Avoiding Past And Future

(97) Image 2

November 22-23

For once the team's infamous reputation at failing to be covert did not live up to its name as they quite stealthily took care of the intruders. Under a screen of smoke, a few quick movements took care of the soldiers while Conner and M'gann focused on the civilians.

As the smoke, both from the stampede and the artificial cover, dissipated, the teens regrouped around the young boy and his mother. "Are you both alright?" Robin asked confidently, holding his head high as acting co-head of their mission. Kid came to a slipping stop right next to him, stolen guns still in hand. Despite his proud look in front of the child, his annoyance was noticeable over the mind link.

"Mom, mom, mom!" The boy's energy picked up with every repetition as his eyes blew open as wide as his smile. "We were just saved by Robin and Kid Flash." The boy looked between them, even spotting Phantom hovering in the distance and nearly calling out to the hero when Kid pulled attention back to himself.

Dropping the weapons and dusting himself off, he bashfully, not, shared the praise with his teammates. "Eh, Superboy and Miss Martian helped too." The purposeful absence of a name filled the mind link with resentment as the boy rushed to check on the animal M'gann floated over to cover for their discussion. "Where were you, even? So much for deploying as a team."

Phantom tried to let the snappy remark roll off of him like rain on a tarp. "Not sure if you noticed, but animals and I don't mix. Unless, of course, you wanted to deal with militia and even more spooked animals on top of it." He bit back with the same tone, not too keen on letting it go unanswered while he was supposed to be in charge.

Keeping his pleasant smile up, Wally bit back once again. "What, is our great unwanting leader scared of a little animal?" At least the rest of the group were being more mature as they kept the civilians talking. And subsequently get roped into spending some time at the sanctuary.

Being forced into agreeing, really it was more that Robin could barely focus with the chattering in his brain and the spoken conversation as well, they were preparing to rendez-vous back at the main site. Wally's internal laughing was cut short as he inexplicably tripped over air.

Even more coincidentally, Phantom was there to catch him before he took an embarrassing tumble in front of the geeked out child. "Careful there, KF. Wouldn't want to break another arm now, would you?" Phantom's sly little smile brought a twitch to the speedster's eye, unable to do anything without looking like he started something worse than a little banter.

Getting back to the clinic with the injured wildebeest and oryx didn't take too long with the combined effort of Bioship and the truck Marie used. Just around daybreak they split up again as M'gann left to help rebuild the broken fences and the boys headed inside to relax for a moment.

Walking just past a beautiful big tree, they got a surprise visit from a furry little guy. Screeching as he bounced between shoulders, the little money snagged Wally's protein bar as he finally came to settle on Garfield's shoulder. "Hey! Get it off!" The speedster looked on as his much needed refueling snack was stolen by the furry fiend.

Laughing at his friend's usual tricks, Garfield scratched Monkey's chin as he nibbled on his stolen prize. "It's okay. Meet Monkey." Monkey chewed contently on the bar, even giving a little wave as Robin tried to play with him from afar.

Conner on the other hand, was having a lot less fun. "Good name. But I hate monkeys." Monkey seemed to have a similar feeling as he bore his teeth at the clone.

"Looks like Monkey hates Superboys." Robin tried to joke, easing the tension between clone and animal. Or at least tried to.

At the same time, Phantom wandered closer. Having stayed back before, he was taking in the peaceful right of the ranch-like sanctuary. The sunrise over open grasslands being ripped straight from the most scenic movie he could imagine. His mind had gotten so lost he didn't even notice the group had stopped moving. Walking straight into Conner, the clone's existing annoyance waved over to Phantom.