Chapter Twelve — Invasion

"Know that my love would burn with me; we'll live eternally."


Dick had promised to go with Captain Atom and personally show the United Nations Secretary General Tseng the video footage from the Light and the Reach's Summit and he had sworn to call her the minute the United Nations had come to a decision on whether or not they would rescinded their invitation to the Reach.

So hours later after having gotten back from the Isla Santa Prisca cave, when Arley— who had been sitting on the couch with her back to Wally's chest and her legs entangled with his, telling both him and Artemis about the time she had spent with Kaldur undercover —heard the speedsters ringtone start to blast from Wally's phone, she didn't hesitate in scooping it up off the coffee table.

Her heart stilling in her chest as she pressed the device to her phone.

"It's Arley."

Artemis and Wally leaned in closer to Arley so that they too could hear what Dick was saying on the other end of the line; Wally's grip around Arley's middle tightened anxiously.

"Hey," Dick greeted, Arley could hear the masked heroes smile in his voice, "Tseng called an emergency meeting as soon as Cap and I finished showing him the video; the UN voted unanimously, they've rescinded the Reach's invitation." Arley melted against Wally, she let out a loud breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding; Artemis whopped loudly as Wally pressed a hard kiss to the top of Arley's head. Over Arleys head he and Artemis high-fived. "Tseng and Atom are going to announce it publicly as soon as they can but I promised to let you know when I did."

Aniell; Arley's watery eyes flickered to the dead power ring that was placed on her hand, emotion balled up in Arley's throat as she looked at the hand she's placed against her knee, at the green ring she'd been chosen to wield thirteen years ago.

"Thank you," Arley said thickly.

"It's nothing," Dick said, Arley could almost see the younger hero shrugging on the other side of the call, "It's good to have you back though Lantern."

Arley sucked in a shaky breath at the name; Lantern, she'd missed being called that, she missed the Corps and her family and she missed Aniell.

"See you soon Wing," Arley said.

"You too GL." Arley placed the phone back on the coffee table and turned to a grinning Wally West; happy tears dotted the corners of her eyes. Her knees folded underneath herself and Wally's hands hung off her hips, his thumbs rubbed circles under the tank top she'd been wearing.

"The UN's kicking them off world," Arley grinned.

"I heard," Wally beamed.

"I get to be a Lantern again," Arley said, the conversation from their night in the seedy National Nine motel room played through Arley's mind, "I-are you disappointed?"

Wally's brows knitted together; Artemis disappeared into Arley and Wally's bedroom.

"Babe? You're kidding right?" She wasn't because as much as she loved the Corps and as much as she loved her family and missed Aniell, part of Arley— a small, minuscule part of herself —was disappointed she'd never get that easy life with Wally they'd talked about because she knew that the only way she'd ever give up the life would be if she was forced to; forced to pick between the Corps and Wally.

Arley shrugged.

"I just-what we talked about in the motel. I don't know," Arley trailed off, she wasn't quite sure how to put what she'd felt into words, and yet that didn't seem to have mattered because Wally's crooked index finger tapped against the underside of Arley's chin as her eyes flickered down; her eyes flew back up as Artemis emerged from their bedroom with her Lantern battery in her hands.

"Just cause you still get to be a Lantern doesn't mean I don't plan on marrying you Glowstick-it just means I'll have to plan around the end of the universe, doesn't it?" With a laugh, as Artemis set the battery onto the coffee table next to Wally's phone, Arley pressed a chaste kiss to the tip of Wally's nose.

"Love you," Arley whispered; Artemis muttered something about nerdy rabbits— something she usually called Arley and Wally in a teasing manner over the years —and Wally pressed a chaste kiss of his own against Arley's lips.

"Love you more."

With a grin Arley turned, she looked at the large green lantern shaped battery; thrill ran up her spine as she raised her hand, her fingers curled into a fist as she breathed. Before the importance of team work and battle tactics are drilled into them or they're made to memorize the Book of Oa, the oath's the first thing they're taught in boot camp.

"In brightest day, in darkest night, no evil shall escape my sight—" the lantern battery started to glow green; with every word it grew brighter, "—Let those who workshops evil's might beware my power, Green Lanterns light!"

The green light coming from the lantern battery stretched out and almost magically in a way, began to swirl up and around Arley's arm. Her uniform appeared over her clothes in the wake of the swirling light and soon enough Arley was in the standard Green Lantern uniform; her mask was over her eyes and the corps symbol was proudly displayed on her chest.

Artemis and Wally looked at Arley in somewhat awe, Aniells voice floated through Arley's head; I told you I'd see you on the other side.

Arley burst into happy tears at the sound of her ring's voice.

I missed you.

Artemis and Wally jumped at the Lantern's tears, Wally pressed a hand against Arley's back only for her to wave him off. She was fine— happy and elated —just overwhelmed by her emotions.

She'd forgotten the warmth she'd feel when Aniell spoke, the warmth that'd flood her mind as her ring reached out to her.

And I missed you, Aniell answered back softly.

Hal, Guy, Kilowog and the Guardians glowed green as their holographic image was projected from Arley's ring; Kyle Rayner, Arley's temporary replacement, stood in the background with his arms crossed behind his back. Ganthet, one of the Guardians, who were leaving Oa due to the Reach's involvement and coming to oversee the Reach's apprehension, floated behind Kyle.

"—You're okay though?" Hal asked thickly; though the Guardians had apparently told them all of Arley's mission after the United Nations had invited the Reach to the planet and they'd all been banished to Oa from Earth, Guy had still read her the riot act for going behind their backs and playing dead.

"Yeah," Arley nodded, "I'm fine, Kaldur was watching my back."

Wally in his Kid Flash uniform sat next to her as they waited for Artemis to get ready; Dick had called them— after Cat Grant and the World News Station aired Captain Atom and General Secretary Tseng's conference telling the world about the Reach and their plan to enslave the human population —to let them know that the League had given the job of capturing the Scientist and Black Beetle to the team.

"Good," Hal said, the pilot swiped the back of his hand across his eyes, "That's good, you'll tell us more-everything," Hal corrected, "After we get these guys into Corps custody okay?"

"Of course," Arley promised. Arley's eyes flickered to Artemis as the archer, suited up and with a full quiver strapped to her back stepped out of her room; she then looked back down at the small holographic images her ring was displaying. "I've got to go, Arty's ready to head out."

"Alright," Hal nodded, "We'll be in the sector soon so do me a favor kid," Hal said sternly, "Don't die on me again okay? I could barely handle burying you once."

Arley's heart clenched; though the Guardians had told Hal and the others that she wasn't dead once they had been kicked off of Earth due to the Reach, Hal and Guy and the other Lanterns Arley had grown up calling family had— even if it'd only been for a week or so —thought she'd died. When Kilowog, Hal and Guy had buried an empty casket they'd both done so thinking that she was in there; that her corpse was in the casket.

"Yes sir," Arley promised. Hal grinned.

"Good."

"And don't kick too much ass by yourself Nightlight," Guy added on with a smirk, "Remember to save some for us."

"Hurry up and don't leave me here to kick the Reach's ass by myself then old man," Arley teased.

"Old man!" Guy squawked, he and Hal were thirty eight, almost thirty-nine, not old in all actuality but older than Arley nonetheless. Loudly Arley laughed, she missed them, Nortz she had missed them.

Hours later in the Watchtowers War Room, as Arley and the rest of the team prepared to storm the main Reach ship that was anchored outside of the United Nations, M'gann and Conner were nowhere to be found; Dick and Captain Atom had sent them— and Adam Strange —to Rann so that could zeta to Rimbor from there with the evidence they had obtained from the Light and Reach's Summit.

Arley in her standard Green Lantern uniform stood with both Beetles Green and Blue; while the rest of the team would be keeping the Reach's forces busy Arley and both Beetles were tasked with finding both Black Beetle and the Scientist and bringing them into custody as the Ambassador was already in cuffs in the Watchtowers holding cells, awaiting the rest of the Corps arrival.

Slowly the team broke off into smaller teams and Arley, with her arm pressed against Jaimes watched as Wally whispered something to Nightwing; the masked hero peaked over his shoulder at Arley— who grinned and waved at one of her oldest friends, Dick returned the gesture —and then looked back at Wally.

The former Robin whispered something back to the speedster and Wally nodded, a confident smile played on his lips. As Arley turned to walk out of the room caught sight of Dick clapping Wally on the shoulder.

Arley followed as Green Beetle led her and Blue Beetle to the ship's control room; as the three of them crept through the ship's corridors Arley stood between him and Jaime just in case the Martian double crossed them. She had let the Reach hurt Jaime once, she wouldn't allow them to hurt him again.

Arley and both Green and Blue Beetles crept into the control room; Arley saw dozens of other members of the Reach manning their stations around the control room but both the Scientist and Black Beetle standing before a large screen. Several different surveillance camera feeds played on the screen in front of both members of the Reach, all the videos were of the team fighting against the alien insectoids.

"—Bassador tied my hands," Black Beetle growled to the Scientist as his hands weaponized into swords, "But the Ambassador is gone. Now all the hero meat will die."

"You know us hero meat have a saying," Arley spoke out; both the Scientist and Black Beetle spun, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch-in other words, until you're standing over our cold dead bodies, slow your kriffing roll."

Blue Beetle raised his arms and fired two large staples at the Scientist. The alien flew back until she hit the windshield of the ship; the glass splintered under the staples but didn't crumble leaving the Scientist to struggle midair. Both Green and Blue Beetles shot into the air, Blue went left and Green went right and Arley with a glowing green sword she had constructed from her ring glared at the Black Beetle.

"If I could keep you on your toes without my ring, I wonder how fast I'll be able to take you down with it."

Black Beetle didn't respond, the alien simply growled at Arley before he ran at her, Arley flew at the alien and with two loud war cries, the pair clashed; their blades bounced off one another. Arley drove Black Beetle back two steps before she was blasted back by the aliens' sonic chest canon.

The Lantern hit the wall with a crash' the metal crumpled under her and Black Beetle turned to Green and Blue Beetles. Arley fell to the ground with a thud; as she regained her bearings she watched as both Blue and Green Beetles approached Black Beetle.

"As for you brothers, I tried to keep you on mode or at least salvage your scarabs but clearly all four of you are corrupt beyond redemption."

"It is you who are corrupt!" Green Beetle declared, their eyes glowing red. Black Beetle, with his weaponized arm outstretched, leap at Green Beetle, only for the Martian to throw the member of the Reach onto the ground with his telekinetic powers. Black Beetle lifted into the air and Green Beetle's suit connected itself to Black Beetle. "But I will reset your scarab and set you free."

The arms of Green Beetles suit— the ones that had attached themselves to Black Beetle —began to glow a bright and luminescent green and for a moment Black Beetles scarab did to; built only for a moment. Black Beetles scarab changed purple; Arley saw the purple flooded up the arms of Green Beetles suit— much like the green that'd come from his had done to Black Beetles —only to then watch with wide and horrified eyes as the Martians scarab ashen and crumble with a scream.

B'arzz O'oomm, with a scream of his own, fell back onto the floor, his arms outstretched at his sides and his eyes open and unblinking, his chest though moving up and down.

"No!" Blue Beetle shouted.

"I hate Martians," Black Beetle sneered as he raised his sharpened arm. "Parasites, the lot of your meat."

Arley shot forward and threw herself on top of the Martian, her ring hand outstretched and a dome-like shield quickly formed protectively over herself and the fallen Martian before Black Beetle could bring their arm down upon them. With a sneer Black Beetles arm transformed into a plasma cannon; the alien fired at Arley's shield only for Blue Beetle, who had launched himself at the hulking alien, to get between them. Blue Beetle was blown black across the room with a yelp.

"Jaime!" Arley shouted; the dome dropped and Arley fired her ring at Black Beetle only for the alien to be blown black a few steps, not several feet. Black Beetle whipped the barrel of his plasma cannon at Arley, the edge of the weapon caught Arley right above her temple, sending the Lantern once more into one of the walls of the ship's room.

Arley felt blood drip down the side of her head as she sat up; the room violently spun as she tried to push herself back up. Stay down, Aniell hissed, You can't be reckless.

"You!" Black Beetle snapped at Blue Beetle, "You were the cause of this debacle! It is long past time your scarab was destroyed and your life ended."

Like Green Beetle had done, glowing purple arms emerged from Black Beetles scarab and attached themselves to Jaimes. Jaime let out an agonizing scream as he was lifted into the air; his scarab glowing purple. Despite seeing three Black Beetles standing several feet away from her Arley fired; she missed and hit the wall behind him.

I need to help Jaime, Arley hissed to Aniell. Too slowly for her liking the room stopped spinning and Arley found herself on her knees, hyper aware of the bloody hair that matted her hairline. Black Beetle brought Jaime closer to himself and Arley slowly clamored to her feet.

You need to catch your breath and heal, Aniell said, Please. Aniell practically begged, You need to be careful.

She needed to save Jaime. Just as Arley raised her ring to fire at Black Beetle blue— bright glowing blue —flooded over the purple; Black Beetle looked horrified, Jaime looked smug. Two arms grew from Jaimes suit and attached themselves to Black Beetle; more blue began to bleed into the aliens' armor and just as the blue faded the aliens' scarab crumbled.

The bald, green member of the Reach dropped to their knees unmovingly; with a proud smile Arley stepped forward, Jaime however looked at the aliens crumbled body with wide and horrified eyes. Quickly Arley's smile fell, a crease formed between her brows.

"Jaime? What's wrong we won?" Jaime's head snapped in Arley's direction.

"No," Jaime denied, "We didn't, we lost. When my scarab tapped into Blacks we learned he already set a plan in motion to erase all evidence of the Reach's attempt to conquer us by destroying the Earth." Ice flooded Arley's veins. Arley looked at Jaime, and then the fallen Reach warrior and raised her hand to her ear,

"Lantern to Nightwing."

"Nightwing to Lantern, what's wrong?" Nightwing said through the com-link, Arley could see the masked hero on the video feed, back to back with Batgirl and Robin as they all finished fighting a small squadron of Reach Soldiers.

"Black Beetle and the Scientist are in custody but Green is down and we have a problem here-the Reach has sent a doomsday plan in motion."

"What?" Nightwing asked sharply over the com-link.

"Doomsday, as in the end of the world!" Beast Boy said. Arley ignored the young hero and instead used a construct from her ring to pick up both the fallen Beetles and pluck the Scientist who'd given up struggling against her bonds from against the ship's windshield.

"Blue has all the information; we have Black Beetle and the Scientist in custody. Rendezvous at the Watchtower ASAP," Arley said, she shared a dark look with Jaime. "We don't have much time."

It looked like— at least from the Watchtower —as if the world had been swallowed whole by a dark and angry looking cloud. Arley, Jaime, Dick, Kaldur and Captain Atom were on the Watchtower; the members of the Reach were in the holding cells with inhibitor collars around their neck and the rest of the League were spread around the world, doing what they could to save people from the Reach caused natural disasters ravaging the planet.

Different news feeds played on the computer screen in the War Rom.

"Natural disasters have escalated and the League is spread thin saving lives across the globe."

"It's Black Beetles Magnetic Field Disrupters," Blue said softly as he watched Doctor Fate stop a tsunami from destroying a small Japanese city and Green Arrow and Black Canary usher a load of children off the bridge their school bus had been on. "The Reach seeded them at multiple locations across the Earth. They're causing a deterioration of the Earth's magnetic field which in turn is causing these not so natural disasters."

"What can we do to stop them?" Dick asked the younger teen, Jaime shrugged.

"Don't know-Black didn't, as far as I can tell these things don't have failsafe's," Jaime said, "I mean, I can locate all the MFD's but each one is defended by Beetle-tech drones that are programmed to run interference until the MFD can build up enough speed to go chrysalis and end the world but that's about it, these were meant to be an endgame."

There was a video of an Italian street, body bags littered the sidewalk as tired and frighten first responders lined them up; it was easier to do that then waste the life saving resources transporting dead bodies to the hospital and morgue. Several of the body bags that had been lined up on the sidewalk were child sized.

Arley's heart clenched.

"Perhaps but I bet the Scientist who designed them knows how to stop them, failsafe or not," Arley said darkly, she looked at Kaldur whose lips were thinned out and pressed together, Kaldur's chin jerked up and Arley stood from her chair, her arms crossed over her chest. Before either of them were heroes they were soldiers; good soldiers who did what they needed too. "Give me twenty minutes—"

"—Incase you forgot due to your time undercover," Captain Atom snapped, "We don't torture our prisoners here."

Arley scoffed at the man.

Hypocrite, she thought, she could name several different Leaguers— ranging from Batman to Aquaman —who had used some sort of torture, either psychological or physical, over the years in the name of justice. Besides, before Captain Atom was a hero he was a member of the United States government.

"And in case you forgot Cap, the Reach aren't your prisoners anymore, you signed them over to me and the Corps."

"Not so you could torture them!" Captain Atom got to his feet, Jaimes fingers curled around the edge of the table and Kaldur looked blankly at Captain Atom; Dick looked anywhere but Arley or the leader of the Justice League.

"I'm sorry am I being lectured by a guy who goes out drinking with soldiers that used to work at places like Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib, torture capitals of the world?" Arley spit rhetorically, "We're on a time crunch here-lives are at stake! The whole world is!"

"But that doesn't give you the right to torture someone!"

"Incoming message from United Nations Secretary General Tseng Dangun," the computer's voice spoke before Arley could snap anything back at him. Arley, Captain Atom, Jaime, Kaldur and Dick turned to the computer screen only to be greeted by Lex Luthers scowling face. The General Secretary stood in the background.

"Luther!" Atom snapped; Arley glared at the man, "What are you—"

"—Secretary Tseng was kind enough to let me borrow his frequency as I have a possible solution to our mutual problem," the villainous billion heir said.

"A problem that you and the Light went out of your way to create-you brought the Reach to Earth!" Arley hissed. Luther didn't shrug.

"Perhaps," he said, "But as I believe you know Lantern, the Light always planned to betray the Reach." The heroes glared steadily at the man's image and Luther sighed, as if he were pained by their actions. Luther held up a flash drive, "At the moment what the Light did or did not do is irrelevant. See LexCorp has developed anti-Reach software, a virus. The software should disable their Magnetic Field Disrupters, and if I'm right-I do believe time is of the essence."

Captain Atom let out a growl, he stepped away from his chair and up to the computer screen; the hero brought his hand up to the holographic computer keyboard that floated precariously in front of the large monitor.

"Captain Atom to all Leaguers; finish up what you're doing, save who you can and rendezvous in Metropolis outside of LexCorps as soon as possible. We have a way to stop the Reach's MFD's."

Looking like the cat who got the canary Luther smirked at the heroes, "Wonderful. I'll see you all shortly."

And with that his image disappeared from the monitor; Arley turned to Kaldur and Dick, perhaps she would have regretted torturing the Reach Scientist afterwards but at least then she wouldn't have felt like they were making a deal with the devil.

Arley stood with Wally, Barry and Bart outside LexCorp. Wally's hand was on the small of her back; other League members— the team, the Original Roy Harper and all the clones Cadmus had made of him, and the teens the Reach had experimented on —were littered around them in small groups. The Bats stood off in one, Artemis was with Oliver, Dinah and the Harpers; Conner and M'gann with the backs of their hands touching stood with B'arzz O'oomm, Wolf and Bodie who'd grown closer to the genetically enhanced wolf while Arley had gone undercover.

Captain Atom stood on a parapet, the anti-Reach technology LexCorp had designed in his hand; Luther and Jaime stood off to the side with the rest of the anti-Reach technology.

"Every single Magnetic Field Disruptor must be disabled before they chrysalis to guarantee Earth's safety. Each MFD is protected by multiple beetle tech drones and each drone is the equivalent to a beetle warrior. Blue Beetle has located twenty-one MFD's around the world so you'll be in squads of two."

"You'll all be issued multiple Reach tech eggs," Luther said loudly as he held up a blue football shaped object, "They will all contain my anti-reach virus software. While one hero runs interference with the drones the other only physically has to touch his or her egg against an MFD to disable it."

"No way he's doing this from the goodness of his heart," Wally breathed into Arley's ear. Arley leaned her head closer to Wally, her eyes never leaving Luther.

"What heart? The man got a black hole in his chest cavity," Arley replied. "Bet you ten bucks there's an angle."

"No duh babe it's Luther, of course there's an angle," Wally snorted lowly. The corners of Arley's lips twitched up.

"Alright!" Captain Atom called out, "I have your assignments! We'll distribute these eggs and go; first up in the Atlantic Ocean Aqualad and Lagoon Boy."

Arley looked at Kaldur and La'gann— whose shoulders tensed as he stepped forward —as they approached Jaime and Luther.

"Next in Dakota City we have Black Lighting and Virgil Hawkins." One of the kids that the team had saved from the Reach stepped up; the young boy grinned slightly as he approached Black Lighting. "Flash and Rocket, you two are in New York." Barry— rubbing both Wally and Bart's heads before he moved away —and Raquel walked towards Luther and Jaime; they both scowled at Luther.

"Lantern and Kid Flash," Arley and Wally perked up, his hand pressed more firmly against the small of her back. "You two got Paris."

Wally grinned. He leaned towards Arley.

"Hear that babe, City of Love." Arley couldn't help but snort; Bart, who had been standing next to Wally rolled his eyes.

"Focus Handsome," Arley told her boyfriend as the two of them walked up to Jaime and Luther, Wally took the blue egg from Luther and Arley looked at Jaime, she set her hands on the younger teens shoulders; "Be careful out there, okay. Don't take unnecessary risks and watch your partners back-whoever it may be."

"I also won't talk to strangers and I'll look both ways before crossing the street," Jaime sassed, Arley flicked the young teens forehead. "Ow!"

"Don't be an ass Blue, I want to see you on the other side of this in one piece, okay? You have regents next week." With an over dramatic groan Jaime pulled Arley into a tight hug.

"Be safe, okay?"

"I have Wally watching my back," Arley said; to her that was as good as promising to see him later.

There were a dozen tornadoes in Paris; the Magnetic Field Disrupter was at the base of the Eiffel Tower and Arley, as she and Wally stopped a dozen yards away, spotted three beetle drones that were stationed protectively in front of the world ending device.

"You're fast and I'm bright," Arley said with a grin as she glowed a faint green, she looked at Wally whose fingers were threaded with her own, "You get the egg to the MFD and I'll take out the drones."

"You'll be safe?"

"I got you and Aniell at my six, how much danger can I be in?" Arley quipped. She pressed a kiss against Wally's gloved fingers before she shook off his hands and took into the air; Arley fired at the first done with a swivel out of the way. The Blast hit the Eiffel Tower; Wally ran at the swirling Magnetic Field Disruptor only to veer off as the drones began to shoot at him.

Arley fired at the drone again; she hit it. The second beetle drone turned and fired at her; the blast missed Arley but hit the Greyhound bus that she'd been flying in front of. The bus exploded and Arley was blown through the air and into the arms of a speeding Wally West.

"What do you think about coming here again-you know when we don't have a world to save?" Wally asked.

"In case your forgot there's a world always in need of saving," Arley replied.

"Not what I meant," Wally grinned. "I thinking more for our Honeymoon."

With a swooning heart Arley flattened her body out in Wally's arms and hung her head upside down as she steadied her arm. Love, Arley loved Wally west with every cell in body and every breath of air in her lungs. Arley fired once between the two beetle drones and then sequentially at the two drones; neither of which could compute dodging Arley's first blast and then the next two fast enough.

"Drop me and go, you're clear." Wally dug his heels into the ground and skidded to a stop; he placed Arley upright, gently on the grass in front of the landmark, before he ran at it. Arley watched as Wally slammed the egg onto the side of the orange Magnetic Field Disruptor; the Reach technology died down and Arley grinned. She lifted her hand to her ear.

"Snapper," Arley said, for the first time in years not unkindly, "Omega squad—" Arley was cut off by Wally's lips, his hands were wrapped around her waist; Wally hauled her against his chest. Arley's eyes fluttered shut as she allowed her arms to wind around Wally's neck and her toes to curl.

"Omega squad repeat transmission," Lucas Carr said through the com-link. Arley paid the man no mind as Wally's tongue swept along her bottom lip. "Omega?"

There were a few things Arley knew to be true across the universe, one of them happened to be that kissing Wally West would never get old.

Though most of the Magnetic Field Disrupters had been destroyed only several of them were back at the Watchtower; their friends— their family —were still out there, destroying the rest of the beetle drones that'd been unleashed by the reach or helping fallen citizens that'd been struck down near the sight of the MFD's.

Carr had Ray Palmer— the Atom, Karen's mentor —on his shoulder as he manned the computer monitor. Billy, who'd been paired with Captain Atom, stood by the League leader and Oliver who had been paired with Karen, hovered behind them.

Karen sat on Arley's shoulder; Wally's arm was pressed up against hers, their fingers once more locked together.

"Theta squad to Watchtower, Asami has deployed the egg and disabled the MFD," Dinah said over the com-link.

"Good work theta!" Carr cheered, "Twenty-one squads deployed and twenty-one MFD's destroyed, the mission was a success!"

"We missed one," Palmer said dryly, over Carr's enthusiasm. The tiny, thumb sized man projected a large hologram into the middle of the room; it showed the Earth and the planet's magnetic field. "The Earth's magnetic field is still being disrupted. Blue Beetle?"

"Yeah?" Jaime had been paired off with Bart; the two of them had been sent to Taos, New Mexico, only a few miles from where Jaime lived.

"Scan the Earth again," Palmer instructed. Jaime let out a hum, a moment later the boy's voice broke through the com-link.

"Blue Beetle to Watchtower," Jaime said, "I'm reading a twenty second Field Disruptor. It was hidden from my previous scans by Earth's North Magnetic Pole, I'm sending the coordinates." Dick and Aquaman came through the zeta-tube.

"There's not zeta tubes in the arctic, how are we—"

"—Don't worry gang," Barry said, cutting off Carr, "I got this."

"Not without me you don't," Bart laughed. "Squads of two remember gramps—" Barry let out a breathy chuckle, he was a grandfather before a father after all, "—Now let's go and crash that MFD's mode!"

"Flash to Watchtower," Barry said a second later, "The Magnetic Field Disruptor, it's already gone chrysalis. I'm not if the egg—"

"—The egg is useless now," Luther said. "You're too late." Wally clutched at Arley's hand— or perhaps she clutched at his —all the Lantern knew is that she couldn't find it within herself to care that the joints of her fingers were beginning to hurt; bright ominous lights cut through the dark swirling clouds that had covered Earth's atmosphere.

"What now?" Barry demanded.

"No you run," Luther answered. M'gann and Conner walked into the room, the shoulder of Conner's shit was ripped but otherwise the two were fine.

"Hey! I'm no quitter, there's gotta be—"

"—I didn't say run away," Luther cut him off again, "I said run. Together you and Impulse should be able to negate the chrysalis by running counter to its energy flow."

"Is it really that simple?" Kaldur and La'gann stepped through the zeta tube, their eyes shining victoriously.

"I wouldn't call it simple," Ray Palmer said, "You'll be attempting to siphon the power with your own speed trials. It'll take a massive amount of kinetic energy." Wally detangled his hand from Arley's. "But no matter what don't slow down until the chrysalis is completely neutralized."

"Where are you going?" Arley hissed, her heart lifted into her throat because she knew Wally West better than she knew herself. She knew what was running through his head; she knew what he was planning on doing.

"Trust me?" Wally grinned, Arley uncurled her fingers from Wally's wrist. Arley would trust Wally West no matter what. Wally pressed a kiss to Arley's lips— instinctively Arley's eyes fluttered shut —and then, before she could open them, Wally was gone and the computers voice rang out,

"Recognized Kid Flash, B-zero-four."

Dick's head snapped; Kaldur, M'gann and Conner looked at Arley,

"Where did Wally go?"

"Where do you think!" Arley snapped, Arley looked at M'gann, she and Conner hadn't come through the zeta-tubes like she and Wally and Dick and Aquaman had. "You brought the bio-ship right?" M'gann nodded. "Then come on, I'm not standing here and waiting for him to come back."

Arley didn't bother to wait for her friends to step forward before she was shooting off towards the Watchtowers hanger. With a snicker and a shared look between the three of them, Dick, Jaime, Kaldur, M'gann and Conner took off after her.

Arley was the first off the bio-ship, the tornado-like funnel that the speedsters had created around the chrysalistic Magnetic Field Disruptor glowed brightly, blue lightning struck shot out of the funnel and at the icy ground. Conner wrapped a hand around Arley's wrist when she took a step forward; the half Kryptonian half human hybrid leveled the Lantern with a heavy look.

Arley nodded in understanding, even if she hated having to wait. Wally was retired, saving the world was her job; but at that moment it didn't matter because there was nothing she could do. The world needed Wally to help save it, to be it's hero.

"Look!" Dick said; Jaime cheered loudly behind him, "It's working, they're shutting it down!"

Quickly the funnel and lights died down; thick clouds of smoke and ice blew around the heroes.

"They did it! It's over!" M'gann cheered. Arley with a proud and excited smile on her face, tugged her arm out of Conners grapes as she shot off towards where Wally, Bart and Barry were; slowly the smoke cleared and as Kaldur and M'gann helped Barry and Bart to their feet Arley landed on the icy ground with the feeling of dread slowly washing over her.

Bart and Barry were in front of her; Wally wasn't.

"Congratulations!" Kaldur told Barry. Arley's eyes scanned the icy terrain for a spot of red and yellow, her ears strained against the howling winds for the sound of Wally's jubilant laughter only to find— to hear —nothing.

No, Arley thought— prayed —hysterically, No, please, not him!

"Where's Wally?" Arley asked, her lips were trembling, she turned to Barry, "Barry, where's—" Barry stepped forward, away from Kaldur, and dropped his hand onto Arley's shoulder. Arley had done that to people before, she had watched Hal and Guy do it countless times before. Arley shook her head.

"—I'm sorry," Barry whispered.

"No," Arley denied, Wally West didn't lie to Arley and he had sworn to never leave her.

He had promised to always be besides her.

"Arley," Barry said softly, "Wally, he loves you-loved you—"

"—He's not dead!" Arley shouted. Arley pushed Barry's hand off her shoulder as she took three shaky steps back, the world around her started to blur as tears gathered in her eyes. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest and suddenly Arley couldn't remember another time she'd had a harder time breathing. "He's not-Wally's not dead. He promised me he wouldn't leave!"

He'd promised to marry her; they were meant to have a future together.

He's not gone, Arley thought; told herself, He's not.

"I know," Barry said. His own lips were quivering. He stepped forward and once more placed his hands on Arley's shoulders, "I know he did and you know he wouldn't have if he'd had a choice." And Arley collapsed; she couldn't breath, her heart ached in a way she hadn't known was humanly possible.

M'gann was quick to scoop the Lantern into her arms as Arley let out loud, heartbreaking wails. Barry turned away from her, tears leaked down his own face from behind his mask.

Over the years, even when they hadn't wanted to, Wally and Arley had talked about the worst case scenarios, about what would happen if she didn't come home, if one day she fell in battle. They had prepared themselves for that reality because the longer the war between the Sinestro and Green Lantern Corps went on the more likely it was to come true, but this— being left behind, having to live without him —wasn't something Arley had never even dared to imagine.

She had never pictured living a life without Wally West by her side.

Barry had gone to tell the Wests and Arley, as the others on the team went to greet the League members who'd gone off the Rimbor— and the Green Lantern Corps —had been left on the Watchtower. Dinah had her arm wrapped around Arley's shoulder; though Arley's sobs had quieted the young woman hadn't stopped crying.

Arley doubted that she ever would; Wally hadn't just been the love of her life— he hadn't just been the man she was going to marry one day —he'd been the first friend she'd ever had; her best friend for years. He was more a part of her then she was apart of herself some days; he was half her soul.

The door to the room Dinah and Arley were in was pushed open and with bloodshot eyes Arley looked up to see her fathers; Hal, Guy, John and Kilowog. The four of them had deep frowns on their faces and behind them, behind Katma and the new temporary Lantern Kyle, was Ganthet, one of the Guardians of the Universe and members of the council that lead the Green Lantern Corps.

"Dad," Arley croaked, "Wally—" Arley clapped a hand over her mouth as a sob wracked though he body and Hal flew to her, his arms wrapped around Arley and tightly hugged her to his chest, he dropped a kiss into the top of her head and she could feel the deep breath he let out against her scalp.

"I know kiddo," Hal breathed.

Dinah got up and moved from her spot next to Arley; slowly the Lanterns and Guardian filtered into the room. Hal rocked Arley side to side, just as he'd done when he'd been nine and having nightmares in their old Coast City apartment.

Guy saddled up on Arley's other side, his hand rubbed up and down her back; Kilowog stood next to John and Katma with his arms crossed and red eyes cast to the floor. He'd never been Wally's biggest fan— Kilowog's own daughter had been killed with the rest of his people years ago and Arley was the closest thing he had to a kid, so he had always been more protective of her then he was with other recruits —but that hadn't meant he didn't like Wally, he had.

Kyle hovered by the door awkwardly; Arley didn't know the young man as he'd been picked to replace her just as she had faked her death for the mission. He smiled sadly at her and Arley supposed he was nice— good —the ring wouldn't have picked him if he weren't worthy.

"Green Lantern Arley," Ganthet said gently, his eyes soft as he looked at her, Arley sniffled loudly and tried to blink away her tears only for more to cloud her vision. Ganthet floated in front of her, he set a tiny, bony hand on Arley's knee.

"Sir," she whimpered. She felt as if she'd been gutted, as if there was a cold and empty yet somehow heavy hole inside of her chest where her heart had once resided.

"I am sorry for your loss. You cared for this human." Understatement. "I wanted-before I went to see the prisoners, I wished to say good work."

"Thank you sir." Ganthet breathed, his head nodded. Ganthet went to turn only to stop, "Tomar-Tu's wife is sick, he'll be going back to his sector to care for her. The position as archivist at the Hall of Great Service will be opening." It hadn't sounded like it but Arley could hear the Guardians offer; she nodded and Ganthet turned to Kilowog and Katma, John squeezed his wife's hand before he moved past her and towards Arley.

Katma, Kyle, Kilowog and Ganthet left the room; Kilowog hesitated in the doorway with a look over his shoulder before he shut it behind him.

The bald, dark skinned Lantern kneeled in front of Arley and took her hands in his, "Hey," John said softly to her, "It's-I know it hurts now, I know it does," John said, "But Arley one day it'll be okay, alright? We'll get through this."

"How?" Arley croaked, John shrugged as his fingers curled more securely around Arley's hands.

"I don't know, but we will," John swore, and though she wanted too, Arley couldn't find it in herself to believe him. Wally was gone, how could anything ever be okay again?

Hours later and with the evidence she had Kaldur had collected over the past few months, Hal and the others escorted the Reach off world and back to Oa; with bloodshot eyes and a heavy heart Arley, as she stood in front of Wally's holographic image, watched the Reach slowly leave Earth's atmosphere.

She would meet them on Oa for the trials after Wally's funeral, whenever that would be. In the meantime— while the League or whoever tended to the funeral arraignments —she'd pack up the apartment; she'd have to give Wally's stuff back to his parents and both Hal and Kyle had already promised to help her move her things into the shared flat she and Kilowog had on Oa.

She couldn't stay on Earth, not without Wally. On Oa she'd be busy with stacks of record that needed archiving and a war that needed fighting. She wouldn't have to think of the life she was living without him.

"Hi." Arley turned; Bart, wearing one of Wally's old Kid Flash costumes frowned at her. His eyes were red, as was the tip of his nose. Arley's chest ached at the sight of Bart.

"You look good," Arley whispered.

"Really cause I feel like fraud," Bart said.

"Don't," Arley said as she shook her head, "Wally-he wanted you to take over the mantle didn't he?" He'd mentioned that her her the night before, when they'd been curled up on the couch with Artemis and awaiting the United Nations response.

It felt longer than that— longer than just twenty four hours —and yet it had to be. More tears quelled in Arley's eyes, twenty four hours ago she'd been in Wally's arms, now he was dead.

"I guess," Bart shrugged, the speedster walked over to Arley, his eyes on the holographic image of Wally. When he stopped next to Arley he looked at her, his chest quivered with every breath he took. "It-this is my fault," Bart whispered, Arley looked at the younger boy, "Wally wasn't supposed to die-not like this at least. You two were supposed to be happy and have a family but now you won't because I changed the timeline."

Arley wanted to agree, she wanted to spit at the younger boy and blame him; anger rose in her throat only to stop when she saw tears shining in his eyes. Under the Watchtower lights Barts auburn hair almost looked red; he almost looked like Wally.

Wally who was dead, who Arley had lost and would never see again.

"Bart," Arley put a hand on the speedsters upper arm, Wally wouldn't blame him; it'd been the Reach that caused Wally's death not Bart. "You changed the timeline to save the world. You did what you needed to do."

How could she fault him for doing his duty, for doing what he had needed to do in order to save the world when she did the same thing everyday.

Bart kicked the grass under his feet.

"Still," the boy breathed, "This wasn't how it was supposed to turn out."

"Then tell me," Arley blurted out before she could stop herself, "Tell me how it was supposed to turn out."

Part of Arley didn't want to heart, part of her wanted to stuff the words back into her mouth and tell Bart never mind; hearing about the life she could have had with Wally would do nothing but hurt. But another— bigger —more morbidly curious part of herself needed to know.

She needed to know what she lost.

"Are you sure?" Bart asked, "It'll hurt." Arley was already hurting, already breaking at the seems.

"Yeah," she nodded, she lowered herself to the ground so that she could sit, Bart sat next to her, his legs crossed over one another.

"Where do you want me to start?" Bart asked softly. A hundred possibilities ran through her mind,

"Our wedding," Arley said, "Tell me about that, please." And Bart did, in a low tone under the holographic image of a smiling Wally West, he told Arley a story of herself and Wally; one that ended happily.