Kaldur with the drive in hand went to the meeting spot at the pier. He waited slightly impatiently at the pier. He saw the Bioship fly over him right on cue, while Manta walked down the dock with the basket in his hand.
"Hello, Kaldur."
"David, hand me the child and you may go on your way with your drive."
"You hand me the drive first, then you will get the child," David said with a smirk.
"Why do you need this drive?" Kaldur asked, stalling for time.
"It is not for me. That is all I am saying." David answered as he placed the basket down.
"Are you selling the drive in exchange for money and other favors?" Kaldur asked, already knowing the answer.
David didn't say a word. Kaldur heard Miss Martian entering his mind.
"Aqualad, we have arrived at your location. ETA 5 minutes. Whatever you are planning to do … please do it quickly."
"Manta, I will put the drive down, we will walk clockwise to collect our items and go our ways," Kaldur said as he placed the drive on the ground and began his walk.
The two started to slowly walk their way to their possessions before Manta could even get within 10 feet of the drive. He saw Aquaman, the Team, and several members of the League on the boardwalk.
"You played me," David said as he snatched the drive before running to the child .
Manta's foot soldiers came into the picture and attacked the unwanted visitors. Kaldur fought off his father to get to that child. The basket ended up on the edge of the dock. Kaldur and Manta fought over the drive and the basket as it ends with a loud crackling bang in the air, which leads to Kaldur hanging onto the edge of the dock with one hand holding the basket handle with the other. The basket started to slip through his fingers.
"No!" Aquaman's voice shouted in a panic as he fought harder to save his children.
Kaldur's hand slipped as they both went into the sea. Manta took his gun and shot into the water as he made his departure. He's foot soldiers followed like rodents behind him, leaving Aquaman staring angrily at the small pool of bloody water. He wanted to dive after them but Superman stopped him.
"I don't see Kaldur's body or the baby's." Superman said in shock.
"I'm going after them," Aquaman said as he positioned himself for the jump.
"Wait! You don't get it. I know that Kaldur's body is down there but the baby's heartbeat just vanished." Superman added confusedly.
Before Zatanna could say a word to explain the matter, they heard sounds coming from the end of the dock and saw Kaldur struggling to get out of the water. The Team ran to help him out as Aquaman looked relieved. He along with the League ran to him to see if he was alright.
"Are you alright my son?" Aquaman asked as he held his son up from falling.
"I am fine." Kaldur lied a he coughed aggressively.
"What happened to Julian?" Aquaman asked worriedly.
"Would you b-believe me if I told you that he w-was never here to beg-gin with?" Kaldur asked trying to catch his breath.
"What do you mean?" Aquaman asked confused.
"I promised you my liege, I would keep the child safe at any cost. We need to return back to the cave." Kaldur explained as he slowly placed his hand to cover his bleeding side.
"Why the cave?" Batman asked honestly curious yet confused.
"I left him with the one person that no one would think to look for," Kaldur answered as he lightly leaned on Aquaman for support.
They quickly made their way to the Bioship and head back to the Happy Harbor.
When they arrived at the cave, Kaldur had no clue he would have to face a very angry Queen Mera and an, even more, angrier Orm. Before anyone could speak, Mera slapped Kaldur in the face causing his face to turn slightly. Aquaman and Orm pulled Mera away from Kaldur before she could do more damage.
"How dare you take my son!" She screamed angrily as she flailed frantically in the arms of her husband and brother in law. "My son is gone and you are to blame for this!" she shouted.
Before his team could say anything, Kaldur held up his hand and placed it on his ear piece.
"Arrow, can you come out here for a moment," Kaldur said as he coughed a tiny amount of blood into his hand.
"Kaldur, I'm right here." Green Arrow said looking confused.
"I am not speaking to you Green Arrow," Kaldur said politely as he groaned through his teeth.
As everyone looked more confused than ever, Red Arrow stepped out of one of the Team's rooms and into the main room. He walked to Kaldur with a basket in his hand. Roy slowly placed the basket on the ground as he looked shocked by Kaldur's physical appearance. Kaldur quickly bent down to the basket and folds down the top of it. He slowly and carefully took Julian out of the basket, making sure he was wrapped in the blankets. He walked to the royal family with the child in his arms as the child slowly started to stir. Mera started to cry in joy as Orm and Arthur sighed in relief. Kaldur bowed respectfully as he went back to the basket. He took the original drive from the basket and handed it to Batman. He went to stand next to Roy and asked him a question so quietly so only he could hear so that they wouldn't create a scene.
"May I bother you for one more favor my friend?" Kaldur asked as his vision goes fuzzy.
"Kaldur, what's wrong?" Roy asked as he saw blood running down Kaldur's leg as it made a pool of red on the floor.
Kaldur moved his bloody hand and Roy was shocked to see two possibly three medium size bullet holes lodged into his side and possibly another one in his abdomen. Before Kaldur could say a word, he was passed out on the floor, blood slowly leaving his body. He heard people crying and shouting but he blacked out completely. The Team rushed him to the infirmary hoping and praying that Kaldur would live.