Bludhaven
Highway 61 (Bridge into Bludhaven from Gotham)
8:47 P.M.
Nightwing was crossing the bridge into Bludhaven at full throttle with Raven sitting behind him. He was going at top speed, pushing his bike to the limit. And still somehow, it wasn't fast enough for him. It had taken Nightwing and Raven much longer than normal to get to Bludhaven due to traffic fleeing Bludhaven, the emergency vehicles and chaos from the city. The bike weaved in and out of traffic, passing Gotham firetrucks and evac vehicles. Raven felt Nightwing's anger. He came off the bridge and the sight was chaotic. Multiple thick plumes of smoke were being pumped into the sky. Orange glows dotted Bludhaven's skyline as fires raged throughout the city. Parts of the ground had opened and split from gas lines igniting, water lines had also broke flooding the streets. Certain parts of the street had opened, building foundations began to crumble and fail causing buildings and skyscrapers to collapse around the city. Nightwing raced through the streets. They passed rows of civilians that were being loaded onto evac vehicles. Most were unscathed, others were coughing from the smoke or had mild injuries. Only a few, had severe injuries and were bleeding heavily. They spotted one or two bodies that had been covered and knew what it meant; they wouldn't leave the city alive. Raven looked farther into the city. She saw more and more civilians waiting for the evac vehicles or being checked over by medical personnel. Nightwing avoided collapsing infrastructure and crumbling streets. Flames got larger, and smoke got thicker as they got deeper into the city. Orange glows lifted into the sky; Raven felt heat from the fires rush against her body.
"By the light of Azar… These people…"
Rachel looked around.
"Who would do this… And why?
Nightwing answered her with a waver in his voice. He was barely containing his rage.
"It doesn't matter. Right now, we need to get everyone out of the city."
"Dick, there are SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND people in Bludhaven… How are we supposed to save them all?"
Nightwing's voice was cold, devoid of all emotion.
"By saving one at a time if I have to. I am not leaving this city, until everyone is safe. Even if it kills me…"
Raven grew concerned.
"It would be really stupid to get yourself killed now. We are both leaving here alive. That's an order."
He was quiet. Nightwing kept speeding through the city, trying to get to where all the emergency personnel were. He needed to check in with them. Raven tapped him on the shoulder.
"Where's that scanner you grabbed?"
"Holster. Right leg."
Raven reached around to his right leg; she found the scanner in one of the pockets in his holster he had told her about. She pulled out the small rectangular electronic device and powered it on. After a few seconds she held it up into the air as it did what it was programmed to do; take a reading on the environment for hazards. A minute later she had concern in her voice.
"Uh Nightwing? I'm getting some strange readings… Really strange."
"What kind?"
"Radiation."
"How much?"
"By these readings, it would be equivalent to a neutron bomb… But… Much, much bigger…"
Nightwing was quiet. Raven looked at her surroundings and grew nervous.
"Um, our suits don't protect us from radiation…"
"No. They don't."
"So, what do we do?"
Nightwing glanced back.
"We hurry. And try not to get radiation sickness…"
"That's a comforting thought…"
Nightwing turned a corner, at high speed. Raven looked around, the closer they got; the worse things became.
"Things just keep getting worse…"
Raven felt the rage in Nightwing.
"When I find who did this…"
"I don't understand! Where does someone get a neutron bomb?"
"Military. Black markets. Big time arms dealers. Take your pick. I'll track it through the back channels later."
"That's the other thing… Who would want to turn this place into another Chernobyl?"
Nightwing turned a final corner. They saw a makeshift ops center along with medical tents spread out everywhere. He made it to his destination. Bludhaven PD, both Bludhaven and Gotham fire departments, and other emergency services had set up in the makeshift operation center. Nightwing parked his bike. Nightwing could see the Chief of Bludhaven Police.
"We're here. I need to speak with Chief Redhorn."
Raven climbed off the back of the bike.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Find out what's being done to help. I need the locations of current search parties and where they've already looked. Evacuation plans. Number of civilians still missing, and an account of the ones rescued. I need to know everything."
"On it."
Raven turned and began jogging over to the medical tent. Nightwing climbed off the bike and walked over to where Bludhaven's police chief was. Before he could approach the police chief, a blonde-haired woman stepped in front of him and stopped him. It was Vicky Vale.
"Nightwing! Any words for the camera? About how you left this city undefended while you went galivanting around Gotham? While you were dealing with Joker at Arkham, someone was planting a bomb in Gotham's sister city! What do you have- "
Nightwing stepped to the side.
"Vicky, I don't have time for this. Don't you have a real story to report on? Go try to smear someone else's name."
Vicky stared at Nightwing in a daze. Then she cried out at him.
"Hey! I'm not done with you!"
Nightwing kept walking.
"No, but I am."
Nightwing began approaching a group of officers standing in a circle talking. There was a blond-haired female officer talking with a heavy-set officer with a military style haircut. Another officer just stood by them looking out of place. The blond officer was yelling at the heavy-set man.
"Chief, you can't just leave these civilians here! There's over seven hundred thousand people in this city! You can't just write them off!"
The heavy-set man shouted back in her face.
"Like hell I can! I'm in charge here! In the case of an emergency of this scale, the mayor's authority transfers to me. I have the power here! This is my city, and I say Bludhaven is a lost cause! I'm not dying for this hell hole! So, I remind you to follow my orders, and mind your place Lieutenant! Get out of my face or I will bury you in paperwork!"
The lieutenant stood her ground.
"I'm not going to give up on Bludhaven!"
Chief Redhorn screamed back.
"Look around Lieutenant! Thanks to that bomb there is no Bludhaven. All I can do is get those that ARE alive and accounted for, out of here!"
"Yeah, no thanks to you! Bludhaven was lost long before the bomb!"
The police chief walked up to the lieutenant and got in her face.
"One more word Lieutenant, and I will not hesitate to relieve you of duty for insubordination!"
Nightwing got within ten feet of the officers. He yelled at the police chief.
"Redhorn! Stand down!"
Chief Redhorn turned to see Nightwing approach him. Redhorn drew his sidearm and pointed it toward Nightwing.
"Nightwing! Figures you would show up here and now. Always did have bad timing. Why don't you go back to Gotham and play hero? Leave the real crisis to the professionals!"
"Professionals! Is that what you call it? Skimming from the budget so you can have your penthouse apartment!"
"How… I never-!"
"Increasing your own salary while lowering that of your officers? Lying that you don't have the budget to hire new ones! Why they never had the equipment they needed!"
Chief Redhorn was enraged. He didn't know how to defend himself.
"One more word... And I will not hesitate to unload my sidearm into your face!"
Nightwing smirked and took a step forward.
"Try it… You'll be on the ground with a broken hand before you can pull that trigger…"
The blond lieutenant stood between the two of them.
"Enough! Both of you! This isn't the time or the place for this! We need to help these people."
Nightwing stood down.
"Fine. But we're not done."
The blonde officer turned and looked at Redhorn.
"With him on our side, our chances just improved."
"I'll never work with his kind… So superior. So arrogant. Thinking they can solve all the world's problems by hiding behind a mask!"
Nightwing glared at Redhorn. The lieutenant looked to Nightwing then back to the Chief.
"Then don't work with him. Just tell him the plan, and stay out of his way…"
Redhorn looked to Nightwing then back to the lieutenant.
"Deal with this… I have more important things to do."
Redhorn walked away. The lieutenant looked to Nightwing and motioned to him with her hand. Nightwing began walking with her.
"Look, the situation is bad. Really bad. Redhorn called for an evacuation. Everyone who's not here in two hours is going to be left behind and will have to fend for themselves."
"Two hours to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people? Even with the assistance from Gotham, that's not nearly enough time!"
"I know. But you heard what the Chief said. In an emergency of this nature- "
Nightwing cut her off.
"Yeah, I know. Redhorn's authority surpasses the mayor. He gets final word."
"Look, I don't like this anymore than you do. I hate sitting here on my hands while someone like him is in charge. But right now, we need to do everything we can. You of all people should know that."
Nightwing smiled.
"Sounds familiar. You and Malloy never could never sit by while there were people in danger Lieutenant Palmer."
The blonde lieutenant gave Nightwing a curious glare a tilted her head. Like she recognized the voice. She smiled.
"Neither were you."
Nightwing nodded. There was an order shouted from a megaphone, it was a woman's voice.
"All currently unassigned Bludhaven P.D. officers please report to the command tent for assignment!"
Lieutenant palmer looked to Nightwing and ran off. Nightwing watched as she ran over to the tent and met some other officers that he recognized. Nightwing inhaled and looked to the sky. He could smell the smoke and ash from the fires. Sirens coming from every direction. He heard more directions being given by a megaphone. He looked at his surroundings, the rage continued to build. Raven came jogging up from behind him.
"Hey, I've got- "
She noticed he was distracted.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"I won't let this city fall…"
"We're going to stop that happening, aren't we?"
He faced her.
"What did you find out?"
She pulled out a map and kneeled onto the ground.
"Right. Short version is I was right. Some type of large yield thermonuclear neutron bomb sent out a radiation pulse in the center of Bludhaven. Little collateral damage but shook the foundations rupturing a gas line that traveled throughout the city destroying more foundation as the explosion and fires traveled."
Nightwing looked at the sky again.
"This was planned, not a simple bombing. Someone knew exactly what they were doing and exactly where to plant the bomb."
He was quiet.
"I should have been here. I should have never left for Gotham…"
Raven looked up at him.
"Batman needed you. You did a lot of good."
"And this was the cost…"
She placed her hand in his. Raven knew her touch calmed him, comforted him. Nightwing looked down at her hand in his. She felt his anger subside. Raven took her hand away and changed the subject.
"I took this map of the city from the medical tent and filled in what the rescue workers told me."
Raven placed the map on the ground and unfolded it. Nightwing saw red circles and her handwriting scattered throughout the map. She traced a circled area around the outer section of the city with her finger.
"The outer areas of the city have been searched multiple times and more or less cleared."
She moved to another line closer in.
"This is where we are right now."
She pointed to an X she had drawn within the circle.
"This is where the ops center is located. The search and rescue crews are working out of here and the ops center coordinates with the teams in the field."
Raven pointed to more X's on the map.
"There are med tents here, here, and here."
She traced another circled area placed in the middle of the city.
"Search and rescue crews are actively searching this area here. Only a small portion of people have been found so far. Most of the Bludhaven and Gotham police, and both fire crews that are assisting are here as well."
She moved her finger to the center of the city where she had drawn a third circle. But this one she had also drawn a biohazard sign.
"This is ground zero. Everyone is calling it 'No Man's Land'. The radiation there is lethal enough that anyone in there will experience loss of motor functions and vision in minutes. Prolonged exposure will lead to radiation sickness. You know what that means; Nausea, vomiting, basically being cooked from the inside out."
Nightwing looked at the whole map, then he looked around at his surroundings. Raven looked up at him expectantly, but he said nothing. She nudged his leg with her elbow.
"What do we do?"
He looked down at her.
"Redhorn called for an evacuation. We have two hours to get as many people out as we can. And we do all we can."
"Two hours isn't a lot of time to evacuate civilians…"
"Yeah. I know. But it's all the time we have. After when it's up, we're on our own."
She looked over at him.
"Where do we start?"
He looked at the map and pointed to the middle ring.
"We start here, in the middle. Let the police and the other emergency workers do their job. They will prioritize the safer areas, rescue the people in the more stable areas."
She nodded.
"While the do what hey do, we need to do our job. Find the less safe areas. The places that are too dangerous, too unstable for rescue workers. We get in, get everyone out, then move to the next area. Our safety means nothing.
She smiled.
"Like always."
Nightwing stood up and looked around him. The anger and adrenaline mixed to give him a surge of energy. He put a finger to his ear.
"Oracle!"
He heard Barbara's voice. Except this time there was a seriousness to it, all traces of her sense of humor were gone.
"Here. What do you need?"
"I want you to give us constant updates. Scan the police radio, even the backup and emergency channels. If they say someone can't be rescued because of danger level, let me know where they are. I need to know how many have been rescued. All status updates. Everything."
"Already on it. I have been scanning the comm channels and cross referencing a map of the city since you left."
"Thanks Oracle."
"Just doing my job Nightwing. Listen… I know you and Raven have this handled but don't you think you're a little shorthanded? What do you need? Batman has already said he's standing by and willing to help. So please, give me something…"
Nightwing looked to Raven who had a finger in her ear listening to Oracle. Raven looked up at Nightwing and nodded, urging him to give Oracle something to go on. Nightwing nodded back and put a finger to his ear.
"Yeah, there is one thing…"
Oracle was surprised with his answer.
"Really? Well- Okay then! Great! What do you need?"
"Raven said this was caused by some type of thermonuclear neutron bomb. Only massive in scale. I need to know where it came from. Once we know that we can track down who got their hands on it."
Oracle came back in his ear.
"Tracking then. I'll let Batman know immediately."
Nightwing heard his comm go silent. Raven heard Oracle's voice in her ear.
"Thanks, Raven."
Raven looked at Nightwing and turned her back to him. She answered Oracle.
"Anytime Barbara."
Nightwing looked deeper into the city. The flames were getting worse. He looked to Raven.
"Hey! Time to move!"
Raven snapped to attention.
"Right. Let's go!"
Nightwing put a hand on her shoulder.
"Wait."
She looked to him.
"What is it?"
He put both hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes.
"If you start to feel tired or exhausted. You begin feeling sluggish. Tell me immediately and we'll get you to safety from the radiation."
"I don't go if you don't go."
"This isn't a game Rae… Promise me. I'm not losing you again."
She smiled and put a hand on top of his.
"I promise… But what about you?"
He looked away from her and stared towards a fire nearby.
"I'll be fine."
She grew concerned.
"Dick…"
"I can handle it, Rae."
Just then Barbara interrupted the two of them.
"Nightwing! I've got about two dozen civilians trapped in a burning apartment building not far from your location. Rescue workers can't reach them until firefighters show up. They're afraid the fire is too hot and the building too unstable."
Nightwing put a finger to his ear.
"Acknowledged and understood Oracle! On our way!"
He looked to Raven and took his hands away.
"Raven, let's go!"
He took his hands away from her shoulders and looked around. He put a finger in his ear.
"Oracle, I need a precise location."
"Two hundred fifty meters, due west."
Nightwing looked West.
"Right, I know the one."
Nightwing turned and began running in the direction of the building with Raven on his heels.
9:24 P.M.
Gotham City
Old Gotham: Fashion District (Rooftop)
Batman was kneeling on the tallest building in the fashion district. He had digital binoculars out and surveying the sight across Gotham Bay. He could see thick plumes of smoke pouring upward mixed with orange glows from the raging fires. He heard Oracle come through the cowl.
"Batman."
"Oracle. Have something for me?"
"I do. Raven said it was a type of thermonuclear radiation bomb. Only she said it was massive. Larger than anything I'm aware of."
Batman was quiet as he kept looking through his binoculars.
"Nightwing and Raven are busy in Bludhaven. He needs someone to find out where the bomb came from, what it is, and how it got here. We find that-."
Batman cut her off.
"We can track who placed it. Understood Oracle. Thanks."
"Sure Bruce."
"How much did you have to coax Nightwing to allow someone to assist?"
"None. He complied rather quickly."
"Hmm. Might be he understands the severity of the situation. Or maybe he got a nudge from Raven."
There was a silence. Then Oracle came back through the cowl.
"So what's your plan?"
Batman was silent. He was thinking, trying to find a lead on where to start. He put a finger to his ear.
"I need you to find me the name of every ship that docked within Gotham and Bludhaven over the last month. I want the owner's of the ships, whether they be independently owned, corporately, or privately. Then I need to know the affiliation's of those owners. I also need to know where the ships began, where they docked during their journey, and before arriving in Gotham or Bludhaven. And if you can get an account of their cargo would also help but I doubt they would allow a leak of that nature."
"That's… Bruce… That is a lot of information to process at once… It'll take some time."
"I know Oracle. But you can do it. I know you can. Nightwing is counting on you."
Oracle smiled.
"Way to make it personal Bruce…"
Batman chuckled.
"It worked, didn't it?"
Oracle smiled.
"Yes damnit. You always knew what would put a fire under our ass."
Batman smiled.
"I'm sorry it didn't work out between the two of you. For what it's worth, I was always rooting for the two of you."
"Thanks Bruce but that's unnecessary. I've come to terms with it. I ruined our chances when he came back from Jump City. Made a mistake. Then he got distant, we didn't recognize him anymore. You wanted him to find his way back without interference and we all respected your choice."
"He came back Barbara."
"Because of HER Bruce."
"That resentment I hear? Jealousy?"
"No. Just- Regret about what I said that night."
"He forgave you Barbara."
"Sure. But I never forgave myself."
Bruce grinned again.
"In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you-."
Barbara finished his sentence.
"Let go of things not meant for you... Buddha? Really Bruce?"
Bruce smiled.
"I heard that so many times in Tibet while training I was so tired of it. Took me years to understand what it meant."
"But you never did let go. Of anything. Of your parent's. Of Dick. Jason's death. Of my current predicament."
"That doesn't mean YOU shouldn't."
Oracle was quiet for a few seconds then spoke.
"We should probably get back to work."
Batman put his binoculars away.
"Good call."
"What's your plan? Where are you going to start?"
"S.T.A.R. Labs. The Gotham branch specializes in weapons tech. If Raven thinks this bomb is more powerful than a current radiation bomb, then someone there can probably tell me more."
"Most of the staff has gone home. There is the night crew but…"
"I'll search through their computers. If I don't find anything I'll pay a house call. Someone there will know something. It's our best lead."
"And in the meantime, I'll find that information you wanted."
Batman looked North towards Burnley, where the S.T.A.R. Labs building was. He walked to the edge of the building and looked towards Bludhaven again.
"The fires are getting worse."
He heard Oracle.
"Say that again Bruce? I didn't quite catch that."
"I said let me know when you find something."
"Sure thing. And thanks for the talk."
"Anytime Oracle."
Bruce leaned over the edge of the building and fell forward. His cape opened and he began gliding towards Burnley.
9:37 P.M.
Bludhaven
Burning Apartment Building
"Azar's flaming tits that's hot!"
Raven heard Nightwing behind her.
"Keep going! Almost out!"
Nightwing and Raven had been working quickly to get the near two dozen civilians out of the burning apartment building. They had rescued over half and the last few stragglers were left inside as the two of them escorted a family of five out. Raven heard the little girl she was carrying cry. She wasn't sure what was worse, the loud crackling of flames and timber burning or the little girl's bawling. Raven felt a hand on her back. It was Nightwing's.
"Hurry Rae! I don't know how much longer this place will last!"
Raven took three more steps and saw what she was looking for, the way they had gotten in and out of the building. Raven quickened her step and got through the doorway. She came into the open air and away from most of the heat and into the street. The mom and daughter she had escorted outside collapsed on their knees and gasped for air. The little girl in Raven's arms was still crying as she passed it to her mother.
"Here. She's unharmed."
The girl let out a scream.
"Mommy!"
The mom cradled the three-year-old girl.
"Sssshhhh. It's okay now we're safe… See? These kind people recued us."
Raven turned around to see the father and older brother standing near Nightwing. The older brother looked the worst covered in ash and soot. Nightwing looked to the older brother while catching his breath.
"Hey, hey, eyes open. Keep your eyes open. Take deep breaths. You've inhaled a lot of smoke."
The older brother coughed and looked to Nightwing.
"Are… Are my lungs supposed to burn like that?"
"Until you get all the toxic carbon out of them yes. But the worst is over. Just take deep breaths!"
The father took Nightwing's hand.
"Thank you! Thank you for-."
"Don't worry about it just get to the evacuation zone. It's a few hundred meters to the west. Tell them Nightwing said to examine everyone's lungs."
"Yeah. We will. Thanks!"
The father looked to the other four.
"Come on. Let's go."
The two of them watched as the family began moving West towards the evac zone. Raven looked over to him. She was catching her breath.
"That was nineteen by my count… Yours?"
"Yeah… Nineteen."
"Anymore?"
Nightwing put a finger to his ear.
"Oracle! That's nineteen cleared from the apartment! Is there anyone else inside!"
He heard Oracles voice.
"I picked up a call to 9-1-1 thirty seconds ago! They moved the call to an emergency only channel. There are just three more people left on the seventh floor. They called using a cell phone. I can patch you into the call."
"Do it."
Nightwing looked to Raven. She stood up and nodded.
"Ready."
Oracle was in Nightwing's ear.
"Patching to your earpiece in three, two, now!"
Nightwing heard the call transferred to his earpiece. He heard a woman scream for help, then an emergency worker speaking back.
"Help is on the way. We have a team of firefighters escorting a medical team to your location. But it will take time I need you to-."
Nightwing and Raven went back into the building. Nightwing spoke to the woman through his earpiece. The crackling flames made it difficult to hear.
"This is Nightwing! I am in your building now. I need your floor and room number. Quickly! This building is going to come down soon."
"Nightwing! But-."
"ROOM. NOW!"
"Seventh floor. Apartment fifteen."
Nightwing answered.
"Seven. Fifteen. Got it. Are you safe for the moment? Any injured?"
"We- We're together. The walls are coming down, it's hot. My son has a broken leg I think."
"Understood. Be there soon."
Nightwing and Raven began climbing the burning staircase to the seventh floor. Raven put a finger to her ear.
"This is Raven! To emergency personnel on this channel, there is one wounded. Broken leg. Prepare for our arrival!"
She heard someone speak back. Sounded like a firefighter judging by the distortion in their voice from the mask.
"Raven? Who the hell is Raven?!"
Raven was frustrated.
"I'm with Nightwing. Just be ready with that stretcher. We'll handle this!"
The two of them climbed the staircase. As they got to the fifth floor Raven placed her foot on a stair as it gave away.
"Shit!"
Nightwing grabbed her arm and kept her from falling through the floor.
"Thanks. I owe you one."
"More than one…"
"Add it to my tab."
They got to the seventh floor. Raven looked left then right.
"Which way?"
Nightwing put a finger to his ear.
"We're on the seventh floor! Are you to the left or the right?"
The woman came back in his ear. She was coughing more now.
"Left! Please hurry… My lungs. Getting hard to breathe…"
Nightwing began going left. Raven followed from behind.
"We're running out of time!"
"Tell me something I don't know!"
"I'm not fireproof!"
"If it comes down to it, my suit is."
"Unhelpful Grayson!"
They found the apartment number. Nightwing stood in front of the floor and squared his shoulders, he braced and put all his weight onto one foot. He drove his other foot heel first into the door kicking it down. They entered the room. Nightwing screamed over the flames.
"WHERE ARE YOU?!"
The woman shouted.
"BATHROOM!"
The two of them raced to the bathroom to find a mother and her two kids. One was older, twelve or thirteen. His leg was clearly broken. The other child, a girl, was about nine or ten. Nightwing bent down and picked up the older boy and placed him into a fireman's carry.
"Come on! Before this place comes down around our ears!"
Raven picked up the girl the same way.
"Come quickly little ones!"
The mother stood slowly and followed the two of them as they escorted them out of the apartment. They retraced their steps to the staircase to find the way out. As they approached Nightwing stopped and stepped out of the way.
"Go first. I'm the last one out."
Raven stepped in front of him.
"So now you decide to be a gentleman!"
Before Raven could place a foot down the stairs collapsed falling all seven stories. Nightwing grabbed Raven's arm and pulled her back. Raven looked down at the seven-story drop. Flames swirled the height of the entryway that the stairs had once occupied.
"Shit! That was our way out!"
The mother was in a panic.
"That was the only way out! We're going to die in here! Why didn't you come quicker?! If you had gotten here faster, we-."
Raven snapped at the woman.
"We can easily leave you here lady!"
Nightwing looked to his left then his right. He saw the elevator shaft; an idea came into his head. He looked to Raven.
"Raven! Elevator!"
She nodded and began to approach it. Nightwing and the mother followed behind her. Nightwing turned towards the mother.
"Here, carry him for a minute."
He handed the son to his mother, and she held him while Nightwing approached the steel doors. The girl in Raven's arms began to cry.
"Hush little one. The more you cry, the more smoke you get in your lungs. That's bad. Control yourself!"
The girl nodded and began trying to hold her breath.
"That wasn't what I-."
Raven sighed. Nightwing reached out and put his fingertips in the gap of the doors. He examined the elevator.
"The elevator is newer… Great… Why can't it be old like everything else in this city?"
Raven looked to him.
"Can you get it open?"
Nightwing cocked his head.
"It won't be easy…"
He took a breath and began to pull the doors open by hand. He screamed in pain as his muscles strained and tensed as the doors began to be pulled open. Nightwing opened the doors enough for Raven and the others to squeeze under his arms as he held the doors open. Nightwing looked to Raven.
"GO! Down the cables! Go!"
Raven looked to the mother.
"You first!"
The woman nodded and reached out toward the cables. They burned her hand as she pulled it away.
"No good! It's too hot!"
Raven rolled her eyes.
"For the love of Azar! Everything is hot right now!"
The woman reached out and grabbed it again. She held it there longer, but again it burned her hand.
"I can't hold on! It's too hot!"
Raven's frustration grew.
"Fuck's sake!"
Raven reached down behind her and tore off two large pieces from her cloak and gave them to the mother.
"Here! Wrap these around your hands."
The mother nodded and began wrapping her hands. Nightwing looked at the two of them.
"Any day now… Apart from these doors trying to snap shut this building is falling apart. Hurry!"
The mother nodded.
"Right!"
The woman reached out and grabbed the cables. She tried climbing down the cables, but her son was too heavy, she couldn't hold him.
"He's too heavy… I can't…"
Nightwing nodded to Raven.
"Put him on my back. Wrap his arms around my neck."
Raven understood. While holding the girl she took the boy from his mother and put his chest flush against Nightwing's back. She draped his arms around Nightwing's neck and locked the boys' wrists together. She gave him a stern look.
"Hold on tight. Whatever you do, do NOT let go."
The boy nodded and spoke weakly, she could feel his fear.
"O-Okay…"
Raven looked to Nightwing who was still holding the doors open.
"Are you sure you got this?"
He nodded, but there was a seriousness to his voice.
"I got it! GO!"
Raven nodded and flicked her wrists as a black aura encased her hands to both protect them from the hot steel cable and to illuminate the dark shaft. She jumped to one of the cables and latched on while still holding the girl. She looked to the mother.
"Hold the cables like this! Cross your legs over each other, the cable between your legs. Then loosen your hands into a controlled descent."
The mother nodded.
"I understand!"
"Then GO! Hurry!"
Raven loosened her hands and began sliding down the cable. The woman looked to Nightwing who was struggling with the doors. His arms were beginning to tremble.
"GO!"
The mother jumped to a cable and crossed her legs like Raven had showed her and began to descend. As she was descending Raven heard the woman reciting a prayer.
"God in heaven watch over us as we-."
Raven barked at her.
"Save your prayers for when you're safe. Action will save you here, not prayers."
They got low enough for Nightwing to have room on the cable. He looked to the boy hanging onto him.
"Hold on! This is going to get really dicey."
Nightwing jumped forward to the cable, the elevator doors slamming shut behind him and began descending to the ground floor. Raven made it to ground level first. Raven looked to the girl.
"Remember how I placed your brother on Nightwing?"
The girl shyly nodded.
"Good. I need you to do the same to me."
Raven let the girl down and kneeled low so the girl could crawl on her back. After the girl's arms latched around her neck Raven flicked her wrists and encased them in a black aura illuminating the dark shaft. The girl gasped as the mother landed at ground level. Raven reached out and felt the gaps in the door. She spread her legs out to shoulder width and began to wrench the doors open. She grunted as the doors slowly opened. Once Raven had opened the doors completely, she looked to the mother.
"GO! GET OUT OF HERE!"
The woman ducked under her arms and ran towards the exit. Nightwing landed behind her with the boy and squeezed under her arms. Nightwing turned around and placed his hands on the doors.
"I got them!"
Raven nodded and ducked under Nightwing's arms. And made for the exit. Nightwing released the doors once Raven was clear and jumped away as the doors slammed shut. Nightwing turned to follow the others out when he heard Raven exclaim in frustration.
"Aaaaagggghhhh! You must be kidding me! The exit is right on the other side!"
Nightwing approached from the rear and saw the problem; the staircase had collapsed in front of the exit. They're exit was blocked by burning wood and a wall of flames. Both Raven and Nightwing heard a voice in their ears.
"Nightwing? Raven? This is the rescue team. The entrance is blocked! The flames are too hot, and the building is unsafe to approach! Are there? I repeat Do you copy?"
Raven put a finger to her ear.
"We are on the other side of that blockage. We are working on getting out. We have one injured. Prepare the stretcher!"
The medic came back in their ears.
"Hurry! It's unsafe to stay here!"
"You think?!"
Raven walked past the mother and stood in front of the blockage. She flicked her wrists, and the magic encased her hands again. She reached out and began lifting the blockage with her magic. The little girl was in awe.
"COOL! I WANNA DO THAT!"
Rachel smirked. Just before the blockage was clear the building began to collapse. More blockages fell around them distracting Raven. She screamed as her concentration broke and she dropped the burning pieces of wood in front of her.
"No good! It's too unstable. I'll bring this place around us if I do that again!"
Nightwing stepped forward and gave the boy to his mother.
"Here. When I say, make a run for it. Under the flames."
Raven was concerned.
"Wait, what are you going to do?!"
He winked to her as he walked in front of all of them.
"Trust me."
"I really hate it when you say that…"
Nightwing smirked and walked to a single large beam that was blocking their way out. He bent down and positioned himself under the beam, so his right shoulder and upper arm were directly below it. He took three quick breaths. Raven knew what he was doing.
"DON'T even think about it…"
He smiled.
"I never do."
He braced himself and lifted the heavy beam onto his shoulder then he stood up taking the beam with him. He lifted it over his head and motioned with the tilt of his head.
"GO!"
The mother ran under his arms and out of the building into the street. Raven looked at Nightwing and put a hand on his shoulder.
"I SAID GO!"
Raven quickly ducked under the bar and ran into the street. She bent down so the little girl could climb off her back. She heard the medic and the girl's mother scream.
"Oh my God!"
Raven panicked and turned around to see what they had screamed about. Raven watched as the building finally gave way and collapsed. All twelve stories came down. If they had been fifteen seconds later, they would have been crushed. Raven stood in horror as she didn't see Nightwing. She clenched her fists out of fear. Then she saw a silhouette in the flames. She watched as Nightwing walked out of the building through the flames, virtually unharmed. She sighed in relief. And walked towards him. She stood her ground as he walked farther into the street wiping off the embers and ash from his arms like nothing had happened. He saw Raven watching him with concern.
"What?"
"I thought I lost you."
He shrugged.
"I told you my suit was fireproof."
She playfully punched him in the arm then saw a small fire burning on his right shoulder. She patted it out with her hand shook her head. They walked to the medical team that had been waiting for them. The medics had put the boy on the stretcher and were currently checking over the mother and daughter for smoke inhalation. The mother looked over and saw both Raven and Nightwing approach. Raven brushed more embers off Nightwing and looked to everyone.
"Is everyone okay here? No injuries other than the leg."
The mother spoke.
"We're okay, I think. The leg will heal. It could have been a lot worse. I thank you both."
Raven did a small bow.
"That's why we're here."
Raven saw the boy tap his mother on the arm from the stretcher. She turned to face him. He motioned down wanting her attention. She bent down and put her ear to his lips. Nightwing read the boys lips and looked to Raven and smirked. The mom smiled and stood back up and looked at Raven. He wants to thank you.
Raven smiled.
"I don't bite. He can tell me himself."
"He has a problem with speaking to the… feminine persuasion."
Raven nodded. The mom turned and looked at her son, his cheeks were red. And not from the fire.
"He also wants you to know that you're really pretty."
Raven looked around the mother at the boy and met his eyes. He quickly turned away embarrassed. Raven smiled. She glanced to see Nightwing looking off into the distance, he was anxious and ready to move. Raven caught him subtly, slyly, check the time on the nigh indestructible phone that all members of the Bat-Family wore while they were in the field. His disposition changed. He had been using humor to mask his feelings from her, but he knew she would still sense the anger and rage buried deep within him. Nightwing has had a dark thought in his head the moment he returned to Bludhaven. He knew that if Bludhaven fell, he would go down with it. She watched as he clenched his fists, his arm began to tremble from the anger and rage. She knew they had to move soon. Raven looked at the team in front of them.
"Look, we need to move on. There are others who need help and we have already wasted too much time here."
The medic looked at them and nodded.
"If you find anyone else. Send them my way."
Raven nodded and the medical team began taking the family of three to the evac point. Raven looked to Nightwing.
"How much time do we have?"
"Not nearly enough."
"How much?"
He looked away.
"An hour. And that's pushing it."
"Great…"
Raven looked around. Now everything was on fire. She knew it would take years for Bludhaven to recover, if ever. Nightwing looked at her.
"You feeling okay?"
"I'm fine. Quit worrying about me."
"Headache? Nausea? Weakness or fatigue?"
"I said I'm fine Grayson. Quit worrying. I told you I'd tell you if I started to feel the radiation begin to bother me."
He looked to her, examining her. He looked at her eyes and saw that they were beginning to redden. What he didn't know was if it was from the smoke or radiation. He looked in another direction. And put a finger to his ear.
"Oracle? Have anything for me?"
"I do. A group of civilians are trapped below ground. A sewer collapsed part of the street trapping a group of evacuees. They can't get back to ground level. Emergency workers are overwhelmed. Too many cases."
Nightwing looked to the sky and sighed, then looked to Raven with a finger to his ear.
"On our way…"
Nightwing and Raven began running into the direction of the collapsed road.
10:01 P.M.
Gotham City
Burnley (S.T.A.R. Labs)
Batman had infiltrated S.T.A.R. Labs and was actively searching through their database. He was using one of the research labs' computers. He heard Oracle through the cowl.
"Have you found anything useful?"
Batman pressed a few more keys.
"A few things yeah. I keep finding references to something called 'Project H-4'."
"That sounds ominous."
"Yeah. Seems S.T.A.R. Labs was looking into the development of a pure fusion bomb…"
"A pure fusion bomb? I thought those were hypothetical."
"So did I. Seems S.T.A.R. Labs was able to bridge the gap and find a way to make the hypothetical possible."
Oracle was quiet. Then she came through the cowl.
"So what's the yield of this thing?"
"In theory a pure fusion bomb would have twice the yield of the bomb's developed back in the eighties. Oracle, a pure fusion bomb would have twenty times the radiation output of Chernobyl. It would make the incident there look like mild compared to what this bomb could be capable of."
"They gave it a project designation. Were they able to complete it?"
"They were able to make a single functioning prototype for the military. But the U.S. laws prevented them from bringing it to U.S. soil, so they had to be built somewhere else."
Oracle was quiet for a while when Batman's voice came through her monitor.
"Were you able to find any information?"
"I'm still looking, there are over six hundred ships that came in this month. But there are ten ships that caught my attention. Something about them just doesn't seem right. I can send them to your suit's computer."
"Go ahead. Maybe I can find a connection from your list and the database."
"Uploading now."
Batman looked at the underside of his gauntlet and saw the download come through.
"Received Oracle. Let's see what we've got."
Batman hit a button on the top of his gauntlet. A holographic screen appeared that showed the list of ships Oracle had selected. Batman began scrolling through the list. He found one that got his attention.
"Here, this one. The Dubai Princess."
Oracle pulled it up on her end.
"Looks completely normal. A UAE cargo ship. Single owner. Made three stops before docking within Bludhaven. Then docked at Gotham."
Batman made a connection Oracle didn't. He questioned her.
"Look closer. Do you see the connection?"
"Not really. Did you find something?"
Batman smiled.
"It's a UAE ship. S.T.A.R. Labs has an R&D lab in Dubai. And since it was illegal for them to develop it state side-."
"Oh! I get it. You believe that S.T.A.R. Labs developed it over seas and then shipped it here to one of the military bases."
"Precisely! Except it never arrived at its destination. And someone covered the theft up and it was never reported. Or no one was told of its arrival and when it didn't show up, no one was none the wiser."
"That's… That's a complicated job. Not a lot of people can pull that off."
Batman's expression went back to serious. His voice was cold.
"There's only one merc I know that can pull a job like that."
"Who?"
"Think Oracle. You know the answer. How many mercs do you know that have the training, connections, resources, and in and outs of military protocol and procedure."
Oracle was quiet. Her heart sank into her chest.
"No… It's him, isn't it. Dick was right. He's back. Damian was just the start. Slade Wilson is back and is behind Bludhaven."
Batman's voice was emotionless.
"I should have listened. The Titans are the only contract Deathstroke has ever failed. And know he's coming after Dick hard. Slade wants Dick to come after him. Wants him to be motivated. To be angry, to doubt himself. He's making it personal… He wants Nightwing obsessed. He wants Nightwing at his best. Because once Nightwing is out of the way, The Titans are vulnerable. Divide and conquer."
Oracle came back through the cowl.
"He's protecting his rep. But why now? Why come after Dick now?"
"Because he's a threat. He's made a name as a solo act. Look at what he has done in the last four years since he's been Nightwing. Dismantling Bludhaven's entire organized crime outfit. Singlehandedly taking out the three most notorious gangs in Bludhaven. Throwing Black Mask and his entire organization out of the city. Fighting an opponent with all the powers of the League and winning. Stopping Joker from taking over Arkham while I was tied to a chair."
Oracle smiled.
"Your little boy is all grown up. Give him a few years and he can give you a run for your money."
Batman was still serious.
"Wrong Oracle. Nightwing is my equal in almost every way. Maybe more than my equal.
Oracle grinned wider.
"That's my Grayson…"
Her grin faded.
"But wait. You have more experience than him. Taking you down would mean more than taking down Nightwing. So why doesn't Deathstroke come for you?"
"He's tried. And each time I've come out on top. If he can't take me down, then he will stop at nothing to take down the boy I raised as my own. The boy I trained. The boy who wasn't even a man, the first time he stopped Slade."
Oracle's heart sank into her chest again.
"I hope he's ready…"
"So do I Oracle."
Batman looked back to the database in front of him.
"Nightwing and Raven, how are they?"
"They're rescuing civilians from a road that collapsed into the sewer."
Oracle caught the concern in Batman's voice when he asked about them.
"You're worried. Bruce, very rarely are you worried."
Batman's voice was cold again. Emotionless.
"Keep me updated on Bludhaven. I'm going to see what else I can find out here."
"You got it Batman."
Batman went back to reading the databases.
10:18 P.M.
Bludhaven (Downtown)
Collapsed Street
Nightwing and Raven had pulled out fifty civilians from the collapsed street. It had fallen into the sewer and was rapidly filling with water. Gas was also pouring into it from the ruptured line. The civilians were in danger of drowning, suffocating, or burning as the flames also encroached them. Nightwing was pulling them up with a grapple line. Raven was using her magic to encase them and float them to the surface. Everyone was in a panic disorganized. Raven was losing her patience.
"We'll get everyone out of here, but it will be easier if you all stay calm! We can only do one at a time!"
Raven floated a woman to the surface. She landed on the street and Raven pointed towards the direction of the evac.
"Okay you're clear. That way, go!"
She heard Nightwing grunting as he struggled to pull an obese man out of the hole.
"Nnngggghhhh! Why do you get the light ones?!"
Raven couldn't help but grin. She looked back down into the hole.
"Okay, who's next?"
Everyone brushed past each other and raised their hands. All wanting to be prioritized over the next person. Raven selected a middle-aged man and encased him in magic. Nightwing pulled the obese man to the surface and pointed to the evac site.
"That way! Try to hurry. You don't have much time."
Nightwing watched as the man tried to run in the direction he had pointed. Raven had floated her next person to the surface and sent them on their way. Nightwing threw his grapple line back into the collapsed roadway. Everyone swarmed to the rope.
"Hey! Hey! Do you see a giant S on my chest! I'm not the Man of Steel. I can only do one at a time! Back off and let the kid go first!"
Raven lost her patience.
"Hey! All of you calm the fuck down! This will go faster if you don't all swarm at once!"
Nightwing pointed to a teenager who grabbed the rope. Nightwing pulled him up easier than the last. Raven floated yet another one to the surface. She could do three people in the time it took Nightwing to do one. Raven picked her next target; a woman holding her baby.
"Okay lady. You and the kid are next."
She encased the woman and brought her to the surface. Once again Raven pointed and sent the woman on her way. Nightwing pulled another one up and did the same. He looked back down into the hole and counted.
"Five more!"
"Yeah!"
Raven pulled another out at the same time Nightwing did.
"Three more!"
"Yeah! We need to hurry! This place is getting more unstable by the minute. I don't know how much longer this place will last!"
Two more were brought to the surface. Raven wiped the sweat from her face. Some of her eyeliner came with it causing it to smudge and run down her face.
"The flames are getting hotter!"
Sweat was dripping from Nightwings hair. The sweat had mixed with the soot and ash from his prior mission inside the burning building. Black drops of sweat fell from the end of his hair and ran down his face.
"I noticed."
Raven encased the last one in magic and lifted them to the surface. She pointed the way to the evac site.
"That way! Find someone in a safety vest! Go!"
Raven looked over to Nightwing, he was reeling in his grapple line from the gun. She heard the heavy steel cable retract and the small pulley inside spinning. She saw the claw hit the end of the pulley and snap back into place. Nightwing put the grapple gun back into it's holster and looked towards the evac site. He pulled out the phone again and checked the time. He looked to Raven.
"We need to head back to the ops center. Check in with the search and rescue teams."
She nodded.
"Right."
10:35 P.M.
Bludhaven (Downtown)
Ops Center
Nightwing and Raven walked into the ops center tent. Everyone was coordinating with the last few field teams along with preparing to pull out from Bludhaven. They had twenty-five minutes left. One of the medics bumped Raven as she brushed passed her.
"Nightwing. Raven. Things are crazy right now. We've got our field teams doing one final pass before we all pull out. I don't have anything for you. Check in with the others."
Nightwing grabbed the medic by the arm.
"How many teams have gone into Ground Zero?"
"None. Patrols were called off."
Nightwing's anger rose. He squeezed her arm harder.
"What?! By whom?!"
His voice was filled with rage. The medic began to feel terrified.
"Ch-Chief Redhorn! Said he didn't-."
Nightwing released her arm. He turned on his heels and stormed out of the tent. The medic looked to Raven.
"What's his problem?"
Raven turned and followed Nightwing.
"Stress."
Raven walked out of the tent to see Nightwing approaching Redhorn. Raven saw the Chief and the lieutenant from before arguing again.
"Sir, you can't just order everyone out now! There are still people in the field! Let alone the civilians in No Man's Land! Pulling out now would cause mass confusion! The rescue workers wouldn't be able to coordinate-."
"I don't care! Bludhaven is lost! Look around you! The city has fallen. I'm getting out now. If you were smart you would do the same!"
"But the people-."
Nightwing stepped in front of the lieutenant.
"Are still out there. Countless civilians who are still unaccounted for!"
Redhorn glared.
"Nightwing! Is it too much to hope that this city would swallow you up?!"
Nightwing was inches away from Redhorn, screaming in his face.
"Why pull the teams out from Ground Zero?! Why order everyone out?! We still have time!"
"Time for what?! All of us to die from radiation, smoke inhalation or burned to ash?! There's no one left to save! And anyone who's not here is dead already! I'm not dying for this pile of rubble! But you do go on ahead. You've always been a thorn in my side. Ever since you got here from Gotham all those years ago."
Nightwing put his forearm against Redhorn's trachea. Pain shot through Redhorn's neck, it was hard to breathe and even harder to talk.
"Belay that order to pull out now, or I'll drag you into No Man's Land myself…"
Redhorn spoke through gritted teeth.
"Go. To. Hell."
Nightwing felt Redhorn's sidearm pressed against his ribs. Nightwing pressed harder against his trachea when Raven put a hand on his shoulder. He put his arm down and backed away from Redhorn, the rage was overwhelming him. Redhorn screamed to Lieutenant Palmer.
"Sound the evac! We're pulling out! All of us. Everyone left will have to fend for themselves!"
Lieutenant Palmer looked to Redhorn, then Nightwing. Redhorn yelled again.
"That's an order lieutenant!"
Palmer looked at the ground, then raised her megaphone to her lips. She began to shout an evacuation order. Nightwing's rage took over, he was about to do something he would later regret. He took a step towards Redhorn when he felt a hand in his, Raven's. She was telling him to back off, there was nothing they could do. That's when Nightwing heard Oracle in his ear.
"Nightwing! Just came across this call on an emergency channel. It was hard to get considering what's left of the city's comms are flooded."
He put a finger to his ear, Raven did the same.
"Playing it now…"
Oracle replayed the message. It was weak. It was a wonder how she had picked it up.
"This is Officer Gannon Malloy. I am trapped in No Man's Land by an apartment building. I was separated from the group I was escorting… Request immediate assistance! Repeat: Request immediate assistance!"
Raven looked to Nightwing who nodded. Nightwing called to Oracle.
"Oracle can you trace the location and send it to me?"
"On its way. Be careful!"
Nightwing looked to Palmer.
"Malloy is trapped in Ground Zero. I'm going to after him."
He changed his voice. He sounded like Batman.
"Make SURE that there's an evac shuttle waiting for us with a medical team."
Redhorn stepped in.
"Absolutely no-."
Palmer pushed him out of the way.
"There will be. You have half an hour…"
Nightwing did a half smile to Palmer.
"That's all I need. Thank you."
Nightwing looked to Raven.
"Raven! One more stop to make!"
Again, she nodded.
"Right behind you."
She took a step forward, that's when it hit her. The radiation. She was exposed to it for too long. She felt the fatigue beginning to take hold. Her joints were heavy, and it was harder to move. Her vision blurred as she heard Redhorn's voice again.
"You want to go after him, fine! But I'm getting out. I hope this city takes you all!"
Nightwing looked back to Raven.
"Raven! Let's go!"
She shook off the effects of the radiation as her vision returned.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm good. Let's go."
Nightwing gave her a long look and narrowed his eyes; she knew that he knew that the radiation was affecting her. Without saying another word the two of them ran off towards the heart of Bludhaven… To No Man's Land…