Chapter 11
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Santa Prisca July 19th.
"But they'll meet each other before they find us, " superboy says looking into the forest.
Gunfire commences. Clearly, they aren't on the same side, which is good news for the Team.
"No super-hearing required now." Kid comments.
"Swing wide, steer clear," Aqualad commands as Kid steps forward to be next to Superboy.
"Yeah-yeah, just as soon as I find Rob." Kid tells him, then vaults over the tree, running down the trail. The trail is wet, and he loses his footing, falling down the hill and right into the firefight. As he falls, he looks up to find a surprised Bane to confirm that he's seeing things right he even lifts his goggles off his eyes. "So much for the stealthy."
Bane's surprise only lasts a moment before he starts firing rapidly at Kid Flash, but before he can run away Cap jumps in front of Kid with his shield blocking the bullets 'I should have stopped him going ahead' Cap thought.
Superboy charges ahead, taking Bane's blind spot and tackling him to the ground. Or at least attempting to, Bane gets himself over the teen and slams him into the soft ground. He goes for a wristlock on his captive right arm but finds Superboy overpowering him. Grabbing his shirt and throwing him into a tree.
Kid Flash continues to evade the bullets, and two of the men see a shadow pass over them, looking up Robin drops right on top of one of them. "What is wrong with you guys?" he questions, uppercutting the other and following up with a side kick to get his bubble back. "Remember covert? Why didn't you follow my lead, vanish into the jungle?"
Kid Flash hits another assailant, backing him up into the clearing. "That's what you were doing?" then hitting him with a front kick to the chin then completing a full flip before landing on the ground again. "Way to fill us in. We're mind readers you know."
Miss Martian throws another two assailants into the tree behind him telekinetically.
"Er, I'm not anyway." he corrects as she drops to the ground.
"You told me I could only read the bad guys' minds." she reminds him.
"Kid is right you need to tell us everything before you act were a team" Cap then throws his shield making it hit multiple enemies and adds "so next time tell us the plan before you fly solo."
Robin's attention turns, hearing one run away. He pulls out a birdarang to throw at him, but instead, the Kobra soldier is stopped short by Aqualad dropping right in front of him. Not sure what to do as the Atlantean places his hand on his chest, and his tattoos glow before he zaps him right in the chest. Stepping on the communicator that fell out of his hand, which crunches under his barefoot.
After tieing everyone up the team gathered to figure out who they are dealing with "I recognize those uniforms." Robin says, looking at most of the assailants that all now tied to the trees. "They belong to the Cult of The Kobra."
"I am certain Batman would have mentioned it if he knew a dangerous extremist was running Santa Prisca's Venom operation," he tells the Boy Wonder, not letting him leave his sight in fear that he will disappear again.
"Agreed." Robin says, putting no fault on his mentor. "And since there's no love lost between the cultists and those goons," he puts his hand on his chin as it all suddenly becomes clear. "I'm betting they came in and tossed them out. That's why normal supply lines have been cut off."
"We get it. Kobra wanted super cultists." Kid Flash says confidently. "Radio Bats and we'll be home in time for-"
"These cultists aren't on venom." Robin cuts him off. Kobra's hoarding the stuff. We don't leave. Not until I know why."
"Until you know why?" Kid Flash questions, leaning forward to get right in front of the boy's mask covered eyes.
"This team needs a leader." Robin says strongly, standing up straighter.
"And it's you?!" Kid Flash questions, annoyance clear as he steps into Robin's personal space. "Dude, you're a thirteen-year-old kid who ducked out on us without a word."
Robin laughs for few seconds. "And you're a mature fifteen? You blew our cover first chance you got."
"Robin!" Cap yelled walking towards Robin while glaring at him in anger and annoyance "first off you left without a word already that's not becoming of a leader second you never gave orders but expected it another reason why your not leader." Cap then glares at Kid "And you taking off instead of staying in the group I don't condone Robin actions in fact, he should have stayed in the group but it was obvious he had it under control so why did you run after someone who was trained to keep out of sight instead of bickering who should be leading right now you need to learn how to work together." both looked at Cap embarrassed of their actions.
Cap then walked away leaving them thinking what they that's when Kid leaned over to Robin and whispered "is it me or does he remind you of Batman" after hearing this robin remembered what happened just now and a shiver went down his spine.
To the side, Miss Martian and Superboy can only look on in silence. Until Miss M speaks up. "Don't you want to lead?"
The Kryptonian shakes his head and scoffs, then turns to look at Miss M out of the corner of his eye. "You?"
Miss M nearly leans back and puts her hand up as if to shove the idea away from her physically "no I don't think I'll make a good leader."
Superboy smiles, looking at her directly. "I think you'll do alright."
Miss M's cheeks turn bright red as she looks away and tucks her hair behind her ear. However, Superboy doesn't notice as he hears someone talk behind him.
His super-hearing picks up on the Spanish with ease. "Look at them argue. Free yourselves and take them while they're distracted." It's one of Bane's lackeys.
"Quiet!" Bane hisses at the other man tied to the tree. "."For now, I'll play along, and then they'll give me what I need." Superboy smirks, understanding every word and knowing just how to play Bane at his own game.
"it's obvious they stole from Bane and they trying to get it back," Cap says while pointing at bane and his crew.
"Such clever niños. But you only know half the story." Bane baits the team, the whole Team now steps in so they can see Bane. "Let me show you the rest get you into the factory via my secret entrance."
Miss Martian steps up. "There is a secret entrance" then she kneels down and places her hand on her temple to further concentrate. "but he's also hiding something." her tone goes sour and her eyes glow white.
"Ah, ah, ah chica. Bane is not that easy." he says smugly.
Miss Martian's eyes still glow but she loses her intensity. "Ohh." she groans, pulling out of his mind. "He's mentally reciting fútbol scores en Español." she looks over her shoulder at the boys "This could take a while."
Bane speaks up before anyone else does. "It's not complicated. The enemy of my enemy is my friend." behind Miss M the boys exchange looks, then eventually nod.
In the factory, they are still creating Venom. "Sublime Master, he approaches." one of the soldiers says as Kobra comes to a stop beside him.
"Activate the radio-jamming net. Nothing must interfere." Kobra instructs.
The soldier nods, bows, and leaves.
On top of a cliff, the Team and Bane can see the factory clearly. Bane stops about three feet from the edge, pointing. Both Robin and Kid Flash both step up to get a closer look. Kid with his goggles, Robin with a pair of binoculars. What he sees is a forklift and containers by a helipad.
Look at all that product." Robin mutters, shocked. "A buy is going down." Bane walks away, but the Team remains. "But if Kobra's not selling to the usual suspects, then-"
"We need to identify that buyer." Aqualad states with conviction.
"Just what I was thinking." Kid Flash agrees, lifting his goggles as he stands up straighter.
"Yeah. You're the thinker." Robin says with a smirk as he stands up.
"Sarcasm?" Kid Flash questions, annoyed. "Dude. A real leader would focus on getting answers." all three are observing Bane as he lifts a giant rock away from the entrance to an old mine. The only point of his efforts are a few grunts. While Miss M and Superboy exchange a slight look of confusion.
Answers are this way." Bane says simply, gesturing down the mine tunnel. All five teens join him to look down the tunnel. Bane says nothing as he heads towards the tunnel.
"So. Now el Luchador is our leader." Kid Flash comments angrily and slightly sarcastic. Robin stalks past him, using the back of his hand to smack Kid Flash's cheek. Kid turns to Cap, Superboy, M'gann, and Aqualad with a shrug.
The Team and Bane walk down the mine until they come to a metal door, which Bane uses his fingerprint to unlock. Which leads them right to a door on the factory floor.
Bane props the door open slightly, giving Robin just enough room to get a full look around the- now confirmed to be- empty floor. "All clear." he vocalizes before running out of the doorway. The others follow but, once they get to another hidden location Robin and Cap are nowhere in sight.
"Has those fools already been captured?" Bane questions, annoyance at the possibility of their infiltration being compromised rising.
"No," Aqualad assures, but his own voice is giving away his own annoyance "they just do that sometimes"
"don't worry Cap told me he's following Robin to the control room," Miss Martian says reassuring the rest of the team.
"When did he tell you that?" Superboy asked confused.
"Well Cap and I have a telepathic link open at all times so when we needed to talk," Miss Martian said confusing Superboy more. (or was it a bit of jealousy)
Kid Flash slides his goggles over his eyes with ease. "Stay put. I'll get our intel and be back before the Cap and Boy Wonder." by the time he finishes the sentence he's already running.
Aqualad reaches out as he sees Kid Flash's movement, but doesn't get hold. "Wait, Kid!"
Bane watches as the grey and red streak disappears, looking to Aqualad with a smug smile. "Great chain of command." he continues his jabs at Aqualad with the sarcasm and the continued smugness in those four simple words.
The three remaining teens share a look. While over their heads Robin runs across the catwalk and up the stairs to the command centre.
Inside the command center, a Kobra agent is working on the computers. There's a small swish before a Batarang hits the computer console beside him, causing it to spark. As he turns to look a green gas is released from the Batarang. The agent coughs then passes out.
"Nice throw
Robin holds no qualms as he grabs the back of his cloak and drops his upper body to the ground with a thud. Then taking the chair and sitting down at the computer.
Aqualad, Miss Martian, and Superboy are all crouched behind an unused assembly line, while Bane hides in the shadows of a crate stack.
"It's a massive shipment." Aqualad observes with shock.
"Yeah, but they're only taking new product off the line." Superboy observes."They're not touching this Venom."
As a forklift drives away they turn towards each other. "Maybe freshness counts?" Miss Martian offers, unsure, but figuring a one off guess is better than nothing.
Superboy's focus changes as he looks in the opposite direction they just were. "Helicopter's coming." he says, out of instinct the other two follow his gaze. Bane's eyes narrow as all four look out the small skylight.
It takes a few moments, but then they start to be able to hear the helicopter's blades as it approaches.
The computer Robin's on is beeping away as he runs over the chemical formula for the agent. Listing off HB2 Ca4, Cs2 Ho4, PH4 Mo8, and Ca1, 'so this is the formula' Cap thought.
Kid Flash zooms in, skidding to a stop and taking a bite out of something, then proceeding to talk with food in his mouth. "What you got?"
"Chemical formulas." Robin says, hunching a little closer to the keyboard as if that would help him work faster. Ever the science nerd Kid Flash joins him at the computer. "I guessing it involves Venom, but…" he trails unsure, but also not even pausing as Kid Flash takes another loud bite out of the bar in his hand.
This one's Venom," Kid Flash says, as if he's talking to a three-year-old, and using his bar to point at the screen. As the screen shows another compound he continues. "this one's-" he cuts himself off. "Whoa. The Blockbuster formula from Cadmus." they watch as the two begin to merge on screen. "Mixed correctly, Kobra's new juice is three times stronger than Venom… and permanent." he realizes horrified. Then turns to Robin. "But how did Kobra get access to Project Blockbuster?"
"Our mystery buyer must also be Kobra's supplier!" Robin realizes. "Using the cult to create the Blockbuster-Venom superformula." Robin stands up his hand going to his ear. "Robin to Aqualad we got-" Kid Flash turns away from the computer as he hears Robin stop. "... static." he mutters angrily.
From out of the helicopter's opening doors the shadows clear, revealing a buff white man with blonde hair. In a black on black outfit and his facial features covered by a grey hockey mask. As he walks between two lines of the cult his matching forearm and shoulder/upper arm guards show.
"Lord Kobra." he greets.
"Sportsmaster." Kobra returns, as the girl from before steps up. "The shipment is ready." she opens the box to reveal the blue vials.
Sportsmaster takes one, holding it up to look at it. "The new Kobra-Venom?" he questions.
Kobra gestures to Blockbuster. "A complete success. Our friends will not be disappointed."
"This is a game-changer." Sportsmaster proudly states, flipping the vial to catch it in his fist. "Finally, we can go mano-a-mano with the Justice League."
Above them, Miss Martian uses her camouflage. "Aqualad, sending you a telepathic image of the buyer now." even though she basically invisible her eyes begin to glow.
In the factory, on a catwalk. Bane and Superboy keep watch while Aqualad has his eyes closed to see Miss M's telepathic image.
"Sportsmaster." he says, opening his eyes. "He is the buyer?" he questions, looking to Superboy shocked. Then brings his hand up to his ear. "Aqualad to Red Tornado. Do you read?" he gets the same results as Robin. He huffs in annoyance. "Can't reach the League, neither Cap, Robin, or Kid. Comm's jammed. We need a plan now."
Bane is all too pleased with his opening. "I have a suggestion." then jumps over the rail with a battle cry.
Two Kobra agents look to the source, shocked to see Bane. He lands just before them, shoving one to the side with ease and pushing the other's arm to ensure his aim is only to the ceiling.
From outside they hear the gunshots.
"What is he-" Aqualad begins, only to be cut off by Blockbuster's battle cry and he charges at the window behind them. Shattering it and taking down the catwalk. Both boys land away from the rubble, but so does Blockbuster. Who roars to catch everyone's full attention.
"Destroy them." Kobra commands. In an instant Blockbuster charges at the three infiltrators.
Superboy meets him halfway, in comparison to Blockbuster, he's plenty small enough to get under his arms and catch his torso. However, due to the size difference Blockbuster grabs Superboy's waist from behind with efficiency.
Aqualad's tattoos begin to glow as he reaches behind his shoulders to take out his water-bearers. The Kobra agents start firing on him, but can't land a hit as he crouches behind a shield and uses his other water-bearer to fire non-lethal projectiles at their chests and knock them out.
Meanwhile, Bane hides, away from the action, chuckling to himself.
Miss Martian flies in and starts throwing agents around, but Sportsmaster can clearly see her despite the camouflage.
Aqualad tattoos begin to glow as he reaches behind his shoulders to take out his water-bearers. The Kobra agents start firing on him, but can't land a hit as he crouches behind a shield and uses his other water-bearer to fire non-lethal projectiles at their chests and knock them out.
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Santa Prisca July 19th.
"But they'll meet each other before they find us, " superboy says looking into the forest.
Gunfire commences. Clearly, they aren't on the same side, which is good news for the Team.
"No super-hearing required now." Kid comments.
"Swing wide, steer clear," Aqualad commands as Kid steps forward to be next to Superboy.
"Yeah-yeah, just as soon as I find Rob." Kid tells him, then vaults over the tree, running down the trail. The trail is wet, and he loses his footing, falling down the hill and right into the firefight. As he falls, he looks up to find a surprised Bane to confirm that he's seeing things right he even lifts his goggles off his eyes. "So much for the stealthy."
Bane's surprise only lasts a moment before he starts firing rapidly at Kid Flash, but before he can run away Cap jumps in front of Kid with his shield blocking the bullets 'I should have stopped him going ahead' Cap thought.
Superboy charges ahead, taking Bane's blind spot and tackling him to the ground. Or at least attempting to, Bane gets himself over the teen and slams him into the soft ground. He goes for a wristlock on his captive right arm but finds Superboy overpowering him. Grabbing his shirt and throwing him into a tree.
Kid Flash continues to evade the bullets, and two of the men see a shadow pass over them, looking up Robin drops right on top of one of them. "What is wrong with you guys?" he questions, uppercutting the other and following up with a side kick to get his bubble back. "Remember covert? Why didn't you follow my lead, vanish into the jungle?"
Kid Flash hits another assailant, backing him up into the clearing. "That's what you were doing?" then hitting him with a front kick to the chin then completing a full flip before landing on the ground again. "Way to fill us in. We're mind readers you know."
Miss Martian throws another two assailants into the tree behind him telekinetically.
"Er, I'm not anyway." he corrects as she drops to the ground.
"You told me I could only read the bad guys' minds." she reminds him.
"Kid is right you need to tell us everything before you act were a team" Cap then throws his shield making it hit multiple enemies and adds "so next time tell us the plan before you fly solo."
Robin's attention turns, hearing one run away. He pulls out a birdarang to throw at him, but instead, the Kobra soldier is stopped short by Aqualad dropping right in front of him. Not sure what to do as the Atlantean places his hand on his chest, and his tattoos glow before he zaps him right in the chest. Stepping on the communicator that fell out of his hand, which crunches under his barefoot.
After tieing everyone up the team gathered to figure out who they are dealing with "I recognize those uniforms." Robin says, looking at most of the assailants that all now tied to the trees. "They belong to the Cult of The Kobra."
"I am certain Batman would have mentioned it if he knew a dangerous extremist was running Santa Prisca's Venom operation," he tells the Boy Wonder, not letting him leave his sight in fear that he will disappear again.
"Agreed." Robin says, putting no fault on his mentor. "And since there's no love lost between the cultists and those goons," he puts his hand on his chin as it all suddenly becomes clear. "I'm betting they came in and tossed them out. That's why normal supply lines have been cut off."
"We get it. Kobra wanted super cultists." Kid Flash says confidently. "Radio Bats and we'll be home in time for-"
"These cultists aren't on venom." Robin cuts him off. Kobra's hoarding the stuff. We don't leave. Not until I know why."
"Until you know why?" Kid Flash questions, leaning forward to get right in front of the boy's mask covered eyes.
"This team needs a leader." Robin says strongly, standing up straighter.
"And it's you?!" Kid Flash questions, annoyance clear as he steps into Robin's personal space. "Dude, you're a thirteen-year-old kid who ducked out on us without a word."
Robin laughs for few seconds. "And you're a mature fifteen? You blew our cover first chance you got."
"Robin!" Cap yelled walking towards Robin while glaring at him in anger and annoyance "first off you left without a word already that's not becoming of a leader second you never gave orders but expected it another reason why your not leader." Cap then glares at Kid "And you taking off instead of staying in the group I don't condone Robin actions in fact, he should have stayed in the group but it was obvious he had it under control so why did you run after someone who was trained to keep out of sight instead of bickering who should be leading right now you need to learn how to work together." both looked at Cap embarrassed of their actions.
Cap then walked away leaving them thinking what they that's when Kid leaned over to Robin and whispered "is it me or does he remind you of Batman" after hearing this robin remembered what happened just now and a shiver went down his spine.
To the side, Miss Martian and Superboy can only look on in silence. Until Miss M speaks up. "Don't you want to lead?"
The Kryptonian shakes his head and scoffs, then turns to look at Miss M out of the corner of his eye. "You?"
Miss M nearly leans back and puts her hand up as if to shove the idea away from her physically "no I don't think I'll make a good leader."
Superboy smiles, looking at her directly. "I think you'll do alright."
Miss M's cheeks turn bright red as she looks away and tucks her hair behind her ear. However, Superboy doesn't notice as he hears someone talk behind him.
His super-hearing picks up on the Spanish with ease. "Look at them argue. Free yourselves and take them while they're distracted." It's one of Bane's lackeys.
"Quiet!" Bane hisses at the other man tied to the tree. "."For now, I'll play along, and then they'll give me what I need." Superboy smirks, understanding every word and knowing just how to play Bane at his own game.
"it's obvious they stole from Bane and they trying to get it back," Cap says while pointing at bane and his crew.
"Such clever niños. But you only know half the story." Bane baits the team, the whole Team now steps in so they can see Bane. "Let me show you the rest get you into the factory via my secret entrance."
Miss Martian steps up. "There is a secret entrance" then she kneels down and places her hand on her temple to further concentrate. "but he's also hiding something." her tone goes sour and her eyes glow white.
"Ah, ah, ah chica. Bane is not that easy." he says smugly.
Miss Martian's eyes still glow but she loses her intensity. "Ohh." she groans, pulling out of his mind. "He's mentally reciting fútbol scores en Español." she looks over her shoulder at the boys "This could take a while."
Bane speaks up before anyone else does. "It's not complicated. The enemy of my enemy is my friend." behind Miss M the boys exchange looks, then eventually nod.
In the factory, they are still creating Venom. "Sublime Master, he approaches." one of the soldiers says as Kobra comes to a stop beside him.
"Activate the radio-jamming net. Nothing must interfere." Kobra instructs.
The soldier nods, bows, and leaves.
On top of a cliff, the Team and Bane can see the factory clearly. Bane stops about three feet from the edge, pointing. Both Robin and Kid Flash both step up to get a closer look. Kid with his goggles, Robin with a pair of binoculars. What he sees is a forklift and containers by a helipad.
Look at all that product." Robin mutters, shocked. "A buy is going down." Bane walks away, but the Team remains. "But if Kobra's not selling to the usual suspects, then-"
"We need to identify that buyer." Aqualad states with conviction.
"Just what I was thinking." Kid Flash agrees, lifting his goggles as he stands up straighter.
"Yeah. You're the thinker." Robin says with a smirk as he stands up.
"Sarcasm?" Kid Flash questions, annoyed. "Dude. A real leader would focus on getting answers." all three are observing Bane as he lifts a giant rock away from the entrance to an old mine. The only point of his efforts are a few grunts. While Miss M and Superboy exchange a slight look of confusion.
Answers are this way." Bane says simply, gesturing down the mine tunnel. All five teens join him to look down the tunnel. Bane says nothing as he heads towards the tunnel.
"So. Now el Luchador is our leader." Kid Flash comments angrily and slightly sarcastic. Robin stalks past him, using the back of his hand to smack Kid Flash's cheek. Kid turns to Cap, Superboy, M'gann, and Aqualad with a shrug.
The Team and Bane walk down the mine until they come to a metal door, which Bane uses his fingerprint to unlock. Which leads them right to a door on the factory floor.
Bane props the door open slightly, giving Robin just enough room to get a full look around the- now confirmed to be- empty floor. "All clear." he vocalizes before running out of the doorway. The others follow but, once they get to another hidden location Robin and Cap are nowhere in sight.
"Has those fools already been captured?" Bane questions, annoyance at the possibility of their infiltration being compromised rising.
"No," Aqualad assures, but his own voice is giving away his own annoyance "they just do that sometimes"
"don't worry Cap told me he's following Robin to the control room," Miss Martian says reassuring the rest of the team.
"When did he tell you that?" Superboy asked confused.
"Well Cap and I have a telepathic link open at all times so when we needed to talk," Miss Martian said confusing Superboy more. (or was it a bit of jealousy)
Kid Flash slides his goggles over his eyes with ease. "Stay put. I'll get our intel and be back before the Cap and Boy Wonder." by the time he finishes the sentence he's already running.
Aqualad reaches out as he sees Kid Flash's movement, but doesn't get hold. "Wait, Kid!"
Bane watches as the grey and red streak disappears, looking to Aqualad with a smug smile. "Great chain of command." he continues his jabs at Aqualad with the sarcasm and the continued smugness in those four simple words.
The three remaining teens share a look. While over their heads Robin runs across the catwalk and up the stairs to the command centre.
Inside the command center, a Kobra agent is working on the computers. There's a small swish before a Batarang hits the computer console beside him, causing it to spark. As he turns to look a green gas is released from the Batarang. The agent coughs then passes out.
"Nice throw
Robin holds no qualms as he grabs the back of his cloak and drops his upper body to the ground with a thud. Then taking the chair and sitting down at the computer.
Aqualad, Miss Martian, and Superboy are all crouched behind an unused assembly line, while Bane hides in the shadows of a crate stack.
"It's a massive shipment." Aqualad observes with shock.
"Yeah, but they're only taking new product off the line." Superboy observes."They're not touching this Venom."
As a forklift drives away they turn towards each other. "Maybe freshness counts?" Miss Martian offers, unsure, but figuring a one off guess is better than nothing.
Superboy's focus changes as he looks in the opposite direction they just were. "Helicopter's coming." he says, out of instinct the other two follow his gaze. Bane's eyes narrow as all four look out the small skylight.
It takes a few moments, but then they start to be able to hear the helicopter's blades as it approaches.
The computer Robin's on is beeping away as he runs over the chemical formula for the agent. Listing off HB2 Ca4, Cs2 Ho4, PH4 Mo8, and Ca1, 'so this is the formula' Cap thought.
Kid Flash zooms in, skidding to a stop and taking a bite out of something, then proceeding to talk with food in his mouth. "What you got?"
"Chemical formulas." Robin says, hunching a little closer to the keyboard as if that would help him work faster. Ever the science nerd Kid Flash joins him at the computer. "I guessing it involves Venom, but…" he trails unsure, but also not even pausing as Kid Flash takes another loud bite out of the bar in his hand.
This one's Venom," Kid Flash says, as if he's talking to a three-year-old, and using his bar to point at the screen. As the screen shows another compound he continues. "this one's-" he cuts himself off. "Whoa. The Blockbuster formula from Cadmus." they watch as the two begin to merge on screen. "Mixed correctly, Kobra's new juice is three times stronger than Venom… and permanent." he realizes horrified. Then turns to Robin. "But how did Kobra get access to Project Blockbuster?"
"Our mystery buyer must also be Kobra's supplier!" Robin realizes. "Using the cult to create the Blockbuster-Venom superformula." Robin stands up his hand going to his ear. "Robin to Aqualad we got-" Kid Flash turns away from the computer as he hears Robin stop. "... static." he mutters angrily.
From out of the helicopter's opening doors the shadows clear, revealing a buff white man with blonde hair. In a black on black outfit and his facial features covered by a grey hockey mask. As he walks between two lines of the cult his matching forearm and shoulder/upper arm guards show.
"Lord Kobra." he greets.
"Sportsmaster." Kobra returns, as the girl from before steps up. "The shipment is ready." she opens the box to reveal the blue vials.
Sportsmaster takes one, holding it up to look at it. "The new Kobra-Venom?" he questions.
Kobra gestures to Blockbuster. "A complete success. Our friends will not be disappointed."
"This is a game-changer." Sportsmaster proudly states, flipping the vial to catch it in his fist. "Finally, we can go mano-a-mano with the Justice League."
Above them, Miss Martian uses her camouflage. "Aqualad, sending you a telepathic image of the buyer now." even though she basically invisible her eyes begin to glow.
In the factory, on a catwalk. Bane and Superboy keep watch while Aqualad has his eyes closed to see Miss M's telepathic image.
"Sportsmaster." he says, opening his eyes. "He is the buyer?" he questions, looking to Superboy shocked. Then brings his hand up to his ear. "Aqualad to Red Tornado. Do you read?" he gets the same results as Robin. He huffs in annoyance. "Can't reach the League, neither Cap, Robin, or Kid. Comm's jammed. We need a plan now."
Bane is all too pleased with his opening. "I have a suggestion." then jumps over the rail with a battle cry.
Two Kobra agents look to the source, shocked to see Bane. He lands just before them, shoving one to the side with ease and pushing the other's arm to ensure his aim is only to the ceiling.
From outside they hear the gunshots.
"What is he-" Aqualad begins, only to be cut off by Blockbuster's battle cry and he charges at the window behind them. Shattering it and taking down the catwalk. Both boys land away from the rubble, but so does Blockbuster. Who roars to catch everyone's full attention.
"Destroy them." Kobra commands. In an instant Blockbuster charges at the three infiltrators.
Superboy meets him halfway, in comparison to Blockbuster, he's plenty small enough to get under his arms and catch his torso. However, due to the size difference Blockbuster grabs Superboy's waist from behind with efficiency.
Aqualad's tattoos begin to glow as he reaches behind his shoulders to take out his water-bearers. The Kobra agents start firing on him, but can't land a hit as he crouches behind a shield and uses his other water-bearer to fire non-lethal projectiles at their chests and knock them out.
Meanwhile, Bane hides, away from the action, chuckling to himself.
Miss Martian flies in and starts throwing agents around, but Sportsmaster can clearly see her despite the camouflage.
Aqualad tattoos begin to glow as he reaches behind his shoulders to take out his water-bearers. The Kobra agents start firing on him, but can't land a hit as he crouches behind a shield and uses his other water-bearer to fire non-lethal projectiles at their chests and knock them out.
Santa Prisca July 19th. "But they'll meet each other before they find us, " superboy says looking into the forest. Gunfire commences. Clearly, they aren't on the same side, which is good news for the Team. "No super-hearing required now." Kid comments. "Swing wide, steer clear," Aqualad commands as Kid steps forward to be next to Superboy. "Yeah-yeah, just as soon as I find Rob." Kid tells him, then vaults over the tree, running down the trail. The trail is wet, and he loses his footing, falling down the hill and right into the firefight. As he falls, he looks up to find a surprised Bane to confirm that he's seeing things right he even lifts his goggles off his eyes. "So much for the stealthy." Bane's surprise only lasts a moment before he starts firing rapidly at Kid Flash, but before he can run away Cap jumps in front of Kid with his shield blocking the bullets 'I should have stopped him going ahead' Cap thought. Superboy charges ahead, taking Bane's blind spot and tackling him to the ground. Or at least attempting to, Bane gets himself over the teen and slams him into the soft ground. He goes for a wristlock on his captive right arm but finds Superboy overpowering him. Grabbing his shirt and throwing him into a tree. Kid Flash continues to evade the bullets, and two of the men see a shadow pass over them, looking up Robin drops right on top of one of them. "What is wrong with you guys?" he questions, uppercutting the other and following up with a side kick to get his bubble back. "Remember covert? Why didn't you follow my lead, vanish into the jungle?" Kid Flash hits another assailant, backing him up into the clearing. "That's what you were doing?" then hitting him with a front kick to the chin then completing a full flip before landing on the ground again. "Way to fill us in. We're mind readers you know." Miss Martian throws another two assailants into the tree behind him telekinetically. "Er, I'm not anyway." he corrects as she drops to the ground. "You told me I could only read the bad guys' minds." she reminds him. "Kid is right you need to tell us everything before you act were a team" Cap then throws his shield making it hit multiple enemies and adds "so next time tell us the plan before you fly solo." Robin's attention turns, hearing one run away. He pulls out a birdarang to throw at him, but instead, the Kobra soldier is stopped short by Aqualad dropping right in front of him. Not sure what to do as the Atlantean places his hand on his chest, and his tattoos glow before he zaps him right in the chest. Stepping on the communicator that fell out of his hand, which crunches under his barefoot. After tieing everyone up the team gathered to figure out who they are dealing with "I recognize those uniforms." Robin says, looking at most of the assailants that all now tied to the trees. "They belong to the Cult of The Kobra." "I am certain Batman would have mentioned it if he knew a dangerous extremist was running Santa Prisca's Venom operation," he tells the Boy Wonder, not letting him leave his sight in fear that he will disappear again. "Agreed." Robin says, putting no fault on his mentor. "And since there's no love lost between the cultists and those goons," he puts his hand on his chin as it all suddenly becomes clear. "I'm betting they came in and tossed them out. That's why normal supply lines have been cut off." "We get it. Kobra wanted super cultists." Kid Flash says confidently. "Radio Bats and we'll be home in time for-" "These cultists aren't on venom." Robin cuts him off. Kobra's hoarding the stuff. We don't leave. Not until I know why." "Until you know why?" Kid Flash questions, leaning forward to get right in front of the boy's mask covered eyes. "This team needs a leader." Robin says strongly, standing up straighter. "And it's you?!" Kid Flash questions, annoyance clear as he steps into Robin's personal space. "Dude, you're a thirteen-year-old kid who ducked out on us without a word." Robin laughs for few seconds. "And you're a mature fifteen? You blew our cover first chance you got." "Robin!" Cap yelled walking towards Robin while glaring at him in anger and annoyance "first off you left without a word already that's not becoming of a leader second you never gave orders but expected it another reason why your not leader." Cap then glares at Kid "And you taking off instead of staying in the group I don't condone Robin actions in fact, he should have stayed in the group but it was obvious he had it under control so why did you run after someone who was trained to keep out of sight instead of bickering who should be leading right now you need to learn how to work together." both looked at Cap embarrassed of their actions. Cap then walked away leaving them thinking what they that's when Kid leaned over to Robin and whispered "is it me or does he remind you of Batman" after hearing this robin remembered what happened just now and a shiver went down his spine. To the side, Miss Martian and Superboy can only look on in silence. Until Miss M speaks up. "Don't you want to lead?" The Kryptonian shakes his head and scoffs, then turns to look at Miss M out of the corner of his eye. "You?" Miss M nearly leans back and puts her hand up as if to shove the idea away from her physically "no I don't think I'll make a good leader." Superboy smiles, looking at her directly. "I think you'll do alright." Miss M's cheeks turn bright red as she looks away and tucks her hair behind her ear. However, Superboy doesn't notice as he hears someone talk behind him. His super-hearing picks up on the Spanish with ease. "Look at them argue. Free yourselves and take them while they're distracted." It's one of Bane's lackeys. "Quiet!" Bane hisses at the other man tied to the tree. "."For now, I'll play along, and then they'll give me what I need." Superboy smirks, understanding every word and knowing just how to play Bane at his own game. "it's obvious they stole from Bane and they trying to get it back," Cap says while pointing at bane and his crew. "Such clever nios. But you only know half the story." Bane baits the team, the whole Team now steps in so they can see Bane. "Let me show you the rest get you into the factory via my secret entrance." Miss Martian steps up. "There is a secret entrance" then she kneels down and places her hand on her temple to further concentrate. "but he's also hiding something." her tone goes sour and her eyes glow white. "Ah, ah, ah chica. Bane is not that easy." he says smugly. Miss Martian's eyes still glow but she loses her intensity. "Ohh." she groans, pulling out of his mind. "He's mentally reciting ftbol scores en Espaol." she looks over her shoulder at the boys "This could take a while." Bane speaks up before anyone else does. "It's not complicated. The enemy of my enemy is my friend." behind Miss M the boys exchange looks, then eventually nod. In the factory, they are still creating Venom. "Sublime Master, he approaches." one of the soldiers says as Kobra comes to a stop beside him. "Activate the radio-jamming net. Nothing must interfere." Kobra instructs. The soldier nods, bows, and leaves. On top of a cliff, the Team and Bane can see the factory clearly. Bane stops about three feet from the edge, pointing. Both Robin and Kid Flash both step up to get a closer look. Kid with his goggles, Robin with a pair of binoculars. What he sees is a forklift and containers by a helipad. Look at all that product." Robin mutters, shocked. "A buy is going down." Bane walks away, but the Team remains. "But if Kobra's not selling to the usual suspects, then-" "We need to identify that buyer." Aqualad states with conviction. "Just what I was thinking." Kid Flash agrees, lifting his goggles as he stands up straighter. "Yeah. You're the thinker." Robin says with a smirk as he stands up. "Sarcasm?" Kid Flash questions, annoyed. "Dude. A real leader would focus on getting answers." all three are observing Bane as he lifts a giant rock away from the entrance to an old mine. The only point of his efforts are a few grunts. While Miss M and Superboy exchange a slight look of confusion. Answers are this way." Bane says simply, gesturing down the mine tunnel. All five teens join him to look down the tunnel. Bane says nothing as he heads towards the tunnel. "So. Now el Luchador is our leader." Kid Flash comments angrily and slightly sarcastic. Robin stalks past him, using the back of his hand to smack Kid Flash's cheek. Kid turns to Cap, Superboy, M'gann, and Aqualad with a shrug. The Team and Bane walk down the mine until they come to a metal door, which Bane uses his fingerprint to unlock. Which leads them right to a door on the factory floor. Bane props the door open slightly, giving Robin just enough room to get a full look around the- now confirmed to be- empty floor. "All clear." he vocalizes before running out of the doorway. The others follow but, once they get to another hidden location Robin and Cap are nowhere in sight. "Has those fools already been captured?" Bane questions, annoyance at the possibility of their infiltration being compromised rising. "No," Aqualad assures, but his own voice is giving away his own annoyance "they just do that sometimes" "don't worry Cap told me he's following Robin to the control room," Miss Martian says reassuring the rest of the team. "When did he tell you that?" Superboy asked confused. "Well Cap and I have a telepathic link open at all times so when we needed to talk," Miss Martian said confusing Superboy more. or was it a bit of jealousy Kid Flash slides his goggles over his eyes with ease. "Stay put. I'll get our intel and be back before the Cap and Boy Wonder." by the time he finishes the sentence he's already running. Aqualad reaches out as he sees Kid Flash's movement, but doesn't get hold. "Wait, Kid!" Bane watches as the grey and red streak disappears, looking to Aqualad with a smug smile. "Great chain of command." he continues his jabs at Aqualad with the sarcasm and the continued smugness in those four simple words. The three remaining teens share a look. While over their heads Robin runs across the catwalk and up the stairs to the command centre. Inside the command center, a Kobra agent is working on the computers. There's a small swish before a Batarang hits the computer console beside him, causing it to spark. As he turns to look a green gas is released from the Batarang. The agent coughs then passes out. "Nice throw Robin holds no qualms as he grabs the back of his cloak and drops his upper body to the ground with a thud. Then taking the chair and sitting down at the computer. Aqualad, Miss Martian, and Superboy are all crouched behind an unused assembly line, while Bane hides in the shadows of a crate stack. "It's a massive shipment." Aqualad observes with shock. "Yeah, but they're only taking new product off the line." Superboy observes."They're not touching this Venom." As a forklift drives away they turn towards each other. "Maybe freshness counts?" Miss Martian offers, unsure, but figuring a one off guess is better than nothing. Superboy's focus changes as he looks in the opposite direction they just were. "Helicopter's coming." he says, out of instinct the other two follow his gaze. Bane's eyes narrow as all four look out the small skylight. It takes a few moments, but then they start to be able to hear the helicopter's blades as it approaches. The computer Robin's on is beeping away as he runs over the chemical formula for the agent. Listing off HB2 Ca4, Cs2 Ho4, PH4 Mo8, and Ca1, 'so this is the formula' Cap thought. Kid Flash zooms in, skidding to a stop and taking a bite out of something, then proceeding to talk with food in his mouth. "What you got?" "Chemical formulas." Robin says, hunching a little closer to the keyboard as if that would help him work faster. Ever the science nerd Kid Flash joins him at the computer. "I guessing it involves Venom, but" he trails unsure, but also not even pausing as Kid Flash takes another loud bite out of the bar in his hand. This one's Venom," Kid Flash says, as if he's talking to a three-year-old, and using his bar to point at the screen. As the screen shows another compound he continues. "this one's-" he cuts himself off. "Whoa. The Blockbuster formula from Cadmus." they watch as the two begin to merge on screen. "Mixed correctly, Kobra's new juice is three times stronger than Venom and permanent." he realizes horrified. Then turns to Robin. "But how did Kobra get access to Project Blockbuster?" "Our mystery buyer must also be Kobra's supplier!" Robin realizes. "Using the cult to create the Blockbuster-Venom superformula." Robin stands up his hand going to his ear. "Robin to Aqualad we got-" Kid Flash turns away from the computer as he hears Robin stop. "... static." he mutters angrily. From out of the helicopter's opening doors the shadows clear, revealing a buff white man with blonde hair. In a black on black outfit and his facial features covered by a grey hockey mask. As he walks between two lines of the cult his matching forearm and shoulder/upper arm guards show. "Lord Kobra." he greets. "Sportsmaster." Kobra returns, as the girl from before steps up. "The shipment is ready." she opens the box to reveal the blue vials. Sportsmaster takes one, holding it up to look at it. "The new Kobra-Venom?" he questions. Kobra gestures to Blockbuster. "A complete success. Our friends will not be disappointed." "This is a game-changer." Sportsmaster proudly states, flipping the vial to catch it in his fist. "Finally, we can go mano-a-mano with the Justice League." Above them, Miss Martian uses her camouflage. "Aqualad, sending you a telepathic image of the buyer now." even though she basically invisible her eyes begin to glow. In the factory, on a catwalk. Bane and Superboy keep watch while Aqualad has his eyes closed to see Miss M's telepathic image. "Sportsmaster." he says, opening his eyes. "He is the buyer?" he questions, looking to Superboy shocked. Then brings his hand up to his ear. "Aqualad to Red Tornado. Do you read?" he gets the same results as Robin. He huffs in annoyance. "Can't reach the League, neither Cap, Robin, or Kid. Comm's jammed. We need a plan now." Bane is all too pleased with his opening. "I have a suggestion." then jumps over the rail with a battle cry. Two Kobra agents look to the source, shocked to see Bane. He lands just before them, shoving one to the side with ease and pushing the other's arm to ensure his aim is only to the ceiling. From outside they hear the gunshots. "What is he-" Aqualad begins, only to be cut off by Blockbuster's battle cry and he charges at the window behind them. Shattering it and taking down the catwalk. Both boys land away from the rubble, but so does Blockbuster. Who roars to catch everyone's full attention. "Destroy them." Kobra commands. In an instant Blockbuster charges at the three infiltrators. Superboy meets him halfway, in comparison to Blockbuster, he's plenty small enough to get under his arms and catch his torso. However, due to the size difference Blockbuster grabs Superboy's waist from behind with efficiency. Aqualad's tattoos begin to glow as he reaches behind his shoulders to take out his water-bearers. The Kobra agents start firing on him, but can't land a hit as he crouches behind a shield and uses his other water-bearer to fire non-lethal projectiles at their chests and knock them out. Meanwhile, Bane hides, away from the action, chuckling to himself. Miss Martian flies in and starts throwing agents around, but Sportsmaster can clearly see her despite the camouflage. Aqualad tattoos begin to glow as he reaches behind his shoulders to take out his water-bearers. The Kobra agents start firing on him, but can't land a hit as he crouches behind a shield and uses his other water-bearer to fire non-lethal projectiles at their chests and knock them out.
