Worst Case Scenario

Chapter 52: A Very Bad Day...

Mt. Justice

December 28, 15:16 EST

The quiet of the Cave's briefing room was interrupted by a golden ankh which materialized in the center. A second later, Aqualad, Red Arrow, Artemis, Rocket, Miss Martian, Superboy, Black Canary, Red Tornado and Wolf emerged from the ankh, which then faded away.

Rocket let out a little sigh of relief. Magical transport was very different from zeta beam transport, and she'd only ever done that once anyways. She had to admit, for a while there she hadn't thought she'd ever see Mt. Justice again, either due to untimely death, imprisonment by supervillains or being fired. She never thought she'd miss a place she'd first been to a day and a half ago, and yet it had been almost twenty-four hours since they'd left the Cave for their 'simple recon mission.'

"It is good to be back" Aqualad said. "Though we are still incomplete."

Fate had been furious that Zatanna was not only missing, but apparently possessed by a Lord of Chaos. Artemis had been half-afraid he'd send them back with their organs twisted or something.

Not really how the mission was supposed to go she thought.

Batman had taken the loss of Robin in silence, as he did everything. However, he was now personally leading the investigation of 'Aguila Base' as one of the guards had called it. Most of the League was either helping with that or heading back to the Watchtower or Hall of Justice. Evil conspiracy or not, there were still going to be random supervillains doing random supervillainy and the League's public image required them to have rapid response times.

"Rocket, Red Arrow, Aqualad, Artemis, if you would all please follow me to the medical bay?" asked Red Tornado. "Batman has requested that I provide an immediate physical examination to ensure that you are free of any injuries."

The four looked at each other and shrugged. It's not like a checkup was the worst thing that had happened to them that day.

Wolf went over into a corner and lay down, continuing to gnaw on a MONQI arm it had obtained earlier. M'gann and Conner turned to head towards their rooms.

"Not so fast" said Black Canary. "You two. Counseling. Now."

Conner started to protest, but decided against it mid-word. One, he did not want to take on Canary, not when she had that look, and two, if he and M'gann were going to come clean about their secrets (which they were), they might as well start with Canary.

M'gann glanced at the ground as if she had guessed what he was thinking, but she said nothing as they followed Canary out of the room.

Half an hour later and Red Tornado had finished cataloging the various bruises, cuts, burns and electrocution marks that the Team had managed to obtain. Roy had glared in Rocket's direction as he described how he'd been knocked into an electric fence, but resisted naming names for the moment.

"I see nothing which would force any of you off of active duty," the android said, "though I would recommend that Aqualad and Red Arrow refrain from more... strenuous activities for the next few days if possible."

"Not likely" Roy muttered.

"If you're done" said Artemis, "I'm gonna go hit the showers. Hard."

She walked out into the hall and took a left.

"Are the showers not that way?" asked Tornado, pointing to the right.

"Yeah, but I need to go by my room first, and it's this way, tin man" she said, disappearing.