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Dick and Jason arrived in the former's Robin area with weapons drawn. Dick gasped as the robin he had seen earlier was savagely attacked by the strange bird, landing them both in the grass. On the grass was Tim, surrounded by dead robins.

Jason gulped "An omen."

"You said if I was unconscious when like this...I would die. What of him?" Dick asked, pointing to the third Robin.

Jason shook his head

"This isn't where Drake is supposed to be. He can survive being unconscious here. If he DIES here...it's over in the real world too."

The robin was trying to survive, and Dick's nature won out as he saw it suffering. The Former Boy Wonder loved animals and hated it when they were mistreated or in pain. He picked up a rock and threw it at the weird bird, and it squacked angrily and flew up. Not away, just up.

"Back off you bully!" Dick said angrily, moving toward the injured and crying robin. He picked it up, and was assaulted by the bully bird. He waved his free hand, and was awarded for his efforts by the talons of the bird of prey.

"Yeowch! What the heck ARE you anyway?!" he growled, throwing another rock. This one hit the bird on the head, and Dick yelped as pain shot through his own skull. Jason thought this was hilarious, and laughed, pointing to the bird which had resumed attacking Dick.

"You honestly don't know what that thing is do you?" the second Robin snickered.

"It's a JERK! What did this robin ever do to deserve that thing picking on it?!" He replied, trying to splint the wing of the injured bird he held in his hand.

"It's a NIGHTWING."

Dick's heart almost stopped. No wonder he didn't recognize it. He had never been to Krypton, understandably. But Clark had never shown him a picture either. What stopped him cold was that this particular nightwing was ATTACKING and KILLING robins.

"You think this is a defense against Tim? That my mind created this kryptonian bird to protect this place from intruders?"

Jason shook his head as the nightwing again attacked his predecessor, striking the arm that cradled its intended prey.

"I think I was wrong when I said that this area of your mind was untouched."

Dick groaned

"You mean this thing is a part of the disease too?! Oh terrific."

"No, I wouldn't say that." Jason remarked, sitting next to Tim and trying to rouse the younger Robin, to no avail. "I'll say that Tim won't wake up until that bird is gone back to wherever you had it caged. Maybe it's YOU. Maybe it isn't. I want to test something."

Jason threw a crowbar at the nightwing, and it hit the bird across the beak. Dick cried out and held his jaw, blood pouring out his nose. "OW!"

"Yep looks like I was right. Dick, you have to cage that thing. Kill it, and yopu die too. Once it is taken care of, Drake should recover again. If that robin in your hand dies, so will he."

"Wait what?! How so?"

"Don't you know?" Jason asked darkly, snatching the bird and pinching its wing. The poor robin chirped loudly its hurt, and Tim yelled his pain.

"This must be his essence, just like that nightwing is yours. For some reason, it is attacking him. Maybe...because deep down, you resent Tim like you resented me. Not him personally, but the fact that he replaced you."

Dick sighed "But I don't resent him. I encouraged him. I mentored him. I don't understand...unless its my subconscious attacking him."

Jason handed the injured bird back to the Former Boy Wonder, shrugging.

"I don't know, Dick. All I can tell you is that his fate...is literally in your hands."

Dick sat down, choosing to ignore the ravenous, squawking, attacking nightwing. He took out his medkit from his gauntlet and began tending to the poor bird's injuries. As he worked, he glanced at Tim now and again, to make sure he was still alive.

"Hang in there Robin. You'll be ok."

Jason, meanwhile, tapped his fingers on his leg, hoping that the Spectre was feeling patient today.

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