Chapter four: Lost souls.
Aqualad stood in the apartment off Floyd Lawton, commonly known as Deadshot, unsure of what he should do. He had known that Batman could be aggressive when interrogating a perpetrator, he was well known among the criminals in Gotham as well as other cities for his unorthodox methods when it came to retrieving information, like hanging a suspect out off a ten story window, but as he stood there and watched for the first time as Batman pinned the trained killer against the wall by his throat, he felt his pride and belief in the man fade. His stomach turned at the look off fear that were in Lawton's eyes as the dark knight squeezed harder choking the terrified man. How was it that Batman had been allowed to do this? He looked over to Batgirl who was, to his surprise, standing calmly behind him like everything he was doing was normal. Wasn't her father the police commissioner of Gotham? Why was she allowing this to happen? Was she afraid of him? She didn't look scared. Was it because she believed in what he was doing?
"Where are Miss Martian and Superboy? Tell me!" Batman shouted squeezing harder, Lawton's face becoming pale from the lack off blood. Kaldur gave a heavy sigh and stepped forward, fearing for the man's life.
"Maybe if you were to remove you hand he could answer your questions." He said calmly, Batman glanced over his shoulder at him before loosening his grip. Lawton wheezed relieved to be able to breath again.
"I am only going to ask you one more time. Where did you take them?" Batman asked again, his voice cold and emotionless.
"I-I didn't take them anywhere. I was only the back-up. I swear." Lawton replied shakily.
"Who did take them then? And to where?" Kaldur asked.
"You can't tell me that you don't already know. From what I have heard this isn't the first time he's tried to reclaim him." Lawton replied, Batman tightened his grip again, choking his victim. "Luthor!"
"Do you know where they were taken?" Batgirl asked, Lawton shook his head.
"Sorry I don't. Apparently we couldn't be trusted with that information." Lawton replied bitterly.
"Then who was!" Batman spat angrily.
"We weren't told that either."
"You keep saying 'we' suggesting that you had been working with someone else. Tell us who was working with you tonight." Kaldur said.
"Heatwave. He was the one that took the two aliens to the rendezvous place, but I wouldn't bother going looking for him. It's rumoured that he disappeared after he delivered the 'goods'."
"If I find out that you've been lying to us, I'll be back!" Batman threatened before leaving the apartment, dropping Lawton with a satisfyingly loud thud, Batgirl and Aqualad followed.
"Was that really necessary? You could have learnt more if you had off used another..."
"Quiet!" Batman ordered angrily, Kaldur frowned but did as he had been told. He watched as Batgirl pulled out a small radio from her utility belt and switched it on.
"Is that? When did you...?"
"Listen." Batgirl said quietly, Kaldur knelled down next to her and listened.
"Hey it's me. Listen I don't know what it is that your planning but I've just had the Bat and his lackeys here asking me questions...What? How could I? I don't even know what's going on."
"It sounds like he's reporting our visit to Luthor." Batgirl whispered.
"Or Heatwave." Kaldur suggested. Batman thought for a moment before activating his ear piece. "Batman to Superman. Lex Luthor is the one behind the kidnapping." Batman said informing Superman. "Unfortunately though we are not closer to learning where they were taken."
"Black Canary to all league members. Robin has discovered something that we think you should know. Could you all meet us back at the cave as soon as possible."
"Understood Black Canary we are on our way." Batman replied.
"I'm going to have to go home before dad gets back. Sorry I couldn't stay longer to help." Batgirl said apologetically.
"It's fine. Thank you for the help. I will tell you if we find out any more." Batman replied.
"Tell Robin that I will call him later. Oh and whilst I'm at home I will check out Deadshot's claim and find out if Heatwave has disappeared."
"Thank you, that will be most appreciated." Kaldur said, Batgirl put the radio away before running off, waving as she ran. Kaldur waited until she was gone before turning his attention back to Batman.
"I know that you are worried about Miss Martian and Superboy, we all are, but that is no excuse for what you did in there." Kaldur said angrily, Batman gave him an angry glare back.
"You had better watch your tone! Yes I was aggressive tonight, but I was in control off my own actions." Batman replied sharply.
"Not from where I was standing you weren't. You could have killed that man tonight."
"I would be more worried about your own actions tonight." Batman said knowingly "You've been disappearing a lot recently, the rest of the team are starting to become concerned." Kaldur froze. "I'm not betraying the team."
"I hope for your sake that you aren't. Now lets go! The others will be waiting." Batman warned, they rushed to the nearest zeta tube and to mount justice where Black Canary and the others were waiting.
"What have you found?" Batman asked interrupting Martian Manhunter, who was telling the others what he had found during his search with Green Arrow and Artemis.
"There's a file that I can't decrypt. We think that it may explain why Megan was taken." Robin explained yawning from the tiredness he was feeling. Black Canary glanced over to Batman showing him her concerns. Batman checked his watched and saw that it was now four in the morning.
"Excellent work! Have the document sent to the bat-computer and I'll try to decoded it. J'onn did you find anything?" Batman asked.
"Yes. When I was at the scene earlier I was unable to detect anything. It was almost as if I had be blocked somehow. So this time I decided to walk in the direction that Artemis said she thought they might have gone and found that the further away I went the more clearer my sense became." J'onn explained.
"Could it have been another physic?" Wally asked, J'onn shook his head.
"No. There had been no other presents around. I would have sensed them if they had been there."
"Which means that magic must be behind your confusion. I'll call Zatara and ask him to come and examine the area." Batman replied. "Robin I think that you and the rest off the team have done enough for tonight. The League will continue to search whilst the rest of you go and rest.
"What! But..."
"We're not suggesting that you go home. You know that you will all be eager to hear any news if we get any, so I made up the spare rooms for you." Black Canary reassured.
"But we want to help. Please there must be a mission that we can go on."
"You've all done plenty tonight to help. Now it's time for you all to rest. You won't be much use to anyone if you too tired to move." Green Arrow said with a reassuring smile. The team looked at each other, each contemplating on arguing with them, but with a tired yawn Robin gave in and thanked Black Canary for preparing the rooms for them. Wally and Artemis glared at Kaldur, who had been standing next to Batman, before retiring to their rooms as well.
"I think that I will also retire for the night. Please inform us if anything happens." Kaldur said to the adults before leaving them to continue the investigation.
Underground labs, location unknown
Megan lay on the straw covered floor off a dimly lit cell, dazed and confused as to how she had gotten there. She slowly tried to sit up, wincing at the pain that she was feeling in her side, and looked around hoping to see a familiar face.
"Hello? Superboy! Robin! Anyone?" She called out, unable to use her telepathic powers. This confused her even more. Where was she? And how did she get there? Megan sat, curled up in the corner, with her knees up under her chin, and tried to remember what had happened. She could remember sensing a lot of different emotions, anxiety, fear and anger. But nothing that could explain where she was or how she had gotten there.
'Oh Conner where are you?' She thought shivering in the cold. 'Come on M'gann think. You have to remember!' Megan thought hard, concentrating on the emotions she had felt before everything went dark. She could remember Batman telling the team that Robin was to be leading the mission, Robin had been very nervous and feared, she thinks, disappointing everyone. Where had Kaldur been? Why hadn't he been there? Megan leaned her head against the cool wall, she was still feeling dizzy and was starting to feel a little nauseous. 'I wish I had a blanket.'
"Hello"
"Agh!" Megan screamed startled by the unexpected voice that echoed in the dark cell. "Who's there?" She asked, slowly standing up ready to fight. But she couldn't see anyone in the cell.
"Please don't be afraid. I'm in the cell next to yours. I heard the guards bring you in a few hours ago and have been waiting for you to wake up." Replied the timid voice of what sounded like a young girl, Megan took a deep breath to calm her shaken nerves. "Wait a moment and I will come to you." Megan looked around in confusion. "How?" She asked.
"Promise that you won't scream again?" The timid young voice asked. Megan promised.
"Where are you? I still can't see you."
"I'm here." Megan looked around carefully searching for the person that was apparently now in the cell with her. She walked around the room feeling around as she did for anything that she could trip over. But there still wasn't anyone there. Megan stood there more confused than before.
"I still can't see you."
"Oh sorry I didn't want to frighten you again. Here can you see me now?" The young girl asked Megan looked around again and gasped at what she saw. Floating right in front off her was a young girl of the age off about ten or eleven. The young girl saw the fear that was in Megan's eyes and faded away again.
"I'm sorry, this always seems to happen. No-one never wants to have me around." The young voice said apologetically.
"I-It's ok, I'm just a little surprised that's all. Wha- I mean who are you?" Megan stammered correcting herself, the girl manifested back into the cell.
"I don't know. I can't remember what my name is or how I got here."
"Are you a ghost?" Megan asked, the girl thought for a moment before replying.
"I think I am, everyone around here calls me Secret, though I don't understand why." Secret. That reminded Megan off something that she had felt from Robin, there was something that he was worried about, something that he couldn't tell them about. But what could that be? And why would he need to keep it a secret? The more Megan thought the more she realized that she had more questions than answers.
"Are you alright? I can go if you'd like." Secret asked timidly. Megan smiled weakly, reassuring the frightened girl.
"I'm worried about my team mate. He was also captured and I am unsure off where they have taken them." Megan explained, she could remember seeing Conner laying next to her, angry and powerless, just as she was now. "If I could use my powers then I could communicate with him and find out if he is alright."
"I could go and look for you if you'd like?" Secret offered. Megan looked at her in surprise. "You can do that? I thought that you was a prisoner here?"
"I-I am. I can't leave the dungeons but as long as I am not seen I can wonder around." Megan could hear the fear that was in Secrets voice.
"How long have you been here?"
"I don't know. A long time."
"How did you die? Did they do this to you?"
"No. I was already like this when they found me. I was...killed by someone else." Secret paused for a moment before continuing in a whisper. "They do terrible things here. If I were you I'd try and get out as soon as you can."
"But how can I? My powers don't work here and I don't know where I am."
"It's that collar your wearing I think? I've seen them put them on others before." Secret said pointing the Megan's neck, Megan felt around her neck and noticed the cold metal off the collar. 'They must have placed it on me when I arrived. How could I have not noticed?' Megan thought.
"Secret I need your help..."
"What? What's wrong?" Megan placed her finger to her lips to shush the girl and pointed up to the red light that was shining in the corner off the room.
"Someone is watching us." Megan whispered. Secret shot up and frantically looked around the room. "I can't be in here. I must go!" She whispered, they heard footsteps echoing outside in the corridor. Secret quickly floated to the other side and fazed through the wall. Megan went and sat on the straw again and waited for the door to open.
"Ah look, the little alien has finally woken up from her slumber." A dark haired man said standing in the doorway. Megan frowned, backing up to the wall. The man laughed.
"Ha ha, aw don't worry sweet cheeks we aren't going to hurt you." Megan cringed at the sound.
"Wh-who are you? W-where is Superboy?" She stammered, the man walked into the cell with another following behind him. Megan squinted hoping to see someone that she might recognize, for anything that could give her a clue as where she was, but to her disappointment she didn't recognize the two men that where standing in front off her.
"Aw are you missing your boyfriend? Well too bad cause we don't know where that fake is." The second man replied, Megan's frown changed into an angry scowl, she stood up, placing her hand on the wall for support so that she didn't fall, and stared at the two men that were grinning evilly down at her.
"He isn't a fake! He's his own person and deserves to be treated as such!" Megan said angrily, she was shaking and she wondered if that was because off the adrenalin running through her or the fear that was turning her stomach.
"Ah it looks as if we've got a feisty one here." The first man laughed.
"Yeah we'll have to do something about that won't we." Replied the second man, Megan gulped but despite her fear she stood her ground.
'What ever it is that they are planning to do, I need to remain strong. I will not give them the satisfaction off seeing me cower in fear.' She thought to herself. The second man, who to Megan seemed to be shorter than the first man, grabbed her tightly by her left arm and pulled her right up to his face. Megan turned away, sickened by the stench that was coming from the man. Was he drunk? Megan had never smelled the stench of alcohol before so she wasn't sure, but what ever it was that the man had had before coming to her cell it wasn't pleasant.
"Stop! What do you think you're doing?" Came a sudden loud demanding voice, the man who was holding Megan jumped and pushed her away causing her to crash into the wall behind her.
"I...we were just...What are you doing here?" Stammered the man, Megan looked up wondering who this other person was. What she saw surprised her. There standing in the door way was a beautiful blonde woman. She was wearing a long white coat and had a stern look on her face. Megan stared at her, a mixture off relief and anxiety filling her.
"Leave this room at once!" The woman replied sternly, the taller man stepped in front off the other blocking Megan's view.
"Why should we? We're only making sure that she's ready." He said, Megan wondered what he was talking about. She pushed herself up, leaning against the wall and winced at the pain that she was feeling in her left arm.
"Miss are you alright? They didn't hurt you did they?" The woman asked kindly, Megan smiled wearily at her, hidding the pain that she was in.
"N-no he didn't." She replied quietly. The woman walked up to her and knelled looking her in the eyes. "Please let me see." Megan unsure off what the woman was going to do back up a little and shook her head.
"It's alright, my name is doctor Rose" The doctor said kindly, Megan looked up nervously at the two men before allowing Dr Rose to examine her arm. 'Dr Rose? Where have I heard that name before?' Megan thought as the doctor examined her arm.
"Can you move it alright?" The doctor asked, Megan moved her arm and nodded.
"It's just bruised, you should be fine in a few days."
"Hey you didn't answer our question. What are you doing here?" The taller man asked again, Dr Rose stood up, giving Megan a reassuring smile, and glared at the two men. "I am here to check on my patient, now I suggest that if you don't want to clean the toilets, again, that you leave and let me take care off Miss Martian." Dr Rose threatened, the two men frowned at her and clenched their fists, "Let's go! Just watch yourself Doctor! Once your contact is up your ours!" The shorter man threatened, they both left the cell and closed the door behind them leave Megan and the doctor alone.
"I thought that they would never leave. It's alright Secret, you can come out now." Dr Rose shouted. Secret fazed back into the room relieved to see that the two aggressive men where now gone.
"I-I'm sorry. I d-didn't mean to l-leave my room, I just..."
"Shhh, it's alright I understand. But you need to be more careful. Now Miss Martian I need to give you an examination, just to make sure that your alright. Do you mind if I took a look?" Dr Rose asked, Megan hesitated for a moment. 'What do I do? Can I trust her? My head hurts so much, I supposed it wouldn't hurt to let her. After all Secret trusts her.'
"My head is hurting," she replied quietly. "Also I'm having a lot off pain in my side." Dr Rose smiled sweetly and asked Megan to lift up her top.
"What kind off pain is it? Does it hurt when you breath?"
"I'm not sure how to describe it, it's like a dull ache."
"Then you will be fine, it's just bruised. Though you shouldn't be hurt at all."
"What did those men mean by they were making sure I was ready? What do you want from me?"
"I don't know. Just get some rest and I will come and visit you again later." Dr Rose said, she went to the door and brought in a blanket for her to keep her warm. Megan took it gratefully and wrapped it around her.
"Let's go Secret. Miss Martian needs her rest."
"Wait! Before you go could you answer one question?" Megan asked, Dr Rose hesitated for a moment before sitting back down next to her.
"What is your question?"
"When I was brought in, was I with another prisoner? A boy?" Megan asked, Dr Rose thought before shaking her head. "I'm sorry but you was the only person to be brought here." The only one! But Conner had been with her in the van hadn't he? This had to be a mistake. Dr Rose saw the confusion on Megan's face and asked Secret to go back to her cell. Secret hesitated before doing as she was told and fazed back through the wall.
"Your worried about him aren't you?" Megan slowly nodded. "I can't promise you anything but I will see what I can find out for you." Dr Rose whispered.
"Thank you!" Megan beamed, Dr Rose shushed her pointing her finger to where the camera was spying on them. Megan quickly withdrew, keeping her emotions hidden. Dr Rose slowly stood back up turning away from the camera. "You get some sleep. I will come back in the morning to check up on you." Megan nodded and lay back down on the straw. "Good night Doctor." She whispered as she watched the kind doctor leave before closing her eyes and drifting into a more peaceful sleep.
Doctor Rose walked quickly back down the corridor, her mind racing as she thought about the orders she had received that morning. 'I need to do this.' She thought to herself. She opened the door to her office and took her white coat off, hanging it on the hook behind the door. 'I-I can do this...but she looks so young.'
"Dr Rose, I trust that the patient is well?" A strong French accent suddenly said startling the doctor out off her thoughts. "Monsieur! Y-yes the girl is well." She stammered.
"Good. Keep an eye on her. In two days we will start faze two off our plan." The voice said sternly, Dr Rose could only stand there and nod, too a afraid to say anything. She felt the movement of the person leaving and sighed in exasperation when she heard the door close shut. 'You can do this Maggie, Daniel's life depends on it.' Maggie walked slowly to her small bed, that was tucked neatly in the corner off the room, and laid tiredly down picking up a picture that was standing on the bedside table. 'I will save you, I promise.' She thought tearfully. She lay there clutching onto the photo falling into an uneasy sleep.
Thanks for reading. R&R.