Chapter 3: Covert Baptism
Mount Justice
17:15 | July 21
Rhode Island
"This is the island nation of Santa Prisca," Batman stood before the team as an image of the island nation popped up on the holographic display behind him. "The island is the primary source for Venom, a highly addictive and powerful neo-steroid. Infrared scans of its facilities show the factory is still working at one hundred percent capacity." Batman turned sideways to the team, "But no shipments have left the island for a month now."
"That's good, isn't it?" Wally shrugged through a mouthful of chips.
"Or it could mean they're shifting gears or stockpiling for a big shipment." Batman looked at Wally. "We need intel before we can decide what to do. That's where you come in," Batman turned to the display as it switched to a topographical map of the island. "Your mission is to conduct reconnaissance only. Observe and report; if the League needs to intervene, it will." Batman narrowed his eyes at the young heroes. "This mission will require two drop points. Team A must secure the beach and upload a Trojan horse to the anti-aircraft batteries there. This Trojan horse will infect and feed their sensor network in a continuous loop. This should disable all security island-wide for a few hours." The display switched to Point B over the jungle. "Point B will be the main infiltration team; make your way through the jungle and gather whatever intelligence you can on the factory."
"Who's leading the teams," Robin spoke up.
Batman and Red Tornado shared a look, "sort that out among yourselves," Batman said. He looked over the young heroes one last time. "If there are no further questions, this concludes the briefing. You leave in an hour." Batman walked off, heading to the Zeta tubes. Once he was gone and Red Tornado excused himself, the team quietly stared at the ground. "Well, this is what you wanted, right?" Red broke the silence, shrugging.
"Yeah," Wally perked up first, "time to do our thing!"
"Indeed," Kaldur crossed his arms. "Who among us will lead us?"
"I got this," Robin smirked, stepping up.
"What, why?" Wally pointed a finger at Robin.
"Uh, experience? Working with Batman for years?" Robin listed off.
"You are the most experienced among us," Red reasoned, "I'm down."
"Whatever," Superboy pocketed his hands and looked away.
"If Robin has the most experience, it makes sense to follow him," M'gann said, arms behind her back.
"Alright, fine, lead on o' wise one," Wally bowed dramatically.
"Oh, I shall," Robin grinned, "everyone suit up and meet back here in twenty. M'gann, you'll fly us in on Bioship. Kaldur, you'll be dropped off about a mile off the coast and sneak onto the beach to disable their security. Contact us once you're done, and we'll begin infiltration." Robin raised his fist and hit his open palm with it. "Let's make history team."
Santa Prisca
20:08 | July 22
Caribbean Sea
The team was quiet through most of the flight, with the occasional refresher from Robin and going over points of the mission. Robin, in particular, smiled to himself, feeling this was his big moment. Miss Martian, envigored by her performance against Mister Twister, felt newfound confidence. Kaldur quietly recited a mantra to Poseidon in his mind, and Superboy looked annoyed at having to fly in the ship instead of flying himself. Red X was the only one who looked utterly relaxed. He was leaning back on his seat, feet propped on the dash before him, humming some tune only he recognized. Kid Flash looked at Red and sighed, "Dude, how can you be so calm on our first op?"
"Wasn't Cadmus our first op?" Red craned his neck to the right to look at Kid Flash.
"This is different; we're finally being sent on a mission by the League!" Kid Flash threw his arms up for emphasis.
"Look at it this way, when you found me and Superboy, you were pretty jazzed up. Why change it now, especially when it's League-sanctioned?" Red looked to Superboy.
"He's got a point," Superboy agreed.
"Fair enough," Kid Flash sighed, defeated. However, after a few more minutes, he began to tap his foot, his energetic enthusiasm returning.
"Approaching drop point A, entering stealth mode." Miss Martian broke the newly established silence.
Aqualad nodded to his team and stood up, pressing the Atlantean symbol on his belt, turning this suit black. Miss Martian flew down, nearly skimming the water. Aqualad crossed his arms, and the floor underneath him opened up, and he fell into the ocean below. Aqualad immediately dove deeper, swimming along the ocean floor. He swam below anti-submarine charges and cut through an underwater electrified net. He picked up his speed and sawm up before leaping out of the water, skimming it, and rolling to a stop on the beach. A surface-to-air battery was camouflaged by the foliage near the jungle's edge. He sprinted to it and planted a rod on the sensor device next to it. Aqualad waited a few minutes before the light on the top of the rod turned a solid green. So far, so good, Aqualad thought privately. He put his finger to his ear, "The Trojan horse is in."
"Copy," Miss Martian said out loud as she settled Bioship over the next drop point. "Drop point B reached, and security is offline."
"Let's get to work," Kid Flash pressed his chest logo, and his suit turned a sleek black and grey. "Hey, Miss M, how cool is this?" Kid Flash grinned at Miss Martian.
"Very," Miss Martian smiled and then closed her eyes, shifting her clothes into a sleek black suit, dark blue cape, and hood.
"that works too," Kid Flash chuckled and turned to Superboy. "Hey, Supey, still got a chance to put on the new stealth tech."
"No tights, no capes, no offense," Superboy crossed his arms.
"Yeah, that works for you," M'gann looked Superboy over. "Your look, I mean, totally fits you!"
"Miss M," Robin raised his voice slightly. "Mission time, focus."
"Right," Miss Martian cleared her throat and closed her eyes, and cables formed dangling down from the ship's ceiling. Robin and Kid Flash hooked up; Red X did the same and pulled on his line before giving the thumbs-up readiness signal. Miss Martian pulled her hood over her head, going invisible. A hole opened at the ship's center, and the four jumped. Robin, Kid Flash, and Red X landed deftly on the ground. Miss Martian glided gently down before decloaking.
"Whoa!" Red X said, and the team scattered as Superboy dropped unceremoniously between them, with a loud boom creating a crater underneath. "Knew I didn't need a line," Superboy dusted his jeans off.
"And yet, causing a seismic event doesn't help with the 'covert' part!" Robin hissed, motioning with his hands at the crater.
Miss Martian sighed and put two fingers to her ears. "Aqualad, Point B is secured."
"Understood," Aqualad grunted, climbing a cliffside. "Move to the factory, I'll track you via GPS and meet you there."
"Rog," Red X pressed his finger to his ear and nodded to the team. They hurriedly began their mission, moving through the jungle. The team darted through like shadows, avoiding the moonlight when possible. They climbed up a waterfall side and walked further into the jungle, heading north.
Superboy perked up and stopped, "did you hear that?"
"Uh, no, wait," Kid Flash lowered his stance and looked around. "Is this a super hearing thing? Rob, what do we-" Kid Flash turned to Robin, who had disappeared. "Dude, seriously again?"
"Red?" Miss Martian turned and found him just behind her.
"Yeah, I know," Red X pushed up ahead. Red X tilted his right arm, revealing a similar holo terminal on his right gauntlet. He tapped at it for a few seconds, then pointed down a path between two trees with his open hand. "Switch to infrared, see if we're being followed."
"Right,' Superboy looked in the direction Red X pointed. "I got a squad heading due east."
"Same here," Kid Flash said, goggles over his eyes. "heading west, they'll meet each other long before-" shots echoing in the jungle interrupted him. "Well, so much for that," Kid Flash sighed.
"Doesn't matter. The factory is that way; we'll sneak around and let them fight it out." Red X informed.
"yeah, yeah, once I find the disappearing boy," Kid Flash zipped through the hidden path.
"KF, wait!" Red X reached out but missed him. "Come on, stick to the shadows," Red X said, and the team followed him through the thicket.
Kid Flash ran down the path before slipping on a wet dirt patch and tripping, rolling forward. "Argh!" Kid Flash covered his face as he rolled to a stop. "Ow," he rubbed the back of his head and took stock of his surroundings. "Oh," the word was apt as he was surrounded by militia and masked goons. "So much for covert," Kid Flash swallowed thickly. Kid looked at the man closest to him and immediately identified him as one of Batman's rogues. Bane raised his rifle and pulled the trigger.
"Oh crap!" Kid Flash rolled back and pushed off with his hands into a backflip. He landed and instantly bolted in the opposite direction. He took stock and noticed they were in a ravine, recently rained on, as he kept finding muddy pits. "Double crap!" Kid Flash suddenly turned left as red-clad figures fired opposite Bane and his goons. He ran up the ravine and sprinted alongside, jumping into a double punch into two red goons. They fell knocked out, and Kid sprinted off as bullets kicked up muddy dirt where he just stood. He rounded a boulder, grabbed a branch, launching himself into a bulkier red goon, sending him into the ravine and knocking him out as he hit his head on a boulder. "Three down," Kid sped forward, instantly slipping on mud, and slid into a tree. Kid Flash groaned and looked up into the barrel of a gun. A red-clad goon smirked at the other end.
An X-shaped shuriken whizzed through the air, lodging itself in the side of the goon's gun. "What?" The goon began before the shuriken sent an electric discharge through the weapon, knocking the goon out with a scream.
"Rah!" Superboy came out of the jungle like a bullet, tackling Bane, the biggest target. Bane adjusted himself mid-fall. Superboy landed face first into the dirt, with Bane twisting his arm back with a knee to Superboy's lower back. "Rrr!" Superboy growled and flexed his super strength, breaking Bane's grip. He flipped them over and delivered a backhand fist, sending Bane crashing against a nearby tree.
"What are you guys doing?" Robin suddenly dropped from the tree canopy, landing on one of Bane's goons. He rushed forward, knocking another's gun aside, and delivered a nasty roundhouse kick to his face, flipping him from the force into the ground.
"Dude," Kid Flash said as he threw a sped-up triple jab to one of Bane's men before giving him a backflip kick, knocking the goon out. "You just ghosted on us!"
"You were supposed to blend into the jungle with me!" Robin argued, throwing a shuriken at a red-clad goon behind Kid Flash, cracking him across the face and knocking him out cold.
"We're not mind readers," Kid Flash drawled, and on cue, Miss Martian slammed three goons, Bane's and the red ones, into a nearby tree with her telekinesis. "Well, at least I'm not."
A few feet from where Kid Flash initially fell, Red X surged forward like a blur. Three of Bane's henchmen left. The first fired, Red ducked, pushed the barrel up, and delivered an open palm uppercut, launching him back. He sidestepped the still-falling henchman and threw a shuriken at the one to the right. The goon pulled the trigger, but his gun didn't respond. "What?" he looked down at the shuriken lodged in the ejection chamber. "Shi-" he was cut off as Red X threw a knee strike into his face, knocking him and a few of his teeth out. The last squeezed the trigger, firing full auto, and Red X strafed left, jumped, pushed off a tree into the air, and fired his grapple gun with the claw clamping around the goon's arm. He retracted the line, and the man was pulled forward with Red X, who landed a sick elbow strike to his face, knocking him out cold. Red X landed, released the grapple from the fallen opponent's arm, and saw a hole at the bottom of his cape. "Sloppy," he admonished himself.
One last red-clad assailant remained. He was on top of the ravine and turned to run into the jungle, radio in hand. Aqualad jumped down suddenly from the tree canopy, cutting off his escape. The henchman didn't have time to react as Aqualad pressed his hand against his chest, electrocuting him. The henchman fell out like a light, and Aqualad crushed his radio underfoot. Aqualad looked down at the ravine as the team regrouped, with Robin and Kid Flash already arguing. I spoke too soon, it seems. Aqualad jumped down, joining his friends and teammates.
Aqualad arrived just as Red X did, dragging behind him his unconscious assailants. He tossed them forward before the others. "Yours made the last one," Red X commented, dusting off his gloved hands.
"Then we are lucky we are not yet discovered," Aqualad nodded.
"Very," Red X sighed and approached the arguing teens. "Enough. We have a mission. Did you guys forget?"
"Right," Kid grumbled, "I'll check the perimeter to make sure no more are coming."
"Actually," Aqualad spoke up. "Superboy, you have more enhanced senses than ours. Make sure these were the only groups."
"Got it," Superboy flew up just above the ravine and squinted, rotating slowly for a three-sixty view. "We're clear; nobody is heading our way."
"Good, let's secure these henchmen before they awaken." Aqualad gestured to Robin.
"Yeah," Robin sighed, and the team rounded up all the fallen henchmen, tying them to trees. "Wait, I recognize these jerks," Robin took off the mask of one of the red-clad goons. "These are members of the cult of the Kobra. They must have moved in and taken over the joint if they were fighting Bane!" Robin smirked at Bane, who was just waking up. "That's why the Venom stopped flowing."
"Great, case solved; Kobra wants an army of super cultists. Let's radio Bats and get out of here." Kid Flash threw his hands up.
"No, the mystery is still not solved; Kobra's goons aren't on the stuff. So they're hoarding Venom, I need to find out why." Robin pinched his chin in thought.
"You? Dude, do you hear yourself?" Kid Flash bent down, glaring at Robin.
"This team needs a leader!" Robin snapped back.
"Here we go again," Red X sighed, crossing his arms.
"Dude, you're a thirteen-year-old kid who bailed on us!" Kid Flash pointed an accusing finger.
"Oh," Robin laughed derisively, "and you're a mature fifteen-year-old? Give me a break."
"What about you? You don't wanna lead?" Miss Martian asked Superboy.
"No way," Superboy shook his head. "What about you?"
"After the Twister fiasco, I don't think so." Miss Martian hugged herself, frowning.
"You did alright," Superboy smiled at her, earning a blush from the Martian maiden. Superboy blinked and frowned, straining his ear and hearing hushed whispers behind him. He smirked, focusing his hearing behind him.
"Ahaha, very amusing niños; I didn't know the Justice League let you have play dates alone. But you are half right. You don't know the whole story." Bane craned his neck to look at the young heroes from his tied-down place. "I can enlighten you, but we will need to work together. I can get you into the factory via my secret entrance."
Miss Martian walked up to Bane and knelt before him, narrowing her eyes at him. "There is a secret entrance, but he's hiding it from me." Miss Martian's eyes glowed white. "Give me a minute."
"Ah, ah, ah, Niña. Bane doesn't give up things so easily." Bane grinned.
"Agh," Miss Martian glared at the crime lord. "He just keeps reciting football scores in Spanish," she sighed. "This could take a while."
"It's quite simple niños, the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Bane leaned back in his sitting position. "So what will it be? The clock is ticking."
Robin glared at Bane before sighing. "Alright, cut him free."
"On it," Red X produced a red shuriken and cut Bane's restraints.
"Alright, lead the way, but we'll keep an eye on you." Robin jabbed his finger at Bane.
"Claro, claro," Bane shrugged and started walking north. "This way."
The rest of the way was uneventful, as they avoided Kobra patrols, and Bane led them to a cliff overlooking the factory. Robin knelt by the edge and looked around the factory with a high-tech range finder. "They're stacking the product by the helipad. But if they're not selling to the usual buyers."
"We must find the buyers," Aqualad finished for him.
"The office overlooking the factory floor would be the best place to learn." Red X added as he looked through his own range finder.
"Just what I was thinking," Kid Flash grinned, pulling up his goggles.
"Right," Robin smirked, "you're the thinker."
"Dude, sarcasm, really?" Kid Flash glared at Robin. "A real leader would focus on getting answers."
"Then come this way, niños. The truth is through this tunnel." Bane moved a substantial boulder, revealing an old mineshaft behind the team.
"Alright, let's move. We sneak in, get the intel, and call Batman." Robin punched his open palm.
The team followed Bane through the old shaft, taking them into the factory through a back storage room. Closing the secret door behind them, Red X crouched at the storage room entrance. He produced a device from his utility belt, a tube camera that he slid through the bottom and checked the immediate surroundings. "Clear," Red X strored the camera back in his belt and cracked the door open, slowly looking around. He opened it fully and rushed to the crates lining the wall, forming a small maze. Red X looked around and signaled the rest to sneak in.
They stalked through the crates and machines before Bane stopped them. "Where is the bird? Has the little fool gotten himself caught already?"
"No," Aqualad sighed exasperatedly. "He just does that."
"I'll get the intel and be back before you know it." Kid Flash said, donning his goggles and sped off.
"Wait!" Aqualad hissed, but Kid Flash was gone.
"Great chain of command," Bane drawled, rolling his eyes.
"Let's just keep moving," Red X waved them onward. They snuck near the main factory entrance, where the cultists were loading crates of Venom into pallets for shipping. Meanwhile, Robin cracked the door of the central office above the factory and threw a bat-a-rang, embedding it on the console next to a cultist.
"What?" that was all the cultist got out before it spewed nerve gas, knocking him out cold. Robin walked in, pushed the cultist off the console, and accessed the computer. He cracked the security like a joke and reviewed the data just as Kid Flash sped in. "Watcha find?" Kid Flash looked over Robin's shoulder, munching on a protein bar.
"Formulas, but I don't know what-" Robin began.
"That's Venom," Kid pointed with his bar.
"Dude, crumbs!" Robin gestured at the bar.
"It's the bad guy's computer!" Kid Flash glared.
"Oh, right, force of habit with the Bat Computer." Robin shrugged and moved to the following formula.
"That's…holy…that's the formula for Project Blockbuster from Cadmus." Kid Flash narrowed his eyes at the data. "Says here combined with the Blockbuster formula Venom is three times as potent and permanent." Kid Flash finished his protein bar and wiped his mouth. "But how did Kobra get access to Blockbuster?"
"The buyer," Robin snapped his fingers. "They're also Kobra's supplier, using the cult to create a Blockbuster Venom super formula." Robin pressed two fingers to his ear, "Robin to Aqualad," static was his only response. "Comms are jammed; let's regroup with the rest." Robin quickly downloaded the data into his gauntlet, turned, and rushed out of the office with Kid Flash in tow.
At the factory floor, Superboy looked up to the rafter windows. "A helicopter is coming. It must be the buyer."
"We need better coverage, Miss Martian cloak, and move in closer. Red, Superboy, Bane, and I will move to the second floor." Aqualad ordered.
"Understood," Miss Martian threw her hood on before cloaking and flying out through the rafters.
"Superboy, boost us up," Red X jerked his head to the side to a mezzanine above them.
"I got you," Superboy knelt and put both hands out. Aqualad and Red X stepped on, and Superboy tossed them up. They went over the railing before landing silently on top. Superboy flew up, holding Bane by the wrist before dropping him on the mezzanine. The group stalked closer to get a better view.
Outside, a heavy cargo helicopter landed. The backdoor opened, allowing the cultist to load the super Kobra Venom into the cargo hold. From its depths, out stepped Sportsmaster, a well-known assassin. Sportsmaster walked to the gathered cultists lined up, leading to their leader and his right-hand woman and a giant monstrosity that was once a man. Sportsmaster inclined his head, offering a modicum of respect for the Kobra leader. Above, a cloaked Miss Martian telepathically contacted Aqualad. Aqualad, I'm sending you a telepathic image of the buyer.
Aqualad closed his eyes as the image manifested in his mind's eye. "Sportsmaster is the buyer." Aqualad frowned in thought. "Aqualad to Red Tornado," static filled Aqulad's ear. "Robin, Kid Flash come in." Aqualad looked to Red X and shook his head.
"We need a plan," Red X looked down at the patrolling cultist.
"I have a suggestion," Bane suddenly leaped from the mezzanine, roaring at two cultists patrolling below. He landed on the first cultist, then cracked the other across the jaw with a right hook. The cultist fell, squeezing his weapon's trigger and firing a stream of bullets.
"What!?" Several cultists dropped their stances and raised their guns. Outside, the monstrosity turned and jumped up through the rafter windows, crashing through them. It landed on the mezzanine in front of Superboy and Aqualad. The mezzanine instantly gave way, and all three fell. Red X caught the railing and was left dangling. Superboy recovered midair and flew up. Aqualad tucked into a roll before standing back up. Red X swung back and forth and used the momentum to jump forward into a backflip, landing next to Aqualad. The cultist outside rushed in and flanked the Kobra venom monster, leveling their rifles at the teens. Kobra and Sportsmaster walked in to see what the commotion was. Kobra's supreme leader raised a disinterested brow at what he saw. "Kill them," he ordered simply and turned around, leaving with his right-hand woman.
The monster roared, and the cultist opened fire. "Raah!" Superboy flew straight for the Kobra monster, tackling its midsection. The monster stood its ground, sliding against the concrete before putting a foot back, stopping Superboy's momentum. It grabbed Superboy's waist and lifted him over before slamming him into the ground neck first. "Aagh!" Superboy saw stars. The creature grabbed his legs and threw him at the machinery. Superboy slammed into a Venom vat, denting it in the process.
Aqualad drew his weapons, formed a shield, and crouched behind it. Red X tossed a bomb to his feet, exploding into a smoke screen before backfliping several times into cover behind old Venom crates. Red X drew three shurikens between his fingers and rose from cover, tossing them at the cultist. With impeccable accuracy, they nailed three cultists in the head, knocking them out. But Red X quickly ducked back into cover. Several cultists opened fire from the scaffolding above the main entrance.
Kid Flash ran through the mezzanine, jumped over the gap where the monster had crashed through, and then clothed lined the cultist on the scaffolding, firing on his friends. "Learn that watching wrestling," Kid Flash said, dusting his hands off. The cloaked Miss Martian flew in from the same hole the creature had made. She took stock of the chaos, watching Superboy dislodge himself from the machinery, and flew back at the Kobra Venom monster, decking it across the face with a right hook. Two cultists managed to flank Aqualad, and she reached out, plucking them with her telekinesis. She tossed the cultist against some crates and flew closer to find more targets. She flew beneath a lamp and started tossing cultists aside like they were nothing.
Sportsmaster, still watching the fight, looked up, narrowing his eyes. He could see something was there just under the light fixture. The light seemed to bend around something. He reached into his utility belt and pulled out an extending javelin. He raised his opposite hand to aim and threw it at the distortion. Miss Martian turned just in time to see the throw and twisted out of the way. The Javelin missed but exploded right next to her, knocking her out of her cloak and onto a Venom vat.
"Miss Martian!" Red X looked up at her before he felt something tingle the back of his neck, and he rolled out of the way. Superboy crashed through the crates with the Kobra Venom monster on top of him. It roared, throwing hammer blows at Superboy, who crossed his arms and blocked them.
"I'm okay!" Miss Martian shouted as she flew up back into stealth mode.
"Miss Martian, comms are down; link us all telepathically!" Red X flipped over more crates for cover.
"Right!" Miss Martian retreated into the shadows, making her more challenging to spot by Sportsmaster, and reached out with her mind.
Is everyone online?
Yeah, Red X replied first. He reached into his belt and threw two shuriken at the Kobra Venom monster, and they exploded near its head. The Beast was disoriented. Superboy took advantage and threw an uppercut, throwing it off him.
Yeah, Superboy sighed begrudgingly. The Kobra Venom monster was giving him a run for his money.
Kind of busy! Robin barked outside the factory while intercepting Kobra and his right-hand woman. He hopped down from the helicopter and rotated his shoulders.
"Batman must be terribly desperate if he sends his whelp to confound me." Kobra drawled, uninterested.
"What's wrong, Koby? You look disconcerted," Robin taunted with a grin.
"This is beneath me, Shimmer, kill him," Kobra ordered.
Shimmer rushed Robin without a word; she threw a straight jab, and Robin sidestepped Summersault, dodging her attack. Shimmer turned mildly amused, and Robin beckoned her with his hand.
Robin, now! Aqualad all but shouted mentally. Robin gritted his teeth, and Shimmer rushed him. Robin reached into his belt and threw down a bomb at his feet, exploding into a flash of light. Shimmer slid past where Robin once stood and turned, looking for him.
Strategic retreat, Kid, clear us a path. Aqualad swung his weapons, making water whips and knocking aside cultists before him. Kid Flash sped by in a blur, knocking out several cultists blocking the way back through the secret entrance. Fall back now! Aqualad ordered, and everyone made a break for the back exit. Robin swung in with his grapple line and was the first through the door. Miss Martian was next, and then Aqualad and Red X, with Superboy trailing behind. The Kobra Venom monster leaped from the flank, and Superboy turned, clinching hands with the Beast. The monster growled at the clone before Superboy headbutted it, stunning it. Superboy grabbed its left arm and spun it once, throwing it into its closing-in allies. Superboy rushed in and slammed the secret reinforced door closed. "Let's go!" Superboy shouted, and they all ran through the mineshaft.
Seconds later, the Kobra Venom Monster crashed through the reinforced door. The cultist followed and opened fire. "Superboy, the supports!" Red X shouted, jumped, spun, and threw out a smoke bomb that exploded into cover. Superboy burst through the smoke screen and punched the support beams as he went. The Cave quaked, and the ceiling collapsed, cutting off the cultist and the young heroes. The smoke of the rubble cleared, and Aqualad cracked an emergency glowstick, bathing the dark shaft in red light.
"Ah, man, how could my first mission as a leader go so wrong," Robin groaned.
Kid Flash opened his mouth, but Aqualad raised his hand and shook his head. "You do have the most experience among us. But perhaps this experience is what has left you unprepared. You and Batman have defined roles." Aqualad looked at his friends. "This team is new, and a leader must communicate clearly. The team cannot be expected to participate in an otherwise unknown plan."
"So I'm supposed to hold everyone's hand?" Robin turned frustrated before deflating with a sigh. "Who am I kidding? I'm not cut out for this." Robin looked to Aqualad and Red X. "But you two, you took charge when I bailed and kept everyone together. Aqualad and Red X, one of you, deserve to lead us."
"What, I can run circles around," Flash started.
"Enough," Red X stepped up. "I appreciate the notion I do. But, a leader should be someone who everyone trusts and knows." Red X looked at Aqualad, "I'll follow you willingly, Aqualad. You are worthy to lead this team." Nobody else protested, and Aqualad walked up to Robin.
"Then I shall gladly accept this burden," Aqualad placed a hand on Robin's shoulder. "Until you are ready to carry this mantle once again." Aqualad smiled, as did the rest of the team, in quiet agreement. "But until then," Aqualad turned, looking at the other end of the tunnel. "We have a mission to fulfill. We will stop the handoff and destroy Kobra Venom and the production facility."
"Let's do it," Red X punched his open palm with a grin. The team turned on a heel and made their way through the shaft. "So, this Sportsmaster, the file I've read on him doesn't mention any big connections. Isn't he an independent?"
"Yeah," Robin brought up the data he downloaded on his holo terminal. "Sportsmaster is an assassin; he couldn't procure the Blockbuster formula alone."
"Not to mention making the Super Kobra Venom, which takes some real nerd mojo. Which these cultists didn't exactly strike me as." Kid Flash added helpfully.
"Tip of the iceberg comes to mind in this situation," Aqualad continued as they neared the exit.
"End of the line niños, and I'm feeling," Bane rotated his neck, his body bulging with muscles with several syringes on the ground next to him. "Explosives," he raised his hand, showing a detonator. He pressed it once, and the team heard several beeps above them. The tunnel was rigged, and Bane blocked the only exit.
"Why would you betray us?" Aqualad asked an obvious question. Kid, you need a running start. Kid Flash used the darkness of the tunnel and his black suit to his advantage, slinking back further into the tunnel.
"Simple, I want my factory back. So I put you in a position that would have you die trying," Bane lifted his hand with the detonator. "Burying you in this mountain works just as well as the Justice League comes down to avenge their stray niños." Bane lifted his thumb over the detonator, "adios." A gust of wind blew, and he pressed down, feeling only his hand. "What?" He looked at his empty hand.
"Sorry, amigo," Kid Flash taunted behind him, leaning on a tree. You blinked."
"Hijo de!" Bane turned, throwing a jab at Kid Flash. "No!" He shouted as he floated up, punching the air instead.
"Finally," Superboy walked up with Miss Martian. She had her hand extended, keeping Blane afloat.
"Drop him," Superboy cracked his knuckles and reared a punch back. Bane dropped without warning, and Superboy cracked him across the face, making the villain flip once before landing in a heap on the jungle floor. "Been waiting to do that," Superboy smirked at the team.
"I'll disarm the explosives," Red X returned to the shaft.
"Wait," Aqualad stopped him. "disarm them, but bring me one of the charges. I have a plan." The team gathered around Aqualad while Red X worked on the explosives. "Listen carefully."
At the factory, Sportsmaster watched Kobra's followers load the Kobra Venom in his helicopter. One of Kobra's men approached him. "They are gone, exalted one. Should we send out search parties?"
"Don't bother; they will come to us. Just get the Kobra Venom loaded." Kobra barked dismissively. The cultist bowed and went on about his task. Sportsmaster, with a sample in a small case in his hand, nodded to Kobra. "The Light will be in touch."
A black blur streaked by the helicopter, knocking four cultists out. The black blur rounded the perimeter to crates stacked outside and threw a flying knee at the Kobra cultist, slamming him against the crates. Kid Flash smirked, then bolted, dodging automatic gunfire. "Sportsmaster, get the formula out!" Kobra shouted over the chaos. Sportsmaster nodded and ran to his helicopter.
"Hraaa!" Superboy landed, sending a shockwave, knocking back Sportsmaster, who tucked into a roll to get back on his feet. "Alright, ready for round two, ugly?" Superboy smirked at the Kobra Venom monstrosity.
"RROOOAAR!" the Beast rushed Superboy, and just before he reached him, a water geyser knocked him away. Aqualad busted the factory's main water pipe outside using his Atlantean abilities. "Sorry, not the plan!" Superboy crouched into a fighting stance.
Sportsmaster tucked his sample into a back pouch. He drew an extended javelin and threw it at Superboy. Superboy caught and raised a borw, "really?"
"Really," Sportsmaster said as the Javelin exploded in Superboy's hand, staggering him. Sportsmaster jumped from the cloud of smoke, delivering a devastating roundhouse kick to Superboy, knocking against nearby crates. "Catch," Sportsmaster threw a bomb at Superboy that exploded, coating Superboy with burning foam. "You Kryptonians don't burn easily, but that should keep you busy." Sportsmaster felt his back muscles tense up. He jumped into a curled-up backflip, kicking out as he leveled and hit something, sending it crashing against the ground. Miss Martian uncloaked as she hit the ground. Sportsmaster picked Miss Martian up into a headlock and used her as a hostage when the still-flaming Superboy tried to move in.
"Ah, Martians aren't too fond of fire, aren't they?" Sportsmaster walked backward.
Superboy growled the fire, barely an annoying sting to him. "Rraaah!" Superboy roared, frustrated, flying up and up to derpy the flames of oxygen.
"Well, it's been fun, but I got a schedule to keep." Sportsmaster pushed Miss Martian, and she turned to retaliate, but all she saw was a fist that sent her flying off the ramp. The loading ramp closed, and Soprtsmaster started the helicopter.
By the factory entrance, Kobra, surrounded by a ring of his followers, watched them get picked off one by one by the speedster. He hummed and stepped back as Bolas barely missed him and caught Shimmer instead, knocking her to the ground. With his arm still extended from the throw, Robin smirked at Kobra. "I know you hate your hands dirty," Robin said, pleased with himself.
Kobra let his robe slip off, revealing his well-sculpted body. "Yes, but even a god must sometimes stoop to conquer." Kobra ducked as Red X flew by, missing his kick. Red X slid to a stop before returning to Kobra and taking a fighting stance. Robin came up next to him in a stance of his own. The two young martial artists shared a smirk before they rushed Kobra. Their attacks flew one into the other. Red X gave a low kick, and Robin let loose a jab. Kobra, if nothing else, proved his own immense skill. He deflected Robin's jab and caught Red X's low kick with his heel. Robin and Red X stepped back and threw a combined spinning jump kick. With impressive speed, Kobra deflected the kicks and delivered open-palm strikes, throwing the boys to the ground. "What's wrong? You look disconcerted, children."
"This guy is good for a nutjob," Red X stood back into a fighting stance.
"We can take him," Robin narrowed his eyes next to Red X. "overwhelm him, everything we got!" Both young teens rushed Kobra, who regarded the boys with indifference.
The Kobra Venom monster roared one last time in pain and defiance as Aqualad electrocuted it. He turned to see Sportsmaster take off and Superboy land near the last of the cultists, sending them flying back in a shockwave. His shirt had all but burned off, and he looked extremely annoyed. Finally, he caught Sportsmaster's chopper flying off. Then, as planned, an explosion blew out the loading door of the helicopter, a devastating hit. Aquald smiled slightly as Sportsmaster bailed out, and the helicopter veered off, landing on the factory in a fiery explosion.
"Raah!" Red X dove for a tackle. Kobra threw a kick to deter him. Caughtcha! Red X thought, letting his armor take the burn off the kick, and he wrapped his arms around his legs, using his weight to bring Kobra down. The dignified leader fell over, flexing his knee to pin Red X underneath. Kobra gritted his teeth, finally feeling anger. Robin flew in with a jump kick, and Kobra tilted his head, wrapped his arm around Robin's thigh, and struck an open palm at his chin, bringing him down atop Red X.
Red X let go, and Kobra rolled off before standing back up. "I am surrounded by mosquitos!" Angre flowed off the great leader, glaring at the downed teens. They hurriedly untangled themselves and stood up.
Red X's eyes widened behind his domino mask before he smirked. "You got a little something," Red X said, brushing his cheek with his thumb.
Kobra blinked, and a slight sting registered on his cheek. He touched his cheek, and it flickered in protest. There was no blood, but the sting ignited a fury in him. "You dare," Kobra glowered at the team as they gathered around Robin and Red X. Yet, despite the anger, Kobra closed his eyes and breathed out, returning to his passive demeanor. "Another time, perhaps," he stepped into the jungle, vanishing into the shadows. Robin rushed in and looked around the immediate area, but Kobra was gone. Robin sighed when he turned to his team and the damage they caused. He couldn't find it in himself to be upset that Kobra escaped.
"Man, this one was my favorite shirt." Superboy tore off the last remnants of his shirt. Miss Martian looked over Superboy's shirtless torso and felt her cheeks heat up. She opened her mouth to offer words of comfort, but Kid Flash beat her to it.
"Don't you got a closet filled with these?" Kid Flash held a scorched cloth.
"This was my first one," Superboy grumbled. "Red bought it for me when we were at Yellow Stone."
"Hey, you still got that fridge magnet," Red X walked up, punching Superboy's arm.
Superboy smiled and chuckled, "Yeah, I guess I do."
"Well, I'd say we got a mission complete." Robin dusted his hands, smiling at his team. "We picked the right leader," Robin put his hand on Aqualad's shoulder.
"Thank you, my friends," Aqualad bowed his head humbly.
"Yep," Robin suddenly smirked, "which means it's up to you to tell Batman about this whole mess." Robin slapped Aqulad's arm as he walked past him, cackling.
Aqualad sighed and put his finger to his ear, "Aqualad to Red Tornado."
"This is Batman; you've been offline for four hours. Explain." Batman's interjected tersely.
Aqualad grimaced physically and then sighed. "It's best to debrief in person; we're returning now."
"Understood," Batman said and cut the line unceremoniously.
"Miss Martian, call the Bioship, we're going home." Aqualad joined his still celebrating team while Miss Martian lifted her arm, calling for her companion.
From the cliffside where the team had initially overseen the factory, Bane watched his life's work burn away. A growl made Bane snap his neck to the right to peer into the jungle. A pair of yellow eyes stared back. Bane narrowed his eyes; he felt something was off. He was no ethologist, but he recognized the growl of a panther or a jagua, all native to Santa Prisca. That was not it, more so the eyes were too high to be a prowler. "Who are you?" Bane stared into the yellow eyes. The growl turned into a throaty feminine chuckle. A humanoid feline woman stepped out from the jungle. She had fiery, long red hair with feline ears sticking out of it. She was clad in a black suit, with bare feet. Her suit zipped down around her navel, showing her body covered in light brown fur with spots, and a tail swished behind her. "Ah, it seems I arrived late to the party."
"Who. Are. You." Bane asked again, in no mood to play Cloak and Dagger.
"My name is Cheetah, and I'm here to extend an offer." Cheetah walked up to Bane, staying just out of his leg reach. A smart move on her part, as she knew Bane was not to be underestimated.
"What might that be?" Bane raised a brow.
"Oh, let's just say we're starting a little club and were looking for members." Cheetah looked over her sharp claws, perfectly manicured.
"What exactly is in it for me?" Bane dug out a syringe of Venom tucked inside the back of his pants and hovered it over his wrist.
Cheetah flicked her eyes to the burning factory and the Bioship flying off with the team. "Vengeance for one," she spread her arms, "the world for second."
Bane looked at Cheetah for a minute, then pocketed the Venom. "Very well, gata, I'll join your little club."
Cheetah smiled and walked up to Bane, slashing his bindings with her claws. Bane rotated his arms and cracked his neck. "Where to now?"
"Louisana," a new voice joined the two. Bane turned to see a hulking figure emerge from the jungle. It was a gorilla, larger than average, with his hands folded behind his back. "We have more members to recruit, but that will come in time."
"Who, what are you?" Bane narrowed his eyes at the Gorilla.
"What I am is the future ruler of this planet. As for whom? I am Grodd; welcome to the Legion of Doom." Grodd extended a hand to Bane, smirking.
Mount Justice
03:15 | July 23
Rhode Island
"A simple recon mission, observe and report." Batman walked down the lined-up team, who stood at parade rest before the Batman. He walked down the line, "You each will receive a written report detailing your many mistakes." Batman turned away from the team, "With that said, good job." The team blinked, surprised, before puffing up with pride.
"No plan survives first contact; how you adjust to the unforeseen determines mission success." Batman turned halfway, looking at Kaldaur and Robin. "How you pick who leads determines character." Batman nodded to the team. "You are all dismissed. Get some rest. It's well earned."
Wally pulled off his mask and stretched, "Well, I'm beat; gonna grab a snack and head home. Night guys, night angel." Wally winked at M'gann before taking his leave.
"Night," Superboy threw his hand up and went to his room.
"Night, everyone," M'gann waved and left, leaving Robin and Red X.
"So," Robin crossed his arms. "Why didn't you take the lead?"
"Batman chewed out Aqualad first, no thanks." Red X shrugged and turned to leave.
"I'm serious," Robin said without his usual mirth.
Red X stopped, sighing. "This is why," he gestured to the situation. "Everyone needs to trust their leader."
"Red," Robin was the only one who never called him John. "I want to trust you man, I do." Robin cocked his hip and rested his fist against it. "So give me something here, anything so I don't have to…" Robin clamped his shut. "So I don't have to keep watching everyone's back from a friend."
Red X turned halfway to meet Robin's gaze. Red X looked down and thought about it. These people took him in and called him friend during his time here. So, a show of trust. Something to ease the tension he no doubt was causing. This might also get Batman to stop spying on me. What's there to lose? Red X fully turned to Robin and walked towards him. Red X removed the domino mask for the first time. He opened his eyes, revealing deep blue eyes, and extended his hand to Robin. "Thomas, my friends call me Tom."
Robin looked into Red's eyes, and either he was the best liar, or this was genuine. Well, he wasn't as pessimistic as Bruce. A show of trust. Robin thought, and he reached up, pulling off his Domino mask. "Richard Grayson, friends call me Dick." Dick clasped hands with Tom, and the two shook them firmly.
"Just..Tom, I need to see how things go before I reveal my last name." Tom smiled apologetically, "Sorry."
"Hey, it's a start, but…" Robin trailed off.
"How about you spend the night?" Tom smirked, "it will be a hell of a morning."
Robin blinked, then grinned, donning his Domino mask again. "Oh, you're on!"
Mount Justice
12:23 | July 23
Rhode Island
Superboy was the first up; usually, he and Red were the first up. So he relegated himself to cereal since he didn't know the first thing about cooking. "Morning," Robin walked in wearing the spare civis he left at the Cave.
"Spent the night huh?" Superboy said through bites.
"Yeah," Robin grinned. "Didn't want to miss the show." Robin poured himself a bowl of milk and put it on the microwave.
"Morning everyone," M'gann floated into the kitchen. She grabbed her own bowl and served herself cereal. Minutes later, Wally zetad into the Cave and helped himself to cereal.
"Man, I'm still buzzed from the mission!" Wally sat down and shoveled a spoonful of cereal.
"Morning," Tom walked into the kitchen. He rubbed his temples, then found a bowl pouring himself some cereal. He sat down by Wally, who stared at him, eyes wide. "Pass the sugar?" Tom extended his hand, and Robin casually handed him the container.
"It's sugar cereal; why are you putting more in?" Superboy raised a brow. Now it was Robin's turn to gape. That was Tom's cue to finally address his friends. "Oh, right, so my actual name is Thomas. But my friends call me Tom." Tom smirked at Robin.
"He told me in our field trip," Superboy shrugged, "bout time you told them. You worry too much, man."
"Wait, you told Superboy!?" Robin gawked.
"Yeah, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing." Tom looked legitimately apologetic. "Sorry, I kept you all in the shadow about it. I just, well, revealing too much might cause problems. So bare with me."
"So you do remember everything," Wally frowned.
"Yeah…sorry."
Everyone was quiet for a moment. "Ah, what can you do? It's part of life; thanks for trusting us this much."
"I," Tom looked around, and memories of his previous life flooded his mind. "I'm lucky to have found friends like you. That's rarer in one lifetime, let alone the second one I've been given."
"Blue eyes, huh?" M'gann smiled. "I was betting they were green."
"Brown," Wally shrugged, smiling.
"Well, it is what it is," Robin smiled. "Welcome aboard, Tom."
"Thanks, Robin," Tom leaned back, and the team settled into their mutual conversations as usual.
Chapter 3 baaybee! The next chapter is the first significant deviation. I hope you all enjoy this one. Thank you for reviewing, favorite-ing, and following!