P. M.

10

"So, what do you think Pete called us in for?" Kid Flash asked as he and Robin walked out of the Zeta Tube.

While they were doing their regular patrols, they had been contacted from the Cave by Peter, who told them he needs to speak to the entire team soon. So, after finishing their patrols, Kid Flash and Robin met up to go to the cave.

"Maybe he made something big and wanted to show it off?" Robin suggested as they walked into the main hall and saw the rest of the team with Peter standing in front of them.

"Robin, Kid Flash, you made it!" M'gann stated as she waved for the two boys.

Seeing that the last members of the team had finally arrived, Aqualad turned to the team's scientist. "Now that we're all here, what is it that you wanted to discuss, Peter?"

"It's not that I wanted to discuss something as much as show you, or better yet introduce you, to something," Peter smiled at the confusion that his teammates displayed. Turning his gaze upwards, he called out. "HOD, introduced yourself."

"Greetings, team," the team members nearly jumped as a soft, female and robotic voice spoke up around them. "I am HOD. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Uh... did the cave just talk?" Kid Flash asked, looking around at the base's interior.

Robin looked at Peter with a mixture of caution and confusion. "Pete, can you... explain the talking voice we can't see?"

Peter, who was obviously enjoying the reactions of his teammates, raised his hand to his side, wearing his CPU Glove, and showed a screen that had a holographic core. "Everyone, meet the Hyper-Communication Operation Droid, or HOD, for short. Remember when I said that I'll create our own communication system? Well, I made HOD for that role. Its an AI that is connected to cave's system and acts a secured channel," the scientist pulled out a small case from the inside of his lab-coat and opened it to reveal five earpieces. "HOD will manage the Team's communications and ensure their security. Its channel is so secured that anyone that tries to pick it up will constantly stumble back to background radio static."

As the each member of the team picked up one of the ear pieces, Kid Flash looked at Peter curiously. "So... you created an AI for the base just to have a private call."

"HOD's main objective may be managing communication for the team, but it's not the only purpose it has," Peter replied.

"I will also serve as a logistics centre for the team," HOD spoke again and the holographic core over Peter's hand pulsed with every word. "I manage the base's systems and defences alongside gathering information and Intel depending on requests and situations."

"So, this thing is gonna be watching us all the time?" Superboy asked, obviously not liking the idea of being constantly watched.

"No, HOD can't enter any of the private quarters without permission," Peter swiftly replied, shaking his head. "As a bonus, HOD will also serve as my lab assistant for now. I miss speaking to someone that actually understands what I'm saying. No offence, Superboy, M'gann, but you two aren't exactly... tech expert kind of company."

"It's okay," M'gann smiled in defeat. "I really can't pretend to understand most of the subjects you talk about."

"So, now we have our own AI assistant and private channel?" Robin commented, smiling as he placed the earpiece in his ear. "Sweet."

"Well, HOD is actually one of the two things I wanted to discuss," Peter lowered his hand and the hologram with HOD in it vanished. "The second thing is my plans for the base's defences. I wanted you all to be here as we discuss them."