Blink slowly gained consciousness. His vision was hazy, but he could see a dark figure haunting over him.

"What's happening?" he tried to ask. But his speech was slurred from the drug and it sounded more like "wha zappin'?" Even that was barely discernible through a tightly bound gag.

As his vision slowly cleared, he shifted.

"Ah-ah-ah," a voice scolded from above him. Blink closed his eyes. Without vision, the status of his body came into focus. Other than his hands bound behind his back, he was perfectly normal.

He tried opening his eyes again. This time, the face above him came into view.

It was Red's.

- - - - - - - -

You betrayed me, his eyes accused.

"Sorry Blinks. It's my job." She smirked at him and moved the crate near him. She precariously perched on the ledge. Authoritatively, she reached into her pocket and drew out what looked like a folded piece of paper.

From the folds dropped a badge shaped like a silver eagle. "You might recognize this. And this," she announced, unfolding the sheet, "is my mission."

Blink was only able to glance at the first few words: Bring Alexavier Shields, also known as Kid Blink…

She quickly withdrew the sheet, refolded the eagle pin into it, and stuck it into her pocket. "Now, I'm pretty confident that you won't hurt me if I take off the gag. Cuz if you do, I'll kill you." She spoke cooly and evenly, throwing in the last line almost matter-of-factly. And it was then that Blink decided that this girl was nothing like he had thought.

- - - - - - - -

Red untied the gag roughly. "Sorry, Blink." The gag dropped by her feet. "Sorry for the wristlets, but I gotta bring you in."

He licked his dry lips, wincing when he found a bleeding crack. "So…who are you, really?"

"Red Davidson, spy. Orphan. Also known as Theresa Lynn O'Bryan, Torch, and various others."

"Henrietta?"

"Actually a superior. It's a little complicated…it was a sting operation they needed me for, and something to grab you with."

"So…everything…a lie?"

"Eh…just about."

"Even Tyke's capture?"

"Yeah."

"Why?" Blink pleaded with his eyes and voice.

"Why what?"

"Why get me? Why am I the target?"

Red leaned in a bit. "Your father."

The shock hit him soon later. My father? He's dead! At least…that's what sister tole me…

"He's the top official of the agency. We work for all kinds of people. Freelance for the government sometimes."

"My…my dad? He's…alive?"

Red laughed. "Yeah, and kickin'."

"Wha…what does he want me for?"

"Why do you think? You're his son." With the last word she leaned back. A look of longing came behind her eyes, barely discernible through the layers of masks acquired through the years.

Son. It was hitting Blink hard, too. "I…I've got a father."

Red left him to think that over. As she turned her back, Blink rose his voice again.

"One last question?"

"What is this, twenty questions?"

"Just one more."

"What?" Her indifference was evident.

"Where we goin'?"

No answer.