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.

It seemed like Monkey had a similar thought. Screeching wildly, he threw the protein bar at the clone, hitting him square in the face. Anger rising once more, Wally gently held out a hand. "Dude, be glad he only threw a protein bar." The speedster whispered, glancing back at the still irate primate.

"More like he just doesn't like me." Phantom grumbled. Taking a few steps back again, Money seemed to relax enough to not be a danger to the young boy he was perched on. Having had enough of the circus around him, Monkey took off to the tree once more. "It's fine, I'm used to it by now." Ever so softly shouldering past Wally, Phantom muttered up the tree as he passed under it. "Welcome to the ever-growing club." Garfield looked apologetically at the ghost, but Phantom simply shrugged as he walked ahead to go hide inside.

Meandering around the living room love seats, Garfield tried to break the awkwardness. "So pretty weird about Miss Martian and my mom, huh?" Picking a chair, only Phantom and Superboy chose not to settle.

Well, Phantom floated right next to Robin, hood having found it's way onto his head again as he sook comfort in his cape. Superboy in the other hand chose to stand opposite of them, staring at the boy while stealing a glance at Phantom from time to time. "What do you mean?"

Garfield blinked as he looked between the heroes. "I mean she looks exactly like Marie." Garfield couldn't hold back the scrunch of his nose in discomfort at referring to his mother by her first name. "You know, except greener."

"She does?"

"Well, duh." Garfield kind of rolled his eyes. The gesture was there, but he caught himself and tried to play it off as just looking towards the ceiling as he faked thinking about why she looked familiar. Snapping his fingers like the thought just hit, his awkward little fingergun helped sell the bit. "Especially back when Mom was a TV star on Hello, Megan!"

"Wait, Hello, Megan! is a TV show?"

"I just thought it was something she said." Phantom grumbled, collective confusion pulling him out of his cocoon as he joined the others in giving Garfield an odd look.

"Yeah, on the TV show." The boy reiterated, finding amusement in showing the heroes who he so looked up to, and were chilling in his living room, something new. "Way before we were born. Only one season. You can't even find it online." With a little shrug, an idea sprang to life. "I know mom has a tape somewhere..." Feeling giddy about being able to show off, Garfield started looking through all the different tapes littering the tv stand and shelves around the room.

As the youngest kept himself busy, Robin took the moment to check in on his brother. Using some of the most basic signs he knew, he silently asked if he was doing alright. Phantom only spared him half a glance, shrugging as he made a so-so gesture.

It wasn't a lie, either. It wasn't the most fun they'd had, but it could have been a lot worse. They got a kid social butterfly-ing his way through their little break time and at least no animal got more injured while he was there. At least it also gave them a moment to breathe and think of a way to handle the Harjavti situation. They still didn't know who was behind the whole thing, let alone how they would stop Queen Bee from taking over so easily.

A little aha pulled them out of their thoughts. "Hello, Megan! The pilot episode." Garfield held up the tape like a prized possession.

Whoa, you still have VHS?" Kid Flash asked in disbelief as he watched Garfield dust it off and put it into the correct machine. "Where's your eight-track?" His sarcastic questionnaire was cut short by Conner suddenly tensing. Falling into a running stance, he stilled completely.

"Wait."

And just like they had put a neon sign up just for her, Biyalian aircraft came back for them. Conner hushed everybody, listening for how rapidly they were approaching and warned M'gann of the impending danger.

Rushing outside to prepare for the attack, Robin turned to Garfield. "Gar, stay put." Waiting for just a breath to make sure the boy heard and understood, Robin filled out of the room with the others.

Except Phantom, who lingered.

Something bothered him about how still Garfield sat. How unalarmed he seemed by the threat of enemy aircraft approaching yet carefully tracked everybody leaving the room. Holding the boy's gaze, that feeling multiplied tenfold. Phantom knew that look, the one where orders were optional and own plans were the better move. He knew, oh how he knew, Garfield was just waiting for a moment to slip out and do whatever he thought was better.

If he was going to do it, might as well go along with him. No mission was more impossible than stopping a determined 8 year old.

He should know, Dick was the exact same and landed them in trouble countless of times.

A spark lit up in Garfield's eyes the moment he realized Phantom was coming with him. How cool! Teaming up with a real Gotham hero, being listened to and trusted to be followed instead of doing the following!

Phantom kept his eyes peeled as they made it through the house and out a side door. Grabbing onto Garfield the second they stepped near the door, he turned them both invisible as he watched the skies for any danger. The planes were still a good distance away but chances was something he wasn't planning on taking.

Making it into the clinic building, Garfield rushed forward as Phantom's mere presence already agitated the wildebeest and oryx. Trying to shush them, he went to open their pens when Phantom stopped him. "Let me do that." He whispered as he kept his ears trained for the aircraft. "Animals don't like me, remember. If I'm the one opening the door they won't escape."

Determination filled the young boy as he nodded. Handing the keys to the hero, he ran over to the sliding barn doors and used his entire body to force it open. Right as it was just enough for the animals to fit through, Phantom quickly opened their pens and meandered to the back end, forcing them out and towards the open fields surrounding the property.

"MOM!" Phantom's ears were assaulted from the sudden volume of Garfield suddenly yelling out for his mother. "It's okay, I got the animals out!" His simple reassurance, as well meaning as it was, did nothing but paint a target on their backs.

Phantom could hear the clicking rotation of machine guns firing off. Coming closer every click if a bullet leaving the chamber. Rushing towards the boy, he made a shield strong enough to take a few hits. Just enough to be safe, not enough for a literal neon 'shoot here, please' sign to waft out of the building.

The plane passed over without too much of a hitch. Dust filled the air as the wooden frame of the building was ripped apart by a hailstorm of lead. Splinters and chunks flying everywhere as it took most of the attack. Through the glow and dust, Phantom could just barely make out the figures of the others on the other side of the clearing. They seemed fine, untargeted.

The commotion of releasing the wildebeest and oryx likely drew their assailants attention, but it was better them and Phantom's shield than Superboy trying to block everybody from being hit on his own.

Well, that's what he thought at least.

Phantom had prepared for a rainstorm of bullets. What he hadn't prepared for was the planes turning around for round 2. Unfortunately for them, that side of the building happened to have a propane tank right next to it.

The blast hit them in an instant. Fire engulfed the pair as Phantom's shield gave out from the sudden force. Sent flying in the less preferable way, Phantom held on tightly as Garfield clung onto him. Fire bit at his clothes and exposed skin, minor burns bubbling up as he felt the hot air rush past them. He tried to summon a new shield, but the ecto wasn't responding to his wish. Barely fizzing a green hue, his focus was too shot to be of use.

At least he could be thankful of needing to keep himself busy earlier. Kicking in as an unexpected back up, the little shield generator yoinked from Skulker's suit puffed a manageable ball around them. Knowing there were only seconds before impact, he twisted himself around. With Garfield curled up as close to his chest as he could manage, only being half a head taller than the boy himself, Phantom positioned himself to take the brunt of the impact as the ground drew nearer.