*A/N: Yeah I know, it's been like, an eternity since I last updated! (I sowwy D:) But, here's the newest chapter! And I've already started working on the next chapter, so hopefully you won't be left waiting for too long for the next update. Anyway, I'm sure you wanna read, so let me shut up and allow you to enjoy! And as always, please review! :D
Dashing up stairs and creeping down empty halls, Batman continued toward the warehouse's main computer. Coming up from the basement, he continued to climb the stairs and make his way to the second floor. Once there, he began his journey through the halls in search of a computer. Silently, he peered into empty rooms and around corners, determinedly on the alert for any poachers. Turning down another corridor, leading him to a dark room, he approached the open door, where a single blue-grey light glowed from inside. Confidently, he entered the room and stood before several old PC desktop computers; old and out of date, the 3 old computers flickered and glowed as their pixilated screen savers displayed poorly animated mouse mazes and pictures of men proudly posing with the limp bodies of animals they'd hunted and held up for show. Pausing in front of the old computers, Bruce prepared to hack into the computers and contact the Watchtower, but only after closing the door behind him, ensuring that his presence wouldn't be detected. Approaching the three computers Batman stopped at the computer desk and stared down at the small, individual keyboards. Staring at the little buttons and then down at his paws; Batman grimaced before forcing away his irritation and standing on his hind legs, his paw on the mouse, as he prepared to reach the Watchtower.
Within minutes, Batman had activated the computers and began hacking into the main system. Tentatively, but with a well-executed technique- the result of numerous chances to perfect the daunting task of manipulating keypads with his paws- he began to peck and prod at the keyboard, gingerly typing in the necessary codes and encryptions, trying to reach the Watchtower. Frequently backspacing and retyping the message, he finally completed the alert and sent it to the Watchtower; but after making the final click on the mouse, Bruce watched in irritated frustration as his message slowly proceeded to load. Bit by bit, the emergency alert leisurely buffered and froze, agonizingly fueling Bruce's impatient anticipation. Watching the computer screen and the little bar sluggishly fill as his message loaded, Bruce sat in front of the computer, agitatedly watching the screen, while simultaneously keeping an eye on the door and listening out for any signs that someone might be approaching. After what seemed like an eternity, Bruce's message was finally processed and began to send. A brief sense of relief quickly washed over him, and he listened- slightly amused- to the sound of angered grumbles and hurried footsteps, following the miniature stampede rushing down the hall. But unlike the swift rushing of the chaotic chase outside, Batman remained stuck, angered as his team's faithful message froze for a second time; however, instead of a simple pause, the computer's delay was followed by a loud and obnoxious whirring as the computer struggled to process his commands. Quickly trying to silence the computer before it could draw any outside attention, he leapt to the computer desk and tried to silence the device; unfortunately his efforts were in vain... While trying to corral the loose animals roaming the building, one of the poachers heard the shrill droning of the computer, and suspiciously proceeded to enter the dark room. Muttering to himself about how it was 'beyond time to upgrade their tech,' the grungy man entered the room and turned on the lights as he made his way towards the computers. But upon flipping the light switch, he was startled by the familiar sight of the ominous black wolf that'd escaped the day before.
Ivory-white canines bared, and pitch black fur standing on end, Bruce stared at the thug intently. His eerie yellow eyes, following their opponent's every move, as he held his ground in front of the computer, protecting his team's only chance of escape. "You!…" the thug hissed, confused as to how his opponent had gotten back into the building and, even more puzzling, why this dumb animal would be defending the computer. Watching the demonic black wolf, fearlessly holding its ground in front of him, the crooked man slowly approached. Unaware of the S.O.S. still loading on the computer, his attention was fixed on the fugitive mutt challenging his presence. "Not sure what kind of pod Luthor grew you in," he said while drawing a switch blade from his pocket, "and I don't know how you got back in here." He paused as he displayed the blade's razor sharp edge to his now snarling adversary. "But I assure you, I'm gonna skin you right here, myself!" Ignoring the threat, Batman stood firm and anticipated the thug's next move. Despite his obvious disadvantage, and the imminent danger it posed, Bruce held his ground and continued to defend the computer. Knowing that if the poachers got to the it before his message was sent, it would quickly be deleted and his and the others' efforts to contact the League for help would be in vain, Bruce prepared to fight for however long it would take. No matter what, he could not- would not- let anyone near that computer; and as the poacher shot forward to deliver the first blow, Batman intended to make sure the brute got the message.
Swiftly sprinting through the treacherous landscape, Flash and Diana hurried back to the warehouse. Leading the way through the dense foliage, Flash followed the familiar sights and scents until he and Wonder Woman finally made it back to the warehouse. "Now all we have to do is find a way in," he sighed between breaths as he took a seat, out of breath, and looked up at the main door next to Diana. Studying the door, Diana placed a paw to its cold hard exterior and pressed hard, hoping that it would swing open. "It must be locked from the inside," Flash continued as he rose to his feet and examined the building.
"There's got to be a way inside," Diana thought aloud. "How did you and Lantern get out? We might be able to gain access the same way."
"Not likely," Flash replied. "We used this door. And without GL to slip back in through that window, it looks like we don't have many options." Taking a moment to study the situation, both Wonder Woman and Flash continued to analyze the outer doors of the building and try to formulate a plan. While taking another lap around the building's perimeter, Flash unenthusiastically stepped in a pool of soggy mud and leaves; stepping away from the dirty sod, he looked down at his soiled foot and proceeded to shake the filth from his paw and wipe the remaining traces on the wall of the warehouse. "Ugh, gross!" he groaned before finally cleaning his paw. "This better be mud…" he continued while staring at the soggy puddle, then down at his still wet paw and the dry leaves and dirt that began to adhere to it. Knowing that rubbing it on the ground would only make things worse, he looked back to Diana who continued to struggle with the warehouse door.
"Hera, help us," she sighed, her tail flitting in anticipation as she tried to concoct a plan. "You said that John entered the building through the window?" she asked Flash as she looked up at the half-open skylights near the building's roof.
"Yeah, then he opened the door for Bats from the inside," Flash replied, "but that can't be the only way in." He said, looking up at the out of reach windows. "It's not like either of us can fly."
At a loss, the two stood in front of the door and continued to silently concoct a plan. Staring at the door, Flash then lowered his gaze to the ground and stared at his dirty paws, frustrated, he dug his claws into the earth beneath him and closed his eyes. Feeling the gravely dirt against his paws, running between his toes, Flash's eyes shot open as he was suddenly struck with an idea. Jumping to the door, Flash crouched down and began to dig. "Flash?" Diana asked curiously as she watched the red fox feverishly dig a hole in front of the locked steel door. Perplexed, she stepped aside in avoidance of the flying piles of dirt Flash continued to hurl aside as the hole's size increased. Finally, Flash ceased his excavation and stepped back from the hole.
"We may not be able to fly up and get in through the windows," he explained, looking to Diana, then behind him at the small mound of dirt piled on the ground. "But we can still go underneath."
"Underneath?" Diana asked as she watched Flash peak down into the hole and slide his paw inside and feel around, like he was reaching for something.
"We're in!" he cheered, jumping back from the hole. "Wait here; I'll go through, and let you in from inside." Flash directed as he crouched down and proceeded to squeeze through the small hole under the door.
"Thank Hera," Diana sighed, impressed, while watching Flash slip under the door through the hole. Cautiously, Flash poked his head through the hole, looking around the dark room before squeezing out from underneath the door. Shaking the dirt from his fur and wiping the remaining traces from his muzzle, he then proceeded to assess the door and figure out how to let Diana in. Too short to reach its handle and pull the door open, the red fox instructed Diana to 'sit tight' while he searched the room for anything that might help him get the door open. Approaching a cluttered work table, Flash hopped atop its surface and, uncomfortably, tried to ignore the drying pelt of a raccoon, as he began to look for a way to open the door. Finally he found a frayed length of rope, and carried it back to the door. After a brief battle with its lock, Flash then proceeded to slip the rope through the door's handle and, holding both ends in his teeth, instructed Diana to push on the door while he pulled it open from the inside. Seconds later, Diana joined Flash inside the warehouse. "Nice work," Diana praised, as she affectionately rubbed Flash's shaggy red head with her paw. "Now we have to find Batman and help him contact the Watchtower. Did he tell you where he was going?"
"Bats said the main computer would be on the second floor," Wally replied, leading the way out of the dark room. "Guess we'll have to get upstairs, and start from there," he continued, sniffing the air as he spoke. Sneaking down the empty halls, Diana remained on high alert; her eyes and ears attuned to the setting, while Flash continued to track Batman with his sensitive nose. Making their way up the stairs, the two finally made their way to the second floor and began searching the empty rooms for Batman or a computer. When suddenly, Diana paused and listened to the faint sounds of shouts and crashing thuds coming from down the hall. Immediately both she and Flash turned their attention to the chaotic swearing of one of the men, and the feral snarling and barks that responded to the poacher's heated threats. Without a second thought, the two raced towards the closed door toward the end of the hall, and began their struggle to open the closed door.