An agonizing scream tore through their mental link and the barrier dissolved, plunging the four heroes into the chilling ocean waters - as cold and consuming as the sudden silence in their own minds.
"M'Gaan!"
Linx grabbed Robin, using her own limbs to compensate for his injuries as they swam for the surface, while Wally used his speed to cut through the current with Connor in tow. As their four heads breached the ocean waves they were instantly assaulted by the clashing sounds of a battle. Batman's League had arrived to meet Superman's forces, attempting to distract them from their aims to destroy Atlantis. Amidst the commotion, the Batwing approached the four stranded teens, hovering above the water so the Team could climb inside. Aquaman appeared beside them, helping to lift the injured into the safety of the plane.
"Tell me, where is Prince Artur?" Orin demanded, immediately noting that his son was not among the rescued heroes.
"He and M'Gaan went back to help Kaldur, but the mental link was cut, we don't know what happened!" Wally watched the Atlantean King pale at the news of his son and protege in danger. Without another word, Orin disappeared beneath the waves and the speedster climbed into the Batwing with the rest of his Team.
"What happened?!" Batman's demanding tone rang through the ship as he hurried to see to his injured son.
"The Martian protected us. She sent us to the surface using one of her barriers…"
"Tt, some protection." Damien's sarcastic tone cut through Lian's explanation.
"The barrier dissolved before we reached the surface. The Martian could have drowned us all."
Despite his lingering weakness from the Kryptonite, Connor lunged at Damien and slammed him against the wall of the Batwing, only to be instantly ripped away by an over-protective Bat.
"You selfish, ignorant brat! The only reason M'Gaan's barrier would fail is if she was hurt! She's risking her own life down there, fighting her own Team just to give us a chance to escape!"
"That's enough!" Batman's finite tone silenced the teens as he shoved the Kryptonian away from his son. The tension in the ship was unnerving as both sides seethed with unspoken aggression. Wally placed a hand on Connor's shoulder, both as an offer of support and a reminder not to lash out again. Lian shifted closer to Damien, likely for the same reason.
Batman left the teens to simmer in their anger as he looked for another source of information.
"Aquaman, report." He spoke into his communicator. In the silence that followed was enough to drain the aggression from the ship as each of the proteges awaited news of their friends. Wally felt a lump forming in his throat when Batman bowed his head.
"Understood. Bring Aqualad back to the surface, we will return for the others." The Dark Knight ordered, refusing to meet the desperate eyes of his Team.
"Batman?" Damien's typical sarcastic tone was replaced by a rare tone of concern as he waited for his father to speak.
"The Medical Ward caved in while Aqualad, Kaldur'Ahm, Miss Martian, and Lagoon Boy were inside. Artur survived… the others did not."
Connor's bellowing cry filled the Batwing as he shouted out his pain, anger, and grief. Were it not for the lingering weakness from the Kryptonite, Connor would have tore through the Batwing as he slammed his fist against the wall of the ship. Lian and Damien dipped their heads in silent grief as the screams of their mourning leader drowned out the sounds of the battle raging outside. Wally just felt numb. Kaldur and M'Gaan were two of his closest friends. Even La'Gaan had earned Wally's respect when they had worked together in the past, but now all three lives had been taken. Wally would never see Kaldur's proud stoicism again. He'd never hear M'Gaan's familiar voice echoing in his mind. They were gone, just like Dick, Jason, Tim, Roy, Jade... his friends... his family was dead!
Wally could feel his hands vibrating at his sides and the wet droplets that fell from his eyes. He felt the restriction of his lungs and the agonizing pain in his chest as the grief took hold. Images of his former Teammates flooded his mind and the once happy memories were now twisted and poisoned with grief and sadness. Wally choked back a sob as he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. Batman was never one to outwardly show compassion, except on rare occasions and only to his sons, so Wally was surprised to find that it was the Dark Knight offering him support.
"Superman's careless impulsiveness and fatal ignorance have claimed too many lives already. This is the last straw. I promise you, Wally, I will make him pay for the loss of your Team." Despite his intentions, Batman's cold words offered little comfort. Instead, Wally saw the terrifying truth to Batman's claim. He blamed Superman for the loss of all those fallen heroes. In Batman's mind, Superman was little better than the Joker! And now he would be suffering the same fate.
Before Wally could object, he heard the wounded groans of the surviving Atlantean. Lian and Damien rush towards the hatch to help Artur and Orin into the Batwing. Artur was holding his left side, trying to stop the blood that flowed from a deep gash that spanned the length of his torso. His eyes were raw and his entire body was shivering, though Wally doubted that was from the physical pain. The poor kid just witnessed his mentor die before his eyes.
"News of the cave in has reached Superman. The battle is ending. I will stay here to guide the Atlanteans. Once this chaos is over, we will recover the fallen heroes. La'Gaan and Kaldur'Arm…" King Orin's strong voice wavers at the mentor of his former proteges.
"...They well be laid to rest by our Atlantean customs. Miss Martian will be returned to J'onn. I understand that in recent years we have not all fought for the same side, but I feel that all three deserve a heroes honours. Each of these young ones deserve their place in the Hall of Justice." Aquaman proposed.
"I will make the arrangements." Batman agreed. "My condolences for your loss Orin. I will tend to the Team. When you are finished here, meet me at the Base. We have a lot to discuss."
Aquaman gave one last sympathetic look towards his son before diving back into the depths of the ocean, leaving Batman to take the children home.
The journey back to the Batcave was long and uncomfortable. Damien kept a silent watch over the Team, while Lian wrapped Artur's wounds and offered what little comfort she could to the grieving prince. Connor had finally stopped screaming and was now sitting in silence, looking dead to the world. Wally hugged his knees into his chest and buried his face in his arms, like he did when he was a child. He wished he could go back to those days… He remembered how simple it all was when he was young: Tagging along behind the Flash as they patrolled Central City, or hanging out with Dick, Kaldur, and Roy while their mentors were out on League business. He remembered their first mission as Young Justice and each new introduction that built their first Team - first Superboy, then M'Gaan, and Artemis. They had faced some tough battles and far too many close calls, but never once had Wally doubted the strength of his Team.
Now, Wally's Team was breaking away piece by piece. First Dick, then Artemis, now Kaldur and M'Gaan. Connor was the only other survivor of their original Team, and by the defeated look in the clone's eyes, Wally knew it wouldn't take much to lose him like the others.
Damien's voice cut through the silence, calling Wally back from his memories.
"If you go back to the past, you can stop all of this." It wasn't really a question, but Wally found himself nodding along to Damien's statement anyway.
"How can I assist?" The current Robin asked. Wally looked up in surprise, finding Robin's eyes lingering on Connor and Artur as they grieved.
"You want to help me?" Wally asked, finding it hard to believe that the unlikable Robin would suddenly be willing to work together. He had heard nothing but resistance and threats from Damien since they'd met!
"Tt, don't be ridiculous West. Helping you is the last thing I want to do. It is, however, a means to an end. Batman wants to finish this war, but many more will die in the process. Our only other option is to stop this battle before it ever began. Sending you back is the only way to protect my Team, and I will do whatever it takes in order to fulfill that mission."] Damien answered, and for the first time Wally saw that Robin legacy shining in the young hero's eyes. Maybe Damien wasn't so different from his brothers after all.
"Dick would have been proud of you Damien." Wally offered, giving a satisfied smirk when he saw that the comment caught Damien off guard. He muttered something inaudibly under his breath before stalking off to check on their time of arrival, leaving Wally to his own thoughts.
"He will be proud of you Dami, I'll make sure of it."