Scene 37 - Another Loss
Brianna sifted through her papers and came across a term that was somewhat familiar to her. She rolled her chair over to the bookshelf to pick up the book that contained the glossary of psychology nomenclatures but all she reached for was thin air. Oh. She thought to herself and remembered that M'gann borrowed her textbook for her college class and Brianna was supposed to have collected it when she was at the Cave for a previous mission. That mission ran late that night and the brunette rapidly showered before heading back home via Zeta tube as she had work in the morning.
Since it was her off day, she decided to make a trip to Mount Justice to collect her book. Changing into her casual clothes and donning a sweater, she brisk walked over to an abandoned phone booth a few blocks away to Zeta to the cave. Looking around to make sure she was alone, the brunette pushed the folding doors aside and stepped into the booth as the computer read her designation and she announced the location she desired. The platform beamed her away.
"Okay, Gamma Squad listen." Brianna heard as she entered the cave.
"Listen to wha- Artemis!" Ember laid eyes on the blonde and flew up to her to envelope the girl with a big hug, "It's been so long!"
The archer smiled, "Likewise."
Nightwing gave a small cough, "Pardon me Bri, but I have to give the squad a briefing."
The brunette looked at him enthusiastically, "Count me in. It seems you only have one flier in this squad and the more hands to help, the better."
Dick glanced at her briefly, "Your suit-" Brianna interrupted and replied, "I have a spare in my locker. I can suit up after this."
Nightwing seemed like he was hesitating and after a few brief seconds, he finally nodded to give her an affirmative. He then turned back to the screen, "The mission is Cape Canaveral, covert op to safeguard the first Earth-Mars com-sat. There are people out there who don't even like the idea of aliens and will do anything to scrub this launch."
Out of the corner of her eye, Brianna noticed M'gann cringing. "But that's why I came back, because not all of us feel that way," Artemis said as she laid a reassuring hand on the Martian's shoulder.
"Me too," Ember joined in as well and placed her hand on her alien friend's back.
"So why are you going?" Mal asked and Nightwing grinned before raising his arm and tugging his glove, "Let's just say that after running this Team for a year, I'm peckish for a little action."
Then he waved his arm aside, "Briefing's over. Good luck, everyone." Brianna immediately flew over to her locker to get her suit before meeting the squad in the bio-ship.
The journey was short and Artemis was using the ship's bathroom as she and Nightwing were dropped off first so the brunette lounged in her chair with her duffel bag containing her suit on her lap. Bidding her non-superpowered friends a farewell, it was La'gaan's turn to say goodbye as he and M'gann briefly played tonsil hockey.
Brianna rolled her eyes and interrupted, "The press conference is starting soon, Miss Martian."
The alien pulled away from her boyfriend, "Right. See you later, La'gaan." The Atlantean waved and dropped into the ocean through the hole at the bottom of the ship.
"Sorry to delay your outfit change, Ember, but you need to be at the pilot's seat just in case." Superboy said and the girl nodded as she sat at the controls while both of her teammates got into their disguises and went their way… Hopefully the press conference won't be too long of a wait but she knew Godfrey would be there to kick up some fuss. She sighed and sunk into the chair as she mentally counted down to her friends return.
Finally, after twenty minutes or so, a hole opened up at the bottom of the bio-ship and the half-Kryptonian and Martian returned.
"Just give me a few more moments, Bri. I need to remove this monkey suit ASAP," Conner said and he rushed to the bathroom. In less than a minute, he was out.
"You can go suit up now, Ember. I'll take over from here," M'gann said and the brunette stood up to stretch her legs, "Finally."
Slamming the door close, Brianna tugged off her jeans and blouse. She could hear M'gann and Conner talking outside in the cockpit but she couldn't make out what they were saying and judging by their tone of voice, it wasn't pretty. Brianna sighed and decided to take her own sweet time to suit up while giving them some privacy. The telepathic link "cracked" to life as Lagoon Boy requested to be up in the bio-ship with Miss Martian while Nightwing chided him and told him to stay in the water where he was needed. Ember shook her head, that Atlantean was way too possessive of M'gann. Splashing some water on her face and stowing her clothes into a bag, she waited by the door. Silence greeted her and seeing that the conversation was done, she stepped out to head back to her seat and stowed her belongings under it.
Whoa, heads up minnows, we've got bad guys. Black Manta's troopers, working some kind of platform beneath the surface just off shore. I'm taking 'em down. The Atlantean's voice rang and Nightwing replied. Delay that, wait for back up.
Superboy stood up and walked to the back of the ship. I'll scrounge a re-breather from the cargo hold and help the rookie out. Brianna turned her head towards the ocean and tried to look for any underwater activity.
La'gaan's voice replied angrily. Rookie? Neptune's Beard, I don't need any help from the Boy of Steel!
Dick retorted firmly. Lagoon Boy! Stand down! It was a war of words as Lagoon Boy defied his orders. Sorry, you're breaking up. Krcck. Krcck.
Ember frowned and continued to look at the water near the shore. There is no static on a psychic link! Nightwing raised his voice and the brunette finally spotted a group of manta troopers walking out of the water.
Brianna narrowed her eyes suspiciously and muttered to herself, "Kaldur…"
Superboy, you have that re-breather? Dick asked.
Negative. La'gaan didn't re-stock. Conner said telepathically as stormed out of the hold irritably before Nightwing issued more orders. Then take the helm. Miss Martian, gill up and help Lagoon Boy. Superboy and Ember, we need cover fire down here.
Acknowledged. Bio-ship re-configured for manual flight. There was a flurry of activity as M'gann left her seat and Superboy replaced the Martian. Ember looked at the red-head as the alien's cape disappeared and gills formed on her neck. A hole appeared at the bottom of the floor of the bio-ship and Miss Martian jumped into the water. La'gaan, I'm on my way.
Ember gently asked the ship to open a hole for her on the roof and the bio-ship responded, giving her a little platform to stand on. Activating her stealth mode, she hooked herself to the platform and began to send streams of fiery knives to the troopers below. It took a lot of concentration to aim properly from their height and to add to that, she had to plant her feet firmly to the ship as Conner turned the vehicle this way and that to fire lasers on the beach.
That's our cue! Artemis said excitedly before Nightwing scolded her, I know you're rusty but are you trying to get yourself killed?!
The archer replied shortly after. We're on the wrong side of this wall. Dick looked up at the bio-ship and gave out an order. Superboy, Ember.
Simultaneously, both Brianna and Conner replied. On it. At that moment, a missile flew out of the water and was intercepted by the bio-ship's laser. Ember continued to distract the enemy, alternating between projectiles and pure literal firepower.
Over the roar of the rushing wind, the brunette was able to hear alarm bells coming from the launch pad. We're really on the wrong side of this wall. Artemis said nervously as the Team's pyro replied. We're doing the best we can, just hang on!
Another missile soared through the air and once more, Conner shot it down and it exploded brightly above the launch pad. Taking the chance, Superboy brought the ship down just a bit and Ember rained more fire above the trooper's heads, glaring them.
The trooper's helmets! Designed to enhance vision underwater, right? Superboy and Ember, this will get a little bright. As the blonde archer finished her sentence, Brianna covered her eyes just in time to see a flare arrow shot into the sky and instantly lighting up the area around them.
Move! Nightwing yelled and Ember could see both figures climbing over the wall and into enemy territory.
Two missiles flew straight for the com-sat and one after another, they were destroyed by laser and fire. It was a never-ending dance between missiles and troopers. Conner kept moving the bio-ship around rapidly, much to Brianna's displeasure but she did not have the luxury of comfort in this fight and she had to make do with what they had.
They've taken La'gaan! I'm going after him. Miss Martian was heard crying out and Superboy responded. Priority is the missiles.
Ember added on after him. Too many to count… While she was done destroying one missile, another one flew up and hit the crane above the launch site.
They're really too many! Not keeping up. Conner said anxiously.
Just then, a huge tidal wave rolled across the beach and Brianna saw her friends were outnumbered. I'm joining the ground crew, Conner. Take care of those missiles! She disengaged from the platform and hurtled herself down to the beach, taking out a couple of troopers with her knives in mid-flight. Ember quickly re-filled her gauntlet with more knives from her utility belt and finally landed on the beach by kicking a trooper in the head. A few more surrounded her and she took time to dispatch them one by one. She was aware Kaldur'ahm was on the beach too and she willed herself not to turn around as she distracted herself by fighting the troopers.
A deafening roar was heard and smoke filled the air but Brianna was still preoccupied taking the bad guys down. She vaguely listened to Kaldur saying, "The mission might yet succeed." His words were followed by a metallic noise disengaging and something being propelled. There was the twang of a bow string and Brianna whipped her head around briefly to see an arrow colliding with a mini missile as the com-sat kept heading upwards into orbit. She turned her head back just in time to dodge a knife swinging towards her face and she practically limbo rocked across the sand. The brunette stood up and grunted angrily as she charged towards the trooper.
"Artemis behind you!" Nightwing cried out but it was too late as Brianna heard the archer groan in surprise and Brianna's ex softly whispered, "Welcome back." The pyro kicked the trooper in the groin and turned her head around to witness Artemis gasping and stumbling backwards with hands on her chest as Nightwing rushed to the archer's side, "Artemis!"
Furious, Ember flew straight towards the murderer. "Kaldur'ahm, you bastard!" She cried out and was about to land a punch on him before she was pushed back by a sudden rush of water and she was headed towards the wall of the launch pad. The poor brunette's head hit the wall harshly.
"You forget that I'm in my element," Kaldur said coldly as Brianna moaned in pain from the concussion. She could see the troopers that were struck cold earlier standing up before their leader said, "Move out, the mission is a failure."
The air boomed and thundered loudly behind her and judging by the surprised look on Kaldur'ahm's face, she guessed the com-sat exploded. The headache was slowly dulling to a more manageable throb in her temples and she struggled to stand up.
"We are done here." Brianna could hear him give out one last order and she attempted to stumble after him and his troopers. She saw Kaldur looking back at her for a split second with a somewhat concerned expression before he turned back and dived into the water.
Stabilizing herself by holding her head and confused on what just happened, she turned her attention towards Dick who was giving Artemis CPR while Superboy landed on the beach with a thump and Miss Martian leapt out of the sea without La'gaan and transformed back to a humanoid shape. All three of them stood behind Nightwing as he desperately counted.
"I… I don't hear her heartbeat," Conner said with disbelief.
"Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty," Dick finished the compression cycle and gave Artemis breathes of life three times while tilting his ear close to the blonde's nose to listen to any sounds of respiration. He sat on the sand in a defeated pose, "She's dead." They were all shell shocked and stunned to silence.
Nightwing gingerly carried Artemis's corpse to the morgue and instructed them to head back to the cave for further instructions as he had to go tell Wally about her demise. The girls on the bio-ship sniffed and nodded as they said goodbye to their beloved archer one last time.
It was a solemn return to the cave and when news of Artemis's death got out, more people shuffled into Mount Justice as they mourned and grieved. Brianna stood beside Conner and wiped away the hot tears that streamed down her cheeks. The pain from losing another friend slowly grew into boiling hatred for Kaldur'ahm. Ember swore revenge on the blonde archer's life and promised herself that the next time she met the Atlantean again, she would show no mercy.
Mal and Karen approached Superboy and the half-Kryptonian whispered, "We'll find La'gaan, and Aqualad."
The brunette bit her lip and said, "I will not hold back on our next encounter."
Malcolm looked at Brianna with concern and responded to Conner, "No doubt. Where's Nightwing? He should be here."
Conner sighed, "He went to tell Wally." The couple in front of Superboy were struck silent and looked to the floor sadly.
Kaldur'ahm looked behind him cautiously to make sure he wasn't followed and deliberately made dozens of detours before finally reaching the warehouse at Bludhaven. He pushed open the side door with a loud creak and heard a voice calling out, "Wally?"
The blonde Atlantean stepped out from behind the crates to greet Nightwing, "No." The still silence was eerie and it was thankfully interrupted by footsteps behind him. He casually looked back to see Wally West and he was followed by a lighter set of footsteps. A feminine figure hooded in a thick blue jacket stood beside the red-head and pulled the hood down, revealing a healthy-looking Artemis.
There was a short flashback in Kaldur's mind as he remembered diverting the path of his water sword around Artemis's torso to simulate a lethal stabbing and he saw her swallow a "Juliet" pill to stop her heartbeat as he whispered his "last words" to her.
The memories ended there and he started the meeting, "I take it our ruse was successful?"
Dick nodded, "Almost too successful. The Team and the League are in mourning. They may never forgive us."
The Atlantean looked around the small group anxiously, "And still, only we four know the secret?"
Nightwing nodded once more, "The secret and the other; that you've been under deep cover within Black Manta's organization since leaving the Team. How it go on that end?"
A small smile of satisfaction graced Kaldur's lips, "Successful as well; I've proven my loyalty to my biological father. He's moving me up the ladder, bringing me closer to the Light and their unknown Partner."
The acrobat sighed, "Not without cost, Kaldur. The com-sat wasn't supposed to be destroyed and La'gaan definitely wasn't supposed to be captured."
Disheartened, the Atlantean looked away to the side, "It was the only way to save his life and maintain my cover."
Dick placed a reassuring hand on Kaldur's shoulder, "I'm not blaming you. I know you've been forced to make impossible decisions. Like choosing between saving the Kroloteans on Malina Island-"
Kaldur interrupted and finished his friend's sentence, "-Or saving Brianna and my friends. And I will find a way to help La'gaan, you have my word."
Artemis stepped up and asked, "So what now?" Her hand was clasped tightly with Wally's. Nightwing responded by taking a yellow jeweled necklace from his pocket and walked forward to fasten it on Artemis's neck.
"Ugh dude, why are you giving bling to my dead girlfriend?" The speedster asked defensively while Dick explained, "Glamour charm. Courtesy of Zatanna. Physio-morphic spell, I think. She said it backwards."
The red-head then changed positions by standing beside Dick and looking at Artemis. "Wow. You look exactly the same."
"To the four of us, and only us. But to anyone else, you're an entirely different person," Dick replied and Artemis enquired, "The more impressive trick is how you got something so specific from Zatanna without revealing who or what it was for".
The billionaire playboy's adopted son smirked, "We have a history."
Wally promptly elbowed his friend in the ribs, "You dog."
The device in Kaldur's hand beeped and he glanced at it, revealing that the Manta flyer was close and he had no choice but to end the meeting, "It is time."
Artemis nodded as both she and Wally stepped into each other's arms to bid farewell with a hug and kiss. Both single lads looked away while Kaldur whispered to Dick, "I trust that you will continue to take care of her?" His best friend nodded in reply before they were interrupted by Artemis saying, "What could go wrong?" They saw her laying a hand on the speedster's cheek affectionately.
Wally chuckled, "Don't say that." Dick placed a hand on Wally's shoulder and the speedster reluctantly let Artemis go. Both groups then parted ways and Kaldur walked quietly to the end of the docks, a little affected by the couple's goodbye and he really wished he could turn back time to tell Brianna the truth so that she would not hate him right now. He sighed and noticed Artemis joining him as the manta flyer rose above the water.
Hope this plan goes smoothly. Kaldur'ahm thought to himself as they entered the flyer and the vehicle begun to submerge soon after.
Author's Note: Season 2 episode covered in this chapter, "Depths". Events in the previous episode, "Bloodlines", is not mentioned like what I stated in the previous chapter but Bart will have brief cameos here and there in this story.
Sorry for this long chapter but the mission took up the whole episode so I had to write all of it.
Looks like Nightwing didn't plan for Brianna to join this mission, eh? Poor girl, one blow after the other.
To Dustfinger's cheering section: Thanks!
To Guest 1: I've been waiting for someone to give La'gaan a piece of their mind and I was a little disappointed they didn't do it in the show so I decided to take my own spin on it. Glad you liked it. =)
To Molly Grace 16: I know, I enjoyed it too.
To Guest 2: Thank you for commenting and no offense taken. :)
To Eszra: Oh the dates are indeed very confusing and sometimes I just gloss over the month/year stuff happens. You can be general about the timeline like saying it's spring/summer of Year X. Sounds like an interesting story and I'm sure you'll do well. Just start off small, plan a little bit at a time and don't stress yourself out.