JLATitans: Invasion!

by Syl

An alien menace threatens the earth.

2. JLA/Titans: Invasion! (Part 2)

Title: JLA/Titans: Invasion! Author: Syl Francis Email: efrancis@earthlink.net

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Summary: The Titans arrive at a mutual understanding; Batman and Green Arrow "discuss" their different parenting techniques; promises are made and broken; new rifts threaten to tear the fabric of sidekick/mentor relationships.

Acknowledgement: As always, much thanks to Terri and Dannell for their patience and assistance; their critical input was priceless in the final development of my story.

Disclaimer: All the characters are owned by DC Comics and Time/Warner; this is an original story that does not intend to infringe on their copyright. Feedback is welcome!

Copyright 1999

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JLA/Titans: Invasion! by Syl Francis

"Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice." (Robert Frost, "Fire and Ice")

****

Chapter Six

The ship's AI issued the necessary launch order. The launch room was suddenly racketed with klaxons warning the ship's long-dead crew of the impending decompression. The waiting, pilotless scout ships were ejected out of the launch deck by automatic, unmanned catapults. As the small armada of scouts cleared the mother ship's outer shields, plasma-powered impulse engines fired automatically.

Commands that were originally pre-programmed into the scout ships' Target Acquisition Centers before the dawn of time began running defensive firing drills. AIs that had been asleep for eons assessed their scouting mission. Third planet from the M-type yellow star located at approximately twenty light years above the galactic plane and 28,000 light years from the center cluster...

****

"Ray, I don't know what you expect *me* to do!" the Flash protested. "I mean, Batman and I are hardly pals! Why don't *you* talk to him, since you're so interested in Robin's welfare?"

"Because, Barry, I don't have a kid sidekick! Besides, if Bats gets upset because we're sticking our noses in where they don't belong, you can run a lot faster!"

The Flash stuck his fingers in his ears, and starting walking around the room. "I'm *not* listening to this! Iris warned me about hanging out with a theoretical physicist! She says you're all crazy, and you'll probably wind up getting me killed!"

Atom laughed. "Iris never said that! She *likes* me. By the way, Jeannie wants to know when you two would like to get together for dinner again?"

"Geez, Ray," the Flash said removing his fingers from his ears, "I don't know...social stuff is Iris' department. I'll have her give Jean a call, okay?"

"You do that, buddy," Atom said, smiling. "Now, where were we? I was telling you that you're the best choice to approach Batman because you two have sidekicks in common...And don't you *dare* stick your fingers in your ears again! I swear, Barry, you're worse than the Titans, you know that?"

"But, Ray...buddy...the fact that Batman and I both have sidekicks doesn't alter the fact that he and I aren't exactly on friendly terms. He'll find this intrusive and rightly so!"

"I know that, Barry," Atom agreed reasonably, "but you're still in a better position to relate to him than I'd be able to. Besides, Wally isn't just your partner. He's your nephew. That counts for something, I think."

"Yeah, to *me*!" the Flash said. "Wally is like a son to me. When I began dating Iris, I met the little guy, and...I don't know. He had and *still* has a terrible relationship with his father. He needed a friend."

"Wally got more than that, Barry. He got, as I've heard him say time and time again, 'the world's greatest uncle!' The boy loves you."

The Flash smiled fondly. "The feeling's mutual, I assure you. When I married Iris, Wally was sort of part of the package deal. Almost like I got two for the price of one. Now that he's Kid Flash, we've grown even closer."

"Then, you can relate to Batman!" Atom reminded him.

"And how do you reach that conclusion, Doctor Palmer?" the Flash asked sarcastically.

"Elementary, by dear, Doctor Allen," Atom returned easily. "I didn't just overhear Batman and Robin talking, Barry. I overheard a father talking to his son. As hard as it may seem to believe, the Bat-guy loves that boy. I wouldn't doubt it if in real life they *are* father and son. I think that would certainly explain Batman's almost unbending attitude in public. It's probably just a mask to hide his obsessive overprotectiveness of Robin."

The Flash nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think I see what you mean. It would also help explain Robin's unquestioning obedience. He's *used* to having Batman as the authority figure." The Flash shook his head suddenly. "But I still don't see what it has to do with me. Whatever they were arguing about, it's none of our business! *You* shouldn't have eavesdropped, and *I* shouldn't have listened to you!" He paused and mused pensively. "Besides, I don't think I'd be fast enough if Batman ever decided to take me down."

Atom smiled. "Come on, Barry...you *know* you want to! You can't stand by and watch that little guy hurting, anymore than you can ignore Wally's needs when he's had an argument with his father. You're a Dad at heart, Barry. You may not have any children of your own yet, but it doesn't change facts. And the facts clearly state that you can't *not* stick your nose in."

"That's a double negative," the Flash chastised automatically. Atom grinned broadly. He knew he'd gotten to his friend.

The Flash grimaced sourly, but he knew that Atom was right. He couldn't stand by and *not* stick his nose in. He only hoped he'd be fast enough to get out of the way when Batman tried to bite it off.

"Okay, Doctor Palmer, but this hick from the Midwest ain't facing the Dark Knight by his lonesome. This was *your* idea, so you're coming with me."

"Me? What do you need *me* for?" Atom asked.

"In case I need to throw something really small with a lot of mass to save my neck!"

****

Speedy glared at Superman through eyes shining with unshed tears. Finally, he dropped his gaze, and felt the tears start spilling. Superman's words rang in his ears...

"...You *will* be alone. All alone."

"I *am* alone," Speedy whispered. "Everyone I've ever loved has left me. Anyone I try to love leaves me eventually." He looked forlornly at the Man of Steel, and pointing at the earth spinning below, he asked, "If there are billions of people living down there, Superman, why can't I hold on to just one?"

Superman placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. "Son, the only person who can answer that question is *you*. Love and friendship don't come free. You have to work for them, and then once you earn then, you have to fight to keep them. And I don't mean with these--!"

Superman took Speedy's closed fists in his powerful hands. Speedy nodded reluctantly. Superman moved towards the edge of the observation deck. He placed his hands on the transparent titanium wall and stared thoughtfully at the panoramic view before him. How do I get through to him, Superman wondered? He sighed then tried another tack.

"Son, do you know what's the hardest substance I've encountered in my journeys? The one thing that even *I* can't punch my way through?"

Speedy shook his head. He couldn't imagine anything that Superman might have encountered that he couldn't disintegrate with just one super-powerful punch! Realizing that Superman had his back to him, Speedy answered. "No sir, I don't."

"Pride, Son...silly, unbending, overbearing pride. The kind that says 'I'm right, and everyone else is wrong, so why should I change?'" Superman turned to face the young teen. "Speedy, pride is an admirable character trait in a man, but not if it isolates him from his friends and his family. Being right can sometimes be extremely lonely." I should know, he added silently, thinking of Batman.

Speedy studied Superman for a few moments, looking for signs of deception. What did Superman mean, he wondered? What did he want him to do? Speedy walked past Superman and unconsciously imitated the Man of Steel's earlier pose by placing both of his hands on the transparent titanium and gazing, unseeing at the earth below.

"Think about what I said, Son...and Speedy, you're never alone as long you're a part of our family. Remember that." With that Superman left the junior archer alone to his thoughts.

****

Black Canary was packing her suitcases when Green Arrow walked into their quarters. He stood, leaning casually against the door to their bedroom without speaking. GA loved to watch her, even now when she was spitting mad and looked like she'd thoroughly enjoy tossing him on his rear, he enjoyed watching her. God, but she was beautiful! GA swallowed, then spoke quietly.

"Dinah, I deserved everything you said. I'm a lousy father, I admit it." GA waited, but Black Canary ignored him and continued her packing without pause. GA walked to the bed and sat down next to the suitcase.

Black Canary was forced to go around him to reach the open case. Green Arrow gave her his most rakishly charming smile. She paused for moment, glared daggers at him, then calmly moved to the other side of the bed, turned her suitcase around and proceeded with her packing.

"Aw, Pretty Bird, please talk to me. I admitted I was wrong! What *else* can I do?"

Without saying a word, Black Canary calmly picked up a framed eight by ten photo of Ollie. Then, quicker than lightning, she turned and threw it against the wall. The force of the impact shattered the glass frame into a million pieces. Green Arrow sat back, stunned by the violence of her reaction.

"That's what I think of your apology, Oliver Queen! It's as worthless as that empty smile of yours! It's a smile that's full of promises that can turn a girl's head, but which in the end amount to nothing."

Black Canary paused, looking contemptuously at Green Arrow.

"But this isn't about me, Ollie...and it isn't about you. It's about a young boy whose heart you've broken. A young boy whose head you also filled with promises! Promises of a father's love and protection! Promises that like everything else about you were empty and meaningless!"

Black Canary picked up her suitcase and started walking out. When she reached the bedroom door, she stopped keeping her back to him.

"I'm not the person whom you should be apologizing to, Ollie. Roy's still somewhere on this space station--alone, frightened, his heart breaking. And if you don't do something soon, you're going to lose him, too." Black Canary started walking out, but paused again. "If you don't set things straight between you and Roy," she said, her voice breaking, "I'll hate you forever, Oliver Queen!"

Long after Black Canary left, Green Arrow sat alone on the edge of the bed he'd shared with her.

****

"You said there was a new development?" the grim voice uttered from behind caused the Flash to jump.

How does he *do* that, the Flash wondered for the hundredth time? He turned and smiled at his taciturn teammate. "Uh, yeah, Batman...new development. Uh, right, Ray?" the Flash looked around for the Mighty Mite. "Ray?"

Why the little--! Atom had disappeared. I'm definitely *killing* him, the Flash promised himself. I'll use the fly swatter...I swear, this time I'm doing it. Then I'll turn myself in to the Central City PD!

"Well?" Batman asked impatiently.

"Well?" the Flash asked uncertainly. "Oh! Yeah, the new development...uh, wait a minute, I just had the new readouts somewhere. I'm sorry about this Batman, but Atom had the readouts, and you know what the *little twerp* is like. Probably took 'em with him! *Has no consideration* for others *who have work* to do!"

The Flash emphasized his words to make sure Atom knew exactly how he felt at being left alone with the Dark Knight. Batman raised an eyebrow at the Flash's uncharacteristically insulting words. Everyone knew that the Flash and Atom were close friends and colleagues in their civilian identities as well as in their superhero personas.

"We were just going...uh...over the readings," the Flash was stumbling for words. He was not very good at acting or adlibbing. Ray, when I get my hands on you, I'll squeeze so hard, you'll--

"--Why don't you run a new batch?" Batman's gravelly voice interrupted the Flash's ruminations.

"What?"

"I said, why don't you run a new batch? If Atom took the readouts, he must've needed them for a reason," Batman said. He almost sounded reasonable. "Here, I'll do it." Batman walked to the terminal station and began typing rapidly.

All the Flash could do was stand helplessly by. Once the system ran the data, the analysis would show no new development, and he'd be toast. Well, maybe now's the time, he thought to himself. Yeah, right now would be a good time. The Flash opened his mouth to speak, but was beaten to the punch.

"Batman, while we wait for the readouts, Barry and I would like to talk you on a more personal topic." Atom was standing on the Cray monitor over Batman's head. He gave the Flash a sheepish shrug. "Right, Barry?"

Batman stood up and faced both of his teammates. Even in the well-lit computer lab, Batman somehow seemed to fade into the nonexistent shadows. To the Flash, Batman's forbidding presence in the middle of the room was about as inviting as a secluded cemetery on Halloween night. The Flash swallowed.

This isn't a good idea, Ray, the Flash urged silently. "Uh, yeah, right, Ray," he said aloud, nodding vigorously.

Batman stood like a stone wall, waiting.

Stonewall Batman, the Flash thought hysterically. Oh, God! Let me get through this without getting killed.

"Uh, Batman," the Flash began tentatively, "I wanted to talk to you about--"

"We--!" interrupted the Atom. "*We* wanted to talk to him..."

"Right...*We*...that is Ray and I wanted to talk to you about..." the Flash stopped unable to continue.

"What Barry's trying to say, Batman, is that he and I...*we*, that is--"

"You've said that, gentlemen," Batman said quietly.

"Right!" the Flash took a deep breath. "Batman what Ray and I want to talk to you about is--"

beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep...

The Scarlet Speedster was suddenly interrupted by the JLA's supercomputers' warning signals! The data request that Batman had input a few moments before had been correlated and was being sent out. The Flash zipped towards the Cray. What he read made his blood run cold...

****

Robin removed his hand from his forehead, but he definitely had a headache coming. He looked at his three teammates with an "I'm dead" expression. Then he exploded.

"I don't *believe* this!" Robin shouted in outrage. "Where were you people raised? Haven't any of you heard of *knocking*? You don't just walk into people's quarters unannounced! Especially people whose secret identities you haven't been told! That's trespassing!"

Aqualad gave Robin an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Robin. I *knew* that we shouldn't enter, but *someone*--" Aqualad gave Kid Flash an annoyed shove, "-- said that an open door means, 'Please, come in!'"

Kid Flash shrugged. "Well, it *does*!" He looked around at the others' crossed arms and threatening looks. "Well, in Blue Valley it means come in...honest! Scout's honor!" Kid Flash began to look upset. "Robbie, I'm sorry if I did something wrong, honest! But back home we *never* lock our doors unless we're gonna be out of town or something."

Kid Flash looked pleadingly at the others. If he'd done something wrong, he hadn't meant to. What was the big deal anyway, he wondered? As soon as Kid Flash asked himself the question, Robin's appearance finally sank in. Robin didn't have his mask on! Oh. Kid Flash began sidling towards the exit.

"Oh, no you don't, Flasheroo!" Robin said, grabbing the junior speedster by the arm. "You got me into this, now you're gonna help me figure a way out of it!"

"But what can we do, Robin?" asked Wonder Girl. "There *is* no way out of this...I know you, Robbie. You'll never tell a lie, so all you have left is the truth."

Robin sighed. "You're right, Wonder Girl. There's no helping it, I guess. What's happened, happened." He looked at his feet for a second. Suddenly shrugging, Robin invited them to the kitchen. "Come on, let's find something to eat." The others nodded.

"But Robin," Aqualad began. "There is still hope. We still do not know your secret identity. We may know what you look like, but what are the chances that we shall ever bump into you while in our civilian identities?"

"Hey, that's right," Robin agreed excitedly, hope dawning. "I mean, I'm just a kid, anyway. It's not like you're ever gonna see me on TV or anything, and we don't exactly go to the same school. There's almost no chance that you'll ever- -"

"--Hey, Robbie, you have the same literature textbook *I* do," Kid Flash broke in. "What are you studying right now?" He began to open the textbook.

"Kid Flash, don't--!" Robin began, but it was too late! Kid Flash opened the textbook to the inside cover and immediately saw the label that Alfred had affixed so meticulously in all of young Master Dick's schoolbooks. Kid Flash read out loud, "This book belongs to Richard J. Grayson, Wayne Manor, Gotham City." He looked up at the other three.

"Who's Richard J. Grayson?" Kid Flash asked innocently, smiling brightly. Robin slapped his hand to his forehead; Wonder Girl placed a comforting hand on the Boy Wonder's upper arm; and Aqualad just stared at Kid Flash as if he were some new type of land dwelling fish he'd never seen before. The junior Scarlet Speedster's sunny smile faded uncertainly.

"What'd I say?" he asked.

****

"Oh my God," whispered Atom. "There must be thousands..."

"Hundreds of thousands," added the Flash in a voice as subdued as his friend's.

"What's their ETA?" Batman's menacing tones broke in.

"What?" Atom asked unable to think clearly.

"What is the invading force's Estimated Time of Arrival?" Batman asked enunciating each syllable carefully.

"Oh! Their ETA! Of course...I knew that!" replied a flustered Scarlet Speedster. He was still stunned by the implication of what he was reading. An invasion force comprised of literally thousands of ships the size of the Empire State Building, powered with some kind of plasma/impulse star drive, much more advanced than anything the earth's governments would be able to defend against. And if the readouts were correct, the ships were definitely armed.

"ETA to outer solar system...one-hundred fifty hours...that's about six point two-five days," the Flash said a bit more calmly. "From there to earth is anybody's guess, depending on whether or not they can maintain their star drive within the confines of a star's gravity well."

Batman nodded. "Understood. Assemble the troops, gentlemen. We have a planet to defend." Batman turned to go, then stopped suddenly and turned back to face the two superhero scientists. "By the way, what is it that you two wished to speak to me about?"

The Flash and Atom both stopped their frenzied activities and shared a mutually inscrutable look that somehow still managed to convey vast amounts of information between them. As one, they turned and faced the Dark Knight.

"It can wait," the Flash said cheerily.

"Yeah...wasn't important," piped in Atom. "Later!" They both turned back to the task at hand.

Batman squinted behind his mask and managed not to shake his head. Amateurs, he thought.

****

Chapter Seven

The fleet of unmanned scout ships continued on its relentless approach to the third planet from the target star. Every few time units, as the original builders measured time, the scout ships would turn starboard along the x-axis, drop 10,000 kilometers on the z-axis, then reverse the procedure. As the armada "sailed" the deep oceans of space, its individual ships appeared to be taking part in an elaborately choreographed waltz.

Until the dance reached its pre-programmed climax, and the members of the dance chorus opened fire on the audience. For every few time units, as the ships completed their dance routine and returned to their starting places, the scouts would once again test their defensive posture. First, forward shields would go up, then starboard, port, and aft. Finally full shields would come online, and the Target Acquisition Center's AI would take command of the ships' guidance control. The AI would then run through its test fire sequence...

****

"What'd I say?" Kid Flash repeated. He looked at the name printed inside the literature textbook again. His eyes widened. "Oh."

"Are all land dwellers as dense as you, Wally, or are you just a special case?" asked Aqualad.

Kid Flash swallowed nervously. "Uh, Robbie..."

"Never mind, Wally...never mind," Robin said, feeling suddenly tired by the whole ordeal. He took his textbook back. "Yeah, I'm Richard J. Grayson. But everybody calls me Dick." He shrugged. "Not much point in pretending you never saw it." He sighed. "I'm dead anyway...once Bruce finds out."

"Bruce?" Kid Flash asked. Then recalling the entire legend inside the textbook (Richard J. Grayson, Wayne Manor, Gotham City), his eyes widened again as everything fell in place. "You mean, as in *the* Bruce Wayne of Gotham City? Like in Wayne Enterprises?"

Robin nodded. "Yeah, I might as well tell you everything...but, guys, this is Top Secret! You can't tell anyone...*ever*! Even your own partners!" The others nodded solemnly.

"You can trust *us*, Robbie!" Kid Flash said confidently. "I'm great at keeping secrets! Honest!" They all gave him neutral looks. "Hey, don't go by this! I swear...mum's the word! Cross my heart!"

Robin shook his head. I'm dead, he thought. He turned his back for a second. "I'm gonna have to tell Bruce...like Donna said, I can't *not* tell him. That would be the same as lying, and believe me...you don't just lie to *Batman*!"

Kid Flash swallowed at the inconceivable idea. Batman could probably read your thoughts before you said them, he thought. Just like Uncle Barry or Aunt Iris could. They *always* knew when he was telling a whopper, which is why he could never get away with anything at home.

"Come on," Robin said. "I'll tell you over lunch. I'm starving...what with Speedy, then Batman, now this! I never had a chance to finish my breakfast!" The young superheroes hurried to the kitchen to search for sandwich makings. To their delight, they found several different luncheon meats, some of Alfred's tomato basil soup in tightly covered containers, and a wide assortment of breads.

"Wow!" Kid Flash cried out, impressed by the variety available. All he and the Flash had was cold pizza. The two speedsters mostly took their meals in the JLA cafeteria.

"Alfred takes care of us," Robin explained. "I'm not sure how or when this stuff got transported here, but, well, I'm not surprised." He shrugged. Alfred's loyalty and determination to ensure his two charges ate properly were just a part of life, part of the natural order of things.

"Who's Alfred?" asked Aqualad, as the teens settled down to eat in the small dining area.

"Alfred's our butler," Robin replied between bites. "But he's more than that. He takes care of us. I guess I love him as much as I love Bruce...or as much as I loved my own parents."

"Your parents?" interrupted Kid Flash. "You mean, Batman isn't your father?" He winced suddenly. Both Aqualad and Wonder Girl kicked him under the table. What'd I say, he asked silently? They each gave him disgusted looks.

Robin shook his head sadly. "No, Bruce isn't my real father. He took me in when my Mom and Dad were killed. He said that he would never replace them, or try to be my--" Robin's voice faltered. "--my father. But he's been a great pal, honest! He's trained me...taught me all kinds of cool stuff. And I've shown him a thing or two about acrobatics, but--" Robin's eyes dropped momentarily. "-- but, no. He's not my father."

The other Titans sat momentarily in an awkward silence.

"I don't know who my parents were," Aqualad said quietly, his violet eyes looking profoundly sad. "Arthur found me one day and took me in. He is a good friend and mentor. I never had anyone before him...I guess that I shall always be grateful to him for giving me a home."

"And no one knows anything about me," Wonder Girl added sadly. "Diana found me in a burning building when I was just a baby. She took me to Paradise Island where Queen Hyppolyta adopted me. I love my Amazon sisters and my adopted Amazon family. But I wish, more than words can say, that I knew who I was and where I came from."

Robin reached his hand across the table and placed it on Wonder Girl's. He gave her hand a light squeeze in sympathy. Wonder Girl looked up gratefully, blue eyes shining. Robin gave her hand a final squeeze then returned thoughtfully to his meal, his mind on Wonder Girl's story about being found in a burning building. He wondered if the building was still standing. If it was, then maybe he should--

Kid Flash cleared his throat, interrupting Robin's thought processes. "I don't have that kind of problem," Kid Flash said tentatively. "It's funny, 'cause I *know* who I am, and who my family is...and I almost wish I didn't." This last was added with a dark, bitter scowl.

"My father hates my guts and thinks I'm a real loser...my Mom, well, she's okay, but she can't stand up to my Dad." Kid Flash stared soberly at his sandwich for a moment. Suddenly his dark mood lifted and was replaced with his usually sunny smile.

"The luckiest day of my life came when Aunt Iris brought her new boyfriend, Barry Allen, home for dinner. No! That's not right! The luckiest day of my life came the day Aunt Iris *married* Uncle Barry. If I could have just one wish, I'd wish more than anything that Uncle Barry and Aunt Iris could be my real parents. I think I love them more than anything else in the whole universe!"

They all looked at each other in quiet wonderment. Was it possible that they each suffered and hurt from such similar circumstances? Did they each yearn for the one thing none of them could have, or thought was beyond their reach? The one thing that kids around the world took for granted, the love and comfort of a mother and father?

It was an unusually solemn group of young heroes who quietly finished their lunch...

****

As he ate, Robin couldn't help feeling somewhat guilty about Speedy. Where was the junior bowman? He looked around at his friends, again wondering at their eerie similarities. He was grateful for their support, but he didn't feel right about Speedy's absence. Finally, Robin broke the silence.

"Where's Speedy?" he asked.

The silence stretched. In fact, the room seemed to grow even quieter, if such a thing were possible. Robin looked at each of his teammates, assuming the role of leader once more.

"Where's Speedy?" he repeated. He looked first at Wonder Girl, who was studiously avoiding his eyes...Aqualad, who dropped his in shame...and Kid Flash, who tried to hold Robin's steady gaze, but didn't have enough will power and soon looked away.

"Okay, let me rephrase the question," Robin said, a hard edge entering his young voice. "What happened after I left the gym?" Dead silence. "Uh-huh. I thought so. You stuck your noses where they didn't belong, didn't you? Just like when you came barging in here without permission, you all probably said something to Speedy. Am I right? Well?"

"Aw, Robbie, come on," Kid Flash said a bit defensively. "What could we do, huh? Let the junior jerk think he could just shove us all around and become the big bad leader of the Titans? No way! Whatever we said to him, he had it coming! In spades!"

"I agree with Kid Flash, Robin," Aqualad added. "Although, I am not certain of everything he just said. However, the gist is correct. Speedy did not have any right to demand that you quit the team...that is a decision for all of us to make together! Furthermore, his actions of late have been both childish and detrimental to the team as a whole. I feel that we acted well within our purview as Titans to have registered our protests at his somewhat untoward behavior."

Kid Flash stared open mouthed at the Atlantean's speech. Finding his voice, the young speedster, nodded his head in agreement, and pointing at Aqualad added lamely, "Yeah! What *he* said!"

Robin eyed them both coldly. Without his mask, they could see Robin's blue eyes burning intensely, his anger and disgust evident. Kid Flash suddenly wished that Robin would put his mask back on. Geez, the guy's scary no matter what he's wearing! Or *isn't* wearing, Kid Flash amended.

Finally, Robin turned to Wonder Girl. She turned to face him slowly, raising her chin defiantly, the picture of a haughty Amazon Princess. They both stared at each other, neither saying a word for a seeming eternity.

Kid Flash and Aqualad exchanged uneasy glances. Robin and Wonder Girl were best friends. Her relationship with Speedy was the first evidence of a possible rift in their friendship. Neither the junior speedster nor the teen Atlantean dared breathe lest they break the standoff between Robin and Wonder Girl and somehow make matters worse.

"Roy had no right to say the things he did." Wonder Girl broke the silence first. "He has *no right* to decide who my friends are! And *you*--!" Wonder Girl's beautiful wide blue eyes narrowed into enraged slits. She suddenly jumped up from her chair and pointed furiously at Robin. "--You had *no right* to quit the Titans! You're our leader...and a leader doesn't quit just because one of his teammates doesn't like him!"

Wonder Girl's hot, angry words hung in the air, ringing with accusation. Robin stood up, too.

"You know that's not why I quit, Donna," Robin replied quietly. "You of all people should know better."

Wonder Girl stepped away from the table, and crossed over to the living room. "Well, I don't," she said, choking. The tears that had been threatening since she'd yelled at Speedy weren't far behind. "I thought you were my friend...I thought you cared about me. But you were willing to throw it all away...for what? Some misguided sense of chivalry?"

Robin walked up behind her, and gently took her in his arms. "I'm sorry, Donna. I *do* care about you. You know that. Please don't cry...You know I can't stand it when you cry." He reached for a box of tissues. "Here."

Wonder Girl sniffed her thanks.

Robin sighed. "Okay, I admit it. I handled the whole thing badly. It's just that I *know* you like Harper, Donna. Our friendship seemed to be getting in the way of that. I couldn't stand watching him hurt you...not over me! You're my best friend. So, I--"

"--So, you decided to step aside?" Wonder Girl looked hurt, angry, and amused all at the same time. "I admit that Roy's attitude was hurtful, and I didn't know how to handle it. I'm not sure I'll ever understand it...but that's something that *I* have to work out with Roy."

Wonder Girl suddenly took a few steps away from Robin. She stood looking forlorn in the middle of the living area. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face Robin again.

"Dick, you're my best friend, too. You're like a brother to me...and as you can imagine, we don't have very many of *those* on Paradise Island!"

She and Robin shared a secret smile remembering their earlier kiss. On impulse, Robin walked up to her and tipped her chin up with his forefinger.

"Is that what I am, Donna?" Robin asked quietly, disappointment in his eyes. "Is that what you want me to be? Your brother?"

Wonder Girl nodded reluctantly, feeling tears that never seemed from far from spilling threatening again. "Yes," she whispered softly, allowing him to caress her cheek gently. Robin's eyes smiled warmly, willingly accepting the role she'd assigned him in her life.

Wonder Girl spoke again, this time chastisingly. "Do you think for one second that it was fair of you to just quit and walk away? Not just from our friendship, but from the Titans and our family? Because isn't that what we are? A family?"

Wonder Girl addressed this last question to all of them. Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Robin slowly nodded. They were a family. As kid sidekicks to the World's Greatest Heroes they each lived a singular and exciting life. But it had its serious drawbacks, loneliness being the most prevalent.

When they formed the Teen Titans, they'd each discovered that they weren't alone anymore. That there were others just like them, who felt thrilled to share the dangers with their adult partners, but because they were still teens faced problems unique to themselves. Problems that their adult partners never experienced. Problems that only another teen could understand.

"You're right, Donna, we *are* a family," Robin said smiling. He waved Aqualad and Kid Flash over to them. When they were all standing together he added, "But we're missing a member of our family, aren't we?"

The others dropped their eyes, unable to agree with him. Exasperated, Robin said simply, "You know guys, my Mom used to always say that while you can choose your friends, you're stuck with the family that God gave you. If we're really a family, and not just friends, then Roy Harper, warts and all, is a part of us...*If* we're a family."

Robin placed his hand straight out in front of him, palm down. Slowly, one by one, the others did the same.

"TITANS TOGETHER!!"

"Let's go find our missing teammate, Titans!" The others smiled at Robin. The one true Titans' leader had spoken.

****

Before the Titans left Batman and Robin's quarters, Robin stopped at Batman's private workstation, which the Dark Knight kept in his bedroom. Robin felt a little guilty about breaking Batman's security protocols.

"Oh well," Robin muttered in self-justification, "if Bruce didn't want me to break his security codes, he wouldn't've taught me how to do it!"

Robin quickly ran a personnel search of the JLA satellite, looking for Speedy's unique signature among the other heroes. There were only five people currently onboard who were under five feet eight inches, and at the moment three of those were hovering over Robin. Therefore, the fifth one had to be Speedy...there!

Robin quickly typed in a few more commands and instantly accessed the exact location.

"Forward Observation Deck...Level One-A!" Robin read aloud. "Let's go!" The Teen Titans searched for and quickly found the special express elevator, which went directly to the observation deck. They all piled in and quickly made their way up through the massive satellite's multiple levels.

An instant later, the elevator doors opened to...EMPTY SPACE! Wonder Girl gasped. Robin experienced a moment of vertigo, which quickly passed. Aqualad and Kid Flash stood back stunned by the awesome sight.

And standing there, seemingly in the middle of open space, was Speedy!

Robin swallowed a couple of times, then closing his eyes, he took a tentative step forward. Intellectually he knew that the observation deck wasn't open to space, that it was probably protected by the same material that the JLA lounge's viewing ports were composed of, but it was still somewhat disconcerting to step out into...nothingness!

Carefully, placing his foot down, Robin was rewarded with a solid floor. Not opening his eyes, he took a second step. When Robin knew that he was standing outside of the elevator and in the middle of the observation deck, he finally opened his eyes. And kept on opening them, until he thought his eyes would fall out of their eye sockets! Robin stood enthralled by the indescribable vista spread out before him.

He couldn't speak...such beauty required a total reverential silence on the part of a mere human boy.

"There aren't words for it, are there?" asked Speedy quietly. Robin shook his head, no. "I've been standing here for about an hour, trying to make sense of it all...my life, me, you, the Titans...everything. And it all seems so unimportant." Speedy turned to face Robin. "I was wrong...and I've been a jerk. If you, Donna, Wally and Gillhead never speak to me again, nor want to have anything to do with me, I'll understand." He turned back to the panoramic view of the universe.

"As someone recently told me," Speedy added in a quietly subdued voice, "the problems of one kid don't amount to a hill of beans when you look at the big picture!"

"Hill of beans, huh?" Robin smiled. "I guess that someone likes old movies, too."

Speedy turned to him with a questioning look.

"'Casablanca' was one of my Dad's all-time favorites!" Robin shook his head. "Never mind, it isn't important. What *is* important is that we're all together again." He walked over to Speedy and held his hand out in a peace offering.

Speedy stared at Robin and the others disbelievingly. Even after he'd acted like such a jerk? He looked carefully at each in turn...was it a trick? Speedy read hope in Wonder Girl's shining eyes...friendship in Aqualad's...there was a careful neutrality in Kid Flash's eyes, as if withholding judgement.

And Robin's? Speedy couldn't read Robin's eyes, because the Boy Wonder was wearing his mask. Still, hesitating, Speedy was about to take the proffered hand, when Robin did something that was even more shocking.

Reaching up suddenly, Robin removed his mask! Standing there, unmasked, his piercingly dark blue eyes studying his hotheaded teammate, Robin once again offered his hand.

"Hi, we've never been properly introduced...I'm Dick Grayson. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Robin smiled broadly. Speedy's eyes became as huge as two green marbles. Speedy took Robin's hand in both of his, shaking it vigorously.

"Dick Grayson! We-we've *met* before! When Ollie and I...in Gotham City last year...a-a charity benefit! Y-y-you were there...w-w-with Bruce Wayne!" Speedy's eyes widened further, his dark red eyebrows disappearing into his hairline. "Bruce Wayne! That means that Bruce Wayne is--"

Robin quickly clapped his hand over Speedy's mouth. "Not so loud, junior bowman! We never know who's listening...anyway, yeah...I'm who you say I am...and you know who is...well, you know."

Speedy looked nonplussed. "But why tell me...or show me? I mean...I thought--!"

Wonder Girl walked up to Speedy and took his arm. Speedy happily hugged her to him. Robin felt a momentary stab of jealousy, but let it pass. He smiled, instead.

"You thought we'd just drop you? Let you off the hook?" Robin asked. "No way, Harper! You're part of the family...and like it or not, this family takes care of its own. We're gonna have differences, 'cause that's the way it is with families, but we're all part of each other. Right guys?"

Aqualad and Kid Flash gathered around them, nodding in agreement. "That's why our motto is 'Titans Together' and *not* 'Titans Only Some of the Time' or 'Titans When We Feel Like It!'" Robin grinned at Speedy who returned it, happy to back in the fold.

"By the way," Robin said chagrinned. "The secret identity thing...do me a favor and don't tell anyone, okay? I don't exactly have Batman's permission to spread it around. As it is, I may not be the Titans' leader after this mission. I have a feeling that Batman's gonna clip my wings and ground me for life."

As the junior heroes started loading onto the express elevator, Speedy asked derisively, "You mean, goody-two shoes Robin, the Boy Wonder, broke a rule?"

"Don't make me hurt you, Speedy!" Robin threatened.

"I can't believe it! Junior Birdman did something that'll get 'im grounded!"

"Quiet, Quiver-breath!"

"Make me, Twinkletoes!"

"Insults can only lead to unfortunate altercations--!" Aqualad began.

"--Shut up, Gillhead!" both Speedy and Kid Flash shouted together.

"Jerk!" "Hayseed!" "Arrowhead!" "Dork!"

As the elevator doors closed on the Titans, Robin and Wonder Girl shared a smile. Everything was back to normal!

****

"The only option I can see, Superman," Green Lantern said, "is for either you or I or the both of us to go out and make First Contact."

"Looks to me, GL, that the time for talking is over," interrupted Green Arrow. "That little armada that's coming our way outnumbers us by about a few thousand to--"

GA paused and quickly counted the heroes sitting at the conference table: Superman, Atom, the Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Black Canary (GA hesitated on her face for an instant), Batman hiding off in the shadows somewhere, and himself.

"--to eight!" Green Arrow finished.

"Make that thirteen!" The JLA turned around towards the sound of the impossibly young voice. Robin and the rest of the Teen Titans were standing at the entrance to the conference room in various stances of proud defiance.

In the shadows, Batman smiled beneath his cowl. The other JLAers looked on the Titans with a mixture of pride and amusement, but none dared show the latter. None, that is, except Green Arrow. He burst into laughter at the incongruity of five kids helping stop an alien invasion.

"Tell me another one, Boy Wonder!" Green Arrow guffawed. "What help could you kids possibly be against thousands of alien ships?"

"Maybe none, sir, but we'd like to help anyway," Robin said quietly. Then giving GA a devilish smile he added, "Besides I finished my homework, and it's not my bedtime, yet! I think an alien invasion will help pass a boring afternoon." He turned to the other Titans. "Don't you guys agree?"

"Yeah, there's nothing on TV anyway," Kid Flash added straight-faced, "and besides the satellite has lousy reception!" The others nodded in mock agreement. "So we decided, what the hell--!"

"Wallace! Watch your language, young man!" the Flash chastised instantly.

"Sorry, Uncle Barry," Kid Flash said unperturbed. "But, in light of the fact that we could be facing the end of everything as we know it, 'What the heck' just didn't seem strong enough."

Wonder Girl giggled behind her hand. She caught her sister's imperious look and stopped immediately. As soon as Wonder Woman looked away, Wonder Girl snorted helplessly.

"What's the matter, Ollie?" Speedy broke in dangerously. "You afraid we might show up the World's Greatest Heroes? Look at you, all of you! The famous Justice League of America! You're no closer to a solution than you were when you first discovered this so-called 'space anomaly.' Are you?"

Green Arrow jumped up, kicking his chair back in the process. Mentor and sidekick faced off each other, neither willing to back down. Robin walked up to Speedy and gently laid a hand on the junior archer's arm.

"It's okay, Roy," Robin said quietly.

Stepping confidently forward, Robin addressed the JLA directly. Gone was the trepidation he'd experienced the first day onboard. How long ago had *that* day been, he wondered?

"We know that we don't have the JLA's combined power, but the Titans have done pretty well for themselves since we formed. We may be a little light on the superpowered stuff, but we make up for it in teamwork...in covering each other's weaknesses. Like *you've* taught us."

Robin turned and addressed Batman directly. "Like you've taught *me*, sir." Batman and Robin held each other's steady gaze a moment. Batman nodded imperceptibly at his protege. Robin's face didn't register how he felt, but to the others present, he seemed to grow a foot.

Atom and the Flash exchanged slightly chagrinned looks. Apparently, they'd been concentrating on trying to fix the wrong partnership. They both turned and glared at Green Arrow.

Robin turned back and faced the JLA again. When he spoke, the Boy Wonder's pride was almost palpable in his young voice. "If strength lies in numbers, then the Titans would be proud to add theirs to the JLA's." When Robin finished, his words were met with complete silence from the senior heroes. Had he failed, Robin wondered disappointedly?

Finally, Superman winked at the Titans' leader and gave him a thumbs up. At this sign of approval from the Man of Tomorrow, the Titans exploded in celebration, giving each other high fives and back slaps. They were in!

"This is *way* cool, Gillhead!" Kid Flash shouted, giving the Atlantean a friendly shove.

"Indeed, Wally," Aqualad agreed, shoving back. "Way cool."

Speedy proffered his hand to Robin. Robin clasped it in his immediately, then called the others forward to the do the same. The JLA watched with pride as their young proteges cried out their motto once more: "TITANS TOGETHER!"

****

"MONITOR DUTY?" Kid Flash protested. "That's what they make all the newbies do! Uncle Barry told me!"

"We might as well watch the paint peel off the walls," Speedy groused. "It'd be just about as exciting."

"They also serve, who stand and wait," Robin broke in unconcernedly. "Don't worry, our turn will come."

"What makes you sure, Robin?" Aqualad asked curiously.

"Yeah, Robbie," asked Wonder Girl. "What makes you so sure?"

"Come on guys...that's an unimaginably-sized armada of ships heading our way. You think that the JLA won't need us to help fight them, if it comes to that, eventually?" The others looked at him, their expressions clearly stating that the thought had indeed *not* occurred to them.

"Look, I know they have Superman, and I guess you don't need very many heroes as long as the Man of Steel is on your team! They also have GL and that power ring of his, not to mention Wonder Woman. But the others? Don't get me wrong. I don't discount them...especially Batman. In fact, I'm surprised Batman hasn't figured out how to stop the invasion, yet."

Robin grinned with obvious pride in his mentor. "And the others are no slouches, either, in the superhero department! But like Green Arrow said...there *are* only eight of them!" Robin shrugged. "The way I see it is, it's not a question of *if* they'll need us, but how soon!"

"Robin's right," Batman said from the doorway. The Titans, who'd been sitting around the JLA monitors in various states of casual slouching, quickly jumped to their feet. All except Robin, he'd actually been sitting in front of a monitor typing in commands while he talked.

"What do you have, partner?" Batman asked quietly. Robin felt himself glow with pride. Batman was talking to him like an equal in front of the Titans. Robin typed in a few more commands, hit enter a couple of times, then sat back and waited. Finally, the JLA supercomputers began signaling that they were sending the data he'd requested. Robin hit the print button, and the information he wanted started spewing forth.

"The ships are approximately carrier-sized, with plasma/impulse engines...which you already knew...Batman, here's something new! Weapons are being fired in a set pattern almost like clockwork." Robin shrugged feeling uncertain over such an obvious tactical error on the part of a more advanced enemy. "Maybe they're on some kind of pre-programmed firing sequence. We could time the firing order, and maybe use it to our advantage!"

"Good thinking, chum," Batman said giving him a half-smile. Robin's face lit up nova-bright. "They appear to be some kind of plasma-based weapons system...probably powered by the engines." Batman and Robin exchanged a knowing glance...another piece of information they could use to their advantage!

"Batman, what I don't understand," Robin said slowly, feeling his words, "is that if these invaders are so much more advanced than us, how can they be making such basic errors in tactics? D'you think it's some kind of trick?" Batman looked long and steadily at his young partner.

"That's a very good question, chum. A very good question." Batman turned to go. "Keep up the good work, Titans. This information could prove valuable." Before walking out, Batman surreptitiously placed a hand on Robin's shoulder, squeezing gently, then was gone.

Speedy watched the interplay between Batman and Robin from the sidelines a bit jealously. Speedy had always been nervous about meeting the Dark Knight. Batman just seemed so forbidding, like something out of your nightmares! But watching Batman with Robin work together made Speedy start reassessing his initial evaluation of Gotham's protector.

There was nothing about how Batman acted around Robin that stood out and shouted, THIS IS MY KID AND I'M PROUD OF HIM! But maybe it was the very subtlety of the Dynamic Duo's relationship. Speedy recalled how Batman had chewed Robin out in public because the other Titans had been acting like immature kids.

Speedy thought then that Batman was being unfair and acting like a jerk, but now he saw that Batman respected Robin as the Titans' leader. So, Robin's earlier butt chewing by Batman wasn't because Batman was a jerk, but because Batman felt that leaders should always be in command.

Speedy remembered Robin's words to Wonder Girl when she'd protested against Robin getting into trouble: "That's okay...I'm responsible." Leaders were responsible for everything their teammates did or failed to do, and Robin was taking responsibility even back then.

Speedy suddenly found himself wondering what it must be like to live under all of the restrictive rules that Robin had mentioned earlier. Most of all, he wondered what it must be like to live with and work with a man who was so obsessed with protecting you that he always expected you to be in command of yourself, your teammates, and your surroundings.

"It must be great," Speedy said out loud. Wonder Girl turned and looked at him curiously.

"What must be great, Roy?" She came up to him and laid her head gently on his shoulder.

"You, of course, Wonder Doll," Speedy said smoothly, holding her closely to him. "You're the greatest, did you know that?" She rewarded him with a smile that only a teenaged girl in love for the first time in her life could give.

Kid Flash elbowed Aqualad and pointed his chin at the two young lovers. "Mush!" he said disgustedly in low tones. Aqualad grinned in amusement. He might not know much about land dwellers, but he was learning quickly. And what Aqualad had garnered so far told him that his friend and teammate, Kid Flash was afraid of girls. Wonder Girl especially.

"Come, my fleet-footed friend," Aqualad invited. "Let's see of what use we may be while on this 'monitor duty' that you to detest so much!"

"Aw, come on, Gillhead! Robbie doesn't need us! He's got the whole thing under control...I mean even Batman said we were doing a good job!"

"The key word is *we*, Wally!" Aqualad returned. "*We* haven't done a thing, yet we share in Batman's praise for Robin's work. It's time that we did something to deserve any accolades received."

"Garth, I wish you'd speak in English," Kid Flash complained. "I can't hardly understand half the things you say!"

"The feeling, I assure you, is mutual," Aqualad muttered. "Come. Let us assist Robin. I am most curious about his talking with his fingers."

"What? Talking with his fingers? Gillhead, Robin's *typing* for crying out loud! That thing in front of him...the thing with all of the letters...is called a keyboard, and you *type* into it! I thought you *had* computers in Atlantis!"

"Yes, but our data retrieval systems in Atlantis are accessed by...other means," Aqualad explained enigmatically. Kid Flash looked at him nervously. Just when you start getting comfortable around a guy, he starts acting *weird* on you!

****

Chapter Eight The scout ships' almost limitless power was derived from the dark matter that comprised over 99 percent of space. This was then converted into dense, hot plasma contained in vast magnetic fields, which powered not just the ship's mighty star drive, but also its weapons systems. This made the armada of small ships, formidable indeed, for each ship was armed with literally an unlimited capacity for destruction with no living intelligence to temper its hand...

****

"Bruce?" Bruce turned to see Dick, hair tousled, standing in the bedroom's open door, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Dick, what are you doing out of bed? It's past two in the morning."

"I wanted to talk to you," Dick said yawning. Bruce could see that his ward had been asleep, but must've awakened when he heard Bruce come in. Bruce immediately walked over to Dick and began steering him back to his own room.

"Okay, we'll talk, chum, but it's back to bed for you!"

"'Kay," Dick muttered, barely keeping his eyes open. He'd had a long day, and gladly obeyed when Bruce ordered him to bed promptly at ten p.m. The Titans were relieved from monitor duty by the Flash, and they'd all gone to the JLA Lounge to talk. Batman stopped Robin half-way there and said only one word...

"...Curfew!" Batman's voice was unyielding. Robin's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it! Curfew? While they were on a mission with the JLA?

"You're off duty now," Batman explained, although Robin knew he didn't have to. "You know that when we're on the job we grab sleep when it's available. It may be the last full night's sleep you get for a long, time, chum." Batman gestured with a slight nod of his head. "Bed."

Robin looked long and hard at Batman but finally nodded. He admitted to himself that he was exhausted and could barely keep his eyes open.

"Yes, sir," Robin said. "May I say good night to my friends?" The Dark Knight gave him a curt nod. Robin walked over to his team. "Gotta go, guys. I'll see you in the a.m. Remember we have duty from six till one tomorrow, so don't stay up too late."

"Yes, Dad!" Speedy and Kid Flash shouted. Robin smiled, waved good night then followed Batman...

Tucked back in bed, Dick yawned sleepily. Bruce ruffled his ward's hair playfully, then sat back patiently.

"Now, what is it that can't wait until morning?" Bruce asked.

Dick smiled sleepily. "It *is* morning!"

"Touche, chum. So what's so important that it can't wait till a lot later in the morning?" Bruce asked with a half smile.

"It's Roy," Dick answered quietly worried.

"Roy? I thought you two ironed out your differences, Dick. I don't understand."

"It's not about Roy and me, Bruce," Dick replied, sitting up on his elbows, his dark blue eyes looking beseechingly at his guardian. "It's about Roy...and Mister Queen."

Bruce became very still. "Go on, chum. What about Roy and Ollie?"

Dick shrugged. "I'm not sure, Bruce. It's just that...well, did you know that Roy doesn't have *any* rules? I mean, sometimes I feel really jealous, you know? Roy says that he has no set bedtime and can go to bed at any time he wants! And no curfew! He can stay out as late as he wants, no questions asked!" Dick's voice registered his shock at such an inconceivable amount of freedom.

"Roy has no special homework time! He can do his homework if he feels like it, or he can blow it off! Can you b'lieve that? He can just blow off his homework! Mister Queen doesn't care!"

Dick's blue eyes took on a bright shine, a reflection of his excitement over never having to do any homework. Imagine living like that...doing what you wanted when you wanted. Then his eyes grew worried again. That kind of freedom came at a price, though, and Dick was mature enough to realize it.

"But it doesn't sound like a lot of fun, Bruce! Roy says Mister Queen leaves him alone for days, even weeks at a time! And it isn't like when you go away...I have Alfred to look after me. Roy doesn't have *anybody*, Bruce! He's left alone! By himself! And he's only a year older'n me!" Dick's forehead furrowed with concern for his friend.

"Bruce, I'm really worried. Can't you do something? Talk to Mister Queen maybe? It just isn't right, Bruce! Roy's just a kid! He needs somebody to take care of him! Like you and Alfred take care of me!"

Bruce felt his chest tighten at Dick's last comment. What could he do, he wondered? He'd be involving himself in Ollie's personal family business. Something that Bruce, himself, drew lines on the sand with and refused to allow anyone to cross. Bruce gave Dick a confident half-smile, then drew the covers closer around his boy's neck.

"Okay, chum. I'll talk to Ollie, but I can't make any promises."

"I knew you would, Bruce! And I'm not worried, 'cause I know that if you talk to Mister Queen, everything will be all right." He gave his guardian a sleepy smile, and slowly began to drop off, a heavy weight off his shoulders.

"Good night, chum."

"G'night, Bruce."

****

Atom and the Flash were monitoring when the Titans reported in.

"Look, kids, we've got it," Atom said. "Why don't you go explore the station or something? I promise, if we need you, we'll holler!"

Robin and the rest of the Titans looked at each other in mild annoyance. They'd just been dismissed from what was essentially bonehead duty. The Titans had only served one tour on monitor duty, and the JLA was already replacing them.

"'Go explore the station, or something!'" Kid Flash mimicked. "What does he think we are? Tourists?" The young speedster looked disgusted. "And Uncle Barry! He just let that super-gnat talk to us like that! Boy!" He kicked at an imaginary tin can.

"Chill, Twinkletoes," Robin said. "Haven't you heard? If you get a bunch of lemons, make lemonade!"

"Huh?" Kid Flash and others looked at their young leader curiously.

"Like the man said," Robin began "let's 'go explore the station!'"

The Titans followed their leader, albeit a bit reluctantly.

****

"Whoa..." whispered Kid Flash, his eyes huge at what lay before them. "Where *are* we?"

"Great Hera!"

"Suffering swordfish!"

"*Way* cool, Batboy!" Speedy said. "How'd you know of this place?"

"I read the satellite's specs," Robin replied sardonically. "Anyway, I thought since we might have to fight a space battle, the Titans should do a little training...just in case!"

"You mean, *fly* one of these?" Kid Flash zipped excitedly through the myriad JLA cruisers sitting quietly in the launch bay.

"No, I don't *mean* fly one of these," Robin answered. "At least, not literally."

"What do you mean, Robbie?" asked Wonder Girl.

"The flight simulator. I've clocked about two hundred hours on the sim back in the cave, and--"

"You Batguys have a flight simulator?" Speedy asked amazed.

"Of course, how else can we stay current? I mean, we don't fly the Batwing *every* night! That's how Batman trained me." At their looks, he added exasperatedly, "Well, how else could I have earned my pilot's license? You don't think Batman just handed me the Batwing's controls and said, 'Here kid...Go for it?'"

The others stared at him.

"You have a pilot's license?" Kid Flash asked in small voice.

"Batboy, what other little secret talents do you have?" Speedy asked. His voice actually sounded admiring.

"I don't know...just whatever's necessary for the job." Robin gave his teammates an "It's no big deal" shrug. "Anyway, I've logged a coupla hundred hours on the JLA cruiser. In the sim, anyway, not the real thing. But it's just like the real thing...believe me! The couple of times I flamed out, I really expected Batman to carry me out in pieces!" He grinned at his team.

"So, who wants go first?" The Titans practically buried Robin as they all rushed forward.

****

"All right, team...let's see what we've got. Wonder Girl, it's my understanding that you've clocked some hours on Wonder Woman's invisible plane?"

Wonder Girl nodded. "Yes, Robbie, but Diana's plane isn't like one of these! It's powered entirely by will power. There aren't any manual controls, per se. The plane is a sort of extension of Diana's psyche. It listens to me only because Diana commanded it to."

"Gotcha, WG," Robin nodded, "but you at least have an idea of flying...and I don't mean the kind of flying that you can do on air currents without a plane, either! Aqualad, you've operated underwater submersibles haven't you?"

"Indeed, Robin," Aqualad nodded. "But I do not understand how that might be of help?"

"Well, flying a spacecraft is similar to operating an underwater craft. You have a definite movement in two dimensions like surface craft have, but more importantly you also have the added up and down dimension. So, underwater, just as in space, your movements are three-dimensional. You must remain aware of your X, Y, and Z-axis at all times." He looked at the others. "Follow me?"

Speedy nodded curtly, Wonder Girl a little uncertainly, Aqualad calmly, and Kid Flash looked lost.

"What's an axis?" Kid Flash asked. Robin sighed.

"What's the highest math level you've taken, Twinkletoes?" Robin asked gently.

"I'm repeating pre-Algebra," he confessed, eyes downcast.

"Hey, that's okay, Wally," Robin reassured him, his hand on the other boy's shoulder. "I can always use someone else on weapons, and you sure have the fastest reflexes of any of us! Right team?"

"Right!" "No, prob, Flasheroo!"

Kid Flash gave them a bright smile, completely clueless as to what Robin or the others were referring.

"Now, before I let you enter the sim, I'm gonna give you a down and dirty briefing on aerodynamics, the problems with Newton's Laws, and why falling is a good thing in space!" Giving his team a cursory nod, he turned and led them all into the JLA pre-flight briefing room.

****

"Are there any questions?" Robin asked. The others shook their heads blearily. It was past lunchtime! Robin had lectured since almost seven that morning. They'd sent Kid Flash on a breakfast run, and he'd returned with enough milk and donuts to give them all cavities for life. Robin noticed that his gloves still had powered sugar residue on the fingertips.

"Okay, why don't we take ten...when we come back, I'll take each of you through the sim. I'd like all of us in the crew sim. That way, we can start learning to operate one of these things as a team, rather than as individual fighter pilots."

"But, Robin, wouldn't our firepower be increased if we all learned to pilot one of the cruisers individually?" asked Aqualad.

"That's a good question, Garth. I think it all depends on what we want. Do we want to be a team, and cover each others' weaknesses, or do we want to seek some kind of personal glory?" He looked at the others as if the question was one they'd each have to answer for themselves.

"The way *I* see it, none of is good enough to pilot one of these crafts on our own...at least not yet. But we each have strengths that can be integrated so that we can at least operate one viable fighter. I already have a pilot's license, and I've clocked the most hours on one of the sims. Even if I weren't the Titan's leader, I'd still say that I was the only choice for pilot." Robin's tone wasn't boastful. He was merely stating a fact.

"Wonder Girl has flown before and she has a natural instinct for maneuvering in three-dimensions. She's the perfect choice for co-pilot. What she's done before with mental commands, I can help her translate to the hand controls. Aqualad, has operated underwater vessels and he's a natural at navigation." Robin looked at Aqualad, then added with a slight grin, "We'll count on you not to get us 'Lost in Space!'" Aqualad looked at Robin strangely, clearly not understanding the joke. Robin cleared his throat. "Never mind." He pointed at Speedy and Kid Flash.

"Speedy's deadly accurate with just about anything that he can point, shoot, or throw, which makes him the natural choice at the weapons station! And like I said before, Wally, too, because of his reflexes; furthermore, because of his speed, Kid Flash can also double at communications and sensors, and just about anything else that we can't cover."

Robin looked at each member of his team. "So you see, 'Titans Together' is more than just a motto! It's how we fight." He held their gaze a moment longer, then smiling dismissed them. "Take a break, Titans!"

****

"Forward sensors detect five...no six...make that *ten* bogies!" the junior speedster's young voice cracked under the pressure. "*Ten* bogies on a heading of...six-oh-four-MARK-eight!"

"What's their ETA," Robin asked patiently. This was the third run and Kid Flash still forgot to give all of the necessary information.

"ETA is...where is it?" Kid Flash muttered nervously, anger directed at himself. "So stupid, stupid, stupid...There! ETA is twenty-minutes forty-five seconds!"

Kid Flash was interrupted by the sound of klaxons going off inside the simulator. EndEx!

"Already?" Kid Flash asked dazedly. "But we just *found* them!"

Robin removed his headset and placed it carefully on the control console. "Okay, team! Briefing room for a fifteen minute hotwash!" A hotwash was a debriefing where each team member was given an opportunity to give his or her personal assessment on their performance as a team and as individuals.

Robin's announcement was met with groans from the others. This had been the pattern for the entire afternoon. The teens would go through a SimEx, then discuss their performance during a hotwash immediately following EndEx. This way their actions were still fresh in their minds, and they were able to recall what they did and why they did it. The first two hotwashes had almost turned into heated arguments between Kid Flash and Speedy, but Aqualad and Robin were able to defuse the situation each time.

"I don't get it, Boy Wonder!" Kid Flash complained. "We just got started and the program calls it quits!"

"We've been at it for almost an hour, Fleetfeet," replied Robin with a smile.

"No kidding! An hour?" Kid Flash sound amazed. "Wow! It seems like we just got started!"

****

"All right, team, overall there was a definite learning curve on *that* one! We took a little longer to find the enemy, but we were also given much more difficult search parameters that time. Twinkletoes...good job on sensors! I checked the JLA's best time on this particular little SimEx." He paused dramatically. "We beat them by eight point three seconds!"

The others cheered at their accomplishment. Speedy slapped Kid Flash on the back.

"Great job, hayseed!"

"Thanks, Arrow-boy." ****

"WG! Break right!" The Titans felt themselves being spun violently to the right, until the inertial dampeners kicked in. "Another one like that--" Suddenly, Robin's console exploded in his face, and an automated voice came online.

"Pilot dead. Co-pilot take control." Robin lay back, eyes closed simulating death. He knew this was going to happen, of course, since he had selected the SimEx specifically to give Wonder Girl the training necessary to take over in case it were ever needed. However, he hadn't counted on Wonder Girl's reaction.

"Robbie! Great Hera! Robbie! Roy, Wally! Help him! He's hurt! He's hurt!" Suddenly the ship was rocked by plasma-based fire from the enemy vessels, and the sim spectacularly went up in a show of pyrotechnics!

When the smoke finally cleared, Robin opened one eye and looked up at Wonder Girl. "Not exactly the reaction I expected from an Amazon warrior princess!" She gave him a chagrinned look. Robin sat up suddenly. "Well, before we go anywhere or do anything, it looks like we're gonna have to apply a little elbow grease here."

The Titans all looked around the simulator. The smell of burnt circuits permeated the small enclosure. The bulkheads were blackened by smoke residue, and the teens themselves had various degrees of soot on their faces and uniforms.

"Hell of a simulation," Speedy muttered.

****

"Okay, team...I think that's enough for now. I say we take a dinner break, then report back at nineteen hundred hours." Robin looked around at the blank faces. "Sorry, seven p.m." The others nodded tiredly. As Wonder Girl passed him, Robin stopped her. "WG, can we talk?"

Wonder Girl gave him a guilty look, but nodded.

"Roy, can I take a rain check for dinner?" she asked. Speedy ran his fingers lightly down her cheek and nodded smiling. Wonder Girl returned the smile. Since Roy and Dick had reconciled their differences she and Speedy had had no further arguments.

Robin led Wonder Girl back into the debriefing room. They sat down across from each other and neither said a word for a long moment. Finally, Robin broke the silence.

"Care to talk about it?" he asked. Wonder Girl looked down at the conference table unable to meet his intense glance. Swallowing a couple of times, she got her nerves under control and began to speak. Once she started, the words just sort of seemed to spill out of her.

"Robbie, I blew it! If I'd really been in command of the ship at the time, I could've gotten the entire team killed!" She looked ready to burst into tears. "I can't have that on my shoulders. Robbie you've gotta replace me with one of the others. I just can't cut it!"

Robin studied the young Amazon wondering what was the best tack. Coming to a decision, he nodded. "All right, Wonder Girl if that's how you feel." Wonder Girl nodded, her eyes downcast. "I mean, if you don't think that you can carry your weight, well, yeah, I guess I don't want you on team at all." Wonder Girl looked up startled, her blue eyes hurt.

"Robbie, I didn't say I wanted off the Titans, just--"

"--just didn't want your responsibilities, is that it. Just let you hang with the boys, and knock out a few crooks with your mean right hook, but don't expect you to grow as a superhero. Don't expect you to develop into someone who can rival Diana as an Amazon warrior in Man's world?"

"No! Robbie, that's not true! I just know my limitations! When I saw you lying there hurt, maybe dead...I couldn't function. I froze! All I could think of was that you were hurt...my best friend...my brother!" Wonder Girl's tears started then. "Robbie, I don't have very many people in my life whom I love...truly love. I couldn't bear to lose you. Not now...not when we just found out what we mean to each other!"

She cried softly for a few minutes unable to speak. Finally, gaining control of her voice, Wonder Girl continued.

"What if something like this really happens? What if you or Roy or one of the others is seriously injured or killed during a mission? I don't know if I could continue...I just don't know!"

Robin stood up and walked around to her side of the table. He gently took her hand and pulled her up to him, holding her closely until her sobs quieted. Taking the end of his cape, Robin lightly wiped Wonder Girl's tears. As he did so, he was rewarded with a tremulous smile from Wonder Girl. He leaned back slightly and returned her smile still holding her closely.

"Donna, there's nothing I can say that'll make this any easier for you. The only advice I can give is what I live by. I know that without me and Batman doing what we do, the crazies and wackos that Gotham just seems to be a magnet for would eventually overrun the city. Maybe, we'll never win our war against those who prey on the innocent, but I know that win or lose, we'll continue that fight. And if anything should happen to one of us, then I'd expect the other to go on, in memory of the one lost." Robin dropped his hands and moved a few paces away from his friend.

"The same is true for us, Donna. Maybe what we do won't make any difference. Maybe this *is* the end of everything like Wally said. But that doesn't mean that we just quit and don't try to do something. Donna, if something were to happen to me, then I'd want you to go on, because that's what I'd do. To quit because one of us falls would be the greater tragedy, because then the other's sacrifice would've been for nothing." Robin walked back to Donna, and again took her in his arms.

"Donna, you're an Amazon warrior. You've been trained in the arts of war. You know more about tactics and strategy than any of the rest of us combined. We need you on our team, Princess. *I* need you on my team. Because if anything should happen to me, then there's only *one* person that I'd trust to take over as team leader." He smiled and touched her playfully on the nose. "And that's you, my little Amazon sister!"

Wonder Girl's luminous smile finally broke through her tears. She threw her arms around Robin's neck, and forgetting her strength again squeezed a little too hard.

"Donna," Robin choked. "My neck..." Wonder Girl immediately let go and clapped her hands over her mouth. Robin collapsed onto the nearest chair. He rubbed his neck ruefully, looking at his "little sister." Finally, they both burst into laughter again. "Great, I've been an only child all of my life, and as soon as I get a sister, she almost kills me!"

Wonder Girl looked like she was going to hug Robin again, but he jumped to his feet, and effortlessly vaulted over the conference table in one graceful move. Landing on the other side, he smiled wickedly at Wonder Girl and playfully held his hands out in a warding sign.

"Oh, no, you don't WG...you'll have to catch me first!" With that he turned and ducked out the exit. When Wonder Girl ran out after him, she couldn't spot him at first. Movement up on the rafters caught her eyes. "You'll never catch me!" Robin's playful taunt echoed through the cavernous launch bay.

"Oh, no?" Wonder Girl giggled. She reached her hand up, searching for an air current.

Anyone passing by in the next few minutes would've been rewarded by the unusual sounds of what sounded like children's voices raised in playful laughter...

****

Chapter Nine

The mother ship's AI again transmitted a complicated series of numerical sequences to the third planet from the yellow star. The lack of response portended the ominous probability that the intelligence detected by the ship's sensors had met the Krghlm, the same spacefaring race that destroyed the ship's home world a hundred hundred millennia in the dark past.

If that were the case, then the scouts' intelligence gathering mission automatically became one of search and destroy, for the mother ship's builders' final quest was the utter destruction of the Krghlm and its descendants...

****

"Green Arrow." GA turned at the grim voice coming from the shadows in the JLA Lounge. Batman slowly emerged into the muted lighting. It was "nighttime" on the satellite. The lights were thus lowered to simulate day/night conditions. Batman stood half in/half out of the darkness.

"Batman?" Green Arrow squinted at the Dark Knight. "What do you want? Look, I'm in a hurry!" GA barked these staccato sentences impatiently, then asked almost in the same breath, "Hey, you haven't seen Speedy have you?"

Batman saw immediately that GA was beside himself with worry.

"This is the third night he hasn't slept in his bed...or is it the fourth?" Green Arrow muttered to himself. "I should *know* dammit! He's my *kid*! I've gotta find him..." he shook his head. "Why am I standing here talking to *you*? I've gotta find my boy! Tell 'im how I feel...that it's not the way he thinks it is! Dinah and me...what we have is good, but it doesn't mean--"

Green Arrow stood in the middle of the room looking lost, then spoke softly. "It doesn't mean that I don't love him, too."

"Let's go." Batman spun on his heel and led Green Arrow out of the lounge. GA took a second before he realized that Batman wanted him to follow. By then, the Caped Crusader was halfway down the outside corridor. GA ran to catch up.

"Where're we goin'?" GA demanded.

No answer.

"LOOK!! I told you I don't have time for this!" GA stopped in his tracks. "Now tell me where we're going or--"

"Here," Batman said quietly. He stood solemnly and pressed for the express elevator to the Forward Observation Deck. "Come."

GA reluctantly followed. There was no conversation between the two heroes to shatter the elevator's eerie silence as it rose through the satellite's multilevels. Finally, it halted and the door automatically opened onto the Forward Observation Deck.

GA gasped at the initial shock of seemingly standing at the edge of eternity. Batman quickly made a slashing motion signaling for quiet. Then he pointed at a small, dark form, curled and sound asleep on the middle of the transparent floor. Batman waited for Green Arrow to recognize his ward.

Before GA could move towards Speedy, Batman pressed the "door closed" button. GA turned in fury on the Dark Knight.

"What's the idea?! That's *Roy* lying there! I've gotta go to him! Get out of my way, you pointy-eared night rat!"

"That's how you always have your way, isn't it, Ollie? By yelling louder and more obnoxiously than the next guy. By pushing people around...giving orders...insulting everyone within hearing distance, and taking shots at those who aren't around. I've ignored you in the past because I thought you were basically harmless, and did a good job when the going got tough."

GA pushed by Batman, infuriated with his teammate for keeping him from his boy.

"I don't need to listen to this! I've a kid in there who's hurting...I've gotta get to him before it's too late!"

"You're right. Roy *is* hurting, and you do need to talk. But what are you going to talk about, Ollie? About what great pals you are and how things will be the same or better when you get him back home?"

"MYOB, Batman! This is none of your concern! I don't tell you how to treat *your* kid...Stay out of my affairs!"

"Is it true that you allow that boy to run around at all hours of the night? That you have left him alone without adult supervision for days, sometimes weeks at a time? The list of parental neglect just keeps piling Ollie...Do I need to spell each of them out for you?"

"Who are *you* to talk to me about how to raise *my* kid? I've heard how you've practically put a straightjacket on Robin...everything he does is regulated, from what time he eats to what time he brushes his teeth! I may be a bit permissive with Roy, but at least I'm not raising him to be a little tin soldier who's incapable of thinking for himself!"

"Permissive? Is that what the Star City Child Welfare Services calls child neglect today?"

Green Arrow's face turned an apoplectic purple. "How DARE YOU?!!! How dare you accuse me of child neglect! Who elected you the World's Greatest Dad? Look at you! It's a wonder Robin doesn't wake up each night screaming from nightmares!"

"He does," Batman spoke so quietly GA almost didn't hear him.

"What did you say?"

Batman faced GA without flinching. "I said, Robin wakes up on any given night screaming from nightmares. He dreams about his parents' deaths...They were killed in front of him when he was only nine. He's gotten better, though. He used to wake up several times a night. Either a trusted friend or myself used to sit by Robin's bedside, ready to hold him until he was able to go back to sleep. Now, Robin's sleep is disrupted only once or twice a week. Most nights, he sleeps through." Batman spoke softly, matter-of-factly, but GA could hear a catch his voice.

"Bats, I'm sorry. I didn't know...I was a jerk to say what I did." Green Arrow looked at his boots, ashamed of his earlier sarcasm.

"No. You were right. I'm not the World's Greatest Dad...far from it. I over regulate Robin's waking hours in order to keep his mind occupied so that he won't sit and brood or over-train. I know how easy it can be for a person to fall into a dark abyss." Batman paused, and if it were possible, his voice dropped even lower.

"When Robin first came to live with me, I used to find him in the Batcave at all hours of the day or night, training. His acrobatics were world-class when I first saw him. Now, he was in a class by himself...even I couldn't touch him in certain areas. He proved to be a gifted, natural athlete with a razor-sharp intellect. He was obsessed with finding his parents' killers and begged me to make him my partner. Robin was only nine, and already driven by vengeance." Batman turned away from Green Arrow, the pain of those early days evident in his stiff posture.

"With his gifts, Robin would've found his parents' murderer on his own, and possibly gotten himself killed. I felt that I had no choice; therefore, I agreed to train him and take him on as my partner. But only under certain conditions...that *I* made the rules and that he obeyed them without question. And until *I* said he was ready, he would not take up the mantle...again, no questions asked!"

Batman sighed softly, and nodded almost imperceptibly. "Yes, I over-regulate Robin's life, but he's learned to be a kid again. Part of the rules he must follow are to take part in personal outside activities that have nothing to do with being Robin." Batman allowed himself a half-smile.

"So, I've been coerced into attending several Gotham Knights' at home games, dirt biking, rock climbing, and even just the two of us playing hooky for a day and taking off from work and school. Robin's no longer obsessed with revenge, and he's even learned to have fun. More importantly, the nightmares have almost stopped." Batman glared intensely into GA's eyes.

"Nonetheless, Robin is *never* left alone. He may be a kid superhero who can take down bad guys at twenty-to-one odds, but he's still just a boy, little more than a child...but more importantly, he's *my* child! I'm responsible for him. Ollie, it takes more than love to raise a kid. A child also needs guidance. He needs boundaries that he knows he's not allowed to step over. Rules aren't straightjackets, Ollie. They're like the walls in your home...they're there to protect you and make you feel safe. A child needs to feel safe."

GA felt like he'd been kicked in the stomach. Roy was only a year older than Robin, and GA had been leaving Speedy alone almost since the time he'd gained custody of the boy. He was astounded at the personal revelations that Batman had professed, and knew they came at a high price. Batman risked giving GA such an intimate portrait of his personal relationship with his protege, because he wanted GA to change his methods of child rearing.

"Ollie, there a lot of people on this satellite who care about Roy and his welfare. But there's only one person onboard whom *Roy* cares about and depends on. And from what I've seen, that person has failed Roy in too many ways to count."

Batman didn't add that he foresaw serious trouble ahead for Speedy if Green Arrow didn't do something quickly. Sadly, it might already be too late.

GA nodded. Perhaps he had been a little too lax. He looked at Batman, then dropped his eyes.

"Bats, thanks for finding my kid," he said softly. Batman gave no acknowledgement. He pressed the "door open" button, instead. Green Arrow stood at the lip of the door, just watching Roy for a few minutes. God, the kid had grown in the two years he'd lived with GA, but he was *still* so small! GA stepped stiffly out of the elevator and walked quietly to the sleeping form.

Batman closed the doors on the private moment and pressed for home. Did I make a difference, he asked himself? For Roy's sake, he hoped so.

****

Green Arrow knelt carefully next to Speedy. He wanted so desperately to take the boy in his arms and promise him the world. But Batman's words haunted him. How could he make it all up to the kid? GA didn't know how to be anything other than who he was. He'd honestly thought that that was enough. He remembered his parents and his own childhood...not much love there.

Green Arrow snorted softly at the unhappy memories. Not much of anything, in fact. His father had been obsessed with making money and his mother with Star City society. Their busy lives didn't leave much room for one small boy, so his parents did what they thought was best.

"Yeah, best for them," muttered GA. They sent him away to the best boarding schools in Europe.

****

"But *why* do I have to go away?" six-year-old Ollie Queen looked solemnly up at his father. "Why can't I stay with you and Mother?" Despite his best efforts, little Oliver's lower lip began quivering.

"Now, Ollie, none of that, young man!" Oliver Queen, Sr. admonished. "Stiff upper lip! You must face this like a man! Remember, men don't cry, right?"

Unable to speak, Ollie nodded, then to his eternal shame, the tears spilled of their own accord. He tried to sniff them back, hoping that Father didn't notice, but it was too late.

"Young man, to your room without supper! When you're ready to continue this discussion intelligently like a man, you may come out, but not until then!"

**** "Monsieur and Madame Queen," Monsieur Montblanc, Headmaster of Saint Thomas Academy said regretfully, "I am sorry, but we can no longer tolerate the antics of young Oliver. He is...how do you say it? All boy!" Montblanc smiled benignly. "The entire staff has a soft spot for the boy, so it is with great regret that we must do this, but our school has a reputation to maintain. Please understand."

"No!" Queen, Sr. protested vehemently. "I don't understand. What did my son do to get him expelled from your lousy, drafty school?"

Montblanc stiffened immediately at the insult to his school. "Your son, Monsieur Queen, reached new lows of what one can only describe as debauchery! I shall not give you a detailed list of all of his past rules violations; however, I *shall* fill you in on the last one..."

"...Boozing! Girls! Partying to all hours of the night! Dancing naked on the balcony! Skinny-dipping in the five hundred-year-old fountain with the statue of Saint Thomas?" Queen, Sr. ranted at his son for the better part of an hour. Ollie was kicked back on his bunk. He didn't care.

"Yeah," Ollie smirked. "That was the mother of *all* parties, Father! Sorry, you couldn't make it."

Queen, Sr. looked ready to strike his sixteen-year-old son. This was the eighth school in ten years that Ollie had been expelled from. Queen, Sr. turned to his wife. "*You* talk to him...He's *your* son!"

Katherine Queen looked distastefully at her husband. "Of course, he's my son. Every time he gets himself expelled from yet another school, he's my son. Whenever he does something well--" She glared at her unrepentant son. "--which is hardly ever, Ollie becomes *your* son!"

"I love you, too, Mater mine," Ollie returned unconcernedly.

"Oh!" Katherine sputtered wordlessly at her recalcitrant son. "Sometimes I wish you'd never been born!" As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Katherine wanted to take them back. The look of abject hurt that instantly crossed her son's face was enough to break her heart. "Oh, Ollie, I didn't mean that...Please, forgive me."

Ollie dropped his eyes and refused to look at her. He sat very still on the edge of the bed, then slowly nodded. "Very well, Mother. I forgive you...but, Mother, truth be told...sometimes *I* wish that I'd never been born."

Katherine made a move to go to her son, but Ollie jumped up and moved away. "Don't start, Mother. It's too late for us. Even five years ago I would've welcomed it, but not any more." Ollie felt the years of loneliness suddenly settle on his shoulders, and his next words rang with bitterness.

"You and Father have never loved me. You've done your duty by me, for that I guess I should be grateful. Queen, Inc. needed an heir and you dutifully provided Father with one. Then, I was tucked away, out of sight, out of mind so that you could pursue your various clubs and committees, and Father could keep making Queen, Inc. the company that will take over the world one day."

Ollie turned and faced his two parents. "You have your plans for me...*I* have my own plans. I won't cause anymore trouble...you have my word. But please, don't ever pretend that you actually have real feelings for me. I'm just another asset in Queen, Inc.'s credit column, I know that. So go ahead and stick me in some other school...I promise you won't see or hear from me until I graduate."

"*You* graduate? I should live that long!" Queen, Sr. guffawed.

"You've got yourself a bet, Pater mine! I earn my diploma, you finance my travels to wherever I wish to go, for as long as I wish to travel!"

"Easiest bet I've ever won!" Queen declared...

****

"I guess I was expelled out of more schools in more countries than any other member in the JLA!" GA grinned ruefully.

During Ollie's last three years of school he had only one escape, which became his life's obsession: archery. When to his parents' surprise, Ollie finally graduated from high school, rather than returning to Star City and taking up his life's role as the scion of Queen, Inc., Ollie collected on his bet with his father and decided not to return home.

Instead, happy with the independence he'd learned by being away from home for twelve years, Ollie traveled around the world, visiting some of the globe's worst troubled spots and secretly becoming an adventurer, aiding the weak and oppressed...

"...Son, when are you coming home?" Queen, Sr.'s voice asked over the phone. The old guy sounds like he actually misses me, Ollie mused.

"When hell freezes over, Father. We had a bet and I won. But don't worry, you and Mother don't need to think of me except once a month when you write the check..."

Both of his parents were killed in an automobile accident the next day. A Mack truck whose driver had fallen asleep at the wheel struck their limo head on. Shattered by his last unkind words to his Father, Ollie returned to Star City and took his rightful place as CEO of Queen, Inc. He soon found out about a mysterious vigilante in Gotham City called the Batman, and learned everything he could about the Dark Knight.

Inspired by the Batman and all of his neat toys, Ollie decided to emulate his hero. Green Arrow debuted in Star City within a few short months. And a few months later, a young, cocky redheaded kid with a moth-eaten quiver, and the raggediest bow GA have ever laid eyes on, began appearing wherever GA stopped a crime.

The kid had the moves all right. His bow and quiver might've been ready for the junk heap, but he could cock, pull, and release almost as fast as GA could. And the boy's accuracy was uncanny! He *never* missed!

****

"Hey, kid!" Green Arrow yelled, trying to get the mysterious boy's attention, but the boy was gone again! That was the third time this week, an exasperated GA said to himself.

"Who *is* that kid?" GA wondered aloud. He found out the next day, or rather, Oliver Queen found out.

"Sir, you have an unannounced visitor."

"Oh?" Ollie looked up from the documents he'd been perusing. He decided that he needed a break. "Well, send him in, Jeeves!" Ollie teased. His butler gave a long-suffering sigh.

"That's Smith, sir. Quite an ordinary name, sir. I dearly wish you could remember it." As Smith turned away, Ollie smiled. Smith had been his parents' personal valet, and Ollie had more or less inherited him. Ollie remembered Smith as someone who'd been a friend to a lonely little boy who always seemed to be underfoot all those years ago.

Ollie's face took on a worried countenance. Smith was getting on in years, and his health had recently begun to fail him. What would Ollie do without him? Once Smith was gone, Ollie would be all alone. The thought made him profoundly sad.

Smith returned and announced the visitor, "Master Roy Harper!"

Standing at the door to Ollie's study was the skinny, redheaded kid who'd been showing up at the same places that he did! Ollie's eyes showed his surprise. The kid had tracked him to his home! Ollie studied the boy carefully. He had a headband with a feather stuck in it, and he was wearing buckskins that had seen better days. He was still carrying his quiver and bow.

Deciding to play it coy, Ollie asked blandly, "How may I help you?"

The boy gave him answering smirk, exuding arrogance. "Wrong question, GA! It's how may I help *you*!"

Ollie quirked a blond eyebrow. "GA? I think you have me confused with someone else, young man."

"I don't think so," Roy said. "See I followed ya...tracked ya, Native American style! You really should be more careful. I doubt if Batman would've let me. Hell, he probably would've backtracked and ended up following *me*!"

"You're Native American?" Ollie asked, eyeing the dark red hair and green eyes skeptically.

Roy's eyes darkened bitterly. "I *thought* I was. Until my stepfather, Chief Bow died. When he passed away, the tribe disowned me. Said I was an outsider...white-eyes." Roy looked intensely at Ollie, his hurt still evident at being abandoned by the people he thought were his family.

"In answer to your question. I *am* Native American, because that's how I was raised, and that's how I feel inside. But my biological roots are Irish."

"I see," Ollie murmured, an idea taking form. Didn't Batman just take on a kid partner? Wouldn't that be a kicker? Green Arrow and--? And who? It didn't matter. They'd think of a name later.

"So, Roy, what *can* you do for me?" Ollie asked. Roy gave him that brazen smirk again.

"I don't suppose you've heard about Batman and Robin...his new kid partner?" Roy asked as preamble. At Ollie's guileless nod, Roy continued, "Well, I was thinking. If Batman can have that little kid in the cornball costume as a partner, then..."

****

It all happened so quickly then. Oliver Queen dutifully took in Roy Harper and became his legal guardian. As Green Arrow and Speedy, they took the criminal element in Star City by storm...

"Speedy?!" Roy protested. "What kind of a dorky name is *that*? It sounds like I'm gonna be the Flash's sidekick! I was kind of hoping for Red Arrow, or something cool like that."

"Aw, don't be silly. That would sound too much like Green Arrow, Junior! I can't call you Robin, like in Robin Hood, 'cause the name's already taken. And let's face it, kid. When it comes to archery...you *are* Speedy! You cock your arrow, acquire a target, and shoot so fast, I almost can't see your hands move. Plus, you must have the deadliest eye I've *ever* run across! Where'd you learn to shoot like that anyway?"

"On the reservation, we couldn't afford to shoot an arrow and miss. We hunted for food. Our lives literally depended on our accuracy with the bow and arrow. Chief Bow raised me and trained me on the way of the arrow." Roy shrugged. "I don't know any other way to shoot."

"Well, look, Speedy. Rule Number One in the superhero biz...no killing! So, before you go out with me, you're gonna have to do some serious retraining." Roy looked like he was going to balk at the restriction. "Hey, that's the deal! Whaddaya say, kid?"

Roy agreed reluctantly. Two days later, he disobeyed orders and saved Ollie's life...

"I thought I ordered you to stay home!?" Green Arrow's nose was less than two inches from Speedy's. His angry voice caused several turned heads from shocked bystanders.

"I seem to recall you saying something like that, GA," Speedy replied unperturbed. "First rule of being a follower...never obey a stupid order! You taught me that!"

Green Arrow's moved his jaw without being able to form any words. Finally, he guffawed at being caught in his own petard.

"You're right, kid! I *did* say that!" GA laughed, slapping the younger boy between the shoulders. "Second rule of the day...follow the last intelligent order given!" Both GA and Speedy burst into laughter, sharing a moment of macho male bonding. They climbed into their Arrowcar and quickly returned home...

Since then, Ollie had given the boy pretty much free rein. Green Arrow might be the senior partner, but Speedy went his own way. Most of the times, his instincts were correct, so GA began giving the boy more and more freedom.

Finally, the boy's free rein naturally extended to their private lives. Before he knew it, Ollie was the legal guardian of a fourteen year old hellion who was failing most of his subjects in school, partied all night with his friends (whoever they were), and stayed home alone whenever Green Arrow or Oliver Queen were called away on business.

Around this time, failing health finally forced Smith to retire, and Roy was really left home alone...

****

Green Arrow reached out and lightly lay his hand on Speedy's shoulder. Speedy's eyes immediately snapped open! He rolled left, kicked out with both feet, and almost took out Green Arrow. However, GA instinctively ducked just as Speedy kicked out, and therefore, he was just grazed. The major force of the kick missed.

Realizing who he was fighting with, Speedy stopped his attack. He remained crouched in a defensive pose, however. His breath was coming in short, ragged gasps.

"What do *you* want, Ollie? I thought I told you to stay away from me?"

Green Arrow nodded. "I seem to recall you saying something like that, kid," GA said with a sad smile. "First rule of being the senior partner...You don't have to follow orders. I thought I taught you that!" GA held his hands out and shook his head.

"I'm afraid that I can't leave you alone, kid. Not like this. We're gonna talk. I mean really talk. And we're gonna listen to each other. And we're gonna try to fix whatever's wrong between us."

"Why, Ollie? Why do you care so much all of a sudden? Is it because Dinah left you? Are you suddenly feeling alone? Left out? Well, guess what, Ollie? That's how I've been feeling a lot lately. Wait a while...it'll get worse!"

"That's what we need to talk about, kid. How we feel. Okay, you've told me how *you* feel. Now, it's my turn." GA stood up and faced his ward. He struggled for the words that were lodged in his throat. He clenched and unclenched his fist.

"I feel like the lowest kind pond scum, Roy. I've been a lousy partner, and a worse f-fa-father. I guess I just didn't have any good role models in my life, so I started by making the same mistakes they did. Roy, I admit I suck in the parent department, but I-I love you, kid. I couldn't live with myself if we parted with angry, hurtful words that neither of us meant." GA took a step closer to Speedy.

"The same kind of words that I said to my parents when they asked me to come home for the last time. They were dead the next day. I was never able to unsay those words." GA held his hand out to Speedy. "Please, Roy. Give me another chance. I don't promise that I'll ever be the perfect father, but I'll do my best to do better."

Speedy stood uncertainly in the middle of the vast universe, his eyes studying GA's red boots, boots that except for the color were identical to his yellow ones. His eyes traveled up GA's uniform. The Green and red Robin Hood uniform was identical to Speedy's red and yellow one.

In fact, GA and Speedy were so much alike that it was amazing they'd only met two years before. They even tilted their heads to one side and placed their hands on their hips in identical poses. Wonder Girl teased Speedy about that not too long ago.

Speedy's heart listened to Green Arrow's words: "Roy, I admit I suck in the parent department, but I-I love you, kid." Speedy felt the tears start spilling, his chin quivered slightly. He felt thankful that it was so dark in the observatory that GA wouldn't be able to see. To his surprise it was too late.

Green Arrow was suddenly hugging Speedy closely to him, and Speedy could feel GA's own hot tears on his neck. Finally, the two superheroes reluctantly broke the embrace, but GA still kept his hands protectively on Speedy's shoulders. He grinned ruefully at his ward, and playfully wiped the boy's tears from his cheeks.

"Hey, didn't anyone ever tell you that real superheroes don't cry?"

"Oh, yeah?" Speedy asked, sniffling and laughing at the same time. "Didn't anyone ever tell *you*?"

Green Arrow studied his young ward affectionately. "Yeah, but the man didn't know what he was talking about." Placing his arm warmly across Speedy's shoulder, Green Arrow began steering him towards the elevator. "Come on, kid. It's been a long night."

****

Chapter Ten

The Krghlm's vicious raids left a swath of annihilated star systems across innumerable galaxies and billions of light years of space. The race of people who built the leviathan mother ship fought the Krghlm for countless generations after their world was destroyed. The last of the ship's builders breathed his last over a millennium ago...

****

"We're receiving something, Clark," Atom said. "It's a repeating string of numerical sequences, but neither Barry nor I can make heads or tails of it. We've run it through the JLA's computers for analysis, but no luck."

Superman took the readouts and studied them carefully, his Kryptonian intellect coming to bear on the cryptic message. Unable to decipher the mysterious string of symbols, he finally shrugged his massive shoulders.

"Whatever they're saying, we know one thing," he said quietly. Atom and the Flash looked at him tiredly. They'd been up all night trying to unlock the mystery. "Our visitors are trying to talk to us. We just don't understand the message."

"I'll say," the Flash snorted. "They could be saying, 'We come in peace!' 'Take me to your leader!' or 'Prepare to die, earthlings!'"

Superman's eyes smiled at his friend and teammate. He liked the Flash. Both of them were raised in the great Midwest and shared many of the same small town values and beliefs. Funny, Superman thought, if they'd been raised in the same hometown, they might've been best friends.

"I guess it's time to pay a little visit to our guests," Superman said.

"But, Supes," Atom protested, "their fleet of smaller ships is almost at the periphery of our Solar system. We can't afford to lose you or GL at this time. We're gonna need your powers should this thing deteriorate into war."

"I have to agree with Ray, Clark," the Flash said quietly. "Our best bet is to try and analyze the message. Once we know the question, we'll be able to give them the right answer."

"I agree," Batman said behind them. He stalked into the room, a dark wraith looking even more frightening in the bright light of the computer lab. Batman took the readouts from Superman's hands and studied them briefly. Without asking, Batman took the readouts, sat down at the monitor station and began typing.

The other three heroes looked nonplussed. "Uh, you mind letting *us* in what you're doing, Bats?" asked Atom annoyed. The mighty mite found an air current and quickly glided to Batman's shoulder. He knelt, chin on fist and watched as the Dark Knight wrote a complicated string of commands.

"Writing a program," Batman replied succinctly.

"What *kind* of program?" the Flash asked patiently.

Batman continued typing silently. It was soon obvious to the others that no further answers would be forthcoming.

"Look, Ray, Barry," Superman began, "why don't you two guys try and get some sleep? You've been up all night. As soon as we have something we'll get you, all right?"

Atom and the Flash exchanged slightly annoyed looks. They'd just been dismissed! The Flash raised his eyebrow at Atom, his silent message of "Why not?" obvious to his small friend. Atom fatalistically shrugged his shoulders in agreement.

"Come on, Barry," Atom sighed. "I'll buy you a cup of coffee." The two scientist superheroes exited the computer lab. After the other two were gone, Superman turned to his enigmatic friend.

"Okay, Bruce," he began. "You *mind* telling me what you're doing?" Batman didn't reply for several moments, and Superman resigned himself to being shut out again. To his mild surprise, Batman began explaining.

"I'm accessing the Crays in the Batcave, then I'm jumping them with the JLA's and the supercomptuters at Star Labs. I need more processing power." Batman typed in a few more commands, then added reluctantly, "I need your Kryptonian passcodes to your system in the Fortress of Solitude. I've been able to access your system, but..." Batman paused. "...I haven't been able to break your codes."

Superman stood, stunned by Batman's revelation. "*You've* tried breaking into my system?" Superman's safeguards and automatic tracking devices had never indicated Batman's attempts. "Why?" Superman asked simply.

No answer.

Superman sighed. "You distrust me that much? That you'd try to break into my private system?" Superman waited, but again Batman gave no response. "Bruce...all you had to do was ask. I would've given you anything you wanted."

This last stopped Batman. The Dark Knight turned and looked at Superman, clearly not believing what the Last Son of Krypton had just said.

"Bruce, unlike you, I *trust* my friends. I trust people. Ma and Pa taught me to always look for the good in others." At Batman's look of disapproval, Superman added, "Oh, not to be naive and accept others at face value, of course. But to trust people, give them the benefit of doubt, until they proved that they didn't deserve your trust." Superman looked sadly at his friend. "The same as your mother and father would've taught you if they had lived."

Batman stared at Superman for such a long time that the Man of Steel began to regret his words.

"I'm sorry, Bruce," he apologized, ashamed. "I shouldn't have said that. I had no right--"

"--No," Batman interrupted quietly. "You're right. I *don't* trust people. Even friends. I should apologize," he added. "I never thought to ask." Batman returned to his programming. Superman stepped up, and gently removed Batman's hands from the keyboard. Then at superspeed, he typed in a complicated string of Krytonian symbols.

Grinning, Superman turned to Batman. "Did you get that? I'll write it down for you if you want me to." Batman looked up his superpowered friend, then gave him one his rare half-smiles, almost flooring the Man of Steel.

"I think I got it, thanks." With that, Batman returned to the problem at hand.

****

"It's imperative that we make contact with our mysterious visitors," Superman announced to the assembled heroes. "As you can see from the break down of the numerical symbols that Batman was able to analyze, it appears to be some sort of warning. There's a string that keeps repeating. The nearest translation we can come up with is 'Krghlm.'"

"'Krghlm'?" Green Arrow struggled with the word. "Hey, Supes, wanna buy a vowel? What the heck kind of a word is *that*? Sounds like you're clearing your throat or something."

"Krghlm?" Green Lantern interrupted. "I seem to remember some of the Green Lantern Corps mentioning an ancient race of intergalactic spacefaring marauders called the Krghlm. Are the visitors identifying themselves as such? If so, we are definitely in serious trouble." GL looked grim. "Legend has it that the Krghlm destroyed thousands of the early races. Supposedly left a path of death and destruction across billions of light years and innumerable galaxies."

Superman sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "We can't be a hundred percent sure, of course, GL, but from what we've been able to discern, the message seems more of a warning than a threat. Batman?"

Batman stepped forward into the light, immediately behind Black Canary's chair. Startled, Black Canary jumped, feeling instantly annoyed. Where the heck did *he* come from?

"The rest of the message's meaning is not clear. However, the visitor seems to be requesting some response from us. Unfortunately, we're not exactly sure what they're asking. Superman and I have come up with a standard greeting of peace and goodwill, acknowledging receipt of their message, and requesting an audience." Batman turned to Superman who took up the briefing.

"We've written it in the same numerical 'language' with which they've contacted us," Superman explained, "and we've encoded it into a string of data packets, which we've sent already. It's been sent via the JLA hyperspace commsyst."

"That's terrific, Supes," Atom said. "But even with the hyperspace commsyst the message will *still* take a few days to reach the edge of Orion's Arm."

"Which is why we need to dispatch a JLA cruiser and meet our visitor face to face," Batman replied. At his teammates' looks, Batman explained further. "We're not one hundred percent certain about the accuracy of our message. We've tried to send reassurances that the Krghlm are not present here in the Sol system; however, we might have interpreted a numerical string incorrectly. Therefore it's become necessary that we face our visitors and utilize everything at our disposal, to communicate more effectively."

"But Batman," Wonder Woman broke in, "isn't it unwise to go now into the enemy's lair, just prior to what appears to be an invasion? I would not wish to send either Superman or Green Lantern at such a critical time and leave the earth practically undefended."

"You're right, Diana," Superman broke in. "That's why I'm not going. Neither is GL, nor you, nor any of the superpowered members. Instead--"

"--Instead, I've elected myself to go," Batman interrupted. "My usefulness during an alien invasion is negligible at best. Therefore, I am the most expendable member."

"You? Expendable?" Green Arrow burst out. "Was Patton expendable? Eisenhower? I think not! Uh-uh, Bats, if there's one member of the JLA who's expendable, then it would have to be me. I'll go!"

"Ollie!" Black Canary protested.

"Sorry, Pretty Bird," GA said, "but sometimes a man's gotta do--"

"--Can you pilot a JLA cruiser?" Batman interrupted. At GA's silence, Batman nodded. Then unconsciously mimicking Green Arrow's earlier outburst said simply, "I thought not!"

"Maybe GA can't pilot a cruiser, but I can." Robin stood arms crossed, legs spread shoulder wide at the doorway. Batman turned to face his protege and immediately walked up to him. Batman struck an identical pose as Robin's and they both stood facing one another, neither saying a word. Batman finally broke the silence.

"Since when can you pilot a cruiser, chum?" he asked quietly. Robin's face struggled between smiling with pride or grimacing with guilt. The latter finally won out. Robin dropped his eyes for a moment, then swallowing he raised his chin defiantly and faced Batman.

"What do you think I do on school nights when you won't let me accompany you on patrol? You know who won't let me watch television after nine o'clock 'cause he says it's too violent." Robin rolled his eyes. The JLA members looked away to hide their grins. "So, after I finish my homework, I usually go down to the cave before bedtime and I do...stuff."

"Stuff?"

"Yeah, like practice my computer skills, or work on some of the equipment." Robin shrugged his shoulders, then added, "Or clock some hours on the flight simulator."

"You've been clocking sim time?" Batman asked. Robin nodded, guiltily.

"You never said it was off-limits, sir. And I only did it after I finished my homework, or any of the forensic exercises you had me practicing. Anyway, I've managed to rack up over two hundred hours on the simulator. The Titans and I have been running crew drills these past coupla days. We make a pretty good flight crew, Batman! Just check our stats!"

"Robin, you're an experienced pilot. I know that. But clocking sim time and taking a cruiser into deep space and possibly into harm's way are totally different things. I'm sorry, chum, but this is one of those times that I'm ordering you to remain in the rear. I'm proud of you and the Titans for volunteering and for being farsighted enough to plan for such a contingency. But, I couldn't risk you...or the other kids." Batman squeezed Robin's shoulder gently, then released it.

"You always *do* this! I thought we were partners! Well, partners don't stay behind just 'cause the going gets dangerous! I could be of use to you, especially if you meet any of the smaller ships. You can't do this alone, Batman! It'll be suicide!"

"Robin, you know the rules," Batman said quietly, his voice taking on a dangerous timbre.

"Yeah! I know the rules all right! *You* make 'em, and I have to take 'em! Even if I choke! Well, not this time, Batman! I'm not staying behind and letting you go and get yourself killed...I'm not!"

"Robin!" Batman's tone would brook no further outburst from his junior partner. Robin bravely withstood Batman's ominous glare for a few moments longer; however, his real fears finally came to the front and his chin quivered slightly.

"I don't want to lose you, too," he whispered. "I already lost Mom and Dad...please, I don't want to lose you, too." Robin held Batman's eyes, then dropped his head in shame. He'd lost control in public. There was no excuse for such weakness. "I'm sorry, sir...I'll be in our quarters."

Robin spun on his heel and walked out. Batman stood staring at his boy's retreating back, wanting to go to him, pick him up and promise to never leave him. Instead, Batman forced himself to put the boy's hurt and anxiety out of his mind, and returned to the task at hand.

Green Arrow stared pensively at the Dark Knight, knowing better than anyone else in the conference room what Batman was probably going through at the moment.

****

"Dick?" Batman spoke softly from Dick's bedroom door. He'd pulled his cowl back transforming himself back into Bruce Wayne. Dick was lying in the dark. He'd returned to his room after his outburst in the conference room and thrown himself on his bed in anger. The tears had followed soon afterwards, and shortly after that, he'd dropped off into a troubled sleep...

"Dick?" Bruce walked quietly into Dick's room and sat down at the edge of the bed. Dick was still in his Robin suit. He was curled up inside his cape looking even younger. Bruce smiled sadly, his heart catching in his throat. He wanted desperately to bring a smile back into Dick's eyes by taking him with him, but Bruce couldn't bear the thought of losing the boy in space.

Dick belonged on earth. He should not have to die in space.

Bruce reached over and lightly touched Dick on the shoulder, startling him awake.

"Hey, chum," Bruce spoke softly, smiling. "How many times do I have to tell you that pajamas are for sleeping and your Robin costume for working?"

Dick smiled sleepily. "I'm a slow learner." Then remembering his earlier behavior, Dick's smile wavered. Ashamed, he turned on his side, facing away from his mentor. "I'm sorry I was such a baby today. I know the rules...I know what a privilege it is for me to be your partner." Dick sniffled slightly. "It's just that--that--"

Dick couldn't go on. He'd already lost one father. He couldn't bear the thought of losing another.

Bruce reached over, and holding Dick by the shoulders, brought his adopted son up to him. He held Dick in his arms for a few moments allowing him to cry and be a small boy for a few minutes.

"It's just that you're afraid that I may never come back. It's natural to feel afraid, Dick. You lost the two most important people in your life. Now when things finally look like they might be going right again, I volunteer to go on a suicide mission. I'd be surprised if you weren't afraid."

Bruce traced his fingers lightly along Dick's cheek. The boy's bright blue eyes were burning with an intensity of feeling.

"Dick, I lost the two most important people in my life, too. I couldn't bear to lose you, as well. I know it hurts, son, and I know that my decision seems unfair and arbitrary. But in this case, I'm the adult, and fair or not, I have to make the decisions." Bruce met Dick's eyes fiercely, burning with an intensity of emotion he rarely allowed.

"It's my job to protect you, Dick. If I allowed you to accompany me on this mission and something happened to you...if I lost you...I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."

Dick pushed away slightly and tried to reason with his guardian and mentor again. "Bruce, I know I can be of help if you'll only let me! Please, let me help. It's my planet, too. I guy's gotta be allowed to do the things he can do to help others. It's not right to just sit and wait for something bad to happen, not if I could've done something to prevent it!"

Bruce gazed steadily into his boy's eyes. "You're right, of course, Dick, and the earth is very important me, too. But it's hard for me to really *care* about people on such a grandiose scale. I can only think about what's really important in my life, and I guess that would be Gotham City, Alfred, and you...and Dick, of these, you are the most important."

Bruce wanted to add, "You see...I'm not doing this to protect a planet! I'm doing it for you. I'm doing it so that one day you'll grow up, go to college, get married, and even have kids and make me a grandfather!" But the words wouldn't form.

Dick's eyes showed the distress he was suffering. He tried to hold them back, but the tears started on their own. "We're supposed to be partners! You won't let me help 'cause you don't trust me! You don't trust me to do my job when things get dangerous!"

"No! That's absolutely not true, Dick. You *know* that!"

"Yes, it is...you don't think I'm good enough! Dad always trusted me! We were a team! We were the Flying Graysons! He trusted me to be on my mark each time...just the way we practiced. Like I trusted him! You and I train all the time...but you still don't trust me. You don't believe in me to be able to the job, to carry my end of the show!"

"Dick...son, believe me. I *do* trust you. I trust you with my life. You *know* that! But Dick, this is different...this has nothing to do with being partners. This has to do with personal responsibility. And like it or not, I'm responsible for you." Bruce shook his head. "No, I won't risk you...Dick, I'm asking you to understand, son. As an adult, it's my responsibility to protect you."

"So, I have to just accept it, then? I have to sit back and wave, bye-bye, and maybe never see you again? Well, I *won't*! If you go without me...if you get yourself killed because you wouldn't let me help, then I won't care!" Dick threw himself facedown brokenheartedly on his pillow. "Do you hear me?" he asked through his muffled sobs. "I won't care!"

"Dick," Bruce said helplessly, reaching his hand out and lightly stroking his boy's head. "I promise I'll be back," he said, knowing it was a promise that would be difficult to keep. "I'm sorry, son...This is the way it has to be."

"I don't care," Dick sobbed. "Please, go away and leave me alone..."

Dick heard his bedroom door being closed softly a few moments later, and he found himself indeed alone...

****

Listening intently to the quiet, stealth-like noises from Bruce's room, Dick waited. As soon as Bruce left their quarters, Dick ran out into the living area, quickly crossed over to the exit, opened the door carefully and looked down the outside corridor.

There! Batman was rounding the bend towards the elevators. Robin ran back into their quarters and made his way quickly to the "phone." This was an unsecured intra-satellite local area voice network. He dialed Wonder Girl's code.

Robin waited while the phone rang at the other end.

"'lo?" a sleepy voice answered.

"WG?" Robin whispered desperately.

"Mmmm?" Wonder Girl's response was still sleepy.

"Donna!" Robin hissed. "Wake up, willya?"

"What? Hello? Dick?" Wonder Girl sat up confused. "What time is it?"

"It's time for action! You up to a little trip to the edge of the galaxy, Wonder Girl?"

"Do I get to drive?" Wonder Girl was wide-awake now.

"In your dreams, WG! Nothing doing! Go back to bed!" Robin replied tongue firmly in cheek and awaited for the explosion.

"Ooh! Just wait till I get my hands on you, Boy Wonder!" she spluttered.

"Donna, please! This is an unsecured line! I'm shocked! What would Batman and Diana say? Look I've gotta get the others. Make your way to the launch bay...and WG?"

"Yeah?"

"This is one hundred percent Top Secret! Escape and evasion procedures are in effect!"

"Roger, oh, fearless leader! Over and out!" Wonder Girl said, saluting playfully even though Robin couldn't see what she was doing.

Dick smiled, then proceeded to round up his team.

****

"So, let me get this straight, Boy Wonder," Speedy began. "In the course of twenty-four hours, or so, this is the second rule that you've broken. Batman's gonna hang you by the cape from the highest stalactite in the Batcave!"

Robin walked up to Speedy and stood defiantly. "That's my problem, junior bowman! You wanna play ball, then be ready to get a little dirty. The same goes for all of you! This mission is strictly off limits! Batman's already told me to stay of it, and the other JLAers are in agreement with him."

Robin took in each of his team's looks of protest. The Titans were standing in the launch bay's darkened observation deck. Movement below caught Robin's eye: Batman and Green Arrow were climbing into one of the cruisers.

"Ollie--!" Speedy said, startled. "He didn't even say good-bye...!" After all the promises Green Arrow made, he volunteered for a suicide mission without informing Speedy. Speedy clenched his fist in anger. "I'll show you," he vowed in an angry whisper.

"If you believe that this is necessary, Robin," Aqualad volunteered, "then I am willing to risk Aquaman's wrath. We are a team...it is our job to protect one another."

"I'm in, too, Batboy," Kid Flash said. "You need me. We're a team."

"Me too," Wonder Girl piped in.

"I'm in," Speedy said, smirking. "Can't let you kids go out into the big bad galaxy without a gunner, now can I?"

****

"All right, listen up!" Robin hissed. "As soon as the launch bay is repressurized, we blitz it to cruiser number five. I'll go to the control room and activate the cruiser's crew hatch from there. As soon as the hatch goes green, I'll follow. Any questions?"

"Yeah," Speedy said. "How do we open the launch bay doors once we're on board the cruiser?"

"Each cruiser has a remote activation unit on its control board for emergency launch," Robin quickly explained. "I can't think of a better example of an emergency launch than this."

The launch bay red warning light signaling depressurization changed to green. It was safe to reenter the cavernous launch bay. "Ready?" Robin asked. Each Titan nodded affirmative. Robin carefully opened the observation room's safety hatch. He walked at a crouch out onto a catwalk, which led to the deck below. He signaled the "All Clear" to the others.

"GO!" Robin urged in a loud whisper.

As the others hurried down to the designated cruiser, Robin shot out a jumpline and crossed the intervening emptiness of the giant open bay towards the control room. Releasing his safety line, Robin somersaulted in midair, caught the safety railing immediately outside the control room and easily swung himself over onto the catwalk.

Taking out a palm-sized digital lock-pick from his utility belt, Robin quickly placed it on the control room's outside data pad. He pressed a key on the lock- pick and a red indicator light came on. Within seconds the red turned to green.

The control room safety hatch clicked open. "I'm in!" Robin said aloud. He hurried to the control panel and flipped several switches. The launch bay monitor came on and Robin immediately began typing commands. He found the data bank that provided the remote control commands for the cruisers that were sitting on the launch bay. After a couple minutes of furious typing, Robin uncovered the exact combination for cruiser #5. He noted that the spacecraft had been christened the _Avenger_.

"Hmm. The _Avenger_, eh? How appropriate," Robin muttered. Within seconds, he'd successfully opened the _Avenger's_ outer crew hatch. Grinning to himself, Robin took a few extra moments to type in a few more commands. Satisfied, he shut the system down, then hurried out into the bay to join his teammates.

Not bothering to fire off a jumpline, Robin dove off the five-story catwalk, and executing a series of elaborate spins and twists, he managed to grab onto a handhold and thus break his descent when he was about six feet from the ground.

Releasing his handhold, Robin landed lightly on his feet, and took off running towards the cruiser. Speedy, who'd witnessed Robin's descent from the catwalk, could only shake his head in awe.

And I tried to take on the guy, Speedy thought ruefully.

****

"Heads up, Titans!" Robin ordered over the _Avenger's_ intercom. "As soon as I open the launch bay doors, there's gonna be hell to pay. Donna! Wally! Remember, as *soon* as we clear the satellite...Donna, go to cloak, and Wally activate shields."

"Roger!" "Gotcha!"

"Let's do it, people!" Robin punched the emergency launch button on his control panel, and the interior of the launch bay exploded into a frenzied maelstrom. A warning klaxon went off inside the bay warning of sudden depressurization! A red strobe light suddenly started flashing immediate danger! As soon as the launch bay doors cracked open with a sudden hiss, everything that wasn't tied down or somehow bolted to the floor instantly began flying towards the opening.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING?" Wonder Girl shouted into the intercom.

"Wonder Girl, don't shout into the mike!" Robin ordered sharply. "You'll overload it. The outside's being depressurized, and not in the usual orderly fashion. Instead of depressurizing the launch bay first, and then opening the doors, we've opened the doors first. As soon as the launch bay reaches equilibrium with the open vacuum of space, everything will calm down."

Sure enough within a couple of minutes, the gale force tornado and material being buffeted about came to a halt. Items that were not sucked out of the bay doors, floated freely in the open bay.

"NOW!" Robin called. He immediately fired his start engines and put the _Avenger_ into forward. As soon as the small cruiser cleared the open bay doors, Robin punched for full impulse. "Wonder Girl! Cloak! Kid Flash! Shields!"

****

The JLA satellite was a marvel of human engineering. Its construction had been a joint effort of some of the best scientists that Wayne Enterprises, LexCorps, and Star Labs had to offer. It was further enhanced by ultra secret Kryptonian, Amazonian, Atlantean, and Martian science. Furthermore, the talents of Dr. Ray Palmer came to bear on the final engineering design of the space station.

On approach from earthside, the satellite appeared to resemble a child's spinning top. The center of the satellite, and the main construction, was cylindrically shaped and several stories in length. An outer ring encircled the inner cylinder. Four axles that radiated outwardly from the cylinder connected the outer ring to the main part of the station.

An array of antennae and solar panels were grouped on the satellite cylinder's "top" and "bottom." Lights could be seen blinking from four endpoints where the axles joined the outer circle. Also, an outsider might be able to make out lights shining brightly from several portholes and viewing ports. In all, the Hall of Justice was an impressive sight.

A sharp-eyed observer might suddenly notice that at the cylinder's lowest level, giant bay doors slowly opened, and inadvertently released interior atmosphere and a confusion of material. Within a few seconds, this was followed by what appeared to be a small cruiser; however, this image was there and gone so quickly, that an observer might have thought his eyes to be playing tricks on him...

****

Wonder Girl and Kid Flash instantly activated the _Avenger's_ cloak and shields respectively. Robin immediately steered the cruiser to one of the satellite's center axles. Very delicately, Robin set her down on the night side and shut down all unnecessary systems.

"What are you doing, Bird boy?" Speedy asked. "We should be heading out of the solar system at full throttle just about now.

"Not quite yet," Robin said. "We wait for now."

"Wait? Wait for what?" demanded Speedy.

"For them," Robin said quietly. He pointed at the flying figures of Superman and Green Lantern zooming out of the satellite's launch doors. As the Titans watched, it became obvious that the two superheroes were conducting a thorough sweep of the satellite's immediate area.

Robin listened in his headset for any transmissions from the satellite. Sure enough, he soon heard the exasperated voice of Atom radioing Superman.

"Supes! We can't join you on the search...Someone's sabotaged the launch codes. It'll take a couple of hours to unscrew this mess!"

"Sabotaged them, huh?" Superman's voice sounded slightly amused. "Very well, Atom. GL and I will continue the search on our own. Superman out."

Robin sat back feeling very satisfied. He'd sabotaged the launch codes, of course. It would be relatively easy for someone with advanced computer skills to exterminate the bugs he'd placed in there. Of course, if the JLA couldn't debug the launch codes within twenty-four hours, Robin's sabotage program was set to self-destruct and return everything to normal.

Robin smiled as both Superman and Green Lantern flew off into space in opposite directions. As soon as both heroes were not longer in visual range, Robin began tracking them electronically. When it appeared that both the Man of Steel and GL were continuing their search into deep space, Robin delicately reactivated the _Avenger's_ engines and slowly dislodged her from her perch on the satellite's outer skin.

Robin turned the _Avenger_ 180 degrees.

"Aqualad, do you have that course I asked for already plotted?" Robin asked. As they'd practiced during the sim drills, Aqualad was acting as the ship's navigator.

"Aye, aye, Captain!" Aqualad said happily. The original Star Trek show was one of the many television broadcasts that the Atlantean visual entertainment communications station picked up from above. Aqualad was an avid fan, and he'd often dreamed of being part of the Enterprise crew. He was having the time of his life. "Plotted and on the board, Captain!"

The others turned to give him curious stares. Speedy and Kid Flash exchanged slightly amused glances. Aqualad caught their looks. "Star Trek's my favorite show back home!" he said, his violet eyes gleaming. "It's one of the few land- dwellers' video entertainments that the Ministry of Communications allows us to receive. I think I've watched all of the episodes about a thousand times! Beam me up, Scotty!" Aqualad added the last with a broad grin.

"I prefer the Next Generation," Kid Flash proclaimed.

"You have to got to be kidding!" Aqualad protested. "Captain Picard is so...stiff! While Captain Kirk is--!"

"--so...fat!" Kid Flash said derisively.

Speedy caught Wonder Girl's laughing eyes and just shook his head.

Robin concentrated on his flying. The course that Aqualad plotted would hopefully avoid the two spacefaring superheroes' search pattern at least until the _Avenger_ cleared the solar system. Once in interstellar space and away from Sol's gravity well, it would be safe for Robin to activate the small cruiser's star drive and jump into hyperspace.

If necessary, Robin would be able to accelerate their timetable by activating the star drive's maximum faster than light jump engines, or max FTL. However, because of the strange "warping" effect that the max FTL could have on the immediate hyperspace bubble surrounding them, this capability was to be used only for extreme emergencies.

Robin was not entirely certain about the physics involved, but Atom had patiently explained that when the JLA cruiser went into max FTL drive, the engine's special isomagnophasic containment field became temporarily disabled, because the ship was literally sent through a "fold" in time. The spacecraft would enter a fold or a crease in the space-time continuum and emerge "somewhere else" an instant later.

To the ship's occupants, space around them would seem to have "warped," with everyone moving seemingly in slow motion. Atom compared the effect to a television monitor that's badly out of tune. Furthermore, while the ship's chronometers going through max FTL experienced a definite gain in time, those in real-time space neither gained nor lost time. It was almost as if time stood still back home while the spacecraft crossed through FTL.

For now, however, Robin would have to fly as stealthily as possible, utilizing the planetary bodies within the Solar system as cover and concealment. The _Avenger_ may be cloaked, but Superman's much vaunted vision powers and Green Lantern's power ring were not to be dismissed lightly.

****

End Part 2/4