Mount Justice

September 23, 06:34 EDT

The majority of the team was gathered at a table in the main hall of the cave. Wally was resting his head in his arms, staring at the bowl of pretzels that Green Arrow placed in front of him. Artemis was next to him, her chin in her hand  as she looked to her mentor. Robin and M'gann sat across from the two of them, with Conner and Pietro standing at the end of the table. 

Wally pushed the pretzels away. "Thanks...but no thanks." 

"Yeah, what we want are answers. About Red Tornado and his siblings." Robin clenched his fists, looking at the present Justice Leaguers.

Pietro sped around the table, grabbing the bowl of pretzels. "But the food is appreciated."

"Dude!" Wally exclaimed. 

"What? I'm angry, not an idiot." Pietro shrugged, jumping slightly when Conner suddenly leapt across the room at Kaldur.

"You knew?" He yelled, grabbing the team leader and slamming him against the wall. "That android and his maniac family nearly killed M'gann!"

"What about the rest of us?" Pietro muttered. "Do we not matter?"

"Conner, what are you doing?" M'gann asked, flying towards the grappling duo. 

"Kaldur knew we had a traitor among us and said nothing." Conner screamed. 

Pietro put on a face of shock like the rest of the team, hoping he was playing the part right. "You knew?"

"And didn't tell us?"

"I sought to protect the team-"

"Protect us from what?  Knowledge that might have saved our lives?" Artemis spat out in anger.

"You almost died." Conner looked at M'gann.

"Enough." Batman commanded and everyone fell silent. "With Red Tornado...missing, the team will now be overseen by rotating supervisors. Captain Marvel has volunteered to take the first shift." 

"I'm really looking forward to hanging with you guys." Captain Marvel grinned. Pietro groaned inaudibly. 

Conner turned to Kaldur. "After I dismantle Red Tornado, you and I are-"

Batman cut him off with his approach. "Red Tornado is a member of the Justice League. That makes him a League responsibility. You will leave him to us." Batman glared for a moment before turning and cuing up the holographic computer. "I have another assignment for this team."

"'Gotham mayor attacked by guerilla gorilla?'" Wally snorted.

"Batman, please. Tell me you're not sending us on this joke of a wild ape chase." Robin practically pleaded with his mentor.

"I am serious. And I never joke about the mission." Robin looked away. "I've checked the sources. I've studied the patterns. Mayor Hill's encounter is only the latest in a series of incidents. Aqualad, you and your team will depart for India and check this out." 

"Humph. 'Your team'." Wally glared at Kaldur as he passed. 

Captain Marvel decided he was going on the mission, joining the team on the bioship. Pietro felt himself zoning out on the flight to India.

Northern India

September 23, 21:36 IST

The bioship flew over sprawling forests before landing in a small clearing, Robin and Artemis dispatching first to check the perimeter. They came back and gave the all clear as everyone disembarked the craft. 

"Switch to stealth. And we'll review mission parameters." Aqualad told the team. 

"Parameters? We don't need no stinking parameters." Kid Flash sassed. 

"It's recon. We know what to do." Robin agreed. 

"Kid, Robin..."

"The three of us started this team because the Justice League was keeping secrets from us." Robin growled.

"Or did you forget that like you forgot to tell us about the mole?" Kid Flash pulled his goggles down over his eyes before turning and running off with Robin. 

Superboy grabbed Miss Martian's arm. "Come on. I'll keep you safe." She yanked her arm away and crossed it over her chest. "I just want to protect you."

"Like Aqualad protected us? I'm not sure your protecting or your patronizing is good for our health." Artemis pointed her bow at Superboy before walking off with Miss Martian. 

Superboy glared at Aqualad. "Why didn't you stop them? You're supposed to be in charge!"

"I am..." Superboy held up his hand before leaping away, leaving Quicksilver, Captain Marvel, and Aqualad behind. 

"Um, did I miss the part where you actually said what the plan was?" Captain Marvel asked Aqualad. 

"No, you didn't. He didn't get a chance to because the team threw hissy fits and ran off and Aqualad here is too shaken in his ability to lead now to actually step up and do his job." Quicksilver shrugged when the other two looked at him in shock. "Just saying it like it is. Am I wrong?"

"No, my friend, you are correct." Aqualad sighed. "We should get a move on."

"You're the boss." Quicksilver saluted him with two fingers, walking next to the other two. 

They continued into the jungle in silence, all three of them content with their thoughts. Captain Marvel crouched, looking at the marks on the ground. "I guess this is where Mayor Hill's monkey business went down." Quicksilver snorted. Captain Marvel grinned at the appreciation of his pun. "So, at least we've confirmed his story, right?"

"Aqualad?"

"My apologies, Captain, Quicksilver. I am...plagued by doubts. Perhaps I was wrong to withhold."  Aqualad sighed. 

Before either of his companions could reply a trumpeting noise was heard and the ground started to rumble and shake. They looked to the trees around them and two monstrous elephants emerged, running right at them. Captain Marvel flew at one, pushing it backwards before being flung away by its trunk. Aqualad leapt out of the way, running along the thick vines that stuck out of the ground before he got tripped, landing a few feet from the Captain and in front of a tiger with a collar around its neck. 

Quicksilver got an idea, running into the jungle to collect vines. He returned a second later and began wrapping them around the elephants legs, weaving in and out to trip the elephants up and cause them to fall over. He noticed the collar on the neck the same time Aqualad hit it with the whips from his water bearers, breaking them off. Quicksilver turned to the Atlantean. "You saw that too, right?"

"Yes, this indicates an intelligence behind the attack." He said as Captain Marvel landed next to them. They untied the elephants and the animals were on their way. "The rest of the team may also be at risk. Team, report your status. Ugh, com is jammed. And Miss Martian failed to establish a telepathic link before we split up."

"Actually, you let everyone split up before communications were set." Captain Marvel pointed out.

"They would not listen!"

"I listened." Quicksilver shrugged. 

"And back at the cave, Batman stopped everyone from arguing with one word."

"Because Batman is...Batman." 

"Hey, you don't have to tell me. When I first joined the League all he did was boss me around. And it's hard not to take it personally. But...I never disobeyed an order and that's probably what kept me alive." 

"Batman takes command. He has to...for the good of the League."

"That's the spirit!" Quicksilver held his hand up for a high five. Aqualad reluctantly gave him one.

"Thank you for helping me understand."

"Hey, Wisdom of Solomon."

Aqualad took a step away. "Yes, Miss Martian, report." 

"Cool, the tiger! I'll be right back." Captain Marvel flew off, leaving Quicksilver with Aqualad. 

"Hey, Speed of Mercury." 

"We should probably establish a telepathic link..." Quicksilver suggested. 

It was another moment before Quicksilver felt the others in his mind. 

Link established.

Should he really  still be giving  us orders? And should you be following them?

Listen, please.

Oh, good. Aqualad's voice in my head. I've so missed that.

Hey, Kaldur. KF and I were attacked by giant vultures. Course since we're moles, you probably think we attacked ourselves. 

If he did, he wouldn't tell you.

Superboy, are you online or just pouting?

Busy. Call back later.

What gets me is how nonchalant he is about not telling us. 

He should be chalant. Way chalant. Extremely chalant. 

How can we be a team if he doesn't trust us with his secrets?

We're all entitled to our secrets, Artemis.

Oh, now you decide to speak up, Pietro. Did you know about the mole thing before the rest of us too? Is that why you went with Kaldur, to discuss who it could possibly be?

Oh, totally. Kaldur and I are having tea right now in the middle of the Indian jungle discussing which one of our friends is stabbing us in the back rather than being the only ones focused on the mission.

Argh! You are so-

Enough. All of you. Captain Marvel has been captured and we must act as a team to save him. 

Humph. Under your leadership? I don't think-

This is not up for debate. You all chose me to lead. When the mission is over, if you wish to select a new leader I will happily step down. But until that time, I am in command here. 

Quicksilver followed after Aqualad as he threw the pilon on the ground, walking into the jungle in silence. They met up with the rest of the team at the building that the trail that Captain Marvel left led them to. They spread out along the front, observing it for a moment. 

I'll fly over.

Negatory. The field extends like a dome over the whole compound. 

Pylons are insulated. But one good shock could cause a momentary gap. 

I see a target.

Then be ready to hit it. Be ready, all of you. 

Aqualad ran down to the field and put his hands on it, coursing electricity into the field and causing the gap. Artemis fired her arrow through and hit the button that powered down the dome, the rest of the team sliding down the hill to meet Aqualad at the bottom. They looked up when a monkey began screeching, setting off a real alarm. Monkeys jumped down at the team and began attacking them. 

Quicksilver ran at the monkeys, trying to rip off as many collars as he could while also not being bitten or scratched. A gorilla with a red beret appeared in the doorway of the compound, a machine gun in his paws. Quicksilver watched as Kid Flash ran at him after the ape grabbed Miss Martian and threw her to the ground, Kid Flash bouncing off the huge animal. 

He ran over and helped Kid Flash off the ground, ripping a monkeys collar off in the process. He looked at his fellow speedster. "Let's hit the ape together. The force should be enough to send him through the wall."

"Got it." The two teen speedsters went running at the gorilla at their fastest, hitting the animal and knocking him into the compound, blasting a hole in the wall. The team ran through it, seeing as all the alarm monkeys outside were taken care of. "It's The Brain!"

Quicksilver looked over at the Light member, keeping his face neutral. Artemis scoffed. "I can see its a brain."

"Not a brain, The Brain." Kid Flash corrected. 

"In the flesh, so to speak." It turned to the gorilla. "Mallah."

The gorilla grabbed a remote and pressed a button, pylons rising from the ground to emit pulses that sent the team to the floor. 

Miss Martian, Superboy, now!

The remote flew out of Mallah's paw and over to Miss Martian. She hit the button with her telekinesis and the pylons powered down, allowing the team to stand up. The wall behind The Brain and Mallah broke down and Superboy stood there with a huge wolf. 

The team jumped into action, attacking their two foes with force. Quicksilver ran over to Captain Marvel and ripped his collar off. "Thanks. Now one good turn deserves another." He leaned down and took the collar off the tiger that was laying on the floor. 

The team, plus the wolf and the tiger, surrounded Mallah and The Brain. Mallah roared. "No, Mallah. This will not be our Waterloo." A contraption started to extend out of The Brain, red and black and alien looking. "Au revoir, mes amis." 

"Get down!" Quicksilver yelled as the lights went out. When they came back on, The Brain and Mallah were gone. "Wait...that big weapon thing...was a light switch?"

Everyone shrugged, deciding to call it a mission. They headed back to the bioship. 

As they walked through the jungle, Artemis looked at Kid Flash. "What are you grinning about?"

"One word. Souvenir!" He pulled out Mallah's beret and placed it on his head. 

"Two words. Gorilla lice." 

"What? Oh, man! Uhh." Kid Flash yanked the hat off and held it at a distance. 

Captain Marvel was making sure that all the inhibitor collars were off the animals in the jungle, asking the tiger if that was the last of them. Kid Flash walked up to Miss Martian and Superboy, who were still with the giant wolf. 

Quicksilver looked to Robin, who was standing at the entrance of the bioship, clearly waiting on Aqualad. He approached the youngest, stopping in front of him. "Look, I  need to know. Why did you keep the mole intel a secret?"

The rest of the team, having heard this, gathered around to listen. Aqualad looked around at them. "The source of the tip was Cheshire." 

Artemis' eyes went wide. "What? You can't trust her!" 

"I do not. It seemed possible, even likely, that she was attempting to divide the team with false information." Quicksilver forced himself to keep his body relaxed, his face calm and neutral. 

"And given how this mission went, she nearly succeeded. But you had to consider it might be true." Robin conceded.

"Yes. As leader, I did. In which case, I did not wish to alert the traitor." 

"Hate to say it but...makes sense." Robin gave him a small smile.

"I am still prepared to step down."

"All in favor of keeping Aqualad as leader?" Quicksilver raised his hand. 

Captain Marvel walked up to Aqualad and shook his hand. "Guess its unanimous. See you tomorrow."

"You're not coming back with us?" 

"Nope, gotta fly."

Everyone watched as Captain Marvel flew off, leaving the team to board the bioship and discuss what Superboy was going to call his new pet. 

"What's wrong with Wolf?"

"Generic, but acceptable." Kid Flash replied. 

Quicksilver tuned them out, gazing out the window as they flew towards the mountain. 

When had Cheshire told Aqualad about a mole? Was she trying to get him found out? And more importantly, did Wanda know that Cheshire hinted at his true status? Why hadn't she warned him? A little prior knowledge would've helped him greatly. 

He grunted, crossing his arms over his chest. 

Was his sister keeping things from him? They never had secrets before.

But then again, he also wasn't telling her everything on his mind lately, either.