MARCH 27

Several days had passed, and I had attempted to make my way back to the hanger. When I woke up, I attempted to make my way back to the hanger. Key word…attempted. The structure of the War World must change at will, moving walls to keep intruders trapped. I had gotten confused initially taking the opposite direction back and kept ending on what appeared to be the same corridor. I began marking the walls and was proved right when ended up passing by my own markings.

Then I came in contact with Reach soldiers. They chased me for several minutes leading me to a huge room. I found shelter and got my gun ready. I turned around and shot three times in succession taking out three of the Reach soldiers. I ducked down again and waited for a paused in their advance when all of the sudden I hear another group come.

"Arsenal to team come in. Code Red," I heard a voice say. I could just barely make out what was said over all the shooting. I watched him over the edge as he threw a grenade at the group after him, taking out all of them. I watched as he shot his grappling gun at a walkway over head at least two stories high. I got up and took out the rest of my guards.

"Arsenal!" I shouted. I jumped out of my shelter and made my way to the small group that had recovered from the grenade. I shot my gun and took them out from behind. Arsenal looked down from overhead and waved with his arm.

"Come on, we don't have much time before more appear!" he yelled down to me.

I formed a metal disc and jumped on it and raised me to where he was. "Glad to see I found you," I said then I punched him in the arm. "What the hell were you thinking? Opening the hatch to space! I should shoot you for being so stupid." He just silently glared at me. "Oh please, that doesn't scare me, now let's go I hear footsteps."

May 30th

Days had passed. We stayed hidden when I head footsteps and wandered around when the coast was clear. My rationed water was on its last stretch and my food was finished about two days ago. We wandered around for hours today and I felt like we were going in circles…all the hallways looked the same and at this point I didn't have any sense of direction. We were both quiet, we had nothing to say and frankly we both knew what the objectives were. Find the team. Find communications. Find a new shelter. Not particularly in that order. We felt we had made a milestone, finally. We hit a turn and took a right and found a podium that had a keyboard on top. It was all in alien.

Arsenal kept trying different sequences of keystrokes. "Come on, come on, you dumb machine," he said after another sound clearly informing us that we were wrong. "Just give us an outside line to the watchtower, the warehouse, anywhere."

"Arsenal calm down before—" My statement was cut short by him bringing his arms down onto the display, damaging it. I pursed my lips and let out a huff. "Before that happens," I said exasperated, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he said as he stared down at his hand ruefully…..obviously not fine.

Before I could say anything a couple of doors ahead of us, down the corridor, slide open revealing two Reach solders. "Great with us basically out of ammo." We both ducked behind the podium as they began shooting at us. A shot ricocheted off of the podium, "Ha, that's what you get," Arsenal said towards the machine. It let out a distressed noise as it began to lower down into the ground. "Now you are just being petty."

"We need to get out of here," I said urgently trying to see a way out.

"Working on it," Arsenal said as he let out a shot. I turned around to see it was a direct hit taking out one of the guards and knocking him into his companion. "That was my last shot."

"Well, now the odds work in our favor," I said and we simultaneously ran towards the lone guard. We jumped out of the way of his shots and Arsenal took him out with a swift kick to the jaw.

"You'll never pod me again," Arsenal yelled down at his figure. "Never!" he walked away and grabbed the handle of the weapon.

I followed and grabbed the other guard's weapon and followed. "Arsenal."

He didn't answer and just kept walking. I let out a huff of air and continued to follow. We wandered around again for a much shorter time period until we finally found another one of those stations. I broke into the side with a Swiss army knife I keep in my utility belt and dug through and found the power cord. I detached it and with Arsenal's help we were able to connect it to his arm to charge it.

"Raw power, now we're talking the same language," Arsenal said with a smirk as he detached himself from the machine. I smiled and went to respond only to be cut off by the sounds of weapons firing off and shouting.

We ran down the corridor and hid in the shadows as we looked down onto the lower level. My eyes widened in shock when I saw who the Reach soldiers were going after. "How in the hell did they get up here?" I asked myself astonished.

"Aren't those the Reach runaways?" Arsenal asked. "The ones that have been missing for like a month?"

"Not so much missing, more like as kept in secret," I told him honestly, knowing he wasn't going to tell anyone, he doesn't care enough to. "I've been keeping an eye on them helping them with their powers. They have gotten better."

"Still bares the question of how they were able to get here," Arsenal stated, watching the group below us curiously.

"We'll follow them and find out," I said as they began to move. We followed them for several minutes. Before I spotted the reason as to how they got here. "I think Asami is holding a Mother box."

"Hmm, how'd they get their hands on one of those?"

"No idea."

We followed them into a giant room. With hundreds of columns of tubes. My eyes widened as I saw the Team in several of them, frozen. I made a move to go for them as soon as I spotted Connor and Irena. "Wait," Arsenal said, "Something doesn't feel right. You'd think the Reach would be guarding this."

That's when Black Beetle appeared. "Shit, we have to help them."

"I'll go help them, you go and try to figure out a way to get the team out of those tubes," he said. I looked at him to retort but he cut me off. "Face it, I've got a lot more energy than you do."

I pursed my lips, "Fine, be safe."

"'Course."

I made a metal disc that floated me overhead and landed me onto the tubes. I began to break in using the Swiss army knife and tried to go through using the wires. Everything I did, didn't work. Arsenal came up behind me and grabbed me after firing his grappling gun and bringing us away. "I have an idea." Without saying anything else he fired using the alien scepter and shot at the control panel of one of the tubes and sure enough it released its inhabitants.

"Son of – Arsenal, you let out the wrong person," I shouted at him as I watched the large alien Mongul fall out of the tube and to the ground.

"Wait for it," Arsenal said, "I know what I'm doing….for once."

"Carter, when did you get here?" Ed said confused.

"Explain later," I said as I looked at the released alien wake up on the ground. Black Beetle caught sight of him.

"Mongul! This is all your fault!" he glared at his form on the ground.

"Reach," Mongul growled out and got up and ran for Black Beetle. I took the handle of the Reach weapon and shot it at the tubes containing out friends. I jumped down from tube and ran towards my sister's hunched form on the ground.

"Silver, come on we have to get out of here."

"What happened?" she said rubbing her eyes with a groan. "I feel like crap."

"Let's go!" Arsenal ordered toward the Team. I looked to the others to see them still confused and disoriented, "Move!"

"You heard him, Team! Move out, let's go," I yelled as I helped Irena up, "That includes you, Runaways!"

We all gathered around the front of the main door and Arsenal handed out everyone's confiscated weapons. Arsenal stood at the panel to open it. "Okay get ready," he warned. "There's a squad of Reach soldiers on the other side, waiting for us." he turned and pressed the button on the panel causing the massive door to open to a group of soldiers alright, unconscious ones. At that moment I have never been so excited to see Nightwing and Miss Martian.

"Hey, Fearless leader," Arsenal said towards Nightwing sarcastically, "Better late than never."

"Everyone safe?" Nightwing asked not paying any mind to Arsenal.

"For now," I answered but I looked back over my shoulder at the destruction that the two huge aliens were causing. "But we need to move out before they change that."

"The crystal key?" Nightwing asked.

"Gone," Arsenal responded.

"Like we should be," I stated. A loud crash was heard from behind our group.

"Yeah before those two decide to declare a winner!" Arsenal announced.

"Right." Nightwing agreed, "Move out."

We placed the weakest in Sphere and began to move. Nightwing came up next to me. "You alright?"

I shrugged. "In better shape than most of the team," I said as I stumbled he caught my arm and gave me a concerned look. "I'm fine. Just hungry and thirsty." I walked ahead of him and caught up with the runaways. I wrapped my arms around Virgil and Eduardo. "I am so proud of you guys."

"Thanks, Carter," Virgil said with a big smile on his face. "Glad we did you proud."

"Especially after everything you've done for us," Eduardo agreed.

We walked that way for a little bit until we reached the hanger. "All aboard," Miss Martian shouted, "We're almost home."

The team all shuffled onto the ship. Nightwing, Arsenal, the Runaways, and I all stayed behind. "I think congratulations are in order," Nightwing spoke with a smile. "No training, no guidance, and yet you pulled it off."

"Actually," Virgil said quietly blinking at me and back to him. "We've had a mentor and a bit of training."

Nightwing glanced at me, "When we get back, after a debrief, there might just be a spot for you guys on the Team."

"Really?" Virgil said excited.

"So now that we save your butts, you're cool with us not being STAR lab's guinea pigs," Tye said un-amused.

I cleared my throat, "Tye," I gave him a look. "Not now." He gave me a defiant look before heavily sighing muttering a whatever under his breath.

"Before we head back, we need to talk about Blue Beetle," Arsenal stated. "He betrayed us!"

"Look who's talking!" Bumble Bee said from her spot. She placed her hands on her hips and stared Arsenal down as she approached us. "Last thing I remember is you blowing an airlock without warning! Nearly got us all killed and absolutely guaranteed our capture!"

"He helped save you!" I defended, "The majority of the Team was taken out with a single move from Blue and without him, neither of us would have got out to save you!" I felt Nightwing grab my arm I yanked it out of his grasp.

"After eight years on ice, there was no way I was getting grabbed again! And in case you hadn't noticed it is because of me you are standing here, free. So how about a thank you?"

"You're right, Arsenal," Nightwing said placing a hand on arsenals shoulder. "Thank you, and after we get back on Earth. You're. Off. The. Team."

My mouth dropped in shock. "Are you serious?" I asked in disbelief. "He saved the entire team and this is how he's rewarded?"

"There have been other incidents, BR, you know that," Nightwing tried to argue back. "Yes, he may have saved the day. But this isn't the first time he has pulled a stunt like this. Intentionally endangering the lives of team mates to further his own agenda or guard against his personal demons. It's unacceptable. So until you prove yourself a team player, you have no place on this team."

"And I told you when he started he wasn't ready, but you decided to place him on the team anyways. But taking him off the team after all this isn't that answer." I snapped, "If Aqualad were here Arsenal being kicked off the Team would never be a thought!"

"Well, Aqualad isn't here right now, isn't he?" Nightwing snapped.

I lunged forward and pushed him in the shoulders. "And whose fucking fault is that?"

The whites of his mask slit with the glare he was giving me. "Let's get aboard and get out of here," he ordered. "We can discuss this further when we're not behind enemy lines."

"Sounds like there's nothing left to discuss," Ed told Nightwing.

Virgil stepped forward and grabbed my arm. "See, we don't need your help getting back to Earth. Or you offer to join the Team. We have our own way of doing things and someone who hasn't let us down. Come on, Carter."

"What do you say, bro?" Tye asked Arsenal. "Wanna ride with us?"

"Sounds like a plan," Arsenal said, smug. The five of them looked to me with a swift glare at Nightwing, I nodded.

"Sure does," I said in agreement, "Now let's go."

Asami smiled at me before pulling out the small box from her pocket. Upon closer inspection my eyes widened as I realized what it actually was and apparently Nightwing did too.

"Wait! Is that a—"

"Home, please," Asami said cutting him off. A swirling yellow mist formed around us in circular motions from our feet pulling us into the ground. We dropped onto the couch in the apartment and I grabbed the technology from her hands.

"Where the hell did you get this?" I asked glaring at them.

"So am I right in thinking congratulations are in order," a voice said from behind me causing me to freeze. I spun around on the heel of my feet to face a computer with a video chat set up with Lex Luthor. "Carter, good to see you again."

"Luthor," I snarled at him. "Can't say the same."

"Lex Luthor has got you running errands on the war world?" Arsenal exclaimed from behind us. "He's the reason I'm missing eight years of my life and my arm! Don't you get it? He didn't care if you rescued the Team! He was using you…as a distraction to lure Black Beetle away from the crystal key so one of his other pawns could steal it."

"Mmm, Deathstroke is more of a bishop actually," Luthor said from behind me. "But I'm not sure I understand the problem. You rescued the heroes and gave a blow to the Reach. Isn't that exactly what I promised you?"

"That is the last promise you will ever make to them!" I whirled around, "You will leave them alone!"

"So protective over them are we, my daugh—"

"I am not your daughter!" I exclaimed as I threw the Father box at the computer along with and compressed them causing the Father box to explode taking the computer with it as a victim. I whirled around to the group of teenagers. "You are to never come in contact with Lex Luthor ever again. He tries and you immediately shut him down."

"How were we supposed to know, Cater?" Eduardo said.

"Yeah," Virgil agreed, "He came knocking on the door with his creepy bodyguard and said you sent him. He said you guys needed help and we were the only ones that you could count on."

"Virgil, no matter what situation I am in, I will never send someone for you guys to come bail me out. I will never ask you to risk your lives for my sake," I swore. "Now you guys need to gather your things. We need to move you before he decides to tell the Reach you are here."

They all made their way out of the room to get their things. "Where are you going to bring them?" Arsenal asked.

"Ollie's place in Arkansas," I told him, he nodded in agreement. "I'll be a couple days, so let Mom know will you?" He nodded.

After a few moments of silence he approached me and gave me a one armed hug which I returned….this usually doesn't happen so I'll take it when can. "Thanks for defending me."

"That's my job," I said honestly. "Come to me for whatever, alright?"

He released his hold and gave me a smirk. "Got it."

"Now don't get in to much trouble," I said as he walked towards the door to make his exit.

His smirk widened, "No promises."

I rolled my eyes, "Keep in touch." With that he opened and closed the door behind him.