Pain. Indescribable, unimaginable, excruciating pain. This is all Terry could feel as he woke up for the second time. Everything was too bright. His chest was on fire, blood was pumping too fast. He was dead. His heart failed him, he had failed his parents, he wasn't going to be able to help anyone. Not even himself.

"He's going into Afib!" A voice called out before the world stopped being so bright and started to be consumed by the dark. Implanted memories Began to flash through his head. All of a sudden Terry's chest began to feel empty and he heard something terrifying.

"Shit! He's flatlining

"Is the Defibrillator ready?"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Good! Now hand me those paddles!"

"CLEAR!"

Terry was awoken by a strange smell. It smelled like the ocean all around him. Slowly opening his eyes he was thankfully not blinded by light for once, the only noticeable light was coming from the full moon high above him. He heard waves falling against each other and turned his head to the left to see how far away he was from them. And that was when he saw her.

Standing at the end of a pier was a woman in a seafood green one piece bathing suit that hugged her athletic body well, and she had long blonde hair that hung to the middle of her back.

Terry began to sit up to question her about what was going on when he had a shooting pain in his chest.

"Hnnn." Terry clenched his teeth in pain. Terry choked down the next sound trying to escape his lips in fear of the woman on the pier hearing him. Turning towards her to see if she had a reaction he realized it was too late. She was turned fully facing him now. In another scenario Terry might have been of mind to think about how beautiful she was, but the pain in his chest caused those thoughts to vanish. Of course being the detective he is, he was still able to acknowledge the strange shaped A on her chest. 'Ah a clone.' He thought.

"Hello, are you OK?" The Woman asked while walking towards Terry.

Breathing through his teeth Terry called back "I'm fine. *cough* *cough*"

The woman had her eyebrows pinched together in a worried expression as she finally reached Terry. Getting down on her knees beside him she placed a hand on his upper back and helped set him up in the position he had wanted.

"You don't sound OK… How are you even here?" The woman questioned.

"I said I'm fine." Terry growled out. "And where exactly is "here "? We're obviously not awake together, they wouldn't put two projects together this soon."

The young woman had a surprised expression on her face, as she slightly recoiled. "You're a project too?"

"Project Batman Beyond. And you're I'm guessing some atlantean project perhaps? The symbol on your chest certainly looks atlantan at least." Beyond replied with an inquisitive look.

"I'm project Aquagirl, you were right to think I'm atlantean at the very least." She became a little defensive in her stance and wording. "And you still haven't answered how you're here."

Now that Beyond was in a sitting position he was able to slowly start getting his legs under him. It was considerably less painful this time around now that he was expecting the pain. Terry began to answer her question while attempting to stand up.

"How can I answer when I- Hnnn." Terry began to breathe deeply as the pain in his chest became unbearable, hunched over in pain. Aquagirl was there in an instant holding onto his shoulders to keep him from falling over. With her helping hold him up it alleviated some of the pain in his chest and Terry Believed he could continue speaking. "When I don't even know." Deep breath. "Where here is?"

Aquagirl helped him stand the rest of the way up. "You don't know?" She questioned with confusion in her voice.

"That is what I just said." He said, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice, he was mostly successful. "So now will you tell me where we're at?"

"Umm," Aquagirl bit her lip in thought, and Terry refused to find it endearing. "it's probably better to show you. Bridal style or arm over shoulder?"

"What?" Terry replied incredulously.

"Would you like me to carry you bridal or arm over shoulder?" She said slowing down each word like he was a child.

"I don't-" Terry began to argue before Aquagirl cut him off.

"Don't you dare try and tell me no, it's one or the other, you and I both know you couldn't walk by yourself if you tried."

Terry was dumbstruck, which didn't happen to him all too often. Gathering his wits about him Terry began to ponder how to best answer her question. On one hand he didn't know how well his legs would work so he was leaning more towards Bridal, but on the other hand he wasn't sure his pride could take the hit. Making up his mind he answered begrudgingly.

"... Arm over shoulder." He replied shortly.

Aquagirl smiled slightly and decided to tease him for his answer. "What? Too masculine to be held?"

Terry was luckily able to keep a straight face. "No," he said while thinking 'yes'. "I just want to see if walking may help alleviate some pain."

Chuckling slightly, Aquagirl went to Terry's left side and gently wrapped her right arm over his shoulders. "Ok hero, follow me."

Terry's steps were a little uneven as they made their way to the left hand side of the bridge he saw Aquagirl on earlier. Luckily their height difference wasn't too severe and since he was slouched over in pain anyways they were about the same height. It was slow going, but soon enough they were on the beach next to the bridge

Right in front of the water.

"Come on." Aquagirl said, trying to walk with him towards the water.

"Woah woah, woah!" Terry said, trying to dig his heels in the ground. "Why are you trying to take me into the water? It's going to be freezing!" Terry complained making up excuses, when he really thought about it he didn't know anything about her this could be a trap, hell he didn't even know if she's a project, or just saying so. "You can tell me where we are without taking me into the water." He finally decided on it, while trying to shakily sidestep away from her. Her grip didn't budge. 'Good lord she's strong.' Terry thought with mild annoyance.

"Please Batman Beyond, just trust me. This is the easiest way to show you, you'll be fine, you're with me." Aquagirl pleaded, trying to convince him.

Everything in Terry's heart wished for him to Believe her so badly, but the logical part of his brain refused. Apparently his internal struggle was taking too long for Aquagirl as she finally muttered, "Oh for the love of…" and bent down and quickly snaked her left arm under his knees, and pulled him upwards as if he weighed no more than a mouse. Terry tried to push away but he was too weak as she finally reached the part of the ocean she was attempting to reach and promptly dropped him into the clear ocean blue water. Luckily for him the water was not only warm, but only hip high.

He was fully submerged before a hand grabbed onto his shoulder and carefully pulled him back to the surface. Sputtering out the water that had entered his mouth Terry was admittedly not too happy. Rubbing his eyes to get the sea water out he was preparing a scathing comment, when he was finally able to open his eyes his comment died on his lips. She looked stunning with her pale blonde hair wetted down to her scalp, and her blue eyes that could make the sea jealous. She had an apologetic look on her face as began to speak.

"I'm sorry for doing that…to you I mean. It was just you weren't listening to me, and you were in pain, and you were asking questions, and you weren't letting me help you and that's all I was trying to do, so it just made me a little bit upset I guess……" Aquagirl said finishing her rant, and Terry at least had the right idea to feel sheepish about how he had acted.

"I'm…sorry Aquagirl. Sometimes I just get into my own head and think about the worst of situations."

Terry admitted.

"That's OK. I shouldn't have picked you up." She admitted to him, equally sheepish.

"It's fine…" Terry replied.

Standing in the water the silence became too loud, they were both embarrassed by their earlier actions. Finally braving the waters Terry began to question Aquagirl again.

"Aquagirl, where are we? Why did we have to come into the water for you to explain?"

"Turn around and float on your back please." She supplied.

Terry was just about done with this whole going in circles thing and was about to tell her as much when she said one word that stopped him. "Please." She said with a pleading look.

The previous complaints leaving him he proceeded to turn around and allow his feet to float up towards the surface and he began to float. Aquagirl reached both hands out to hold onto either side of his face and he heard her talk to him.

"We are currently in the mindscape, at least my personal mindscape."

"What is the mindscape, Aquagirl?"

"It's a place in our minds that is unique to ourselves, the genomorph Dubbilex unlocked it for some of us projects, have you met Dubbilex yet?"

"Yes I've met Dubbilex. I think he might have unlocked mine as well, but he never explained it to me."

'I think I may know why that is.' He heard her voice in his head and it took everything in him not to react.

Terry thought he might be wrong about her speaking in his mind but he knew he was rarely incorrect. 'Are you a telepath?' Terry asked, seeing if she could hear his thoughts.

She laughed slightly and it echoed inside his head. 'No, I'm actually an empath, but inside our mindscape we are able to communicate in other ways to whoever is inside it.'

'Ok that makes enough sense I guess, but why did Dubbilex explain this to you and not me?'

'That is because of my atlantean heritage, while in the water I'm gifted certain abilities within it, some are considered magical. My mind can become like water itself. that's one of the reasons I had you follow me into the water.' Aquagirl said with a hint of mischief in her tone.

'So the genomorphs are unable to read your mind while you're gaining power from the water!' Terry exclaimed and then thought about something else Aquagirl said. 'Wait, one of the reasons?'

Laughing lightly Aquagirl began to talk out loud again. "Yes, one reason, keep floating by yourself for a second." Aquagirl let go of Terry's head and began to make her way to the side. Terry watched in fascination as Aquagirl gathered water around her hands and placed it over the painful area over his chest, instant relief came over Terry.

"So I'm guessing this is one of the Abilities atlanteans have in water?

"Maybe. Depends on what happened to your chest."

"I'm not too sure myself actually. I have an idea or two but want to verify first." Terry said. Of course he actually knew what happened, his heart stopped, he died, that's pretty hard to forget. But he felt as if right now wasn't the time to bring it up, and his intuition hasn't failed him yet so he went with it.

"Right." Aquagirl said with a raised eyebrow obviously not believing him. Terry was confused for a second before he remembered his idiocy, she had just said she was an empath. Terry mentally slapped his hand to his forehead. Hoping for the best Terry decided to continue the conversation from before and ignore his blatant lie.

"So you were about to tell me if this was an atlantean trait?" He said getting to right the conversation.

Aquagirl huffed and rolled her eyes, probably annoyed at the subject change Terry guessed. "Yes it is, and before you ask, no it's not healing you, it's simply relieving inflammation. It's kind of like a Hydro massage. It should relieve the tension in your chest." Aquagirl replied.

"Thank you…" Terry said quietly.

"You're welcome." Aquagirl said back. The two stayed in a strangely comfortable silence listening to the sound of the ocean when she finally asked something he had been waiting for. "What do you call yourself?" Aquagirl asked.

"Beyond. Call me Beyond." Terry said. As much as he wanted to tell her his true name he knew he couldn't, she would ask how a project received an actual name, and he didn't want to live through the pain again. So as much as he felt as though he was running away, he gave her the only answer that he wouldn't have to explain.

"I like it. I think it's nice." She said with a sad smile. Terry knew that she could tell how sad his thoughts had become, she said she was an empath after all, but he was very grateful to her for not asking, that was the second time she let him get away with a lie.

Aquagirl released the water over his chest and helped him stand back up. "Sorry I couldn't do more, there wasn't much else to help."

"It's fine, thank you for what you were able to do."

They slowly made their way out of the water. Terry was very grateful as he was able to walk on his own now, granted it could be considered hobbling instead of walking. Getting to the end of the pier they both leaned against the edge of the wooden railing. They both looked up at the moon and basked in its subtle glow.

"Do you have something else you call yourself Aquagirl?" Terry asked.

Aquagirl looked at him in surprise, and honestly he was more surprised than she was, he didn't know why he asked her that. She soon gained solemn expression, and just as Terry was thinking about apologizing she began to speak.

"I don't have a name. It's always made me feel…less I guess. I don't know why but I always think about if I had been born in a normal way, would I have a real name? What would it be? What would my parents name me?" Aquagirl's voice was getting quieter and quieter the longer she talked. Terry reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder silencing her downward tumble as she looked up at him with watery eyes. He saw the pain and hurt in her eyes over not having a name, and he knew he had to be a coward. Having a true name and hiding from it just to stop the pain a little longer was a sad way to live. He knew what he had to do.

"Terry…" he said very quietly.

Aquagirl gained a confused look on her face and was about to question him in what he had meant, when he answered for her.

"My real name is Terry…Terry McGinnis."

Aquagirl's eyes grew in wonderment and Terry braced for the inevitable questions when she did something he never expected, she surprised him. Changing her surprised expression to sadness Aquagirl leaned over and rubbed the pad of her thumb just under his eye, and wiped away a few stray tears that he hadn't noticed before then. She leaned in close and whispered something impossibly strange to him.

"I'm so sorry, Terry."

Blinking frequently and attempting to stop the trail of tears in his eyes, Terry was suddenly struck still. "What do you mean? You didn't do anything wrong, why would you be sorry for?"

"No Terry, I'm sorry for your loss." Terry sucked in a deep breath preparing to defend himself when Aquagirl gently laid a hand over his own and said, "Don't worry, I won't ask about it, I can sense how painful this is for you, but I want you to know I really like your name, it fits you." Aquagirl finished and leaned up to place a small kiss on his cheek. If Terry was in a better state of mind he would have acknowledged the kiss placed upon his cheek, but they both know that was not the purpose for that kiss. It was a kiss solely to communicate an understanding the two have with one another.

Feeling the melancholy of the situation the two young adults turned towards the ocean one more time, as they watched the sun begin to replace the moon. Never moving her eyes from the ocean, Aquagirl began to talk to Terry.

"You know when the sun comes out in my mindscape it means they're trying to wake me up."

"Can't say that surprises me, it makes sense." Terry replied.

"You think it's for you or me? She asked.

"I don't know, let's walk towards it together and see what happens." Terry suggested.

And so they began to make their way towards the sunrise seeing who it was there for, when Terry remembered something.

"You know when they finally do wake us and let us interact we can't know each other, and you definitely can't call me Terry. There would be hell to pay if they found out."

"Yes I know Terry, I have to admit it's very sad because I'm glad to be getting to know you, you're my first real friend. Well beside maybe Dubbilex."

Aquagirl said with a small smile on her face.

"I know Aquagirl, I'm glad to be getting to know you as well."

The closer they got to the sun the more it was obvious it was there for Terry as he started to feel a familiar pull towards it. No one commented on it. Terry had been wondering about something since he first got there deciding to just ask, he went for it.

"Hey Aquagirl? I was wondering earlier and I forgot to ask why is it always nighttime in your mindscape? I mean you're sleeping which makes sense, but I just feel like there's something a little deeper than that."

Aquagirl smirked knowing that the future Batman would like her reply. "I just like the nighttime it's peaceful, I feel more at home in it I guess."

Aquagirl had no idea how right she was as Terry could've sworn his heart skipped a beat watching her smirk and talk about the place he considered home. Terry smirked back and could feel he was about to wake up. Not liking goodbyes anymore Terry decided to go for a more hopeful future.

"See you soon Aquagirl." He said and the two smiled at each other. Soon his cynical humor caught up with the happy moment. "Unless that is, my heart stops again, and it's more permanent this time I guess."

His bad humor instantly made Aquagirl's smile drop as she yelled after him. "Wait your heart stopped?!"

"Oh yeah! Don't worry I'll probably be fine." He said over his shoulder just as he walked into the sun, missing any further reply from the girl at sea.