"Alpha squad in position. Beta Squad?" Nightwing asked over the mental link. He decided on taking Robin with him, along with Wonder Girl.
"Beta Squad ready." Batgirl replied. Her, Miss Martian, Raven and Bunker made up Beta. "And Delta?" Nightwing asked. "Delta Squad, ready." Superboy responded along with Abuse and Zod*. Thanks to Batgirl and Nightwing's hacking skills, they were able to pick up signals coming from underground, near the Pentagon, and pin-point a general location. They figured there must be some sort of entrance in the wooded area the signals were coming from and they deduced it was probably a secure facility underground. Alpha's mission was to try to find it. Beta's was to have Miss M search for anyone and be ready to go in should she find anything. Hopefully she would get close enough to get in range with Artemis, Irey Jai or Wally. Delta's mission was to keep watch, be the reinforcements should a fire fight ensue.
With their delegated assignments, the heroes waited at points around the approximated points of this base.
"How long have…" Wally suddenly spoke and then trailed off. He and Jai had been placed into a differently holding room, separate than Tigress. It was dimly lit, tiny and rather closet-like. Both were bound with handcuffs and inhibitor collars.
"What?" Jai asked in response to his father's quiet beginning. "If we don't make it out of here...I want to know...How long has Nightwing and uh, Tigress been...you know." He asked. It seemed silly but the curiosity was killing him.
Jai sighed. "Maybe a month." he shrugged looking off into the dark room. He wasn't really sure when the two had gotten involved, sure he had had his suspicions but he didn't think it was much of his business. In fact, he had always wanted his mother to find love in someone else. When the teen's eyes returned to his father he looked to be deep in thought, glancing at the wall. For some reason, Jai was trying to figure out, his father was very concerned with his mother's relationships. It hadn't particularly dawned on him that Wally didn't exactly feel the time of sixteen entire years. To Wally, he had only been gone a second and suddenly the love of his life is dating his best friend.
"Ever since I can remember he's been around. Not in the romantic way you're thinking of. He would tell us all these stories about you…" Jai noticed his father had perked up in interest so he attempted to go on. "He helped her raise us. That's all. It wasn't until recently they got you know...together, I guess. You know how much of a badass mom is, but she's still human and I think your 'death' really affected her for a while." Jai said sincerely.
"Personally, I'm happy she's with him. She's never dated anyone. Whenever M'Gann tried to get her to go out or try dating even she just pretended she was not interested because she was too busy raising us, and working, and fighting crime. It was like she got herself to be too occupied with other things to really think about taking care of her own happiness. But I mean, it's been sixteen years."
Wally nodded. "She is a badass." He mused and Jai nodded his head in agreement. "I think it was harder for her because of Irey...I always thought she reminded her of you. The way she's just...she's so…." he struggled to find the words. "A nerd." he said bluntly after a pause, and almost chuckled to himself. Wally let out a soft laugh. "It's true." Jai said "From everything I ever heard about you…. from him or mom...it sounded like they were just talking about Irey sometimes." Jai said reflectively looking at his father and for the first time, making a real connection with him. Wally shook his head knowing it wasn't exactly the best time for a laugh with his teenage son. "But. Dad...we will get out of here." Jai reassured.
"You think?" Wally questioned. "Of course. Mom and Impulse are like...the two biggest badasses on the planet."
Meanwhile Irey was spitting expletives at Zoom. He had since began torturing Artemis, with his new information on Impulse's relation to her, he had the upper hand. Delivering another strong swing to the archer's abdomen, Zoom turned back to Irey, who was still chained up.
"I told you! I don't know his name! What do you need it for?!" Iris demanded thrashing with all her might against her restraints.
"Speed!" Zoom shouted. "I want his speed. He is the fastest man in the world, you know. With it, I can become faster. And I can't get that without knowing his name. So, I can find him. Attack him while he's weak. Threaten his family if I have too..."
"Then take mine." Iris said with no hesitation. If it meant saving her mom, Iris would do anything. "Impulse, no…" Tigress warned from the floor several feet away from her. Zoom looked at Tigress and then back to Impulse. "You are not as fast as he-" Zoom began in his inhuman voice, but Irey cut him off. "Yeah I know but with yours and mine your connection to the Speed Force will be stronger and definitely be faster than Flash and if you let her go. I'll cooperate."
"Beta Squad. Report." Came Nightwing's voice over the mental link. "We have a visual on the entrance. I'd bet big money they're in there, ese. But we got three armed guards." Bunker replied. "Can either of you get a mental image to confirm they're in there?" Nightwing asked.
Batgirl, Raven and Bunker were all hidden behind a dark corner in this underground facility. It was cave-like with tunnels that twisted and turned. It dimly lit but not unoccupied. They'd been able to stealth their way to this point when they discovered two large steel doors, which appeared to be so dense, a speedster might have trouble vibrating through it. Batgirl nodded to Raven whose eyes began to glow. She began soul-searching for any signs of their missing comrades. Seconds later, her eyes faded back to normal and she have a grim nod to Batgirl. "We don't have much time." Raven said over the mental link.
"Move in. Alpha is right behind you. Delta hold position. Stand ready." Nightwing delegated mentally.
"Bunker you're up." Batgirl said. Bunker nodded and took a step away from his squad and swung his fists together, creating a purple beaming energy construct. His powers worked similar to Green Lanterns, in that whatever he wanted to create at will, he could. Suddenly making his presence known the guards, then drew their weapons. His attack took them by surprise and their bullets bounced right off the battering ram of sorts he had created. Once passed the guards Bunker ran in and took a large swing at the doors. It made a dent but nothing more. Batgirl and Raven had moved in and knocked out the guards but the sound of more running towards them from a distance could be heard. Batgirl reached into her utility belt and pulled out a few explosives and placed them strategically around the steel doors. Within seconds and in a cloud of smoke explosion there was a hole just big enough for them to get through.
Meanwhile back in Wally and Jai's small cell they heard an explosion. The pair perked up and looked at each other. "Do you think-" "It's the rescue squad Dad!" Jai exclaimed. Jai stood the best he could with his hands and ankles bound, but still managed to do so. He started throwing his body into the walls of the dark room that seemed almost closet like.
"What are you-" Wally started. "Letting them know where we are!" Jai said throwing his side into the wall, careful not to hit the inhibitor collar, in fear it might go off. The two could hear a commotion coming closer and closer when they finally came into range of the psychic link. "Hey! We're in here!" Jai cried mentally.
"Jai! Beta squad is in pursuit. Is everyone okay?" Came Nightwing's voice to Jai's relief. "Dad and I are. I don't know where Impulse or Mom are...we were separated." Jai informed him. "Copy that. Beta will be there soon. Alpha squad move in. We have to find Impulse and Tigress asap."
Soon Wally and Jai could hear the fight happening right outside the door. They backed up from the door to allow it room to be kicked in. In the distance, they could hear the sounds of explosion and gunfire. Suddenly they heard Raven's familiar chant "Azarath metrion zinthos" and the door to their confides began to glow and suddenly unhinged and was thrown to the side. Wally and Jai emerged and looked outside to see the Beta squad had successfully secured the area. Raven chanted again and removed their collars.
"Where are Tigress and Impulse?" Batgirl asked. "We don't know, they took them somewhere else..." Jai answered. "Okay. Bunker, you take these two to safety, Raven. You and I will find them." Batgirl said. "But-" Wally interrupted but Batgirl quickly stopped him. "We don't have time to argue. Go."
"Beta to Alpha. Bunker's taking Wally and Jai out of here. We're probably going to need both Miss M and Rae to find the others." Batgirl thought into the psychic link as Bunker, Wally and Jai left. "Acknowledged." Nightwing replied as he, Wondergirl, Robin and Miss Martian approached their location. Both Batgirl and Nightwing pulled up hollo-maps of the facility as Raven and Miss Martian searched for them mentally.
Robin crossed his arms impatiently. "This is taking too long! They could be dead by now and all we're doing is sitting around like fools!" he shouted. Before Nightwing could scold him, Miss Martian's eyes faded to the normal coloring
"NO!" she cried out suddenly. "What is it?" Dick asked. "We have to go. Now." The Martian floated and flew, leading the now two squads off down the hall keeping her fingers pressed to her temples. Raven and Wondergirl flew behind her as the rest ran. They neared the end of the hall and found door tucked away from the rest. From within they could hear a commotion and voices. Raven and Miss M worked together using their telepathy to unhinge the metal door. Once it was off, Nightwing, Wondergirl and Robin rushed in, unsure of what awaited them.
As they burst through the metal door they saw the syringe drop and heard Zoom give a menacing laugh before disappearing in a flash of blue light. Leaving Artemis tied up in the corner, attempting to break free of her handcuffs and Irey motionless, on the cold hard floor.