Amber led me off down a side hallway giving me the grand tour of the theatre; she went on with an official speech that sounded remarkably well rehearsed.

Every so far she would stop and point something out to me like, "And this is the rapier that Tybalt used in our 2000 performance of Romeo and Juliet."

I only half listened, recording all the information in my mind just in case I may someday need it.

The other half of me surveyed the entire theatre like the soldier I was, but nothing appeared, even to a magical scan.

She finished her tour and turned to look at me, "Was there anything else you'd like to see Mr. Anderson?"

"Actually Miss Rose, if it isn't too much trouble could I sit in on a rehearsal? I'd like to see how practices are done here."

She nodded, "Of course, oh, and please just call me Amber."

I smirked and leaned forward, bringing myself to eye level with her, "I'm not going to stop calling you Miss Rose, until you stop calling me Mr. Anderson; call me Josh."

She burst into a giggle, then clapped her hands over her mouth to suppress it, then quickly regained her composure, "Ok, Josh…This way please."

I followed her in, and sat down near the middle of the auditorium. I 'watched' quietly, but actually looked for anything suspicious. I found nothing, so I continued to watch the rehearsal.

They were almost finished when some movement caught my eyes. I locked in on it, a slender shadow moving gracefully across the top of a light bar.

I made quick note of its movement and cat-like agility, as well as the basic feminine figure, and, I assumed, her hair curved in a bizarre U-shape. As quickly as the shape had appeared, it vanished entirely.

I continued to sit calmly through the last bit of the rehearsal, as though I hadn't seen anything.

The director finally stopped the cast, and dismissed them. They quickly scattered from the stage to get back to their rooms, they had one more day to practice, then it was the performance day.

I quickly took my leave from Amber, using the excuse that I had some business to attend to, and headed for my room.

I sat down, logged on to my computer, and opened a new email, sending my days findings. The only remarkable thing to report was the strange shadow I had seen.

I was about to log off when the sound of an instant message popped up along with a familiar screen name.

Kak159: Hey there, you're on late.

I smiled, happy to hear from her, and typed a response.

S1st018: Hi, yeah, been busy today

Kak159: Watcha been doin'?

It took me a moment to come up with a good response.

S1st018: I'm workin' backstage at a theatre.

Kak159: What play? Where?

S1st018: Phantom of the Opera, at the Tri-County Theatre.

Kak159: Which is…where?

S1st018: Just outside Jump City

Kak159: Cool, I'd come see it if I wasn't stuck out here in Kansas.

I laughed at that remark.

Kak159: So…you live in Jump City?

S1st018: Yeah y?

Kak159: Ever seen the Teen Titans?

I stared at the screen for a moment while I came up with an answer.

S1st018: Better question, who in Jump City hasn't?

Kak159: lol, so are the rumors true?

S1st018: huh what?

Kak159: Ya know, the rumors of a sixth Titan, one that the media can't catch up to yet?

S1st018: lol, I don't know about him being a Titan, but there is a new vigilante in town, calls himself "The Shadow"

Kak159: Any idea why the news doesn't know anything?

S1st018: Apparently he never hangs around to be seen, I only know about him cuz I saw him in action once. He took out a few guys that were holding up a convenience store.

Kak159: cool! What was he like?

S1st018: I never got a good look at him, all I could tell was; tall, short hair, strong.

Kak159: o, ok

S1st018: Ok, now you're one up on me Kara, you know where I live, you owe me.

Kak159: Not tellin'.

S1st018: oh really?

Kak159: yup really

S1st018: yeah…sure

Kak159: Please, I live in the middle of Kansas, not much of a chance you'll ever hear of it.

S1st018: Riiiiiight.

Kak159: HEY! It's called SMALLVILLE! You really think you'll ever find some place like that?

S1st018: well, there we go, now I have the name, ha ha ha

Kak159: That…was…cheap.

S1st018: O well, so you're a country girl huh?

Kak159: Yeah, but now I have to go and milk a cow while I sulk that you managed to trick me…again.

S1st018: ha, talk to ya later Kara.

Kak159: Bye Chris.

Kak159 has signed off

I leaned back in my chair smiling; I had met Kara online about two weeks ago, and we had hit it off quickly, we chatted a lot now.

I don't know why I made friends with her; maybe I just wanted to have a friend outside of the Tower, and outside the city. Regardless, she had helped me feel better, as usual.

My computer chirped at me, informing me I had a new email; it was from Robin.

Mr. Anderson,

Nice job with the reconnaissance, keep your eyes open, but if you think you have found something, do not act until you receive a confirmation from me.

Robin

Right, so if I find something…don't do anything about it…this should be good.

I stood from my chair, flipped the laptop closed, then looked out the window, it was dark out, probably near midnight. I shut off the lights, changed into my armor, and swapped my classy looking 'Mr. Anderson' shades for the sleek ones I wore in action.

I slipped over to the window, climbed out, and worked my way down the side of the building. After four hours of scouting the surrounding area, I began to doubt whether or not I was going to find anything.

I was about to return to the theatre when I heard a very faint sound; I dropped low to the ground and crept into the forest towards the sound.

I reached the edge of a small clearing and saw a single young girl squatting in the grass talking into a hexagonal radio.

"Yes, I'm sure no one saw me," she was saying, she had a soft voice, very controlled.

A rather grating, somewhat childlike voice came through the radio, "So we're go for the operation?"

"Of course," she sat back on her heels and holstered the radio. Her back remained to me, so I still couldn't get too good of a look at her, but the U-shaped hair gave her dead away, the same shadow I had seen in the theatre.

I had heard all I was going to, so I slipped back into the woods, heading for the theatre.

I had just finished changing back into my normal clothes as the sun was finally clearing the horizon; I heard a soft knock on the door.

"Mr. Ander…Josh? Are you awake?"

"Come on in Amber."

The brunette opened the door timidly, and I stood up from my cot after finishing tying my last shoe.

"How are you this morning?" I asked.

Her face brightened immediately, "I'm good, how are you?"

"Ready for another day."

"That's good, I'm here because Miss Harcourt requested that you join her for breakfast."

"Ok, where to?"

"Out on the back porch, I'll take you there."

"Lead the way."

She started down the hall, with me following; we were quiet the entire way. As we stepped out onto the back porch, I saw Miss Harcourt waiting at a small table.

"Good morning Emily, how are you today?" I said, walking towards the table.

"I'm doing quite well Joshua, how are you?

"I'm good."

I sat down across the table from her as a stagehand walked up with our food.

To be honest, I really took no notice of what we were eating; I was far too involved in the conversation we were having, just talking about the play, the actors, the bizarre personality quirks that the stars of every show always seem to have.

As we were talking, I had a sudden thought hit me: that girl in the forest had mentioned an 'operation' of some sort…I wonder…

"So Emily, how big of a turnout are you expecting tomorrow night?"

"We are completely sold out, and since tomorrow is opening night, we have a lot of big names coming. A few big military guys, corporate big wigs, all the way up to Bruce Wayne himself."

"That's really quite impressive," I replied, and then thought, 'That is a lot of the rich and famous, can anyone say hostages?' I believed I was beginning to figure it out. There was nothing inside the theatre of illegal value, but I had just stumbled into something far more sinister.

It made perfect sense, send in a scout to get a feel for the area, picking out key strike points, and size up security; then on opening night, ambush the audience, and hold them all for ransom. I knew that I now had to wait around for the performance, then try and get the Titans to counter-ambush the ambushers.

Following this realization, I finished my breakfast early, then excused myself under the pretense of having to go and get in touch with some business partners, and headed for my room.

I quickly typed up a report, and sent it straight to Robin's communicator, just to make sure he got it immediately. I waited around for a half hour, and got no reply.

'Ok, what's up with this?' I thought, unless I heard from them soon, this could be a little rougher than I expected. I had to rethink my strategy.

The remainder of the day passed quickly, I watched more rehearsals, toured the backstage area, then returned to my room.

I tried one more time to call Robin, still no response. So I again donned my combat armor, and jumped out the window. I slipped quietly to my motorcycle, and drew my sword from its hidden compartment, smirking slightly as I watched it sparkle in the moonlight.

I slung the holster and sword on to my back and slid away into the night