At the mountain the Outlaws were in the infirmary with their mentors watching over them. The young justice team sat in the living room with their heads down.
"How could they keep such a secret from us?" Artemis asked trying to fight tears.
"They didn't have a choice" Black Canary informed from the doorway. "You see it was the originals that made the choice. No one could change their minds, but the Outlaws forming didn't go the way we all though it would"
"What happened to them?" Zatanna asked.
"It all started with a mission. None of us thought anything of it at first" Black Canary started looking about close to tears.
Rath slowly made his way up to the window of the building they were sent to by the league. His team was behind him waiting for his command on when to go in. He turned to his brother who nodded hacking into the security.
"It's all off" Robin whispered and Rath looked to Supergirl.
She used her heat vision to cut a hole into the window for them to go through. As she flew through the others followed. Slowly they made their ways through the halls till Rath halted them. He saw a security guard a head of them and nodded to Speedy. The two boys crept behind him and knocked him unconscious. Robin tied him up and had him hang upside down from the ceiling.
"It's quiet on the other end Rath" Supergirl informed.
Rath motioned them to go in and they stopped when they entered. In the corner of the room was their mentors and other leaguers tied up. They ran to their sides trying to get them free, but the rope won't break.
"It's a useless attempt" a male voice laughed.
The kids turned to see five adults by the door watching them. Rath removed a batarang watching them cautiously.
"Who are you?" Speedy asked with an arrow set.
"We're the Crime Syndicate and we thought we allow you kiddies to join us" Ultraman explained with a smile.
"Sorry, but we don't make crime, we stop it" Rath informed.
"It wasn't an option" Owlman said making the kids all become worried.
Super Woman flew at the kids, but Wonder Girl stopped her with a punch. Archer went to fire an arrow for Speedy to hit him with his own. Power Ring fired a blast that was stopped by one of Starfire's own. Ultraman laughed as Supergirl flew at him pushing him back. Owlman threw his birdarangs at Robin and Rath, that both avoided them.
"The Crime Syndicate tricked us and for that trick they paid the price" Black Canary said tears coming down her face.
"How did that change the originals though?" Megan asked confused.
"That day the Crime Syndicate took them away. For a whole month we didn't hear anything from them and our hopes of fighting them decreased" she explained. "We got a signal that a group of like us were destroying a store. Many thought it was the Syndicate, but no it was the Outlaws"
"You mean Robin and them became villains" Wally looked like he was in shock.
"So much damage can be caused to someone so young. After our first fight, we were able to capture and free them. Though it did have some results we didn't want"
The team looked at one another unsure if they wanted her to continue. Even Kaldur was looking terrified by what he was hearing.
"Then it finally came the snap that brought back the Outlaws with a mistake made that cost almost a life. With Rath's death, Red Hood came back and got the others to join him. None of them could fight the relief they felt every time they fought as Outlaws. Soon mistakes were made again and again. Finally only Speedy and Robin remained, but it didn't keep them strong enough. As you saw they both made mistakes that caused them to finally break"
"Are they going to come back to our side then?" Megan asked worried.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think they can come back from how far they've fallen"
"No, we can't say that about them. We can think that Robin is gone forever" Wally yelled with tears in his eyes.
"Even their own mentors can't bring them back. The original team ended when we gave them that mission"
Black Canary got up leaving the room with tears escaping her eyes. Artemis placed a hand on Wally's shoulder to have him look down. Megan felt Conner wrap his arms around her to comfort her while tears fell from her own eyes.
"How can she say that about them being gone" Wally yelled looking to his teammates.
"I don't know, but think about it. Red Arrow left cause he couldn't be treated like a kid anymore and then the mind control. Those most likely made him snap as Canary put it" Raquel explained seeing Kaldur nod.
"Robin probably fought with himself many times and finally he couldn't fight anymore" their leader sighed.
"So we're giving up on them ever coming back" Wally said looking at his teammates.
Before any of them could say something an argument reach them. Walking out of the living room, they saw the Outlaws heading for the Zeta Tubes. Wally couldn't stop himself and ran blocking their path.
"Out of the way" Red Hood ordered with anger.
"No, you guys are heroes. I don't care if you think you can't handle the jobs anymore and I'm going to let you walk out on your own mentors" Wally spat seeing Red Hood cross his arms.
"You don't know anything about why we left" Power Girl said.
"You left because, you couldn't handle the pressure that it put on you" Artemis informed seeing the other two girls of the Outlaws glare at her.
"We're out of here and next you get in the way of our shipments. You won't like the outcome" Arsenal spat.
The Outlaws pushed past Wally exiting the mountain. Wally looked at the league in shock for letting them leave.
"I thought you guys cared about them"
"We do care about them and that is why we couldn't stop them from doing what they wanted" Superman explained looking down.
"You think that they're better off with each other and don't want them to feel a responsibility to you guys" Conner said seeing each leaguer nod.
"When they were brought back to us, they weren't the same. Each one of them felt a guilt and pressure on them" Green Arrow informed.
"Letting them go was very hard, but now we see that guilt and pressure gone from them" Wonder Woman added.
"We could never force them to come back to a place where they'd feel out of place" Hawkwoman sighed.
"You guys are doing what you feel is the best for them" Artemis realized and looked down.
"The Outlaws aren't our enemies and will never be. They're the ones that face the danger without looking back" Superman informed.
"They still see us as their mentors and keep themselves in contact with us" Batman said looking to the Zeta Tubes. "My sons are happy where they are and I can't take that away"
"As long as my son's happy and feels belonged, I'm proud of him" Green Arrow smiled.
"I can't do that to my cousin" Superman agreed.
"Or my sister" Wonder Woman added.
"Even stars need to be free" Hawkwoman said.
"We are sorry for giving you all a hard time" Kaldur looked down.
"Not as much a hard time as we gave them" Red Hood's voice filled the room.
They all looked to the screen to see the Outlaws watching them. Nightwing had his hood down and was smiling.
"We thought we'd inform your little team that some guys was attacking the harbor as we were leaving" Arsenal explained.
"Team go and handle him" Batman instructed.
The teens all nodded leaving to handle the villain. As they left the leaguers looked at the Outlaws.
"Hey, make sure you go easy on these guys. And Clark don't give Conner a hard time anymore" Kara teased her cousin.
"I'll try not to" Clark laughed.
"Good cause, we got some people that we have some business with" Kori said as Hawkwoman nodded.
"We'll talk soon sis" Donna promised.
"That's fine with me" Diana agreed.
"Hey Ollie, the replacement's not actually that bad" Roy informed.
"She doesn't give me as much trouble as you have" Ollie teased.
"See you later dad" Dick and Jason said together.
"Okay, be careful" Bruce instructed.
"Yeah right" Jason laughed.
The transmission ended leaving the Outlaws. They looked back to see the team fighting their villain and couldn't help smiling. Dick laughed as he saw Jason cross his arms.
"I think we need more info on our new competition" Kara laughed dragging an arm around Jason.
"Maybe" he smirked. "Outlaws lets go kick Lex's butt for a little bit"
With that they left knowing that the leaguers were in good hands with the teens. Though they'd still keep an eyes on their mentors and make sure they're not causing any trouble for them.