Author's Note: Nothing I write is every really abandoned… merely delayed. XD

Disclaimer: Teen Titans and Young Justice are the intellectual property of DC Comics, Cartoon Network, and Warner Bros.

Earth-16: Go!

Chapter 8: A School for Villains

Mount Justice, Happy Harbor

February 11th 2011, 16:09 EST

For the team, it'd been a rather easy week. Despite having four people struck from the mission roster, they still had a full strength squad ready to deploy. Already Kaldur had led Squad Alpha on a number of missions ranging from truly mundane security missions to a field reconnaissance that had ended with them fighting their way out of a League of Shadows training camp in South America. Slowly Alpha was meshing into a well-honed instrument.

While Squad Alpha was gaining valuable field experience, Squad Beta remained benched. Continued training was done cautiously, and Black Canary had been relatively easy on those that had suffered exposure. One of the first symptoms of radiation poisoning was a drop in white blood cell production, making the lot of them more vulnerable to infection.

The decision to keep Starfire off the mission roster had been made by Batman, and Kaldur suspected it was in part to ensure there wasn't any antagonism about the issue with the three humans (or at least half-humans) that were sure to be suffering. Raven and Cyborg were both uneasy, as neither of them knew how their bodies would react to the situation. Raven's half-demon ancestry might have given her some sort of resistance, or it might not, and Cyborg had been worried that some of his components that had been irradiated would become a radioactive source themselves.

Without any doubt, it was Robin who was the worst off. While the Boy Wonder wasn't one to complain, all the team noticed that he seemed to be getting tired faster and did their best to help him during the training sessions. Black Canary was always cautious in sparing and practice with the boy.

The news media had picked up on something being wrong with Robin, as they noted the boy rarely seemed to be patrolling and only appeared in public with his mentor for orchestrated events. Rumors swarmed the net and air waves about the boy having been injured or fallen ill, but none of the commentators had connected the change with the escape from Arkham Asylum or the radiation cleanup crew, aside apparently for Lois Lane, whom Superman managed to convince not to air the story.

This left Kaldur with three team members from the benched squad with little to do beside chill out. Kid Flash had started doing independent patrols to ease his boredom, and Rocket had quietly blamed her absence for the condition of her team mates, noting that her force field would have been perfect for containing Plasmus. Artemis simply ramped up bantering with Wally and seemed to redouble her focus on school studies.

Kaldur glanced at the Zeta-Tube as it activated revealing Robin, clad in his usual civvies walking in. He let out a long sigh as he walked over to Kaldur. "What are you working on?"

"Trying to keep the rest of Squad Beta busy," Kal said before tapping the holo-display. "Hal still isn't back from his meeting with the Guardians."

"Okay, that second bit... that was clearly changing the subject. What do you want to do to keep Wally and the rest busy?" Robin asked. "My body might be sick, but my mind works just fine... at least until this really kicks in." He sat down in a huff.

Kaldur nodded and tapped a display. "I managed to get Lucas Carr authorized to teach Raven and Beast Boy. Starfire is a bit of a question mark, I'm not sure whether she would like that or not."

"Did you ask her?" Robin said before leaning back in his chair. "I know she's too naive and obvious to add to a school roster and well... Raven probably doesn't want to deal with crowds of kids her age as an empath... And Beast Boy is impossible to hide as no matter what form he takes, he's still green, except for when he creates clothes."

"I will ask her if she would be willing to join their classes," Kaldur said.

"Now, what is it you're really thinking?" Robin asked.

Kal glared at the fourteen year old for a moment before rubbing his face. "Am I that transparent?"

"Come on, I've been working with Batman for years... I've got more experience to draw from." Robin chuckled slightly. "So... what are you thinking?"

"We've been getting reports that one of the newer college-preparatory high schools on the west coast is being funded by Queen Bee and Lex Luthor. I was thinking maybe we should send some people to check it out," Kal admitted as he tapped the holographic display and an image of a modern looking building appeared.

"Nice looking place," Robin said. "Modern architecture... Glass windows, I guess Lex Luthor doesn't like the old school look we got at Gotham Academy."

"Perhaps not, the school is in downtown Jump City, I asked Cyborg about it, but he said he didn't know anyone that went there," Kaldur said. "Looking through the information I've been able to gather, it appears to be a legitimate High School."

"It could be a front... what's its name?" Robin said.

"The Hierarchy Academy for Extraordinary Young People," Kaldur said.

Robin frowned and leaned forward to tap the keyboard, "You know what also starts with the word Hierarchy and is backed by Queen Bee?"

Kaldur stared at him for a moment and arched an eyebrow. "I am apparently missing something."

"The Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination," Robin explained. "One of the League of Shadow's subcontractors..."

"The HIVE, now it seems we really do have a mission then," Kaldur said.

At that moment Starfire floated into the room, humming some alien tune. She came to a stop beside them, floating upside down as if it was the most natural thing in the world for her. Perhaps it was. M'gann and the other heroes that Kaldur had met never showed the same level of affinity for flight that Starfire did.

She seemed to brighten on seeing them and immediately fluttered over beside Robin. "Friend Robin, how glorious that you have returned, I hope that you are feeling well enough to participate in the annual giving of chalk hearts that M'gann has been speaking of with such excitement."

"Chalk hearts?" Robin asked.

"Yes, she has been speaking of these strange candy hearts for many days. When I asked Wally about them, he mentioned they were chalk." Starfire said before producing a small candy and rolling it between her fingers curiously. "I do not understand how their shape came to represent the human pulmonary organ… Or does it represent the metaphorical heart meaning the center of one's affections?"

Robin chuckled. "It's the second definition Star, in this case. As for why that shape, I don't know."

"Okay, since you're here now... I suppose I should ask you." Kaldur glanced up at Starfire as she glanced curiously at him. "We've arranged for Beast Boy and Raven to have tutoring here. I was wondering if you would wish to join them."

"I thought I was already being taught... Black Canary makes a most formidable tutor," Starfire said.

Robin smirked. "He doesn't mean combat training, he means other subjects: reading, writing, math, and science."

Starfire's long hair reached the floor as she pursed her lips and arched her back looking vaguely like a girl lying upside down on an invisible bed. "I am uncertain if I would learn anything of value in your science, but it would be fascinating to learn your human thoughts on the universe. I can already do the reading and the writing of all the languages you speak, Robin... and I am well versed in mathematics."

"We can do some placement tests and tailor it to your needs, Starfire," Kal said with a faint smile. "I don't doubt you're smart... I'm sure Robin was a little disappointed to find out he's now only smarter than half the team."

Behind the shades, Kal was sure Robin had rolled his eyes at that remark. "Starfire, I know you like to learn things... and it has to be boring being stuck here most of the time... Why don't you try it and see?"

"I believe you are right, Friend Robin, as it is most boring here at times and I am not proficient with the video games like Cyborg or Beast Boy. I have begun studying earth culture, as the computer has a most extensive selection of film and video entertainment," Starfire giggled. "The Saturday morning cartoons are most amusing, and impossible. Even Beast Boy cannot become flat from being struck by an anvil."

"How do you know?" Robin asked.

Starfire giggled again before grinning at him. "He did the trying it."

Robin burst into laughter and tapped the holographic controls. "When? I want to see the security feed!"

"It was three of your days ago." Starfire answered.

As Robin started skimming through the video logs, Kaldur started tapping his control panel in thought. "So… Should we send Artemis, Rocket, or Kid Flash for this mission?"

"Send all three, two of them as backup in case it goes bad, and one infiltrator," Robin suggested with a shrug.

"Artemis should be the infiltrator I think, she's had experience dealing with the darker side of the world," Kaldur decided. "Kid Flash and Rocket will be nearby in civilian clothes, just in case she needs help or gets caught."

"Sounds like a plan," Robin said before he suddenly let out a whoop. "Found it!" As he watched the video he burst into laughter. "Really, Star, where did you find an anvil?"

"It was in the armory," Starfire said with a shrug. "Perhaps some hero used to utilize them as a weapon."

"I doubt it, those things are heavy," Robin said with a laugh. "It was probably to work on some of the equipment. It's meant to help with blacksmithing."

"What does this smithing of blackness have to do with weaponry?" Starfire asked.

"Well, umm... blacksmithing is umm, forging metal into weapons by heating it and beating it into shape. Basically a blacksmith hits the heated metal over the anvil," Robin said.

"Oh, is that why the phrase 'hammer and anvil' is common?"

Robin nodded. "I think so."

There was a rush of wind before Kid Flash skidded to a stop in the middle of the room and grinned. "Say Robin, you figure out anything for Zatanna? Valentine's day is coming up."

"Uhh... Have you thought of something for Artemis?" Robin snapped back before Starfire glanced between them.

"What is this Day of Valentines?" Starfire asked. "Is it related to the annual giving of chalk hearts?"

Robin groaned and Kal couldn't help but smile.

Hierarchy Academy, Jump City

February 14th 2011, PST 18:41 PST

Artemis scowled as she stepped through the doors alongside the old crone of a woman that was her apparent tour guide. Slipping her into the school was supposed to be a rather simple affair, basically presenting them with a transcript and asking for a tour. Of course, Artemis had to be disguised, but Zatanna had done that with a 'simple' spell that turned her blond hair black and her eyes a dark green.

So far, everything seemed to be completely normal and in order. The school's interior was filled with modern classrooms equipped with the most advanced equipment that was available, ranging from holographic displays for teachers to interactive projectors for the discussion of various technical, scientific, and historical events. Everything was spotlessly clean, and from the few faculty she'd met it was clear that they'd hired some top end professors for the school.

Everything seemed like a perfectly ordinary, if very technical and expensive college-prep school. Down to the uniforms with a crest and the small coffee shop on campus that was clearly overpriced. No wonder the small coffee shop across the street that Rocket and Wally had picked out as their hangout while she was on the tour seemed so crowded.

Wally West was bored, and rather disappointed. It was supposed to be the first Valentine's Day that he'd be celebrating with Artemis. Instead, he was on a mission with her in danger, and hanging out with Raquel in a coffee shop waiting for either, A.) Artemis to get into trouble or, B.) Absolutely nothing to happen.

Through the audio hookup, Wally listened to the usual spiel about the services and classes that the Academy provided while he sipped at a coffee. It was decafé on Raquel's and Artemis's insistence. Across from him Raquel was giving him 'the look'. He'd been the target of it from so many girls at this point that Wally decided that it must be something inherit in the female species. Even that twelve year old imp, Raven, had mastered it to a level where she could reduce Beast Boy to an apologetic mess with just a glare.

In this case, Wally decided the look must be because of either one of two things. One, she was irritated at how everyone in the shop apparently assumed that Wally and she were there as a couple, or... Two, she was irritated because she'd had plans for Valentine's Day that'd been scuttled by the mission.

Or... it was both.

Looking at Raquel's eyes Wally flinched and slipped out of his seat. "Jeeze, you should have just snapped at Aqua— Kal I mean..."

"Takin' it out on you, is a hell of a lot more entertainin' then watchin' Kal glower at me all day. So what you doin'?" Raquel asked as Wally glanced around the room.

"Looking for a way to prove I'm not here as your boyfriend." Wally said before giving her a grin and heading toward a table crowded with books and featuring a dark skinned Indian girl wearing a purple knit cap by herself. She'd dyed the tips of her bangs a bright pink. Interesting... He thought as he glanced at the titles of the books scattered around the table and the notebook she was writing in.

Her name was Felicity Sen-Shreya, not that anyone called her by that name. To most people she was Flick. To the Justice League she was known by another name. Only a few people could connect the Indian girl to the pale faced, pink-haired teen that was known as Jinx. There were a few clues, like how her eyes flashed a pink when she was angry, or how she'd dyed the tips of her bangs a bright pink, but an East Indian complexion derailed most thoughts that she could be Jinx, as her skin was rather dark.

Magic could do many things, and while most of her power came through the manipulation of luck, one of the first things she'd mastered doing outside that field was, for lack of a better term, glamor charms. A snap of her fingers and Felicity would disappear, her clothes morphing from street wear to the black witch's outfit which amused her. Her skin turned pale, her hair turned pink, and her eyes turned pink with a cat like slit pupil.

At this moment though, Jinx was busy with something that irritated her... homework.

It wasn't something that she had looked forward to doing on Valentine's Day, not that any of her fellow students from the academy were worth hanging out with. See-More was annoying; Kyd Wykkyd spent all his time with Angel, and the others... Well, Gizmo was par for the course. It was easy climbing to the top of the class with that lot being her competition. Of course, that was the 'secret class' and Jinx wanted to go beyond just being the best villain.

She wanted to get top marks in her normal classes as well. So, spread out over the table, were books on quantum mechanics, chance, and probability waves. Jinx had found that mixing her luck powers with an understanding of science had interesting results. Luck was everywhere, forming the underlying bedrock to the entire universe. With the right bit of luck applied with her powers, she could disintegrate steel, teleport across the globe, or topple a building.

It was just a bit of bad luck at work, and the bad part was all relative.

There was the scrape of a chair being pulled out across from her and Jinx glanced up as a redhead teen clad in rather everyday clothes dropped into the seat in front of her looking a bit bored. Then he spoke up and Jinx felt a wave of irritation roll of her.

"Hey, what's a cute girl like you doing alone on Valentine's Day?" The redhead asked with a cocky smile.

Jinx rolled her eyes, great... This was the last thing she needed. "Homework."

"Really... seems like pretty advanced stuff you're working on," The kid said as he picked up one of the books and arched an eyebrow. "Brian Greene's Fabric of the Universe... Are you in college already or something?"

Jinx snickered, "Just a prep school, I'm surprised you recognized it." She plucked the book from his hand and set it down. "What do you want?"

"Hey, hey, hey... I just want to talk," He said as he held up his hands in a placating gesture. "The name's Wally, what's yours?"

"Felicity, though I curse my mother every day for that... Most people call me Flick," Jinx said as she turned back toward her school work.

"I have a friend that goes by a nickname like that... So, you're in a college prep school?" Wally asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, Hierarchy, it's tough. I have to work hard to stay ahead."

"Obviously," Wally said before glancing at her paper. "Umm... You've got the wrong calculation there. You forgot the difference in time variable."

Jinx froze and narrowed her eyes at Wally before glancing back at her paper. "Damn it, how'd you spot that?"

"My uncle's a scientist, guess it runs in the family," Wally said with a grin.

Artemis sighed as she shut the door behind her and glanced around the bathroom. The old woman was still there, waiting just outside the door like some babysitter or guard dog. That alone was suspicious, and Artemis knew that if she wanted to actually confirm whether or not the place was being used by the H.I.V.E. that she'd have to give the woman the slip.

She stared at the mirror for a moment before splashing her face with water and tapping the small commlink she wore hidden as an ear ring. "Raquel, anything to report?"

"Hell no... Besides KF chattin' up some Indian chick. Is somethin' wrong Artemis? Me and KF can be over in a giffy if need be..."

"Not yet, but this place is giving me the creeps... and they have this old bat following me around. She looks like McGonagall, but meaner..." Artemis heard Raquel snicker at that.

"You don't say... maybe they've got Snape hidden away somewhere— So are you planning to give the woman the slip?"

"Yeah, just standby," Artemis said quietly as she glanced up at an air vent. "Keep a watch out."

"Roger that."

Artemis unscrewed the vent cover then shimmied up it. After a few minutes she began to crawl through the ductwork, mentally trying to keep track of her location relative to the bathroom and the other rooms she'd seen. There'd been one section of the school the woman had directed her away from, and a glance at the door told her that it required some sort of access code to pass by.

She made her way toward the section, careful not to make too much noise from the flexing ductwork as she crawled along. After about ten minutes she came to a vent cover that looked to be just inside the security section. Gingerly she started to unscrew the vent cover, after a moment it toppled to the ground and she pulled herself through the duct. Dropping into a crouch she glanced around the room, noting the security door behind her.

She headed the opposite direction as she kept Raquel up on her progress. "I'm in, looks like there's at least something in this place they're trying to hide."

"Hell, it could just be some lab, you know," Raquel suggested.

Artemis rolled her eyes. "Maybe, but we're supposed to check this place out."

She crouched beside the door at the end of the hall and slowly pulled it open. As the door opened she felt her jaw drop in shock. There, just inside stood a pair of rather dumb looking figures. Each wore a red T-shirt with a black division sign emblazoned in the middle of a white circle and a set of rather ratty looking jeans. They were facing away from the door, their arms crossed over their chest, muttering to each other.

"I can't believe it Billy. We've done an' got guard duty on Valentine's Day."

"I know, don't you think we got places to be, Billy? Girls to do and stuff to steal?"

"I do Billy."

Artemis rubbed her temple at their continuing exchange and sighed, "Great, morons..."

The Headmistress glowered as she stood waiting beside the door. Irritated she glanced at her watch and scowled before turning to the bathroom door. She knocked once before pushing it open and glancing around the room, then she froze as she caught sight of the vent cover lying in the middle of the floor. Instantly she pulled a comlink from her pocket.

"Intruder alert, secure the facility!"

Flick swore as her cell-phone rang. Glancing away from Wally she pulled it from her pocket and glanced at the ID. Her eyes widened as a text message appeared and she swore under her breath. "I've got to go..."

"What? Is it something I said?" Wally asked as Flick started to grab her books off the table. Then, cursing again under her breath she snapped her fingers.

Wally gaped as the books that littered the table leapt from their places and flew into her backpack. Before he could say a word she swung the backpack over her shoulder and scrambled for the door.

Artemis froze as the two morons that were guarding the door grabbed for a cell-phone in one of their pockets, arguing over whose it was. A moment later she heard one of them stammer.

"Secure the facility, she says? I think she wants us to check the rooms inside, Billy!"

"But ain't we supposed to be guardin' this door?"

"I think you're right Billy. Just means we'll need help."

"Now you're thinking Billy."

Just as Artemis was thinking about slipping away to hide, the two guards suddenly became four, each of them dividing into a copy. Unfortunately, the two new copies were facing her, their eyes locked on her crouched figure.

"BILLY IT'S ONE OF DEM INTRUDERS!"

Artemis swore before launching herself forward. As the two that had been guarding the door spun to face her, she grabbed their heads and clobbered them together. The two Billy clones toppled to the ground clearly knocked out as the two new ones swung fists toward her. She tumbled out of the line of their attacks and swore under her breath.

"Raquel, mission compromised!" She snapped.

"You hurt Billy!" One of the Billy clones said. Then he divided again, as his partner cracked. "Now we're gonna hurt you."

"Damn it." Artemis stammered before the clones charged her.

Raquel grimaced as she heard the sound of fighting through her earpiece and surged out of her seat. She grabbed Wally by the arm and yanked him toward the door.

"What th—"

"Artemis is fightin', Wally. We need to get there and help her out!" Raquel snapped before activating her inertia belt. As she did, Wally's eyes widened in sudden understanding and he suddenly surged into action, slipping from her grasp and shooting toward the Hierarchy Academy, shedding clothes as he went. By the time he'd gotten to the doors, he'd stripped down to the bright gold of the Kid Flash costume he wore underneath. At the same time Raquel shot into the air and rocketed after him, leaving a trail of ionized energy behind her.

As she headed for the door, Raquel activated her wrist comm. "Mount Justice, mission compromised. Definitely villainous activity though!"

"Understood..." Kal's calm voice answered instantly. "I'll assemble a team to back you up."

"Roger." Raquel said as she shot through the doors and started heading down the hall.

Felicity frowned as she clambered up the stairs of the lobby and glanced around looking for a place to stash her bags when she heard the flutter of paper being torn from the top of a desk by a gust of wind. Frowning she spun around just in time to see a golden blur shoot past the desk and speed down the hallway out of sight.

Her eyes flashed pink and she swore under her breath before swinging the backpack off. With a snap of her fingers, the backpack disappeared as she teleported it back to her room. Then she snapped her fingers again.

The world shifted around her, the disorientation of a point to point teleport passing as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she opened them and saw the golden blur heading down the hall straight toward her. It slowed to a stop and she grimaced as the squeak of sneakers scuffing up the floor. Then she gaped.

Kid Flash stood before her, his eyes wide with surprise as he saw her, but what was more was that she recognized him. Instantly her eyes flashed pink as she saw him gape slightly at her as she snapped her fingers. Instantly the energy of her chaos magic flooded over her, tingling against her skin as it powdered it a white and her hair turned a shocking pink. The simple jeans and t-shirt she'd worn morphed into the witches outfit and at that moment Flash's eyes bugged out.

"FLASH!" She snapped before sending a wave of pink energy shooting toward him.

"WHOA!" Flash stammered as he flung himself against the wall, just barely escaping the wave of crackling pink magic. He then sped toward her, running along the wall before another stream of chaos magic turned the wall into dust and sent him toppling forward. The squeal of nomex rubbing against linoleum filled the air as he slid along the floor for a good ten feet before coming to a stop at her feet. He looked up at her, a dazed expression on his face. "Whoops..."

The crackle of an energy discharge drew Jinx's attention and she looked up from Flash just in time to see a solid green bolt of energy shoot toward her. It struck her in the chest and threw her back down the hall. As she was flung through the air, Jinx tumbled, tucking into a roll that redirected the force of hitting the floor somewhat before she tumbled back onto her feet and stumbled back against an emergency fire escape.

The door banged open and the fire alarm rang overhead just before the sprinkler heads activated, one after another.

Flash stumbled upright as a black woman clad in a jacket and skin tight black jeans floated into hallway just behind him. "Thanks Rocket." He murmured.

"Whose this, KF?" The woman, called Rocket Jinx gathered, asked Flash.

"Jinx," He said with a growl. "Rocket, go help Artemis, I'll handle her!"

"Kay..." Rocket said before shooting out of sight. When she was gone, KF set himself.

"So... is Felicity your real name?" KF asked.

"Is Wally yours?" Jinx asked before lifting her fingers up to the ready position.

Artemis lashed out with a kick that sent one of the Billies tumbling back, and knocking down a couple others. As more of them leapt toward her, she backed up and tumbled out the door. As she scrambled away from the mass of Billies that were charging toward her, howling and leaping like a bunch of rather crazed texans.

Suddenly a dull blue glowing shield flickered into existence, blocking the Billies in the doorway. As they started to bang against the clear wall, Artemis clambered to her feet and looked over her shoulder to see Rocket holding out her hand, containing the mass of Billies.

"Oh come on, this ain't fair. What do you think Billy?"

"Nah it ain't!" Another of the group said as he started banging on the wall. "Let us out!"

"Oh shut up!" Artemis growled. "What a bunch of whiny morons."

Suddenly the mass of people began to pulse and grow, and Rocket grimaced as the pressure against her inertial shield grew by the second. "You idiots, the more you struggle the stronger the shield gets!"

Jinx glared at Kid Flash as the fire suppression system drenched the two of them, her fingers ready to snap and send a wave of pink chaos rocketing toward the red haired teen. As the water ran down her brow she chewed her lip irritably.

"You really want to do this?" KF asked.

Jinx scowled. "This is my job!" Then she snapped her fingers.

The water from the fire suppression system suddenly turned into a wave as the chaos energy struck it and surged toward KF. The speedster leapt straight up and grabbed hold of one of the sprinklers before swinging himself over the wave and dropping into a crouch. Then he shot toward her. Jinx's eyes widened as the blur rushed her and she somersaulted back away from the charging speeder, but he was fast, faster than she was.

A punch slammed into her solar plexus after she spun through another somersault and she stumbled from the impact for a moment before glaring up at KF. "You..."

She leapt forward with a punch which Wally dodged before speeding behind her and kicking her in the rear. Jinx stumbled and fell, splashing into puddles being made from the sprinkler system and growled. She rolled over and snapped her fingers, aiming the chaotic energy up toward the hanging ceiling. As panels fell toward Flash he zipped out of the way and grinned.

"Fastest kid alive, Flick... You're not going to hit me!" KF taunted.

Jinx scowled and her eyes flicked around the hallway looking for some way to even the odds. She smiled as she spied a fire extinguisher hanging from a niche in the wall just beside Flash. With a smirk she snapped her fingers, sending the pink energy shooting into the fire extinguisher. KF dodged from the bolt and gaped as it struck the fire extinguisher.

"OH SHIT!"

It exploded sending a cloud of freezing cold co2 in all directions and tossing KF into the wall. Jinx grinned as she lowered her hands and stared at the dazed superhero. "What was that about never hitting you?"

"Not fair... bombs don't count." Wally muttered just as the wail of a police siren filled the air. Jinx froze, her disguise suddenly fading from her figure as she felt a spike of fear run through her. She glanced out the window as a column of police cars screamed toward the school, their lights flashing.

Then she glanced back at Flash and frowned. "Take care of yourself, Wally." Then with a snap of her fingers she teleported away.

Wally West frowned as Jinx disappeared with a pop, and slowly he stumbled upright. "Well damn, escaped again!"

Wayne Manor, Gotham

February 14th 2011, 23:19 EST

Barbara Gordon froze as a yelp filled the gymnasium and she saw Dick Grayson drop to the floor after missing the rings with a dull thud. She watched as the familiar figure of Alfred moved to the boy's side, his expression turning grave as he knelt down beside him. The old man ran a practice hand across Dick's brow and scowled. "Miss Gordon, there is a medical kit over by the wall, would you please retrieve it for me?"

Barbara scrambled to the case built into the wall and pulled out the bulky medical kit before running back to Alfred. She set it down beside him as Alfred wiped Dick's brow and shook his head.

"What happened?" A cool voice echoed through the gym and Barbara swallowed a lump in her throat.

"He missed the rings," Alfred stated blandly before glancing up at Bruce Wayne standing in the doorway. "But that may just be a symptom..."

"He shouldn't have been practicing them anyway... Not until his health improves." Bruce muttered before walking over and kneeling down beside them. Slowly he ran a hand over the boy's head.

"Fever obviously, Master Wayne—"

Dick blinked open his eyes and squinted up at the light. "Damn..."

"Dick, are you alright?" Bruce asked quietly.

"Dizzy..." Dick rasped before glancing at Barbara. "I screwed up, didn't I?"

"I told you not to practice on the rings until you'd recovered," Bruce said firmly before glancing at Alfred. "Concussion?"

"I do not believe so, Master Wayne," Alfred said.

Barbara glanced between the two adults. "Umm..."

"I'm sending you home, Barbara... Alfred will drive you back to Gordon's apartment." Bruce said before slowly slipping his arms under Dick and lifting him up. "I'll get him into bed... I expect we'll be in for a long night."

"What... what's wrong with him?" Barbara asked.

"You are aware that Master Grayson was exposed to radiation... Like a virus there is a delay between exposure and the worst of the symptoms. It seems that this latent period has finally passed. We'll take care of Master Grayson. Do not worry about that my dear." Alfred said before tapping her shoulder. "Come along... Master Wayne will watch him while I get you home."

Numbly Barbara nodded before heading toward the door, followed the by old butler.

About an hour after that, he'd grown nauseous and vomited into a bucket that Alfred had prepared, and then came a fever, swiftly followed by a headache. Beside the bed a monitor had been hooked up to his vitals and it was feeding Dick's respiration, heart rate, and oxygenation into the Bat-Computer.

He hadn't expected the delirium that followed a few hours later. Dick was muttering in his sleep, and the list of nightmares and terrors that spewed forth from the kid's mouth had

Bruce sighed as he sat beside the bed, watching the boy he'd brought up almost like a son.