Raquel gently stroked Kaldur's head. He was currently sleeping quietly in his bed. Having set in motion his plan which he was yet to tell the others about he had been forced to rest by his father and friends. He had taken quite a beating while battling the Light and needed to recover. She gently placed a wet cloth on his head. The young Atlantean had a cut lip and a black eye but otherwise seemed to of come out ok considering he'd fought some of the most powerful villains in existence. He turned slightly and lifted his hand, which she gently held.
"Raquel..."
The rest she didn't understand as it was fish-garble. She'd often wished that she spoke more languages, especially Atlantean. Kaldur had tried to teach her some words but they'd never really sunk in. She made a note to make sure to learn some once they got through all this. She heard a snore in the corner of the room and turned to look at Roy who was sleeping in a chair in the corner of the room with Lian curled up in a ball in his arms.
Black Manta was busy preparing the escape and probably wouldn't be back for a while. She let out a tired yawn and rested her head on Kaldur's chest. She listened to his steady heartbeat quietly, she let out a deep sigh. The Atlantean placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. She wasn't sure if he was awake or simply dreaming but she sure needed a cuddle. She lay down next to him, feeling safe in his warm and muscular arms and drifted off into a deep sleep.
/
"Hey..."
Rocket opened her eyes as she heard Kaldur's soft voice waking her up. She looked into his sea eyes and found a familiar warmth inside of them. It was if the teenage Atlantean and fully returned to her and he'd never turned to the Light. Would he stay? She hoped with all of her heart that he would, she couldn't bare to see him change again. They spent a few moments looking into each other's eyes.
"How are you feeling?" Asked Rocket
"A lot better. Thank you..." Kaldur explained "My father just came, his men have left on the submarine and soon we should be able to put our escape plan into effect."
"I won't be sorry, once we're out of here."
"We shall be soon enough, you have my word..."
"Kaldur, the Light what were they doing to me and the kid?"
Kaldur seemed to hesitate somewhat and looked away from Raquel. She realised that he didn't want to tell her. She let out a soft sigh and lifted his head, so that he looked her in the eyes. She gave him a warm smile.
"Kal... I need to know..." She told him
"The Light knew about us." He reluctantly let out "They had been trying to create a new soldier as part of the process they injected you with chemicals to effect our child, these 'enhancements' killed many others but not you or your child because..."
"There's some Atlantean blood in it..." Raquel realised, Kaldur nodded
"They would have taken the child from you as soon as it was born to train it to become their new warrior." He let out a deep sigh "I am sorry I was not here to protect you or the child..."
"Hush now... We can't do anything about it... You and I will just have to make sure this kid doesn't see the Light and stays to the shadows..."
Kaldur smiled and nodded. She let him gently place a hand where their baby currently was. That was when she felt it, it felt like something moving inside of her. At first, she passed it off as a side effect of whatever they had been doing to her but then her eyes widened as she realised what it was, she looked to Kaldur with a smile. He looked back up at her smiling also.
"Did you-?"
"Yes... I felt it..."
"First kick..." Said Raquel
"Indeed..."
"Do you think, this kid's gonna have super strength? Cause that might hurt."
"Only time will tell..."
Kaldur chucked and smiled proudly. She should of told him earlier, it was clear that he wanted to be a father. He had brightened up considerably, was laughing and smiling. He already had a certain new form of pride about him, he was proud that he was going to have a decendant and proud of the woman that he loved so much for putting up with all of his faults. Raquel to was proud but she knew there was still a long way to go before junior walked amongst them.
The door opened. Kaldur got up tiredly and sat up to look his father in the face behind him were four of Black Manta's men. Raquel looked on puzzled hadn't Kaldur told her a few moments that there were no more of his father's soldiers inside the Light's base or perhaps she had misunderstood. One of the soldiers approached Roy and Lian and gently woke up the sleeping archer and child. Roy looked slightly startled.
"We're leaving in a few minutes..." Said Black Manta
"Good..." Said Kaldur
"Does the armour fit?" He asked one of the soldiers
"I'd rather be wearing my old costume but this works for me..." Replied the soldier
"I know that voice..." Said Raquel
She narrowed her eyes trying to remember who it was. She was kicking herself for not remembering as she knew it was a voice that she should never forget... The soldier in question turned to face her and removed his helmet. She gasped as she recognised who it was. Kaldur certainly was full of surprises!
Ginger hair, green eyes, freckles... Other than a size boost Wally West hadn't changed that much. The soldier to his right removed her helmet to reveal Artemis, she smiled warmly at Rocket. The soldier facing Lian and Roy took her helmet off and gave them a grin comparable to that of the Cheshire cat.
"Jade!" Yelled Roy surprised
He gave the assassin a warm hug, soon followed up by Lian. Raquel looked at the assembled crowd and glanced around in surprise. The last soldier removed his helmet to reveal a young African-American with messy hair, brown eyes and a warm smile. Rocket hadn't seen him in a while but she recognised this guy as well but what was he doing here.
"Virigil what are you doing here?" Asked Rocket
"I could ask you the same question! All I know is I got a phone call from fish-sticks over here saying you were in trouble and needed help." Explained Static "Next thing I know, his dad's getting us all to dress up as tanks!"
"It is for your own protection!" Said Kaldur "You would not be able to walk around freely within the base as Artemis, Kid Flash and Static."
"Why us?" Asked Artemis "Why not get the league? Or team?"
"Because you are not members of either, they will not be expecting you... Besides the league and team will-"
Kaldur was cut off by the lights suddenly cutting off and red beeping ones appearing in their place. A siren was sounded almost deafening those present. The Atlantean rushed outside as dragged in two Black Manta's soldier suits. He handed one to Roy and the other to Raquel. What was going on? The others quickly put their helmets back on.
"Put the armour on as quickly as possible!" Ordered Kaldur, they began putting on the various parts
"Care to tell us what's going on?" Asked Wally
"The League and the team received an anonymous tip off of the location of the Light's main base approximately four hours ago. They are currently attacking."
"And we are dressing as the bad guys because?" Artemis sounded almost annoyed
"Because in a toss up between being attacked by the League or the Light..." Roy was already in his suit and put his helmet on "I'd choose the League..."
"Our main priority should be getting to the Manta flyer and getting away from here. I believe the league should be able to handle themselves." Said Black Manta senior putting on his helmet in turn "Boy here is your weapon!"
He handed Roy his bow. Kaldur approached his helmet and picked it up underarm. He turned back to Rocket who put her helmet on. She'd never worn a helmet before and spent a few moments trying to get used to seeing through the tainted glass. Everyone else seemed to be looking at her however least of all Kaldur'ahm. Truth be told she was slightly scarred but the idea of getting out of the Light's main base made her forget about that.
"I will by your side..." Assured Kaldur
"What do we do if people start shooting at us?" Asked Wally
"If there are few; we run past them and try to ignore them..." Said Kaldur contemplating his helmet
"And if there are a lot?" Asked Jade
"Then we will fight them..." Declared Kaldur putting on his helmet in turn
"Uh guys what about Lian?"
Kaldur turned around, the red eyes of his helmet almost scarred Rocket. They hadn't thought about what they were going to do with the little girl... As everyone seemed to think for a moment Roy suddenly came up with an idea.
/
A few moments later, the makeshift gang were running through the corridors. Roy was ûshing along a metal crave which contained Lian. It was the only thing they'd been able to think of to hide her. There must have been an explosion somewhere in the base as everything shook. The heroes in disguise stumbled around struggling to stay standing up. Raquel was now unsure who was who, she guessed that the tallest of the Manta men was Roy but after that she wasn't too sure who was in which armour.
She wasn't even all that sure which one was Kaldur and which one was Black Manta. Were it not for the fact that the slightly taller one would occasionally put a hand on her shoulder or give her some words of comfort she would be none the wiser. They continued their run down the corridor before their route was suddenly blocked by some men with Intergang stolen technology.
They looked at Black Manta and ran past ignoring them. Rocket breathed a sigh of relief, they might actually be able to make it out of this in one piece... Then out of nowhere; she was knocked off of her feet. She hit the floor with a thump and saw a red laser beam fly just over where her head had been only a second before. She looked up. One of the Black Manta's was on the floor with Nightwing pinning him down. Roy was on the ground as well. Batgirl and another of the desguised heroes were locked in combat. Batman was busy trying to attack Kaldur.
She realised the problem. All though the simple soldiers of the Light left them alone because they looked like allies. They looked like enemies to the League and team... She saw Kaldur generate a laser pulse aimed at Batman... If she didn't do something both sides where going to tare each other apart!