The job wasn’t done. Even with Zucco in prison the job wasn’t done. He had a choice between an oath, a contract binding himself to a whole new life or to go back to the life he used to have at the circus, with his wounds healed and his scars closed but a missing piece remaining. It would’ve been easy to go back to that life.

Richard ‘Dick’ Grayson chose the hard path.

One oath later, here he was, following Bruce Wayne aka The Batman down into the depths of the Batcave. The shadows were duck, the floodlights off. Dick’s only guide was Bruce’s heavy footsteps and the flickering red candlelight, swaying in the wind. He heard the bats chattering above them, heard the water drip below them.

“Where are we going?” Dick asked.

“Patience.”

“But we’ve been walking down for ages,” Dick complained. “My legs are sore.”

“You chose this path,” Bruce said. “It’s time for you to see just what it entails.”

Dick sighed. He was getting tired of Bruce’s vague nonsense. It was always like this, Dick would ask a question and Bruce would answer it in a cryptic way, if he didn’t outright dismiss it. Spending 2 and a half years of nights in a cave like this must’ve made him a caveman. He wouldn’t be surprised if, later, the extent of their conversation was just primitive grunts and cave paintings.

Bruce stopped in what appeared to be a clearing.

“What are we doing here?” Dick asked. “Spelunking?”

Bruce didn’t answer. He cast a quick glance around the cave before snuffing out the candle.

“Hey what the…?” Dick asked. “What are we?”

Dick felt hands grab him and toss him to the floor.

“Focus,” Bruce said.

“You didn’t say we were fighting,” Dick said. He tried grabbing Bruce, but he disappeared.

Dick tensed. He looked around for Bruce, trying to heed his advice. Close off all your senses, your eyes can be fooled. There was a gust of wind, Dick lashed out at it only to be greeted by a neck chop.

“Was what happened with Zucco just luck?” Bruce asked. “Did I make a mistake taking you in?”

“That’s not fair,” Dick yelled out to the darkness. “I can’t fight in the dark!”

“Your enemies will never fight fair,” Bruce said. “Don’t expect me to do the same.”

There was a kick, Dick blocked. “Aha!” He swung his fist at where the kick came from only to be tripped over when Bruce swept across the floor with his other leg.

“Ow!”

It was at that moment the lights flashed on, Bruce loomed over Dick, his blue eyes like ice.

“It seems I made a mistake taking you in,” Bruce said. “I’ll call Haley’s Circus, tell them that their prodigal son wants to come back.”

Bruce turned around. “No! No, you can’t do that!” Dick yelled.

“Nothing’s stopping me,” Bruce said.

Dick screamed. He leapt at Bruce, Bruce just grabbed him and tossed him back to the floor.

“Is that it?” Bruce asked with a mocking smirk.

“NO!” Dick shouted. He dashed towards Bruce, his fist meeting Bruce’s arm. Bruce responded with a knee to his stomach. Dick cried out in pain but got up, kicking Bruce’s palms.

This was their first spar, it wouldn’t be their last. The only problem was no matter how hard Dick tried, Bruce always, always won. He hated that.

…

The explosion rocked the buildings, he heard glass shatter. Dick thought this was the end, that the ball of fire would eat him alive and

He was wrong.

Up in the sky, a black shadow emerged. A shadow with black wings and the colour of night. The shadow grew and grew spreading till the sky was as black as night, until it snuffed out the explosion as if it didn’t exist. Robin looked up to see a tiny speck in the sky, a girl. She looked like…

“Raven,” Robin said.

Once the shadow consumed the explosion, it returned, making its way back to Raven, almost disappearing into the folds of her cloak. She floated in the air for a short moment before plummeting to the ground.

Dick knew he wouldn’t be able to make it in time. Luckily, he didn’t have to. Beast Boy turned into a stork and grabbed her in mid-air. Good, he’d need answers.

Human Torch collapsed on the ground, his flames flickering out. Robin glided down. While most of the damage had been contained by whatever the heck Raven did, it still wasn’t enough. The blast created a giant hole in the centre of the road and when he looked down, he saw what looked like a lava pit and a melted-out remnant of the truck that Taskmaster stole dangling over the giant hole the blast created. Whatever was in it was dangerous and Robin did not want to know what would’ve happened if Raven hadn’t been here to stop it.

Back to the mission at hand, Robin had to see if Taskmaster was alive. He attached his Robin (don’t call it Bat)-Claw to a nearby girder that jutted out of the corpse of the flyover and swung down.

As he got down, Robin finally got a gist of the damage. It was like a warzone with burnt out remains of cars and… people. The explosion barely touched any of the buildings but did create a snowstorm of glass that littered the sidewalk. All around Robin, people were fleeing the blast-zone. Robin helped a few of them, in the distance sirens wailed.

He was on his way to help a girl who was shaking get up when…

There was a thunk. Robin looked to his side to see a heavy looking ‘Batarang’. It didn’t have the purposely designed sharp edges that were mainly used to disable and not kill, instead the edges were blunt, and it looked heavy. Robin knew they were used to kill.

Robin turned to see Taskmaster leaning against a half-destroyed car.

“Look at little Batboy, all grown up,” Taskmaster said. “Last time I saw you, you were this big.”

Taskmaster placed a hand by his hip.

“Granted I also broke a few of your bones but you know, memory,” Taskmaster said. “Can be really fuzzy sometimes.”

“Anthony,” Robin said. “How did you survive that?”

“Learned a few escape techniques from your dad,” Taskmaster said. “Came in handy.”

“What’s a mercenary like you doing in a backwater place like this?” Robin asked. “Teaching purse snatchers how to fight green gorillas? Thought you were better than that.”

Taskmaster laughed. “I forgot that it was your dad that was the serious one. Always had a mouth on you.”

Taskmaster leaned out from the car. “I got a message from the boss-man, looks like he needs me.”

“You’re not leaving until I get answers out of you,” Robin said, cracking his knuckles.

Robin heard the smirk in his voice. “Really kid? I almost put you in a body-bag last tim…”

Taskmaster didn’t have time to react as a Robin-Rang struck his hand. He ripped it off.

Robin grinned. “Like you said, I’ve grown.”

…

Beastboy grabbed the girl that was plummeting in his talons. He swooped down with her and landed on the now destroyed flyover, turning back into his lovable green self and holding her in his arms.

“Hey,” he said. “Are you alright or will I have to do some good old mouth to mouth?”

He noticed she had her hoodie on, he removed it and felt his heart leave his body.

She was gorgeous. Ashen skin with what looked like a red jewel in the middle and shoulder length hair that was the colour of ink. And to make things even better she looked to be around his age. Score. Now all he had to find out is why the only dreams he had of her were nightmares.

He was just about to ask her when…

Gunfire. Those HYDRA bastards started to fire. Was this the end?

“Is all you do, gawk?” Mr. Robot said, jumping in front of him and starting to fire his cannon.

“Thanks for the save,” Beastboy said. “Maybe there is a heart under all that metal.”

“You’re really testing my patience, vegetable,” Cyborg said. “You know that?”

Raven started to stir.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Hey are you okay?” Beastboy asked. “What you did was amazing. Don’t worry about.”

“Garfield,” Raven asked, her eyes barely open and realisation starting to flicker in her eyes.

“Okay now that’s…”

“Where’s Robin?” Raven asked. “I must find Robin.”

Garfield sighed, always the pretty boys. Why he’d have to be born green?

…

The glass shattering, and the fire. When she saw that horrendous burst of flame do its damage all she could think about was the smell of ashes and vague memories of a baby crying. A baby? Which baby?

She didn’t have time to think. The warrior with the steel arm was relentless. She felt a punch in her stomach that sent pain coursing through her body, and she cursed herself for getting distracted.

“You are remarkably powerful for a human,” Donna said. “Most humans crumble under the weight of an Amazonian’s punch but you…”

Donna punched him in the face, he barely flinched. Instead retaliating with an even stronger punch that she blocked with her gauntlets.

She was about to release the energy contained when the warrior started to retreat.

“Coward!” she yelled. “How dare you?!”

The warrior also ran as fast as an Amazonian, sprinting through the road as if he were Hermes himself. The warriors he led were also starting to follow suit, finding themselves in those curious metal chariots that these humans used. She tried to follow suit, but the warrior leapt from atop the bridge, landing atop one of those chariots.

Donna was about to follow when she turned around and saw the green shapeshifter alongside the person she’s been looking for.

Raven, the oracle that held all her answers.

…

“Oh, he managed to hit me with a Batarang,” Taskmaster said. “How scary.”

Robin used his claw to try and pull Taskmaster towards him, but Taskmaster grabbed it and tossed him on the floor. Robin rolled out of the way just as Taskmaster swung in the air, ready to knee him in the chest.

Robin kicked up and created some space between him and Taskmaster.

“You recognise that move, don’t you?” Taskmaster said. “One your daddy likes to use often, keeps you down before you get up.”

Taskmaster bent his right arm at a 90-degree angle and swung his cape over his left.

“Might find this one familiar too,” Taskmaster said.

That was the position Bruce took when he was on the defensive. It was to swing his cape to make himself look bigger than he actually was, it also confused enemies. The fast movement of the cape messed up their senses making them unsure of what move came next.

“Let’s see if you’re strong enough to beat your dad.” Taskmaster said.

Robin charged. Taskmaster swung his cape; Robin dodged the punch that followed. He followed it up with a kick, Robin did a small leap in the air and kicked him, his blows meeting Taskmaster’s bracers.

Robin knew what was about to come from those bracers. He ducked just as sharp spikes launched in the air. The same spikes Bruce had on the edge of his gauntlet. What followed next was going to be a swinging kick. It wasn’t. Robin got kneed in the stomach.

“Predictable,” Taskmaster said. “That’s why you’re just a sidekick.”

Robin got up, ready to retaliate but Taskmaster punched his jaw and landed another punch across his face.

“I was the one fighting Batman while you were recovering on a hospital bed,” Taskmaster said, breaking through Robin’s defences and meeting his gadgets with his own.

Robin tried to defend himself, but Taskmaster kicked him in the stomach. Robin didn’t have the energy to get back up.

“Face it,” Taskmaster said. “You’ll never be as good as the Batman.”

There was a beeping, Taskmaster got a call. “Looks like I have to go.”

Taskmaster looked at Robin lying on the floor, breathing heavily. “You’re not worth killing.”

When Taskmaster turned his back, Robin launched a grappling hook. “Batman can’t do this!”

Dick did a quadruple somersault, ready to finish it with a flurry of kicks. Taskmaster chuckled.

“Really?”

He launched himself in the air, meeting Robin in mid-air with a quadruple somersault of his own.

“No…”

Robin got hit, falling on the ground.

Taskmaster chuckled. “Face it, kid. Way, I see it, you’re just a cheap knockoff. You’ll never be as great as him.”

He walked off. Robin heard Taskmaster’s footsteps recede. He heard the screeching of tires and soon, Taskmaster was gone, leaving Dick alone on the floor, defeated.

…

I couldn’t beat him. I couldn’t beat Bruce.

Even if it was just a pale imitation, I couldn’t beat him. It pissed me off.

I always thought that his way of doing things was too inhuman, robotic. I always thought that by beating him I’d be able to finally prove my way was right.

Guess I was wrong, worst of all, I guess Bruce was right. His way of doing this is the right way and I wasn’t capable of proving him wrong.

…

“I sense him,” Raven said. “He’s down there. In pain.”

“Hey,” Victor said. “You don’t get to come here, do some crazy voodoo shit and not give us any answers?”

“I’m sorry Victor,” Raven said. “All will be explained in due time.”

There was a thud and Donna Troy appeared in front of her. “You are very young for an Oracle. Those dreams you’re…”

“How the hell do you know my name…?”

The Human Torch appeared and started joining in on the chorus of questions. Raven started to feel overwhelmed. All she wanted to do was find Richard, she didn’t have time to answer all their questions. No, it wasn’t time, she felt overwhelmed by all their mistrust and fear.

It was Garfield who took her side. “Hey guys, knock it off! She doesn’t look comfortable…”

Raven felt like she didn’t have enough air, by those questions, by their presence. She disappeared.

“Where the hell did she go?” Cyborg asked.

“She said she was looking for Robin,” Human Torch said. “Last I saw him, he was down there.”

“Don’t you guys think you’re being a little harsh on her?” Beast Boy asked. “We only just met and here you are bombarding her with questions.”

“The shapeshifter is right,” Donna said. “It is unfair of us to be so harsh to a mystic that young.”

“I don’t know about you guys,” Cyborg said. “But I got a computer on my head, and I don’t trust it. I trust a person even less when they can make that computer go wonky.”

The group made their way down the crater. They looked around until they found Raven kneeling over Robin, a white light glowing from her palm. They ran over to her and saw Robin out cold, bruises lining his face. The bruises started to disappear off his face and his eyes snapped open.

“What the…?” Robin touched his face. “What the heck did you do to me… I feel…”

“I’m an empath,” Raven said. “I’m capable of healing any and all wounds provided I…”

The bruises briefly appeared across Raven’s face before disappearing.

“I’ve seen some crazy things,” Human Torch said. “But that’s stretching the definition.”

“Just what exactly are you, Raven?” Robin asked.

“I…”

It was at that moment a helicopter started to rev. A spotlight shined across them, armoured trucks surrounded them and within a few seconds they were surrounded by S.T.A.R Labs security forces before they could even move.

A blonde man appeared in between all the security members dressed in a beige suit with a green shirt and grey tie.

“Adrian Chase,” the man said, holding a badge. “Jump District Attorney. You kids are in a lot of trouble.”

…

Robin and the rest of the crew were led back to S.T.A.R Labs, Adrian Chase complaining all the while.

“I should have you guys arrested you know?”

“The stunt you just pulled…”

“You should have just let security handle it!”

As they walked into S.T.A.R Labs, Robin noticed the guy in the bus Dick Grayson had met. Victor if he remembered the name correctly. Garfield Logan was also there, standing right next to Raven. Did she call them here too? The truck-crushing girl stared at the hallways of S.T.A.R Labs with a barely contained wonder, as if she had never seen a science lab before. Human Torch meanwhile purposefully looked bored, grinning at any attractive scientists he found.

They stopped in front of an elevator and a man in a lab coat came to greet them. He cast a brief glance at Vic who immediately looked away. Robin could sense there was some history between them. Probably an estranged father and son relationship.

“Silas,” Adrian said.

“Mr. Chase,” Silas said with a smile. “I take it there’s some trouble.”

Adrian scoffed. “Understatement if I ever heard one. Found these kids around where that security incident of yours took place. Thought you might know something about them.”

“Aside from my son,” Silas said. “I only know three of these kids from the newspapers.”

“These kids just saved your little moneymaker,” Human Torch said.

“By destroying half the city?” Adrian said. “A risk that wasn’t disclosed.”

“S.T.A.R didn’t find the need to disclose that information,” Silas said. “We assumed that the shipment would go off without a hitch…”

“That was quite a hitch,” Adrian said. “I get you companies need your confidentiality but a risk like that should’ve…”

“An inside man,” Robin said.

“What?” Adrian and Silas turned to Robin at the same time.

“HYDRA has an inside…” Robin sighed. “This is probably something you don’t want to discuss in an open office like this, can we get somewhere private?”

Adrian looked up. “I’m not going to let some kid…”

“He’s not some kid, Mr. Chase,” Silas said. “He’s Batman’s sidekick and last I’ve seen, Batman has been doing a better job of cleaning up crime in his city than you have.”

Mr. Chase had his hands on his side. He scoffed.

“Come to my office, Robin,” Silas said.

Robin was about to step forward before…

“I’d prefer it if these guys were with me,” Robin said.

“So, these clowns are with you?”

“No,” said the Human Torch.

“What he said,” Robin said. “I’d just prefer if decisions that affect them are made with them present.”

…

They entered Silas’s office. Robin and Adrian took a seat across Silas while the rest of them just sat on the sofa. Raven stood in the corner and Garfield joined her.

“What were you talking about?” Silas said, fingers crossed. “Something about…”

“An inside man,” Robin said. “From what I got about what you were talking about, the project and by extension the route was confidential. That must mean…”

“An inside man, yes,” Silas said. “Someone could’ve informed HYDRA about the shipment but…”

“What?”

“There were a number of people,” Silas said. “Security staff, advisors, investors, both from S.T.A.R and Dayton Labs, not to mention the leaks.”

“Leaks?” Robin asked. “Seems like a good place to start.”

“Guess you’ll be on your way,” Silas said. “I’ll send you the files and…”

“Wait a minute,” Adrian said. “Let’s ignore the fact that you’re going to let a kid who used to wear pixie boots handle a matter of such importance, you’re just going to let the rest of these kids go.”

Adrian scoffed. “I mean one of them almost destroyed the city for Christ’s sake, I don’t think we should let them just walk around this city.”

“What do you propose we do?” Silas asked.

“Send one of them back,” Adrian said. “Mr. Fantastic can deal with the…”

“No way,” Human Torch said. “There’s no way you’re sending me back.”

“We can’t have you here,” Silas said. “As much as I dislike Mr. Chase’s way of dealing with things we can’t ignore the fact that you’re responsible for the explosion. Besides Vic…”

“Don’t call me that,” Victor said.

“Victor here,” Silas said. “We have no idea what any of you are capable of.”

“You have to be kept in check,” Adrian said. “And we have nobody who can…”

Silas looked at Robin.

“I think we do.”

…

“But I…”

“You really letting the 12-year-old who wore pixie boots lead this pack?” Adrian asked.

“He’s worked with the Batman,” Silas said. “We wouldn’t have made any leeway on this case if it wasn’t for him. He’s clearly the more experienced one here. If anyone can keep them in check, it’s him.”

“No way,” Human Torch said. “There’s no way I’m letting…”

“I don’t think you get a say in this, Torch,” Adrian said. “Or you want me to mention your little accident…”

Torch grumbled.

“Leading them,” Silas said. “They should be arrested. You should be arrested. After what happened…”

“He’s our only way of finding out why it happened,” Silas said. “Or do you really want to trust S.T.A.R Labs or your people with this investigation into a covert group.”

Adrian clenched his fist on the table. “Dammit. I hate it when you’re right. Alright, I trust him. But kid.” He side-eyed Silas. “If you find anything incriminating you tell me. You understand what impartial means?”

Robin nodded.

“Are they any objections?” Silas asked. “Minus Human Torch.”

There were none.

Robin stood still.

“Very well,” Silas said. “Robin here is in charge.”

Great, was all Robin could think.

…

And that was that. A responsibility thrust upon me, a responsibility I didn’t want.

I came to Jump because I didn’t like the way Bruce was doing things, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t running away.

Bruce weighed me down with all these expectations. He wanted a soldier, a stronger, better version of him. He wanted something I could never be.

And now I’m expected to keep a bunch of kids with superpowers in check. me. What’s more, I have to lead them.

For our sake, mostly for theirs I hope I can live up to this. I don’t know the first thing about superpowers, or leadership. I was always the one following orders.

I just… I don’t know what to do. Truth be told, I’m scared. I really wish I could turn off the thoughts in my head and do this right. More than that, I really wish you and Pete were here to help me out. I miss you guys.

But that’s all you’re going to hear from me, tell Pete those web mines he lent me were a lifesaver and tell Al I said hello.

With love,

Dick Grayson.

To be continued…