Chapter Nine

Metropolis

He still had a large hole in his torso, but Kaldur was able to walk around and even keep up with his Atlantean sorcery. He discovered that he lost his water bearers, but that didn't mean he couldn't fight if necessary. He had completed his classes at the conservatory of sorcery in Atlantis just days before the invasion, which included combat sorcery.

La'gaan was watching intently as he was supposed to start his training the week after the invasion. He was amazed at how Kaldur could do all the amazing sorcery the 17 year old was witnessing; if only he could fight like Kaldur.

"I know you are there, La'gaan; would you like me to teach you some of what I learned at the Conservatory at your age." Kaldur said, knowing that the boy was watching.

"Could you really?!" La'gaan excitedly asked.

"Of course, shall we begin?" Kaldur told La'gaan then asked.

La'gaan was eager to learn and so he nodded his head with a grin on his face. The two Atlanteans then started the training process.

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10 Years Ago

Central City was under attack, and most of downtown was destroyed and anyone still alive was hiding from these invaders and one group of five, a family, was worried.

"Mom's what's going to happen to dad?" The redhead with the darker shade of hair asked.

"I don't know Bart, but he has to try what he can to protect Central City and the world. I know the Justice League is doing what they can too." The red-haired woman, hair in a ponytail, said as she hugged her son.

"Your aunt's right, Wally, don't worry; Barry will be fine." The other woman said as the other 10 year old was shaking and had tears in his eyes.

"I know Barry, and he'll do alright. He's a hero and the hero always wins." The man of the group said.

Both children calmed down, but they were still worried about their super powered family member. The five Central City citizens watched as more of the city was destroyed, but it wasn't until Wally's mother started crying that one of the invaders came closer. At first it seemed to turn around and go away after not seeing any movement. They all had a sigh of relief build up, but their cover was blown when Bart sneezed.

All of a sudden the partially collapsed building they were hiding in was pulled apart and the five members of the Allen/West were exposed to whatever the invaders had planned for them.

"Ah, two more children for our army." One of the three invaders said as it reached out and grabbed Wally by the collar of his shirt.

"WALLY!" His parents both cried out.

One of the other two invaders held their arm up and a red energy blast came out of the glowing ring on the invader's hand. As suddenly as the energy launched, Wally's parents fell backward while they were still sitting down, and their eyes showed no life at all.

"MOM, DAD!" Wally screamed as tears streamed down his face.

"Take him to the holding area; I'll bring the other boy once this last adult is dead." The leader of the trio said.

"Yes, second in command Razer." The one holding Wally said and with that he flew off, the 10 year old still crying for his parents.

It wasn't long before Wally saw a blur attack the other two invaders, and when it stopped, Wally had some hope as he was being carried off.

"I'll stop you from killing any more people." The figure clad in red said.

"You, don't make me laugh; we have killed plenty of heroes, and it will not stop with you." Razer said as he held is ring up and fired energy. The hero ran at the speed of sound and was able to dodge the energy.

Razer didn't stop as more energy was fired. The last bit did hit a good mark, the hero's leg.

"FLASH." Bart cried out as he ran to the fallen hero.

"Bart, run." Flash told the boy.

"Dad I won't leave you." Bart whispered.

"You have to, get somewhere safe." Flash whispered back.

With tears in his eyes, Bart ran off at super speed.

Wally was crying even more, but inside hoped his cousin would be alright. Before his aunt and uncle were out of his sight, Wally watched as the invader named Razer sent out two beams of energy, which hit their mark.

He was so shocked that he didn't even holler out for his aunt and uncle, but the tears were even stronger as the invader carrying him flew away after seeing that the last two adult were dead.

Gotham Holding Area

Wally was thrown into a cage like area and was crying about losing his family, but he did hope that Bart was safe. His body shook with sobs and that's when laughter erupted around him. The 10 year old didn't say anything, just cried even more and the 'leader' of the teens stepped forward.

"You'll stop crying soon enough…..after the pain that's coming." The teen said.

"Hey, leave him alone." A young voice said.

The teens looked to the voice; then just laughed even more. Soon enough the owner of a voice, a child no older than 11 walked over to the leader and, with ease, picked him up and threw him across the cage. Seeing that this boy was not to be messed with, the teens left the two of them alone and went to check on their friend.

"Hey, are you ok?" The dark haired boy said.

"Yea, but my parents died trying to protect me from these things. I'm Wally by the way." Wally said as he looked at the ebony haired boy.

"I don't have a name, but it's nice to meet you, Wally." The ebony said.

"Well, how about Conner, you look like one to me." Wally told his new friend.

"Alright, I'm Conner." The boy said.

"We'll get through this right; these things aren't bringing the kids together to kill us all at once are they?" Wally asked.

"No, from what I heard when I was captured, they want to reprogram all the kids into an army." Conner told Wally.

Wally started to get sad, but Conner somehow knew a way to cheer the boy up. He touched the boy's shoulder and it seemed to work.

"Let's just stick together, alright?" Conner said and this earned a smile and nod from Wally.

That memory fades and is replaced with one that happened before the invasion.

12 years from the present

"Hey Wally, want to see everything the way I do when I run?" The blonde man asked.

"Really, Uncle Barry, you'll carry me while you run around as Flash?" Wally asked his super powered uncle.

"Yea, in fact, we'll go anywhere around the world you want to." Barry said to his 8 year old nephew.

"How about Japan for lunch?" Wally excitedly asked.

"Alright, sushi it is." Barry said and he picked up the boy who was about to jump up and down from excitement.

As soon as Barry made sure Wally was ready, with a special pair of goggles that wouldn't break at supersonic speeds, the scarlet speedster took off, and Wally watched as Tokyo came into view within seconds.

It took a bit more time, but soon enough, Wally's memories were completely restored. Wally's reaction was different from Conner's as in the fact that he wasn't mad at all, he was happy that he knew what all happened before the invasion and that he was happy, but also sad as he remembered that he saw his parents and aunt and uncle get killed.

"Wally?" Reiena asked.

"I'm alright, Rei. I'm glad Uncle Barry was able to at least save Bart from what happened to me." Wally said as he wiped tears from his face.

Without thinking Reiena hugged the speedster, and he felt better knowing he had her there with him through this process.

"Wally, I know what it's like to see your parents killed. Well he wasn't my parents, but my Uncle J'onn was killed when the Lanterns arrived."

10 Years Ago

"M'gann, please stay here, I do not know what these invaders are after, but I must protect Chicago's citizens. Should anything happen to me in this fight, I want you to go to Gotham City. If possible, find Batman and he will keep you safe." Martian Manhunter told his 16 year old neice.

"I can help Uncle J'onn." M'gann said as she seemed ready to fight.

"I am sure you can, but I cannot lose you, and your parents would never forgive me either." J'onn told her.

"Alright, I'll stay hidden; just be safe out there, alright." M'gann said.

"I shall." J'onn said, and with that, he left M'gann in her hiding place to fight off these invaders.

One Hour Later

She was still hiding, but just as she was about to poke her head out to see what was going on, she felt someone entering her mind.

"My dear M'gann; I am sorry, but the invaders were too strong for me. Please follow my instructions and head to Gotham." J'onn's voice said in her mind.

"Uncle J'onn, please don't leave me." M'gann mentally said, tears falling from her eyes.

"I cannot survive, I am sorry. Goodbye M'gann." J'onn weakly said, and with that, the link was severed.

She tried to contact him again, but she couldn't find his mind anywhere. She didn't want to believe it, but the worse has happened since she arrived on earth: she was alone on a planet that was different from her home world. M'gann didn't want to go, but she had heard of Batman from her uncle's stories of fighting side by side with the fabled Dark Knight. With that she flew off, but made sure to use her camouflage mode so she wasn't found by any of these invaders.

"M'gann, are you alright?" Reiena asked.

"I was just remembering how I lost Uncle J'onn." M'gann said, realizing that she had zoned out to that horrible day with Wally and Reiena sitting in front of her.

"It's alright, M'gann. I don't have all my memories back yet, but I do remember when mine and Nightwing's parents were killed. It was horrible; the only good thing was that the invaders didn't know about him. I was trying to get to him when they caught me. Mom and dad cried out and that's how the invaders found them." Reiena said, a single tear falling down her cheek.

"I'll leave you guys alone so you can get your memories back Rei." Wally said as he got up and headed out.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Flamebird?" M'gann asked.

"You know who Dick is, so you can call me Reiena, it's alright." Reiena said as she looked the 26 year old Martian in the eyes.

"Can we get something to eat before starting?" M'gann asked.

"I thought you'd never ask." Reiena said as she smiled and with that the two of them headed out to get some supper.