()()()()()()()()
Cameron watched the footage on the screen crossing his arms as he watched the deaths of the Justice League's top members. Red Tornado turned off the screen, Zatara's face appearing on a second one.
"Tornado, did you...?" His expression was pained.
"Yes Zatara. We saw." He responded, a thin undercurrent of worry lacing the otherwise monotonous voice. "Celestial defenses have failed. Initiate all terrestrial measures."
Zatara nodded. "Affirmative. See you in the field." He cut the connection.
"I must join the league." Tornado stated, turning back to the teens. "We will protect the planet at all costs. But should we fail, the responsibility falls to you."
Kaldur glanced over at the other teens. "We stand ready."
()()()()()()()
"This is Iris West Allen reporting Live. Extraterrestrials have brought their relentless global attack to Central City!" The red headed woman reported, as civilians screamed and ran in fear of the attackers.
She started as the alien's weapons struck the archway behind her, and killed several civilians. There was a red blur, and she was gone as a blast struck the spot she had just been standing.
The Camera man looked around in confusion, and suddenly the screen was blinded by gold, and he was standing on a roof, Zatara standing before him. The Flash appeared on screen once more, setting the reporter back on her feet.
"You should both be safe here." Zatara said hurriedly. "At least for now."
"Thank you…. Flash." The Reporter said haltingly, seemingly in shock. "And Zatara?" She said, blinking between the two of them. The Flash gave her a pat on the shoulder and sped away, Zatara following his lead on a magical platform.
"Denny, you okay?" She asked the cameraman, who held his hand out in a thumbs up sign. "As you can see," she gestured, obviously trying to get back into the reporter mindset. "The Justice League is attempting to hold the line."
The Flash and Zatara had just arrived on a building that was on fire, preparing to rescue several civilians trapped on the roof. An Alien ship dive bombed them, and shot out at them.
The roof exploded in a cloud of dust and debris. "No…" She said, reaching out as some of their hope slipped away. The camera pulled out into the studio, as a ship flew up behind the unsuspecting reporter.
"Iris! Iris get out of there!" The blonde Anchorwoman yelled, and the camera fizzled before going dead.
She sat down, attempting to calm herself. "I'm sorry, we're experiencing technical difficulties from our Central City feed." She said in a calm voice, even as she glanced back at the monitor. "We take you now to a devastated Tai Pei,
where another League Contingent is having a bit more luck." The once brightly lit city was being torn asunder, building rapidly catching fire and people's screams echoing down the street. A ship flew by, promptly killing off both of the Hawk heroes.
Green Arrow and Black Canary were tag teaming on top of a building, ships exploding at Black Canary's voice as Green Arrow shot at and blew holes into the side of the oncoming invasion. Suddenly, a ship flew in through the cloud of
smoke and disintegrated them. The screen fizzled out.
The Blonde anchorwoman turned back slowly. "Ladies and gentlemen, we've lost Black Canary, Green arrow, and the Hawks. Other heroes reported dead or missing include Batman, Icon, Atom, and Aquaman."
Cameron turned as the communicator in the Cave computer turned on. "Red Tornado to Cave. I fear I am all that remains of the League."
"Our team-!" Robin didn't even get to finish his sentence as the communication cut off.
Cameron stared up at the screens, watching the horror unfold. "We are Earth's Heroes now." Kaldur said solemnly.
"So what are we waiting for? A theme song?" Superboy asked, raising an eyebrow at Aqualad.
"A strategy." Kaldur responded, stepping forward. "Earth's weapons are ineffective, and it has been made tragically clear that direct attack will not succeed."
"Checking satellite imagery." Robin said, opening the 3D Global map. It expanded, taking up the entire sensor pad. There were areas like angry burns across the earth, red areas staining each and every continent. "Here is where the aliens are now."
"This one get lost?" Superboy asked, pointing to one very concentrated area near the Baltic Sea.
The globe lowered, focusing in on the location. Robin's eyes widened. "That's Superman's Fortress of Solitude!"
Superboy raised an eyebrow. "Superman has a Fortress of Solitude?"
"That's a bit much for a guy wearing spandex don't you think?" Cameron commented, earning a poke in the rib from Artemis' elbow.
"It's power source must have attracted the aliens' attention." Robin said, apparently ignoring Cameron's attempt at humor. "At least enough to send a scouting ship to investigate."
"Must be some fortress." Superboy grumbled turning away.
"Connor..." M'gann started, gently wrapping a gloved hand around his bicep.
"No, it's okay." Superboy said, turning back to her. "I guess there's a lot about Superman I'll never know." He said bitterly. "Well, you know… now..." Superboy added lamely.
Cameron raised an eyebrow. I guess Batman was right, we do have Daddy issues.
"We will target this lone ship." Kaldur said, eyes set determinedly on the red dot.
"Yeah, break it down! Build more! Hit those ugly aliens with their own mojo!" Kid Flash said loudly, punching his fist into his opposite palm.
Artemis punched him in the arm. "Ow!" He yelped.
"Martian and Kryptonian in the house." Artemis said, glancing over at the other two heroes.
"Not that all aliens are automatically ugly." He explained with a sheepish smile.
Cameron snorted. "Dumbass." He said, and they all walked off towards the bioship.
()()()()()()()
Cameron hid behind an icy dune, wearing a white tank top and pale blue leggings as he watched the ship closely; waiting for M'gann's thumbs up signal.
The ship suddenly groaned, and a large piece of machinery was suddenly torn off, causing it to wobble in the air and collapse onto the ice.
Communications disabled. M'gann called. Propulsion disabled. Artemis turned and fired off an arrow at the lower component of the ship, blocking out the red tinted window with a dark foam. Suddenly, the gun spun, aiming towards her dune.
And ET's are sealed inside! Artemis called back, having been missed by inches by a stray blast.
Aqualad burst through the ice, landing on top of the ship. The gun turned to fire at him, only to be tackled by Wolf, who snarled as he bit into the machine. The beam swung, trying to rid itself of the animal.
Superboy grabbed the machine, and Wolf dropped to the ground. Kid Flash and Robin darted forward, Cameron following, raising the frozen water to merge and freeze the ship into the ice, holding it in place.
Robin flipped onto the spaceship, and pulled out his holo computer. Identifying weapons' structural stress points and links to the ship. Robin said through the mind link. Here, here and here! He said, pointing to each point on the ship.
M'gann let out a telekinetic pulse, slicing through the material. Superboy began to pull on the gun, trying to rip it from it's socket.
Suddenly, Wolf knocked Superboy out of the way just as a beam exploded from it's base, erasing him from existence.
Superboy landed in a roll, and turned back in shock. Wolf... M'gann murmured quietly, her mouth open in shock.
Oh no... Cameron softly sighed into the dry frozen air.
Robin turned back to his computer. There was no indication of feed back... .I'm sorry... He said, turning back to Superboy.
...Can't do anything for him now... He answered back quietly, and began to make his way back over to the ship.
He began to tear at the gun once more. Let's go. He growled. Finally, the gun came free of it's wiring, and M'gann and Superboy hopped over onto the camouflaged bioship.
M'gann placed her hands along the side of the ship.Rerouting systems integrate the weapon into the ship's bio matrix. She said, as they joined her on the ship. I'll need to de-camouflage for a few minutes. She said, letting the ship fade back into existence.
We may not have a few minutes. Robin warned, and Cameron looked up to see two ships beginning to make a flyby. They began to turn back towards them.
Miss Martian! Open fire! Kaldur ordered.
Can't! Weapons systems are offline to incorporate the new cannon, and that's not fully integrated yet either! She said, her hands still working on the ship, which was attempting to meld itself with the weapon.
Gotcha covered! Artemis shouted, stepping out from behind the dune to aim at the flying ships. Get inside! She said, letting loose 3 arrows.
Artemis get over here! Cameron yelled, turning to run over to her.
I'm almost there! She shouted, darting through the snow towards him.
One of the ships crashed into the ice behind her. It's gun turned and began to hum angrily.
Artemis behind you! M'gann called.
Artemis whipped around, turning to shoot her bow before she was engulfed in golden light.
"ARTEMIS!" Cameron and M'gann screamed, reaching out for her.
"Artemis!" Kid Flash yelled, as Aqualad slid down the ship and pulled out his weapons.
"Get inside! All of you!" He yelled, changing the weapons into watery whips.
But they weren't needed.
Cameron let out a scream of rage, and threw his arms forwards, sending a wave of icy spikes through the ship's hull and through the gun. He watched it explode, and he couldn't help but scream. That wasn't enough, it wasn't enough!
He let out a grief stricken cry, and ripped open the wasteland, sending towers of spikes in every direction. "ARTY!"
He fell to his knees, angry tears running down his face and punched the snow. "No!"
"They're dead! Every single alien if it's the last thing I do!" Wally said savagely behind him.
Cameron stood slowly, and turned to Wally, glistening tear tracks freezing along his ice armor as his eyes burned with vicious revenge. "I'll be right at your side." He said.
()()()()()()()
It was silent in the ship, Cameron trying to ignore the tears that were still stubbornly making their way down his face as he felt the cool air, which was normally comforting, numbing him. He felt empty and hollow.
M'gann was gasping, trying to contain the tears prickling at her eyes.
Finally, Wally snapped, beginning to beat the console with his fists, shouting angrily with grief.
"There will be time to mourn later." Kaldur said, determinedly soldiering on past his grief. "Now, we have a job to do. Defend the Earth, and make sure Artemis' sacrifice was not in vain."
"Back to the Cave?" M'gann asked; her eyes wide and full of pain and grief.
"The Hall of Justice. The Human race must know that there are still heroes defending them." He said, looking every bit the leader of the Team.
"There is still Hope."
()()()()()()()
They had just arrived just in time to see that the Washington government building was being attacked by the alien invaders. "Superboy! Get out there and draw their attention!" Kaldur ordered.
Superboy nodded, and M'gann opened a hole for him to drop through. He jumped, landing on top of one of the spaceship's gun, crushing it under his momentum before proceeding to punch the hull repeatedly with his superhuman fists.
The ship began to veer off course, smoke rising from its engines.
M'gann fired off their recently acquired gun, shooting down the other two ships. Superboy pulled up in front of the military men with the ship, hopping off as the team landed beside him.
Some of the military began to cheer once they saw the heroes, but a few gasped at the sight of Cameron.
"I'm not Superman." Superboy said as they stepped out of the ship, apparently responding to one of the soldier's comments. Cameron made sure to stand at the back.
"I don't know who you are son." One of the Generals admitted as he stepped forward. "And right now, I don't care. You wear the S, and you got the job done."
"I'm not Superman." He murmured again.
"Tell that to the enemy." The older man smirked, before turning to Aqualad. "General Wade E. Ling. U.S Airforce." He saluted.
"Aqualad. Justice League." Kaldur introduced in kind. "We'll help you salvage as many of the alien's cannons as possible. Then we take back what is ours." He said, his eyes hardening.
()()()()()()()
Cameron glanced around as they entered the Hall of Justice, taking in what must have been immaculate white walls and polished marble flooring. He turned to see the Team looking at the dusty, destroyed remains of the Justice League statues.
"They're really gone." Robin said softly, turning to look at the rubble. Cameron thought back to Canary and Batman, and thought about how much he had changed in such a short time. He normally wasn't a very religious, and often cursed in god's name. But, for this quiet moment, he sent a quick silent prayer to whatever god was up there that he hoped that Artemis, Black Canary, and Batman were all safe and at peace on the other side.
M'gann floated forward and softly sobbed at the statue of her uncle, touching the once golden chin of her family member.
She suddenly flew back, as if startled, and raised her arms, lifting the massive statue off of the pile of rubble to reveal... ... Martian Manhunter?!
Cameron gasped, nearly tripping over his own feet as he stumbled back a few steps in surprise, as M'gann seemed to light up at the sight.
"Uncle J'onn!" She cried, tossing the boulder to the side carelessly as the Martian rubbed his head, seemingly confused by his surroundings.
She flew forward to hug him, but Aqualad darted in front of her, holding up a hand for her to stay back. M'gann. Check his mind. He ordered. Make sure he is whom he appears to be.
It's him. He's real! He's alive! She said, her voice bubbling in her excitement and joy.
"But we saw you get disintegrated." Superboy said, narrowing his eyes at the potential threat. "You, and Superman, AND everyone"
Cameron joined him near the front. It this guy ended up being one of the aliens, he was going to make sure he got first dibs.
M'gann moved to help her potentially fake uncle, putting an arm over her shoulder as she helped him stand.
"Yes... .I remember," The Martian said as if recalling a faraway memory, holding his head. "But... .I cannot remember how I survived... or how I arrived here... ." He said, and looked down at his niece.
"Maybe you were density shifting and the beam passed right through you!" M'gann suggested, her eyes glowing with relief and new hope.
"Scrambling your brains along the way!" Robin nodded.
"My mind is clouded... ." He trailed off, placing a green hand against his forehead. "I feel certain I had something very important to tell you... ."
Hello Wally! Wally said mentally, slapping himself in the forehead. Come on!
Robin turned to look at him, and followed him outside.
Cameron followed, wondering what Wally was off to fuss about this time.
Take a look at the gun again. Wally told Robin.
Robin gave him a weird look. Just do it. Wally repeated, a huge hopeful smile on his face.
Robin turned and pulled out the holo watch, opening the diagram of the gun he had downloaded off of the alien spacecraft. Cameron watched them as Wally began to read the graphs and complex math equations written on it.
I KNEW IT! Wally said, excitedly pointing to the energy points on the diagram. Look! It's giving off Zeta peans! The same things that power our Zeta Tubes! This thing doesn't disintegrate! It teleports! He said, excitedly grabbing Robin's arm. Artemis is Alive!
Oh god. Cameron thought, feeling his heart stop in his chest. Artemis could be alive. And at the hands of those aliens...
Well maybe- Robin started
No maybe's! They're all alive! Wally exclaimed, pointing at the screen.
Wally, Artemis could be- Cameron started, but was cut off at the sound of alien ships flying in.
They began to shoot at everyone, forcing the three of them to take cover behind the large military jeep they had just been previously standing on.
We're on our way! Kaldur called through the mind link.
Negative! We can't win this! Robin called back, putting a finger to his temple as he glanced back at the incoming ships. Miss Martian, camo the Bioship-
But it was too late. in a burst of golden light, the ship had disappeared.
There was a cry though the mind link.
We're falling back! Robin called, and the group made a break for the doors of the Hall, a few of the soldiers remaining behind to make a final stand.
The General looked around at the doors which were generally password locked. "We're trapped" he said.
Suddenly, the doors opened with a small hiss. "Maybe not." Aqualad responded and quickly ran through the opening, all of them following in pursuit.
They ran into what appeared to have once been a library. "We can all Zeta to the Cave if you can grant us computer clearance to access the tubes." Aqualad explained as several soldiers took up position near the door in case any stragglers made it past the defense.
"I can only authorize one at a time." J'onn responded leaning on M'gann's shoulder.
"Send the soldiers first." Aqualad said.
"Delay that!" The General snapped suddenly, causing them to turn. "You six are assets we cannot afford to lose!" He said, holding up an AK-47. J'onn turned back to look at Aqualad.
Kaldur looked at him and nodded.
J'onn moved to stand in front of the scanner, a green light tracing up and down his form. "Override. Martian Manhunter. Zero seven."
"Recognized." The computer responded, opening up the Zeta Tube Doors. "Access granted."
Miss Martian moved first. "Miss Martian. B zero five."
Robin stepped in next. "Robin. B zero one." He disappeared into the golden light.
"Kid Flash. B zero three." Cameron turned as an explosion went off behind them.
Cameron heard the cry of a soldier as he was pinned under debris. He and Superboy moved to help him. Kaldur turned and threw Kid Flash into the beam, the speedster letting out a cry of surprise before he too was teleported.
Superboy picked up the massive rock and temporarily used it as a shield as Cameron moved and lifted the wounded soldier onto his back, letting him wrap his arms around his neck as he moved back towards the tube.
"He goes next." Superboy said, helping Cameron support him as they moved him to the scanner.
"Fine. Then you next!" Kaldur said, his head twitching back to the firefight.
"Private Jason Barr. USMC." The computer stated.
"Can you make it?" Connor asked the soldier.
He nodded, limping towards the light. "Sure Superman." He said.
"I'm not-" but he had already walked through.
Superboy pushed Cameron forward. "Dude!" He said, even as the scanner moved up and down his form.
"You first." He said.
"Cameron Mahkent. A zero five." Cameron glanced at him one more time before going through the tube.
He walked into the Cave, and turned to see the Soldier leaning up against the console. He walked over and slipped under his arm, and the soldier shivered.
"Gosh you're cold!" He said, as Superboy arrived after him. Cameron laughed, and pulled him over to the side, out of the way from the landing area.
"It's one of my superpowers." He said, and something clicked in the soldier's eyes.
"You're Icicle Junior!" He said, pointing at him in surprise.
"And he's part of the League." Superboy said, walking over.
The Soldier looked in between the two and sighed, taking off his helmet and revealing a brown haired buzz cut. "I guess both sides have to work together to survive huh." He said, looking up in between the two.
Cameron started. Through this entire Invasion mess, not once had his father or his criminal background crossed his mind. How was he? Was he alright? Was his father even alive? Cameron grimaced, and looked down. "I guess so." He murmured, and moved over to wait by the others.
"Recognized Martian Manhunter. Zero seven." M'gann moved forward to help her uncle as he fell from the Zeta Tube.
"Aqualad?" Superboy asked, moving over to help.
J'onn shook his head, bowing it.
()()()()()()()
"Our next mission is clear." Robin said. "If we believe the aliens have been transporting their victims."
"We do." Kid Flash confirmed.
"Then the only reasonable detention facility is here." He said, and pulled up a photograph of a large alien pod like structure, formed like a bizarre head of asparagus. "Their mother ship, atop what used to be Smallville. Ring any bells?"
Robin asked, turning to J'onn.
He stood "No... I'm sorry." He said, still blinking slowly.
"Superboy, Cameron, you'll create a distraction."
"No!" M'gann said, stepping in front of Superboy and Cameron, who looked at her in surprise. "He's offering you two up as sacrifices! Aqualad would never do that!" She said, turning a disbelieving gaze on Robin.
"No, you're right. Aqualad would sacrifice himself." Robin said solemnly. "A mistake that just cost us our leader." He said, and narrowed his eyes at her. "Superboy and Cameron are the most likely to be perceived as a threat, motivating the aliens to deploy."
"Worst case, they're just teleported inside." Kid Flash tried to reassure. "and we set him free along with Artemis, and Aqualad and everyone."
Superboy turned to M'gann and gave her a meaningful look, obviously trying to comfort her mentally.
Cameron still couldn't help but get the feeling he was the only one still getting the bad vibes about the situation.
()()()()()()()
Robin stood on the small outcropping lining the base of the alien mothership, looking out through his binoculars.
Cameron took deep breaths, preparing himself for the final battle.
"First Team, Deploy!" Robin ordered.
M'gann and J'onn lifted into the air, and held each other's hands as they became invisible. They flew into the ship unnoticed. Ready, in position.
Alright, climb onto my back. Superboy said, and crouched in front of Cameron.
What? Cam asked, raising an eyebrow as he stared at him.
Well, I'd hate to see you trying to climb at thing. Superboy smirked.
You do have a point. Cameron sniggered, and climbed onto Superboy's back, pinching his knees into Connor's sides for a better grip.
They lifted into the air like a rocket, and Cameron gasped. This would be freaking awesome if this weren't so terrifying! Cameron yelled at Superboy who just laughed out loud.
They crashed onto the ship, nearly knocking Cameron from his back.
Cameron stumbled off, letting the ice armor form over himself as Superboy ran and nearly tore a gun out of it's socket, some of the wires continuing their weak hold against Superboy's muscular grip.
Be careful! Don't disconnect the power source! Robin warned.
Superboy turned to the other sentinel guns. "Alright you glorified trespassers!" He yelled. "You wanna see how a real alien fights?!"
He fired the gun, and destroyed one of the other guns. "Yeah! And humans aren't very weak at all!" Cameron shouted, freezing another gun as it prepared to fire and causing it to explode.
They turned, and their eyes widened to see several of their attacking ships deploying from the side. Now or never! Superboy called, the signal for Robin and Kid Flash to sneak in.
The way is clear! Go! Robin said, and they continued inside. Cameron began to freeze the ships above, running from side to side as the ships fired at him and Superboy.
One of the ships managed a lucky shot and knocked Superboy away from the gun.
"Connor!" Cameron yelled, and just as Superboy rolled back up, he was shot in the back, and vanished. "No!" He yelled, and whirled around angrily and froze another ship above, causing it to crash.
He turned and ran towards the side entrance, determined to make them pay for this.
No! He's Gone! M'gann said through the mind link, her voice in shock.
It's alright. We'll find him with Artemis. I know it. Wally comforted.
Wally, even if she is alive, she'd have been in these Alien's hands for days. She won't be the same. Cameron said, dodging enemy fire, and finally making it down to the entrance.
No. My mind is much clearer now. J'onn interrupted, sounding much more in control now. The disintegration beam is exactly that. No detention facility, no prisoners to rescue, our mission holds no purpose.
No! You're wrong! Wally yelled back. The Zeta radiation proves she's alive! She's-
Stop it KF! Robin interrupted. I've been scanning for League and Team signals since we got inside. They're not here. Artemis is gone.
Cameron took shelter behind a nearby pillar, and ignored the lone tear that escaped his eye.
But our mission still holds purpose. Robin continued. To destroy this mothership.
There was a moment of silence.
I'll be right behind you. Cameron said, and walked around the corner, joining them.
()()()()()()()
They darted into a large room, taking cover behind some machinery. Robin checked his watch. This is the power core. Blow this and the whole mothership blows.
With pleasure. Cameron snarled, darting towards the machine.
As they hopped onto a platform, they were suddenly being dragged towards it, it's gravitational force pulling them in.
Kid made a grab for Robin, only to be pulled in himself. Cameron grabbed his ankle, but slipped on the smooth metal, being dragged along with them. Robin shot out a grappling line, allowing themselves to dangle over the core. An alien turned and spotted them, only to be quickly destroyed by M'gann and J'onn.
M'gann used her telekinetic powers to grab the grappling line and carefully lower the three of them onto the core. Robin took off the belt holding the grenades, and put on the timer on his watch. Cameron turned to keep watch for any stragglers.
You knew. Wally said to Robin, causing Cameron to turn to him. You knew from the beginning why we were here.
Robin turned, the timer beginning to tick. Four minutes. Let's go.
They clambered out of the power core, darting through the halls towards the exit. But as soon as Kid Flash zipped towards the landing doors, they slid shut with a condemning hiss.
Perfect. He cursed, and turned at the clicking sound of the metal aliens coming over to surround them. Cameron leapt into action, freezing several of them in place and shoving ice spikes into another.
He dove behind a nearby pillar as they began to fire at them.
16 seconds and counting. Robin said. Manhunter, take Miss Martian and go.
No! We won't leave you! M'gann argued.
That's an order! We'll follow as soon as we blow those doors! Robin explained. M'gann looked reluctant, but took her Uncle's hand and was being pulled towards the door.
Cameron glanced over at Robin who was solemn. Kid Flash nodded. They knew they were going to die.
Cameron closed his eyes. I'm coming Arty.
He turned with a battle cry and darted towards the fray.
()()()()()()()
Cameron blinked, and saw Black Canary leaning over him. He blinked. "What...?" He asked softly.
"Can you sit up?" She asked, and he blinked. He looked around, they were in the Cave, and Arty was on the table next to him having Red Tornado help her sit up.
"ARTY!" He yelled, and rolled off the table, nearly collapsing when his legs swayed under him. He stumbled over to her and wrapped his arms around her frame. She started, her chin digging into his shoulder. "Cam….?" She asked, putting a hand on his back.
"Arty... ." He breathed, and let the tears of relief fall down his face as he felt her heart beating strong as he hugged her, his arms nearly crushing her to him.
He didn't even care when he heard M'gann's gasp and surprised cry of relief. "You're all alive!"
"What happened in there?" Batman asked gruffly.
"The exercise, all went wrong... ." J'onn said, rubbing his green temple.
"The exercise?" Robin asked in confusion, sweat dripping down his face.
"Try to remember." Batman said softly. "What you experienced was a training exercise. Manhunter psychically linked the seven of you in an artificial reality. You all knew this going in. What you didn't know was that this was a train for failure exercise. No matter what the team accomplished, the scenario was designed to grow worse." Batman explained. "Still, you were aware nothing was real, including the deaths of the entire Justice League."
"That is why you hardly grieved, even when Wolf was disintegrated before your eyes." J'onn took over. "But all that changed, when Artemis died."
Artemis finally relaxed in Cameron's grip, and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him back. Now she understood why he was so distressed.
"Thought consciously Miss Martian knew it wasn't real, her subconscious mind could not make that distinction. She forgot it was only an exercise. Her subconscious took control, making all of you forget too."
"I-I'm so sorry... " M'gann said, looking around at them. Cameron leaned back and rubbed the tears away from his eyes. He sat down next to Artemis, but still kept his arms around her like she was about to disappear.
"This isn't her fault!" Superboy argued. "Why didn't you stop the exercise?"
"We tried." J'onn said. "But M'gann had a ... .death grip on the scenaro. Even Artemis, who should have awakened upon her death was so convinced she had passed she slipped into a coma."
Cameron shuddered, and Artemis put her hand on his arm, reassuring him he was okay.
"I realized I would have to wrest control from Miss Martian's subconscious from within. But upon entering the reality, I was overwhelmed by your collective emotion. There was too much... .noise to think clearly, to remember why I was there."
Cameron swallowed, and everyone was bowing their heads. "The deaths of Aqualad and Superboy helped, but only when the Mothership exploded and Robin, Kid Flash and Icicle Junior were silenced did my mind clear enough to remember my true purpose. To shock M'gann out of the exercise, before your comas became permanent."
Cameron felt a shiver run up his spine, and Artemis shivered. "My apologies. I had no idea a training exercise could be so dangerous, so damaging."
Captain Marvel moved over to comfort M'gann as J'onn turned and nearly collapsed to the floor. "As bad as all that?" Batman asked quietly.
"Perhaps worse." J'onn whispered back solemnly.
"Yet this is not what troubles you." Red Tornado responded, having rushed over when J'onn nearly fell.
"Make no mistake." He said, as Batman helped him back up to his feet. "My niece is untrained and cannot be held responsible for this... for our debacle."
"No one blames her." Batman said. "But clearly everyone underestimated her abilities."
"You understate it." J'onn said, turning back to his niece who had begun to sob into Captain Marvel's chest. "In terms of power, she has the strongest mind I have ever encountered. Stronger by far than mine."
Cameron held onto Artemis for a long time after that, and made a solemn promise. I swear on my own heart, that I will protect Artemis with my own life. I swear it.
()()()()()()()
Hey y'all! sorry it's taken so long to update. My Dad put on the movie grey(massively distracting) and my Mac has recently been having trouble with my text editing program. :c
Anywho, I'm all finished, so read, and review! Please and thank you!
