Nightwing - Alternate Rebirth; These New Years Lost Chapter - INFINITY/RED

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This is the gallivanting Knights snippet continuation and the end of later, these new years are part one. If you know the Chosen and Roku's curse, if not? Read up on the past a bit. Or, read the Snippets and then go backwards from there. Here we go!

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Chapter 1: Gossip and Secrets

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Whispering co – workers was what he'd expected to return to work for; the average joe with a chiseled grin, the young man who'd been called to the principal's office.

No. He woke up to a cell about as long as his largest shared room in the man's new apartment – simply HANDED to the enemy, or…. were they allies? His boss never said anything about being a target of those...

Masked wing – men of an even greater plan.

"Great…" Dick shook his head, futuristic cuffs keeping him strapped to the seat he now sat in.

An interrogation, room. This was a classic whittling away of his very –

"Mr. Grayson."

Dick blinked up at what was a door lit too brightly to see past. A woman with short blonde hair stepped through it. Her gear was more soldier than secret agent. Dick looked her over, but the face never crossed him, so who was she?

"There was a mistake and I'd like to apologize for kidnapping a police officer?" Dick asked, being fairly sarcastic with his phrasing. "Why, thank you, kind stranger. I'd also appreciate if you'd tell me what's going on?"

She scoffed, walking closer and…. looking human enough.

"We have reason to request you from the precinct you work for, for a very important mission."

"That kook who grabbed me, he called me "Agent" before I passed out." Dick pursed his lips and spoke. "What is your M.O." Getting annoyed, he rattled his cuffs.

"I work for an organization that desperately wants you to work with them." She was telling a part of her truth, but for how long would that last. "That mask was a forced way the group Spyral remains out of the spotlight."

"I'm not a fan of sitting idly by." Sniffed the cop. "We wouldn't be a good match."

"And yet, we know about WHO you are; your Gotham side – kicking, and your future vigilante – ism." She smirked at him; arms crossed like this was her win already. No, way did they know as much as the Court!

"Are you going to blackmail me? Stop me from going home? I have nothing I can do for you, and I won't change my mind if you do anything to hurt them. My family right now –

"Yes, family is important to us as well." She sighed to the cop. "But if you do team up with us, this once, we'll let you keep your Bludhaven angle and your name – a plus, you'll do what Spyral needs all to stop the same syndicate. Your chief was very persuasive, Dick."

"He can be. The newest, isn't a bad watchdog." Dick told the agent. "She's got gossip already flying around the office that I'm here to steal her position." He joked.

"Maybe, you should work together." The woman thought, seeing an opportunity right in front of them.

"And lose my position as a conspirator?? No thanks, but I'm only in this for the promotion –

"A new post." She smiled. "That promotion was to end up this precinct's savior."

"No! It was to get a raise. What are –

"Did he tell you that right away? And a raise is usually with a new position anyway. This is it, Dick. You stay alive on our end as our eyes and ears, and you'll be handsomely compensated."

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"This is no reward." Dick sighed. "You are, basically asking me to betray someone's trust." He frowned at the hopeful eyes of the agent that had no name.

"Agent 8." She noticed he was hoping to ask, yet choking on the timing.

"Officer –

"Agent 37." She put up a palm to indicate the time they had remaining to debate Dick's future.

Thrust upon his shoulders so suddenly.

"No, way." Dick laughed and shook his head. "I'm not going to go along –

"If you want that big money and what you were promised from not the chief, but us, you'll try to be compliant until you CAN go." She walked away to the exit and left him there, until the man was released from his cuffs. They clanked and Dick attempted to bolt.

Had it been that easy.

His head rang with bels going off. Screaming as he clutched it, knowing this was all wrong.

She stood over him, ready to explain the majority of the reason, yet wouldn't be so long winded in doing so.

"You'll stay and finish your job here, then you can go back to your city and be left with a choice; become a part time agent for Spyral and dig up info on both of our enemies, or be executed and sent back to your family in a big, wooden casket. Your choice."

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Die? Was Roku going to let them? He shouldn't think about using his cell either to call…

Who could he?? An implant was in his head?? He was in his apartment on lockdown by a crazy secret organization; handed the code name, Agent 37. Why? Why not someone more qualified??

Why nothing at all…

He sat on his mattress and groaned into his hands, miserably.

"I can't even tell Kori that I won't be home for Ava's fourth birthday." He squeezed his eyes shut and slumped over, exhausted from trying to make sense of what was about to happen.

Getting a buzz from his coat, the lights in the dark were a text and a sign that things would be getting far worse as the months raged on.

~ If you want to get an extra step ahead of the group, there is a way. ~

The next day at sun – up, Dick read the message and immediately got suspicious.

Who? Was Spyral going to erase him for…

Dick gulped down a tall glass of O.J and let it burn the back of his throat. He took his toast and ripped it with much gusto after the wince became too much. Getting reflux before work would make him look bad, and unhealthy. He was already hogging down frozen pizzas as a comfort food almost every night since he'd tried to keep his money in check on day one in Blud. Ava, Kori and the twins needed that much…so, he could go cheap a couple of months, and still stay fit…

Could he?

His mental health had taken a mighty blow to the skull, but still. Still, that "Agent 8" boggled him as he headed off for work, and with so many questions in mind as he took the quickest route to getting there on time.

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They looked pretty curious; the men and women in the precinct, as Dick kept his head down.

Before they called him to the principal's office as he'd feared they would.

"In my office, now, Officer Grayson."

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Maggie Sawyer was the woman he'd talked to upon entering for the first time, and it certainly wouldn't be his very last. He sat in a chair with extra lumbar support, forcing his ego to stay in better shape if it cared for this city.

"We got a call from San Diego about what you're here to do for us…" She rounded the desk and finally sat down to eye this sorry excuse for a home town hero.

"In your neck of the woods, you had the Titans." She began. "In our Haven, we either have a Bat drop by to look for Black Mask, or no one at all."

He nodded, knowing the situation better than anyone in the precinct should. Gathering a crew or training future heroes in this dirty, half dead city would take time. Nightwing still needed too check in on Kori and his kids once in a while. Could he treat this project LIKE his kid, too?

"I came to help you put a stop to Blockbuster." Dick said. "I am actually very close to Nightwing, so I can vouch that you have my word he's on our side."

"Your side." Maggie corrected. "HE was Robin with the Batman in Gotham city. You can only promise all of us that he won't abandon Blud like so many already did. Having to give up before the fight…" She put a hand to her temples. "If Nightwing is willing to make this his official stomping ground, then I'll tell your boss to give you a little extra for living expenses."

"Wait, not to be rude, Chief…but am I going to be living here for…."

"A while, and until we take down Blockbuster, no one is defecting that early on, not on my watch. Not if I've got anything to say about it." She told the cop with her eyes as worried as he was about losing anyone else on the force by tomorrow. Or the next day. Or the day after that.

"I understand. Nightwing is loyal to everyone, but I'm sure he has had it with not having a roost in a long time. I'll tell him tonight."

She sighed. "You'd better let me know by tomorrow morning if you're both in or out. If not, you'll be here and Blockbuster won't let any of us leave this city in one piece."

"I can't stand by while he's out there, chief." Dick nodded, hearing every cry for help and letting it wash over his consciousness in a bucketful. "Count on me to be on your winning team to reduce as much destruction in this city as can be – no, what will be, possible."

He smiled at her and was let go for the time he had. Long enough to get in touch with the texting buddy on his other line.

~ If you want to give me details on them, I have to know who I'm dealing with. Otherwise, no deal. ~ Dick pressed send, seeing it automatically with an answer right back in only moments since he'd touched the lit screen.

~ Very well. You knew me as a hero, and you'll die knowing that I have a price to repay. Otherwise, here is a downloadable and untraceable file from their computer - from me to you, so please be careful. ~

Dick opened the encrypted file and saw what his mission would be and the location, even before it had come to him from this oh - so secret agency.

~ Thanks. ~ He posted and left it at that. "That's all I needed, anyway."

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Who is Dick's guardian angel?? You can find out from the last chapter of Court of Owls family of the cowl series. Do read on to find out more and yes, there is little mention of Roku's corruption in this is it's still not time. Stay curious!