Chapter 5: From the Ashes
Barbara listened as the bio-ship made the final preparations for landing in Happy Harbor. They would reach the empty warehouse serving as a hanger any minute now. From there it was a short walk to the makeshift living facilities the Team had been occupying for a few months.
~break~
She could still see the dust rising from the collapsed garage in her mind. Psimon and his thugs didn't stay to see the fruits of their labor. Barbara felt that it might have been easier to cope if she had a target to pummel. Jason and Wally, now Tim and Garfield. They had lost too many friends already.
Wonder Girl was frantically shoving huge slabs of stone aside, desperately trying to get to their friends. Batgirl knew that it was too late. No one could have survived the wreckage in front of her. Each tier had crumbled into dozens of chunks ranging in size anywhere up to ten feet in diameter.
"Wonder Girl, stop!" Miss Martian shouted. She didn't even slow down. She probably didn't even notice that there were other people still around her. M'gann had to physically grab her before the Amazonian woman realized what she was saying. "Robin isn't conscious, but he's still alive! I can feel his mind underneath all of this in the psychic link. We can't risk an uncontrolled shift."
"Some kind of cavern must have formed while the rest of the garage collapsed around it," Batgirl speculated. Beta squad needed leadership right now if they were going to rescue their trapped friends. She had to put aside all the panicky emotions gnawing at her for Tim's sake. She switched back to communicating over the link. Miss Martian, can you go scouting to see what we're working with?
Batgirl watched the Martian woman become intangible and sink into the debris. Wonder Girl shifted nervously, unsure of what to do next. Each second felt like an hour when there was nothing to do but wait. M'gann emerged again within a few moments.
There's some kind of black energy field surrounding all three of them. It's like fiery shadows are holding back the rubble. I couldn't phase through it, at least not easily, the Martian explained. Psimon's energies on the mental plane are the closest thing I can compare it to.
Guys? M'gann, is that you? interrupted a young voice in their minds.
Garfield! cried Miss Martian. Are you okay?
Beast Boy, report. What's the situation down there? added Batgirl.
Um, I'm fine. I've got Robin beside me in here. He took a blow to the head from falling rock, but he's starting to come to now, explained Beast Boy. And I think we've found out why the Bialyans were after the girl. She's the reason we're still alive. She's gone into some kind of trance to keep up the barrier around us. Her eyes have lost all their color, and as far as I can tell, she's levitating a few inches in the air. Wait, she's saying something. Hold on.
Batgirl pondered their situation. Anyone strong enough to hold back that much weight was a force to be reckoned with. The Light was always looking for new resources to exploit. It wouldn't even be the first time that Bialya had stepped in to gain specialized agents. Queen Bee had tried to acquire members of the Team for herself five years ago.
Beast Boy interrupted her thoughts. Okay, here's the plan. Do you see the two big slabs directly above us?
Yes, we have a visual, Batgirl responded.
Okay, if Wonder Girl and Miss Martian can keep those slabs from falling for a few seconds, she says she can get us out of here.
The slabs in question were leaning against each other like a house of cards. Wonder Girl gripped one of them, her fingers digging deep into the cement to be sure she didn't lose her grip. Meanwhile Miss Martian landed near Batgirl so she could focus all of her attention on maintaining her telekinetic hold on the other piece.
Are you ready in there? Batgirl asked Beast Boy.
Yeah, in three, two, one. NOW! he said.
Batgirl watched as both her friends strained against the enormous weights. She felt a quiet rumble underneath her feet. The next second, a phoenix of black shadowy fire exploded from the Earth before her, showering them with pebbles and dust. It spread its wings over at least twelve feet and dissolved away before the dust settled again. The three people previously trapped underground were left in its wake. Wonder Girl and Miss Martian were finally able to release the slabs of concrete with a booming thunder.
"Robin," Wonder Girl said as she rushed to his side and lifted him into a bear hug.
Beast Boy was supporting the girl that saved him on his shoulder. She looked as if she had just finished sprinting a mile, her breathing labored.
"Who are you people?" she asked wearily. Unfortunately, no one was able to answer her before she passed out, her head drooping down to her chest.
"Come on, Beta. Let's get back to headquarters," said Batgirl.