Edit: Did some cleaning up of things- sorry for the update notif without an official update.
Young Justice is not mine.
Failsafe
"It's the end of the world as we know it… and I feel fine."
- R.E.M
MOUNT JUSTICE
What do you do when the world around you is slowly falling to shit?
You cry.
Or at least, if you were emotionally capable you would.
Nightfall stood alongside the rest of her team, gaze hard and blue eyes lacking their normal spark as she stared at the screen before her. Footage from Batman's ship was relayed on screen, and both of Earth's Green Lantern's approached an oversized, and mildly scary, looking alien craft of unknown origins. One of the Green Lantern's address the ship, projecting his voice so it passed through the void that was space. He ordered them to identify themselves, to disengage and return to where they came from, but their words were ignored.
Rather, the unidentified ship launched into an attack. A glowing beam shot out from the craft, and the two Green Lantern's attempted to protect themselves with shields, but they were futile. Whatever the ship had used for an attack completely ignored the protective barriers, and the two Lanterns vanished before the team's very eyes.
A numbness washed over Nightfall as the scene played out before her eyes, and she shifted on her feet. She couldn't place her emotions, and that left her feeling entirely empty and helpless, but not a single tear was shed as she watched the heroes she had spent her entire life looking up to disappear one by one.
This isn't real This isn't real. This isn't real.
With the Lantern's suddenly lost, and the alien ship written off as hostile, Batman moved in for an attack. Commands were given, and from the back of his ship, various Leaguer's were poured into space, ready to engage the enemy. However, like their Lantern comrades before them, they were easily decimated by a glowing, gold beam.
All that remained was Batman, and realizing the predicament he was in, he ejected in a pod. A few seconds later, however, he was quickly disposed of, and the alien ship further descended on the planet Earth.
Out of instinct, Nightfall immediately felt her gaze falling to Robin, who stood beside her. His own face was schooled, emotions fully hidden by his mask, and the waterbender found it hard to get a good read on him—not that he was ever easy to read in the first place. A stoic statue, his gaze stayed firmly glued on the screen before them, and he barely flinched as the screen flickered to 'signal lost'.
An overwhelming urge to place her hand on his shoulder to comfort him slammed into Nightfall's chest, but for whatever reason, as soon as the feeling had hit her, it disappeared, leaving behind a dull ache. Body acting of its own volition, she forced her gaze forwards once more. Tears danced in the back of her eyes, but they refused to fall, and when the waterbender blinked, she wasn't sure she had ever felt them in the first place.
Numb. So wholly numb.
It was like something was erasing her emotions as soon as she felt them, leaving her an empty husk, and all Nightfall could do was stand there impassively. Despite the ache that throbbed at the back of her mind, begging her to give in to her suppressed emotions, the waterbender's heart continued to beat at a normal pace, a sign her mind and body weren't on the same wavelength.
Another holo-screen appeared, replacing the feed that had cut out, and the grave features of Zatara stared wearily at the gathered heroes in the cave, "Tornado, did you-" The magician was unable to finish his sentence, the words caught in his throat with a choke, and Red Tornado nodded.
"Yes, Zatara, we saw. Celestial defenses have failed. Initiate all terrestrial measures."
Zatara nodded, and when he spoke, his voice was devoid of emotion, "Affirmative, see you in the field." His screen disappeared.
Nightfall's hands clenched in her side as Red Tornado faced the team, and all eyes focused on their android den mother. Though he lacked actual eyes, Nightfall felt as if his gaze shifted from one team member to another before he addressed them, "I must join the League. We will protect the planet at all costs, but should we fail—" A sudden chill blanketed the room, the somber feeling almost nauseating, "the responsibility falls to you."
The weight of his words wasn't lost to the team, and Nightfall held her chin higher at his words. This was what they had signed up for day one—what they had trained for—and even if the back of her mind was screaming at her to run, to save her own skin, she shoved that pitiful voice aside. There was no way she was going to abandon her team—her friends— her family, and the world.
The end for her may be approaching, and she'd be damned if she wasn't going to go out fighting.
Aqualad broke their line, his blazing gaze trailing over his fellow teammates one by one. He stood tall, eyes determined, and his proud posture proved just why the team called him their leader, "We stand ready." The determination in his voice resonated strongly within Nightfall, and alongside the rest of the team, she stood a little taller.
Together, they were strong. And together, they could do anything.
Once Red Tornado had left the teens, a deafening silence lingered in the air as they each mulled over the burden that now laid heavy on their shoulders. The fate of the world would be in their—slightly undertrained—hands, and that wasn't an easily digestible reality. If the Justice League—their mentors and people they've looked up to for years—couldn't neutralize the threat, then what hope did the team have?
That thought alone was enough to send them into a somber silence, and no one dared break it to discuss what their next move should be. As far as they were aware, the League was still fighting back, and until they heard otherwise, they had to hold onto that sliver of hope. It was fuel enough to keep them going, and well, if the League did perish—
Not real. Not real. Not real.
Nightfall blinked as words echoed in her mind, and when she tried to hone in on them, all she could focus on was static. With an irritated eyeroll, she gestured to the holo-screens before the team, the very ones each of them were staring blankly at. Static filled the screens, and suddenly that was the only noise Nightfall could make out, "Can we do something about that?" Her hand was suddenly shaking, and the waterbender wasn't sure when she had become so anxious, but she did notice when that feeling was suddenly chased away, and a familiar numbness blossomed in her chest.
Irritation suddenly dissolving, Nightfall could only watch passively as Robin changed the feed, muttering out a small apology, and she suddenly felt bad for her outburst.
The feed was changed to a news station, Iris West-Allen appearing on screen, and from her other side, Nightfall watched Kid Flash stiffen. Central City had dissolved into utter chaos. Civilians screamed as they ran for their lives, their screams piercing Nightfall's heart, and she had to shut her eyes as a group was disintegrated by an encroaching ship.
The same ship set its sights on Iris, but just before she could be lost, the Flash zipped in, whisking the woman away to safety as Zatara used his magic to rescue the cameraman.
They reappeared on a rooftop, relief evident on their faces, but they still weren't quite out of danger yet. Flash had darted off after placing a lingering hand on Iris's shoulder, and Zatara joined him soon after. Iris checked on her cameraman, and with a shaky thumbs up, they made an attempt to continue on with their broadcast.
It was short lived, however, when Iris dissolved in a desperate cry, arm reaching towards a nearby rooftop, and the team was helpless to watch as another Leaguer succumbed to the alien's might. Kid Flash barely flinched as Flash was decimated before their very eyes, and Nightlight shifted to place a hand on his shoulder. It was all but ignored, the speedster continuing to stare blanky at the screen, but he didn't brush the hooded girl's hand off his shoulder.
It was sickening to Nightfall how they could just stand there, watching as the League dropped like flies; one by one, yet there wasn't much they could do. An ominous thrumming resurged in the back of Nightfall's mind, and a cold wave washed over her once more. Features schooled, the waterbender couldn't find her emotions, and this reoccurring feeling was growing more and more irksome as the minutes ticked by.
Not real. Not real. Not real
Like a mantra, those words echoed in her mind, each one bringing with it a searing pain. Just as she'd home in on the words, trying to make sense of them, they'd disappear, and she was left feeling nothing. The words seemed to act like some sort of shield, but just what were they shielding the girl from?
A shriek pulled Nightfall from her thoughts, and she glanced back up at the screen just in time to see Cat Grant schooling her features. Her lips were pressed in a firm line, a futile attempt at putting on a professional appearance, and her blue eyes wavered with unshed tears. 'No signal' flashed ominously on a screen behind her, and Cat stared blankly at her virtual audience.
"I'm sorry. We're experiencing technical difficulties from our Central City feed. W-we take you now to a devastated Taipei, where another League contingent is having a bit more luck."
With one last look at the harrowed Cat Grant, the feed shifted to Taipei. Hawkman and Hawkwoman worked in contingent to take down a ship, their training as soldiers obvious as they expertly dodged and maneuvered around the incoming assaults. They were gravely outnumbered, however, and in a matter of seconds they were overwhelmed, each being disintegrated by a golden beam.
Black Canary and Green Arrow were faring a bit better, but their successes were also short-lived. As fast as they were able to destroy ships, more would appear. With a Canary cry and a well placed arrow, another ship was destroyed, but through the smoke came two more, and the two heroes from Star City were no more.
Shadow Hunter, Nightlight's father, was the last hero defending Taipei. A blue disk effortlessly sliced through a ship, and it careened into another ship that was passing by. The two erupted, Shadow Hunter diving to chase after another ship, and his hands glowed blue with spiritual energy. Hand shooting outwards, he sent more disks after passing ships. One ship turned on him, and Shadow Hunter made an attempt to go intangible to avoid the beam, but the move was futile and the last the world saw of him was his disappearing skeleton.
The Leaguer casualty list continued to grow.
The feed tapered out, the face of a solemn Cat Grant greeting her audience once more. She shuffled around some papers in front of her, steeling her nerves and emotions as she spoke in a dull voice, "Ladies and gentleman, we have lost Shadow Hunter, Black Canary, Green Arrow, and the Hawks. Other heroes reported dead or missing include: Batman, Icon, Atom, and Aquaman." Each name felt like a jab to Nightfall's heart, "The last of the Leaguer's have been reported in Smallville, where we will now take you."
A golden lasso was curled ruthlessly around an alien ship, and with an enraged war cry, Wonder Woman swung it around before whipping it into another ship, the two bursting into flames. The Amazon made a move to dive back into the heat of battle, only to pause as Red Tornado called out for her. She spun around in the air, tossing her arms up just as a ship locked onto her, but instead of the beam being deflected by her silver bracelets, she was consumed by a burst of light.
A lump lodged its way into Nightfall's throat as she watched her father, Nighttide, use a water whip to swing onto a ship. The water was quickly shifted into icy spikes, which were then used to pierce the ships hull. Sparks danced from where the icicles had struck, and the ship began to lose altitude.
Drawing the water back into his control, Nighttide created another water whip to swing onto a passing ship. Just as the water had coiled around a wing, pulling the Leaguer into the air, a golden beam caught his side, and suddenly, Nightfall's father was no more.
Nightfall wasn't sure how to feel after watching her father perish before her very eyes, but the one thing she did know was that she should be feeling something—anything. Yet here she stood, blue eyes listless and dull, a particularly haunting empty feeling echoing in her chest. Not even a single tear threatened to streak down her cheeks, and that feeling unnerved Nightfall to no end.
Not real. Not real. Not real.
Ignoring the berating in her mind, Nightfall listened closely as Red Tornado's voice echoed over the comm system, "Red tornado to cave. I fear I am all that remains of the League."
Robin stepped forward just as the camera flashed to the League's sole survivor, "RT—" He attempted to warn their den mother, but he was cut off as Red Tornado disappeared.
With the entirety of the League gone, the whole world had dissolved into chaos. Nightfall found herself turning away from the screens that continued to broadcast the mayhem, and Aqualad was quick to take command, "We are Earth's heroes now." His words were ironclad, leaving no room for argument, and Nightfall felt a surge of confidence within.
This is where they truly got to prove themselves.
With a scowl on his lips, Superboy faced the Atlantean, "Then what are we waiting for? A theme song?"
"A strategy." Aqualad corrected mirthlessly, "Earth's weapons are ineffective, and it has been made tragically clear a direct attack will not succeed."
Nightfall found herself leaning over Robin's shoulder as he typed on his holo-glove, "Checking satellite imagery." A hologram of Earth appeared before the gathered heroes, and the continents that spanned the globe were littered with bright red patches, more populated areas having larger splotches of red bathing them, "Here's where the aliens are now."
The team studied the globe before them, and Nightlight pointed to a sole red splotch near the North Pole, "Why's this guy all alone?"
"Maybe he got lost." Superboy folded his arms.
Robin manipulated the globe so the artic was zoomed in, and the whites of his domino mask widened, "That's Superman's Fortress of Solitude!"
"Superman has a Fortress of Solitude?" Superboy parroted Robin, voice laced with disbelief.
Nightfall quirked a brow, "So are the aliens sightseeing at the Fortress of Solitude or? Why are they up there?"
"Someone say Fortress of Solitude one more time." Kid Flash snickered under his breath. He cried out as Robin elbowed him, Nightfall rolling her eyes, and the boy wonder returned to the screen.
"Doubt its sightseeing. Its power source must've attracted the alien's attention. At least, enough to send a scout ship to investigate."
Superboy's fists clenched at his sides, "Must be some fortress…"
"Conner…"
At the dejected expression on the clone's face, Miss Martian floated towards the boy. She placed a gentled hand on his arm, and he looked down at her, "No, it's okay. There's just a lot about Superman I'll never get to know…" He frowned, "Uh, you know, now."
"We will target this lone ship." Aqualad declared, pulling his team back into the matters at hand. It was important for them all to stay on track, as the fate of the world had unceremoniously been tossed into their hands.
"Yeah!" Kid Flash agreed with determination, slamming his fist into his open palm. Despite the dire situation that had been laid out before them, he was practically vibrating with excitement, and Nightfall couldn't help but frown, "Break it down, build more! Hit those ugly aliens with their own mojo-ow!"
A harsh elbow to the rips shut him up for the time being, and Artemis met Kid Flash's glare with a dark look of her own, "Hello! Martian and Kryptonian in the house?" Her voice was a faux whisper, borderline a hiss, and the speedster glanced at the aforementioned 'aliens' with a sheepish expression.
"Uh, heh, not that all aliens are automatically ugly…"
Not real. Not real. Not real.
FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE
The cold artic air nipped at Nightfall's nose, and despite the warm polar stealth suit she had been wearing, a shiver tore down her spine. She couldn't decipher if was actually due to the cold, or it her nerves were starting to get the better of her. A dull ache throbbed in her chest, the feeling growing with each passing second, but she did her best to shove it aside as she followed after Artemis. The two were ducking from one iceberg to the next, Nightfall occasionally having to make another one for the two, as they moved into position before the lone scout ship.
It hovered ominously in the air before the Fortress of Solitude, and Nightfall did her best to keep it in her peripherals at all times. She knew the rest of her team had their sights on it as well, fully prepared to warn the two about an incoming assault if necessary, but Nightfall still remained on edge. One slip up, and their plan would unravel completely.
Miss Martian flew at the ship from the south, camouflage mode keeping her hidden from the aliens, and once in position, she made good on her part of the mission. The low groan of tearing metal pierced the silent wasteland, and a few seconds later it was followed by the whirring of electricity, 'Communications disabled.' Nightfall poked her head out from behind the iceburg, watching as parts of the ship were ripped off by an invisible force, and a loud boom echoed, 'Propulsions disabled.'
All at once the ship was forced to give into the will of gravity, falling with a heavy thud to the earth below. The snow beneath was disturbed, whipping upwards violently in a flurry. Pulling in a deep breath, Artemis leapt up from her hiding space, an arrow already knocked and at the ready.
The arrow collided with the front of the ship and erupted, covering the front in a thick foam. In a frantic and desperate manner, the ship began to blindly fire, Nightfall cringing as a few stray shots nicked the iceberg her and Artemis had been hidden behind.
Shots continued to barrage the air blindly, and once Artemis was safely tucked behind their icy barrier, it was Nightfall's turn to make a move. She shot upwards, eyes never leaving the canon as it continued its blind assault, before she pulled herself over the ice.
Nightfall raised her arms upwards, and a spike of ice shot up from the ground. It briefly hid the alien ship from her view, and the next thing she knew, a stray canon blast was shattering the icy projectile. Shards of ice rained down on the waterbender and the force sent her flying backwards, where her back slammed into the iceberg she had once been hidden behind.
'Nightfall!'
A voice echoed in her mind, though the ringing in her ears made it hard for her to place. She placed a hand to her temple, begging the throbbing to stop, and stared at the incapacitated ship before her. Blue eyes widening, she realized all too late the canon was trained on her, almost as if the aliens had somehow sensed they had found a target.
The canon slowly started to grow brighter, the light almost hypnotic to Nightfall. Her mind screamed at her to run—to do something to defend herself, but her body refused move, nerves shutting down. Petrified and paralyzed, Nightfall could only stare down the golden glow as her death approached.
Not real. Not real. Not real.
The sharp sound of ice splintering and cracking resounded powerfully in the air as Aqualad erupted from the icy waters below. With firm footing, he slammed into the ship's hull, the force brutally knocking the ship down into the frigid waters. Poising a much more dangerous threat than the downed waterbender, the alien ship took aim at Aqualad as he readied his water-bearers from his position on the hull.
Through hazy and fuzzy eyes, Nightfall watched as the blaster illuminated to life once more. Her voice caught in her throat as she tried to desperately cry out a warning for their leader, and she made a pitiful attempt to reach out for him, cringing as the pounding in her head protested the movement. The light continued to grow brighter as it charged up, Aqualad curling into a defensive position, but before it could disintegrate him, Wolf latched onto the blaster. It was swung around, the beam going off harmlessly in a less populated direction, and Superboy joined his canine companion in holding the blaster down.
The relief Nightfall felt only lasted momentarily as a firm hand latched onto the back of her jacket. With a strained cry, she was harshly pulled over the iceberg and placed beside a panicked Artemis.
"Are you okay?" The archer practically shouted in concern, and Nightfall cringed at the volume.
"'M fine." She mumbled in response, blinking a few times to clear her vision. The ringing in her ears had lessened some, but the pounding in her skull was still going strong, and she wasn't sure it was going to relent any time soon.
The archer stared at her in disbelief, "You're bleeding." Artemis deadpanned, and Nightfall reached up to gently touch the gash on her forehead the archer had pointed out.
"Oh, so I am."
The gash was situated just above the top of her goggles, and though it didn't feel very deep, it burned with painful familiarity, the feeling sitting unkindly in the pits of Nightfall's stomach. Blood oozed from the gash, and the waterbender silently cursed head wounds. They always seemed to non-stop bleed. It was frustrating.
'Is Nightfall alright?' A voice echoed in the mind-link, and this time, Nightfall was able to place it as Robin's.
'I'm f—'
'Don't listen to her.' Artemis cut the waterbender off with a pointed glare, 'She's got a cut on her forehead, and,' The archer watched Nightfall flinch as the conversation echoed in their minds, 'based on her physical reaction, she has a raging headache.'
'Thank you, Artemis, for airing my dirty laundry.' Nightfall's voice was dry with sarcasm as she spoke, and a ghost of a smirk flickered on Artemis's lips.
'Dirty laundry? What does that have to do with—'
'We should focus, guys.' Nightlight cut Miss Martian off as she flew towards the downed ship with Robin and Kid Flash in tow. The two boys landed on top of the ship, and Nightlight kept her placement in the air as the team's eyes in the sky. They could never be too cautious.
'Nightlight is correct. We know Nightfall is alright, so let us get back to the task at hand.' Aqualad's voice was smooth as he spoke, easily pulling all their attentions back to their mission, 'Robin, we need the schematics of the ship.'
'On it.'
Shifting slowly as to not further agitate the pained everything in her body, Nightfall peered over the iceberg. Beside her, she saw Artemis give her a look, but the two were on lookout duty, and Nightfall wasn't going to just not do her job. There was too much at stake, and she was not going to sit by and be helpless.
On top of the alien ship, Robin had pulled up his holo-computer, 'Identifying weapon's structural stress points and links to the ship.' After completing a quick scan of the ship, he pointed to several key points on the fused metal of the canon, 'Here, here, and here.'
Miss Martian nodded in acknowledgement; eyes glowing as she used telekinetic bursts to disrupt the stress points. The canon went lax, its only support becoming Superboy, who cried out as he began to rip the canon from the ship.
Wires snapped and metal creaked as he surged forward, straining ever so slightly against the excessive weight. A high-pitched whirr pierced the desolate air, and Wolf's ear twitched. While the others maintained ignorance towards the incoming doom, the overgrown canine was fast to react. Superboy suddenly found himself sprawled out against the ice, Wolf now in his spot, but before anyone could truly comprehend what was going on, there was a bright orange light, and then nothing.
Not real. Not real. Not real.
Nightfall swallowed thickly as all eyes gazed gravelly upon the spot their canine companion had been, and a feeling of hollowness swept through the mindlink 'W-Wolf.' Miss Martian's devastated voice echoing lifelessly in their minds.
Robin immediately swiped at his holo-glove, taken aback, as he glanced at the system reports he had pulled up, 'There was no indication of feedback… I'm sorry.' He turned towards Superboy.
The clone stared down at the icy grown, lips quirked in a grimace, 'Can't to anything for him now.' Though the statement may have been semi-harsh, there was a sinister truth to it. As far as they were aware, Wolf was gone for good, crying over him now wasn't going to bring him back.
A gnawing uncomfortableness blossomed in the back of Nightfall's mind as she watched Superboy jump back onto the alien ship. He resumed his earlier position, grunting as he used every ounce of his strength to rip the canon from the ship. With a satisfying snap, the canon was fully loosened, and Miss Martian directed the camouflaged bioship over.
As Miss Martian prepared to integrate the canon into the bioship's weapon matrix, Artemis nudged Nightfall. She had another arrow nocked, poised and ready to fire should danger come their way, and Nightfall nodded in silent understanding. They were moving closer to the rest of their team for a better vantage point.
'I'll need to de-camouflage for a few minutes.'
As Nightfall and Artemis moved from one ice pile to another, the integration of the canon to the bioship began. With the bioship no longer in camouflage mode, it was a huge target, and the team was forced to be even more alert than they were before. Shoving aside the throbbing in her skull, Nightfall's eyes flickered to the sky as she moved, breath bated as she kept her eye out for anything unfriendly.
Almost as if the universe had sensed their compromised position, two alien ships sailed threateningly through the air, and Nightfall's eyes widened. Her eyes hadn't been the only on the sky, and an invisible Nightlight shouted through their heads, 'I don't think we have a few minutes! Two enemies, incoming.'
The two ships made an immediate U-turn in the sky, canons locked on the teens gathered around a vulnerable bioship. Lips twisted in a grimace, Aqualad's voice boomed in their minds, 'Miss Martian, open fire!'
'Can't!' The Martian's voice was desperate as she spoke, hands firmly pressed to her beloved ship. She faced it once more, watching as the canon slowly integrated with the bioship, 'weapons systems are offline to incorporate the new canon. And that's not fully integrated yet, either.'
A familiar whirring filled the air once more, and Nightfall looked over her shoulder to see the canons on the incoming ship brightening to life. They took aim at the bioship and the team members gathered there, and her heart lurched into her throat. Running alongside Artemis, the two pushed themselves to come to their team's aid, but from behind her she heard the slight rumbling of a canon being fired.
The golden beam tore through the air, aimed at the heart of the gathered group, and just as it aimed to strike, Nightlight dropped from the air. Fully visible to the world once more, she tossed her hands out in a desperate attempt to protect her friends, and a familiar pink dome surrounded the bioship and the team. The blast ricocheted off the shield, those within the barrier protected, but the force of the blast proved to be too much.
Nightlight cried out in surprise, pain shooting through her arms as her shield shattered. The force knocked her into the snowy ground below, which she slammed into with a grunt, and Kid Flash was immediately by her side, 'Light, are you okay?'
Rubbing her head, the pink-eyed girl groaned, 'T-they're too powerful. I don't think I can protect us from another blast like that again.' Her tone was grave, and it sat heavy in the mindlink. Nightlight shifted on the ground, making a move to stand up before she winced, and Kid Flash held her close as she recovered on the ground.
If their strongest defense couldn't protect them anymore, then who could?
'Get inside! We've gotcha covered!' Artemis's voice sounded in the mindlink, tone way more confident than Nightfall was feeling, 'We're almost there!'
Nightfall's head swiveled as the sound of another blast charging up filled the icy biome, and she slowed to a halt. Mind still pounding and protesting each harsh move, Nightfall was forced to shove the feeling aside. With her team in peril still, now was not the time to falter again. A wave of confidence washed over the waterbender, and she raised her arms up. Taking in a deep breath, she focused on the icy ground beneath her feet.
The world seemed to slow as her eyes slipped shut and Nightfall felt the water churn in the ocean below almost as if it was coursing through her own veins. Just as she felt her connection with the water strengthen, her eyes snapped open and Nightfall lurched forward. Lifting herself into the air, she jumped up before spinning around, arms wide and mind willing the water to follow her body's motions.
There was a sharp crack and, with her body facing the incoming ships, Nightfall jerked her arms upwards. A large barrier of ice breached the icy surface, rising upwards and looming over the waterbender and Artemis below. The canon blast collided with it, shards of ice and snow raining down on the two teens. A haze of fine snow billowed into the air, momentarily obstructing the sight of those around.
Vision obstructed, one of the alien ships collided directly with the ice shard Nightfall had created as a defense mechanism. The sound of splintering metal and shattering ice pierced the air as the ship landed harshly on the ground below.
Artemis and Nightfall dove out of the way to avoid the ship's path as it skidded harshly across the ground, the sound of screeching metal against the ground lambasting against Nightfall's ear drums. It came to a shuddering halt only a few feet away from the two teens. Smoke billowed from the ship where one of its propulsion systems had been clean ripped off, and the front was nearly completely smashed inwards, electricity flicking around the damaged parts.
The ship stared them down, and they stared back. For a moment, Nightfall forgot how to breath. A heavy silence lingered in the air as she waited with bated breath for the ships next move. It was hard to tell if it was fully out of commission or not, but then the canon flickered to life once more.
Artemis was quick to respond, an explosive arrow already knocked and at the ready. With systems as damaged as they were, the ship wasn't fast enough to open fire, and as soon as Artemis's arrow collided with the canon, an explosion rang out.
The ship powered down completely, electricity fading away with a hiss as flames took its place. The now demolished canon landed roughly on the snowing ground with a loud thud, and the ship was reduced to debris. Nightfall and Artemis shared a small, celebratory look, but it didn't last very long.
'Nightfall, Artemis, above!'
Heads turning to the sky, Nightfall's eyes widened as the other ship took aim at the two. They quickly shot to their feet, stumbling slightly as the ice where they had once been standing erupted behind them.
Nightfall tore across the snowy earth, pushing her legs harder than she had ever done before. Every so often, the earth would rattle as another blast tore into it, but the waterbender dared not look behind her. She could hear Artemis's footsteps behind her, and only when they suddenly stopped did Nightfall dare glance behind her.
With two explosive arrows knocked, Artemis took aim at the encroaching ship. Nightfall wanted to yell out to the archer, to tell her to keep running, but her voice was failing her once more as a feeling of panic swirled in her chest. The arrows were let loose where they sailed through the air. An eruption lit up the sky, and the alien ship was sent careening down towards the ground.
'Gotcha.' Artemis's cocky voice echoed in Nightfall's head.
Nightfall swallowed thickly and didn't allow herself to feel grateful at the second ship being taken down. They had thought the first one was down, after all, and the two had nearly ended up dead.
'Artemis, come on!' She shouted at her friend.
Artemis eyed the ship as it skidded across the ground, 'On my way.' Satisfied for the moment, she turned on her heel.
Nightfall took off again as well, racing towards the rest of her team. Her heart hammered in her chest, the sound of pounding blood echoing in her ears, and her head throbbed with each push of her legs. There was nothing more the girl wanted to do than to just curl up in a ball right then and there, but they were on a mission, and this was what she had signed up for.
'Artemis, Nightfall, behind you!' Miss Martian's voice tore through the mindlink, voice laced with sheer panic. The tone set Nightfall's nerves on fire, and her heart lurched into her throat.
It took Nightfall a moment too long to realize she could no longer hear Artemis's footsteps once more, and if the expression on her teammates faces just up ahead were anything to go by, that was not a good thing. Robin waved Nightfall to him, the gesture desperate, but the waterbender ignored him as she whirled around.
Eyes widening, she watched as Artemis had turned to face the alien ship once more. Another explosive arrow had been knocked, and the archer looked as poised as ever. The only difference this time, however, was the fact the canon seemed nearly fully charged, and even with how precise and fast she was, there was no way Artemis stood a chance.
Like a dam on the cusp of bursting, the world around Nightfall began to crumble as her mind desperately sought out ways to save Artemis. Her own name tore across the mindlink as Nightfall spun on her heel to run to Artemis's aide, but she paid the concerns of her team no mind.
The ice beneath her feet tripped the waterbender up, and Nightfall cursed as she slammed on her hands and knees. She ignored the stinging feelings in the wounded areas of her body, instead jerking her arm forward in a desperate attempt to save her friend. The ice rippled at her command, a stream shooting outwards, but it was too late.
Almost as if moving in slow motion, the golden column of light slipped past the incoming icy barrier before completely encasing Artemis within its grasp. Only milliseconds later did Nightfall's attempt at a protective barrier fall into place, but it was too late. Face as white as a ghost and eyes wide in horror, Nightfall could only watch helplessly as the flesh was burned from Artemis's bones, and in the blink of an eye, the archer was no more.
"ARTEMIS!"
Miss Martian's voice was contorted in absolute grief and something within Nightfall's mind shattered. The dam finally burst, and a searing pain tore through the waterbender's mind until she was seeing white. The gravity of the day's events hit her full force, knocking the breath from her chest as a low, keening wail tore itself from her throat.
Her father was dead. The Justice League was dead. Wolf was dead. And now Artemis was, too.
It sharpened into a cry of fury, tears unabashedly streaking down Nightfall's cheeks, and the ice below her fingertips splintered. Her head snapped up, blue eyes beginning to glow faintly, and when she slammed her hands on the icy surface, the snow that had once been covering it spun wildly into the air.
The flurry of snow harshened into an almost blizzard as it whipped around Nightfall, who had slowly climbed to her feet. Anger and despair sat heavy in her heart, the feelings crushing as Nightfall gave into them, powers running amuck as she relinquished her carefully practiced control to her overwhelming emotions.
With her emotions now running the show, the icy waters beneath her feet churned dangerously as sleet pelted the air. Nightfall's glowing gaze was locked on the downed ship, face contorted in anguish as another cry of fury ripped through her throat. Hood having been thrown off as snow continued to spin in the air, the team was given a full view of the waterbender's despair as she gave in to her powers.
Tears stained her cheeks, the glow in her eyes growing brighter with each passing second, and the team could only watch in mild astonishment as the grief-stricken girl walked towards the alien ship. Ice seared her veins, droplets of water lifting into the air as her fingers twitched dangerously.
Not real. Not real. Not real.
Each step she took forward was followed by the sickening sound of splintering ice as the frozen surface shattered beneath Nightfall's boots. The splinted ice gave rise to sharp spikes, each one poised and aimed at the ship that had claimed Artemis. They laid in wait for the waterbender's command, and as the ship's canon glowed golden once more, she gave it.
Another desolate cry of indignation pierced the tundra as Nightfall lurched forward. Arms snapping forwards, the sea before her snapped to attention. Rippling waves surged towards the alien ship before freezing at her silent command, hoisting the ship high into the air and ensnaring it in pillars of sharp ice.
The canon went of harmlessly, the shot shooting well over the team's heads, before an ice shard pierced the weapon and knocked it offline. Despite the ship being incapacitated, Nightfall's barrage was far from complete. All the pent-up feelings that had been suppressed all day were fighting for dominance in her mind, and the control over her powers that she had so callously given up further stoked the flames. A storm was raging within, threatening to consume Nightfall as it slipped past her defenses and billowed outwards; sleet and snow pelting the frozen wasteland she walked on.
Ship still ensnared in a series of icicle spears; Nightfall lifted her hands upwards. The iced spikes that lined her path lifted into the air, hovering ominously as they awaited their final commands. They glinted dangerously in the harsh sunlight; jagged tips aimed pointedly at the nearly incapacitated alien vessel. A dangerous silence lingered in the artic air as heavy tenseness enveloped the landscape.
Nightfall's hair shifted in the breeze, stray locks breaking free from their braided confines. Flecks of snow and ice littered her hair, dripping down onto her cheeks and giving them a red hue. A thin layer of frost danced on her eyelashes; chapped lips parted in a silent scream.
Feelings of hopelessness, despair, agony, flickered in her glowing eyes as she homed in on her target. All at once she burst to life; hands snapping backwards before she flung them forwards. A rippled cry of anguish was her war cry as the icicles surged forward at blurring speeds, and one by one they pierced the hull of the ensnared ship.
The sharp sound of metal tearing echoed in the frozen landscape, and it was soon followed by the sound of crackling electricity as the whirring machine inched closer to demise. Hands extended forwards, fingers furled dangerously, Nightfall forced the icicles further into the hull, the metal groaning under the added pressure; threatening to burst at any given moment.
The daggered ice continued to press in on the vessel, metal denting, and all at once the ship erupted. Flames spewed outwards and smoke billowed into the air, mixing with the flurrying snow. Metal and other pieces of debris rained down from the sky and pelted the earth below, the sound of the eruption echoing hollowly in the distance.
Nightfall's hands slumped to her sides, the fight leaving her body as a harsh sob tore through her. Tears had etched their way down her face, staining her cheeks and the glow in her eyes slowly faded away, revealing a pair of broken baby blues. Another sob racked her body, the force sending her to her knees, and Nightfall fell forward, hands pressed into the ice.
Still positioned in front of the bioship, the team watched the waterbender with solemn eyes as sobs assaulted her body. Robin made a move to run to her side, but Aqualad stopped him. Hand pressed against the hacker's chest, he ordered, "Get inside. All of you." Sharp glare leaving no room for argument, Aqualad watched as one by one his teammates entered into the bioship. Robin was the last to make his way inside, and he looked the most ready to argue with his leader, but he held his tongue. Instead, he hovered in the entryway, standing firm when Aqualad's gaze narrowed.
Technically, he was in the ship—just not all the way, and Robin thrived on technicalities.
Knowing the boy wasn't going to budge, Aqualad turned towards Nightfall. She was still on her knees, shoulders heaving, and the Atlantean had to maneuver his way across a few glaciers to get to her.
Once by her side, he placed a hand on her shoulder. Nightfall jerked at the sudden contact; red-tinged blue eyes widening as she glanced over at Aqualad. A hiccup slipped past her lips, and before Aqualad could say anything, she had launched herself at him. Arms curling around the Atlantean's broad shoulders, Nightfall buried her head into his chest.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
She repeated the two words like a mantra, and it took Aqualad a few moments to realize just what the waterbender was talking about. Nightfall blamed herself for the demise of Artemis, despite it not being her fault in the slightest. The archer had been ready to sacrifice herself for the greater good of her teammates, and there wasn't anything anyone could've done.
Aqualad's own arms curled around the girl's smaller body before he lifted her up with ease. Under other circumstances, Nightfall may have protested at being carried bridal style, but at this point in time, her mind was so consumed by anguish that she hardly noticed. Her arms subconsciously wrapped tighter around his neck for support.
"There is nothing to apologize for, Kayanna." Aqualad spoke lowly. It was clear he was handling the loss of Artemis the best, but as a trained soldier, he had been trained to handle great loss since a young age; but that didn't mean his own heart wasn't hurting, "You are far from at fault." He attempted to keep his tone soft, comforting even, but he needed to help Nightfall reign in her emotions. A soldier blindsided by their own emotions could be crippling to their cause, and when their numbers were already so critically low, they needed everyone at their strongest.
Nightfall sniffled in Aqualad's arms as he continued to speak, "but we are at war, and we need you. There will always be loss in war, and I know we have lost so much already, but Artemis's sacrifice must not be in vain, do you understand?" She nodded weakly, voice a lost cause, and an overwhelming feeling of guilt spread through her body.
This guilt, however, was not because Nightfall felt as it she had failed Artemis for not saving her, but because she had failed Artemis for breaking down so easily after her death. One of her greatest lessons from her father had been control, and she had so easily let her emotions consume her and relinquish that control to her powers. A feeling of deep-sated shame settled in her stomach, swirling with nausea, and Nightfall dropped her gaze to her lap, unable to maintain eye contact with Aqualad for any longer.
The second Aqualad's feet hit the ramp leading into the bioship, Robin had latched onto his side. Nerves radiated off the boy in waves, and even through his masked lenses the Atlantean could make out his concern. Aqualad gently set Nightfall on her feet, allowing Robin to take over supporting her, before he ushered the team's youngest members into the bioship. With a quick command Miss Martian's way, the hatch shut, and the bioship lifted into the air before disappearing in camouflage mode.
The atmosphere of the bioship was buzzing, and not in a good way. The grief the team was feeling at the loss of one of their own was palpable and almost dizzying. Nightfall was curled up in her seat, legs drawn up to her chest as she buried her face in her knees. Her cheeks were soaked, but the tears had long since dried up.
Robin had stolen the seat beside her, displacing Aqualad, but the Atlantean didn't protest, instead falling into the seat before Artemis's own. Her seat remained empty, a physical sign of their loss, and a cruel reminder of the mortality each and every one of them possessed.
Despite the lingering silence that blanketed the cockpit, it was occasionally broken by bouts of sniffles; mainly from a dejected Miss Martian and a guilty Nightfall. The rest of the team, for their part, were maintaining stronger composure, though Nightlight was on the verge of breaking.
The spirit-energy wielder had her eyes glued to the sky, a stoic expression composing her features, masking the inner turmoil she had been feeling. One of her strongest powers was her shields, and the aliens had easily rendered them useless. Nightlight could've saved Artemis with one, but she failed her own teammate—again. She promised herself next time, she'd be stronger.
Aqualad's gaze flickered around the cockpit, falling to each of his teammates and taking in their broken features. Even Kid Flash—someone who seemed to dislike the archer—was visibly upset by her loss, and when his fist slammed on the console before him, startling the tense atmosphere, Aqualad stood up, "There will be time to mourn later."
His tone was commanding, drawing the team's attention, and Nightfall sniffled as she glanced over at the Atlantean. She uncurled herself, legs falling to the ship's floor, and she could feel masked eyes settling on her back. A dull ache had settled in her chest, a throbbing in her skull, and Nightfall's emotions battled endlessly with each other.
"For now, we have a job to do: defend the Earth and ensure Artemis's sacrifice was not in vain."
The words were reminiscent of the one's Aqualad had spoken to Nightfall after her power freak out, and she swallowed thickly. The waterbender knew he was right; knew dissolving into a puddle of tears was not going to bring Artemis back, but her emotions were so wholly strong and consuming right now, that she just wanted nothing more than to give into them.
"Back to the cave?" Miss Martian's meek voice queried.
"The Hall of Justice. The human race must know that there are still heroes defending them; that there is still hope."
Not real. Not real. Not real.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Capitol Hill had descended into absolute chaos by the time the team had arrived. Decimated buildings littered the streets, while billowing smoke pilfered the air. A small contingent of soldiers had lined up outside one of the grand buildings, armored tanks defensive barriers lined up and at the ready. They did their best to hold off the incoming invasion, but earth's weapons proved to be futile against the alien's own.
A line of three aliens ships flew in formation, hanging low and setting their sights on the gathered armed forces. Behind the trio, in camouflage mode, the bioship swooped in. A hatch opened in the bottom, both Superboy and Nightlight falling into the sky.
Superboy landed on top of one of the ships, a large dent forming beneath his feet from impact, and the ship wavered. He slammed his fist into the metallic coating over and over again, increasing the crater's size, and the ship was forced to break formation. It fell towards the earth below, smoke starting to stream from its damaged core.
Nightlight, meanwhile, followed after one of the other ships. Bursts of pink encompassed her hands, and with an agitated shout, she launched the glowing weapons. They sailed through the air before slicing the wings off the ship, and it immediately nosedived towards the earth below, where it crash-landed in a fiery inferno.
Utilizing the weapon the team had hijacked in the tundra, Miss Martian made short work of the remaining ship. With the threat temporarily neutralized, Superboy rode the damaged ship to the ground, Nightlight flying after him. He leapt off the damaged machine once it had stilled, Nightlight hovering just behind him, and the bioship landed.
A hatch opened, revealing the rest of the team—sans their polar stealth gear—and the soldiers cheered at their arrival, weapons waved high in momentary victory as they crowded around the young heroes.
Nightfall found herself cringing some under the attention, feeling as if she didn't deserve some of their cheering, and she found herself leaning into Kid Flash. The speedster glanced down at her, doing his best to offer her a small, reassuring smile, as his hand found purchase on her elbow. The look helped some, and Nightfall attempted to stand tall.
"See?" A soldier in the crowd beamed, "It is Superman!" The man elbowed his comrade playfully, "Told you he wouldn't leave us out here alone!"
His comrade didn't seem convinced, "I don't know." The other solider disputed with a shake of his head, "He looks kind of young. Where's the cape?"
A scowl quirking his lips downwards, Superboy faced the two, "I'm not Superman." He practically growled, irritation palpable, but there was a hint of sadness in his tone.
"I don't know who are you, son," A burly man in uniform approached the teen's, and Nightfall recognized the medals and insignias that adorned his uniform, marking him as a high-ranking officer, "And right now, I don't care. You wear the 'S' and you got the job done."
"I'm not Superman."
"Tell that to the enemy." The high-ranking officer smirked before turning towards Aqualad, who had positioned himself before his teammates, cementing himself without words that he was their leader, "General Wade Eiling, US Air Force." The general saluted the Atlantean.
"Aqualad, Justice League. We will help you salvage as many of the alien's canons as possible." Aqualad's eyes narrowed, seafoam green swimming with determination as his voice darkened, "Then we will start taking back what is ours."
HALL OF JUSTICE
With heavy hearts, Nightfall and her team descended on the Hall of Justice. Compared to the glory the grand building had been just mere days ago, it was now a hallow husk of the beacon of hope it had once been. Debris littered the path up to the hall, a knot forming in Nightfall's stomach, and she trailed behind her team.
The interior didn't fare any better than the exterior, and Nightfall felt a sob bubble up within her throat as she took in the sight before her. Rubble from devastated walls and glass from shattered windows besieged the ground, and the grand foyer carried a haunting atmosphere; a stark contrast to the hope that once filled the interior.
Once upon a time, upon entering the Hall of Justice, you were greeted with eight ornate, bronze statues of the founding members of the Justice League, which included Nightfall's father, Nighttide. These once pristine statues were now damaged in some way, with a few smashed entirely, bits and pieces of the once grand statues strewn about the already decimated room. Heart lurching in her throat, Nightfall's eyes fell upon the remains of her father's statue.
Where he once stood tall alongside the others, in a cruel twist of irony, half of his torso and one of his legs had been shattered, the rubble gathering at his feet. The head of his statue laid heavy on the ground, and Nightfall hesitantly walked towards it, eyes tracing the gash his head.
Robin had stopped before the remains of Batman's statue, bangs tickling his cheeks as he stared down at his mentor's face, "They're really gone." His tone was solemn, more so than Nightfall had ever heard from him before, and the sob that had lodged itself in her throat tore free once more.
Nightfall fell to her knees as tears slid from her eyes once more. She had promised herself to not let her emotions get the better of her, but the emotionally charged and somber atmosphere in the room had been suffocating, begging her to give in once more, and so she did. The waterbender slapped a hand over her mouth as another sob harshly tore through her body and she placed a shaky hand on her father's statue.
Not real. Not real. Not real.
Her lip trembled as she leaned against the cool surface of Nighttide's statue, and Nightfall briefly wished for the numbness she had felt earlier regarding her emotions. She didn't want to feel them anymore. It was hard to explain why exactly the world suddenly seemed so much more painful now than when they watched the League perish before their very eyes, but it did—and Nightfall didn't like it.
A gloved hand found purchase on her shoulder, and when Nightfall looked up, blue met masked lenses. Without a moment's hesitation, Nightfall pushed herself into Robin's arms, burying her head in his shoulder. His arms were quick to wrap around the waterbender, and he crushed Nightfall to his chest, holding onto her as if she were a lifeline.
Salty tears stained Robin's cape, but the boy wonder paid them no mind as Nightfall continued to cry. Her chest heaved, and Robin's gloved hand tangled in her disheveled locks. They were no longer confined by her normal braids, dark mane loose and ruffled slightly by the breeze that pushed through the broken windows.
"I've got you, 'Anna," Robin murmured softly, completely unperturbed by the slip-up in nicknames. 'Anna was what Dick used for Kayanna, and as Robin, he avoided it to try and keep his two identities separate. In this moment, however, he didn't care.
This moment was greater than Nightfall and Robin—this was about Dick and Kayanna.
The girl in his arms wasn't just his teammate; she was his best friend—the girl that meant so much to him. There was something deeper here than Robin had ever realized, and he'd be damned if he died with her not knowing just who he was. The lies had been hard enough to keep up with on a normal day, but now, as they faced the end of humanity as they knew it, Robin knew what he had to do.
Nightfall pulled away from Robin. Her eyes were tinged red and slightly puffy. Her tears had gone dry once more, and she sniffled as she studied the hacker's features. Robin was clearly more composed than Nightfall was, but she figured that had to do with the years of training he had under Batman before this whole mess. Just because he could school his emotions so wholly didn't mean he didn't feel them, and the waterbender's mind briefly replayed how devastated he had sounded a mere few minutes ago when they stepped into the hall.
"How are you—"
"'Anna I have something—"
The two attempted to speak over each other, and when they realized this fact, they both closed their mouths. A light laugh slipped past Nightfall's lips, though it was more of a pained breath than anything. Her arms had fallen so they were resting on his shoulders, and Robin's own were still wrapped around her waist. The position could be considered intimate, but it felt natural to the two.
Nightfall found a strange sense of comfort being so close to Robin; and he appeared to feel the same.
Somewhere along the way, their feelings of friendship had shifted, and the severity of the world they found themselves in had made them realize just how short their lives could actually be. Even if there was so little left in the world, and even after everyone they had lost, they still had each other.
With a shake of her head, Nightfall attempted a small smile, though it came out more like a grimace, "Uhm, you go first?" She offered hesitantly, suddenly feeling shy as her proximity to Robin slowly dawned on her.
Robin pulled in a deep breath. Lifting one of his hands up, he began to tug on the ends of his mask, "I should've done this a long time ago," Nightfall's eyes widened as they filled with realization at what he was doing. She had always gotten a strange sense of familiarity from the boy, something of which she could never place, and now she'd know.
A low rumbling suddenly filled the room, and fearing another incoming assault, Robin dropped his hand, mask fully back in place, and the two separated. Nightfall couldn't help the feeling of disappointment that twanged her heart, but she quickly brushed it away as she attempted to pull herself together.
Robin had jumped up to his feet, already poised and at the ready, and while Nightfall was a bit slower, he offered her a hand. The two stood, and when they realized there wasn't currently a threat, Robin kept his hand clasped with Nightfall's own.
Miss Martian was hovering in the air a few feet away, eyes alight with green, as she lifted a large chunk of Martian Manhunter's statue. Before Nightfall—or anyone else for that matter—could question the girl, the team watched, with wide eyes, as Martian Manhunter—the real one—rubbed at his head, looking dazed from his place under the rubble, "Uncle J'onn!" Confusion rippled through the team at the revelation, but Miss Martian paid their feelings no mind.
Instead, she tossed the suspended chunk aside and darted towards her uncle.
Aqualad was quick to intercept her, pausing her mid-flight, 'M'gann.' His voice was laid with underlying concern, the leader in him telling him to be cautious, 'Check his mind. Make sure he is whom he appears to be.'
'It's him!' Miss Martian's voice was incessant, elated even, and Nightfall shared a quizzical look with Robin. Even Nightlight, who had been hovering back since their arrival, looked perplexed, 'He's real, and he's alive!' She pushed past Aqualad, easily falling to Martian Manhunter's side.
"But we saw you get disintegrated?" Nightfall spoke, her voice a bit more bitter than she intended. Beside her, Robin squeezed her hand in warning, and she dropped her gaze to the floor. Though she was happy Miss Martian had been reunited with her uncle, a small pang of jealousy stirred in the pits of her stomach.
"Yeah, you and Superman! And everyone!" Superboy added on.
There was a brief beat of silence, Martian Manhunter still holding his aching head. Miss Martian had wrapped her arms around her uncle, helping to hold him, while his arm had wrapped around her shoulder. He swayed on his feet ever so slightly, face contorted as he stared at the team in confusion.
"Yes…" Manhunter's voice was weak, laced with uncertainty, as he relied on his niece for support, "I remember, but… I cannot remember how I survived. Or… how I arrived here."
"Maybe you were density shifting and the beam passed right through you?" Miss Martian supplied.
A grin split Robin's lips as he stepped froward, dropping Nightfall's hand in the process. She frowned at the loss of contact, "Scrambling your brains along the way!" The boy wonder's voice was tinged with hope.
"My mind is clouded," Martian Manhunter confirmed, a frown on his lips, but he didn't look very convinced. He was unable to provide any additional information to confirm or deny their theory, however, and his head split with pain, "I feel certain I had something important to tell you."
Nightfall folded her arms over her chest. Something about this whole thing wasn't sitting right with her, but she couldn't place the why. A little behind her, Kid Flash suddenly smacked his forehead, a goofy grin on his lips, and a solemn Nightlight startled at the sudden action beside her, 'Hello, Wally! Come on!'
Without a further explanation, Kid Flash darted out of the Hall of Justice. Robin was fast on his heels, having gotten the silent messaged, and Nightfall watched as they disappeared outside. Worry tainted her mind, but she couldn't bring herself to go with them. They were unneeded out there, and it was safer inside the ruins.
Nightfall did hover around the entrance, however, keeping a subtle eye on the boys as they climbed on top of a Humvee that sat beneath the bioship. They exchanged a few words, Robin pulling up his holo-computer, and Nightfall glanced over as Nightlight stepped up to her.
The hooded-girl's pink eyes were dim, arms folded protectively in front of her. Even though her expression was stoic, the flicker in her eyes clued Nightfall into the turmoil that raged within her.
"How are you holding up?" As one of the original sidekicks, Nightfall knew Nightlight was better trained to handle emotionally exhausting situations like the one they found themselves in, but that didn't mean she wasn't struggling herself. Like Robin, Nightlight knew how to mask her emotions and shove them aside, but that didn't mean they weren't close to bubbling over.
With a heavy sigh and shaking shoulders, Nightlight shook her head, "I—I don't know, honestly." Her voice was soft, laced with sorrow, "There's something… strange going on, but I can't figure out what it is. The League, my father, I should be able to feel their souls, or at least have felt them pass, but it's like they don't…" Nightlight paused, brows furrowing as she stared at her hands, "It's like they don't exist? And it doesn't make any—"
'I knew it! Look!' Kid Flash's voice was loud as it echoed in the team's minds, and Nightfall cringed, 'It's giving off zeta-beams! The same stuff that powers our zeta-tubes!'
Nightfall and Nightlight shared a look, 'So, does that mean—?"
'It means this thing doesn't disintegrate! It teleports!'
Robin didn't seem as convinced as is speedster comrade, 'Maybe…' He began, voice unsure, 'but—'
'No maybes! No buts!' Kid Flash cut him off in excitement, but Nightfall couldn't help but dwell on Robin's unsureness.
Despite the boy wonder's hesitation, a newfound sense of hope spread through the team as their spirits began to lift. Nightfall couldn't help but feel unsteady about the whole thing still, but seeing the bright look in Miss Martian's eyes as she turned towards her uncle had her biting her tongue, "That must've been what you wanted to tell us!" There was so much optimism in her voice that it physically hurt Nightfall.
Martian Manhunter didn't look to convinced either, a hand placed to his temple, and Aqualad frowned.
The conversation was left open-ended, the team not getting the answers they needed, as more alien ships appeared. They converged on the hall, Nightfall's heart leaping into her throat as she whirled around, watching as Robin and Kid Flash took cover behind the Humvee they had once been standing on.
A stray blast decimated the vehicle that had been parked beside their cover.
Nightlight immediately made a beeline towards her teammates, eyes growing bright, 'We're on our way!' Aqualad was hot on her heels, only to come to a skidding halt as Robin's voice rebuked their assistance.
'Negative! We can't win this.'
Despite his protest, Nightlight still launched herself out of the Hall of Justice. She flew down the stairs at blurring speeds, deadest on being there to protect her teammates. She couldn't fail them; not again.
Robin's masked eyes widened as the spirit-energy wielder appeared before him and Kid Flash, 'Nightlight, what—'
'I'm not leaving you out here with no protection.'
A pink dome encased the area, protecting the three heroes as well as a handful of soldiers that had been cowering nearby. A beam collided with the shield, Nightlight grunting against the force, but instead of shattering like it had in the tundra, she pushed against it. Splinters still stained the protective barrier, a sign the shield was losing its integrity, but it held.
Kid Flash placed a hand on Nightlight's shoulder as she focused on her shield, and Robin scowled, 'Miss Martian, camouflage the bioship—' No sooner had the words left his mouth when the bioship was hit directly with a beam, disintegrating it from view.
Inside the hall, Nightfall whirled around as Miss Martian let out a strangled scream. She went toppling to the ground, all strength seemingly leaving her body, and she pulled her uncle with her. Superboy raced to his girlfriend's side, calling out to her as Aqualad went to aide Martian Manhunter, "That… didn't… feel like…" The younger Martian stared blankly at the ceiling above, voice listless as tears streaked down her cheeks.
As gunfire and chaos continued to rain down outside, Robin's voice echoed in their minds once more, 'We're falling back!' Nightfall spun around, watching as the boy wonder, flanked by Nightlight and Kid Flash, raced towards the building alongside the rest of the soldiers that had been stationed outside. Their numbers had dwindled once more, a fact that Nightfall wasn't daft too, and she found herself latching onto Robin's side as he ran inside.
General Eiling followed his men inside, eyes quickly assessing their current situation, "We're trapped." He surmised with mirth.
The doors to the library slid open with a soft hiss, Aqualad glancing at them before facing the general, "Maybe not." No verbal orders were needed as the team and gathered solders ran into the newly opened room. Some of the soldiers disbursed, setting up a line of defense and training their guns on the entrance, while the others stuck closely to their general, "We can all zeta to the cave if you can grant us computer access to the tubes."
"I can only access one at a time." Martian Manhunter confessed.
Aqualad nodded in understanding before pointing at the hidden zeta, "Send the soldiers first."
"Belay that!" Eiling snapped, "You eight are assets we cannot afford to lose."
The two leader's made brief eye contact, a silent conversation passing between the two. Nightfall swallowed thickly, sparing a quick look Aqualad's way to see what his reaction was. Hesitance flickered in his seafoam eyes, unsurprisingly. Another brief moment ticked by, and Aqualad reluctantly shook his head before facing Martian Manhunter.
"Send the team."
Martian Manhunter nodded in acknowledgement, carefully pulling himself from his niece's supportive hold. He limped over to the computer, a scanner falling from above the zeta, and a green beam passed over him.
"Override: Martian Manhunter: Zero-Seven."
"Recognized: Access Granted."
The doors to the hidden zeta-tube slid open, the machine whirring to life as it warmed up, and the team lined up before the device. Nightfall found herself at Robin's side once more, and as the scanner passed over Miss Martian, she slipped her hand into Robin's own for a brief moment of comfort.
"Recognized: Miss Martian: B-Zero-Six."
The younger Martian spared a worried glance her uncle's way, but with a soft nod of his head, she swallowed her nerves and disappeared in a beam of light. Robin stepped forward after Miss Martian, giving Nightfall's hand a soft squeeze in the process before dropping her hand. The computer scanned him, and in another bright flash of light, he was gone as well.
Nightfall stepped up next, pulling in a deep breath, as the scanner trailed over her body, "Recognized: Nightfall: B-Zero-Nine." The light was blinding as she approached it, and Nightfall briefly wondered if this was what Artemis saw in her last moments.
Not real. Not real. Not real.
A/N: Hey all! Semi-long time no see? lmao I've been sitting on the start of this chapter for a little bit now, so I figured I should just up and post it now for ya'll! I can't promise the second half will be up soon, as I start school again soon, but editing this chapter and rereading what I've got written has kind of re-inspired me some, so here we are!
Tried a bit of a different angle and writing style for this chapter, so lemme know what ya'll think?
Please leave a review! I appreciate all of your thoughts and opinions and everyone who's been reading this story!
~ SnowWolf22