(POV Aqua-Lad)
After two days of rest, the team was brought for a mission debriefing over Santa Prisca.
A drug manufacturing island home to Bane a super-powered individual when intoxicated by Venom.
Santa has been acting odd on Batman's systems which spoke volumes with How Santa seemed to 'close doors' as Robin put it.
During the debrief, I still couldn't focus as well as I used to from the answer I received from Shift a few days ago looking for guidance.
Shift's answer only gave me more questions but I understood the meaning behind some of what I've been told. Mainly the fact of finding the answer and that being it.
As I continued to recall Shift's words my attention was taken away by Shift himself who like the rest of us suited up.
Except this time was equipped with a sword hanging on His back. I withheld my curiosity due to the strategy He was compiling for us.
I would swim from point A to the shore disabling the enemies' heat sensors. While the Bio-Ship enters its camouflage mode and flies over dispersing the team at point B. Where I soon reconvene with by GPS tracking. A sound plan.
Once the team was finished with the debriefing we all began to move to Bio-Ship. Where before entering I couldn't withdraw my curiosity over Shift's answer and asked Him.
"What did you mean before when you answered Me?"
Shift stood still facing forward without turning likely trying to remember His words and looked back at Me and spoke.
"Like before I can't answer. You must decide your own worth."
I still couldn't fully understand my question but a piece of the puzzle was revealed a bit from Shift's words regarding Me with letting others choose my worth.
I then marveled at our team leaders' leadership and eagerly climbed aboard Bio-Ship preparing for the mission.
—-
(POC Josh)
Oh my God!
I completely forgot what I said to Kaldur again? Oh yeah!
"Like before I can't answer. You must decide your own worth."
I then turned around and walked into Bio-Ship taking a seat and preparing for the mission ahead of us.
After everyone entered the ship I went over the plan again and asked Miss Martian to set a Psychic Link.
Then we waited in silence until Santa Prisca was within view.
"Santa Prisca approaching."
Miss Martian spoke in a captain-like attitude as we approached Point A.
Once at the marked location the ground opened up and Aqua-Lad fell through it hitting the water and began to swim as the floor closed back up.
-Heat sensors disabled-
Wow. And it hadn't even been five minutes and He had beat us to the island and placed the device.
I'll give the Atlantans where credit is due in the swimming department likely due to their fins but credit due.
"We have arrived at point B."
Miss Martian stood up as Her attention was taken by Kid or Wally's shifting of clothing by pressing His insignia.
"Cool"
He uttered. Miss Marian with a simple gust of wind almost changed her suit to an all black and red suit.
"Wow"
Kid uttered again. I on the other hand simply latched on a cord to my belt in order to pull down same as Robin did slowly followed by Kid.
Everyone else needed camouflage clothing except both Robin and My Suits were made for this fact. Kid looked to Superboy.
"Well, Supey don't you want to try the new state-of-the-art disguise tech?"
"No capes, No tights, No offense."
"It totally works for you"
It was first Kid and SuperBoy talking and then Miss Martian intervened letting Her thoughts out only to explain them again saying.
"…In that, you can totally work in those clothes."
Superboy didn't show either appreciation or annoyance to that remark and only grunted.
With that, I jumped out of Bio-Ship after waiting for the opening floor. Robin and Kid soon followed.
Then Miss Martian who simply floated down to the ground. While SuperBoy simply jumped off landing in His own crater on the ground.
From the collision, Robin, Kid, and I were sent flying. While in the air I flipped catching myself while the others weren't so lucky.
"I knew I didn't need a line."
"And yet creating a seismic event may not of have helped us with the Covert."
Robin emphasized especially on the Covert part to SuperBoy who simply ignored Robin.
-Aqua-Lad. Drop B is a go-
I contacted Aqua-Lad via our psychic link and swiftly heard His response.
-Understood. Tracking now.-
-Team begin infiltration-
Everyone looked at me and understood to get back on task as we left through the forest.
"Do you hear that?"
SuperBoy suddenly stops moving as He likely used His super-hearing hearing voices. Kid didn't hear said noises and spoke out.
"Wait is this some sort of super hearing thing?"
"You do have great ears."
SuperBoy ignored Kid's and Miss Martian's comments. Stopping the chatter I ordered.
"Kid, SuperBoy switch to infrared."
Kid nodded and pulled down His goggles switching them to infrared.
After activation, Kid found a body of targets in one direction while SuperBoy found another which slowly converged towards each other.
Kid asked while I wondered if they were separate teams but the sounds of gunshots quelled our thoughts.
"Well, we don't need super hearing to know they're not friends."
Kid after giving His two cents swiftly ran towards the chaos which alarmed me.
Robin remained impassive wondering what was happening until Kid began His run to the enemy. Robin flew to the shadows while I stayed with both Superboy and Miss Martian.
….That didn't last long
Kid somehow slipped over mud and landed straight in front of the enemy.
-SuperBoy-
Upon my thought sent message SuperBoy jumped towards the enemy gangster attacking them and slowly knocking each out.
Soon everyone joined in including Aqua-Lad who electrocuted the last one incapacitating the last enemy.
———
(POV General)
Right in front of the team were two gangs one was controlled by Bane who was firing a semiautomatic gun with His fellow gangsters trying to take out any enemy they could.
Bane's opponents and rightful owners of the island Santa Prisca. Was a cult of fanatics who worshipped their leader. Known only as Kobra a fanatic who wished to control everything by any means.
Kobra's cultists wore red cloaks with a hood attached to them. These men also wore half-domino masks covering the top of their faces nearly touching the fake fangs sewn into the cloak.
Bane while in front of Kid opened fire after recognizing Him as Flash's sidekick. Aiming for Kid Flashes legs to try and incapacitate Him.
Using His enhanced brain provided by the speed force used His speed and dodged the onslaught of bullets that were fired from both Bane and His cronies.
From the gunfire, the cultists didn't hesitate and responded with their own gunfire towards Bane and Kid Flash.
As both easily dodged the hail of bullets by either using cover and super speed.
SuperBoy used the confusion charging Bane with a punch to the face.
Bane effortlessly used the gain traction pinning the SuperBoy down. From being squished into the ground SuperBoy used His superior strength grabbing Bane and throwing Him to the nearest tree.
I was with Robin who snuck behind some cultist and easily took them down by knockout. With either a swing kick from Robin and a hard whack of the hand by Shift.
MM or Miss Martian was psychically throwing enemies at trees and rocks and vice versa. While Kid Flash just ran around delivering several dozen punches to any in His way.
From the chaos one cultist nearly escaped if it wasn't for Aqua-Lad who electrocuted the last one rendering them unconscious.
After tying the villains to different trees. The team began to discuss how to proceed with how things were.
"I recognize those uniforms. They belong to the Cult of Kobra."
Robin shared His knowledge over His discovery waiting for Shift to give an answer but to Robins's dismay. Shift only stood there.
"I'm certain Batman would've mentioned about a known extremist running Santa Prisca's Venom operation."
Robin was going to agree with Lad but was interrupted by Shift who finally spoke out.
"No. We proceed. Kobra wasn't likely helped by someone who agreed with His views and is likely being supplied by someone. Kobra is likely using the Venom for the very same purpose."
Robin was shocked at how quickly Shift came to that conclusion given that He Himself likely would've come to the same conclusions after some time.
"How should we proceed?"
"Yeah, what He said."
Lad was the first to talk with Kid joining in to act cool in front of MM. but was ignored as She was focused on Superboy who was using His super Hearing overhearing Bane talk to His goon about following along. Giving SuperBoy a coy smile.
After deciding to continue the mission. The team faced another problem which Shift left to verify.
Shift passed along some trees until He was faced with Bane. Shift stared quietly into Bane's eyes who only laughed at the black eye slits in Shift's mask.
Bane began to chuckle and spoke aloud.
"You're a clever Ninos, but you only know half the story.
Let me show you the rest get you into the factory via-"
Before Bane could finish Shift knocked Bane out surprising both Bane's Goons and His teammates.
Shift then ripped a piece of clothing off of Bane's tank top and handed it to Kid to hold.
"Ewwww dude I didn't know you go that way!"
Shift turned His attention to Kid in a manner telling Him 'I don't.'
Shift after staring at Kid went into the forest and used His Omnitrix transforming into a Bipedal creature snarling and screeching as it formed.
The creature had orange fur and teeth followed by an overbite from the bottom jaw. The creature's front paws were placed forward in a stance resembling a gorilla. Each paw was equipped with a claw to add to this beastly appearance.
"Snarl. Screech. (WildMutt)"
Over the WildMutt's neck was a green and white collar with the Omnitrix insignia at the center of the collar located below WildMutt's neck.
Shift now WildMutt crawled back to the team who weren't that surprised at Shift's power unlike the Cultists of Kobra and Bane's goons who thought of Him as a monster.
WildMutt once in front of Kid Flash barked at Him spitting slobber on Him getting a gag out of Him.
"Aw, gross dude! You slobbered all over Me!"
Shift now WildMutt began to snarl and screech trying to speak and even tried using the Link MM established only for the same screeching and snarling to be heard.
"He wants that."
Robin took away the Fabric of the ripped tank top from Kid who almost began to wipe the slobber off with it.
Robin after taking the fabric away placed it on the ground where WildMutt gave a sniff relating to a dog trying to track something or one.
After a few sniffs, WildMutts clouded vision of just seeing the heat of the forest and outlines of the team and prisoners they had. No saw a huge white line being Bane's sent.
Once the sent line was established WildMutt began to follow the sent by sniffing the air and walking towards the source.
"What y'all waiting for let's go."
Robin the first to act followed WildMutt with the others soon following. Robin knew of this Alien not from prior experience with it since this is a form Shift has newly shown the team.
Robin knew of this Alien from the footage of the Batcave of an orange monster beating up villains and saving civilians.
Sadly though WildMutt and the two other Aliens were already information the Dark Knight and Boy Wonder already knew.
Which meant to Robin that Shift either Shift had limited Alien forms. Or Shift chose an Alien for the Job without thinking.