Hi all! An on time update despite the unfinished next chapter and lingering exhaustion from my recent illness (although I am feeling much better thank goodness.)

In this chapter the new villain is revealed, although I'm fairly certain that ALL of you are pretty sure of who it is.

Thank you to Redscotch444 who went through each and every chapter from the beginning and reviewed them all! And thank you to those who have been there from the beginning, as well as all of the new faces. Also followers, and favorites, were all much appreciated.

Guest reviews:

Kim: Ah that sadness that comes with missing an update. . . but all is well, and hey, you got to read two chapters instead of just one! I'm glad you liked the chapter and the presence of Tim :)

Disclaimer: Unfortunately the stars are not aligned in such a way that I am able to purchase Young Justice. Dang it.

Chapter 10

Unknown place,

Unknown date, unknown time

The gray, goldenrod, and black armor hung in his closet, as always. The faint light in the room was just soft enough that it didn't bother him, and he sat sharping his sword and waiting for the soft voice that he knew was soon to come.

He had to admit, out of all the jobs he'd taken, this one was likely to be his favorite. The thought of actually having an apprentice to train gave him a sense of fierce satisfaction. His sources had also said that the boy had formerly been trained by Batman. Although Batman was his enemy, he couldn't help but admire the hero, and he was glad that he wouldn't have to put the boy through the first stages of training, since he would at least know the basics.

Talia had warned him that the boy had some personality quirks however, such as a fierce desire not to kill. Well, if he had his way, that would change quite soon.

Blüdhaven

May 14, 16:00 EDT

Dick stopped doing push ups and got to his feet, stretching his arm. His shoulder was feeling much better with just one night of actually getting sleep, and now that he was free to exercise, he could do the stretching exercises that Batman had taught him, to strengthen his muscles once more.

He was relieved that Black Spider was no longer going to be his teacher, but all the same, he wasn't sure that he wanted to meet his new one. Black Spider had spent their entire trip back to Talia's warehouse taunting Dick about what was to come. It was worrying to think that there would soon be another assassin training him to kill, a skill which had no desire to refine, or even learn. At all.

He'd checked his suit over and over again to see what he could use to help him escape, and had been dismayed at all of the security measures that Talia had taken to make sure that he wouldn't escape. The shock collar, which had been completely integrated with the fabric of the suit, was only the least of it. There were pockets of technology that he recognized as the latest torture devices invented and sold on the black market. Talia was pulling no stops.

It was rather difficult to imagine Bruce finding him and being unable to speak to him, or to leave with him. In fact, the thought made him shudder. He was fairly certain at this point that the moment he saw his father he would be unable to stop himself from flinging himself at Bruce, and never letting go.

Of course, his suit, his haircut, and his contacts bothered him more than he could say. Would anyone even recognize him with the suit on? Maybe a little, but not very quickly, and not very well. If his mask were ever gotten off, then yes, he would be recognized, because brown eyes would not stop Bruce from recognizing him, and neither would a haircut.

In fact, he doubted that Jason or Wally would have any problem recognizing him, even with the disguised voice that had been melded with the suit. It made him sound totally different, so different that he'd thought someone else was speaking when he'd heard it for the first time.

It was hard to imagine what message he could send to them that would work, but maybe . . .

All of a sudden it was like a lightbulb went off in his head. Oh, he knew what to do now. He couldn't stop the wide grin that spread over his face. If he ever came face to face with any of his old friends, he knew something that would instantly allow them to recognize him.

"Richard, your new teacher will be along shortly," Talia said smoothly over the speaker system she'd installed. "If I were you, I would prepare myself. He does not take kindly to those make him wait."

Immediately Dick nodded. "I'll be ready," he said stiffly.

Whoever his new teacher was, he hoped that he was less cruel than Black Spider.

Mount Justice

May 14, 16:00 EDT

They were going to be in a lot of trouble.

Or at least that was what M'gann kept whispering to Artemis, but Roy had already tuned her out long ago. They all knew that Batman had put a tracking system on the zetatubes, and on all the entrances and exits, as well as keeping track of the energy levels within the cave, so as not to be surprised by any unexpected visitors.

However, the one thing that was not tracked, was the water entrance. Only Kaldur, Orrin, Tula, and Garth used it, and only rarely, so Batman obviously didn't expect them to escape through it. Of course, due to lack of sleep, worry, and the amount of hours he was working every day, it was no wonder that he hadn't considered M'gann's bioship alongside the sea exit.

Roy was still mentally congratulating Jason and Wally, who'd been thinking up a plan ever since Timmy broke in the day before. Even while Black Canaray had been leading them through training manuevers, Wally had been incredibly distracted, and when Jason had got back, the speedster had pulled the younger boy aside, and the two of them disappeared for a few hours.

Roy still wasn't actually sure where they'd gone, but they'd come up with this plan, so he wasn't going to complain. "Where are we going again?" he asked, relaxing slightly as the Bioship sank beneath the water.

Wally and Jason exchanged glances, their faces unreadable behind their masks. "We're going to Blüdhaven," Jason finally said. He almost sounded like he'd just made that decision, and Wally seemed slightly surprised.

"Blüdhaven? Isn't that right next to Gotham?" Rocket asked, sounding confused. "Why would Talia take him there?"

"Because Batman hasn't been looking close to Gotham," Jason said. "Usually whenever someone kidnaps any of us, they take us as far from Gotham as possible, even a great number of the villains who have captured Robin would usually take away from the city, in hopes that Batman won't find them. With Talia, you would think that she might take Robin to wherever Ra's al Ghul's current lair is, but I think that she did something different."

"So we're going to Blüdhaven, which is like Gotham, only worse," Artemis said blankly. "Oh boy, I hope you know what you're getting us into."

Jason glared at her, and everyone fell into a tense silence as M'gann steered the bioship up out of the water.

Roy gripped his bow as a fierce anger ran through him. They wouldn't search for the real Roy Harper, and now it seemed as though they almost didn't want to search for Robin. Robin was like his little brother, and he was missing! Then he realized that if they hadn't wanted to look for Robin, they wouldn't be here. Even the newer members of the Team were there, looking determined, and a little bit angry. Besides, the thought of Wally not wanting to look for Robin was entirely irrational.

Tula and Garth were sitting near Kaldur, the three Atlantians whispering softly. Tula's eyes were flashing, and Kaldur was smiling fiercely.

Troia was clenching and unclenching her hands, while Zatanna and Rocket kept exchanging tense glances. Zatanna and Dick had recently broken up, Roy remembered, but they were still good friends from what Wally told him.

How that was possible, Roy didn't even know, but he shook his head and let it go. Dick was a good kid, and a better friend, so he could see why someone wouldn't want to lose him as a friend just because a relationship wasn't working out between them.

Jason, having ignored M'gann's suggestion that he take Robin's usual seat, was pacing, and typing something out on his wrist computer, fingers flying. He, out of all of them, probably had the most reason to want them to succeed in finding Dick.

Wally and Roy might have known him longer, but Jason was Dick's brother.

Artemis was checking her arrows, making sure that each and every one would fly true if they had to fight. Her movements were sharp and precise, and she seemed angry.

Of course, she always seemed angry.

Not nearly as angry as Roy though. His hands were clenched into fists, and he wondered how much longer it would be before he could punch someone. Roy sighed, and settled down to wait.

"Approaching Blüdhaven," M'gann said, a few hours later. She'd been very quiet since her protests had gone unheeded, but she seemed as determined as the rest of the were.

"Good," Connor growled. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he glared through the windshield as they approached a shadowy city.

It was certainly good, Roy agreed. Especially if Robin was actually in Blüdhaven.

Unknown place

May 14, 16:35 EDT

He sat upright as Talia's signal rang on his communicator. "Yes?" he asked, forcing himself to be respectful.

"We're ready now," she said coolly. "Are you ready for your student Mr. Wilson?"

"Of course," he said smoothly. "Although that is not the name I should be called by."

"What should you be called then?" Talia asked, her voice decidedly cool. The assassin smirked. He had no love for the daughter of Rha's al Ghul, and he knew that the feeling was reciprocated.

"Deathstroke."

Dun dun dun! no one is surprised, but on we go! This should be so much fun! *rubs hands together and cackles evilly*

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