Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.

Note: OK people, here it is. This chapter was not titled pointlessly! It may be boring. It may not be. However, every great film that has been the least bit successful has had an exposition scene of some kind, and so have many books. I figured, "Why break tradition?" Here we go. Please tell me what you think.

--

Jason sat on the grass and motioned for Dick to do the same. Once his predecessor was comfortable the red-haired Robin took a deep breath and began his explanation.

"Ok, Grayson, here's the deal; you, as I'm sure you've noticed, are in a deep coma. Since you are so deep in your mind I have the pleasure of being your guide. You saw four lands when you entered your coma. Those are all different parts of you: the circus brat, Squire to the Dark Knight, Bludhaven's protector, and here-" Jason gestured to the environment around them,"-are all parts of your semi-consciousness. This is the Robin side of you, I think. Everything here is always in spring. Right now, this is the only part of you that is untouched. The rest of your mind needs work."

Dick was puzzled, "So, whatever is stalking me is destroying me?"

"Afraid so. As to what is stalking you, I think you can figure that one out as well. I mean, you are the world's second greatest detective, aren't you?"

Dick chuckled and thought for a moment.

"It's the disease, isn't it? The disease is waiting for me, hunting me down."

"Bingo. But it can't reach you here. Something keeps it out of this part of your mind. Maybe it's that same aspect of you that kept Bruce out of the dark for so many years. I don't know. At this point it's irrelevant. What matters now is that you defeat the disease before it kills you."

The former Boy Wonder rubbed his hands through his ebony locks and posed the obvious question to his successor.

"Okay…how exactly am I supposed to do this? I mean, you can't fight black mists of death with escrima."

"Actually, you can."

"…."

Jason took a moment to configure what he was trying to explain so he wouldn't end up confusing his predecessor. After some thought, the Deceased Boy Wonder continued the explanation.

"The disease has personified itself in each of your different mind areas. Don't ask me why, I don't know. I can show you how."

The second Robin gestured and a window appeared, revealing a 'video screen' view of Dick's 'circus' environment. Jason pointed to a figure that was wrecking havoc on everything around him.

"Recognize this guy?"

Dick's eyes turned to narrow slits.

"Zucco." The name was a growling hiss.

"Bingo, big bro."

Jason gestured again. The scene changed to the familiar Bludhaven skyline. The specterling zoomed in on a mammoth form tromping through a city street. The eyes of Bludhaven's protector widened in both surprise and dread as recognition crossed his face.

"Blockbuster."

Again the screen changed, this time the Batcave greeted the viewers. A small form lurked in the shadows. Dick recognized the person instantly and his eyes widened. "It can't be." he breathed, looking from Jason to the figure in the shadows. Jason shrugged.

"Hey, this is your head, remember?"

"But how?! You're right here!"

"I told you, Grayson, the disease personified itself."

"Why you?"

"You tell me. Look at the pattern. Zucco. Blockbuster. Me. What is there in common?"

"They're all jerks. What's your point?"

"Thanks a lot. Very funny. NEXT!"

Dick thought for a moment, "They're all figures that I've had to deal with mentally or physically. One of them wanted to kill me. One of them is trying to have me killed, and the last of them…" the Former Robin's voice broke and he hung his head in shame. His tone was thick with self condemnation as he barely got out the next words.

"The last of them… I helped kill."

WHAM!!

"OW!! What was THAT for?!" Dick rubbed his head where a bump was already forming.

Jason put down the crowbar that he had beaned his predecessor with and pointed to the figure still lurking in the Cave.

"Stop blaming yourself for my death, Grayson! Not only do I get enough of that from Bruce, but that kind of attitude is going to get you killed! This battle is mental and physical. Each of these personifications will target a weakness you have in their area-"

"-if I fail to defeat them then I die, right?"

"Yes. You aren't very patient, you know."

"Sorry. So, where do I start?"

Jason shrugged and swept his hand over the three environments.

"Your choice. Choose your first battle wisely. Remember, in order to wake up, you have to get through all three battles in one piece."

"So I should save Blockbuster for last." Dick said, standing up. Jason nodded and also stood.

"That would be wise. One down, two to go. Be careful out there. Remember, if you pass out while you already unconscious you will die. Triumph, and I can lead you to back to consciousness."

The Second Robin's figure began to flicker and a look of horror crossed his face. "NO! What are you doing!!" Jason reached out to Dick frantically as something began pulling the second Robin out of his predecessor's mind.

"Jason, what's wrong?!" Dick hollered, grabbing his successor's outstretched hand.

"Don't let go, Dick!" Jason pleaded, "Whatever you do, don't let go!!"

"I won't let you go!" Dick said, his hand in an unbreakable deathgrip around the young boy's wrist. The former Robin felt Jason being pulled into another dimension against his will. From Jason's expression it was a dimension that Dick did not want his successor to ever enter. Dead or not.

"Let him go, Trigon!!" the Titan leader growled as the environment swirled around them and began to change. When everything came together again the crisis had passed, and the two found themselves in Dick's environment of Haly's Circus.

"Well, Guess I take down Zucco first."

"Ironic, huh?"

--

Tim: Ok, so let me get this straight; Dick has to take down his mental enemies before they kill him because they are actually personifications of the disease he's fighting.

Me: Yes

Tim: What kind of disease are we talking about here?

Me: If I told you I'd be telling THEM! I will say that the disease has not been discovered yet.

Tim:Well, DUH!! if it had been discovered, ther'd be an ANTIDOTE!

Me: If there was an antidote, then we would have no story, Current Boy Wonder.

Tim: You're really sick, you know that?

Me: Everyone's a critic

Tim: I thought you LIKED getting reviews.

Me: I do. from my READERS. Anyway, the end note is almost as long as the fic so I'm cutting it short. More to come, my faithful readers! Please, REVIEW!