Pilot Part 1

Dick sighed as he entered the Watchtower, nearly blinded by the yellow flash of the Zeta Beam. He hasn't set foot in here in a long time, it seemed like years even. The Teen Titans mainly operated independently and Dick only reported to the Justice League on their missions. But he hadn't been called like this for a long time and a part of him was glad for it.

He stepped into the meeting room and found only two people sat by the table, Barry Allen, clad in scarlet as usual, and Vic Stone, who smiled at Dick as he entered. Cyborg had left the Titans to join the Justice League two years ago but he remained in close contact, particularly with Garfield.

Next to them where four holographic projections of the Leaguers who were unavailable to physically appear, there were many others whom were clearly in the middle of missions, Superman and Green Lantern had been away from Earth for the last year on the trail of the planet stealer Brainiac, Aquaman was in Atlantis attending to his duties as King while Wonder Woman was on Themyscira.

"Nightwing, it's good to see you" Wonder Woman said with a friendly nod which Nightwing returned as he took a place beside Cyborg.

"It's good to see you all as well," he said.

"How's Kara?" Superman quickly asked and Nightwing suppressed a smile, remembering how only yesterday Supergirl had complained about her cousin keeping constant tabs on her.

"She's fine," he assured. "Now what's all this about?"

"We're still waiting for Batman" Cyborg answered. Dick suppressed a sigh. He hasn't seen or spoken to Batman in nearly three years. Not since...

The metal doors and Dick immediately looked to see the tall grim figure of the Batman, his mask's white eyes almost alive as he moved towards them. As Dick expected, his old mentor betrayed no emotion as he moved to sit beside the holographic Superman, but Dick was looking at someone, or something else.

Another figure was moving in the Bat's shadow, not as tall but nearly as dark, it's grey cloak covering its entire body, though in the dark of the hood Dick could see grey metal and two dull white eyes of a mask that obscured all human traits, the figure looked like a ghost in every way, even the way it moved. Dick glanced at the Leaguers and none showed any surprise, but their faces showed different emotions. Most were calm, though Superman and Wonder Woman seemed to look on disapprovingly. Dick caught Cyborg giving him a nervous glance as the figure sat beside Batman and Dick's surprise was gone. The figure was sitting where he had sat years ago and he knew what that meant. He squeezed his hand into a fist angrily. He had promised, he had sworn...

Dick wanted to shout, to demand an explanation, but Superman began to speak.

"Me and Green Lantern have found no trace of Brainiac. Since his last attempt at the collection of Earth he seems to have retreated from all systems. Wherever he's hiding, he's doing it well."

"My fellow Lanterns have attempted to gather intel but nothing has come up," said Green Lantern. "All we can do is carry on the search".

"Why, bother, if the coward wants to hide, let him, '' Aquaman said gruffly.

"Brainiac is growing more dangerous with each invasion, Aquaman" Superman insisted. "He almost succeeded the last time he tried to shrink the Earth. It's time we brought him in once and for all".

"The Guardians have a cell ready to contain him," Green Lantern said.

"Carry on then" Batman said avoiding Dick's gaze. Dick turned his eyes to see the figure beside Batman staring at him. "Wonder Woman?"

"My brother's attack on Themyscira has left my home devastated" Wonder Woman said sadly, "we are rebuilding but we have lost much that day. Ares is contained for now, but for how long i'm not sure. Which is why it's important the Justice League continues its mission. The less conflict there is in man's world, the longer it will take my brother to return."

Batman nodded. "Nightwing" he said, turning to Dick who stiffened slightly.

"The Titans have succeeded in their last mission" he said, his voice kept even. "We have Brother Blood in custody."

"Good" Batman answered and Dick noticed the figure and gave him another glance. "I have another thing I need you to take care of, Nightwing, alone."

Dick looked at him.

"Alone?"

"In Gotham".

Batman typed on his table panel and Dick's own panel lit up to produce a file, Dick recognizing the face on the screen. Jonathan Crane.

"We have reason to believe Scarecrow is back to selling his fear gas to the highest bidders. I need you to check that out for me."

"Why me?" Dick asked evenly, noticing the figure seemed to stiffen slightly at Batman's words.

"I have another mission. You're the only one who knows Gotham enough to track Crane down. I'll leave it to you".

Dick nodded, his eyes on the figure whom he could swear was looking angrily at the Batman, who kept his eyes away from the person next to him.

The rest of the meeting was a blur, Dick instead observed Batman and the figure, whom he was now sure was staring angrily at his old mentor.

The two left the room quickly once the meeting was over, but Dick caught up to them in the Zeta room.

"I don't believe we've met" Dick said slightly snidely as he approached the two who turned towards him.

Batman's eyes looked to Dick and then to the figure.

"Nightwing," he said calmly. "This is..."

"Phantasm," the figure said. His... Dick guessed it was a he, the voice was clearly altered by the mask, it came out as a high and somehow melancholic echo.

Dick looked at Batman.

"I think we need to talk," he said calmly.

Batman nodded and turned to Phantasm.

"Wait for me on the other side" he said and Phantasm turned to look at Dick before going through the opening Zeta Beam.

"What the hell, Bruce" Dick said angrily, moving forward in a threatening manner while Batman stayed eerily calm. "You promised me, no more of them".

"I had no right to make that promise," Batman admitted.

"How could you? What were you thinking, after what happened to Barbara. Jason. Tim and Damian. Jason. You swore to me that day that no more of this. You swore that this was our game and ours alone. That you wouldn't bring anyone else into this".

"I didn't have a choice, Dick" Batman said, his face straight. "I didn't look for Phantasm. I didn't look for another one. I didn't drag anyone into this."

"Who is he?" Dick asked, his hands shaking as he looked at his mentor, at the man he hated once admired so badly.

"Someone who needed my help," Batman said quietly. "We'll talk it out in a better place at a better time. Take care of the Crane situation."

"You're gonna walk away again, Bruce?" Dick told him angrily. "That's what you do, you walk away from everything. What happens when your new sidekick burns out, you'll walk away again!"

"Dick" Batman said and Dick saw the tiniest flash of emotion on his face. "Dick, believe me, I didn't want this. I didn't. This started before you even became Robin. That part of the past has come back to haunt me and I'm doing what I can to protect Phantasm. Meet me at the Manor when I come back from my mission and I'll explain everything."

"You always say that" Dick said looking down as Batman walked away towards the Zeta Beam. "That you had no choice. It's what you tell yourself to justify all this."

Batman stopped for a moment as he activated the Zeta Beam.

"Perhaps".

And then he was gone.

(This is the first of a two parter starter. I'll post the next one soon and await the review to see I should carry on. Really hope you like it. Check out my other story if you are a fan of GOT and you are interested. Let me know your thoughts please. Thanks :)