DAKOTA CITY
JULY 19, 19:50 CDT
Through the sniper scope, the mysterious person watches Virgil making his way to an abandoned house a few blocks away from his home when his metal gauntlet starts blinking a red light. Looking at Virgil for a second longer before pulling their face away from the scope, they press on his gauntlet and a feed activates as the face of Ugly appears at the top right of his visor's HUD with a scowl on his face while. "What do you want, Mannheim?" The person asks.
"What's taking you so long? You should've had the kid by now." Ugly asks.
"I have eyes on the target but he already called for his team." The person notifies him.
"Then why don't just grab the kid before his friends get there?" Ugly asks, clearly peeved by the person's calmness to the situation. "The last thing we need is the sidekicks' interference."
"I want the League's proteges to come here." The person says, looking back down the scope and returning his attention back to Virgil. "Once I deal with them, it will make capturing the target all the more easier."
"Why do you want the heroes there?" Ugly asks, clearly confused by the person's plan. "Do you have a problem with them, or something?"
"Do not question my methods. You will have your targets by the end of the night." The person says. "And my issues, if any, do not concern you."
"This isn't what we agreed upon."
"We did not agree upon anything other than capturing your targets so I am done talking, Mannheim. Do NOT call back." The person says, pressing a button behind their ear and turning off the feed before laying down into a sniper position. "And now we wait for your back up."
HAPPY HARBOR
JULY 19, 20:00 EDT
Happy Harbor was beautiful at this time in the evening as the sun sets, giving off a orange and magenta color in the sky while lights illuminated the streets for the townsfolk. While the town winds down for the night, people still walk the sidewalks or drive, looking to go out with friends, family, or significant others on this Friday evening. One place people are seeming to head to are the movie theater, where people are lining up outside to see the latest movies out. While people continue to line up to buy tickets for the movies, Conner, M'gann, Kaldur, and Kori walk out of the movie theater as they are laughing after seeing an action movie.
"That was a good movie." Conner says.
"I agree it did have great action and great story to it."
"And this is a sequel?" M'gann asks.
"Yeah." Conner confirms for her, taking her hand into his own. "It came out 20-years-ago in the mid-90's."
"I wonder if they are any aliens like this in the universe." Kori says, looking up into the sky.
"I don't remember hearing about any aliens like this on Mars." M'gann says, also happening to look up into the sky. "You once told me your people like to fight great battles, right, Kori?" She asks, receiving a nod from her Tamaranean friend. "I would have thought your people had encounter something like them before?"
"If they have it is unknown to me." Kori replies.
"Hold on." Conner says, stopping the group before he found the place he was looking for. "I know this ice cream place near by that me and M'gann go to when we come here."
Conner and M'gann take the lead for the group, leaving Kaldur and Kori to follow them to the destination. Kaldur and Kori are walking side-by-side together while walking slower than the others to get a little distance between them until Kori looks to Kaldur with an inquisitive look. "Kaldur?"
Kaldur looks to Kori. "Yes?"
"What is ice cream?"
Kaldur looks at her confused for second before remembering her unfamiliarity with many Earth foods."Oh, apologies. I had forgotten within the short time you have been here that you are not familiar with everything on Earth." He explains to her with a smile. "It is a frozen dairy product but is sweet in flavor and you lick it. I believe you will find it delightful."
Kori smiles and give him a nod, grabbing Kaldur's hand causing him to look down at their hands only look back up at her and give her a reciprocated smile. The two turn back to look in front of them but sat in a comfortable silence with smiles still on their faces.
Up ahead, M'gann looks at the pair behind Conner and herself out of the corner of her eye and smiles at how well they are doing for their first date together. "Do you think their date was a success?" There was silence between the two, making M'gann turn to look at Conner and sees that he is staring into space as his eyes are looking down at the sidewalk. M'gann noticed that something was different about Conner from his silence, but now knows from looking his eyes that he is thinking deeply about something. 'Conner?'
'Huh?' Conner says, being jogged out of his own head.
'I didn't mean to just come in your head but you're being distant.' M'gann explains.
'Oh, sorry.' Conner says, flashing her a smile. 'What did you ask me?'
'I was asking if you think their date worked out?' She asks again.
Conner looks over his shoulder at Kaldur and Kori holding hands as he heard Kori laugh at something Kaldur said. Conner looks at them for a few more seconds before looking back at M'gann with a smirk that gives away the answer. 'That's a success in my book.'
'Do you think they'll go on another one?' M'gann ponders.
'I don't doubt it.' Conner says.
'What do you think they should do next time?' M'gann asks.
'What everyone else does, watch a movie at home.' Conner says, making M'gann and him laugh aloud.
When they finally reach the ice cream parlor, the sign outside of it reads "Happy Harbor Ice Cream" in bold Script font with an waffle cone below the name acting as ice cream. They look inside the store and see that they are the only ones in line, other people sitting around outside and inside eating their ice cream while they enter the store and look at the ice cream in front of them. An older man with a few gray hairs in his hair is standing behind the counter with his back turned to them, the logo of the store on the back of his gray shirt with two others workers with him when he hears the bell of the store's door open. "Welcome to Happy Harbor Ice Cream, how may I help you?"
"Yes, we would like one vanilla and one mint chocolate chip." Conner says, walking up to the counter with the others.
"Hi, Mr. Parker." M'gann says to the older man with a smile, making him freeze in surprise.
"Wait a second. If I'm not mistaken..." The man says in surprise, turning around to get a good look at faces of the two familiar voices. "is that Conner Kent and Megan Morse?"
Conner and M'gann chuckle at the older man's surprise at seeing them. "Yes, it's us. How have you been?" The hybrid asks.
"I haven't seen you two in a few months." Mr. Parker says, looking to their left and spotting Kaldur and Kori. "And Jackson, it's good to see you again and who is the special lady friend of yours?"
Kori blushes, looking down at the floor embarrassed from the gentlemen's compliment while Kaldur smiles at his date's embarrassment and the the older man. "It is nice to see you as well, Mr. Parker." He says before gesturing to Kori. "And this is Kori Anders, she is new here and I am taking her on her first date."
"Well, it's nice to meet you Ms. Anders. I hope you'll be coming around here often?" He asks.
"I have been so far, so I would very much like to in the future." Kori replies.
"So, Ms. Anders, do you know what flavor you'll be having today?"
"I will have whatever he haves?" Kori answers, gesturing to Kaldur.
"So, three vanillas and a mint chocolate chip." Mr. Parker says while one of the workers is already preparing the ice cream. "Anything else?"
"No, I think that's it." Conner tells him.
The man hands them their ice cream in separate cups as Conner stays behind to pay for them. Outside the parlor, Kaldur finds an open table as the girls follow him and sits down as they wait for Conner but while they wait he decides to ask Kori a question. "So, Kori, how do you feel this date has been so far?"
"I am very much enjoying myself." Kori answers, licking the ice cream. "Do you feel the same way about this date?"
"I very much do. I have enjoyed the time I have spent with you Kori." Kaldur replies as Conner walks out of the parlor and sits at the table with the others while Kori and Kaldur keep talking. "Kori, may I ask you a question?"
"Yes?"
"Have you thought about leaving Earth?" Kaldur asks.
Kori pauses for a minute, taking a moment to recount all the things that have happened since her arrival. "It is too early to say now but I do not believe humanity will lose my interest after spending time with the team." Kori looks down at Kaldur's hand and places her own on top of it. "After spending time with you." Kaldur smiles at Kori as she looks away blushing.
From across the table M'gann is smiling at Kori and Kaldur's small talk, happy to see that the two are having a great time together. She looks over at Conner to see if he was seeing the same thing but she looks at him he was staring into space, having not touched his ice cream yet. 'Conner, are you sure nothing's wrong?'
'Yes, M'gann, I'm fine?' Conner answers without delay, catching M'gann a little off guard.
'Really, because you're being distant and I know when you're not trying to talk about something.' M'gann comments.
'Look it's…' Conner sighs before looking at M'gann. 'it's complicated.'
M'gann places hand on top of Conner's and offers him a smile. 'Conner, please just talk to me about it.'
Conner looks down at his hand, feeling a small smile creep onto his lips before looking back at M'gann and gives her a nod. 'Okay, I'll tell you.' Conner says, squeezing the Martian girl's hand. 'It was this morning after Kaldur asked Kori on a date when Batgirl called-' Conner pauses when they both here his phone vibrates as he pulls it out, checking the Caller ID and showing it to M'gann. "Speaking of who."
Conner answers his phone as he puts it to his ear as M'gann keeps her eyes on him. "Hello?"
"Where are you?"
"Still in Happy Harbor." Conner answers, a little confused. "Why?"
"I just received a call from Ed. He said that he and the other runaways are be hunted."
"What?" Conner says standing up from the table, catching the others' attention.
"I already sent Blue Beetle and Impulse to check on Tye and Asami." She says, but a loud ping can be heard from her side of the phone. "Virgil just sent me his, so I need you guys to get there before whoever this is."
"Okay, what about Robin and Wonder Girl?" The hybrid asks.
"I'm sending them to Virgil's location right now. I already told them I'll have you guys meet up with them." She says before a notification goes off on Conner's phone. He pulls his phone away and looks down at the screen to see a location. "You should hurry, whoever's after them probably knows they are all metas."
"Okay, we're on our way." Conner says, hanging up his phone and putting it in his pocket while the others watched him and stood up themselves.
"Conner, what is the problem?" Kaldur asks, now concerned about the phone call.
"We need to get back to the Cave and go to Dakota City." Was the only explanation Conner gives before he starts running towards Mount Justice with the others following behind him as they leave their ice creams at the table. When they finally reach the mission room in the Cave, Conner and Kaldur takes off his clothes to reveal their mission suits underneath them and M'gann morphs her attire from to her mission suit while Conner looks for the closest Zeta Tube near the location given to him.
"Wait, I do not have my mission suit." Kori points out.
Conner pauses for a minute before looking to Kori. "Which reminds me, Kori hold a starbolt to the jewel on your necklace."
"But I do not understand-"
"Just do it Kori." Conner said in a commanding voice, not letting Kori finish her sentence.
Kori looks down at the center pendant on her necklace, creating a starbolt in her hand and touches the green jewel on her necklace, making the jewel shines bright. Before anyone can say anything, Kori is enveloped by a green light and when it dissipates she is wearing the suit she arrived in, which became her mission suit for operations. "How is this possi-"
"Explanation later." Conner says, the Zeta Tube starting to whirl up with the light turning on before it stalls and whirling back down and the yellow light dying. An error sign pops up on the holo-computer and Conner swipes it away to make it disappear before he pulls out his phone and looks up the location on a map with a picture of a house. "The Zeta Tube isn't ready to operate another jump. Looks like we're going to have to teleport there. Everyone, grab my arms."
Kaldur grabs Conner's left arm while Kori and M'gann grabs his right arm as they are enveloped in red before teleporting outside a house with wooden boards covering up one of the front windows. From what they can tell the house seems abandoned, given the condemn signs on the wooden boards covering the window and on the front door of the house, making this a perfect hiding spot for someone without being seen. Conner knocks on the front door and after a few seconds of waiting, the door opens with the four adults being greeted to the sight of Cassie, Tim, and Virgil on the other side of the door.
"When did you get here?" Cassie asks, moving out of the four's way so they can enter the house.
"We just got here." Conner replies as the four enter the house while Virgil goes back to sitting on the couch in the living room. "On to the more pressing matter at hand. Static are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Virgil tells him, his mind clearly someone else in the way he responded. "What about Sam and Tye, did you find them?"
"No, but Blue and Impulse are going to Tye's house to find them." Conner answers.
"Why would anyone want to kidnap four meta-humans teens?" Tim asks.
"It would have to be someone who knows as much about them as we do." Conner points out.
"Are you saying it could be someone who has extensive knowledge of our systems?" Kaldur questions.
"I wouldn't say that but whoever this is clearly knows who these four are." Conner explains, leaning against the wall behind him. "I also wouldn't put it far past whoever this is to know that the Team also exists."
'We can talk about this later?' M'gann asks, switching everyone over to her mind-link. 'Right now, we need to worry about Virgil and how we're going to keep him safe.'
'Right now, all we can do is keep watch over him until we can catch the person after him.' Conner tells her.
'When we are certain that you are safe we will transport you to the Watchtower.' Kaldur says, placing a hand on Virgil's shoulder, making the teen look up at him where he offers him a smile. 'Do not fret, Virgil. I know you are scared but I promise that we will keep you safe.'
'Thanks, Kaldur.' Virgil says.
A few minutes pass for the group before Kaldur comm-links activated, beeping to let him know he is being contacted as he presses on his earpiece. "This is Aqualad."
"Aqualad, this is Blue Beetle reporting." Jaime's voice comes through on the comm-link.
"Blue Beetle, have you and Impulse located Tye and Asami?" Kaldur asks.
"We're with them in Tye's house. They already know what's happening so now we're just waiting for reinforcements." Jaime replies.
"Acknowledged. Stay with them until other members can come and we can bring them to the Watchtower." Kaldur alerts him.
"Understood. Blue Beetle out." Jaime says, the channel falling silent, prompting Kaldur to turn off his communicator.
"And now we wait. Once Tye and Asami are secured on the Watchtower, we'll move you there too." Kaldur tells the group of six around him. "Nothing will happen to Virgil tonight."
While the heroes continue to wait, the person outside on top of the water tower heard everything that was said by Kaldur and Jaime and the declaration Kaldur just made while using the sniper scope to zoom in on Kaldur's head. "Do not make promises, Kaldur." The person says, as they press behind their ear to activate their communicator. "Sergeant, are you in position to move in on the El Paso targets?"
"Yes, General, everything is ready. Once you give the word, we'll grab the targets and move to the rendezvous point." The sergeant in question answers. "What about your target?"
"Do not worry, Sergeant. I have him and possibly a plus one in my sights." The person tells the sergeant before turning off their communicator once more.
EL PASO
JULY 19, 18:26 MDT
Using the CCTV cameras on the streets, Jaime is scanning the neighborhood as a car travels down the street and turns down another street heading for the main room while Bart, Tye, and Asami watch with him. "Okay, I think we're gonna be alright for now." He says, turning off the video before activating the communications channel. "Blue Beetle to Batgirl, how is it coming with getting more members out here?"
"The entire team is being stretched thin right now. I have Guardian, Bumblebee, and Beast Boy checking on Ed's house to see whose after them and I haven't been able to contact Artemis. But I can send Lagoon Boy to your location." Barbara answers through the communicator.
"I can go help Blue Beetle and Kid Flash in Texas." Cassie offers over the communicator.
"I'll accompany Wonder Girl just in case." M'gann adds.
"I'll give it to you once you get in El Paso. We're all being watched so keep an eye out on your way here. Blue Beetle, out." Jaime says, turning off his communicator as returns to watching the street cameras.
Back in Virgil's house, Cassie and M'gann are talking to their boyfriends on different side of the house before they themselves make their leave to join their respective teams. Off by the boarded up front window of the house, Cassie and Tim are holding hands while they give each other words of encouragement before she leaves.
"Will you be okay without me here?" Cassie asks, trying to soothe her boyfriend's unease.
"Yeah, but just be careful while you're out there?" Tim asks, rubbing his thumbs across Cassie's knuckles. "The last thing I need is Diana trying to kill me if you get hurt."
Cassie giggles at her boyfriend's exaggeration before giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I promise, but no heroics from you while I'm gone. I want a boyfriend to come back to once this is over."
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Conner and M'gann have their foreheads together, their eyes closed while Conner cups M'gann's cheeks in his hands. While the two were in a separate room, the two decided to use M'gann's mind-link to talk to each other before she leaves for El Paso.
'I'll come back once we take Tye and Asami to the Watchtower.' M'gann tells him, placing her soft hand on top of Conner's more rough hands.
'Okay, but be careful and be on guard while you're out there.' Conner says, placing a kiss on Martian's nose.
M'gann giggles and Conner looks at her confused as she picks up for her head and lays it down onto her forehead, listening to his heart beat for a few moments. 'I'm supposed to be the one who tells you to be careful.' M'gann says.
Conner smirks as he kisses her forehead and let her go of her hands as they return to the living room with the others. "Both of you should get going, we have a long night ahead of us and I don't think the person behind this isn't quitting anytime soon." M'gann and Cassie nod at him, walking out of the front door of the house and going to the nearest Zeta Tube.
Conner stares at the front door for a minute until Kaldur places a hand on his shoulder and they both take a look at who remains in the room. "Now the four of us are the last line of defense between the kidnapper and Static."
"We're gonna need more people." Conner adds before turning on his communicator and setting it to all currently active Team members. "Team, listen up. Tonight, four of our friends are in danger and it is our job to make sure that they remain safe. This team in Dakota City will be Alpha, El Paso is Beta, and Taos is Gamma. Batgirl, since you're in the Watchtower you'll be our eyes and ears. All communications and information will come through you and only you."
"Understood." Barbara replies.
"See if you can get into contact with any Leaguers for assistance." Conner requests. "We don't need anyone tapping into our communications, so for now all comms are to remain silent until told otherwise. Outside of that, everyone remain safe and stay on guard. Superboy, out." Conner says as he turns off his communicator.
Conner thinks to himself for a minute before he pulls out his phone and types in a number while everyone looks at him little confused by his action. While he waits for the person he called to answer the phone as the dial rings, the dial stops as someone finally answers: "Hello?"
"Artemis, what are you doing right now?" Conner asks.
"I was watching Lian in the living room. I left my phone in my room by accident so I didn't know anyone...called." Artemis explains but her voice trails off into one of confusion. "Speaking of which, why do I have so many missed calls from Barbara?"
"Someone's kidnapping the runaways from their homes." Conner says, taking the time to explain the situation. "So far Ed's gone into hiding and we have Virgil, Tye, and Asami in their homes until we can get them to the Watchtower safely."
"Okay, what can I do?" Artemis asks.
"I need you to go help Gamma Team find out what happened in Taos and see if you can find Ed." Conner tells her.
"Sure. I'm on my way." Artemis says.
"Thanks." Conner says, ending the call before dialing in another number as Kaldur looks over at him.
"Who are you calling now?" The Atlantean asks.
"Hopefully if he picks up, it'll be all the help we need." Conner tells him as he waits for the phone to be answered.
METROPOLIS
JULY 19, 20:33 EDT
It is beautiful twilight evening in Metropolis, as the large city skyline is illuminated for all to see with the same orange and purple color sky like in Happy Harbor is a beautiful sight to behold. Inside their apartment, Clark is currently in the kitchen cooking dinner while Lois is sitting on the couch, working on an article she has been writing for the newspaper on her computer. While she typed on her computer, the sound of ringing can be heard coming from their bedroom but she didn't take her eyes off the screen until the ringing is heard again a minute later. At this point she remembers that Clark had left his phone in the bedroom for it to charge while he came in here to cook.
"Clark, honey? I think someone's calling you on your phone." Lois says, while she continues to type as the phone continues to ring.
"I know I heard." Clark replies from the kitchen.
"Do you want me go see who it is?" Lois offers.
"No. I'll go check it in a minute." He answers.
The ringing stops and Lois looks out of the corner of her eye at the bedroom door when the phone fell silent until her own cell phone begins to ring after a minute of silence. Lois picks up her phone and to her surprise sees that it is Conner on the Caller ID and lifts it up for Clark to see from the kitchen. "It's Conner."
"Kon-El?" Clark says, surprised that his brother would be calling Lois' phone. "I wonder what he's calling about."
Lois shrugs her shoulders before pressing the answer button on her phone and putting it to her ear. "Hello?"
"Lois!" Conner yells through the phone. "Where's Clark!? Why didn't Clark pick up his phone!?"
"He's a little busy at the moment." Lois answers, glancing over at Clark while he looks at her confused. "Is there any way I can hep you, Conner?"
"Can you put Clark on the phone now, please!?"
Lois moves the phone away from her ear and glances over at Clark only to see him making his way over to her, she already deducing that he probably already heard Conner ask for him. Lois hangs the phone out for Clark to take as she gives him another shoulder shrug, truly not understanding what could be so important that he had to speak to Clark so immediately. Clark still looks at Lois with confusion written all over his face as he takes a hold of her phone and places it to his ear before answering: "Kon-El, what's going on?"
"Clark, I need your help. Ed, Virgil, Tye and Asami are in danger and we need the League's help." Conner explains. Clark is for the most part surprised that the four teens were in trouble and now they needed the League's help with the problem. "I need you to contact the rest of the League and see if you can get us any assistance."
"Okay, I can do that. Where are you?" Clark asks, going into his bedroom and pulling out some casual clothes instead of his hero gear.
"I'm apart of Alpha Squad and we're in an abandoned house in Dakota City along with Virgil, Kaldur, Kori, and Tim." Conner explains while Clark finishes buckling his belt into his pants and throwing on a coat. "Beta's in El Paso at Tye's house to keep him and Asami safe. And Gamma's in Taos at Ed's house to see if we can find any clues at to who this is."
"Alright, I'll get as many Leaguers as I can to help. Just hold on and I'll be there as quickly as possible, little brother." Clark says, hanging up the phone and he opening the bedroom door to see Lois looking at him with a concerned face.
"It's that bad, huh?" Lois asks, but didn't need an answer after seeing Clark's face and is able to understand the situation.
"The Team needs the League's help." Clark explains, walking up to Lois and placing his hands on the sides of her arms. "It should only take me about an hour or so."
"Okay, but be careful, Smallville. Go help your little brother and come right back." Lois says, giving Clark a kiss on the cheek.
"Alright, I'm going." Clark says, pecking Lois on the lips as he walks back into the bedroom and opens the fire escape window. "Oh, Lois?! But please don't let the food burn!"
"Clark Kent! You did not just say..." Lois yells at him as he flies out the window while laughing at her reaction, leaving her standing in the living room with a hard glare. "Oh, you are is most definitely sleeping on the couch tonight!"
Clark flies high enough for no one on the street to see him while he continues to laugh, knowing he'll be in big trouble when he gets back home but it was worth the laugh. With his laughter dying down, Clark becomes serious and thinks of the Leaguers he can call until he pulls out his comm-link and turns it to a specific channel.
Meanwhile from across the city at the Wayne Enterprises building in Metropolis, Bruce is reading report papers that were brought in for Lucius until his phone starts ringing. He pulls it out and looks at the Caller ID to see that it is Clark calling, making him a little confused why he would be calling him now but he still answers the phone. "Clark, what's going-"
"Virgil, Ed, Tye, and Asami are in danger and needs some Leaguers in El Paso, Taos, and Dakota City." Clark says, cutting Bruce off to explain what is happening. "Superboy just called me from Dakota city and explained the situation to me. Do you know any Leaguers currently available?"
"I know Dinah is currently free so I will contact her." Bruce says, opening the drawer where he keeps his batsuit. "I'll send Dick and Zatanna to El Paso in a minute. Where are you going?"
"I'm going to Dakota City. Get in contact with Canary and get there fast."
"I will. See you in a few minutes." Bruce says, ending the call with Clark and he dialing in another number as the phone rings.
BLÜDHAVEN
JULY 19, 20:50 EDT
The door to an apartment opens as Dick and Zatanna walk into Dick's apartment after coming back from a date in the city as night finally falls on the East Coast of the United States. When they walk in, Dick closes the door behind him and turns on the light to the apart before turning to Zatanna, grabbing her coat from her shoulders and helps her take it off.
"Well, thank you, kind sir." Zatanna says in a mock British accent.
"You are quite welcome, fair lady." Dick answers, playing along until they both laugh at each other and sit on the couch with Dick's arm around her waist. He kisses her cheek as she lays her head on his shoulder and just sit together in silence, both reflecting on the night they just had and now just content with the being in peace. "So…? What do you want to do now?"
"I have an idea." Zatanna says with a sly smile as she gets up and sits in Dick's lap as they smile at each other and kiss passionately. As their kiss deepens, Dick wraps his arms around Zatanna's waist and Zatanna puts her hands in his hair as he grins while they kiss before pulling away.
"I like this idea." Dick says, reconnecting the kiss, but as he does his phone rings but he elects to ignore it and continues kissing Zatanna. His phone rings again but he still ignores it and it eventually stops until it rings a third time, making him groan as he picks it up and answers. "Hello?"
"Dick, it's me." Answers Bruce, as his voice comes through the phone.
"What is it, Bruce? Because you really called at a bad time." Dick says, a little irritated.
"Is Zatanna with you?"
"Yes. Wait, why do you-"
"Static, Ed, Tye, and Asami are in danger of being kidnapped and I need you and Zatanna to go to El Paso to protect Tye and Asami. Miss Martian, Blue Beetle, and Kid Flash are already there and will be waiting for you." The Bat patriarch cuts Dick off to explain.
Dick takes in the information for a moment before answering with: "Alright, we'll be there."
With that, Dick hangs up and Zatanna sighs as she moves back to the side of him and they both stand up. "Do we have to go?" Zatanna whines, not at all being serious about the question but trying to make the situation a little lighter.
Dick pulls her into a hug and pecks her on the lips. "Yes, they're our friends."
"Fine." Zatanna says, before placing a finger on Dick's lips. "But...I want to pick up where we left off when this is over."
Dick smiles and pecks her on the lips again before pulling away to go get his gear. "That's a promise."
"Egnahc su otni ruo raeg." Zatanna speaks the incantation and in a puff of smoke, she is wearing her magician suit and Dick is in his Nightwing suit.
"You know, I'm not sure sure if I'll ever get use to that." Dick says, looking down at his suit before casting a smirk at Zatanna.
"Yes you will." She responds in a matter-of-fact way.
Dick walks over to the door as he and Zatanna put in their communicators before opening the door for Zatanna and they head to the nearest Zeta Tube. They reach the closet Zeta point near them, which happened to be a phone booth before Dick and Zatanna walk into the phone booth Zeta Tube and it sends them to the Zeta Tube closest to Jaime's house in El Paso. Stepping out of the Zeta Tube, Dick presses on his communicator to get into contact with Beta Squad. "Nightwing to Beta Squad, Zatanna and I were called to come help you guys in Tye and Asami."
It takes a moment before the voice of M'gann answers through their minds. 'Link established. Welcome to El Paso, guys.'
'Thanks, Miss M. Now guide us to your location.' Dick says, before he and Zatanna sprint off to where they need to go.
DAKOTA CITY
JULY 19, 19:55 CDT
"So, you believe that this person is in our database?" Bruce asks as he, Clark, and Dinah are standing in the living room with Kaldur and Conner in a circle while the other Team members listen in.
"That or they've been watching us." Conner hypothesizes. "The fact that they're out to kidnap these four specific meta-human teenagers is a red flag on its own. The fact that they have to know about their powers and where they live only increases my suspicions."
Batman steps a away from the circle and presses on the side of his cowl. "Batgirl, run a diagnostics check on the mainframe. We need to make sure that no one has hacked into it or planted a virus to secure intel."
"On it." Barbara answers, quickly getting to work on what was asked of her.
Bruce returns to the circle and asks: "So what do we know so far about these people?"
"In truth we know nothing of this mystery group." Kaldur answers. "But what matters right now is that they are after our friends."
While Conner is listening to Kaldur talking he picks up the frequency of the comm-link, only to notice that everyone's comm-links is silent until he heard the frequency elsewhere. Using his enhanced hearing, Conner follows the frequency and it travels to what sounds like an elevated location but the sounds of something slightly fidgeting on metal can be heard. "We need another way of communicating to each other."
"Why?" Bruce asks.
'Because someone's listening through our comm-links and it's none of us.' Conner answers, creating a telepathic link with everyone in the room.
'What squads do you have in the field currently?' Bruce asks, turning on the detective vision in his cowl to scan the area around the abandoned house.
'This team is Alpha Squad, Beta's in El Paso, Gamma's in Taos, and Batgirl's running the Watchtower.' Conner says, turning his communicator back on. "All squads report in now."
"Gamma Squad reporting in." Artemis says, being the first one to call in.
"Watchtower reporting in." Responds Barbara right after her.
"How is the investigation of who went after Ed going?" Conner asks the archer.
"So far, not so well as we thought it would. Whoever's doing this is skilled, knows how to move fast, and had everything planned out." Artemis explains to the hybrid.
"Is there anything that they left behind at the scene?" Bruce asks Artemis.
"Nothing that we can see here." Artemis answers.
Kaldur is listening to the conversation on his communicator until he notices something rather concerning. "Superboy, Batman, Beta Squad has yet to report in."
"Beta Squad, report in." Conner calls out.
Static.
"Blue Beetle, Kid Flash, report." Kaldur tries.
Static.
"Miss Martian? Nightwing? Zatanna?" Bruce tries the older three.
Static.
"Batgirl, can you get into contact with anyone in El Paso?" Kaldur asks.
"No, something's shutting out all frequencies to El Paso making the entire city a communication's dead zone." Barbara reports. "They are blind and so are we."
EL PASO
JULY 19, 19:00 MDT
M'gann is on the roof in camouflage while Jaime and Bart are inside, keeping an eye on Tye and Asami while M'gann tries to make contact with any other Team members. Dick is using the holo-computer on his gauntlet see through the CCTV cameras while he and Zatanna are watching Tye's house from two streets away to alert the others just in case someone is coming their way. He let's out a sigh and pinches the bridge of his nose and Zatanna yawns as she sits down on the roof and looks at the CCTV feed with tired eyes as their fun night is now starting to catch up with them. Dick turns off his holo-computer and sits down next to her as he lays his head on her lap, pressing on his communicator to try and reach anyone but only receives static instead.
'Miss M., how's it going on your end?' Dick asks through her mind-link.
'Nothing. Communication is being blocked outside of the city.' M'gann reports.
'Whoever's doing this doesn't want us to talk to each other, which would mean they cut off all JLA communications to the city.' Dick concludes. 'Keep trying and stay alert, if they're cutting off our comms then it means they're here.' Ending the conversation, Dick closes his eyes and relaxes, feeling Zatanna comb her fingers through his hair as he opens his eyes once more and looks up to smile at her and Zatanna smiles back at him. She leans her head down and kisses him on the nose, making them both laugh a little as Dick takes his right hand and grabs her right hand, giving a squeeze before bringing it to his lips and planting a kiss on the back of her palm. "Zee? Do you remember that one day two weeks ago?"
"If we're thinking of the same day, how could I?" The Magician asks.
"Would you believe me if I told you that was the first time I felt truly happy in some time?" Dick asks, planting another kiss on the back of her palm.
"I believe you. And it made me happy, too." Zatanna replies while messing with his hair, but as she does she notices how long he let it grow since he had left weeks ago. Even after he had left the Team, Dick had kept his hair cut and organized, but now all his hair is almost shoulder-length and his bangs were now longer and the ones to the right of his head were almost blocking his right eye from view. Zatanna pulls the bangs up and examines it before she starts giggling as Dick looks up at her, confused by her sudden laughter as tries to figure out what she finds so funny until she tells him."I think you need a haircut."
"You think so?" Dick asks, pulling a bang into his field of view and looks at it himself before realizing that it has indeed grown since he had left the team a couple weeks ago. Dick looks at his hair in surprise before looking back at Zatanna with a cheeky smile. "Well, I like my hair when it grows out. It gives me some ideas with what to do with it."
"It's only a suggestion." Zatanna says, curling a lock of his hair in her index finger. "Speaking of suggestions, have you thought about coming back to Gotham?"
"No, what really but why would I want to? You know why I left Gotham." Dick says, letting go of Zatanna's hand and pulling his bangs back to look up at her fully. "In Blüdhaven, I get to make my own hours and I don't have him watching over me.'
"I didn't say work in Gotham, I just said live there." Zatanna tells him, lifting his domino mask up so she can see his beautiful blue eyes. "You can still work in Blüdhaven but I just want you closer to me."
"Where would I stay? I don't think your apartment's big enough for the both of us." Dick says, trying to lighten the mood.
"Just ask Bruce if you can stay at one if his penthouses." Zatanna suggests.
Dick looks away from her, mulling over the idea for a minute before looking back at Zatanna with a sly smile. "I guess I could, but only on one condition."
"Oh, yeah?" Zatanna asks, already knowing that this is bait but she had nothing to lose. "Okay, I'll bite. What is it?"
"Move in with me."
"What?" Zatanna asks, taken aback by the Dick's request.
"You said you wanted me closer so what's closer than living with me?" Dick asks.
Zatanna is shocked by Dick's request but not too surprised by it, she did consider moving in with him in the future but thinking about moving into one of Bruce's penthouses with him was not something she had thought about. "I guess but what do you think Bruce will say?"
"I don't know and I don't care." Dick says, grasping her hand once more. "All that matters to me is if you'll be coming with me."
DAKOTA CITY
JULY 20, 00:40 EDT
Still inside Virgil's house, Alpha Squad is still waiting in the living room as the time passes by with the Kryptonians using their enhanced hearing to listen for any long-distance sounds and Bruce connecting to the local city CCTV to find any visual threats. They have been there for hours waiting on the kidnapper's move for either Virgil or Tye and Asami, but alas, nothing has yet to happen so they continue to wait. Kaldur sits down next to Kori and looks down at his phone as the time displays 12:40 AM before releasing a sigh and looking to the others who were also becoming tired of this waiting game. 'It is past midnight and there is no sign of these people. Is it possible that they had only gone after Eduardo?'
'That would be the most logical course of action.' Conner says, tuning out his hearing to listen to Kaldur. 'But even so, they have no idea where he is and neither do we.'
'It is also logical to hypothesize that they know that we are protecting Static, Tye, and Asami.' Bruce adds, not taking his eyes off his gauntlet screen. 'That could explain why they have not taken them.'
'I guess, but all we can do now is wait and see.' Conner says, listening outside before pressing on his communicator. "Batgirl, have you been able to reach Beta Squad?"
"No yet. The signal is still jammed and every time I try to hack it the code is modifies itself."
From her post in the mission room on the Watchtower, Barbara keeps trying to find a way around the code and track the person doing this until the monitor begins to beep rapidly as she stops what she is doing and opens it. A screen opens and reveals that an unknown frequency is trying to connect with the communications network of the Watchtower, which really intrigued Barbara as she quickly types on holo-computer. "Strange."
"What is it?" Conner asks through the comms.
"There's a signal coming through our comms from an outside source." Barbara explains as she continues to type feverishly. "Attempting to lock on. Give me a moment and…let's find out who this is."
"Beta Squad...tchtower... We've just…attacked by…are gone... Alpha Squad…ing watched... Watchtower, this is Nightw…hear me?" A warbled male voice comes through over the comms.
"Can you strengthen the signal?" Bruce asks over the comms.
"One second." Barbara says, using the holographic keys to boost the signal but as she does, an alert goes off on the holo-computer and grabs her attention. She looks at the alert and sees that the dead zone over El Paso is lifting and the signal to Alpha Squad's comms return but is faint. Focusing back on the other signal, Barbara boosts the signal and while doing so, the Watchtower computer tracks the signal all the way to El Paso and to where Tye's house is specifically. "Can anyone hear me?"
"Watchtower, do you read me?" Says Dick, his voice coming in faintly through the comms.
"Watchtower hears you, Beta Squad." Barbara says, breathing out a sigh of relief hearing Dick's, or anyone in Beta Squad, voice coming through. "What's happening down there?"
"Alpha Squad is in danger, you need to warn them!" Dick responds.
"Nightwing, what happened in El Paso?" Bruce asks, joining to conversation.
"We were just attacked and they took Asami and Tye!" Dick says.
"Nightwing, what happened specifically? How were they able to kidnap Tye and Asami?" Kaldur asks.
"Me and Zatanna were patrolling the neighborhood while the others watched Asami until there was an explosion a few blocks away. We went to investigate the cause of it but it was only until the sensors I put on Tye's house went off did I know something was wrong." Dick explains as he and Zatanna lean the unconscious Bart and Jaime against the wall while an unconscious M'gann lays on the couch.
"By the time we made it back to the house, Tye and Asami were gone without a trace and the others were incapacitated. They used a knockout dart on Miss M, Kid Flash, and Blue Beetle, but they also put an inhibitor collar on Kid Flash and an E.M.P on Blue Beetle. Whoever did this was fast and knew are weaknesses." Says Dick, taking out two scent packet and hands one to Zatanna, snapping the one he has open and waving it under Bart and Jaime's noses. Bart and Jaime begin to stir from the knockout darts and Dick removes Bart's inhibitor collar while Zatanna is doing the same to M'gann. "You need to move Static somewhere else, he and you all in serious danger!"
"What do you mean?" Bruce asks.
"They've been watching you! They're coming for Static next and it's their-"
Before Dick could finish his, Conner and Clark's hearing pick up the sound of some sort of projectile heading straight toward the house from the front of the house until the boarded up front window splinters. Everyone turns to the immediate sound and covers their eyes until they hear a whizzing, all looking down at the floor and to only see a canister on the floor as it leaks out a red gas that rises up from the floor.
"Is anyone hurt?" Bruce asks, scanning the room to see if anyone injured.
"Everyone is fine." Kaldur responds.
Conner uses his uses his infrared vision to see where the grenade could have came from but he cannot focus it as his vision picks up to other wavelengths on electromagnetic spectrum. He tries using his ears but that doesn't work either as his ears hear noises in the distance but they become louder and louder until he falls to a knee and covers his ears in pain. Dinah rushes over to Conner to check on him but when he looks at her, his vision keeps cycling between the wavelengths while at the same time Clark falls to his knees in what look like more pain than what Conner is going through.
"Conner, what's wrong?" Dinah asks, very concerned over Conner's sudden pain.
"I don't…know!" He grunts out. "I can hear everything! It hurts!"
Dinah looks over to Clark to see if he could help but realizes that he is also having the same problem, if not worse than what Conner is having. "When did this start?"
"After the grenade…I think something was in it."
"You are correct. But by the time it wears off, I will already have what I need." A unknown voice says through their communicators.
Everyone hears the sound of a sniper rifle firing goes off and the window the grenade came from explodes along with the entire wall, catching everyone by surprise and causing the two Kryptonians even more pain. Before anyone could react, darts fly through the air and hits Dinah, Tim, and Virgil in the neck and knocking them unconscious, leaving only Bruce, Kaldur, and Kori standing in the room. Through the red mist, a metal disk flies through the air and attaches to Kaldur's chest, electrocuting him and knocks him unconscious, leaving Bruce and Kori to defend the unconscious Virgil. Another sniper round fires as it ricochets and explodes in front of Kori, hurling her through the living room wall and into the garage that is adjacent to it, none leaving Batman the last person standing. A smoke pellet is thrown into the living room and envelopes it as Bruce switches to his detective vision, looking around the room for Virgil until a bullet comes down and hits the floor in front of Bruce. He looks to the ceiling as a dark hooded figure shoots more bullets at him, coming down on him from above and punching him in the face, knocking him down onto his back in a daze. The hooded person lands crouched on the floor before walking over to Bruce, putting their foot on his chest and pins him to the floor while they aim they gun at Bruce's face.
"Oh no, no. You're not going anywhere, Dark Knight." The mysterious person says, the gun holding steady at Bruce's face with their finger on the trigger. "Titanium fiber cast with Kevlar armor plating. That's nice. I mean unless to you know EXACTLY…where…to shoot." The person moves their gun away from Batman's face, bringing it down and pressing it against the side of Bruce's midsection before shooting him, making Bruce flinch away and groan out in pain. The person pulls the gun away and places it back into it's holster, taking their foot off of Bruce's chest while Bruce covers the exposed Kevlar mesh in his costume and rolls over onto his side.
"That's gonna leave a bruise. Did you truly believe that I would fall for the bat symbol? It's a scare tactic and where your suit is the strongest." The person says, walking by Batman and picking up Virgil, hoisting him over their shoulder before walking out the hole they made only two minutes ago. Stepping outside of the house, the person pauses for a moment before turning around to look at their work just as Bruce barely makes it back to his knees. "You're good, Dark Knight. Even better than what they told me of you. And to be honest…it will make it all the more satisfying when I kill you."
"Who…are…you!?" Bruce grunts out, trying to stand on his feet only to fall back down onto a knee.
"Call me…call me the Dead Knight. And to make sure we are clear, I promise you...I intend to kill you but not tonight." The mysterious person says, walking onto the sidewalk and heading back to their original location but as they do, they press onto the side of their helmet to active their communicator. "Sergeant, are the other targets secure?"
"Only three out of the four targets have been secure, Commander. Apologies, we were unable to secure Eduardo Dorado, Jr." The Sergeant answers.
"It is fine, we will figure something out. I will rendezvous with you all in a minute."
Meanwhile, back in the house, the effects of the gas wear off on Conner as he looks around and sees that Clark is still incapacitated, Bruce is stunned, and everyone else is unconscious. He looks at the hole in the wall leading to the garage and sees an angry Kori come out of it, a little dazed but looking overall fine, as she sees him getting back to his feet. "Who did this?"
"I do not know, but they have Virgil." Kori answers, venom dripping in her voice while Conner steadies himself on his feet. Both he and Kori run out the hole in the house and see the Dead Knight standing at the street corner looking directly at them, as if they were waiting for the two to come after them. Kori and Conner fly towards the Knight but they throw a grenade as it explodes and blinds the pair , before throwing another grenade and it releases the same red smoke as it brings Conner to the ground. Kori looks at Conner in concern as he seems to suffocating before turning back to the Knight with pure hatred. "What are you doing to him!?"
"Kryptonian physiology can be very interesting, in that when their abilities manifest they can start small or come in all at once. With enough training and patience, they can control their powers with no focus at all. This gas throws all that training out the window and their powers become uncontrollable." Explains the person, looking over to the agonizing Kryptonian hybrid before giving their full attention to the Tamaranean. "It'll only last for two minutes…long enough for me to leave." Kori flies at the Knight with a starbolt in each hand but he aims a gun right at her, shooting the round and as it heads straight for Kori. But during it's flight, it loses its metal casing and reveals reveals itself to be a tranquilizer dart, hitting Kori in the arm and she loses unconsciousness almost instantly, falling and stopping dead right in front of the Knight's feet. "You are a new one. I think you will be a great exchange for Eduardo." The person pulls a Father Box from out of their utility belt and it's opens a Boom Tube, slinging Kori over his other shoulder as they look back at Conner, who is using his hands to try and pick himself up.
"Why…why are you doing this!?" Conner grunts out the question. "Who…are…you!?"
"I was told that in killing you, Bruce, Dick, and Kaldur, I would find the answers in which I seek. So do not worry, Conner. I will make you a promise as well in that I will the four of you." The person says, looking at the shocked face of Conner who is surprised that this mystery person knows who they are. "Speaking of Kaldur, you should probably take that dial off of him when this stuff wears off. While the disk is electrocuting him it is also raising his body, dehydrating him and he will die unless you remove it."
Conner keeps crawling towards the Knight, pain and all, while they walk straight into the Boom Tube with the unconscious Virgil and Kori on their shoulders. With all the might he can muster, Conner stands up and runs straight for the Boom Tube to take back his teammates but it closes just before he could go through and take them back. Conner frantically looks around, trying to his friends using the electromagnetic spectrum, but with the gas still in effect it overloads his brain and is unable to focus on anything.
"No…no!" Conner yells out, slamming his fists into the sidewalk and making large cracks into it before looking back to the in fear of what the Knight said about Kaldur. Conner stands up to his feet and rushes back into the abandoned house, finding Kaldur still lying unconscious on the floor and pulls the disk off Kaldur's chest. Conner pulls Kaldur outside to sidewalk to a fire hydrant he saw on his way back, breaking it open and aiming the water at Kaldur before Kaldur gasps in a huge breath of air. Conner rushes over and helps Kaldur get back up to his feet, letting himself be used as support while Kaldur looks at he destruction caused to the abandoned house and sees that Virgil is missing.
"Where is Virgil?" The Atlantean asks.
"They took him." Conner answers, looking at where the Boom Tube had been opened before looking back at Kaldur with concern. "Kaldur…?"
"What is it?" Kaldur replies, looking to his friend.
"Kaldur…they took Kori."
Kaldur stares at Conner with a look of both shock and fear written all over his face as Bruce walks out of the hole in the front of the house and joins the two as they recover from their attacks. All three of them look at one another, not sure what to say to each other about what just happened until Conner decides to break the silence with the question on all of their minds. "So, what do we do?"
"We are going to rescue Starfire and the others from this 'Dead Knight'." Bruce tells them, clenching his fists to harden himself and pushing the pain into the back of his mind."And should the Knight decide to return…we will be ready for him."
Author Note:
Okay guys, that is another "episode" for you and I would like to here your feedback in the review section and I would like to apologize again for the late update. With the holidays passing and the school year resuming, it has made it a little difficult to update as often as I want to. I will not promise I will update every week or half a month but I will only try to update as often as I can.