The Mission

“It’s a simple job. More or less.”

Tim was already rolling his eyes, and Dick wasn’t even halfway through his introduction to the brief.

“Can we cut to the chase? Why is she so dangerous anyways?” Jason was sitting with his arm crossed as he looked up at Dick from his place at the table. He leaned forward with the statement and pointed up at the picture tacked to the mission board. On it was a blurry surveillance picture of a form of a woman. She looked simple enough, no glowing super powers or alien tentacles sprouting from her head.

“She is responsible for a ring of drug related kidnappings. Apparently, she and the crime ring she is a part of has been taking teenagers from the streets and using them to try out new party drugs to sell to high profile clients and gangs. Batman is leaving me to take point,” Dick took a deep breath as he continued, making eye contact with Jason across the table. “We were only able to get the information we have because we finally found a victim who survived. And she didn’t make it long.”

Jason leaned back again in his chair, nostrils flaring with barely concealed anger. He nodded at Dick to continue. The others around the table were sitting straighter now too as they realized the enormity of their target.

“Now, we don’t want to just go in and take her out. The place is locked down right. The main priority is rescue and information gathering. This could well be a long process, and we don’t want to rush into it blind.” Dick pointed to the building schematic of a large warehouse. “We believe here is where she has taken the latest victim. His friends reported him missing 16 hours ago. This is their secondary base of operations. Jason- you, me, and Steph will be going in here.”

Dick pulled out another picture of a non-assuming office building. Tim looked around the room as he did. He, Damien, and Cass would likely be taking this one. Barbara was watching from the sideline as Dick made his presentation, watching him carefully. Tim wondered if there was more in that stare than pure observation. Jason still had that look of righteous fury, fiddling with a batarang between his hands as Dick spoke. Steph was twiddling with her thumbs as she bounced between watching dick and contemplating the nights plans. Damien of course was straight backed and unmoving as he watched and listened with all the focus of a laser pointed robot. Cass made eye contact with Tim across the table.

She raised an eyebrow at him. Her facial expression asked if he was good. Tim made a sharp nod, lifting the corner of his mouth slightly. He sent back the message that he was good. He turned back to Dick just as he pointed at Tim.

“Tim. You will be alone. Cass and Damien will be on the inside of the building scouting and trying to break into their files to find out more about the drugs. That means you will be on the outside to make sure no one returns. Our intel says all leadership are out at a meeting at another gangs main base across town, but we expect there will still be guards patrolling,” Dick swept his eyes around the table. “Again. This is a covert operation. No need for conflict. The intel team should knock out any main guards if needed, but avoid if possible. Oracle will be on comms keeping an eye on everyone so make sure to keep regular contact.”

Everyone nodded as the final orders went out. Jason was the first one to break the silence as he smacked a hand on the table. “Let’s get them.”

There was time for more detailed discussions and planning over the next few hours, but it moved quickly. Tim found himself gearing up along with the others as night fell. Damien next to him was adding weapons to his belt and back straps.

“Drake. You have understood the mission? Orphan and I will be counting on you. You were quiet at the debrief.” Damien’s clipped tone often put Tim on edge, but he was too focused on the mission today.

“Yeah, I’m good. You can count on me. I’m just thinking about that kid, the one they are rescuing. Dick said he’s only thirteen.”

“Yes. That is why we must move quickly to save him. We must be swift and efficient. I understand your concern, but Grayson and the others will have it contained.”

Tim nodded, “Of course. You’re right. Let’s just focus on our job. Do you have the usb drive?”

Damien held out a red thumb stick emblazoned with the bat logo. “Yes. Your work was notable. Oracle mentioned you assisted in the surveillance software?”

“Yeah, only a bit. Oracle did most of it. Hopefully that will let us keep an eye on their communication without then being any the wiser. Now let’s do this thing”

Cass had just walked up beside them, adjusting her communicator. “Ready?”

They all nodded. Dick, Jason, and Steph jumped out first. Tim, Damien, and Cass broke off to the other direction as Oracle tuned in to their coms. Sounding off, each of them confirmed access. Then they were away.

 —-

“Hey! You-“ The guards exclamation was cut off my Orphan’s arm around his neck. One tranquilizer later and his body was tucked close to the side of the building, sleeping soundly. Tim stalked to the perimeter and looked for any more guards.

“I thought they were only supposed to be by the front?” Tim hissed a whisper as Robin finished his work in the window, sliding it open.

“It seems we are already misinformed. It is probably nothing. Just an extra cautious guard. But we should stay aware. Orphan, it is time. Be silent. Oracle, we are entering the building. One guard had to be tranquilized.”

“Received, Robin. Keep on guard. Surveillance says there should be no more that two guards inside the building, but they appear to be asleep. One guard remains out front. Red Robin begin patrol and keep in contact.”

“Got it.” Tim gave a nod two the two dark clad forms as thy entered through the window and slid it shut behind them. He grappled to the roof and prowled around the side. Like Oracle said, there was one guard yawning at the front door looking bored. There was one more at the back door, Tim noted, but he seemed to be equally nonchalant. “One guard at the back exit as well. None the wiser.”

He slipped back down the side of the building to watch through the window. Now all that was left was to watch and wait. He periodically prowled the grounds and the roof, keeping an eye on the guards and the road. He listened over the coke to the others as well. Nightwing had just breeches the warehouse as Jason cleared the back. They had yet to find the kid.

Tim wondered how the boy felt. Did he wonder if anyone would come for him? He was an orphan, like many of them, maybe he believed no one would care. There was a time when that’s what Tim would have felt. But his friends looked for him, as Tim did. Even if he didn’t always feel like he fit in the same way that Dick or Damien did. They had the most secure relationship with their father, even if it was rocky at times. Tim was the usurper. But still, he had a place, no matter how small. That was enough.

“Oracle! We’ve had an incident. Red Hood is fighting with guards, they may have gotten out a beacon.”

“Roger. Reinforcing signal blockers now.”

“Oracle? I found the boy. He’s shaken up, but doesn’t appear hurt or impaired.” This was Steph’s voice, clearly lowered to not frighten the kid further.

“Acknowledged. Get him out as soon as possible. Hood, report. “

There was a gunshot over the coma. And swearing. “Yeah, I’m good. Had to kneecap one of these guys, but he was the last. No casualties to report, but they sure aren’t happy. “

Tim was pretty sure that last part was said with Jason’s satisfied grin. Then Nightwing’s voice sounded, “All clear here too. Looks like the signal didn’t work. We seem to be good. I think this job is done. Let’s get out of here. I see Spoiler and the boy now, we are joining Hood and clearing out. “

“Affirmative. My computer is reading the thumb stick, it appears Robin has successfully planted the program.”

Tim lurched up suddenly as he heard the sound of wheels on the driveway. He darted around the corner to see a single black van pulling up, the guard out front walking to meet it. Tim dashed back to his original spot.

“Crap. We have company. A black car just pulled up. Robin you will have to go out the other side, your original spot is too obvious.”

There was a beep that said they had heard the message, but could not speak at the risk of being too loud. He breathed a sigh of relief.

“This is Oracle. Trackers show them heading out the side. Red Robin are you in the clear?”

“Yeah, I-“ but he didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence.

As Tim rose from his spot in the bushes to grapple to the opposing roof, there was a clang as metal hit skull. Tim collapsed to the ground as his world went black, the sound of Oracle’s questions fading in his ears.