Chapter Two: Tim

Now that we moved underground, we are building up our forces, so I am going to get the titans. I already modified each of their suits with stealth tech in case we ever had a situation like this. Right now I am riding back to get them. Jason is getting his Outlaws to our hideout, an old base of his. It's huge, and he has tech down there to suit our purposes. How we never knew about it I don't know, and why he abandoned it is also in question, but no one has decided to ask any of these questions; mainly because there are a whole lot more important questions to ask Jason that will never be asked. This is Jason. No one really expects an answer for any of the questions they ask him. Dick and I especially. Dick has been very quiet over the past two days. Damian's absence is hitting him hard. It's hitting me too. It would be an understatement to say I haven't been myself lately. Taking orders without question. Taking orders at all, for that matter. What is happening to me. Bruce always said it was my biggest problem. And of course, I didn't listen to him. It's not like I didn't know it was true, I just didn't want to admit it. But I am way overdue to be able to make my own decisions. Do what I want with my life. I don't want to live in Bruce Wayne's shadow anymore. Or Batman's. I'm not the junior who everyone pushes around anymore. My name is Tim Drake. I am Red Robin.

When I got back to the boat after my three day leave, everything seemed normal. Bart and Kiran weren't there, probably on a late night dinner. Superboy was gone, no surprise there, he doesn't usually stick around, but when we need him, he is the first one there. Cassie is in her room reading, but Miguel wasn't in his. I asked Cassie where he was, and she said "He is in the lounge on the phone, though I wouldn't disturb him unless absolutely necessary, something happened back in Mexico. Not sure what, but I think it's big." "Oh, okay. That's fine." I replied. "Is something wrong?" She asked. "No, oh, yeah, I mean... I'll explain tonight. I'm getting the whole team together. I need your help with something."

I sent a message through all of their com links to meet in the lounge that night. They all responded and said they would be there. The have no idea how big this is. They probably think this is about some mission. It is so much more than that. They have no idea.

We all met in the lounge at ten that night. Miguel looked worried, so I asked why. "Back home... A friend... A rather close one... He got in an accident... He is in ICU..." He trailed off. "I'm sorry Miguel... But I do have something to say. You all know I used to be The Dark Knight's partner, Robin. Well, I became Red Robin, and someone else was chosen to wear the mask. Now The Dark Knight doesn't... Doesn't have a partner... Anymore..." "Did Robin more on? Become a hero, not a sidekick?" Bart asked. "No... Robins gone..." "Oh Red..." Cassie said, jumping up and hugging me when I turned away. "No, that's not why I'm here." I said, pulling away. "I'm here because we are stopping this criminal organization before it takes any more lives. Robin is one of the many slain by them, and we take life for granted until we lose it ourselves. Now we fight back. We are taking out each of the outposts and leaders of this entangled web of crime simultaneously silently. I need to take you all back to Gotham toni-" The alarm sounded. "What is it?" Kiran asked, and I ran to the battle room to find out. Bart zoomed in after me, quickly followed by everyone else. "It looks like something going on downtown, one street is almost completely destroyed. We need to go. Now."

We got in our costumes quickly and got downtown as fast as we could. There was a boy and a girl in costume, teenagers it seemed, the girl telekinetically throwing pieces of road at three robbers. The boy was punching two other robbers into the ground. The girl looked up, then started sprinting the other direction. The boy flew that direction, trying to get away from us it seemed. I ran after the girl, along with Bunker and Kid Flash while Kiran, Superboy, and Wonder girl flew after the boy. Bart ran in front of her, trying to tell her we didn't want to hurt her, but she kept running. Bunker made a psionic brick wall in front of her, but she just climbed over it. I gave up and ran after her myself. I tackled her, then asked "Who are you? Why were you running from us?" She turned so her face wasn't in the pavement and almost whispered "Please... Please don't take us back..." I handcuffed her and got her up. Superboy, Wonder girl, and Solstice flew down, Cassie's lariat around the boy's hands behind his back. "Do any of you get the feeling that we've seen these kids before?" Cassie asked. "Yeah, and I think I can tell you where from," I said. "They're from harvest." The girl turned away and the boy looked down. We started leading them away , then the girl said "No. No!" "Don't worry, this is all for show. We just need to get you out of here. Otherwise they might take you back," I whispered in her ear. There were cops surrounding us on all sides, so as we were about to go through their circle, one of them said "Give us those two," He pointed to the teens from harvest, "And we'll let you go." "Hmm... Let me think about that... No." Cassie replied, then took off into the night sky, quickly followed by Superboy, the boy, Solstice carrying Kid Flash, then Bunker and the girl on Psionic bricks. "Thanks, but no thanks," I told the officer before taking off. The officer shot two bullets at Wonder girl, just to be deflected by her war bracelets, then four at me, all deflected by my wings. More shots were fired at Superboy just to be caught and dropped to the ground, all officers standing in shock.

We flew back to the ship and I took the handcuffs off the girl and Wonder girl took her lariat off the boy. "So, back to my first question, who are you?" I asked. "I'm Camo," the girl said, "And I'm Titan." "I'm sorry about earlier, the torn up road and all, and also about running away from you. I thought you were working for harvest," Camo apologized. "So, Titan, I notice you can fly and have super human strength, any other powers?" Superboy asked. "Yes, I am kryptonian, just as you, Superman." Superboy's eyes shot open, but the rest of his face remained expressionless. "I'm not Superman." Superboy muttered under his breath. "Oh, sorry... I just assumed with the S that-" Superboy stopped him mid sentence. "I am Superboy, Superman's... Clone..." Connor said, seeming angry and disappointed. "So, Camo, do you have any powers?" Cassie asked, quickly changing the subject. "Yes, but it would be easier to show you then tell you. Well, I can put my hand on something," She put her hand on the glass table in front of her, "breath in," she took a deep breath, and it looked like her skin turned to glass. "Tada," she said. "I can also do this." She held her arm out, then lifted it slightly. The table hovered over the ground for a few seconds, and then Camo gently put it back down. "These powers are cool and all, but there is a perk. I have the strength and weakness of any material I become, so if anyone was to punch me right now, I would shatter and die. If I was wood, I could burn, I think you get the idea." Camo concluded her demonstration, and I motioned for the other titans to follow me. "Wait here," I told Camo and Titan, and they nodded. We walked out onto the deck and Cassie said "Let 'em join. What harm could it do? They are both teens, around 16 or 17, and from what I've seen from them, they're alright." "Uh, Cassie, are you okay? You are usually a lot more critical of people," I said. "Well, this isn't usually," She responded, putting her hand on my shoulder. "You said it yourself, we're going to need all the help we can get." I looked at the others to see they're reactions, and all their expressions said "She has a point," all except for Superboy. His face was still expressionless, as it had been ever since he saw Titan. I pretended not to notice, because like it or not, they will be very useful. We walked back in to see Titan staring blankly at the news on our flat screen and Camo tossing a rock into the air repeatedly. They both turned, waiting for an answer. "Welcome to the team," Cassie congratulated them. Camo smiled, Titan nodded. "For now, the basic things you need to know for the next two days are that tomorrow we are going to Gotham to attempt to shut down a large criminal organization, so we are meeting up with a few... Friends of mind, then simultaneously taking out the leaders so the whole thing will fall apart. We work as a team, not individuals. Watch each other's backs. Make informed on-the-spot decision, and our priority is civilian lives, not our own. They are the future. We are the protectors of the future. When it comes down to your life or someone else's, choose wisely. For now, get some sleep. It's late. Camo, you can sleep in the guest bedroom, and Titan, if it's alright with you, you can sleep on the couch down here," I told them. "Fine by me," Titan responded. I got Titan some blankets, went to my room and did my homework on Talia.

I eventually got up and opened the window, staring out into the quiet rolls of the ocean, so calm, peaceful, free. Not a care in the world. The center of attention, the very life of the world, yet it's still calm, never changing, always quiet. The silvery surface of the sea, glistening with moonlight is the most calming thing I have every seen. Whenever I look at it, it reminds me who I am, what I'm fighting for. I don't know why, I don't know how, it just brings on a sensation that makes me want to fight, fight so that this ocean will never be stained red with blood. I fight for peace.

I realized a few minutes later that Camo was standing on the deck, staring off into the nothingness of the night sky, leaning with her arms on the rail. Cassie stepped through the deck door moments later and walked up to Camo. She took off her mask and looked at Cassie. "Why did you guys accept me so fast? You don't even know me. All you know is I was at harvest, but maybe I deserved to die there. Maybe I'm safer there than I am here," she turned back to the ocean. "I was reluctant to come here in the first place because I didn't want to change my life, and I didn't care less if teen meta-humans were being captured. I guess Red got to me, because, well, here I am, and now, this is my family. I thought that I would be able to hide from N.O.W.H.E.R.E., the people who are taking us, but they know who I am, and they know who you are too," Cassie explained. "So they know who all of you are?" Camo asked. "Well yes, but I don't think they've figured out who Red is yet, but it's only a matter of time." Right. Like that's going to happen. "All I know is I feel a lot safer here than I did before, well, before meaning after I found N.O.W.H.E.R.E. was after me," Cassie said passionately. "No, that's not what I mean. I'm afraid they might find my parents and do something to them..." I ran to my laptop, and scanned Camo's face. It recognized her as Becca Phillips, and her parents live in the mountains in Maine. Becca was home schooled, had her powers since she was 4, and her brother died serving in the Air Force five years ago. The hero Camo appeared three years ago when she was 14. She went missing 2 years ago for 4 months, and I can't fine where or why. The security camera in the lounge confirms Titan as a 16 year old boy who claims to be Kyle Kent. No records available for him before he was 10. So, both stories check out, may as well finish reading about Talia.

I closed my window and got back to my laptop to finish my research, and apparently Talia hasn't been in contact with Ra's in at least 6 months, which is surprising, because who would have thought Talia could come up with all the stuff she's been doing lately. Oh well, I'll just keep reading.

My eyes shot open when I heard a knock at my door. I probably fell asleep in the middle of my research last night. I deliriously staggered over to the door and turned the handle. "Come on mop head, breakfast in the kitchen," Cassie said, then turned and walked away. I nodded and wandered down the stairs. I ate breakfast, then announced "Ladies and Gentlemen, pack your bags, we leave in fifteen. Civilian clothing." "Yeah, like no one will notice a few flying teens," Cassie joked. "No one will," I replied, "I arranged for a car to take us." I got up, headed up to my room, threw my laptop and some clothes into a back pack and headed out to the deck. Becca was standing there, and her look said "I knew you were listening last night." "I understand." I said, "I won't jeopardize your parents, Becca." She didn't seem at all surprised that I knew who she was. "Thank you, its just... My brother..." "I know, and I'm sorry. Our rides here." Titan flew down in front of me and turned around. "This is your idea of a 'car'? Man, this is a limo!" He exclaimed. I smirked, then motioned for them to get in.

Everyone got in, the chauffeur put their bags in the back, and we drove back to Gotham.