Gotham City

The Docks

11:30pm

From a rooftop, Jason grappled up the tallest building overlooking the Docks. He was greatful he stopped by the apartment to pick up his old grappling gun and smoke bombs from his utility belt before igniting the costume. He stood there and watched as the Kevlar and red fabric burned, the well known 'R' insignia engulfed in flames, deleting his past, erasing his identity.

Jason looked ahead of him. A man wearing a ski-mask lurked over the edge with a Dragunov fixing her aim below.

The Latino Gang was more bountiful in Gotham City than it looked. Jason made out approximately thirty henchmen, some equipped with AK-47s, while others stood empty-handed. Obviously their weapons were cast away in holsters and compartments; a way to conceal the handguns and blades they could quickly produce should the moment arise. In the center, an impatient Black Mask paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, a cigarette in one hand. It was a habit he picked up when life wasn't going his way or something ran up his schedule.

Autumn welcomed them with her gentle yet bone-chilling breeze that caused even the grown men in their stoic posture to slightly shiver. Their breaths crystallized once their precious warm vapor escaped their nostrils. The headlights from the surrounding cars were the only source of light apart from the distant edifices of the city as its rays cut through the relative bleak darkness.

They stood in the plattering rain, awaiting the arrival of the cargo.

Roman Sionis cut his way through the crowd of thugs.

"I'm expecting this to be a quick deal, people. I don't got time to fuckin' waste. You know costumed freaks like to patrol this city at night. And if this deal is screwed up, that's my time goin' down the fuckin' toilet!"

Jason took a deep breath. It had been a while since he was out in the field. He himself knew he wasn't fit enough to take these men head on like he used to back in the glory days. But even when he did, he was accompanied by an overprotective Batman who wouldn't even permit the boy to take a hit without his consent. Speaking of the bastard…

Two costumed figures swung from the night sky and landed triumphantly atop another building across his position.

It was Nightwing and the Replacement.

Shit. What the hell are they doing here?

" Ellos estan aqui."

He unknowingly dedicated his attention to a black SUV pulling up to the scene along with another cargo truck that held the women. The passengers hopped out the vehicle and flew the back door open, revealing their latest victims.

"Get out!" One of them barked while pulling a black haired lithe woman out in the open.

Samantha…

Bound and gaged, she made every effort to physically protest as he took hold of her. Jerking, kicking, and screaming all did nothing but make him more aggrivated resulting in her being thrown face first at Black Mask's feet.

The passanger door was the first to open from the second car as the white haired man stepped out. His trenchcoat drifted along with the breezing wind. Then the driver's door opened. Jason recognized the tall black woman with curly hair. The only thing different was the long leather coat that was thrown over her dress.

Geneva?

Had he really been double crossed?

For a second, he felt foolish as the memory came to mind.

"How do you know this?" He'd asked her in the alleyway.

"Because I'm one of them."

"Fucking bitch." Todd breathed to himself. She lied and used him. With the anger he had, he knew he was going to put a bullet in her by the end of tonight.

The two criminals stationed themselves beside their boss.

Black Mask picked her face up with his foot. "Well hellooo, Samantha." Her eyes bulged once she saw Geneva. "It'd be fun torturing you but that'd be a waste of my time." Said Sionis.

The female positioned herself on her knees, rivulets of tears and mascara ran down her pale cheeks. "What did you think you could do, eh? Free these women? Be a hero?" He laughed. "Did you not see where that got you to?"

"Jenkins," The crime boss pulled out a pistol as he moved towards the white haired man. "I'd like you to do the honors."

Automatically, the man grabbed the firearm and shot the woman right between her eyes.

"That wasn't necessary." Geneva said nonchalantly while she turned to the assassin.

"Do you have a problem with it?" Sionis stepped up to the defiant woman who looked boldly into his eyes.

She said nothing.

"I thought so."

"So," he backed away while extending his arms. "You got my money or what?

Jenkins gave the weapon back to the crime lord then gestured an armed man to deliver a black duffel bag.

The man plopped it before him. One of Roman's men went and quickly retrieved it. He opened the bag.

"Five hundred grand," Geneva spoke. "Just as we promised."

"You're free to go."

The woman nodded. She turned to her men, " Recibe las mujeres y llevarlos a la nave. Ahora."

As soon as one of them reached to pull one out, their arm was met with a wingding.

Everyone froze.

"I advise you not to do that," Dick spoke.

He along with Robin jumped down and kicked two men in the chest.

"Son ellos!"

Bullets were aimed at the duo as they dodged them effortlessly while hopping from one side to another, taking them out one by one.

The goon on the ledge tensed as he locked the aim of the rifle on Tim's head. He was going to be the one to kill Robin. Word would go out in the street-he'll be famous, important, rich... He smiled to himself and licked his lips, his finger hugged the trigger…

"Excuse me, I'm going to need that." A hand tapped him from behind.

He turned to see a blue eyed young man with a J marked on his left cheek. Then, nothing.

Jason already slid the ski mask over his face once he snapped his neck. He was going to need it. Setting the Dragunov, he peeped through the scope.

Where the hell was Geneva?

Past the commotion of flying bullets and bodies, he was able to locate her as well as Jenkins and Roman. They made their way away from the chaos and towards a nearby car. The three hopped in the mobile machine, driving away from the fracas.

Jason fired at the wheels then at the driver. The vehicle swirved and smashed forcefully into a blue metal crate.

Nightwing and Robin were already occupied and the heavy gunfire was enough to overpower the sound created by the impact. He grappled to a crane and landed on the blue crate. He gazed below him.

Roman was knocked out instantly, his body slumped over the dashboard. Jenkins and Geneva were the only two moving sloggishly, making their way out of the rubble.

Once they were out, Jenkins turned and focused his gun at Jason.

"Why aren't you dead?"

"You really thought you could get rid of me that easy, old man?"

He threw a smoke grenade, catching the two by surprise. A thick mist of potassium chlorate, and dye filled their vision. Jason wanted to use this opportunity to seize Jenkins however he was nowhere to be found. It's like he disappeared in the mist. How…?

He instead snatched Geneva then slammed her back against the crate. She screeched as he stabbed the nozzle of his gun under her chin.

"You lied to me," He growled.

"Get over it. "

Her response made him angrier. He pushed himself against her. "Do you have any idea what you're doing?"

"Is this your way of intimidating someone? " A chuckle escaped her mouth. " It's pretty non-threatening. "

He switched the gun off safety. " I don't need to be."

"We're so much alike, you and I. Having to hide who we truly are, having to tame our inner demons-"

"Shut up!" Jason exclaimed. "Right now there are thirty two people-women and minors who you would've sold off into slavery. Were you really willing to risk their lives like this? "

She smirked once more. Damn... that smile.

Focus, Jason.


"Here you go," Dick flung the last henchman to a thankful Tim who knocked his head with his bo-staff.

"You're getting better with that thing everyday," The hero folded his arms. "I might consider taking you to Blüdhaven. Or maybe even joining Young-"

A distinct pounding sound was heard as Dick flinched at the feeling of a cool and hard object to the back of his head. Nightwing fell forward, revealing to Tim the hard faced man who shot the woman earlier. Jenkins was his name?

With the tool in his hand, he charged at Tim. The Boy Wonder countered the attack with his staff, using his body weight to throw the man away. Jenkins landed on his feet and flung the object towards his face. Robin used his weapon to block the projectile, giving the man his desired response.

In those few seconds of distortion, Jenkins swept Tim's feet from beneath him, having the teen sidekick on the concrete pavement with a pistol pointed at his head.

"One move and you're dead."


"I was planning on having everyone walk out of this situation as safely as possible."

"You don't get to say that anymore." Jason ordered. "Sam's dead."

"I never meant for that to happen,"

"I can't trust you enough to say I believe you. "

"You don't need belief to know the truth, Jason."

"Get away from her if you want this boy to live." Jenkins called out from the distance. "Or else he'll have a similar fate as the girl. "

It caught his attention. He backed away from Geneva and followed the sound of the man's voice. Strolling past lined metal crates and debris, he eventually found them.

The Replacement was pinned to the floor with a F&N ready to blow his brains out. As much as he hated the kid, killing Tim was never apart of his plan.

"Get away from him." Jason raised the weapon. "He has no part in this."

The new Robin gazed up at his masked savior, his expression desperate, fear evident in his eyes showing his inadequacy and inexperience.

Jason could hear the police sirens ringing in the far distance, getting louder by the second.

Jenkins didn't budge, the pistol still concentrated on Tim. "Where is Geneva?"

"Right here," the female came from behind Jason with a pistol focused on the back of his head. "Let him go."

Placing the gun back in his trenchcoat, he stepped away from an injured Tim who clenched his chest in pain.

A police car followed by two SWAT vehicles pulled up to the scene as armed men jumped out the vehicle, ready for battle. At least that's how it would have appeared to the civilain eye if one didn't notice an officer Arnold John Flass, crooked and venal police official with ties to anyone who would cough up the most, get out the custom Ford automobile.

The blonde was smoking a cigarette. He took one puff as an ominous silence engulfed the ambiance.

"Well what do we have here?" Officer Flass spoke causing the smoke to dissipate into the October night atmosphere. "Prostitution ring?"

"We're running past schedule," Geneva replied. "Thanks to the…inconvenience." She waved the gun to the former Robin's head.

"Do you need any assistance?" Flass moved his sight to the masked teen then to the injured Robin.

"Much obliged. First, just get the women on the ship," Geneva spoke to the corrupt official as she faced Jason while grinning. "We have a schedule to run."

"Ya heard the lady." Officer Flass motioned the SWAT unit to the truck. They dragged the defenseless women as the minors wept, grabbing onto the elders, stumbling over their feet. Their assault rifles were fixated on them, merging them all into a line, leading them to a hidden deck in the large ship set by the docks.

Jason never let go of the black girl's gaze. "You're not getting away with this." He breathed. "You hear me? I will hunt you down…and kill you."

"I'm actually counting on it, handsome." She smiled. "That's if they don't kill you first. "

Geneva motioned to the fraudulent police force who now had their guns concentrated on him, ready to shoot if he were to so move a fiber. Her heels clicked as she arrived at the steps that ascended the ship. The thick scent of saltwater mixing in the wind filled her nostrils. She took it in for a moment then turned.

"Good luck."

Jason's finger played at the last smoke bomb in his pocket. He had to use it right or else it won't end well for either him, the Replacement, and Nightwing. He beheld his predecessor as he slowly picked himself up, coming to a realization of what was actually happening.

Good.

All he needed now was the right moment…

"Who woulda thought all three of you boys could be involved with the murder of that young lady?" Flass gestured to the corpse of Samantha. "Don't tell me you were here to dispose of her body?" He grinned. "I can have all of you charged for second degree murder with the intent to obscure evidence."

"Or..." Flass strutted. "I can have you all killed right now. A quick, pathetic death-murdered by Black Mask's men. Good story, ain't it?"

"Over my dead body." Jason smashed the smoke bomb, allowing the destructible outer layer to release a cloud of gray mist. In response, gunfire exploded, bullets flew at the billow.

A robust, muscular arm wrapped itself around Dick's waist then a tug propelled him upwards.

"Check fire, check fire, damn it!" Flass flashed his hand, signaling the men to cease.

Ahead of them was nothing but an evanescence of gas, dispersing wherever the wind decided to take it. Rage filled him, he banged the hood of his vehicle.

"Fuck!"


A half hour later, backup policemen arrived cleaning the scene of the criminals, hospitalizing those who may have had fractured bones or concussions.

"What happened here?" Commissioner Gordon questioned out of standard protocol. Nothing surprised him anymore.

"They got away." Flass replied.


Nightwing was set aside, his back leaned against a brick wall. Jason diagnosed the man with a severe concussion as Tim only suffered mild bruises. He would have told them to go to the Cave immediately yet that would only do him a disservice...

Jason now stood over the ledge of the building, giving him a magnificent view of the skyline of Gotham City. He folded his arms, thoughts rummaging through his mind however no answers were formed.

Why would Geneva send him to rescue the women if she knew she would betray him? How did Sam not know she was a fake? Where was she headed now? How was he going to find-

"Hey," the Replacement approached him and took a place beside his adopted brother. "I don't know who you are but…thanks. "

"Sure…" Jason said awkwardly as a tiny flashing red light crossed past the still stars. It was an airplane.

"I sent Batman the coordinates to this location," Tim claimed "He should be coming soon."

Why should I care?

"Good." His pleasant tone was feigned. Justifiable jealousy slightly took over him. "You should be fine. And'll have to keep an eye over Nightwing."

"Right."

Silence presented itself for a moment, giving Jason time to formulate a thought, a question.

"Tell me, kid." He turned to the costumed Robin. "Why are you so motivated to work for the Batman?"

It stupefied Tim for a second. Then he actually thought about it, "I want to do good for this city. It's really all you can do here." He stepped towards Jason.

"Look at this city." He continued. "It's broken. There is no law. There are no boundaries for criminals. There are no limits for the greedy. People are dying because of it. Those who are alive are at the mercy of chaos-living their lives in probability-in what if's. Something has to stop this...or at least try."

"You should've died tonight," Jason stated. "How could you protect this city if you can't even protect yourself?" He moved closer, getting ready to grapple off.

"I knew that risk when I took it," He began. "And I'm damn sure the Robin before me-"

"The Robin before you is dead!" He swirved to Tim. "Is that what you want?"

"What are you trying to say?" He nearly whispered.

"…Get out while you still can, kid. "

With that, Jason ascended away into the night, engulfed in the dark firmament of Gotham City, Tim Drake stood watching, astounded.