"I still can't believe you left Bart in Egypt." Dick shook his head. They were in his apartment, going over the plan.

"I still can't believe you dragged me into this in the first place! It may be true that I can be in 2 places at once, but it's not a particularly favorite activity of mine. Besides, what did you want me to do? He ran into me when I was canvassing Cairo. I think he was bored, because he didn't really say anything to me, just asked what I was doing and if he could help." Dick rolled his eyes and Wally sighed. "I don't know…I've been thinking lately that we've all underestimated him. He hasn't really given anyone cause to doubt him…it's just that his flighty nature makes us think he won't be there when you need him. But he always is. And I figured Tim would need a friend more than an adult 'ally'…no matter what Barbara may think." He looked a bit uncomfortable with the subject, and Dick let it drop.

"Ok, fine. In any event, Tim and Cassandra can pretty much take care of themselves…I think Babs was a little bit panicky when she called you in. Anyway, you get the general idea here?"

"Yeah, I think I get the 'general' idea." He answered wryly. Dick grinned.

"Well, I can't go into to much detail yet…parts are still being worked out. And a lot is going to be improvise anyway…good thing one of us thinks fast on his feet." His tone left no doubt as to which of them he was referring.

"Ha, ha. I suppose I should be grateful you're not resorting to bad puns." Dick laughed, and silence fell. After a minute or two, Wally cleared his throat.

"You know…I understand what we're doing…but I'm still not exactly clear on why we're doing…I mean, isn't framing someone usually considered the 'bad guy's' domain?" Dick didn't look up from his work, though his face took on a grimmer cast.

"In the normal course of things…yes. This isn't normal. Cain's an assassin. Cassandra is his daughter…and she's working with us. I don't have to tell you all the dangers, pitfalls, and other problems that has and will cause us. Cain knows our identities," Wally winced. He knew first hand what that could do to a hero's home life. "And he's 'let' himself be locked up after framing Bruce for a particularly bloody murder…just because Cass wanted him to. But that's the only reason he remains in prison…because she wanted him to. And …" he broke off, reaching down to twist a wire into place.

"And?"

"Well, he broke out to kill Tim's father. There's no telling how much longer he's going to sit around in prison just on Cass's say-so. Besides, Cass seems to think part of his motivation is to get to her somehow. So… we know he did it…and he knows he did it…but no one else knows. He's good…we don't have any proof. So we have to frame him to ensure the authorities know he can get out…and take the proper precautions."

"And that's where I come in?" Dick nodded.

"We know a number of ways he could have gotten out…you need to do a run through and see if you can spot anymore. Then, once our…creative doctoring of various cameras and security devices is complete, you can switch them with the originals."

"And how are you going to make sure anyone knows about this? Any tapes that were relevant would have been examined by now, right?" Dick nodded again.

"Yes. But…" an explosion outside distracted him and he sighed. "Blüdhaven, gotta love it." With that he grabbed his mask and pulled off the sweater that had been covering his costume. Wally shook his head. He was sure Dick shouldn't be doing acrobatics with that leg, but stopping him was not in his repertoire. Another explosion made him frown. "You coming?" Wally grinned. Then again…


"You said he was dead." Batgirl accused, grimacing to herself under her mask at the way Robin was tensing up. If she didn't know better, she'd think this Johnny Warren was a horrific super-villain on the scale of Joker or Bane or…or something. But he seemed like he was…well…kinda puny. So why was Robin…?

"He did…I mean, he was…I mean…" Robin swore softly, then sighed. There was no reason this should be freaking him out this much. After all, it was only a killer with super-powers somehow raised from the dead… no big deal. Yeah right. He swore again…mentally, this time, not wanting to attract any attention…and began to slowly back out the way they'd come.

"Where're you going?" Batgirl looked on in disbelief as he retreated. A firm hand grasped her elbow and yanked her back with him.

"Regrouping."

"Huh?" He didn't answer, simply hauled her out into the alley. She let him, trusting…hoping… he had a good reason for his strange behavior. It was…disturbing. He drew a couple of deep breaths of the stale air and it seemed to calm him.

"Listen, I know he doesn't look it, but Johnny Warren is a dangerous guy. He was in a good position to take over in Gotham…eventually…back when I first encountered him. He's ruthless and ambitious. I got in his way…" he looked away for a second, collecting his thoughts. "Actually, it was partially my fault he lost his hand... he tried to shoot me when I'd clogged up the gun…but he disappeared for awhile and then…I don't know. I don't know…you see? That's the problem. He didn't have powers before and then he did and was apparently intent on destroying everything in my life because he blamed me for the loss of his hand. And he attacked St…Spoiler and me with these powers and…and…" he realized he was ranting and beginning to hyperventilate so he shut up.

"And you killed him." Batgirl prodded, earning herself a dirty look.

"I did not. At least…I thought I did, but everyone said I didn't…he…you don't understand. He literally fell apart. Like he was a mummy on one of those movies who suddenly loses power or something." A funny look flitted across his face and Batgirl cocked her head.

"You think he's a mummy?" Robin sighed.

"No. It was an analogy. But it was similar…more like a zombie…dead, but some power was keeping him alive." He nodded back to the bar, "obviously." Batgirl nodded sagely, waiting for him to stop trying to rationalize supernatural forces and decide to finish what they'd started. After a minute or two, she sighed, deciding he wasn't going to finish trying to rationalize…this was Tim, for goodness' sake.

"So let's go get him."

"Are you nuts? This changes everything." He narrowed his eyes. "Besides, didn't Batman say you weren't supposed to get involved with metas?" She shrugged, assuming an innocent expression, even though he wouldn't be able to see under her mask. "Anyway, we need to completely revamp the whole plan."

"What plan?" Had they had a plan? He ignored her and continued.

"We can't just take on a meta without taking the proper precautions." This time she remained silent as he began pacing. "We need to know the extent of his powers. See if we can find any weaknesses. We know he's got some sort of telekinesis, so we have to figure out how to keep him from simply plucking us up off the ground and electrocuting us." He twitched a bit and she decided he must have already been on the receiving end of this particular power. "Of course, we don't know if that's the only power he has, so we'd have to be extra cautious. A sneak attack would be best, but not until…" a clunk down the alleyway drew Batgirl's attention. She slipped away to investigate, leaving Robin muttering to himself.


"If this isn't important, someone is going to be in a whole lotta pain." Barbara muttered as an insistent beeping cut short her train of thought just as the answer to a puzzle she'd been pondering for the past three days was about to pop into her head. Of course, with the distraction, it popped right back out again.

"What?" she snapped into the mic, not even checking to see who it was… not caring if she irritated the caller. A pause on the other end told her she most likely had, and she heaved a sigh as a glance to the monitor confirmed her suspicions.

"Is this a bad time?" The tone perfectly conveyed the complete indifference to the convenience of his timing.

"No! No. Not at all." She allowed the sarcasm to saturate her tone, knowing that sometimes, World's Greatest Detective or no, he didn't quite get subtlety.

"Hmph. What are two speedsters doing in my city?" She rolled her eyes. "In and out of Gotham twenty-three times in the last two hours, actually." Barbara blinked. She should have known they couldn't keep Flash's involvement from him, but that he'd know so quickly was…wait a second.

"Um…" He'd said two. That wasn't in their game plan. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, searching out the information he had apparently accessed with ease. She was sure he had all kinds of sensors and equipment up to tag any and all known metas moving about in Gotham's vicinity.

"Well?" She sighed, loudly enough for the mic to pick it up.

"I don't know, ok? I'm checking." She thought he may have humphed again, but he remained otherwise silent. "Uh, since you seem to know so much about this…mind mentioning which two speedsters? Might narrow the search and all."

"Flash has been here seventeen times. Kid Flash eight."

"That doesn't add up to twenty-three" she pointed out acerbically.

"Twice they seemed to have been together. I counted those occasions as one." She rolled her eyes again. She managed to finally tap into his monitoring system and frowned. She knew why Flash had been in and out…though they had hoped to get the mission done before Batman found out. He was picking up supplies and doing reconnaissance for Dick. But what was Kid Flash…? She stifled a groan. He had at least twice visited Tim's family's apartment. Bart was…slow…sometimes, but even he couldn't miss all the police tape still hanging all over the apartment. Tim was going to be pissed. She narrowed her eyes. What would he be doing at…? Possibly helping Flash, she supposed.

"Don't play games with me, Oracle. I know you called them in to…"

"Hold it! I did no such thing. I may have contacted Flash to try to help locate Tim and Cass, but I don't have any idea what he or Kid Flash are doing!" Batman grunted and cut the connection. She figured he didn't believe her, but at least he recognized that she wasn't going to give him any information. Not that she could

"Tim, I hope you know what you're doing." She buried her head in her hands, fighting off a killer headache. She didn't know what Kid Flash was up to, but he had hit at least two of the top technology companies in the city. If he wasn't acting out some plan of Tim's…well, she wouldn't even know where to begin to guess his motive. She shook her head and reached out a hand. At least she could alert the others.

"Oracle to Nightwing."


Sticking to the shadows, Batgirl moved with confidence. Another thunk made her reconsider the threat this person posed…not very subtle, were they? She reached the corner and peered around it…and sighed.

"What are you doing now?" she stepped into the light.

"Yipes!" Kid Flash jumped, glancing up at her guiltily from a tangle of wires and metal objects. Batgirl folded her arms across her chest and waited. "Um…I was trying to build this…" he moved and suddenly the tangle of wires was a ten-foot-tall machine of some kind "…but the wires got crossed and I think I have the wrong size bolts and…" they both winced as, demonstrating his words, the machine settled and began to tilt precariously towards them. In another instant Kid Flash had it reduced to a pile of parts again.

"Um…but what is it?" He blinked at her.

"A robot." She cocked her head, examining the pile of parts again.

"A robot."

"Yup." He grinned, obviously proud of himself…but she wasn't quite sure why.

"In the middle of the night…in Cairo?" His enthusiasm dimmed a bit at the skepticism in her tone. He sighed.

"Yeah. I wanted to help you guys on your case." It was Batgirl's turn to blink. A robot was supposed to help them…how? But before she could voice the question, Robin rounded the corner.

"There you are. Where'd you…oh. Hey Kid Flash."

"Hi." He sent a morose look at the heap scattered around him and Robin followed his gaze.

"A TZ63?" Kid Flash's face brightened.

"Yeah! I thought I couldsenditinand…"

"Whoa! Slow down." Kid Flash grinned sheepishly. Robin glanced down, then sighed. "It was a really good idea, really. But the TZ63 is for human capture and restraint…our guy is a meta with unknown powers. Even if we got this working, it probably wouldn't hold him." Kid Flash's face fell for a split second, then perked up again.

"But you could fix it, right? I mean, make it so he can't get out?" Robin looked at his hopeful expression and felt his chest tighten. Batgirl was right…in so many ways Bart was still "innocent". Believing in magic and happily-ever-after. Something Robin wasn't sure he'd ever believe in again. He glanced and Batgirl and stifled a sigh. She was looking at him with the same hopeful expression…or, at least he thought she was. Her body language seemed hopeful, even though he couldn't see her face. He hated to let them down, but…

"I…I suppose we could try. I'm not promising anything, though. We don't know the extent of Johnny Warren…or Warlock, I guess…anyway, his powers." The warning fell on deaf ears.

"Good! Whatd'youneedmetodo?" Robin sighed, but couldn't keep a smile from tugging at his lips.

"Well, first, we need to find ourselves a headquarters, to work out of sight."

"Okay!" And he disappeared. Robin shook his head and glanced at Batgirl. She was studying him intently.

"What?" She shook her head and shrugged.

"I…"

"Found one!" They both turned as Kid Flash bounced up. "There's an abandoned warehouse on a few blocks away. Empty…no sign anyone else is using it as a secret hideout either!" He beamed, obviously proud to have thought to check for that small-yet-important detail. Robin smiled at him.

"Good job." He glanced back at the cantina. "Just a sec…" he disappeared around the corner for a few moments, then reappeared. "Ok. Let's go." He caught Batgirl's eye as they turned to go. "Later." He wasn't going to let her get out of whatever it was she had been about to say.


To be continued…