There was an old shed behind one of the warehouses that used to house tools until the warehouse was abandoned. It remained unused until the Justice League converted it into a hidden Zeta tube in Star City. Artemis had used this one several times during her time as a hero and recognized it immediately when Sportsmaster pushed her around the corner of the building.
Johnny Sorrow threw open the flimsy wooden door and looked inside. He grabbed Artemis' face and studied it for a moment. "Our ticket to anywhere in the world." She was shoved inside, awakening the computer system.
"You want to use the Zeta tubes?" she asked with a rancor-filled laugh. "The League should have already shut me out of the system. It won't work unless you're a Leaguer." Despite her scoffing, Artemis was shocked into high alert. She knew well Sorrow's criminal personality too well to assume that he just wanted to use the Zeta tubes. He had a helicopter, the use of a jet, and she wouldn't be surprised if he had many other toys at his fingertips. No, transportation couldn't be what he was after. With Sorrow, all the world was a stage and he was about to put on the biggest performance of his life.
"Yes, however, I had a very helpful Leaguer who told me his access code. All to keep his little archer safe. You see, Sportsmaster, that is how a father is supposed to treat his daughter's life." The blonde man tensed. Sorrow paused as if mulling over his thoughts. When he continued, a smile had crept into his voice. "It's sickening and I'm glad you don't act like that." He laughed and moved on but Lawrence was still agitated by the hint of Green Arrow being a better father than himself. The team leader didn't seem to notice, instead, he turned his attention towards the Zeta portal Artemis was still standing in. "Access code: G1855N1202. Allow access for B-0-7."
The computer whirled as it scanned the archer's face. Internally, Artemis was kicking herself for not knowing any override codes. She'd heard Robin, Batman, and Green Arrow use them to manipulate the system's recognition program.
Recognized. Artemis B-0-7.
Artemis was yanked out of the shed before she or anyone else could name a location and let the Zeta beams transport her there. "Grundy, you're up," Sorrow commanded, drawing her attention to the giant. He lumbered passed them carrying a large device. The door to the shed wasn't made to let in so much mass, provoking Solomon Grundy to slam against the doorframe and make it bigger. The blue scanner slid up the villain's body, receiving an unhappy grunt.
Recognized. Solomon Grundy. Access denied.
"Priority access code: 1B734R23. Allow access to Watchtower," Sorrow replied smugly. Artemis froze as the plan finally came out. Control the Watchtower, control the League, and therefore, everyone they protected. By the looks on a few of the Injustice Society member's faces, this was their first time hearing the whole plan, too.
Access Granted.
In a flash of light, Grundy and the device he held were gone. He was soon followed by the rest of the team. One by one the villains filed into the shed only to be whisked away by the beams, heading straight for the satellite HQ of the Justice League. Once Sportsmaster disappeared, leaving only Artemis and Sorrow still in Star City, she was once more shoved into the shed before being swallowed by the light. Seconds later, she stumbled out of one of the Watchtower's Zeta platforms.
Her father grabbed her arms and kept her by the portal until Sorrow appeared behind them. With nothing but a nod from the leader, the blonde villain handed her off and followed Count Vertigo. Nearby, Solomon Grundy had deposited the device he held and Gentleman Ghost inspected it carefully. "The Zeta-shield is ready for activation," he said as the masked villain approached.
"Then put it up," Sorrow snapped grabbing Artemis' elbow and guiding her forward into the halls of the HQ, eventually going up a floor in an elevator. Artemis was surprised at the emptiness of the Watchtower but since the raid was taking place during the day when most of the superheroes were gone running their private lives, she understood. As they stepped into an open room that looked down on the Zeta platforms, she noticed the villains fighting a small group of heroes by the portals, the numbers were even but a combination of surprise and Solomon Grundy gave the Injustice Society the upper hand.
They weren't the only occupants of the room, a control room by the looks of the monitors. Staring down at the attack was Martian Manhunter, who turned when he heard them enter. "This is your grand plan, Johnny Sorrow."
"I always enjoyed the most elaborate productions," Sorrow murmured in reply. The Martian's eyes glowed green as he levitated and prepared to attack. Before he could move, he was stopped by a cry from Hawkwoman as she was batted aside by Solomon Grundy. There was a moment of hesitation and Artemis could see the conflict in his eyes, help his teammate or stop the man behind the whole attack.
He didn't have a chance to decide. Gentlemen Ghost floated up behind him, through the monitors, and dragged the Martian back towards the fight, clearing the way for Sorrow. The villain strode towards the computers, tossing Artemis aside as he went. She stumbled away and lost her balance. Her knees met the cold metal floor with a jarring shock, drawing a gasp of pain. She rocked back in an attempt to balance her forward fall, knowing if she continued forward she'd have nothing to cushion the impact. Her body shook with the effort. The lack of nourishment was beginning to catch up with her and though she'd slept for so long, it had been so uncomfortable and fitful. Even with her years of training, her body was beginning to break under the pressure.
Despite her efforts, the generated gravity won the battle and the metal floor rushed up to meet her. Her face slammed into the cold ground. On impact, her cheek went numb but she could still feel the pain that shot through her forehead. The sharp smell of the floor cleaner burned her nose even as she wobbled up into a kneeling position. She could taste the acute tang of blood.
"Now what?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Sorrow replied absentmindedly as he fiddled around with the largest computer.
Artemis rolled her shoulders, trying to loosen them and alleviate the pain. "You captured the Watchtower. Congratulations. Now what? The League will get it back and you will be put in jail." Sorrow prepared to shoot a snide remark back at her about his perfect plan but she continued. "Even if they don't get the Watchtower back, what will you do? They'll move to a new base. All in all, you did nothing. The world will forget who you are if they ever find out about all this." She smirked, knowing she was getting to him. "The Watchtower is just a place for the Justice League to meet, nothing else. All intel will be wiped off the computers by Batman before you can think to access them. You'll have gained nothing."
By this time, Sorrow's full attention was on her. He'd left the computer behind and slowly approached her, waiting for her to finish before making his move. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Is that what you think? That this is just a hunk of junk floating in the sky? No, I don't want information either. I want a weapon. A weapon the League created without telling anyone. Their own little failsafe to keep them in charge. This 'simple' HQ can blast a hole in the Earth the size of the moon and I've gotten a hold of it. The whole world will fall to its knees."
"What are you talking about?" Artemis was taken aback. She'd meant to unbalance Sorrow with her words but now she was the one caught off guard. Sorrow knew something she didn't and she hadn't accounted for that.
"Of course, you weren't technically in the League, so you wouldn't know. The Watchtower is home to a little something called the Binary Fusion generator. It's got all the punch of a nuclear weapon with the ease of a laser and it should fix Earth's little hero infestation. Once fired, it does have a pesky wait time to recharge so, to stop any heroes from trying to get in here while we wait I've had the Zeta portals blocked. Nobody gets in unless I want them to." He grabbed a fist full of her hair and made her look at the Earth, in view just outside the large window. "Tell me archer, which city should we use as an example? Your hometown, Gotham, or the city you so honorably try to protect, Star City?"
Before she could answer, one of the monitors blazed red. Sorrow's grip released as he when to check the message that popped up on the screen. With a shaking hand, he turned on the intercom and barked, "Who opened the landing doors? Get down there and find out."
When he turned back to the archer, she was smiling. "Is your perfect plan beginning to fail?" she sneered.
"You wish, little girl." There was a stretch of silence as the villain poured over the computers, hunting for something specific. The minutes seemed like hours as she waited with no updates. Finally, Sorrow uttered a triumphant yell and began typing rapidly on the keyboard. He paused before slamming his finger down on a single button. In silence, he stepped back and stared at the large screen on the wall. Artemis waited in confused silence. At last the screen lit up and the air was pierced by a loud, familiar yell.
Robin's signal.