Avoiding Past And Future

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October 16

It was supposed to be just a simple training exercise. No actual harm done, just like it was all a collective lucid dream. A lucid dream that was being watched on the outside.

It was odd, seeing all 6 kids lay so motionless on the table. Set up in a circle, it nearly looked like the oddest sacrificial prayer circle they had ever seen. The electrode patches not helping the somewhat unnerving look of it. Wolf had decided to stick around as well, resting next to Connor. The bond between the boy and canine was exceptionally strong so they weren't too surprised.

The moment J'onn confirmed they were under, little projectors at the head of each table sparked to life. Turning on one by one, the perspective of each team member blinked to life. A small heartrate monitor depicted their physical and mental heartrates, just as a safety precaution.

At first it was quite interesting, seeing the world through their eyes. Especially Dick's, as the shortest in the group. It wasn't an angle any of them had ever experienced for themselves. All of them had started the hero business well into their adult years. The world really did look bigger through the eyes of younger ones.

The beginning went well. They could slightly tell the team was behaving more guarded, knowing they were being watched. It was a little daunting, watching their kids not react to their deaths, especially for those who had visual deaths occur. But, they were aware it was just a simulation. They knew the real mentors were perfectly fine, so there wasn't a need to take it personally.

They worked surprisingly well together. Somewhat better than anticipated as, outside of Batman and Canary, the others hadn't been close enough to team related things to get a feel for their performance together.

To nobody's surprise, however, the seriousness in the air faded after they boarded the Bioship. While there was still a certain level of professionalism, you could only expect so much when both Dick and Wally were put in the same small area for a long time. Speedsters always struggled with having to sit still for an extended period of time and Wally was no different. Pair that with Dick's general dislike for sitting straight in a chair and it was a recipe for minor chaos. With those two setting it off it wasn't long before Artemis and eventually the others, too, were dragged into it.

It pulled a smile to most mentors' faces. They were still just kids after all, no matter how much experience they already had in the field. As the two most senior members on the team, Dick and Wally had the most freedom to goof off during quieter times. Of course, that also meant they were also the ones who know best when it was time to straighten up.

The flight to the artic was relatively long, even with Bioship's speed. In their relative boredom, Barry and Oliver started a bet between who would mess up first and how. All in good faith of course, they were gunning for Wally tripping or Artemis missing a shot.

Dinah scolded the two, heavily discouraging the betting on their own protégés. Not like it actually stopped the two men. Much like Wally and Dick, Barry and Oliver were agents of chaos and they thrived on the little things. They immediately countered with betting Connor would lose his temper over something or disobey an order. Dinah only glared at the two, not dignifying it with a response.

The only people who remained sane during their antics were Arthur and Batman. J'onn was more focused on supervising the mental side of the exercise to pay them much mind.

Arthur had much faith in Kaldur. He was a very levelheaded boy for his age. Always working hard in their training and on missions. Though he admittedly has not seen much of the boy's solo work for himself, he did keep up with the reports of their missions. The pride he felt when it was announced Kaldur and Dick would co-lead the team was immeasurable. He was certain the boy would grow up to be a fine hero on his own and be a pride to Atlantis of which many tales would be written.