Chapter 1: Depths

This story will have the same dialogue from season 2 but will be slightly altered with some extra dialogue that did not appear in the show.

Superboy, overtime in this story, will be heavily influenced by his Prime Earth (New 52) counterpart, so that includes telepathy (which allows him to fly) and telekinesis.

Young Justice belongs to DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation.

…

Cape Canaveral

March 19, 21:16 EDT

Nightwing and Artemis were on the top of a watchtower, using binoculars to search for any enemy activity. The Team's mission was to protect a new Communications satellite, by the Ferris Aircraft company, from being destroyed by Black Manta's forces which included their former leader, Aqualad.

"I know I'm not Wally's favorite person right about now but… it is nice to have you back." Nightwing commented, smiling at her.

She returned it as she put down her binoculars and grabbed her bow to tinker with it, "It's nice to be back. And I didn't realize how much I've been missing it. Which is pretty much exactly what Wally is 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."

Nightwing kept his smile on, "I know exactly what you mean."

"Yeah," She sighed as she looked at the night sky, "Is this gonna work?"

"You being undercover with Kaldur?"

She nodded, "I'm worried. What if the plan doesn't work?"

"It has to. You will be fine with Kaldur."

"Okay. I'm changing the subject."

"Anything else you want to talk about?"

"What really happened to them?"

"Who?"

"Conner and M'gann. Their relationship? I mean… they seemed so perfect for each other."

His smile turned into a scowl, "I wouldn't say that in front of Conner or M'gann right now."

"Do you know?"

He sighed, "Not one bit."

…

Meanwhile…

They were both there, without saying a word to each other.

"So… now we're never talking again?" Miss Martian asked. She was sitting on the Bio-Ships controls, her hands on the spheres.

"Gee, you read my mind," Superboy replied bitterly, turning his head to look at her.

M'gann rolled her eyes and sighed, "I don't have to read your mind to know how you feel, Conner. But the breakup was your idea."

Turning his chair, he retorted, "Don't pretend you don't know why!"

She raised her left arm, not wanting Conner to remind her, "I know! I know! You disapprove of how I use my psychic powers."

"You mean how you abuse them! Ripping intel from the minds of your victims, with no concern for what it does to their psyches!" He exclaimed indignantly.

She exclaimed back, "They're not victims! They're the BAD GUYS! That information is helping the Team, the League, the entire planet!"

"And leaving your victims… in a catatonic state!" He corrected her, "It's not right, M'gann! You're behaving no better than Psimon!"

Her face said it all. She felt offended as she mildly dropped her jaw then closed it before speaking again, "If you feel that strongly, why not tell Nightwing? Or the League?"

Conner frowned and breathed slowly, "I was hoping… I mattered enough for you to make you stop. I didn't think you'd try to tamper with my mind… try and make me forget I was upset with you."

M'gann lowered her eyes in sadness, "Conner… I'm sorry about that."

He turned his chair back to the console, "Sorry you did it? Or sorry you got caught?"

He refused to look at her again, while she stared at him.

"After all we've been through," Conner spoke in a sad tone but did not shed a tear, "How could you think I wouldn't recognize your touch inside my mind? Didn't you know what that touch meant to me?"

Water formed in M'gann's eyes and wiped them while Conner continued to speak.

"And to have you… perverted like that. Guess I was kidding myself. I mean… how replaceable was I? Two minutes after I ended our relationship you're dating the rebound guy from the Black Lagoon."

"La'gaan is NOT my rebound guy."

"Well lucky La'gaan," he said as he stood up to gaze at the night stars.

M'gann kept a frown on her face as she rummaged through old memories of her and Conner. They were perfect times. Then the mistakes happened. But that was all part of a relationship. So she didn't know why attacking people psychically was such a big deal. Then she thought, was it really only her fault?

"I'm not the only reason we broke up. Am I?"

He didn't respond for a full ten seconds, "Of course not."

Now M'gann was curious to know what that other reason was, without invading Conner's mind because she knew he would have snapped at her. And not in a good way, "Did you… fall in love with someone else?"

"No."

"Did you… just stop loving me?"

"I could never stop loving you," Conner looked at her again, "I still do, M'gann."

"Then why do you act as if you hate me?"

"I don't hate you. I just hate what you did and still do. Especially what happened two months ago when you fried the brain of that Krolotean."

She frowned, "Conner… what are you asking me to do?"

"Isn't it obvious? I want you to stop."

"You know I can't."

He breathed from his nose.,"If you want to keep frying brains to get intel, fine. But you and the rookie better stop showing your affections in front of me."

"Rookie?" She couldn't believe his insult on La'gaan, "Seriously?"

He shrugged, "Well, he is. You can't deny that."

She couldn't. La'gaan WAS a rookie on the Team. But she complied, "Alright, no more affection in front of you."

"Thank you," he said in a mocking voice.

Conner felt as if their conversation had come to an end, but for M'gann, it wasn't. She wanted to know one more thing, "But what's the other reason?"

He did not speak. This other reason was more of his problem, not M'gann's. Something he refused to tell anyone, even Superman.

"Conner?"

"Woah." La'gaan expressed in the link, "Heads up. We got a lot of bad guys."

"How many?" Artemis inquired.

"A lot. Black Manta's troopers. They're establishing… some kind of platform beneath the surface just offshore. I'm taking them down."

"Belay that, Lagoon Boy. Wait for backup." Nightwing stopped him.

"Hold on, I'll get a rebreather and help the rookie out." Conner insulted again.

"Conner!" M'gann chastised.

"'Rookie'!? Neptune's Beard, I DON'T NEED ANY HELP FROM THE BOY OF STEEL!" Lagoon Boy exclaimed as he turned into his puffer mode and attacked the troopers.

"Lagoon Boy! Stand down!" Nightwing ordered.

"Sorry, but you're breaking up!" He said while making static sounds.

Nightwing groaned, "There's no static on a psychic link!"

As La'gaan attacked the troopers, several of them swam to the surface. Artemis and Nightwing grappled down to face them.

"Superboy! Did you get that rebreather yet?" Nightwing asked.

"Negative."

"Why not!?"

"Why? Because the ROOKIE didn't refill them," he didn't care if he insulted Lagoon Boy anymore. He hated his guts anyways, "M'gann, help your boyfriend out! I'll control the Bio-Ship!"

"Understood."

…

Three Hours Later…

…

Black Manta's Command Ship

March 20, 00:00 EDT

Aqualad, in his black armor, walked towards his father, Black Manta, surrounded by his troops.

"Congratulations, Kaldur'ahm," he said, "You had quite a day. Capturing the Atlantean and killing a former teammate. And… destroying the Communication Satellite."

"My crew did not destroy it, father. Its rocket must have malfunctioned," Kaldur said disappointedly, his eyes pointing to the floor, "Our victory was pure luck."

"I don't believe in… luck. Which is why I arranged to have a bomb with an altitude sensor smuggled onto the Com-Sat's rocket days ago."

Aqualad looked up slightly shocked as Black Manta continued, "THIS… was your final test. To see if you would take credit for something you did not accomplish."

"And… what if I had succeeded?"

"Then another test would have awaited. For it is not success where a true character is revealed… but in failure," Black Manta concluded as he took off his helmet, "I am quite proud of you, my boy."

He placed a hand on his son's shoulder, who was smiling, "You are ready for the next level."

"What is it, father?"

"The Light calls for another in your former team." Black Manta said a name, but it sounded muffled in Aqualad's ears.

His eyes widened as he heard it. No. Not him.

…

Mount Justice

March 20, 03:58 EDT

It was not a good day for M'gann. La'gaan is captured by Black Manta's forces, and Artemis is seemingly killed by Aqualad. Superboy found no heartbeat.

In the living room, the team mourned together while M'gann sat on the couch, crying alone. Conner could only watch her in silence. He wanted to comfort her, but stopped mid-way and instead let Beast Boy, her adoptive brother, comfort her.

Mal and Karen walked up to him as he told them, "We have to find La'gaan. AND Aqualad." He said 'Aqualad' in a bitter tone.

"No doubt," Mal said, "Where's Nightwing? He should be here."

Superboy sighed painfully, "He went to tell Wally."

Mal and Karen exchanged shocked looks, to which Karen said, "That's not gonna end well."

"Nothing does," Superboy shook his head slowly as he leaned on the wall behind him, "The world is changing. And here I am. Still the same."

"Don't worry, one day… maybe you will finally age."

He chuckled coldly before walking away, "That one day is… never."

M'gann was still crying, her head on Beast Boy's shoulders.

"It's gonna be alright sis. We'll get Aqualad and take him down. I'm sure of it!" He reassured her, trying to make her smile at least.

She gave a weak smile and wiped away her tears, "Yeah. We'll get him."

Then she noticed Conner walking away. Maybe he could cheer her up more, "Thank you, Gar. Excuse me."

Gar did not say anything as he saw where she was going. He grinned, "There you go. Crawl back to him, sis!"

"Shut up."

…

"Conner!" M'gann said as she followed him into the hallway, "Where are you going?"

He stopped to look at her, surprised to see her, "I'm… going to bed."

"But… your room is on the far left corridor." She corrected him as she pointed.

Superboy's eyes squinted and couldn't help but smirk, "Where are you going?"

She blushed and widened her eyes, "I… I want to take a shower."

"But the bathroom's that way." He pointed to the right corridor.

"Right." They stood there in silence. Very awkward.

"Actually I'm…", he scratched his head, "Heading out for a walk."

"Oh. Well… can I… uh…"

Conner raised an eyebrow, not wanting to look annoyed. However, he wasn't. Just very curious.

"Can I join you?" She asked.

"Umm…"

"Please?"

He looked at her orange eyes. Oh, how he loved to gaze at them from time to time. It may sound disturbing, but how could anyone blame him?

After some time thinking, Conner sighed as he took off his fingerless gloves and un-tightened his belt, taking it off, to loosen his pants a bit, so it could make him seem more casual in public, "Alright."

…

Providence, Rhode Island

March 20, 04:00 EDT

Their walk together was quiet. They barely spoke to each other. But M'gann wanted to join, so she knew she couldn't say anything. Most would find this boring. Not for her. They may not be together anymore, but she still loved Conner's company.

As they walked on the sidewalk that overlooked the Providence Canal, M'gann stopped walking.

"You alright?" Conner noticed and turned around. He moved towards her.

The waters formed again in her eyes. She shook violently, breathed irregularly and almost fell. Luckily, Conner was fast enough to catch her.

"Hey, it's alright." He rubbed her back.

"Oh, God! Conner, she's gone!" She reached out and cried on his shoulder, eyes closed as the tears flowed, "And they took him as well!"

"I know," he shed a tear as well but quickly wiped it before reassuring her, "Don't worry. We'll find La'gaan and bring him back to you."

M'gann opened her eyes and moved her head to look at him, "But… you hate him. Don't you?"

"I do," he said easily, "But even if he's a jerk in my eyes, he's good for you. Because he makes you happy. And if you're happy… then I'm happy."

"Conner," Miss Martian placed a hand on his cheek, "Thank you."

He smiled at her and helped her stand, "You're welcome."

…

They went to the park and up a hill to lie down and look at the stars. They were there, so why not?

"It's beautiful, isn't it? The stars." Conner said.

M'gann replied, "Yeah they are."

"Can I tell you something I never told the others about?"

"Sure."

He reached out with his left arm and spoke, "Every night… I'd always dream about flying into the skies."

The Martian smiled, looking at him, "Sounds nice."

"Yeah. I always get snippets of what my future could be; finding a girl, getting married, having kids, a nice home with a white picket fence. I see them grow old," then he frowned as he brought his arm down, "But what about me? I'm still the same."

Her smile turned upside down, "Conner…"

"Don't you see, M'gann? It's me."

"W...what?"

"Me. I'm the other reason why I broke up with you."

M'gann raised her eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

"Come on. Look at me," he sat up and gestured his whole being, "What do you see?"

It was her turn to sit up, "I see Conner Kent. That's who I see."

"Really?" He snorted as he stood up quickly, "Because I see a curse."

"You are not a curse, Conner."

"M'gann, I can't visibly age! Can't you see that I'm… suffering on the inside?"

"Then let me help you," She said honestly, standing up as well.

As she walked towards him, he moved back, "M'gann, don't bother."

"Conner… let me." Her tone wasn't forceful. It was sweet. Her arm stretched to touch his head but he stopped her.

"Please. Don't." He let go of her arm.

"Sorry."

He started to walk to the park's exit, "Let's go back. And we're not having this discussion with anyone else."

"Okay." She said disappointedly, but she knew that him stopping her was probably a better idea.

…

Meanwhile…

Blüdhaven

March 20, 04:00 EDT

The four out of the original six members gathered in the docks; Nightwing, Kid Flash, Artemis, and Aqualad.

"I believe our ruse was successful?" Aqualad inquired.

"Almost too successful," Nightwing spoke quietly, "Everyone's in mourning. They may never forgive us."

"And still only the four of us know the secret?"

"This secret… and the other. That you've been in deep cover within Black Manta's organization since leaving the Team. How'd it go on that end?"

"Successful as well. I've proven my loyalty to my biological father. He is moving me up the ladder, bringing me closer to the Light. And their unknown partner."

Nightwing shook his head, "Not without cost, Kaldur. The Com-Sat wasn't supposed to be destroyed. And La'gaan definitely wasn't supposed to be captured!"

The Atlantean sighed sadly, "It was the only way to save his life, and to maintain my cover."

"I'm not blaming you," Batman's protege walked up to him and placed his hand on Kaldur's shoulder, "I know you've been forced to make impossible decisions. Like choosing between saving the Kroloteans on Malina Island…"

"Or saving my friends. I will find a way to help La'gaan. You have my word."

Artemis spoke up this time, "So what now?"

Nightwing grabbed something from his utility belt. It was a necklace with a golden crystal. He put it around her.

"Uh… dude? Why are you giving bling to my dead girlfriend." He joked in a serious tone.

"It's a glamor charm. Courtesy of Zatanna. A… physio-morphic spell I think? She set it backward."

"Wow." Wally stared at her, "You look… exactly the same."

"Only to the four of us." Nightwing pointed out, "To anyone else… you're an entirely different person."

A puddle on top of an oil barrel reflected on Artemis's face. Her hair was black instead of blonde.

"The more impressive trick is how you got something so specific from Zatanna," Artemis commented, "Without revealing who or what it was for."

"Well…" He rubbed the back of his neck, "We have a history."

"Heh, 'dog'." Wally nudged his best friend's side.

Kaldur spoke, "It is time."

Before departing, Artemis and Wally embraced tightly and kissed.

"What could go wrong?" Artemis joked, making Wally chuckle.

"Don't say that." He replied with a grin as Dick came in to hug Artemis as well.

"Good luck, Artemis," Dick said.

Then Wally looked at Kaldur, who was staring into the oblivion, contemplating something. The speedster's eyes squinted.

"Hold on… I don't mean to be rude or anything but, I think there's something you're not telling us, Kaldur?" Wally said. The other two turned to look at their undercover leader.

Kaldur sighed again, "My apologies. The Light has given me a mission if I were to get even closer. I had no choice but to accept it."

"What?" Nightwing was nervous.

"The Light is calling for someone in the Team. And he must be retrieved ASAP."

"Who?"

"...Superboy."

All their eyes widened, Shit.

"What are we going to do?" Artemis asked anxiously, "The last thing we want is our strongest member knowing our secret and rant at us for not telling anyone... or worse."

"...Join the bad guys." Wally winced. They all looked at each other, exchanging expressions of worry and fear

"Don't worry, we'll think this through," Nightwing placed his hand on his chin, thinking of a possible solution, "You two go."

Artemis and Aqualad nodded. The latter said, "I apologize, truly. I do NOT want Conner dragged into this."

"You had no choice," Wally shrugged with a monotone voice, "What else were you supposed to do?"

…

Wally and Dick watched Aqualad and Artemis jump into a Black Manta submarine, from the top of a building.

Once the submarine submerged underground, Nightwing spoke, "That's the hard part done. They're in."

"Who the hell are you kidding?" Wally retorted, "It only gets MORE dangerous from here."

"Wally…"

"And now the Light wants Conner as well!?" He was fuming with anger, "Don't tell me that you're gonna fake his death?"

"No. I can't," Nightwing shook his head in disapproval, "That would cause more pain to the Team than it already has."

"Then what?"

Nightwing looked down at his feet and after a moment's silence, "Maybe… maybe I should fake his death."

"MAYBE!?" Wally dashed towards him, grabbing him by the shoulders and shook him violently, "You're basing this… on a MAYBE!?"

"Wally, calm down! I'll think of something!"

"No! You have to think about it now!" He rebuffed as he let go, "How long are you gonna keep all of this a secret?"

"As long as I can. I have to. WE have to."

"Well, it has to come out eventually. Or else the consequences will be much worse. Think about it." Wally said for the last time before leaving Nightwing alone on the building top.

Dick contemplated the situation. It was a tough decision, fake Conner's death or let him get captured. Who knows what the Light would do to him.

He brought up his wrist communicator and typed a message for Aqualad.

Nightwing: I have a plan. Meet me tomorrow here in Blüdhaven again. Same time. We'll figure something out.

After a minute, Aqualad replied: Understood.

The former Robin nodded and turned off his communicator. "This is really bad."

…

Chapter 1 DONE!

Yes, this whole chapter is based on the episode 'Depths'. Sorry about that; there was no other title in my opinion.

I was listening to a track that is really helpful. It's "Just a Dream" by John Ottman. It's very emotional that it fits perfectly into this chapter.

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed. Please leave a review and let me know what you all thought. I'd really appreciate some feedback on this.

Have a great day/night!