Failsafe
Disclaimer- Sam as usual, don't really feel like writing it again.
Italics- telepathic communication
I stood next to Robin in the main hangar of the cave as the team and RT watched the holographic projection of the gigantic alien space ship hovering towards the earth.
Early this morning we all received an emergency wake up call from Batman summoning us to the cave when the watchtower detected a large unidentified moving mass quickly making its way into earth airspace. When the League discovered what the moving mass was they commenced their standard unknown alien protocol. This was a program established in the early days of the League for instances such as this; when an unidentified alien species ventures into earth airspace without permission.
John Stewart and Hal Jordan were flying beside Batman's space plane as they made their way to the alien ship.
The two lanterns flew up to the ship while Batman stayed back and John initiated first contact "attention. You have entered the boundaries of earth space. Disengage all weapons and engines. This is your final warning."
The two lanterns floated in silence as they waited for a response when the red circle facing them lit up and shot them with a beam of energy. They activated their protective shields, but the blast was too much power for them to handle at once and easily broke through their shields. Without their protection the two lanterns were vaporized instantly.
"Code red, full offensive deploy" Batman yelled as he opened the bottom hatch of the plane releasing Superman, Manhunter, Captain Marvel, and Captain Atom. They jumped out of the plane and flew towards the ship, but unfortunately all four were quickly vaporized as well.
Batman tried to escape, but the wing of his plane was hit and I watched with bated breath as he ejected just before the plane exploded. However my feeling of relief was short-lived since a group of smaller ships swarmed out of the mother ship and raced towards Batman's pod. I watched as my mentor, my friend, and practically surrogate father was hit by a beam and instantly disintegrated.
The video transmission went down and I forced myself to control my emotions. I knew Bruce wouldn't want me to break down and mourn his death until after the earth was safe. I felt a warm calloused hand slip into mine and looked up to see Robin giving me a small sad, but encouraging smile. I returned the smile while giving his hand a firm squeeze as another video transmission from Zatara appeared.
"Tornado did you-"
"Yes Zatara we saw" RT cut in already knowing what Zatara was going to ask, "Celestial defenses have failed. Initiate all terrestrial measures."
Zatara nodded "Affirmative, see you in the field" he said before deactivating the transmission.
Tornado turned to the team as the screens faded away "I must join the League. We will protect the planet at all costs, but should we fail the responsibility falls to you."
Aqualad turned to the team and we all nodded before standing up straighter. He turned back to Tornado and without hesitation answered Tornado with confidence "We stand ready."
Tornado left and Robin pulled up multiple screens showing different news feeds from across the world. The aliens had stationed ships or drones in every major city across the globe. We watched as the ship's beams disintegrated each League member one by one until only Tornado remained.
"Red Tornado to Cave" Tornado said as his voice blared through the caves speakers "I fear I am all that remains of the League."
"RT!" Robin yelled as he saw a ship come up behind Tornado and shoot him. We heard an explosion before the transmission went dead and the room filled with the sound of static.
"We are earth's hero's now" Aqualad acknowledged as Robin deactivated all the screens.
"So what are we waiting for a theme song?" Conner asked impatiently. He was ready to get out there and kick some major alien butt.
"A strategy" Kaldur corrected, "Earth's weapons are ineffective, and it has been made tragically clear that a direct attack will not succeed."
"Checking satellite imagery" Robin said as he pulled up a large holographic projection of the planet. Several red dots were clustered together on various parts of the globe showing us where all the alien's were stationed.
"Here's where the aliens are," Robin said as the team looked at the spinning globe.
Superboy looked up and pointed to a single dot that was all by itself.
"This one get lost?"
I looked up and gasped when I realized where the dot was.
"That's Superman's fortress of Solitude," I gasped and Superboy's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Superman had a fortress of Solitude?"
"Its power source must have attracted the aliens attention, at least enough to send a scout ship to investigate" Robin inferred while staring at the map.
"Must be some fortress," Conner grumbled as he turned away from the team.
"Conner" Megan said in a concerned yet soothing voice as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
Conner sighed before turning back to Megan "no it's ok. I guess there's a lot about Superman I'll never know… you know, now."
"We will target this lone ship" Aqualad stated taking control of the situation.
"Yeah" Wally yelled in agreement while punching his fists together "break it down, build more, hit those ugly aliens with their own mojo!"
I rammed my elbow into his ribs and he winced.
"Earth to Kid Mouth, Martian and Kryptonian in the house" I reminded him while Conner and Megan looked at him blankly.
Wally chuckled nervously "Uh…not that all aliens are automatically ugly."
"Smooth KF, real smooth" I muttered as I rolled my eyes and slapped him upside the head one good time.
Once we formed a plan we separated and changed into our winter gear. Instead of my normal uniform I was now dressed in a pair of tight white pants and a tight shirt covered by a thick hooded jacket. My knee-high boots were white along with my tight-fitting gloves. Our winter uniforms are pure white so we can blend in with our surroundings.
Once everyone was dressed the team met up at the bioship.
While we were watching the video feeds Wolf and Zaphira were observing from the back of the room. When they saw that we were getting ready to leave for a mission they decided to go with us. They sat by the entrance to the bioship waiting for the team to board before entering themselves. Once everyone was inside Megan sat at the command chair and took over the controls. She activated the ships camouflage mode before opening the bay doors and taking off towards Superman's fortress of Solitude.
Once we reached our destination Megan silently landed the bioship in the snow out of the enemy ship's view, though we were still in camouflage mode so it wouldn't have been able to see us anyway. Artemis crawled out of a small hatch in the side of the bioship and stealthily ran behind a large rock near the enemy vessel to wait for Megan's signal.
While in camouflage mode Megan flew behind the alien ship and used her telekinesis to crush the ships communication device.
"Communications disabled" she announced through the link as the ship fell to the ground "propulsion disabled."
Artemis loaded a foam arrow and shot the front of the ship successfully sealing the exit.
"And ET's are sealed inside."
Aqualad jumped out from his hiding spot, which was beneath the ice and water the ship was resting on. He broke through the ice causing part of the ship to sink into the water as he landed on its roof. The ship's gun pointed in his direction and was about to shot him when Wolf jumped forward and bit the end of the gun moving it away from Aqualad before he was hit. Superboy jumped up to help his fury friend while Aqualad stood from his crouch.
I flew beside Wally as he ran towards the ship with Robin on his back. Once they were close enough Robin flipped off of Wally's back and landed in a crouch on the roof beside Conner who was firmly holding the large gun in his hands. Robin pulled up a holographic screen of the gun and analyzed it.
"Identifying weapon's structural stress points and links to the ship" he said as he typed on his wrist computer. "Here, here, and here" he pointed and Megan used her powers to blast the specified spots.
Conner started to pull on the gun trying to dislocate it from the ship's roof when Wolf's ear's perked up. Before anyone could move Wolf leapt forward and pushed Conner out-of-the-way just as a small blaster came out and shot Wolf in the back vaporizing him in Conner's place.
"No Wolf" I whispered as I watched his body disappear.
Zaphira's shoulders seemed to slump and she hung her head as Superboy rolled and skidded to a stop.
"There was no indication of feedback…I'm sorry" Robin said as he turned to Superboy who was glaring at the icy floor.
"Can't do anything for him now, let's go" Conner said as he returned to the gun and pulled it free from the ship.
Megan ordered the camouflaged bioship to fly up to the alien ship and Conner jumped on it. Megan placed her hands on the bioship and Conner lowered the gun until the end attached to the roof of the ship.
"Rerouting systems to integrate weapon into ship's biometrics. We'll need to decamoflouge for a few minutes" Megan said as the bioship attached to the gun and became visible once again.
"May not have a few minutes," Robin yelled as he saw two ships flying over the mountain.
"Miss Martian fire" Aqualad ordered, but Megan shook her head.
"Can't! Weapon systems are offline to incorporate the new cannon, and that's not fully integrated yet either."
"Got you covered, get inside. I'm almost there," Artemis ordered as she fired three arrows and ran towards the bioship.
One ship blew up immediately, but the other just swerved and crash-landed in the ice. While Artemis ran away the ship's gun moved in her direction and came to life.
"Artemis behind you!" I warned as I flew towards her, but it was already too late. She was instantly vaporized as the beam hit her in the chest when she turned to defend herself.
"ARTEMIS!" Megan and I yelled as I stopped mid-flight.
"Artemis!" Wally screamed as Aqualad slid down the side of the ship.
He pulled out his water bearers and ran towards the enemy as he ordered the team to get inside the bioship.
He ran towards the alien ship intent on destroying it, but his help wasn't needed.
I clenched my fists and flew towards the ship as I screamed, "you killed my FRIEND!"
I lifted my hand and broke the ice under the ship before lifting the ship into the air. I lifted my other hand and the ice surrounding the ship lifted into the air as well before forming a circle around the ship. I commanded the ice to change shape and the pieces of ice transformed into a circle of large thick ice shards. I clapped my hands together and the ice shards flew into the ship penetrating its metal and blowing it up from the inside.
I floated in the air and watched as the burning ship fell to the ground before sinking into the freezing water below. I flew back to the team while Wally growled at the ship.
"They're dead. Every single alien, if it's the last thing I do," he yelled and his voice was consumed by intense anger and pain.
"Count me in as well," I snarled as I glared at the sinking ship.
"Everyone back into the bioship" Aqualad ordered as he ushered us into the ship and out of the open.
We sat in our respective seats as Megan started up the bioship. The room was silent as everyone individually mourned Artemis' passing. I clenched and unclenched my fists as my hands start to flicker with fire. I forced the fire down so I wouldn't accidentally burn the bioship and everyone in it.
Wally repeatedly slammed his fists into the panel in front of him while screaming as a way of releasing his pent-up anger and anguish, though it didn't really help much.
"There will be time to mourn later," Aqualad said as he stood from his chair. Everyone but Wally turned to face him as he continued; "Now we have a job to do. Defend the Earth and ensure Artemis' sacrifice was not in vain."
"Back to the cave?" Megan asked, but Kaldur shook his head.
"The Hall of Justice, the human race must know there are still hero's defending them. There is still hope."
Megan nodded and adjusted our course. Aqualad returned to his seat as I stood from mine. I walked to the back room Megan created earlier so I could change out of my winter gear and into my normal Shade uniform. Everyone quickly followed my lead and one by one changed into their normal uniforms.
We arrived at the Hall shortly after everyone had changed. Upon arriving we noticed a line of soldiers and tanks stationed in front of the Hall barricading the entrance. As we got closer three alien ships appeared from the clouds and started shooting at the soldiers.
Megan opened a hatch in the bottom of the bioship so Conner could jump through and attack one of the ships. He landed on the ships roof and started pelting it with punches. Then Megan flew over to the other two and blasted them with the alien gun we'd recently acquired.
She landed the ship next to Superboy who had forced his ship into a skidding halt in front of the soldiers. We walked out of the bioship to stand next to Superboy as the soldiers cheered and ran towards us.
"See, it's Superman. I told you he wouldn't leave us out here alone" one of the solders said as he looked at Superboy.
"I don't know" another soldier replied skeptically "he looks kind of young, and where's the cape?"
"I'm not Superman" Superboy cut in sharply having heard every word of their conversation.
A man who looked to be in charge stepped up and looked Superboy in the eye.
"I don't know who you are son, and right now I don't care. You wear the S and you got the job done."
Superboy looked down at the ground "I'm not Superman."
"Tell that to the enemy" the man smiled before turning to Aqualad.
"General Wade Eiling, U.S air force" the general declared while saluting Aqualad who nodded at him.
"Aqualad, Justice League. We'll help you salvage as many of the aliens cannons as possible, then we start taking back what is ours."
I paused as I heard Aqualad say Justice League. I've always wanted to be a member of the Justice League, but not like this. I always imagined my introduction to the League as a happy day with Bruce shaking my hand and welcoming me into the ranks along with Robin and the rest of my team. Replacing Bruce and the others because they were all murdered makes the feeling bittersweet.
I was jolted out of my thoughts when I heard a soft scuffle off to my right. I turned to the side and strained my ears to hear the sound again until I heard a faint call for help. Superboy must've heard it too cause he turned his head in the same direction I did.
I slowly flew towards the sound and crouched down to the ground when the sound went silent. I placed my hand on the ground and breathed in deeply as I send vibrations though the earth to find out where the sound was coming from. As I waited for a response I heard the general talking behind me.
"Uh…what is she doing?" the General asked as Superboy and Zaphira silently walked to my side "she's aware that it's not safe to be out in the open like that for very long right?"
Zaphira snarled at him thinking he was indirectly insulting me.
"Let me assure you General, Shade knows what she's doing. She's been doing this for years and was trained by Batman himself. She's one of the best in our line of work." Aqualad put in quickly defending me before Robin stepped up.
"And around us I'd be careful about what you say about her, especially Zaphira. She doesn't take too kindly to people directly or indirectly insulting Shade" Robin added while the general turned his focus onto Zaphira who was glaring at him.
"And to answer your earlier question she's feeling vibrations from the earth looking for something, though I don't know what" Aqualad answered as everyone turned to stare at me.
I snapped my eyes open as I finally felt a response. I jumped up and ran towards a pile of rocks near the end of the line of tanks.
I hovered above the ground and raised my arms until they were parallel to my chest. I closed my eyes and concentrated on lifting the five large heavy rocks off the ground. I heard a collective gasp as the four soldiers trapped under the rocks were revealed. They were buried so deep beneath the rocks that no one could hear their cries. I only heard it cause I heard them through the earth and Superboy heard it cause he's well… Superboy.
A large iron beam was covering most of their bodies and though it sounds ridiculous they owe this beam their lives. The beam prevented the large rocks from crushing them and protected their bodies, but it was still too large for them to lift resulting in them being trapped beneath the earth. The rocks cut off all airflow so the men's cries became weaker as time went on due to the lack of oxygen.
"Guys do you mind helping these men cause I have to concentrate on keeping these rocks afloat" I said as Robin, Wally, Aqualad, and Superboy ran forward to help the men out of the hole.
Kaldur and Conner slid into the hole first and used their heightened strength to lift the beam from the men's waist. The boys grabbed the soldiers and helped them out of the hole once the beam was removed. Once the men were safe I dropped the rocks and they crashed to the ground with a deafening thud.
I dropped to the ground and Robin ran to my side.
"Shade are you ok?" he asked as he grabbed my elbow and helped me stand.
"Yeah I'm fine" I reassured him as I walked over to the four men who were dragged out of the hole.
Thankfully none of them had any serious injuries, just a few cuts and bruises. However their bodies were weak from lack of oxygen and all of them were unconscious.
"General, if you wouldn't mind carrying these men into the building I think I can help get them back on their feet" I told the General as I placed a tender hand on one of the soldier's forehead.
The General turned to his men "well what are you waiting for, do as the lady asks" he yelled and several soldiers ran up to help their comrades into the building.
The team and most of the soldiers followed them inside while some stayed outside to watch the perimeter. The four soldiers were gently placed on the ground and as I walked over I waved my hands around my waist to create a large bubble of water.
I sat on the ground by the soldier's feet Indian style and the water swirled around me as I closed my eyes and hovered above the ground while still remaining in my sitting position. I blocked everything out as I focused on the water swirling in front of me. I felt its presence, its energy, its constant push and pull before moving my arms so the large bubble split into four long streams of water that slithered towards the four soldiers like snakes. The water slipped over their bodies and thinned out until they were completely covered from the neck down.
Though I couldn't see it I knew the water started to glow as I accessed the healing power of water. My hands swirled in a rhythmic motion as the water whirled and moved around the soldiers healing their injuries and slowly replenishing their energy.
Once my job was done I ordered the water to return to my side and form back into a large bubble. My body slowly hovered back to the ground and I opened my eyes as I evaporated the water back into thin air.
For a while there was silence as everyone stared at the four soldiers waiting for something to happen until the men's eyes snapped open and they sat up with a jolt like a surge of electricity had just run through their body.
I grabbed Robin's offered hand and he pulled me off the ground as some of the soldier's friends ran over to help them up. The soldier's eyes were filled with confusion as they asked what happened.
"This little lady right here just saved your four sorry keister's that's what happened" the General answered and their eyes shifted to me.
The soldiers stared at me wide-eyed while I gave them a curt two-fingered salute. One soldier broke away from the group and walked over to my side. He grabbed me by the arms and pulled me into a grateful hug before shaking my hand. He thanked me along with his friends while I waved them off indifferently.
"It's not a problem, just do me a favor and make sure you repay those aliens for trying to kill you and invading your planet," I said half-joking half serious.
They all grinned while gripping their guns closer to their chests.
"Oh don't worry about that mam, we'll be sure to return the favor " the soldier that hugged me assured before they walked off to talk to their General and get caught up on everything that's happened since they've been out.
"Ooooookkkkkk…so when did you learn to do that!" Wally asked as the team rushed to my side.
I cracked my neck to loosen it as I answered him "Ever since the Red's incident I've been practicing my water healing. I've gotten to the point where I can heal various cuts, bruises, gashes, and replenish people's energy to some degree, but I haven't mastered big or life threatening injuries such as broken bones or loss of blood."
"Well consider yourself my new official doctor" Wally joked as we walked over to the broken statues of our fallen mentors.
The slightly cheerful mood from earlier gradually disappeared as we each walked up to the statues and stared at the left over pieces of our various mentors.
"They're really gone," Robin said softly as he stared at a piece of Batman's face.
I walked up and placed a hand on the statue before feeling tears build up in my eyes. I blinked them back, but not before one slipped through. A shadow enveloped my body as someone walked up and stood behind me blocking me from everyone's view.
They grabbed my shoulder and gently turned me around until I was face to face with Robin. We looked into each other's eyes for a quick second before he pulled me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and we held each other as a way of comforting one another. As we hugged I heard Megan crying as she stared at her uncle's statue.
Zaphira walked up and rubbed her head into our waists.
"Dawn are you?"
"Ask me that question after we've saved the earth" I responded quickly and she nodded in understanding.
Robin and I broke apart as we heard Megan gasp. She flew into the air and lifted the statue to reveal a very much alive Martian Manhunter.
"Uncle J'onn" she yelled excitedly as she threw the statue aside.
She started to fly towards her uncle when Aqualad stepped in front of her and blocked her path.
"M'gann check his mind. Make sure he is really who he appears to be."
"It's him. He's real, he's alive!"
"But we saw you get disintegrated. You and Superman…and everyone" Conner exclaimed as Megan ran over to her uncle to help him stand.
"Yes I remember, but I cannot remember how I survived" J'onn admitted as he placed a weak hand on his forehead.
"Maybe you were density shifting. The beam passed right through you" Megan suggested.
"Scrambling your brains along the way" Robin proclaimed as if that made sense.
"My mind is clouded. I feel certain I had something important to tell you" Manhunter said as he tried to think back.
Wally thumped his hand to his forehead like Megan usually does "Hello Wally, come on" he said through the link as he dragged Robin and I out the door.
He dragged us over to the bioship and told Robin to pull up the blueprints for the alien gun.
"I knew it! Look it's giving off zanopenes, the same stuff that powers our zeta tubes. This thing doesn't disintegrate, it teleports. Artemis is alive!" Wally yelled growing more and more excited with every word.
Robin and I looked down at the screen skeptically.
"Maybe but-"
"No maybe's" Wally said cutting off Robin's statement as he looked over Robin's shoulder and pointed to the screen.
"They're all alive," he yelled again.
"That must be what you wanted to tell us," Megan guessed as she spoke to her uncle who was inside the building with the rest of the team.
J'onn never got the chance to respond since suddenly a large swarm of alien ships zoomed toward the building seeming to have appeared out of nowhere. Robin saw them before I did and tackled me to the ground so I didn't get hit by a beam that was aimed for my back.
"Thanks" I huffed as we slipped behind a tank for cover. He nodded as Wally slipped down next to us.
"We're on our way" Aqualad's voice filled my head until I yelled at him.
"Negative, we can't win this. Miss Martian camouflage the bioship," I ordered.
I yelled as the bioship was hit with a beam and disappeared. I ducked my head and shielded my face as the tank next to us exploded. I brought my arms away from my head and looked up when I heard a loud sharp bark. I watched as Zaphira sprinted out of the Hall and ran to my side dodging and flipping out of the way of the alien beams until she reached us.
"Dawn are you ok?" she asked rapidly as I glanced over the tank to see the incoming ships.
"Yeah I'm good, how about you?" I asked while turning to her.
"As long as you stay safe I'll be ok" she answered quickly as I felt Robin's hand slip into mine.
"We're falling back," he told the rest of the team as we ran for the door. Zaphira ran with us never leaving my side as the four of us rushed into the building.
"We're trapped" the General growled as he saw there was nowhere else to go.
I looked up when I heard the 'Justice League Only' door open. I smiled as the room where this whole team originated came back to help us in our time of need.
"Maybe not" Aqualad said as he ran towards the door.
The soldiers and the team followed after him as he explained the plan.
"We can all zeta to the cave if you can grant us computer clearance to access the tubes" Aqualad said as he turned to Manhunter who was leaning against Megan for support.
"I can only authorize one at a time," Manhunter announced as he made his way over to the computer panel.
Aqualad nodded "the soldiers go first."
"Belay that! You seven are assets we cannot afford to lose" the General yelled as a scanner popped out and scanned Manhunter.
"Override Martian Manhunter 07" he said as the computer recognized him.
"Recognized access granted" the computer announced as it opened up and started the zeta tube.
Miss Martian went first followed by Robin. Wally was scanned next, but just before he went through the zeta tube the door to the room exploded and the ships started shooting inside. A large rock fell on a soldier's leg and Superboy ran over to help him.
He lifted the rock and dragged the soldier over to the zeta tube as Aqualad grabbed Wally by the scruff of his neck and threw him through the zeta tube.
I slammed one ship into the ground with my water whip as I stood next to the four soldiers I'd saved earlier. We fought together to keep the ships at bay until everyone was out.
"He goes next," Superboy affirmed as he dragged the soldier over to the zeta tube.
"Fine, then you and Shade" Aqualad agreed as the soldier was scanned.
I threw a large boulder at the closest ship causing it to explode as the soldier walked through the zeta tube. Superboy was scanned next and jumped through the zeta tubes just as another large explosion rocked the room. The soldiers were getting vaporized one by one as I backed up to Aqualad's side. The four soldiers I'd saved only about ten minutes ago stood in front of us as extra protection from the ships. Ever since the ships arrived they've never left my side; I guess they feel obligated to protect the team and me since I saved their lives earlier, though it might have been for nothing. Zaphira stood to my left and leapt to the right as a beam almost hit her side.
The computer scanned me next even though my back was to it so I could cover us as J'onn was also scanned.
Everything was going according to plan until things went horribly wrong.
Almost all the soldiers were vaporized except for my four and a few stragglers on the sidewall. Two of the soldiers in the group of four were vaporized leaving a large hole in the middle where I was standing. My eyes widened when I saw a beam coming for me, but I didn't have enough time to react.
I prepared myself for death when something roughly pushed me out-of-the-way and I skidded into Aqualad's feet. I heard a sharp howl and looked up just in time to see Zaphira get vaporized in my place.
"NO ZAPHIRA!" I screamed before clutching my stomach as I felt a hot pain stab me in the stomach. I can't even come close to describing the feeling in words, but the closest thing I can say is that it felt like a part of myself was ripped away. Like a part of my soul was forcibly removed from my body and a connection to something inside myself was forever broken. In that instant I knew Zaphira hadn't been transported or taken to another location. My friend and protector was dead.
Dead, gone, and never coming back.
Aqualad pushed Manhunter through the zeta tube before grabbing me around the waist. He lifted me off the ground while I struggled and yelled before throwing me through the zeta tube as well.
"Help guide the others, they need you more than they need me" were his last words before the fighting scene faded away as I was immersed in a swirling bright light.
"Kaldur!" I screamed as I passed through the zeta tube, but not before I saw him and everyone else in the room get vaporized.
My back collided with the zeta tubes floor before skidding away from it. Once I'd stopped sliding I slammed my fist against the hard metal causing a large dent to form and the mountain to tremble.
"Dawn what happened, where's Aqualad and Zaphira" Megan asked as Wally ran over and tried to help me stand, but I roughly shook his hand off my shoulder.
I dragged myself off the floor before repeatedly kicking my foot against the cave's earth wall causing the cave to shake dangerously. Dirt, dust, and small rocks from the ceiling started to fall to the floor, but I barely noticed.
"Dawn calm down" Robin yelled as he ran over and grabbed my shoulders turning me away from the wall and forcing me to look into his masked eyes.
My anger was so blinding I didn't even register that he was trying to help me so I struggled against him. I shoved his hands off my shoulders and pushed my finger into his chest as tears ran down my face.
"DON'T!" I hissed at him sharply causing everyone in the room to back up and stare at me like I was a dangerous wild animal on the loose.
"Don't tell me to calm down Rob; not after I just saw Aqualad and Zaphira get vaporized before my eyes. Zaphira died trying to protect me, ME. The hit was mine to take, I should've been the one vaporized not her!" I yelled as I punched the wall one last time causing my entire fist to go through the rock.
I placed my other hand on the wall and looked down at the floor as I calmed down slightly.
Robin was the only one brave enough to step forward and hesitantly placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Dawn listen to me, it's not your fault," he said in German so the team wouldn't know what we were saying.
I continued to stare at the floor as I replied in rapid German "Yes it is Rob and we both know it."
Robin grabbed both of my shoulders and turned me away from the wall "No it's not!" he said firmly raising his voice slightly to get his point across.
"You can't blame yourself Dawn 'cause you did nothing wrong" he said in soft German before I gave in.
"Fine, but these aliens are going to pay for taking my friends from me" I growled lowly causing streams of fire to shoot out of my hands as my body responded to my anger.
Rob smiled and to the teams delight spoke in English since they had no idea what we've been saying for the past 3 minutes, "now there's the Dawn I know."
The team smiled knowing by some miracle Rob had done the job and gotten me under control. Everyone knew if Robin couldn't do it no one could.
Robin kept one comforting hand on my shoulder as he turned to the team "Our mission is clear. If we believe the aliens have been teleporting their vicitims-" he started before being swiftly cut off by Wally.
"We do."
"We don't," I thought to myself, but I let Wally believe what he wanted. If it helped him get through this mission then I'll let him keep his hope, even if it is misplaced.
"Then the only reasonable detention facility is here," Robin said as he pulled up a picture of the mother ship.
"Their mother ship, atop what used to be Smallville. Ring any bells" Robin asked Manhunter.
"No" J'onn answered as he stood "I'm sorry."
Robin sighed before taking command "Superboy and Shade, you two will create a distraction."
"No!" Megan yelled while stepping forward "He's offering you as a sacrifice, Aqualad would never do that."
"You're right" Robin agreed with a dark undertone to his voice "Aqualad would sacrifice himself, a mistake that just cost us our leader. Superboy and Shade are the most likely to be perceived as a threat, motivating the aliens to deploy."
"Worst case, they're teleported inside and we set them free along with Artemis… and Aqualad and everyone" Wally reassured her.
Superboy turned to Megan and I could tell they were having a private link conversation. Megan sighed and nodded reluctantly before everyone turned to me.
"I'm fine with it. It's the right thing to do and if I go down I'm taking these alien's down with me" I answered firmly.
Robin nodded before explaining the second phase of our plan.
"We need to call in the rest of the surviving heroes and let the human race know there are still people fighting for them" he explained as he sent out a signal to all the superhero's left we knew of.
Everyone gathered at the Cave and geared up preparing for a final stand. Superheros from all over come to the cave such as Rocket, Zatanna, Roy, and even Garth and Tula came to help.
Robin initiated a worldwide broadcast that went out to every operating computer, TV, tablet, phone, and mobile device.
Megan started off the video feed "and though we know all seems lost, the one thing the aliens cannot destroy is hope."
Megan stepped back and Conner continued "hope survives because the battle is not over. Not as long as even one of us is willing to fight."
"It doesn't matter how many fall, for new hero's will always rise to carry on, bring all their resources, their skills, their talents to bare, to defeat the enemy," Wally said.
"The people of Earth will survive this. We will rebuild and we will thrive. Never doubt and never forget the Earth will never surrender" Robin added before I stepped up.
"These aliens think we'll just stand by and watch as they take whatever they want, but they're wrong. We are fighters…survivors and we will not go silently into the night. This is our home, our planet, our lives and that's something the aliens can never take away."
After we finished the transmission the team went off to the mother ship while the rest of the heroes grouped up and split into teams to continue the fight.
Robin hid behind some bushes as he looked at the mother ship through a pair of binoculars.
"Stay close to J'onn" he told Megan who was standing next to him "he's still a little…" he trailed off as he moved his hand back and forth as a sign for still a little off.
Megan nodded and the mission began "First team, deploy."
Megan and J'onn flew off to their positions together. The rest of us waited until they were in position.
Robin walked up behind me as we waited for M'gann and J'onn to give the signal.
He placed a hand on my shoulder and I looked over at him with sad eyes. I knew this might be the last time we ever see each other since we both know these guns aren't teleportation devices. We went along with it for Wally's sack, but the belt of bombs wrapped around Robin's chest reminded us that it wasn't.
"I just…I wanted too…" he sighed as he couldn't think of the words to say.
"It's alright Rob, I understand," I whispered as I clasped my hands around his shoulders.
He looked up at me and took of his mask so I could look into his mesmerizing blue eyes.
He clutched my arms and looked at me with a mixture of sadness, determination, and fear.
"You come back all right…you come back" he said and I gave him a watery smile.
"I promise," I whispered as I pulled him into a fierce hug even though we both knew I probably won't be able to keep that promise.
"Ready and in position" Megan's voice rang in our heads and we reluctantly split apart.
I gave Robin a lingering kiss on the cheek before turning to walk back to Conner's side. I wiped the tears that had fallen from my eyes and pushed my emotions down; now was not the time for a break down. We had a mission and I'll be damned if it doesn't get done.
"You ready Muscles" I asked as I placed a hand on his shoulder.
He nodded and before we left I turned and enveloped Wally in a quick hug.
"Be safe," he whispered.
"Same to you. Don't screw up or I'll kick you ass" I joked lightly and he chuckled softly.
I turned back to Conner and gave him a hug before we went for the mother ship. Conner jumped while I flew.
Conner ran over to a gun and pulled it out of the ship.
"Careful" Robin ordered through the link "don't disconnect the power source."
"All right you glorified trespassers, you want to see how a real alien fights?" Conner yelled as he shot the gun into the mother ship multiple times causing explosions to penetrate the armor.
The alien ships deployed from the mother ship and I prepared for battle.
"Now or never guys," I said as used a tornado to blast a few ships out of the air.
Wally ran up with Robin clutching his back. Wally ran full speed and jumped from the rock he was on and landed on the deployment pad the ships had just left from. They ran inside and I smiled knowing our part of the plan had succeeded.
"How about we show these aliens a little human hospitality eh Conner," I said as I formed four large water whips.
Conner smirked "Dawn it would be my genuine pleasure."
Superboy and I made a good team. He shot down most of the aliens with the blaster while I fought them with my powers. I wrapped my whip around ships and threw them into their companions causing both ships to explode. Rocks lifted from the ground and floated around me in a circle as protection from the beams in case I didn't dodge them in time.
If the beam disintegrated one rock another would take its place keeping the beams from ever reaching my body. I lit my hands on fire and shot a stream of fire out of my hands. I blew up about ten ships before an explosion caused by one of the aliens shooting at the metal next to him knocked Conner down. He stumbled and tripped across the metal before rolling and standing. He stood and was about to run for cover when a beam hit him in the chest.
"SUPERBOY!" I yelled as my fists shook with anger.
"Alright that's the last straw. You killed my mentor, my friends, and my family. You wrecked my house, invaded my planet, destroyed my home, and killed thousands of innocent lives. I…HAVE…HAD…ENOUGH!" I yelled as I floated into the air and started to glow.
My entire body encased itself in a blinding blue light as I summoned all my power to my core. My core burned as I felt every ounce of my strength seeping into my stomach, churning around in my body waiting to be released.
I curled into a ball in the air as the wind and rocks protected me from the beams. My body shook as it yearned to release my pent-up energy, but I wouldn't let it, not until I had it all. Once I felt every ounce of my strength fall into my core I closed my eyes and thought of all the good times I had with my friends.
Memories flashed before my eyes like a home made movie. Most were filled with the team, Bruce, Aunt Sue, and the League, but almost every single image had Robin in it.
I gave a pain filled smile as I whispered, "Robin…I love you" before uncurling from my ball and releasing all my energy.
I screamed as I felt my body heat up and a massive wave of blue energy released from my body disintegrating all the small ships around me and about half a mile of the ground surrounding the mother ship.
I screamed as I felt my body being torn apart from the inside out and closed my eyes as I gave in to the oh so welcomed darkness.
I gasped and sprang up from the table I was lying on only to hit my head against something hard.
"Ow" I yelled as I grabbed my head and looked up.
My eyes widened when I noticed that I was sitting inside a large crystal dome. I tapped my hand against the dome and when my hand touched the crystal wall it shattered.
I yelped and drew my hand back as I looked up to see the rest of the team and a few members of the Justice League staring at me.
I glanced around at everyone confused before touching my stomach in shock. It no longer felt like I'd swallowed a volcano, but it still ached like I'd been punched in the stomach.
"Your alive…I'm alive…how…but why…but you were…ok I'm officially confused," I said as I tried to stand, but my legs were weak and collapsed under my weight.
A pair of strong arms caught me before I could face plant on the ground and I looked up to see Robin's concerned eyes.
"What happened?" I asked as Robin helped me off the floor.
"The exercise, it went all wrong," J'onn said as he grabbed his head in pain.
"Exercise?" Robin asked while looking at Batman.
Batman turned to us "try to remember. What you experienced was a training exercise. Manhunter physically linked the seven of you within an artificial reality. You all knew this going in, what you didn't know was that it was a train for failure exercise. No matter what the team accomplished, the scenario was designed to grow worse. Still, you were aware nothing was real, including the deaths of the entire Justice League."
"That is why you hardly grieved even when Wolf was disintegrated before your very eyes" Manhunter explained as I looked over and saw Conner rubbing Wolf's head affectionately.
My head shot up as I thought about Zaphira. If everyone else was ok then Zaphira should be alive as well. I quickly searched the room for my friend and smiled when I heard a quick sharp bark. Zaphira ran over and I enveloped her in a bone-crushing hug.
"Oh Zaphira I though you were dead!" I yelled in her head as she nuzzled me in the side.
"Shhh I am well Dawn, no need to worry anymore" she soothed as Manhunter continued.
"But all that changed when Artemis died."
Wally glanced at Artemis out of the corner of his eye watching her glare at the floor.
"Though consciously Miss Martian knew it was not real, her subconscious mind could not make that distinction. She forgot it was only an exercise and her subconscious took control, making you all forget too" Manhunter finished and everyone looked at Megan who was shaking from trying to hold back her tears.
"I…I'm sorry" she whimpered and Conner rounded on J'onn.
"This isn't her fault" he yelled "why didn't you stop the exercise?"
"We tried" Manhunter sighed "but M'gann had a death grip on the scenario. Even Artemis who should have awakened upon her death, was so convinced she had passed she slipped into a coma. I realized I would have to wrest control from Miss Martian's subconscious from within. But upon entering the reality, I was overwhelmed by your collective emotion. There was too much noise to think clearly, to remember why I was there. The deaths of Aqualad, Superboy, and Shade helped, but only when the mother ship exploded and Robin and Kid Flash were silenced did my mind clear enough to remember my true purpose. To shock M'gann out of the exercise before your comas became permanent. My apologies, I had no idea a training exercise could be so dangerous, so damaging."
I looked over at Megan who was crying into her hand with her back to the team. Captain Marvel moved to console her and she cried into his chest.
"Ok so I get the coma part, but you mind explaining why I woke up in a large crystal dome" I asked pointing to the broken shards as Batman seemed to glide over to my side.
"After Superboy slipped into a coma you lifted off the table and started to glow. Your body heated up and no one could reach you. I tried to help you return to the table, but an invisible energy field threw me back before I could get to you. It was like an invisible force was protecting you from something. As you continued to glow crystals started to grow out of thin air and encase your body in a dome. We didn't want to break the dome in fear of harming you in the process" Bruce explained before placing a hand on my arm.
"What happened in there?" he asked quietly so the conversation was only between him, Rob, and me.
I sighed and coursed a hand through my hair before explaining "When Superboy died I went all out. I surrounded myself with a wall made of wind and rock to block myself from the beams while I channeled all my strength to my core. I started glowing and once I'd gathered all my energy I released it and sent out a large wave of power disintegrating the ships and pretty much all that as left of Smallville."
"So you destroyed about two hundred ships and around half a mile of earth by releasing a single wave of energy" Bruce asked making sure he understood me clearly.
"Something I will never try again unless absolutely necessary. Trust me slowly exploding from the inside out was not a fun experience" I muttered before shuddering as I thought of the burning I felt in my stomach.
I stood from the table and Batman looked at me worriedly "where are you going?" he asked.
"I need some fresh air," I snapped as I walked out of the room.
The tension in the air was just too much for me to handle at the moment; I needed to escape. I flew through the maze of hallways and stairs until I came out of the door leading to the very tip of the mountain. I sat on the rock and wrapped my arms around my knees before resting my head on my arms.
I stared out at the water when I felt soft footsteps making their way towards me. I didn't look up to see who it was until I felt a heavy weight in my lap. I looked down to see Zaphira laying her head in my lap. Her body was draped against the smooth rocks using her body and tail as a barrier around me.
I brought my hand up to her head and started running my fingers through her fur.
"I thought you were gone, I saw you get killed trying to protect me" I told her since she was patiently waiting for me to start talking when I was ready.
"Then I died doing what was right" she said without hesitation.
I looked down at her and shook my head "but you didn't need to die."
She lifted herself up so she was sitting up straight. Her front paws were in front of her and her back paws were underneath her. Her tail was swishing behind her and I couldn't help but think the lighting and her stance made her look more regal and powerful than normal.
She turned so I was looking straight into her soft caring eyes.
"Let me explain something to you young one. It is my duty to protect you, whether that be from bullies on the school yard, a boy who can't take the hint that you aren't interested in him, or taking the bullet aimed for your heart.
I protect you from things both big and small, not just because it is my duty as a guardian, but because it is my duty as a friend. You are my friend Dawn, my closet friend, and I would do anything for you.
If anything were to happen to you it would be because I didn't do my job right and I don't want that on my conscience. If I fall in battle or in saving you from death then I died in the best way possible, protecting the ones I love. You never EVER have to feel guilty or blame yourself for anything that happens to me while doing my duty.
It was my choice to become your guardian and it is my choice to put myself between you and danger despite the consequences. You are not responsible for what happens to me, and if I do fall in the line of duty I want you to know that I never have nor ever will blame you for my fortune. You are my family and I would gladly lay down my life to save yours, never forget that. I do this out of love, not out of duty or responsibility."
She nudged her head into my shoulder and I wrapped my arms around her shoulders as I buried my head into her chest and cried. She brought her head down and wrapped it around my body like she was giving me a hug. She engulfed me in her body shielding me from the outside world.
After I stopped crying I pulled away and wiped the tears from my eyes so it didn't look like I was crying. I leaned my back into her strong chest as I stared back out at the water and thought back to the training exercise.
That's when a distinct thought came crashing back to the front of my mind. The word's replayed over and over in my head until it was all I could think about. I brought my head into my knees and squeezed my eyes shut as I thought these 7 words
"I'm in love with my best friend."
OMG! Dawn finally realizes she likes Robin more than a friend. I remember when I first saw this episode I totally freaked out because I was trying to understand why they were killing everyone off.
I know it's been a while since I've updated, but one night an idea came to my mind for a future chapter and I suddenly started planning out the rest of the chapters for the first season since ideas just started coming to me. It will still take me a while to update new chapters, but the basis for the next couple of chapters is already written so that should help in moving things along once again.
Thanks for sticking it out with me and I'll try to update faster.