Chapter 12: The Exchange
"As some of you know, Red Robin has disappeared after an attack on his home," The Atlantean addressed the eight young heroes in front of him. Sophie and Damian were angry but for different reasons. Sophie was angry that someone dared abduct another who a child on the way while Damian was angry at Tim for not signalling an alert for help, Damian would have been there in a heartbeat. Mar'i however was simply upset. She had never dealt with the seriousness that being a superhero is, sure she stitched up her father every other morning after a night out patrolling Gotham but knowing that one of her family members is out there and in danger? That was something she had trouble coming to terms with.
Kaldur saw the emotions that the three teenagers had, not only could he see them but he could feel them. "You need not fear my friends. This isn't the first time that this has happened. The Justice League is working round the clock in search of any information on Red Robin's whereabouts. We will find him. You have my word." Aquaman promised.
Robin clenched his fists and grimaced, "We don't want your damn word Aquaman. We want Tim back."
"Robin, don't." Batgirl warned, placing her hand on his shoulder. The Boywonder looked over his shoulder and shrugged the hand off from him, "Oh please, this is just pathetic. If anybody should be out searching for him, it's the eight of us."
Robin walked from the group and headed for the exit of the situation room. The seven remaining teens looked at Aquaman, waiting for him to call Robin back but he didn't. He knew Damian needed to process his anger.
"He needs time, I'm sure you all do." Aquaman addressed.
"I'll go after him," Nightstar offered, taking a step towards the exit.
Dawn looked towards the youngest member beside her, "Like Aquaman said Mar'i, give him some time alone. You know how he is."
"That's exactly why I should go," Mar'i replied, jogging over to towards the exit of the room.
"If you have any worries or questions, you are more than welcome to ask me directly." Aquaman sympathized. "You are free to go," he added and the remaining heroes dispersed.
It took a few minutes for Mar'i to catch up with Damian, if anyone was as good as the Tornado Twins at speeding off, it was him. "Damian! Damian wait!" She called out as she ran up behind him.
"Leave me alone Nightstar." Robin said harshly.
"Tim will be fine, you know he will. He always has a plan." She praised, trying to make him smile.
Robin tutted, "I'm sure he does but that's not the problem." He sighed.
"Then what is?" Mar'i asked curiously.
Robin stopped dead in his tracks, and turned towards Nightstar as he removed his hood. "The problem, Mar'i, is that Tim is one man and he has more than likely been taken by 'The Light'. You know who they are I assume?" He asked, speaking to her like she was nothing but a child.
Mar'i frowned towards the Boywonder, "Of course I do. I'm not an idiot Damian so don't treat me like one." she retorted.
"Then you know that he is in way over his head." Damian retaliated, then pulling his hood back over his head and began to walk away from the black and purple clad heroine. "Leave me be Mar'i. I'll find him on my own." He ordered.
Mar'i remained where she stood, watching Damian walk away from her in anger. She didn't know why but her eye's began to glisten.
"We're here birdbrain. Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Rose asked as she switched the engine off.
"I have to." Tim mumbled. "I don't suppose they'll give me a phone-call home will they?" He then joked.
The assassin sighed, she knew he was using humor to dodge the severity of what he is about to do. "Tim. You might be giving up a lot for this." She cautioned.
She was right. The past few weeks of working with Rose were easy enough, she would feed him information on the new 'Light' as she worked with them and he would help her find her brother, Joseph Wilson aka Jericho. But now Rose was forced to give Tim up to maintain her cover and if this reformed evil society was going to be taken down then he was going to have to make some sacrifices.
"I know Rose. I know" He mumbled, looking down towards his bound hands. Tim then looked towards the white-haired girl sat in the drivers seat beside him, "I expect a rescue once you have found Joey. You said he know's where the HQ is right?"
Rose chuckled, "You better hope he knows."
Tim then grew serious, "And if he doesn't?" he asked.
"Then I'll get you out myself if I have to. I owe you that much." Rose promised.
"Let's get to work, Ravager." Tim nodded.
"Good luck Red Robin." Rose remarked as she tranqed Tim, slowly knocking him unconscious.
"This is him? He looks like a nerd." A brutish man asked Ravager, chuckling at his unfunny statement.
"That 'nerd' could take you down in a matter of seconds." The assassin retaliated pushing the brute away from Tim's unconscious body that lay in the back of the van.
"Where is he?" Ravager then asked, looking at the henchmen in front of her.
"Who?" A tattooed man asked.
"The 'Man of Light'. He said he'd oversee this." Ravager retaliated.
A door from one of the cars that the henchman had arrived in opened and a small and stubby man climbed out. He was dressed in a suit and a top hat, a monocle placed over one of his eyes. "Waaahh, He has sent me. He wants him shipped off to the HQ you see?" The Penguin announced.
She had the urge to draw her sword, Cobblepot knew where the HQ was. She could draw her sword and threaten him to get the information that Tim wanted but that would blow her cover and put Tim in even more danger than he was already in, they knew where he lived, they knew who he was. It wasn't just him in danger anymore. She couldn't risk it, for the sake of him, Stephanie and their unborn child.
"Cobblepot." The Ravager greeted.
"Wah, if it isn't the daughter of Deathstroke. How is your family these days?" The mob boss taunted.
"I'm not here to exchange pleasantries with the likes of you, so listen up Waluigi. If this guy doesn't make it to 'The Man of Light' I will personally execute you. Slowly and painfully." The assassin threatened as she pulled a knife halfway from it's sheath.
"You got it, waah, I don't plan on messing with him. Or you for that matter, wah." The Penguin announced. "Now if you don't mind, lady, Mr Cobblepot has a busy schedule." The brutish man bickered, walking towards the open back of the van. As he stepped close towards The Ravager a blade was quickly and carefully placed against his throat, "What I said to Cobblepot applies to the rest of you... Your families too." She promised as she lightly cut into the man's skin, a drop of blood ran down her knife.
"You have, wah, nothing to fear." Cobblepot promised. "I'm a bussinessman. I've made, wah, a deal." He added.
"And I've just made a deal with the lot of you." Ravager warned. The blue and orange assassin removed her blade from the henchman's throat and sheathed it, then nodding towards the Penguin and stepping away from the van so that Tim can begin to be transferred to the Light.
A/N: It's a short chapter I know but this is mostly setup. Next chapter will be much longer since a few character arcs are about to begin, you can probably guess who.
Thanks for the reviews by the way! There's nothing better than seeing that people enjoy what I write so cheers to you lovely people!
~FarmingPirate
