A/N: Sorry this has been delayed. I won't get too much into the details but it involves a sprained shoulder and a mild concussion.

Mount Justice – holding cells

10th November 2015

5.01 am

'We were wondering when you guys would get here.'

Batman ignored the red-haired Speedster in favour of examining his surroundings, mind already at work formulating an escape strategy.

'How long have you guys been down here?' Robin looked around curiously, taking in the several large holding cells. They didn't look like anything special and the bars were so far apart even an adult could squeeze through. He approached them cautiously, watching as something seemed to ripple in the air.

'15 minutes, give or take.' Kid Flash supplied, watching Batman out of the corner of his eye. 'That's a Forcefield,' he added. 'Don't touch it.'

Robin yanked his hand back from the field, '…right.'

'What happened?' Artemis demanded, her eyes narrowed as the caped crusader began to rummage in his utility belt.

'Computer was recalibrated,' he answered her gruffly.

'…which means what exactly?' She asked after it seemed no further explanation was forthcoming.

'Someone hacked into the system,' Robin explained. 'Whoever it was changed our status in the database to enemies – so it brought us here.'

'Who could have done that?' She frowned, 'isn't the security in this place…you know, tight'?'

'It is, but a smart hacker would've been able to get in no problem.'

'Like Nightwing?' Kid Flash realized.

'Yeah…' Robin's eyes widened, 'exactly like Nightwing.'

'But why would he do that?' Artemis interrupted, her tone sceptical.

'Because he had no choice,' Batman seemed to have found what he was looking for. It was a small device, black, with a tiny screen.

'I gathered,' Artemis bristled. Her glare dropped several degrees in warmth. 'I meant, what would make him?'

'Connor.' Kid Flash recalled his conversation with M'gann. He slammed a gloved fist into his palm, expression furious. 'Whoever's behind this must have Connor. M'gann said he went missing hours ago, only they didn't think he was at the time.'

Robin dropped his head, eyes downcast behind his mask.

'I should never have left,' he said quietly.

There was silence for a few moments and, when it appeared Batman wasn't going to say anything at all, Kid Flash hurriedly stepped in.

'Hey, it's not your fault.' He reassured the younger boy. The dark glare he shot towards the caped crusader had absolutely no effect; the older man simply ignored him in favour of continuing to fiddle with the device in his hands.

'I should have known something was up,' Robin insisted. 'Connor was missing, but I just didn't think anything of it.' He looked a couple of steps short of beating himself up, lips twisted into an uncharacteristic frown.

'No one is at fault,' Batman said as tonelessly as one might announce they were going to vacuum the floor. 'Stand back.' His fingers moved quickly over the device and it made a small beeping noise.

The three young heroes retreated to the opposite corner of the holding cell obediently, Kid Flash patting Robin comfortingly on the shoulder as they did so.

'What are you doing?' There was an argumentative edge to Artemis's tone and her eyes were narrowed.

She seemed surprised when the older man actually dignified her query with a verbal response.

'Interfering with the field.'

The device made a whirring sound and a beam of light shout out and hit the field. It wavered for a moment and then slowly a clear circle began to form around the light. It grew to half a metre and then snapped back to a few centimetres.

'Damn.' Batman muttered. He reprogrammed the device and started it up again. When the exact same thing happened he cursed and then turned to look over his shoulder.

'Can you get through?' He demanded, veiled gaze boring into Kid Flash's.

'No,' he shook his head apologetically. 'Not enough room to build up the speed.'

Batman said nothing, simply turning away and returning to the device.

'It doesn't matter,' Artemis placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. She knew how much it killed him that his powers were so much weaker than his mentor.

'Flash could do it.' He sighed moodily though he didn't shake her hand off.

'We'll find another way,' she tickled the nape of his neck.

'I know.' He smiled warmly, 'and that tickles.' He removed her hand, and kissed it, faster than she could blink.

'Charmer,' she laughed and smacked him the chest.

There was a distant beeping sound and then the sharp pop as atoms were zapped into existence mere inches away from them.

'Hey, welcome to the party!' Kid Flash joked. 'Glad you could make it.'

'Sweet, party!' Beast Boy nodded enthusiastically. 'Uhh, where are we?' He peered at the bars and extended a finger experimentally towards the empty space between them.

'Don't touch, BB.' Robin said hurriedly, 'it'll knock you unconscious.'

'Oh, noted.' Beast Boy retracted his finger sheepishly.

'What is going on?' M'gann frowned. Her eyes were glowing slightly but her expression was pained. 'I can't sense anything beyond this. Did you find Connor, and Nightwing?'

'Force Field installed by the Justice League,' Kid Flash explained. 'Someone recalibrated the computer so it sent us here. We're in the process of trying to break out and no, we have no idea where either of them are.'

'May I..?' She locked her gaze on his.

'Uh…sure.' It had been awhile since the Martian had been in his head, but he trusted her not to snoop. Her eyes flashed and then she was running through his most recent memories. It was over quickly and her eyes returned to their normal brown hue.

'Beast Boy can get through,' she turned to Batman.

He jerked his head sharply and then started the device up again as M'gann turned to the green boy.

'You've got this,' she smiled encouragingly. 'Just transform into a fly and go through.'

'Don't touch the sides,' Robin reminded him.

'Noted,' he grinned toothily and then changed. Within a few seconds there was a tiny green fly buzzing around the cell. He flitted through the small hole quickly and then reappeared on the other side.

'Easy as pie,' he dusted his hands off. 'Got something harder?'

'Turn the field off,' Batman growled. He pointed to a control panel across the room.

'We're never getting out of here,' Robin muttered.

'Hey,' Beast Boy complained. 'I'll get it.' He approached the panel and surveyed it, scratching his head. 'So which…button, is it then?'

'It won't be a button,' Kid Flash winced. 'Rob's right – we're stuck.'

'Here,' M'gann closed her eyes. 'Everybody linked?'

'How does this help?' Artemis wondered, 'we need to be able to see…'

'You've been out too long,' M'gann thought a little smugly 'I've learnt a few new tricks.' She directed them all towards Beast Boy's mind and accessed his sight.

'Cool,' Kid Flash breathed. 'Okay BB, here's what you have to do…'

'Do you ever miss it?' M'gann opened her eyes to fix them on Artemis.

The other girl shifted slightly and twisted a strand of her long blonde hair between her fingers.

'…sometimes,' she said finally. 'I miss the action, the danger.' She smiled wistfully, 'but I love college life, and I love being with Wally and not having to worry about him getting sliced to pieces or winding up a lab experiment in some crazy villain's lair, you know?'

'No, not that button! Don't – stop!'

'Of course,' she laughed. 'I still have to worry about him falling over his own feet.'

M'gann smiled warmly, 'I always thought you two were so cute together.'

'That's it, good…just a five digit sequence and we're in.'

'Why is this sooooooo complicated?' Beast Boy groaned.

'Gee, I wonder?' Robin said snarkily.

'Enough.' Batman said in a tone that promised a bleak chance of survival if ignored.

'I'm in!' Beast Boy announced triumphantly.

'Press the button that says "depower".'

The force field flickered and then vanished abruptly.

Batman stepped immediately through the bars and strode to the end of the room and out the door without another word.

'He's just worried,' Robin said as he hurried after him.

'Nightwing's not in range,' M'gann said suddenly. Kid Flash and Artemis were both stepping through the bars, but she hadn't moved from the cell.

'What?' Kid Flash turned back to her, 'he's not in the mountain?'

'No,' she shook her head. 'I can sense Connor though…sort of.' She frowned, 'it's very weak…he's unconscious, maybe?'

'Can you tell where he is?'

'…no.' She opened her eyes, 'I don't think he's in good shape. We better find him, fast.'

…

Mount Justice

10th November 2015

5.30 am

Batman headed straight for the main computer, speed belying the calm he was trying to project. It took him a few minutes to bypass the hijacked security on the machine but he was an accomplished programmer himself and certainly no stranger to the less than lawful ways of applying those skills. He pulled up the security footage and combed through it. He heard Robin come up beside him, but didn't acknowledge his arrival. On the screen Nightwing had just sent the others off and was returning to his room.

There were no cameras in any of the personal rooms so Batman fast forwarded the footage until he noticed a shadow moving around one of the corridors. He paused it but couldn't make anything out. The shadow vanished within the next few seconds and he resumed fast forwarding until Nightwing left his room and re-entered the main area.

He seemed worried and dropped down to look under the couch, re-emerging with a small device clutched in his hand. He headed straight over to the main computer and opened up the security footage. Batman couldn't make out much of what the boy was seeing on the screen so he fast forwarded until he stiffened suddenly and then sprinted off towards his room. He paused at the door for a few minutes, tensed and looking ready to fight, and then leapt into the room.

'What's going on?' Robin asked, his voice small.

'Someone was waiting for him,' Batman frowned.

He continued watching until Nightwing left the room again, a figure swathed in dark clothes directly behind him. There were no discernible features that even hinted at his identity, bar the obvious masculinity. Nightwing was still tense and it was clear in his posture that the man behind him was not friendly. So why…Batman's eyes narrowed at the glint of red in the intruder's fist.

The two continued through to the main room where the dark figure directed Nightwing to the computer and he presumably recalibrated it. After a few minutes they both moved to the zeta tubes and vanished.

Batman slammed his fist onto the desk, startling the young boy beside him.

'Who was that?' Robin whispered.

Batman said nothing. If he was right, and somehow he knew he was, then it would all be revealed too soon for comfort. He hadn't wanted anyone to ever know the secrets that now balanced so precariously between the dark pit he had tried to bury them in, and the burning light he sought to hide them from.

Especially Dick.