The Mountain's hanger shook with the force of another explosion and the young girl buried her face into her father's shirt, clutching the material tightly in her small hands. She could feel the archer's fingers brushing lightly through her auburn hair, attempting to sooth his daughter's fears; a contrast to her mother's disapproving looks.
"Lian, you are no coward. Stop acting like one. In this family, we do not show fear." Jade's sharp voice cut through the rumbling of the explosions, though the strict tone couldn't hide the mother's concern. Jade's eyes met with Roy's with the unspoken truth of the situation: no level of heroics could get them out of this one.
It started off as an innocent day. After eight years of tension between the two sides, Batman and Superman finally agreed to set aside their differences for the benefit of a new generation of heroes. Many of the League had taken on new proteges and neither side wanted the children to grow up hating each other on principle. This was a chance for the younger heroes to get to know each other, in hopes that this new generation would one day reunify the Justice League and secure the peace that had been eluding them for the past eight years.
The mentors were to bring their charges to the Mountain (damaged from the battle years before, but still intact), and over the course of the day, the young proteges would bond while the older heroes would attempt to reconcile their differences. The original founding members of the League were to meet at the WatchTower for a mediation, in attempts to find some compromise between them. Everything was going smoothly, until a bomb detonated at each of the Mountain's entrances, including the Zeta room, sealing the heroes inside. After several failed attempts to clear the exits, the heroes and the proteges gathered in the hanger, in hopes that the reinforced walls and ceiling would be enough to shelter them from any further blasts.
"The hanger will protect us, won't it Kaldur'ahm?" A young, blonde-haired Atlantean asked his mentor, receiving a less than comforting response.
"Years ago, there was a battle between the divided sides of the League. Though most of the structural damage was dealt in the Mission Room, I am concerned about the stability of the rest of the Mountain." Kaldur admitted, placing a steady hand on his protege's shoulder.
"Do not be afraid Price Artur. Our allies will not abandon us here. Your father, King Orin, will do everything in his power to see you safe."
"He's right." Another young voice piped up as a young, black haired boy with sunglasses stepped towards the two.
"I was able to contact Batman before the communication lines went down. Whoever trapped us here is no match for my father. Batman will save us." The youngest Robin insisted, having complete faith in his mentor.
After receiving Damien's call, Batman and the other founders wasted no time in returning to Earth. They arrived at the nearest Zeta Port and made their way towards the Mountain, arriving to find two masked figures waiting for them on the cliffs overlooking the Mountain.
"Sportsmaster." Batman growled, narrowing the slits of his cowl into that infamous Batglare.
"Artemis?" Green Arrow's voice held none of the Dark Night's anger. Instead, the Emerald Archer was frozen with sorrowful shock. He hadn't seen his protege since the day Nightwing was killed, and yet here she was, standing proudly beside her father with her hand on the detonator.
Artemis pulled the Tigress mask from her face, revealing the scars and marks left over from years of torture.
"Not anymore." The young woman replied, with an icy contempt to her voice. Her once stormy eyes were dull and distant, staring apathetically at her former mentor as her finger stroked the trigger on the detonator.
"We've got at least 6 more bombs hidden within the Mountain. If you don't want your precious proteges to go up in flames, then you'll keep your distance and listen to our demands." Sportsmaster threatened, giving an arrogant shug at the thought of slaughtering rooms full of heroes and children.
"We don't negotiate with criminals, Sportsmaster. Now, release Artemis and hand over the detonator." Superman ordered, shocked to see a cold smirk spread across Artemis' face. The blonde archer pressed one of the buttons on the device, setting off another explosion in the Mountain. Each of the mentors tensed, gritting their teeth and clenching their fists at the former heroine's betrayal.
"J'onn, where are they?" Superman asked as soon as he felt his Martian ally establish the telepathic link with the founding members.
"M'Gaan tells me that everyone is gathered within the Hanger."
"Then they're safe." Clark responded, earning a sharp side-glare from Batman.
"We don not know that. There was structural damage the last time we fought in the Mountain. We don not know how much more the Hanger can take. We need to eliminate Artemis as a threat before she murders every hero and child in that cave." Aquaman spoke, clearly concerned for his son inside the Mountain.
"She won't… she wouldn't! Artemis wouldn't hurt them!" Oliver cut in, still staring wide-eyed at the blonde.
"She could be bluffing. Artemis has played a double agent before. I agree with Superman. We go after Sportsmaster. Once he'd down, we can finally bring that girl home." Diana added, looking to J'onn for confirmation.
"I am unable to penetrate her thoughts. She must have been trained to resist my telepathy."
"We can't risk making assumptions here. Artemis is the one holding the detonator. She is the threat, and we WILL act accordingly." Batman insisted, keeping his unwavering glare fixed accusingly on Superman.
"M'Gaan, what's going on out there? Has the League arrived? Do they know who's causing this?" Connor demanded, knowing by the stillness in the Martian's eyes that she was telepathically communicating with her uncle. With the voice interrupting her thoughts, M'Gaan turned her troubled gaze towards her former teammates.
"It's… It's Artemis... She's working with Sportsmaster. Artemis is the one setting off the explosives." Miss Martian explained with a heartbreaking shake to her voice.
"What?! Artemis? She's alive?"
"It can't be her. Artemis wouldn't betray us!"
"How dare she? Artemis was supposed to be a friend to the League!"
"Doesn't she know there are children in here? Her own sister is here, for goodness sake!"
Amidst the thunder of accusations and cries of disbelief, Jade turned her hopeful eyes towards her husband.
"No Jade. I know what you're thinking, but if we leave the Hanger…"
"Roy, she's my little sister! I know what Artemis has been through; I went through it myself! If I could just talk to her…"
"Jade…" Roy tried to interrupt, but the former assassin wouldn't have it.
"I can get through to her, Roy! You heard the Atlantean, the Hanger might not hold. I won't let my daughter die in this war! Not by Artemis' hands!" Jade insisted. The two stared at each other for a moment; Jade's determination baring into Roy's concern. Finally, the archer nodded and pulled away from his daughter.
"No, you can't go! It's not safe out there! And the exits are blocked!" Lian objected, trying to rack her brain for reasons to keep her parents in the safety of the Hanger.
"That's never stopped us before." Jade smirked confidently, lifting Lian's chin so she could meet her daughter's fearful eyes.
"What did I tell you about showing fear? Let me see that brave face of yours." Jade ordered. feeling a swell of pride as the young girl took a deep breath and replaced any trace of fear with strength, courage, and determination.
"That's my girl." Roy beamed.
Both parents kissed their daughter on the forehead before leading her over towards the Atlanteans.
"Kaldur, I need you to watch Lian." Roy asked, leaving his daughter under the watchful eyes of his best friend.
"With my life. Be careful, my friend."
"I will." With a final proud smile at his daughter, Roy took Jade's hand and ran out of the Hanger.