A/N: If you've been pulling your hair out trying to figure out the name I made up for Night Owl, you might want to get a dose of reality (and maybe some hair care products): if it can be done, I'm going to be giving powers to people who are already characters of the show! Anyways, all will become clear in a moment.

Dark Memories of a Champion of Light

The gang was conversing with themselves in the food court when a certain someone walked up to them. He immediately sensed that they all were tense around him, though it was Jen was the one who seemed the most upset. "I'm not talking to you, Charles," she practically growled, to which her former flame replied, "Then listen, Jennifer: everything I said yesterday was the truth, especially the part about me not appreciating our boss playing favorites." "Funny: I didn't know Night Owl worked for Coach Halder," Jen spat out, to which her ex replied, "Well, Charlie Dobbs couldn't exactly say no to his foster father!"

"Wait, what?" Catlin exclaimed, while Jonesy did a spit take on a random girl that was passing by. "Smooth," Nikki stated as the girl stormed off, to which her boyfriend declared, "I know: I overheard her talking earlier about asking me out in front of you! Oh, and by the way, what's this about you kissing Darth?" "I was trying to get the DVD for Jude, okay?" Nikki exclaimed, before sighing and saying, "Look: how about you forgive me for that and I'll forgive you for nearly getting us killed." "Deal, and maybe later you can make out with someone who's actually worth the lip service," Jonesy said seductively, to which Nikki smirked and whispered, "I like the way you think."

"Ignoring that," Jude began, before stating, "I'm confused: yesterday, you implied that Ron knew about you." "He does," Charlie began, "Could any of you lie to a friend of your family? Before you say anything, Jonesy, I'm talking about my REAL family: the one that's long gone now." "If it's anything like your current family, you'd probably more spoiled then you are already," Jen snapped.

"Enough!" Charlie demanded, to which Jen flinched a little, before Night Owl's true face continued, "Like I told you yesterday, you don't know me as well as you think you do. Before you say anything, though, without my experiences as Charlie Dobbs, I would never have become Night Owl, and I DO care about you, even though it's clear that your anger and jealousy extinguishes any kindness you might feel towards people."

"Alright, then tell me something: if you care about me so much and hate favoritism as much as you say you do, why don't you ever say anything when Coach Halder, or rather, your dad, punishes me for something I didn't do or when he rewards you for something I did?" Jen demanded, to which Charlie replied, "I've tried, but when I do, you always run off before he can apologize and/or offer you a pay raise." "Okay, fine: I guess I jumped the gun a little, but that doesn't give you the right to accuse me of being heartless!" she retorted, to which her co-worker stated, "I didn't: it's just that the way you're acting because of something as ridiculous as unwanted, and perhaps unintended, favoritism is remarkably similar to that of the man who ruined my life."

"Wait: you REALLY had a problem with being in the spotlight? If so, why draw attention to yourself by dressing like a bird? I mean, this guy didn't do anything too bad, right?" Wyatt stated, with Jen's face saying the same thing. Charlie simply replied, "Actually, he did."

Flashback (10 years ago, in the park: 9:46 P.M.)

"For the last time, I am not interested in your project: you can't bring peace by spreading panic," a man stated over the phone, "Well, don't bother: even if I wasn't around, my board members share my views on this matter, so I suggest you either stop trying to deceive me or find someone else to do your dirty work. Our discussion is over." With that, he hung up.

"I don't know how he got my cell number, dear," the man stated, to which his wife replied, "I'm surprised he managed to talk to you at all, with the lack of coverage in the area and all." "Daddy, thanks again for taking me to see that play," a young boy stated, to which his father replied, "Your welcome, son; I actually have something for you." Bending down, the man gave the boy a small whistle and stated, "Whenever you're alone at night during that camping trip next week, I want you to give that a blow or two: I promise that when you do, nature's wisest creature will answer."

"It's getting late, honey: the park will be closing soon," the women stated, to which her husband stated, "Let's take this path here: it should get us to our car faster." As they were walking down the path, however, a figure stepped out of the shadows. "Hello, Deborah," the figure stated as he pulled out a gun and stepped closer to the women, "I've been meaning to talk to your husband."

"Leave her alone," the father stated as he stepped in front of her, only to be shot in the chest. "Oh no: Robert!" the mother screamed, only for the figure to shout, "Shut up," and shot her as well. The boy, hoping against hope that the wise creature his dad told him about could help, blew into the whistle.

"Tell your folks when you see them that their serpent friend sends his regards," the figure stated as he turned his gun on him, only to be distracted by a large creature swoop down in front of their shared line of sight: a Great Horned Owl. As if on cue, sirens began to blare in the distance and what sounded like barking could be heard.

"Shoot: someone must have called the cops!" the figure stated. Firing the gun again, he ran into the woods. This time, however, he missed his intended target. As the police showed up, one of them immediately ran over to the boy. "It's going to be alright, son: we're here now."

A few hours later, he was back at the police station. The officer from before came up to him and stated, "I know this is an emotionally draining experience, but I'm going to need to ask you a few questions if we're ever going to catch who did this. Is that alright?" The boy sniffled a little before nodding. "Just to make you a bit more comfortable, maybe we should start with introductions: my name is Officer Ronald Dennison." "Officer, do you really think you can catch who did this?" the boy asked, to which he sighed and replied, "I can't say anything for certain, since I'm retiring from this line of work in a few days, but I assure you that this is being handled by the best men that are available; um, I never caught your name." The boy replied, "My name is Charlie Dobbs."

(End Flashback)

"My parents died trying to stop an unspeakable evil from taking place; I swore that night that it wouldn't be in vain," Charlie stated. The gang was gob smacked, especially Jen, who couldn't believe it: all this time, her former love interest…no, she still loved him, but her anger and jealousy forced her to forget how happy he had made her when they were together, as well as making her not see how much pain her love was in.

Finally, Wyatt broke the silence: "Did they ever catch who did it?" "The police are assuming he's dead, since the tracks he left behind led to a polluted section of river and the body was never found, but something tells me he's still out there," the apparent vigilante stated.

With a sigh, Charlie continued, "The reason that I'm currently working at the Penalty Box, other then because my foster father asked me to, is that I don't have full access to my parent's company until I'm 21 and I needed the extra cash, since most of the resources which I do have access to have gone into planning my double life." "Why didn't you just go out and do it?" Nikki asked, to which he replied, "Up until I turned 16, I wasn't allowed to borrow anything from Dobb's Diversity, so the most I could do was plan out my equipment and design my costume. Even then, I didn't have the actual skills until the accident happened, simply because I didn't want anyone I didn't trust to know about my other life." "Dobbs Diversity?" Jonesy asked, "Isn't that the company that's helped out with the war effort since WWI?" "Only in terms of recycling, restoring, and repairing the equipment, though they do have some pet projects of their own," Charlie stated, before continuing with, "Ron actually knew my father during his service days: they didn't always see eye to eye, but did know each other well enough that he eventually recognized the son of an old friend."

"So, he helped you out yesterday because your dad?" Jen stated, having figured it out. "Yeah: besides my foster father, who was friends with my mom in high school, and you guys, he's the only one I've trusted to keep my secret so far," Charlie confirmed. "Guess we have to change our group name then," Catlin said with a sigh, to which Charlie replied, "No, you don't: I know I'm not fully accepted by your team yet, but even if I was, I wouldn't be an official part of your team."

"Why not?" Jen asked, sounding a little hurt, to which he replied, "I'm a creature of the shadows who's simply trying to show people the light, something of which you guys seem to already be aware of. If you ever need help though, and something tells me you will, I'll be in touch."

With that, Jen tried to say something to her co-worker, only to notice he was long gone. "Something tells me we're going to have to get used to that," Jude remarked. As the others agreed, Jen kept thinking to herself, "I'm sorry, Charles."

A/N: Sorry for the lack of any fight scenes, but I figured that they'd be a little out of place here. Anyways, next time there will be a little bit more action, but for now, let me know what you think!