Invaded

Chapter Ten: Before the Dawn

Author's Note: Enjoy.

Star City

March 30

9:57 PM PDT

"Good, they're leading us to Lagoon Boy and the others," Nightwing sighed. Wonder Girl raised an eyebrow, asking, "How can you be sure?"

Nightwing closed the holographic screen from his wrist computer, "Wishful thinking."

"And the abductee shipment at the docks― how'd you know about that?" Wonder Girl persisted. Nightwing responded without hesitating, "Aquaman came across the intel while searching for La'gaan."

Miss Martian slowed the bio-ship to a complete stop behind a large rock. I crossed my arms over my chest, leaning forward in my seat to analyze the ship. "So, that's the Light's partner," I said.

"That ship shares the same alien's design sensibility as the bombs that destroyed Melina Island and Mount Justice." Nightwing revealed.

Wonder Girl squinted at the large beetle shaped ship before saying, "Kind of reminds me of Blue's armor."

I nodded, silently agreeing. That would explain why Kaldur had to take Blue Beetle hostage, too. The flash-drive said that the scarab that granted Blue Beetle's armor was of alien origin, possibly meaning the Light's partner were aliens― which would explain the alien bombs from Mount Justice and Melina Island.

Nightwing's wrist computer beeped once, a signal from Robin. "Miss M, you're up." Nightwing informed. Miss Martian rose from her seat, using her density shifting to exit the bio-ship.

"Alpha Squad, I'm heading into the alien ship. Are you aboard?" Miss Martian questioned. There was a brief moment of silence before Batgirl answered, "Affirmative. We're in some kind of docking bay. We have a visual on the new aliens, aka the Kroloteans' competitor, aka the Light's partner. And we've got other company. It's Aqualad. If he makes us, we're over." Batgirl noted.

I responded, "Maintain cover and stay low. Aqualad won't be looking for you."

Nightwing added, "Just don't attract attention."

I stood from my seat, taking my position at the helm of the bio-ship. I placed my hands on the large orbs, concentrating. "I found Gar and Bart. They're unconscious but alive. No sign of Jaime or La'gaan." Miss Martian informed with a tone of sadness in her voice.

Batgirl quickly responded, "We've got eyes on Lagoon Boy and… Shimmer? Plus five civilians and all the teens we came with. We're unsupervised now, but Blue's still unaccounted for," Batgirl paused before adding, "An escape could trigger a response. Do we wait?" Batgirl asked.

Nightwing responded firmly, "Negative, Alpha. Make your move before you need rescuing, too."

"You too, Miss M. Get our boys and get out." I said.

"Docking bay secured." Superboy informed. "Nice timing, handsome," Bumblebee said.

"Beta Squad docking," I informed, guiding the bio-ship slowly towards the docking bay. I secured the bio-ship in the docking bay before flying towards the door.

"Alright, people, let's move." Wonder Girl shouted as an alarm blared. The teens ran towards us as Wonder Girl and I motioned for them to enter the bio-ship. I inhaled sharply as Harmony Sato ran past me, his eyes briefly meeting my masked ones. Kaldur's intel had explained Hiroshi Sato's involvement with the Light― and their alien partner― but failed to explain why Hiroshi Sato allowed for his daughter to be a test subject.

"M'gann?" Superboy questioned. I reached out for M'gann only to be stonewalled.

"Her link is down." I noted as I retracted my telepathic connection. Superboy grunted before saying, "I'm going in."

He ran through the docking bay's open door only to be thrown back, hard. I flew towards Superboy, helping him to his feet.

"Apologies, meat, but no one goes anywhere."

I cursed under my breath as the docking bay doors closed, locking us in. "Listen, uh, Black Beetle, you're totally outnumbered." Wonder Girl shouted. I analyzed Black Beetle; he was bulkier and spoke oddly but resembled a lot like Blue Beetle.

"Open those doors now and we'll go easy on you." Wonder Girl continued. "You will go easy on me?" Blue Beetle asked before laughing sadistically. He stood straighter, towering above us all as two black beetle clamps emerged from his back.

"Oh, that is not a good sign," Bumblebee noted from behind me.

I yelped as Black Beetle gripped my leg, swinging me over his head and throwing me into Wonder Girl's body. Wonder Girl and I collided into Batgirl then the wall. I grunted, slowly rising to my feet.

I flew in the air, clenching my fists as I ignited orbs. I flew down, connecting my orbs with Black Beetle's chest. He chuckled, punching me with his large fist. I was thrown back and then stapled to the ceiling. Black Beetle aimed his sonic cannon; a high, ear piercing frequency erupted in my ears.

I grimaced, clenching my fists hard enough to break free from the large stable using my telekinesis. I groaned, falling onto the floor with a loud thud. "What's going on in there?" Beast Boy asked.

"Don't know. I'm cut off aboard the bio-ship." Nightwing explained. I slowly pushed myself to stand, gripping my aching head. Shimmer grunted as she swung at me. I ducked, using her momentum to kick her down.

"We're fighting Black Beetle and Shimmer. Lagoon Boy, Robin, and Bumblebee are already down and― Phe, look out!" Wonder Girl shouted. I turned as Superboy's body collided into mine. I grunted, slamming into the metal door of the docking bay.

"Phoenix? Phoenix!" Wonder Girl called out; her voice was distorted, sounding far away.

"Superboy is down! Phoenix is too! It's just Batgirl and me now."

"The drive really does explain everything," I whispered, peering over Dick's shoulder as he continued to decrypt the flash-drive. We sat in silence― up until now― in Dick's Blüdhaven bachelor loft.

"Do you think he's right?" Dick asked, placing his laptop on his coffee table. I straightened my stand, crossing my arms from my position behind the couch.

"Wally's wrong. Kaldur wouldn't double cross us over bad DNA," I argued. Dick rose, turning to face me. I noticed the tiredness in his eyes, something that was not there months before. We used to enjoy these missions, learn from them. Now, all they're doing is wearing us down and drifting us apart from our friends and families.

"What about Tula?" Dick persisted. "Kaldur is in love with Artemis." I retorted.

"But Tula was his first love." Dick countered. I scoffed, "Would you go rouge for your first love?"

Dick paused before asking, "Would you?"

I slowly opened my eyes, gasping slightly as Wonder Girl peered down at me. She sighed, smiling brightly, "Oh, thank goodness," she uttered.

"How long was I out?" I asked, clenching and unclenching my fists. I felt drained and tired and yearned for nothing more than to crawl into my bed and sleep off the ache in my bones.

"A couple minutes at most. The mission was successful." Batgirl responded somewhere behind me. I sat forward in the cot, rubbing the ache on the side of my head. "Is everyone okay?" I asked, standing on my feet.

"As okay as possible." Batgirl answered. I figured she was right. We had just rescued a group of teenagers aliens had taken hostage for experiments. They were probably going to develop some sort of PTSD, like Arsenal had developed. I glanced around the makeshift medical room, gazing at the tired teenagers who lay on the cots. Some were asleep, worn from rescue mission while others stared back at me in awe.

I walked slowly towards the helm of the bio-ship, rubbing my temples.

Star City

March 31

06:40 AM PDT

"By now they'll have moved their ship. Plus, there's still the Beetle connection to figure out." Nightwing concluded before adding, "But you can tell the world they're here. Their secret invasion is no secret anymore."

Captain Atom nodded, agreeing before Aquaman interjected from behind. "That would be an understatement."

Aquaman pulled up a live holographic news feed. A large beetle shaped alien ship hovered above the United Nations building in New York.

"Repeating today's top story, a small group of extraterrestrials, The Reach, have arrived at United Nations headquarters in New York City. For more on this, we go live to GBS' own G. Gordon Godfrey at the U.N." The news reporter summarized.

"Thanks, Kat," G. Gordon Godfrey drawled out. "And, yes, folks, it seems Earth's finally met some aliens who know how to get it right." Godfrey said as the camera zoomed in on Secretary Tseng and the alien. "The Reach comes to your world as friends. We come with open arms, extending our hands, our reach, if you will, to help." The Reach ambassador explained.

The camera zoomed out, focusing on Godfrey once more. "Well, thumbs up to the Reach. Oh, I know what you're thinking. Ol' G. Gordon's gone soft on the spacemen. But don't you see this is exactly how aliens should come to Earth: knocking on our front door, not sneaking in the back like some Leaguers we know."

Aquaman paused the feed as Captain Atom crossed his arms over his chest.

"I have to hand it to them," I admit, "they're quite brilliant. Before we warn the public and label them as enemies, they go public and get labeled as friends." I said.

Captain Atom cupped his chin, lost in thought. "It could be worse," Aquaman argued, before adding, "at least we know exactly where they are."

Nightwing agreed, "That's right. We know what we're up against."

Captain Atom nodded, agreeing before ending the feed. Nightwing and I both sighed, exhausted, and stared at each other through the holographic transmission.

"It's late," I noted, rubbing my eyes tiredly. "I know. I just wanted to say that you did good today."

I nodded, correcting the former Boy Wonder, "We did." I yawned, "Get some sleep, Dick."

Nightwing yawned, too, before ending the transmission feed. I stood from my seat, stretching my hands over my head. I flew towards the stairs that led to the Queen Manor library pausing once my wrist computer beeped, signaling an incoming transmission. I hesitated; the caller's name was labeled unknown but if they had managed to send a message on the League's secure― very secure, Batman made sure of it― network, it couldn't have been anyone that wasn't an ally to us.

I clicked the accept icon, furrowing my brow as the static cleared.

I gasped in shock.

"I heard you're in need of some assistance."