Going Blue

A What Gorilla?

I flew up to help Captain Marvel as John brought the new generator part around to the housing unit. I would normally be resting in my room or with my friends recovering from the heat stroke I'd had, but with my ring back on I felt right as rain in no time flat. Also I insisted on helping fix the generator.

Once the new part was in place the lights immediately turned back on as power was restored to the Cave. I nodded to John and flew off to the mission room where the others were. Upon entering I heard Robin saying, "-swers. About Red Tornado and his siblings."

"Exactly." Arrow moved to take the bowl but Wally stopped him. "Leave the bowl," he said, and started munching on the pretzels.

I took a seat next to M'gann and rested my head on my arms. "You okay?" she asked, noticing my tired demeanor.

"Not much sleep last night," I explained simply. "I'll be fine."

"YOU KNEW?!?!" Conner suddenly shot at Kaldur, grabbing his shirt and pushing him into the wall. "That android and his maniac family nearly killed M'gann!"

"Conner what are you doing?" M'gann and I flew over to him, and I used a construct to force Conner to let Kaldur go.

"Kaldur knew we had a traitor among us and said NOTHING!" he explained.

"What?!"

"You knew?!"

"And didn't tell us?!"

"I sought to protect the Team from-"

"Protect us from what? Knowledge that might have saved our lives?"

"You almost died," Conner said looking at M'gann.

"So did Eve," Robin exclaimed.

"Enough." Everyone shut up just as we were about to go on another tirade. How Bruce could do that I don't know, and I'm kinda hoping I never learn. Right as Conner opened his mouth to argue with him Bruce narrowed his eyes; after a moment Conner closed his mouth again, obviously having thought better about talking back to Batman.

"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." We glanced at each other, incredibly confused about his lack of 'stiffness'.

Conner turned to Kaldur, "after I dismantle Red Tornado, you and I are gonna-"

"Red Tornado is a member of the Justice League. That makes him a League responsibility. You will leave him to us." No one even tried to talk back as Batman's tone left absolutely no room for debate. "I have another assignment for this Team," he continued as he pulled up a hologram of a newspaper article.

"Gotham mayor attacked by Guerrilla Gorilla," Wally read in disbelief.

'Was this the only thing he could find to distract us?' Conner asked over the mind link.

"Batman please! Tell me you're not sending us on this joke of a wild ape chase!" Robin pleaded.

"I never joke about the mission."

'He really doesn't. Half the time I wonder if he even can joke,' I supplied, completely serious.

"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." He nodded in response and we all headed to the hangar.

"Huh, 'your team'," Wally scoffed as he passed.

Turning to see I hadn't moved, Kaldur crossed the small distance to reach me. I could feel the small hope in him that I had forgiven him slowly sprout in his chest, but I quickly plucked it from him. "You should have told us," I said it with an expressionless face and emotionless voice, but the pain was clearly transmitted. With that said I followed the others, leaving Kaldur behind.