Secrets and Lies

Before the Dawn

Star City
March 30, 21:57 PDT
Behind metal fences, a group of lost teenagers shivered in fear.  "Where are they taking us?"  "I wanna go home!"  "Let us go!"  Batgirl and Robin snuck into the cage.  At first, the other teen captives seemed frightened.  "Wh-Why-Wh-Who-"  Batgirl shushed them.  "We're here to help!"  "Why should we trust-"  Just then, Bumblebee flew past, hiding her shrunken self in the inside of Tim's jacket.  "Okay.  Never mind."

At that moment, the Manta troopers stepped aside to reveal the Hunter in all his glory.  "Bring out the pods.  Now!"  The troopers pushed out a dozen containment pods given to them by the Reach.  "Alright!  Get those pods open!", Hunter commanded.  "We're on a schedule!  And Kaldur'alhm does not tolerate delay." The troopers opened all of the Reach pods, configuring them to fit and contain each prisoner. "One per pod. Move!" The troopers opened the fence and grabbed the teens one by one, shoving them into a pod and sealing it over them.

Batgirl and Robin made no fuss whatsoever as they were loaded into Reach pods of their own. As soon as every captive was sealed in a pod, the Manta Sub rose from underwater next to the dock. "Okay! Go!", Hunter demanded. "Boat 'em an' float 'em!" The troopers obeyed, wheeling the hostages into the ship, Hunter close behind. As the Sub sailed deeper and deeper into the sea, the camouflaged Bio-Ship sailed behind it, unnoticed.

"Good. They're leading us to Lagoon Boy and the others.", Nightwing said. "How can you be sure?", Wondergirl asked. "Wishful thinking." "And...the abductee shipment at the docks...how did you know about that?" "Aquaman came across the intel while searching for La'gaan.", Nightwing explained, trying to ignore the guilty feeling he felt into his stomach for lying to her.c
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Miss Martian phased through the Manta Sub until she came to the section where Impulse and Beast Boy were being held. They were unconscious, but they were still alive. Miss M, get our boys. She didn't need to be told twice. She busted the pods apart with her telekinesis and lowered herself to her little brother's side. I knew you'd come for me. He got up and looked her over. Are you shorter? What? Uh-oh! She grew herself. The water pressure outside the Bio-Ship compacted-

Thanks for the rescue!, Impulse said over the link. Now I gotta find Blue! Without waiting for Miss Martian and Beast Boy, he zoomed off. Impulse! Garfield put his nose into the air and sniffed. This way! He turned the corner, his blood sister right behind him.
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She flew through the air down the halls, beside her little brother, when out of nowhere, who should turn the corner and appear in their path, but their old friend-turned-enemy Aqualad. "YOU!", she screamed. Images of him killing Conner flashed in her mind as she stopped in front of him, eyes glowing green. "MURDERER!" She forced her way into his mind, ignoring his screams. "This is for Conner!"

Kaldur cried out in pain and fell to his knees, clutching his head in his hands. M'gann went ripped into his mind, his memories flashing in her own. Forming the Team with Wally and Robin, their first mission, meeting Artemis, getting his heart broken by Tula, New Year's 2011, dating Raquel...then she saw some new images. Kaldur shaking hands with Nightwing, faking Superboy's death, Nightwing giving him the glamour charm, taking him undercover, Kaldur passing a flash drive to Nightwing, blowing up the Cave...the last thing she saw was Conner, wearing the Hunter's costume, the glamour charm around his neck.

Her eyes lost their glow, replaced with shock and horror.  "No..."  She fell to her knees, not noticing Gar trying to shake her awake.  Just then, Hunter ran over and saw what had happened.  "Kaldur!"  He ran over to his partner, staring in horror before looking at the Martian.  M'gann fought back tears, realizing what she had done.  The Hunter's brown hair and brown eyes disappeared, and all she saw was Conner's concerned face.  M'gann...what have you done?, he said, using the link he had once cherished.  I thought he killed you...I thought he deserved it...  A single tear slipped down her cheek.

Beast Boy shifted into a green tiger and charged at Aqualad.  The Hunter picked him up and threw him down the hall before slinging Kaldur over his shoulder and running away.  "I'll take mine!  You take yours!  Count yourself lucky!"  Gar shifted back before returning to his sister's frozen form.  "M'gann!  Snap out of it!  You did good!  You took out Aqualad!  But the others still need our help!"
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M'gann sat near the window. "Mission accomplished. Care to take the wheel, Miss M? Miss M?" M'gann didn't hear Nightwing, or Beast Boy, or feel La'gaan on her shoulders. All she could think about was Aqualad, slumped on his knees, catatonic, and Conner, her own dear Conner, looking at her with disappointment in his eyes. M'gann...what have you done? Tears formed in her eyes. What have I done?