Deck of Cards Series: Love is A Deck Of Cards

Amber, Amber, Amber

On a sandy beach, at Cape Canaveral an intense battle was in play. Nightwing and a returning Artemis fighting Manta goons off as Superboy gives them air support shooting at the missiles threatening to shoot down the com-sat.

Meanwhile Miss Martian was in the ocean in hopes to save a now captured Lagoon Boy.

As each member of the team was engaged in battle a rising threat was coming from the water.

Kaldur breached through the surface level of the water with a team of manta goons. Kaldur gave them a cold look as he kept his gaze on Artemis and Nightwing.

Artemis and Nightwing turned to face Kaldur. Artemis tried to reason with, "Kaldur, you don't want to do this."

"I believe I do." Kaldur then used his water bearers to form a leviathan shaped creature and used it to rush at the two. Artemis and Nightwing were pushed back by the force.

All of sudden a loud shaking occurred as the com-sat rocket took off for launch.

Kaldur sent a small missile in an attempt to stop it but Artemis was able to shoot it down. With the failure of his mission's goal Kaldur went in to attack.

Nightwing went first, but was pushed out of the way by Kaldur's hammer. Kaldur rushed at Artemis as he knocked her bow out of her hand before turning one of his hammers into a sword. With swift speed Kaldur aimed the sword right at Artemis as the sword went through its target.

Kaldur then whispered to her mockingly, "Welcome back." Kaldur pulled out his sword as Artemis grasped her stomach in pain.

From nearby Nightwing called out to her, "Artemis!" Nightwing rushed over to her, catching her before she fell, "I got you. Hang on."

Kaldur placed his water bearers back in their holders as three troops came to stand behind him. Kaldur looked up at the com-act, seeing his failure in accomplishing his mission.

"Move out. The mission is a failure." But then a sudden boom occurred as the group looked up to see the com-act explode.

Kaldur narrowed his eyes at the site.

"We are done here."

With that Kaldur and his troops left, returning back to the water leaving Nightwing and a dying Artemis.

Superboy came running when he saw Artemis on the ground, soon joined by Miss Martian.

Superboy stared down at Nightwing giving Artemis CPR with astonishment.

"I...I don't hear her heartbeat."

Nightwing however ignored him as he continued to give Artemis CPR in hope of restarting her heart, but it was no use.

Artemis was dead.

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Back on the main manta sub Kaldur and his team arrived back to be greeted by Manta and a line of soldiers.

"Congratulations, Kaldur'ahm! You had quite a day. Capturing the Atlantean. Killing a former teammate. Destroying the com-sat."

"My crew did not destroy the com-sat, father. Its rocket must have malfunctioned. Our victory was mere luck."

"I don't believe in luck. Which is why I arranged to have a bomb with an altitude sensor smuggled onto the com-sat rocket days ago."

Kaldur looked at his father in surprise, as his father continued, "This was your final test. To see if you would take credit for what you had not accomplished."