DISCLAIMER: All recognizable characters belong to DC Comics.
CHAPTER EIGHT: Unforgiven
By the time he was strapped into his seat on the helicopter, Robin had finally gotten his breath back. His head was still spinning but at least the blinding black and white splotches that had overtaken his field of vision had cleared. Sportsmaster was chuckling behind his mask and patted the boy on the head, none to gently either, before climbing into the pilot's seat of the aircraft.
The g-gnomes were next, scampering in excitedly with their pilfered things. Robin narrows his eyes as he recognized some of them for what they were. One was a new compressor that QI was developing to lessen the pressure gradient on human lungs when in outer space. He narrowed his eyes beneath the mask as he wondered what they could possible want with that.
Guardian slid the door shut behind him and shat on the leather bench across from the boy hostage. Nothing was said as the mercenary started the machine and it lifted into the night air. Several minutes later, Sportsmaster set the auto pilot and climbed into the back with them.
"I find myself in a quandary." Guardian sighed, releasing his seat belt as Sportsmaster sat next to him. "I am tempted to return to Star City and eliminate the witness."
"You mean Speedy," Robin growled, tugging at the cuffs binding his wrists almost habitually now.
"Red Arrow, now," Sportsmaster snickered. "Original."
"It's an empty threat, either way," Robin snapped, ignoring the merc and turning his scowl to the helmeted man. "You know it, and I know it. You waited. You could have been in and out in minutes, but you purposefully set off that alarm and waited until someone showed up. It could have been the cops, it could have been Green Arrow, it could have been anyone but it was Red and you played him like you would have played anyone else."
The two men glanced at each other.
"He's right," Sportsmaster snarled, fingering the knife strapped to his thigh. "You made me bring him into the building, which was unnecessary unless you knew someone was going to need persuading."
"N-no," Guardian shook his head, eyes alight with confusion. "No, that's not-"
"So, Guardian, after you got out from under Dr Desmond's mind controlling little monkey, how long after did you start acting like a super villain wannabe?" The teen's infamous giggle sounded lightly in the interior of the copter. "I'd place top dollar that whatever subliminal programming they left behind is sta-"
The heavy fist of Guardian struck without warning.
Robin's head snapped to the side and he felt a crunch in his mouth as his teeth gave beneath the blow. Blood filled his mouth and he spit it and the tooth that preceded it onto the carpeted floor of the helicopter. He stared at the broken molar before glaring back at the former hero. "Hit a nerve, did I?"
Sportsmaster leapt between the two the instant before Guardian was on his feet. He pushed the man back down to his seat. "Whoa there, Jim, we're not done with him yet."
The man's nostrils were flaring as he glared daggers at their captive, his breathing erratic as he tried to regain control.
"He is yours, Sportsmaster."
Robin felt the blood seep from the corner of his mouth while he watched the satisfied gleam entered the mercenary's eyes.
Guardian sat back down, his death-glare never leaving the boy. "When he has served his purpose in Metropolis, you can do with him as you wish."
"Breathing?"
A shudder travelled Dick's spine at Guardian's response.
"Unnecessary."
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Once, Superman would have entered Wayne Manor via the Zeta Beam into the Batcave, but with the numerous reports that had set up camp outside the property fence, he wouldn't be able to explain his sudden appearance should he be spotted. It was for that reason that Clark Kent was reaching through the back window of the cab only a few feet from the main gate in the middle of the night.
He felt the eyes of the other reporters watching him as he pressed the button on the intercom and a moment later Alfred's voice inquired who was calling. "It's Clark, Alfred."
"Ah, yes," The butler said across the speaker, coolly. "Master Bruce said to expect you sometime this evening."
The tone of the usually pleasant man's voice did not bode well for the disguised man of steel.
The gate swung open and a minute later the cab was driving back down the long drive, having dropped Clark and his bag off outside the main door to Wayne Manor. Bruce was waiting inside the main foyer to greet him.
"What do you want, Kent?" demanded Batman.
Definitely not boding well. "I'm here to help, Bruce."
"The League has no business being here," the billionaire snarled. "You made that very clear back in the Cave; and again last night when you ordered Young Justice to NOT pursue Sportsmaster despite; and again this morning when I went to you with the possible connection to the CERN assault. So what are you doing here, now?"
"Damn it, Bruce!" Clark exclaimed. "You helped form the League! You know as well as I do that-"
"Screw the League!" Batman was suddenly toe to toe with the reported. "This is my son, goddammit!"
"He's important to me too! You don't think I want to be out there razing the entire country trying to find him?"
"Then why aren't you! Why aren't you razing the entire country trying to get him back?"
"Because it's not just about him," Clark deflated somewhat. "The truth is, Bruce, is that he's just one boy. Albeit a very special boy, but with the discovery of his civilian identity, Robin's kidnapping could potentially expose us all. If the media gets winds of the connection between Bruce Wayne's adopted son and Batman's sidekick, it won't be long before the whole house of cards crumbles around the entire League."
"So sacrifice the one for the needs of the many?"
Superman tensed, hearing the deadly calm in the other man's voice for what it was. "If we must."
Bruce's fist was flying before Clark was ready for it, and therefor unable to temper his reaction to keep the other man from hurting himself. To his credit, Batman didn't cry out when the bones in his hands nearly shattered against the jaw of the man of steel. Even though the blow didn't even faze him, Clark was stunned.
Bruce Wayne had never stuck Clark Kent before.
"Master Wayne!" Alfred was there in a flash, pulling his charge away from the confrontation to tend to the hand. After a few steps, the gentleman's gentleman stopped and stared hard at Clark. "I think it best if you find a hotel to stay in for the time being, Mr. Kent."
"Of course, Alfred," Clark nodded.
"There was a time when I didn't trust anyone," Bruce said quietly, his back still to his friend. "The League – every one of you – used to put it up to my paranoia. Maybe you were right, but it didn't ever stop me from finding out everything I ever needed to know to protect myself from betrayal."
Clark didn't understand what the man was getting at, not until Batman finally turned his emotionless glare on to him.
"Young Justice is my team, Superman; always has been. They've been investigating one their own, and with what I've given them, they're already on Sportsmaster's trail. But I promise you this: If dick doesn't come home, no force on or off this earth will stop me from going after those responsible."
Superman swallowed around the sudden lead weight in his stomach. "Bruce-"
"And I'll start with the Justice League."
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The roof was quiet and the descending aircraft did not alter that. The young Martian's bio ship was silent as it cut through the night and landed effortlessly on the tar and gravel of the Queen Industries building. The sun was still a couple hours from the horizon and in the black of night a figure stepped out to greet the disembarking young heroes.
"There he is," Aqualad drew the attention of his team to the approaching archer.
"I was just about to go in," Green Arrow told them. "Did Batman fill you in?"
The Atlantean leader shook his head. "Only that we were to reroute to this location."
"I'll debrief on our way down," Oliver said, turning toward the roof access door, leaving the teens to follow or get left behind.
"A little after midnight a silent alarm was tripped here," the senior hero explained as they took the stairs down. The man was tense, his concern for his ward evident with every word. "Speedy – I mean Red Arrow – came to investigate. He was going to report back to me what he found but he never did. Then the Martian Manhunter got in touch with Batman, told him about the little pet you kids brought back from Cadmus."
"Uncle J'onn was the one to figure out what the g-gnome was trying to tell us," M'gann said proudly.
"New York, Gotham, Geneva, Star City, Metropolis," Artemis recited the list of cities. "There was a break-in at the New York City College of Technology the day before Robin's addiction from Gotham, then the assault at the facility in Geneva Switzerland the same day."
"Best guess was they were to your neck of the woods next," Wally told the man.
"Yes, Batman figured the same," Oliver stopped at the eighth floor. "And when Roy still hadn't reported in with me we couldn't help but wonder if it was connected."
"You think they took him too?" Superboy asked.
Green gloved hands clenched into fists. "For their sake they better not have. It's bad enough they've taken one of ours already, but Guardian will have to know that he'd risk the full League's involvement if they were to take another. Roy may have gone solo, but he's still my ward and unlike Bruce our identities are not as high a secret. Everyone on the League roster knows who we are."
The door was opened and the group stepped into the darkened corridor. Unknown to them, they walked the same path as the missing archer only hours before.
"This is Queen Industries Research and Development building, this floor specific for Air and Space research. The alarm originated here."
"Do a sweep, Miss Martian," Kaldur ordered.
The girl nodded and her eyes glowed white for a few minutes. She blinked, the orbs reverting back, and she shook her head. "There are a few guards on the first floor – one's worried about losing his job once they're untied – but I'm not sensing anyone conscious on this level."
"But there could be someone here?" Wally's anxiety at the thought of having lost another friend to these creeps filled his question.
"Yes, just unconscious."
"Split up?" Artemis asked, drawing her bow and knocking an arrow.
"Pair up," Aqualad and Green Arrow said at the same time. Kaldur hesitated only a brief second before his upbringing had him bowing his head slightly to the older man. "My apologies, Green Arrow."
The blonde raised a hand to stop the boy. "No need. They are your team. As the League cannot be involved in your mission, I will defer to your command. Just know that Roy is my first priority."
"Understandable, Sir," Aqualad nodded before addressing Young Justice. "Pair up, no one goes off alone. Kid Flash and Superboy, take the south corridors; Miss Martian, link us up and follow Green Arrow to the north; Artemis, you're with me and we'll take the offices and labs in this section."
**Everyone stay in contact,** the team leader said once the telepathic link had been established.
The others acknowledge the commands and went off as assigned.
Artemis kept her arrow drawn and stepped in just behind Aqualad as they approached the observations glass to the labs in the immediate area. She watched her leader closely, noticing the tenseness in his shoulders and subtle quickening of his steps. It was then she recalled that Red Arrow wasn't just a former sidekick, he was a friend. Robin, Kid Flash, Speedy and Aqualad had known each other for years. Aqualad wasn't just looking for a clue, he was looking for another friend who might be in trouble.
As they entered the main room of the lab, Artemis found herself feeling sorry for Wally and Kaldur should anything happen to either missing hero.
**Stay close,** Kaldur reminded her as they stepped further into the room.
They didn't get far when Artemis saw the arrow laying partially obscured beneath one of the tables. **Aqualad, here.**
**What did you find?** Superboy's voice sounded in their minds as the girl couched to retrieve the projectile.
**Looks like one of Roy's arrows,** Kaldur replied anxiously as he stood just behind her.
**It's still armed,** Artemis pointed out to the Atlantean, **so it wasn't fired**
"Artemis," Aqualad jerked his head toward something off to her side.
She swore venomously when she eyed the pieces of the broken bow. As a fellow archer she knew what it would take to be separated from her bow, let alone for it to end up broken. Unfortunately, the curse was echoed in her thoughts and thus into the minds of the rest of the team.
**I'm on my way,** Oliver stated briefly.
"At least we know he was here," Artemis tried to assure the now pale looking Aqualad. Apparently, he too understood the meaning of the broken bow.
"Yet where is he now?" Kaldur gathered himself and motioned around the room. "Look around, there might be something else here."
A gust of wind rattled a few of the component in the room and announced the arrival of Kid Flash. Superboy was right behind him and without being told they spread out throughout the lab to help search.
A few seconds later, Superboy's sudden stop was noticed by Artemis. "What is it, Supe?"
He held up a finger to his lips, closing his eyes and tilting his lips the same moment Miss Martian and Green Arrow arrived in the lab. "There's another heartbeat. I didn't hear it until it accelerated just now."
Megan's eyes flared again briefly. "Someone is in there," she motioned to the partially opened door to the dark office. "His thoughts are too frantic for me to recognize-"
She didn't get to finish before Green Arrow was pushing the door open. The light was flicked on and the relief was forefront with his exclamation. "Roy!"
Inside the black, Red Arrow had fallen into an exhausted sleep at some point during his captivity when a cool breeze and the sound of movement woke him. Someone was outside in the lab. He tried to call out to them despite the cords gagging him, but his throat was too dry to produce any noise. His heart was racing in his chest as he desperately tried to think of ways to get the attention of whoever it was.
That is, until Oliver was suddenly blinding him by turning on the light and deafening him by shouting at him.
The older archer had a blade in hand the instant he stepped into the room and was next to his ward's side in seconds. He swore as he took in the vicious way the teen was bound. "I'll have you loose in a minute," he told the boy as he started to saw carefully at the cable strung between the wrists and gag.
"Let me," Superboy was suddenly beside them and snapped the cords easily.
The muscles of Roy's neck twinged with pain at the sudden release, but he was grateful none the less as the clone broke the cable between his wrists and ankles while Oliver withdrew the cords from between his lips. His limbs were free in seconds and he was being helped into a sitting position, his back supported by a nearby desk.
"Are you hurt?" Green Arrow asked, eyes roaming over the young archer for injuries as the boy rubbed at his wrists to get the blood flowing again.
"No," Roy managed to croak. Almost instantly he was accepting a paper cone of water from Kid Flash. He drank greedily, uncomfortably aware of the many sets of eyes watching him.
"Dude, what happened?" The speedster asked.
"I came here, thinking I'd stop a robbery in progress, only to find out the thieves had a hostage." An accusatory glare froze the other redhead to the spot. "Why didn't you tell me about Rob?"
Wally flinched and looked away. "I-"
"There has not been time," Kaldur tried to explain. "We have been tracking him and his kidnappers since he was taken."
"Which hasn't exactly been easy," Artemis said from where she stood.
Seeing the blonde archer, Roy saw red.
Moving quicker than his weary body should have allowed, Red Arrow surged to his feet and was across the room before anyone could react. He gripped the by the collar of her shirt and slammed the petit girl up against the wall.
She shrieked, eyes wide with fright, at the intensity of the hatred in the eyes glaring at her.
"I warned you what would happen if you ever hurt my friends!"
"Roy, stop it!" Oliver was next to him, Superboy along with him, prying the weakened boy easily off the terrified girl.
"No!" He shouted, jerking against their hold to no avail. "I want to know why she did it; why give Robin over to him?"
"I didn't!" She exclaimed, fully understanding what he was alluding to.
"Dude, stop it!" Wally sped to Artemis' side and steadied the shaking girl. "She fought Sportsmaster! She tried to stop him!"
"I'm sure she put on a very convincing performance!" Red Arrow snarled. "But I find it hard to believe that she would stand with a team she's only been a part of for a couple of weeks against her own father!"
Artemis choked on a sob and buried her face in her hands, turning away from her team mates as silence fell heavily around them.
Oliver sighed. "It wasn't like that, Roy."
The young man pulled away from his former mentor's grip, Superboy's having gone lax with the sudden revelation. "Then tell me what it was like."
"Robin was taken as a civilian." Kaldur'ahm said quietly, watching Artemis closely.
"And she just happened to be there? Yeah, it wasn't anything like that at all."
"I didn't know," She moaned and finally faced her accuser, tears flowing from beneath her mask. "I didn't, I swear, I didn't know who Dick was until he was taken!"
It was Roy's turn to be stunned, the dots finally starting to connect. "Wait, Dick?" He glanced at Green Arrow who at least had the decency to look apologetic. "As in my friend, Richard Grayson? The very same Dick who was kidnapped and is being ransomed back to his father?"
"Whoa, there," Superboy caught the teen as Roy wavered and his knees buckled.
Oliver sidled up beside Red Arrow and draped one his ward's arms over his shoulders, taking him from the clone. "Okay, Artemis, come with me and Roy. The rest of you finish up here. We're going to take him back to the bio ship, check him over, and then the seven of us are going to have a very thorough talk on our way to Metropolis."
"What's in Metropolis?" Roy asked, to overwhelm to really process what was going on.
"The theft here just proves that they were on the right track," Green Arrow nodded his head in gestures toward the Young Justice Team, including Artemis. "Now we just need to figure out what Sportsmaster and Guardian are going after in Metropolis and maybe then we can end this and get Robin back."