Depths!

" Ugh! Can you two not do this right here?"

Kai asked Megan and Lagaan as they openly flirted in front of Superboy.

" Call me when it's time for the briefing Kai."

Superboy said as he walked away from the group.

" Lagaan you are playing with fire."

kai stated bluntly.

" What do you mean?"

Lagaan asked.

" Nothing, don't worry about kid."

Kai replied before walking away.

[ Recognized Artemis B07]

The cave announced the arrival of Artemis.

" ARTEMIS!"

Megan yelled as she hugged her old friend.

" Hi, Megan!"

Artemis replied as she gave the woman a hug.

" How's Wally?"

Megan asked.

" He's Wally."

Artemis replied making Megan laugh a little.

" Welcome back girl."

Malcom said as he greeted the Archer.

"Hey, Mal."

Artemis greeted the man.

" We have so missed you around here."

Connor said as he too greeted the woman.

" Connor!"

Artemis called out.

" Good to see you as always Artemis."

Kai said to the woman.

" Uh-uh! Don't think this makes up for what you and Wally did."

Artemis teased playfully.

" Still not letting that go huh?"

kai asked.

Artemis laughed and hugged the man.

"Okay, gamma squad listen up. the mission is a covert Op to cape Canaveral. To safeguard the first earth-mars com sat. There are people out there who don't even like the idea of aliens and will do anything to Scrubb this launch."

Nightwing explained. The thought of people hating aliens saddened Megan.

Kai seeing the woman down placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled, letting her know it was okay.

" But that's why I came back. Not all of us feel that way."

Artemis said as well.

" So, why are you going?"

Malcom asked.

" Well, let's say that after co-running this team for a year. I'm peckish for a little action."

Nightwing explained.

" All right, we have our mission. We know our objectives. We know our roles. Let's go get another win for the good guys."

kai stated

The team quickly boarded their ship and left to defend Feriss army base.

" Miss M Link us up!"

Kai ordered.

" Good, begin aerial sweep of the cave's perimeter."

Kai ordered

" Hey, boss. I'd be happy to join my angel fish on that assignment."

Lagaan stated.

" No, I have you where you're most needed Lagaan. Giving us maximum coverage in the water, on land, and in the air in case of any sabotage."

Kai explained

' That kid really needs to get his head on straight, before it gets him into trouble.'

Kai thought to himself.

" I know I let you pick the team for this Nightwing, but sooner or later we're going to have to have a talk with Superboy, Miss m and Lagoon boy."

Kai explained as he Artemis and Nightwing surveyed the area.

" I know."

Nightwing replied.

" What's going on with those three? What happened to Miss M and Superboy?"

Artemis asked.

" Too much to explain right now. But what I do know is those two basically hate each other. And Lagoon boy takes any opportunity to rub his relationship in Superboy's face. Sooner or later Superboy's gonna explode and hopefully he doesn't hurt the kid"

Kai explained as best he could.

" Yeah, that is a lot."

Artemis replied.

" Well, I can say that it is nice to have you back atleast."

Nightwing interjected.

" Nice to be back. I didn't realize how much I been missing it. Which is exactly what Wally's afraid of. He's worried the rush that comes with the mask will get its hooks in and I won't give it up until my dying day."

Artemis explained.

" I know exactly what you mean."

Kai said as he thought about his relationship with Donna.

The team sat by in silence as they watched their positions until Kai overheard their conversation.

"I was hoping I mattered enough to you to make you stop. I didn't think you'd try to tamper with my mind. Try to make me forget I was upset with you."

Connor explained.

" Connor I'm so sorry about that."

Megan apologized.

" Sorry you, did it? Or Sorry you got caught? After all we've been through, how could you think I wouldn't recognize your touch inside my mind? Didn't you know what that touch meant to me? And to have you pervert it like that. Guess I was kidding myself. I mean, how replaceable was I? Two minutes after our break-up you're dating the rebound guy from the black Lagoon."

Connor explained to the girl making her cry.

" Lagaan is not my rebound guy."

Megan argued.

" Well, lucky Lagaan."

Superboy replied.

' I'm sorry Connor.'

Kai thought to himself.

' Heads-up Menos. Manta's troopers are working some sort of platform just offshore. I'm taking them down.'

Lagaan explained.

' Negative! hold your position and wait for backup.'

Kai ordered.

' I'll scrounge a rebreather from cargo hold and help the rookie out.'

Connor replied.

' Rookie? Neptunes beard I don't need any help from the boy of steel!'

Lagaan declared as he rushed to attack Manta and his troopers.

' Lagaan Wait! Do not engage!'

Nightwing ordered.

' Sorry you're breaking up. Krr krrrrch!'

Lagaan feigned static.

' There's no static on a psychic Link!'

Nightwing replied.

" We got company!"

Artemis said as she spotted a group of guards heading towards the rocket.

" Engage!"

Kai ordered as he flew down to fight the troopers.

Nightwing and Artemis close behind.

' Superboy do you have that Rebreather?'

Kai asked.

' Negative Lagaan forgot to restock.'

Connor replied.

' Damn it. Okay Connor take the helm Miss M Help Lagan. Superboy we need cover fire down here.'

Kai ordered as he swatted the attacking guard away.

" A rocket!"

Nightwing yelled.

Kai turned to see a rocket heading straight towards the com sat and moved to intercept it, blocking it with his chest before it could hit. As he did so another rocket lunched from the water.

" Really? Another one? These guys are desperate."

kai stated as he moved to stop the rocket.

" Ekirts ti Nwod!"

Kai yelled as a bolt of Lightning fired from his hands and destroyed the rocket.

" Damn another one."

Kai yelled as another rocket rushed past him.

' Connor a little help.'

Kai yelled

' I can't there are too many. I'm not keeping up.'

Connor replied.

' Megan, get up here we need back-up.'

kai yelled out.

' I can't they have Lagaan.'

Megan replied.

' Focus on the rocket. It's mission priority!'

Connor exclaimed.

" Tsalb eseht Stekcor !"

Kai ordered as multiple bolts of Lightning shot out from his hands blasting away all of the rockets.

' Nice Shooting!'

Connor stated.

' Thanks! Now for the ground forces.'

Kai stated.

Kai turned to help his friends but was too late as Aqualad stabbed Artemis in her chest.

" ARTEMIS!"

Kai and Nightwing yelled as the woman fell to the ground. Just as she did the com-sat rocket exploded as well.

" Move out the mission is complete."

Kaldur stated to his troops.

" AHHHH!"

Kai yelled as he rushed Kaldur. He punched the man in his face and sent him crashing into the Ocean. He then turned to help Nightwing with Artemis, but it was too late.

" I don't hear her heartbeat."

Connor stated as he and Megan joined the two on the beach.

They all looked on in horror as dick finally stopped Cpr and announced her Dead. The four heroes decided now wasn't the time to grieve. Nightwing collected Artemis's body and the four boarded the bioship to return to the cave.

[ Mount Justice. March 20th. 03:58 EDT]

The team sat inside the cave grieving the sudden loss of one of their oldest friends. Kai sat arm in arm with his Wife, Donna, and His sister, Cassie.

" It's okay, Kai. It's going to be okay."

Donna said as she held the crying man's head in her arms.

" I should have stopped it. Why am I never fast enough when I need to be?"

kai asked.

" It's okay, Brother. It's going to be okay."

Cassie said as she cried into her brothers arms.

" I swear I'll tear him to pieces for this!"

Kai growled in anger.

" If it's the last thing I do."

He barely whispered.

The night went by, and the team said their goodbyes. Donna and Kai dropped Cassie, off at her mothers and returned to their home to rest after the long and painful day they had.