Chapter 72: 72

| Santa Prisca – July 22 Aqualad stood up, pressing a button on his belt to activate his stealth mode. His uniform darkened, blending seamlessly with the night. He gave a nod to M'gann, who silently adjusted the Bio-Ship's camouflage settings, causing the entire craft to vanish into the clouds. Below, the island of Santa Prisca stretched out before them. A circular opening in the Bio-Ship's floor slid open. Without hesitation, Aqualad dived out, plunging into the water below. He surfaced smoothly, making his way to shore. His voice echoed through their earpieces. "The perimeter is clear. Move in." The rest of the Team rose from their seats, activating their own stealth-tech suits. Nova pressed a button on his belt. His purple suit darkened, the gold shifting into black. Beside him, Kori and Wally followed suit, their uniforms shifting into darker tones. M'gann's bio-suit naturally adapted, morphing into a deep navy that made her blend into the night. Wally glanced over at Superboy—the only one who hadn't activated stealth mode. "You know," Wally said, grinning, "it's not too late to put your suit on." Superboy crossed his arms. "I don't need it." M'gann smiled at him. "Well... it totally works for you." Nova rolled his eyes. Confess already. ** M'gann, Kori, and Nova floated downward through the opening, their descents smooth and controlled. Robin and Wally zip-lined down, landing without a sound. Nova glanced upward and saw Superboy leap from the Bio-Ship, plummeting straight toward the ground. Nova extended his anti-gravity field, slowing Superboy's descent just before impact. Superboy shot him an irritated look. "Why'd you do that?" Nova didn't blink. "This is a covert mission. We can't have you causing an earthquake on arrival." Superboy muttered something under his breath but didn't argue as Nova released him back onto solid ground. Kori turned to the Team. "M'gann, form a mental link with everyone. Superboy, I know you have issues with telepathy, but we need secure communication. There's no telling if they have radio interception technology." M'gann closed her eyes, focusing. Nova felt the connection click into place—a presence in the back of his mind that wasn't his own. [This feels weird.] Wally's voice echoed in his thoughts. [Agreed.] Joseph responded. Kori's voice cut through. [Let's focus. Robin, move ahead, but not too far. Everyone else, stay together and keep a lookout. Aqualad, we'll meet you at the factory.] Aqualad's response was calm. [Understood.] ** The Team moved carefully through the jungle, their movements synchronized. Snap. A faint twig break made them all freeze. Nova tensed, reaching out with his Nova Sense—his enhanced energy-based perception locking onto two separate squads. Wally adjusted his goggles to thermal mode, confirming Nova's assessment. [We've got two squads,] Wally relayed. [Armed bozos, moving in on each other. Looks like we're about to have a front-row seat to a firefight.] [Let's quietly take them down. Once they're neutralized, M'gann can search their minds.] Kori suggested. She had patrolled with Nova before and knew he could clear a room in seconds. But before she could lay out a full plan— Wally ran ahead. He barely made it two steps before his foot caught on a root, sending him face-first into the middle of the skirmish. Of course. Nova sighed as the squads immediately opened fire, unaware of what had just stumbled into their fight. The Team had no choice but to engage. ** The battle was swift and efficient. Robin took down two gunmen with well-placed birderangs. Kori fired off a series of precise starbolts, knocking weapons from their hands. Nova lifted several soldiers with his gravity field and slammed them into others, effectively taking out half the squad in one move. Superboy—ignoring any attempts at stealth—barreled through the chaos and tackled a massive figure to the ground. Nova's eyes flicked toward the man pinned under Superboy's grip. Bane. Well. That escalated quickly. ** After Wally had gathered the unconscious soldiers into a pile, the Team took a moment to assess the situation. Robin crouched over one of the fallen men. "This changes things. Batman didn't know Kobra was running Santa Prisca." Kori frowned. "Then that means Kobra took over the island and kicked out the local thugs." "They're hoarding the Venom supply," Robin muttered. "We're not leaving until we know why." A deep chuckle interrupted them. Bane. Still conscious. He smirked at the Team, unbothered by being pinned. "You want answers? Then allow me to assist you." M'gann hesitated before scanning his mind. She frowned. "He's thinking about... football scores?" Bane's smirk widened. "I am merely ensuring my secrets remain my own." He sat up slightly, still restrained. "But my offer stands. The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Nova didn't even hesitate. CRACK. His fist met Bane's jaw, sending the man into unconsciousness. The Team stared at him. Nova cracked his knuckles. "No need to negotiate with criminals. M'gann, can you read his mind now?" M'gann blinked. "...Sure." Robin looked at the holographic display on his arm. "Good thing we established the mental link. They're using a radio-jamming net. Something's up." Kori nodded. "Then let's move. M'gann, what did you get?" M'gann's expression darkened. "There's a war between Bane and Kobra. Kobra took over the island and has been mass-producing Kobra-Venom—a mix of Venom and Project Blockbuster's formula. It's three times stronger than either on its own. They tested it on someone called Mammoth who defeated Bane. I know where their secret entrance is." "The only way they'd have access to Cadmus Blockbuster formula is if the buyer is also the supplier," Robin said. Kori straightened. "Then we need to get inside and shut this down." She turned to the Team. "Robin, Nova—tie them up. Superboy, carry Bane in case we need him. M'gann, relay the intel to Aqualad. And Kid Flash—" Wally raised his hands defensively. "I know, I know. I'll stop running off." Nova smirked. "You're learning." With their next move set, the Team disappeared into the jungle—heading toward the factory and deeper into the heart of the mission.