There was fog everywhere, creeping around their legs, flowing over the buildings, sliding across the ground, casting the world in a dull, gray light. For Dinah it felt as if the world didn’t exist outside the small circle surrounding her and her friends.
“There she is,” called out Dick Grayson, pointing off into the distant dimness. Dinah could barely make out the shadowy form of their target. The man who called himself Nightwing dashed forward into the fog, followed close behind by Flamebird, aka Bette Kane. Dinah, in her guise as the Black Canary looked over at the last member of their little group, Barbara Gordon, Batwoman.
“We’d better go after then,” Dinah said with a grin.
“Yeah, you know how much trouble they tend to get into,” Barbara laughed in return, the two women rushing off after the others.
They called themselves the Birds of Prey, and for nearly two years now they, along with the Batman, have been helping to keep Gotham, and the surrounding cities, safe. Not an easy task given the amount of corruption that still infested this dark city.
As they raced after their quarry, the fog seemed to close in on them, making the surrounding buildings look strange, and menacing. Up ahead, Dinah spotted Nightwing already fighting the woman, her attacks seeming almost lazy, bored even as she easily tossed Dick aside, knocking him into a nearby wall. Dread overcame Dinah as Flamebird quickly moved to attack the woman. Time seemed to slow as Dinah moved forward, the fog seeming to hold her back, trip her up, while she saw the woman playing with Bette, like a cat plays with a mouse, before doubling her over with a single kick.
Now Dinah had reached her. Finally getting a clear view at the dark haired woman, she let go with her famous “Canary Cry”, but the woman jumped out of the way of the sonic attack. Before Dinah could react, she’d landed beside her and Dinah felt the bones in her left leg shatter as the woman gave it a swift, powerful kick just below the knee. As she dropped to the ground, clutching it in pain, Barbara moved in.
It seems like minutes had passed, yet that single woman had defeated all three of them in a matter of seconds, as she turned her attention to Batwoman. Out of the corner of her eye Dinah saw Dick struggling to get back to his feet, his head still groggy. Unable to help, Dinah watched as the woman easily dodged Barbara’s attacks before striking, a powerful blow right to the center of Batwoman’s back. Dinah could hear Barbara’s howl of pain as time slowed even more. She seemed to fall in slow motion, Dick moving to catch her limp body as the dark-haired woman laughed a laugh that would haunt Dinah for the rest of her life.
With a jolt Dinah woke from her bed, her long-healed leg aching just a bit from her sudden movement. It was that dream again. She sighed as she looked over at her clock. 6:17. The blonde woman sighed again as she slowly got out of bed. She wouldn’t be sleeping again tonight.
* * * * * * * *
Dinah yawned as she worked in her store, a small flower shop located in one of Gotham’s nicer and quieter neighborhoods. She was busy pecking at that dang computer of hers when Stephanie Brown entered the store.
“Evening, Dinah,” Stephanie said as she headed to the back to drop of her jacket, and lunch bag.
“Hey, Steph,” Dinah replied. “It’s been pretty quiet today, so you know the drill.”
Stephanie nodded, going to work. The shop was a fairly peaceful place, and the staff almost a family. Dinah employed less then two dozen workers, including delivery people, and there were rarely more then two or three in the shop at the time. Glancing over, Stephanie noticed Dinah’s growing frustration with the computer, a rather common sight.
“Can I help?” Stephanie asked as she walked over to the other blonde.
“Yeah,” Dinah nodded. “See if you can figure this out… I’ll be in the back.”
As Dinah walked off, Stephanie started to fiddle with the computer. The young woman was very proficient with mechanical, and computerized equipment, and soon enough she had it ‘fixed’. Stephanie was about to call Dinah when she noticed something on the screen. It was set to Dinah’s e-mail page, and one message in particular caught her eye.
‘Re: Finding Canaries’
Curiosity got the better of Stephanie, as she opened the message, glancing around first to make sure no one was there. Stephanie’s eyes grew wide as she read the message: it was asking for the Black Canary’s aid. The young woman of course knew that Dinah was formerly the Black Canary, most of Gotham did, indeed that was the main reason she wanted to work here so badly. Steph had idolized the Birds, her room containing various newspaper articles on them, along with a nice blown-up picture of Nightwing, taken from the only known photo snapped of him.
The message contained an address, and time: tomorrow night. The young woman quickly wrote it down on a piece of paper, and returned to the previous screen, a few clicks, and there was no evidence that she’s read the message. “It’s fixed,” Stephanie called out, Dinah returning from the back a moment later. “Thanks,” the older blonde said with a smile.
“No problem,” Stephanie replied. “No problem at all.”
* * * * * * * *
Stephanie had spent most of the next day thinking about the e-mail, distracting her from her schoolwork and friends.
“So what are you up to tonight?” her father, Arthur Brown, asked while the two cleaned up their dinner plates.
“Hmm… Oh. I’m going to go out. If that’s okay, dad?” she replied.
“Of course,” Arthur nodded. “You know the rules.”
Stephanie smiled. “Yeah. I’ll see you later,” she told him, giving him a kiss on the cheek before heading up to her room. The young woman opened her closet, pulling out a small box. Inside was a purple costume she’d worn for a Halloween party a couple years back. She’d had tried it on again last night, while it was a little tighter around her hips and chest it still fix, and even with the tight fit was far less risqué then your average super-heroine costume. She carried the box downstairs, told her father good-bye and hopped onto her motorcycle, heading to the location on the e-mail.
* * * * * * * *
Dinah entered the warehouse where the meeting was going to be talking place, having spent most of the day deciding if she was going to go or not. The blonde moved slowly, looking around, wary of traps. As she slipped into the building she noticed Dick and Bette, both in costume, standing there chatting away. Dinah relaxed almost immediately. Just like old times… almost.
“Glad you could make it,” Dick said, smiling at the two greeted Dinah.
“Yeah,” Dinah replied. “Wasn’t sure if I’d be coming myself. What do you know about this?”
“Probably no more then either of you,” Dick replied. “But I do know this Oracle. We can trust her.”
Dinah nodded. If Dick trusted someone that was good enough for her.
“Yeah, the Birds back together!” Bette commented. “Just like old times! If only Babs could be here.”
It was at that moment when a large screen on the wall behind them flickered on, a green, wire frame face appearing on it. “Evening,” came a voice. “My name is Oracle and I’ve called you all here because I need your help.”
* * * * * * * *
The three heroes talked about old times as they entered a nearby warehouse that had been transformed into a hanger. Inside sat a black stealth plane, about the size of a private jet.
“Looks like this mission’s got some nice perks already,” Dinah joked as they got boarded the plane. The three climbed aboard, and moved into the main cabin where a green-skinned women greeted them.
“I’m Jade,” the woman said, shaking their hands as the others introduced themselves.
Dick nodded, his handshake taking a second longer then the others. “Oracle told us about you.”
“Right,” Jade said with a smile motioning towards an envelope. “I’ve got the rest of our mission briefing in here,” she explained. “We’re to read them over during the trip.”
As they took their seats, the stairs into the plane began to close, a dark shape managing to slip inside at the last moment. Stephanie Brown pulled the mask off of her head as she took a few deep breaths, partly out of her running, and partly due to the thrill of going on a mission with her idols.
* * * * * * * *
Outside Gakona, Alaska[/I]
Ed stood just inside the main entrance of the HAARP facility up in Alaska, taking a puff on his cigarette as he waited for Jack and Brad to return from their usual, boring patrol. Soon enough the door opened, Jack entering, his body hidden beneath the heavy winter gear he wore. “Hope you’re wearing your booties 'cause it’s
cold out there,” Jack said.
“It’s
cold out there everyday,” Ed chuckled in response as Jack knocked the snow from his boots.
“Those things will kill you,” Jack commented, nodding towards Ed’s cigarette.
“Well, you’ve got to die from something,” Ed replied, pausing for a second. “Hey Jack? Where’s Brad?”
Jack responded by turning to Ed, a knife flashing in the light as it slashed across Ed’s neck. “You’re right,” Jack said, looking down at the man bleeding to death. “You’ve got to die from something.”
As the life left Ed’s body, Jack turned back to the door, opening it up for three other men, all dressed in black. “Good work, Cain,” one of them said, as ‘Jack’ removed his protective goggles, and headwear.
“Would you expect anything less?” David Cain replied as he knelt down, grabbing Ed’s body. “Help me hide this. We need to move quickly, and get the security down before anyone finds out we’re here.”
* * * * * * * *
“And if you look to the right you’ll see the lovely lights of Gakona, Alaska,” the voice of the jet’s female pilot came over the intercom as Dick, Dinah, and the others made their final preparations. “We’ll be landing in a few moments, so place your seats back in an upright position, and I hope y’all have enjoyed your flight on Oracle Air.”
The plane, equipped with vertical takeoff, came to a gentle stop about a mile from the HAARP facility, a hatch on the back of the plane lowering to let out a snowcat.
“Shotgun,” Flamebird called as she hopped into the vehicle.
“I just hope we’re not too late,” Black Canary commented as she and Dick walked towards the snowcat, Jade close behind.
“Or that we’re not on a wild goose chase,” Nightwing agreed.
Dinah nodded as they got into the vehicle, Dick moving into the driver’s seat. He turned the key, and rolled the vehicle down ramp, and started across the snowfield. They’d gotten about halfway there when before them they noticed the small, distant flash of an explosion. “Guess that answers both our questions,” Dinah said, as Dick sped up.
The snowcat rumbled towards the far off facility, those inside unaware of the young, and very cold, passenger stowed away deep in the back.
* * * * * * * *
“What part of subtle, do you not understand?” Cain hissed as a handful of small particles fell from the roof, the building silent again after the blast.
“Our leader said to complete the mission at all costs,” replied the man who had set off the explosion. “Besides, we are far from help, and now there is no radio contact.”
“Well there’s something else your 'leader' should have told you,” Cain told him.
“And what is th…” The man’s voice cut off as he slumped to the floor, blood oozing from the small hole in his chest.
“I don’t work with amateurs,” Cain said coldly, as he placed his pistol back in its holster. “Either of you have a problem with that?” he asked the other two, a man, and a woman.
“Only that the leader might be upset he didn’t get to execute him for his foolishness,” the woman replied with a dark chuckle.
“Then let’s get what we came for, and call in our ride out of here, in case that little light show did draw attention to us. And keep an eye out for any staff we might have missed.”
The two nodded towards Cain, before heading off on their assignments.
* * * * * * * *
Nightwing pulled the vehicle up to the outside of the HAARP facility, hidden partly from view of the main building. “Okay,” he said as the four prepared to disembark. “We don’t know what’s happening in there so everyone keep your eyes open.” The others nodded as they slipped out of the vehicle, using the cover of darkness and headed quickly toward the main building, a small fire from the earlier explosion still burning where the communication tower had been.
As they entered the doorway Dick stopped, kneeling down to check the now cold body of Ed, the former guard. As he stood back up, the quartet heard a jet flying past, stopping to hover over the building. “Looks like we’ve got some company,” Dinah commented, before leading them deeper into the facility. Far behind them followed a caped figure shivering in dark purple.
They made their way to the control center, according to the map Jade had shown them, passing more dead bodies as they went. In the lead, Flamebird had just turned a corner to the final hall when loud crash shook the building. “Now what?” she muttered as she ran to the door, kicking it open.
Inside what remained of the room, Flamebird saw about a dozen men and women, dressed in black outfits, who along with Cain, all turned towards her. A cold gust blew in from a large hole in the roof, the jet they’d seen earlier hovering above it, wires stretching down from the plane. She also noticed the gun in Cain’s hand.
Flamebird leapt back, and to the right, diving behind the wall as two bullets zipped past where she’d stood. Nightwing, and Black Canary dove for cover as well, while the remainder of Cain’s shots, bounced off of a glowing green energy wall that had appeared before Jade.
“Great! David Cain!” Nightwing mutter.
“Who?” Canary asked, a few more shots hitting the wall they hid behind.
“He’s an assassin, a mercenary,” Nightwing explained. “One of the most dangerous alive.”
“Lovely,” Canary sighed. “So much for any chance of this being easy.” She waited for a pause in the barrage of bullets. “Cover your ears!” she told the others, then stood and opened her mouth. What emerged was a sonic cry, louder than an explosion. Those inside the room grabbed their ears in pain from the noise. Before her cry had ended, Canary shot forward. “Jade, you take care of Cain! The rest of us will deal with the others!”
The four heroes leaped into the room, fists, and feet flying. Jade kept her distance from Cain, using her green plasma to try and tie him up, while Cain managed to avoid the emerald ropes and nets. Canary and the others meanwhile took on the thugs. While none of those in black were pushovers the three heroes had things well in hand. The few thugs that were not being attacked where busy tying lines to various pieces of equipment, while the few that remained in the jet began hoisting them up.
Jade was having more trouble. Cain had dropped a small smoke bomb before moving towards her. He’d quickly knocked the green-skinned woman onto her back, and aimed his pistol at her face. Before he could pull the trigger however, a purple blur knocked the gun from his hand.
“What the…?” Cain growled as he looked at the newcomer.
“The name’s Spoiler,” came a woman’s voice from behind the dark mask. “And I’m here to spoil your plans.”
“'Spoil your plans'?” Jade said, rolling her eyes as Flamebird helped her up.
Flamebird chuckled, “Sounds like someone needs to work on their witty banter.”
Spoiler meanwhile had charged towards Cain, managing to punch him while he was still off balance. The attack did nothing however, and Cain easily blocked a kick from her before tossing her into Flamebird and Jade, the three women crashing to the ground.
Looking around, Cain realized most of those with him had been incapacitated. “Let’s go!” he shouted to those still standing, dashing towards one of the ropes and grabbing one.
“What about the rest of the stuff?” one of the men with him yelled back.
“Forget it,” Cain replied as he was pulled up into the jet. “We’ve got most of what we need.”
One of the men and two of the women grabbed on to ropes, climbing into the plane as Canary knocked out another of the fleeing men. Nightwing dashed towards one of the ropes, but narrowly missed it, the jet lifting up into the air and taking off.
“Well that could have went better,” Flamebird said, as she untangled herself from the other two. “At least we have some captives to…” She paused as she noticed the remaining black-clothed villains clenching on their teeth and then collapsing. “Never mind then.”
“Dead,” Jade said with a repressed shiver as she checked one of the men.
“Well I say we head back to the plane, while we figure out what to do with our new ‘friend’ here,” Canary said.
* * * * * * * *
Jade drove the snowcat into the plane, making sure it was properly locked down before they took off. Black Canary and Nightwing meanwhile, were giving a lecture to Spoiler, Dinah having yanked her hood off to reveal the face of Stephanie Brown, about the dangerous nature of their work.
“Ah, go easy on the kid,” Flamebird said. “I was the same way when I started out. And look at me now. Give her a chance to help out.”
“That’s not the point, Flamebird,” Black Canary replied.
“Well what is then?” Flamebird shot back.
“Let’s not worry about this now,” Nightwing said, trying to calm the others. “Right now we need to find out where Cain’s going with what he stole.”
“I…” Stephanie started, cut off by the others.
“Well, we could ask Oracle,” Jade said, entering the jet’s passenger cabin.
“We can…” Stephanie was cut off again.
“Yeah, she might know,” Nightwing agreed.
“But I…” Stephanie started, once more cut off.
“Perhaps see about tracking them on radar or something,” Flamebird added.
“HEY!” Stephanie finally shouted, the others looking towards her. She blushed at their stares before speaking again. “I put a tracking device on that Cain guy when I hit him. We could just follow that.”
Flamebird smiled smugly at the news, folding her arms, victorious in her argument. “Told you she could be useful,” she said in a superior tone.
