Chapter Ten
Nightwing crept carefully across the blackened corridor with Kid Flash beside him. He was surprised that nobody had confronted them yet, seeing as they should have been about fifty yards away from the control room according to their miniature satellite navigator. They tensed, anticipating an ambush. Sure enough, as they neared the entrance, there were five guards seemingly ready to meet them.
"Ready?" Kid Flash murmured. Nightwing took a deep breath.
"As ready as you."
"Wonderful."
The pair progressed to the security. A few registered them warily. One of the men looked down at them and asked;
"I don't suppose you know when to expect the Young Justice team? Our boss wasn't very clear."
The two young men smiled at their luck, feeling slight empathy for the ignorance of the security soldiers.
"Now."
They spoke in unison as they struck down the squad of soldiers easily, surprise at their advantage.
They finished, panting. Recovering themselves and slowly opening the door to the heart of the building, they readied for another attack.
They gasped. But not because there was an army standing ready before them. Not because Batman had really been working beside Savage this entire time. Not even because all their friends had been kidnapped.
They hadn't been.
They gasped purely for the unity of the architecture.
The lay out was simple, but clever; the room was circular, with spikes sticking out on the walls so you couldn't run round the edges. It was like a large version of a live map of the world: the walls and ceiling plastered with moving images of Earth. The whole design was magnificent; arranged to take away breaths. It was split by three hovering screens, and behind those screens was a grinning Vandal Savage.
"I have been expecting you." He said in an icy voice.
"As always." Kid Flash muttered, rolling his eyes. Nightwing elbowed him, demanding from Savage:
"Where have you put June?" He asked. Vandal laughed softly.
"Is that what she told you? Your answer will be found if either of you have the brains to translate a riddle. Heed this: 'A round room has no corners, yet she is hidden in one. To break the enchantment, you must find the doorway to the height Summer."
The boys exchanged glances. They were about to question Vandal on his strange riddle, but he was no longer there. They were alone with only the world for company. Though Savage had suggested otherwise...
"Well, if she's hidden in a corner, the circular edges must be a trick. That much I know." Kid Flash said.
"Yes, but he said we had to break some sort of spell by opening a door to 'the height of Summer'. Hmm.. No doors in here any more." Night Wing turned around, noting the door they had come through had disappeared along with Savage. He sigh, exasperated.
"Hang on, if this place is, like what, a 3-D world map - he said the doorway to the height of Summer. It might not be a door; it could be an area on a map. I mean, I could be wrong. But it's worth a try, right?" Wally asked, scratching his chin. Dick looked at him.
"You're a genius!"
"I know."
"All we need to do is-"
"Find the place-"
"Where its at-"
"The height of Summer." They finished together, snickering at their synchronization. They instantly began studying the mapped room, pleased on their discovery, however doubting their geographical skills.
Eventually they decided the hottest place must be Africa ('Obviously.' Kid Flash muttered). Together they slammed both their fists down onto the surface that featured the massive continent closest to the equator. It smashed, raining down in a waterfall of surprisingly sharp shards of broken screen from their powerful force. It revealed a dark shady corner, proving the riddle correct in its suggestions. And strapped to the wall was a battered, exhausted teenage girl, also known as...
"June." Nightwing breathed, for although she was torn and gruesome, all he could see was the terrifying beauty hidden beneath the layer of damaged flesh cocooning her. Kid Flash giggled, whispering in his ear;
"Love at first sight or what?"
"Shut up."
However Nightwing was glad his best friend had spoken up and helped him snap out of his moment. He got down to business, sending a message to the rest of the team:
"Found her. Meet us at bio-ship."
As soon as this was sent, they began attempting to release June: she was unconscious, unknowing to her rescue team. The two managed to finally break one metal band that strapped her arm to the white washed surface. They did a quiet victory dance in celebration. Suddenly June's eyes shot open, yelling;
"Duck!"
Nightwing and Kid Flash followed her lead, bobbing down to a crouch. They soon saw why: behind them stood the intimidating, pale faced Joker. He cackled.
"Can't stop me now, can you?"
Before they could react, he drew out six knives, three in each hand. He aimed them at the two shocked men. He threw them. The knives flew through the air.
Directly towards their heads.