CHAPTER 8
Helena and Richard had followed Barbara's directions to where Delphi had last detected the location of David Blice had been. It took them to an abandoned warehouse. The two of them moved stealthily into the warehouse to find it empty. "It looks like they're long gone from here." Helena said looking all around at the cobwebs and dust that was frequent in supply.
"They were here alright, though. Take a look at this," Richard said as he knelt down on one knee. Helena could not see what he was looking at until she was standing above him. "The dust is unsettled around here. You can almost see the outline of a large crate that had been here."
"I'm impressed. I would have paid no intentions to this," Helena said halfway sarcastically
"That is why you're not ready to go out alone without guidance," Oracle said over Helena's ear piece. "You still have a lot to learn in the world of crime fighting."
"Hey, Oracle, are you seeing this?" Richard was now a few feet further from where he had first knelt down.
* * * *
Up on the monitor was everything that Richard's video contacts were picking up. Squinting her eyes, and leaning forward, she could make out tire tracks. "I see it alright. Let me see if I can identify what vehicle can make those tracks."
Barbara began to work on just that. Delphi outlined the tire tracks in blue. The image magnified and the designs in the tire tracks became clearer. "It looks like these tracks belong to a limousine." Barbara moved the screen up and the computer followed the tracks to a garage door. "They entered and exited from a garage down the other side of the room."
* * * *
Richard followed the tracks to where Barbara had said the tracks had lead. Helena was still looking each and every way but down at the tracks. "So, how do we find out where they are now?"
"That's where I come in!" Dinah came out of nowhere to join Helena and Richard in the abandoned warehouse.
"I sent Dinah there figuring her meta-powers may prove useful."
"Oracle, did your experience wearing your bat suit influence your decision not to dress these two into costumes of their own?"
"That's a long story. There's no time to tell it," she replied with a laugh.
"I'm not sure about this, Oracle. Touching a person and seeing their past is one thing, but I never tried it with an inanimate object."
"I have every ounce of faith that you can do it, and besides, isn't it you who keeps begging me to let you join Huntress in the field?"
"Yea, but I was thinking more of helping her kick ass."
"Give it some time, squirt," Helena said patting her on the shoulder.
"Huntress is right. You're almost ready. You've learned to control your anger and hatred, and your fighting skills have improved greatly. The one thing your still need to learn is street smarts."
Dinah was disappointed that Barbara did not feel she was ready to go to work on the field with Helena. She had worked hard in controlling the anger that had swelled in her since her mother's death. It was her rash actions while she was obsessed in revenge which delayed her in her quest to help Helena patrol New Gotham. It was her fault she was in this position, and she knew it, but how long would she have to prove that she had her anger and desire for revenge under control?
"Shall we get started?" Richard said, breaking her out of her trance that she seemed to have fallen into. He placed a caring hand on her shoulder. Dinah collected herself. "Is there anything in here that you know someone may have touched?"
"No guarantees on anything. Why not try the tire tracks." Richard said, pointing to the dusty tire tracks.
"It was going to be hard enough to try to do this with an object that they directly came in contact with. This is going to be all that more difficult."
"You can do this, Dinah. There is no pressure here, don't pressure yourself. Just focus all your powers and channel it to your will. You control your meta-powers, not vice versa. Let your powers be your alley." Oracle said to Dinah through her ear piece.
Dinah knelt down over the tire tracks and placed her five right fingers onto the track as she shut her eyes tightly. Her powers did not come to her naturally like usual. This time, she was working hard for her powers to turn on. This was the first time she was summoning her powers, and she was astonished how hard it was. She pressed in harder, and the strain was clear on her face.
Finally, a vision came to her with such force; it nearly caused Dinah to topple over. The vision was very choppy but very clear. Everything was in black and white, as if she was watching an old forties film. She saw the limousine pulling into the warehouse. The scene cut off with well dressed business men stepping out of the limousine. Next, she saw a topless, very muscular man, lifting a giant crate. The next thing she saw and heard was them talking and making final arrangements. The man who she assumed to be Alexander Bane, was shaking one of the business men's hand. "So, we are set. We meet tomorrow at midnight right here in this warehouse."
"Wonderful. I look forward to doing business together."
Dinah broke contact and felt very woozy and disoriented. She stumbled backwards to find herself sitting on the dusty cement floor. Richard knelt down besides Dinah to make sure she was alright. "Are you alright?"
"Yea," Dinah replied. "Just a little dizzy, but that has passed. It took a lot to force myself into using my powers."
"You did see something?" Helena asked.
"Yes, I saw someone who I assume was Bane, and he had made final arrangements with a business man of some sort. The tradeoff is going to be here in just a few hours from now."
Helena smiled as she looked at Richard. "We're early for the party. Why don't we prepare are guests for their arrival?"
"Sounds fun," Richard agreed.
Dinah jumped enthusiastically to her feet. "Can I stay and help?"
"No, Dinah. Come on home. Today is not the day," Barbara said.
Helena and Richard had followed Barbara's directions to where Delphi had last detected the location of David Blice had been. It took them to an abandoned warehouse. The two of them moved stealthily into the warehouse to find it empty. "It looks like they're long gone from here." Helena said looking all around at the cobwebs and dust that was frequent in supply.
"They were here alright, though. Take a look at this," Richard said as he knelt down on one knee. Helena could not see what he was looking at until she was standing above him. "The dust is unsettled around here. You can almost see the outline of a large crate that had been here."
"I'm impressed. I would have paid no intentions to this," Helena said halfway sarcastically
"That is why you're not ready to go out alone without guidance," Oracle said over Helena's ear piece. "You still have a lot to learn in the world of crime fighting."
"Hey, Oracle, are you seeing this?" Richard was now a few feet further from where he had first knelt down.
* * * *
Up on the monitor was everything that Richard's video contacts were picking up. Squinting her eyes, and leaning forward, she could make out tire tracks. "I see it alright. Let me see if I can identify what vehicle can make those tracks."
Barbara began to work on just that. Delphi outlined the tire tracks in blue. The image magnified and the designs in the tire tracks became clearer. "It looks like these tracks belong to a limousine." Barbara moved the screen up and the computer followed the tracks to a garage door. "They entered and exited from a garage down the other side of the room."
* * * *
Richard followed the tracks to where Barbara had said the tracks had lead. Helena was still looking each and every way but down at the tracks. "So, how do we find out where they are now?"
"That's where I come in!" Dinah came out of nowhere to join Helena and Richard in the abandoned warehouse.
"I sent Dinah there figuring her meta-powers may prove useful."
"Oracle, did your experience wearing your bat suit influence your decision not to dress these two into costumes of their own?"
"That's a long story. There's no time to tell it," she replied with a laugh.
"I'm not sure about this, Oracle. Touching a person and seeing their past is one thing, but I never tried it with an inanimate object."
"I have every ounce of faith that you can do it, and besides, isn't it you who keeps begging me to let you join Huntress in the field?"
"Yea, but I was thinking more of helping her kick ass."
"Give it some time, squirt," Helena said patting her on the shoulder.
"Huntress is right. You're almost ready. You've learned to control your anger and hatred, and your fighting skills have improved greatly. The one thing your still need to learn is street smarts."
Dinah was disappointed that Barbara did not feel she was ready to go to work on the field with Helena. She had worked hard in controlling the anger that had swelled in her since her mother's death. It was her rash actions while she was obsessed in revenge which delayed her in her quest to help Helena patrol New Gotham. It was her fault she was in this position, and she knew it, but how long would she have to prove that she had her anger and desire for revenge under control?
"Shall we get started?" Richard said, breaking her out of her trance that she seemed to have fallen into. He placed a caring hand on her shoulder. Dinah collected herself. "Is there anything in here that you know someone may have touched?"
"No guarantees on anything. Why not try the tire tracks." Richard said, pointing to the dusty tire tracks.
"It was going to be hard enough to try to do this with an object that they directly came in contact with. This is going to be all that more difficult."
"You can do this, Dinah. There is no pressure here, don't pressure yourself. Just focus all your powers and channel it to your will. You control your meta-powers, not vice versa. Let your powers be your alley." Oracle said to Dinah through her ear piece.
Dinah knelt down over the tire tracks and placed her five right fingers onto the track as she shut her eyes tightly. Her powers did not come to her naturally like usual. This time, she was working hard for her powers to turn on. This was the first time she was summoning her powers, and she was astonished how hard it was. She pressed in harder, and the strain was clear on her face.
Finally, a vision came to her with such force; it nearly caused Dinah to topple over. The vision was very choppy but very clear. Everything was in black and white, as if she was watching an old forties film. She saw the limousine pulling into the warehouse. The scene cut off with well dressed business men stepping out of the limousine. Next, she saw a topless, very muscular man, lifting a giant crate. The next thing she saw and heard was them talking and making final arrangements. The man who she assumed to be Alexander Bane, was shaking one of the business men's hand. "So, we are set. We meet tomorrow at midnight right here in this warehouse."
"Wonderful. I look forward to doing business together."
Dinah broke contact and felt very woozy and disoriented. She stumbled backwards to find herself sitting on the dusty cement floor. Richard knelt down besides Dinah to make sure she was alright. "Are you alright?"
"Yea," Dinah replied. "Just a little dizzy, but that has passed. It took a lot to force myself into using my powers."
"You did see something?" Helena asked.
"Yes, I saw someone who I assume was Bane, and he had made final arrangements with a business man of some sort. The tradeoff is going to be here in just a few hours from now."
Helena smiled as she looked at Richard. "We're early for the party. Why don't we prepare are guests for their arrival?"
"Sounds fun," Richard agreed.
Dinah jumped enthusiastically to her feet. "Can I stay and help?"
"No, Dinah. Come on home. Today is not the day," Barbara said.