CHAPTER 22: Part 1 - "Every Villain Is A Hero In Their Mind"

*GC Tech Co., Robbinsville Gotham, 3:33 A.M.

"Hey Trey, you over there?"

Trey was startled awake, he was laying down on top of some of the metal crates with his security guard jacket scrunched up as a makeshift pillow. His little spot was away from the cameras and only those patrolling that particular route would spot him. Considering he was the one in charge of patrolling the area it was a safe bet he could get some short naps in during the night shift.

Grumbling at being awakened, he quickly rubbed his eyes and slapped his face lightly before clearing his throat, "Ya just thought I heard a noise."

Around the corner came Conrad, an older man with greying temples and a thick mustache. He shined his light on Trey who blinked away the sudden influx of light with his eyes that were still trying to wake up.

"Hmmm, patrolling were you?" Conrad said with a smirk.

Conrad had been the lead night shift security guard for GC Tech's storage facility for decades, Trey wouldn't be surprised if he knew every possible nap spot and exactly what Trey had been up to.

"Um well, I might have nodded off ya see..." Trey began before Conrad waved his hand and began chuckling.

"No need to worry Trey, I honestly am surprised this is the first time you have nodded off since you started a month ago. Most new hires your age have trouble staying awake the first week, hell I remember my first start..."

Trey groaned, the last thing they needed was Conrad reminiscing about his various security jobs, not only would it take a few hours, but it was boring enough to put him back to sleep.

Luck was on his side though as both their radios crackled to life, "Hey this is Luis, the alarm is acting up again on the west side, Conrad can you help me turn it off before it wakes the whole neighborhood?"

Conrad snorted, "Typical GC Tech, willing to spend millions on sending execs to Barbados for 'training' but won't spend more than a couple of pennies on security doors that won't go off when a cat walks by."

Grabbing his radio he clicked it on and began making his way to the west side of the building, "On my way Luis, I assume you sent a false alarm confirmation to GCPD."

Conrad walked further away, the crackle of the radio responding was all Trey heard before the footsteps became a distant note.

Stretching to loosen his muscles he hopped off his makeshift nap spot and put back on his security jacket. Cracking his neck, he felt the sweet relief of muscle stress relaxing. This job had been a bit of a lifesaver when he lost his crane operator job due to the cargo ship crashing into the docks. Sure the damage had been quickly repaired but during that month the various dockhands who were not working were laid off, temporarily they said but Trey had yet to hear back. Luck was on his side when he found an ad for some nightshift security guards, not the best employment opportunity but better than nothing.

Taking his flashlight out from his belt, he figured he would make a round through his section of the storage facility before heading to the security office to grab some more coffee.

Straightening his belt and jacket he began walking into the dark rows of metal crates, not giving much attention to his surroundings. The clip-clop of his feet echoed in the dark facility, most would be pretty spooked by the atmosphere but after a month of working there, Trey had gotten used to it. In fact, it was strangely peaceful, sort of like walking through a library.

He occasionally would stare at the metal containers and wonder what exactly GC Tech kept in them, Conrad said that most of them were full of hard drives or various computing parts for the supercomputers they built for corporations. Luis insisted on a more sinister idea of aliens being frozen and experimented on at other locations and then stored here. Conrad did not think much of that idea, especially considering he had seen the inside of the containers, and the fact that GC Tech specifically made computers. But Luis was insistent, and it made for some entertaining arguments in the break room between the rational Conrad and perhaps too conspiracy-driven Luis.

Trey walked for another few minutes finishing his route before making his way back to the break room. Yawning, he could not wait for a cup of sweet joe to soothe his growing weariness.

Alas, with the crackle of his radio, it was maybe not meant to be. Trey waited a moment for Conrad or Luis's voice to sound from it, but there was nothing. The radio would shut off, and then crackle with life, and then shut off.

Frowning in confusion, Trey grabbed it and clicked it on, "Hey this is Trey, what is going on?"

Waiting for any response, Trey continued to make his way to the break room. Most likely their radios were acting up or Conrad had sat on his again. Don't ask, it had happened before. Reaching the break room he scanned his key and walked into the well lit if simple space. A small table with four seats sat in the center, a counter with a microwave and coffee was off to the side with a large vending machine.

Going to the cupboard he grabbed a mug and filled it up with what he considered was the elixir of the gods. Sipping it, he felt the cravings start building for something. So grabbing some loose change he walked over to the vending and pondered what would be his best option.

'Chips or candy bar... hmmm...' Trey pondered.

Behind him the door beeped and opened, Trey kept his eyes on the vending machine. He assumed it was Conrad.

"Hey, what is up with your radio? I kept getting crackling..." Trey began before feeling his whole body freeze up.

'What the fu*&k?!?' he thought as he desperately tried to move any part of his body.

Slowly he felt a pressure build from his back before it rushed forward and caused him to smash into the vending machine, its glass cover shattering. Small chunks of glass and metal bit into his skin and he felt his face begin to bleed from the attack.

Collapsing, he slumped to the ground and fell over onto his back. Before his vision faded, he saw his attacker, dressed in all black, a grey baseball cap with a black hoody pulled up that kept any other distinct feature of his assailant hidden.

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*Jason Todd 'Robin', *GC Tech Co., Robbinsville Gotham, 3:55 A.M.

'This is total horse shit...' Jason thought bitterly as he kept an eye on the GC Tech storage facility.

20 minutes ago an alarm had gone off which immediately was responded to by the building's security as a false alarm. But Batman felt it would be good for Jason to check it out just in case. He had tried to argue with the Bat that he would rather spend his time with him busting mobster heads but the Dark Knight would not budge. He was insistent that check it out as part of his duties as the new Robin.

But Jason knew the truth... Batman didn't think he was ready.

Despite his life living on the streets and spending the last month and a half at Wayne Manor training, he still was not fully trusted to handle the job. A small voice in his head did whisper that Batman was perhaps correct, his training had not been that long, he was only 15, and maybe the Bats merely wanted him ready. For a street orphaned turned thief with a quick temper, that thought was put far in the back of his mind.

'He doesn't think I am ready?!? Me!!! I didn't grow up like a pampered billionaire like him! What makes that f&$ker so much better than me?!?'

Those thoughts and many more colorful descriptions of Batman were thought of as he kept an eye on the facility. So far nothing had been out of place and he was only a few moments away from stomping back to the stake out at the Falcone meeting when he saw a strange figure open the side entrance of the facility.

The side entrance led into an alleyway that was empty save for a few vehicles parked on the side, the vehicles belonging to both the local residents and probably a few of the security guards.

The figure was dressed in a black sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, a grey hat could be seen sticking out of the hood but the shadows kept the rest of the face hidden. Black rubber gloves covered their hands with the rest of the outfit being jeans and simple running shoes.

The figure looked around briefly before disappearing back into the door and returned with a hand cart holding various small metal cases. Dragging the crate to one of the sedans, he popped the trunk and began loading the metal cases into the car.

Jason felt a surge of adrenaline enter him, looks like he was going to get the opportunity to crack at least one skull in tonight.

Leaping off from his perch, he spread his cloak out and began a swift dive towards the figure loading the car. When he was a few yards away he flipped over with his leg outstretched to deliver a kick to the presumed robber's back.

He might have hit him harder than he meant to.

With his momentum, he sent the crook crashing into the backside of the car, rolling off to the side and landing hard against the road. Robin meanwhile continued his descent landing on the other side of the crook who was lying on his side on the undoubtably comfortable road.

Jason leaned against the car as he examined the crook, he still hadn't gotten a good look at what was under the hood.

"So," Jason said sarcastically, "Does all those computer components belong to you?"

The figure on the ground groaned, one hand reached to feel his back where Jason had hit. For a moment all the crook did was rub it, while shakily getting up on his feet. With a slouched back and one hand behind rubbing where he was kicked, the sight was rather pathetic to Jason. He had originally felt excitement about this, but now looking at this thief, he only felt disappointment.

The thief with his free hand held it out in front of him in defeat and submission, looking through the hood, Jason saw the thief also wearing a half-cloth black mask over his nose and mouth. The shadows of the hood kept much of the uncovered portion of the thief's face hidden but he could see some scared eyes looking back at him.

The thief still bent over holding his back with one hand in front said, "I guess tonight is not my night, don't suppose you would let me go would you?"

Jason shook his head amused, "No chance in hell loser, but give up now and I won't pound you into the ground, thats the only deal I am offering."

He was feeling cocky, and his mocking tone probably would have Batman swatting his head for his arrogance. But he was the Robin now, he was not going to be cowed by some hoodie pickpocketer with a baseball hat as their disguise.

Jason didn't notice, but the thief's eyes seemed to glow for a brief moment at the tone Jason had given him before returning back to normal.

The thief nodded and bowed his head, "Of course, I can't fight you... could I ask a quick question though before you take me to jail?"

Jason at this point had stopped leaning against the car and had taken out his collapsable quarterstaff which expanded to its full size. Spinning it casually in front of him before bringing it to his backside, Jason felt bored with this simple bust. He had hoped the thief would put up a fight but now all he had was a hunched-over wuss.

Still, though he was feeling generous, so with a snort he said, "Alright, what's your question before jail?"

The thief at that stood up straight and stared directly into Jason's eyes. For the first time that night, Jason felt a shiver go down his spine, something was wrong. These were the same instincts that kept him alive on the streets for all those years. The same instincts that kept him safe from the bigger gangs and avoiding the streets where Gotham's clown could be heard. Right now they were screaming at him that this thief had something up his sleeve.

Tensing up and crouching into a combat stance, Jason was not at all prepared for the serious question the thief threw his way.

"What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?"

Jason blinked, "What the f&*k?"

That was all he managed to say before his head got smashed by a plastic trashcan.

The hit staggered Jason forward a few steps and disoriented him, it was not a knock-out punch but the next thing that happened was.

The thief wheeled his arm back and threw his fist forward like he was hitting Jason sending a blast of something that smashed into his chest and sent him flying back several yards into the front window of a car. The window shattered and the car door bent, Jason slumped onto the ground, the wind knocked out of him and his mind struggling to stay conscious from the hit.

Jason's vision was blurred but he was awake enough to begin applying Bats training. First the status of his body, through the pain he could tell his uniform's armor had luckily taken the majority of the hit. His ribs were probably bruised but not broken, his arm felt funny, not dislocated but would need Alfred to tend to. Last was his head which did feel like might have a problem, he certainly hoped he did not have a concussion.

The second part of Bats training was a form of meditation. Supposedly Bats had learned this technique from actual ninjas if Alfred was to be believed. The idea was to put your mind in its meditative state but not all the way. By doing so much of the pain in the body could be ignored but a clear mind would be maintained. It was essentially a way to push past your limits and keep fighting despite injuries, it was also easier said than done. Batman could do it nearly instantly, the previous Robin could do it if given time, Barbara was by far the best of the sidekicks, a few years more and she would nail it. Jason though found the technique difficult with his temper, and his lack of experience was showing as he failed to apply it.

Still, Jason was anything if not stubborn. Growling with anger he limped his way back up onto his feet, using the car to lean on. The thief meanwhile had casually walked the distance he had sent Jason flying.

Standing now just a few feet away Jason snarled and threw himself with a fist pulled back to lay into his attacker. His first punch the thief dodged and the second to the thief's gut was swiftly blocked. Jason kept up his punches and throws, confidence rebuilding as his martial arts started kicking in. But despite upping the anty of melee the thief was surprisingly proficient and manage to hold his defense. Whether dodging or blocking Jason could not land a hit.

In frustration, Jason threw his right fist as hard as he could, and in so doing overreached. The thief ducked the throw and having Jason's torso in full view held his palm up towards it and released a weaker but still potent concussive blast.

Jason yet again felt his torso get punched in and even lifted off the ground. His breath was knocked out again and his bruised ribs now felt like something had torn there. Landing back on his feet he immediately fell to his knees and hugged his hands around his torso in a poor attempt to relieve the pain.

It did not help that he then received a blow to the head, and then another and another. Each one felt like it was turning his face into a purple blob.

After the third blow, the thief raised his hand for another strike, but after seeing Jason's condition let the fist fall to his side. After staring at his defeated opponent the thief seemed to nod to himself before holding his hand out. Sharp tears of fabric from seatbelts ripping themselves out of the car Jason had hit were heard as they came hovering over. With a simple flick pointing in Jason's direction, he felt the seatbelts begin wrapping around his wrists, arms, and legs binding him tight.

The thief crouched low to be eye to eye with Jason, the cockiness he felt earlier was gone. And the mixture of anger and fear was making his already dizzy mind a little more confused.

"I hope you remember this clearly, I am letting you go just this once. You vigilantes are owed at least that for some of the good you do."

The thief's eyes seemed to be pure black as he spoke, it was an unusual sight to the addle-minded Jason and only added to his fear of his situation.

"I have held back for years because I felt there was a code I needed to follow, that if I let myself go it would consume me. Unfortunately for the both of us, those inhibitions are now just barriers to my goals."

Standing up, the thief cracked his knuckles and readjusted his gloves. Staring down, Jason was surprised to see absolute loathing from the gaze.

'That wasn't there before?' he thought.

"The other Robin was a much better fighter, I would never have dared to go hand to hand against him. So was that Batgirl, idiots who did not know what they were getting themselves involved with."

Jason's fear was overcome by his rage at the mention of the other Robin. His eyes could melt metal with how angry he was at being compared to the other Robin. As well being said he was not as good as those two, who did this f&*ker think he was!

The thief at that seemed to take a deep breath and look upward into the night sky. He was silent for a minute before a defeated sigh was heard.

The thief in a tired voice said, "I would appreciate the courtesy if you kept our little talk to ourselves. Consider it my reward for letting you live. Or don't and tell your Batman everything, just means next time there won't be a next time. All I am proposing is that I avoid you, and you avoid me, lets both avoid mutually assured destruction."

At that, the thief turned and made his way back to his car where he hopped in and started to drive by Jason to leave the area. The car surprisingly stopped and the window was rolled down as the thief lean out to look at Jason.

"The answer to my question earlier was, 'African or European,'" he said before driving off into the night.