Joining Young Justice

Chapter Nineteen: Springing the Trap

"Jedi, what's your status?" Mal's voice crackled through my earpiece.

"I'm down in the Gotham Underground on standby," I replied, taking a deep breath. I'd been placed in a disused service tunnel and couldn't help but pace back and forth as I awaited further news. No matter how many times I tried meditating, I couldn't quite empty my mind. "Waiting on your signal."

"Ten-four."

Adrenaline was coursing through my veins now, even though I hadn't caught a wink of sleep last night. After the plan was settled, I retreated to my quarters and sat down in the middle of the space. I'd spent the whole night meditating, hoping to glimpse the future, but the Force wasn't being cooperative. I'd gotten a flash of desert planet again and a glimpse of a rain-beaten spit of rock jutting out of the raging ocean, but those visions meant nothing to me.

When Nightwing knocked on my door in the morning, I'd nearly vomited, which was a new feeling. I'd never had performance anxiety before.

"Alpha?"

Mal's calm and collected voice snapped me back to the present.

"Ready and in position," M'gann replied.

She was in a nondescript white van approximately three blocks away from my current position with Zatanna and Nightwing. They were both disguised as "henchmen" and were integral for making things look good. There was a lot riding on their shoulders.

"Delta?"

"Bioship is cloaked and in position," Superboy said. Bumble Bee, Beast Boy, and Lagoon Boy were waiting with him and would be ready with backup once things were set in motion.

"Copy," Mal said.

I sucked in a breath. Here we go, I thought, although I awaited confirmation from Mal, our official timekeeper and shot-caller.

"Wayne Tech secure, Justice League in position," Batman said. I bet he was in his office at this very moment with a set of military grade binoculars, ready to watch the plan unfold outside his window while he sat back in his three piece suit and fancy leather loafers. We'd rounded up a handful of Leaguers to pose as security guards and bystanders to enhance our performance while ensuring no one got hurt. "On your mark."

"Phase One is go. I repeat, Phase One is go. Alpha, commence travel to Position One," Mal ordered, noting the exact time.

I began to pace more vigorously as I imagined Alpha peeling out of their parking spot on Truman Street, their sights set on Wayne Tech. It was a three minute and seven seconds drive (we'd clocked it three times this morning in different cars to ensure our timetable was airtight). The loading zone would be vacated exactly two minutes and fifty seconds after Mal's order by incognito Captain Atom, giving Alpha the perfect place to park.

I studied my watch, counting the seconds.

"Alpha in Position One, moving to Position Two," Nightwing reported. I heard a van door sliding before his feed cut out.

That had been at nearly exactly three minutes and seven seconds. Another fifteen seconds passed before I bolted into action, running down the tunnel.

This was the closest camera blind spots to Wayne Tech that wasn't active with trains. Now that the plan was in action, I had to risk the trains as I negotiated the subway tracks, heading for the stop closest to Wayne Tech. Each of my foot falls echoed off the tunnel with a sharp staccato burst, setting my teeth on edge. I couldn't hear much over that, which was unfortunate. I was in train territory now, although there wasn't another train scheduled for the next four minutes if the schedule was accurate.