Failsafe

Mount Justice October 16, 16:01 EDT

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or Danny Phantom, just my ocs and how each fits in the story.

Don't lose control. No emotion. Don't lose control.

Repetition of the phrases laced through Leila's thoughts, herself trying to etched it into her subconscious before the training exercise began. She laid still on the cool table top, breathing calmly even though her nerves wanted to escape her control.

It's only training. I've done this before...don't lose control.

Memories flashed before her eyes: a needle being injected into her small forearm, a gun handed to her and cool to the touch, staring down the gun's barrel top to the eyes of an unknown Shadow, the gun burning warm in her hand as the explosive shot bang against her eardrums.

All memories of her childhood.

Leila clutched her fists, titling her head back to see Martian Manhunter preparing himself for the mental exercise simulation. After the incident against Red Volcano, plus the still suspicion of a mole on the Team, Batman believed a psychic training exercise would be beneficial. The only problem for Leila was that she was sure she couldn't tell her teammates about her powers now. Not with Kid Flash more hostile against ghosts, including herself. So she mustn't let her powers show, no matter the worst that could happen; it was only training.

I'm in control. Not the Shadows. Not my powers. It's just training. Don't lose control.

Once Leila exhaled, blinding, white light filled her mind. Nothing kept her suspended before suddenly, as if being pulled through a tunnel, she was standing with her arms folded in the center of the Cave.

The scenario was typical, a major threat not being from home but by aliens. It wasn't just any aliens, but ones that could defeat both Green Lanterns, and Superman; possibly the whole Justice League.

A video footage from space showed both Green Lanterns, Martian Manhunter, Captain Marvel, Atom, Superman and Batman being disintegrated; aliens were invading the Earth, a cliché and predictable training exercise, but Leila was glad it had nothing to do with the Shadows or her. Zatara appeared before the screen, a worried look etched into his eyes,

"Tornado, did you- ?"

"Yes, Zatara, we saw. Celestial defenses have failed, initiate all terrestrial measures."

"Affirmative. See you in the field."

Red Tornado turned around, facing the Team, and proclaimed his probably last farewell,

"I must go join the League. We will protect the planet at all costs. But, should we fail, the responsibility falls to you."

Leila glanced around her, chanting the same phrases to herself as before the exercise.

**Don't lose control. It's only training. It's not real.**

Aqualad stared firmly back at Red Tornado, acceptance and assurance in his eyes.

"We stand ready."

Red Tornado instantly blew out of the cave while Leila stepped forward to change the video screen. She wanted to get this over with, to prove she can still be trusted. She wasn't a mole. She wasn't a traitor.

The national news from Metropolis was being viewed live by the Team. The rest of the Justice League were scrambling to save lives while fighting the Invaders. Wally's aunt was reporting live from Central City while destruction surrounded her,

"This is Iris West-Allen reporting live. The extraterrestrials have brought their relentless global attack to Central City."

Buildings were in crumbles, people disintegrated every second as they ran and an alien ship was flying towards the news crew. Just before the beams could hit Iris, Flash zoomed her out of the way and Zatara teleported the camera man to a nearby rooftop. The live feed was still recording as Iris thanked her rescuers.

"As you can see, the Justice League is attempting to hold the line."

Flash and Zatara made their way towards a burning building, about to save the group of people screaming on the rooftop, when another alien ship flew towards them, an explosion making their fate obsolete. Iris stared longingly and horrified at the smokey building before her fate became sealed too and the live feed cut off. Cat Grant appeared on the screen as she yelled at Iris to run away. It was to no avail.

"I'm sorry, we're experiencing technical difficulties from our Central City feed. We take you now to a devastated Taipei where another League contingent is having a bit more luck."

Leila looked away from the screen, pondering what was to be done to succeed this training mission. She knew it wouldn't work, no sense in hoping, for the League was suppose to die in order for the Team to take the responsibility of protecting the Earth.

The question now was: how is the Team suppose to defeat an enemy the Justice League can't defeat?

Cat Grant came back into view as she accounted for the damage done so far,

"Ladies and gentlemen, we've lost Black Canary, Green Arrow, and the Hawks. Other heroes included dead or missing include: Batman, Icon, Adam, and Aquaman."

Robin stepped up beside her, expanding the screens to show four different footage as Red Tornado contacted the Cave,

"Red Tornado to Cave. I fear I am all that remains of the League."

"RT-"

One sound of static echoed through the Cave, and the League became demolished. Red Tornado disappeared from the footage on the left corner screen.

"We are Earth's heroes now."

Aqualad confirmed as silent tension held within the Cave. Leila rubbed her thumb along her raven shuriken, breathing slowly as the title bore weight in her mind. Superboy didn't take time to hesitate,

"So what are we waiting for, a theme song?"

"A strategy. Earth's weapons are ineffective and it has been made tragically clear a direct attack will not succeed."

**If our weapons are ineffective, then maybe playing fire with fire would work.**

Leila thought to herself as she listen to her teammates. Robin went back to dealing with the holographic screen, pulling up a large image of the Earth,

"Checking satellite imagery."

Large blotches of red dots scatter around the global.

"Here's where the aliens are now."

Superboy stepped forward as he pointed to a lone dot in the middle of the ocean,

"This one get lost?"

Leila shared a glance with Robin before he answered Superboy,

"That's Superman's Fortress of Solitude."

"Superman has a Fortress of Solitude?"

"Its power source must have attracted the aliens attention, at least enough the send a scout ship to investigate."

"Must be some fortress."

Superboy turned away, skulking in frustration while M'gann placed a comforting hand on his shoulder,

"Connor."

"No, it's okay. Guess there's a lot about Superman I'll never know. Uh, you know, now."

Leila leaned forward, despite not wanting to not be sensitive to Superboy's father issues, she wanted to keep focus,

"Which means we may have a way to fight back. If we can't hit them with our weapons, then why not with their own."

Leila voiced her idea, getting a nod of acceptance from Aqualad,

"We will target this lone ship."

Kid Flash eagerly stepped in,

"Yeah, break it down. Build more. Hit those ugly aliens with their own mojo. Ow!"

Artemis smacked Kid's arm, glaring at him in annoyance as she quietly reminded,

"Martian and Kryptonian in the house."

Kid looked sheepishly at Superboy and M'gann,

"Uh, heh heh. Not that all aliens are automatically ugly."

Leila rolled her eyes before following her teammates to the Bioship. Robin came up beside her, whispering,

"You think maybe..."

Leila pondered his notation, knowing exactly what Robin was meaning. She shook her head though, remembering that not only was this just a training exercise, but that if she wanted her teammates to trust her again, they'll have to first trust her as Raven and not her phantom half. Leila whispered back,

"No. It's not the best time, not yet."

Robin dropped the subject as Aqualad gave the instructions of attack.

"Polar stealth. Miss Martian, Artemis and Raven, you three will work to disable the ship and communications before the rest of us join in. We'll take the ship's main weaponry and hope to learn more about this threat before any aid comes."

Leila gave a curt nod of understanding, rationalizing that Aqualad probably was stationing her as cover for M'gann and Artemis. A leap of trust. She wouldn't let him down again.

The Team arrived to the icy landscape, dropping Miss Martian, Artemis and Leila off first to neutralize the lone alien ship. Miss Martian molded into camouflage mode, only her outline could be seen if glimpsed at the right angle.

Artemis and Leila fled to the snow mounds, 500 yards away from the ship. Leila flicked birdarangs through her fingers as she and Artemis ducked between two mounds. Sliding down the frigid snow, Leila waited. If anything happen, she was determined to be the first to take the blow for anyone. Artemis notched an arrow as they waited for M'gann's signal.

Communications disable. Propulsions disable.

Artemis peered from the mound, firing a foam arrow at the ship's entrance. It was designed much like the Bioship- an oval body with prongs sticking from its sides. The only difference was the weaponry bungling from its top.

And E.T.s are sealed inside.

The enemy started firing back, blindly shooting at the mound of snow. Leila pushed Artemis out of range, guarding her from any possible blasts. Aqualad, Wolf, Superboy, Kid Flash and Robin all came into play, immobilizing the ship's weaponry as Superboy held it away from firing. Robin analyzed the weapon with his holographic computer,

Identifying weapon's structural stress points and links to the ship. Here, here, and here.

Robin informed the Team as he pointed to each stress point. M'gann sliced through the links with her telepathy while Superboy grunted to disassemble the weapon from the ship.

Leila and Artemis, instead, watched the skies, apprehensive for any back up aid. She only looked back when a shocked M'gann psychically muttered,

Wolf.

There was no indication of feedback. I'm sorry.

Leila glanced to see everyone solemn acceptance that Wolf was gone. Superboy only pouted for seconds before going back to work,

Can't do anything for him now. Let's go.

Leila turned her attention back to her responsibility of "look out." She paced restlessly, sensing this won't end easily. How she wished she wasn't always right.

Suddenly the whirling of ships shot across the horizon, circling back to their small targets as Robin's voice echoing the warning,

May not have a few minutes.

Miss Martian, open fire!

Can't. Weapon systems are offline to incorporate new cannon and that's not fully integrated yet, either.

Got you covered. Get inside. Almost there.

Leila planted her ground, waiting for the ships to fly closer. Artemis yelled the commands through the psychic link as she sent arrows soaring through the air. She shot straight- hitting both targeted ships with only three arrows to the ground. Leila threw her explosive birdarangs as the ships slid along the icy ground, neutralizing the first few blasts of counterattack. She ran back along side Artemis, lacing another three birdarangs between her fingers for a second strike. M'gann's voice ranged through her head and ears,

Artemis. Raven. Behind you!

Brilliant light flashed passed her vision as she quarter turned around, the blast surrounding Artemis.

Screams mesmerized Leila, herself rigid as she watched her friend, her sister, disintegrate before her eyes. Reality shattered. All she could do was let her legs buckle under herself, crunching the snow beneath her. Nothing suspended her, clouds fogging her mind.

**No,no, no, no. She can't be dead. It should've been me. She can't be dead.**

Leila clutched her head. Memories switching from present and past. Artemis had been her first friend, especially among the Shadows. She died with light surrounding her; Leila just inches from saving her. Just like her mother.

It was her job to protect her. She had failed.

**Not a hero...**

Leila jerked as a hand brushed her shoulder. Focusing her eyesight, Robin came into view with solemn seriousness. Aqualad had neutralized the threat.

She took a shaky breath, trying to reorient her mind. Grieving was not an option right now. The Team had the world to save, and she was going to die trying.

Silence sliced through the atmosphere of Bioship. M'gann quieting sobbed while Kid Flash was the only one disturbing the silence, clearly distraught in losing Artemis as he pounded against his seat's dashboard.

"Gahh! Ahh! Ahh!"

"There will be time for mourning later. Right now we have a job to do: defend the Earth. And ensure Artemis sacrifice was not made in vain."

Leila could only sulk in the background at Aqualad's command, knowing Artemis would have never let it go if she was seen emotional on a mission. Especially one so critical as an alien invasion with the Justice League gone.

"Back to the Cave?"

"The Hall of Justice. The human race must know that there is still heroes defending them."

Leila glanced away at Aqualad's comment. She hadn't defended Artemis, so how could she say she'll be able to defend the Earth?

She sighed, massaging her temples as a headache pricked at her forehead. Something wasn't adding up but she couldn't tell what it was. Everything seemed a little bit hazier, something just out of her reach was somehow calling from her mind.

**Didn't we not grief for the lost of the Justice League?**

Her train of thought rattled away as the Bioship swooped into a dive roll. A chaotic battle was commencing as the Team flew into the sky of Washington D.C. M'gann piloted the Bioship to fly camouflaged behind the intruders, firing their own weapon against them. Each ship disintegrated before Superboy dropped out to smash the last ship to the ground.

The crowd of soldiers cheered as the ship slid to a stop before them, Superboy taking the mantle of Superman as he jumped off.

She'll have to act as Batman now, and Batman wouldn't grieve till the mission was over. M'gann landed the Bioship just outside the Capitol; Leila could tell it was the General who approached them,

"I don't know who you are son, and right now I don't care. You wear the 'S' and you got the job done."

"I'm not Superman."

"Tell that to the enemy,"

The General turned to Aqualad, saluting with the highest respect to the teen superheroes,

"General Wade Eiling. U.S. Air Force."

"Aqualad. Justice League. We'll help you savage as many of the alien's canons as possible, then we start taking back what is ours."

Aqualad and Superboy led the way towards the damaged Hall of Justice, Leila swaying slightly as her headache continued to prick throughout her mind. Robin placed a gently hand on her shoulder, steadying his partner, but she merely shook her head before brushing it off.

It was silent yet Leila felt like screams echoed within her. Old thoughts rattled through her,

**Didn't save her...not a hero.**

"They're really gone."

Leila looked up, unaware where her feet took her before Robin spoke, until she saw the bronze statues of the Justice League. Crumbled just like reality. Earth's mightiest heroes were gone.

M'gann hovered towards her Uncle's statue, disembodied in half with a crater in his head. She knelt down sobbing before gasping in surprise. Leila grunted as her headache seared while M'gann telepathically lifted the bronze head to reveal Martian Manhunter; in the flesh.

"Uncle J'onn!" M'gann exclaimed as she flew towards her worn out Uncle, he shakily stood clutching his head as if with a headache. Leila's subsided to its original prick, a feeling of uneasiness surrounding her. She just couldn't put her finger on it.

Aqualad quickly intercepted M'gann, calling out in the psychic link,

M'gann, check his mind. Make sure he is whom he appears to be.

It's him. He's real. He's alive!

M'gann exclaimed psychically as she sidestep around Aqualad to help her Uncle. Superboy continued his observations out loud,

"But we saw you get disintegrated. You and Superman. And everyone."

Martian Manhunter clutched his head as he replied, an action Leila wish she could do but instead tried to hide her pain. Abnormal it was for her to get headaches.

"Yes. I remember. But I cannot remember how I survived. Or how I arrived here."

"Maybe you were density shifting, and the beam passed right through you."

"Scrambling your brains along the way."

M'gann and Robin concluded together. Leila felt like they were just scrambling for desperate answers. Density shifting didn't mean teleportation and surely the other Justice League members are dead; aren't they?

"My mind is clouded. I feel certain I had something important to tell you."

Kid Flash suddenly smacked his head, giving in his own theory through the psychic link.

Hello Wally, come on.

Kid sped away, Robin following after him as they both head towards the Bioship. Leila meanwhile crouched to the ground, leaning her head against the cool mental statue of Batman's broken head.

**He can't be gone...can he? Just when I thought...When I thought I could have a father again...at least it wasn't my doing.**

The last thought twang through her mind. An odd sense of déjà vu washed over her and Leila clutched her head from the small vertigo. It seemed similar to something before; oddly familiar but it perplexed her on why would she need to use it before. She barely heard Kid and Robin's conversation through the psychic link, now frozen in fear for her health. She never got sick before; not since 4 months ago when Vlad and the Shadows killed her. What was wrong with her?

This thing doesn't disintegrate, it teleports! Artemis is alive!

Maybe but-

No maybes, they're alive.

Leila's head twitched as Kid's exclamations brought her back to the present. M'gann followed suit, speaking out loud to her uncle,

"That must have been what you wanted to tell us!"

A frown pressed against Leila's face as Martian Manhunter pressed a hand against his head. A mixture of hope and despondency filled the Team's phantom hero. She tried closing her eyes, trying to expand her aura and sense if any member of the Justice League could be found. She doubt the aliens would teleport the Justice League anywhere close; if in fact Kid was correct on the alien weaponry mechanism. Something told her, though, that the Justice League was gone; depleted before they even stood a chance.

So why had Manhunter survived?

Leila concentrated harder, hoping not to chill the air nor let her telepathic teammate notice her ethereal powers. There was something there, somehow, in the back of her mind more than anything physically surrounding her. Threads being tugged closer before...SNAP.

M'gann and Martian Manhunter cried out as their legs debacle under themselves; a headache searing their minds. Leila could feel their pain, their weaken aura from the Bioship being stripped from reality.

Leila gasped as sudden chills racked her; she was losing control.

Superboy and Aqualad rushed to aid the two Martians while Leila ran towards the commotion outside. She couldn't lose control and she had to help her teammates.

We're falling back!

General Eiling ran through the glass opening to the Hall as Leila ran out to help Robin back into the Hall. Both heard the General's frustration as he growled,

"We're trapped."

Aqualad peered behind him as the access doors to the League's supposedly meeting room opened.

"Maybe not," Everyone ran inside as Aqualad continued his commands,

"We can all zeta to the Cave. If you can grant us computer clearance to access the tubes."

Martian Manhunter gave a small nod but heed a solemn warning,

"I can only authorize one at a time."

Aqualad was quick to sacrifice himself before the General objected,

"Send the soldiers first."

"Belay that! You seven are assets we cannot afford to lose."

Martian Manhunter gave a reassuring look to his niece before she let him stand on his own two feet. The Zeta Tubes ready at their disposal and Manhunter took a firm stance in front of the computer's scanner,

"Override. Martian Manhunter 07."

"Recognized. Access Granted. Miss Martian. B-0-5. Robin. B-0-1."

Leila signed in relief as Robin walked through and she muttered a silent goodbye. She had deliberately lined herself to be the last person beside Aqualad. It would not be her to survive this time.

"Kid Flash. B-0-3."

Just as the computer finished scanning, a explosion rocked the room, spewing debris and rocks everywhere as the access door shattered open. One soldier was caught in the rubble, crying out from his crushed leg. Superboy quickly went to assist, Leila following for his cover, as Aqualad threw Kid into the Zeta Tube.

Gunshots split her eardrums with the searing sounds of the aliens weapons firing back. Superboy propped the large rock as a shield to block a blast before helping the soldier up. Leila kept his back covered as she laced an explosive birdarang between her fingers. She press the ignite button as she sent them flying through the air and neutralizing a blast.

"He goes next," Superboy insisted with Aqualad giving a curt response,

"Fine. Then you."

"Private Jason Bard. USMC."

"Superboy. B-0-4."

Leila let Superboy go as she raced to help Martian Manhunter to the zeta tube, himself leaning heavily against her. It wasn't just his weight burdening her, but his aura too. It sapped her energy, sending pricks of pain through her head as she fully felt his confusion and uncertainty. It screamed at her that the whole Justice League, even Artemis, weren't dead.

"Help the Team. They need you more." Leila grunted as she pushed Manhunter through the zeta tubes. Soldiers were being disintegrated like ticking seconds on a clock. This time was for her to die, she just needed to save Aqualad.

She never got the chance as she felt hands shove against her back, Aqualad calling out,

"Keep them safe!"

Leila twisted around mid air, the flashing light engulfing her vision as she reached out towards Aqualad. He had pushed her hard enough to be just out of reach as the Zeta Tube teleported her. Aqualad's disintegrated bones were the last thing she saw of him.

Leila shrieked out,

"Aqualad!"

The shriek resounded, announcing to Leila that she made it to the Cave, as she landed on her back. She laid still, mortified at Aqualad's dying wish. She survived; she didn't keep him safe.

The next thing she knew, Robin was peering over her with concern. She could read his lips, him calling her name, but her ears didn't seem to function properly. It wasn't till she was helped sitting up that she felt less submerged in water.

"Raven. Are you injured. Where's Aqualad?"

Leila shook her head absentmindedly to Robin's question, clutching her forehead as another headache pricked around her. She knew Aqualad must be dead; she saw it happen right before her eyes. Yet, that same pricking sensation, that same strange feeling of doubt clouded her mind. Minutes passes before she spoke,

"He's- he's gone. I was going to save him. I was! But then he pushed me in instead."

"It's okay Raven. Aqualad knew what he was doing."

Leila peered into Robin's masked eyes as M'gann gave a quiet sob for the loss of their leader. Kid solemnly glanced away as the two birds shared eye contact conversation. She gave a curt nod to her little birdie, despite the guilt and despair seeping through her, she had to keep going. Leadership fell to Robin now and she was prepared to help him as best as she could, if not better.

Taking his outstretched hand, Leila focused as the remaining five stood in a circle, Robin was the natural leader,

"Our next mission is clear. If we believe the aliens have been teleporting their victims-"

"We do." Kid reconfirmed before Robin sighed,

"-then the only reasonable detention facility is here. Their mother ship, atop of what use to be Smallville."

"Ring any bells?"

Robin turned his question to Martian Manhunter who was shakily sitting behind them. He quickly got up in response,

"No. I'm sorry."

Robin curtly turned to Superboy,

"Superboy. You'll create a distraction."

"No! He's offering you as a sacrifice. Aqualad would never do that." M'gann blurted out, to which Robin was grim in reply,

"You're right. Aqualad would sacrifice himself, a mistake that just cost us our leader. Superboy is the most likely to be perceived as a threat, motivating the aliens to deploy."

"Worst case, he's teleported inside and we set him free along with Artemis, and huh, Aqualad, and everyone."

Superboy turned to reassure M'gann but Leila could only cave within herself and own thoughts. She was grateful Robin didn't blame her for Aqualad's death but she still felt responsible. If she had only more control, block out her senses and pain to apprehend Aqualad from pushing her, she should've taken his place instead.

She should've saved him. She should've saved Artemis. She should've saved her mom.

Leila stood reminiscing in her own grief and confusion, slowly twirling her shuriken through her fingers. The sensation she felt when helping Martian Manhunter was ironed throughout her body. His own confusion had sent clouds through her already foggy memory. Again, something was there but still out of reach. It had something to do when the aliens first started invading, a vital piece of what she was doing before the attack.

Nothing came to mind.

The more she thought and grieved, the more stormy it came to be. Leila flinched from her murky thoughts as Robin's hand appeared on her shoulder,

"The Team has agreed on sending a live broadcast to Earth. People need to know there are still heroes out there."

Leila gave a nod of understanding but rejected the hidden meaning,

"You four should do it...I-I shouldn't say anything."

"But Raven-"

"I'm sorry Robin. But trust me, better if I don't say anything I can't promise." Leila gave a pleading look before turning away,

"Let me know when we depart. I'll be ready."

Robin hesitated, about to reach out again, thought better of it, then turned to leave. He wanted to comfort Leila, remind her that it wasn't her fault for either Artemis or Aqualad's deaths, but he was the Team's leader now. He had to do as Batman taught him: succeed the mission.

Leila sighed as Robin walked away, knowing her little birdie was growing up. Being team leader was not an easy task even in happier circumstances, now he was leader with the whole world at stake.

The four teen heroes stood in front of the holographic screens, Robin manipulating the controls to send a live video to the world. He turned back towards her, tilt his head forward for her to least stand with them. Leila hesitated, rigid in place as thoughts swirled her. She wasn't trained to be a hero, she hadn't save her teammate nor her leader: so how could she stood confident saying she'll protect the Earth. How could she, a ghost, a freak, inspire hope?

Robin didn't move. He was determined to have Leila stand by him and the Team. She was apart of it, so he'd wait till she was ready.

Leila shakily stepped up next to her teammates but kept a façade while receding into her own mind. She kept her face neutral, staring at the camera with determination as Robin began to announce the Team's existence and encourage the people of Earth. Soon M'gann, Superboy and Kid Flash voiced their own inspirational thoughts,

"And though we know all seems lost, the one thing the aliens cannot destroy is hope."

"Hope survives because the battle is not over. Not as long as even one of us is willing to fight."

"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 bare, to defeat the enemy."

"The people of Earth will survive this. We will rebuild and we will thrive. Never doubt and never forget, the Earth will never surrender."

Robin closed with his end remarks, silencing the camera off. Leila finally muttered her own thoughts,

"And we'll do it together. Those aliens may invade us and we all may be afraid, but that doesn't mean we can't fight back."

Robin gave a small nod before giving his signature smirk of a smile.

"Best to get ready. Red Arrow and Zatanna are helping other heroes prepare to help around the globe while we target the mothership."

Leila knew that look behind Robin's masked eyes: their mission was more than just a prison break.

The wind billowed through Robin's cape, perched as the bird he was on a platformed piece of land, binoculars allowing keen sight of details to the behemoth mothership on top of Smallville. Leila stood beside him, desiring to give him something before she would die, but she kept silently to herself; the mission came first.

M'gann hovered behind the two birds, drawing Robin's attention,

"Stay close to J'onn. He's still..."

Robin swayed his hand back and forth, indicating Manhunter's unsteadiness of being. He then gave his first commands as leader,

"First team, deploy."

M'gann and her uncle took hands, flying towards the mothership in camouflage mode. Everyone was suppose to get in while Superboy took the offensive position in distraction the aliens. M'gann psychically confirmed her position once destiny shifted through the ship,

Ready. In position. Be careful, Connor. I love you.

Superboy gave a smirk, Robin gave him a nod of command, and then Superboy jumped high towards the ship, landing heavily to create a crater dent in its armor. He jumped again towards a large laser cannon, ripping it from its hinges to turn towards the ship,

"All right, you glorified trespassers! You want to see how a real alien fights?"

Superboy screamed as he started firing the gun at other outer weapons. Leila made her move, sprinting towards the ship. Keeping towards the shadows (partially invisible and flying as well), Leila latched her grappling hook to swing closer towards the ship. Robin and Kid would run together once the entrance hatches opened, but with Kid already taking Robin, Leila had to get a head start to make it in. She almost thought of revealing her powers before leaving the Cave, could go on her own to enter the ship and find the Justice League, not having to risk more lives, but then something told her better of it. An inkling that said now wouldn't be the time, even when the world and her teammates' lives were at stake.

She would rather die a hero than a freak to her teammates.

Just as she reached the bottom of the ship, hundreds of alien's aircrafts flew out, open firing at Superboy. Leila hid under the outstretched platform till the coast was clear, swinging herself up onto the open ledge.

Now or never.

Kid sped down the cliffside at Superboy's warning, jumping off with Robin piggybacking, and both rolled as they landed on the mothership, right on the same entrance hatch Leila climbed on to. All three hid behind a wall as more ships flew out towards the threat of Superboy. Leila almost switched her direction to ran back out, to take the hit for Superboy, but then Robin's command pulled her with him,

Way's clear. Go!

She dashed behind the two boys, keeping her explosive birdarangs within her palms. The mothership had an intricate design, lots of corridors, flashing light indicators, and carved out places for the missing ships. Robin had the three duck behind a large pillar, holding his hand up as an alien surveillance device floated by. Leila hugged close to the pillar as she watched the thing pass by. It had a smaller, skinnier built in comparison to the defense ships that attacked since the beginning of the invasion.

**Was it just this morning it all started?**

As she thought, Leila couldn't even remembered when she woke up this morning. Just that she was already in the Cave when the invasion had start.

Suddenly, a loud crash was heard behind her and Leila turned to see M'gann had telepathically thrown a metal box at a second alien surveillance that caught them from behind. Robin gave a nod of thanks before leading everyone down a separate corridor. Halfway down the corridor, M'gann groaned as she fell back into Manhunter's arms. Robin, Kid and Leila doubled back to her as she psychically muttered,

No. He's gone.

It's alright. We'll find him with Artemis. I know it.

No. My mind is clearer now. The disintegration beam is exactly that. There is no detention facility. No prisoners to rescue. Our mission holds no purpose.

No, you're wrong. The zeta radiation proves she's alive. She's-

Stop it, KF. I've been scanning for League and Team signals since we got inside. They're not here. Artemis is gone...But our mission still holds purpose: to destroy this mothership.

Leila stayed silent as Robin revealed their true purpose. She had known since they entered the mothership that not one person was aboard. She couldn't sense any of the League's, or Artemis's nor Aqualad's presence on the ship.

Robin continued down the hall, Leila following, soon with Miss Martian, Martian Manhunter and Kid Flash as well.

All five ran through a large, hexagon shape, sliding door, revealing a large, burning sphere of energy with multiple platforms surrounding it. Robin took command again, as he scanned the large sphere.

This is the power core. Blow this and the whole mothership blows.

Robin barely made it to the second ledge he jumped down on, when he stopped, skidding across the floor as he was being pulled towards the core. Kid ran after him, grabbing his hand to stop him but no avail; both were pulled over the edge.

Leila rushed to the edge, arriving just to see Robin sending his grappling hook out to catch him and Kid Flash. She threw her tessen, sending it to slice through one of the alien surveillance devices beside the grappling hook's latch, while both Martians kicked the second one aside. M'gann's eyes glowed red as Leila watch her settle Robin and Kid to the core's center. Robin swiftly unhooked the two belts of explosives, setting them to dentate as Kid Flash stated,

You knew. You knew from the beginning why we're really here.

Four minutes. Let's go.

Leila sent a birdarang high above her, it giving off a blinding light of escape as it exploded. Alarms were blaring as the five ran back the corridor they came from. Kid sped ahead, barreling a clear path towards the exit. Except, the doors closed just before he got there.

Perfect.

Surprised you didn't run into the security door too, Kid.

Kid Flash shot a glare towards Leila but she couldn't help making her last banter at him. It was fun, for a split second, to believe they could get out of this mess. Leila pushed him aside as the surveillance security began firing at the heroes. The group was split in half. Robin, Kid and Leila on one side, the two Martians on the other.

16 seconds and counting. Manhunter, take Miss Martian and go.

No, we won't leave you.

That's an order. We'll follow as soon as we open those doors

Don't worry M'gann.

Leila couldn't finished making her promise she thought, but at least she could reassure M'gann. Both Martians density shifted through the ship, leaving the last three members of the Team. At least M'gann would survive.

**I'm not going to survive, I'll go down fighting. M'gann will survive. If possible, I'll get Robin and Kid out too.**

A nod between the three of them and then they attacked.

Leila backhand spring from the lasers, instantly round-house kicking the robot alien on her right.

12 seconds

Leila threw an explosive flash of a birdarang, the surveillance devices aiming at the mock target.

"Get down!"

She yelled as lasers shot in all directions, the flash blinding the area and causing the aliens to aim at each other. All five of them fell to the ground. Leila turned to find Robin smirking at her, seeing the same thought process in his eyes,

Maybe we can escape.

Then both birds noticed their speedster teammate was missing. Giving each other a curt nod, both ran where a destructive path led back to the core of the ship.

5 seconds

Leila ran to find Kid Flash trapped between three aliens and the gravitational pull of the core. He was slipping. She instantly threw three birdarangs at the machines, all exploding while Kid clung tightly to the ground. Robin ran hard to reach him, grasping hold of Kid's hand as his legs dangled from gravity over the edge of the platform.

It was too strong, the gravitational pulling Robin to the edge. Leila desperately grabbed for Robin's hand, memories flashing through her mind.

One instant, the red core blazed below her eyes.

The next, Leila could picture the green and black swirls of the Ghost Zone; how this must have been what Robin experienced. A desperate hold that was obsolete.

"I can do this. I can do this." Leila muttered to herself, gritting her teeth as she tried to pull Robin and Kid Flash up.

"Raven."

It wasn't pleading, it was acceptance. Leila shook her head, for some reason she still couldn't allow herself to transform. She looked down at her little birdie, acceptance in his eyes.

The last beep held like a breath, searing through Leila's eardrums as the core exploded.

Twisted fate revealed itself, light engulfing Leila's eyes, surrounding Robin and Kid Flash, just like her mother.

**I'm going to survive**

Her last thought before darkness.

Screams wailed through the Cave as Leila bolted up. It all came crashing on top of her; the guilt and realization that is wasn't real. It was only training, yet it shattered her. Batman was instantly by her side, attempting to calm her down,

"Leila. What happened?"

"It's all my fault. All my fault." Leila muttered as she glanced horrified at her mentor. She had lost control and forgot it was only a training exercise till it was too late. She had let her teammates- her friends- die. Just like her mom...her little birdie had died and vanished while she survived. Leila quickly glanced around, frantic to make sure her teammates were okay. All laid still on the tables before seconds later, M'gann gasped awake; allowing everyone else to awake from what Leila sense as a coma state.

"I should've remembered...I should've stopped it...it's my fault."

Leila sorrowfully looked at a shaken Robin, making eye contact, before swiftly looking down at the floor. Batman placed a firm hand on her shoulder, Leila flinched away for not wanting to be touched.

She should've been the one to die, not everyone else. It made sense now- why she kept thinking she couldn't reveal her secret. Her subconscious had remembered a slither of what she had chanted to herself before the exercise, but was she really that selfish- that desperate- to keep her secret? Was that her obsession? Not a hero mechanism but a twisted need of survival; like the Shadows.

"You're all alive?" M'gann exclaimed joyously. Leila wished she wasn't. Batman stepped around to steady Martian Manhunter who was groaning with a headache,

"What happened in there?"

"The exercise, it all went wrong." Manhunter mumbled as he clutched his head. Leila tighten around herself as Robin inquired while panting,

"Exercise?"

"Try to remember. What you experienced was a training exercise. Manhunter psychically linked the seven 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 Justice League."

Leila could remember that, she could remember how relieved she was in the beginning that it hadn't been her that was the League's undoing. Martian Manhunter continued, voicing his understanding of the situation,

"That is why you hardly grieved even when Wolf was disintegrated before your eyes. But all that changed when Artemis died."

Leila peeked through her bangs at Artemis, recalling her mixed emotions when she saw nothing less than her sister die. The blinding light kept haunting her.

"Though consciously Miss Martian knew it was not real, her subconscious mind could not make that distinction. She forgot it was only an exercise and her subconscious took control; making all of you forget too."

As everyone else glanced at Miss Martian, Leila kept her stare at the ground. She clutched the table sides, wanting solely to disappear; become invisible. She hadn't forgotten, least not entirely, that it was only an exercise. She should've been stronger, been able to remember, she should've been the first to die.

"I-I'm...I'm so sorry."

"This isn't her fault. Why didn't you stop the exercise?" Raged Superboy, demanding for answers to defend M'gann.

"We tried. But M'gann had a...death grip on the scenario. Even Artemis, who should have awakened upon her death was so convinced she had passed that she slipped into a coma. I realized I would have to rest control from Miss Martian's subconscious from within. But upon entering the reality, I was...overwhelmed by your collective emotion. There was too much-noise to think clearly...to remember why I was there. The deaths of Aqualad and Superboy helped. But only when the mothership exploded and Robin, Raven and Kid Flash were silenced did my mind clear enough to remember my true purpose. To shock M'gann out of the exercise before your comas became permanent. My apologies. I had no idea a training exercise could be so dangerous...so damaging."

Silence held as M'gann quietly turned away from everyone, sobbing into her hand. Captain Marvel rushed to comfort her, embracing her into a tight hug as Superboy hesitated to help. Leila kept to herself, worried about the fact that she didn't slipped into a coma after she "died". She had waken just as she supposedly died during the exercise. She had survived, would have survived while her teammates would be in comas if Manhunter hadn't saved them in time.

Red Tornado and Batman caught Martian Manhunter as he stumbled, Batman further inquiring,

"As bad as all that?"

"Perhaps worse."

"Yet this is not what troubles you." Red Tornado observed while Manhunter replied,

"Make no mistake, my niece is untrained and cannot be held responsible for this...for our debacle."

**No you should blame me. **

Leila thought to herself, for she was the one trained to beat this.

"No one blames her. But clearly we underestimated her abilities."

"You understated. In terms of raw power, she has the strongest telepathic mind I have ever encountered. Stronger by far than mine."

Robin had inched over to Leila, attempting to help her but she flinched away again. If it wasn't M'gann's fault then it was hers, she had allowed her teammates to die and even had a slither of knowledge that it wasn't real. She should've saved them. The burning flash of light engulfing Robin as he fell haunted Leila, and she had to escape. Leila pushed herself from the table, running hard to get away. Nothing processed through her ears, herself deliberately ignoring the cries from Robin and Batman. Just as she rounded the corner of the hallway, Leila vanished through thin air; keeping hidden from everyone within the Cave. She shouldn't be a member of this Team; not as the ghost she is.

**Not a hero. **

Two pairs of crimson eyes smiled in glee as they watched from above.

A/N: I know this was a really long wait, but I was gone on vacation multiple times without internet and had several writer's blocks on where to position Raven. I'm sorry but I have been working on pieces of other chapters and theory possibilities for this fanfic. Hopefully this chapter was worth the wait! Thank you all for sticking with my irregular updates and sticking with the story of Raven (which includes reading, following and favorite the story.) Hope to update soon!