Well... here we are.... this is where things get a lot closer to home... plans are in motion... and I know its a lil rushed.... but my word its a challenge as it is.... some of you may notice a wee link to a series called Tekkaman or Teknoman.... I would also like to add I don't own that either.... but the story is mine and on we go.......

I even have given Tim a playmate his own age...... oh and thanks for the reviews.... this isn't my finest work but thanks for the kindness....

to answer a question, Dick wasn't killed by Jason, he was just merely beaten badly and it appeared Dick was dead... it was Wonder Woman who actually killed Dick a while later during the Red Lantern invasion..... this will be addressed in chapter 7... be kewl


"So can I ask you a question?" I turned from the massive view screen and looked over at the staircase in the direction of the question, she was my guest after all.

"Sure thing, fire away." I replied with a smile as I stood up and made my way over to the staircase.

"Do you want me here?" The youngest member of the Birds asked.

I smiled. " Why would I mind you here at the Manor? It's nice to have someone my own age around." She warmed a little and came closer down the stairs.

"That's not what I meant Mr Wayne." She said sheepishly. Wait …. WAYNE?

"Uh Charlotte, first off its Tim. You don't need to call me Mr Wayne, that was Bruce." I said with a smile. "Secondly, what did you mean?"

"I mean do you want Misfit here?" Now she was looking down at the cave floor. Wonder if she had heard about my reservations of rookies.

"Well Charlotte, honestly, I have my reservations. Gotham is not the best place to break in to the superhero world, but that doesn't mean I don't want you here. Babs says your good at what you do, and if Babs sees potential in you then who am I to say no?"

"Really? So you are okay with me being here?" I could hear it in her voice, cautious optimism.

"Come with me Charlotte." I said and motioned for her to come over, she did. Vanishing and reappearing right beside me, teleporting, that would take some getting use to.

We walked in silence over to the costume cases that stood against one wall and looked down over the rest of the cave.

"You know what these are?" I asked, motioning to the long line of cases which seemed to be getting longer every year.

"Costumes?" Charlotte said with a little apprehension. She stood, looking at them all, one at a time, starting with a Robin costume and moving along to another case which held just a cowl and cape. The one that Bruce had worn the day he had not come home. The day the impossible happened. Then in the final case was a tattered and broken Nightwing costume.

"Yes, they are of those who have fallen in the line of duty." I could see she already knew where this was going. "Have you heard of a woman known as Spoiler?"

"Yes. Helena told me about her." Charoltte responded in a quiet voice.

"Understand me when I say this Charlotte. This is not a game. If it comes down to you and a civilian, I can't promise you I will get to you in time, the civilian comes first. If Babs wasn't backing you I would tell you to be smart and get out while your alive. That's the smart choice."

"So why don't you get out?" the young woman said cutting in.

"I'm all that's left." I said turning to her and facing her before walking over to the master display I was at before being interrupted. I could hear her footsteps after a moment as she came after me. She had guts.

"Originally when I broke in, I was only doing it to help Batman. He changed after the death of the second Robin. I was here to make sure he didn't cross that line. Then things happened. Batman was taken out, his back broken, and a crazy man was left in his place.

"I was alone for a long time, just me and Gotham. It wasn't fun but Nightwing wasn't around at the time. Then Batman came back, then Nightwing took over for a while, till the original Batman was ready to come back. Then there was the Clench, a deadly virus that was threatening to wipe out Gotham, I was infected but I came back from it. Then there was the earth quake that shattered Gotham. First the Batman, then Gotham. Things were going wrong."

Charlotte was beside me again, not saying a word, just listening.

"Batman ordered everyone out. Gotham had been declared a No Man's Land, but in time, he called us in. To clean up Gotham, drag her back to her feet. So we did. Things changed for me personally round that time. My dad had previously lost the ability to walk, but with help from his physio, a woman called Dana, he was eventually able to walk again. They fell in love, got married. She was awesome. Never tried to replace my mother, just be a big sister. I loved her. In some way it was great, in others it just reminded me I had lost my mother." I paused.

"Go on, please." So I did.

"In time my father learned I was Robin, he forced Bruce into revealing a lot, I retired being Robin for my dad. But it was short lived. Spoiler became Robin, but she didn't make the grade. Shortly there after there was a gang war. Code named "War Games." Gotham was falling apart again. I was needed, so I became Robin again.

"Stephanie was killed shortly thereafter, at least so we thought. I remained as Robin, but things got worse. Steph was gone, then.... There was a Crisis, an Identity Crisis, or so it was called."

**

It was happening.

The darkness was now watching as its plan came to fruition.

It had made contact with the one known as Black Hand on the planet below and he was moving into position. Soon his false prophet would bring forth his herald.

Then the end game would begin.

Far in the distance he could feel them coming. From two directions.

One from a planet far away known as Oa, and another from down on the blue marble that the inhabitants called Earth.

He could hear a name.

John Stewart.

Goodbye Stewart.

**

There was a kind of easy silence.

I was sitting in that big arm chair in front of the fire in that lovely big drawing room and looking up at the portrait of Mr & Mrs Wayne that sits just over that massive fireplace. But it wasn't the one I was use to. This one wasn't of Bruce's parents, it was of Bruce himself, and his wife, Lois Wayne.

"Master Dick?"

"Yes Alfred?" I asked with a smile as I stood up. This was still slightly surreal, but some things...

"I have a request to ask of you." he said being incredibly English and polite, he knew I wasn't going to like it.

"Just ask." I replied watching him from in front of the roaring fire. He said nothing, he just turned and looked out the window.

"Master Dick, its a shame you didn't arrive here sooner, but there is nothing you can do for this world... its time to go."

I knew he wasn't lying. Alfred didn't lie, and when he did he had tells.

This Alfred, the one standing before me now was displaying none of them.

"Alfred tell me what's happening."

He moved over and sat in a chair by the window.

"The darkness attacked this world shortly after the death of Master Bruce. The darkness used his power to cut off all 'superpowers' on earth, we never learned how he did it, but odds are he will do it on your world as well."

"What about the Lanterns? Were they able to use their rings?"

"The Lanterns were gone. Their homeworld Oa was destroyed in a battle that took place while the main bulk of the Lantern force was flying to Earth to engage the darkness. The Red Lanterns and Sinestro Corps destroyed Oa and the Central Power battery."

Something else had happened.... I could see it on his face. I rested a hand on his shoulder and waited...

"They fell from the sky... there were engaging a Black Lantern version of the Martian Manhunter. Thousands fell from the sky, or even worse... some simply suffocated in space battling Parallax himself."

Oh no... that wasn't good.

"Parallax? In my world he is imprisoned again."

"In this reality, Ion, the super Lantern if you will was killed, destroyed, or so we thought. In the moment of weakness when Ion's host was destroyed and the entity lost, Parallax escaped and invaded the body of Hal Jordan, Jordan was helpless and was taken as host once more."

This was so not good.

"So the Lanterns were dead. The likes of Superman and Wonder Woman, were without power, what next?" Did hell actually freeze over?

"We moved ahead with the Pegasus project, and that something we must do now."

"What? The Pegasus project? But Alfred I just got here."

"Son, this world is doomed. The darkness has left the black lantern that killed you in orbit of the sun. She is draining the energy right out of it. Scientists say within a week this world will be doomed. You must go now before the same fate befalls your world. Now come with me, the fate of your reality depends on it."

**

"What happened next?"

"Someone killed my dad. I didn't make it in time and he was killed. I failed. Dana was taken into care, she didn't handle it. Then there was another Crisis. An evil Superboy called Prime. He and a version of Lex Luthor nearly caused the destruction of the world. One of my best friends, this world's Superboy was killed trying to stop them. Another friend called Kid Flash was lost in attempt to trap Prime. He came back, but older."

"Its okay Tim." Charlotte put her hand on my shoulder and I shrugged it off.

"No, its never okay. That's why you have to take this seriously." I looked over at her and she was looking right back at me.

An awkward silence if I had ever had one.

The screen came to life and a red bat logo started flashing on the screen.

Not good.

Within seconds my hands were flying over the controls and information was flashing past my face faster than Charlotte could catch it, with luck she would be able to keep up some day soon.

This was bad.

Like very bad.

Like …. just further proof the world was out to get me.

"Charlotte, get the others down here now." I said without taking my eyes off the screen.

"Done! They are on the way." I said before I realised she had moved, but true enough, within seconds the lift door opened and out walked the rest of our merry little band.

"What's the situation Tim?" asked Helena as she walked over and stood behind my right shoulder.

"Take a look." I said as a I brought out the most important data of all that had flashed through so far.

"What the hell is happening on the moon!?!?" Helena turned to look in the direction of Charlotte.

"Easy Charlie, I'd like to be able to hear the end of the world."

"Alfred..."

"Yes Master Tim?"

"Cancel dinner."

This was just bad.

**

He was travelling as fast as his ring would let him.

The communiqué had come in slightly before three. Ion was down. So were his squadron of Lanterns.

A task force from Oa was en route. But he could get there first. Let them know what they were flying into. It was his duty as a member of the Green Lantern Corps.

**

The darkness could sense the Green Lantern known as John Stewart coming towards the moon.

He flew straight past the Watchtower that belonged to the heroic Justice League of America and closer and closer still.

**

I was gaining speed now.

I could feel something.

The ring was ….

**

The darkness watched as it happened.

A blast of enormous black energy shot up from a crater on the moon and engulfed the little green firefly whole and sent him crashing to the moon's surface.

**

I looked up...

What the hell hit me...

That's when I saw his boots, right in front of me.

Black with a silver trim.

I looked up and saw his weathered face.

His evil smile.

**

Back in the cave sensors were still pulling in telemetry from the Watchtower. Whatever they saw was seen in the cave.

The Green Lantern known as John Stewart had gone to intercept whatever was happening on the moon, apparently it was Green Lantern business.

I hated those damn rings.

A massive task force was en route from Oa, the home world of the Green Lantern Corps and the Guardians of the Universe. That's when I saw it.

A small energy source.

A Green Lantern energy ring, heading to Earth.

In search of a new ring bearer.

"God. John."

It was Helena who had spoken and as I turned to look in her direction I saw a tear roll down her cheek.

I looked down at Barbara and she nodded.

I moved away from the others and pulled out a communicator from my pocket.

I looked it over and thought about it.

What this represented.

I opened his frequency.

"Robin to Superman, get in touch." I closed the channel and waited a few seconds, normally that would be all it took for him to respond, I just didn't expect him to respond the way he did.

I had hoped he would be near Gotham, he was meant to be shadowing me the previous day, I assumed Alfred would have rescheduled for the following day, or the day after, or … something.

"I was hoping you'd call." Came his strong and and yet friendly voice.

I looked up and saw him standing there in all his glory.

Superman was back in Gotham, and he was in the cave.

**

The darkness smiled as the false prophet known as Black Hand held the headless body of John Stewart before him.

"An offering to you. A symbol of my loyalty." came a dark and ragged voice.

"You have done well Hand. Now, raise my herald. Let the fun truly begin."

Black Hand vanished in a blast of black energy and light...

His course was straight and true...

Within moments he was in the air above the city...

The city known as Gotham...

He was so close....

He could feel it....

The energy....

Then he saw it... an unmarked grave... the unmarked grave...

The Black Hand aimed his ring bearing hand a beam of black energy shot forth and down into the ground.

He felt a presence.

He hadn't been at peace for long.

Batman would rise …. "STOP"

The voice of his master, somewhere in his head he could hear him bellow even from this great distance.

"Master?"

"Have you begun the resurrection?"

"Yes Master..... why....I thought it was what you wished?"

Silence....

"Master."

**

Deep underground Oa

This cannot be, she thought. It was impossible. The book of the dead was being rewritten....

History was being changed....

She reached out....

Her master was silent....

**

Deep under Wayne Manor I was waiting.

I wasn't fully aware, I was barely conscious.

I was laid on a table, something was looming over me. The Pegasus unit. A huge transformation chamber, like something out of an Animé cartoon.

"I'm so sorry Master Richard. But the tests I have run on the revised system say you must be conscious when the procedure begins, I have given you a sedative, hopefully it will numb the pain."

I tried to raise my hand... I was getting deja vu, it was like.... it was like when.... but no... this was Alfred.

"The new power source will transform you. Make you into what the universe needs you to be. To be truly bonded, this is the only way. Please forgive me for what I am about to do, and if you can do just that, my last request. My only request, even if you can't forgive an old fool. Look after her, protect her. You are all she has. Now go, go to the sun and find your way home."

I could hear a beeping....

A mask was placed over my face...

The darkness.... it was coming... or was this just... the light fading....

I heard two words... a name that was fading... too fast for me to hear it....

But with the other name....

A light.

An emerald light....and a name....

A name I had only read in case files....

I understood....

I wasn't sure how.... but he was Alfred.... impossible was just another word....

A voice, spoke out to me...

I saw it, the massive chamber that stood a few feet from the end of the table, the chamber that could become a tomb. The Pegasus project.

It was then, a light enveloped me and I could feel myself being lifted off the table, and into the air.

My arms were pulled outright at ninety degrees to my body. It was if I was being crucified, I was going face first into the tomb, my tomb.

I never felt so claustrophobic in my life.

The light from behind me began to fade as the lid of the chamber began to close.

I heard a voice calling out to me...

A blinding light...

Intense pain....

I screamed...and the world disappeared around me... but as it did... I could swear.... I could feel the Pegasus device taking flight?

**

Somewhere on the Eastern Coast of the United States of America circa 1770, well after dark...

He could hear her screams.

She was being chased by two, three. No five men.

All British Soldiers by the sound of their voices.

She was no match for them, he was a different story.

He began his move, across roof tops.

He was so quiet, all you would hear was the wind whipping at his clothes.

He could hear the chase. She took a wrong turn and slipped.

She was on the ground, they were on top of her now.

Their chase was over.

So was his...

He quickened his pace and leapt into the air, and flew down the gap between buildings and down to the ground where men were tearing at her clothing.

Four of the five heard nothing, but one of them, swigging from a nearly empty jug of ale saw something.

A shadow.

A darkness against the light.

He squinted, he was hit.

Something tore through the air and hit him square above the nose, right between the eyes.

He dropped to the ground.

The others stopped to look....

That was their mistake. They didn't run straight away.

They started to their feet, now he was on them. A fist, a boot. It wouldn't matter.

Within seconds they were down.

He towered over them.

He leaned down and checked over the woman.

"Help is coming." He said in barely a whisper.

He moved to rise but she had grabbed his boot.

He leaned back down.

"I ne.... ne...never said th...thank you.." She was cold. He reached to his belt and pulled out a small bag and tossed it at the ground.

A flash. The woman's sight was blinded, but only for a moment, and when she could see, a small fire, nothing too big or threatening. Just enough for a gentle heat.

She looked around... the man... no … all of the men were gone...

She was alone...

But there was someone at the end of the alley...on top of the buildings...

A voice carried on the wind... just a few soft words...

She smiled...

… her hand found something on the ground.

An object, small, yet cold... made of metal...

She held it up and looked at it in the light from the fire...

She could just make out the outline.

A bat?

A symbol of the darkness... or maybe... just maybe... it was a symbol.... a symbol of hope.