Two New Training Partners

Dick, "That was so not cool Logan, I about wreaked the bike when Connor leaned his head on mine. Had to pull over and find out what he was thinking." 

  I just laughed at their hurt look they both directed towards me. 

  We had finally settled down and were sitting around the BBQ as I was fixing us some food. We all had drinks in our hands and that is when they found out my call had been to Diana to see about getting some god level alcohol for Connor so he could regret a hangover in the morning same as us. The boys were showing Wolf their favorite bone hiding spots and did not come back until dinner was almost done. 

  Wolf was a large Timber Wolf that had been captured by The Brain and experimented on with a Venom drug mixture. He became strong enough to go toe to toe with a young Superboy, he was later removed from bad guy control and adopted by Connor. 

  No surprise Dick wanted to talk about girls, so he asked, "So what is up with you and Diana? She comes up rather often in your stories." 

  Logan, "I don't see anything there but friend and comrade to be honest. The princess thing is a bit of a turn off to me. It defiantly comes with too many strings and premade life choices. She has a lot going for her in every department and maybe in the future my mind can change but, I just do not feel the pull I am looking for." 

  We did not bother asking Connor, he was still lost in M'gann land. 

  Logan, "And you Dick? You going to make a permanent thing with Raya?" 

  Dick, "I really do not know, to be honest if she were not a childhood friend, I do not think it would have gone as far as it did. There are a lot of unresolved issues there and naturally I had to complicate it even more by sleeping with her. Post nut clarity, I definitely felt it was a mistake. But now it is going to depend on her from here on. Some things you just cannot take back. 

  The next morning, we all woke up with our own personal dwarf wielding a sledgehammer to the back of our heads. 

  Connor, "Did I get hit with Kryptonite again? Why does my head hurt so much worse this time?" 

  I got up and stumbled to the kitchen to pour us a large glass of water each. 

  Logan, "Hear, drink this and go get some sun. It should help. You better get moving Dick; you got a funeral to get to. You sure you do not want us to come with you?" 

  Connor got up and wobbled out the door, "Why is the sun so bright today?" 

  Dick, "No thanks Logan, I think things are going to get emotional as it is. It is best to keep it to close family and friends only. I should be back in a couple of days max." 

  Logan, "Ok, just remember you aren't in this alone." 

  Once Dick got himself together, I walked him out and we saw Connor sprawled out in a lawn chair pointed at the sun just taking in the rays. Dick said his goodbye's and walked to his bike and rode out of the junkyard. 

  Connor, "Guess I should head out also. Thanks a lot for having me, hope you call again when you want to hang out." 

  Logan, "Why? You're just going back to the Mountain to wait for a mission in your room again and occasionally train. Just stay here and learn mechanical skills from some of the best in the business. They aren't fancy but their work is top notch." 

  Connor, "I really don't want to impose man." 

  Logan, "Yeah, just kick it here for a while and see if you are interested in the trade. I am sure Wolf doesn't much care for the smog and metal smell, but it beats the recycled air of Mount Justice. He can also run the yard when he wants to. Not to mention that you guys give me two more sparing partners. Ones I don't have to go easy on would be awesome." 

  Connor, "That would be great, but I feel kind of bad for Megan. She will be alone in the Mountain." 

  Logan, "She has options if she wants to take them. Do you know if she planned on going to Collage or if she had other plans after school?" 

  Connor, "She didn't want to talk about it much. The show Hello Megan didn't last long enough for them to enter Collage, so she was kind of lost at the thought. She tries so hard to act like that damn character she doesn't realize what a great person she is. I was hoping to show her as we grew up together." 

  Logan, "Let's get off that subject before it overwhelms you again. I know a great workout place to get some training done." 

  Connor, "After I feel better." 

  That night Connor was settling in at the junkyard and knowing that both Dick and Matt weren't in Gotham I decided to make some rounds over the hot spots. I thought about texting Pam, but she should still be out of town, and I felt it was best to let her contact me after this communication break. 

  After stopping a few muggers and taking out a drug dealer I was headed toward Gotham's Little Italy when I saw a slim figure swinging the same direction. Seeing it was Bat, I mean Devilgirl I followed her until she settled in on a roof top overlooking an orphanage. I landed and gave a soft hoot so she would notice me and maybe not throw something at me if I just changed to my normal body. Once she focused on me, I made the change so there would be less of a reaction. Good thing I did too, she was panicked enough to about jump off the roof before I could calm her down. 

  Logan, "Sorry, there just isn't a subtle way to prepare someone for that."

  Devilgirl, "Yeah, it made my hair stand on end. What are you doing here?"

  Logan, "I saw you while I was on patrol and wanted to let you know that Nightwing isn't in town for a few days, and he thinks Devilbat is deep into a case so the potential for backup is slim right now."

  Devilgirl, "So that's why no one is responding. What are you doing then?"

  Logan, "I'm just patrolling the hot spots I know about. Not being a resident here I am a bit unfamiliar with the workings of the town under the surface. Why, you got a case that needs help?"

  Devilgirl hesitated a minuet, then spoke. "An informant of mine, a part time librarian clued me in to some unusual disappearances lately. She reads to underprivileged kids at the library and several of her regulars have gone missing. She noticed a pattern in the missing kids, they all had rumors of weird things happening when they were around."

  Logan, "I assume you looked into them possibly being adopted out?"

  Devilgirl, "I did and when I got into their building and started looking through their files, I didn't find anything. No file on the kids at all, like they had never been there in the first place. I investigated it, and they keep the files of those that are adopted for proof that they were there for accounting purposes if nothing else."

  Logan, "Well that's strange, missing files means missing money and orphanages need all the money they can get. No way they get sloppy with those files. You looked for hard copies as well as computer files I assume?"

  Devilgirl, "I did, there was nothing."

  Logan, "Any common point in the children other than rumors?

  Devilgirl, "No, not in the children. But I did notice 3 of the 4 orphanages I investigated had a recent visit from a volunteer charity funded medical team. They go to orphanages and do medical checkups on the children, going so far as to draw blood for lab testing. Only problem is, I can't find this charity group anywhere so I can donate to them."

  Logan, "So you have a charity group you can't donate to, doing health inspections on random orphanages, and shortly after that kids just disappear. I would say you have my complete attention and any help I can provide. What's the purpose here, are you looking to see if the medical team has been here or if that have missing kids? What do you need help with?"

  Devilgirl, "I need to get into their office to see if the medical team has been here or if they are coming."

  Logan, "Easy enough, I'll hit their roof. If they have the money drop shoot that all the hospitals and other orphanages have then it no issue getting in. You know what window goes to their office?' She nods affirmative. "When its open just come in and work your magic."