The lights were her first warning that they were coming.
Barbara gently set Dick's head down using her cape and cowl as a makeshift pillow. He was barely breathing now and his skin had a sickly pallor. His lips were caked with dried blood from his internal injuries. She didn't know how much longer he had, but she could tell he was at the end of his strength. Anything past a few more hours would be a miracle.
--the ring. I never gave you the—
His words continued to rattle around in her memory as she stroked his hair one last time before she stood up and faced the entrance of the cell. The force field went transparent once again and she saw four heavily armed Thanagarians staring at her through the irregular bars.
Their apparent leader hit a panel out of her view and the bars began to retract into the floor and ceiling. Barbara took a couple steps forward, putting herself between them and Dick.
She steeled herself for whatever was to come next.
--Why didn't you come with me. Barbara?--
The entrance way was completely clear now. The Hawk warriors moved carefully towards her, the foremost two brandishing maces, while the other two hung back a bit with their energy rifles trained on her.
"Hands over your head, Terran," their leader ordered.
"Why?" She assumed a combat stance, adrenalin washing away her weariness.
"That is not your concern. Obey or die."
As much as she was willing to risk dodging the energy blasts, Barbara realized she couldn't allow a stray beam to hit Dick.
--It ruined everything--
She stepped to one side, putting her hands behind her head. Now that Dick was no longer in the direct line of fire she could—
The entire room shuddered.
Everyone was knocked off their feet.
Batgirl, already tensed for action, recovered first and was on top of the closest soldier before he could even turn to look at her.
A savage blow to the throat left the winged warrior gagging as she ripped the mace from his grasp and swung with all her strength at the nearest rifle wielder. His head nearly came off with her strike; only his helmet saved his life. As it was his jaw was broken, and the alien crumpled to the floor out cold.
By now, her two remaining foes had recovered. Their leader trained his weapon on her, while the other one charged, mace swinging downward in a murderous arc.
Batgirl pitched the mace at the leader, her aim perfected by years of Batarang practice. The weapon smashed into the energy rifle just as it fired. The backfire ripped through the Thanagarian, throwing him backward into the hall.
She could not avoid the mace, however. The weapon connected solidly on her left, dislocating her shoulder. She screamed in agony and rage.
--I was waiting until the time was--
Barbara punched the Hawk man in the face. He staggered slightly.
She brought a leg straight up, kicking him right under the chin. He head snapped back and he crumpled. She allowed herself the pleasure of a couple kicks to the ribs before she was satisfied he wasn't getting back up.
The whole place shook again and the lights flickered.
Gasping in pain, she began to make her way over to Dick.
The first Thanagarian she had attacked tackled her before she could reach him.
She hit the floor hard and tried to scrabble away.
The Hawk warrior's fist disappeared into her gut and her insides turned to jelly.
Barbara kicked desperately, but could not hit a vital area.
--the ring. I never gave you—
The man was now on top of her, raining blows down upon her.
I'm so sorry, Dick. I've failed you.
She stared upwards through blackened and swollen eyes as the Thanagarian reached over and picked up the fallen mace of his comrade. He held it with both hands and swung it back.
"Terran bitch! Die!"
"LEAVE HER ALONE!"
Something incredibly fast collided with the Hawk warrior, knocking him off of her and into the wall. He bounced off of it, hit the floor, and lay still.
Barbara Gordan stared groggily at her rescuer.
A young face, framed with long blond hair stared back, eyes full of concern and fear.
"Barbara? Are you okay?"
"K-Kara?"
Relief flooded Supergirl's face.
"How did you--"
"Don't worry about that now. Let's get you out of here." The Kryptonian lifted her effortlessly.
"No!" She began to struggle.
"Hold still. You're hurt!"
"You don't understand! Dick is going to die!"
"What? Dick?"
"Nightwing! Put me down, Kara! You have to help him first."
Reluctantly, Kara set Barbara on her feet and went over to Nightwing's prone form.
Barbara slumped against a wall, her injuries nearly making her black out.
"Check him with your X-ray vision," she gasped, "He's hurt bad."
Supergirl was quiet for a moment as she scanned him.
"My god, Barbara! You're not kidding."
"Is he still . . . ?"
"Don't worry," Kara picked him up gently, "We'll get him the help he needs. Now, come on. Follow me out."
"No," she said firmly, "Don't wait for me. I'll only slow you down. Get him to a hospital and then come back for me."
"But—"
"Kara!" Barbara shouted, "Please! Just do it!"
"Okay, but I'll be back for you."
"I hope so. 'Cause I'm about to drop," Barbara smiled wryly at her friend.
"Hang tight."
With that, Supergirl was gone.
Please, God. Let her be in time.
Barbara staggered over to a corner and carefully lined up her left shoulder.
Oh, this is going to HURT.
She shoved herself hard against the wall and screamed as her arm popped back into place.
-----
She woke up on the floor.
I must have passed out.
Barbara got to her feet. She looked around warily. No sign of any new Thanagarians. The lights were dimmer, probably on emergency backup. Dust hung heavily in the air.
Kara always did know how to make an entrance.
She put on her cowl, picked up the remaining energy rifle and made her way into the hallway.
The Thanagarian leader was still unconscious, and several other Hawk warriors were scattered throughout the corridor in various positions of defeat. There were a few people wandering around, many in a state of shock.
Obviously, they rounded up anyone who was giving them trouble.
"Okay, people!" she shouted, "We're getting out of here. Those of you who think you can handle a weapon pick one up. The rest of you, follow me."
Of course, it would be nice if I knew where I was going.
She led the freed prisoners down the corridor and followed the path of destruction Supergirl had made on her way in. Hopefully, it would lead to an exit.
Knowing Kara, she probably went straight through the outer wall.
As several tense minutes passed with no sign of any Thanagarians, her thoughts turned to Dick once again. Now that their survival was probable, she began to consider just what he had revealed back in the cell.
Was he really going to ask me to marry him? Why didn't he tell me? Why didn't he—
The axe almost cut her in two.
Batgirl barely blocked it with the rifle. The blade bit deep into the weapon, ruining the device. Barbara let go and jumped back, sizing up her foe.
This time the Thanagarian was a woman. Unable to wrest free her weapon from the rifle, she tossed both to the ground and charged her, using her wings to add speed to her attack.
Batgirl allowed herself to be hit and carried upwards. She hooked her fingers around the bottom of the Hawk woman's helmet and ripped it off just as the two of them collided with the ceiling. Her back protested but Barbara ignored the pain, bringing both fists down hard on her opponent's ears, stunning her.
Both of them crashed back to the floor, but not before Batgirl managed to twist so that the Thanagarian took the brunt of the fall. A few of the humans following her made sure the alien wasn't going to be getting up any time soon.
A young man helped her to her feet.
"Are you okay?"
"I've have better days," Now if only the hall would stop spinning. "I just hope there aren't too many more of them."
"Don't worry about that, Batgirl," Supergirl called out.
Barbara turned and saw her friend hovering down the corridor, a few more Hawk warriors dangling from her hands.
"It's all over the news. The Justice League counterattacked."
Kara floated closer, tossing the Hawk warriors aside, "They destroyed the hyperspace bypass." She landed, smiling and placing her hands on Barbara's shoulders to steady her.
"We won. The war is over."
Batgirl grinned as the last of her adrenalin drained away and she slumped forward.
"And Nightwing?"
"He's going to make it."
Barbara began to cry, sobbing softly into her friend's shoulder.
Only this time, they were tears of joy.
