Chapter 15: The Meeting

"Okay so what the plan?" Stargirl asked the Gotham trio.

"Well we're mostly just patrolling and listening over police scanners for trouble," Nightwing told her. "Especially since none of the major super villains are out." He turned to Batgirl and Robin. "Batgirl you head over to Crime Alley with Stargirl." She nodded; Nightwing turned to Robin. "Robin you go with Blue Beetle Downtown." Robin nodded. "I'll take the Narrows with Firestorm." Each followed their directions and headed towards their area.

With Nightwing

He and Firestorm were currently on one of the Narrows many rooftops serving the area. Firestorm groaned.

"Are things always this boring?" Firestorm complained.

"Not usually," Nightwing admitted. "But boring is good."

"How is boring good?" Firestorm asked. Before Nightwing could respond Firestorm resumed talking. "I know that but... Professor... I KNOW. Okay I get it."

"Who are you talking to?" Nightwing asked.

"OH, well, when I become Firestorm, I combine with a man named Professor Stein," Firestorm explained. "And when that happens... Well ...We share brains." Nightwing raised his eyebrow.

"So... basically you have another voice in your head," Nightwing said.

"Yeah pretty much," Firestorm responded.

With Robin

Robin and Blue Beetle were more actively searching. Robin was jumping and running across rooftops while Blue Beetle was simply flying.

"So, what's it like working with the Justice League?" Robin asked. "What kind of missions do you go on? Have you ever been to space?"

"A few times yeah," Blue Beetle answered. "Mostly though, since I'm not an adult yet, I go on small missions with other older leaguers. Besides I'm still in school and can't go on daytime missions usually. OH, and one time I was worked with Batman to stop Kronos from erasing Batman from history!"

"Cool," Robin responded. He then heard a ping in his commlink. "This is Robin."

"This is Batgirl; we've got trouble over here," Batgirl said. "There's a drug run going on and I think I see... Scratch that I've got visual on Basal Karoff."

"Me and Blue Beetle are on our way," Robin responded.

"I'm on my way as well," Nightwing said. "Do NOT engage until we all get there. We need to make sure there aren't any super-powered vampires."

"Understood Batgirl Out." Robin then changed directions and headed for Crime Alley.

"Hey! Where are we going?" Blue Beetle asked.

"Crime Alley," Robin answered. "There's a drug run going on and Basal Karoff has been sighted."

The two girls were currently position on a rooftop perpendicular to where Karloff's group was. The group was composed of five men each were wearing black cargo pants, black long-sleeve shirts, gloves, and black boots. Karloff's group was standing in front of an old abandoned building and Karloff was currently engaged in small talk with two other hooded men.

With Batgirl

"OH, this is exciting!" Stargirl exclaimed. "We're going to fight actual vampires!"

"Calm down!" Batgirl whispered. "You'll give away our position."

"Right, sorry!" Stargirl responded in a whisper. Batgirl was watching them through her binoculars as she muttered to herself.

"Humm, okay, there's the group," Batgirl muttered. "There's Karloff and there they go into the building. Batgirl to Nightwing. Karloff and his men have gone into the abandon building alone with two other men."

"Keep an eye on that side, Firestorm and I will watch the west one," Nightwing ordered. "Robin you watch the main entrance."

"Understood," Robin responded.

"So why don't we just go down and fight them?" Blue Beetle asked Robin. "We have them out powered."

"That's the thing, we don't know their powers," Robin reminded him. "So, we need more defensive than offensive. If you know your opponent's powers, then you can go offensively because you'll be able to find their weaknesses. At this point we're going in blindly, so we need to be careful." Robin took out his binoculars and examined the area.

"Makes sense but shouldn't we stop them BEFORE the deal is made?" Blue Beetle said.

"Actually no," Robin responded.

"Really?" Blue Beetle questioned.

"Yeah, because this way they can't disappear," Robin told him. "Well, at least, not without leaving some sort of track. And we'll be able to see how their powers work. Also, they're inside which limits their ability to escape easily."

"OH, that makes sense," Blue Beetle responded.

"Nightwing to Robin, how's it looking over there?" Nightwing asked.

"Robin to Nightwing. It's pretty quiet over here," Robin reported. "No sign of trouble. How about you?"

"Same," Nightwing said. "Babs, anything you're end?"

"No," Batgirl told him. "I can't see what's going on from here."

"Okay, let's move in and see if we can overhear what they're discussing," Nightwing stated. "But just us three. Leave your partner outside."

"What?!" Stargirl exclaimed over the comm. "But…"

"You guys are better suited for making sure people don't get out," Nightwing explained. "And no offense, but stealth missions aren't you guys' expertise."

"Fair enough," Blue Beetle said over the comms.

"So, what do you think of my offer?" Karloff asked one of the hooded men.

"I like your thinking, but I don't need more money," the man said. "And I have several groups offering their loyalty to me; what makes your group any different from theirs?"

"Because MY group unlike the others has something you might want," Karloff told him.

"And what might that be?" the man asked.

"Information," Karloff informed him. "My group is one of the best at gathering information in the underground. Also, we're an excellent stealth operating team." He pulled out a black drawstring from his coat and revealed its content to them. The two men grew stiff.

"How did you get this?" he asked.

"Trade secret," Karloff stated. "So, do we have a deal?" He held out his hand.

"Deal," the man responded as he shook Karloff's hand. "Meet me at the bar on fourth street tomorrow evening at midnight. Then you will receive your reward."

"Pleasure doing business with you," Karloff said. "We will see you then." During the whole exchange the Bat trio were watching the scene below in confusion and curiosity.

'We can't take them out now,' Nightwing thought. 'This is so much bigger than a regular crime deal. If we take them out now, or we'll never know how deep this goes. We're gonna have to tell the newbies to let them go. But I can't call them in here or they'll hear us.' He looked at the positions of his teammates and motioned to get Robin's attention. Once Robin looked his way Nightwing told him the following in sign language,

'Go outside. Call the kids. Tell them to let them go. Okay?' Robin nodded and quietly exited the building. Once he left Robin called to the other three.

"Robin to Stargirl, Firestorm, and Blue Beetle. Stand down," Robin told them. "Do NOT engage any enemies."

"What?!" Firestorm exclaimed.

"Why not?" Stargirl and Blue Beetle asked.

"Because there's something bigger at work and if we take them now, we'll never know what," Robin explained.

"Okay," Firestorm complained before groaning.

"Could you please not groan over the commlinks?" Robin asked.

"Sorry," Firestorm said.

Back inside

"For now, here's a small sample," the man said as he pulled out a small medicine bottle with a dark purple liquid inside. "Use it wisely." He handed it to Karloff who pocketed the bottle.

'What was that?' Batgirl wondered.

'That must be what they were wanting to negotiate for,' Nightwing thought. 'But what is it?'

"Thank you, sir," Karloff stated. "I will see you tomorrow with your information." He turned to his group. "Let's go." Then all six of them turned into bats and flew out of the building.

I'm ALIVE. Sorry! I have a no excuse except major writer's block, laziness, and business.