Blackbirds

PART 12

Nightwing's body arced high against the late afternoon sky of Bludhaven. Needing to burn off excess energy, he did a somersault and half-twist before landing on the rooftop. God, he was in a good mood. Maybe Roy was right. Maybe the extra pleasure ribbing had made a difference. Nightwing laughed out loud at the thought.

Whatever the case, Ollie had finally, dragging his heels all the wagreagreed to have Donna and Mia over for dinner. Along with Connor, Roy and Lian. It had been a while since Ollie had had his whole family together. Not, Nightwing thought guiltily, since their relationship began. He hoped after tonight everything would be out in the open. At least on Ollie's side. There would still be his side of the family to deal with. Nightwing's spirit dampened. Telling Batman wasn't high on the list of things he wanted to do.

"Showoff."

Nightwing broke into a grin as Green Arrow joined him. "Worried I won't have anything left for tonight?"

Green Arrow snorted. "Might be nice to get some sleep for once."

"Careful what you wish for." He nodded towards the Save Our Children meeting taking place below them. "Convinced yet?"

"That there's a bad seed in the bunch? Oh, yeah. As for the rest--"

"Hold all channels."

Oracle's voice was followed by a brief warning signal that cut across their communicators. As one, both men fell silent, tense. Everyone in Oracle's network was thoroughly trained in her emergency protocols. The Justice League, the Titans, the Justice Society--all heroes on duty across the planet were now on standby as well.

"Clear all channels."

Nightwing shot Green Arrow a look. Wordlessly, he nodded as he shut down his communicator. Oracle was trying to free up bandwidth. Which meant the situation was potentially serious. He felt Green Arrow's hand at the small of his back. Sensed that even if they hadn't been involved, Ollie still would have made the gesture. An intimate sign of support shared between friends.
"Standby Watchtower."

"Watchtower standing by."

"Standby Star E.R."

"Star ER on standby."

Green Arrow inhaled sharply. "Jesus..."

Setting up the Watchtower and the Star Labs Emergency Room meant someone was hurt and hurt badly. His thumb rubbed anxiously across his belt buckle. He wanted very much to reactivate his communicator even though he wouldn't hear anything different from what they were hearing on Nightwing's. Wanted to touch base with Roy and Connor, reassure himself that they were okay. Easily reading the emotions washing over the archer, Nightwing shook his head in a silent "no" even as he slid his hands over Green Arrow's to stop him.

"Oracle to Troia."

Nightwing's grip on Green Arrow tightened. Reflexively, Ollie squeezed back, trying to reassure him.

"Oracle to Troia."

Silence.

"Oracle to Troia."

Nightwing turned away. "She would have answered by now." Green Arrow hugged him from behind, rested his chin on the younger man's shoulder. "We don't know anything yet."

"Oracle to Watchtower transport and assess."

"Watchtower transporting to secured medical bay."

"Status?"

"Redirecting transport to Star Labs E.R. Request secure com."

"Secure com open."

Moments later, another, more chilling alarm sounded.

"Alert all channels. Emergency protocols in effect. Oracle Code Red."

Which means, Green Arrow thought to himself, shut up and do what she says. He reactivated his communicator.

"Superman, Power Girl, Tempest, Green Arrow, Flash, Zatanna, rendezvous with Green Archer at Star City Youth Center. Fire with personal injuries. Star and Watchtower on standby to transport wounded."

Green Arrow barely had time to register that Connor--Green Archer--was okay before Oracle issued another round of orders.

"Arsenal, Nightwing, Black Canary, transport to Star Labs E.R."

Another mental sigh of relief for Green Arrow to hear that Roy Harper--Arsenal--was okay as well. He glanced towards Nightwing, wishing he could go with him to check on Troia. Unfortunately, now wasn't the time. He pulled Nightwing in for a quick, passionate kiss. Hopt wat was enough to convey everything he wanted to say. Nightwing's equally passionateponsponse was cut short by the Watchtower's transport, leaving Ollie holding empty air until he, too, was beamed elsewhere.

Green Arrow arrived to a crushing wall of heat rolling off the Star City Youth Center. Power Girl held a good part of the structure together allowing the local fire department to work on extinguishing the flames. Superman also lent his strength to supporting the building as well as his x-ray vision to direct Flash to any victims still inside. He didn't know what the hell Tempest was doing. Apparently something to cool the air and the firefighters, though, judging from their grateful smiles.

Green Arrow spotted Green Archer and Zatanna calming several neighborhood children who were regulars at the Center. He ran across the buckled asphalt of the basketball court to join them.

"Anyone still inside?"

Connor's eyes darkened. "Donna and Mia are missing."

Ollie quickly shook his head. "Donna transported out." He looked back to the fire. "Mia?" Green Arrow assessed the situation. "Any idea where?"

"Lian wanted to show them the mural in the pool room."

"Stay here."

"Wait--"

"Stay here!"

Green Arrow snaked his way to the building next door and climbed the fire escape. From there, he jumped across to the Center's roof, trusting that Power Girl was well equipped to handle the extra weight. Although, considering his past comments about her being "well equipped", he couldn't really blame her if she found out he was there and decided to let him fall.

Heat from the roof began to melt the soles of his boots. Quickly, he found the skylight over the pool room, secured a rope and dropped through. Thick, gray smoke filled his lungs. Darker ash and heat stung his face, blurred his vision. He fell to the floor where the air was clearer and started crawling. Really, he thought sarcastically, this was a job for Superman. If it hadn't been for the lead based paint on the Center's walls, he might have had full confidence in Big Blue's x-ray vision finding Mia.

His hand landed on a still burning piece of debris. He jerked it back with a hiss as his glove quickly caught fire. He freed his hand and left the glove to burn itself out. A pocket of cooler air washed over him. He thought he could see Tempest through a hole in the roof. Even the smoke seemed to be thinning.

He took advantage of the situation to reach the pool room's mural. Once, there had been row cow colored handprints. Flames had licked across the brightness leaving them black and charred. Ruined. Cans of paint from the work in progress were reduced to lumps of melted plastic and metal. And then he saw it. A lump that was far too big to be a paint can.

Nightwingnd And Arsenal pacing outside the Star Labs Emergency Room. Black Canary walked next to him, rubbing his back as she spoke to him. He held Troia's silver eagle communicator necklace in his hand. It slapped agitatedly against his thigh as he walked.

"How is she?"

"I'd sure as hell like to know that myself!" Roy's eyes darted towards the emergency room doors. He took a menacing step towards them but Black Canary planted herself firmly against his chest and held him back.

Dick squeezed Roy's shoulder. "Donna's pulled through tough situations before."

Roy blinked, puzzled. "Donna?" He raked a hand through his hair then shook his head.. "Donna used her necklace to send Lian." He paced again to the emergency room doors. Nightwing followed. Is des definitely Lian Harper on the gurney. He looked questioningly at Roy, "So where's Donna?"

If it hadn't been for the ring, he wouldn't have recognized her. Not as Mia. Not as anything close to human. The finer features--ears, nose, lips--even eyelids--were burned away. Hair and eyebrows gone. Her face left red and raw as if scrubbed by sandp. T. The fingers on her left hand had congealed into one solid mass. Even the ring appeared to be embedded in her skin. He wasn't sure, but to Green Arrow it looked as if part of her clothing had melted. It was only when a single, dark blue eye turned to him that he realized she was still alive.

And she wasn't Mia.