Rescue!

After several hours, they dragged a bruised and bloody Nightwing to the sensory deprivation chamber and shackled her hands to the wall. She was again hanging a good three feet above the ground, Nightwing's head lolled backwards, utterly unconscious from an exceptionally forceful blow to the head.

Several hours lapsed and finally Nightwing was coming back to consciousness. She moaned in pain and as she looked around at the nothingness that surrounded her she began to panic as usual but relaxed as she caught hold of her thoughts and rationalized them.

Her head was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to explode. She shut her eyes and fell asleep her hope before drifting off was that she'd never wake up, that this sleep would be her eternal, lasting sleep.

Suddenly, she was assaulted by a bright light burning her eyes was she dead? Nightwing wondered. She felt like she was falling and desperately tried to grab for something and caught what felt like a…hand. Yes, it was a hand; a cool hand with slender fingers. Nightwing held it tight somehow knowing that as long as she held this hand she would not fall. She felt her hand slipping and began to whimper as she clutched at it tightly.

A voice broke into her subconscious "we need to get her to the medical bay immediately"

Brainiac Five and the legion had landed on the planet Thermia. They knew this was the planet holding her hostage. It had taken four weeks to find her but they managed. Shaking his head, Brainiac told the team the plan and less than five minutes Brainiac, Chameleon Boy and Dream Girl were flying toward the dungeon.

"She's not in there" Cham called, flying back up to the other two."In my dream" Dream Girl began "I was in a dark place. I had no senses aside from immense pain" her eyes welled at the memory "whatever they've been doing to her must be unbearable" she shuddered as she remembered Nightwing's pain.

"A sensory deprivation chamber" Brainiac Five stated in horror. "Why y-y-yes that could be it" Dream Girl looked stunned at the fact that someone was actually cruel enough to deprive another human being of their senses. Brainiac did a scan of the area "the sensory deprivation chamber is in the top-most floor" he said shaking his head "and I am sure that is where we shall find Nightwing"

The trio broke in through a window. In the middle of the room surrounded by guards, was an absolutely hideous black door which led to what looked like an empty space. Brainiac knew better and as Dream Girl and Chameleon Boy took out the guards, Brainiac located the keys and unlocked the door:

Brainiac gasped as he stepped into the room, it was cold, damp and dark permeated by the smell of blood. He felt isolated and afraid for the first time in his life. Shaking it off, his magenta eyes scanned the room, he went into shock as he caught sight of the malnourished figure suspended three feet in the air by her wrists, bruised, battered and bloody he could hardly recognize her face but knew it was Nightwing, for although her distinctive thick, flowing, dark ginger hair was hanging lank and unkempt and matted with her own blood and the uniform was torn to unrecognizable shreds he recognized the colors. Rushing over to her, he summoned Cosmic Boy, Superman and Lightning Lad to help him get her down.

It took them several minutes to get there but when they did they all gasped in horror. Superman flew up and unshackled her wrists. As she fell, Brainiac and the others caught sight of her now mutilated and still bleeding wings and sorrow and guilt tugged at them.

Nightwing's exquisite violet eyes flew open and stared unseeing, suddenly she cried out in pain and fear wildly grasping for something. She caught Brainiac's hand and clung to it so hard the young Coluan gasped in pain but held onto her hand and watched as her beautiful yet terrified face relaxed into a small semblance of comfort. Her hand began slipping from his and the terror was back in her face "I DON'T WANT TO FALL! SAVE ME!" she screamed and grasped for his hand again this time he held on tight and didn't let her slip. Her terror subsided again and Superman looked at her in pity "we need to get her to the medical bay