Chapter Eighteen

Artemis licked her dry lips nervously. The entire stadium was dead silent. The tension was almost unbearable. Some women were crying, some praying. Many of the men had turned away, ashamed that they had less courage than the boy who now stood on the field. Artemis' eyes were locked on him, her heart pounding in her ears. She had forgotten about the bow on her shoulder, and even if she had recollected it, had not the control to shoot an arrow.

Deathstroke paced back and forth like a caged tiger, his penetrating gaze never leaving Nightwing. The youth stood stock still, using his ears for detection of the first offense instead of his eyes. He let deep breaths of air into his lungs, knowing they would become a precious necessity later on in the match.

Like lightning Deathstroke's katana slid from the sheath and the huge man was was leaping towards Nightwing with it raised above his head. Nightwing rolled neatly to the side and released several batarangs, one piercing the mercenary in the shoulder. He didn't seem to notice. His katana sliced through the air continuously, Nightwing blocking every attack with a pair of eskrima sticks. A hiss came from the hero as the sword slit a hole in his suit, producing an immediate trickle of blood. He stayed focused, however, and dodged the all of his opponent's attacks.

Quickly, Nightwing grabbed several gas pellets from his utility belt and tossed them towards his adversary. Smoke exploded onto the field, enveloping the two in a shroud of darkness.

Artemis' palms were growing sweaty as she clenched the iron railing, never taking her eyes from the scene. Her anxiety increased as the gas hid them from her view. She could hear the heavy breathing of the two through the fog. She started when a hand was suddenly clenched on her shoulder. A sigh of relief escaped her when she saw it was Raquel.

"Artemis, we have to go," she spoke quickly, beginning to turn but stopping when Artemis grabbed her hand.

"Go? Raquel, we can't just leave! Nightwing-"

"Girl, we got much more important things to worry about. I'm not sure what to do... I just need your help."

Artemis threw one last worried glance at the field, then followed Raquel. They slipped quietly into the tunnel and stopped before the locker room.

"In there," Raquel pointed to the door. "Icicle Senior's got a whole team of us. And I don't think they're on our side anymore."

"They must be waiting for the battle to be over before attacking," Artemis chewed her lip. Even with this new development, she was longing to return to Nightwing. The thought that he could be caught, even dead, at that moment made her stomach turn. She swallowed hard and spoke in hushed tones.

"We have to get others together. If they try to attack us, we need to be ready to defend. Get Zatanna and spread the word of mutiny. I'll stay here and try to round up some of the others."

Raquel turned to go. "Raquel," Artemis stopped her once more. "Be careful. We don't know how many in the Shadows are now our enemies."

The dark girl nodded and ran off. Artemis stared at the door, then turned and ran back to the stadium. She forced herself not to look at the field where Nightwing was fighting to the death, and instead focused on trying to tear others' attention away from it.

It was a difficult task. Most only stared at her in a trance like state, others refused to look away from the battle. Finally she spotted someone she recognized, and was by his side in a flash.

"Hey!" She gave his shoulder a hard shake. The red haired scientist she had spoken with weeks ago looked startled. Apparently he was suffering as much anxiety as Artemis had been while watching. "I need your help, please! Members of the Shadows are revolting and are planning to attack us! You have to help me get the others' attention!"

His fists clenched and unclenched, his green eyes looked uncertain of whether to stay or leave. "What can I do? I don't have any super powers!" He buried his face in his hands.

"You have to talk to the people; you have to help them understand how much danger we're in!" Artemis pleaded, grabbing his hand and attempting to pull him from the bench.

Still uncertain, he stood up and followed Artemis' lead. He paused and looked back at the field. "We have to go!" The blonde cried, giving his arm another tug.

The young scientist looked at her with troubled eyes. "...He's my best friend."

Artemis bit her lip as tears threatened to spill over. "The only way we can help him is if we go now."

He nodded and hurried up the stairs. The two split and made their way down rows of people, careful to choose only those who could be trusted. Her discouragement was doubled when few people offered to do anything at all, but took heart when even one brave person would follow her lead.

Suddenly a cry of alarm overtook the crowd. All eyes turned to the scene on the field. Artemis gasped.

Nightwing lay on the ground, Deathstroke's katana piercing him in the arm, keeping him from moving. Both were breathing heavily, Artemis noted, and the mercenary's armor was torn and broken in several places.

Her eyes only examined him for a moment, however. Nightwing had tears in his uniform across his chest, revealing the injuries received the previous day which had had no time to heal. His face was pouring sweat and she could tell he was in pain. All in one moment her head began to spin.

She could faintly hear the hum of Deathstroke's gloating voice, and she knew he was tormenting Nightwing. What would hurt him most was being trapped, helpless, listening to all the terrible things that will happen to those he cares about once he's been finished.

Suddenly, something in his face changed. If his eyes had been visible, Artemis didn't doubt that they would hold burning flames. She saw his hands clench the weakened grass around him, and grit his teeth in pain as Deathstroke plucked his blade out of the boy's arm and raise it above his head.

Only a few moments ago Artemis would have been bracing herself for the final blow, but she could see it now- his iron will. He wasn't going to break, although it may pain him to move. Sure enough, Nightwing dodged the stroke, rolling to his feet, though it was not with his usual agility.

Unprepared for this, Deathstroke gaped in astonishment, then threw down his katana and lunged at Nightwing with both hands poised for strangulation. This final ploy of desperation provided Nightwing with the chance to head butt him, knocking him to the ground. In a flash Nightwing had the katana in his hands, piercing it into the back of his opponent's neck, just enough for him to feel the blade and know he was defeated.

An audible sigh of relief escaped the crowd, and then cheering roared through the stadium. Tears of joy began to fill Artemis' eyes, and she was suddenly enveloped in the arms of Nightwing's best friend, the young scientist. All she could do was return his embrace happily. Finally she was able to speak the words, "He did it. He's safe. It's over."

"I know, I know," he murmured into her hair.

A piercing shriek drew their attention back to Nightwing. Artemis cried out as she was just in time to see him collapse, a small dart stuck in his shoulder. She glanced around the field and saw groups entering from all sides, weapons poised for action, Icicle Sr. leading them.

Deathstroke rolled over and picked up his katana once more. The unconscious Nightwing was completely defenseless.

Artemis was terrified, but somehow through her fear she remembered her bow. She had abandoned it when she went to talk to the red head, and now stumbled down the bleachers to where she had left it. Quickly picking it up, she strung an arrow and paused only a moment to target the mercenary.

Whiz

He cried out and stumbled as it found its mark in his shoulder. He plucked it out in one swift movement, blood visibly dripping from its tip, and hazily turned to face the crowd, searching for the archer.

He found her. As their eyes met, he took the arrow in both hands and snapped it in half. A second later Icicle's voice boomed,

"All who wish to stay alive will join us! Those too cowardly to join forces with the Light shall become our prisoners. Those of you stupid enough to fight back..." he smirked. "Well, you get the picture."

The only pleasure Artemis received from this statement was that their attention had been temporarily diverted from Nightwing. All else seemed hopeless. How had it become this way? Was this truly produced from the faults of her father?

Then came a sound that made her heart leap. A battle cry. A battle cry coming from the Shadows. Those who were stupid enough to fight back. And they were twice as numerous Icicle's band of traitors.

Artemis grabbed her bow and quiver, leaped over the railing and onto the field, and joined in the unified sound.

oOo

I know, I know, it's been FOREVER since I updated. I won't try to write some long excuse but I will tell you I am so sorry! Mostly for myself, because it was at a pivotal part in the plot that I needed to keep rolling. Sigh. Hopefully it didn't hurt the story too much. I've just been stressed with getting ready for college in the fall.

Anyway! I hope your interest continues and I promise that I will try my best to keep more steady updates now.

Random Justice League Fact: In the comics, there has never been a mention of Batman attending college. Who says you have to stay in school to be cool?