Not Daddy's Little Girl…Anymore
By: Malaizjan De Jesus
Author's Notes: The next fic up is #16 in the series by me and Reina Grayson. The heroes are stuck at Watchtower while some heroes have been captured. The LOD is winning and Dana knows Terry's secret-huh? Yeah folks, reality has changed, and the heroes are in a race to learn what was changed before more heroes vanish. But even in this crisis, there is love in the air. What will Nightwing do when he finds out about his little girl and niece? Read to find out!
Chapter 2
At Watchtower's main computer room…
Beta, Alpha and Omega Squad branches were watching split screens as the police and military presence try to take down the Slade Bots with little to no success. Some countries were holding their own, but just barely.
Dick cleared his throat. "Listen up team. The world is falling and I need to be honest here…if we go down there, the Legion of Doom may be waiting for us. To attack so many cities at once means they're trying to spread us thin. I'm not willing to send you all down there just to get ambushed."
Rave listened to her father carefully. He was leaving so much out. "Dad, what aren't you telling us?" Meygan asked.
Static jumped in. "Captain Marvel is dead. Looks like magic was involved. We lost radio with Arsenal. I just saw Ice get captured trying to protect her town. That's why we haven't sent any help to Earth."
"It's your choice," Tigress told them. "Some of us can't go due to being pregnant but others can. IF you do this, take them down hard and as fast as you can."
Nightwing II nodded. "Okay team. There's no shame to backing out. This is going to be our toughest fight. We have to be on top of our game if we do this."
"If this is an ambush meant for any of us, get out of there," Rave added.
"And adult or two will accompany each team, except Omega Squad. No heroics, you two," Gear added. "If you decide to go."
The entire team was in a straight line, so whoever wanted to go could step forward. Rave and Archeron stepped forward together. They always worked on missions alone. Why would this time be any different?
"Rave, Archeron; you two are in Paris. The French Military need help securing its borders. They're taking deep hits though. Suit up and go," said Dick to the pair.
Omega Squad ran off.
Luna and Andrew stepped forward. After a moment, so did Molly.
Dick was taken back by that. His youngest wasn't a fighter. She was the healer of the team. "OK. Miracle, Eclipse and Airhawk are with me. Prince Wall of Vlatava called for help securing one part of their borders. Gear, assign the other teams. We're going now."
As soon as both teams had left Watchtower…
"Gear of Watchtower here. Go," Richie said.
"This is Prince Mierco of Atlantis. We request the assistance of Kaldur'ahm," said the young man on the screen.
"Where is King Orin?" Gear asked.
"Atlantis was under attack some hours ago. Black Manta and an army of underwater Slade Bots. My father was injured. He asked me to call for him. La'gaan has perished. Our forces have been cut to 43%. Please, I must speak to Kaldur'ahm." The young prince was trying to stay calm but he was terrified.
"I am here, Prince Mierco." Kaldur showed up in front of the screen, giving the proper greeting to the young prince. Orin was fuming off screen.
"My father requested your presence," the Prince said.
"I am sorry but I am exiled," Kaldur said quietly, as if saying those words burned him. "I cannot help."
"I am acting leader. I can undo the exile. Please, we need your help."
Kaldur was considering it.
But Orin could not stand it one moment longer. He marched over to stand next to his father. By the look on Mierco's face, he was shocked to see him. "It wouldn't help his exile! You can't undo it, prince! Only your father can undo the exile and he refused! So no, he's not helping any of you! When I trained there, I heard how the people of Atlantis talked of my father! I refused to let him get hurt by those ungrateful-!" Orin bit his lip because whatever he was going to say was going to be bad.
"ORIN!" Kaldur reprimanded verbally.
"Orin? I thought your name was Markot'azm," said the prince.
"I lied so I could train with Queen Mera."
Oh Mierco was furious! But he reigned in his temper. "It is true. Only my father can truly lift Kaldur'ahm's exile. But until he awakens, I can request your presence." Prince Mierco watched as Kaldur lowered his eyes.
"I cannot return. It is Atlantean Law." Kaldur yearned for home. But he knew the laws as well as the young prince.
"Mierco, let me." The prince stepped aside as Queen Mera came into view. "It's been too long, Kaldur'ahm. Your son is right. He has heard the words of my people. Those words, however, do no reflect everyone's opinion of you. Ως βασίλισσα της Ατλαντίδας, Kaldur'ahm έχει ακούσει από επιτραπεί να επιστρέψει στο Atlantis ... ως πρωταθλητής της (As Queen of Atlantis, Kaldur'ahm is hear by allowed to return to Atlantis…as its champion.)"
Kaldur's head snapped up. He couldn't believe it. He was no longer exiled. Tears came to his eyes. "I…I can…return?"
"I can't believe it," Conner commented.
"No tricks?" Orin'ahm said, eyeing the pair.
"As King Orin's wife, I can undo any law in his absence. IT was long overdue, Orin'ahm."
"You…knew?" Orin asked.
"I did. My husband can be stubborn in such matter, Orin. He has done little to deter negative talk of your father. And you were my greatest student. Please return to Atlantis with your father. Queen Mera out." The screen went black.
Orin and Areina looked at each other. Orin was so happy that he hugged Areina first. "We're going to Atlantis!"
"Orin...Areina cannot breathe underwater…" Kaldur reminded his son.
"Oh." He let go of Areina.
"That's ok. You can tell me all about it when you get back." Areina tried not to sound disappointed but she knew she did.
"Now I understand this was sent." Serenity pulled a small wood-looking chest from her dress pocket. She walked over to Red Bird and gave it to her.
Areina looked at the box her aunt gave her. She opened it. A hologram of Merlin came from the box. "Merlin?"
"What did Grandpa Merlin send?" Mathen asked.
"Am I hearing this right?" Dana asked. "Merlin as in KING Arthur?"
"Yeah," Terry told her.
"Areina, mae hyn yn fy rhodd i chi…"
Areina looked bewildered.
"Forgive this old man, young fire master. Areina, this is my gift to you…if you ever wish to visit Atlantis, wear this charm." The hologram then burst into sparkles of light.
Inside the box was a small cockle shell on a leather necklace. With great care, Areina pulled it out. "It's beautiful." She put it on around her neck.
It glowed, then pulsed as it sunk into her skin.
Areina saw her glow, then she saw Orin's expression. "What?"
"You got gills," Komos said, staring at her like she grew a tail.
Areina reached up and felt her neck.
She had gills.
Real gills, just like Orin. "I can go with you!" Then she realized that she had to ask first. She turned to Kaldur.
Kaldur had no defense for that infamous "Greyson Pout." He laughed. "Yes, you may come."
"Good. Kaldur, Orin and Areina will head to Atlantis. And Iceland just sent a call for aid. Kevin, take Siren and Komos."
"Fine."
"What about Australia?" Tim asked.
"Everyone else heads here," Billy got up and put his visor on.
A distress call came in. Billy never had a chance to answer it.
"This is Cyborg! We are in trouble in Jump City! These bots are after Terra! She's awake! And we can't hold them off much longer!"
"Billy, Virge, with me," said Mathen. "Everyone else not assigned a mission will go to Australia."
In Gotham City…
They were cornered.
Barbara and Sam were going through a two-story building when they got caught. Being the cop at heart, Barb kept Sam behind her, gun ready. 9 bullets left. And 50 Slade Bots. The math wasn't good.
"Surrender in the name of Deathstroke and the Legion of Doom," said the lead bot.
Barb didn't know if they would survive; if they did it was going to take a miracle. That's when something happened. Three hand grenades landed in the back of the horde of Slade Bots and blew up about 20 of them. That still left 30 but as those bots turned, two more grenades exploded so the number was down to 15.
15, Barb knew, was a number she could handle. Even in her old age.
With 15 bots left, a figure was jumping from one bot to the other, and either pulled off something or shot off the robots heads. When the last one went down, that's when Commissioner of Gotham saw her savior, but it wasn't who she hoped it was.
IN fact, it was the LAST person she expected.
"Hold it right there, Red Hood," Barbara said.
"Don't worry, Batty. I'm on your side," Red Hood said, turning around to see the pair. Having your back on the former Bat Girl while she had a gun wasn't a wise career move.
"I said stop," Barbara ordered, her voice more threatening. When the killer (in her mind) didn't stop, she started firing, using six of her nine bullets. All missed him as he dodged, but one managed to hit its mark right in his chest.
Jason put his hand on the spot that the bullet hit, but it was a practice that he wore his Kevlar vest. He then reached up to the sides of his helmet to remove it, showing his face and a domino mask. "Let's get you two out of here," he said and with that he reached up to his ear where his comm link was. He continued to watch the Commissioner since he knew she had 3 bullets left.
"What's going on? Where are we going? Who are you?" Sam asked. He knew that his wife and this Red Hood knew each other.
"I'll answer your questions once we're safe," Jason told the DA of Gotham. "Gear, need a Boom Tube."
"No, I want to know now! And why did he call you 'batty'?" Sam asked, turning to his wife.
"Look, we stay here any longer and we'll be killed for sure. I don't think Gotham can lose any of its Bats right now, even a former one. Oh, and don't worry Barb, I'm on your side now, thanks to a couple of really powerful girls," Jason said, not wanting to reveal it all at this point. Not when he knew the Slade Bots were most likely closing in on their location.
Just then, a Boom Tube opened and Jason headed for it, but Barbara and Sam were still wary of going anywhere with the known killer.
Barbara sighed. "Rave and Miracle." She looked to her husband who was very confused. Damn Jason for letting that slip. "Sam, we need to follow him. The JLU must have answers and I know you want those."
Sam just nodded. He did want answers. But he wanted to know what his wife's connection was to this Red Hood.
***How will Barb live this down. Red Hood saving her and her husband? Will the fireworks begin on Watchtower? Stay tuned! ***