CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT LOG: THE CAVE
SORT BY: DATE
SORT BY: ASCENDING
TRANSFER [0300]
START: The Cave
DEST: BLOCKED
MESS. [0700]
SENT: Nightwing
RECEIVED: Alpha Team
SUBJ: Has anyone seen Kaldur?
REP: Kid Flash
Nope.
REP: Artemis
Not since yesterday. M'gann? You stayed up with him, right?
REP: Miss Martian
No, actually. He told me he needed some time alone. I wasn't sure about leaving him, but he really seemed to want some space. I left around 2000.
Do you guys think he's okay?
REP: Superboy
I haven't seen him anywhere.
REP: Zatanna
I checked the pool. No dice.
REP: Rocket
Checked the gym. Same here.
REP: Nightwing
That's a little concerning. Did he check in with anyone?
REP: Artemis
I think it's safe to say no. Otherwise someone should have said something.
I'm kind of worried
REP: Kid Flash
Same.
REP: Nightwing
Okay. I'm going to try giving Red Arrow a call. I'll get back to you guys.
Don't say anything to the rest. I don't want anyone panicking.
You know how Gar can get
REP: Artemis
Yeah. Can't blame him since…
REP: Miss Martian
Can we please not talk about this behind his back?
REP: Artemis
Sorry
MESS. [0730]
SENT: Nightwing
RECEIVED: Red Arrow
SUBJ: is Kaldur with you?
REP: Red Arrow
User currently in-accessible. Please try again later.
REP: Nightwing
Roy. As soon as you get this message, call me.
MESS. [0740]
SENT: Nightwing
RECEIVED: Alpha Team
SUBJ: Roy's still on radio silence
REP: Artemis
Is it just me or are the older, supposedly more responsible people in our lives terrible at communicating?
REP: Superboy
It's just you.
REP: Nightwing
Has anyone checked his room?
REP: Kid Flash
Yeah, but I didn't exactly perform a search
You looking for clues?
REP: Nightwing
If we don't hear from him soon, yeah.
REP: Miss Martian
Isn't that invading privacy?
I don't know if Kaldur would be okay with us going through his stuff.
REP: Nightwing
Well, yesterday I would have said Kaldur would never leave without telling us
So
Yeah
REP: Zatanna
Did anyone contact Aquaman?
He may have gone to his mentor
REP: Superboy
After that bomb he got dropped on him yesterday?
I don't think even Kaldur could have forgiven him that quickly
It's not okay to hide something like that from someone
I should know
REP: Artemis
But he might have gone to confront him
I probably would have
REP: Rocket
Did he come talk to you at all
Because you're both
You know?
REP: Artemis
Members of the "my dad's a villain" club?
No.
I thought he might but
No.
REP: Nightwing
I'm going to try contacting Aquaman
It's unlikely
But maybe Kaldur did go to confront him
MESS. [0830]
SENT: Nightwing
RECEIVED: Aquaman
SUBJ: Is Aqualad with you?
REP: Aquaman
Apologies, Nightwing, but King Orin cannot speak at this moment. This is Tempest.
Kaldur is not with us.
We had assumed he had returned home with you.
I have actually been trying to contact him for some time now.
REP: Nightwing
Oh. Hey, Garth.
Yeah, Kaldur came home with us last night.
But no one can find him right now
And he didn't leave a note
REP: Aquaman
That is most troubling.
Is he with Red Arrow?
REP: Nightwing
RA's still on radio silence, so we don't know for sure.
But I doubt it.
How are you holding up?
REP: Aquaman
Not well, if I am to be truthful.
Tula is- was very dear to me.
That Kaldur is now missing concerns me greatly.
REP: Nightwing
You really think it could be that bad?
REP: Aquaman
What I say now pains me greatly, Nightwing.
But, yes.
I fear it may be that bad.
Tula was not just a friend to Kaldur.
He was in love with her.
This loss, combined with the revelation of his father's identity and our King's hand in keeping it from him-
Let it just be said I hope you find him soon.
REP: Nightwing
Wait, Kaldur was what?
But I thought-
Oh.
Oh wow.
Okay. Do you, I don't know, have a family contact for him or something?
REP: Aquaman
Have you not already contacted Sha'lain'a?
REP: Nightwing
No. we don't have her info on file.
Can you send it to me?
REP: Aquaman
Yes. It is now sent.
Nightwing?
REP: Nightwing
Yeah?
REP: Aquaman
I pray that you find him quickly.
And when you do-
Please tell him that I wish to apologize.
He will know of what I speak.
REP: Nightwing
Cryptic, and kind of concerning? But, yeah.
I'll tell him.
And for what it's worth
I'm sorry.
About Tula.
REP: Aquaman
Please just…
Please just find Kaldur'ahm.
I do not know if I can bear losing both of them.
FILE. [0900]
SENT: Aquaman
RECEIVED: Nightwing
NAME: CONT. INFOR: SHA'LAIN'A OF SHAYERIS
MESS. [0905]
SENT: Nightwing
RECEIVED: Sha'lain'a of Shayeris
SUBJ: Location of Kaldur'ahm
REP: Sha'lain'a of Shayeris
My son is not with me.
Though my heart aches for the opposite to be true.
I had thought he was with you, and had planned to give him space.
Please update me when you get more information from him.
I need to make some inquiries of my own.
Good day.
REP: Nightwing
Well that was weird
MESS. [0925]
SENT: Nightwing
RECEIVED: Batman
SUBJ: Upgrade Aqualad to MIA status?
REP: Batman
Have you heard back from Red Arrow yet?
REP: Nightwing
Admittedly no.
He's maintaining radio silence.
I can't get in touch.
REP: Batman
I'll handle that. He'll check in soon.
REP: Nightwing
I'm not even going to bother asking how you plan on doing that.
But, Batman?
I'm worried.
REP: Batman
I know. But he might need time. I know this is out of character for him, but we all react differently to grief.
Sometime we do things we wouldn't normally do.
You know that.
REP: Nightwing
I really hate talking to you some days.
Nightwing out.
MESS. [0935]
SENT: Red Arrow
RECEIVED: Nightwing
SUBJ: I hate all of you
REP: Nightwing
Well maybe if you kept a channel open things would be easier.
How did he contact you anyways?
REP: Red Arrow
I really don't want to talk about it.
But it involved dogs.
Stop laughing and tell what the hell is wrong with Kaldur, Dick.
REP: Nightwing
Don't use my name on this channel.
But thanks. I really needed that.
Kaldur's missing.
REP: Red Arrow
I gathered.
I mean why. What happened?
Did you assholes finally drive him over the deep end?
REP: Nigtwing
Oh. Oh, wow. I forgot. You wouldn't know.
Tula's dead, Roy.
REP: Red Arrow
Fuck
Really?
You need to find him.
REP: Nightwing
There's more.
But I think he should probably tell you?
But yeah, we know.
We were hoping he'd be with you.
REP: Red Arrow
Well he's not. We actually haven't spoken in weeks.
I've been kind of busy.
I'm in Dubai right now anyways.
Not exactly Kaldur's kind of weather.
REP: Nightwing
Weeks? Really?
Uh.
Are you two okay?
REP: Red Arrow
No.
By which I mean no, I'm not talking with you about this.
I'm going to make some calls about Kaldur.
Keep me updated.
REP: Nightwing
Do you really think Cheshire can help with this?
REP: Red Arrow
She can try.
Keep me updated, I mean it.
I haven't talked to him in a while.
But.
I'm still worried about him.
Red Arrow out.
MESS. [0955]
SENT: BLOCKED
RECEIVED: BLOCKED
SUBJ: BLOCKED
REP: BLOCKED
I am in position to make contact.
I may be unable to contact you for several days.
REP: BLOCKED
Are you still sure about this?
I mean.
I know you are.
But.
REP: BLOCKED
My friend.
There is nothing in the world I desire less than to undertake the mission I am about to embark on.
But there is also no choice. The alternative to taking action while we can is not an option. We need information.
REP: BLOCKED
I know.
It's just. I'm sorry that you have to go through with this.
I talked to BLOCKED
REP: BLOCKED
Is he alright?
I mean.
His status?
REP: BLOCKED
He's fine. He's in BLOCKED, hunting.
He's worried about you. He's helping us look.
Are the two of you
Are you okay?
REP: BLOCKED
I do not believe he has been "okay" for quite a while.
His obsession, as well as other factors, have put
A strain
On our relationship with each other.
I must go.
I would ask that you tell him not to worry.
But I know that would violate mission integrity.
You targeted the site with your pirated satellite?
REP: BLOCKED
Yeah. Everything's set up to rock the team's foundations out from under them, if that's what you mean.
God this is so fucked up.
I'm scared BLOCKED is going to end up hating you. You know how he is about secrets.
I talked to your mom
I think she might suspect something
Though I'm not sure what
REP: BLOCKED
If my mother suspects the truth, she will remain silent. I trust her to know I have my reasons.
If she suspects otherwise
Well
All the better for our ruse.
REP: BLOCKED
I know it hurts you that she didn't tell you.
I still think you should have talked to her before you left.
REP: BLOCKED
I am aware of your reservations, andI know you mean well.
But I do not trust myself to speak to her.
I may end up saying too much.
And.
I am not sure if I am prepared to hear any explanations as to why she would keep this from me.
It is time. I will be in contact, old friend.
REP: BLOCKED
Good luck.
REP: BLOCKED
And to you as well. May we all see the end of this battle.
FILE. [1120]
SENT: Nightwing
RECEIVED: Batman
SUBJ: URGENT
REP: Nightwing
I picked this up from one of the satellites I have running.
This is low.
Even for you.
How could you send him on an undercover like this Bruce.
After everything he's been through?
You couldn't wait.
One.
Fucking.
Day?
REP: Batman
Never use my name through this network again.
And I did not send Aqualad undercover.
Something else is going on here. I will contact Aquaman.
Do not tell anyone about this until I get back to you.
Am I clear?
Nightwing.
REP: Nightwing
Oh my God.
I can't believe- yes. You're clear.
I'm sorry.
MESS. [1150]
SENT: Batman
RECEIVED: Nightwing
SUBJ: URGENT
REP: Batman
Orin's refusing to listen to me.
But a source I have inside confirmed it.
Aqualad has defected to Black Manta.
I will be making a general League announcement in ten minutes.
I am going to allow you to tell the team on your own.
In Aqualad's absence, you are to take over as leader until more permanent arrangements can be made.
The League will be making an inquiry later,
To see if we can tell when Aqualad made the descion to defect.
There are too many things we do not know.
In the meantime, the Cave is on lockdown until further notice.
I will contact you with further instructions.
Are we clear?
Am I clear?
Nightwing.
REP: Nightwing
We're clear.
Just.
I never would have expected it from him.
Of all people.
I'll tell the team.
Nightwing out.
REP: Batman
Dick.
For what it's worth.
I'm sorry.
I wouldn't have expected it from him either.
MESS. [1200]
SENT: Nightwing
RECEIVED: All
SUBJ: Meet in the Rec Room
REP: Miss Martian
Did you find Kaldur?
Is he okay?!
REP: Beastboy
Wait
Kaldur's been missing?!
Why didn't anyone tell me!
REP: Miss Martian
We didn't want to worry you.
REP: Kid Flash
Especially because we still don't know if he's actually missing.
Nightwing?
Is he okay?
REP: Nightwing
I'll give all of you an update in the rec room.
Please gather everyone as soon as possible
REP: Artemis
Well that's not ominous or anything
REP: Rocket
Does anyone know where La'gann is?
REP: Beastboy
We're swimming in the pool.
We'll be right out.
I'm still mad that you guys didn't ask me to help look for Kaldur.
REP: Superboy
Sorry
ALERT [1217]
DAMAGE: TV BROKEN
TRANSCRIPTION OF AUDIO SURVEILLANCE [5:00 TIME PERIOD ACCOMPANYING TRIGGERING INCIDENT]
Is everyone here?
Yeah, that's everyone.
Geeze man, I know there's a lot more of us now, but there's not so many that you can't tell if someone's missing.
Hey.
Are you okay?
Where's Kaldur?
That's- that's what I need to talk to you guys about.
We picked up footage from around San Fran about half an hour ago, and Batman's sources inside the League of Shadows confirmed it.
Aqualad had defected from the team and the League.
What?
He's joined Black Manta.
What?!
Kaldur would never-
Neptune's beard, do you actually expect us to believe that Kaldur of all people-
Quiet!
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, but it's true.
We'll have more information later.
In the meantime, the Cave is on lockdown until Batman gets back to me.
I need to go contact some people.
Nightwing, you can't just-
I need to tell his mom, okay.
O-okay.
Artemis, can you believe that Kaldur-
What the hell is going on-
There's no way, no way-
Superboy!
I need to get some air.
Superboy, we're on lockdown. We can't leave.
KF. Let. Go.
No, you need to calm down.
Conner, Wally's right. Breath. We'll figure this out.
I said. Let. Go.
Conner, you need to stay calm. Please.
Calm? CALM? KALDUR. WENT. DARK. SIDE. How the hell am I supposed to be calm?! How could he do this to us? Where the hell did this come from? Why are none of you freaking out!
We are, trust me, I'm as freaked out as you, but disobeying Batman won't-
Screw Batman, I need to get out of here. Let- go-shit
Conner! Come back!
Well there goes the T.V.
Do we really care?
No.
Artemis?
Yeah.
What's happening? How could he-
I.
I don't know
END AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION
MESS. [1220]
SENT: Nightwing
RECEIVED: Sha'lain'a of Shayeris
SUBJ: Kaldur'ahm, status change
REP: Nightwing
I'm sorry, ma'am.
But I'm regretful to inform you.
Aqualad has defected to the League of Shadows.
He has joined Black Manta.
REP: Sha'lain'a of Shayeris
I know.
I also know there is more to this than meets the eye.
REP: Nightwing
Excuse me?
How did you know?
And
What?
REP: Sha'lain'a of Shayeris
Let it suffice to say that I too have my connections within Black Manta's forces.
Nightwing.
REP: Nightwing
Yes?
REP: Sha'lain'a of Shayeris
Let it be known.
If what I suspect is in fact true.
And if you have played the role I believe you have played in my son's decision.
Know this.
If Kaldur'ahm of Shayeris dies for this.
If you do not do your best to protect my son.
You will regret it deeply.
REP: Nightwing
Understood.
Ma'am?
REP: Sha'lain'a of Shayeris
Yes?
REP: Nightwing
You are far too terrifying to be Kaldur's mother.
REP: Sha'lain'a of Shayeris
Oh, child.
If you have not come to fear my son, trust in this.
By the time he has finished his service by Black Manta's side,
You will know why you should fear him.
I hope you have thought carefully about what the two of you have chosen to do.
Because the boy who comes back will not be the one who left.
I know David.
And he will force my son to do terrible things to prove his loyalty.
And Kaldur'ahm will do these things because it is for the sake of something he beleives is right.
So if there is any doubt in your heart of the necessity of this deception.
Tell me now.
REP: Nightwing
As much as I wish it wasn't true.
He does need to do this.
I'm sorry.
REP: Sha'lain'a of Shayeris
You do not yet know the meaning of the sentiment.
But by the end of this.
You will.
As will I, for allowing this to go forward.
MESS. [1230]
SENT: Nightwing
RECEIVED: Red Arrow
SUBJ: Kaldur
REP: Nightwing
Roy
Roy answer me.
Damn you this is important.
REP: Red Arrow
User currently in-accessible. Please try again later.
REP: Nightwing
Dammit
Roy.
Kaldur joined his father.
He went dark side.
I'm sorry.
MESS. [2200]
SENT: Red Arrow
RECEIVED: Nightwing
SUBJ: Re: Kaldur
REP: Red Arrow
Dick.
What the fuck did you two do.