Batman had given the team an hour to prepare for the mediation before they all left the Base and headed towards the heart of Gotham City. Wally was instructed to disguise himself for the beginning of the mediation, since revealing his identity could spark a conflict between the groups. Since he had been dead for the past twenty years, Wally felt confident dressing in civies with the hood of his sweatshirt pulled up over his head. Most wouldn't know who he was anyway, and those that did wouldn't expect him to be alive, well, and still only 20.
Gotham had always been a dark place; high crime rate, an unhealthy ratio of poor and rich citizen, and seemingly endless supply of criminally insane masterminds that stalked the city streets. The present Gotham seemed just as frightening, albet for different reasons.
There was a distinct lack of the typical Gotham criminal activity, and no evidence of any recent catastrophes from the Arkham inmates. Connor had explained that with Batman's 'tougher stance on crime' Gotham was now one of the safest cities to live in. Wally wasn't sure how much 'tougher; Batman could get on crime (seeing as how he was already the most feared hero in the league) but whatever it was, he had the entire city terrified! As they walked through the streets, everyone (even innocent civilians and little children) ran back inside, locked their doors, and drew their curtains, hiding from the Dark Knight. No one else on the team seemed concerned by the reaction, but it definitely set Wally's mind on edge.
Batman and the Team arrived at Robinson Park, the decided meeting place for the didn't have to wait long before the Bioship arrived, carrying Superman and his was obvious tension in the air as the two groups faced off. Batman and Superman were locked in an unwavering glaring contest while the rest of the Team (most of which Wally was unfamiliar with) took their stances beside their respective leaders. Perhaps the most unsettling was the unstated tension between Superboy and the green-skinned woman that Wally had to assume was M'Gaan. The woman, much older than Wally remembered, was staring at Connor with sad yet distant eyes while the clone refused to make eye contact.
"You know why we're here Batman. That energy spike was one of the most prominent surges we've had in recent years. Only a powerful force could have created it. We know you're Team was sent to investigate, and since they vacated the area before my scouts arrived, we must assume you found what you were looking for." Superman began with an icy tone that Wally had never heard before.
"We did." Batman answered simply.
"It was no weapon, Superman. We've been over this. My Team and I have no desire to fight you. Though we will not hesitate to defend ourselves if necessary." Batman spoke in a slow, steady tone but Wally could hear the edge of frustration. This was clearly not the first time he and Superman had had this conversation.
"With lethal force!" Superman retorted, enraged by Batman's calm demeanor.
"If necessary." The Dark Knight repeated, causing a visible tension in both sides. It seemed everyone here was preparing themselves for a fight… everyone except Wally.
"Stop it! What is wrong with you guys? You're supposed to be allies! You're supposed to be friends!" Wally shouted out, no longer able to contain himself. He ripped off his hood and glared at the two mentors with burning disapproval.
"What is…?"
"The source of the energy surge." Batman said, answering Superman's unfinished question.
"Kid Flash clearly didn't die in that energy surge in 2016. He was transported into the future, resulting in a similar surge: the one you claim provided me with some kind of a weapon." The Bat continued.
Superman took a moment to get over his shock, regaining his stern expression as he turned to the green-skinned woman at his side.
"Miss Martian?" The woman lowered her cloak and floated a few paced towards the young redhead. Her eyes began to glow and Wally could feel a presence in his mind, though with far more subtlety than he was used to from the Martian.
M'Gaan, it's really me. I'm alive. Wally told her, knowing she'd be able to read the sincerity in his thoughts. Although the Martian didn't answer Superman directly, her reaction was proof enough. The glowing light in her eyes faded to the familiar green orbs and her entire appearance shifted, reverting back to a younger version of herself. Wally couldn't help but smile when took the form he was so accustomed to; M'Gaan looked just like she did the day he disappeared!
Forgetting (or perhaps not caring enough to acknowledge) the tension amidst the groups, M'Gaan darted forwards and threw her arms around Wally in a longing embrace. Both Linx and Robin, thinking that the Martian was attacking, drew their weapons and Connor had to throw himself in front of them with his arms raised in order to halt their retaliation.
"You see Superman? No weapon, just a lost hero. There's no need to turn Gotham into a warzone." Batman offered.
M'Gaan finally broke her embrace and backed off enough to take in the sight of her long-lost friend. Wally was sure the Martian was going to cry friend relief! But when her eyes suddenly snapped open, he knew this wouldn't be the happy reunion both of them were hoping for. M'Gaan shoved Wally out of the way and reached out her arm, directing her telekinetic powers at Superboy. Connor was flung several feet and hit the ground violently, prompting Robin and Linx to continue their assault. Neither of the young heroes saw the black-tipped arrow embedded in the ground directly where Connor had been standing seconds before. None of them realized that M'Gaan had just tried to save their Leader's life!
As Robin and Linx darted forwards, M'Gaan's own Team came to her defense and the entire park suddenly erupted in the very battle they had been desperate to avoid. Wally sped over to the arrow, knowing that this entire fight was prompted by some third party. Maybe I could stop this fighting if I can find the true person responsible! He thought to himself, skidding to a stop by the weapon. A familiar whooshing sound made the speedster twist on his heels, narrowly missing a second arrow that had clearly been meant for him. This time, Wally's attention was drawn to the source of the shot (the roof of a nearby building) and he watched as a flash of blonde hair disappeared from view.
"Artemis? Artemis!" Wally called out, forgetting about the battle as he scanned the rooftops for his girlfriend. Without a moment's hesitation, Wally sped off to find her, forgetting the battle in his desperation to find the girl he loved.
"Wally no! You don't… Linx! Go after him!" Connor shouted, too engaged in his own fight to chase after the speedster himself. Linx shot another few arrows at her current target before flipping back from the battle to track down Kid Flash. She wasn't eager to leave her Team, but she knew better than to ignore a direct order from her leader.
Linx ran after Wally, letting his shouts guide her out of the park and into the back alleys of Gotham. When he finally found him, Wally was dodging arrows from Linx' greatest rival.
"Artemis? Artemis! Don't shoot, it's me! It's Wally! I'm alive Arty, and I've been looking for you! Please!" Wally shouted out, feeling encouraged when the rain of arrows suddenly stopped. Linx, however, felt no such comfort.
"Wait… you know Artemis Crock? You're working with her?" Linx asked in disbelief.
"Of course I know her. I'm her boyfriend! I was going to ask her to marry me! The two of us… we were a team!" Wally answered, not recognizing the hostility in Linx' posture until the girl sprang at him. Having inherited talents from both her mother and her father, Linx was as fearsome as a fighter as she was an archer. She punched Wally in the face and carried on her momentum in order to sent a flying kick towards his chest.
Wally was too distracted to block the first two strikes, resulting in a split lip and a severely bruised rib. The pain was enough to snap him back into focus and he was able to use his speed to block or dodge the rest of Linx' attacks.
"Whoa! Hey! Cut it out Linx, I'm on your side!" Wally pleaded, trying to fend off the fierce attacks while still keeping an eye on his surroundings. With an all-out battle zone a few blocks away and the archer who started it all still looming on the rooftops, this was really not the time to be fighting amongst themselves!
"No you're not! You're with her! You're a traitor, just like Robin said!"
"What are you talking about? Artemis was a part of Young Justice! She was one of the founding members! Artemis is a hero!" Wally pleaded, shoving Linx away to give himself a few paces to breath.
The young heroine stopped her assault to glare at Wally with utter loathing. She raised her hand and pulled off her mask, revealing a familiar face that looked like an exact cross between Roy Harper and Jade Nguyen.
"Aunt Artemis killed my parents. She's no hero." Linx hissed, taking up her bow and drawing back an arrow aimed straight at the speedster.
"And neither are you."