolf next to him growled. The large ape growled and prepared to attack.
"No Mallah, this will not be our Waterloo" the Brain says as multiple compartments begin to open around his body.
"Au revoir, mes amis" he said as his body began to whirl.
"Get down!!" Kid Flash yells as everyone braced and ducked for cover. However all that happened was the lights went out.
A few seconds later, the lights came back on above where the two villains were only to reveal air.
"Wait, that big weapon thing was a light switch?" Kid Flash said confused.
Back at the Bio-ship most of the team were returning from tracking down all the animals in the area who had collars. The tiger was not only able to bring most of them to the Bio-ship but was also able to track down the more wilder ones with the help of the wolf.
Suddenly Artemis and Kid Flash broke cover and began walking towards the Bio-ship. Kid Flash had a wide grin which seemed to upset Artemis.
"What are you smiling about?" she questioned as he turned to her.
"One word: souvenir" he said holding up Mallah's hat and putting it on.
"Two words: gorilla lice" she said as Kid Flash immediately took the hat off and held it as far away from him as he could.
At the Bio-ship, Aqualad was breaking a collar off a howler monkey who calmly walked away afterwards.
"That the rest of the collars?" Captain Marvel asked crouching down to the tiger who growled lowly.
"And I can count on you to keep the other animals out of trouble?" He questioned as the tiger growled again.
"Good. I'll be back for a visit. I promise" he said as he pets the tiger before standing and watching as it heads into the jungle.
"I think I'll call him Mr. Tawny" Marvel says brightly. As the tiger runs back into the jungle, it runs by Miss Martian, Superboy, Kid Flash and the white wolf.
"Rest of the pack's already gone. What are you still doing here?" He questioned as he pets the wolf.
"I think he wants to stay with you" M'gann tells him.
"Can I keep him?" Conner asks her, sounding like an excited child. Wally lets out a laugh in the background.
"First the Sphere, now this beast. Dude, you sure make a habit of collecting strays" he joked.
"Maybe because he's such a stray himself" says easily with a smile.
'Aren't you?' she asks him telepathically through their personal link.
'Can I ask you a question though?' she questioned. 'Earlier today in the Bio-ship, I could see you were angry at Razor when he was assigning where we were going to search' she thought hoping he'd continue.
Superboy sighed still petting the large wolf.
'I should've been there to protect you. You could've gotten hurt' he thought. M'gann kneeled down and put a hand on his shoulder.
'And I appreciate it Connor and it's sweet. But on a mission, I'm your teammate, not your girlfriend. Agreed?' She said giving him a sweet smile.
'I'll do my best' he thought as M'gann smiled even more.
"Well, he's gonna need a name" Wally said pulling them out of their personal conversation.
"Uh, how's about Krypto?" He suggested as the wolf growled at that.
"Pass" Conner says instantly agreeing with the wolf.
"Besides, isn't that taken?" M'gann asks.
"What's wrong with Wolf?" He suggested as the wolf was silent for a few seconds before wagging his tail.
"He seems to like it" M'gann said happily petting the wolf.
"Generic but acceptable" Kid Flash said.
"Well, it was nice to do a mission with you guys and hopefully we can do it again. See you tomorrow at the cave" he said waving and hovering a few feet.
"You're not coming back with us?" Kaldur asks, confused.
"Nah, gotta fly" the JL member says as he takes off.
Fawcett City; September 24th, 22:16 CDT
A song plays on a TV and a few dogs within the apartment complex barked. Captain Marvel drops into the living room through an open window with a balding heavy-set man on the couch reading a book.
"Well, boy, how'd it go?" the man asks lowly not even looking up from the book as the League member walked through the living room.
"Ah, it was so cool!" Marvel says brightly, opening the cookie jar and sticks his hand in there.
"The Team's way more fun to hang out with than the League! They go on these secret covert-ops missions that rock! Oh, and I met Razor today, that was awesome. Tomorrow I'm gonna see if he'll autograph my poster for me" he said excitedly.
The man on the couch turns the page and only seems to be half-listening to what the Captain is saying.
"Oh and I got nabbed by the Brain and I met this tiger and-" he was cut off when the man chuckled lightly and held up a hand.
"Okay, okay, I'm glad you had fun sport, but it's getting pretty late. Brush your teeth and hit the hay." he said despite the fact that he's talking to another adult.
"Okay, okay, I'm going" Marvel says pulling his hand out and putting the lid back on, sounding just as childish as always. He then began walking away.
"Ahem! Aren't you forgetting something?" he asks, still not even looking up, as Captain Marvel makes it near a doorway.
He turns and smiles at the man.
"Nah, just seeing if you were paying attention. SHAZAM!" He yelled out as a bolt of lightning comes out of nowhere, striking him in the chest, the bright flash leaving almost as fast as it appeared.
Now standing there was a twelve-year-old with the same hair, skin, and eye colors as Marvel stands in his place and position. Wearing a red sweatshirt, a white top, blue jeans, and black tennis shoes.
The boy then yawns into his hand and stretches his arms.
"Good night, Uncle Dudley" he said before turning and walking into the bathroom.
"Good night, Billy. Also tomorrow tell him it's for your nephew or something" Uncle Dudley says calmly.
Razor calmly sat at a flat spot at peak of Mount Justice just looking up at the stars. He was so focused on the sky, he didn't see Kaldur behind him until he sat down beside him.
"This seat taken?" he asked as DJ smiled and shrugged.
"It's available" he said as Kaldur smiled and sat down.
"I just wanted to say that... well to thank you again for what you did earlier today. To be honest, I thought you would've reacted with anger like" Superboy did he said as DJ nodded.
"To be honest, at first I was filled with anger and I hated you. But like I said it was a good tactic by Sportsmaster to divide the team or even break us up permanently" he said.
"Well I just wanted to say thank you" Kaldur said standing up and turning around to leave his friend to his thoughts.
"I still feel something though" DJ said stopping Kaldur from walking away.
"Even though I know it was a good decision, I still feel angry. I can't explain it" he said confused.
Kaldur smiled before sitting back down next to him and putting a hand onto his shoulder.
"That's is just the feeling of betrayal of being lied to" Kaldur said.
"But I know it was was the right decision!" he said his voice rising.
"It doesn't matter, my friend. That is all part of being human" Kaldur said. DJ just sighed and looked over Happy Harbor.
"So this is being human... I don't like it" he said. Kaldur just smiled as the two sat and looked over the town.
"Yes, it's not always positive but it's part of being human" Kaldur said as the two continued to just watch over the town.
Sorry for the wait guys, but I'm in the process of moving and after that I'll have to find another job so updates well have some space in between them.