All right, here is the next chapter. Enjoy.


Chapter 3

In the Bioship, Superboy contemplated what was happening. Okay, this isn't bad. It's only reconnaissance. My Robin's a master of stealth. He was taught by the best. I have nothing to worry about. But no matter how much he tried to forget his worries, the Boy of Steel still feared that Robin would be hurt, or worse.

"Since we are not to be discovered, I believe we should disperse ourselves into teams. This way, we can cover more land while decreasing the risk of being detected," Aqualad said. "Miss Martian, what's our ETA?"

"We will arrive in about two hours,"

Superboy returned to his thoughts, in limbo between feeling at ease and feeling nervous.


They arrived at a beach. It was night-time. Everyone felt a little off because of the different time zone. "All right team, we are about three miles away from the base. I have given thought towards the teams. Artemis and I will go together. Kid Flash and Miss Martian will go together and Robin and Superboy are our last team,"

"Superboy's eyes widened while he looked at the sand. This is just like the dream…But then he relaxed upon further pondering of the situation. It's only the two of us. I'll be near him to make sure he's not hurt.

"No problem here," Kid Flashed smiled, zipping over to the martian.

"Aqualad, you may want to reconsider…" Artemis began.

"I'm confident there is no need to reorganize ourselves as I'm sure this mission will end in success. They may not know we're here, but they could pick up our transmissions. Miss Martian, establish a psychic link,"

A few seconds passed. "Psychic link established," she repoted.

"All right, I think first we'll have Miss Martian and Kid Flash go on first towards the base. They are the fastest and this will give Robin and Superboy time to follow behind and stay in a hidden area and wait for Miss Martian to scope out the base and find the best entrance for those who cannot shift their density. After she has found an opening, Robin and Superboy will separate and Miss Martian and Robin will infiltrate the base and collect any data that is available. Kid Flash and Superboy will be on standby in case they are discovered. Artemis and I will scope out the forest, but will remain in the area in case we are needed. Do I need to repeat anything?" No one responded. "All right, Kid Flash and Miss Martian. Please proceed,"

"C'mon Meagan. Race you," Kid Flash said before running off. She only smiled and flew after him.

"Come on Supey, let's get going," Superboy nodded and ran after his friend.


Once they arrived at the base, Robin and Superboy took cover behind some trees, the base in sight with multiple guards circling around it. "Supey, can you make out anything on these guards?" Robin whispered.

Using his super-sight, Superboy focused in on a group of troops. "They are heavily armored, but I can't identify them,"

"Do they have a logo or a symbol?"

"I don't see any yet,"

"Can you look inside the base? Do you see anything useful?"

Now using x-ray vision, Superboy scanned the base. "I only see a lot of troops. Anything else is too far away and crowded to make out,"

"All right, well the amount of troops was expected," Robin then began to use his thoughts. "Miss Martian, have you found anything useful yet?"

"Not yet. I haven't found an entrance and there are guards everywhere. I'm not sure you can get in,"

"I wouldn't worry about that. Hopefully there will be something worth the trouble,"

At this time, Superboy noticed something. Robin remained unaware of this. Superboy scanned the area behind them. He found something and began to focus in on it. He then realized he was looking at a soldier, aiming a sniper rifle at the Boy Wonder. "Robin! Look out!" he yelled, moving instantly in front of his small partner, blocking the bullet just in time. Robin looked behind them and saw the would-be assassin trying to gain cover in the distance. He pulled out a birdarang and threw it, knocking out the man. "I'm sorry. I think I gave away our position," Superboy apologized, referring to his loud warning.

"That doesn't matter. We have a problem now," Robin began speaking to the others via the mental link. "Miss Martian, Kid Flash, we've been discovered. We need support,"

"Understood. Where are you two?" Miss Martian responded.

"We're near the west side of the base. Sorry, not in a position to give a better description," the Boy Wonder said, running away from the base with Superboy.

"All right, I'm coming to find you guys. I'll be there as soon as I can," Kid Flash informed.

Robin and Superboy made their way away from the base, stopping to reassess their options. "Robin, I'm sorry about…" Superboy began.

"Hey, if it weren't for you, Batman would need a new sidekick. You have nothing to apologize for,"

"I just thought I should keep you safe…"

"And you did. You saved me. But now we need to focus. I don't know how long it will be until other troopers spot us. The sniper may have set off a silent alarm before I knocked him out,"

Superboy widened his eyes again, clearly on the alert. "Robin, get down!" Superboy jumped on Robin, bringing them both to the ground, Superboy shielding the smaller of them. There were bullets flying through the air where they once stood. Superboy stood up. "Stay there!" and he charged off, knowing bullets had no effect on him.

Robin took a moment to catch his breath. He then stood up and spotted the men shooting at Superboy. He took out two more birdarangs and threw them precisely at two of the soldiers, knocking them out. He then stealthily moved across the forested area, moving closer to Superboy. He was about to aim at another soldier when he heard a gun being reloaded next to him. He turned and saw one of the enemy aiming right at him. He was planning out his next move when suddenly he saw Superboy reach out and grab the man's gun, destroying it in his grip. The Boy of Steel, using one hand, picked up the soldier and then used his other to strike him with his fist, sending him tumbling across the wooded area. He looked over at the Boy Wonder. "Are you okay?"

"Ya, thanks,"

"There they are! Open fire!"

"Try to separate them!"

The two looked over at the direction of the base and saw more troops heading towards their position. "Stay behing me," Conner jumped in front of the troops, drawing in most of the fire. "M'gann, where are you guys?" he asked, using the mental link.

"I'm coming, and Wally should be there any time now,"

"Hurry, I don't know…" Conner stopped himself when he heard a sound different from all the gunfire. It sounded like one of the bullets hit its intended target. He looked over just in time to see his teammate fall to the ground. His eyes widened as what he saw began to fully sink in.

"We got one of them," he heard from one of the soldiers. The firing did cease for the moment, the soldiers looking at their fallen foe and seeing that their other adversary was no longer fighting back.

Superboy replayed what happened in the last couple of seconds in his mind. He thought he was so careful. He thought he warned the little bird to let him take the fire. Superboy wondered how exactly it happened. He was too occupied to have seen.

He then saw one of them move closer to the Boy Wonder and, using his gun, jabbed at the fallen hero to see if there would be a reaction. "Get away from him!" Superboy yelled, losing himself. He jumped towards the soldier and with one arm, threw him up against a tree where he then fell to the ground.

"He's attacking again! Open Fire!"

Bullets rained down on his skin, but they had no effect. Conner then punch the trunk of a tree and, with the now weakened stems, picked it up and hurled it at the a group of soilders.

"The bullets aren't passing through! Retreat! We need reinforcements!"

They all began to flee from the Boy of Steel. He would have gone after them, but he had more pressing matters. He looked down and all the anger left from his face. He saw Robin still lying on the hard ground, blood staining his costume around his chest. Conner knelt down next to him, bringing him into his arms. "Robin?" No answer. "Robin can you hear me? It's me, Superboy… Conner. Come on Robin, you can't die on me!" Tears began to run down the Boy of Steel's face, falling off and landing on the Boy Wonder's visage. "Robin, please. I… I need you,"

He closed his eyes. "Superboy, where are you? We can't find you," he heard on the psychic link. He didn't answer; he only continued to weep. "Superboy, did something happen?"

The tears continued to escape from his closed eyelids, and as he was about to accept this fate, he began to hear something faint. He opened his eyes, wondering if there was actually a chance. He then focused all his hearing to the body below him. Eventually, he heard a faint heartbeat.

"It can't be," he said in his mind, forgetting the mental link. But it was. His little bird was still alive. He knew immediately he had to act. "Hang on Robin," he said out loud, rising up with his friend in his arms. "I've got you. I won't let anything happen to you," He then began making his way to the Bioship. Using mental link, he communicated with his friends. "M'gann, everyone, the mission is a failure. Head back to the Bioship as soon as you can. I'll explain there,"

"Understood. We'll meet you there in about fifteen minutes," Aqualad responded.

Superboy only ran and jumped faster, trying to cushion his friend with his arms and the rest of his body as much as he could. He kept focusing on the heartbeat. It was his last ray, his only shred, of hope.


Okay, so one more chapter. Should be fun.