Bereft
Bialya
September 4, 00:16 EEST
Leila moaned as she pressed her hands into the soft sand, pushing herself up as she observed her surroundings. Hills of sand were covering the horizon and only the moon was Leila's given light for sight. Leila's hands flew to her head, trying to ease the agonizing clouds of confusion in her head. Her mind was bombarded with searing pain, as if tons of pounds were crushing her, and Leila grimace under the pressure. **Ugh. What happened? Where am I? Is this another training exercise? Why under such excruciating pain with my head? Are the Shadows testing my will power of mind? Why am I so co…co...cold? **
Leila began to shudder and wrapped her arms around herself. She suddenly felt icy cold, which made no sense considering she seemed stranded in a desert. Perplexed Leila looked down at herself, only to cry out in shock. Her outfit was not what she thought she was wearing. Instead of a jet-black jumpsuit like those of Shadows, her jumpsuit consisted of a contrasting black and white; the colors parted against each other between her upper and lower half. Her boots were a brilliant white and her gloves were both white and black. Is this new suit making me feel frozen? What are Vlad and Ra's doing?
As if the new costume wasn't enough, Leila cried out in panic as she noticed herself sinking within the sand. An aura circle of swirling, light purple appeared as Leila sunk through the cooled sand.
"Wha...what's happening?"
Stutters Leila as she tries to comprehend the situation. Possible theories flew through Leila's head as she scrambled out of the sand. **Am I dead? But then why would my afterlife consist of never-ending desert? No. That can't be right. I must be alive...but then how did I get these...powers? What did Vlad do to me now? **
Pulling herself out of the sand, Leila gasps as she could see through her legs. Instead of the black and white jumpsuit pants she expected, Leila sees the outline of her legs and the dirt beneath them. **Intangibility? **
Instantly her legs became solid against the ground and Leila glanced down at her hands. One was clad in black and the other in white. Taking her right hand, Leila inches her bangs in front of her eyesight; now a snowy white.
**I can't be dead...can I? I haven't even been out in the field yet. It's only been training. Training to take down Batman and soon after the Justice League. Have I failed already? **
Leila quickly ducked her head under her arms as someone slams into the ground twenty feet away from her, creating a large crater and spraying mist of dusts everywhere. Leila instantly shot upward, her body wobbly at the feeling of less gravity weighing her down. She notice that her senses were already aware of the person but her train of thought kept Leila from comprehending the alert of a threat. Leila observed her opponent from above. He was young with the possibility of a two-year age difference and definitely one with at least super strength considering his expose six-pack abs. His strong jaw line, piercing-blue eyes and jet-black hair gave Leila an impression of a teenage Superman. Leila narrowed her eyes as the young man shouted in anger before jumping up in attack. She didn't know what to do- she was floating in air. Some supernatural instinct took over as Leila felt an icy burning in her core, her hands began to glow purple. A barrier of a reflective, purple color shielded Leila just before the boy reached her, slamming him into the ground. Meanwhile Leila stared down at her hands,
"Whoa, how'd I do that?"
Scrunching her forehead in confusion, Leila is pulled back to her opponent as the boy roared again- clearly not happy that Leila apprehended him so easily. **Well unexpected but let's see about having some fun with this one. Whoever he is. If the Shadows are testing me...** Despite her confusion over her state of being- that is if she even is alive- Leila smirked down at the agitated boy; levitating down to face him with a defensive stance. Even with her bewilderment of where she was, Leila wasn't going to back down. Not as a Shadow. That was not an option.
The teenage boy growled as he panted heavily, clutching his fists in rage and confusion as he attempts to decide what to do. Leila wasn't going to stoop to his level though; she could wait- patient like the darkness of night. Seconds pass before the boy screamed in anger- charging Leila like a bull.
At the last second, Leila sidestep to her left before quick jabbing at her opponent. Her presumption of him being related to Superman was confirmed. If she were human, her fingers would have easily snapped under the pressure and heavy impact. Only a tingle of numbness indicated to Leila that it was a small, effective move in her current state. The boy meanwhile flitch as Leila struck his rib cage. Whatever happened to her, made her durable enough to face a clone Superman.
But her limited control was not strong enough.
A mere jab only enraged the boy even more, causing him to retaliate by snatching Leila's throat. Lifting her up above his head, Leila struggled against the python-strength grip. Clutching her jaw, Leila's hands burn icy cold again as a purple hue surrounded them. A blast of burning energy erupts between Leila and the Superman-like boy. Leila is propelled backwards from his grip, skidding in the dirt, her head throbbing. Seconds past as Leila tried to force herself up but finding herself completely drained.
**What? No I have to get up. Shadows...shadows don't...**
Darkness began clouding her eyes, hearing a roar of anger in the distance; Leila's world went blank.
Bialya
September 4, 11:55 EEST
The blazing sun scorched the desert as Leila slowly gained consciousness. Her world of dreams ebbing away behind Leila's eyelids; green and white dots of swirls seemed to disparate before her as the sun blinds Leila's eyesight. Groaning, Leila pushed herself up as a vague notation of déjá vu bemused her. Flashes of memory smear across her mind as she tried to remember what had happened. Narrowing her eyes, Leila inspected herself and her surroundings. Her body seems fully functional and it was the same desert as the night before- still unsure on how she got there. The only difference was the craters within the sand. Each several hundreds of feet apart and encompass an assume theory of creation by someone with super-strength and durability.
Surrounding herself was her own imprints in the sand- a ten feet of skid marks from a forceful impact. Leila glanced down at her hands, remembering the power she expelled from them, only to find that she was now in a suit of pure black with a purple bird emblem.
Nothing to complain about, she had always wanted her own signature suit rather than the plain black jumpsuit. It meant status as a Shadow; Leila frowned however, unease about the new suit. The design was more on a play of Batman's then what she wanted. Not to forget the fact that she was in a black and white suit last night.
**New suit...and if my memory is correct- some sort of powers? **
Leila head perks up as she hears a rumble of a truck before instantly disappearing. Blending into the shadows of the rock cliff a few feet away from her, Leila held her breath as a truck of Bialya Republican Army soldiers rushed by. Not even a glance towards her hidden position as they pass. Leila took a step out of the shadows before realizing she was hearing a familiar voice above her on the cliff- one young and where a little birdie was far from home.
"Those are Bialya Republican Army uniforms, but...what are Bialyans doing in...uh...Bialya? Okay. Better question- what am I doing in Bialya?"
**Indeed little birdie. Pretty far away from home. Maybe...**
Leila narrows her eyes as she overheard the last bit of Robin's exclamations.
"In September? What happened to March?" Cried the Boy Wonder while Leila tilt her head in consideration.
"Better radio Batman."
Listening carefully, Leila was thrown into a loop when the boy didn't call in for help.
"Or...not?"
**He's remembering something...something about radio silence possibly. Maybe it's a clue to why he's here. Why I'm here? The little birdie's right- the last date I remember was in March. If it is September then that meant one of two options**
Leila knew what she needed to do. She would play the little birdie. Get him to trust her before capturing the bird for the Shadows. Heroes always went soft for the ones they care about. Once she had the little birdie, Batman would come squawking in protest and vulnerable. Leila morph her expression into one of shyness and confusion. Robin had flipped down from the rock cliff above her and was examining a torn fabric; one black with a red letter S- Superman's symbol that Leila presumed belonged to that teenage boy from the previous night. Suddenly, Robin tenses before slipping a birdarang into his hands and turning to face his opponent. Leila instantly shielded her arms in front of her, acting panicked and in surrender to the boy.
"Wait! Robin. It's okay. It's just me."
"Who are you?" Insisted the Boy Wonder, narrowing his eyes as he sized up the petite young woman in front of him.
"I'm...I'm Raven. Not...quite sure how I got here though. All I remember is that it was March and...and Batman ordering radio silence. But I think that memory is more recent than the last date I know of."
Robin looks curiously on the young girl. She had raven black hair and fair skin from what he could tell- looking vaguely familiar. Her black, bird wing mask only covered around her blue eyes, high cheeks and petite nose. He didn't loosen his defensive stance but peering into the girl's crystal eyes made him reconsider his thought of striking. Robin shakes his head slightly, refocusing before narrowing his eyes.
"You expect me to believe that. I've never even seen you before. Why should I trust you?"
Leila looked away, pretending like she was hurt by his words.
"I know it's hard to believe. But I swear I woke up with no memory of how I got here. All I remember is Batman ordering radio silence."
It was a complete lie but Leila's lips slightly grinned as Robin considers her story; his body language showing how correct she was on presuming radio silence. The bird taking the bait.
"I remember that too... we must work together under Batman then. That would explain your costume."
Leila's slight smile of accomplishment quickly ebbed to a doubtful expression as Robin turn to face her again. She nodded slowly at Robin, realizing that she had a strange feeling of agreement on what Robin said. It disturbed her.
"But Batman never told me of taking on an additional protégé. Tell me something no one else knows."
Leila sighs as Robin stance stiffens again, keeping on the defense. She knew what she had to do. Her color contacts already fell out somehow, not to mention it'll make Robin trust her faster. Reaching up to her face, Leila pulled off the raven mask, revealing her true identity.
Robin gasps in shock, lowering his birdarang before dropping it into the sand. Bewilderment changed into joy that Leila never expected. **Why is he smiling? It's his fault Batman couldn't save my mother. Couldn't save me. **
"Leila? Leila Benson? Is that really you?"
"Surprised Boy Wonder. Been a long time huh Dick."
Leila was shocked into silence as Robin suddenly embraced her into a tight hug. This was the reaction that Leila did not expect- a sudden embracement of a friend. Vlad always told her it was Robin's fault for Batman not being able to rescue her or her mom that night. However, here the birdie was giving her a tight embrace like the one she gave to him all those years before when she wished him good luck before the show. The butterflies in her stomach confirmed the worst of it all. She still liked him.
Seconds pass before Leila was able to regain her posture, feeling awkward as she tried to hug Robin in return.
"It's been so long! Where have you been all this time? It's so great to see you. When I heard about..."
Leila raised an eyebrow as Robin's excitement extinguish into uncertainty.
"You knew?"
Robin gave a solemnly nod before hugging Leila again, this time a hug of comfort.
"It wasn't till after several months that I was able to find out. The fact it was the same night. I'm so sorry Leila. Wish I could've done something if I'd known sooner."
Robin's voice shook slightly as he explains; Leila barely knew how to control her emotions. She wanted to scream. Scream out her hatred; confusion and hurt over the fact that he knew; had known for years and still Batman and him wouldn't save her. Instead, she kept a blank expression. Only shaking slightly as she pretended her game of mousetrap. She was a Shadow now, and she'll capture this ignorant birdie. Expelling a breath of pretend relief, Leila reached down to grab the torn fabric from Robin's hand, antsy to start moving again.
"We'll discuss things later. Right now though, we are in a hostile country with no memories of the last six months nor know the reason why we're here in the first place. Think you know where this is from."
Robin shared one last look of empathy before switching to a determined stare. Agreeing with Leila that standing here won't do them any good.
"No but everyone knows that S symbol has relations to Superman."
Leila gave a curt nod before continuing,
"I ran into the boy last night. Well he ran into me. Completely savaged as if he had no thought process. Just instinct. Attacked me and I barely escaped with my life. You think Batman sent us here to scope out Queen Bee and the Bialyans?"
"Maybe. I'll see if I find anything...whoa. Okay that's strange." Robin glanced up after a few seconds of furiously working on his holographic screen.
"Anything on our mystery guy?"
"No but sure is a mystery on it's own. I somehow have a GPS marker couple miles northwest of here."
"How far? There may be links on how we lost our memories."
"About 20 miles. Better start now before those Bialyans circle back. We can make it there by nightfall."
Leila memorized the coordinates before setting out, taking the lead as Robin followed by her side. Minutes passed in silence but Leila hardly noticed; being too caught up in her own thoughts. Here was the boy, her target birdie the past five years, who reacts with excitement in seeing her as if it's only been a day that has pass. Who only stopped looking once he found out she was like him. Vlad was right, the so-called "Justice League" and their children were not heroes.
Robin's reaction confirmed her known information yet; Leila still had a perpetuating feeling of suspicion. Something was telling her that part of the truths revealed from the conservation were fact; a small inkling in the back of her mind confirming that Robin and her were sent here by Batman.
**That's not right. I'm Leila Benson- the youngest high-ranking assassin within the League of Shadows. I'm meant to take down Batman and the Justice League; not work with them. But how'd she get here then? Was she sent to stop Robin? Why would Batman only send Robin? **
Leila was snapped out of her thoughts as Robin struck up conversation again.
"Where have you been all this time Leila?"
Leila sighed as she reply, attempting to keep her voice in a friendly tone,
"A old family friend took me in after the...the accident."
Leila suddenly trailed off as she starts to feel colder. An icy burn within the core of her being seemed to ignite, causing a shudder in the process. A shred of a memory- a blinding light- engulfed her eyesight as Leila paused. The word 'murder!' screamed across her mind from her subconscious. Leila barely notice Robin's sudden grip around her shoulders as she stared blankly ahead with a pained expression. Robin could feel the sudden drop of temperature and a chill went up his spine from Leila's stillness.
"Raven? Raven? Leila! What's wrong?" Robin practically screamed in Leila's ear.
It was a world of vertigo to her. Subconsciously, Leila felt indubitably that she was here on Batman's request. Yet, all Leila remembers was her last training exercise in March. She's a Shadow, one working against Batman. Not for him. Unless she was assigned to infiltrate and build trust within the League; destroying those glorified heroes from the inside out.
Everything seemed to swirl around Leila. Taking deep breaths, Leila closed her eyes, attempting to regain control. Her powers- whatever they are- seemed to expel a chilling sense of darkness and she had to control it. However this ends, Leila knew she couldn't have Robin know.
His grip became loose as Leila reopened her eyes. Few seconds of meditation seemed to help immensely. Her swirl of vertigo ebbed away from her conscience. She must have had these powers for a while- a few months at most- despite the recent memory lost.
"Leila? Did you become whelmed? What happened?
Leila scrunched her face in a frown.
"Did you just say 'whelmed'?"
Robin chuckles under his breath as he replied, "Hmm. Yeah I did. I guess just figured how people are always overwhelmed or underwhelmed but why not just whelmed? Anyway, we'll come to that later. What happened?"
Leila could hear the slight fear in the little birdie's voice. It gave her mixed feelings of achievement and unease upon hearing it. **Remember Leila- two birds, one stone. Capture Robin, you get the Bat. **
"I don't know...exactly. An old memory came through when...when I was thinking about my mom. I'm guessing I found out something about her during the missing six months."
Robin gave a slight frown. It wasn't just his concern about Leila's memories; he was concerned for her. He had felt the temperature drop to a sudden chill around Leila. Not something 110-degree heat does in the desert. Something had happen to Leila within the past six months- something that worried and chilled Robin to the bone just thinking about it.
Taking Leila's hand, Robin reassured Leila with a cocky grin,
"We'll figure out what happened to our memories. Find out about the missing six months. Together?"
Leila gave a small smile, staying in a pretend, friendly character, yet oddly feeling relieved.
"Together."
Bialya
September 4, 21:34 EEST
Leila ran beside Robin as they drew closer to their target of the GPS marker. The moon was high and bright, bathing the desert in silvery light. Leila managed small talk conversations with Robin over the past few hours. Occasionally a patrol of Bialyan soldiers would pass, in which Leila and Robin would duck behind a sand dune. She had to remember to have a friendlier tone- to be only Leila not Raven. She also had to watch her control over her powers. Whatever they are- it was base on how focus she was on her emotions. She must have had them a few months with the luck she's had on keeping control. The only thing she knew was that the revelation of her obtaining these powers may not be pretty.
"Wish I can remember why I place a GPS here..." Robin mutters while glancing up from his holographic screen before ducking down behind the mound of sand. Leila crouched beside him meanwhile smirking as the little birdie mutters the obvious to himself,
"Uh guessing that's why."
Down within the clearing between the sand dunes was a gray, box cube of some kind of apparatus. According to Robin, the marker has been here approximately twenty-four hours. Radio silence meant an absolute covert mission- an obvious fail with their lost memories- so why is their marker still here seemingly untouched?
Leila shared eye contact with Robin, communicating silently her thoughts of the "enemy" being concealed within the clearing. Robin gives another cocky grin in return before whispering,
"Show me what you got Ray."
Leila grins mischievously before Robin and her jump down into the clearing. Seconds pass in silence before a dozen of Bialyan soldiers emerged from the sand.
"Her majesty wants both of them alive!" Orders the soldier 10 feet in front of Leila in the Bialyan language, yet Leila understood him perfectly. Leila frowns as Robin drops a smoke pellet while the soldiers advance forward.
Leila disappeared through the smoke, easily apprehending each soldier. With elegance and grace of a striking cobra, Leila aimed for the pressure points of each soldier in her path, paralyzing them. Blocking a head-blow of a gun to the side with her tessen, Leila high kicked the soldier in the face to the ground. Instantly she spins around to fan out her tessen as wings, throwing them on a course of flight. Each slice through several guns held outstretched before each one returning back into her hands. Leila could hear other guns firing at Robin as the smoke cleared to expose the both of them. The second before she decided to throw her tessen again, a blur of black and red swept through the frontline, disposing the guns from the soldiers.
"I'll hold that. Thanks," proclaim a boy with flaming red hair as he threw aside the guns into the dirt. He had a confidant grin on his face as he sped away, ramming into a few of the soldiers. Robin took a one-to-one showdown, easily knocking his opponent out with fast strikes to the soldier's rib cage.
Leila held back for a second, observing the scene lying out before her. The streak of black and red was obviously Kid Flash, protégé to the Flash. Scanning her surroundings, Leila saw an outline of someone in close to relations of intangibility and used telekinesis to prevent two soldiers attacking Robin from behind. The person relieved herself to be a Martian. A detail Leila became uneasy with knowing. Kid Flash meanwhile grabbed one soldier by his legs, twirling him around, before throwing him into his comrades. Leila heard the swooshing of an arrow and watched as it glided through the sky before tying up the last soldier of the ambush. For the first time, Leila genuinely smiled as she saw a familiar face- Artemis.
"KF! Man is it good to see another familiar face." Robin exclaimed as he and Kid Flash high five.
"Hey Rob. Memory lost?"
"Six months! Let's hog-tie this creeps and compare notes."
Leila narrowed her eyes but said nothing yet. Simply starting the work on tying up the pathetic soldiers together. She and Artemis shared a look but didn't speak out their joy of seeing each other. For all they know, they could be on a Shadow mission together against these three.
Once all the soldiers were tied up, Leila stood in between Robin and Artemis; joining in the conversation. Quick eye contact with Artemis agreed that they'd wait out; there were still pieces missing of what had happened. Leila then glared at the Martian- whose name she overheard as Miss Martian- as Robin recap,
"So we're a team?"
Miss Martian nodded, "The five of us and Superboy."
"Then this must be his!" exclaims Robin as he pulls out the torn, black fabric with a partial Superman symbol before handing it to Miss Martian.
"Yes! Did you see him?"
"I think we did?" Interjects Artemis while Leila raised an eyebrow.
"Some team mate. He attacked us." Kid Flash grumbles with his hands on his hips.
"He didn't know who we are. I don't know who we are." Protests Artemis as she pointed to herself. Leila was silent as she drew back into her own thoughts. **A niece to Martian Manhunter, a probable clone- teenage Superman, Robin, and Kid Flash. Did the Shadows know about this junior Justice League and sent Artemis and I undercover to infiltrate? **
Leila focused herself on the present, continuing to observe the actions of everyone.
"Now how do you know we don't work for my mentor?" Kid Flash accused Robin as he pressed his hand against his chest, suddenly changing his outfit to the signature yellow and red.
"Whoa. This is so cool." Kid Flash exclaims as he continues to alternate his outfit between yellow and black. Leila merely roll her eyes as everyone else checked their own costume for upgrades. Shaking her head, Leila mutters her observations to answer his question,
"That answer is simple. Batman ordered radio silence, hence a covert mission and what I presume your stealth suit. In case you haven't notice- yellow doesn't hide well much." Kid Flash glares at Leila as Artemis continues the conversation at hand.
"We look ridiculous. And quite touching yourself!" Yelled Artemis with her annoyance provoked by Kid Flash's short attention span. Leila eyed Miss Martian as she rubbed her hands with uncertainty.
"Ugh. We need our memories back!"
Instantly, Leila heard Miss Martians' voice in her head as the Martians' eyes turned white.
**To help Superboy...**
**Wait! ** Leila yelled in protest but a blinding light dance before Leila's eyes as her mind was taken into Miss Martians'. Pictures of memories surround Leila, Robin, Kid Flash and Artemis as they stood telepathically in Miss Martian's mind of a crystal room. Folding her arms across her chest, Leila glared as Miss Martian appeared before them.
"I bought you into my mind to share with you what I remember so far. But I need your help. Together, our broken memories can form a whole if you open your minds to mine."
"You want to pop through our private thoughts?" Accused Artemis as she too crosses her arms. Leila tried to keep her mind as blank as possible to keep from slipping from her supposed character but she was glad Artemis was finally thinking like an assassin.
"I have no wish to intrude but-"
"You have to hack our minds to figure out what happened to us. Got it. Go." Robin granted as he waved his hand to indicate his permission for Miss Martian.
"My brain's all yours." Kid Flash allowed with a smirk, "Try not to let its brilliance overwhelm you."
"Or underwhelm you. Hey why isn't anyone just whelm?"
Leila rolled her eyes, completely annoyed that both boys- especially Robin- would give in to letting a stranger probe their thoughts.
"How do we know we can trust you? You're a telepath. It could've been you who mess up our memories."
"Ray she help took down those soldiers. She can fix our memories. She lost hers as well. How can you not trust her?" Robin asked as he turned to face Leila. It was like that moment hours before. Where Leila went completely frozen, as if she were dead. Now she was suspicious when all three of these people just help defeat those Bialyan soldiers.
"I don't trust those with telepathy. It's way too easy for them to mess with the mind into believing whatever they want you to believe. No way can I let her probe my thoughts." Leila growled as she became tenser. "Don't you agree she shouldn't Artemis?" Leila turned to Artemis for help. Leila couldn't afford her cover to be blown if everyone's thoughts and memories were going to be connected. Artemis frowned in consideration; in which time Kid Flash step forward to take her hand.
"I want to know what happened. Last six months only and only what you need."
Leila couldn't believe it. Now she was stuck three against one. If she continued to object, Miss Martian may probe more than intended with suspicion. Not only that, but Robin would become suspicious as well. She had to agree. If anything, she'll hope her memories would include if she knew any more control over her powers. Hesitating, Leila bit her lower lip. Realizing that in the back of her mind- having the same inkling from before- that she was heading in the right direction in finding out the truth, even if she didn't agree with the method.
Robin gently took her hand and squeezed it.
"Together."
Leila sighed as she reluctantly gave in, turning to face Miss Martian.
"You do anything more than the past six months and I don't have to say what I'll do to you."
Miss Martian understood clearly, nodding before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. Four, blue-transparent hands emerged from Miss Martian's head; each one attaching to the four teens as they all try to concentrate on the past six months. Robin was the first to remember.
Flash across Leila's mind was a picture of Batman standing beside a holographic map, giving directions to the assign mission.
"The Watchtower detected an immense power-surge in the Bialyan desert. An analysis revealed elements non terrestrial in origin. Find out what happened at that site, what landed there. Bialya is a rogue state ruled by Queen Bee and not a member of the league's UN charter. All communications are subject to interception. Maintain radio silence at all times. You'll land on Bialya's border, two clicks from the hot zone."
The picture changed to Robin peering through a pair of binoculars as he scout around the ridges of sand in the desert. "All clear." Glancing through Robin's memory of sight, Miss Martian and Artemis stood on look out as Superboy walks out on a loading ramp with the apparatus on his back.
Next came Kid Flash memories. Observing Artemis, Robin and Leila as they peered down a cliff at a makeshift tent at the target area.
"The Bialyans control the sight."
Another flash as the memory changed to one of Superboy in the clearing, setting down the apparatus.
"Set up here." Called a deep voice that was vaguely familiar, yet Leila couldn't quite place who was speaking from the memory.
Leila memories came now as she remembered standing behind Robin as he worked with the apparatus's controls.
"We'll be up and running in no time."
"Jackpot!" exclaimed the memory of Kid Flash standing beside her, "This site is loaded with zeta beam radiation."
Robin nodded in confirmation as he continued to type, "I'm detecting non-terrestrial elements from the tent."
"I'll check it out in camouflage mode." Piped in Miss Martian as she lifted her hood to cover her face.
"Good idea. Go." Commanded the familiar voice. Leila could only vaguely remember the need to tell this person something. Miss Martians memories clouded her own thoughts instead. Superboy standing in front of the apparatus,
"Be careful." He warned with a worried look. Miss Martian's memory turned as she rotated to face the mystery voice,
"And remain telepathic contact at all times."
"I will Aqualad."
Leila barely heard everyone else's exclaim of remembering Aqualad as she fought for control. The restoration of her memories of the previous night with the Team bought back all the horrors of information she lost from the past six months. Clutching her head, Leila shuddered and shut her eyes as she tried to restrain from changing form. Remembering flashes of white and green light and the pain from that day. The day she enter the portal in hopes that the realms on the other side would give an advantage in demolishing the Justice League. That was before she turned it on and received electrocution throughout every molecule in her body. Revealing a spectra realm and the machinations of Vlad and Ra's Al Ghul.
She had to make it stop. Her powers cannot be revealed yet. **You control the power Leila. It doesn't control you. ** Leila wrapped her arms around her midsection, taking deep breaths. She could feel the icy core of her being shrinking as she took control. Leila was suddenly aware of Robin calling her name and gently grabbing her arms,
"Raven?" His voice carried concern and Leila's eyes bore into his masked ones with hidden fear.
"I'm…I'm fine. Just memories coming back in a rush hurts." Leila reassured Robin with a look that she'd inform him later. Robin gave a slow nod, unsure but knew they had to find Aqualad and Superboy, before noting not to forget.
"A little whelmed. Got it. I found Aqualad's location. He's close but not moving."
Leila gave a curt nod before extending her arm to indicate for Robin to lead. Aqualad turned out to be unconscious a few miles south of the rendezvous point. He was mumbling in Atlantean as Leila bend down to check his temperature and vital signs.
"I can't restore his memories in this condition." Commented Miss Martian as she knelt beside Leila.
"Right not, that's not of the importance. Aqualad needs medical attention."
"Immediate rehydration." Confirms Robin, "Call the Bioship."
"It's out of range. But you can get him there fast." Miss Martian suggested as she turned to stand and face Wally.
"He's too heavy," Explains Wally, slightly out of breath, "And I'm too low on fuel. Right now, I couldn't even carry her." Artemis rolls her eyes as she swipes Wally's hand away from her.
"Why not just levitate him back?" Artemis asked
"I can't. I have to help Superboy. Six months ago he didn't exist. He has no memories. Just animal impulse. I'm the only one who can help him."
"Superboy's indestructible, just ask those tanks. It's Aqualad who needs your help. Like right now." Exclaims Wally, only for Miss Martian to clutch her head in pain.
"No! Superboy's in pain!" Yelled Miss Martian as she takes off in flight. Leila straightens in protest as Artemis and Robin yell out to M'gann,
"M'gann wait!"
"We still don't know who erased our memories. It could happen again!"
Leila muttered to herself her annoyance of Miss Martian's ignorance in strategy. Obviously whoever made them forget their memories can find her again- probably expects her to chase after Superboy. Leila only hopes M'gann would think this time of a plan now that she vaguely knows what or whom she's facing.
"We better get moving. Those Bialyans are still trying to capture the rest of us and Aqualad needs medical attention."
Leila silently went to work in helping to create a makeshift stretcher to pull Aqualad behind them with. Leila remembers how just before this mission she was going to tell the Team her secret. Just as she step aside with Aqualad, Batman had radio in the mission. **Would I have been able to prevent the Team's memory lost if I had time to tell them before? **
Robin and Kid Flash lifted Aqualad on the stretcher as Leila gave a solemn nod to Artemis before retaining back into her own thoughts; following beside Robin as he lead the way back to the bioship. Remembering how ruthless she was while under the Shadows influence. Vlad had truly convinced her that it was all Batman's fault; that his worrying over Robin prevented Batman to reach Leila in time from the on- coming semi truck. Not to forget her cold accusation of Miss Martian.
She thought the past few months with the Team had healed those wounds of false conviction, but they were slice opened by whoever tampered with the mind link. Not only did they find non-terrestrial elements and zeta beam radiation in Bialya, they found a powerful enemy with telepathy.
Leila heard the rumbling first; it had drawn her out of thoughts, as she perceived the danger before her teammates. Sharing eye contact with Robin, both lead Kid Flash and Artemis to pull Aqualad behind a large boulder of sand.
"Quick, over there." Whispers Robin as they duck behind the mound just as a squad of soldiers drove by. Aqualad began to mutter again in Atlantean.
"Shh Kal'dur. Quite now." Soothed Artemis as Leila observe the clearing with Robin. A small group of soldiers walked on foot behind the truck, scouting the area.
"We can't risk a firefight with Kal'dur KO'd like this." Mutters Robin with Leila agreeing with a curt nod. Kid Flash replying while out of breath,
"It's not just him. I'm way out of juice."
"And I'm almost out of arrows."
Leila let Robin disappear while she guarded him from behind and sensing Kid Flash and Artemis's confusion.
"Ugh I forgot how much I hate it when he does the ninja thing. Hey. You never said why your dad would want to … me"
Leila smirked to hide her chuckle as she overheard the two lovebirds conversation. Knowing exactly what Artemis accidently mention while her memories were lost.
"I…uh got confused…by uh some old movie I saw the other night about a…ninja girl who's…ninja dad ordered her to kill her…ninja boyfriend because he was from a rival ninja clan."
"Sooo I'm your ninja boyfriend huh?"
"Hey, amnesia. Remember? Forgot how truly annoying you are."
"Oh like you're the goddess of geniality." Fired back Kid Flash as Robin returned. Leila merely rolled her eyes at the two; it was only a matter of time before they'll admit how much they really like each other.
"Jeez. Get a room."
"Dude! Where were you?"
"Breaking radio silence." Robin replied with a cocky smirk. Suddenly his echoing laughter could be heard around the desert. Three seconds past before a small explosion gave way to black smoke.
"That's our cue. Move!"
Robin directed the way as Artemis and Kid Flash pulled Aqualad, Leila taking up the rear for protection. They ran all the way back to the Bioship, stationed just over the border in Qurac. Leila went straight to work in place the IV line into Aqualad's arm once Robin and Kid Flash lifted him up onto a table in the middle of the ship. The rest of the time was in waiting.
Robin had attempted to pull her aside but Leila merely shook her head.
"Not now Robin. Please"
Robin gives a solemn nod of understanding but still occasionally gave her concerning looks over the next two hours. It seemed like forever before M'gann's cheery voice echoed through each of their minds.
"Hey everybody! I got Superboy! He's back to normal and we're on our way."
Aqualad gasped awake,
"Who are you? And how did you get inside my head?"
Artemis quickly went to calm Aqualad down, gently pressing him back to lie down, as M'gann telepathically spoke,
"Hello Megan! Aqualad's memories! I knew I forgot something."
"Aw man! Me too. I forgot a souvenir from the mission." Whined Kid Flash.
Leila rolled her eyes and M'gann reassured Wally.
"Don't worry. Got the souvenir thing covered."
Leila raised an eyebrow but didn't ask questions. They had finished their mission and will have to face Batman now. She'll have to face the Team now too. Was she truly ready for that though?
Unknown Location
September 5, 7:41 EEST
Psimon bowed his head in shame before the seven screens of silhouettes lighted with a brilliant light. He stood in the center of a circled room, knowing he had failed his Queen and their allies. Barely glancing up as he reported his assignment failure.
"The Martian escaped with both the Sphere and the Superboy."
"That hardly matters." Assured the one female's voice within the group. "What matters is the successful test of our new partner's delivery system.
The screen behind Psimon lit up to reveal a recording of two Humvee of Bialyan soldiers standing in wait as a vertex appeared before them. Out shoots the metal Sphere of extraterrestrial technology Psimon recovered earlier.
"More tech will come. Tech that would put the Sphere and perhaps even the Superboy to same."
Psimon grins wickedly as a screen on his left voiced his own comments,
"Meanwhile, your intel on Miss Leila is interesting. Seems like she is progressing as planned. In which case, meet our new ally."
Psimon turned as he felt a chilling presence of someone- or something- behind him. Emerged through the walls, came a broad-shoulder of a personage- a ghost- in a metal suit. His flaming, electric green hair shadowed his despicable smile and he wore a skull around his neck.
"Greetings whelp. Welcome to the hunt."
A/N: Chapter 7 finally done! So sorry for the very late update- family vacations and school starting left no time. Excited where the story is going though and hope everyone is enjoying it so far. Please review thoughts or suggestions and thank you for all the favorites and follows!
