Kaldur'ahm's entire being ached.

As Aquaman's protegee, Kaldur was accustomed to pain. But, he had never felt anything like this. His limbs felt like they were being pulled down with weights and his head felt like a fuzzy mess. Yet, even with his pain riddled mind, Kaldur managed to process two things. Firstly, he was lying on a soft surface - nothing like the stone cold concrete of the base. Secondly, he wasn't alone.

He briefly contemplated keeping the facade of being asleep, but never got the chance to decide.

"Had a nice nap?"

The voice was distinctly male and warm, despite the edge on it. It was also new, meaning he was likely not in the presence of his Team, or, even the Justice League.

Kaldur opened his eyes, ignoring the pain caused by the light in the room, and sat up. Doing so, he felt a yanking sensation on his left arm, prompting his gaze. From his left wrist dangled a metal chain that was attached to the bed frame under him. On his left arm, a bandage was wrapped tightly around it.

'Handcuffs.' Kaldur yanked again, experimentally, and was quite sure that, if he needed to, he could break the restraints. The metal seemed fairly standard and, as far as he could tell, there was no magic leaking from it either.

Kaldur heard shuffling to his right, taking his attention away from his handcuffed wrist. Looking over, revealed an adult, bespectacled man. He was wearing a long sleeved white button up paired with odd yet formal navy trousers, and what seemed to be combat boots. On a nearby chair lay a matching navy military coat. Kaldur took notice of the badges and the small golden stars on the shoulder pads; although he wasn't completely knowledgeable of human military ranks, he had a suspicion that the man standing before him was of high ranking position. Kaldur didn't fail to notice the defensive stance the man was in, nor how his hand didn't sway where it hovered above the holster around his waist.

The man shifted his weight, never letting his eyes stray from Kaldur, his stare cold and calculated. Contemplating his options for a bit, Kaldur'ahm knew that communication with this stranger was his best bet towards understanding his current situation. His headache didn't seem to be weakening since waking up and he felt strangely disoriented. Clearing his throat, which was quite dry to his displeasure, Kaldur'ahm uttered a croaky, "Hello."

The military man blinked before responding with "Hi." An agonizing moment of silence transpired between them as they inspected each other. Finally, the soldier broke his defensive stance taking a few steps closer to the bed; even so he never let his hand fall from its position. Green eyes looked down at Kaldur before the man spoke again.

"How are you? That was a pretty nasty gash you got on your arm. I'm no medic, but I managed it to get it bandaged and cleaned."

Kaldur glanced down at his left arm, before looking back up at the man.

"I feel fine. Thank you for your hospitality. Although, I do question why you would offer such care."

Black eyebrows raised ever so slightly. "You were hurt, so I helped you. There's not much else to it, kid. Still, it would be nice to know your name. So, what is it?"

Maes had to admit, he was fairly surprised. The kid was perceptive, no doubt. From the moment he regained consciousness, the boy had observed everything he saw with care, ranging from the handcuffs to even Maes himself.

Hughes' fingers twitched slightly as he awaited an answer from the teen. He had opted for a more friendly and casual interrogation method. Although young, the kid had muscle and he doubted that being hostile would really illicit responses anyway. At least, not the kind that he wanted.

Matching his gaze with the silver-blue eyed one of his 'guest', Maes was about to speak again when the kid beat him to it.

"Kaldur'ahm."

Maes' eyebrows raised higher. 'Odd name.' Curving his lips upwards slightly, Hughes swiftly introduced himself in kind.

"Maes Hughes."

Kaldur'ahm glanced at his coat that still resided on the chair, before looking up at him again. "You are a soldier."

Maes' fingers twitched again. "That I am." He let a few seconds pass, in which he contemplated whether or not to give his rank. Clearing his throat, Maes continued. "Lieutanent Colonel Maes Hughes of the Amestrian Military."

"Amestrian?" Kaldur'ahms eyebrows were furrowed in slight confusion. Maes blinked. "Yes? Amestrian as in the country of Amestris. The country we're in right now."

'Amestris?'

Kaldur was confused. Even with his limited knowledge of the surface world, he had never heard of a country called Amestris. Regardless, Kaldur was pretty sure yesterday he was in America.

Yesterday... Kaldur paused, a feeling of unease settling in him. What happened yesterday?

Kaldur lifted a hand up to his head, momentarily forgetting about the other occupant in the room. His mind felt like someone had shoved cotton balls into it and the harder he tried to remember, the more difficult it became to focus.

And then, suddenly, it came rushing back to him.

The mission.

His Team.

The base.

All of it.

He had found the stone, the target of the mission. But, just as he was going to complete what they had been sent there to do, he was...

Kaldur let out a hiss of pain as his head erupted in hot pain. Images flashed before him.

A white, empty void with a big looming door that had... something scrawled on it. And a silhouette in front of it, its face seemingly non-existent, save for its wide, unnerving smile.

Kaldur clenched his eyes shut, as the pain significantly worsened. The door had opened and... inside... had been something unfathomable for someone like him.

Hundreds upon thousands of magical scripture had proceeded to pour into his addled mind. Everything from a basic water manipulation spell to something he could only have seen in passing in his King's most restricted files.

As more information was fed into him, his head suffered the brunt of it. Completely forgetting about the soldier in the room with him, Kaldur fell back onto the bed with a gasp. Writhing in agony, he only barely registered the feel of two hands on his arms, pushing him further back into the bed.

And then, bursting through the haze of pain, came a voice.

No.

Not just one.

Thousands. All of them uttering the same thing at the same time.

"It's a pity you can't pay your toll right now. Nevertheless, enjoy your stay. I'll be waiting Fish Boy."

And with that Kaldur knew no more.

Maes let out a shaky breath. He gently let Kaldur'ahm's head hit the pillow before he stood up. Just minutes before, the kid had been fine and now he was unconscious. Again.

'Not how I planned this to go.'

Maes sighed heavily, before walking over to the left side of the bed. Whatever had caused Kaldur'ahm so much pain had also caused the boy to jerk quite violently. During of which, Maes heard sounds that strikingly resembled wood splintering.

Kneeling, Hughes frowned. There were tiny shards of wood littering the floor; and dangling above said floor was a handcuff. A newly freed handcuff.

Typically, one should seek backup at this point. But, seeing as how the only soldier he could trust with this is currently on a train, Maes is going to have to improvise.

He groaned, leaning back on his heels. Roy better be here in the next 24 hours or he feared his sanity may just give out on him.