THIS IS PERSONAL | yj next gen

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17:57
12 JULY, 2011
WOODS

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The forest around Team Future was a dark green shield that protected them from being seen as they fled. They were moving quickly. Those that could fly flew, those that could run unnaturally quickly did so and those that lagged behind slightly were encouraged by the people nearest.

"That was really close," Peter called from a little way above, his suit's wings beating hard to keep up.

"Too close for comfort," agreed Mar'i, glancing behind them. She didn't think they were being pursued, but they couldn't be too careful. "We're on a deadline, guys, all right? We have a little under forty-eight hours to get this artefact that could change the future, our lives, and return to 2041." She slowed mid-flight and everyone followed her example, grateful to be reducing the urgency for the moment. "Before we left, Nightwing gave us the information we needed for this mission."

"Yeah," Alex continued, authoritatively. "They didn't send us in blind or anything, Dad put as much intel as he could about the location of the Light, light with a capital L, of course, and the magical artefact disguised as a dagger on this flash drive." He produced the small capped stick that was their lifeline with a grimace.

"It should be easy then," Irey said, smiling, but stopped when she saw the Grayson siblings' faces.

"Not quite, Rey," Alex said, stopping completely. The others halted their slow walk too. "A couple years ago, back home obviously, there was a super-virus created by some second-rate villain that infected all the servers in Watchtower, and they had to get rid of everything, all the files were corrupted. The only information we've got was salvaged from the Batcave." Concerned, Helena voiced what no one else wanted to.

"How much do we have? Do we have what we need, locations, statistics?" Silently, the slightly younger boy shook his head, lips drawing into a tight line.

"What does that mean then?" Apollo demanded, but frowned as if he didn't want to hear the reply. He knew almost certainly it was going to be something dangerous, it usually was.

"We have to do something insanely dangerous." Typical.

"What kind of dangerous?" Zac inquired, calmly, having a knowledge of 'insane danger'. "Like, physical? Mental? Endangering civilians...?" By now, the whole group had either sat down on the mossy floor or were leaning against nearby tree trunks. Anyone looking in would think they were very lost, which was true, especially since they were in a place that was so familiar, but not.

"It'll hopefully only have to involve Hal," Mar'i said apologetically.

"Me?" the twelve-year old blurted curiously.

"Yeah, why only her?" Clark interjected in a protective tone, which earned an exasperated look from his younger sister.

"Because the situation she'll be going into," Mar'i answered with patience, "will be admittedly easier for her than for any of us if she gets into trouble."