Bludhaven
Melville Section
10:47 P.M.
Nightwing and Raven were just outside Melville section, which was deemed No Man's Land. They were heading to Malloy's last known location. The city was even worse here, fires were raging, abandoned vehicles sitting in the street. There were a few rescue workers in radiation suits escorting the last few civilians back to the evac site before everyone pulled out. Nightwing leapt over the hood of a car, Raven followed behind, except she stepped on the hood and slid over instead. Nightwing was moving at a quick pace. Without looking behind him he spoke to Raven with an authoritative tone.
"I thought I told you to let me know when you began to feel the radiation affecting you."
Raven shrugged off the feeling of fatigue for the third time. She kept following Nightwing.
"I'm fine."
He looked over his shoulder.
"You and I both know that's not true. I feel it affecting you through the psy-link."
Raven was losing her patience.
"You know it works both ways, right? I can feel your fatigue too. Your limbs are heavy."
Nightwing turned and glared.
"I can resist the effects longer than you. I need to make sure you're safe."
Raven erupted in anger.
"So that's what this is, protection! I'm not some delicate flower to be sheltered from the rain! I can handle myself!"
Nightwing was quiet, he was fighting back the frustration. Raven grabbed his shoulder, Nightwing turned to face her. Raven stared again.
"When I told you I won't leave you, I meant it. I leave when you leave."
Nightwing stepped away. He sounded like Batman.
"We're wasting time. Keep up."
Raven smirked.
"Always do."
Nightwing lifted a streetlight that had fallen against a semi. He motioned for Raven, and she ducked underneath it. She held it as Nightwing came from underneath it. Nightwing put a hand on her shoulder signaling that he was clear, and she dropped it. The bulb shattered as it slammed against the semi. Nightwing put a finger to his ear.
"Oracle. Any updates on Malloy's position?"
"I've been tracking him via satellite. He has around two dozen civilians with him, children included."
Raven muttered under her breath.
"Children? Shit… That up's the ante."
Nightwing looked around with his finger in his ear.
"Do you have a precise location?"
Raven heard Oracle in her ear, they were both wearing earpieces.
"Stark Ave. It's slow going. That section of city is suffering from debris and foundation failures. Malloy is trying to find the safest route for civilians and had to backtrack several times."
"Stark? We're close. We can cut down an alley and get Stark Ave. from the adjacent street."
Nightwing motioned to Raven and the two of them began to cut through an alley to the road they could access Stark Avenue from. Nightwing moved a dumpster from their path. He put his shoulder into it and pushed, sliding it to the far side of the alley. It was harder than it should have been, the radiation was making it harder to exert himself. He put a finger to his ear.
"Oracle. Any ETA on his arrival to the evac site?"
"Sorry Nightwing, I don't have an accurate one. All I can say with certainty is that he won't make it in time."
Nightwing and Raven came to an obstruction in the road. The ground had given way and there was a cluster of abandoned vehicles, debris, and rubble from other buildings. They could navigate through, but it would take time.
"Dammit!"
Nightwing punched a sedan's fender out of frustration. It dented under the force of his punch. Nightwing contacted Oracle again.
"Oracle. I'm at a large obstruction at the corner of Stark and Melville. I need you to find Malloy and run an algorithm; quickest and safest path to my location."
"On it."
Nightwing turned to check on Raven. She was breathing heavier than she should have. She felt her joints beginning to go from an ache to a pain. She began to feel nauseas and lightheaded. The slightest headache began to affect her. She heard Oracle in her ear.
"Nightwing, the best projected path to your location lies through the large obstruction directly North of you."
Nightwing looked at the obstruction in front of him. He put a finger to his ear.
"That's a no-go Oracle. The way ahead is blocked. No way two dozen could make it through there quickly enough. And we don't know what kind of state the civvies are in. If any are injured that could be problematic."
"I don't see any other path, Dick. That's the quickest and most direct."
Nightwing looked at the debris field and removed his finger from his ear.
"Right… New plan."
He looked behind him. Raven was trying to hide all signs of weakness, but he saw the bloodshot eyes and knew she was breathing heavier than she should have been.
"Rae, you're up. I need this debris field clear. Now!"
Raven stepped in front of Nightwing. She shrugged off every bit of radiation affecting her and raised both hands. A black aura engulfed them.
"On it!"
She began to push all the vehicles, rubble, and other debris to their respective sides of the street. Raven heard Nightwing speaking to Oracle.
"I need Malloy's radio frequency- "
Raven was struggling to clear the way. The rubble was entangled, and she was trying to delicately clear it. She decided to change strategies and brute force it. She screamed as she pushed her arms forward.
"Azarath. Metrion. Zinthose!"
The debris field was thrown forward clearing the way. Cars were thrown on their sides or bounced as their tires struck the road. Raven realized that she put too much energy into her magic. She felt drained again and couldn't seem to get air to her lungs. Her vision began to blur. She folded her arms over her head to open her lung passages wider and get air. She heard Oracle in her ear.
"There, you're patched into the frequency Malloy's call came from."
Raven was trying to stay on her feet when she felt a sensation at the base of her throat. She knew what was coming. Nightwing patted her on the back.
"Nice job Raven. Knew you wouldn't let me down."
She looked over to Nightwing and smiled. She was pale, even more so than usual.
"Tha-Thanks!"
Her voice wavered and she couldn't hold the sensation in anymore. She looked to the sky.
"Not now…"
She began gagging and coughing. Raven fell to her knees and threw up into the street. The contents of Raven's stomach ran a few feet and then went into a storm drain.
"Damn…"
Raven wiped her mouth. She tried to stand up, but her body betrayed her. She collapsed onto one knee as her whole body ached. She felt as if she had been hit through a wall.
"Okay, come on… stand up…"
She struggled again; her legs were shaking. She felt like she had no strength left. She stood up but struggled. Raven felt eyes on her, she knew Nightwing was concerned. She didn't know what she hated more; the fact that she knew her body was failing and that Nightwing was right, or the concern Nightwing had for her. She felt a soft hand on her shoulder. Raven looked over expecting to see Nightwing's glaring eyes, instead she saw the concern in them.
"I know. Don't say it. Give me a minute, I'll be fine."
Nightwing stood in front of her. He placed his hands on her sides and looked into her eyes.
"Hey, focus on me. Take a minute. Look in my eyes. Match my inhale. Breathe. Focus what's in front of you, focus on the task at hand, not how you feel. Focus on me."
Raven looked Nightwing in the eyes. She saw his concern for her. She began to match his breathing, in perfect harmony with him. She didn't know how he always powered through fatigue or injury. It was like he had superhuman conditioning. Then she realized it, he always focused on what he had to do, eyes on the task, not the horizon. Raven got her breathing back to normal; it was easier to shrug off thee effects this time. She stood up at full height. She didn't feel normal, but she felt much better than she had. She looked to Nightwing.
"Okay, my strength is back. Under control. Ready to move."
Nightwing placed a hand on each of her shoulders. He pushed against her, measuring her strength. To see if it had returned. He felt her pushing back against him, he knew that she was telling the truth. He then looked into her eyes. His voice became commanding and authoritative again.
"According to Oracle, Malloy's group is four hundred meters due East. We need to hurry. We don't have much time before everyone pulls out."
"Right behind you. Always."
They turned and began to head own the street that would intercept them with Malloy and his group of civilians. Raven saw Nightwing check the time, she saw the worry in his eyes. She saw him match her gaze and the worry in his eyes dropped.
"How much time do we have?"
"Not enough."
"Think Lieutenant Palmer will hold the transport?"
"She'll want to. But Redhorn has final say. And his ego will make him want to pull everyone out faster after that argument."
"Yeah, that wasn't a lover's quarrel. He had such rage and hate toward you. I really thought he was going to pull that trigger."
"I wish he had. Would have given me a reason to take out some anger."
"What did you do to make him feel so much hate?"
"Aside from putting on the mask and moving to Bludhaven? That was reason enough."
"It just seems more… Personal than that."
"I disrupted how Bludhaven worked. Put officers behind bars. Tried to change the corruption. But Redhorn had too many friends, too much influence. No matter what I did I couldn't touch him. Not even Dick Grayson could investigate him."
"So, Malloy… And Palmer…"
"Yeah. The few honest cops in this city. There were five of us. Hogan, Palmer, Malloy, and Amy."
"That's why you are so driven to get him out alive. They were your friends. Your people."
Raven smiled. She knew his friends meant to him. What the Titans meant to him. She knew he would do anything for his friends and give everything to save them. She watched him as they moved through the street. Raven smiled.
"Sounds familiar…"
Nightwing was hiding anger behind his voice. Raven could feel it. His voice was low, almost a whisper.
"I left him here. Abandoned him when I ran off to Gotham."
"This again? Batman needed you. Damian was killed. You saw how he looked that night he came home from the Court of Owls. He needed you."
"Bludhaven needed me…"
Raven felt the anger, the feeling of failure coming from him. Before she could respond, they both heard Oracle in their ears.
"Nightwing, emergency call coming in. From Malloy."
Nightwing turned and began running even faster toward their destination. He put a finger to his ear.
"Put it through Oracle!"
Raven heard static over her earpiece. Then she heard Malloy's voice. It was hard to make out his words, but she could make out the sense of urgency in them.
"-his is Offi- Malloy! -est immediate assistance! -ave two dozen civvies in need of eva- Medical assitan- equested! -location is Sta- ear- ville section."
Nightwing had a finger in his ear.
"Oracle, did you get a ping on the location?"
"Confirmed Nightwing. Two hundred meters due North-West. Across from the- "
Raven zoned out as she began to navigate. She looked in the direction Oracle had told them. Nightwing removed the finger from his ear and looked North-West. His eyes were reading the skyline. Raven knew what he was doing. He was analyzing his surroundings, looking for dangers or threats. Looking for the fastest and safest route for civilians. Analyzing how quickly two dozen civilians could be led down the street to the evacuation zone. Nightwing came out of his trance and motioned to Raven.
"We have a location! Let's move!"
The two of them began running in the direction they were given. Each stride was with purpose and at a speed most people would not be able to keep pace with. Even Raven was impressed at the speed she was moving. Nightwing was the fastest non-metahuman on the planet and she was keeping pace with him. They rounded a corner and headed West. The GPS Oracle had been using to track Malloy placed them on an intercept path. Raven's foot slipped on a piece of rubble, and she rolled her ankle. She grunted in pain and recovered her footing. Again, she was in step with Nightwing. They rounded a final corner and then heard a loud cracking noise. They saw a group of people standing in front of a cloud of dust and rubble, standing in front of a building that looked like the foundation was damaged and was on its last legs. Raven began waving her hands to clear some dust from her eyes and get a clear line of sight to assess the situation. Nightwing counted heads, he knew the group in front of him was the group Malloy had been leading. Only there were a few extra heads. He had picked some stragglers up. Nightwing scanned the group, looking for Malloy. But he was nowhere in sight. Raven looked to Nightwing. Then a woman looked to Nightwing and approached him. She was in a panic.
"Nightwing! Thank God you're here! You must get us out of here!"
Another woman approached Nightwing with fire in her eyes. She yelled at him in anger.
"Nightwing! This is all your fault! This never would have happened if you hadn't abandoned us and ran away to hide in Gotham like a child!"
He turned to her.
"I wasn't hiding! And I never abandoned Bludhaven!"
The woman screamed again.
"No?! Well, whatever you call it, while you were playing hero in Gotham, we were here suffering and dying! Do you know how many of us have died? Do you even care?!"
He was holding back the anger. Nightwing looked to the woman, scanned the area, and then looked back to the woman again.
"The officer who was escorting you. Where is he?"
The woman was in disbelief.
"Wh- What?"
Nightwing asked again.
"Officer Malloy. The man who was escorting you. Where is he?!"
The woman was infuriated.
"Figures. You don't care about us or our safety."
Raven stepped between Nightwing and the woman.
"Back off! Right. Now."
The woman was stunned. But her anger quickly returned. She shouted again.
"And who the hell are you? What gives you the right to order me around?"
Raven kept her anger in control.
"I'm the girl who's here to save you or to make your life a living nightmare. Which one do you want?"
The woman stared at her blankly. Then her eyes turned to fire, and she got in Raven's face.
"Arrogant bitch… Thinking you can solve all the world's problems yourself. Where was that attitude five minutes ago? Where was that attitude when my daughter was trapped in a collapsing building? Where were you five minutes ago?"
"Five minutes ago, I was securing your path out of here."
"Excuses! If you had gotten here faster my daughter would- "
Raven cut her off.
"Yes, yes. If I had gotten here faster your daughter would still be alive. You said that before. Am I just supposed to ignore getting you out safely?"
The woman was hysterical, Raven was stuck in a circular argument. The woman's mind had snapped under the stress of the situation. She wasn't herself.
"You vigilantes were supposed to protect us! Instead, we ended up stranded and my daughter dead!"
Raven's self-control wavered. She finally exploded at the woman in anger.
"And if you cared about your daughter, you would have saved her yourself!"
The woman stumbled backwards.
"Wh-What?"
"You stand here accusing us of failing to save your daughter. Well, what about you? What stopped you? Why didn't you try to save her yourself?"
The woman was shaking out of fear from Raven's outburst. And her question.
"Wha- What could I have done? Charge in after her and burn alive? Or run in there and have the building fall on us?"
"So, you care about your life more than your daughter's?"
"H- How dare yo- "
Raven interrupted her.
"You stand here accusing us that we couldn't save your daughter. When the truth is you failed to save her. You could have gone to save her but refused. Either your life means more to you than hers does, or you don't have the balls to save her. And you choose to challenge the people that can save her to make up for your own failings! I'll tell you again politely, BACK. OFF."
The woman began crying. Tears were streaming from her eyes and collapsed to her knees. Realizing Raven's words were the truth. Raven just glared down at her.
"Pathetic…"
Nightwing looked over to Raven. She saw the anger and disappointment in his eyes.
"Are you finished? Or would you like to antagonize the rest of the civilians. We don't have time for another cat fight."
She shied away from him.
"Sorry Nightwing… I lost control. Adrenaline…"
Nightwing looked at the other civilians around him. He asked his question again. This time with more urgency and a commanding tone.
"Officer Malloy. Where is he? Someone must know. He put out a distress call a few minutes ago."
A heavy man stepped forward. He had blood running down his face from his forehead. It was mixed with ash and sweat. The man turned towards Nightwing.
"He ran into the building- "
He pointed towards the building in front of them that looked like it was about collapse. Nightwing followed the man's finger as he pointed.
"- to save the woman's daughter. She told him her daughter was still inside when he rescued us. Said she forgot about her due to shock."
Raven felt the fear in Nightwing as he turned to look at the apartment building. She looked to the building and saw Nightwing staring at it. Raven looked at the woman on the ground who was still crying.
"You left your daughter inside when you were escorted to safety? What kind of mother are you…?"
The woman answered in between sobs.
"I was scared… I panicked… I didn't think of her until we were out…"
The woman began crying louder. Raven let her anger take over. Raven felt only anger and disgust for the woman crying in front of her. She looked down at the woman.
"You abandoned your daughter and refused to go back inside for her? And you have the nerve to yell at Nightwing for abandoning the city? I should leave you here to die…"
Nightwing looked at the heavy man in front of him.
"He went in there alone? No backup? That building is five minutes from collapsing!"
The heavy-set man looked to Nightwing.
"We tried to keep him from going in. To escort us out of here but he wouldn't listen. Said he had to save the girl. Wouldn't change his mind."
Nightwing faced towards the building. He looked over his shoulder to Raven.
"Stay with the civilians. Keep them safe. I'm going in after Malloy and the girl. If I'm not out in ten minutes take the civilians to the evac site and get yourself out of here. I'll meet back up with you later if I can."
Raven's eyes went wide. The last thing she wanted to do was separate. She would willingly follow him to Azarath if he wanted. But part of her knew that the civilians needed rescued, they had to be protected and they were running out of time. She reached out and touched his hand.
"I told you we do this together or- "
He cut her off. His eyes narrowed into a glare. It looked like Batman was in front of her, not Nightwing.
"Do it Raven. NOW!"
She stepped back in fear. Then nodded.
"I'll be waiting for you to come back. And you had better COME BACK."
Nightwing nodded and stepped forward towards the building. The hair on his neck stood up and he paused briefly. He felt a vibration in the ground. Then a loud noise like thunder. Then a cracking noise. Nightwing felt the ground shake again, but this time like an earthquake. He knew what it meant. Another loud crack and the sound of thunder. He took a step back just in time as the building began to collapse. He launched himself backwards.
"Back! Everyone back! Raven!"
Raven raised her hands.
"On it!"
Raven constructed a black barrier that surrounded the entire group and Nightwing. The building fully collapsed raining dust and debris around them. Rubble continuously pounded against the shield. Dust swirled around the barrier, blinding them to events outside the dome. A steel beam slammed against the shield with such force it left a long white crack along the left side of the shield. Raven spread her hands out wider, and the crack sealed, completely vanishing from the dome. Blood began to trickle from Raven's nose, strain from keeping the dome up with the amount of weight crashing against it. She began to feel lightheaded. Her vision blurred and she felt light on her feet. She shrugged the effects off, and her strength returned. The area outside the dome fell quiet as the building had fully collapsed. Dust still swirling around them. Raven dropped the barrier and sent a shockwave out from her hands to clear the dust. The civilians stared at the collapsed building. The woman who was crying earlier shrieked in anguish. She finally realized what her actions had done. Nightwing looked to Raven and saw the blood dripping from her nose. She wiped it away and looked to him.
"I'm fine. It's just magic fatigue.
He nodded and turned back to the building. He walked towards the rubble. Raven came from behind and stood next to him.
"No… After all that…"
Nightwing just glared at the rubble. He heard Raven's voice through the psy-link.
"I'm so sorry Dick. You did everything you could."
He never took his eyes off the rubble. He answered her.
"Malloy was smart. He could still be alive. There are several ways he could have…"
Raven watched as Nightwing put a finger to his mask and began cycling through the filters in his optics. She saw the optics on his mask turn purple, then red, and finally blue. She knew he was looking at thermal vision. Trying to make out heat signatures. Again, Raven spoke through the link.
"Dick, I know you're trying to be optimistic but how could anyone survive- "
Nightwing pointed his finger past the tip of Raven's nose.
"There! Two heat signatures consistent with human body heat."
"Wait, how did- "
Nightwing ran over to where he saw the signatures. He began quickly throwing rubble away trying to dig away the rubble and reach the heat signatures. Raven raised her hands.
"Move! I got it!
Nightwing saw a black aura envelop the mass of rubble beneath him. He moved away from it as the rubble began to float into the air. Raven strained and launched the rubble a good distance away, enough to move it out of their view. Nightwing ran forward to where he had seen the heat signatures. Raven saw as Nightwing approached a bathtub. Then she saw something in it moving. Raven ran forward to help however she could. As she approached, she saw Malloy in his police uniform. It was torn in a few places and covered with dust and ash. He was curled into an odd position. She watched as he stirred and rolled over. Beneath him, cradled in his arms was a little girl. She couldn't have been more than two or three. Malloy moved awkwardly and weakly as he moved the girl from underneath him. He began trying to raise her above the edge of the tub, but he was slow. He struggled to raise her. Raven stepped forward and grabbed her.
"Here. I've got her."
Raven picked her up. As she did, she could weakly hear Malloy's voice.
"Thank you."
Raven held the girl in her arms softly and began walking to the group of people. She approached the woman who had been crying on the ground. Raven bent down to her level.
"Here. She's unharmed."
The woman looked up with tears in her eyes.
"Aubrey!"
She grabbed the girl from Raven's arms and hugged her tightly. The woman looked up at Raven with tears still streaming from her eyes.
"Thank you!"
Raven barely acknowledged her.
"Mhm. Try not to forget about her this time."
Raven stood and looked at the civilians.
"Listen up, all of you! Check for injuries and recover your strength. We move out in five."
Raven turned and went to help Nightwing with Malloy. Nightwing had Malloy over his shoulders. She watched as he gently laid him on the ground a few feet away from the civilians. She walked over and heard Nightwing speaking to Malloy.
"Malloy, it's me."
Raven kneeled behind Nightwing as Malloy looked over in their direction. Malloy's voice was low and weak.
"Nightwing… Raven… Knew… Knew you couldn't stay away."
Nightwing kneeled beside Malloy. Raven began observing Malloy and assessing his status. He looked pale. His eyes were bloodshot, and his nose was bleeding. Raven also saw signs of acute radiation sickness. She looked over at Nightwing.
"Eyes are bloodshot. Signs of anemia… Blood pooling in the gums… Radiation sickness. It… He needs a medical evac. And he needs it now."
"I noticed."
Malloy looked at Raven, then to Nightwing. His voice was weak. Very weak.
"You always did have good timing."
Nightwing looked to Malloy.
"You know me, I always have to make an entrance."
Malloy smiled.
"Promise me you'll get these people out of here. Do that for me, will you?"
Raven nudged him and then whispered to him.
"We don't have long before everyone pulls out. Whatever you're going to do, do it now."
Nightwing looked to Raven.
"Can you heal him? Get him on his feet? Get his strength back maybe?"
Raven shook her head.
"We both know my magic only works on mild injuries. Broken bones, lacerations, punctures. Nothing I can do…"
She couldn't meet Nightwing's eyes. She felt like she failed him.
"Sorry…"
Malloy looked at Raven and smiled.
"Don't worry pretty bird. Thanks for- "
Raven was caught off guard by his comment. She turned her head and held back a blush. Malloy coughed blood. It landed on the front of both Nightwing's suit and on Raven's cheek. Nightwing put a hand on Malloy.
"Hey, hey stay with me. Keep your eyes open."
Raven wiped the blood from her cheek. She could taste blood in her mouth.
"He doesn't have much time."
Nightwing put a finger to his ear and cycled through channels.
"This is Nightwing to BPD and all rescue teams. I am with Officer Malloy. He needs a medical evac now!"
After a few seconds a female officer's voice came through.
"Copy Nightwing. What is your pos- "
The woman's voice was cut off. Chief Redhorn screamed over the radio.
"Nightwing?! What the hell are you doing on this frequency?! I told you to stay the hell out of my operation! All personnel, switch to our backup emergency channel."
Nightwing punched the ground.
"Dammit! Redhorn you bastard…"
Nightwing looked away.
"He's going to make me do it… No choice now…"
Raven looked concerned. She looked to Nightwing.
"Nightwing don't."
He looked to her.
"We're out of options! I don't have a choice."
She sighed.
"Fine. It's your decision to make. Just… You know what you risk…"
Nightwing put a finger to his ear and cycled through channels. He found the one he was looking for and took a deep breath. As did Raven. He couldn't believe he was about to do this. He changed his voice.
"All units in the immediate AO, this is Detective Richard Grayson!"
Malloy looked up as his eyes went wide. A smile appeared on his face.
"Code 30! Repeat code 30! Malloy needs immediate medical assistance. Suffering from acute radiation sickness! Need a medical team at the apartment building between Melville and Stark!"
Raven looked to Nightwing and shrugged. They waited for a few for a response. Nothing. Raven put a hand on Nightwing's shoulder.
"We need to go. Grab Malloy and we will- "
Nightwing looked to her.
"He won't last if he isn't stabilized. We need a medical team! He- "
A call came in over their earpiece. It was a female voice, the voice of the female officer who was arguing with Chief Redhorn earlier.
"Confirmed Grayson! Scrambling a medical escort now. Should be there in- "
The call was interrupted by Redhorn.
"Belay that order! I am not risking more lives just so one hotshot can play hero! I warned you months ago that I would not tolerate any reckless heroics! You want to save Malloy, then do it yourself! All units are under my direct command, nobody moves without clearing it with me first! Am I clear?"
Nightwing punched the ground. Then put a finger to his ear.
"Dammit! Redhorn you bastard! This isn't the time for petty grudges! People are dying! Do your job!"
"My job, DETECTIVE, is to protect this city and its citizens. Not to send more men after a reckless hotshot and his band of boy scouts! Lieutenant! Ignore him. If you want to die out there with Malloy and the others too stubborn to pull out, let him. Not my problem."
Raven rolled her eyes.
"I REALLY hate that guy…"
Nightwing was gritting his teeth. Malloy was getting worse. His breath was getting shallower; his eyelids were fluttering. He was trying to stay conscious. Nightwing put his fingers to Malloy's neck, he was measuring his pulse.
"Come on Malloy, stay with me!"
A voice came in over their earpiece, it was the Lieutenant.
"Dick, I'm sorry. Redhorn has my hands tied. He's calling for the evacuation early… You don't have much time."
There was a long silence. Raven knew Nightwing's mind was racing and trying to come up with a plan or ideas. He felt a tug at his sleeve and looked down to see Malloy trying to get his attention. His voice was low.
"It's okay Grayson… We all know what we signed up for. Leave me here and get these people to safety. Please…
Nightwing looked at the civilians, then to Raven. She kneeled to their level and put one hand on Nightwing's shoulder the other on Malloy's arm.
"We need to decide what to do, and NOW."
Malloy smiled.
"You know what to do Grayson… Save as many lives as you can. Just like with Blockbuster."
"Exactly. Save as many lives as possible. Including yours."
Malloy frowned. His voice was low and breaking. Like speaking was becoming harder with each word.
"Can't save someone who's already dead, Dick."
Malloy's body began to relax. Like someone who had expended all their energy. Raven knew what it meant. Malloy looked to her.
"Take care of him Rachel. We both know he won't do it himself."
Raven nodded.
"I promise. Now and forever."
Malloy looked to Nightwing who was trying to hold back the anger. His words were becoming very difficult to speak.
"Te- Tell me Grayson. Did- Did Amy know?"
Nightwing nodded.
"Yes. She knew."
He smiled.
"Well, at least Amy will have some company now…"
His eyes began to close. Nightwing felt his weight give away and had to support him himself.
"Hey, hey! Eyes Open! Stay with me! I'm getting you out of here!"
Nightwing began to lift Malloy.
"Guess we can't all be as big of a hero as you… You- You were always the best of us Dick…"
Malloy's body fully gave out. He had been exposed to too much radiation. He was dead. Malloy had used the last of his strength to try persuading them to leave him. Nightwing released his grasp and Malloy's body fell to the ground. Nightwing just stared at the body and felt the anger take hold again. Raven put a hand in his, trying to comfort him. His hand was shaking.
"Nightwing, he's gone… I- I'm sorry. I know he- "
He jerked his hand away. The anger became a rage that needed to burst. Nightwing threw his head to the sky and screamed to the stars.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! THAT'S IT BLUDHAVEN! GLOVES ARE OFF! GIVE ME EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT! I CAN TAKE IT!"
The civilians spun around and watched as Nightwing screamed. They cowered in fear or backed away from him, trying to put space between them. Raven felt a wave of rage engulf her. She could feel his rage. She had felt his rage before, but not like this. It was more intense than anything she had ever felt from him, then she sensed it again. That dark part of him that bubbled to the surface when he had endured too much, when he was close to breaking. Nightwing felt numb, and cold. Couldn't even feel the fatigue of his body anymore. He dropped to his knees in front of Malloy's body. Raven kneeled to his level. She heard him speaking under his breath.
"You were a week from transferring to Central City. Why did you have to play hero… You were supposed to be the one to outlive me dammit… First Amy, then you… Should have been me…"
Raven knew she had to do something to comfort him. She concluded, the only thing she thought would work. But to her, doing it was surrendering to everything she stood for. The belief that she lacked. She exhaled hard. Anything for him. ANYTHING. She never thought she would sink to this level. She raised a hand over Malloy's chest and extended her thumb, index, and middle finger. She folded her pinky and ring finger. Three black orbs of her magic covered the extended fingers. A black flame appeared in the palm of her hand. She began praying.
"Azar, I ask these words reach your ear.
Azar, mother of wisdom and mistress of the sea, I ask forgiveness.
Azar, whose waves wear down stone and sand.
Azar, I ask you greet this one.
Azar, this one's heart is pure.
Guide this one Azar across the sea to where the traveler never tires, hungry never starve, and the lover never leaves.
Guide this one, Azar, and he will be a companion to you as he was to him."
Nightwing looked at her astonished, his eyes wide. She felt like she had to vomit, just uttering those words made her feel sick. Raven turned her hand towards the sky with all her fingers extended, the black flame now burning in her palm. Suddenly she closed her hand snuffing out the flame. Black sparks danced in the sky and the last few flames danced as they were extinguished. Raven looked up to the stars. Then she looked to Nightwing.
"Azarathian prayer for the dead. I don't believe there's an afterlife, but if the priests in Azarath were right… Azar will make sure he gets there."
Nightwing looked down at Malloy and closed his eyes.
"Goodbye, my friend. May we meet again across the sea."
Nightwing looked to Raven, the rage had mostly disappeared and there was now sadness. He whispered so only she could hear.
"Thanks Rae… Just… Thanks."
She just nodded. They didn't need words. The silence was more than any word could say. Nightwing exhaled and began to get his composure back and emotions under control. He looked to Raven.
"Okay. We still have civvies to get extract. Get a head count and take point. Lead them out. I'll grab Malloy's… body and bring up the rear. And… We should pull out too. I've had enough of this city for a lifetime."
Raven stood and snapped to attention.
"Aye-aye!"
She turned on her heels and strode towards the civilians while calling out to them.
"Alright, all of you listen up! I need a line, single file! I'm going to take a head count! If there are any wounded, they take the front to set the pace! Clear?! We move in three minutes!"
Nightwing put a finger to his ear.
"Lieutenant Palmer? It's Grayson. Nightwing and Raven are escorting the last group of civilians to you. Make sure they have a shuttle out."
Her voice came through his earpiece.
"Loud and clear Nightwing. They will have a shuttle even if I must drive it out of here myself. And Malloy, is he alive? And what about you?"
"Malloy… Didn't make it. Nightwing will have the body. As for me, well… I'll find my own way out…"
There was a pause on the other end. Then Palmer spoke.
"Dammit, Malloy was a good cop, and a better friend. I guess our little club is broken up huh. We're the only ones left… And you, Grayson. Take care of yourself."
Nightwing moved his hand away from his ear and looked at Raven who just nodded. She knew that look. Nightwing bent over and picked up Malloy's body. Raven spun on her heels towards the direction they came.
"Come on, move out! Rally on me! We're getting out of here!"
Raven began leading the civilians out with Nightwing in the rear with Malloy's body on his shoulder. He was heavy, heavier than he should have been. Nightwing was finally suffering from the effects of radiation. He put a finger to his ear and cycled to a private channel.
"Oracle?"
She immediately answered. Like she was waiting a long time for him to call.
"Nightwing! There you are! Are you okay? What about Raven! And did you find Malloy?"
"Rae and I are fine Oracle. We're leading a group of civvies to the shuttle. Malloy didn't make it. Redhorn called off the medical team that was on the way."
There was a pause and then a long sigh on the other end.
"Sorry Dick. I know you two were friends."
He gritted his teeth.
"He shouldn't have even been here… He was covering for me while I was in Gotham. He should have been in Central City but pushed his transfer date back. He's dead because of me."
"Dick, don't… You know what's down that rabbit hole."
There was a pause. He knew what he was about to ask. And he knew what her response would be.
"Yeah, guess I do. Listen, I need you to do something for me."
"Sure, what can I do?"
He looked ahead to Raven and smiled. Even though she was dirty and covered in soot she was the most beautiful thing in the world. He exhaled deeply.
"Activate Protocol Nightfall."
Oracle was quiet for a long time, like she was processing what he had just said.
"Wh- What, why? No! No! Not going to happen Dick. Sorry, but that's not an order I'm going to follow."
"Dammit Oracle, do it!"
"No! This is about Malloy, isn't it? Or maybe you feel guilty for leaving Bludhaven. Doesn't matter. Sacrificing yourself won't bring him back. It won't change anything!"
"This isn't about that. Look… They're pulling out. There are still hundreds of thousands of people in this city, and they're being abandoned. I won't leave them here."
"But I- I won't let you sacrifice yourself."
"I'm doing what I was raised to do. What I was trained to do. What WE were trained to do."
He changed his voice. It was no longer Nightwing speaking to her, but Dick Grayson. His voice was low, like it was during the moments when they were close to each other. Like it was when it was just the two of them, alone.
"Please Barbara… I won't- can't lose anyone else…"
There was another pause. Oracle was stumbling over her words trying to find the right ones while trying to hold back the tears.
"But I- I mean- It- What about- "
Finally, she relented. He could hear her voice breaking.
"It needs vocal confirmation… On your go…"
Nightwing looked to the stars. A massive grin appeared on his face as a flood of memories came rushing back. He spoke the confirmation password with pride.
"Titans together. Titans forever."
There was a confirmation beep in his ear, and he saw the light on the underside of his gauntlet begin flashing a bright red color. This was the end. He put a finger to his ear. His voice was soft and low again.
"Thank you, Barbara."
"No. Do not thank me. This is one favor I want no thanks, nor recognition for. And just so we're clear; after this night is over, I intend to get thoroughly drunk."
Nightwing smiled.
"I'm sure you're not the only one. And Oracle? One more thing…"
Barbara came back in his ear she sounded angry.
"What is it now Dick?"
He understood her anger but remained patient with her.
"Send the Batwing. Disable manual control. Program a flight path home. Raven still needs a way home."
"Sure. On it now. Wait… You haven't told her what you're planning have you? Does she even know?"
Nightwing looked to the ground.
"No. I haven't told her. If she knew…"
"You play a dangerous game Grayson… Its done. Batwing is on the way and will be ready for exfil."
"Thank you, Barbara. At least I know she'll be safe."
Gotham City
Otisburg
11:27 P.M.
Batman was kneeling on the roof of Wayne Tower looking in the direction of Bludhaven. Oracle contacted him through the cowl.
"Batman."
"Here, Oracle."
"Bruce, it's Nightwing. He- He had me activate Protocol Nightfall."
Batman was calm, collected. As ever.
"I know. I saw the alert."
"That's it? That's all you have to say?"
"Did he give vocal confirmation?"
"Yes. That's why I- "
"Then there's nothing we can do… It's his decision, not ours. We all knew this could happen. We've prepared for it."
Oracle wasn't holding back the tears anymore. Her voice broke with nearly every word she spoke. Tears streamed down her face.
"We prepared for YOU, Bruce. For YOU! We knew we would never see you as an old man, or with gray in your hair. But not HIM! He was supposed to be the one to make it. If anyone could survive this life it was HIM! I can't- "
She was on the verge of collapsing.
"I can't lose him again, please! I LOVE HIM! I have the strength to see him with her and being happy… But losing him again… I can't-! Please. I'm not- I can't handle- "
Batman was still his usual self. Not betraying a single emotion.
"You've had a long night, Barbara. Get some sleep. That's an order."
Barbara screamed in his ear.
"HEARTLESS BASTARD!"
The cowl went dead as Oracle furiously hung up. Batman who hadn't taken his eyes off Bludhaven then looked down to the street. He was hiding his emotions from her, but he was just as concerned as Oracle about Nightwing. He couldn't handle losing another son. Batman exhaled hard and put a finger to his cowl. He looked back to the horizon towards Bludhaven and spoke to a voice on the other side.
"It's me. I need a favor. A big one."
Bludhaven
(Evac Site)
11:30 P.M.
Nightwing and Raven had gotten the civilians back safe and on a shuttle. Raven was standing next to Nightwing as he yelled at Redhorn. Lieutenant Palmer was there with them.
"You left your officer out there to die! If you hadn't called off that medical team, Malloy would be standing here instead of leaving in a body bag!"
Redhorn's face was red as he screamed back.
"I call the shots here Vigilante, not you! And I'm not losing more people because one of my men decide to play hero and go beyond No Man's Land! If he wanted to live, he shouldn't have gone out there!"
Nightwing clenched his fist. It took all his self-control to not lash out.
"You don't even care he's dead! All our lives mean nothing compared to the great Commissioner Redhorn!"
Redhorn yelled back with barely contained fury.
"Cops who think they can solve all the cities problems! This isn't a fairy tale! You can't wave your wand and eliminate crime. You, Amy, Malloy and that boy scout Grayson! All of you should never have involved yourself in my cit- "
Redhorn never finished. Nightwing struck Redhorn in the jaw dropping him in one hit. The heavy-set man hit the ground with a thud. Nightwing glared at the unconscious man on the ground.
"Consider that my resignation…"
As if Lieutenant Palmer finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together, her face lit up and a smile crossed her lips.
"I KNEW I recognized those eyes from somewhere. I think I always knew. Just didn't want to dig too deep and find out the truth. I guess Malloy was right… He always suspected who you were."
Nightwing looked to her.
"Yeah. He always did notice more than most…"
"Sorry. I didn't want to leave him out there. But the Commissioner- "
He cut her off.
"I know."
He pointed toward the last shuttle out.
"Grab Redhorn and get out of here… Nothing left here. Bludhaven is lost."
Palmer nodded.
"Will do. And if you don't mind, I think I'll keep calling you Nightwing and forget I ever knew the truth."
She shrugged.
"Y'know, for Amy and Malloy. And I still owe you for that robbery a few months back."
Nightwing smiled.
"Thanks Palmer. Take care of yourself. I'll put in a word with Gordon at GCPD. He could use someone like you."
Palmer nodded and then began dragging the still unconscious Redhorn into the last shuttle. Nightwing turned and looked to Raven.
"Now, our turn. Ready to leave? I've had enough of Bludhaven."
Raven followed behind.
"You and me both, Grayson."
Nightwing looked to his gauntlet and saw another light flashing, then a synthesized female voice in his ear.
"Batwing on approach path. ETA: Fifteen seconds."
Nightwing smiled.
"Right on time…"
Before either of them could say another word, they heard the roar of a jet engine, then a spotlight on them from the sky. They looked up and saw the Batwing arrive. It hovered about thirty feet off the ground. The force of the engines began blowing debris and other objects. Nightwing pressed a button on his gauntlet and the bottom of the jet opened and a tether dropped down to them. Nightwing grabbed the tether and looked to Raven. It was the last time he would see her face or her violet eyes looking back at him. He hesitated. Raven noticed.
"Something wrong?"
He composed himself.
"No. Nothing. Just fatigue."
He lied to her again. To protect her. It would be the last time. Nightwing quickly clipped the tether to the gold belt around her waist.
"Goodbye, Rae."
Raven looked down at in surprise. Before she could react Nightwing hit the same button on his gauntlet again. She felt the tether get taut then a tug. She was lifted off the ground and looked at Nightwing with a panic in her eyes.
"What are you- "
Nightwing just watched as she began to be lifted into the Batwing. Raven clawed at the tether, but Nightwing had locked it. She was helpless.
"Get me down! I'm not leaving without you!"
Nightwing watched as she was pulled into the cockpit and the hatch close beneath her.
"My life for yours."
Raven pounded on the controls trying to get them to respond. They flared red and a message came across the control panel.
"Manual Control Locked."
Raven screamed at the top her lungs using all her remaining energy.
"GRAYSON!"
Nightwing watched as the Batwing rose higher into the sky then rotated towards Gotham. The afterburner activated. A wave of force engulfed him, and the Batwing sped toward Gotham. Within seconds he lost sight of the Batwing. He put a finger to his ear.
"Oracle. Raven is in the Batwing and has been extracted. On her way back to you."
Oracle's voice was breaking with each word as she spoke. Nightwing knew she was crying. But he didn't think any less of her.
"I- I know. I see it on my screen. Oh, I heard on the news; their sending in the National Guard to help evac anyone who's left and try to restore what is left po the city."
"Good. I was wondering how I was going to evac the rest on my own."
"Figured you hadn't thought that far ahead. Nightwinging it as usual…"
"Only way I know how Bartbara."
"Dick… Rachel. What do I say? What do I do?"
"She'll be angry. At Alfred, at Bruce, at you… At me most of all. She will say things she wont mean. Let her scream, let her vent, get violent… Rachel will want to create distance. Get herself as far away from the Bat-Family as possible. Don't let her. Help her grieve… If you don't something in her will break. And if that happens the Rachel we know will cease to exist. And then there will be no stopping her…"
"I promise Dick."
"I know."
Oracle's voice finally broke. She couldn't fight all her tears anymore.
"I guess- I guess this is the end. Now's the time… Any regrets? It's just us on the line."
Nightwing smiled.
"Yeah, two… I regret that night we fought… Not being able to find the right words."
Nightwing heard oracle wipe her nose.
"Me too… If I could go back to that night, there are so many things I would say… And the second thing?"
Nightwing looked to the sky.
"My biggest regret is that I wish I could have fought with the Titans. Just. One. Last. Time."
He closed his eyes.
"Barbara? One final favor?"
"Anything."
"Tell Alfred and Bruce that I'm sorry I wasn't able to say goodbye in person. Tell Bruce I'm sorry for everything. Tell Bruce I'm sorry for the night I came home, for running off to Bludhaven, for creating distance… And tell him… Tell him he was the best damn father a boy could ask for."
"I will. And Dick?"
Her voice was wavering with each syllable.
"That night we fought; you asked me a question. I didn't have the strength or the courage to answer it. Well, I do now. My answer is yes. I still love you. I loved you then and I love you now. I always will."
He smiled.
"I know. And I love you. Always have. Always will."
He put a finger to his ear.
"Goodbye Barbara."
He pulled the earpiece out and dropped it to the ground.
"On my own now.
He looked towards the direction of flashlights in the distance and began running to them.
Bludhaven
National Guard Field HQ
1:15 A.M.
Over the last few hours, the National Guard had arrived and set up a headquarters of sorts. Multiple squads were in the field with a few medics. Meanwhile doctors and nurses remained at the HQ to treat those who made it there. Shuttles had been running nonstop since they arrived ferrying people out of town and to safety. Nightwing had rescued several dozen groups of civilians and was on his way out for another search. His body was weak, each step was difficult and painful. His strength was half that of what it was when he had sent Raven back to Gotham. His eyes were bloodshot, and he his body ached all over. He knew he was suffering from radiation sickness. It was a miracle he had lasted this long. One of the nurses grabbed Nightwing's arm as he headed back into the ruins if the city.
"Nightwing, please let us treat you. You've done more than any man should. Your body is shutting down I can see it. Please."
He pulled his arm from her grasp.
"Thanks nurse but there are still people out there. I know the National guard is doing everything they can but without me out there more civilians won't make it. I know what I'm doing… I didn't plan on surviving the night anyway…"
"But- "
He strode passed her to the perimeter guard. He looked to the sergeant guarding the entrance to the camp.
"Headed out for another pass. Any civilians I find, I'll send your way."
The sergeant gave him a salute as Nightwing ran into the ruins. Each step pained him, each joint ached. His breath was heavy, and he felt like there was two hundred pounds on his chest with each breath. He began searching for life anywhere he could. Cars, buildings, under rubble. He even shouted to rooftops to see if anyone could hear him. As he rounded a corner, he heard a faint gasping noise. He stoppe running and tried to get his breath under control. Then he heard rustling, and debris sliding. It came from a small opening in a pile of rubble next to him. He bent over and looked inside. A small boy with black hair who couldn't have been any older than six or seven. The boy saw him and gasped again. He was frightened. The boy backed farther into the small hole. Nightwing spoke in a calm voice.
"Hey, it's okay."
"The boy looked at him, still frightened."
"Everyone's dying."
He outstretched a hand.
"Come on, I can help get you to safety."
The boy crawled toward him slightly.
"You can't help me… My parents… I can't find them. They told me to run then our house collapsed and-."
"Sssshhhh its okay. You don't need to finish. Take my hand. I'll get you somewhere safe. I'm sure your parents made it out. We'll find them once it's safe, okay?"
The boy looked at him with hope in his eyes.
"Really? You promise."
Nightwing smiled.
"I'll do everything I can to help you find them."
Nightwing didn't know if his parents were alive. He figured they never made it out, but he wasn't going to tell the boy that. The boy grabbed his hand and Nightwing pulled him from the rubble. He lifted him up into his arms. It was a struggle to get him up. And once he was up his arms constantly ached. Nightwing retraced his steps back to the field HQ. It was slow going as his body began to fail him. He found the nurse who stopped him earlier and explained the boy's situation to her. She agreed to watch over the boy and watched as they entered a shuttle. He smiled as he saw it begin to drive away. At least the boy would make it. Whether his parents had made it out or not. Then he felt the ground shake. He watched as the road beneath the shuttle collapsed. Then a fireball erupted as a gas line ruptured. He screamed.
"NO!"
He saw guardsmen converge on the collapsed street. He knew that look on their face, their body language. Nobody could have survived that. Nightwing's legs gave out and he collapsed. The sergeant from earlier rushed to his side.
"Nightwing are you alright?"
"Fine. Just… Stress."
Nightwing struggled to stand. The sergeant noticed his weakened state.
"Sir, I know you feel you must go out to find more but I implore you to stay in the camp. We can handle it from here."
Nightwing fully stood and looked to the sergeant with a serious stare.
"I'm fine. All due respect sergeant, I'm not one of your men. I'm heading back out there."
Nightwing walked into the ruins for another pass. After a few more minutes of searching Nightwing's body finally gave out. His legs failed him mid stride and he collapsed onto his knees. His breath was heavy, and he was almost wheezing. He couldn't seem to get air in his lungs.
"Okay. One, two, three…"
He tried to stand. His legs shook as he got halfway up and then collapsed to his hands and knees.
"Come on… Just five more minutes."
His body shook and he coughed. He felt a sensation in his throat and then vomited. It was bloody. He knew his body had finally given out.
His body shook again violently, and he collapsed onto his stomach. He groaned and even though in great pain he managed to roll onto his back. He stared at the night sky and watched the stars twinkle overhead. His thoughts began to wander. He spoke to himself with all the strength he could manage.
"Titans… I really wish I could have seen you all one last time…"
His vision began to blur as he stared at the stars. Somehow, he smiled, he felt peace. Something he hadn't felt in years. As his vision began to fade his eyes focused on a black speck in the sky. It was fast. Very fast. It flew in a straight line, then suddenly turned sharply towards him, like it had just noticed him. The black speck became closer and closer. The speck then took shape, a silhouette. Nightwing's vision darkened just as the silhouette approached. His eyes could make out one thing before they closed: a symbol of hope. Nightwing collapsed into darkness.