AN: Sorry for the long wait, please see the AN at the end for a few important details.
I also apologize for any spelling or grammar error that is still left. I may repeat myself with it, but I'm not native English and I'm still struggling with the finer points of this language. If you see anything, please let me know in a private message and I will change it.
Beta reader: PercyJacksonLover14
Chapter 6: Business meeting
Carelessly discarded garbage lingered in the corners from the industrial and commercial district on the outskirt of Metropolis. Cold wind blew away any lose items, creating this distinguished eerie sound of an abandoned area at night.
Though, tonight it wasn't as deserted as many other nights in the past. A lone man was walking with his dog down the narrow side alley, keeping to the shadows, created by the few still working light spread randomly across the street.
The man was tall, much taller than a regular person, towering over the overall mass with a proud 2m 20. That alone would discourage most of the thugs that were commonly known to those forsaken streets at night.
Adding more reason not to the mess with the man was his overall exterior. A pair of black combat boots, matching with the same color and style set of pants. His arms, by the size of thick robes you could find on intercontinental container ships, were unprotected by any fabric, as he most likely would burst through the material anyway.
The torso was clad in a black vest, which stretched tight from the recoiling muscle tissue underneath and was crossed by two thick leather belts that were hold together in the center with a matt silver clasp, in form of a skull. Both the vest and his pants had dozens of small and medium sized compartments, holding everything a man with his profession might needed. To top everything off, several weapon holster placed on strategic imported position, where lingered all over his body – many hidden and invisible for the untrained eye - and none of them were empty, holding a variety on weapons, from a combat knife and a Taser, to a modified Desert Eagle.
The visible skin had a deep tan, from someone who spent most of his time outside. His face was stern and emotionless. The sides of his cheeks were not shaved and displayed a three-day stubble, with a center goatee dyed in a bright green, matching the color of his hair. Or at least what was not shaved away and styled into an intimidating Mohawk.
A sharp whistle called the attention of the free roaming dog, if you could label the impressive creature with a simple term like that. Reassembling several different trades of breeds signify it to be a mud, but a second look, or in the eye of an expert "uncovered" the true beauty of the beast and the work behind it to breed canines with the goal to receive the displayed result.
Reaching up to the hip of his master, it was taller than a Great Dane, with the body and build of a true wolf, his fur coat was long haired and with colors varied from white to grey to black, allowing it to blend in with almost every environment. The head not overly bulky but with a very strong jar and perilous set of teeth.
Obediently the dog stopped his venture further into the ally and walked swiftly to his master.
The man had stopped at one of the many doors that blended into the wall. Knocking at the metal in an unsuspicious pattern, that he then repeated twice, a panel next to the door opened and a hand scanner appeared, ordering in bold letters for him to place his hand on the destined fields.
Knowing that only his fingerprints were required for the identification, he didn't even bothered with removing his finger-less glove, and after a few seconds of processing the door opened with a soundless click.
Allowing the animal to go first the man took the time for one last look around. Not finding anything out of the ordinary he too entered the building, silently closing their gateway.
Behind the door greeted both a long and empty hallway, further into the building. Knowing his way around the man walked with wide strides down the corridor. His companion walked next to his hip, holding easy the same pace as his master. Behind a sharp corner to the left, they arrived at a more open area.
The room, roughly ten meters long and twelve meters wide had several small tables placed along the three sides of the walls and one big one in the middle, offering workspace for ten or more people.
A variety of tools and other appliances were scattered over the surface. A seating and break area with a sofa and tables took over the last wall. Four more doors led to further areas and into the warehouse. To his knowledge one was a private office, one a restroom for the people who worked here the other two had different storage units behind it.
Tonight however, was only one man at work. He sat at the table in the center of the room, and was holding a small soldering tool. Fumes of melting lead wavered through the room, a pair of precision glasses over his eyes.
Looking up from his work, Andrew smiled, wiping the soldering iron on a wet sponge and then placed it into a holding spring. His hand now free, he pushed the glasses up to rest on his head, "Ah Kranio, good evening, nice you could make it."
The newly named man snarled a sullen greeting as response. With a quick motion of his hand the canine, took place next to the entree, sitting with full attention and guarding it for his master.
Kranio himself walked towards a fridge build into the wall, pulling out a bottle of beer. Removing the bottle top with one swift turn of his hand and throwing the cap with ease into the next bin, Kranio fell back onto the sofa. Only after a good gulp of the alcoholic beverage he spoke: "I do hope you have a good reason to call me Andrew. I was on a hunt."
"You are always hunting," Andrew smiled shaking his head, "The day when you are not, I know you are sleeping 6 feet underground." The hunter smiled not even bothering to object to the accusation.
After a minute or so in quiet Kranio finally broke the silence and spoke: "So?"
Holding the stern glance from the other end with ease, Andrew said, "I want you to find something for me."
"Boring," countered the hunter, gulping another mouthful from the bottle.
"Would it be more interesting for you to know, the last person seen with it was The Batman?" carefully observing the other while placing his bait.
Kranio's eyes widen, his curiosity awoken and interest was glowing in his green eyes: "Ah, now we are talking. What is it and how much?"
"Five million if you get a confirmed location. 15 for a picture with the item in said location and 150 million should you bring it to me." Listed Andrew his condition; resting his head on his interweaved fingers.
Twirling the half full bottle between his hands, Kranio watched the golden liquid moved in its glass confinement: "And what's holding me back from bringing the Thermos directly to Mr. Luthor?"
His elbow buckled and Andrews head slipped undignified from his hands, while turning a nice shade of red right up to his ears: "You ... you know?"
A deep laugh resonated through the room and the hall way attached: "It's impossible to have not to."
The laughter died down as Andrew coughed the awkwardness away, whipping in a nervous habit his hands against the fabric of his pants: "Yeah you could bring the Thermos directly to Mr. Luthor but what would hinder him to just put a bullet through your head? He is not inclined to give you the same deal as I." He argued, now pointing one finger at the other.
The hunter shrugged half sided, placing his left arm on the backrest.
"Besides, you don't have the tools or a way to search for it."
Thinking over the situation Kranio had to agree: "Fair enough." He emptied his drink with one last knock back and placed the bottle next to him on a small coffee table. Standing up he said: "So show me what you are up to."
Andrew waved his hand over the item before him: "This piece of technology happened to be in my possession and thanks to the extensive research S.T.A.R. Laps has done, I was able to tune it on the energy signature, the Thermos is emitting."
Eying the pieces of tech that was placed on the table, Kranio decided it could have been a PDA, old style, from a few years back, as they had still be in use before the modern Smartphone. He could work with that. "And how does it work?"
"It will scan the wide area in a 20 kilometers radius and if the Radar picks anything up, it will provide you with a rough point of origin. Unable to tune it with an example from the original source, I could only manage so much. Once you have a direction you will have to get closer. At 5 kilometers distance, it will already be able to give a more accurate location. For a 100% confirmation you will have to get much closer, less than 1000 meters."
"That will not be a problem." Kranio made a grab for the Radar. His new partner and temporary boss stopped him by holding his arm at the elbow.
"Something you should know, Batman had not been seen with the thermos again, nor was recently any strange new energy source "discovered" in any of the laboratories worldwide," the Mohawk nodded in agreement, "There is also a high chance that he gave the thermos to one of his friends, maybe even the big guy." hinting on the Man of Steel.
"I will keep that in mind, anything else I should know?"
Andrew locked his eyes with the other man: "Don't get caught, as long as nobody suspects that there is interested from our side, a break in will have the advantage of the surprise." After Andrew was sure that the hunter had understood the message he finally let go.
Kranio took the Radar and examine it closer.
"One more thing," Andrew reclined in the chair he sat, straighten his back out, making him look taller, "Be careful with the Radar, it is the only thing at the moment, that can scan for that energy source, you understand?"
One eyebrow raised, and tiling his head to the right the Mohawk smirked: "I will." A few minutes later he had made himself aware on how to operate the Radar and he pocketed the device, calling for his pet he left the room: "Come Amber, we hunt."
This Interlude is dedicated to Ciestess84 to meet Nightwing in the story. This has nothing to do with the main story and is just for fun and my idea why Robin changed his name to Nightwing.
Interlude
It was the second day after Danny had woken up at the Watchtower. He was still confined to the bed, only because the doctor had insisted, Danny himself felt fine.
Well as fine as someone could be in his position.
With a sigh Danny let go of the history book in his hands and rested the thick tome on his legs. He was currently catching up with the history in this world, while looking for things that differ from the world he had known for 16 years. His blue eyes strayed to the other occupant in the room, the teenager that had introduced himself as Robin.
The fifteen year old was launching at the comfy chair placed at the opposite wall to the entrance, his legs thrown over the arm rest, cheerfully tipping on the interface that was attached to his left arm, a hologram display hovering over the device function as a screen. It was an interesting piece of technology and Danny could say it was far more advanced than the devices he had known back home.
Felling the eyes on him, the dark haired teen stopped and looked up, catching the other teen watching him. "Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked in a polite tone. Bruce had left him here to keep Danny company for the moment, while the adults had work to do.
Danny was about to shake his head, when he remembered something that had occupied his thoughts the last night. He just hoped that the other boy didn't take any offence for his questioning. "Why do you call yourself Robin?"
The question, so out of context, surprised Dick and he blinked a few times before he replied: "Why do you want to know?"
Danny shrugged with one shoulder: "Just curiosity."
Not seeing any harm this piece of information could do, Robin finally replied, "My father gave me the nick name when I was young."
"So Batman isn't your father." uttered Danny, his head slightly cocked to the right.
Immediately Robin straighten in his seat, the device on his arm automatically deactivated itself. "Why would you think that?"
The harsh tone in that the replied was stated, almost made Danny flinch away, knowing that in some way he had offended the other, he turned his glaze away, finding his blanket suddenly very interesting. "Never mind, forget that I asked."
Dick (aka Robin) cleared his throat, pushing away the hurt feeling that had come up with Danny`s presumption: "No, please why would you guess that Batman is not my real father." His own curiosity sparked.
Debating with himself for a moment Danny decided, that he owed Robin an explanation, for the hurt his seemingly harmless question had caused. "Well, I would have guess as a son of Batman, you would use a name that strikes fear in your opponent like his. While most bats are frugivorous animals, they still are seen as predators in the mind of the common man. A robin, a bird that is only active in daylight, and mostly seen as prey to others doesn't fit."
Batman`s young partner and adoptive son, thought about the words the other teenager had given as answer. There was truth in it, his real father didn't choose the name he used now for his hero persona to inflict fear, like Bruce had chosen his, and he named him Robin because he flew like one when he was still part of the Flying Grayson, but that was his past and he felt like a true son to Bruce.
Covering his chin with his right, Dick recline back into the backrest of his seat: "I see where you are coming from." Thinking about it for a moment in quiet, his eyes glazed over deep in thoughts until he turned back to his companion: "May I ask what you would suggest, if you would be in my position?"
Danny shrugged again: "I don`t know, there are not many predators that have wings and are active at night. Owls, but you don`t strike me like one." Shaking his head, he didn't see the face that Robin pulled as he mentioned the silent flyer.
Dick had immediately connected the animal with Owlman the villain and shook his head too. "No Owl is a no go, there is a villain that used it already too."
Before Robin could think about more possible names of something active at night with wings, the com integrated in his arm signaled him of the time.
He had to go back to earth. His extended stay on the space station was over. He caught the curious look of those arctic blue eyes, that were a few shades lighter than his own, the protective guard had lessen over the time of his stay but was still there. "I'll have to go now, school is starting again tomorrow." He apologized as good as he could, with his eyes hidden behind the white of the mask.
Danny nodded understanding, that Robin had a personal life, and could not devote all his time to him adjusting, even if it was much easier to talk with another teenager as an adult.
Over the last two years, especially after the war and resent betrayal of the GIW, he had lost any trust in adults or authority figure, and it was hard to work against the walls he had built for his protection.
"I'll see if Batman may let me come up on the weekend, should I not be on mission of course." Dick tried to smooth out, but Danny just nodded again, not offering any words as a reply. "Hey, maybe I can bring Kid Flash too, I`m sure you would like him."
"Sounds good." Said Danny finally, picking up the history book again, avoiding Robins look.
Robin stood up from his position and waved at Danny: "See you next week then, bye."
Acknowledging the farewell with a curt nod Danny mumbled a quiet "Bye" and opened the book at the passage he was reading before.
AN 1: So short background to this chapter. I asked one of my friends if I could reward her for her help, with a bonus chapter and what character was her favorite.
Surprisingly it was Andrew, the auctioneer from "The Auction" and chapter one. Something I don't understand as he was really just an OC I created out of inconvenience, but many people came to love him (and I really don't know why?). It also helped with introducing the next character to the story - to all DP fans it should be clear, who he represents - for anyone in the unknown, you can ask me in a PM or wait until 8/9.
Anyway this chapter is for you Talia Ahria.
AN 2: For all the people that are waiting for the "Let us enter Danny's mind" part, this will be the next chapter. I do apologies for the long wait, some personal stuff has come up, plus chapter 7 really didn't want to be written. At one point I disliked it so much I was about to throw it away completely when I received a great review (they do motivate me, so keep them coming ^^) and decided to change the chapter from start, re-rolling it and therefore had to re-write it from the beginning.
Rest assured, the next chapter will be extra-long. As example when I normally write a chapter by hand it has four or five pages + one or two pages extra with cliff notes at the end. Chapter 7 has 18 hand written pages and 5 pages of cliff notes … As chapter 8 comes along now I hope chapter 7 will be up for you to read before end of July. Though I can't make any promises as I will travel in between this time and that always disturbs my schedule.
AN 3: And finally, if you like my writing, do have a look at my other story "The clean up" it's an Iron Man 2 / Danny Phantom crossover. That is kind of lost in the comic section, as Iron Man the movie has not his own tag and I didn't want to tag as "Avengers" crossover.
Sorry for the advertisement, but I think the story it better as the barely 2000 hits it has received since May 2014.