DISC: ION only Sam
"Hey, Sam me, John, Kyle are going to stop this threat. See ya at dinner." Hal's message sounded in my ring as he flew out of Earth. The cameras turned on and we saw the spaceship that looked like a plant. 'This will hurt to watch.' I thought as I looked at the screen. Hal, Kyle and John stopped in front of the spaceship to make the spaceship stop.
"Attention you are entering Earth's space, disengage all weapons and engines. This is your final warning." John's voice sounded only for a beam to be shot at them everyone made a bubble construct around them but it gave out and made them disappear out of existence. I felt a pain in my chest as I saw all my new family disappear from existence. But it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. 'That's odd I thought it would hurt worse. Remember it's a simulation, this is just a simulation, this is…' I thought as I looked at the main heavy hitters from the League get disintegrated by that ship. A sense of dread filled me as soon as the video signal got cut. 'What was I thinking? I can't remember… that is weird. I can't remember.' My face turned serious as the scenes kept unfolding. 'My family... I knew it would happen eventually... but... no, not yet. Be strong.' I thought as the sense of dread was getting more and more heavy.
"Tornado did you..." Zatara's voice sounded in the comms as his face appeared in the cameras, I looked at everyone who had stoic expressions.
"Yes Zatara. We saw. Celestial defenses have failed. Initiate all terrestrial measures." Tornado responded.
"Affirmative see you in the field." Zatara said as the call ended, Red Tornado turned to us.
"I must join the League; we will protect the planet at all costs. But should we fail, the responsibility falls to you." Red Tornado said as he looked at every single one of us before
leaving.
"We stand ready." Aqualad said as he looked behind him motioning towards us.
Each news station covered how the aliens were destroying everything in sight, how heroes fought with everything they had; but proved ineffective.
"Ladies and gentleman we've lost Black Canary, Green Arrow, and the hawks; other heroes reported dead or missing include Batman, Icon, Adam, and Aquaman. We regret to inform you that Earths heroes are..." The signal ended abruptly leaving only static in the screen.
"Red Tornado to cave, I fear I am all that remains of the League..." Red Tornado's voice sounded in the cave but ended just as fast.
"RT!" Robin yelled.
"We are Earths heroes now." Aqualad said aloud.
"So what are we waiting for? Theme song?" Superboy asked.
"A strategy, Earths weapons are ineffective; and it has been tragically clear a direct attack will not succeed." Aqualad explained as he looked at Robin.
"Accessing satellite imagery." The globe revealed the position of the aliens and their positions.
"This one got lost?" Superboy asked as he pointed at a point in the edge of the artic.
"It's superman's fortress of solitude." Robin responded.
"Superman has a fortress of solitude?" Superboy and Kara or Supergirl asked at the same time.
"Its power source must have attracted attention, at least enough to send a scout ship to investigate." Robin explained
"Must be some fortress." Superboy said as he turned away.
"Conner..." Miss Martian told Superboy as she hugged him by the arm.
"No, it's okay; guess there's a lot of Superman I'll never know... You know, now." Superboy said as he looked down.
"We will target this lone ship." Aqualad ordered.
"Yeah, break it down, build more; Hit those ugly aliens with their own mojo. OW!" Kid Flash said as he was interrupted by Artemis hitting him.
"Martian and Kryptonians in the house." Artemis explained, I just stayed silent as I looked over everyone my chest felt like it was about to break.
"Uh ah, not that all aliens automatically ugly." Kid Flash said as he took back his words.
"We are leaving now. Prepare for winter covert ops." Aqualad announced
It took us 2 hours to reach the fortress of solitude; we arrived to see where we detected the alien ship. As we got out of the bioship using hatches to be able to set up a perimeter Kara grabbed my hand and squeezed it giving me a bit of comfort. I mouthed "Thank you." "Everyone move in position. Green Lantern, Supergirl as soon as the communications are disabled stay on overwatch in case an enemy ship comes this way." Aqualad ordered.
"Copy that." Supergirl and I responded at the same time, I had to put on a suit that is completely white, and grey scheme, along with Supergirl's long sleeved leotard, and her boots all in white and grey scheme.
"Everyone in position?" Aqualad asked, as an all-around confirmation passed through all of us. "Move in, extreme caution."
"Moving in." Miss Martian announced. "Communications disabled." I heard a crash, as I looked at the sky and my surroundings waiting for a signal of alien ships approaching.
"Propulsion disabled." Miss Martian announced, soon followed by the sound of beams being shot around.
"And E T's are sealed inside." Artemis announced.
"We got inbound, around ten miles coming from the east." Supergirl announced as she looked at me, I nodded.
"Engage, once in range." Aqualad said.
"Identifying weapon structural stress points and links to the ship here, here, and here." Robin said in the mental link, followed by a beam shot and grunt of Superboy.
"Wolf..." Miss Martian said to us.
"They're here." I announced as I ran out of cover. "Five incoming." I said in the mental link as I shot a beam with as much power as I could, completely destroying it. I saw Supergirl fly through one and shoot at another ship with her heat vision making it blow up. My anger didn't subside as the ships crashed and blew up, but I need to stay focused and not go in a rampage that would get me killed.
"There was no indication of feedback... I'm sorry." Robin said.
"Can't do anything for him now." Superboy responded. "Let's go, we need to hurry they know we are here."
"2 ships got past us, were shooting them down; Hurry up!" I announced as we made gave chase.
"2 more coming from the west and are directly heading to your location." Supergirl announced as she shot down the left one as I made a missile construct and made the right
one explode much to my content.
"Five enemies down!" I announced as I flew towards the team.
"Rerouting systems to integrate weapon into bioships bio matrix. I'll need to decamuflage for a few minutes. We won't make it." Miss Martian announced as I saw the ships fly past them to turn around. 'We're too far away.'
"We don't have a few minutes." Robin announced.
"MISS MARTIAN OPEN FIRE!" Aqualad ordered
"Can't weapons systems are offline to incorporate the new cannon, and the cannon is not fully integrated either." Miss Martian explained I saw everyone beginning to board the ship as I neared the team.
"GOT YOU COVERED, GET INSIDE! I'M ALMOST THERE!" Artemis said as she began to run, Artemis took both ships down with 2 arrows but they were aiming at her as they landed. "NO! Artemis!" I yelled as I flew past the team and saw Artemis running away as both alien ships crashed behind her making a loud crashing noise but no explosion; I saw how the alien ship in the front was charging ready to shoot at Artemis, I flew as fast as I could to reach Artemis but I knew I wasn't going to make it, I moved my body to make my left arm reach her, focusing a construct to making her not get hit by the beam.
"Artemis, Sam watch out!" Miss Martian warned as I reached Artemis I extended my left arm as fast as I could and using the construct pushed her out of the way of the beam, I saw the bright beam in front of my eyes as I was standing still. It felt warm yet cold, it's like a disintegration that transported your own body. The beam stopped, I fell to the ground to see Artemis in front of me; I raised my head to look at her, she looked shocked her eyes completely wide as she stared at me as she stood there frozen.
"Sam, your..." Artemis said only to be interrupted by her crying in pain as light enveloped her, I saw her skeleton slowly disappear, as the light died down Artemis was not there anymore. 'That wasn't supposed to happen...' "ARTEMIS!" Miss Martian screamed.
"SAAAM!" Supergirl screamed my name.
I looked at my left to see the same ship preparing to fire again light slowly rising, only for 2 red beams to collide against its side making it blow up.
"Get Sam out of there, prepare for launch!" Aqualad said as I heard a crash followed by an explosion, I felt getting carried my weight entirely on my arms; I felt completely numb my mind not processing any thoughts. It felt like the world decided that the volume of the world was turned down. I felt the cold yet I'm warm.
"SAM. HEY LOOK AT ME. Blink twice if you're here with me." Supergirl's voice sounded in my ears really faint, as cold wind passed over us, I complied but it was hard. My surroundings changed, the lights died down and I felt an odd sense of familiarity as, I got placed into a seat as I heard Miss Martian crying; but I heard it like she was miles away.
"How is she... Oh god." I heard beside me the voice sounded like Wally's, slowly getting my bearings again. I slowly moved out of my shock, my mind slowly beginning to work, I felt numb and pain flared in my body a groan came out of my mouth from the pain.
"Sam, take it easy." Robin told me, I blinked looking around, I felt weird as if something was missing my mind was complete yet entirely numb; and I felt a little sting in my left arm.
"Weird nothing hurts, except a little sting in my left hand… I feel weird." I said aloud, as I groaned in pain Kara looked at me, her look he looked at my left.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked her drowsily as I was slowly losing consciousness, pain began to flare up, I looked to my side. "Oh." I saw it; my arm or what was left of it, a stump ending on my shoulder that had blood dripping from it and into the floor.
"Wha… ha… AHHH!" Pain erupted from my left arm filling my body.
"She's gonna die from blood loss, we need to do something!" Robin yelled out as he approached me with a bandage, I just looked at my stump slowly registering what happened.
"Ah, I, ah don't know what to think or do. AAAAHH, someone do something, this hurts too much!" I said aloud, as another wave of pain hit me. 'Oh god I lost an arm. But I didn't save Artemis... my family... everyone, and I'm going to die here.' Everything settled down, my arm exploded in pain as I got overrun by grief. "Agh! this hurts so bad. Kara I need you to do this, THIS needs to stop bleeding, it's too much blood. And you will comply no matter what we are at a loss and we need everything at our reach." I ordered her as a groan left my mouth the pain becoming too unbearable, my vision was getting hazy.
"Yeah. What do you need?" She asked me as I felt everyone looking at me, my vision began to fail me.
"I need you to hold me in place." I instructed her, she nodded. "You need to use your heat vision on the wound to cauterize it." I told her in a serious tone holding back a groan.
"But it will hurt you." She said as
"Sam, you can't do this." Robin told me.
"SHUT UP, DO IT!" I responded as I took the bandage from Robin and placed it in my mouth. "You sure, you want to do this?" Supergirl asked me as I powered down making my costume disappear and replaced it with my T-shirt, as I felt dizzier.
"FOCUHS AHND DO IFT." I responded, I felt Robin's hands on my back and a grip on my abdomen to not move I bit down, hard on the bandage.
"DO IFT. DONF STOHP UNTIHL IFS DOHNE." I yelled at her as blood was beginning to stain my shirt. 'My whole arm and a part of my shoulder is missing.' "I'm sorry for this." She said as I saw her eyes begin to shine. I closed my eyes and braced myself for the pain. Less than a second later I felt intense heat on my arm; it's as if a drill of fire began to act in certain spots then move to another location, on the stump.
Screams muffled by the bandage in my mouth, the pain was unbearable I felt as if I was about to burst into flames. Tears began to run down my face as the pain traveled my body. I began to fight against the restraints but I was held in place, while my screams were muffled by the bandage my vision began to fail me as the pain was getting to unbearable. The pain was so strong that my vision was beginning to fail me as everything around me became what I can only describe as … gray. Slowly the edges of my vision began to grow darker, I heard panicked screams as my vision became enveloped in black.
I slowly stirred awake as I felt slowly getting my bearings as I slowly got up I felt how slowly I was about to move but a soft hand pushed me down. "Hey, take it easy. You're badly injured." Robins voice sounded in my ears. I heard soft sobs from somewhere near me.
"Hey Richard, did we win?" I asked as I drowsily reclined on my seat.
"No, but on the good side you're alive." His voice sounded comforting and cheerful in the weirdest way, but he is always like that. The pain on my arm brought my attention it remained, but only to a lesser extent. My head began pounding like a hammer was constantly pounding in my head; I was breathing slowly, but Kara hugged me, as she cried; the dizziness remained and my head was too clouded for me to think.
"Thanks…" was all I could say as I tried to ease up the mood but the pain was still too much, Kara kept crying, I placed my right arm around her hugging her; as I told her repeatedly "I'm sorry." As she slowly calmed down and stopped crying after telling her I'm sorry for what felt like hours.
"Sam, how are you feeling?" Aqualad asked me.
"Here, take them. It'll help with the pain." Robin said as he took out 2 pills from his utility belt.
"Thanks." I responded as I swallowed both pills he gave me, so I was only hoping ease the immense pain he looked worriedly over my stump.
"Yes. It's just an arm… Don't worry about me." I responded as I panted, I looked at the rest of the team. Kid Flash was hitting the monitors of the bioship as he screamed in anger, Miss Martian was crying as she piloted the ship, Supergirl looked worriedly over me as tears went out of the corner of her eyes; I threw her a small smile to comfort her over the pain in my body. Superboy just looked at his hands.
"There will be time to mourn later, now we have a job to do. Defend the earth and ensure Artemis's and Sam's sacrifice was not in vain. We need a medic but first we need to do this." Aqualad told everyone.
"Back to the cave?" Miss Martian asked as she cleaned tears from her eyes.
"The Hall of Justice, the human race must know that there are still heroes defending them. There is still hope." He added. Then it hit me a sense of dread as I recalled the recent events. 'I lost everyone... again. I'm... I'm forgetting something. Oh god Hal, John, Kyle, even Guy. They're all gone... I failed again. Why do people die near me.' I felt like I could just give up there, I closed my eyes.
"Sam, you need to stay awake. We need you for the upcoming fight, don't fall asleep." Aqualad told me, with those words I remembered my will to fight. I fight to the end, even if I die. I'm not afraid I already did it once, only this time it will be on my terms. I thought as I felt getting sleepier.
"Okay. Hey, I think I lost too much blood. I'm sleepy."
"Sam, stay with us. You must not lose focus, you're strong we need you here; don't fall asleep. Fight for a world that needs you." Aqualad told me as I began to fight the drowsiness, the painkillers kicked in, and my pulse slowed down and my muscles relaxed.
"I think I'm good, just we need to get to the med bay in the cave, or anywhere else." I told him as he nodded at me, I began focusing in my mind my left arm from memory as I powered up, I closed my eyes and pictured it and opened my eyes. I had my arm back only it's completely transparent and green; I focused on moving my fingers closing and opening them until I felt comfortable.
"Ready to go." I announced as I clenched my "left hand."
"Arriving at Hall of Justice, enemy airships in sights, scanners read six airships." Miss Martian said to us.
"Superboy, Supergirl. Take them by surprise." Aqualad ordered I stood up, my arm stung but I ignored it.
"What are you doing?" Miss Martian asked me.
"Fighting." I said as I moved closer to Superboy and Supergirl, Aqualad sighed.
"Superboy you will go first, punch hard. No mercy." Aqualad told him as he gave the go to make a hatch for, Superboy, Supergirl and me. Superboy fell on top of one and began punching mercilessly at the top as he screamed. I made a giant spike and threw it at the airship, as it impaled the aircraft it began to smoke; I made the spike change shape to stretch into every direction possible making the aircraft explode. I saw Supergirl fly through one punching her way in and out, while she shot het heat vision toward the one next to her. She stayed there looking at me worriedly, I responded by giving her a thumbs up with my "left hand." She rolled her eyes and smiled at me.
I saw an enemy airship out of the corner of my eye as Supergirl flew beside me she turned around and froze entirely; I immediately turned around and shot a beam at it with as much power as I could, the beam connected and the ship blew up. I sighed in relief as I turned to Supergirl.
"Thanks, I didn't saw i…" She told me awkwardly.
"YOU FROZE, WE DON'T FREEZE IN COMBAT! We're the last there is, and for that we need you alive. It's okay you're beginning but remember stay with your head in the game." I told her scolding as a thought passed through my head. 'If you're gone what would I do without you? Right now you're the one that's grounding me to not break down and cry.' She seemed to understand as she nodded. We landed beside the team as they unboarded the Bioship and soldiers cheered on them.
"... I told you he wouldn't leave us out here alone. And that too has the S, do you think they're related?" one soldier asked
"I don't know he looks kinda young to be Superman. Where's the cape? She has the cape." The other soldier responded.
" she's my cousin, and I'm not Superman." Superboy responded, as an army general walked up to him he had four stars and the air force uniform, Hal has the same uniform
but with no stars.
"I don't care who you are son; and right now, I don't care. You wear the S and you got the job done." The general told him.
"I'm not Superman." Superboy responded, as he looked down.
"Tell that to the enemy." Aqualad walked to the general. "General Wade Eiling. U.S air force." The general saluted at Aqualad.
"Aqualad, Justice League. We'll help you salvage as many of the aliens cannons as possible. Then we start taking back what is ours." Aqualad said in a serious tone.
After helping carrying and salvaging weapons and giving them to the army, we decided to go to the Hal of Justice. But all that remained were broken stone statues and pillars. I saw out of the corner of my eye the facemask I would always remember. along with the same haircut he always has had. I made a construct to take the rubble from crushing the head or damaging it more.
"I'll miss you dad, but I knew there would be a catch. I don't get a happy ending like you said. But if things go according to plan; I'll either join you there or I'll live on making you proud by becoming a hero of Earth." I told the statue hoping that Hal would hear me, I kissed my fingers and placed them on the statues head; a lone tear fell down my cheek, I looked behind me to see Superboy place a hand on Supergirl's shoulder as she looked at the broken statue of Superman.
"They're really gone..." Robin said I looked over the entire Hall which was pretty much ruins, Miss Martian flew over to Martian Manhunter's statue. She began to cry as she knelt over the statue placing a hand on the head of the statue, she suddenly flew back and as a wave of air passed through the hall she lifted the entire head to reveal it was Martian Manhunter as he held his head in pain. Miss Martian threw the head to the side, and crashed far away.
"Uncle J'onn!" Miss Martian said surprised, she began to fly towards him but Aqualad stopped her.
"M'gann check his mind." Aqualad turned to her to and spoke in the mind link. "Make sure he is whom he appears to be."
"It's him, he's real"
Miss Martian said as she flew towards her uncle.
"But we saw you get disintegrated; you and Superman, and everyone." Superboy said to Martian Manhunter.
"Yes, I remember. But I cannot remember how I survived... or how I arrived here." Martian Manhunter explained, as he said that I felt I forgot something really important; I had it in the tip of my tongue but I can't remember.
"Maybe you were density shifting and the beam passed right through you." Miss Martian told him.
"Scrambling your brains along the way!" Robin said.
"My mind is clouded, I feel certain I had something important to tell you." Martian Manhunter told us.
"Hello, Wally! Come on." Kid Flash said as I tried remembering but it came out useless as grief overran my head, a few seconds later. Wally began speaking again. "See it's giving off zeta beams, the same thing powers our zeta tubes. This thing doesn't disintegrate, it teleports. Artemis is alive!" Kid Flash said excitedly.
"Maybe..." Robin responded awkwardly.
"No maybes, they're alive. They're all alive!" Kid Flash said.
"That must have been what you wanted to tell us!" Miss Martian said excitedly.
"Then there's hope; I can have my family back!" I added as small sense of happiness overwhelmed me. My mind received an image as clear as day, it's a scene of Kara and I, she's hugging me from behind with an arm wrapped around my waist while I'm holding a little baby girl with black hair and light white skin with only my right arm. Hal and Carol walked to us smiling, Dad looked down to the girl and gave me a kiss on the cheek while Carol hugged Kara, behind them was John, Kyle, both with proud smiles; while Guy cleaned a tear from his eye as he smiled at me and the baby girl in my arm. I felt completely happy, I look mature, older with the same blonde hair, only the style is different and Kara looks older yet beautiful with long hair.
"Sam, you're glowing blue? Is that normal?" Supergirl asked me bringing me out of the scene, I turned to her the smile never leaving my face. 'Can that really happen? That was a vision of hope, we can win! Hal and everyone was there, we can win.'
"Yeah, it's hope. All will be well." I told her as I replayed that scene again in my mind, but was cut short by explosions outside. Aqualad looked at us seriously. "We're on our way." Aqualad said in the mental link.
"Negative, we can't win this. Miss Martian camo the bioship and..." Miss Martian was got thrown down along with Martian Manhunter as she screamed.
"M'gann!" Superboy said as he went towards her side.
"We're falling back!" Robin said, as I focused on what we needed to do.
"That didn't feel like it..." Miss Martian said as tears ran down her eyes; the soldiers came rushing in along with Kid Flash and Robin.
"Were trapped." The general said as he looked around, the Hall of Justice; Aqualad approached the door that said "Authorized access only." and it opened.
"Maybe not." Aqualad said as he turned to everyone.
"Move in, set up a barricade. And we hold down this fort for as long as we can." The general ordered as every soldier available began to run and set up a barricade aiming their rifles at the door. I followed the rest of the team as Supergirl helped me walk.
"We can all zeta to the cave, I you can grant us computer clearance to access the tubes." Aqualad said as he stopped in front of the closed door beside the computer.
"I can only authorize one at a time." Martian Manhunter explained.
"Send the soldiers first." Aqualad said aloud, surprising Supergirl as she looked with wide eyes at him.
"Bellay that, you eight are assets we cannot afford to lose." The general said as he looked at Aqualad; Aqualad turned to Martian Manhunter and nodded. Martian Manhunter stepped in front of the door as a scanner lowered down from a small hatch in the ceiling and began scanning him.
"Override, Martian Manhunter 0 7." Martian Manhunter said aloud as the scanner finished scanning him. "Recognized, access granted." The computer said aloud as the tube began to whirl up to life.
"Sam you go first you're injured." Aqualad ordered me, I nodded as I walked forward into the scanner while Supergirl held me. "Recognized Green Lantern B 0 2" The computer said as I began walking forward as Kara let go of me, I closed my eyes as I kept walking through the zeta tube, but I lost my footing, as I closed my eyes as I tripped not bothering to stop my fall, I fell flat on the right side of my face and my stump hit the ground making pain erupt from my arm, I screamed from pain as I opened my eyes and saw the cave, precisely the main room. 'At least I can now tend to this wound. But I need help.'
"Recognized Supergirl B 0 9" The computer announced as Supergirl walked in she immediately was at my side helping me get up.
"SAM! Come on get up, you need help. Just hold on." She said as she scooped me up and began carrying me.
"Recognized Miss Martian B 0 6." Miss Martian walked in and joined Supergirl as I was getting carried to the med bay.
"Recognized Robin B 0 1" Sounded in the cave
"Hey, Sam come on. We need to give you blood . We have a few hours, I'll disinfect the wound. Kara could you get something for her to eat?" Miss Martian asked Supergirl.
"Yeah, be right back." Supergirl responded as she left the room.
"Sam you might want to drop the construct." I complied making the arm disappear leaving a stump that was barely a limb anymore, the stump.
"Now I'm going to place oxygenated water to clean the wound after that I'll patch it up with a gauze and re apply the bandage." Miss Martian explained, my head to clouded by what is happening. Replaying the scene that I saw, but I was taken out of that state as I felt a sting in my stump. "Ouch, that hurt you jerk." I said aloud as I felt the sting and heard a small hissing.
"Sorry." Miss Martian said as tears filled her eyes.
"Hey, it's okay. It hurts but, I can get used to it. It's weird It feels just like something is missing." I told her as she got up and retrieved a clean bandage. The door opened slowly as Supergirl arrived with a sandwich.
"Here, I made you this." Supergirl said as she gave me the sandwich.
"Thanks, hey Kara. I'm sorry I made you use your heat vision on me." I told her as her face softened.
"It's okay, it just it needed to be done or you would've died. I was so scared that I… I…" She told me as tears were in the corner of her eyes. "Killed me?" I asked her softly, slowly she nodded.
"This is all going straight downhill. I mean we don't have a plan. I'm not sure if we can win this." Kara spoke softly almost hopeless.
"No, I... When I glowed blue I saw something… I saw Hal, and everyone else there, you were there… we were... uh with the team. Everyone was there. We were… celebrating. There is hope." I told her avoiding the part of me and her holding me as I held a baby. I finished the sandwich.
"Then we can win, rest for now, we need to get you at full strength; and you need to recover sleep for now. I'll stay here." Kara said as she looked over at Miss Martian.
"No you don't need to stay, I just need a painkiller. Wake me in a few hours, I just need rest and charge my ring." I told her as I reclined myself into the bed.
"Do you really think there's hope?" Miss Martian asked me, I smiled remembering the scene.
"Yeah, there always will be." I told her.
"Sleep, I will check with everyone and begin to plan for an attack. You rest, Kara come we need to check in with Robin and the rest." Miss Martian said as I reclined in the bed
and closed my eyes soon after I got shook awake by a voice.
"Hey, Sam, time to go." It was Kara's voice.
"Five more minutes." I told her as I felt pain travel down my nonexistent arm. "Ouch, okay I'm awake." I said as pain erupted from my arm, I sat up and gripped my bicep now that I look at it I don't even have an elbow.
"Here, this will help you." Kara said as she handed me the pills my mind a little clearer, the pain was there but it just stung I need to ignore it. It hurts like a bitch but, right now I need to focus on what we have to do. I took both white pills and felt as the effect toned down the pain.
"I'm ready." I told Kara as I walked out and into the main room of the cave.
"It's good for you to join us, GL. We're starting mission briefing." Robin said to us.
"Where's Aqualad?" I asked around but they looked at the ground with defeat.
"Oh..." Was all I could say regarding the loss of another friend. 'We don't have time to grieve. Get the job done.' I thought to myself.
"Okay. What's the plan?" I asked Robin
"We believe the aliens have been teleporting their victims, and the only reasonable detention facility is their mothership. Which landed in Smallville; and we need to get in. Superboy, Supergirl and you will be second team. While the first team goes in undetected, you will make a bridge for KF and me to get into the mothership after that we shut them down." Robin said.
"So we're bait?" I asked him in a serious tone, he looked away. "Are you okay with this?" I asked around.
"It's what superman would do; what any other superhero would do." Superboy said aloud, Supergirl agreed with him as she nodded.
"Very well, at least I go out on my terms." I told them. 'I accept this, even if I survive I live on. If I die, then I can be with my family Dad, John, Kyle, even Guy.'
"I'm done setting up the message, translation and amplified the signals reach." Kid Flash said as he ran over to us.
"Okay, time we bring hope." Robin said aloud.
"Hello. We're all that remains of the Justice League; we're here to stand and fight back for our planet. We're here to stop this invasion; we're here to bring hope." Robin said as he stepped back.
"Today marks a day in our history, not as a country but as a planet. We face a common enemy, and enemy that overpowers us; but that doesn't stop us. We're here to fight for what is ours, to fight for our future; everyone today fights for what is known as hope." Supergirl said the camera turned to Miss Martian and Superboy.
"And though we know all seems lost, the one thing that aliens cannot destroy is hope." Miss Martian said to the camera
"Hope survives because the battle is not over. Not as long as even one of us is willing to fight." Superboy added as the camera turned to Kid Flash
"It doesn't matter how many fall, for new heroes will always rise to carry on. Bringing all their resources, their skills, their talents; to bear to defeat the enemy. Every soldier is a
hero, every civilian helping is a hero, and every single person is a hero." Kid Flash said as the camera turned to me.
"Today we are not the only heroes of the justice league, today every single person fighting, helping one another is Justice League. Today everyone is a hero, as the flame of hope will never extinguish as long as a single person stands and fight for what they believe is right. Even in the darkest night, the sun will shine brightly the next day. "The camera turned to Robin.
"Today, everyone fights for humanity. The Earth unites against an enemy, no matter how bad the situation is; the earth will stand. The people of earth will survive this, we will rebuild, and we will thrive. Never doubt and never forget, Earth will never surrender!" Robin said ending the transmission, and placing it in a constant loop to send hope to everyone out there fighting for what was right.
"What now?" Supergirl asked.
"We suit up, and prepare. We move out in five minutes." Robin said as I focused on my arm again making it appear, everyone began preparing for what's about to come.
"This is it I guess." Robin told us. Miss Martian approached him and told her something I didn't hear.
"First team, deploy!" Robin ordered as both Martians began to fly towards the ship and disappeared, Supergirl stood beside me she had her hands held at her waist length in a pose I can only describe as shy. She walked back and pulled me behind a tree. I looked at Kara she grabbed me by the neck of my uniform and pulled me close, I felt her lips crash against mine; my eyes widened but closed soon after enjoying the moment of my literal first kiss. Electricity began to travel down my body beginning at my lips; I lost all sense of thought only focusing on the sensation of her lips against mine. I can only describe it as numbing happiness; her lips soft against mine, her scent intoxicating, and I felt a smile making its way to my lips. But she pulled away, I tried to follow but ended moving my head forward with my lips puckered, I realized I bent my right leg and ended up standing in one leg.
"For good luck." She whispered to me as she smiled, I smiled back I feel like I can take on the world right now, and nothing can stop me. "Love Accessed." I heard beside me.
"In position." Miss Martian announced breaking us out of our moment
"Second team deploy." Robin ordered, I walked out of where we were with a smile in my face, Superboy turned to us and smiled with a smile that accentuated he was ready to face the world. I felt willpower in me as I readied myself. We shared a nod and she flew out, Superboy began to punch at the turrets.
"Superboy careful don't disconnect the power source." Robin said as I made a giant spike throwing it at the turrets, and Supergirl flew at the ship using her heat vision to destroy as many as she could.
"ALRIGHT YOU GLORIFIED TRESPASSER. YOU WANNA SEE HOW A REAL ALIEN FIGHTS?" Superboy yelled as he kept shooting the turret. The doors opened and enemy airships began to fly out.
"NOW OR NEVER!" Superboy said as I made the bridge for Kid Flash and Robin to go in. As they got in the mothership I began to fly shooting left and right making as many constructs as I could destroying most of the airships, I dodged left and right never stopped moving and constantly changing directions so beams passed near me; but never hitting me.
"NO! He's gone." I heard in the mental link to loud to ignore. I dodged left as beam almost hit me I shot at it with as much power as I could, making it blow up.
"Sam!" I felt myself get pushed out of the way by a strong force, as I looked up to where I was, I saw Kara with her hands stretched. "No." I said in the mental link.
"Bye Sam, I li..." Her message stopped there as light enveloped her and her scream, a scream that will hunt me, a scream of someone in agony. A second later she disappeared. I felt lost that moment my heart fell to my stomach as anger began to rise up. I screamed, I felt my entire body shaking with rage. "Rage accessed." I heard beside me but I didn't care I'm too angry to care.
I screamed a loud as I could focusing only on destroying everything in sight, I lost sight of logic and only focused on punching, destroying, fighting. Hitting everything I could and destroying everything, I landed on a ship and screamed. I felt liquid pour out of my mouth and began to dissolve the airship. I kept shooting that liquid around me, making everything dissolve but stopped as I panted to recover my breath. I heard the charge of a beam behind me and moved without thinking; I flew up but I didn't feel my feet.
"Revenge, you. TOOK. HER!" I screamed as I kept shooting at everything that moved. "Stop fighting. Samantha... stop fighting." A deep voice sounded in my head but the rage was too much. "NO! REVENGE. AGAINST. ALIENS. AGAINST. EVERYTHING. AGAINST. CARLOS!" I screamed as I punched another airship making it fall to the ground both of us crashed into the asphalt, remembering everything that happened in my life how this rage kept building up inside me.
As I got out of the airship, feeling an anger that didn't subside, a rage that was so deep it made me feel powerful. I didn't care that my legs weren't there and I didn't care at all I want to do is destroy;
I was standing in only my one arm but I felt numb all around, as I crawled with only my right arm, I felt blood poor out of my wounds I lost any sense on my legs, I could only drag myself using all the strength I had left; as I got out of the alien ship crawling with only my right arm. "Stop… fighting, Sam." A voice sounded in my ears it was rough and filled with worry, I looked up to see the entire sky filled with airships about to shoot the buzzing sound filled my ears. I screamed at them shooting that liquid again; but as the light reached me almost blindingly seconds later I saw everything completely void of light.
I'm in complete darkness, but as I looked around trying to remember what happened, light began to appear around me until I was in a graveyard and a skyline that looks oddly familiar, I'm floating above the graveyard. I slowly descended sane as I always did flying normally. But I felt like I was intangible not solid but at the same time I'm me. My thoughts stopped as a person took me out of them, a woman approached a tombstone as what I can only describe as a melancholic smile, she has light skin tone as clear as mine, light blonde hair, green eyes, and she looked oddly familiar. She looked around 18 years old or early 20s, she stood there looking at a tombstone, as if thinking what she should say.
"Hey sis... It's me, Annie; I know it's been a while. 6 months actually, oh man I'm sorry I took so long to come here." The woman said aloud, realization hit me. I flew down to be beside her, and looked at her; she's dressed in a brown leather jacket like the one I always wear, she has black jeans and brown heeled boots, along with a grey hand knitted beanie over her head. She has a purse in her right arm holding it close, along with a red flower in her hand. 'Annie... You grew... without me.'
"But first let's catch up; since it's already a tradition and making the recap always helps... But today it feels different as if you are here, unlike the other times but maybe it's just me." She said as she smiled her smile was so cheerful and honest, almost like mom used to smile.
"I'm here Annie, look at me." I told her trying to get her attention, but she didn't seem to notice me.
"Well, after you... left, well Earl was devastated; he was completely heartbroken after losing ... a daughter... again." She sniffed as her eyes watered. "Sorry it's always like this, you may think I'm a crybaby. But you were always the strong one, you were strong enough for the both of us." She said as she sniffed.
"I'm here Annie, it's you; it's really you. Don't cry please don't cry for me." I told her but she didn't seem to notice, I felt tears in my eyes.
"So, Earl got married last month, with a woman named Emma the one I talked to you about. Well their wedding was last month; it was beautiful. But I'm sure you saw it, only weird thing is that do you remember the pocket watch he used to have? Well it got lost after you… left; funny thing is we never found it." She said as a she cleaned tears from her eyes.
"Annie I'm here please listen to me." I begged for her to see me, as I stood beside her trying to touch her, I tried and tried but it proved ineffective.
"Well today is a special day, I came here to thank you. I'll graduate in a few weeks I'm going to become a politician. Laws and all that, I'm sure you would be bored if I were to tell you what topics I'm currently studying. But you always listened to me even if the topics were boring." She explained as tears stopped flowing, she ran her sleeves through her nose.
"Please keep talking I want to hear your voice. The least I can do..." I pleaded as I looked at her cheeks get stained by tears.
"Well so I decided that I will fight in my own way, a change for kids like us you know; so they don't live like we did. You always fought so hard for me, you gave away your life for me, and at first I didn't know what you did. I thought you worked so hard to make money and that you were really clumsy. Yet you full filled every wish I made for my happiness, dolls, toys, dresses, hell even those weekly comic book visits. It took me seven years to finally cross the dots and it hit me what you did." She began crying, her nose had a little mucus which always happened.
"I'm... sorry Annie. For causing you pain like this... for leaving you alone." I told her as I saw my tears go straight through the floor.
"You did your best for me; I realized what you did until a few years later. I remember clumsily trying to patch you up. I was a dumb kid, but you smiled as I patched you up; wrapping you in bandages until you couldn't move." She said as she smiled and cleaned her tears.
"Those were the happiest moments in my life." I told her crying harder.
"Well enough of that, I'm here to wish you happy birthday. I already visited mom but with her I don't remember much. But you, you were my hero, my biggest inspiration, you literally fought people three times your size; and still came out on top, but I can do only one thing and that is to thank you for your sacrifice. You saved me, you gave me a future in a private school, with your money I got through middle school and high school, there are exactly a thousand dollars left, and I got a full scholarship over here. And I'm here now, this is for you; I know you always hated being feminine but I had my theory that this would be your favorite, you were always so tough, but you were soft and beautiful you never told me what your favorite flower was so I stayed with the one I thought you would like an orchid. It represents the femininity and charm of women." She said as she placed the purple flowers on the ground in front of here.
"I'm so proud of you; you grew up and became someone... unlike me. But the flowers, they're beautiful; I love them so much you have no idea." I said as I smiled while tears ran down my cheeks.
"I know you must be very proud of me. Today we are celebrating I know that you told me these were your favorite foods in the whole world." She took out a bag with coca cola and a bag of pretzels, and placed them in the tomb. I just felt tears begin to run freely.
"But I know that you're here, after all it's a special day. I know that the guard will take them away; but I know that you're here today. I want to hear you... I really miss you sis.
But I was looking back last weekend in the boxes; and I found that series we used to watch a lot. Young Justice; and that young green lantern reminds me a lot of you. But that may be just my ideas." She said as she stopped crying.
"I miss you too Annie you have no idea; I think about you every day, I love you." I told her as I felt a tug on my arm; Annie began to look on my direction and looked everywhere else around her.
"Sam?" She said aloud. "Sis?.. I miss you too... I love you." She said as she looked at the tombstone again. I read it, "Samantha Jessica Parthenon, beloved sister and daughter a fighter. 2004-2016." She began to cry again, I felt getting pulled again. I began to fight it but this time it was stronger it overpowered me and took me back into the void. My body senses were returning, I felt like a jolt in me as I was falling in the void.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and slowly shaking me awake; my breath hitched as I shot up in the metal surface my chest hurt as I saw my shirt was ripped open and a defibrillator kit beside me. But above all my mind is clear now, I remember; I was in that training simulation episode my memory was so overrun with grief, and feelings that I couldn't remember anything; that is what I was forgetting. I was too preoccupied at the moment with everything happening I tried to move left arm to hold the bridge of my nose but my arm didn't respond. I tried to move it again but it didn't respond in any way, I felt panic rise in stomach as I kept trying to move it, as I saw Black Canary helping Artemis, I sat correctly with my legs dangling on the side the table.
"You're all alive!" Megan said excitedly as she looked at everyone.
"What happened in there?" Batman asked as he looked over Martian Manhunter who was holding his head.
"The exercise it all went wrong." Martian Manhunter explained.
"Exercise?" Robin asked, I kept trying to move my left shoulder but I couldn't, as the conversation kept going I was focused on trying to move any part of my left arm from my shoulder.
"Try to remember. What you experienced, was a training exercise. Manhunter psychically linked the 8 of you within an artificial reality. You all knew this going in; what you didn't know was that it was a train for failure exercise; no matter what the team accomplished, the scenario was designed to grow worse. Still you were aware nothing was real, including the deaths of the entire Justice League." Batman said as I began to focus on my left fingers hoping that they would move. I used all my focus to move it, but I can't.
"That is why you hardly grieved at that moment, even when wolf was disintegrated before your eyes, but all that changed; when Artemis died and Samantha lost and arm." I looked up to Batman as he said my name, remembering that at that time everything hurt, my focus was lost and I was overrun by grief. I stood there seated in place as I looked at Martian Manhunter.
"Though consciously Miss Martian knew it was not real. Her subconscious mind could not make that distinction; she forgot it was a training exercise. And her subconscious took control; making you forget too." Martian Manhunter said as I looked at Miss Martian, not being able to move my arm panic rose in my voice as I struggled to move it.
"What did you do?!" I yelled angrily at her as I focused completely on my arm anger rising as I couldn't move it not even a finger, anxiety worked its way up giving me a headache as chills ran through my body.
"I, uh... sorry." Miss Martian said as she looked around to everyone.
"This isn't her fault. Why didn't you stop the exercise?" Superboy yelled.
"We tried... but M'gann had a death grip on the scenario. Even Artemis should've awakened upon her death, was so convinced she had passed that she slipped into a coma. Samantha was suffering from anemia, even though she was well here." Martian Manhunter explained I turned to Miss Martian who looked uncertain.
"Samantha also went into cardiac arrest after dying she was fighting so much in that reality, that her heart gave out because of the strain her mind had." Batman said as Captain Marvel arrived with a stretcher from the med bay.
"I realized I would have to take control from Miss Martian's subconscious from within; but upon entering the reality, I was overwhelmed by the collective emotions; there was... too much... noise, to think clearly. To remember why I was there." I felt the need to cut into the explanation, anxiety and panic working its way up.
"I can't feel my left arm; I can't move it, my fingers... or anything." I said aloud in panic as I felt my heart began to beat faster in my neck, I began to feel dizzy as my chest hurt.
"What?" Black Canary asked me as she got by my side, her hand took my hand but it didn't feel her hands as she took them, she began squeezing and letting go. A feeling of dread fell in my stomach.
"I don't feel it. I don't feel the touch. WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" I asked panicked as I looked at Black Canary's face who had a worried expression.
"I was able to get everyone on the team got disintegrated along with the explosion of the mothership, everything became clear; and I remembered my true purpose to shut, M'gann out before your comas became permanent but... it seems that Samantha almost died." He explained, Miss Martian began to approach me slowly her hand extended, I looked at Miss Martian then remembered my sister, how she grew without me... What she remembered from me, that my sacrifice gave her a future and me not being there made me angry.
I began to try again trying to force my arm to move I began to grow impatient quickly. "Sam take it easy, just get on the stretcher so you can get checked over by a doctor." Black Canary told me as she rubbed my left arm, but I saw her apply pressure even scratching with her nails in my skin yet I didn't feel it. But I can only be angry; as Miss Martian was near me she began to tear up, but seeing her face only brought out more anger. My heart beating against my chest, making it ache.
"YOU! IT'S YOUR FAULT!" I yelled scrambling to my feet and rushing at her to attack.
"You did this, YOU TOOK ME AWAY FROM HER, YOU TOOK MY ARM. TAKE ME BACK, SHE WAS THERE!" I saw red take over my vision. "Rage Accessed."
"Subdue her!" sounded behind me my mind was too clouded in anger directed at M'gann, as I moved as fast as my legs could carry me at her as I was trying to make her take me back to that graveyard, to get my arm back. But I felt two sets of arms wrap around my waist and arms.
"NO! TAKE ME BACK! MAKE ME SEE HER! I NEED TO BE WITH HER!" I yelled fighting my restrains I was able to grab hair and pulled as hard as I could until I threw someone over my shoulder as I was lifted of my feet.
I saw Miss Martian crying as I was fighting to get to her my rage never subsiding, more sets of arms wrapped around me, as I was fighting my restrains but another set of arms wrapped around me and I felt a plastic mask on my nose and mouth I was too preoccupied and I was too late to realize I sucked in a breath and my vision began to a blur. My mind going numb along with my legs, slowly everything until unconsciousness took over me.
I'm in the same darkness, but this feels different. "Look at you, you actually saw her. Guess hope isn't so dead after all; oh and by the way she heard you there. It only cost you an arm and a part of your heart." That same voice was there in my head.
"How do you know?" I asked confused.
"Oh I was there, watching over you. Someone had to pull you back here." The voice responded sounding serious.
"WHY DID YOU PULL ME OUT! I WAS FINE THERE." I asked
"No, a few more seconds and you wouldn't have been able to come back here. To this life." He responded flatly.
"But... what happened to her? Why did I lost an arm? What do you mean by heart? And who are you?" I asked him
"Well to solve all your questions... She grew up and became a politician fighting for orphans as she explained. You lost an arm and a piece of your heart it was the price to pay, and as for my identity I can't tell you."
"Will I ever see her again?" I asked hopefully.
"Sorry, that was a one-time deal. Besides you're here in this world because you're needed here. Even if you payed another arm for it, your heart wouldn't be able to survive. I'm truly sorry, but be happy for the life you got here." The voice told me.
"But, but why am I needed here? What will happen to my heart? I don't feel like I belong here. Not after that..."
"That is up to you, to find out. You need to move on, there will always be light no matter how dark the night is" The voice said.
"But why am I so lost? Why do I feel so confused? So worthless... and... Alone?" I said as I fell to my knees
"Find your way again, you paid a heavy price for a piece of your past in order to move on to the future. But find your way again." With that I felt as if I was falling making me wake up.
I opened my eyes to see that same med bay room, with Kara sitting there in her regular clothes her head resting to the side of the bed. But I can't be here, not after this; that conversation after I "paid a price." had a heavy impact on me 'I can't be here. I need to go.' I stood up luckily they didn't change my regular clothes but my shirt was still ripped leaving me with a really low neckline my bra was exposed.
Kara stirred a little bit as if she were about to wake, I froze in my tracks, but resumed to sleep. "Sorry Kara, I really like you. Like you have no idea. But I feel completely lost, completely worthless. I won't come around for a few days... sorry." I told her silently I kneeled over and gave her a kiss on her cheek, as I walked out the room I turned to see her stir again. I smiled a little how beautiful she looked, and looked at my arm which was hanging there without any strength bringing anger to my chest looking at it. I walked through the cave until I reached the main room, no one was there as the only light in the room was the one coming from the zeta tubes. I walked to the computer, and placed coordinates for Coast city. "Recognized Green Lantern B 0 2." The tube lit up and I walked through, I appeared in the abandoned soda machine; and I began to walk home trying to clear my head.
But as I reached home I had no idea what to do; I can only remember the woman Annie became without me to support her along the way, a life she didn't share with me... that thought made me tear up. 'Why did I fight those days? There was another way; maybe studying hard would've been the solution... I hate myself. That was the answer; I didn't have to fight...' I feel sad, I saw the lights of the living room on, but I kept walking trying to get to my room right now I just want to sleep, and forget hell maybe I won't wake up.
"Sammy?" Hal's voice originated from the living room. 'I don't want to deal with this; or him... or anyone. I'm too frustrated to handle a conversation.'
"Not right now Hal, I'm tired." I told him as I walked towards my room.
"Sammy? Are you okay?" My name being called like that made me angrier as it made me remember my mom.
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" I yelled back at him as I slammed my door with my arm... or only arm.
"SAM..." I heard his yell; I began to barricade my door. I need to be alone right now, I want to be alone right now. I began moving furniture until it was completely barricaded.
"GO AWAY!" I yelled at him as I fell to my bed and hoped to close my eyes and never open them again.
Well this is one of the chapters where I've work my butt off for this chapter, but I cannot say for everyone that followed the story but I'm really grateful to everyone that likes this story and has followed. I can only thank you for this. I'm doing my best to make sure this story keeps going up to season 2, it will just take time. Follow, favorite and review.