The bad guys' 'secret lair' turned out to be - surprise, surprise - an abandoned warehouse out on the outskirts of the city. At first glance, it didn't look like anything was wrong with it, but Cyborg's trusty sensors quickly found a secret passageway.

"Does anyone ever wonder how these things get built?" -Garfield asked us, as Cyborg hacked the hidden keypad.

"Luthor is usually involved, when it comes to villainous secret lairs. He owns several hundred companies. At least a dozen of them work construction for bad guys." -Cyborg told us.

Garfield cocked his head. "Remind me, why isn't he in jail already?"

Cyborg chuckled. "There's no bail high enough that he can't post. Plus, Superman's a big softie…and honestly, when he isn't being a sociopathic jerk, he actually does a lot of good for humanity."

I rolled my eyes. "Perks of being the richest man in the world, huh?"

"Uh huh. Come on, let's find us some intel."

He led the way down a set of simple concrete stairs. Garfield kept looking back at me every so often, his mind radiating feelings of guilt and worry. I kept quiet; now was not the time for a heart to heart.

The basement (read: secret lair) was rather small, and filled with computer equipment. Cyborg quickly scanned the room for traps, but found none. I gave it a quick, magical once-over as well, just in case - with Klarion involved, one couldn't be too careful. The room was still quiet.

"Alright. Let's see what we can find." -Cyborg said, plugging himself in.

Information started streaming in, all too quick for Garfield or I to read. He started fidgeting, a stark contrast to my absolute stillness. There was something I was missing in the room, I could feel it.

Garfield cleared his throat. "So, um...I wanted to apologize for earlier." -he started.

I could hear Cyborg going 'Oh, boy, here we go.' by the screens. "Later, Changeling. We're on the field." -I curtly tried to cut him off.

He scoffed. "We checked it out, it's empty. And I just wanted to say sorry. I was way out of line, getting jealous of you. I should've known you wouldn't be seeing anyone."

I frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, it's you, Rae. With your emotions tied to your powers, I just thought you wouldn't allow yourself to see anyone...else?" -he asked, then gulped as he saw my jaw tighten.

I loomed over him, my demonic heritage showing through. "Stop. Talking. Or I'll forget that you nearly died yesterday."

Before he could even look properly chastised, a synthetic voice filled the room. "Aww, look. A lover's spat."

Cyborg frowned. "What the- " -he said, then shouted in pain as the computer forcibly ejected him with a shock, the screens becoming static.

My eyes blazed white as I held my hands out in defiance. "Show yourself!"

"Not quite yet, Miss Roth. You and Mr. Logan have some business to attend to. I can wait." -the voice answered. It was male, young and arrogant. Reminded me of Arsenal's but it clearly wasn't his.

Garfield scowled. "How does he know my name?"

The voice laughed. "I know all the dirty little secrets the 'heroes' try to hide. Good for blackmail, getting me out of tight spots, you know? You three were hardly difficult to figure out. Green skin, gray skin, metal-for-skin...not very inconspicuous, huh? Besides...we know each other well."

"Come out and face us, then! Should be an easy fight, if you know all about us." -Garfield taunted.

"Tsk, tsk. So impatient, Mr. Logan. I reckon Miss Roth is doing well to keep you at arm's length. So hot headed."

Some kind of projectile flew by me, embedding itself into one of Cyborg's joints. It sparked, and Victor's body locked up, causing him to grunt in pain. I tried to track the shot, but the room still seemed to contain nobody but us. Another one of the projectiles - thrown, not shot, I noticed - would've struck me, but I had fairly well honed reflexes, and blocked it with a dark shield. Garfield must've seen something, because he charged off, becoming a red tiger.

I knelt by Cyborg, taking out the thing jamming his system. I recognized it instantly. "No freaking way." -Cyborg said, staring at the crimson, x-shaped projectile.

Garfield cried out, landing beside us with a dazed expression. "You're not gonna believe who just kicked me across the room." -he wheezed out.

"I would." -I said, holding up the shuriken. "Red X."

The mysterious thief/criminal/vigilante made his appearance, looking much the same - if a little taller, his look also updated - as the last time we'd seen him, jumping down a cliff after we'd managed to corner him years before.

"Ladies." -he said, nodding at us.

My hands blazed with obsidian energy. "One chance is all you get, in deference to your help back then. Talk." -I threatened.

The thief chuckled. "My, my, the she-demon has claws." -he said, then held up his hands as I scowled. "Believe it or not, I'm not here to fight. Or steal, for that matter."

Cyborg's joints came back to life with a series of low whirs. "I find that hard to believe."

"You mean, from the extensive history we share? A total of two whole fights gave away my whole character, huh?" -he said, casually playing with a couple of x's between his fingers.

My eyes narrowed. "Stop wasting our time and get on with it."

The thief scoffed. "Never had you pegged as leader material. Guess I am wrong sometimes." -he shrugged. "You're looking for clues as to where Nightwing and the others are being held. I can help you with that."

Cyborg frowned. "How?"

"Why?" -I added, skeptically.

Red X narrowed his eyes behind the stylized skull mask. "Let's just say, I owe Grayson some. I hate debts more than I hate playing hero. Besides, those assholes made it personal."

I winced internally; the guy knew Nightwing's identity. Red X threw me a circular thing, which I encircled in black. "What's this?" -I asked him.

"Proof."

I turned it over in mid-air, recognizing the stylized R on the dented, blood-stained metal. "Robin?" -Garfield asked, confused.

"The sequel. Jason Todd. I know where he is."

The thief then took a couple of fingers to the side of his mask, which promptly lifted, revealing a young man with once-vibrant red hair, streaked with white. His face was scarred, but the marks were faded, more like very faint tattoos. Indeed, all of him was a little faded, and his eyes were clouded, as if he had cataracts.

"Ta da." -he said, sarcastically. His voice seemed hoarse, like he hadn't used it in a while.

Victor gasped. "Jason Todd…"

The corner of his mouth lifted. "In the reincarnated flesh, yes."

I shook my head. "Why out yourself?"

"And how are you even alive?"

The mask lowered again. "Great questions. Maybe you should chat with Ra's al Ghul. I'll tell…" -he said, then pointed at me. "You. Let's play hooky. Leave the boy scouts behind."

Garfield growled in a very canine manner. I glared at my ex. "Cool it." -I said, then looked at the former sidekick. "Where would we be going?"

"Oh, some back alley or another. You can see it in my mind, I'm sure."

"I'm an empath, not a telepath. And here I thought you'd done your homework."

He chuckled. "Oh, I know. I just happen to enjoy your sarcasm."

Todd extended his gloved hand, and I knew I would take it. Garfield was still nearly foaming at the mouth, but he kept quiet. Cyborg put a hand to my shoulder. "You sure about this?"

I hesitated for a second, then nodded. "I'll let you know what I find."

He turned towards Red X, his arm becoming a cannon. "You lay a hand on her...this baby's got a disintegration setting."

He chuckled. "Knew that, too."

"Then you better make sure I don't use it. I doubt the Lazarus Pit works as well with free floating atoms."