Mount Justice ||September 23, 06:34 EDT ||

It's a huge thick atmosphere and none of the Team opened their mouths. Both Kitsune and Celestial are worried about Angel getting kidnapped by three red androids. None of them knew why they would pick Angel of all people.

Both mages are distancing themselves away from them. The Team are starting to get worried about them since they only received a silent treatment.

"Shall we find Zara and Red Tornado, Aaliyah?" Celestial asks Kitsune curiously.

Kitsune removes her mask and stroking it gently. "We have to. Zara is just a child."

"She may be a former Lieutenant to Lily... deep inside, Zara is still-"

"You knew!?" They jumped in surprised to hear Superboy's angry tone. "That android and his maniac family nearly killed M'gann!" Superboy's grabs Aqualad's collar tightly.

"What is going on?" Kitsune asks them in a stern tone as she and Celestial approached them. "Speak!" She gave them by her unusual cold look without her mask, makes everyone excluding Batman, flinched in fear of her expression.

"Kaldur knew we had a traitor among us, and said nothing!" Superboy answered but didn't release Kaldur from his grasps.

"You knew?" Robin exclaimed with a shocked and hurtful look on his face.

"But didn't tell us?" Kid Flash asks Aqualad.

"I sought to protect the team from..." Aqualad was cut off by Artemis.

"Protect us from what, knowledge that might have saved our lives?" She asks with a cold look on her face.

"You almost died!" Superboy raises his voice and stares at Miss Martian.

"Enough." Batman stopped them from bickering with just one look.

Superboy released Aqualad and gain their attention towards the Dark Knight. "With Red Tornado... missing, the team will now be overseen by rotating supervisors. Captain Marvel has volunteered to take the first shift." Batman informed them.

"What about Angel?" Kitsune asks Batman curiously.

"The League will find her and Red Tornado." Knight answered and Kitsune is not satisfied with the answer. "Look, I know you're worried about-"

"You know nothing." Kitsune spoke up in Japanese and glaring at him behind her half-mask. "I promise someone that I'll take care of Zara and I intend to keep it."

"We can't allow you to do by yourself, Aaliyah!" Knight approached Kitsune and holding her shoulders. "You're going to get yourself killed by that temper of yours."

Kitsune shoved him away. "So be it." She spoke up in English this time. "I can't stay here and do your job of searching them."

Celestial looks worried between them especially no one could stop Kitsune for looking Angel and Red Tornado.

"Kitsune, stand down." Batman ordered the nine-tailed fox and she clenches her hand into a fist.

"I would not-"

"She will!" Saber cuts Kitsune off by covering her mouth and pulled her away from Knight. "Stop struggling, Kitsune... it's for your own good."

"I uh..." Captain Marvel cleared his throat lightly. "I'm really looking forward to hanging with you guys."

The Team are sharing each other's look and Celestial sighs heavily. "Zara..." She muttered the halfling's name.

"We'll save her, Ruby." Robin assured Celestial. "Don't worry."

"Mmm..." She nodded her head weakly making Robin look worried about her.

"Red Tornado is a member of the Justice League. That makes him a League responsibility." Batman reminded them. "Angel is part of your team but also responsible for us. You will leave them to us."

"Let go of me, Saber." Kitsune muttered and Saber let her go but watching her in case she's off to save them.

"I have another assignment for this team." Batman spoke up and showed them the picture of a newsletter. Next of the news is about the Gotham Mayor got an attacked by a Guerilla Gorilla.

"Gotham Mayor attacked by Guerrilla Gorilla?" Kid Flash asks curiously.

"Was this the only thing he could find to distract us?" Superboy asks them curiously through telepathic.

"Batman, please!" Robin approached Batman lightly. "Tell me you're not sending us on this joke of a wild ape chase." Trying to think his mentor is bluffing about this mission.

"I never joke about the mission." Batman spoke up bluntly and Robin looked down on the floor. "I've checked the sources. I've studied the patterns. Mayor Hill's encounter is only the latest in a series of incidents. Aqualad and Kitsune, you and your team will depart for India and check this out."

Everyone headed off towards the bioship excluding Kitsune. "Hmph. Your team." Kid Flash scoffs and still angry at Aqualad for keeping this secret for everyone.

"Kitsune?" Aqualad called the nine-tailed fox worriedly. It is unusual for her to be a silent one.

Kitsune silently walked ahead of them. He sighs and knowing she's still mad of letting them investigate instead of searching for Angel and Red Tornado.

"You're coming with?" Robin asks Captain Marvel curiously.

"Sure! We'll have a blast." Captain Marvel answered happily and went inside of the bioship.

"Translation. He blames us for Red fiasco and Angel. Doesn't trust us." He stared at Kid Flash and Celestial flinched of hearing Zara's alias. "Ru?" Robin called Celestial.

"Hey, don't worry... Ruby." Kid Flash assured her and patted Celestial's shoulder. "Angel is a tough girl and can take care of herself."

"She's 8, Robin and Kid Flash..." Celestial twiddling her thumbs nervously. "It took Kitsune hardest because those two are so close right after we met her."

"If only someone trusts us enough to tell us about the mole. This wouldn't happen." Kid Flash glared at Aqualad as the two boys dragged Celestial away from the Atlantean.

Northern India || September 23, 21:36 IST ||

Saber is getting more worried of Kitsune is shutting everyone out again. He's not the only one who noticed her sudden behavior including the others as well.

"All clear." Robin informed them.

"Switch to stealth, and we'll review mission parameters." Aqualad informed them.

Saber, Celestial and Kitsune switch their suits to stealth mode. Aqualad only received a glare except for Saber, Celestial, Kitsune and Captain Marvel. "Parameters?" Kid Flash scoffs and switching his suit to stealth mode. "We don't need no stickin' parameters."

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

Robin and Kid Flash dragged Celestial while she silently pleads at Saber, he nodded his head to follow them. "Kid, Robin... " Aqualad called them knowing they dragged Celestial against her own will.

"The five of us, including Angel, started this team because the Justice League was keeping secrets from us." Robin reminded the Atlantean.

"Or did you forget that, like you forgot to tell us about the mole?" Kid Flash asks Aqualad sarcastically they head off.

"I'll watch those two idiots before they put Celestial in danger." Saber informed them. "I trust you, Aqualad." He smiled before Aqualad could have a chance to speak with him.

"Kitsune." Kitsune snapped and turning around to face Aqualad. "Please... talk to me." Aqualad pleads and couldn't stand of seeing her like this state.

Just when he was about to touch her cheeks, Kitsune pulls away and turning her back while hugging her arms. All Kitsune ever wanted is to have Angel by her side.

"Um..." Captain Marvel clears his throat to break thick tension between Kitsune and Aqualad. "Did I miss the part where you actually said what the plan was?" He asks Aqualad curiously.

Aqualad sighs heavily and leads them into the jungle.

"I'm worried about Kitsune, Celestial." Saber spoke up and Celestial nodded her head.

"Me too, I'm afraid of what she'll do next... Saber." Celestial voiced out her opinion.

"Does Kitsune know about the mole thing, Celestial?" Kid Flash asks Celestial curiously.

"No." Celestial shakes her head. "She didn't know about it. Kitsune is still in shocked of Angel's missing."

"Couldn't blame her." He smiled in sympathy knowing how much Kitsune is overprotective to them, especially Angel is the youngest of them all. "We'll find her."

"I hope so." Saber sighs heavily. "Kitsune could bend the rules. If it means saving someone."

"We have to stop her for being reckless." Robin spoke up and they shake their heads. "Why not?"

"Compare to everyone, no one could stop Kitsune." Saber commented. "She's stronger and even defeats Knight during their spar."

"She did what!?" Kid Flash asks and didn't expect she could take down one of the League members. "Celestial?"

"I manage to land a hit but not strong enough to defeat her." Celestial explained. "We have to find a way before Kitsune could do any reckless." She stared up at dark sky. "Knowing her... Kitsune won't hesitate to attack us if we stop her."

Captain Marvel is examining the footprints of a gorilla with the bullets on the ground. "Guess this is where Mayor Hill's... monkey business went down." Captain Marvel spoke up. "So at least we've confirmed his story, right?" He asks Aqualad and Kitsune. "Aqualad? Kitsune?"

"My apologies, Captain." Aqualad apologizes whereas Kitsune remained silent while observing the footprints. "I am... plagued by doubts." He stared at Kitsune worriedly. "Perhaps I was wrong to withhold..."

Aqualad stopped as they heard heavy footsteps. They looked up to see a mutant elephant approaching them. Captain Marvel tried to push the elephant but it's used a trunk to swing him away.

"U~ōtādoragon: Muchi! (Water dragon: whip!)" Kitsune didn't hesitates to remove elephant's collar. "Remove the collar!" She informed Aqualad and Captain Marvel.

"Got it!" Captain Marvel and Aqualad remove their collars.

Kitsune noticed their eyes returned normal. "We're not your enemies." She told them in a soft tone. "You're free."

The elephants nodded their heads at Kitsune as they walked away from them. Captain Marvel sighs in relief and patted her shoulders. Knight didn't bluff about Kitsune being a quick thinker one.

"Pretty sweet the way you figured out the problem was the collars." Captain Marvel compliments Kitsune. "Knight spoke highly of you, Kitsune."

"Collars indicate an intelligence behind this attack." Kitsune brushed off the compliments. "They use the cobra venom on these animals."

"The rest of the team may also be at risk." Aqualad pointed out. "Team, report status." Only received static and Kitsune cringed of hearing it. "Ugh... Comm is jammed. And Miss Martian failed to establish a telepathic link before we split up."

"Actually you and Kitsune let everyone split up before communications were set." Captain Marvel pointed out and Kitsune flinched of it.

"They would not listen!" Aqualad exclaimed angrily.

"I guess. But back at the Cave, Batman stopped everyone from arguing with one word." He smiled at them.

"Because Batman is... Batman." He sighs heavily.

"Hey, you don't have to tell me." He chuckled. "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." He shared his experience to them.

"Batman takes command." Aqualad muttered and Kitsune nodded her head. "He has to... for the good of the League."

"That explains why he creates a group of heroes because Batman can't take down by himself." Kitsune pointed out. "Think about it, during the alien invasion... Batman can't do it alone because they're too many of them. He commands them."

"Kitsune..." Aqualad was shocked to hear Kitsune's thought.

"I'm more of a solo because I can't stand of leading." She shakes her head. "I nominate you to be our leader for a reason."

"Captain Marvel." Aqualad stared at Captain Marvel. "Thank you for helping me understand."

"Heh, wisdom of Solomon." Captain Marvel spoke up and pointing his head.

"Aqualad and Kitsune, can you hear me?" Miss Martian called them through telepathic.

"Yes, Miss Martian. Report." Aqualad answered.

"Artemis and I were attacked by animals wearing inhibitor collars, like those used on convicts at Belle Reve prison." Miss Martian explained.

"Cool, a tiger!" Captain Marvel said happily. "I'll be right back!" He flies to chase down a tiger before they could stop him.

"Captain, wait!" Aqualad spoke up and sighs heavily. "Heh, speed of Mercury." He commented sarcastically and Kitsune just sweatdropped.

"He acts childish..." Kitsune muttered and crossing her arms.

"Kitsune... you can still back down the mission if you want." Aqualad is giving her options. "I'm terrified if you compromise the mission and bringing yourself in danger."

"I'm not backing down." Kitsune shakes her head. "Yes, I can't stop thinking about Angel but I know... she might slap me on the head using a paper fan. Telling me not to worry about her and focus on the task at hand."

"Angel is strong." Aqualad spoke up and placing his web-hand on her shoulder. "We will save her and Red Tornado, you have my word."

"Okay..." She exhales softly. "Miss Martian, we need a telepathic link-up with the entire team, now."

"Link established." Miss Martian informed them.

"Should you really still be giving us orders? And should you really be following them?" Artemis asks sarcastically.

"Listen, please." Aqualad pleads at them.

"Oh, good, Aqualad's voice in my head. I've so missed that." Kid Flash commented sarcastically.

"Hey, Kaldur, KF, Saber, Celestial and I were attacked by giant vultures." Robin informed the Atlantean. "Course, since we're moles, you probably think we attacked ourselves."

"Um... please stop arguing and listen to Aqualad." Celestial begs them to listen Aqualad.

"Should we? I mean... if he did, he wouldn't tell you." Artemis pointed out.

"Superboy, are you online or just pouting?" Miss Martian asks her secret boyfriend.

"Busy. Call back later." Superboy answered and struggling to take down a giant white wolf.

"What gets me is how nonchalant he is about not telling us." Kid Flash spoke up. "Heck, he couldn't even tell Kitsune about it."

"Guys..." Saber had enough of their whining like a baby. He and Celestial got ignored by them and continue to complain to Aqualad being a secretive person.

"He should be chalant. Way chalant. Extremely cha-"

"How can we be a team if he doesn't trust us with his secrets?" Artemis asks them curiously.

"Or if Connor doesn't trust us to take of ourselves." Miss Martian pointed out.

"Did he really think you or I could have been the mole?" Kid Flash asks Robin curiously.

"We've known each other for years!" Robin exclaimed.

"Trust is a two-way street, and you know they'd hate it if we kept secrets from them." Artemis snapped.

"Not that we'd do that. Never."

Kistune kneels down and placing her hands to know what happened as her eyes glowed. She closes her eyes and stared at Aqualad. "Tiger lured Captain Marvel and using some kind of device to knock him out. A gorilla dragged him over there, Aqualad." Kitsune informed Aqualad.

"How did you know?" Aqualad asks Kitsune curiously.

"I blocked the telepathic for a minute." Kitsune answered and showing him the bracelet she wears on her right wrist. "It allows to sealed my ability to see past before mama trained me."

"You're clairvoyance?"

"To see past and holds a strong memory, depending on the object or a person." She wears her bracelet back. "I've had enough of this." Kitsune growled angrily and slamming the device using one hand and it flew away.

"YOU IMBECILES STOP WHINING LIKE A 6-YEAR-OLD CHILD AND LISTEN FOR AQUALAD! FOR PETE'S SAKE!" Kitsune raises her voices angrily through telepathic and they cried in pain of her tone.

"Captain Marvel has been captured, and we must act as a team to save him." Aqualad informed them.

"Hmph. Under your leadership? I don't think-" Kid Flash was cut off by Kitsune's cold tone.

"Listen to Aqualad and one more interruption... you guys will suffer my hell training, non-stop for five days straight, no breaks." Kitsune threatens them and they gulped in fear.

"This is not up for debate." Aqualad spoke up in a stern tone and mentally thanked Kitsune for stopping them argue. "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." He throws the broken device over his shoulder.

"If Aqualad steps down, I would do that as well." Kitsune spoke up and giving Aqualad a look and he shuts his mouth. "Why bother joining a team if you guys won't listen? He has a reason to keep it by avoiding conflict. Look where we are now? We were almost gotten ourselves killed because you maggots have a high pride and ignored us. Yes, I neglect my responsibility because I can't stop thinking about Zara." She sighs heavily.

"Aaliyah." Celestial called Kitsune softly. "None of us are blaming you for it."

"Young maiden is right." Robin spoke up. "Zara is like a sister to us."

"Yeah..." Kid Flash scratches his neck. "I hate to admit but I kinda miss her slapping our heads using a paper fan."

"You guys..." Kitsune smiled and shook her head. "You guys are making me more softie."

"Aww.... we love you too, Aaliyah."

Kitsune rolls her eyes behind the half-mask as Aqualad nodded his head to create a plan to save Captain Marvel.

Everyone except Superboy are on stand-by as Kid Flash uses his goggles to examine the building.

"I'll fly over." Miss Martian informed them.

"Negatory." Kid Flash immediately answered. "The field is stamped like a dome over the whole compound."

"Pylons are insulated, but one good shock could cause a momentary gap." Robin pointed out as he hacks in their information through his computer hologram.

"I see a target." Artemis spoke up noticing a small button on the pillar.

"Then be ready to hit it." Aqualad ordered Artemis.

"Be ready, all of you." Kitsune warned them.

Aqualad uses his electricity to make an opening for Artemis to shoot the button using her arrows.

"Now!" Kid Flash told the female archer.

Artemis finally hit the button as it shut down the systems. Robin and Celestial looked up to see a monkey noticed them. They froze as the monkey cried out for intruders are coming.

"Crap..." Saber commented.

The alarm blares as they're being attacked by monkeys. Kitsune dodge their attack and noticed it's the same collar they fought against elephants. She uses her water whip to destroyed it.

"Remove their collars!" Aqualad informed them.

"Got it!" Celestial answered and swinging her fan to split the collar into two.

"Sounds easy when he says it." Robin grumbled and struggling to fight against two monkeys.

"Ha!" Saber uses his sword to destroy the collars and help Robin out.

A gorilla caught Miss Martian in her invisible form. "Get your paws off her, you darn dirty ape!" Kid Flash exclaimed and help the Martian girl out. It went backfired because a gorilla uses his stomach to bounce Kid Flash off.

Kitsune went on her high speed and punch the gorilla in one hit. Creating a huge crate on the wall as everyone, excluding Superboy, showed up to see a machine with a brain inside.

"It's the Brain!" Kid Flash exclaimed and looked surprised to see it.

"Uh, I can see it's a brain." Artemis spoke up sarcastically.

"Not a brain, The Brain." He corrected her.

"In the flesh, so to speak." The Brain spoke up and Celestial cringed in disgust to see him in person. "Mallah..." He called his gorilla.

"AAH!" They cried out in pain and laying down on the ground.

"Miss Martian, Superboy, now!" Kitsune ordered them.

Miss Martian uses her power to deactivate the device as Superboy breaks the wall with a giant white wolf by his side. They're buying them time as Kitsune freed Captain Marvel.

"Thanks." Captain Marvel thanked Kitsune and removing the collar on the tiger's neck. "Now, one good turn deserves another."

Mallah roared angrily the fact they've been completely surrounded now. "Try it. I hate monkeys." Superboy commented while cracking his knuckles.

"No, Mallah, this will not be our Waterloo." The Brain informed his pet. "Au revoir, mes amis." Using his machine and was about to attack them.

"Get down!" Kid Flash warned them.

Everyone braces themselves. The lights are out and back on to reveal they escape from them. "Wait, the big weapon thing was... a light switch?" Kid Flash asks curiously.

They stared at each other's look and shrugged about it.

"Ne (hey), Kitsune." Celestial called Kitsune in a soft tone.

"What is it?" Kitsune asks Celestial curiously.

"Promise me... you won't go alone with us." She pleads and Kitsune froze. "I know... that you're adamant of finding them. I can't lose you."

"Ru-"

"I know that you're capable of taking care of yourself but please... I lost Cait Shelter..." She sniffs and gripping her hand tightly. Terrified if she disappeared out of her sight.

"I won't go anywhere." Kitsune assured her and hugging Celestial. "I promise. Wipe your tears, young one."

"Mm..." She nodded her head and wiping her tears.

"Look, I need to know, why did you keep the mole intel a secret?" Robin asks Aqualad curiously. "You didn't even let Kitsune involved with it."

Aqualad stared at each one of them while they are waiting for his explanation. "The source of the tip was Sportsmater." He told everyone

"What? You can't trust him!" Artemis exclaimed angrily while gripping her bow tightly.

"I do not." Aqualad assured Artemis. "It seemed possible, even likely, that he was attempting to divide the team with false information."

"And given how this mission went, he nearly succeeded." Robin pointed out. "But you had to consider it might be true and didn't want to inform Kitsune about it."

Kitsune hums in deep thought but didn't say anything. "Yes, as a leader, I did. In which case, I did not wish to alert the traitor." Aqualad informs them.

"It makes sense and look where it lead us?" Kitsune questioned them. "We nearly got killed of it."

"I-" Kitsune gives him a look. "We are still prepared to step down."

"All in favor of keeping Aqualad as leader and Kitsune as leader assistant?" Kid Flash asks them and raises his right hand while they follow him.

"Guess you guys are still it." Saber commented with a smile on his face. "We're still giving you guys a headache until one of us are ready enough to take the position."

"Saber...." Celestial groaned and elbowing him lightly. "You're giving us big trouble."

"Forget what I said, Kit." He laughs nervously and Kitsune shakes her head.

"Guess it's unanimous." Captain Marvel spoke up and shakes Aqualad's hand then at Kitsune. "See you tomorrow."

"You're not coming back with us?" Aqualad asks him curiously.

"Nope, gotta fly." He left them alone.

"He's... an odd one." Celestial commented and Saber ruffling her hair. "Hey!"

"Couldn't resist, baby sister." Saber teased her lightly.

"Why me?" She sighs heavily and Saber only replied by patting her head.

"You're easy to tease."

Celestial sighs heavily while everyone laughs at her.