Dick Grayson
Lexxon Mobil Plant
Thursday, November 8th, 2012
'First two relays active,' Artemis reports over the mind link, nearly an hour and a half after we touched down at the Lexxon Mobil plant outside of Pittsburgh. There's a lot of things that haven't been adding up since Lexcorp acquired the company, especially the fact that this is one of three plants that hasn't had a full inspection in years and everything related to the plant runs on an unbreachable internal network. Normally, it wouldn't be a League matter, but there sure are a lot of armed guards for a crude-product refinery and, oh yeah, it's Lexcorp. So here we are.
'Mine too,' Superboy says exactly forty-two seconds later. One at a time, the relays interface remotely with my holocomputer. A dark server room really isn't the best place to hide but I have to be here to physically connect to the intranet. It's stressing me out that I can't have the interface and security cameras up at the same time, but my team is on high alert. Miss Martian is camouflaged and she's standing outside the door to make sure nobody sneaks up on me.
'My relays are in place,' Aqualad reports. A green light on my screen confirms that they're online. Just one more.
'That's the last one!' Kid Flash cheers. As soon as the light turns green, my fingers are flying across my computer screen to start the data-dump.
'Robin, status?'
'All the relays are online. As soon as the download finishes, we'll be able to monitor the whole system remotely.'
'Time to completion?'
'Five minutes,' I make sure the download is going smoothly and switch back to the camera feed Artemis planted during the initial infiltration. I can see Aqualad on the factory floor, documenting labels and taking pictures of the crates. Everyone else is out of sight of our cameras, but I have a good view of the security teams making their rounds through the building.
'Good. Miss Martian, stay with Robin. Superboy, Artemis, return to the bioship but alert us to any changes in guard activity. Kid Flash and I will cover your exit. Rendezvous at the bioship in ten minutes.'
'Copy,' we all say together.
'Uh, guys? I'm pinned,' Kid Flash says.
'Where are you?'
'I'm under the packaging line.'
'The what?'
'The big machine with the giant oil drums on it! There's two guys right next to me! If I move, I'll blow our cover.'
'Robin, can you finish the download?' Miss Martian asks.
'Yeah, I've got it. You go help KF.'
'Hold tight, Wally, I'm on my way.'
'Be careful,' Aqualad warns. I don't have any sightlines from the security feed and I hate not knowing what's happening. I can still see Aqualad, but that's it. No sign of KF or Miss Martian.
'Superboy and I are at the bioship,' Artemis reports, 'We're ready if you need extraction.'
'Hold your position. Robin, how much time is left?'
'Three minutes, Aqualad.'
'Wally, I'm going to knock a shelf over. Be ready to move,' Miss Martian says.
'Ready whenever you are, beautiful.'
I can't hear it from the server room, but the camera closest to Aqualad catches the shelf on the far side of the factory spontaneously collapsing. The guards whirl around, then laugh at each other for jumping and walk over once they see what happened.
'Now!'
There's a blur of yellow as Kid Flash streaks out of his hiding place and sprints toward Aqualad and the exit.
'Kid, look out!' Aqualad shouts over the mind-link. On my holocomputer, I see Kid Flash just barely stop himself from crashing into the low pile of crates hidden along the factory floor. At the same time, I see a new wave of guards approaching.
'Incoming!' I pull a birdarang out to get ready as soon as everything goes sideways. If they sound the alarm, the chances are good that I'll have to fight my way out of here. But somehow, Aqualad pulls KF into an alcove for cover seconds before the trio of armed guards come around the corner. I hold my breath, but they just walk over to where the other guards are inspecting the ruined shelf. There's a lot of waving and gesturing, but it's quiet. Everything is quiet. There's no alarms, no blaring lights, nobody busting into the server room with guns blazing.
'We're clear.' Aqualad tells us. I can feel Artemis and Superboy's relief through the mind link. Or maybe it's mine. The next forty seconds are still the longest of my life.
'Download complete!' I pull the cable out of the computer and retract it back into my glove.
'Copy that. Everyone, return to the ship.'
I disappear into the nearest vent. After that close call, I don't need to be told twice.
"Data received. We have full access to the system. Return to the cave and… good work," Batman says.
"Thank you. We're returning to the cave now."
"Good. Canary will debrief you when you return. Batman out."
We sit in stunned silence for a few seconds. We did it. We were in and out without blowing our cover and now we're on our way home. We're safe here on the bioship.
And somehow, I'm even more anxious than I was when we were on the ground. I spent the entire mission waiting for something to go wrong, like when Wally almost ran into the crates in front of all the guards, and then we'd have to fight our way out. But no. The hammer never fell. I've been a hero since I was eight, and the one thing I've learned is that the hammer ALWAYS falls. Something always goes wrong.
"Thank god you saw those crates, Kaldur, or else Wally would have tripped on them and we would have been toast!" Artemis' sudden laugh shatters the silence.
"I think Kaldur deserves a round of applause," Conner adds. Everyone starts clapping, and the best I can manage is a small smile while I pull up the screen to start the mission report. Kaldur chuckles good-naturedly as the clapping dies down.
"Hey, I think I should get a round of applause too," Wally proclaims, leaning back in his chair. M'gann raises an eyebrow at him.
"For what?"
"There were eighteen vending machines in that place. And, despite the rampaging hunger in my stomach, I valiantly clung to my mission as I bravely and nobly passed up all opportunities for food."
The team grins back at him and Wally winks at me. Suddenly, I feel sick. We shouldn't be joking around right now. What if it was a trap? Why doesn't anyone else see that this is too good to be true? Something's going to go wrong, or maybe it already did and we don't even know it. We have to be ready!
"Yeah, I think he deserves a hand," Artemis admits, and then there's a second round of applause. I type even faster, trying to lose myself in the mission report. The plant gets farther away and my team celebrates in the background. Going over the mission details helps to slowly loosen the tightness in my chest. Maybe it's not a trap at all. Maybe we really did it; our first successful covert infiltration.
The trip passes quickly and it feels like the bioship only lands in the cave a few minutes later. Everyone is still laughing and congratulating themselves on a job well done as we grab our gear. As we walk down the hallway, Wally has one arm around my shoulder and the other around M'gann, happily regaling us with the near miss and the way the guards' armor reeked as they passed by his hiding spot. Artemis and Conner are comparing notes, each insisting that their role was more vital to the mission.
"I'm just saying, anyone could have staked out the perimeter, infrared scanner eyes or not."
Conner snorts, "I could have planted the cameras just as easily as you did. Actually, it'd be easier for me."
"Oh really?" Artemis raises an eyebrow.
"I can throw anything faster and harder than you can shoot through a bow," Conner says matter-of-factly. Artemis laughs and I can see the lewd joke on the tip of her tongue but before she can respond, Kaldur steps in.
"We must not fight amongst ourselves, especially over a matter as inconsequential as value to the team," then he grins, "Because as team leader, my job is more important than both of yours."
"Burn!" Wally cheers, high-fiving the Atlantean.
M'gann laughs and Wally cheers Kaldur on the whole way. I can feel myself starting to smile for real.
We enter the kitchen together, caught off guard by the loud noisemakers and applause. I let out a startled laugh when I see the League's handiwork. Superman, Flash, Green Arrow, Black Canary and Wonder Woman are proudly wearing party hats, while Red Tornado holds a hat in his hand as if he isn't quite sure what to do with it. The entire kitchen is covered in streamers and confetti, with a giant banner stretched across the wall reading, "First Successful Covert Mission! (It's about time!)" Several tables have been pushed together and piled with bowls of candy, cheese puffs, pizza boxes, and a large chocolate cake.
"Sweet!" Wally exclaims, pumping his fists into the air. He's the first to grab a plate and starts loading it with as many slices of pizza and cheese puffs as he can fit. Kaldur and M'gann are right behind him, struggling to extract a slice of pizza while he zooms around the table. I cut in front of Conner, who shakes his head at me but steps back to give me more room.
"C'mon, Kid Mouth! Leave some food for the rest of us!" Artemis complains, and incredibly, Wally obliges.
"Sorry!" he garbles through a mouthful of food before running over to the couch. Somehow, he manages to keep the huge pile of food from falling off his plate while moving at super-speed. It's impressive. The rest of us follow suit, grabbing plates and loading up on pizza, cheese puffs, Oreos and cake.
"Nice work team," Black Canary smiles, reaching for a bottle of soda, "Zatanna also asked me to pass along her congratulations."
"By our calculations, this level of success was inevitable," Red Tornado adds, probably trying to be encouraging.
"I knew you had in you," Green Arrow grins cheesily, patting Artemis on the shoulder as she extracts a massive slice of cake, "You're doing your old uncle proud, kid."
Artemis rolls her eyes, amused by his insistence on the whole "niece" story but also glowing with pride.
"Thanks, GA."
"Alright, well you kids have fun. I've got some business back home to take care of," Green Arrow waves at us, kisses Black Canary on the cheek, and heads for the zeta beam. Superman watches him leave with a way too amused look on his face.
"Huh. Usually, he's the last one to leave the party. Of course, there is usually alcohol," Superman observes with a grin. Wonder Woman swats him on the shoulder, "Ow! What was that for?"
Plate in hand, I make my way over to the couch. Without saying anything, M'gann and Kaldur slide over to make room for me and I plop down on the empty seat. I throw my feet up onto the coffee table and let out a real smile.
"I gotta say, this is pretty asterous."
"Robin, get your feet off the table," Superman scolds as he walks by and I move them without thinking. M'gann giggles when Wonder Woman smirks and puts her feet up where mine just were. She quickly removes them as Superman turns around, sitting up innocently with her slice of cake.
"Yes, Kal?" Wonder Woman meets my eyes and winks. I can't help but smile back.
"Are you all on duty this tonight?" M'gann asks as she pops a Milky Way bar into her mouth. I grin wider when I see the logo on the side of the packaging. Who knew Martians liked Mars-brand candy? There's a gentle press on my mind as she reaches out through the mind link.
'What's funny? Was I not supposed to ask that?'
'Ask what?' Wally demands, suddenly alert and battle ready. Next to him, Artemis and Conner look up from where they're playing Operation with strangely cut pieces of cake.
'Milky Ways are made by Mars Candy. Miss Martian is eating Mars bars,' I answer.
"Oh," KF says out loud, causing the adult superheroes to look at him. He shakes his head uncomfortably, "Sorry, I just… uh… thought of something funny?"
I stare at him while Artemis rolls her eyes and whacks him on the arm. What was that about?
"Real clever, aren't you?" she teases.
'Oh yes. That was quite amusing.' Kaldur deadpans. I glance at him over my left shoulder, but he hasn't missed a beat in his conversation with Superman about the League's plans for expansion.
'Kiss up.' I tease.
'Very mature, Robin.' Kaldur answers.
'Hey, I'm thirteen. I get to be immature.'
'Excuse you!' M'gann frowns over the mind-link before grinning mischievously and telekinetically nudging Wonder Woman's cup off the table. The Amazon immediately reaches for it, but Superman exclaims, "I got it!" and lunges forwards, accidentally managing to knock into the cup with enough force to send it shooting across the room. It smashes against the wall in an explosion of red plastic and orange soda.
'You can be immature at any age,' M'gann sniffs like she's been grievously offended. I catch her eye and grin while Wonder Woman stands to clean up the mess and makes Superman get her a new cup of soda. I swear, they're basically married. Better not say that in front of Lois Lane.
Eventually, the table runs out of food and Conner and Artemis run out of ways to mutilate a cake so everyone migrates to the couches.
"So, are you two planning to take a turn as our Den Mothers?" Wally asks. Wonder Woman and Superman look confused.
"I thought we'd stopped rotating League members since you brought Tornado back."
"The assistance has proven itself to be welcome. I find it very informative to understand different parenting styles," Red Tornado answers. Wonder Woman thinks for a second with a big smile on her face.
"Well in that case, it does sound like a lot of fun. If you all have a week to dedicate to training, I can set up a traditional Amazonian gladiatorial challenge."
"I'm not sure what I could teach you that would be worth your while, but I'd be honored to spend some time working with you all," Superman says. He looks at Conner sheepishly, "That is, if you'd all find it helpful."
Conner smiles at him reassuringly. I guess that means things are going pretty well there. Good job, Uncle Clark!
"Now that their missions are going smoothly, the Team needs some new challenges," Canary laughs, "You two don't have a choice."
Wonder Woman laughs and throws her hands up.
"We've been outmaneuvered."
"You know, I don't even remember the first League mission that actually went according to plan," Superman says.
"That's because it's only happened about three times total."
"That's not how Batman tells it," I grin.
"What does he say?" Artemis asks.
"There's two ways every mission happens; either the plan fell apart as soon as it started because some Leaguers got ahead of themselves and didn't listen to him, or the original plan was stupid anyways and everything worked out exactly the way he said it should've in the first place."
Everyone laughs. Superman shakes his head and Wonder Woman rolls her eyes.
"He does like to be right but I'm really just waiting for the day that one of you two trips over your own cape," she says.
"I do sometimes," Superman admits, "I just start flying to catch myself and make it look like I didn't."
"And that's why I don't do monkey suits," Conner crosses his arms over his chest.
"Well, it's too late for me. If I changed my costume, the public would go crazy. I tried for a little while with a, uh… summer look? I got petitioned into changing it back."
"Really?" M'gann asks.
"If I'm not mistaken, didn't a certain reporter start that petition?" Kaldur asks slyly, knowing the full story. Superman sighs and Canary makes a cough to hide her giggle. Wonder Woman looks delighted.
"Kaldur, somehow I always forget just how devious you can be!"
"I'm not sure what you mean," Kaldur shakes his head in false innocence.
"Well, now you have to tell the whole story," Wally says, leaning forward.
"I'm sure nobody wants to hear it," Superman waves it off. I lean forward, grinning at him while dropping my voice to a whisper low enough that only he and Conner can hear.
"Well, you could always tell them about that time with the fox in the barn roof."
Superman coughs into his soda, quickly putting down his cup and clapping his hands together.
"So, it all started with a conversation I'd had with Lois Lane, she's one of the reporters at the Daily Planet I've worked with quite a bit, and we were talking about my costume. I'm not sure how it happened, but she convinced me to take a bet that the, um, well, she called it "underwear-on-the-outside" was holding public opinion of me down. And I should've figured out it was a setup before this, but she'd found a new costume designer that already had a new version of the suit ready, and…" Superman blushes, face turning red, "Nobody ever believes me that I was in on the joke, but really, I was. You should've seen this thing it was…"
Wally and I snicker and Kaldur grins. Canary and Wonder Woman are holding it in, but they're doing a terrible job disguising their laughter as coughing. Superman finishes his story to thunderous laughter, and then Canary trades stories with Wonder Woman about costume malfunctions they had. Like the time Canary's heels melted during a fight with a lava demon and that was when she switched to combat boots.
"But you were wearing heels before?!" Artemis demands.
"It was a bad choice; I freely admit that now."
"Oh, you should've seen the fishnets," Wonder Woman exclaims. Canary turns on her.
"Like you've never worn something ridiculous into battle!"
"Hey Canary, remember that time you pulled Flash's cowl off by his lightning rods?" Wally exclaims, putting his fingers to the sides of his head, "That was amazing! He's still not over it!"
"We were sparring, and I won that fight fair and square."
"You guys should've seen his face!"
The conversation devolves pretty fast from there. Around eight, Dinah gets up to throw her plate away.
"I hate to say it, but Monitor duty calls. I'm really just so proud of you guys. We'll do an official debrief next week, alright?"
"That is perfect. Thank you, Canary," Kaldur answers for all of us. Dinah smiles and disappears to the zeta tubes. As she leaves, Wally clears his throat and starts telling the story of how he gave himself a bloody nose trying to vibrate through a wall. It's one of his best stories, mainly because the Flash freaked out over it and instead of just telling him what happened, Wally pretended that he'd gotten hurt fighting an escaped supervillain and got dragged around Central for three days looking for an invisible, undetectable escaped convict.
Midway through a vivid description of his particles colliding with the wall, my phone vibrates. I toss my plate onto the table and pull it out.
'8:45 sharp. We have a job'.
My stomach drops through the floor and my blood turns to ice. For a second, it's like I'm still trapped in the Haunt.
You are mine. Everything you have is something I have given you, and I can take it all away.
Slade's words ring through my ears. It's been a week since everything changed and all I've done is pretend that it's all the same. But it's not.
I can't go back. That's crazy! A few days ago, he locked me in a dark room and starved me until I did whatever I had to just to make it stop. He wants to control me. If I go, that's what he'll do! What kind of crazy person would even consider going? I should just delete the message and stay here with my team and Wally's ridiculous stories.
I can barely get through the thought before my stomach is twisting in terror and my heart is racing. Slade drugged me and dragged me back to the manor while I was unconscious. He broke into my room and nobody, not even Batman, knew he was ever there. He only let me out because I promised to do what he said.
If I break our deal, nowhere is safe for me.
Or my family.
Before anyone can see, I press the home button and the message disappears. I glance at the time and shudder when I see that it's almost eight. I turn off my phone and put it back into my utility belt. Fear pricks at my stomach and I can feel hairs rising along my arms. The first time I went on a job with Slade, I took a bad hit to the head and missed the part where he killed someone to keep the scientists safe. Who knows what might happen this time?
"Um…Robin?" M'gann's hand lands on my arm, the touch so soft I barely feel it, "Are you alright? I wasn't trying to pry, but you just started radiating worry."
Her eyes meet mine and there's real fear in them. I let out a frown and run a hand through my hair, trying to come up with a decent excuse to say in case anyone is listening, "It's a disaster, heavy on the dis. I just got a reminder that I have an English paper due tomorrow and I haven't even started it yet."
But mentally I tell her, 'He wants me for a job.'
"That's the worst! Oh! Hello Megan!" she hits her palm against her forehead, "There's a bunch of computers in the library. You could go work on it there! Then you can stay and hang out with us when you finish."
'Tell him you're with the League! Official business you can't get away from.'
I shake my head, "Thanks, M'gann, but I have all my notes at home. I should go."
'I have to go.'
'Dick, no. You can't!'
'I don't have a choice. You don't understand what he'll do to me if I don't.'
M'gann nods at me, but her face is tight with discomfort.
'Be safe. Please.'
I swallow the lump in my throat instead of answering.
"You're leaving?" Conner asks, interrupting Wally in the middle of his story.
"Wow, Conner, it's not like I was in the middle of a…" he suddenly processes Conner's words and turns on me, eyes narrowed suspiciously, "Wait, you're leaving?!"
He saw the note. Even if he hasn't said anything yet, he knows. He knows about Slade and judging by how weird he's been acting today, he's been thinking about it a lot. Pretending innocence, I shrug unhappily.
"I just remembered that I have an essay due tomorrow. You know how strict Bats is about grades."
"Ugh, dude! You have the worst timing!" his eyebrow is raised way too far and I know he knows I'm lying. I hold my breath. As long as he doesn't make a big deal, no one else will suspect anything. As long as nobody notices M'gann looks like she's about to cry. Finally, he shrugs.
"Guess I'll have to finish your cake then."
I let out the breath I'm holding and some of the tension drops out of my shoulder. I was right to trust him. He won't let me down. Everyone waves their goodbyes and I head for the zeta room. It's probably just my imagination, but my footsteps echo off the cave walls even louder than usual. My heartbeat pounds in my ears louder than usual too, and every step feels like I'm walking to my doom. My hands are shaking by the time I make it to the zeta beam.
I don't want to do this, I really, really don't want to do this. What would Slade do if I bailed? Or if I sent him a text along the lines of "I don't care what you do to me, I'm done" and just disappeared? Which would he start with, kidnapping me or posting identity-revealing pictures all over the internet to ruin Bruce's and my life? I pause at the console to input the activation codes to send me to the Batcave, where I'll drop my stuff and make my excuses to Alfred. The thought of that twists my stomach. I hate lying to Alfred.
"GRRRRRRR!"
I jump, whirling around and dropping into a fighting stance.
"Jesus, Wolf!"
Wolf is right behind me, lowered down and haunches raised like he's about to pounce. Conner's pet is almost four hundred pounds of pure muscle, claws and teeth. And right now, he's looking at me like I'm dinner.
"Whoa, Wolf, easy," I put my hands up. Don't panic, don't panic. The first rule of dealing with big, dangerous animals is not to show fear. Wolf lets out an even louder growl and steps forward. I fight all of my instincts not to turn and run for it.
"Wolf, stop," I make the command as sharp and confident as I can. Wolf stops, but he's standing between me and the zeta tube and he's ready to pounce. My hands are still raised and I take a careful step forward. Wolf bares his teeth so I stop.
"Easy, easy, Wolf. What's wrong?"
Is there a threat? Something he noticed that the rest of us missed?
My phone chimes again and I glance down at it without thinking.
'Happy Harbor is not Gotham.'
Oh shit. I have to go NOW!
Wait a second.
How does he know where I am?
Wolf growls and lunges at me. I dive out of the way but as soon as I land, he's on top of me again. He snaps up my phone in his mouth and two massive paws push me to the ground. Hitting the floor knocks all the wind out of me and Wolf is sitting on top on me, using most of his body weight to pin me down. My phone is caught in his jaw, but his hind legs are sitting on my calves and one paw is on my back. He's keeping enough of his weight off me that it doesn't really hurt, but I'm stuck. And he has my phone.
With the texts from Slade still open.
Shit.
Shit!
SHIT!
"Wolf! Get off! OFF!"
Wolf snorts and whines softly. Even though he just scared the shit out of me and decided I'm his new favorite cushion, the aggression is gone. He seems almost... hurt.
"Give me back my phone!"
He whines again, bucking his head.
'M'gann!' I think as loudly as I can, hoping she can hear me from the kitchen. 'Help!'
Nothing. Shit‼
I trying to push myself up, but he growls and scratches at my back. Twisting around as far as I can, my hand barely scrapes his arms and my phone is far out of reach.
"Wolf, get off!"
The weight on my legs is starting to hurt and I can't twist myself free. I can hear my phone buzz in Wolf's jaw and the screen lights up again. I can't read the text, but this is bad. This is really bad. I'm not going to be able to get Wolf off me without help, but if I call for help, my whole team plus several Leaguers are going to come running. They're going to see my phone, and they're going to be able to read all the messages Slade sent me tonight, and my cover is going to be blown. But if I don't get Wolf off me, I'll be late getting to the Haunt. Slade will be beyond furious and a furious Slade is something I never, ever want to deal with. I get an idea, a desperate one. Bruce is going to be pissed about me deliberately destroying my phone but if the League finds out about Slade… if Slade finds out that I accidentally let the secret out… this is an emergency.
"Wayne Tech override, RG8, ISD activate."
Nothing changes on my phone screen. I can't really tell. It's a bad angle and Wolf still has it clamped in his jaw.
"Wayne Tech override, RG8, ISD activate!"
The screen goes dark except for the Wayne Tech logo and a blue loading bar. After a few seconds, the screen turns off completely. Thank god. The internal self-destruct will permanently wipe all the data, turning the phone into a useless brick of polymers and glass and circuitry. I'll have to get a new phone, but I only lost the stuff that wasn't backed up, so only a few days' worth of texts. Worth it.
"Conner!" I shout, "Get your giant dog off me!"
Wolf growls but there's no heat behind it. I stick my tongue out at him because at this point, that's all I can do.
Thanks for the heart attack, you massive wall of fur.
"Conner! CON‼ Conner!"
"Robin? Are you…? Hey no! Wolf, OFF!" Conner grabs Wolf around the middle and hauls him off me. Wolf whines and scratches but the massive weight on my legs is gone.
"Are you alright Robin?" Uncle Clark is there, his hand outstretched to help me up. His eyes are wide with real worry and it's kind of freaking me out to see him in family mode while he's wearing his uniform. I let him pull me onto my feet before dusting myself off.
"Yeah, no I'm fine."
The rest of the team comes running after, standing around watching but with Superman standing between me and Wolf, they're not sure what to do.
"What happened?" Kaldur demands.
Everyone is looking at me, but I'm watching Wolf. Conner is holding him around the middle, making sure he can't attack anyone else. Wolf whines, scratching at the ground and nipping softly. He tries to pull away, whining and huffing in my direction but he doesn't look angry or threatening. He hasn't since he grabbed my phone, which is still clenched in his jaw.
"I think my phone scared him. It went off and Wolf jumped me," I lie. Everyone's eyes go to Wolf's mouth and they all seem to notice my destroyed phone at the same time. Artemis winces. Aunt Diana is the one to pry Wolf's jaws open to grab it. Wolf lets go easily but as soon as she has the phone, he starts barking. My stomach freezes but nobody's looking at me right now.
Aunt Diana hands it back to me apologetically.
"It appears to be very broken."
I wince, "Yeah."
"Dude, that sucks!" Wally grimaces.
"It's fine. It's just a phone, I can replace it," I shake my head, and my back aches when I move, "Ow. For the record, that was not fun."
Conner scowls at Wolf, but the expression changes to sincere apology when he looks at me, "I have no idea why he did that, Robin, I'm really sorry."
"Not your fault."
"Well, how do we know Wolf isn't just going to start jumping people all over the place?" Artemis demands, crossing her arms over her chest.
"She's got a point," Wally says, "That is one sandwich I want no part of."
Everyone looks at him and he stacks his hands in midair to demonstrate, "You know, floor, giant Wolf and speedster pancake right in the middle."
Wolf lets out a loud, mournful whine.
"You planning to explain yourself?" Conner asks, unimpressed. While Wolf starts to howl, M'gann locks eyes with me. She tilts her head to the side and blinks at me, three times in rapid succession.
Mind link established.
'What happened?' M'gann whispers in my mind.
'I think Wolf knows. He tried to stop me from leaving.'
'So your phone…'
'Had texts. Very incriminating ones. I had to wipe it.'
'Dick…'
'I don't have a choice M'gann.'
'There's always a choice.'
Even in my mind, her voice is soft but strong. She's so sure that the answer is that stupidly easy and it makes me mad suddenly. Furious.
'Fine. Then I'm choosing the thing least likely to get everyone I love brutally murdered in an effort to manipulate me.'
'Dick, please! You know that's not what I meant.'
'Are you going to tell them?'
'No! I promised I wouldn't.'
'Then trust me, this is not the time to take a stand.'
"As much as I want to get to the bottom of this, I still have to go. My essay isn't going to write itself."
When the blinding light fades, I'm standing in an empty Batcave. Batman went on patrol an hour ago and probably won't be back until two in the morning. Maybe later.
I move towards the closet where I keep my uniform. I quickly change into my clothes, pulling my now-useless cellphone out of my utility belt. There are bite marks all along the case and a tiny crack in the screen. Bruce is going to know I used the self-destruct code, but hopefully he won't read too deeply into it. Especially with the obvious signs of Wolf having used it as a chew toy.
I head up the stairs into Bruce's study, careful to move the grandfather clock back into position behind me. There are six huge stacks of paper on Bruce's desk and suddenly I'm very glad that I don't actually have an essay due tomorrow. As much as tonight is going to be miserable, that's one good thing.
"Alfred?" I call as I leave the study and head down the main hallway towards the garage. There's no response, so I shout, "Alfred!"
"I hope you realize there are children trying to sleep upstairs, and they would greatly appreciate your use of a quieter voice," Alfred appears at the top of the stairs.
"Sorry, Alf. I just wanted to let you know that I'm going out for a while."
Alfred looks surprised, "It's nearly eight-thirty. Where could you possibly be going at this time of night?"
"I'm going to hang out with Babs. We had to push back our last hangout because she had a gymnastics exhibition and she's been saving a bunch of clips for her superhero documentary that she wants my opinion on," I lie, cannibalizing the last conversation Babs and I had into a plausible excuse.
Alfred stares at me, his face doubtful. Finally, he sighs "Very well. But I expect you home no later than eleven-thirty."
"No problem! You're the best, Alf!"
I rush towards the garage, grabbing my motorcycle keys off the hook and climbing onto the bike. I rev the engine and set off for the Haunt before I can change my mind... or lose my nerve.
"Ahem," Alfred clears his throat behind me and I stop short, nearly crashing into a wall.
"What?" I ask, trying to keep my face calm even though my stomach is starting to churn. Alfred holds up my backpack, stuffed with folders and completed homework.
"I finished everything," I tell him, panic turning to confusion.
"Take it with you," Alfred says, "Master Bruce will not be pleased if an impromptu sleepover results in yet another day of late assignments."
"I'll be back before 11:30," I remind him. Alfred hums and holds the bag out.
"Indulge me. And give my best to Miss Gordon."
I reach for the bag and freeze. It would be so easy not to take it, to say I changed my mind and want to stay in tonight. It would be so easy to ask Alfred not to let me go, to tell him the truth about Slade.
But I can't. I just… can't.
I sling the backpack over my shoulders and start for the garage again. I hesitate at the door and look back. Alfred is still watching me, face carefully blank, posture unassuming. My throat tightens. My stomach drops.
"Good night, Alfred."
"Drive safely."