Happy Harbor, Mt. Justice
March 22ND 9:18 a.m.
Blackbird's Pov
Let's just say I was more confused, than upset when I woke up. The fact that I failed my first solo mission bothered me, but I had managed to make all of Blüdhaven into an almost comatose state. What I was confused about was the dream I had when I fell unconscious.
"So who are you? I've never seen you around here before?" asked a blue-eyed boy. I couldn't help but remember how familiar they looked.
"I'm new, today's my first day. Name's Alexis, but you can call me Dilan," answered a brown-haired girl with a smirk. I could just faintly make out red streaks running through her hair. Her name was Alexis, the same girl who Nightwing kept claiming me to be. "You are?"
"Richard, but you can call me Dick," he said as held his hand out in front of me.
"Nice to meet you Dick," I said as I shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you too Dilan," Dick said back.
It was Richard, the same guy I met on my first day on the job. I snapped my eyes open, wandering around the room I was imprisoned in. I did a quick scan for any traces of heat, but couldn't sense anything. I looked down to see an inhibitor collar around my neck.
Unconsciously, I looked at my locket which was still snug under my full body suit. Thinking over the dream, I couldn't believe that I had dreamt one of Richard's memories. The last time that ever happened was when I met Ivo. I dreamt of falling and saw the same blue-eyed boy jump to save me. I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn't even notice Nightwing or Kitsune walk in.
"Let's start with some basic questions," Nightwing suggested, taking a seat in front of me. "What's your name?"
"Blackbird," I answered easily. Kitsune rolled her eyes at my answer.
"Your real name, we kinda figured out who you're alter ego was with all those bots yesterday," Kitsune said, her expression filled with boredom.
"Why don't you go through my records instead of wasting your time here and talking to me?" I asked them, acting as cold and distant as possible.
"Because you don't have any records," Nightwing cut in.
This surprised me, but it was suspected. "Well, then you'll never figure out who I am."
"Unless we take that mask off of you," Nightwing smirked.
"Or would you prefer me going through you thoughts?" Kitsune offered, with an equally sly grin.
"It takes a lot more than to simply read my mind, or just take my mask off," I told them. "It was designed for only me to take off and for no one else."
"Of course, reading your mind is nothing with that inhibitor collar around your neck," Kitsune concluded. "Going through your mind it is then."
I felt her going through all of my memories, learning everything about me. Memories of my house burning before my eyes, Master Savage adopting me, Klarion punishing me, training with Psimon, Queen Bee and Master Savage, meeting Lex Luthor and Mercy, Ivo talking about his new inventions, sparing with Sportsmaster, meeting Richard, putting on my uniform for the first time and my locket.
When Kitsune finished, she had a wide grin on her face. "Her name's Linda Redehnson, couldn't find out her first name either since she doesn't even remember it. I didn't find anything on getting the mask off either."
I noticed Nightwing's eyes widened in surprise. They seemed to have shared something through Kitsune's link. Nightwing looked back at me, before walking up to me and looked around at my mask. I have no clue why, but when ever someone looked at me like this or was this close in my personal space, my cheeks would always go red. He placed his gloved-hand on the back of my head where he pressed down on a hidden button. Nothing happened though.
"I told you, it was designed for me to take off and me alone," I repeated, my eyes trailing to the thinking Nightwing on my right.
"Did you find anything else?" Nightwing asked, his gaze completely focused on me.
"Savage dumped her in Blüdhaven, but didn't explain why," Kitsune answered. "He also adopted her when she was 10."
"Linda Redehnson-Savage," Nightwing spoke. I flinched at the sound of my secondary last name. A smile grew on his face when he noticed my reaction. "So you are Linda. Don't like me calling you that, Miss Savage?"
I growled, before snapping. "I was born as Linda Redehnson, and will not be called by any other name!"
Kitsune was staring at me in deep thought. I glared at her, wanting to tell her to take my collar off and then get out of this place. She suddenly walked to the door; sliding open automatically. "If you really were my sister, you wouldn't have backed down without risking it all."
She left quietly, leaving me confused and alone with an equally distraught Nightwing. I knew what she meant; back in the warehouse. I made it so easy for Nightwing to have me caught so quickly. I lowered my head, and without realizing it, started to talk. "But I'm not your sister, I'm Linda Redehnson, adoptive daughter of Vandal Savage. Why can't you understand that?"
"Because we've been searching for her sister for five years," Nightwing answered. "You were our closest lead ever since, but she was right. She wouldn't have backed down in a fight until she was dead. She was dense like that."
I saw the sad smile on Nightwing's lips, recalling a memory probably five years back. I felt myself feeling sorry for him, but dismissed it. "How important was she to you?"
Nightwing thought for a few seconds, before looking at me. I froze in place, startled by how deep the stare was even through his domino mask. He was searching for something in me, because he was almost looking right through me. "She understood me like nobody else, and nearly died for me. She meant everything to me."
When Nightwing walked out of the room, I felt my heart wrench. I'm not sure if it was out of sympathy, or the longing to just understand who this Alexis really was. If I did, then maybe I'd know why the Nightwing had lost everything five years ago, but was still searching for her.
Happy Harbor, Mt. Justice
March 23RD 9:05 p.m.
Tuppence Terror busted open the door, and laughed at me. "Well lookie here, the Blackbird got her wings clipped.
I glared at her. "Funny you should say since I could kill you in an instance, if it weren't for this inhibitor collar."
"Now, now, sweetheart. Wouldn't want me to just leave you here do you?" she smirked, batting her eyelashes at me.
"If you don't get me out of here, I'll have Savage come to kill you," I blackmailed her.
"Someone's got a big mouth," she muttered, ripping the cuffs off my arms and legs, before tearing the collar apart. She stood there and waited for me to say something. "You're welcome?"
"After trying to be the bigger bird, I don't think so," I told her. I sent a small brain-blast at her and ditched her and the room.
Kaldur was here with a small team, either to get me, or to ambush the team. Roaming around the cave a bit for some of my weapons, I discovered some sort of trophy room. I didn't pay much attention to what was placed on the shelves though and just grabbed the bronze sword that sat untouched. The last time someone held it in their hands was about five years ago, and it was Nightwing who held it. While I ran down the hall to the area that was filled with the least people, I glanced down at the sword, another wave of familiarity coursing through me. It was a bit heavier than I expected, but felt right in my hands.
Lost in my thoughts the second time today, I didn't notice the over-sized white wolf that now stood in front of me. Its yellow eyes stared at me, before it walked up to me and sniffed me. I didn't even raise my sword at the Kobra-Venom induced animal. Another sense of familiarity came to me as I watched it circling me. I could've sworn that it smiled at me. It gently grazed me when it circled me now. I looked at it with uncertainty, but let my instinct take over me. As I gently ran my hand through its soft white coat, memories of the wolf swam around me.
"Superboy," waved the buff boy. Then he gestured to a large white wolf. "That's Wolf."
"Hey Wolf, its been a while," came Alexis' voice again. Wolf moved towards her and let her run her hand through his fur. Through Wolf's eyes I caught a clear glimpse of Alexis. She had warm brown eyes, and a soft smile on her face. Her brown hair was swept over her shoulders and wet. I could feel Wolf breath in her light cherry scent, and her shampoo. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
A girl who looked like Alexis, except she was taller and blond walked up to Wolf. Her face was tear-stained, puffy and red. Wolf could already sense the dread coming from her. She knelt and rubbed Wolf's chin gently. Wolf watched her as she struggled to speak.
"Alexis isn't coming back tomorrow Wolf," she said, her voice cracking. She was on the verge of crying. "She isn't coming back."
Staring back at Wolf, I couldn't decide whether or not I should care about his memories of the girl. The girl was undoubtedly Alexis though, but why was he thinking about her?
There was a waver in Nightwing's blood flow to his head, signaling the perfect chance to get my revenge. Forgetting about Wolf, I sped off down a different hall in the cave. Tuppence and Icicle Junior had already beat me to it, but my attention was on the motionless Nightwing in the center of the room. I ran at him, sword in hand, only to be stopped by blue sound waves.
"Who are you?" demanded Blue Beetle. He flew into the air and started to send more sound waves at me. I dodged them with ease and jumped at him, managing a kick to the face, and a cut on the arm.
"Stand down!" Kaldur walked into the room, carrying some large bag. "This battle is over."
"I don't think so traitor!" Blue Beetle exclaimed.
"Then re-think Beetle," said Kaldur calmly. He placed the bag down and unzipped it, revealing a bomb. "This is the same bomb that obliterated Malina Island. I'm holding down the dead-man switch. If my thumb comes off this button, for any reason, Mount Justice falls."
He flew down slowly, his wings disappearing along with his blasters. "We're standing down."
"Wise choice," Kaldur said. He looked over at Icicle Junior and told him to bring Impulse, Beast Boy and Blue Beetle to the ship.
"What about these two?" Tigress asked, looking down at Nightwing and Superboy.
"Nightwing is an ordinary human, and Superboy is a human-Kyrptonian hybrid. Neither is of any interest to the Partner," Kaldur said. He looked at me with confused eyes. "You on the other hand are a necessity."
"You better not be up to any tricks, or I'll kill you personally," Tigress said, pulling out another inhibitor collar.
"Try and put that thing on me, and I'll be the one killing you," I said, narrowing my eyes as I watched Tigress stop advancing towards me.
"Aqualad, you'll regret this!" Nightwing shouted, now back up on his feet.
Kaldur simply walked up to Nightwing and sent a punch at him. "I'll leave the bomb with you, as a souvenir. Oh, and the dead-man switch has a five-mile range, do not pursuit."
"Alexis," I heard him say softly. I froze at the sound of her name. Turning to look at him, I saw that he was clutching his stomach about to double over.
"If I really am 'Alexis', you'll need more proof then just some story about her," I told him. He was about to say something else, but I walked out of the cave before he could say anything.
Upon boarding the ship, I had to watch the hostages. Which was ironic, because I was practically one of them on aboard this ship. My attention turned from the three hostage's to Kaldur's when he started to talk.
"Do it," said Kaldur. I looked up to see a maskless Tigress holding the real dead-man switch.
"You sure?" she asked Kaldur. He only turned his head, looking back out the window of the ship. Sighing, Tigress released her thumb on the switch.
Mount Justice exploded into ruins and debris, fire and smoke-filled its place.
Washington, D.C
March 24TH 3:12 a.m.
Nightwing's Pov
"What happened?" Wally asked, his voice completely serious.
I put down my cup of coffee beside the flash drive and stared at it. "It was necessary."
"It better have been. Spill," Wally demanded.
"Aqualad needed to find some way to help us rescue Lagoon Boy," I started. "He already injected a microscopic tag into La'gann's bloodstream, and he used the raid on the cave to pass essential intel. A flash drive, along with other things that could help track the tag."
"Like that's all he did," said Wally, crossing his arms over his chest.
I stood up from my seat and faced my best pal. "Wally, he had to make it look good. He put inhibitor collars on us, but he knew I could get us out of them."
"He took 3 more hostages, members of your team," Wally pointed out. "Don't forget, Blackbird escaped with him too."
"And we'll rescue them when we rescue Lagoon Boy," I told Wally.
He grabbed my by my uniform. "Dick, he blew up the cave! You guys almost died!"
"No, it's all on the flash drive. He knew I'd have to pursue to make it look legit, and that's exactly what happened. He gave us time to get out," I argued, keeping a calm voice. "We—we just got caught in the debris field of the explosion."
"Do you even hear yourself? What if even one of you was left behind, huh?" Wally asked. "Why take that risk? Why go to those extremes?
I walked past Wally so that my back was facing him. "The drive explains that too. He needed to cement his position with the Light's partner."
"Wasn't that why he 'murdered', Artemis?" Wally questioned.
I sat down on the table now, looking down at my hands. "I guess it didn't convince them."
"You guess?!" Wally screamed. I never recalled Wally to be the angry type, but in 5 years a lot of things have changed.
I stood up from my seat on the table. "The cave is—was just a place. Worth sacrifice if it helps us stop the invasion. Look, I'm sorry you lost all your souvenirs."
"Are you serious?" Wally shouted, pushing me down back into my chair. "I don't care about that junk, I'm worried about Artemis, terrified for her. You put her right into his hands."
"As if I'm not worried about Alexis!" I shouted back. My first outburst out of our whole conversation. There was an awkward silence as I calmed down. I've been worried about her for 5 years and counting. "Wally, we're talking about Kaldur here."
"Who in a space of a few months, lost the love of his life, and found out Black Manta was his father," said Wally. "Isn't it possible that Aqualad might be a traitor, a triple-agent? He's suppose to be playing them, but are you absolutely sure he isn't playing you?"
I sighed in defeat, realizing the possibility of Wally's questions. I noticed Wally calming down as well, although his face was tired from all the shouting.
"Listen, I never knew that you were still worrying after five years," Wally apologized, but was actually trying to change the topic.
"I never stopped," I admitted. Her smiling face reappeared into my mind. No one else could ever understand how much I missed that smile, or even how much I missed her. No, miss, not missed. I corrected myself. "Blackbird took Valkyrie's sword back at the cave."
"Does she know?" Wally asked. I shook my head.
"She ditched the cave before I could," I told him.
"At least you finally have a lead," Wally said, looking on the better side of things. "It's too bad Batman's gone to Rimbor, he would've wanted to help find her too."
"Yeah," I barely breathed out.
Wally left me in the Hall of Justice, so I could think. I was so close to actually have found Alexis. It took me almost five years to almost finish that crazy challenge. Then in two days she was gone again. Kaldur practically kidnapped her. She wasn't Alexis though. She was Linda Redehnson, the waitress at the Early Bird. Gold-blond hair, green eyes and the alter ego of Blackbird. Who just so happened tried to kill me and take over Blüdhaven a few days ago. There was only one similarity that I did notice; she hates nicknames. Alexis always hated when people called her Lex, or Lexi. She preferred her middle name, Dilan. Not only that, but Kitsune had found memories of the first time Alexis and I had met. There was something that kept telling me to keep trying, since this was the best lead in five years. I'll just have to prove it somehow.
Super long, sorry if it got boring here and there.
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