Chapter 9

Catch Up On Secrets

Batgirl smiled as Batman and Robin talked away. It was good to see them together again. Robin was his son after all. Superman walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"It's good to see them spending time together again," he said.

"It wasn't easy to get them up there either. I had to threaten Robin into talking to him," Batgirl said. Superman chuckled.

"You're as persistent as Batman," he said.

"Difference is, I know how to smile," she said.

"Batgirl," Beast Boy called, running up to them. "Feel like going around to see if we were followed?"

"You bet," Batgirl said. BB smiled.

"Hey, Jinx, Kid Flash, come on," he called. They joined them at the entrance and Superman left them to it.

"Feel like a race?" Kid Flash asked.

"You know I'd lose," BB said. "Want a ride?"

"Can you do that?" Batgirl asked.

"As long as you can ride a horse," he said, shifting into an odd green horse. Batgirl leapt on his back and Kid Flash picked up Jinx and together, they headed off into the forest. Batman and Robin watched from above.

"You've got a good team behind you," Batman said. Robin shook his head.

"No, I've got a good team beside me," he said. "They know the danger and what precautions should be taken. I trust them all with my life."

"So tell me about your new life. Any new enemies?" Batman asked.

"You've already met two; Slade and Red-X," Robin said. "Red-X is an enemy that I created. I made the suit and used it to try and get close to Slade and see what he was up to. The suit was stolen a while back and he took on the villain that I created."

"Not so good," Batman said.

"It's not an easy past," Robin said. "I've made a lot of mistakes that almost cost me too much, but that's part of the job."

"What about Slade?" Batman asked.

"He's probably our main enemy. He's tried countless times to take over the city. More than once, he's recruited apprentices to help him. First time it was me, second time it was one of our friends. When I was his apprentice, it was only because he'd threatened my friends. When Terra was his apprentice, it was because he'd poisoned her mind to make her think we were the enemy. She ended up killing him and herself with it," Robin said, solemnly.

"And yet, here he is," Batman said.

"Slade is hard to dispose of," Robin said. "He doesn't stay down for long." While they talked, inside, Shayera and Raven were checking everyone over for injuries. Most of them were just exhausted and needed time to regain their strength. However, there were a few who hadn't given up trying to escape and did need some medical attention. Raven was working on Hawk at the moment, with Dove looking on.

"You probably shouldn't have tried that hard if the cages were electric," he said.

"I wasn't about to sit still and wait for them to bring you in. I had to try something," Hawk said.

"Maybe you should've taken a different approach than slamming into walls," Raven said, as she wrapped his arm up. "Don't do anything too brash while you heal up. Dove, you are to keep an eye on him."

"Yes doctor," Dove said, smiling. Raven smiled too. She found that she liked Dove. He was almost like Beast Boy, only a little more serious and with less fight in him. He was good company and seemed to be able to keep Hawk in line.

"I don't need my little brother watching over me," Hawk said.

"You will do as I say and I say that Dove will keep you in line until you are healed," Shayera said.

"Come on, let's get you settled in," Dove said, helping him up. Hawk didn't object and Raven and Shayera moved on to the next one. He was sitting against the wall looking into space.

"Raven, this is Etrigan, the Demon. Etrigan, this is Raven," Shayera said.

"What do you want?" Etrigan demanded. Raven didn't react.

"Raven has been acting as a doctor here and she is here to give you a check-up," Shayera said. Raven knelt down beside him and he turned away.

"I don't need your help," he said.

"Shayera, come here a moment," Vixen called.

"Go on, I can handle this," Raven said. Shayera nodded and flew off to where Vixen was. Raven turned back to Etrigan only to find that he had turned back and was staring into her eyes.

"They don't know, do they demon?" he asked. Raven flinched.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Etrigan snorted.

"You can't hide it from me little girl. I know your secret. Does anyone else know?" he asked. Raven's hands shot to her head. What was it about this one that made her head hurt? A pulling on her cloak made her turn.

"Raven, are you okay?" Timmy asked. Raven forced a grin and picked him up.

"I'm fine, it's just a headache," she said. She stood up and glared at Etrigan. He held her gaze and got the message. Raven walked away to where Melvin and Teether were, leaving Etrigan with his thoughts.

An hour later, everyone was back in the cave and waiting for their next move. Superman had agreed to let Robin and Shayera continue to lead them as they seemed to be doing a pretty good job. Right now, they were talking quietly away from the others while the group talked among themselves. Raven hung at the edge of the crowd and watched Etrigan carefully. If he really was a demon, he'd be able to sense that she was partially too. That trait proved to be true, but what was it about him that caused her head to hurt. Another sharp pain shot through her head and she groaned.

"Raven, are you okay?" Argent asked.

"Ya, it's just a headache," Raven said.

"Looks like more than a headache to me. Are you sure you don't want to rest?" Argent asked. Raven nodded slowly.

"We don't have time to rest," she said. It was then that Robin stepped forward with Shayera to speak.

"Alright, good job everyone. Our first job is done and you all played your parts perfectly. Our next step is getting the Watch Tower and Metro Tower back," Robin said.

"This won't be easy. For the Titan's sake, the Watch Tower is orbiting space and the Metro Tower is located in the middle of town, right in sight of where the enemy is located," Shayera said.

"So we've come up with a two strike plan. Half of us will provide a distraction and attack their headquarters while the other half of us will claim the Metro Tower. Once this is completed, we'll work on getting the Watch Tower back. This will require some more planning before we divide up into our teams. Raven, I need to know from you who is able to fight once you've finished with everyone. For now, we'll set up watches and keep an eye out for any trouble. Shayera has the schedule so see her," Robin concluded. As everyone dispersed, Robin signalled to his team to meet outside and they slowly made their way to him and the lake.

"What is it, Robin?" Cyborg asked.

"We don't know what our enemy is planning, we need to find out. Raven and Beast boy, I want you to check out their headquarters again. See if you can find out what they're planning so we can stay one step ahead. Starfire, I need you to check the Watch Tower. Cyborg and I will check out this Metro Tower. I want to know how many enemies we're dealing with as well as defenses. We need to know what we're up against," Robin said.

"Excuse me for interrupting, but shouldn't you take some of us with you?" Green Lantern asked. He approached with J'ohn and Flash. "I mean, we do know our own headquarters better than you as well as our enemies."

"Alright," Robin agreed.

"J'ohn, you go with Raven and Beast Boy, Flash with Robin and Cyborg and I'll go with Starfire," Lantern said. They all nodded and went their separate ways. What was to happen next would leave everyone questioning their judgement.