A/N:

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I was in lockdown. Lockdown was the worst place you could possibly put me, and here I was, hugging my legs close to me and squeezing my eyes tightly shut. Saying I was claustrophobic was a complete understatement. News flash to pet stores, pounds, and basically any place that keeps an animal in a tight, enclosed space- we don't like it! I'd even gone as far as trying to chew my way out, but only succeeded in a very sore mouth. It seemed like there was no room to move in here! I morphed into a small cat, only to have the guard zap me until I shifted back. If that stupid ass wasn't here, I could easily just shift into something tiny and get out of here, but no.

I snarled at him, not at all surprised at the guttural sound being emitted from my throat. Apparently the guard was more shocked. I couldn't blame him- human-looking things don't usually growl like animals. And yet, I was not human. Duh.

"How long?" I managed to spit out through trembling lips.

"Rick says five hours." He replied cautiously, obviously waiting for another outburst. It never came. I sank weakly to the floor.

"Let me shift into something smaller," I begged, "But something that won't escape and get you killed." Hesitantly, the man nodded. Oh, thank you Lord for this great kindness. That was sarcasm, by the way. I morphed into a dog, laying down and putting my head on my paws. Five hours... I'd been in here twenty minutes. Rick was a fucking bastard.

For the first time, Primal Mode had backfired badly. After I'd squished Vapour to death, things had got ugly. Shifting again and again into different things, I started trying to get to the audience. Anything to stop that incessant cheering that was killing my ears. Hoots turned to quiet murmurs and then to terrified screams as I lunged for them, only to fall and be forcibly morphed back into my usual form. I'd blacked out not long after that, and woke up in this stupid cage. When I was out... I'd had weird dreams. Someone was speaking to me, but it wasn't a voice I recognised, and I couldn't make out the words exactly.

Like I said, weird. Anyways.

I wondered how Alcaeus was doing. I hoped he was okay.

...

Okay, so after three hours, I was about ready to chew my own arm off. I hadn't moved in like two hours, and I was dying. There was only so much I could take. Pretty soon I was going to take my chances with this stupid shock collar. I closed my eyes, feeling my body shut down from no use. I could sleep a little while, that would make time go faster...

**

Robin ran a hand through his thickly gelled hair, sighing in defeat. Nothing had come up, and Alcaeus was about to bust out at any moment. He didn't want to leave this Shift person there by herself, apparently. He'd been saying that for hours. The man was conflicted- he didn't want to try and bust in by himself because he'd be overpowered, and yet he couldn't wait too long. This was an interesting and stressful situation for the boy-wonder, to say the least. Robin was checking out a lead- a bar downtown. Robin was dressed in street clothes, and he felt weirdly... normal. His face felt... bare. A pair of dark shades were all that covered his eyes, and it felt strange to be out of uniform.

He'd promised Alcaeus that he'd be back within the hour, and if he didn't have information then they'd work from there. His gut was telling him to just follow Alcaeus, but years of training drilled into him by Bruce had taught him not to trust potential villains. He owed it to everyone to check this out. It could be a trap, it could be anything. He didn't want to endanger anyone by running blindly into the dark.

Robin pushed open the door to the bar, and no one looked up. He'd dressed well- jeans with rips in them, a singlet and black jacket. He fit in perfectly with this crowd. He walked up to the bar and sat down, where a man was washing glasses. Next to him, a guy was swaying a little. Robin resisted the urge to recoil away from him in disgust.

"Anything?" the bartender asked. Robin pretended to think. He had to be fast- at any moment he could be recognised.

"Depends," he began, "What can you tell me about the Fights?" the bartender looked at him in surprise.

"Look man, I ain't gonna tell you no different than what everybody else gonna tell ya- don't get mixed up in that shit. That Worthington fella's a scum bag. Jus' dun' go getting yourself involved. Nobody wins at that shithole." The bartender spat on the floor and shook his head in anger.

"I'm not going to sign up," Robin said, guessing that was what he was getting at, "It's for a friend. He wants to bet on someone called 'Shift Tapio'. I'm getting the scoop for him."

"Name's Murray, kid. Look, if your friend wants to bet on that beast, he's gonna win a lot of cash. She's deadly, shifts into anything under the sun. Always wins, I tell ya. She looks tiny when they push her out there, but man can she fight." Murray said, but then he frowned. "I feel kinda bad for her. She can't be there on purpose. None of the collars' are."

"Collars?" Robin asked. He'd seen Alcaeus wearing a silver collar at the station.

"Shock-collars. They zap 'em if they don't fight. Scary shit, I tell ya." Murray said. Robin frowned. He had to look into this. Alcaeus was telling the truth.

"Are you guys talking about the Fights?" a guy with blonde hair asked, walking up to them.

"Yeah man." Murray nodded. "Why?"

"Because word is that Shift Tapio went rage last fight. Tried to kill the audience. My friend was there." He said. Robin's jaw hardened.

"I'll tell my friend that." He said to Murray. "Thanks." He pushed away from the bar and walked out of the door, happy to be out of there. The sky was darkening- he had to get back to Alcaeus and give the OK. He began to run to where he'd parked his motorbike, a substitute for the R-Cycle while he was street-Robin. He started it and it roared to life, and he sped down the street.

**

Alcaeus stood up as Robin entered the room. He had been waiting long enough, and unless Robin told him that he would be allowed to rescue his little friend Shift, he would do it the illegal way. There was simply no other choice. Slowly, Robin nodded.

"We're going to investigate this. Me and my team will go with you now, and the Jump City police will soon follow." He said, and Alcaeus grinned widely.

"Thank you!" he cried, stepping closer to the superhero teen. "I shall not hug you, for fear of harming you. But thank you." Robin looked relieved.

"That's alright. Okay, let's go." He said, and Alcaeus nodded.

I am coming for you, Shift. Do not fear... I am coming.

A/N;

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