The sun was rising over Bludhaven, the sky like a watercolor painting of
red and pink. Nightwing sat perched upon a flagpole, watching nature work
its beauty. His mind, however, was elsewhere, else when. He was thinking
back to his first encounter with Jason Todd. He was going to try to break
up a drug run on his own. Only they got the drop on him. If it hadn't
been for him, Jason would have been killed. So brash, so headstrong.
Bruce had always told him that his temperament would get him killed. He
always hated how Bruce was always right.
He allowed himself five more seconds of scenery, and was about to swing his way home, until a buzzing in his right ear stopped him in his tracks.
"Hey Babs, what's up?"
"He wants you to meet him at the cave," she said. "BOTH of us!"
"Him? Him who?"
"Duh, who ELSE would call us?"
"Oh, yeah. So, what's he want." The female voice on the other end sighed.
"Well, here's the good news/bad news. Good news; Batman's found Robin."
"REALLY!?!" he said, barely able to contain his excitement. "That's great. But.... uh...what's the bad news?"
*********************
The mansion always seemed so large, so alone, when Tim did something like this. He'd disappeared before, but he'd always given some heads up, some idea where he was at.
"Jack, relax," a comforting voice said from behind. Jack Drake looked up from his easy chair to see the face of his new wife, Dana. Her smile could melt even the coldest part of his heart. This time it was not his heart that needed healing.
"Have I been that bad a father?" he posed the question. She draped her arms him and kissed his cheek.
"You've been as good a father as you could, given the circumstances. It's just that Tim's been leading his own life for so long that he doesn't know how to handle having a father who's there for him."
Jack Drake sighed. "I'll never forget that. All that time, in a coma, Tim alone..." he sighed again. "But he should have been here. This time we were going to spend time as a family. Something me and his mother had trouble with."
"You've done fine," she said, moving to face him. "You just have to give him time. You've alerted the news stations, posted a reward. If he's done on of his `disappearing acts', he'll see the report and come back, just like before."
"But what if something's wrong? What if...?" Dana put a finger to his lips, silencing him.
"Just relax Jack" She cuddled up to him on his chair. "Tim's a big boy. He can handle himself. Now let's just turn on the television and wait. He'll be back in time. He always is." Dana gently grabbed the remote control and turned on the television, trying to distract their minds.
"Don't forget, we don't want to watch the New York broadcast," he said.
"Oh, that's right. They moved the dropping of the ball to...."
********************
"Mommy, when's daddy getting home?" the young girl asked her mother. Her black hair was pulled back, as she looked up, her eyes full of innocence of wonder.
"I don't know Traya," she said.
"You think they've found Robin yet?" she asked.
"Well, I hope so dear," the mother said assuredly, then quickly changed the subject. "So, what kind of pizza do you want?"
"Pepperoni and mushroom, with olives," she said gleefully.
"Alright dear."
"Thanks for letting me stay up and watch the New Years Eve celebration," Traya said with a smile as her mother ordered pizza.
"Well, I figured you're old enough, mature enough. Besides, it's not everyday that the celebration gets moved away from New York City."
"Really? Where is it at now?"
"Well, it's in......"
****************************
The tower was large. Much larger than it appeared on the outside. The young blonde crept around, wary of her surroundings.
"Uh, hello?" she called out. "Is anyone here?"
"WHO GOES THERE???" A giant head appeared out of nowhere, hovering in mid air, bearing down on the young female.
"ACK!!!" She fell to her knees, and brought up her arms to defend her face. "I'M A FRIEND OF ROBIN'S! I'M A FRIEND OF...." The head disappeared, and in its place was a lovely red head, wheelchair-bound.
"I recognize you," she said. "Robin spoke of you now and again. He admired you in some ways." The bags under her eyes gave away her exhaustion, her voice betrayed her fatigue.
"Yeah, hi. Uh...you have me at a disadvantage, though. You know me, but I don't know...."
"Oracle," the red head said. "Just call me Oracle."
"Oracle, okay. Uh.....I....uh....Geeze, how do I say this. Well, I....came to help."
"A little late, aren't you?" she said, arms folded. The young blonde was clearly hurt by her statements. Oracle lightened up.
"They're not here. Not in Gotham, anyway."
"Where did they go?" she asked.
"I can't tell you," she said.
"Please. You have to tell me. I want to find Robin, you've got to believe me. I want to help..." "You should have come sooner," she said. "If you really cared about finding him, you would have been here with the rest."
"Look, maybe you don't know what it's like to be a super hero, or to know what it's like to turn your back on the business. I do, and so did Robin. Or, at least, he was the only one to understand." Her eyes were pleading, trying to find some angle that she could work into.
"Please. I want to help." Oracle was firm, but exhaustion, plus having been in similar situations as the young female standing before her, her wall melted, allowing her humanity through.
She handed her a paper. "They went here," she said.
"Wait a minute. This is in....."
************************
The Bottle City of Kandor. Its red sun, artificial in nature, glowed with an eerie brilliance as the oceans crashed against the shore. Upon the beach a beautiful redhead and her dashing husband sprawled out like two beached whales, soaking in as much relaxation as possible.
"This was a great idea Clark," Lois said, kissing her husband on the cheeks.
"You know, we SHOULD be getting back now," he said with a smile, not really meaning what he said. "Perry'll have our jobs...."
"MY job, remember. You don't work for the Planet anymore."
"Oh, that's right," he said, feigning forgetfulness. Lois cuddled closer, draping her arms around his bare, muscular chest.
"Just relax. We go back tomorrow, so let's enjoy our time now. Just you and me. No Planet, no Superman, no Luthor, and, especially, no...."
******************
"Welcome to the bridge to tomorrow. I'm Dick Clark, your guide as America treks into the year 2001. But what an exciting year 2000 was. Between the media dubbed `Sins of the Youth' to the election of Lex Luthor into the presidency, the opening of the 21st century and new millennium was certainly filled to the brim with excitement.
"But here is where the real fun begins. Where America waves a fond farewell to the old year and prepares to greet the new. Everywhere around me people are have gathered from far and wide to party. Let's randomly grab an innocent bystander so that we can ask them a stupid and inane questions. How about this young lady with the face paint? Young lady, what's your name?"
"Harley...uh...DINN! Yeah, Harley Dinn!"
"Well now Harley. What brings you here?"
"Well, I came to see Off Key perform. Heheeee."
"Hahaaa. You a fan of the group?"
"No, I think they &@$#!"
"Ah, I see. So, what are your plans? You plan to party the night away? You...here with anyone special?"
"Hehehe....yeah. Me and Mr. Jaaaaa...uh, Jay, plan on opening the New Year up with a BANG!"
"Sounds like you two plan on going a little crazy tonight."
"Yep. Me, him, you....heck, just about everybody that survives the initial blast."
"....Okay, thanks for your time."
"Don't mention it Mic."
"Uh, that's Dick. Now let's get our cameras up to the stage, where Hanson is giving a performance of their new single....."
***************************
Metropolis. The City of Tomorrow. And rightfully so. Nowhere in the world would one find a more prime example of soulless technology brought to life than here. The soft whine of super generators and constant buzz of B13 technology filled the air, as neon lights and electric winds filled the sky with a lively glow as the sun gave way to the night. A living, breathing entity of power, light, and might, intertwined like vines with hope and a general welcoming feeling of the future. A parallel opposite to Gotham City, which was a grim ogre, greedy for anguish, thirsty for pain.
Above the city flew an oddity of nature, of reality, and of all things logical. By appearance it was a land vehicle, yet it flew through the air with a grace that would put even the most flighty bird to shame. Inside the vehicle were individuals of equal grandeur. Teens that defied logic as though it were a trifle. In fact, they didn't break the laws of physics, they rewrote them all together. They were, after all, Young Justice.
"I don't understand why we couldn't have taken the portal," Superboy noted as they sailed over the crowd of thousands.
"Because," Red Tornado said as he managed the controls, "Robin used up the energy pack adjusting the portal to accommodate his Redbird."
"Oh yeah."
"Above them, racing in a chariot of black, was Batman. He roared through the skies via his Bat Wing, a man on a mission, a man with a plan. The bystanders below pointed and stared at the sights above them, but none of them could grasp the grandeur, the seriousness, of the situation. To them, it was all part of the show.
They rocketed to the darkest region of The City of Tomorrow, to a loan building. It stood out like a cancer amongst the spawning skyscrapers and pulsating lights and sounds of the city. It was a typical electronics warehouse. At least, it used to be. Now it was a building under reconstruction. Inside the team hoped to find the one they were looking for, and hoped to bring another to justice.
The Bat Wing settled down several miles away, its jet engines muffled by the surrounding trees. The Super Cycle, being as quiet as a whisper when it wanted to be, settled right next to the building's entrance.
Quietly the group waited, poised to bust down the door at a second's notice, but respected Batman's plan and waited for him. With them was Batgirl, and word was Nightwing was going to join them shortly. This was it, the moment of truth.
"We move," the Bat said, slipping up behind them like a trickle of water. The team, including Lobo, would have jumped out of their boots, had they not been so tensed.
With a nod from Batman, Superboy burst the door down in an explosion of tactile telekinesis. Batman and Batgirl were the first to enter, merging with the shadows before the team could even enter. This was meant to take advantage of the suddenness of their entrance. If anyone was inside, they would be focused on the youngsters, and not them.
They fanned out into groups and searched the area. Barely any light, natural or whatever, touched the ground. But they managed. They were Young Justice. Nothing could beat them.
Each creak of the floorboard, each scuffle of soot, sent their hearts racing. They maneuvered through the darkness, but the unknown haunted them. Unsure, they continued in the blackness, until a blinding light pierced the area.
"They're not here," Batman said, his hand clutching a power switch. The place was awash in florescent light, making the empty factory less menacing.
"How do you know that?" Wonder Girl asked.
"Joker would have come to see what was up. He would have tried to stop us." He walked forward.
"You mean he's gone already?" Superboy said. "BLAST! We're always just one step behind."
"Not so much," Batman assured him. "From the looks of things he was in a hurry to abandon this place, which means things weren't going according to schedule. Look around. See if you can find anything."
The team scattered. With the fear of Joker diminished they were able to relax a bit. But their nerves were still shot.
"Is it just me, or does this place give you the creeps," Impulse said to Superboy as the two searched around at a walking pace.
"I know what you mean. And why does this place smell like mold? I don't see any mold around here."
"Must be in the ventilation shafts."
"Good point."
The two young gentlemen opened a large metal door. The inside was dark, void of any lighting. In the middle, hanging from a support beam, was a piece of rope. On the ground, beside a puddle of blood, was a plate of food and a note. Impulse picked up the note.
"What's it say?" Superboy asked.
"`Robin, she's on the roof. This is all I can do to help you. H.Q.' Who's H.Q.?"
"I don't know, but something tells me we should see what's up on the roof."
Meanwhile, searching the upper regions, Secret floated, her mind focused on finding Robin. She slipped through each crack, each crevice, looking for some sign of a secret entrance of sorts. She came upon a lone door, opened slightly. She peeked her head in. It was well furnished, or at least more furnished than any other place in the place. She noted the shag couch, fine leather chair, a notebook, and what looked like a tape player. She picked up the pad. On it were crude scribbles of a young man, bound and gagged, crying, while someone with a weird googly face wrote something on a notepad. She puzzled over it for a second, then put it down. She then proceeded to examine the tape player.
"What have you got there Secret?" a familiar voice asked. She spun to see Empress and Wonder Girl standing there.
"It looks like a tape player," she said.
"Well, let's play it." Nodding, Secret pushed the start button.
"Ugh....mo...mom.....mommy....." a voice gargled.
"Robin?" Secret said. The two ladies listened further, unaware of the silent whisper that approached from behind them.
"And how do you suggest we do that?" they listened further.
"Simple." A metallic sound. "Like this!"
"Oh...oh dear God," Empress said as the screams played out over the tape recorder.
"Hera!"
"Robin...Tim...." Tears began to swell as she dropped the player to the ground. The screams grew louder and louder as it sounded as though something was being stabbed into human flesh.
"Hmm.....let's try hot glue," the menacing voice cackled on the other end. Before it could carry out any further, a black boot shot through the recorder, smashing it to pieces. The two ladies shot up to see an individual, clad in black and navy blue, his hair black and eyes masked. He held his head down as his chest heaved with anger.
"Bastard," he growled.
"Nightwing?" Empress whispered.
The Lad of Lightning and Teen of Tomorrow crept out onto the rooftop. The sounds of the city could be heard even from there as she shimmered like the sun in the horizon. A cold wind froze the hairs on their skin as they walked out.
"Look," Impulse said, pointing to a patch of purple tied to a pole.
"Who do you think it is?"
"I don't know," Superboy said. "But we should help her."
They approached the individual. Impulse went to work untying the knots, while Superboy, in typical fashion, approached her from the front.
"Don't worry, we'll have you.....AUGH!!!" He tumbled backward, nearly falling off the side.
"What, what is...oh sweet Jesus." The two gazed at the horrible, frozen face of death as it grinned at them, void of eyes, void of color, void of life.
"Her name was Spoiler," a voice said. Batman approached the two gentlemen and, calmly, untied the body. "She is....was...Robin's girlfriend."
"And that mask in the box," Kon noted, "belonged to her?"
"Exactly." He picked up the body and, reaching into his belt, pulled out a black mask, similar to the one she used to wear. He covered her face, providing her body with some shred of dignity, as he carried her away.
They were joined by the rest of the team, including Nightwing, on the rooftop. Secret was being comforted by Empress. The rest were simply staring at the body in his arms.
"The body comes with us," he said. "We'll bury it later. Did you find anything?"
"Actually," Red Tornado said, holding out a large piece of paper, "I found this near a truck exit." Batman looked at the paper, then looked up at the team.
"This is a map, marking all the locations of the bombs." He showed it to the team. The bombs were marked in a circular area around one central point.
"LexCorp," Empress whispered, her mind clear. Batman nodded.
"Batgirl, you and the rest take the paper. Split into groups, take an area, and be sure to disarm those bombs. Nightwing, you're with me."
"What about you?" Tornado said. "What are you going to be doing?"
"We're going to take out The Joker...."
He allowed himself five more seconds of scenery, and was about to swing his way home, until a buzzing in his right ear stopped him in his tracks.
"Hey Babs, what's up?"
"He wants you to meet him at the cave," she said. "BOTH of us!"
"Him? Him who?"
"Duh, who ELSE would call us?"
"Oh, yeah. So, what's he want." The female voice on the other end sighed.
"Well, here's the good news/bad news. Good news; Batman's found Robin."
"REALLY!?!" he said, barely able to contain his excitement. "That's great. But.... uh...what's the bad news?"
*********************
The mansion always seemed so large, so alone, when Tim did something like this. He'd disappeared before, but he'd always given some heads up, some idea where he was at.
"Jack, relax," a comforting voice said from behind. Jack Drake looked up from his easy chair to see the face of his new wife, Dana. Her smile could melt even the coldest part of his heart. This time it was not his heart that needed healing.
"Have I been that bad a father?" he posed the question. She draped her arms him and kissed his cheek.
"You've been as good a father as you could, given the circumstances. It's just that Tim's been leading his own life for so long that he doesn't know how to handle having a father who's there for him."
Jack Drake sighed. "I'll never forget that. All that time, in a coma, Tim alone..." he sighed again. "But he should have been here. This time we were going to spend time as a family. Something me and his mother had trouble with."
"You've done fine," she said, moving to face him. "You just have to give him time. You've alerted the news stations, posted a reward. If he's done on of his `disappearing acts', he'll see the report and come back, just like before."
"But what if something's wrong? What if...?" Dana put a finger to his lips, silencing him.
"Just relax Jack" She cuddled up to him on his chair. "Tim's a big boy. He can handle himself. Now let's just turn on the television and wait. He'll be back in time. He always is." Dana gently grabbed the remote control and turned on the television, trying to distract their minds.
"Don't forget, we don't want to watch the New York broadcast," he said.
"Oh, that's right. They moved the dropping of the ball to...."
********************
"Mommy, when's daddy getting home?" the young girl asked her mother. Her black hair was pulled back, as she looked up, her eyes full of innocence of wonder.
"I don't know Traya," she said.
"You think they've found Robin yet?" she asked.
"Well, I hope so dear," the mother said assuredly, then quickly changed the subject. "So, what kind of pizza do you want?"
"Pepperoni and mushroom, with olives," she said gleefully.
"Alright dear."
"Thanks for letting me stay up and watch the New Years Eve celebration," Traya said with a smile as her mother ordered pizza.
"Well, I figured you're old enough, mature enough. Besides, it's not everyday that the celebration gets moved away from New York City."
"Really? Where is it at now?"
"Well, it's in......"
****************************
The tower was large. Much larger than it appeared on the outside. The young blonde crept around, wary of her surroundings.
"Uh, hello?" she called out. "Is anyone here?"
"WHO GOES THERE???" A giant head appeared out of nowhere, hovering in mid air, bearing down on the young female.
"ACK!!!" She fell to her knees, and brought up her arms to defend her face. "I'M A FRIEND OF ROBIN'S! I'M A FRIEND OF...." The head disappeared, and in its place was a lovely red head, wheelchair-bound.
"I recognize you," she said. "Robin spoke of you now and again. He admired you in some ways." The bags under her eyes gave away her exhaustion, her voice betrayed her fatigue.
"Yeah, hi. Uh...you have me at a disadvantage, though. You know me, but I don't know...."
"Oracle," the red head said. "Just call me Oracle."
"Oracle, okay. Uh.....I....uh....Geeze, how do I say this. Well, I....came to help."
"A little late, aren't you?" she said, arms folded. The young blonde was clearly hurt by her statements. Oracle lightened up.
"They're not here. Not in Gotham, anyway."
"Where did they go?" she asked.
"I can't tell you," she said.
"Please. You have to tell me. I want to find Robin, you've got to believe me. I want to help..." "You should have come sooner," she said. "If you really cared about finding him, you would have been here with the rest."
"Look, maybe you don't know what it's like to be a super hero, or to know what it's like to turn your back on the business. I do, and so did Robin. Or, at least, he was the only one to understand." Her eyes were pleading, trying to find some angle that she could work into.
"Please. I want to help." Oracle was firm, but exhaustion, plus having been in similar situations as the young female standing before her, her wall melted, allowing her humanity through.
She handed her a paper. "They went here," she said.
"Wait a minute. This is in....."
************************
The Bottle City of Kandor. Its red sun, artificial in nature, glowed with an eerie brilliance as the oceans crashed against the shore. Upon the beach a beautiful redhead and her dashing husband sprawled out like two beached whales, soaking in as much relaxation as possible.
"This was a great idea Clark," Lois said, kissing her husband on the cheeks.
"You know, we SHOULD be getting back now," he said with a smile, not really meaning what he said. "Perry'll have our jobs...."
"MY job, remember. You don't work for the Planet anymore."
"Oh, that's right," he said, feigning forgetfulness. Lois cuddled closer, draping her arms around his bare, muscular chest.
"Just relax. We go back tomorrow, so let's enjoy our time now. Just you and me. No Planet, no Superman, no Luthor, and, especially, no...."
******************
"Welcome to the bridge to tomorrow. I'm Dick Clark, your guide as America treks into the year 2001. But what an exciting year 2000 was. Between the media dubbed `Sins of the Youth' to the election of Lex Luthor into the presidency, the opening of the 21st century and new millennium was certainly filled to the brim with excitement.
"But here is where the real fun begins. Where America waves a fond farewell to the old year and prepares to greet the new. Everywhere around me people are have gathered from far and wide to party. Let's randomly grab an innocent bystander so that we can ask them a stupid and inane questions. How about this young lady with the face paint? Young lady, what's your name?"
"Harley...uh...DINN! Yeah, Harley Dinn!"
"Well now Harley. What brings you here?"
"Well, I came to see Off Key perform. Heheeee."
"Hahaaa. You a fan of the group?"
"No, I think they &@$#!"
"Ah, I see. So, what are your plans? You plan to party the night away? You...here with anyone special?"
"Hehehe....yeah. Me and Mr. Jaaaaa...uh, Jay, plan on opening the New Year up with a BANG!"
"Sounds like you two plan on going a little crazy tonight."
"Yep. Me, him, you....heck, just about everybody that survives the initial blast."
"....Okay, thanks for your time."
"Don't mention it Mic."
"Uh, that's Dick. Now let's get our cameras up to the stage, where Hanson is giving a performance of their new single....."
***************************
Metropolis. The City of Tomorrow. And rightfully so. Nowhere in the world would one find a more prime example of soulless technology brought to life than here. The soft whine of super generators and constant buzz of B13 technology filled the air, as neon lights and electric winds filled the sky with a lively glow as the sun gave way to the night. A living, breathing entity of power, light, and might, intertwined like vines with hope and a general welcoming feeling of the future. A parallel opposite to Gotham City, which was a grim ogre, greedy for anguish, thirsty for pain.
Above the city flew an oddity of nature, of reality, and of all things logical. By appearance it was a land vehicle, yet it flew through the air with a grace that would put even the most flighty bird to shame. Inside the vehicle were individuals of equal grandeur. Teens that defied logic as though it were a trifle. In fact, they didn't break the laws of physics, they rewrote them all together. They were, after all, Young Justice.
"I don't understand why we couldn't have taken the portal," Superboy noted as they sailed over the crowd of thousands.
"Because," Red Tornado said as he managed the controls, "Robin used up the energy pack adjusting the portal to accommodate his Redbird."
"Oh yeah."
"Above them, racing in a chariot of black, was Batman. He roared through the skies via his Bat Wing, a man on a mission, a man with a plan. The bystanders below pointed and stared at the sights above them, but none of them could grasp the grandeur, the seriousness, of the situation. To them, it was all part of the show.
They rocketed to the darkest region of The City of Tomorrow, to a loan building. It stood out like a cancer amongst the spawning skyscrapers and pulsating lights and sounds of the city. It was a typical electronics warehouse. At least, it used to be. Now it was a building under reconstruction. Inside the team hoped to find the one they were looking for, and hoped to bring another to justice.
The Bat Wing settled down several miles away, its jet engines muffled by the surrounding trees. The Super Cycle, being as quiet as a whisper when it wanted to be, settled right next to the building's entrance.
Quietly the group waited, poised to bust down the door at a second's notice, but respected Batman's plan and waited for him. With them was Batgirl, and word was Nightwing was going to join them shortly. This was it, the moment of truth.
"We move," the Bat said, slipping up behind them like a trickle of water. The team, including Lobo, would have jumped out of their boots, had they not been so tensed.
With a nod from Batman, Superboy burst the door down in an explosion of tactile telekinesis. Batman and Batgirl were the first to enter, merging with the shadows before the team could even enter. This was meant to take advantage of the suddenness of their entrance. If anyone was inside, they would be focused on the youngsters, and not them.
They fanned out into groups and searched the area. Barely any light, natural or whatever, touched the ground. But they managed. They were Young Justice. Nothing could beat them.
Each creak of the floorboard, each scuffle of soot, sent their hearts racing. They maneuvered through the darkness, but the unknown haunted them. Unsure, they continued in the blackness, until a blinding light pierced the area.
"They're not here," Batman said, his hand clutching a power switch. The place was awash in florescent light, making the empty factory less menacing.
"How do you know that?" Wonder Girl asked.
"Joker would have come to see what was up. He would have tried to stop us." He walked forward.
"You mean he's gone already?" Superboy said. "BLAST! We're always just one step behind."
"Not so much," Batman assured him. "From the looks of things he was in a hurry to abandon this place, which means things weren't going according to schedule. Look around. See if you can find anything."
The team scattered. With the fear of Joker diminished they were able to relax a bit. But their nerves were still shot.
"Is it just me, or does this place give you the creeps," Impulse said to Superboy as the two searched around at a walking pace.
"I know what you mean. And why does this place smell like mold? I don't see any mold around here."
"Must be in the ventilation shafts."
"Good point."
The two young gentlemen opened a large metal door. The inside was dark, void of any lighting. In the middle, hanging from a support beam, was a piece of rope. On the ground, beside a puddle of blood, was a plate of food and a note. Impulse picked up the note.
"What's it say?" Superboy asked.
"`Robin, she's on the roof. This is all I can do to help you. H.Q.' Who's H.Q.?"
"I don't know, but something tells me we should see what's up on the roof."
Meanwhile, searching the upper regions, Secret floated, her mind focused on finding Robin. She slipped through each crack, each crevice, looking for some sign of a secret entrance of sorts. She came upon a lone door, opened slightly. She peeked her head in. It was well furnished, or at least more furnished than any other place in the place. She noted the shag couch, fine leather chair, a notebook, and what looked like a tape player. She picked up the pad. On it were crude scribbles of a young man, bound and gagged, crying, while someone with a weird googly face wrote something on a notepad. She puzzled over it for a second, then put it down. She then proceeded to examine the tape player.
"What have you got there Secret?" a familiar voice asked. She spun to see Empress and Wonder Girl standing there.
"It looks like a tape player," she said.
"Well, let's play it." Nodding, Secret pushed the start button.
"Ugh....mo...mom.....mommy....." a voice gargled.
"Robin?" Secret said. The two ladies listened further, unaware of the silent whisper that approached from behind them.
"And how do you suggest we do that?" they listened further.
"Simple." A metallic sound. "Like this!"
"Oh...oh dear God," Empress said as the screams played out over the tape recorder.
"Hera!"
"Robin...Tim...." Tears began to swell as she dropped the player to the ground. The screams grew louder and louder as it sounded as though something was being stabbed into human flesh.
"Hmm.....let's try hot glue," the menacing voice cackled on the other end. Before it could carry out any further, a black boot shot through the recorder, smashing it to pieces. The two ladies shot up to see an individual, clad in black and navy blue, his hair black and eyes masked. He held his head down as his chest heaved with anger.
"Bastard," he growled.
"Nightwing?" Empress whispered.
The Lad of Lightning and Teen of Tomorrow crept out onto the rooftop. The sounds of the city could be heard even from there as she shimmered like the sun in the horizon. A cold wind froze the hairs on their skin as they walked out.
"Look," Impulse said, pointing to a patch of purple tied to a pole.
"Who do you think it is?"
"I don't know," Superboy said. "But we should help her."
They approached the individual. Impulse went to work untying the knots, while Superboy, in typical fashion, approached her from the front.
"Don't worry, we'll have you.....AUGH!!!" He tumbled backward, nearly falling off the side.
"What, what is...oh sweet Jesus." The two gazed at the horrible, frozen face of death as it grinned at them, void of eyes, void of color, void of life.
"Her name was Spoiler," a voice said. Batman approached the two gentlemen and, calmly, untied the body. "She is....was...Robin's girlfriend."
"And that mask in the box," Kon noted, "belonged to her?"
"Exactly." He picked up the body and, reaching into his belt, pulled out a black mask, similar to the one she used to wear. He covered her face, providing her body with some shred of dignity, as he carried her away.
They were joined by the rest of the team, including Nightwing, on the rooftop. Secret was being comforted by Empress. The rest were simply staring at the body in his arms.
"The body comes with us," he said. "We'll bury it later. Did you find anything?"
"Actually," Red Tornado said, holding out a large piece of paper, "I found this near a truck exit." Batman looked at the paper, then looked up at the team.
"This is a map, marking all the locations of the bombs." He showed it to the team. The bombs were marked in a circular area around one central point.
"LexCorp," Empress whispered, her mind clear. Batman nodded.
"Batgirl, you and the rest take the paper. Split into groups, take an area, and be sure to disarm those bombs. Nightwing, you're with me."
"What about you?" Tornado said. "What are you going to be doing?"
"We're going to take out The Joker...."