Chapter 72 : Rescue plans

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Superboy didn't know how much time had passed. In fact, at this point, he didn't even understand the concept of time. Or cared about it, or anything at all really. Beyond stopping the pain.

He felt like he was coming apart, only to be put back together again wrong. Over and over again. His identity was gone. His thoughts were gone. His surroundings were gone. His entire world was pain. He couldn't even remember how he ended up here or who his tormentor was.

Even his emotions and desires had been reduced to only one thing : to end it all.

Suddenly, a voice he hated for some reason pierced through the haze of pain to announce softly :

« The pain will end soon. You have been a great test subject. » The hated man chuckled. « I believe I have gleaned everything I could from your living form… Perhaps I could learn even more from you dead, then ! »

And then, everything went dark.

* * * * *

The dark was one of Robin's tools. His and his mentor's. It was also the one tool he couldn't really carry in his utility belt. The night, cutting the power in a building, a smoke grenade or breaking lightbulbs… They often used this tactic to great effect against the criminals of Gotham, simply because people feared the loss of one of their senses. And sight was usually the one people relied on the most. Except blind people, or people like them, who trained to face every situation.

Dick still remembered when Batman had him trained while blindfolded. Sparring, obstacle courses, weapons throwing, bomb defusing… Everything Batman had taught him was taught and trained once more with a blindfold on. He could clearly recall his feelings when facing a surprise attack for the first time. A mind-numbing panic that paralyzed him, dulling his instincts and drowning his training. It was such an effective lesson that he couldn't help but adopt the tactic against his enemies.

And so, understandably, this was the first step in their plan to rescue Superboy. Although he doubted that the others could operate in the dark like he could (now), they'd manage with the equipment he'd given them. Well… Solstice might manage since she could control light. The others would make use of the night-vision goggles he'd given them.

Robin was alone, making his way through the ventilation shaft after he hacked and deactivated the few security measures to prevent intruders. While he could have also remotely cut the power, he figured doing it directly inside was more effective. After all, whoever monitored the IT department might be competent and actually put it back on after his hack.

However, if he were to blow the generator or sent a surge through the network, it would take more time, more work than to just flip a switch or enter a command on a keyboard. That was the plan he'd explained to his 'teammates'.

While Kid Flash might have been a better choice for it, given his speed, considering what Robin had seen of him in the news a few months ago, he simply didn't trust him with such an important task.

He also entertained the idea of using Wonder Girl for a diversion. With her personality, using her for a frontal assault would have been more than possible. However, it meant risking too much collateral damage. Not only the deaths it could provoke, he would be unable to gather as much evidence and clues as he would like. So, he decided on a more stealthy approach.

Thus leading to here, now, with him crawling through dusty, web and grease covered ventilation shafts. In these situations, he couldn't help but resent Batman to have made his suit so… colorful. When they were dirty like they would end up, it was annoying to get rid of the stains… And why was it the kid wearing the rainbow-colored suit to distract the criminals and not the adult, anyway ?

With a resigned sigh, Robin resumed crawling, trying to avoid the dirtiest spots. Dust and cobwebs he could manage easily but not grease. Or at least, not as easily. His recent solo adventure made him wonder about Alfred and his invaluable help. He acted like the perfect butler, always there to help his master (and young master), often ignored. And yet, he was always there when it mattered. Robin especially wondered what he used to clean their suits. Blood was a bitch to clean he found out…

« Are you there, yet ? » The annoying voice of Kid Flash asked for the umpteenth time.

He had been recalled from his hunt for the young Aaron Sicklehand. As soon as he heard that they'd be able to 'stick it to N.O.W.H.E.R.E.' as Cassie put it so crudely, the teen raced back in the proverbial flash. He only expressed his regrets that Aaron wouldn't be there with them, as he would have loved it.

« For the hundreds time… » Robin whispered through gritted teeth. « … I'll tell you guys as soon as I cut the power. Now get off the channel and shut up ! »

He heard a distinct sigh of annoyance.

« I could have been there and back a thousand times… » The speedster commented.

Robin only grunted and resumed his efforts to reach his destination a little faster. Not because he was peeved or feeling competitive, but simply because he wouldn't have to hear him whine when the fighting started. Maybe he should have gone with the frontal option, instead ? Was it too late, now ?

He shook his head and told himself inwardly :

« No. I can bear him whining… In the long run, it's better this way. Especially if Kid's meant to work with a hero team like ours… »

Indeed, Robin was already seeing this team as his. And the idea behind the creation of this team was inspired by his mentor, like a lot of things he thought of and did. For a couple of years now, Batman was working on the idea of a superhero team. Dick assumed it all started with the invasion of Metropolis by aliens. At that time, Superman, despite all his powers and invulnerability, had been unable to deal with the situation alone. Steel and Silver Lad had had to help him. Steel by hunting down the robots and helping the civilian population, and Silver Lad by taking on the enemy designed to kill Superman : Metallo.

So, in addition to the usual criminals and supervillain in the Detective's database had been added the heroes and aspiring heroes. He started keeping tabs on them, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, studying their personas, secret identities, ideals and goals in life… Although Robin was barred from accessing the files, he knew that Batman already had a roster for the future team. He didn't really know who, but he could make some guesses…

As for this team… His team ! Robin didn't really put it together. They were there by circumstances and a common goal. However, there was no reason why they couldn't become more. He'd just have to find a way for them to stick together… But that was for another time. For now, he had something to sabotage !

* * * * *

Just as he was about to push the Kryptonite radiation to the max and kill the clone, suddenly, the power was cut. Centerhall found himself in the dark, puzzled and more than a little annoyed. He waited for a while, swore to himself… Why wasn't the generator kicking in ?

He might not be able to resume his operation with only this much, but he could at least see ! Right now, he was left with a test subject more powerful than him… He couldn't stay here.

Feeling the rising panic, Centerhall reminded himself that despite how powerful the clone was supposed to be, he was weakened by the procedure. He had nothing to fear from him at the moment. With a slightly trembling voice, he spoke to his subject :

« It seems you'll be able to live a little longer… »

And he started heading to where the door should be, hands sweeping slowly around him, feeling for anything.

That's when the noises started. It was distant at first. Not very perceptible. Something falling with a thud, a crash, glass breaking… He wasn't sure. Gradually, it got louder and louder, with the shouts of orders and frightened people joining in the chorus.

It dawned on him that the loss of power wasn't coincidental : they were under attack. He didn't know by who… But he could guess as to why. What should he do ? His master had given him explicit orders ! He was to find out everything he could about the clone before ending him and beginning anew. What would happen if he were to fail ?

« How can I kill him ? » Centerhall muttered. Without power, he was… well, powerless. They didn't have any solid Kryptonite fragment he could use against the clone. Just a small piece of it would suffice… He'd jam it inside the mouth of the subject, forcing him to swallow it. Time would do the rest. Or he could simply stab him with, slit his carotid artery, gut him…

His grim thoughts went interrupted by a louder, closer crash. The door flew through the dark air, raising dust, making a deafening sound of bent steel and cracked concrete.

A satisfied voice spoke a few moments later :

« Well, well… Another bastard to fold like a pretzel ! »

Centerhall knew that voice. It was a subject they tried and failed to capture a few times already…

« Wonder Girl ! » He breathed out.