Dick rubbed the back of his head as he slowly opened his eyes. His hair was matted with dry blood. He looked around the room; the entire Team was gone. Kaldur was charging at Black Manta who was down the hallway and he was yelling. Dick looked down at Barbara. She was lying on her back knocked out. He quickly checked her pulse and thankfully she was still alive. He looked back at Kaldur and Manta. Black Manta looked just like Kaldur. He had his gills in the same spot, short blond hair in a buzzcut, green eyes, and he was dark skinned. Again Kaldur's words rang through his mind. "Atlantean phenotypes are dominant." It all made sense now, Black Manta was Kaldur's father. He couldn't believe it. Dick jumped up, unbuttoned his tuxedo, and flung his jacket to the floor. He was wearing his utility belt across his body. He ran down the hallway to help Kaldur and as he caught up, Black Manta hit Kaldur with an uppercut and the young Atlantean was knocked down. Dick took three birdrangs out of his belt and flung them at Manta's face. Black Manta dodged them and began speaking.
"Ah Boy Wonder it's so good of you to join me and my son."
Dick glared at Black Manta and said," you've earned a new level of disgust with me today Manta. You could've gotten Kaldur alone if you wanted to attack him. You didn't have to attack a hospital with innocent people in it."
Black Manta rolled his eyes. "Grow up boy, this is the way life is. The Light and our Master are tired of your little Junior Justice League interfering in our plans all the time. And if it took hundreds of innocence in a hospital to destroy you all, well that's just a bonus."
Kaldur slowly got up breathing hard. His mouth was bleeding. He tore off his all his shirts to reveal his water bearers on his back. No one came to this fight unarmed. Kaldur moved to strike, but Dick put an arm out to halt him.
"Wait what do you mean your Master," Dick asked. "You're telling me that the Light follows someone else? Who's the leader?"
Black Manta didn't respond to the question and just charged at the two teens. Kaldur with his bearers formed twin water swords and charged Manta. Dick followed closely behind and took his escrima sticks out from his utility belt. Black Manta charged the both of them unarmed. They tried attacking together but the hallways were too narrow in the maternity ward. Kaldur went in first and tried to slash at his father five times; Manta dodged all the attacks and responded with a left punch to the jaw which caused Kaldur to go down. Manta pressed an invisible button on his suit and an Atlantean dagger appeared from no where. Manta began swinging at Dick. Dick was far better at armed combat than Kaldur. He managed to hit Manta's suit once or twice but he couldn't hit him in the face. Manta on the other hand, slashed Dick two times in the ribs making it hard for the Boy Wonder to breathe.
"I don't think Bruce would be happy with the display of your attacks little boy," said Manta. "It was my knowledge that he expects that best. Not this show that you're putting on."
Dick was confused now. How in the hell did Black Manta know Bruce Wayne was Batman? Only a select few people in the world were gifted with that knowledge. Kaldur got back up and he charged Black Manta from behind. Manta turned just as Kaldur was going to tackle him, and put the dagger to his son's throat. Kaldur didn't move a muscle and neither did Dick.
"Living with King Orrin has indeed made you week my son," sighed Manta.
He head butted Kaldur and then kicked him in the chest knocking him down. He turned towards Dick and threw the dagger at him. Dick was too slow to dodge, and the dagger impaled him in the left side of his chest. He felt the cold silver go into his chest. He fell to the ground and grimaced in pain. He would've removed it but he didn't have the necessary tools or Zatanna here with him to close the wound. It would take too long to find what he needed even in a hospital. Black Manta thundered past him back towards the waiting room, he took out an explosive birdrang and threw it at him. Black Manta looked back and saw it and dove to the ground. The device planted itself near a wall and blew a portion of the hospital wall off. Dick got up and slowly walked to the waiting room area. Kaldur was right behind him. They both glared at Manta. The two heroes were bloody and bruised and they barely even touched him. Kaldur looked at the dagger imbedded in Dick's chest, and grabbed his purple shirt off the floor. He quickly tore the dagger from the boy's chest and expertly tied the wound. It would still need stitches or magic (Dick preferred the latter) but at least he wouldn't bleed to death. They both looked over at Manta who started clapping his hands.
"Now that the little bird is all touched up, shall we continue?"
He pressed another button on his suit and a gadget spat out and clamped itself onto Kaldur's throat and began shocking him. He yelled, but his tattoo's quickly glowed blue as he tried to absorb the electricity, but it wasn't working and he sank to his knees hollering while holding his throat. Dick threw another birdrang and completely missed Manta.
"I think your vision is getting bad little bird," laughed Black Manta.
Dick returned Manta's laugh with his signature cackle and said," I wasn't exactly aiming for you."
Manta turned too late and was blasted back down the hall with a burst of white energy. Garth was free from Zatanna's magic rope spell. He had fired the spell.
Garth looked at Dick and said," help the traitor. I'll stop Black Manta."
Garth ran down the hall to combat Manta his tattoo's glowing a fiery orange. Dick looked back at Kaldur's neck. The gadget was stuck in his neck well, and he couldn't touch it or he'd risk getting shocked. Kaldur was screaming "rip it out" and Dick wanted to, except if he just tried ripping the device off he'd probably kill Kaldur. But he could probably short it out. He went to the nearest tank and grabbed the water protruding from it. He poured the entire gallon of water on Kaldur's head. There was a spark and then nothing.
"You have my thanks," Kaldur breathed tearing the device off. His throat was bleeding but it was nothing too serious.
"Ugh Dick?"
Dick looked down. Barbara was waking up in the war zone, hopefully she wasn't too concussed to help.
"Barbara," he cried. "Kaldur help Garth I'll be that way too soon." Kaldur nodded and sped down the hall. "Barbara listen to me, and don't argue, don't interrupt. We're in hell right now. I need you to go to Tula's room and stay in there with her. Protect her and the babies because I have a feeling this battle is far from over." Barbara nodded ran over to her purse and removed her utility belt. Then she went running to look for Tula's room.
Dick sped back down the hall just in time to see Garth go down from a massive kick from Manta's armored boot. Blood was pouring from his head. He pulled out one of his bladed birdrangs and flung it at Manta and Kaldur fired off some electricity. Both attacks missed and Manta stormed back up the hallway. He shoulder tackled Kaldur and threw him into a wall destroying it. Dick ran up to him and they started a hand to hand battle. Manta was good, almost as good as Canary, no where near as good as Batman. The battle would've gone a lot easier if he wasn't wearing that damn armor. Manta went for a punch but Dick dodged and managed to strike him hard across the jaw forcing the villain to back up.
"Give it up," Dick bellowed. "Just leave this place and you won't have to go to prison."
"Don't worry Boy Blunder; I have no intention of going," came Manta's reply. He pressed more buttons on his suit and a plasma gun appeared. He shot a blue beam at Dick and hit him right in the chest. Dick was blasted off his feet into a wall crumbling to the ground. He saw stars and heard Kaldur yell as well. Black Manta was running down the hall and this time he went into the delivery rooms. Dick was slowly getting up and then he heard Barbara scream.
"Fuck," he said out loud. As he was getting up he heard another scream, and then Kaldur came charging past him. That second scream was Tula. Dick got up and was right behind the Atlantean. When Dick got in the room he saw Barbara on the ground a Batarang in her hand with a bruise on her face. Tula was crying, Kaldur was livid, and Black Manta was cradle holding his sleeping grandson with an armored gauntlet gently rubbing his face. Black Manta's lip was bleeding. Barb musta got him at least once. Garth's son was in his bassinet next to Tula.
"Your son looks just like you, doesn't he Kaldur'ahm," asked Black Manta. "Twin brothers, born with different fathers. Goddess of the Oceans, you really are a whore aren't you?" Tula buried her face in her hands.
"Don't call her that," Kaldur said venomously. He tried to take a step forward but Manta lifted Kaldur's son higher into the air and shook his head.
"No no Kaldur'ahm," he warned. "If you want your son to live past his first two hours you will do exactly as I say right now." Kaldur had a look of complete fright on his face. Dick stood completely still. "Never endanger the life of a child" Batman's words were ringing in his ear. He stood helpless; they were at Manta's mercy. "Now, Boy Wonder take out that knife you keep in your utility belt." Dick swallowed hard; He didn't have time to ponder how Manta knew he had that knife. He did as he was told and pulled out a 12 inch serrated blade. "Good, now give it to Kaldur'ahm." Dick complied with Manta's order. "Now Kaldur'ahm, I am going to give you one minute. You will kill the only woman you have ever loved, or I shall kill your son. Your time starts now."
"Why are you doing this," Dick screamed. "What you're asking him to do is barbaric."
He received no answer but a sick smile from Black Manta. Dick started shaking. His friend was in the worst fucking situation ever. He was running scenarios throughout his head but they kept ending up with someone dying. There was no way he could get to Kaldur's son quick enough to save him. Someone was about to die. Kaldur simply stood there with the knife in his hand. Dick could only imagine what Kaldur was thinking. He couldn't kill Tula, but he couldn't let his son die either. But he couldn't save them both.
"30 seconds Kaldur'ahm."
Dick started to cry. Bruce always said there were times when someone was going to die on a mission. And there was nothing anyone could do about it.
"15 seconds Kaldur'ahm."
Then the unthinkable happened. Tula reached forward and grabbed Kaldur's wrist and drove the knife into her heart and twisted. Dick's eyes went wide with shock and Kaldur made a noise like a wounded animal. There was blood pouring from Tula every where. Kaldur tried removing the dagger but Tula was keeping it firmly in place. Dick vomited on the ground.
"Forgive me Kaldur," said Tula rubbing his face with her hand leaving a streak of blood on his face. Kaldur's eyes were already wet with tears.
"Noooo Tula why," Kaldur cried in horror. "Why would you do this?"
"I had to make the choice I knew you couldn't make."
"I can't… I can't lose you."
"This is the way it was meant to be Kaldur'ahm. Give Garth t-t-time he will forgive you."
"But not if you die! Please just hang on, I can-"
"Shhh come here Kaldur," she whispered. Tula pulled him in for one last kiss; and then she whispered something in his ear. Dick could tell her breathing was becoming fainter. More tears came down his cheeks. It wasn't going to be long now. Then he felt a nudge against his foot. He looked down without moving his head. Barbara was signaling him using a sign language Batman taught them.
"I'll get the baby."
"And we'll take him down."
"I love you Kaldur," Tula sighed. "Take care of our son." She kissed him one final time and 10 seconds later her hand slid from his cheek. Her last breath escaped her, and her eyes glossed over. She was dead. Kaldur simply kept screaming no. Dick could see that Barbara had tears in her eyes but she dare not touch them.
"Now wasn't that amusing," asked Black Manta.
Kaldur looked at him with a look of pure hate as did Dick. He closed his eyes and kissed his grandson's head reminding them that he had a valuable hostage. That was when Barbara struck. She expertly tripped Manta and his grip loosened on the baby, she grabbed the baby did a perfect tuck and roll and was out the room. Kaldur snarled and his tattoos began glowing a bright red. He extended his arms and an arc of red lightning flew from his fingertips. Black Manta couldn't move, he just yelled from the pain of being shocked. Dick took out his last resort. An explosive birdrang that had a purple blade, not even Bruce knew he had this. The blade was coated in a paralytic poison. He flung it at Black Manta's skull and it hit its mark. The poison injected itself and worked instantly. Black Manta couldn't move.
3, 2, 1, ding.
The weapon exploded and Black Manta was shot through the window and silently fell to his doom. During the blast Dick went outside and shielded Barbara and Kaldur's son, while Kaldur stayed in the room and shielded Garth's son. When the smoke cleared, Kaldur walked out of the room with Garth's baby who was crying. Garth having been re-awakened by the explosion was limping up the hall.
"Where's Tula," he groaned. No one could even face him. Barbara was crying clutching on to Kaldur's sleeping son. Dick was rubbing her back crying also.
Kaldur passed Garth his son gently and said," her last words to you were cherish our son Garth."
"No," whispered Garth his eyes tearing up. "No, no, no, no."
Garth slowly fell to his knees and just hugged his son to himself. Now everyone in the room was crying. The door to the stairs burst open. Wally came in followed shortly by the rest of the Team. Connor took a look at the destroyed maternity ward and asked in horror," what happened?"
"Where's Tula," asked Artemis.
Nobody answered and the blond archer got her answer.
Dick stood up and took a deep breath. He wiped his eyes, and looked at the clock. It was 2:00 AM. He ran his hand through his hair and said," we're done here. We need to contact the League."
