Little Bird's Vengeance Chapter 29 Home Front

Steve jumped from one Quinjet to another, scarcely mindful of the long drop if he missed his footing, Thor coming from the other direction to land on the target Quinjet's roof. As he landed, he saw the occupants watching closely. "Are you okay?" he asked, pushing back his hood.

"Most of us," Wonder Girl – Cassie – answered. "Jane and Darcy here are a little shellshocked, and Rob's gonna need medical attention again."

"Will he be alright?" Steve asked, kneeling next to the unconscious teen and checking his (steady) pulse.

"If you believe everything he says, he's always 'fine'," Cassie sighed. "If you'll excuse me, I can do more outside. Close the door after me." She stepped out the door and flew off on her own.

Steve hit the controls to retract the ramp that doubled as the door and turned to the two women. "Dr Foster and Miss Lewis? Steve Rogers. Thor's told us a lot about you two."

"Thank you," the older lady replied. "Is it normal for flights to be interrupted by flying killer robots?"

"No, ma'am, it's really unusual," Steve reassured her.

"Actually, it's not that uncommon," Kid Flash, Bart, interrupted from the cockpit. "Not for us, anyway, but we generally have people trying to take us out, so we're used to it. Why did you think we knew what to do so quickly?"

"Why would you have people try to take you out?" Jane asked.

"Lots of reasons," Bart answered nonchalantly. "Could be 'cause we're about to bust up their operation, or pre-emptive because they're planning to do something we'd stop, or revenge, or to get acclaim among the bad guys."

"Sounds…dangerous," Darcy said.

"Yup, but it's nothing we can't handle," Bart replied. "If it makes you feel better, whoever sent those drones was more likely after Rob than you two. You're civilian scientists, guess you haven't made many enemies, but Rob's good at that."

"Three days ago we stopped a group of people using similar technology in New York," Steve supplied.

"Sounds like that was it," Bart acknowledged, keeping is eyes fixed on his teammate leading the way. "Supes, you sure we need more height?"

Beyond the windscreen, the dark-haired teen looked back, rolled his eyes and nodded.

"He can hear you?" Darcy asked. "I don't see you wearing an earpiece."

"Super hearing; he's half Kryptonian," Bart explained as the Quinjet started to ascend.

"What does that mean?" Jane queried.

"One of his clone fathers is from the planet Krypton."

"Never heard of it."

"Well, it's possible the galaxy's different here, but back home Krypton was destroyed years ago."

"I'm sorry. Was your friend-?"

Bart shook his head. "Created and raised on Earth. He's never been there. Well, I think he's been to see the remains once or twice, but- Is that the Helicarrier?"

"That's it," Steve confirmed. "You might want to follow Hawkeye and Black Widow to the landing bays."

"Right, this'll be fun, haven't landed before," Bart muttered. Steve fought to keep his sudden anxiety off his face as the ladies started to look concerned. A few minutes, two closely circling Titans and one bumpy landing later, they all let out a breath in relief.

The door opened, Cassie and Kon standing close by, Tony and Rhodey stepping out of their armour and Thor hopping lightly off the roof. "Lady Jane, Miss Darcy," the Asguardian said. "It gladdens my heart to see you unharmed."

"Thank you," Jane replied frostily. Steve winced internally. She had the same tone of voice as Peggy had around about the time she shot at him, ostensibly to test the shield, but he wasn't that naïve. Poor Thor was in for a rough time unless Jane mellowed.

Meanwhile, Kon had scooped up the unconscious vigilante and carried him out of the Quinjet. "I assume you have a medical bay somewhere?" he asked.

Agent Hill arrived on deck, one of the junior agents following behind, Clint and Tasha stepping out of their jets to join them. "The Director wants to see you all immediately," she ordered, before turning to the agent at her side. "Tell Medical to prepare for an incoming casualty, and have one of the techies head up to get the suit off Red," she instructed.

"That won't be necessary," Cassie declared. "Kon, go with him, keep Red Robin safe. You know what to do."

Kon nodded, and followed the agent below.

Cassie turned back to Hill. "You were saying the Director wanted to see us?"

Hill nodded. "This way, please."

Cassie followed the senior agent into the Helicarrier. As the co-leader of the Titans, it was her responsibility to ensure her team's safety, including all their secrets. Unfortunately, she didn't know what Tim had already told the secret agent guys. This meant she couldn't risk telling them something Tim wanted kept quiet, as she didn't know the dynamics of this world. SHIELD could be a friendly, as in Checkmate when Mr Terrific was involved, or as in Checkmate at the time Maxwell Lord was running it and murdered Blue Beetle. Hmm.

They were shown onto what appeared to be the Bridge, good views all around, captain's spot, rows of agents with computer banks, even a conference table at the back. At the head of the table, a very disgruntled one eyed man in a black trench coat bearing a passing resemblance to Mace Windu out of Star Wars.

"Someone care to enlighten me as to what, exactly, is going on?" he growled.

"Director Fury, Wonder Girl and Kid Flash of the Teen Titans," Captain America introduced nervously.

Fury fixed his one eye on Cassie. "And would you tell me what's going on?"

"Bit hard to tell if I would, because I can't," Cassie drawled. "Ask Red Robin."

"And where is Red Robin?" Fury demanded.

Bart flickered. "Still unconscious," he reported. "It looks like the wires in suit have managed to get themselves lodged inside his side; it's not pretty. Supes is doing a pretty good job of getting them out, though."

The Avengers all stared at the young speedster. "How do you know?" Iron Man asked.

"I ran down really fast and took a look; why?" Bart replied innocently.

"How fast can you run?" Fury asked.

"Um, fast? Fast enough to break the speed force barrier. I think the Bat keeps records about how fast that is; ask Red Robin," Bart said.

Cassie quickly flicked a look at her teammate. She moved her hands in the sequence signalling to avoid answering questions (a sequence not found in any sign language; another innovation of Gotham's Bats). She'd seen Rob run rings around people enough times to find it more than a little amusing; and it would also be a great time waster until Rob woke up and told them who much they could trust SHIELD. Except Rob never trusted anyone…

Well, he had given them "permission" to give out their names if they so desired, at least to the Avengers.

Mind you, Checkmate had alternately been a somewhat useful ally, and an organization of insane murderers being utilized by extradimensional exiles to further their own evil plans.

"Can you at least tell me how you got here?" Fury asked.

"We flew," Cassie answered.

"I meant, in our world."

"By accident."

"And what caused the accident?"

"I would have to discuss that with my co-leader before answering," Cassie stonewalled.

"And who are you? What are your powers? And those of your teammates?"

"I would have to discuss that with my co-leader before answering…"

AN: In case any of you are wondering, I don't think Cassie would be particularly trustful of SHIELD due to, as she thought, Checkmate's involvement in the run-up to the Infinite Crisis, the creation of the OMACs, forcing the Amazons into exile, all the deaths that came about due to the Crisis...you get the idea. Tim's made his own judgments; she hasn't had time.

Last chapter hasn't been edited yet; but I'll get there.

Also updating this week is Flashback, with more of Batgirl's origin. Next week that saga will continue, while we'll also pop over to Black and Red for more from that stranded birdie.

Please leave a review on the way out, and I don't mind you questioning me.

See you in a fortnight,

Katara