I'm sooo nice, that I've sat down and written up chapter 4 for all you lovely people *-* (Yes, I'm still bragging to my parents that I've got loads of reviews *o* happy happy me!) In other news: Who's seen The Avengers? *o* (I bet everyone... I'm always one of the last ones to see a new film) So anyway, I went today with my aunt and brother and it was simply P-E-R-F-E-C-T. Omgosh, I couldn't take my eyes of the screen. It was sooooo action packed and full of Chris hot Evans... Ops, ignore that... Yeah, on to the story ^^

Thanks to: LizzieH22; Random Obsession; j9162; greekfreak101 and tdyn0. You guys are amazing *-*

Dick's POV

Let me think of a word that sums up what I'm feeling right now... 'Ouch.' Yes, that works. I can't move. Not because of the strange and painful feeling, but because my arms and legs are tied up. Wonderful. My body's forming an 'X'. Same with Tim, the 'X' beside me. He's not awake yet. Wait... Where's his mask? Where's my mask? Why haven't I got my mask on?
"So I was right all along." I heard Khaldur's voice, but I couldn't see him anywhere. "Dick Grayson was the first Boy Wonder."
No words needed for the shocked expression that my eyes showed. This is why I enjoy masks. I can look sad, happy, shocked and I'd be able to put on a smirk and carry on the party. But without it I'm almost useless. Almost.
"And the second Boy Wonder..." Great, now he knows who I am, he'll figure out who Batman is... "Timothy Jackson Drake... The young boy that followed you and Batman around for quite a while."

Wait. I never mentioned Tim to anyone before he became Robin. I didn't even mention him to Zatanna, which I truly regret. How did he know about Tim? This is bad. Not only am I in danger, but Khaldur will go after Bruce, then after the people Tim loves and... Love... Zatanna... Where is she?

"I wonder Dick, what would you do if I told you that only two people will come out alive tonight?"

I'm not usually one to panic. I think about my surroundings and find a way out. This time... I'm panicking. Khaldur really knows how to test one's patience. And what did he mean by two people? Am I supposed to save myself and someone else, or save Tim and Zatanna and die here?

"This red button will blow this entire place to bits." He was holding what looked like a remote control. "You can either cooperate or I'll kill you all."

I now suddenly miss the old friendly and caring Khaldur.

x.x

Superboy and Blue Beetle silently approached the entrance.
"You sure this is the place?" Connor whispered.
"Si amigo. No doubt about it. We'll find Robin inside."
"How is it you know this?" Connor asked, looking confused as he thought of a strategy.
"I received an SOS signal from him, not too long ago."
Connor sighed. Something was definitely wrong. He hadn't heard from Nightwing in quite a while and now Robin asks for help? He wasn't even aware that Robin had left for a mission. He'd want a word with Nightwing later... Just to remind him that things can't get out of hand.

Superboy used his super strength to get one of the side doors open. Blue ran in and began disabling the security cameras. A small, familiar, greenish creature stopped before them and stared deeply into their eyes. It then began screaming randomly.
"Ssh! Please, we're not going to hurt you!" Blue told the creature, in a language Connor couldn't understand.
"Come again?" Superboy asked as the little creature dragged Blue by the arm.

It stopped before a big machine. It was metallic, with long black tubes running across its sides. At the centre was a box, large enough to fit a person. The box had a series of smaller tubes and wires.
"Must be some wild experiment." Blue whispered.
The creature began speaking again, pointing towards the machine and waving his little arms about.
"He's saying that their forced leader will be using that thing to get special powers, which he'll then use for something."
"Forced leader?" Superboy asked, confused.
"Si... I think he means your old friend."

x.x

Dick's POV

Tim still isn't awake. Khaldur brought Zatanna to the same place as us. Which is somewhere between 'no clue' and 'no idea'. So yes, I feel completely lost. What's worse is that I feel weak. Not to mention I have no gadgets on me, thanks to water-boy. Zatanna's awake but I can tell she's feeling just as bad as I am. Actually, she might be worse. It's like she's struggling to stay awake.

"Everything's almost set here, father." I heard Khaldur say.
"Good. Get the girl ready, I need her awake for this." If they touch Zatanna, I'll hurt them both so badly.
"I'm sure she'll be wide awake after stage one."

Khaldur's coming back. He's expressionless so it's hard to tell what exactly he's planning. I never thought this could happen, to be honest. Khaldur was such a nice person, always so caring. It's strange what the death of someone so dear to you can do. I have no idea how I haven't gone all wild and crazy on Joker yet... No, wait... I do. It's because of Bruce... And Tim... They were with me throughout all of this. They would never let me go crazy.

"So Dick... There's been a slight change of plans. Since the aliens have managed to get the machine running perfectly, I'd like to show you something."

Khaldur walked up to Tim and pulled him out of the 'X'. He must've twisted his arm, or something, 'cause I heard a slight groan.
"Since I need you wide awake for the show, Grayson, I'll use this one for the prologue."

Prologue? What...

Tim's POV

Why is Dick shouting? My head hurts... Very badly. I wouldn't mind if Alfred showed up now with a little tray full of medicine for me to take. Just like when I get sick. Okay, focus Tim. Focus. I sent out a signal to the cave a while ago. Someone should be turning up soon. I just hope Zatanna and Dick are okay. And I hope Zatanna has her memory restored. I'm not in the mood for another fight with that girl.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

Dick's still shouting. If only my eyes would obey my brain and open. Someone's pulling my arm again and mumbling something. Only my mind is working right now. This sucks.

"Please Khaldur. Use me... Leave him. He has nothing to do with this. It's about you and me."

His voice is almost quivering. Strange. He never panics. Why is he like this now? Damn, why did Bruce have to fly off to some other planet? I could really use him at a time like this.

"You mean, it's between you, me, Zatanna, Superboy, Tula! You let her die. Now you'll lose everyone."

He's still on about that? Even I know that it was no one's fault what happened. Even superheroes make mistakes and that happened to be one of them. Is he really going to duel on this forever? I can feel a little something coming back to me... Maybe my eyes are finally opening.

"Please... Don't do this Khaldur."
"It's a bit late for begging, Nightwing."

x.x

"Okay, we need a plan. We could split up and look for Robin." Superboy started.
Blue was about to protest but he felt a cold breeze run past him.
"So... What's the plan?"

The cold breeze happened to be Kid Flash, not so much of a 'kid' anymore.

"I thought you were out of the job." Superboy smirked.
"Just because I'm temporarily absent, doesn't mean I was gonna toss the uniform in the trash. I figured I'd keep it for emergencies." Wally grinned.
"How did you find us?" Blue asked, curiously.
"It's not really that hard to trace you guys... Especially after getting a few pointers from Nightwing."

The boys fell silent once they saw Aqualad approach a large chair, which also had small tubes and wires hanging around. He was dragging Robin behind him. Wally quickly prepared for an attack but was held down by Connor.
"KF, we have no idea what Khaldur's got up his sleave. So chill for a second."
"What if we don't have a second?" Wally whined.

Khaldur silently connected the tubes and wires to Tim, who woke up instantly with the sudden shock.
"What are you up to?" He said.
Khaldur didn't answer. Instead, he placed duct tape over Tim's mouth and made sure he wouldn't leave that spot anytime soon.
"Seems like we have more people that have come to see the show." Khaldur hissed.

Ropes, tape and chairs appeared suddenly and the three boys found themselves trapped. The little alien giggled before them and ran up to Khaldur, handing him their radios.
"You won't get away with any of this Khaldur." Wally yelled.
"I already have."

Little aliens brought in a very weak Zatanna, who was then attached to the box in the centre. Tim began moving around, trying to get himself loose.

Dick's POV

Khaldur wanted me to see him succeed. But I couldn't look. He was taking away the life of two people I care most about. All because of one stupid mistake I made, first real time as an official leader. I'm questioning my position right now. Even if so far things have gone smoothly. This is happening. My past mistakes come back to haunt me in my future.

I had to look at some point. He was attaching Zatanna to what looked like a box, right in the centre of the machine. Tim's wide awake; Khaldur must've done something to him already. He's struggling to get out, which I don't like one bit.

"I bet you're all curious to know my plans..." Khaldur stated. I'll admit, I am very curious to know why he's doing all this. I get the feeling it has more to do with what happened on that mission.
"It's quite simple actually... A war is coming. The Light will need reinforcements. There is a specific army that can be controlled with a certain amount of power. Not any type of power, of course. It has to be mystical. Klarion alone can't control it... So I'm sure you can all imagine just how powerful it is. My first intentions were to capture and drain Doctor Fate... But then I discovered Zatanna... And that just felt so perfect."

I'm sure I have no colour left on my face.

"To get this machine running, I need another energy source. It doesn't have to be anything special. It just needs to be alive. Which is where Tim Drake comes into the picture. The machine will use his energy to drain all the magical powers Zatanna possess."

No colour is an understatement.

"You're crazy Khaldur!" Connor shouted out.
"We're not gonna let you do this" Wally... Why's Wally here?

I looked up to Khaldur. I'm not one that begs, I swear. But I've done it before and I'd do it again... I'd do anything just to keep them alive.
"ANYTHING! I'll give you anything. Please don't hurt them. This is between you and me. It was my mistake. Mine only. It's my fault Tula's dead. Leave them out of this, please! They're your friends, Khaldur."

My eyes are tearing, I have no mask on. Perfect. I can see Bruce scolding me as I think.

"Time to play."

Tim's screaming out in pain and Zatanna's already wincing... I need a way of saving them...

Tim's POV

This is it... I'm almost done biting my way through the tape. Which, by the way, tastes really badly. And... Done. Tape out. Now for something that's connecting me to this thing. I just hope Zatanna lasts long enough. Dick's too weak to fight, so I can't count on him. Khaldur's trapped Superboy, Blue and... Is that Kid Flash? I thought he was out of the job... Okay, never mind that. Tubes... OUT!

"Why has it stopped?" Khaldur shouted out to one of the aliens.

Oh, great. They've seen me already.

Little alien thingy's came rushing towards me, I jumped most of them. I reached to get a batarang, but Khaldur must've taken my utility belt. Lovely. I settled for a flying high kick. I managed to knock him away long enough to stop the machine from draining Zatanna. The tubes and wires released her body immediately and she fell forward. I grabbed on to her easily and grabbed a handful of wires.

Khaldur came dashing towards me with his water gun. Perfect. I threw the wires towards him, making him fall hard on the ground, unconscious from the shock.

Blue had freed everyone while I took down Khaldur. Nightwing's still weak, I'll need to get him to rest as soon as we get out of here.

As for Zatanna...

Before you all get mad at me for not telling what happens to Zatanna, let me say: I was going to end this sooner... But I figured I'd make it a little longer :p I had to stop here though... I can't just let everything out on one chapter, right? D: lols.

So yep, that's today's update ^^ I'm heading up to Westfield with a friend tomorrow, so no idea what time I'll be home... My parents also want to show me something in Putney (they mentioned what it was, but I was focusing on getting my heels of at the time.. So I totally forgot).. But anyway, if my head is working properly (or you know... it's usual state) then I'll start writing the next chapter ^^ XOXO

p.s - what do you all think of the idea - Avengers X JL and/or YJ ? I can totally imagine Iron man making some sort of funny comment about Kid Flash eating so much :x :x