Ok so before the story begins I have some important information and some not so important information.
First up I see that I still need to clarify some things. This is not a separate dimension. I don't know if I'm not explaining it clearly or not but I'm still getting people that are confused. This takes place in the same Earth as the TV show; Earth 16. I will not be leaving Earth 16 and you will not be seeing any character saying they are from outside Earth 16. So I'm sorry but the team will not be meeting themselves from a different reality. This is more of a time traveling thing. They have taken the lives of themselves. I probably just confused people more but I don't know how else to put it.
Also just letting you know this story takes place sometime after "Image." As I was writing this chapter I realize that might be important. So no shields for Superboy, which goes into my not so important news.
I just want to say this because I feel so proud of myself. I have unfortunately jumped on the band wagon and read the spoilers BUT DO NOT WORRY! I will not be writing or saying anything about the stories until they have been released in America. I have been able to stay away from watching it though I just wanted to jump for joy and say that I figured out the mole before it was revealed. I'm never right about these things but I actually figured it out this time. I felt like Batman lol. So with that I will shut up and let you read xD.
Chapter 5: Who Do You Think You Are
Robin shifted uncomfortably in the bio-Ship and pulled the cape from his neck. It was stiff and uncomfortable but he made sure to not complain out loud. The costume he had on was slightly different from the one Miss Martian showed him. The butler no longer had yellow fabric after making Kid Flash's bright outfit and was fine with having just a black cape and the R on his chest filled in green instead of the loud color of yellow.
M'gann followed the Batjet that had Batman and Flash in it to Happy Harbor and landed just beside the mountain. Flash walked out of the jet and looked at the hole in the punched in door way and looked over to the group. Superboy looked away trying to not make eye contact with the scarlet speedster.
Batman walked past the group and into the cave where they turned on the lights for the large mountain. Finding the computer counsel he lowered himself under the large desk and began playing with the wires.
"While he does that I think we should set up for this meeting," Flash said and the group helped find and move a large table into the center of the large computer room in front of the non-functional Zeta Tubes
Batman pushed himself out from underneath the computer terminal as the computer screen began to boot itself up and slowly but surely the computer turned to life. The scanner popped out of the ceiling covered in spider webs and dust.
'All…all systems fu…func…tional…firewalls re…re…reinstated and no virus detected. Commmmmmence scanning,' the computer announced tying to talk after so many years of no power. The blue light began to scanning Flash who stood still for it.
'Recognize Flash 04' the woman's voice announced. As she scanned Batman, Flash turned to the team.
"We're going to have to scan you all in for security purposes so…"
Before Flash could finish the computer began to scan the teens starting with Aqualad and was shocked and did not see what she said coming next.
'Aqualad B02, Artemis B06, Miss Martian B05, Kid Flash B03, Superboy B04, Robin B01,' and with that the scanner turned off. The group looked at each other in confusion.
"Am I missing something here?" Artemis asked.
"I…do not understand," Aqualad said looking around the cave seeing if maybe they were sent back to their own time line but looking around the dirty cave and Kid Flash and Robin in their slightly altered costumes he knew they were not.
"Did you guys play with the computer when you were here before?" Flash asked as Batman went to the keyboard and began typing.
"We tried to get it online but we couldn't get it running," Artemis said.
"Hello Megan," the Martian said hitting her head. "The Bio-ship was sent through the time warp with us."
"So," Superboy said with an arched eyebrow.
"I get it," Wally said. "Your Bio-ship is connected to the computer isn't it?"
"M'gann nodded enthusiastically. "And so is our com-links that we had on."
"So technically the computer had been sent threw the time change with us," Artemis said.
A fuzzy sound of white noise came from the computer and everyone turned to Batman.
"I found a file that has a date from a few days ago which should be impossible since the computer has been off for years," he said. "It has a recording from you're com-links." With a press of a button the group listened.
"I've never seen anything like this before," the fuzzy sound of Robin's voice said over the speakers. "What," Artemis voice was hear. "What you find?"
"The date and place that's been set on the machine…it's..."
"It's what."
They listen to the rest of the recording silently; Robin shouting for Artemis to go and her trying to save him anyway.
Time Catchers voice was heard in the distance.
"They call me Time Catcher...At least in this time line they do. I really just can't keep track of these things."
Batman placed his hand on his chin in thought as he finished listening to the teens fearfully try and get there youngest member away from the psychopath. When the part of them being surrounded by the blue field came up the com-link fizzled out and nothing could be heard but white noise.
'Com-link disconnected,' the computer said.
"Well I guess we can definitely say that they weren't making anything up," Flash said with an awkward laugh. Batman looked at him with a glare and turned back to the computer. He rewound the recording to Robin talking about the date that was set on this so called "time machine"
"I wonder what the date was," Wally said.
"It had to be something important to Robin," Superboy added.
'Superman 01, Wonder woman 03,' the computer announced and everyone turned to the door as the two red and blue dressed heroes walked to them.
Artemis looked over to Wally whose mouth hung open at the sight of the super human's. Robin stood in slight disbelief as well as he came face to face with one of his favorite superheroes; Superman.
Superman arched an eyebrow at the teens and when he saw Conner. He looked at the muscular teen in curiosity.
"I see I have a fan," the man said. Superboy looked away.
"Something like that," M'gann said walking over to the two. "Hi I'm M'gann, J'onn's niece. It's very nice to meet you," she said.
"I didn't know J'onn had a niece," Wonder woman said.
"Well this is when a lot of explaining is going to come in," Flash said rubbing the back of his head.
'Aquaman 07.'
Aquaman walked in from the door leading from the beach and his eyes widen at Aqualad.
"Kaldur'ahm?" Aquaman exclaimed. "Where have you been? How did you get here? What…have you done to your hair and…your tattoos…they came back."
Aqualad walked up to his mentor and placed his fist to his head in the Atlantian salute.
"I apologize my king. There is much to explain and my team and I will try and help you understand."
"Your team?" Aquaman said looking behind his subordinate with confusion He saw the teens and looked back at Aqualad with stern eyes and nodded.
An hour later the Justice League had assembled at the large round table in front of the Zeta Tubes for the first time in over 3 years.
Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Captain Atom, Black Canary, Hawk Woman and Hawk Man, Zatara, Captain Marvel, Red Tornado. With the exception of J'onn who was still on Mars everyone was sitting down waiting for Batman to explain the children standing behind him and Flash.
"We have called you here today because something has gone wrong in the time stream. Apparently what is happening today is not meant to exist," Batman said sternly.
"You brought all here to say that we aren't supposed to be here?" Green Arrow said with a laugh and Black Canary at his side. The teens behind batman were surprised to see the blond superhuman in civilian clothing and her stomach protruding. She was pregnant.
"We didn't believe it at first," Flash continued. "But these kids came to us for help saying that they are from the time line that is meant to exist, and they have sufficient proof."
Aqualad walked forward. "In this time line I am one of Aquaman's soldiers. After the war with Ocean-Master three years ago I decided to stay in Atlantis and continue my training. But where I am from I chose to follow Aquaman to the surface world and with it my tattoo's stayed since I did not learn how to use magic without them."
Aqualad then went into detail about who they were but kept their identities secret. He told of Time Catcher and how he somehow changed history so that Robin had never existed, never became Batman's partner and thus making it so no side kick was made.
"It's still a little unbelievable to me," Green Lantern stated.
"Yeah," Green Arrow agreed. "I mean I could never see myself taking in a child to help me patrol Star City."
Aqualad swiped his hand in the air letting the virtual keyboard appear and typed in Red Arrow.
The large round table lit up blue and a 3D image of Red Arrow appeared with information scrolling alongside of it.
'B07 Red Arrow Formally known as Speedy, former partner of Green Arrow 08,' the computer spoke.
"What is his civilian identity override BT02," Batman said overriding security measures and allowing the computer to tell the encrypted secret identity.
'Roy Harper.'
"And where is he living now?" Batman asked once again but the computer went silent. "Computer I asked where he is living now."
'Data files corrupted; two locations of residency; One in Star City under guardianship of Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow and the second residency in Washington D.C under guardianship of Jim Harper aka Guardian.'
"That doesn't prove anything. You heard the computer, it's corrupted," Green Arrow stated as Black Canary took his hand to comfort him.
"It isn't corrupted," M'gann stated. "Just confused."
"It's taking information from different sources," Flash said. "Since it was connected to Miss Martian's Bio-ship and the team's com-link it still uses the information stored in its memory banks. On the other hand it is grabbing information from outside sources which is going to be different.
"I don't know," Zatara said skeptically. "I may not know much about technology but I know there are basic ways to change information on a computer.
"You have a daughter named Zatanna who is thirteen years old," Artemis said slightly happy that in this time line he never had to adorn the helmet of Doctor Fate. The man stared at her in shock.
"How did you…" but Artemis didn't give him a chance to talk. She pointed to Captain Marvel.
"You're really ten years old," she said and with a red face Captain Marvel shrunk into his seat as everyone stared at him. Taking the hint Superboy looked at Red Tornado.
"Even though you are a machine you desire to become more human," Superboy said sternly and then looked at Superman. "And you have a Fortress in the Artic."
"How did you know about that," Superman asked with a glare.
"So you did background checks on us. This still doesn't prove anything," Hawk woman said before Superboy could answer. She was still unimpressed and Artemis groaned loudly.
"What else can we do to prove to you that we are who we say we are!" the archer screamed slamming her fists on her table causing the image of Red Arrow to fizz slightly.
"I fought Time Changer myself and he also spoke about the time line being changed. He did this for a reason and if we don't do something I fear something bad will happen." Batman spoke for the teens.
"He said he changed something in my past," Robin finally said standing next to Batman.
"What would he have changed," Wonder Woman asked.
"We don't know but we have a sound bit of Robin saying that a date he knew was set on the machine," Batman said.
"But why is the life of one boy so important that Time Catcher had to change his past," Red Tornado asked.
Everyone looked at the boy who suddenly felt very awkward under the heroes' stares.
"Well it's obvious isn't it," Wally said taking the attention off of Robin. "I mean according to these guys in the other time line you are all still part of the Justice league and Robin and I are part of their team that does covert missions for you," he said pointing to the teens. "Someone didn't like that and realized that if you get rid of one piece…"
"Everything else comes crashing down," Black Canary finished.
"But just one boy kept the entire league together? Green Lantern spoke. "That makes no sense."
"Well the reason we split up is because none of us could get along," Flash said. "But according to these guys Robin made Batman…friendlier."
Captain marvel laughed loudly but when no one joined and Batman gave him one of his famous glares the boy in disguised coughed and apologized.
"Look I think we need a breather. Why don't we try and get this place back up and running and we can come back to this in tomorrow. Let everything sink in," Flash said and everyone nodded in agreement. They all shuffled out of the room some talking about dressing into civilian clothing to do some food shopping for the mountain and others talking about maintenance.
Robin stood in his spot as everyone left and then turned back around. He slowly held his hand out and made the same motion Aqualad did and stepped back as the keyboard appeared. He didn't think it would actually appear.
Slowly he typed in the word Robin and hit enter allowing a small screen to appear in front of him with a picture of Robin and information running along the side. He looked at the boy on the screen and even though it was supposed to be him the face looked so foreign to him, too happy to be disguised as a vigilantly of Gotham and partner of the dark knight.
He read the information out loud. "B01 Robin partner of Batman and resides in Gotham. Abilities; Acrobatics, hacking, several forms of fighting styles, eight different languages." The list just went on. Sure he knew acrobatics and a few languages from traveling in the circus but how was he supposed to fill the shoes of this so called Robin?
A folder caught his eye on the side that read 'training file' He tapped on it and a video of Robin fighting Aqualad began to play. Not only was Robin keeping up but he looked like he was beating the older the teen.
He tapped another video, and more training exercises of Robin or he guessed himself fighting appeared. Taking a seat on the floor and dragged the holographic screen to the ground with him. Sitting cross legged he flipped through the videos and then stopped at the image of one with just Batman and himself.
He tucked his knees to his chin and pressed play. The Robin on the screen jumped into the air and tried to kick Batman in the face. It would have landed to if Batman hadn't moved his head slightly and grabbed a hold of Robin's ankle. This didn't stop the teen though as his knee came down on Batman's chest causing the man to let go and Robin to flip over Batman's head. Landing on the ground behind the mentor Robin swiped the back of his mentor's leg and Batman fumbled but caught himself before hitting the ground.
"Good," the Batman on the screen praised Robin with a small smile.
"Good? That was one of my worst recoveries…and you went easy on me and let me get that move on you," Robin said in disdain.
"I might have. But I thought you deserve a reward for leading your first mission as leader," Batman said with a smile. Robin's eyes widen as the Robin on the screen laughed slightly and batman ruffled his hair.
"Doesn't seem like something I would do," Robin heard behind him and jumped up making the screen disappear. Batman stood behind him with his arms folded over his chest and his eyes in a glare.
"How…how did you do that? I didn't even hear you," Robin said breathing heavily.
"Practice," Batman said swiping his hand in the air for the computer.
"What are you doing now?" Robin asked.
"I'm going to compare yours and my history in this place with the one the computer has stored in its memories. See if I can find the difference of the two lines."
"Can I help?" the boy asked reluctantly. Batman looked down at him.
"No…I mean no, it's not necessary," Batman said seeing the dejection on Robin's face. "Besides I think the other teens are doing something that you might want to be a part of. You should go."
Robin looked away but nodded. He turned and left without a word and Batman watched him leave. He was watching the video over the child's shoulder and he caught the smile that was on his face. He never thought he would smile like that again after his parents died; an actual genuine smile. But it seems that this boy was able to do it.
Robin made his way down the hallway, he past Green Lantern who was moving boxes using his ring and looked at Robin like he was an enigma. Wonder Woman and Back Canary nodded to him as they passed him with grocery bags in their hands. Behind him though he could hear them whisper about what they were going to do with a bunch of children.
He heard M'gann and Wally laughing and walked into the room where he saw Kid Flash sitting on a bed in the middle of a bedroom. He smiled when he saw Robin stroll in.
"What are you guys doing?" Robin asked.
"I told M'gann about your idea," Aqualad said. "She said that she might be able to help detox the drugs from his system."
"I don't know if I can fully take it away but if I find that part of him that made him start in the first place I can dull the sensation of the need," M'gann said with a smile. Suddenly Wally's eyes widen in horror.
"Wait, you can't just make it disappear? You have to go through my memories?"
"Well…yeah," M'gann said a little worried at upsetting Wally.
"You don't have to do this," Artemis said. "We can help you do it the way everyone else does it."
"That will take too long," Wally said back. "I want to know what it feels like to be clean again before you send us back to where we are supposed to be."
Superboy looked at him in curiosity. "You really trust that we can set everything back."
"I had more things happen to me this past week then in over three years. Anything is possible at this point," Wally shrugged and looked at Robin who leaned again the wall. "Let's do this," he said closing his eyes. He felt a hand wrap around his own and he looked down at a green clad arm. Artemis had taken his hand taking a seat next to him on the bed and gave his a squeeze. Wally closed his eyes again.
M'gann kneeled on the bed behind Wally and placed her hands on top of his head. She closed her eyes lightly and reopened them allowing them to glow yellow.
M'gann was dressed in her black jumpsuit and was surrounded by flashed of memories of Wally (Like in Bereft). In front of her stood Wally back in his civilian close and he looked at all the flashes as well.
"Where are we?" he asked.
"We are in a connection between yours and my mind. We are going to have to through and find the point of when you felt like you needed to do the drugs. Sorry Wally," the Martian apologized as the red head looked away.
"Where do we start?" he asked with a nervous laugh.
"Well do you remember when you first tried the drugs?" M'gann asked and slowly the two were developed into a light.
M'gann and Wally found themself in a small room that looked like it to be in a trashy motel. It was dark outside and another Wally sat on a sheet stain bed with another guy and a girl. The girl held up a spoon with a lighter under it melting the drugs in the utensil. The other boy held a syringe up to the spoon and filled it with the clear liquid.
"You are going to love this man," the teen said tapping the syringe.
"I better. I paid a whole lot of money for this," The Wally on the bed said impatiently. He had a tourniquet wrapped above his elbow and waited for the drug.
The Wally next to M'gann wrapped his hand around his own arm where he pierced himself. Outside of his head he gripped Artemis's hand tighter and the archer wrapped her other hand around his holding it in a deep squeeze.
Back in his mind as M'gann watched the needle pierce his skin she lifted her hand and suddenly Wally was enveloped in a high pitched sound. He could hear nothing but the sound and it felt like his ears needed to be popped. He closed his eyes and the sensation of getting pricked and the drug filling his veins began to disappear from his mind. Opening his eyes he was surprised to find himself in a different setting.
"Where are we now?" he asked.
"I don't know. It has something to do with the reason why you started the drugs though," M'gann said looking around the quiet residence. Wally finally realized where he was.
"This is the house I lived in…before my mother left," Wally said backing up. He hit the wall behind him just as a thud was heard upstairs. M'gann walked to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Wally," she stated sadly and someone came down the stairs.
"Get back here!" the voice of a man was heard as an eleven year old Wally ran down the steps with tears in his eyes. He reached for the door knob but couldn't get the oak door to open. "Where did she go? I know you know brat," the man's voice shouted and Wally's father Rudolph came storming down the steps with a beer bottle in his hands.
The Wally next to M'gann slid down the wall and M'gann could feel tears well up in her eyes.
The group outside of the dreams watched tears make their way to the corners of Wally's eyes and slide down his cheeks. He groaned softly but the group didn't intervene.
Back in his head, the younger Wally tried to run but his father gripped him by the hair and pulled him from the door.
"What, you think you can leave me too," Rudolph pushing the kid further into the living room where the kid fell to the floor. "Tell me where that bitch is," the man said standing over Wally.
"I don't know…she said she needed to leave," Wally cried. Rudolph threw the glass bottle letting it hit the wall next to where M'gann and the older Wally stood.
"Wally you need to watch or I won't be able to help you," M'gann said holding up her hand to the scene playing out. Wally who was trying to look away took a few deep breaths and then turned his head to see his father grab his younger self by the shirt and slap him hard. His younger version kept pleading for his father to stop hurting him and that he didn't know where his mother went.
Wally gripped his arm wanting to leave the pain and just forget it all with more drugs. Once again the piercing sound of a high frequency sound pressed against his head and he held his ears. The sound of slapping and crying slowly began to disappear and he closed his eyes.
"Wally…Wally," the red head heard Artemis's voice and his eyes open with a gasp. He looked around the room and all eyes were on him. Robin had even pulled himself away from the wall and had a look of concern on his face.
"Are you ok?" Superboy asked next to Wally and helped M'gann off the bed. Wally rubbed his head and looked at the clone.
"Yea…I think so," he said.
"How do you feel?" Aqualad asked in concern.
"Like I got hit by a semi-truck…and…freer," the red head said in amazement. He hadn't felt this non-dependent in, well he couldn't remember the last time he felt completely free of thinking about his next hit. "It worked," he said standing up and gripped M'gann into a tight hug.
"Oh Wally," M'gann laughed as he swung her around in a circle.
"You did it," he cheered putting her down.
"Now remember I just detoxed your body," M'gann warned. "If you take drugs again it's not like you'll be immune to it. You might get the urge to do it again but at least you won't get sick if you stay away from it."
"Understood," the teen said giving the Martian girl a salute. As the group surrounded Kid Flash and M'gann Robin smiled and then walked out of the room. Superboy turned his head and watched the fleeting black cape with suspicious eyes.
Standing outside the room Robin tapped on his glove and the holographic computer appeared. He still couldn't get quiet use to it but he finally figured out a way to at least get to his emails.
His eyes widen at one filed labeled 'circus' and tapped on it.
Dick,
The meeting has been moved to tonight. Old warehouse district in Gotham, 2:00 am.
Gabe.
Robin read it over two more times to make sure he was reading it clearly. This was it; tonight he was going to get his revenge. He was going to bring down the man who destroyed his life. The question was; how was he going to get from Happy Harbor, Rhode Island to Gotham, New Jersey.
"Robin?" Superboy said making the younger teen jump and close the screen on his wrist.
"Yeah?" Robin fumbled.
"Are you ok? You don't seem happy."
"No I'm fine. I just have a lot on my mind and all and this new information just keeps piling up."
"I know. Waking up one day and finding out that you're a superhero is hard to digest," Superboy said sternly.
"Hey well at least now you and Superman can get a fresh start," Robin smiled.
"I don't think that's going to work so well. I can see it in his face that he is already upset with me."
"Yeah well shoving secret information in his face that only the Justice League should now about can do that," the teen laughed causing Superboy to smile.
"Yeah I probably shouldn't have done that, but it sure felt good."
"Hey Superboy can I ask you a question?" Robin asked.
"Yeah."
"I noticed the…what do you call them…Zeta tubes. How do they work exactly?" Superboy gave him a curious look. "I just noticed them and was just wondering," Robin smiled innocently.
"They are connected to different point around the world. You just need to put in the place you want to go to and it teleports you."
"To cool," Robin said overly enthusiastic.
"Yeah well they look like they haven't been used in a while so I don't think you are going to get a chance to try them out," Superboy said.
Robin frowned but nodded anyway and the two of them went back into the room with the rest of the team.
That night Dick dressed as Robin and with his duffle bag crept along the dark halls of the cave. He opted for the bedroom closest to the large computer room knowing full well that it was going to be hard enough to get past not only the so called sidekicks but the actual heroes.
Robin stopped as his foot hit a loose screw on the ground and it clicked against a wall and skidded down the floor. He held his breath and waited for someone to catch him but all he heard was Superman and his super loud snoring. Who would have figured, and he hoped it was loud enough to cover his sounds.
He made it to the Zeta Tube and pressed a few buttons on the computer. A map popped up and red dotes indicating drop off points appeared in different points of the world. He pressed one that indicated Gotham and then clicked on a button that was near the old warehouse district. He pressed it and the machine made a whining noise like an old car battery and then died down.
He suddenly realized that if he got anything wrong or if it was broken he could be shredded into pieces or sent to Africa or worse Pluto. The thought of revenge sat to greatly in his mind to not still try it though. Robin then kicked the machine and it whirled again and the hum stayed this time. The tunnel light up blue.
'Recognize Robin B01,' the computer announced and the teen cringed at the loud echoing sound. He didn't have time to think about it though as he jumped into the blue light with his bag. When the machine died down the heroes ran into the room all wearing night gowns and pajamas except for Batman who was still conveniently in his bat suits.
"What happened," Wonder Woman asked.
"Someone activated the Zeta Tube?" Green Lantern asked sleepily walking up to the machine. M'gann looked around to see who wasn't there. She realized who was missing.
"Robin," she said sadly.
"Why would Robin leave?" Flash said walking over to Hal and pulled up the map. Superboy's eyes widen.
"Robin had asked me how to use the Zeta Tube…I just thought he was interested," he said and then looked at Superman who was shaking his head back and forth and Superboy looked away in guilt.
"He seemed to have set it to an area in Gotham. Somewhere near the river," Flash said and Batman came over to take a look.
"That is where the Mob bosses like to meet. They think I don't know about it," Batman said typing on the computer.
"Are you going after him?" Superman asked and Batman just looked over at the man of steel before going back to typing.
"Let us go with you," Aqualad said.
"No. He might have been a team member in your time line but right now he's a boy in my city in an area not meant for the innocent. I will go alone," he said before disappearing into the blue light.
ohh Robin did it now. Will he get his revenge or will Batman show him the way like he did the first time? Will the young heroes ever find out what Time Catcher did to change Robin's past and can they fix it. You're just going to have to watch and find out.
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