Chapter Eight
oOo
Artemis glanced around to make sure no one was around, then dashed forward to the room that held the Shadows' ultimate database. She fumed in consternation when she saw it was locked with a password. She thought for a long moment as to something- anything- that it could be. Her mind raced, and suddenly her fingers found the key board, typing:
PaulaNguyen
She paused, lost in thought for a moment. She had never known her mother, and neither her father nor her sister spoke of her often. She had died only a year after Artemis was born. She had still used her maiden name to conceal her marriage, that is, until she became pregnant with Jade. Those were the only details Artemis knew on the subject- the rest had been left to her own imagination and investigation.
Meanwhile, the computer had beeped in recognition, and before Artemis knew what was happening, a camera shot towards her and scanned her eye. Although for a moment she feared that the scanner would never allow her access, she was surprised when the doors silently slid open.
The room was lit only with the screens of dozens of computers. Artemis knew she had found the one she was looking for, however, when she saw the largest screen placed in the center of the room. Plugging in her flash drive, she woke it and began searching through files, looking for security tapes and information on her father's private meetings as well as board meeting minutes.
It was extremely tedious, and every moment she prayed that no one would burst in on her investigation. Racing against time, she picked carefully through each file and dropping them onto her drive.
Every sound coming from outside the door made her jump. Her fingers began to work furiously with the key board. Suddenly, her brow furrowed as her eyes met with a file named N1. It caught her attention because she was only looking through the folder containing information on cafeteria hours so that she could account for who regularly missed meals during this time.
She clicked on it curiously. Immediately information over several board members came up, along with the video surveillance hacked from the system that recorded many of the break-ins. There were other files as well, but they were locked with codes.
Artemis was shocked. She had accidentally uncovered Nightwing's own information file. Her eyes grew wide as she scrolled through a list of suspected corrupted Shadows members. So this was were he kept all the information he truly knew.
Her feelings returned again as she remembered all the things he had kept from her. Her own father, for example, under suspicion for compromising the Shadows. And when she almost stumbled upon that secret, he made sure she'd be quiet so that word wouldn't get to her dad about his investigation.
She knew it was probably for the best. After all, she had barely been able to hold it in when she found out the truth. But man, when he got back, she was going to chew him out. She was going to show him that she wasn't just a liability to the cause of the Justice League. She could actually help him, if he would let her in on anything.
"Artemis?!"
She whirled around, panic- stricken.
There's a funny thing about promises you make to yourself about other people. When they're out of the room you swear all the things you'll do the next time you see them, but it takes a completely different direction when you actually do.
Like now, for instance. To her credit, Artemis, though in shock, was still holding onto a bit of her composure when she realized that Nightwing, finally back after weeks gone missing, was standing, firm and tall and strong, in the doorway.
All hopes of keeping that composure crumbled, however, when he was suddenly at her side and she was enveloped in his arms, a heated blush pouring over her face as her cheek was pressed to his chest.
She had just gotten over the initial shock of this when Nightwing suddenly released her, stammering, "Art- I- I'm sorry- it's just- when I heard you were their next target- Oh, god- are you alright?" He was gripping her hand tightly.
"You're back," she managed to get out.
"Yeah," he smiled a little and squeezed her hand. "I'm glad, too. I was sent on a wild-goose chase, but I managed to get a few things out of it, at least."
This brought Artemis back to her first objective. Although it was still hard to focus while Nightwing's fingers were wrapped around hers so gently, she nodded in the direction of the computer and said, "While you were awoll, I found out a couple of things."
He looked grimly at the computer screen as he saw the video playback of when he followed the two intruders meeting with Sportsmaster. "I've been trying to monitor the break-ins and find a pattern. I need to know exactly which ways they use to get in."
"Then you should see this," Artemis pulled up the video feed of the break in earlier that day, and the ensuing fight between she and her kidnappers. She tried to fight the returning blush when she noticed the surprise on Nightwing's face as he watched her make the first move on her opponent. As he continued to watch the fight with calculating eyes, Artemis cleared her throat to divert his attention from the screen.
"You saw at the beginning, they entered through the north door." She pointed, and he nodded silently. "They were just a couple of thugs; I don't think they thought I'd be any trouble."
"You proved them wrong," he smiled admiringly. Then looking back at the screen, "They must have really underestimated you. I rarely see them send guys as unrefined as these. It's a good thing we kept your training a secret."
Artemis tried to block this out to keep her already warm face from radiating any more. She approached the computer and ejected her flash drive. Holding it up for him to see, she said, "We have a lot to talk about."
"Later," he looked at the door uneasily. "Right now we should leave here." He grabbed a piece of paper and jotted a few things down on it.
"If you come to here," he handed the piece of paper to her, "at ten tonight, then we can talk about everything you found out without being caught."
She gazed at the slip of paper and nodded, then turned to leave the room. Just as she went out the door, Nightwing added, "And Artemis?"
She turned wordlessly.
"The archery works for you."
She only smiled and left.
oOo
"You better have a good explanation for this, al Ghul!"
"As always: to further the purpose of the Shadows."
"You tried to have my daughter kidnapped!" Lawrence Crock slammed his fist on the surface of his desk as he spoke to his leader over a live video feed.
"Only to further persuade you to speed up the process. My partners are getting impatient." Ra's al Ghul spoke casually.
"And my partners are getting suspicious! They're gonna start to wonder what's causing all these inaccuracies with the system, especially when their golden boy gets back, which could be any day!"
"Consider it a warning then; get on the job."
With that, the video feed disconnected, and Sportsmaster was left to the static of the TV and his own fear.
oOo
"It seems to me that they've been trying to make the break- ins look irregular, coming in a different entrance each time. But every time, as far as I know, they go straight to your father's office, or to this private unit hidden underground.""
"I know there's some kind of passage way through my dad's office, because I heard someone threatening him. But when I went in, no one was there," Artemis offered.
"Hm. That was probably Ra's al Ghul," Nightwing contemplated. "I think he's the link between whoever is trying to over throw the Justice League and the League of Shadows."
"So, they only meet once a month?" Artemis questioned.
"My guess is at least twice." Nightwing responded. "He probably goes to their secret base about once a month."
Artemis nodded. "And do you know where that is?"
He sighed, frustrated. "I thought I had a lead on where it was; that's why I left. Turns out it was just a false clue. Fortunately, I still managed to pick up a few authenticate indicators as to where it is. I've been lead to believe it's an island somewhere in the Caribbean Sea."
He paused for a moment and looked at her with searching eyes. "You know, I don't want to sound mistrustful, but this is a lot of information. I haven't told anyone else about this. I'm taking a big risk, and for you, it makes working with me even more dangerous. Please be careful."
She nodded silently. At first she felt defensive, but after a moment of thinking, realized he was right. If she was the only one who knew about this, it made her a walking target for his enemies. Also, it meant he trusted her more than anyone else at the Shadows. That made her glow with happiness.
"Nightwing," she suddenly asked for his attention. He turned his head, and Artemis couldn't tell what his expression was. His eyes, the biggest indicator to all feelings, were hidden under his mask.
"Do you ever take your mask off?" She didn't mean it as it sounded, because of course he takes it off. She just wondered for who.
"No one has seen me with my mask off," he fixed his gaze ahead on the screen again. "except my dad."
Artemis thought she heard him breathe, "and you", but couldn't be sure. She had hoped maybe this would prompt him to remove it again, but his gaze remained fixated, and the room lapsed into silence.
"I don't understand how they found out I was on to them," he broke the quiet with a frustrated tone, and Artemis realized he hadn't been silently thinking about her the way she'd been thinking about him. When she didn't reply, he looked over to see her own fixated stare at the screen.
"You know, we've been at this for hours," he suddenly straightened up. "You're probably tired, and I know I am. Let's just watch a movie."
She smiled her approval, and he went over to a shelf and thumbed through a few DVDs. "I don't have a lot of options, and they're mostly action movies, but if see one you like," he tossed a few over to her.
She held up one and peered at it. "How 'bout this one?"
"The Net?" He took it in his hands and placed it in the dvd player.
"I guess it's pretty easy to figure out who the culprit is," at least for you, she thought sheepishly.
"That's okay," he grinned and sat down next to her on the couch. "My brain's just about fried any way."
Artemis laughed. It was nice to spend this time with him alone. She rarely got to with any one, and she assumed it was the same for him. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and saw the same calculating stare aimed at the TV that she always saw from him. She wondered if, while sitting transfixed in a penetrating gaze, he ever thought about her the way she thought about him.
Slowly, she laid back and rested her head on his shoulder. At first, he seemed surprised, then sat back as well, and gently laid his arm around her waist. Before five minutes of the movie had played, they were both asleep. It was the most peaceful she'd ever felt.
oOo
Sniff... sniff... peaceful... Wally... dead... WAHHHHHHHH! I'm sorry -sniff- I just am still trying to get over it. I'm still in mourning for him and probably will be all this week, so I can't make any promises about a weekly chapter, but I'll try my best.
I hope you all enjoyed the return of Nightwing! Man, I missed him.
And because I love you all, I'll give you each a virtual hug because most of you are probably feeling as depressed as I am. I only wish that there was a third season, because I feel confident they would have brought him back.
*When you leave a review, go ahead and also share what your favorite thing about Kid Flash is (: It will help us cope friends!
Random Justice League fact: The Flash (Barry Allen) died from creating a speed vortex to draw power from an anti-matter cannon that was too much for his body. It is strongly implied that his soul resides in the Speed Force, a mystical source open to all dead speedsters from which the living ones draw their power.
Hint: He ends up coming back!