Secrets and Lies

Complications

Atlantic Ocean
May 27, 01:00 EDT
The Hunter poured a drink of water down Kaldur's throat before looking into the security camera.  "He's still not himself."  He looked at Conner in the mirror.  But than, who is?  M'gann looked at him.  So what's our next move?  He frowned.  With that inhibitor collar disabling your telekinesis and shape-shifting, not sure.  She sighed.  I guess we're lucky Deathstroke hasn't pressed a button to block my psychic powers, too.   Or pressed another button to blow your head off with the explosives built into the collar.

She looked back at Kaldur.  It hardly matters.  I know Manta's planning to kill me as soon as I've cured Kaldur.  Kaldur's thoughts joined tge conversation.  Which is why he must not know that I am already cured until we devise some way to save M'gann's life.  Hunter shook his head.  The question is, how long can we keep stalling?  At that moment, Black Manta came into the room.  "My patience has run out, Martian.  You have twenty-four hours.  Cure my son, or die."

And with that, he left the room.  Guess that answers your question., M'gann thought.  I'm doomed either way. Hunter shook his head.  No.  Over my dead body.
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No one noticed two scuba divers swim swiftly through the waters under the Manta Sub. They put a device near the door, triggering it to open seconds later. Stealthily, they entered the ship, undetected. They took out two troopers and took off their helmets to reveal themselves as Cheshire and Sportsmaster. "I want to make one thing clear.", she said sternly. "I'm only working with you to avenge Superboy for my sister."

"Yeah!", he snickered. "'Cause you and Artemis have always been so close. Rationalize it any way you want, little girl. Just handle Aqualad, and leave Black Manta to me." He put on his mask. "Luthor's paying me a bundle to put him down." "Is that all you care about?" "Don't kid yourself, Jade.", he said. "We're not that different." She said nothing as she put her own mask on.
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So we're all agreed?, Conner thought. No, we're not!, M'gann replied. I don't want the two of you risking exposure for me. Instead you expect us to sit back and ket you die?, Aqualad said. No. Superboy, begin. The Hunter looked up at the security cameras. "Deathstroke, been on duty for twelve hours straight. I need to stretch my legs, and I need coffee." The door opened, and Hunter stepped through. Conner? He turned around to see M'gann looking at him with pleading eyes. Please be careful.

A trooper took Hunter's place. This should not take long., Kaldur thought. No., M'gann said. Assuming he isn't caught. Just then, a vent opened on the ceiling. The trooper tried to shoot the intruder, but two electric lines connected to his shoulders and zapped him unconscious. Cheshire landed on her feet in front of Kaldur's bed and held up a throwing knife. "This is for Artemis." Reeling her arm back, she hurled the knife straight at Aqualad.

M'gann grabbed the stool nearby. "No!" She swung it in front of Kaldur, blocking the knife as it stuck into the wall. Cheshire wielded her sword. "You protect the man who murdered your true love?!" M'gann's eyes glowed. Cheshire, stop! You don't understand! Before she could explain, a third red light appeared on her collar, suppressing her telepathy. "No! Not now!" "What?!", Cheshire shrieked. "What don't I understand?!"

Troopers stormed down the hall, while Sportsmaster avoided them all. The Hunter saw the stampede and heard the alarm. M'gann? What's going on? M'gann! He came into the control room, trying to find the collar control.

Cheshire pointed her sword towards M'gann. "Looks like someone already got to Aqualad. In fact, looks like that someone was you. Which makes you defending him even more inexplicable, and me killing him a lot less amusing. But than again, I'm not here for the giggles." She raised her sword over her head, and was just about to slice Kaldur into two when a storm of troopers burst through the door. She slammed the door on them and locked it with her sword.