A/N: Firstly, thanks for the awesome reviews! Something I neglected to mention in my disclaimer (just chalk it up to the fact that I wrote it at like one in the morning) is that there is one OC so far in the story, and that is the main villain in the 1st-3rd chapters, known simply as 'the giant'. His backstory will be revealed soon enough; in the meantime, thanks to Illucida for bringing that to my attention. Now, without further ado, I give you chapter three. Please review!

Helpless.

For Wally, that had always been just another word he'd never had to use. Thanks to his speed, he'd always been able to worm his way out of any sticky situation he managed to land himself into.

But this was not just a sticky situation. And all the speed in the world wouldn't be enough to get him out of it. All the speed in the world wouldn't be enough to escape the horror and anguish that he felt as he saw his friend murdered.

"No—" the whisper escaped from his lips, "no, no, no. It can't—" he choked on his words as the weight of bitter realization overwhelmed him.

He's gone. Robin is dead… no, let it be a dream, let it not be real!

For a second, he let the thought possess him, expected to wake up any minute—but he was not stupid. He knew better. This was real. It was all real, every unbearable bit of it. And he was helpless to do anything but stand there: the fastest kid alive, unable to move for grief and pain. Helpless. He knew what it meant now.

Conner threw himself at the giant, a feral war cry escaping his lips. Wally could see how unnerved the gunmen were by the Superboy, how much his formidable strength scared them; but he knew Conner well enough to be able to tell that he wasn't in control. He was letting his anger command him, forgetting the first rule of combat Black Canary had taught them. This battle was still on enemy terms.

Wally knew they couldn't afford to stand still, waiting to be noticed by the gunmen. There will be time to grieve for Robin, he thought, gathering what was left of his resolve, but not now. I have to get Artemis and Megan out of here alive. I'm not losing any more friends today if I can help it.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Conner being tossed overboard by the giant. He'll have to fend for himself, thought Wally. We'll be joining him soon enough. Then he sprang into action.

Combat provided him with an outlet he seriously needed. He struck like lightning, so fast that his first victims never saw what hit them. He thrashed out wildly, barreling through the ranks of gunmen and barely dodging round after round of bullets fired at him from every direction. He felt a savage pleasure with each small victory, with whatever pain he could cause, his only revenge for Robin's death.

The two men holding Megan up by the arms were out cold before they had a chance to raise their guns. He didn't slow down, but picked Megan up while still running and sped back across the ship to where he had left Artemis, zigzagging through the ranks of the men. Skidding to a halt, he laid her down next to Artemis and whirled around to face the rest of the army—never turn your back on your enemy.

Every gun was trained on them now. What were you thinking? He berated himself. He had done nothing but make the three of them an easier target. Once again, that awful feeling of helplessness threatened to crush him. They were trapped, all because he had made the same mistake Conner had by acting out of rage and revenge. He turned his face away, teeth clenched, waiting for the crack of gunfire and the pain of hundreds of bullets slamming into him. I deserve to die after this; I wanted to save my friends, not get them killed. I just wish I could have saved them… he braced himself.

"Don't shoot, you idiots!"

The giant's shout jolted him, and he looked up in surprise. What—

Then he realized: Megan. The giant had said that their objective had been to capture her. If they shot at him, they might hit her, and for some reason they needed her. I can use this, he thought. I can get us out of here!

Megan was stirring, coming back around. She pushed herself weakly up on her arms, then collapsed back to her elbows. Wally dropped to his knees by her side and helped her to her feet; then, taking Artemis by the hand, pulled her up to stand with them. Megan was still weak, and had to lean on his arm for support.

Wally? What are you still doing here? Where are the others? Megan probed, opening a mental link.

Safe, he lied. They're already off. He forced himself not to think about Robin, about the bullet ripping through him like that; she'd been unconscious, didn't know, and he didn't want her to find out like that.

Good, she replied, accepting his lie. When I say 'now', you and Artemis jump into the water. I'll join you… if I can.

No! You're coming with us. There're too many of them.

Just do it!

She cut of the link, not giving him a chance to argue. Then she stepped forward, putting herself in front of them like a shield.

"We had an agreement!" she shouted at the giant man. "I said I would give myself up if you let my friends go. Are you going to break your deal?"

"Megan, no!"

Shut up, Wally! she projected to him. Just get Artemis out of here. I know what I'm doing.

"Your friend has caused too much trouble," the giant said. "He must be punished."

"If you hurt him, the deal's off. You get me; the other two you let go. Now."

That was his cue. "Megan, you can't—"

"I said now!"

"But—"

"Just GO!"

Once again he felt himself backed into a corner with nowhere to turn. Feeling like he was being torn in half, he grabbed Artemis by the wrist and they climbed up onto the railing just as the men surged forward to attack Megan.

"Wally, jump, NOW!" she yelled over her shoulder, trying and failing to hold off the tide of gunmen.

He took a deep breath, nodded just once, and they jumped.