Chapter 5
11:22 PM January 2nd 2011 Watchtower
For the sixth time, I analyze every security tape from the Watchtower during the Justice League meeting. During the half hour in which the League was in the conference room and the Team had left the recovery room, around half of the security footage is missing, just like at the manor. Except what confuses me is that the security cameras here are J'onn's technology. The type that caught Dick and Jasmine leaving last time.
"Find anything?" Clark's voice asks from behind me.
"No" I whisper. At this point, I am too tired to be irritated, angry, or any emotion towards people. The last few days have made me mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. First the fight with Urien, then the worry about Dick and Jasmine's health, Dick's refusal to explain why he left, and now his and Jasmine's second disappearance. Normally I would snap at anyone who would dare interrupt me when I am this concentrated on something, especially when it dealt with this matter. But right now, I don't care.
Clark walks over to where I am sitting; I see Diana is with him. They sit down at the computer with me. Selina had been with me earlier, but left to go deal with her own emotions. She has been kicking herself for not being here today. It isn't her fault, she had to go to her day job. But I understand why she feels that way, I am hating myself for being in that stupid meeting.
"No sign of the missing footage?" Diana asks.
"There isn't any, apparently the cameras turned off."
"How did that happen?" Clark says astonished.
"Jasmine" I answer, realizing it for the first time myself. The two stare at me with confused looks. I explain, "Think about it. She controls the objects around her. The only time this has happened before is the first time she took Dick."
"But J'onn's camera picked her up last time" Diana argues.
"I told Jasmine about the manor's footage when we were in Atlanta. She must have figured out it was a different type of camera and adapted. If I hadn't said anything to her before, the security cameras would have alerted us before they could leave."
Clark and Diana stare. "This isn't your fault Bruce" Diana states.
"Really" I glare. "This is the second time my son has ran away."
Clark argues "Not because of anything you did."
"I should have kept him safe. If I had found him before Vegas, before Urien showed up…"
"Nobody can say that you didn't try your hardest to find Dick" Diana interrupts me. "We all tried. He didn't want to be found Bruce."
"Something I taught him how to do!"
"There is no way you could have ever predicted this."
"I claim to be his father, yet all this happened right under my nose. His meetings with Jasmine and Joey, leaving my home, he has shape shifting powers for god's sake!"
Clark forces my chair to turn, me along with it. He stares me in the eyes and says, "None of this is your fault. You think you are the first parent to ever find out their child has a secret."
"This isn't like finding out your kid is doing drugs or got detention at school Clark."
"No it's not, this is an unusual situation. But tell me Bruce, when has Dick's life been anything but extraordinary and odd. He was born into the circus…"
"Apparently not!" I snap. "Remember, I didn't even know that I wasn't the first person to adopt Dick."
Clark ignores my comment and continues. "He started off in a traveling circus, then adopted by a playboy billionaire who turned out to be Batman. Nothing in his life has been ordinary or what you would expect. Every kid hides some secret from their parents, big or small. Of course Richard's would be unusual; his entire life has been. There is no possible way you could have predicted what it would be."
"I'm Batman. Aren't I supposed to be the world's greatest detective?" I state angrily.
"You're one person Bruce" Diana reasons "and you aren't doing this on your own. None of us can figure this out. Clark, Alfred, Selina and I know everything you do and are completely stumped."
I remain silent and go back to staring at the monitor. Footage of Jasmine's recovery room from right before the two's disappearance pops up. Before the camera's turned off, Jasmine had woken up four times. The first three times she had woken up, looked around the room, and then fell asleep after one or two minutes. All four times she wakes up, Dick jumps to his feet and hovers over her until she falls asleep again. Superboy, Red Arrow, M'gann, Artemis, Kid Flash, and Kaldur stay in the room and stare at the coughing girl, until the fourth time. The fourth time Jasmine woke up, she stayed awake. After Jasmine finishes coughing and doesn't show signs of falling back asleep, Dick asks the others to leave. The last image the footage shows, is Jasmine looking up to the camera and it turning off.
"How are the kids doing?" I ask.
"Miss Martian, Aqualad, and Zatanna seem to be handling all this pretty well. They are sad, but should be fine." Clark answers. "Wally and Roy are distraught; Artemis, Oliver and Barry are trying to calm them down. Connor…Connor hasn't said anything. I think he is trying to digest everything that has happened. We all are."
"They blame themselves" Diana tells me. "You can see it in their eyes. They blame themselves for leaving Dick alone."
"They couldn't have known this would happen" Clark states. "Jasmine had just woken from a coma. Her injuries alone…" he falters on the last part. Clark still can't stand the memory of what he did to the girl.
"How did they even get out of recovery room? Let alone the Watchtower" Diana says.
"Zeta beam said they left as guests" I answer.
Clark and Diana exchange confused looks. "That's not possible" Diana answers.
"Why not?" I ask, confused.
"J'onn changed the code for guests in December, remember?" Clark explains. "There is no way Dick could have known it…"
"Unless someone told him" I finish.
The three of us sit in a heavy silence, thinking. Who would help Dick and Jasmine escape? Even though everyone was in a meeting, we can't rule out anyone from the League. They could have told Dick beforehand. It could be any member of the League or Team. Something tells me it won't be easy to find out who.
5:30 PM January 3rd 2010, Mount Justice
I stare down each teenager, trying to see if one will crack. Their mentors and Black Canary watch from a distance as I question the Team.
"I am asking you each one more time. Does anyone have something they want to admit?" I glare.
All the teens shake their heads. Zatanna, Connor, Artemis and M'gann can't look me in the eye. Wally and Kaldur are giving me a shocked and fearful expression. I have never used any of my 'bat-interrogation' on the team before. I'm only using my more mild techniques such as 'bat-glares', but even those are enough to frighten the young heroes.
"Robin couldn't have known the code unless someone told him" I growl.
"Why would any of us help him leave?" Aqualad says.
"Why don't you tell me?" I glare. Kaldur looks away dejectedly.
"I bet the girl convinced him to run again" Wally murders angrily.
Superboy sends the speedster a look, "He had been talking about leaving since he woke up."
"And he didn't until that girl woke up" Wally snaps. "Ever since she entered the picture, all she has done is drag Dick into her problems."
"I'm sure there's a reason" Superboy argues.
"You saw what happened to him because of her! She must have brainwashed him or something, why else would he run off with her again after what happened."
"She's his sister!"
"And we're his family!" Wally yells. "Where has Jasmine been the last eight years? The only time she pops up in Dick's life is when she's in trouble. What kind of sister…"
"We don't know the whole story Wally" Artemis snaps. The sister comment obviously hit a nerve.
"Why are you all defending her!?"
"Enough" I demand. The teens stop bickering and stare at me. Clark gives me a warning look, telling me to lighten up. I send him a glare and continue "Artemis is correct. We don't know the entire story, but I am not here to discuss that with you. I am here because Robin had to get the code to leave from someone, and most likely it was one of you."
All the young heroes flinch from my harshness, but none show any signs of guilt. I study each teen, trying to see any signs that they are the culprit. If it wasn't anyone from the Team, that means I have to begin interrogating the Justice League. Which will be much more difficult.
I rule out Kid Flash right away. At first I was suspicious because he is so close to Dick; he may have given up the code as a friend. But from the anger he has shown about Dick's second disappearance, I know Wally was just as surprised by this as I.
Artemis, M'gann and Zatanna haven't shown any signs of having helped Dick. Out of the group, they are most unlikely to even know the codes. M'gann maybe, but I find it highly unlikely she would help Jasmine. She seemed to be holding a grudge because of how Superboy has been acting. Whenever she was in the same room as Superboy and the unconscious girl, all she did was glare. Zatanna has no reason to give Dick the code, so it probably wasn't her. Artemis wouldn't dare do it if she ever wanted to talk to Wally or Roy again. Since she has gotten pretty close to both of them, I don't think she would take the risk.
Superboy has been mostly quiet through this entire ordeal. Except for the comments he made earlier, he hasn't vocalized any thought on the matter. I find it strange the only time he spoke up was to defend Jasmine; by the look that was on Clarks face, he shares my suspicion. Connor did spend quite a bit of time in both Dick and Jasmine's rooms.
So did Kaldur, now thinking about it. He and Superboy spent many hours with Dick in Jasmine's room. Wally and Roy were there quite a bit, but Dick would become angry when they got snippy about Jasmine, so they were often asked to leave by another team member or Leaguer. Kaldur has a logical mind. If Dick gave him enough reasons, he could have convinced Kaldur into giving up the code. Their mentors and I are going to have to keep an eye on Connor and Kaldur.
"How do you know Robin didn't hack the system?" Artemis asks.
"I trained him, I would have found the trace in the computer" I answer.
"He could have learned a new technique" Zatanna points out. "We don't know everything he and Jasmine have been up to the last couple months. Maybe they figured out a way…"
"You may all leave" I stop her. I am not irritated with the comment, Zatanna had a good point. A point I have already considered and found no evidence for.
The team quickly makes their way out of the room. Their mentors walk up to talk to me. Flash is the first to speak.
"Any idea if it were any of them?"
"Keep a close eye on Aqualad and Superboy."
"Kaldur?" Aquaman asks shocked. "I'm sure he didn't give Robin the code?"
"Did he know the code?"
"Well…yes I told him it when the team took residence at the Watchtower in case he needed to visit Atlantis" he explains. The Team was considered guests at the Watchtower. So if one of them had to leave and come back, they were supposed to be escorted by a League member with the code.
"Who else told their partner the code?" I growl.
Oliver frowns and says "I told Roy and Artemis." Clark, Barry and J'onn all shake their heads no.
"So it was either Kaldur, Artemis or Roy" Clark deduces.
Oliver argues "Roy would never have helped Dick leave."
"And Artemis wouldn't have done that to Roy and Wally" Barry adds.
"Kaldur knew not to give that code to anyone" Orin states. "He would never go against my orders and tell it to someone."
I dispute "Unless given a good enough reason."
"So you do think it was Kaldur" Martian Manhunter says.
"Right now he is the most likely possibility. But I haven't ruled out it being someone on the Justice League yet."
After some discussion about who on the League is most likely to have helped Dick, we couldn't think of anyone. There is not one person in the League or the Team who we have a strong suspicion on. Aquaman, Green Arrow, Flash and Martian Manhunter decide to go, leaving only me and Clark at the cave.
"Bruce, don't you think it is time to tell the League about Dick and Jasmine's powers" Clark whispers, not wanting the team to hear in the other room.
"No" I state.
"What if another Leaguer comes across the two and they reveal their powers. The League will be completely blind sighted."
"What are the chances of that happening Clark? Richard and Jasmine have spent two months hiding where the only way any of us came across them is if we searched them out. Dick and Jasmine are smart, they aren't going to reveal their powers unless absolutely necessary."
"It's different now Bruce" Clark tells me. "They are both injured. They won't be able to travel as fast as they were before. If the League has all the information, it should be easier to track the two down."
My blood freezes, "It will also be easier for Urien."
7:45 PM January 7th 2011, Batcave
Footsteps coming up behind me distracts my focus from the computer. Turning, I see Selina walking up to me, a large book in her hands. She has a combination of a smile and sorrow on her face as she looks through the book. "What is that?" I ask.
Selina peeks up and answers "I was looking though Dick's room, I found this hidden in his nightstand." As she sits next to me, I get a better look at the book.
It takes a moment, but I recognize it as the scrapbook Richard brought with him from the circus. I smile "I forgot about this."
"I didn't know it existed" Selina says.
"Mary Grayson was in the process of finishing the book before she died. That is why the last few pages are blank" I explain. "Richard always looked through it when he was younger. He showed me the pictures inside once, but it was something he liked looking through privately. I haven't seen it in years."
Selina opens the scrapbook to the first page which displays a baby wrapped in a blue blanket. 'Richard John Grayson' is written underneath in feminine handwriting, I'm assuming Mary's. Both Selina and I smile at the photo. Baby Dick is staring at the camera, his blue eyes shining. I can't help but smile at the picture. Even if I didn't know Dick when he was that young, the image tugs at my heartstrings.
Flipping through the next couple pages, we see many more pictures of mostly Richard with Mary and John either in the background or holding him. Every few photos is of a carnie holding the baby, I recognize one as Pop Haly. Each picture has a caption explaining it underneath.
Taking in a deep breath Selina whispers "You should see something." She flips to the end of the book, the last few pages with pictures. Selina skims before settling on a page and points to a picture.
My heart skips a beat. The caption reads 'Richard showing the new workers some tricks.' The picture itself is of a young Dick doing a backbend with Jasmine and Joey on each side of him, doing the same stretch. All three are smiling at the camera and are wearing shorts and tee-shirts.
I remain silent for a while, not sure of what to say. Eventually Selina turns the page, revealing more pictures, two of which have Jasmine and Joey in them. On the left page is Mary and Jasmine cooking in the Grayson's trailer with Richard proudly mixing something in a large bowl. Mary is tending a pot on the stove while Jasmine is cutting vegetables, both smiling at the boy. The caption reads 'The next great chef.' The picture on the right reads 'Joey and Richard after a long day of work.' Joey is laying in the open doorway of a boxcar. He is wearing jeans but no shirt and appears to be taking a nap. Richard is asleep on top of the teenage boy, wearing jeans and a red coat.
"I knew Jasmine and Joey knew Dick from the circus, but…" I trail off.
"You never imagined them actually knowing Dick" Selina finishes my thought.
I shake my head "Or Mary and John. How close do you think they were?"
Selina bites her lip and turns the page, revealing a picture of Jasmine and Dick. Jasmine is in pink, flamboyant dress and is holding Dick who is in his costume. There are lights flashing in the background, they must be at a performance. I understand Selina's nervousness when seeing the picture. Jasmine is laughing and smiling to whoever is behind the camera while Dick is kissing her on the cheek. The caption reads 'Dick helping Jasmine take tickets.'
Selina whispers "We tried for so long to figure out who the mystery girl is. When all along the answer was right under our own roof."
"The scrapbook never even crossed my mind" I sigh.
"They look so…natural" Selina says. "Dick said he didn't know they were related back then?"
I nod. The pictures give me a sense of uneasiness, I'm not sure how I feel about them. I know I don't exactly like them, which makes me feel a bit guilty. As much as I don't like it, Joey and Jasmine are Richard's siblings. It shouldn't surprise me that they spent time together; a lot of time by the look of it.
Joey is on the next page, but only in a big group of people playing soccer. The page after that is a picture of him tickling Dick who is wearing a black jacket that is way too big for him. The caption reads 'Caught red handed,' so I'm assuming the jacket must have been Joey's. The picture reminds me of a similar event that happened between Dick and me a few months after I took him in, making me smile.
The final page has two pictures. The second is a picture of Mary, John and Richard in some park. The first has the caption 'Goofballs,' which is very appropriate since it is of Richard Jasmine and Joey making funny faces into the camera.
Closing the book, I ask Selina "Did Poison Ivy know anything?" I can't look at the pictures anymore.
"No" Selina shakes her head disappointedly. She has been asking around Gotham for any information on Urien. We were hoping that one of the criminals would know him, but after the Riddler had no idea who Urien was, we knew there wasn't much hope. He was our best bet. Poison Ivy was the last of Selina's friends who we thought might have information. Selina examines the files I have up on the computer,
"Any database have anything on this guy?"
I sigh, "No. He just appeared out of thin air."
"Have you tried searching through all the Leagues files from England? That is where Jasmine and Joey are from, if Urien is their father he is probably English also."
"I have, along with Austria and I'm currently searching Romania" I explain. "The problem with this logic is we don't know if Dick, Jasmine, Joey, or Urien are actually from England. The earliest record we have of Jasmine and Joey is when they are already pretty old. Dick was adopted in Austria, which tells me that they could be from anywhere and just travel a lot."
"What do you have the computer searching for?" Selina asks.
"Anything that has to do with the last names Kelly and Russello. Incidents where people showed similarities with Jasmine and Dick's powers. Face recognition. Everything I can think of."
"Has there been any hits?"
"Most of what pops up isn't relevant. So far the only things of interest is Joey and Jasmine's mob profiles. I think I may have found out why Jasmine and Dick met up with Sita, but I can't be sure."
"What do you mean?"
I pull up a poster of a young man holding a rabbit and a top hat. The facial recognition software found this poster for a magic act in London. "That is Sita."
"So he started out in England like Joey and Jasmine, that's where they must have met. What do you find strange about this?"
"This poster is twenty years old."
Selina gives me a shocked expression, "But in the footage from Vegas he looked barely old enough to drink."
"So you see my hesitation to confirm this is Sita."
Selina stares at the poster confused for a while. Her expression slowly turns into one of thought, almost recognition. "Bring up Jasmine and Joey's mod profiles." I do as she says. When the profiles pop up, she asks
"These are from 2002, correct? Right before they joined the circus."
"Yeah" I answer.
"How old would you say Jasmine looks in that picture?"
"Twelve, maybe thirteen." I sit up, beginning to see where Selina is going with this.
"Wouldn't you say she looks about fifteen or sixteen today?"
"It's been nine years and she has only aged a couple."
Selina nods in agreement, "Sita hasn't aged in twenty years. He also runs a show where he makes objects disappear on a whim."
"You think Sita has the same powers as Jasmine. That is why they were meeting up."
"Or maybe they are related. Have you questioned Sita yet?" Selina asks urgently.
I run a hand through my hair, "No. After the restaurant incident made himself disappear. The League hasn't been able to track him down. If he is anything like Dick and Jasmine when they are on the run…"
"We could never find him" Selina finishes my thought. "Especially if he isn't in America."
A silence fill the cave. Another discovery that has led to another disappointment. The frustration is starting to set in on both Selina and me. The feeling of being completely incompetent on finding even the littlest bit of information is driving us both crazy. The last time Dick left, we were able to find information every few days. Now every little finding we get is proven almost worthless within minutes of its discovery.
"Dick or Jasmine show up anywhere yet."
I clench my jaw and say "No. They haven't shown up on any security camera since they disappeared. Which is beginning to make me even more concerned."
5:12 PM January 16th 2010, Mount Justice
Watching Young Justice training sessions has almost become routine for me. After having my suspicions, I decided to keep an eye on the teens myself. So every day I watch the monitors overseeing the team's training with Black Canary. The team has improved quite a bit since their formation. Most of them are catching on quickly to combat skills and they have all gained a lot of strength.
Black Canary currently has the teens doing hand to hand combat in pairs with each other. Except for Artemis who is fighting Black Canary since Superboy is late. The pairs spar for a while, every once in a while being interrupted by Canary so she can give critiques or show them a new move.
Dinah asks Aqualad to help demonstrate a defensive block from a blow to the stomach. As she is explaining the movements and weight shifts of the technique, Connor runs in.
"Glad you could join us Superboy" Black Canary says obviously irritated.
"Sorry" the boy mumbles as he walks more slowly to where everyone else is training. Black Canary rolls her eyes and continues working with Aqualad.
So far in my observations, I have been disappointed. Kaldur has not shown any unusual behavior that would signal him being the one to give Dick the code. The entire team has been acting pretty normal. Well…as normal as they can be. When the subject of Dick is brought up, the teenagers fall back into their routine of bickering and sullen attitudes. But after their emotions on the matter have settled, they return to their usual selves.
Wally has gone back to his usual upbeat attitude. He and Artemis seem to be doing well in their new relationship. They are getting along great and appear to really care for each other. Roy shows up at the mountain every once in a while to either join a mission or do some training. Whenever he visits, he incessantly teases the two. It doesn't seem to affect Artemis who can dish it back. But after years of being an 'older brother' to Wally, Roy knows just how to get the speedster to react. Barry and Oliver find this hilarious.
Superboy has been quiet as always. He tends to stay back from the group, lost in thought most of the time. Often times another member of the team will approach the boy for Connor to interact with the team. Before, he always had Miss Martian chattering away to him. Now that they are broken up, the two tend to stay away from each other. When need be, they are cordial to each other, then avoid each other when not forced to interact. Superman has been training the boy for weeks now, and the two seem to have developed a pretty good relationship. Clark has confided in me his concerns about Connors distancing himself from the team. I told him that I don't think it will effect Connor's work on the team, but Clark should defiantly try to help the teen with his social awkwardness.
Zatanna and M'gann have become pretty good friends by the look of it. All three girls tend to spend quite a bit of time together at the cave.
Kaldur spends time with everyone on the team. He tries to help Superboy and Miss Martian understand earth's culture, which the two tend to struggle with on occasion. According to Aquaman, Kaldur has been taking his role as team leader even more seriously since Robin left. Apparently the young atlantian is having a harder time with Dick's leave than he is letting on. Now Aqualad is constantly checking in on all of his teammates, asking how they are doing or if they would like to talk about anything. Basically, behavior that has caused my suspicions on him to dwindle. They haven't completely gone away, but enough so Aqualad is on the same field as the rest of the team.
"Superboy!" Black Canary shouts. "Pay attention."
Connor snaps out of his thought and turns to the trainer. "Sorry" he mumbles again. Ever since the boy has walked into the room, he has been incredibly distracted. He can't focus on training for more than a minute without his mind wandering. His face has an anxious look on it, which is odd because Superboy has never been one to show much emotion.
"Would you care to share with the group why you think my training isn't important enough for you to pay attention?" Dinah scowls.
"It is, I just…I…" Connor stutters, his mind still elsewhere.
"What has you so distracted?" Black Canary asks, growing concerned.
Superboy stares at the wall for a minute. Appearing to have some mental debate before answering, "Nothing. Please continue."
"Obviously it is not nothing" Aqualad states. The entire team is now watching the teen with the same concerned look as Canary.
"Seriously, guys I'm fine. Let's just continue training" Superboy says, trying to deflect the conversation.
"Connor, what is it?" M'gann asks gently, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Superboy flinches at the touch, shocking the whole team. Even from watching through the monitors, I can tell the boy is fidgeting uncontrollably. I sit up straighter in my chair, growing very concerned myself.
Connor looks around at the group, takes in a deep breath, thinks for a bit and asks "Can I leave early?"
"Not until you tell me what is wrong" Dinah demands.
"Nothing! I just have something to do."
"What is that exactly?"
"It's nothing" Superboy stutters. I can tell he is lying. "Please, I'll be back…"
An alarm goes off in the mountain. At the same time, I receive an alert. Urien is attacking some motel in Happy Harbor.
I jump from my chair and head to the Zeta tube, taking me to Mount Justice. I arrive before the team has even finished reading their own alert. Their heads turn when the computer announces my arrival. The team, Black Canary and I are in a vehicle heading to town within seconds.
-At Sunny Shore Motel-
I can hear crashes and screams coming from the motel before we are even close. The destruction that has already occurred shocks me when we do finally arrive.
Part of the building is on fire and I can see at least three big holes in the walls. People are screaming and running out of the establishment terrified. Crashes and gun shots are sounding from inside the two story building. A few doors are kicked in or are currently being torn down by some of Urien's henchmen. Police have arrived and are trying to control the crowd of scared citizens.
I turn to the team, "Make sure everyone gets out of the building safe" I order. The team takes off to begin rescuing people from the burning building. Looking to Black Canary I say "We are going after Urien."
She nods and follows me into the part of the motel with the most crashes sounding, the lobby. When we enter, I see it is only the henchmen flipping furniture and yelling at the citizens trying to hide. They have a group of people rounded up, keeping them as hostages. Kid Flash and Artemis are fighting the henchmen. Dinah looks at me and says "I'm going to help them, you go" and joins in on the fight.
I run out of the lobby and follow some shouts from the second floor. The building is beginning to fall apart; I see Zatanna and Miss Martian trying to control the falling debris. Passing Aqualad who is trying to put of the fire with water from the pool, I see a couple henchmen still knocking down doors to rooms. I begin to fight the two when Superboy approaches. He appears to be searching for something, his wide eyes surveying the scene with an urgent intensity. I knock out the henchmen and watch the boy. Our eyes meet and I send him a suspicious glare. He is up to something.
Our focus is interrupted by a familiar scream. Dick. I don't spare Superboy another glance before jumping over the railing down to the first floor. Following the scream into room 6, I see a large hole in the wall, going into the room next door. I also see through it into the other room where Urien has Roy Harper in a choke hold on the wall. The man looks almost exactly like Red Arrow, except with black hair.
I dash through the hole and throw Urien off the man. The hurt man falls to the ground gasping, morphing into Richard. A syringe is hanging out of Dick's arm, which he yanks out and stares at while trying to still catch a breath.
A force crashes into me during my observation, sending me to the ground. Urien tries to pin me to the ground, but I grab his arm and fling him away. Jumping up, I get into battle mode. I can't see Urien until a fist connects with my jaw. Turning into the punch, I send my elbow backwards and jab the villain in the stomach. We fight for a good while, both having equal skills. It feels like Urien knows my moves before I execute them, blocking each perfectly. We both get some good attacks in before some henchmen burst in.
They don't jump to help their leader as I expected they would. Instead they head over to Dick who is still fighting consciousness, leaning against the wall. Urien and I get into a struggle where I am able to see Dick out of the corner of my eye. One of the henchmen club him upside the head, knocking my son unconscious. Rage erupts inside of me and I throw Urien across the room, over a table and into the wall. I don't see him fall to the ground, I'm too focused on Dick.
The two henchmen are dragging the boy out of the room. I attack the closest one, quickly knocking him to the side. The second one tries to shoot me with his gun. Grabbing the man's hand, I twist it and hear a snap. The man screams in pain which are worsened when I knee him in the gut, sending him crumbling to the floor.
Looking down, I see Dick isn't where he fell. I scan the room, but there is no sign of Dick or Urien. My heart begins beating a thousand times per second.
The first henchman I took down tries to attack me by jumping me from behind. I easily throw him off and rush out of the room. Neither Dick nor Urien are outside. I notice all of Urien's henchmen running from the motel. A few members of Young Justice are trying to stop the criminals from getting away. But each time they try, they are distracted by some nearby disaster.
Suddenly I see a pattern of the men's running. The motel is a U shape with a small pool on the inside. The men aren't aiming to escape the motel, some of them are running through the rooms. One runs out of a shed close to the pool. Instead of going around the shed and towards the parking lot like expected; he jumps across the pool and lands on the diving board. He uses the momentum from the board and his first jump to leap to the other side of the pool. He runs into an open room and exits the building through a hole in the wall.
I grab my communicator, linking me to the team "Get away from the pool area, NOW! Make sure nobody is in the building."
I do a quick scan of the scene. There are no citizens around the hotel anymore except for one woman in a maid outfit. Miss Martian appears, grabs the woman and flies off to safety. The rest of the team is beginning to evacuate the building. A yellow and green blur passes me, who I assume is Kid Flash carrying Artemis. Knowing everyone is out of danger, I run from the motel.
I am a block away when the bomb goes off. The explosion isn't as big as I thought it would be. It is pretty much contained to the pool area. The crowd goes into another state of panic, people running everywhere.
"Everyone check in" I demand over the communicator.
Each team member and Black Canary state their name, telling me they are fine. My nerves settle a bit, until a realization hits me.
Urien has Dick.