164. Hand and Dagger part 1

Monday.

November 1, 2004

12:24 pm

The City.

A grand total of one hundred and ninety square miles.

A population numbering in four million people.

Divided into six major districts.

North: The industrial region. Rows after rows of manufacturing centers, warehouses, and power plants. A decent level of smog, but not so much as to come close to Gotham City. Iron works facilities lined the northernmost quadrants, and in the center was the grandest building of all….a Radioactive Depository with a huge concrete sarcophagus lining the structure and ready to swallow it up like a grave.

Northeast: The slums. Impoverished apartments. Abandoned buildings. Desperate bazaars in the street. Everyday people clinging to each other in the day time and being preyed on at night. A place that supervillains overlooked and petty thieves terrorized. Many secrets festered and shivered in the shadows of Elevated Train tracks running north and south in a continuous loop.

Eastern: The docks. The shipyards. Warehouses and piers built along the glistering crystal waters of the Bay. Freights and fishing boats paraded alongside the blue Atlantic. Cranes and loading equipment brought shipments in through one of the busiest ports on the Eastern Coast of the continent.

Southern: The pretty face of the City. Concrete buildings of bright gray shadowing lush courtyards and healthy commercial districts. The Bayside Plaza. Theatres and eateries. Pizza parlors. Tourist traps. A boardwalk stretching out into the Bay. And a special viewing area for spying on Titans' Island.

Western: The affluent side of the City. Where the urban concrete jungle thinned and gave way to more trees and curving suburbia. The heights of the buildings dropped and residences actually had lawns around their duplexes and houses. The celebrities of the City lived out there, as well as the finest schools. Warehouses and storage centers lined the south while the City's huge and beloved Park rested on the border of the Western district and the Downtown.

Central: Downtown. The spires of the City. The skyline. Kobayashi Tower. Wayne Enterprises. Hotels and business complexes stretched up on either side of a north-south freeway that connected the suspension bridge southwest to the Metropolitan highway north. In the shadow of the highway was Phaser Labs, the scientific capital of the region. Subways connected random avenues where more and more skyscrapers were being built. It was an infantile metropolis, but growing larger and larger by the month.

To the far north…south of the gently rising mountains of forests…was the City of Prison, still rebuilding from the explosion at the Omega Wing. Far East across the Bay, two or three oil platforms were nestled in the raging Atlantic, almost out of sight of the shore. Towards the southwest, the river that ran into the Bay was crossed by the City's second most famous landmark….the Suspension Bridge. A concrete giant that glowed blue in the autumn air of early November.

And then to the south…where the river branched out wide and became the Oceanic Bay…Titan's Tower stretched. It's 'T' arms stretched out like the arms of a savior that shadowed the southern edge of the City. Its windows were ablaze with the reflection of the Sun and waters the same. When the sun was halfway across the sky and the beams of light illuminated the Tower for all it was worth, all eyes were on it. Helpless, trusting Citizens.

The population.

The City.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

His warm brown eyes stared out past his reflection and at the glistening City beyond the glass. There was a granite solemnity stretched across his face for but a moment. A haunting replacement of the warmth that the ghost boy usually exhibited. He seemed to be looking for something that he knew was in the skyline but couldn't quite convince the principalities of the air of it. He breathed slowly, his hands stuck into his neon green sweatjacket's pouch. An even greener hood rested behind his neck. Emerald highlights kissed the end of spiked, black hair.

"……….."

Slowly, he turned around. And when he was looking at us, he was smiling. Warm as ever. The exact same snapshot of the Messenger I ever knew. And I only knew a fraction of him.

"You know…it's a little uncanny, but your City looks a hell of a lot like San Francisco at first glance…," he pointed out the window. "I wonder if that's a silly coincidence or just God's way of saying we need more homosexuals on the East Coast?"

The rest of us stood across from him in the Main Room. Half of us had our arms folded. Robin the most.

"We brought you up here for one reason and one reason only, stranger," his eyemask narrowed. "We're intrigued."

The Messenger giggled.

Raven raised an eyebrow. She shared a glance with Cyborg.

I sweatdropped.

The Messenger shook his head, smiling. "Intrigued? Robin…you are many things. But you are certainly never intrigued."

Robin sneered: "What do you possibly know about me?"

"I know that you are a detective," the Messenger gestured. "Much like the mentor under whose leather wings you were spawned forth from an innocent young boy of the street. Your life from age eleven or twelve has been a huge brick wall of reality constantly slamming you in the noggin'. God, I'd hate to see you suffer an aneurysm from all of that egotistical self-bashing. But regardless, it's admirable to notice that you're not the type to base anything off of intrigue. That's my job, Robin. I jump through the barriers and spy on the intrigue between the walls. That which seems morally destructive alarms me, and I try to find concrete ways of proving the danger to vigilantes and do-gooders liken unto yourselves. One may call such a system espionage. But I'd rather relate it to a messaging service. And I, dear Titans….," he bowed dramatically with a grin, "….am a Messenger."

"Cute….," Raven droned.

Starfire floated forward, an anxious look on her face as she wrung her hands: "And you….h-have associated with Noir before?"

The asian teenager looked my way.

I stared at him through my shades.

He looked back at the Titans, the Tamaranian foremost. He smiled: "Yes. I've known the badass."

I glanced down at the floor.

"Not as long as you Titans have known him, granted. But we opened communication somewhere in the vicinity of……ohhhh…..between holocausts. Slade holocausts. When Anderson croaked like the frog he was and Viper first made his little schoolgirl prance into this City. I helped Noir a little bit here and there. And why shouldn't I have? He's a handsome guy……plus he reminds me of Chow Yun Fat."

I raised an eyebrow.

He stuck his tongue out at me.

I groaned inwardly.

A figure stepped into view.

Robin.

"And….why did you never tell the rest of us about this communication before??" Robin asked, glaring at me.

I sweatdropped. I glanced at Cyborg and prepared a flurry of desperate hand signs when--

The Messenger stood between Robin and I. He placed a hand on Robin's caped shoulder, smiled, and said: "That's just the thing, Tweety. The word was passed around this bird cage of yours. Only…it wasn't the word you and the other Titans thought it was."

"…..," Robin looked at the Messenger. Then at his hand. He peeled the fingers off his shoulder and glared: "What do you mean?"

"Dagger and Slade did a little hacking and manipulating of transferred files within the Tower's mainframe," the Messenger smiled. "That's how the whole mess started."

"What whole mess?" Cyborg asked.

The Messenger glanced over. Warm, almond optics blinked. "Why….labeling Noir a traitor, of course."

A collective wince was felt throughout the room. Everyone in the room took a subconscious, spiritual step back.

Everyone but Tempest.

He blinked innocently and gazed at the Messenger: "So…I'm lost here. Where'd you come from all of the sudden?"

"I….," the Messenger smiled and paced around the room and among us all. "….I come from the great Plane beyond. The spiritual horizon to which all of our souls are attached and one day are inevitably bound to return to." He gestured his small hands into the air dramatically: "A celestial circle of sacred divinity and cleansing of souls…"

"Really?" Starfire gasped.

"Nah, I was just shittin' you," he winked. "It doesn't matter where I come from. It only matters what I bring. And I bring news. Not-so-happy news. And fate would have it that the only reason I ever appear to show my cute face is when the cat doo-doo is hitting the proverbial fan. Isn't that right, Noir?" He looked at me.

I nodded.

Robin scratched his head.

"Dagger…," Cyborg uttered. He took a titanium step forward. "You said that he was alive…"

"Well I hope so," the Messenger examined his hand nonchalantly. "I'd hate to be delusional."

"For a messenger, you're very coy…," Raven droned.

He smiled back at her. "And you have so much more sugar than spice than you give yourself credit for, cutie."

"……," Raven blinked.

Cyborg stepped between her and the Messenger's gaze, frowning a little. "What she means is……you should get to the point."

"Sheesh!! Where's the patience in this dimension? I swear….you kids are too grown up for your own good. Alas…," the Messenger sauntered over and sat cross-legged and petite on the back of the sofa. "…I guess that's what you get when all you have is an Institute and no Professor."

Beast Boy blinked. "Uhhh….what?"

"Never you mind," the Messenger shook his head. "Listen closely…"

We couldn't resist leaning forward.

The Messenger's face was between a smile and a hard place. The words dripped from his lips as he gestured: "Yes, Dagger is alive. And he is dangerous. As a matter of fact, Dagger is always dangerous when he is alive. It's a winning combination…though it's all counted to our loss. Dagger may look like the epitome of death on the surface. But his existence only denotes chaos. Chaos through order. His life has been one long and cataclysmic experiment in balling up the evil of this entire hemisphere and smithing it into a two edge sword which he could use at his command. Only…it's not truly a sword that he resorts to. But knives. Rapiers. Daggers. Tiny pinpricks of poison so uniformly and so expertly placed that they tear a body and destructure it from the inside out. Dagger is cold, emotionless, calculated…and ultimately as venomous as the invisible machine his legacy has built. Oh no, Titans….death doesn't swallow him up so easily. Nobody kills a god by plummeting him to concrete."

Starfire blinked. She gazed in my direction. "Is it my lack of understanding….or did not Noir sufficiently bring Dagger unto his demise?"

The Messenger glanced at me, and so did the rest of the room.

I bit my lip.

"Noir…..you remember that one stormy night following July Fourth, verdad?"

I took a deep breath.

My metal fingers curled…

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"Obstinate….," the dark-haired man's eyes narrowed. "…so horribly obstinate…."

He jumped up, twirled, and sidekicked me square across the face.

SMACK!!!!

I was sent spiraling backwards and through the gothic windows of the skyscraper.

SMASH!!!!!!!!!!

My bleeding body ragdolled out onto the rainswept ledge of the spire.

Lightning flashed.

My body winced amidst a curtain of rain and glass shards.

Wyldecarde's goggles were shattered and broken apart.

Wet footsteps.

Dagger marched towards me.

Leering.

Unemotional.

"You disappoint me, Jordan…"

I wheezed.

He held his breath and kicked me hard in the side.

WHUMP!!!

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

I hand-signed into the naked air.

The Messenger gazed over from where he sat cross-legged atop the back of the couch.

His lips were slightly curved.

Calm…

Cyborg spoke as he watched my metal and flesh fingers move:

"Dagger was using the hex stolen from Jinx, the Third Apprentice. He had a factory full of the pink stuff. It was what allowed his men such well-timed attacks and ambushes at Phaser Labs when Wyldecarde was doing his thing. Early in the morning of July Fifth, Noir fought Dagger face to face."

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

I hung from the edge of the balcony.

Rain slid off the granite ledge and pelted my naked face.

I gasped and strained for breath.

Dagger stood above me.

The City yawned deep and wide below with unforgiving asphalt.

"Learn to embrace the end, Jordan," the cold man sighed. "All your life…you've been avoiding it."

I frowned.

I produced the stolen vial of pink hex.

Dagger's eyes widened.

I let go of the ledge.

I plummeted.

I broke the vial, absorbed the hex, and guided my fate.

The petroleum truck exploded below me in a brilliant ball of flame.

With angled murk, I sent myself back up into the air from the propulsion of the blast.

I sailed at Dagger.

Myrkblade sang into the air.

SLASSSSSSSH!!!

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"Dagger's pink powers had faded," Cyborg read. "He was a mere mortal again. Noir didn't have any mercy. He attacked and attacked and attacked with his sword."

I breathed gently and blindly hand-signed into the Main Room's air.

"Dagger suffered many wounds. But none of them were mortal. He wasn't truly in danger until…"

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Dagger fell over the edge of the rainswept balcony.

I dove forward and grabbed his shirt with my flesh, left hand.

CLUTCH!!!!

The man dangled, bleeding, his feet trailing above the blackness of an alleyway shrouded by night and rain.

He looked up at me.

Helpless.

But still…unemotional. Unrelenting.

"You are far more alone than even I thought, Jordan………," he murmured.

I panted.

My black eyes twitching, moist and cold.

"But perhaps not for long….," he whispered. "For you still have Titans to save."

I swallowed.

The words were exchanged.

The secrets of Slade's hideout.

The chip in my arm that would kill me.

"Alas, such is the consequence of fate," Dagger murmured. A secret arm slipped up and pulled a dagger out from his pocket. He clung to it where I couldn't see. "It clips us of our wings…and sends our dust settling back into the heartless streets."

And his arm blurred upwards.

And he sliced the last shred of the shirt clinging to him.

I jerked down towards him with a gasp.

But Dagger fell.

And his body was swallowed up by the darkness of the alleyway.

Buried in rain and thunder.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"Shortly after that…the top level of Dagger's skyscraper exploded…," Cyborg read off my hands. He gazed at the other Titans. "Noir says it was a sure sign of Dagger's death. Much like how the frigate nearly exploded when Noir skewered Slade dead and tossed him into the Ocean. There was something akin to a biologically linked explosive."

The other Titans nodded.

"BUT!!!"

Everyone glanced over.

The Messenger leapt down from the back of the couch. Plop! He paced between us, gesturing: "Rule number one about villain demises….you never….ever…..ever…just let the bad guy 'fall to his death', especially when he falls into either…A…a body of water or….B….a huge abyss of shadowed mystery." He stood in place with his hands on his hips. "That's just ASKING for it!!"

I winced.

The Messenger walked towards me, smiling. "Now….Noir….who could blame you for letting go of Dagger? It was raining. You'd been through a lot. You were about to lose your paper-hanging hand, for god's sake…..how could you have POSSIBLY let Dagger live through that, much less went around searching for his body after his headquarters was so ceremoniously razed off the face of the earth??"

"I do not perceive how a mortal Terran could have survived such a terrible fall…," Starfire murmured.

"Neither do I, to be honest….," the Messenger shrugged. "Beats the Hell out of me." He looked at Beast Boy. "Right?"

"Uhhh……"

Robin stepped forward: "Then how did Dagger survive? If you're so certain that he's alive, you tell US how he made it through that!"

"I don't know how he made it through that!"

"Then how in the Hell do you suppose that he is alive?!?!"

"Because I've seen him!!!" the Messenger shouted.

Robin shut up.

The other Titans were quiet.

I rubbed my chin, looking at the Messenger. Curious as to how he knew that only a louder voice could make Robin's volume go lower.

The asian teen smiled and spoke calmly again: "I travel around a lot, Robin. I go places you couldn't even possibly imagine. Sorry to leave you out of the magic eye painting again, Boy Wonder…but I've got superpowers that you don't. If you could call them that. I think of them as gifts…when in all actuality, they're just a biological mutation. But not any normal biological mutation. My essence is tied to the invisible structures of all Existence. What is Existence? I cannot tell you in so simple words. Maybe in a couple of dimensions from now. Say….the Sixth or the Seventh. But you'll never see those planes in your lifetime. Not as if you would need eyes to 'see' them. Not as if they are even capable of being 'seen'. I could go on for hours and hours about all the stupid little pet tricks I can do inside and outside your space time continuum, but let's leave it at understanding that I can get from A to Z pretty damn quickly. And during one of my frolicking trips, I happened upon Gotham City. Not a month had passed since the supposed death of Dagger…and I witnessed something. A meeting. A tripartite association of ambassadors representing dark forces that would unify this City, Gotham City, and Metropolis under one nefarious force simply known as Triangular."

"Triangular?" Beast Boy raised an eyebrow. "You just made that up, dude!"

"If only I did, Legolas," the Messenger glanced. He gestured: "Don't ask me why, but I like to concern myself with this chaotic little reality. There are so many layering alternates nearly identical to it….but this one takes the cake. There are things unfolding in this universe that will ultimately affect the continuum of all walls bordering it. It's like a kink in the armor of Existence's Foundation. A fluke in the pattern of all things that be. After all, accidents happen when randomness is the one true law of the Land."

"Nice to hear you're such a peeping tom in our dimension," Robin mumbled. "Now what's this about a 'Triangular'?"

"Ah…I knew your feathers would be aroused at hearing the word 'Gotham City' in the declaration. Forces from three regions have formed together to create a movement called Triangular. Like I said before…ambassadors were acting on behalf of those involved. All except for one force. One of the three. This leader wasn't the type to let puppet subordinates represent him. He's always the one to take the bull by the horns…and slice its brain out."

"Dagger…right?" Cyborg uttered.

The Messenger nodded. "I saw him in the flesh. And not only that, the immaculate flesh. Which puzzled me…cuz you sure hacked the ever-living snot out of him with that sword of yours, didn't you, Noir?"

I gulped.

"Anyways, there he was. I saw him from beyond the invisible veil. The green cloak I use to move from one world to another. Dagger was alive. And not only that, he was already moving towards some seedy goal. As always…under the cover of darkness or the shadows of the criminal underground. It's worthy to note that in this City…his headquarters…he lost nearly everything on the night that Slade died. And yet…when I saw him at the meeting of Triangular, he was clean. Well dressed. He had henchmen. He had transport. He had weapons. He had everything. It was like he had never once been burned in the first place. So what is there to be twice shy over??"

The Messenger looked at Robin. "Dagger is on the move. And he is on the move quickly. Whatever he is planning with Triangular…I suspect it is his way of ultimately bouncing back. It's his method of returning from the grave for good. And for once…he is working alongside others. Not in servitude to them….but because everyone who is involved in Triangular—in this City, in Gotham, and in Metropolis—are uniquely being sucked of their power from the inside-out by a bloody parasite that threatens to have the heads of the entire criminal underground on a platter."

"A parasite?" Starfire blinked.

"A person?"

Robin's eyemask narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Slowly, the Messenger smiled. And it wasn't sadistic as much as it was ironic.

"Red….Aviary…."

A chill ran through my body from my left prosthetic and up. I gripped my hand and shuddered.

The other Titans shifted nervously.

The Messenger slowly spun around between us and continued: "Red Aviary…a phrase you no doubt have heard before. Jinx's troupe has rambled on and on about it to Noir. And just recently…Viper tried to become it. But alas, Viper was just a taste of things to come. That assassin is always a taste of things to come. Whether he be chopping hands off of judges and wardens preluding a tilt to the balance of morals or if he be murdering tons of people left and right and plotting chemical genocide to challenge some invisible 'gladiator'….Viper is always the beginning of something. Which was what prompted me into paying your treehouse a visit in the flesh finally. Because where Viper ends….Dagger begins. And both men are doing the exact same thing in uniquely opposite ways. But all for the same reason. Whether or not they choose to admit it, they're shivering in their boots. They're shivering in their boots because they live in the criminal underground. And the criminal underground is the spawning pool of something so deadly, so indicative of the spirit of death and Destruction, that they must now take measures to try and usurp it. Viper tried to do it on his own. He bit it in the end. And Dagger? He's working the best way he's always done. Through manipulation. Manhandling the feet and hearts of the masses. And bureaucratically merging his consciousness with the filthy squalor of crime lords throughout the hemisphere. The Triangular is one desperate attempt….a do-or-die operation that seeks to let the bloody tide of Red Aviary pass over and allow the evils of this world a space in time to reemerge safely atop the pinnacle of success. I am not entirely sure they know who they are dealing with……for red death itself knows no nemesis."

"You know that Dagger is part of this group…," Robin said. "But do you know the other two factions?"

The Messenger shrugged with a sigh. "Try as I could…I could not. There are some attics even a ghost can't penetrate without getting in trouble. I do not know who everyone is….but I do know what has been done…"

Robin raised an eyebrow.

The Messenger smiled: "In Gotham City…there has been a breakout of the most dangerous of villains. Arkham Asylum recently lost its hold on the Ventriloquist, Killer Croc, and Clayface. Those three are still at large…and people suspect a conspiracy." He shifted his feet and gestured: "In Metropolis…a string of factory robberies has sent Maggie Sawyer and her department on a wild goose change. All the while—under their noses—Intergang has increased in strength tenfold, receiving money and resources from a mysterious benefactor and being geared towards a battle of some sort." He paused, then smiled: "And…..in this City….--"

"The prison…," Raven uttered. Blinking. "The prison explosion and the ensuing near-breakout of villains…."

The Messenger raised a finger: "Ah….but it's so…so much more complex in this City. Much more than in the other two urban zones. Which makes it clear that the issue of Triangular focuses itself right….here." He glanced at all of us in general. "Yes…there was an explosion at the Prison. Yes, there were materials laid out for prisoners of the Omega Wing to get ahold of. And yes, a few cretins escaped. But…" He pointed. "This is the work of three people. One. Dagger supplied the props and weapons for the villains to get ahold of. Two. Jinx, Pulsade, and their little hacker friend plotted the pink-haired-prisoner's escape. And Three……..someone started the whole thing. With the explosive. The explosive which was set…to kill Jinx in the first place."

Starfire's lips parted. "R-Red Aviary?"

The Messenger nodded. "Jinx was meant to die. Jinx didn't want to die. Jinx found a way to escape. Dagger saw an opportunity. Dagger supplied materials in a seedy way that only he could. What should have been an assassination ended up becoming an escape and what should have been an escape ended up becoming a chaotic battle-fest for the ages. Man, what a morning that must have been. I would have paid my college tuition for the Paperview special if I wasn't doing college already. Ha!"

"But….why would Red Aviary want Jinx to die?" Beast Boy blinked. A beat. "WHO is Red Aviary?"

The Messenger shrugged. He sat on an armrest of the sofa. "A man? Woman? A dog? A cow with a rocket launcher and chainsaw strapped to its udders? Who knows?!?!" He cackled. A chuckle. A sigh. "Nobody knows. Because anyone who so much as looks into the eyes of Red Aviary dies." He looked at Robin and Starfire. "That's how you know for sure that Viper was just a copy-cat. You saw his eyes and you lived."

Starfire gulped.

Robin stepped forward. "You're saying Red Aviary set off the explosion at the prison?"

The Messenger nodded. "He was there."

"But as we speak, evidence is piling up against the men at the Zanzibar Piers…," Robin gestured. "Not only does it seem one hundred and twenty percent likely that they were in possession of the props dispersed at the prison, but they also had the exact amount of carbonite explosives missing from their cache to set off an explosion approximately designed to cause that as happened in the Omega Wing!"

"A very good coincidence, I must say," the Messenger smiled.

Robin's fists clenched. "Do you actually expect us to believe that?"

"No, I expect you to keep this in mind…," the asian teen pointed. "Red Aviary is a predator. Yes. But like I said before, he is also a parasite. The explosives at Zanzibar Pier WERE used at the Omega Wing. But as you're going to find out soon…there was no way in Hell any of the men in that warehouse could have gotten NEAR the Omega Wing. But Red Aviary….that's different. What wall can hold death itself back?"

"Does Dagger know he's being leeched off of?" Cyborg asked.

Robin glanced at him funny.

"Most certainly he does….in fact…I bet he predicted it," the Messenger said. "He's had a front row seat to Red Aviary long before any of us has ever had a migraine over it. Although—I will admit—I've been in the know for quite a while now. And yet, not enough to tell you who all the players are. But I've come instead to give you warnings."

"What sort of warnings? You mean you haven't been giving them to us yet?"

"That was all just the precursor…," the Messenger stood up, digging his hands into his sweatjacket's pouch. "The day is coming. The day of Dagger's strike."

"S-Strike??" Starfire murmured.

"What kind of strike?" Tempest asked.

The Messenger looked over. "Overwhelming…."

"………"

The asian teen pointed out of the Main Room's windows. "Do you know whose City this is?"

"The people's," Cyborg said. "It belongs to the citizens who live here."

"Correct," the Messenger nodded. "Provided you're reading right out of a damn Richard Scary book." He pointed more firmly out at the City and repeated: "Whose….City….is….this????"

We were silent.

"Dagger's….," the Messenger spoke. "It always has been….it always will be…."

"But…dude…th-that can't be true…," Beast Boy scratched his fuzzy green head. "How could—"

"A little less surfer accent and a little more action in our lives, Link…," the Messenger rambled as he paced towards us with arms stretched aside. "This City belongs to Dagger….as much as Dagger is concerned. It has never been an issue of conquering these skyscrapers and alleyways…but simply managing it. The City to him is like a stallion riding eternally into the Atlantic Bay. And lately…the giant granite horse that he's lead to water all these years is refusing to drink. Dagger has been gone for but a few months, my friends. But he's back…and he's carrying with him one hell of a bigass riding stick. He will take this City back…or else he will destroy anything and everything that stands in his path. Maybe both." The Messenger shifted to a stop. He folded his arms: "It is only a matter of days now. This City is ready to explode in on itself. Everything is about to hit the fan….but it can be lessened, if not stopped altogether. Because even though there's a despot in the shadows ready to sink his iron fists into the heart of this land once again, there're also seven noble superheroes more than capable of fending him off…….IF……," he pointed with a smile. "….if…..they get the right message of where to go first."

"……………."

The Main Room was hauntingly quiet.

Robin spoke for the greater number of us: "How can you possibly…..expect us all to believe you…….just like that??"

Silence.

The Messenger looked at Robin. A beat. He looked at me.

I sat on the stool to the side of the Main Room. By the kitchen unit. Looking cold, clutching my shivering left arm. I stared helplessly at the teen.

A beat.

The Messenger smiled at Robin: "You'll come around. That's why I came a day early."

The Boy Wonder's eyebrow raised.

The Messenger stepped back. "I hinted of it before. But you'll get your proof. I prophecy that….by sundown….you'll realize that the people at Zanzibar Piers could only have worked with Dagger. And not only that….there was no way they could have set the bomb themselves. I'll be there to see to that revelation. Until now….I must leave you…"

"But…wh-where're you going?" Beast Boy pointed.

"Where else?" the Messenger pulled out his wrist and fingered a huge, black watch on his hand. He winked. "Home."

He tapped his watch.

FLASH!!!!

In a puff of green light, he was gone.

The rest of us murmured.

"Uhm….okay…," Tempest blinked. He looked to Robin. "Where did he fart off to?"

Robin took a deep breath, his arms hanging by his side. "It doesn't matter…."

"But…Robin….," Starfire placed a hand on his shoulder. "His words were most ominous, were they not?"

"Perhaps…," the Boy Wonder muttered. "That remains to be seen." He gently removed Starfire's hand from his shoulder and looked at half of us. "Noir. Cyborg. with me. We need to do some homework."

"Well, allright."

"Yes, Robin."

"……….."

The three of us trailed after the caped leader into the elevator.

The rest stood behind, confuzzled.

"Okay…..now for the showstopper…," Tempest blinked his dark eyes and looked over to Beast Boy. "Who in Neptune's name is Dagger?"

"Dude….where would you be without the rest of us?"

"I'm just saying—Help me out here!!"

"Dagger is….Dagger is……..sheesh….I-I hardly even know who he is myself!!"

"Then what's the big deal?!?!"

"The big deal is that the last time we ever heard about Dagger, all five of us were being strapped to torture chairs by Slade."

"Oh. How quaint."

"Right on, dude. This doesn't feel good. This doesn't feel good at all…"

Starfire stared at the closed doors of the elevator once they were gone. Her eyes were large and round. A name hung off her lips as she nervously wrung her amber hands together.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"No match. Not a single one. Not for his face. Not for his voice. Not even for his brain wave signatures….," Cyborg muttered as he entered a final, futile keystroke and ended the massive search at the computer console. The android Titan exhaled through his nose and said: "Either he was born completely out of the world's available data banks…or he simply isn't from this Earth."

The four of us stood in Cyborg's laboratory. Robin, Raven, Cyborg, and myself. The four top ranking Titans.

Heh……

"How about identity theft? Physical alteration?" Robin asked.

"Man….," Cyborg swiveled and shrugged at the Boy Wonder. "Can't we just accept him for what he looks to be? A teleporting, ambiguous, do-gooder?"

"I don't take things like this easily….do I, Raven?"

"You sure don't, Robin…."

"He's telling us a lot—granted—and he's making a show of it. But at the same time, he's holding back a lot. He's remaining ambiguous, mysterious, vague….for some reason. And where you keep people in the unknown…you retain power."

"Or perhaps you just retain caution?" Cyborg gestured. "Look, dawg, this guy's trying to do something good for us. Noir trusts him, why can't we?"

"……," Robin looked at me.

I stared back at him.

"Can we really trust him, Noir?" the Boy Wonder asked. His eyemasks were solid and set straight. "Is his word for real?"

I took a deep breath. I nodded.

"Are you sure?"

"……," I glanced at Raven.

So did the other two boys.

She inhaled and crossed her arms. "I……sensed honesty."

"He was telling the truth?"

"At least….he believes he's telling us the truth," Raven droned. She waved a dainty hand: "Whatever the case, he's not trying to deceive us."

"And all of that gibberish about dimension hopping…what's with that?" Cyborg asked.

"How am I to know anything of that?"

"Just askin', Rae…"

A beat.

She rubbed her temples. "Mmmm……he is…..very calm."

"Calm?" Robin asked.

"As if he's in constant meditation no matter where he is. He's of more sound mind than….th-than just about anyone I've witnessed in this world yet. It almost reminds me of the acolytes of Azarath. Or random Buddhists from the City streets in summer. But there's an even greater clarity of mind. As if he has no worries whatsoever….just…..just…."

"Just what, Raven?"

"Just answers, Cyborg…," she exhaled…a bit of calm washing over her too. "Simple…crystal clean….a-answers…."

I folded my flesh and metal hands together. I took a deep breath and lowered my eyes.

I can still hear the sound……even if just a whisper……

"And I can sense that he has a connection to Noir."

My black optics reopened.

Raven had her arms folded and was motioning with her blue head: "I feel a touch of his meditation inside of him. Somewhat different from the sort of calmness Noir himself practices with his sword. Something that Noir didn't have when he joined us."

"He says that he helped you shortly before Slade died…," Robin said to me. "How exactly did he help you?"

I glanced down at the floor. A beat. I hand-signed.

Cyborg interpreted: "'The Messenger didn't so much as help me as he….gave me hope'."

Robin's eyebrow raised. "Hope?"

I nodded. A sweetly weak smile. I gestured.

Cyborg read: "'He gave me the hope to go against Slade and the Third Apprentice. And in a few tight places, he pointed me in the right direction. Gave me the right warnings.'"

Raven glanced at my left arm. "Did he….give you all of your strategies when you were Wyldecarde?"

I shivered a bit. I hand-signed.

Cyborg spoke: "'No…he only pushed. I chose the slopes I slid down.'"

"I can't help but wonder, Noir…," Robin leaned against a wall with his arms crossed. "Why it is that you never felt inclined to tell us about him before?"

I bit my lip. My metal fingers flexed.

I didn't have to 'say' anything…and yet, Cyborg looked from me to Robin and said: "I think…I-I think Noir needed distance from us as much as we needed it from him during the whole…..m-misunderstanding with Wyldecarde."

Robin swallowed.

Raven glanced into a dark corner somewhere.

I ran a hand through my long hair and hand-signed: "'Do we trust the Messenger or not?'"

"I really don't know, Noir…..I just really don't know….," Robin said. "I already don't like his public speaking skills."

"Why? Cuz he's cheerful?" Cyborg smirked.

Robin glared. He went on unabated: "I feel like this is a much unneeded distraction at a much needy time. Let's pretend like this never happened. And if the Messenger's words are so important, than they'll make themselves known just as he wants them too. Until then…"

"RECESS!!!" Cyborg cheered.

Raven shook her head and hung her face in her head. "Dear Zeus…."

"Heheheheh….," Cyborg clapped her shoulder. "It's little outbursts like that which make the world go round, right cutie?"

"Remind me to fry your circuits later."

"No."

Raven shuffled out of the room.

Robin slowly followed.

I whistled.

Robin stopped. "……" He turned and looked at me.

"……," I smiled. I held a thumb's up.

"…….," he smiled slightly. He did a glove's thumb's up and sighed. "We all have our secret ways of doing things…of helping others….."

"………."

"I of all people should learn to embrace anonymity," Robin murmured. "Look at you, Mister. Already months ahead of me."

I folded my arms with a smile.

"Whatever…," Robin groaned and walked out into the hallway. "Decker should be calling soon, so…."

He was gone.

I gazed out the doorway.

"Hey…"

I turned and looked at Cyborg.

He stood up from the computer chair. "I just wanna say that….I-I'm relieved."

I raised an eyebrow. "????"

"I'm relieved that…that somebody was….y-ya know…," he rubbed the human part of his head and gazed at the laboratory floor. "……somebody was actually your 'friend'….back when we kicked you out of the Tower and all…"

"…………," I took a deep breath. I wanted to assure him, but I remembered that guys don't hug. So I simply shrugged, smiled, saluted, and left.

And everything was fine.

Everything….was fine……

……

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

I went into my room and signed on to the Internet as soon as I could.

InzeUltima: Hey :D Whats up

I let out a happy sigh.

I typed.

SpSquirrel: Hey gorgeous

InzeUltima: Whoah. 'Gorgeous' is it now?

SpSquirrel: Last time I checked.

InzeUltima: Been buying any new posters of me lately?

SpSquirrel: Haven't the time. I've been busy chatting with you online.

InzeUltima: :P Har Har

SpSquirrel: What else do you want from me?

InzeUltima: info

SpSquirrel: Info?

InzeUltima: Yeah. Howd it go kicking that Viper guys butt?

SpSquirrel: I wasn't there. Starfire and Robin were.

InzeUltima: Bah. Theyre always hogging all the glory.

SpSquirrel: Not necessarily. When the City was blacked out by a solid sphere of obsidian, it was Raven who saved the day.

InzeUltima: Sure it was


SpSquirrel: ….what is that supposed to mean?


InzeUltima: Have I told u how jealous I am

SpSquirrel: Enlighten me again.

InzeUltima: Practically every week ur bashing in the head of some nasty villain after another. Man, I wish I could join you guys

SpSquirrel: You could, you know. Robin would absolutely go ballistic over having a super-someone on our team.

InzeUltima: Yeah, but…….

SpSquirrel: Another Month, Another Clark Kent…huh?

InzeUltima: Yeah….

SpSquirrel: I wonder what it must feel like.

InzeUltima: What?

SpSquirrel: Guardians knowing that you're a superhero and the strain of having to deal with them.

InzeUltima: Yeah…well a third of my 'guardians' just happens to be a superhero himself. I mean wuts his excuse? I wonder if I should be envious of you.

SpSquirrel: How so?

InzeUltima: Not having parents around to tell you what to do. That's a superpower all in itself. I know that might sound cruel

SpSquirrel: I'm not an orphan, Kara.

InzeUltima: ……ur not?

I took a deep breath.

I smiled weakly and typed.

SpSquirrel: No.

InzeUltima: But….But….

SpSquirrel: I just don't know where my family is.

InzeUltima: You don't?

I shook my head.

SpSquirrel: I haven't seen them in a long time.

InzeUltima: Since you joined the Titans?

SpSquirrel: Further ago than that. Before I trained in the Spectrum.

InzeUltima: Spectrum??

SpSquirrel: Long story. I just haven't seen them in ages. And they aren't where they used to be.

InzeUltima: Dear Kela…that's horrible. Don't you ever wonder what happened to them? Where they went and all?

SpSquirrel: All the time, Kara. I think of them often.

InzeUltima: But what if something happened to them?

I shrugged.

I typed.

SpSquirrel: I've prepared myself for the best and the worst.

InzeUltima: That must take a lot of strength.

SpSquirrel: Who knows what is good and who knows what is bad? Besides….

I smiled.

SpSquirrel: I have a family of my own now. I've known that for a long time.

InzeUltima: The Titans showed you that, huh? : )

SpSquirrel: Not just them. I had help.

InzeUltima: Oh? From who?

I took a deep breath, gazing off with naked black eyes across my dark interior.

SpSquirrel: An old friend.

InzeUltima: Someone I'm supposed to know?

SpSquirrel: Yes and no. What matters is that he's back.

InzeUltima: He is?

SpSquirrel: Yeah. And as always…he brings both tidings of goodness and warnings of terror.

InzeUltima: Eww….sounds sticky.

SpSquirrel: Tell me about it.

InzeUltima: Well, is his return a good thing?

I leaned my head to the side.

I scratched my chin.

A beat…..

I typed.

SpSquirrel: A good thing.

InzeUltima: Then what are you worried about?


SpSquirrel: It's not so much a worry as it is a feeling.

InzeUltima: What sort of feeling, Jordan?

SpSquirrel: Well…as much as he has blessed me in the past, he only appeared during times of great trials and tribulation…and great duress.

InzeUltima: Like….?

SpSquirrel: He was there for me when I was Wyldecarde. I was never truly alone when I had to fight the Titans for their lives. I had him to lean on. And Renee and Daniel too. But I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for him. His guiding spirit. His commitment…..to the ideas of friendship.

InzeUltima: That sounds really endearing, Jordan.

SpSquirrel: But….

InzeUltima: But what?

I took a shuddering breath.

I swallowed a lump down my throat and typed.

SpSquirrel: I don't like the feeling I'm getting now that he's here again. I feel like things are coming full circle once. It's haunting…like a shiver up my spine. I'm almost too scared to find out what he's prophesying now.

InzeUltima: Awwww….I wish I was there for you, Jordan. Really THERE.

I shut my eyes and blindly typed.

SpSquirrel: I wish you were here too, Kara.

Silence.

Then…

The electronic chiming sound of an instant message.

I opened my eyes, and my face twisted.

Because….

XraverGreen: a/s/l?

"………..," I blinkd.

XraverGreen: Sorry, tender moment I'm interrupting?

I typed into the new window.

SpSquirrel: How do you do that?

XraverGreen: I dunno, I think I was born with a sort of empathy homing missile brain that chooses the appropriate time to interrupt people and annoy the ever-living-fluff out of them.

SpSquirrel: No, I mean I thought you had left the Tower….th-this dimension….whatever. How are you typing to me?

XraverGreen: Something I like to call a transreality signal extender.

SpSquirrel: ?????


XraverGreen: Not something being offered by Brighthouse Services this Christmas, I assure you of that.

SpSquirrel: Er…..

XraverGreen: You got a moment, Noir?

SpSquirrel: Sure…hang on a sec.

I flipped to the other window.

I winced as I forced myself to type:

SpSquirrel: brb

InzeUltima: Uh…..sure….

I cleared my throat.

I went back to the Messenger's communiqué.

I typed.

SpSquirrel: What did you want to discuss?

XraverGreen: Ah, so now it's called 'discussion' between you and I. I wanted to pay you respect like in the old days, Noir. One on one. Just you and me. Like it used to be.

SpSquirrel: Should I dim the lights or something?

XraverGreen: lol! Look at you! I'd say I was having an effect on you finally if I hadn't witnessed that green elf friend of yours first hand.

SpSquirrel: Robin doesn't like your style of message-giving.

XraverGreen: And Siamese Twins come in pairs. Kudos to you, Einstein. That Bird Boy was going to chop off my head with that frown of his any second, I swear to Ptolemy!

SpSquirrel: It figures. Why did you choose now of all times to reveal yourself to the rest of the Titans, much less just me?

XraverGreen: Must you really ask?

SpSquirrel: Yes, I must.

XraverGreen: Ah, there's the Noir I remember. To the point as always. Ahem. Well, you're no longer the angsty, lone swordsman that you used to be, Noir.

SpSquirrel: You don't say…

XraverGreen: Oh, but I do. You've fused yourself in with your closest friends and allies. The Titans. Your family.

SpSquirrel: You couldn't tell me what was going on and leave the other Titans out because it would be like informing a part of a grand whole, huh?

XraverGreen: Eureka! He displaces water in the tub!

SpSquirrel: You're wyrd.

XraverGreen: Thanks. I mean to say, you're right on the money. Washingtons, Lincolns, and Hamiltons aside…the spotlight's no longer just on you.

SpSquirrel: When was it ever?

XraverGreen: So modest, I swear. Know this, Noir. I talked directly to the one person I absolutely needed to today.

SpSquirrel: ……

XraverGreen: Go on. Guess. It shouldn't even take a grade schooler a minute to yank the paste out of his nose and say it.

SpSquirrel: Robin.

XraverGreen: Bingo. A good guess would have been Raven. But nobody paints her Aviary red. She prefers black. God, they all do. It's wonderful…

SpSquirrel: Messenger, what do you know about Red Aviary? Honestly?

XraverGreen: Exactly what I told Robin, you, and the Titans, Noir. I don't know who or what it is. I only know that it's a real threat. I'm still trying to figure stuff out. Things are throwing me for a loop this time. But I do the best I can. A Messenger is like a press agent. He has to stay ahead of the story. And when it bleeds—boy oh boy—does it sure as Hell read.

SpSquirrel: You've got some competition this time.

XraverGreen: You don't say? : )

SpSquirrel: Ever heard of a hacker named 'J'?

XraverGreen: Ah…..'J'

I leaned forward.

Black eyes blinking.

My fingers moved across the keyboard.

SpSquirrel: So you've heard of him?


XraverGreen: I've been watching him, Noir. Him and those two fantasy girls he hangs out with. Nice job with the handcuffs and Jinx, I might add. I always found that to be a good excuse to anchor myself with a teenage girl.

I frowned.

SpSquirrel: What about 'J', though?

XraverGreen: Sheesh, prude. Ahem. What do I think about 'J'? I think everybody wants to be a part of the act nowadays. He's a great copy cat, if I may say so myself. But honestly, he's never heard about me. And he doesn't care either. He's after Red Aviary for many of the same reasons that I am…and at the same time for a whole slew of other reasons.

SpSquirrel: Like…..

XraverGreen: It's all in the blood, Noir. By principal, if I was of this universe I would fight against Red Aviary with as much fervor that I could. As a matter of fact, I do fight with the most fervor that I can muster. And so does 'J'. But his reasons are much more excusable. Me? I'm just a nerdy Asian kid with interstellar boy scout dreams.

SpSquirrel: You sound like you know more than you're telling me about 'J'.

XraverGreen: And you sound like you've hung around with Robin one too many months.

SpSquirrel: What's wrong with that?

XraverGreen: Hehehehe…nothing. Nothing, my friend. Just understand that 'J' has secrets. Many of which I have personally unearthed. And believe-you-me…if they were worth you and the other Titans knowing, I would gladly tell you in a heartbeat. Especially if it meant stopping Dagger.

SpSquirrel: What if I was merely curious? I've known 'J' before. Longer than you, before.

XraverGreen: Yes…but as intimately?

SpSquirrel: …..ew.

XraverGreen: I'll try to push my jealousy away and tell you this. Anonymity is a precious thing…and worthy of respect. Isn't that right, Noir? Something Robin would agree with?

SpSquirrel: ……..

XraverGreen: Do you have a fetish for ellipses, or is your keyboard just sticky?

SpSquirrel: I really wish this whole fiasco would resolve itself. I don't want to see my friends or anything in jeopardy.

XraverGreen: Noir, who am I to tell you that the world we live in is something we must fight into submission?

SpSquirrel: True…true…

XraverGreen: I just hope that—after working with me TWICE in a lifetime—you learn to believe in happy endings.

SpSquirrel: Is it all Full Circle, Messenger?

XraverGreen: Hmmm?

SpSquirrel: Is it all going Full Circle again? Is this just another blasted repetition?

There was a pause.

The Messenger seemed to formulate his digital thoughts.

Then.

A chime.

And…

XraverGreen: It is always….always, Full Circle, Noir.

I took a deep breath.

XraverGreen: Deep down, you know this to be true. Don't you?

My metal fingers rubbed against each other.

A slight shiver.

Red Aviary……

SpSquirrel: Yes.

XraverGreen: Stick close to your friends, Noir. To your 'family'. They'll need you and you'll need them.

SpSquirrel: About Dagger, Messenger…

XraverGreen: Yeah?

SpSquirrel: Are we to kill him this time? To break the cycle? I mean, truly kill him?

A pause.

XraverGreen: In the coming storm, Noir….the key to survival won't be by killing but instead by simply living through it. Do you understand?

I nodded.

SpSquirrel: I think so.

XraverGreen: Good. I must let you be and charge up my watch.

SpSquirrel: What for?

XraverGreen: Why…the first prophecy's about to come true, of course. : )

SpSquirrel: Okay…..

XraverGreen: Oh…and nice catch, by the way.

SpSquirrel: Hmm?

XraverGreen: SuperSkirtGirl. I'm not one for blondes…but….intergalactic, orphan space chicks….yum.

I made a face. Blinking.

XraverGreen: Yeah, so…anyways. Nice catch.

He logged off.

I typed into the instant message window.

SpSquirrel: Actually, she kinda sorta caught me.

'Nobody can hear you'

I rolled my eyes.

I closed the window.

I opened the other one.

I typed.

SpSquirrel: I'm back.

InzeUltima: Hehehe : ) I missed you.

I smiled.

SpSquirrel: Say…know any good sites with posters?

InzeUltima: Posters?

SpSquirrel: Of you.

A beat.

InzeUltima: Uhm…..there was this one site that Jimmy Olsen showed me….but….

I chuckled.

SpSquirrel: But what?

InzeUltima: I don't think Robin would approve of those drawings. Lol

SpSquirrel: Robin wears tights.

InzeUltima: Wuts that supposed to mean?

SpSquirrel: ……not sure yet.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"And so…like…I figure that the superhero world is having quite a shortage on Asian kids," Beast Boy smirked. "It'd be righteous to have a teleporting, rave dancing, Japanese dude walk into the Tower and help us like some sort of white wizard from a rejected rpg. What do you think his superpowers are, Robin?"

The Boy Wonder grumbled from the computer seat of the Main Room. "We still haven't determined if he's a superhero or not."

"Come on! You saw him 'port out of here like nobody's business! Okay, so maybe he doesn't have superpowers. But he could be like you, man! A badass with lots of tech!"

Robin actually chuckled. "The Messenger….is not badass."

Beast Boy folded his arms and smirked. "We still haven't determined if he's badass or not….right?"

"Look….Beast Boy…," Robin swiveled around. "I've seen trusting people before. They charm you at face value…but they hold multiple, alternative motives underneath their skin just waiting to take advantage of the situation in their favor."

"Dude…," the green elf gestured. "Not everyone's from Gotham City! Dissociative Personality disorder is as rampant here as you can toss it!"

"Pfft…," Robin faced the computer again. "You know nothing about Gotham City."

"I've been there before, man!"

"Oh yeah?? With who? Your Space Trek, 2022 crew?"

"Nuh uh! The Doom Patrol!"

"……..," Robin's typing came to a standstill. "……." He swiveled around again, a curious twist to his eyemask. "You were with the Doom Patrol??"

Beast Boy smiled proudly. He slowly, silently nodded.

"…….," Robin blinked under his mask. "When were you with the Doom Patrol?"

"Does it really matter?"

"I certainly never knew of it…," Robin pointed. "I thought the Titans was your first team…."

"I never told you….," Beast Boy leaned forward, "…because I signed a Confidentiality Agreement like the rest of us!"

"……….."

"You used to put perfect trust in secret characters, Robin," Beast Boy said. "But…like….that's changed now. Maybe you changed. Something happened to you…."

"Whatever…," Robin faced the computer stubbornly again.

"Could it perhaps have been Sta—"

"I've got work to do…," Robin grumbled. "Lots of research."

"Hehehehe!" Beast Boy giggled. "You should take it easy on this Messenger guy, Robin. Lord knows the rest of us are!"

"Now that's not tr—!!"

A police signal sounded across the computer console.

Both boys jumped.

A beat.

"Ahem….," Robin leaned forward and pulled a switch on the intercom. "Titans' Tower. Commissioner Decker?"

"No, Robin. The Commissioner is preoccupied. This is the Lieutenant."

"Glad to hear from you," Robin folded his gloved hands together. "How can we be of assistance?"

"Actually…I wanted to deliver a message."

"Hey…fancy that," Beast Boy chuckled and pointed. "Two messengers in one day—"

WHUMP!!! Robin elbowed him.

"Owie!"

"Ahem…go on, Lieutenant."

"……A-Allright. Well, we just finished the first round of interrogations with the suspects at the Zanzibar Piers."

A slight chill ran through the two Titans.

Robin gulped. He leaned forward: "A-And….?"

"We're convinced that they told us everything that can honestly tell us. It didn't take them very long to give in to our questioning. It turns out…their bodies are still weak, and so are their will."

"Their will? Weak? What do you mean?"

"Leftover effects of Dragonflare. Like the sort Dagger used to proliferate……"

"………"

"They gave in way too easily. Great detail too. And though we can connect the evidence found at the Piers' warehouse to the Prison, we can't—"

"Lemme guess….it's inherently impossible for any of the suspects to have been at the Omega Wing."

"……wh-why yes, Robin. How did you……I……I-I guess it was an obvious result……"

"Yeah….quite obvious…," Robin murmured as he gazed off dazedly through the windows.

"Decker would like to meet with the Titans as soon as possible to discuss the evidence found at the warehouse. With the possibility of the direct involvement of the suspects in the Omega Wing bombing ruled out, we now have a narrower search ahead of us and the Commissioner would be glad for any of the input that the Titans can put in."

"Uh…th-thanks, Lieutenant. I'll…uhm……"

"Robin??"

"We'll be there PDQ. Titan's Tower out."

Click.

The intercom was switched out.

"Dude…." Beast Boy said.

Robin nodded. "I know…."

"And so what now? Now that you know?" A new voice. Freshly familiar. Robin saw his green visage first in the inner reflection of the windows. He turned and looked over Beast Boy's shoulders.

"????" the changeling turned too.

The Messenger was leaning against the sofa. Smiling. "Well? Gonna hear me out or what?"

"……," Robin stared.

"We…uhm…..need to c-consult…," Beast Boy rambled. "And uhm….get second opinions….preferably Raven's…and m-maybe…."

Robin stood up and walked over to the Messenger. "Yes. We'll use your help."

Beast Boy did a double-take.

"…..," the Messenger slowly smiled. "Good."

Robin took a deep breath, gloved fists clenched. "Where do you think we should start…..Messenger?"

"Where else? The most irascible wielder of authority in this Town. What's his name…What's his name…..Walker?"

"Decker!"

"Ah right. That hothead. Ahem….so…kiddies….what are we waiting for?"