Behind the Mask

Chapter 17

Artemis was gone. Batman was gone. Gone, just like that. Disintegrated by alien technology, leaving nothing - nothing - behind. Nothing except him. They’d left him alone, again, just like that night so many years ago where his entire world had come crashing down. It wouldn’t be long before it fell again and this time, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to pick up the pieces. This time, he was sure it would shatter him. Artemis was gone. Batman was gone. And now, Aqualad was gone. Now, he was the leader. And he couldn’t afford to let the others fall as well. If he would crumble, it would be later, alone, and only him. He didn’t want to drag anyone else down with him.

“Our next mission is clear,” Robin announced, pulling up a screen in front of the remaining Team. “If we believe the aliens have been teleporting their victims-” he had to give them hope.

“-Which we do.” Kid Flash interrupted, glaring down at Robin. It was working.

“Then the only reasonable detention facility is their mother ship.” Robin swiped the screen on his gauntlet computer and a picture of a weird, spiky, fruit-like object appeared on the screen. “It’s located in Smallville. Or, what used to be Smallville. Ring any bells?” He turned to Martian Manhunter who was sitting behind the Team.

“No, I’m afraid not.”

“Well, it’s the only thing we got.” Robin turned to face the rest of the Team, already outlining a plan. “Superboy, you’ll create a distraction.”

“No!” Miss Martian stepped forward angrily, a glare on her face that Robin had only seen when she was fighting villains. “He’s offering you as a sacrifice!” She turned to her boyfriend, worry playing across her features. “Aqualad would never do that.” She glared at Robin again.

“You’re right. Aqualad would sacrifice himself.” Robin returned her glare full force, hating himself for it, but knowing it’s what Batman would do. “A mistake that just cost us our leader.” He paused to let it sink in before continuing. “Superboy is the most likely to be perceived as a threat, causing the aliens to deploy troops against him.”

“Worst case scenario,” Kid Flash stepped up behind Robin. “He’s teleported inside the spiky thing and we set him free with Artemis. And Aqualad and everybody else.”

Robin nodded; even if it wasn’t true, he was glad to have Kid Flash on his side.

“He’s right,” Superboy turned to Miss Martian. “It’s what Superman would do.”

Robin only hoped he was right.

oOo

Sighing slightly, Robin lowered the binoculars from the front of his face and turned to the Martian girl next to him.

“Stay close to J’onn,” he told her. “He still kinda….” He wiggled his hand, back and forth, hoping she’d get what he meant.

Miss Martian only nodded and Robin could tell she was still mad at him for sending Superboy out as a distraction. And surprised she knew the concept of the silent treatment. He hoped he wouldn’t lose her friendship, but there was too much at stake to care at the moment.

“Alright, first team, deploy.”                                              

The two Martians took off into the sky, grasping hands before disappearing. Robin stood silent, waiting for the signal, absently fingering the bombs strapped to his chest. He could feel the clone’s presence next to him and only hoped that he wasn’t angry at him as well. Of course he deserved to be, and Robin even hated himself for making Superboy do this, ripping him away from M’gann, crushing her world, but deep inside, he didn’t want to turn his Team, all he had left, against him.