a/n) Ok sorry for the long wait, Mid-terms, studying has been devouring my soul. I hope this chapter is up to par.
Enjoy!
He'd done it!
After almost two weeks he'd done it!
Batman's encryption codes and password walls had finally fallen. Dick Grayson was a mark of wonder to those that taught him . . . Of course he would have been if he wasn't snooping in said 'teachers' things using his own methods against him.
Anyway, the planes, and maps and files on Al Ghul were all laid out in front of him. Quickly, feeling too much time had been wasted already, he downloaded what he needed and ran to set up the BatJet. Hopefully Babs and Tim would take a while to find out he'd skipped out without them, he really didn't need a head ach of worrying about them too. Granted, he knew they could handle themselves, scratch that, he knew Babs could handle herself, but that didn't stop him fearing the worst where she was concern. Nobody was going to get hurt under his watch again.
Never again.
He would Not let that happen.
"Dick?"
Crap.
He stopped mid buckle and looked up to see Barber with a disbelieving look on her face. Timmy just looked dejected.
"What are you doing?!" She demanded loudly.
"I've got to get to Santa Prisca and find out what-"
"Without US!" Her voice rang out, echoing in anger throughout the cave.
Dick almost flinched. Almost.
"Yes. It's too dangerous for me to have to watch your backs. I'm going alone."
"No!"
That succeeded in making him flinch.
"You pig headed moron! How dare you act like we don't know what we're doing." She looked ready to punch him out, "We've been partners since you were Robin. There is no way you can justify what you just said! You need help! Santa Prisca is no place for a cape to go alone! Have you lost you mind!?"
The dark haired male looked at her steadily. Barbara Gordon. Babs, the girl he'd know since middle school. The girl that stuck by him even after she'd found out he'd been keeping Robin from her. The girl that did everything with him. His best friend. And he'd shoved an ax in their long run friendship. In most of his friendships. But Barbara was the only one that had come closer to family then anyone else and the only one that was still here.
He knew he didn't deserve her. Not after the way he'd twisted himself to be towards her. And now, he was pulling the biggest jerk move that even Batman would probably wince at on her.
"Fine. Hop in. We don't have much time."
Neither person said a word as they obeyed.
Santa Prisca. Here we come.
It was strange. Even for her.
Her fathers subject, no, Batman's ex-robin, had improved on a miraculous scale. Well, even breathing was considered miraculous seeing as he was dead nigh two and a half weeks ago.
The boy had started coming around more now. He looked around, still with a lost, and troubled expression, but he could speak clearer, breath easier without it seeming like a dagger to the lungs, and his body, still stiff, but less on the ridged side.
Now Talia was being bombarded by questions. He'd maintained full use of his limbs and mental capabilities and he knew something was missing, or to be more precise, someone. Many someone's.
She hadn't told Father about his projects extreme advancement. Not yet. She wasn't prepared yet.
She was standing in the room, being eyed by his untrusting and unsure look, "Is there something you wish to say." She spoke up, making him flinch slightly. He still wasn't used to voices.
"Are you going to tell me who I am yet?" Came the still slightly raspy voice.
"Yes." Simple.
The boy stiffened, "What?" He didn't believe her.
"Your name, is . . . Jason Todd, you are seventeen years old, and you have recently awoken from a two and a half year long coma after a horrible accident." She said smoothly, not batting an eyelash at the end.
The boys face contorted in thought, then it smoothed out, "Yah . . . yah, that - that sounds right. But - I keep having dreams, about . . . who's Bruce? Do I know anyone named that?"
She didn't blink, "He was your adoptive father. Dead now. I'm the only one you have left." She lied easily.
He seemed to deflate, "Oh. I thought-"
She quickly walked over to him and patted his hair, "Don't worry precious, I'll take good care of you. Training you for great things."
He looked at her, "Training me? That sounds familiar . . . I-I " He looked to be in sudden flashes of pain he let out a yell grabbing at his head as he fell back into the cushions.
His mind was trying to access a far reaching memory and it was like reaching for an electric volt.
She decided to ease his suffering, "Yes. It should. That's what you were doing before you're accident. You were training to be a warrior of great skill. Now rest. Later I shall take you for an examination."
He stopped screaming and flipped over, shoving his head under the pillow, a few muffled moans came from beneath it.
Talia left.
Time to check on the other projects.
Zatanna stared at the slumping figures in the cell. They looked sick under the dim light, pale and weak. Obviously, she figure she looked like them by now too. These ninja freaks weren't big on feeding their prisoners.
Ugh, "Shayera, we have to get out of here." She groaned to her friend.
The winged woman sat next to her, the fight out of her for now, "I know that. How? Is the question."
"I don't know. I tried summoning my powers, none. It's like they sucked my will out or something. It's weird since- I don't know . . . it's just weird." The raven haired girl sighed and hugged her scrapped knees, "I miss dad. I wonder what he's doing right now."
"Probably looking for you." Shayera assured, "I don't know about Hawkman though, He probably thinks wherever I am, I can handle it." Her face wrinkled slightly in distaste.
"Yah?" Zatanna smiled lightly, "Dad's probably imagining what horrible fates could have befallen his sweet little girl!" She attempted to laugh in order to lighten the mood.
The sound died on her lips as the door screeched open and a tall, perfect bodied woman walked in. Zatanna had no idea who this woman was, but she sensed a strong hate for her surge up instantly.
"This is the magicians daughter?" The woman stepped in and her cold green eyes fell on Zatanna with disgust, "this a Thanagerian. Pathetic, mere children. Oh well, they will do for Father's purpose."
Shayera growled next to the young magician, "What purpose is that exactly!?" She demanded.
The witch let a faint, sickening smile ghost on her face, "You'll see soon enough." With that she walked out as arrogantly as she had walked in.
Leaving the poor young metas to look at each other in growing dread.
Oh god. Somebody help. . .
"Who are you?" Was the question. Wally couldn't believe there was another meta human standing in front of him, one he'd never met before.
She glared at him, "None of your business, now turn and leave." She hissed almost deadly.
Of course he didn't, "No, really. That was amazing. How'd you do that? Where'd you come from? Why are you in Gotham?" Ok, so maybe he was prying too much too soon. But he really wasn't thinking straight by this point, emotional overdose did that to him.
Her eyes flared in a bright pink glow, "I said none of you business! Leave!"
He swallowed, "Um. Ok. See yah then." He slowly backed away from her menacing look, having the odd feeling like he would fall in a hole or something if she kept glaring at him like that.
He turned away and decided to forget about it. . . No way! That was just too weird to forget. He had to know where, who . . .
He turned back, one last question on his lips. She was gone.
Shoot.
Wait. Something white caught his eye before he gave up. He bent down and picked up an drivers license.
He looked at his closely and gaped at what he saw.
No. Freakin'. Way.
The tests all showed positive.
Talia narrowed her eyes as she watched the boy stand in the middle of the room. He was fast, strong, seemingly never had died. She had him in a holographic generating arena. She, along with several other scientists, watched as his muscle memory kicked in.
It astound her. This shouldn't be possible. His mental state was still fragile and healing, but his physical state was .. . unbelievable. Whatever his mentor had taught him along with whatever he'd learned alone was engraved in his body so well, he didn't need to think. He just did.
She watched as he flipped over several flame welding droids and kicked their heads off at the same time.
With a slight smirk, "Take it to level twelve."
The scientist pushed up the knob.
She watched coldly as the boy fell back into a defensive stance, several droids turned into fire breathing hulks. The floor began to fall away and several booby traps activated. She followed his movements as he dodged, flipped, jumped, and, with more ferocity than was necessary, literally destroy three droids in less than two minutes.
His fury fueled him.
She sensed it being the main asset of his personality. Also, if she knew the affects of the Lazuras pit, which she did, she knew that it brought forth that main part, ten fold. That might be a snag in this project.
Or . . .
He violently kicked a hole in a droid, sending sparks flying everywhere.
A faint smile of satisfaction crossed her face, it may be used to her advantage.
They were all silent as the Bat Jet streaked through the dark clouds over the spanning blue-green waters. Batgirl stared sullenly out the red tinted windows. The silence was heavy, almost choking her. So maybe her comments were a little over the top, but God! She didn't understand why he was acting like she wasn't capable of herself? She'd been at this almost as long as he had. It wasn't like she needed to have her back watched all the time. It made her angry to think that he thought so.
Tim, that was another thing. Sure Timmy had been Robin for almost two years now but he was more intelligence than anything. He wasn't one of the stronger fighters as Robin. That title was still held by . . . Jason. Even if he was dead.
Dang it! She grimaced as a lump that hurt to swallow formed in her throat. Why'd she have to go and think about that kid? Every time she did, she couldn't stop.
The memories that were made in those five short years she'd known him. The pranks, the laughs, the way he'd try to cover up his real feelings, even the fights. The memories were all too vivid, making it seem like he was still here. Still teasing, fighting, learning. But no, he wasn't. That realizing thought is what always brought her crashing down.
"Batgirl?"
The red head turned to Tim, he was looking at her with concern seeping through his mask, "Yah?"
"You ok?" He asked softly.
She gave him a faint smile, "Yah, thanks Timmy." She reached out and gave his hand a gentle squeeze, "Thanks."
"Approaching destination." The GPS system blared out ruining their moment. Batgirl turned to see a rocky island come into view, thick jungle colored it's face. She shuddered to remember this awful place.
"Get ready, mission objective, get in, get info, get out. Simple." Nightwing debriefed, emotionless.
Batgirl scoffed, "Great. Now if only it would be that easy."
Nobody disagreed.