Chapter 1 – Missing bird

Recognized – Batman. The Zetatube announced Batmans arrival at Mount Justice and the team members raised their heads because they assumed a new mission from the Dark Knight. Kaldur already left the couch to walk into the briefing room, Megan and Superboy stopped their combat training, Artemis closed the book she had read. But of course it was Wally who reached Batman first. Before the Speedster could ask anything he was harshly interrupted by an enraged Bat "Where´s Robin?"

"What do you mean, where´s Robin? Isn´t he busy in Gotham with you?" Wally asked with audible concern in his voice.

Batman returned with the threatening bat glare "I wouldn´t ask if I know! When have you seen him at last?"

The rest of the team arrived and everybody could sense the agony of suspense in the room. "What gives?" was Artemis short question. Batman ignored the interrogation and repeated his words this time a lot more impatiently. "When have you seen or heard of Robin at last?

Wally realized immediately that something awful had happened to his best friend. Batman appealed even more menacing than normal. So the red head knew that it was the best to answer the Dark Knights questions first and ask his owns afterwards. "We called yesterday after school. I asked him if he would come to the mountain to play some video games but he said that he is too busy with Gotham stuff. I tried to convince him, because I was so bored. He promised me to drop in for a second tomorrow and then finished the call. He sounded strange. Normally we make fun about the things that happened at school or discuss our plans for recreation but yesterday he just told me that he´s busy and finished the call. I thought you two were doing the dynamic duo thing, he is always short with me then. What´s wrong with Rob? Is he in trouble?"

The rest of the team had listen attentive and waited tensed for a replay. Batman didn´t answer immediately Wallys question. He paced up and down and mumbled faint words every now and then. After a little while Kaldur stepped forward, coughed slightly and looked directly at Batman. "Batman, sir, inform us about your apprehension, please. He is our teammate."

"Our friend!" Wally added pleadingly.

Batman looked up at the team for the first time and appeared to recognize them just right now. He seemed to struggle with himself. Should he tell them his conjectures? He wasn´t sure about what happened right now. And his apprehension would compromise their secret identity. He could not allow himself to reveal it to the team. On the other hand he knew that the team wouldn´t stop to ask him or even try to find their teammate on their own.

He sighed audible. "There was a special jailbreak yesterday morning. I was off world on a mission and came back two hours ago. I´m afraid that Robin went after the prisoner on his own."

"Why do you think so?" Superboy asked.

"I won´t tell you! It is associated with Robins past, so please don´t ask!"

"Ok, but why is it dangerous for Robin. That´s only one guy and Robin can beat twenty villains at the same time. You know that. There must be" Artemis was interrupted by a shattered Speedster.

"Oh my god! Don´t say it´s him!"

Everyone inside the room focused at Wally. The team got even more feared by the shocked expression on Wallys face. A serious Speedster means really much trouble. After a few seconds they stared at Batman to perceive his answer. The dark knight looked directly into Wallys eyes and nodded liminal.

Everybody seemed to hold their breath for a while. Wally was the first who uttered loud everything that was inside his mind. "Wehavetofindhim!Perhapshe´salreadydead!Ohmygod,Ishouldn´tthinkso."

"Calm down, Wally!" Batman ordered while he turned himself to the head computer. He knew exactly what Wally felt, because deep inside he felt the same, perhaps even stronger. His partner, no his loved son was missing. A Maniac wants him to suffer agonies, wants to kill him at least. It was the worst thing that could happen. But now Batman had to focus and try to find Robin. But the thug wanted to kill Dick, not Robin. Something inside his head told him that he wouldn´t find Robin but Dick. And that thought feared him even more, because it was easier for the thirteen year old boy to defend himself as Robin.

"How can we help you?" Kaldur was standing next to Batman meanwhile and tried to support the hero as much as possible.

"Change your outfits and prepare the ship! I might use your help probably. I will try to track his trace in the meantime."