reborn in young justice1

Chapter 9: Shadows of the Past

The Cave was quiet when I woke up the next morning. The faint hum of the computer systems and the occasional clatter of someone moving around the kitchen were the only sounds. My body ached from the previous night's fight, but the real weight pressing down on me wasn't physical—it was the unanswered questions.

Why was the League of Shadows after me?

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the faint glow of my hands as I summoned a small orb of energy. It flickered and pulsed, unstable as always, but this time I didn't try to force it into submission. Instead, I let it flow, watching as it danced across my palm.

"Work with it," I muttered, echoing Red Tornado's advice.

The orb steadied for a moment, its light bright and warm, before fading into nothing. It wasn't much, but it was progress.

The rest of the team was gathered in the main room when I finally emerged. Aqualad and Robin were bent over a holographic display, deep in conversation. Miss Martian and Artemis were sitting on the couch, while Kid Flash leaned against the wall, eating a protein bar.

"Morning," I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Morning?" Kid Flash scoffed. "It's almost noon."

"Give him a break, Wally," Miss Martian said with a small smile. "We all needed rest after last night."

Robin glanced up from the display. "You're just in time. Batman sent us intel on the League of Shadows."

I joined them at the table, my curiosity piqued. The holographic display showed a map of Europe, with a red marker blinking over a small country I didn't recognize.

"Markovia," Aqualad explained. "The League of Shadows has been spotted near a research facility there. The facility specializes in metahuman genetics and energy studies."

"Energy studies?" I repeated, my stomach twisting.

Robin nodded. "The League's interest in the facility might be connected to you. We can't be sure, but it's too much of a coincidence to ignore."

"Great," I muttered. "More questions and no answers."

"We'll find answers," Aqualad said firmly. "But we need to act quickly. If the League of Shadows is targeting this facility, we can't let them succeed."

"What's the plan?" Artemis asked, leaning forward.

"We'll infiltrate the facility, secure any critical data, and ensure the League doesn't get what they're after," Aqualad said. "Robin will handle the security systems. Miss Martian will monitor from the bioship. The rest of us will focus on defense and extraction."

"What about me?" I asked.

"You're coming with us," Aqualad said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "If this is connected to you, your presence may be crucial. But stay close to the team and follow orders. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," I said, trying to hide my nerves.

The flight to Markovia was tense. The bioship was silent except for the hum of its engines, and the team was focused, their usual banter replaced by quiet determination.

Miss Martian piloted the ship with ease, her gaze steady as she guided us through the clouds. Aqualad went over the mission details one last time, his calm voice reassuring despite the gravity of the situation.

"We'll approach from the south," he said, pointing to the map on the display. "The facility's security systems are advanced, but Robin should be able to disable them. Once inside, we'll split into two teams. Robin and Kid Flash will retrieve the data. Artemis, Kade, and I will secure the perimeter."

"Got it," Kid Flash said, cracking his knuckles. "Fast and efficient, just how I like it."

I stayed quiet, my mind racing. This was my first real mission with the team, and the stakes felt impossibly high. If the League of Shadows was targeting this facility because of me, I couldn't afford to mess up.

The facility loomed ahead, a stark gray structure surrounded by dense forest. The bioship landed silently a short distance away, cloaked from view.

"Remember," Aqualad said as we disembarked, "stealth is our priority. No unnecessary risks."

We moved through the trees, the shadows providing cover as we approached the facility. Robin led the way, his movements quick and precise as he hacked into the security system.

"Cameras are down," he whispered. "We're clear to move."

The interior of the facility was cold and sterile, the air filled with the faint hum of machinery. We stuck to the shadows, avoiding patrols as we made our way to the main lab.

When we reached it, the sight took my breath away. The room was filled with advanced equipment, glowing monitors, and strange devices that hummed with energy. It was like something out of a sci-fi movie.

"This place is insane," Kid Flash whispered, his eyes wide.

"Focus," Aqualad said, his voice low. "Robin, secure the data. The rest of you, keep watch."

As Robin got to work, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The air felt heavy, charged with tension.

"Do you feel that?" I asked Miss Martian, who was standing nearby.

She nodded, her brow furrowing. "It's like… we're being watched."

Before I could respond, the lights flickered, and the room was plunged into darkness.

"Ambush!" Aqualad shouted, drawing his weapons.

The room erupted into chaos as shadowy figures emerged from the darkness. The League of Shadows had found us.

The fight was a blur of motion and noise. The League's operatives were skilled and relentless, their movements precise and deadly.

I tried to stay close to the team, using my energy blasts to keep the attackers at bay. But the room was cramped, and the chaos made it hard to focus.

One of the operatives lunged at me, their blade glinting in the dim light. I barely managed to summon a shield in time, the impact sending a shockwave through my arm.

"Kade, on your left!" Artemis shouted, firing an arrow that struck another attacker just before they reached me.

"Thanks!" I called, trying to keep my focus.

As the fight raged on, I noticed one of the operatives heading toward the lab's central console. They were carrying a device that looked eerily similar to the one the intruder had used in the Cave.

"They're going for the data!" I shouted, breaking away from the fight.

I sprinted toward the console, summoning an energy blast to knock the device out of the operative's hands. They turned to face me, their eyes narrowing behind their mask.

"You're becoming a problem," they said, their voice cold and distorted.

"Good," I shot back, summoning another blast.

The operative moved with blinding speed, dodging my attack and closing the distance between us. They struck with precision, forcing me to rely on my shields to block their attacks.

But this time, something felt different. The energy inside me responded more fluidly, almost instinctively. I could feel the connection Red Tornado had talked about, and it gave me the edge I needed.

With a surge of power, I unleashed a shockwave that sent the operative flying. They hit the wall hard, their device clattering to the ground.

By the time the fight was over, the team had managed to drive off the remaining operatives. The League had retreated once again, leaving us battered but victorious.

Robin retrieved the data from the console, his expression grim. "We've got what we came for, but this isn't over. They'll be back."

Aqualad nodded. "Let's return to the Cave and analyze the data. Hopefully, it will give us some answers."

As we boarded the bioship, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The League of Shadows wasn't just interested in the team—they were after something much bigger.

And somehow, I was at the center of it all.