[center][color=darkgray][b][sub]E P I S O D E   T H R E E :   S T A G E  F R I G H T  [/sub][/b][/color][b][color=bf2628][sup][h1]CIRCUS  TRIP[/h1][/sup][/color][/b][/center][center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnD5F02uozE][sub]SOUNDTRACK[/sub][/url][/center]
[COLOR=bf2628][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]S E C R E T    S A N C T U A R Y[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][INDENT][sup][color=darkgray]May 28[sup]rd[/sup], 2021  |  10:00a.m.  |  Happy Harbour, Rhode Island[/color][/sup][/INDENT][/INDENT]
[color=Slategray]"C.C. Haly and Norton Bros. Circus"[/color]
For this briefing Batman had come to Mount Justice in person. There was no other leaguer present in the briefing room. Red Tornado was on urgent league business at an undisclosed location. The collection of screens were playing a montage of the Haly's Circus. A couple of minutes passed in order for the teen heroes to quietly take in the performances. The Team didn't know it yet, but they were soon going to join the ranks of the artists and performers. 

[color=Slategray]“Based on the intel retrieved by Cybergirl at La Hoya we found a link between Kobra and Haly's Circus selling a component to the Kobra Cult's weapon.”[/color]

Batman drew up the schematics of the modified Kobra venom Metamorph managed to recover and take back to HQ. The container was part of the supply of Kobra venom the team had left behind at the factory. Several major cities were on a list of targets for Kobra. The League hadn’t figured out which city or what Kobra was planning. There was a chemical weapon being developed and it was unclear how and if the modified venom was involved.

On the screen next to it, a list of suspected involved circus staff members rotated, displaying their stage name and act. 

[color=Slategray]“With the help of Zatanna we’ve identified possible suspects, but….”[/color]
The dark knight narrowed his eyes at the team, making sure they were all paying attention, leaving intentional pause between his sentences. 
[color=Slategray]“This list is by no means exhaustive and until proven otherwise everyone could be involved. Be discerning.”[/color]

Batman paused and lowered his arms, his cape folding over his hands. He was about to state their mission objective was simple, but he knew that something simple didn’t guarantee the Team would succeed. Especially given their track record, by no means would he tolerate a repeat of what happened at La Hoya. 

[color=Slategray]“Your objective is simple….”
“Infiltrate the circus, come up with an act, get close to the staff and figure out who has ties to Kobra, report to the League. Do not attempt to capture, question or in any other way harass the suspect yourselves”[/color]

With the main briefing done Batman stalked towards the zeta tubes in silence. It almost looked like he was leaving when he abruptly stopped. He checked the time and narrowed his eyes at the teleporting devices. 

[color=Slategray][i]She’d better not be late….again.[/i][/color]

[color=Slategray]“As stated previously Zatanna and Booster gold are attempting to find Hex and Gold Rush, that is if they can be recovered. In the meantime the League recruited new recruits to bolster your ranks and as possible replacements”[/color]

Batman was talking in a very matter of fact manner. His priority was to have a functioning Young Justice initiative. If there were casualties which threatened the already fragile balance of the team he had to take countermeasures.