Only mere hours after Question's 'disappearance', there is a further twist as several cities across the globe inexplicably go dark as electromagnetic pulses cripple power grids without warning. The energy signature from the blast is alarmingly similar to the energy and radiation frequencies that Captain Atom is able to tap into due to his powers. However only the Watchtower in orbit is able to discern this signature yet as to whether or not to reveal this knowledge to anyone else is preying on the Founders' minds, whether they are on the Watchtower or not.
Superman is still recovering from his exposure to the heavily concentrated liquid Kryptonite.
Bruce Wayne is under house arrest for the duration of the murder trials.
Diana, J'onn, Wally, Shayera, and John assemble at the Metro Tower as it falls within the radius of one of the EMP blasts. The situation warrants an Omega Level Alert as it is an international situation that involves millions of lives worldwide. Teams go deployment across the globe further dividing the roster. It is one of the functions that League must always undertake, but the blasts for some bring backs memories of the Binary Fusion Gun and inquiries into whether or not it is really gone.
Green Arrow and Black Canary are told to return to the Metro Tower by the Founders. Terrific beams them up along with Huntress and Nightshade. Huntress and Nightshade are told to step off the pad as Zatanna, Vixen, and Doctor Light step up to join Arrow and Canary on the teleport down to the Metro Tower. Aquaman, A.M.A.Z.O., and Fate would be joining them after departing Fate's Tower.
The four did not like the idea of splitting up at the time like this, but orders were orders in the League.
Huntress and Nightshade are about to return to the teleport pad yet someone is teleporting in as they approach it. Diana leading the active Founders materializes on the pad and then they head towards the Monitor Hub where there is an incoming message from Capitol Hill of all places to be contacting them now. Huntress and Nightshade change direction so they might over hear the conversation between Wonder Woman and the Capitol Hill contact. They do their best to remain out of sight and unheard yet Nightshade shows signs of recognition at just the voice of the contact.
It is Senator Lawrence Schneider, but Nightshade is not about to tell Huntress this tidbit, not yet anyway.
"On behalf of the President and by Congress' mandate, I am ordering the Founders to appear before the Committee in regards to this global crisis that I am told is electromagnetic in origin. I further request that Captain Atom join the seven of you in this appearance. As for those of you who value your masked secrecy, you will appear without your masks. There is also a requirement of proof that you have not put the Binary Fusion Gun back together," says Schneider.
"Senator, you have our word that those of who can appear will be there. Superman is currently unable to make an appearance as he is recovering from overexposure to liquid Kryptonite during a mission involving several Arkham Asylum residents who were working with Joker," says Diana.
They were telling the truth about Superman's condition, but J'onn realizes he will have to lie in a sense to safeguard Batman and more so his alter-ego.
"Batman is currently busy overseeing the residents' return to Arkham. I will make sure Captain Atom is made aware of this request as he is currently away from the solar system on a mission," continues J'onn.
"It will still be necessary for Superman, Batman, and Atom to make an appearance. We make an allowance on Superman's part and as for Batman, once free from the Arkham situation, he must appear with due diligence. As for the governments worldwide, they are open to receiving League help."
"Understood Senator, we will be departing for your location shortly."
"We also want any available information you have on the blasts given that the Watchtower is reputed to have some of the most advanced scientific equipment and technology on the market."
"We will bring what we have on the blasts as well."
"Then the Committee shall be seeing you all shortly," concludes Schneider.
The five head off in the direction of the Javelin Hangar Bays as the teleporters will be more important to regulate movement of roster personnel aboard the Watchtower. It is a rather widespread yet not quite random EMP induced series of blackouts across the globe. Huntress and Nightshade enter the Hub after the Founders' departure even though Huntress felt a nudge to warn them that it might be trap, but then they had to play along to some degree while leaving up to others to handle and investigate the situation.
At least one of Twilight Corporation's subsidiaries is present in each blacked out city, but then this coincidence is not lost on Huntress. However the signature from the blast is consistent with the energy readings from Captain Atom, but it is literally impossible for one radiation regulator to be in dozens of cities simultaneously, regardless of how fast Atom or someone like Atom could fly. The blasts happen simultaneously, which implies they were set through a link system. In an age of instantaneous connections through cyberspace, it would be all too easy to program a cascade function to trigger multiple detonations worldwide.
The what is a series of EMP blasts, the where is all across the planet, and the when is tonight, but there is still the question of who did this and why did they do it. The latter automatically trips the word distraction in Huntress' brain.
Even when you are not around, things I do in my head make me think of you Vic. Where are you?
"You are thinking about him aren't you?" sighs Nightshade.
"You reading my mind?" responds Huntress.
"No, it is just the way you are almost biting your lower lip and the glimmer in your eyes. He must be truly someone special if to give you such pause," continues Nightshade.
"More than words could say so any ideas on where to start looking?" remarks Huntress.
"Try to pin down where the blackout cascade starts at even though it looks like it happens simultaneously, that doesn't mean all begin at exactly the same minute or second."
"We are going to need someone who is more knowledgeable in this field than either of us."
"Maybe we should ask Palmer. He's a science whiz to say the least about him."
"The Atom is already city hopping to help speed up power restoration," interjects Terrific.
"So you have any suggestions Terrific?" asks Huntress.
"I would suggest Jamie Reyes. He's said to be the closest thing that Kord Industries has in terms of a super genius," recommends Terrific.
"Where is he?" asks Nightshade.
"Either his office in Manhattan or his suburban residence in Charlton. "
"I'll take Manhattan. You take Charlton."
Mister Terrific transports Huntress to the rooftops nearest to the Manhattan office. Next he beams Nightshade to the outskirts of Charlton. Both know what to do when they find Reyes, which means the other beams to Reyes' location or somewhere close to it. Both realize splitting up puts them at risk, but they have not the time to search the locations together.
The Kord Industries logo is visible from Huntress' hiding place. She had come ready to infiltrate the corporate tower. She shoots off a titanium wire strong enough to hold twice her weight considering she might have to remove Reyes from this building against his will, but she really does not want it coming to that possibility if she can avoid it. She grips the slider and propels herself across the gap between this rooftop and the helipad rooftop above the KI executive offices. Once across she ducks out sight upon noting the guards patrolling the roof except they look more like military personnel then corporate security. Kord from the outset of the ITC had shown no interest in working with Lexcorp despite the change in corporate officers.
Lex Luthor might be absent from the scene now, but the company is still Lexcorp and Kord had no cause to trust Maxwell Lord either. It was general knowledge among the expanded roster as to the extent of Lord's involvement with the Ultimen despite the outward appearance of being a mere management figure. Lord still remains a prime suspect in the attacks against the costumes in recent months especially given his apparent renegade Illuminatus status. It is curious that the Illuminati as a whole have not gone after Lord, but who is to say they have not made attempts. Lord was either luckier or smarter than he ever left on during his time with the Ultimen.
Huntress lock picks her way into the nearest stairwell yet does so with as much finesse as she can manage as leaving any trace of her passage would alert security to her presence and it would be best to avoid contact even after finding Reyes. As of now it is hypothetical and dependent on Reyes actually being here in this building. She quietly descends the stairs and makes sure to stay out of the lights or the security cameras' visibility. At the bottom of the stairwell, there is a utility closet and so she slips into a more corporate look. Once out of the closet, she ducks into the nearest office and uses a hacking method that Question had shown her.
The hack allows her to bypass security protocols, but only for awhile. Reyes is not here if she reads the interoffice memos right, but there is also a fair amount of hidden data. Files that not even Reyes appeared to know about and encrypted emails sent by Damon Dreiser. Dreiser is apparently talking to Veronica Cale and Mercy Graves behind Reyes' back. She quickly downloads all she can onto a jump drive then logs out before the hack security bypass fails thus revealing her presence. Huntress switches off the terminal then slides off into the darkness once noting the light coming from the under door.
"Strange, I thought I locked down all the offices," mutters the guard.
The guard walks in and notes an out of place scent. Huntress inwardly curses herself for wearing perfume whilst in costume earlier, but then she had been expecting to spend tonight with Question. They didn't do 'what other couples do on anniversaries', but still they had their patterns, ones that Helena thoroughly enjoys because it is what they do, their 'rituals', how they keep each other sane. Ways to hold onto their humanity in a world that constantly challenges what they believe, feel, but most importantly how they behave in any world they live, as it is never the same world from one second to the next.
"Somebody in here?" calls the guard.
Helena comes out of the darker recesses of the office.
"Mr. Reyes sent me here to copy files for him."
"I'm going to have to call this in because there is nobody on the sign-in list for this office."
"I understand."
The guard picks up the desk phone and dials a number.
Nightshade teleports herself to the other side of the front door to the house that bears the address that is listed as the one for Jamie Reyes. She ducks away from the front door upon hearing footsteps from outside and the front door lock turns then the door swings open. A man comes inside with several bags as if he had been elsewhere. He plops the bags down, pushes the door shut with his foot, and navigates to a phone nearby without turning on a single light. The man is either very familiar with the layout of the house or he has rather exceptional night vision.
"This is Reyes. What is the matter Braverman?"
"Sorry to disturb you, but there is a woman in one of the offices here claiming she works for you."
"Did she tell you her name?"
"I haven't asked her yet?"
"Ask then."
Braverman lays the phone receiver against the desk.
"Your name Miss."
"My name is…"
Nightshade still hidden from Reyes presses her finger against her earpiece comlink to send a quick message to Huntress.
"Tell him Sandra Knight…" whispers Nightshade.
"Sandra Knight," says Helena.
"Let me just run that by Mr. Reyes," continues Braverman.
"No rush."
It is an uneasy moment and Helena does not enjoy the way Braverman is ogling her.
You can look, but only one man gets anywhere near touching me.
Nightshade grips Reyes' shoulder and he turns to look at her with confusion.
"Whatever name he tells you. You will tell him that she works for you and that he should let her leave the premises so that she may report to you," insists Nightshade.
"What makes you think I would do that? She could be there for corporate espionage and for that matter how do you know who I am talking to and what the conversation is about even if you have been eavesdropping!" murmurs Reyes.
"Trust me not everyone is acting aboveboard in your company especially not since Ted Kord's murder."
"Further how do you know about that?"
"I am part of an investigation attempting to find who is really responsible, what is their real agenda, and why all this is being done."
"Let's say I believe you… I want proof of your affiliations."
"She can verify so ask to speak to her if you like. If you do ask her the right Question…"
"She knows him?"
"She's the closest thing he has to a girlfriend… so anything happens to her and I wouldn't want to be you when he comes asking you about what happen to her."
"Jeez, I get the point…"
Nightshade knows he is sweaty from considering what an encounter with Question would be like for his sanity so he appears to agree to cover Helena's presence at the office.
"She says she is Sandra Knight," states Braverman.
"Yes, Sandra is one of mine. She's new, doesn't know the protocols entirely yet, let her finish up and be on her way."
"Understood, but I am still by procedure to log this as Mr. Dreiser might get curious why no one told him."
"I believe we can make an exception for Sandra. I will talk to him about."
"I still have to log it."
"Then hop to it."
"Right Mr. Reyes, good night."
There is a click on the phone indicative that the call is over so Reyes replaces the receiver then pours himself a drink to loosen up. Nightshade can see the way Jamie eyes her, but she doesn't mind too much though he does look kind of cute even with glasses. She settles into one of the chairs in the sitting room and now they wait for Huntress' arrival. The two sit in silence, which in a way is how Nightshade prefers it despite slight curiosity about him being the new Blue Beetle.
Somebody clearly had given her a way out. It must have been Nightshade thought Huntress. She retrieves her costume, but keeps it hidden in the shoulder bag that previously held the office look that she is wearing at present. The only reason she did trip security coming is the EMP had left Kord Industries on its back up generators, which do not power the locking mechanisms and any other security measures on the outside. The EMP blasts are too coincidental to just happen within hours of Question's arrest/disappearance, he had to be found, but then unlike last time she had neither Batman to consult nor Superman to call upon with a special watch. It made all the difference yet it does not deter from searching for him.
You don't hide the guilty look as well as you think babydoll, but that is okay, I just feel like I am starting to go out of my mind with all these unknowns including wherever they have taken you.
She exits from the ground floor and walks across the street into a dark alleyway before calling for a teleport to her place. She had no intention of changing without a sense of personal privacy. As for why she had an earpiece comlink now, it is on a temporary basis with the global nature of the power emergency and because Green Arrow made a point of having given to her as well as giving one to Nightshade, also temporary. Once back in costume with the jump drive in one of her utility belt pockets, she calls up for a teleport to Nightshade's location and once more she hears the familiar hum of the teleport beam around her.
The first thing she notices once reappearing in Charlton, specifically on the drive way of Jamie Reyes' cozy one floor house is the distinct lack of a city smell, but then Charlton is not quite even suburban. The sound of her heeled boots tapping against the driveway is audible enough for her to spot Nightshade and Reyes exiting from the front to meet her. She pulls out the drive and hands it to Reyes. The three head inside and go straight to the den where Reyes appears to keep an independent terminal that is not in the network nor does it have internet access.
"You would wonder why I have an isolated computer in my house right?" asks Jamie.
"Probably because you don't want somebody hacking into it," answers Huntress.
"That would be the obvious conclusion," continues Jamie.
"What else is there then?" remarks Huntress.
"It also allows me to work separately from the network and use drives like this without people knowing that I am file digging because if you are on an out-of-network terminal, there are still ways for someone to know you went into certain files because you leave a digital access trace… electronic marker."
"A file 'footprint' or 'fingerprint' then?"
"It would be something like that. I prefer my digital movements to go unseen, which is why Ted always held my security systems assessments and designs in high regards, but then I handle most of the company internal hardware systems."
As Reyes scans through the files and directories, there is a recurring trend of Dreiser actively communicating in secret with various companies including Lexcorp, Cale Pharmaceuticals, and Twilight Corporation for starters.
"Dreiser has been busy since Kord's death. The board is set to vote on the new CEO; rumor is that I and Dreiser are the highest on a short list. Dreiser's backroom actions would definitely knock him off the list, as Kord never did much of anything without the Board knowing about it, and from the looks of it the board has no idea what Dreiser is up to."
"Somebody should tell them… like you."
"It would be a dicey risk because they would trace the breach back to me and to you because I said you work for me… plus I credited your false identity."
"Doing the right thing is always risky Reyes."
"I know… I just didn't think I would end up in the middle of a corporate conspiracy."
"Welcome to my world."
There is a buried sub-directory pertaining to a facility in upstate New York and it is within flying distance of Charlton much to Reyes' surprise. It is clear he holds no knowledge of its existence. He reads over the coordinates then switches off the terminal. He walks over towards what appears to be an ordinary security panel like a few others seen throughout the house, but it is made to look like the others on purpose after all what is the point of a hidden bunker if one cannot hide it even from ground penetrating satellites. They ride down to the bunker then Reyes disappears into another room only to reemerge in costume. He taps something on his armband, which reveals his counterpart to planes like the Batwing, the Invisible Plane, and the new Javelin Mark III's, which are still in the experimental stage.
The fate of the original Javelin is well known among the Founders as it was destroyed during their first fight with the Thanagarians prior to being briefly held captive aboard a prison transport, which they escaped from by means a jailbreak. A jailbreak that Huntress heard was led by Diana, but even Huntress could expect nothing less from her especially when the six of them had their vulnerabilities exploited by Shayera's knowledge of them during her time as a Thanagarian undercover agent on Earth. The assignment had come with global and interstellar consequences. The most personal however had come to bear on the Original Seven aka the Founders as they had to decide what to do with Shayera afterward, but she took the decision out of their hands by resigning on her own terms.
Huntress imagines that Batman had foreseen such an occurrence, which could explain Question's interpretation of the vote tally. Bruce and Diana obviously vote to eject her whereas Wally and J'onn would vote to allow her to stay whereas John would opt out of the vote leaving the tie breaker in Superman's hands. What happen with Superman years earlier in regards to being brainwashed and leading an Apokolipitian army against Earth is not quite the irony as he apparently votes in favor of allowing Shayera to stay with the team. However it all goes back to how Batman and more so Bruce understood perhaps best of all that Shayera had to leave them in order to start her way to redefining herself in reaction to what happen during her people's occupation of Earth.
She also had to bear in mind that she had grown closer to the six of them and John in particular during those five years while also struggling to maintain her cover. Hawkgirl had played her part yet Shayera at times would come out through experiences that force her to confront feelings as well as thoughts she often would try to deny entirely. The point in time is that they all took her at her word and Batman apparently had no contingency plan for her because he did not expect her or her people to commit to such an undertaking though the coincidences surrounding their arrival on Earth set something off.
Batman found them out, but to prevent the capture of the six of them. Their escape from captivity had been a team effort with Diana leading the way, but even then they had to dodge Thanagarian search parties. The six make it to Gotham, but the knowledge on how to destroy the bypass had come from Shayera who again willing broke loyalty and trust in order to give the League a chance to prevent Earth's destruction. This exchange ultimately shatters Hro Talak's affections and faith in her. At least most of this is what Huntress could piece together from little the Founders ever said about the last fight between them and the Thanagarians before the bypass' destruction. Those least likely to speak of it include Shayera, John, and Diana whereas Bruce only brought up some details in conversation once when speaking to Question on the subject.
The consequences of costumed heroics (aka vigilantism) is quite thought provoking if she grasps Question's thinking as well as she believes she does, but then he had his moments separate from his professional obsessions. Huntress continues to find him engaging and frustrating though she had come into this view of him by the time they first crossed paths and it is part of what keeps her with him.
[+++]
Huntress' thought train gets an interruption from Nightshade's hand on her shoulder.
"Your mind must be on overdrive. Beetle is ready to fly us out. You okay?"
"I will be. Now let us get underway."
The women follow after Beetle into what he calls the Bug, which is a nickname for his flying vehicle. The trio strap in, the shutters to the tunnel lower revealing a wide horizontal shaft ahead, and Beetle sends the Bug rocketing down the tunnel leaving a slight smoke trail in its wake. The shutters slam close, the lights go out, and miles away the Bug exits from a long wharf then it ascends skyward by vertical ascension, which conceals its movements from anyone passing by or watching the wharf. Beetle angles the plane back around once at a higher altitude then plots a course to the GPS coordinates of what the buried sub-directory refers to as the Hel. The word its oldest translations implies the concept that it is hidden, hidden in plain sight maybe, instead of jumping to the modern conclusion that is a form of hell yet it could be anyway.
After flying at immeasurable speed for less than an hour, the 'Bug' reverts to vertical descent enabling Huntress to jump glide out of the underside.
"She always doing that?" asks Beetle.
"Usually especially if she is looking for him, which I know she is," replies Nightshade.
"She thinks he is down there?" continues Beetle.
"He has been missing and unresponsive to contact since before the blackouts."
Nightshade goes out next leaving Beetle to power down the ship and then he tries to follow their trail. He had to wonder how Ted could put up with this kind of thing, but then the company is not so bad in terms of Nightshade yet Huntress made him uneasy. The rooftop is likely deceiving yet it did not look anything more than an abandoned storage facility in the middle of the New York countryside. This is likely why the location was chosen especially if the implication goes that this place is the replacement for a previous hidden facility in Maine. He walks towards a door left slightly ajar by Huntress presumably yet something pulls him through roof.
"You didn't mention you could phase through stuff," remarks Beetle.
"It is not phasing exactly rather I made an opening that made you drop through," says Nightshade.
"Interesting… so you are a metahuman?" probes Beetle.
"I am a Homo Magi… I can use magic is what that means."
"It must come in handy."
"Most of the time, but there are some things not even magic can fix or undo."
Nightshade continues in silence and they eventually catch up to Huntress who is in the process of removing an access shaft grate.
"You sure that won't trip an alarm?" comments Beetle.
"The place seems to lack a security system, which I find odd," answers Huntress.
Huntress drops through the shaft first, then Nightshade, and lastly Blue Beetle. Once at the bottom they find themselves in a corridor that looks like a cell block. Each cell has a single occupant yet each cell is specifically made for that occupant. This is much more deliberate and sinister then Metabrawl or being held captive by someone who knows the prisoners' weaknesses. They move from one cell to the next while taking note of who is inside the cells.
The number of cells matches the exact number of costumes that are currently on the Justice League roster plus a handful of others. The blackouts had been the near perfect cover to capture these costumes when they were alone, in pairs, or unable to contact someone to gain assistance to evade capture. The only empty cells at the far end are likely for the Founders, but that still leaves three vacant spots though who could that be for wonders Huntress before the realization clicks in her brain. Those three were meant for her, Nightshade, and Blue Beetle.
She had led them into a trap possibly set for them unless their pursuers did not know of their arrival.
"Thanks for coming to us, save us the trouble of looking for you, Conduit here had been following you since you left Kord Industries and Wraith was following Nightshade. Further Cheetah had been tracking the new Blue Beetle's alter-ego for us," says Dr. Magnus.
Nightshade grips both Huntress and Blue Beetle before magically teleporting away from Magnus.
"Wraith, go find her and the others. They must not leave this place those are your orders," commands Magnus.
He vanishes in attempt to trail her magically as he had done earlier though before he had deliberately kept his distance to not alert her to his presence while also not capturing her despite Magnus' orders. Those orders however had come from someone higher up in the chain of this outfit. He had only met Cale and Magnus since leaving the hospital in Maine. Before that he had route sessions with Dr. Andrews and as he found recently Cale is an old friend of Andrews as well as apparently the fiancée of Dr. Magnus. He wonders how many doctors are going to interfere with my life before this is over and frankly he had no idea though someone had to pay for the years he spent stuck at that hospital.
The 'someone' he had in mind was his stepfather, but again that might have to wait unless he can find the nerve to break from their team as reuniting with his twin sister is his way out of this or so he believes to be in some way.
"Where did you teleport us?" whispers Huntress.
"I'm not sure exactly so get down," murmurs Nightshade.
Blue Beetle follows suits then he adjusts his goggles for night vision as it is pitch black in this area. Nightshade's eyes glow as if improvising her own magical counterpart to Beetle's goggles.
"It is a storage room and there appear to be several if not dozens of costumes in these drawers," says Nightshade.
"Vigilante, Shining Knight, Speedy, Gypsy, Booster Gold, Starman, Stargirl, Nemesis, Commander Steel, Steel, Crimson Avenger, Crimson Fox, Hourman, Sand, and Vixen are few who have been caught that I can identify," remarks Beetle.
"They have been busy, but there are others in here too. All the ones they have here so far fit with those I can halfway remember from either the initial gathering on the Watchtower almost three years ago or the press conference from after the Brainthor fight," interjects Huntress.
Huntress starts looking around for Question's gear that is if they put his in here with the rest.
"You looking for someone specific?" asks Beetle.
"We already had this chat topside Beetle," reminds Nightshade.
They search though with each draw open and shut again they find more Leaguers have gone missing since the blackouts than they originally thought possible. Drawer after drawer reveals more about who is here and verifies who is not, not yet anyway. However it is increasingly frustrating not being able to find the draw with his look unless they did not capture, but she refuses inwardly to consider the worst case scenario in his disappearance. She had to wonder how long before Terrific got suspicious about nobody calling in, but then most of the cities could have power back by the time anyone notices they are gone.
"I think I found his," says Nightshade.
"Where are you?" exclaims Huntress.
"Over here," replies Nightshade.
Huntress joins Nightshade and Blue Beetle comes towards them after his roundabout search of the far side.
"This room is pretty sizable. It is almost odd that you somehow brought us here without knowing it."
"I can't always control where I end up when I am in hurry and they were about to attack us."
"The idea is cover where we might go unnoticed for awhile."
"Right."
Huntress can feel the shape of a fedora between her fingers, which meant he must be in this place unless they made a trick out of this whole thing. She found a pad fraying at the edges and written in Question's almost illegible writing though she could read it or some it given that she spent more time around him than anyone including Batman. The next question still remains is where did they put Question… put Vic. As for whoever kept him here this time around they would not get the same restraint she had shown for Atom following her getting him away from Cadmus.
"I doubt we can risk using a computer terminal to narrow the search down because they would be on us in seconds or if we are lucky… maybe a minute or two," comments Beetle.
"I haven't come this far to get stuck between getting him back and getting caught by them. Can we somehow unlock all the cells?" says Huntress.
"Leave that to me. I need only find the power generators or at least the control console for the cell locks," assures Nightshade.
"We wait here until you return or we here noise evidence that a mass breakout is in progress."
"That's the plan… see you soon."
At the sound of a whoosh Nightshade is no longer with them in the storage room.
Nightshade and Wraith cross paths again near the power generators, which are even deeper inside the facility than the massive layout of cell-blocks.
"Why are you working for these people? They have abducted dozens of costumes who are not metahumans against their will!" hisses Nightshade.
"They told me that you were dead, that our stepfather was responsible, and that these costumes did nothing to prevent it," rebukes Wraith.
"You think I'd let him harm me after what he did to you… what I let him do to you!"
"We were young… I was angry with him… I was upset with you… nobody believed me… I thought if anyone would believe it would be you my twin sister!"
"Did it ever occur to you that I took Mom's death as heavily as you did? That I didn't want to admit to the idea that some supernatural killed her, not an ordinary human disease, because it was hard enough fooling everyone else into believing I was just another little girl and later a woman!"
"You have any idea what it is like when everyone even doctors that are supposedly there to help you are in reality drugging you into false calm. I kept reaching out to you while we both slept. I believe I might be to blame for your nightmares, but then I saw memories similar to my own somehow buried inside your mind as if someone made you forget… I never thought you were repressing them on your own."
"I was, it only occurred to me a long time later, but by then I was told you had killed yourself. I eventually made myself visit the site where they said it happen, but I could find no trace of you. You know the way our mother taught us to track each other?"
"I remember..."
"It was how I found it was you doing those things that some initially thought were my doing."
"Our magical 'footprint' is almost identical because of being twins."
"We can't change what happen, but I still need you brother, we're still family."
"How do I know you are not using me like all the others? I know who you are helping her look for."
"He is important to her, just like you are to me, if you can't believe me, then who will you?"
"He was the first they took and the reason why nobody can detect this place is because of me. You remember how Mom said that magic can hide anything in plain sight."
"Why did they go after him first?"
"He got too close just they had to move to intercept him before he could warn anyone and he was also the one to expose what was really going with Luthor just ahead of Brainiac's reappearance."
"How do you know these things?"
"They told me recent events up to a certain point and in pieces as I could tell they were leaving things out on purpose so with each passing revelation I had come to see where all the blank spots were."
"So who is behind all this?"
"I was never told a name, but then compartmentalization and secrecy is the key to why much of what has gone on down here remains unknown to the world at large."
It is much to take in for Nightshade before she sees him drop a duffel bag with Question's costume in it along with a note written in a language only the two understood because their mother had taught them this particular language. They had almost unknowingly been talking in that same language for the past several minutes as well. Their mother often said they were quick learners, but she also said that children often pick up languages much quicker than adults. A childhood reflex brought weak smiles to their faces.
"You must get these things to her, I will take care of the power generators," says Wraith.
"You'll meet up with me afterward right?" asks Nightshade.
"If I can get away I will, otherwise only time will tell and if they discover my part then this might be goodbye for real this time around."
"Be safe my brother, I will not lose you a second time."
"Same for you my sister, enough years are already lost to us."
"Why did he call us down here?" grumbles Zoom.
"Who knows, the pay as good as it usually is even with the failures in Gotham," remarks Sinestro.
"Boys, boys, I have had enough of your whining," snaps Volcana.
"If the chance to kill Batman weren't on the table I would be back in Gotham," cracks Hush.
"If Joker's bombs had not gone off I would have finally gotten the chance to see Superman die. Too few of us get close enough and Toyman's beam weapon didn't cut it," interjects Conduit.
"Murder was definitely not in the original agreement, I don't intend to live out the rest of my life like this, and how much did that guy know anyway?" says Clayface.
"He found out enough that the boss said he had to be killed and you were the only one close enough at the time to do it without being caught," remarks Cheetah.
"Like that's supposed to make me feel better about murder!" snarls Clayface.
"You were willing to kill Batman and others in the past!" reminds Hush.
"That was then… after spending all that time in Morgan Edge's canisters… divided… it left me with too much time to think about everything I did with my life since becoming Clayface."
"So tell me why haven't we replaced Clayface with someone else by now?"
The elevator doors part to reveal Dr. Magnus and someone new to the group.
"Blackouts had a dual purpose. First for us to be able to nab all these so-called heroes and second to complete process to create… Clayface's replacement," says Dr. Magnus.
"He kind reminds me of that…" begins Clayface.
An energy discharge hits Clayface and he crumples to the ground just as the power fails throughout the entire underground.
"It appears our intruders have been busy," chuckles Hush.
"That they have… but then they haven't dealt with me before."
"Frankly I must ask who are you?" asks Volcana.
"You can call me Major Force," says the new guy.
"Now that the introductions are over with, you all go find them… if you have to kill… don't hesitate like ol' Clayface over here… "
Dr. Magnus returns to the elevator then taps a code into a handheld controller. Somewhere else timers start ticking. Magnus knows Force would survive the explosion, but almost nobody else would give the yield of the explosives. He had been first to duplicate the success of the bonding process that made Captain Atom and that alone is something leaves him with a grin on his face. Likewise the bulk of the Justice League would probably perish in the blast, which would definitely provoke any who are not here. It would work out better than even Maxwell Lord could expect, but then the plan to subtly divide the League then eliminate as many as possible in one swift stroke would work quite nicely.
Lord had come to the conclusion leaving the Watchtower assault in the hands of a Supergirl clone and an army slaved to her obsession with the actual Supergirl was a wasted opportunity though he would concede that she was the only successful cloning attempt. Luthor's earliest attempts were for naught as the clones eventually would perish from cellular degeneration whereas Doomsday was eventually confined to the Phantom Zone from which there is apparently no escaping as far as anyone on Earth was aware of.
Magnus exits the elevator at the ground level where he is met by Veronica Cale and the two return to a car outside waiting for them. The blackouts continue to dominate the sporadic news reports across the planet yet many continue to credit the League for their assistance. It is still not known or told that the global power disruptions were engineered because that would cause an unwelcomed backlash especially if the cause of the blasts could be linked to say Captain Atom. Only a handful of people actually know what is the real cause and they were not about to say it on international television, at least not yet anyway. Wraith continues to shadow Magnus without the 'good' doctor's knowledge, but someone had to keep track of him.
"Come out so I can kill you all!" declares Hush.
"Where would the fun be in that?" responds Vic.
"The cell doors are on a backup standalone so how did you get of your cell?" quips Hush.
"Time's a-wasting… and you are in my way Hush!" snorts Vic.
Hush never felt it coming as a tray connects with the back of his skull. Vic could hear running footsteps, but sound told him who was coming before he turns around to see her outline in the dark. She grips him by his undershirt and kisses him roughly on the lips. She is happy to have found him, but still she did smack him gently across both cheeks. He takes the blows in stride because others have hit him a lot worse than that.
"Here's your outfit if you want to change babydoll," offers Huntress.
"Don't mind if I do… so how did you find me this time?" asks Vic.
"Same as always… have to dig around to find a way to track you down," says Huntress.
"Probably encrypted files from Kord Industries right?" guesses Question.
"How did you?" sigh Huntress.
"It is not hard to guess since I found about this place after my last meeting with the recently deceased Joe Martin, previously the Atomic Skull, but now quite dead. Whoever the operatives in the suits were, they were waiting stealthily for my arrival."
"He was already dead by the time you got there. It must have bugged you out to be caught while quietly slipping into an ordinary apartment."
"I should have left given the fact that the window was open, but then I thought maybe its his way of saying I am leaving you a quick way in and out."
"Almost sounds optimistic."
"It is too optimistic coming from me."
The other costumes are breaking out of their cells with help from Blue Beetle and Nightshade.
"I believe we should get out of here before Hush's partners come looking for him though the rest of them are probably searching separately, but then I am not assuming anything at least with them."
There is a sudden whoosh behind them and when it stops there is the outline of someone who looks like Flash though both of them know its not Flash.
"I am afraid nobody is leaving here alive except for me and my partners ain't that right Sinestro?"
The glow of a yellow ring comes from the opposite direction.
"It looks like one or both of you got the better of Hush. I doubt even one of you could get the drop on Batman, well maybe the lady could," comments Sinestro.
Sinestro would regret the comment less than a minute later when the audible sound of his wrist dislocating can be heard just barely. He groans while holding back the urge to almost howl in pain. Zoom runs toward Sinestro except in mid dash he trips over something or rather someone who put his foot in Zoom's path a split second after Zoom made the attempt to dash. Zoom goes flying and lands painfully on the stone floor.
"What should we do with these three?" asks Huntress.
"How far underground are we?" replies Question.
"Too deep for transport that's for sure," says Vigilante.
"There is an elevator," suggests Vixen.
"Though I would have to ask… why help these fiends?" queries Shining Knight.
"Given what happen to their other place like this… we better get out of here soon," reminds Nightshade.
Knight and Vigilante drag Sinestro, Booster Gold and Nemesis take Zoom and Blue Beetle with Question handle Hush.
"If these three are here, what's to say their buddies are not around?" asks Speedy.
"They probably are, but they can find their own way out of this," responds Question.
Huntress rides up with Question, Beetle, and an unconscious Hush. The next elevator run takes Knight, Vigilante, and Sinestro with a broken wrist. The one after that is for Booster Gold, Nemesis, Speedy, Vixen, and a mumbling Zoom.
She held onto him tightly during the fly back to Charlton. The others had taken charge of the three villains that were taken down during the escape. The facility along with the warehouse above it had gone up in flames and as for whether or not the other villains down there got away, remains to be seen though as Question suspects, they found a way out. They might not be happy with their employer for this experience, but then they were probably already told that covering tracks in whatever way possible is a must.
"So was this just another diversion?"
"No, this time… they meant to imprison us… maybe kill us… if they were trying to cover their tracks making it look like a random fire in some abandoned warehouse… it wouldn't get much attention."
"The blackouts are the major story. A fire story might turn up a few days later, maybe next week, or possibly never."
Nightshade rides up front with Blue Beetle.
"I see you 'recruited' Blue Beetle to the search."
"Let's say Nightshade did most of the talking and I got the files, which you already seem to know."
"I had seen most of what you saw just before I went to see Martin again."
"So they baited you?"
"The message was handwritten so either they told to him to write or he wrote then gotten taken out by them afterward… either way he is just as dead."
"Can't save everyone…"
Question ceases to talk and Huntress just leans against him. This separation did not last as long as one during those two weeks before the Brainthor business, which also put him and her in the cross-hairs of Cadmus. There is much worth fighting for, maybe even dying for, but then what is there to live for, she only had to look at him to know the answer to all three though she could without the second one more often than not. The interior of the 'Bug' is on panel glow lights, which drastically reduces the glow reflecting through glass shield at the front of the plane. Huntress grabs the aerosol from Question's coat pocket and gently sprays it across his face though he holds her hands before she peels the mask away yet after a moment allows her to remove it.
Other than himself, he would allow only her to do that to his face and now his mind could cease to do anything except react to her kissing him. Her lips taste the same yet different as his mind interprets each kiss separate from the last as well as the next. The moonlight passing through the glass shield at the front casts a kind of glow around her not unlike making her black hair shine just a little in the dark. He pulls off her mask before initiating the next kiss himself.
The 'Bug's dive into the water conceals the sounds both make when she reacts in surprise to him kissing her in such a way yet it is one pathway to making familiar elements reminiscent and fresh.
A/N 1: Question's captivity doesn't last as long as it did during the Cadmus Arc, but that's because Huntress goes after him sooner. Their intimate kissing scene in the back of the 'Bug' is in one way a nod to a particular scene in Watchmen though not purposely written as such.
A/N 2: As for Sandra Knight, that's a nod to Phantom Lady, who is another character who Alan Moore cited as inspiration for Silk Spectre II. As for Braverman, in the comics he's Conduit, of course in DCAU continuity, he is seen in StAS New Kids In Town (his only appearance that I know of).
A/N 3: Hel is an underworld in Norse mythology. The word itself loosely translates to hidden yet when borrowed by the English language, the word becomes Hell. The Hel in this chapter was built in secret as a detainment facility for the costumes aka heroes.
A/N 4: Enter Major Force who joins the team that already consists of Conduit, Zoom, Sinestro, Volcana, Hush, and Cheetah. Clayface makes a brief reappearance where he laments killing Ted Grant and refers to his time in the drums before the events of JL Secret Society.
A/N 5: As for the EMP induced blackouts across the globe, that's a nod to Veidt using technology made by Dr. Manhattan to "kill millions, to save billions" yet here the apparent motive was to capture the League while they were truly divided by the blackouts.
