Spirit, Aqualad, Superboy, and Miss Martian hid behind a stack of crates and watched what was going on. Aqualad spoke, "It's a massive shipment."

Superboy spoke, "Yeah but they're only taking new product off the line, they're not touching this venom."

Miss Martian thought for a second, "Maybe freshness counts?"

Spirit hummed, "Or there's something different about the new venom, maybe they added something."

Superboy spoke, "Helicopter's coming."

Within seconds the helicopter flew into view and Aqualad looked at Spirit and Miss Martian. "Get closer, see if you can find out anything."

The two nodded and Spirit phased through the floor while Miss Martian went invisible. Spirit made himself invisible before flying up to the person that exited the helicopter so he could hear what they were saying. The man spoke, "Lord Cobra."

Cobra spoke, "Sportsmaster, the shipment is ready."

A girl with orange hair took a step forward and opened a small case, Sportsmaster took one of the vials inside. "The new cobra venom?"

"A complete success, our friends will not be disappointed."

"This is a game changer, finally, we can go mano a mano with the Justice League."

Spirit went to meet up with Aqualad, before he could get to them he heard gunshots and his teammates got attacked. Spirit ran into the fight and knocked out two guys before several started shooting at him and he had to dodge the bullets. Superboy was fighting the monster looking guy and Aqualad was also fighting the lackeys.

Miss Martian flew in to help and after she took down a few people using her powers Sportsmaster threw a javelin at her. Spirit pulled her out of the way just in time but it exploded which knocked them both back into some machinery. Spirit broke Miss Martians fall but the landing caused one of his injuries to reopen, he checked on Miss Martian before heading back into the fight.

After a minute or two he heard Miss Martian's voice in his head, 'Everyone online?'

Spirit dodged a few attacks while the others answered, when Spirit didn't answer Aqualad spoke, 'Spirit, are you there?'

Spirit ducked for cover before he answered, 'I'll have to get back to you.' Spirit held his wound while Aqualad told them what to do, after Kid Flash cleared a path the others ran while Spirit covered them. Once they were all out of harms way Spirit ran after them, his wounds were protesting but he did it anyway.

As soon as Spirit was inside the tunnel he closed the entrance, the guy Superboy was fighting shouldered through the door seconds later. The heroes ran while trying to avoid getting shot and Aqualad spoke, "Superboy, the support beams."

Superboy destroyed the support beams for the tunnel and Spirit quickly grabbed Superboy before he got buried by the rocks. The heroes ended up in the dark and Spirit's glow was the only thing they could see, Spirit lit up his hand to give them more light. Kid Flash sighed, "Man, this mission went so wrong."

Spirit leaned against a wall, "No kidding."

Robin looked at Spirit and his eyes widened, "You're bleeding."

The other heroes looked at Spirit in shock and the halfa looked at his bleeding wound. "It's not that bad, I'll be fine."

Miss Martian looked worried, "When did you get hurt?"

Spirit mentally sighed, "It doesn't matter."

Kid Flash looked away, "This is my fault, I wanted to be leader and you ended up getting hurt."

"This isn't your fault, besides it's not like this can kill me."

Kid Flash sighed, "Either way I'd make a horrible leader." The speedster looked at Aqualad, "You should be leader Kaldur, you're been leading us this whole time anyway."

Miss Martian spoke, "Hello Megan, it's so obvious."

Superboy crossed his arms, "Coulda told you."

Robin smiled, "No arguments here."

Spirit shrugged, "I'm not going to say no."

Aqualad nodded to Robin and Spirit, "Alright, our first priority is preventing that shipment from leaving this island." After Kaldur told them what to do, and Robin wrapping Spirit's injury to help stop the bleeding, they set out to finish the mission.

Robin went through some files as they ran, "Sportsmaster's the supplier/buyer, but it still doesn't track. He doesn't have the juice to acquire the blockbuster formula or get Cobra to do his dirty work."

Kid Flash cut in, "And neither of them have the chops to bond blockbuster with venom, that took some major nerdage."

Spirit spoke, "So there's either a third party or they're working under someone else."

Aqualad spoke, "I believe the expression is tip of the iceberg."

They got to the end of the tunnel and Bane stood in front of them with a trigger in his hand. "Halt ninos, I'm feeling, explosive."

Spirit bit back a growl, if things went south he could throw up a shield to protect the heroes. Aqualad spoke, "You betrayed us, why?" Then he spoke into the mind link, 'Kid, you'll need a running start.'

Bane spoke, "I want my factory back, so I forced you into a situation where you would either take down my enemies or die trying. If the ladder, the Justice League would certainly have come to avenge their sidekicks, and when the smoke cleared Santa Prisca would be mine once more. Blowing the tunnel with you inside should have the same effect."

Bane was about to press the trigger but Kid Flash grabbed it out of his hand before he could. Bane realized that the trigger was gone and Kid Flash spoke from behind him, "With what?"

Bane was about to punch Kid Flash when Miss Martian used her powers to make him float in the air. Superboy smirked, "Finally, drop him."

Miss Martian dropped Bane and Superboy punched him in the face, Robin tied Bane up after he was unconscious. After they were done they made their way back to the factory, Aqualad told Kid Flash to go in and he sped through the people knocking several of them down. Superboy was next, he jumped and landed right in front of Cobra, needless to say the big guy charged at him.

Aqualad used his water bearers to hit the big guy with water before he could get to Superboy. Miss Martian tried to attack Sportsmaster after he started shooting at Superboy but he caught her before she could do anything. Robin went to help her while Spirit confronted Cobra, "From what I hear you don't like to get your hands dirty."

Cobra took off his cloak, "True, but sometimes a god must stoop to conquer." Spirit ran at Cobra and went to punch him, Cobra caught his fist but he seemed surprised by how much power was behind it. Spirit went to kick him but Cobra caught his leg, Spirit went to kick him again and the hit landed.

Spirit punched him in the stomach which forced Cobra back a bit, Cobra attacked Spirit and managed to punch him. Spirit got annoyed, the bruise on his cheek was almost healed before Cobra punched him. Spirit got behind Cobra and kicked him in the back, Cobra regained his footing and turned to Spirit.

The halfa's eyes were red, Cobra grabbed Spirit and forced him to the ground, Spirit kicked him away and got up before punching him. Cobra spoke, "What are you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." Spirit heard an explosion and he looked to see that the helicopter was on fire. It landed on the factory and the whole thing went up in flames, Cobra grabbed him while he was distracted. Cobra had one hand around Spirit's neck and he lifted the teen into the air, Spirit couldn't breath.

Cobra looked at the team after they ran over and saw what was going on, "I am plagued by mosquitoes."

Spirit growled a little, "And I'm plagued by an annoying snake." Spirit grabbed onto Cobra's wrist and forced him to loosen his grip so he could breath before kicking him away.

Cobra once again seemed shocked by how strong he was and he looked at the team, he was outnumbered. If he fought Spirit again, even if it was one on one, he might lose, "Another time then."

Cobra disappeared into the shadows behind him and Robin looked at Spirit in concern, "Are you okay?"

Spirit nodded, "I'll be fine."

Robin didn't look convinced but he let the subject drop for the moment and looked at Aqualad. He smiled, "We picked the right guy to lead, automatically making you the right guy to explain this mess to Batman."

Spirit mentally sighed, the team headed back to the bio-ship not long after and left the island. The next day they got a visit from Batman, the bruise on Spirit's cheek was worse, he had bandages on his neck to hide the bruises, and his stab wound was stitched up again. Batman didn't seem happy, "A simple recon mission, observe and report, you'll each receive a written evaluation detailing your many mistakes."

"Until then, good job." The team looked at him in shock, "No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. How you adjust to the unforeseen is what determines success, and how you choose who leads determines character." Batman glanced at Spirit, it was obvious that they were going to have to talk once the team was gone.

Batman dismissed them and the team left, Spirit and Robin stayed behind and once the team was gone Batman looked at Spirit. "You seem to be the only one that came out with more then scrapes and bruises."

Spirit shrugged, "They're not that bad." Spirit's voice was a little messed up thanks to Cobra and he coughed a little, Batman and Robin glanced at each other.

Robin spoke, "At least take it easy until you're wounds are healed."

Spirit mentally sighed, "I can't make any promises, but I'll try."

Spirit walked away and Robin quickly left to catch up with him, Spirit sat on the couch in the living room and Robin sat next to him. Spirit leaned his head on Robin's shoulder, Robin smiled and kissed Spirit's forehead, they both needed some time to relax.

*****

Bored!