Hey! This is the second chapter! YAY! I'm glad that people actually liked this story!
It took exactly 10 minutes for all the team to get here, and that's even including the ones like Wally, who live outside Mt. Justice. Mal took over Nightwing's computer and started scanning space for any sign that the Watchtower, and more importantly, the people inside are alive. He had a grim look of determination to his face, desperately trying to find his fiancée.
On Nightwing's command, Tim and Barbra get the computer on their wrists up, and they search for local news reports. All of the people heard the huge rumbling, and apparently they all saw a huge flash of light. Authorities are reporting that the Justice League's secret base was there, and people are obviously terrified that their beloved heroes are dead.
"We need to calm the people down," I said.
The team gave me well, duh looks, but then they turned back to Nightwing.
"Batgirl, how many leaguers are available?" Nightwing asked the red-head girl.
"So far, only Zatanna. The rest were in the Watchtower while the explosion happened. Looking at Batman's latest commands, he apparently ordered the entire league to meet at the Watchtower for and emergency meeting," she informed us.
Zatanna shook her head, "That's impossible. He was at Artemis's party the entire time, and he didn't tell us anything about it."
"Have you looked at your comm. device?" I asked.
Zatanna took it out, and then played the last message.
"Emergency meeting at Watchtower, now," Batman's voice rang out. It was timed at 3:30 am, when majority of the league and Batman were still at the party.
"Something's not adding up," Blue Beetle said, unnecessarily.
Nightwing's face was unreadable, but I know him well enough to know understand that this was his way of expressing concern. A sudden memory of the mission against Red Tornado flashed across my mind. I was all ready to give up, but I remember him looking at me, and telling me very seriously to get traught, or get dead.
"We need to pretend the Justice League is fine, otherwise people will panic, and massive our enemies will take the opportunity to strike," he said confidently.
"And how exactly could we do that?" L'gann asked obnoxiously.
I could see why Conner wanted to throttle that kid, he was so freaking annoying.
"Get Roy to wear a blonde wig and Green Arrows costume, and then he could parade around Star City?" Wally suggested vaguely.
I was about to snap at him for his ridiculous idea, but I saw Nightwing nodding along. He seemed determined, and I knew that he was desperate if he was going along with Wally's ideas. He almost ran off to the zeta-beam and disappeared.
"Well, he's a great leader," I said sarcastically.
Robin and Batgirl gave me a death glare. Wally shook his head at me and I ignored him. Right now, I didn't give a damn about what other people were feeling. I was light-headed with exhaustion, sick with worry for the Justice League, and to top it all off, I was going to miss my very important maths exam. I was not a happy hero.
Nightwing returned to the cave 15 minutes later, and was surprised to see nothing had changed. We were still standing around, waiting for orders. Mal, Cassie and Superboy were glued to the screen showing a blank piece of space, and the others were watching the news on Barbra's handheld computer.
"Dude, where'd you go?" Wally asked Nightwing as he stepped in.
"Getting supplies for the mission," Nightwing snapped back.
"Supplies?" Bart repeated, zooming over to get a better glimpse at the box.
Nightwing dumped the box in front of us, and I could see that there were a bunch of clothes and wigs and make up. I raised my eyebrows and Nightwing; didn't he get that this was so not the time to be joking?
He looked at us with a forced grin on his face.
"Alright team, today, we are going to become the Justice League."
We looked at him like he was crazy, but we figured we didn't have much choice. We had to go along with Nightwing's (Wally's technically) stupid idea. If anyone else had suggested it, I probably would have laughed in their face and walked out right now, but because it was Nightwing, I stayed.
"Babs, which cities have the highest crime rate so far?"
Batgirl typed furiously on her little computer, "More than a dozen burglaries plus some other crimes in Gotham, a couple of crimes in Central and a few less in Star. New York and Washington D.C are having trouble with a few people riots," Batgirl informed Nightwing in her quick and precise manner.
"Already? Only half an hour has passed since the Justice League was declared missing and already crime rates have increased?" Robin asked eyes wide.
Barbra nodded grimly.
Nightwing dug through the pile of clothing and pulled out a Green Arrow outfit, complete with a blonde wig and goatee. Then he pulled out Black Canary's outfit and another blonde wig. He threw the clothes to Red Arrow and Batgirl.
"These are some outfits I nicked from a community theatre downtown. They have all the Justice League outfits complete with wigs and padding and Kevlar vests. Put those on and head down to Star City ASAP," he told them.
Both looked at him, their expression like, no way, but he glared back at them. This was the only chance we had. We had to calm the people down and make it look like the Justice League was still here so the villains wouldn't attack. Barbra seemed to get the message, but Roy just glared at him and rolled his eyes.
Roy could be such a diva sometimes.
I was pretty annoyed that Nightwing hadn't chosen me to go as Black Canary, seeing as Star City was my used-to-be mentors city, but I shoved away my feelings and focused on him again.
He turned to M'gann and Zatanna. "M'gann, shape-shift in J'hnn and go to D.C. Take Zatanna with you. Just try to calm the people down and make everything look okay."
He rummaged through the box again, pulling out Wonder Woman's and Superman's costume, and some extra padding too.
"Conner, Cassie, put these on and head down to New York. Conner, wear this padding so it looks like you're more muscular. Cassie, wear a push-up bra or stuff something inside there to make you look like… you know. And here, wear this black wig," I told them.
"But I can't fly, and I don't have heat vision."
"It doesn't matter. Just as long as you look like Superman and Wonder Woman. Now hurry up and change!" he almost yelled.
They got to it, quickly changing and then heading towards the nearest zeta-beam. There were still a lot of people left, and Nightwing ordered Mal to start a search to see what caused the explosion. He wanted to find the source and whether it was of magical origin.
Wally and I exchanged glances. We hadn't seen Nightwing this sombre since Jason died.
Crap, I blinked back tears. A year on and even the thought of Jason brings tears to my eyes. He was still dishing orders out to the team, telling them to go to different places in the world. Finally, it was just Wally, Nightwing, Mal and I left.
Mal was typing furiously on the computer, his eyes scanning through hundreds of complicated files, desperately trying to find some trace of the Justice League. I remember when I had lost Jason, though I don't know if I could have classified him as the love of my life. He was just, spectacular, and when I heard he had died I wanted to find the Joker and kill him right then. Thank God I had people like Nightwing to catch me when I was slipping.
"Wally," Nightwing said urgently, "I need you to go to Central and take care of the crimes, maybe get an interview off Linda. I need you to do that as the Flash."
"Man, you know that I'm trying to leave the life. Going as Kid Flash is one thing, but the Flash? I'm not even as fast as him! You know I can't-" Wally complained, but shut up as he saw Nightwing's glare.
"You don't have a choice. Central City needs the Flash. Not Kid Flash, the Flash. Put on the costume, just until we find them," Nightwing commanded.
I watched as they both glared at each other, then Wally finally took the Flash outfit and went out, giving me a hasty pat on the back. After our messy break-up, we had managed to stay friends, even though it was pretty awkward in the beginning.
There was only one costume left in the box, and Nightwing was staring at it with uncertainty.
"It's funny, all my life I've wanted to be him, and now that I have to, and don't want it anymore," Nightwing said so quietly I wondered if he was even talking to me.
"Ah God, what if I stuff up? What if I've just sent the team to their deaths? What if the Justice League is really dead? We can't pretend to be them forever."
"Dick," I said softly. I saw him flinch slightly, it was the first time I've ever said his name since he told me.
I put one hand on his cheek, and the other lightly touching his raven black hair, "Remember when I was freaking out, and you told me to get traught, or get dead? I was about to run away, and leave you all to your deaths, but then I remembered you. When I was determined to kill my dad, it was because of you that I didn't pull the trigger. I'll always follow you, and the team will too. We have faith in your decisions, even if it means we have to die. We trust you completely."
"I'm not Batman. I could never be him. I could never protect Gotham."
"Batman is an idea, a mask, not a person. Anyone with enough skill and the right morals and ideas can become him. Gotham doesn't need Bruce Wayne; they just need to see that Batman is there. So suck it up, because we have no choice. Put on the mask Dick, become Batman."
He stared at me for a few minutes, and then a slow smile played upon his lips.
"When did you get so good at saying inspirational speeches?" he asked playfully.
I shrugged grinning at him.
"Do me a favour, go to Bludhaven. There's a pretty high crime rate going there, and I'm kind of fond of that city."
"Sure," I said, letting go of him and stepping back. I picked up my crossbow and headed for the zeta-beam.
"One more thing Artemis," he said.
I turned around and he's suddenly there, his arms wrapping around me in quick hug, his lips meeting mine briefly. He lets go, and I go to the zeta-beam in a daze.
Argh, I'm so not happy with this chapter. I re-wrote it like, a GAZILLION times and it still didn't seem right. Anyway, hopefully the next chapter will be better! PLEASE REVIEW!