Justice League Nuptials 68
Nightwing parked his motorcycle outside of Arkham's rent gates. Robin slid off of the back and unstrapped his helmet. Nightwing followed his example. They examined the gates.
"This wasn't done by explosives." Nightwing observed, "Something or someone ripped these gates off of their hinges."
"Any idea who?" Robin asked.
"Since we're dealing with the Legion, my guess would be Dr. Polaris." Nightwing surmised.
"Great." Robin groused.
"Exactly." Nightwing smirked, "Ready for trouble?"
"It can't possibly be as bad as when the Joker turned the old Arkham into a giant trap for Batman." Robin opined, "Can it?"
"I think the Joker knows Batman is out of town and this trap is set for us." Nightwing replied, "How, I don't know. But it explains his motives. He's trying to drive Batman back here."
"Do you think he knows Batman's identity?" Robin was aghast.
Nightwing shook his head, "The Joker's never cared about Batman's identity. It's the myth of the Dark Knight that appeals to him. He wants to turn Batman into him. Then he wants to kill him."
"That's pretty deep." Robin observed.
"It's the price of spending my adolescence watching them go after one another." Nightwing admitted, "Batman knows it too but like everything else, he holds it close to his cowl."
"No wonder you resent him." Robin realized him.
"The lack of trust is the cornerstone of all of our troubles." Nightwing admitted, "But get focused. We're going into life and death action. Ready for it?"
"I guess I have to be." Robin replied.
"Then let's go." Nightwing said. He crossed onto Arkham's property. The grounds were well lit so stealth was virtually impossible. Their approach would be for all to see.
On Arkham's roof, Deadshot wielded a high energy plasma rifle. It was next generation military equipment. He'd "borrowed" it from the Suicide Squad. He and the Clock King had also recruited two more former members of the Squad. Captain Boomerang and Plastique had been left out of the action while they were familiarizing themselves with the Dome and Bailya's Meta-human Defense Force.
Since the Legion had joined Bailya's protectors, the recruitment of super villains had tripled. Some, like Atomic Skull, Captain Cold, and Firefly, were also considering Legion membership. They'd been members of the Secret Society and had only refused membership in the Legion until Luthor had proven capable of carrying out his intentions.
Also joining the Legion were the former Global Guardians Jack O'Lantern, Owlwoman, Godiva, and Tuatara. The UN's abandonment of the Guardians in favor of the Justice League had embittered these former heroes. Jack O'Lantern had formed the faction with the Crimson Queen's help and like Black Adam they owed their ultimate allegiance to her.
Being from Belfast, Jack had grown up surrounded by the IRA. Rumor had it that he'd even been counted amongst their number as a youth. Godiva, being British, had also dealt with the consequences of the IRA. She'd fought against them and in doing so learned their methods.
Tuatara had also faced terrorism and revolutionaries. His stomping grounds in South America had been rife with them. His days of struggling against them had carved their methodologies into his brain.
Owlwoman was one of the few that hadn't faced domestic or international terrorism. Although, she had faced major organized criminal factions. Drug lord terror was her forte and she'd acquired many notable skills in the process. Jack had been delighted to recruit her since her perspective would broaden his and the others. Rumor had it that the Irishman and the Native American had subsequently become lovers.
But back on the roof none of that mattered. What did matter was that Deadshot had Nightwing in his sights. His laser sight showed up like a beacon to the scope eye of his helmet. His finger rested on the trigger and slowly began to depress it.
On the ground Robin spotted the red dot on Nightwing's chest and he yelled, "Get down!"
He went into a slide tackle and knocked Nightwing to the ground. A plasma burst sailed by overhead and the ground behind them was incinerated as it exploded. The ersatz Dynamic Duo got up and ran.
They each ran an evasive pattern altering the times when they made their cut and weave. Deadshot abandoned finesse and went for blanket cover fire. For a man that prided himself on killing everything he aimed at, their continued survival was a source of embarrassment. In fact, he was so focused on the Bat clan that he didn't detect J'onn Jonzz's approach.
J'onn picked up Deadshot by the arm. Hefting him up, he made the assassin a target. J'onn hit Deadshot with an uppercut and the Legionnaire lifted into the air and then came down on the skylight overseeing the Commons. The skylight shattered under the force of the blow and Deadshot fell to the floor below, knocking him out.
J'onn then floated down to the ground to join Nightwing and Robin, "I trust that I'm not too late."
Nightwing grinned, "Never."
"Then let me lead the procession into the facility." The Martian Manhunter requested.
"Sure." Nightwing agreed, "You can take more punishment than either of us."
J'onn opened the doors, "Just as I thought."
Down the corridor stood Dr. Polaris and Bane. Polaris wore a smug smirk and Bane had a feral smile on his face. Both looked ready to kill.
J'onn flew into Bane. They began exchanging blows. Bane increased his dose of Venom and he was swiftly a match for the Manhunter.
Nightwing threw a bolo at Dr. Polaris. Polaris reached out with his magnetic powers but was dismayed and alarmed to discover that they didn't work against the incoming weapon. It wrapped itself around him and he struggled to break free. While Polaris futilely tried to snap the bonds that bound him, Nightwing rushed forward and knocked him out with a single punch.
"Wow." Robin commented, "But how did that work?"
"The bolo is a leather strap connecting two lead weights. Batman carried one as well just in case we face Dr. Polaris." Nightwing explained with a touch of pride in his voice.
"And just who thought of that I wonder?" Robin grinned.
"I'm not afraid of admitting that I did." Nightwing smirked.
"C'mon genius, let's find Commissioner Gordon." Robin urged.
Elsewhere, J'onn had finished pummeling Bane into submission. While Bane was stunned J'onn pulled free the feeding tube from his wrist and his head. Bane was now weak as a kitten and one final blow neutralized him.
From behind, the Manhunter heard a gleeful cackling. J'onn turned to discover the Parasite standing there rubbing his hands in anticipation. J'onn was tired and didn't want to deal with him so he reached out telepathically and flipped a mental switch. The Parasite fell to the floor unconscious.
J'onn hated doing that to people but the Parasite required a long distance weapon. He should be out for twenty-four hours so J'onn felt free to find the Bat clan and assist them. He idly wondered how the rest of the League was doing but he knew he'd be finding out as soon as he'd finished here.
In the bowels of Arkham, Nightwing and Robin crept along. Nightwing froze and then he ducked. The Phantasm's scythe hand flashed by as she leapt out of a therapist's counseling room. Nightwing reflexively delivered an uppercut as he rose.
He hesitated because he knew her true identity and her former relationship with Bruce. Sadly, she didn't. They were swiftly locked into a furious exchange of blows with no one gaining the upper hand.
Darkwing appeared and Robin engaged him. The fight only lasted a few minutes since Robin was ill prepared for a foe of Darkwing's caliber. Darkwing left him alive since it was personal policy of his not to kill children. He knew that could backfire since they could grow up to hunt him but it was a personal conviction that he refused to abandon.
The Phantasm managed to take Nightwing's feet out from underneath after blasting him in the face with her fog. She reared back her scythe hand over her head and prepared to strike. Nightwing's vision cleared and he instinctively froze. It wasn't rational but the certainty of death brought out the irrational in a person.
The Phantasm hesitated and finally she lowered her hand. A cloud of fog and smoke enveloped her and when it cleared she was gone. Nightwing got to his feet and wondered what had just occurred.
Darkwing began clapping, "Well done. I don't know what blew up her skirt but you just removed one of my competitors from action. Hopefully that change of heart will resound through her business associations as well."
"I'm ready for you." Nightwing promised, "No matter what you try."
"We'll see about that." Darkwing sneered.
They then engaged in a macabre dance of destruction. Every fluid move was full of malicious grace. Unfortunately, Nightwing soon discovered that his opponent was in his ex-partner's class. He'd thought that only Wildcat and Deathstroke the Terminator were that skilled. He was being proven wrong.
Nightwing flipped over backwards. Landing on his hands, he sprang further back. He landed on his feet and drew out his wingarangs. He threw them in one sweeping motion.
To Nightwing's dismay, Darkwing avoided every one. The assassin drew a cluster of steel balls from his own utility belt and threw them. The balls spread out revealing a net fastened between them. They then produced barbs that buried themselves into the wall thereby pinning the JLer helplessly against the structure.
Darkwing drew a blade out of his belt and walked up to Nightwing, "Too bad. It was nice while it lasted.
"Stop!" J'onn yelled down the hall.
Darkwing began hurling weapon after weapon at the Martian. J'onn bent, twisted around, and dodged every one. Darkwing lost his composure and threw several gas balls and then fled.
J'onn recovered from a coughing fit and then ripped the net off of Nightwing. T former Boy Wonder ran to his replacement. He gently nudged the current Boy Wonder, "Wake up, kid."
Robin groaned, "I kept him busy by beating my face against the bottom of his boots."
Nightwing grinned, "At least your sense of humor isn't bruised"
"I suggest you wait here while Nightwing and I venture on." J'onn suggested, "The phones are working again and we need the police to secure the prisoners while the Arkham staff restores order. We'll also require medical staff and the MRU."
"Okay." Robin grumbled, "I know when I'm not wanted."
J'onn watched him go search for a phone, "He is a credit to the League."
"Why don't you tell him?" Nightwing asked, "I'm sure he needs to hear it."
J'onn nodded, "I will as soon as the crisis has passed."
"I'll hold you to that." Nightwing warned.
They then proceeded down the hall. Up ahead was the Infirmary. The Joker's maniacal laughter could be heard.
Harley's voice sounded, "But Puddin', when's he gonna wake-up?"
"Don't worry about it, Poo." The Joker gleefully replied, "Between the drugs and the shock treatments he should be out for at least eight hours."
Nightwing's voice went cold upon hearing this. Rage built up within him and he kicked the doors open before J'onn had time to get fully set. The Joker laughed.
"So, you had to bring the Martian." He taunted, "Never can go solo, can ya kid?"
"It's over, Joker." Nightwing growled, "Just give up."
"To you?" the Joker laughed, "As if." He turned to Harley, "Harl, if you please?"
"Comin' up!" she enthused and released a tear gas grenade. While the JLers struggled to breath, the Clown Prince of Crime and his Harlequin of Mayhem scooted out the back through the fire escape.
Gordon started hacking in response to the gas and he woke up. His eyes were glazed and fearful. Seeing Nightwing and the Martian Manhunter through the fog of the CS gas, he began to cry out; "No more! No more questions! Stop hurting me!"
Nightwing rushed to his side, "My God! There are burns on either side of his head."
"They have been using electrical shocks to administer punishment to certain stimuli while using drugs to make him more susceptible to suggestion." J'onn reported.
"They were trying to brainwash him?" Nightwing asked.
"Crudely put but yes, they were trying to mentally condition him." J'onn explained.
Nightwing placed a reassuring hand on Gordon's shoulder as the older man shook in fear, "Hang on, Commissioner. Help is on the way."