.®.®.®.®.®.Chapter 1.®.®.®.®.®.
You’ve Got a Job to Do

Mount Justice
August 11, 3:46 EDT

    “Hi Bat’s. What brings you to town?” the Boy Wonder cautiously asked.
    “A better question, what brings you?” Superman interjected, making the situation even more awkward.
    “Wha...” Robin began to ask.
    “Why were you in town??? Why didn’t you come back to base when you were summoned?! What if something had happened and...” Sups started, only to be stopped by Batman grabbing his wrist.
    Robin looked up, suddenly angered. “Oh com’on?! Don’t I have a right to take some chill time? And I would have know if something actually did happen, which it didn’t by the way.”
    “No! You don’t get time off! You’re no more special than...” Sups roared, but was again stopped by a very careful Batman.
    “Superman! That’s enough!” he scolded.
    “What’s this about, really? You can’t expect me to believe that you were worried just ‘cuz I missed curfew or something! Which I didn’t.” he pointed a finder to Sups, not wanting to give the big guy any more reason to be mad.
    “You’re right. It’s not about that.” Batman said, somehow bringing the normal feel back the room and its occupants.
    “So then what?” Robin said, thrusting his hands out to his sides.
    “We have an assignment for you.” Bats stated, matter of factually.
    “Really? Wait, me? Just me? What about my team?”
    “Oh don’t you worry about us Rob. We’ll be busy.” Kid Flash said, wrapping an arm around The Boy Wonder’s shoulder.
    “You know who Doctor Edmund Ross is, right?” Batman continued.
    “Yeah, sure.” Robin responded, lifting KF’s arm from around him. “he’s that doctor who was blamed for helping Jenny Blye kill herself. There are death threats being thrown at him and his family all over the place. Well, were. Things called down about a week ago. But what does he have to do with me?” he asked.
    “JENNIFER BLYE IS DEAD!?!?!?” Kid Flash roared. “OH NO!!!! I am her biggest fan!”
    “Surprising.” Meghan said, as she joined the Leaguers.
    “She committed suicide like 2 weeks ago.” Green Arrow said as he teleporting into the building.
    “Allegedly.”Batman corrected.
    “Yeah. She ‘allegedly’ committed suicide. But her fans say that that theory’s bogus. But what does that have to do with me?!” The Boy Wonder asked again.
    “We’ve received information that Misses Blye wasn’t actually the model superstar that the world saw her as.” Batman clarified.
    “Surprising we know.” Green Arrow said as he crossed his arms and looked over the room.
    “We’ve been told that she was up to her elbows in gang violence. And not your normal street gangs either. Some high-end, illegal, dirt-bags.” Sups interjected.
    “Illegal?” Robin questioned, looking back at Bats.
    “Sweet.” Wally said, interjecting himself into the conversation.
    “We have reason to suspect that she was a undercover spy for a dirty France mob that was stationed somewhere in LA.” The Dark Knight continued giving Wally a slight correctional glare.
    “They’re mad that they don’t have anyone to feed them their baby milk. Thus, the doc’s life is in danger.” Green Arrow again interrupted.
    “Despite what you may have heard, we’ve heard different things about the Doctor. The Good Doctor Ross was one of the many psychiatrists of the deranged Joker. Thus, he knows... things. Things that we can’t allow to get in the hands of the French regime.”
    “Joker?! You sure???” Robin asked, wide eyed.
    “Wai-wai-wait, go back. Who’s this Joker dude?” Kid Flash asked, taking into account the worry of his comrade.
    “I have a retired Science teacher who has done her share of digging. It’s true.” Batman confirmed, referring to Robin’s once-was-a-public-school-teacher-but-quit-to-be-his-half-tudor-half-mother. Her name was Rocky Balentine.
    “What do I do?” Robin inquired solemnly.
    “The Doctor has a daughter, and we have reason to believe that the mob will use her to get to him.” Green Arrow stated, not in the least trying to control his anger. He loved kids, both side of him, and this case cut deep.
    “So, basically I’m on protection detail.” Robin concluded.
    “Correct. If they get her the Doctor will do, or say, anything. Make sure that doesn’t happen. You’ll be undercover, living with the family in their suburb home. The League has tracked down the regime’s HQ. Your team will be assisting members of the League (the Flash, Green Arrow, Superman, and myself) will take down the mob. We will keep you in constant contact. As soon as the situation is secure, you will be notified.” Bats reassured his teen prodigy, knowing how much Robin was scared of being alone... The Boy Wonder nodded in understanding. Slipping between Batman and Sups, he walked to his room to get ready.
    “Um, why don’t you send someone who, is... a girl maybe?” Meghan questioned, watching Robin.
    “No, Los Angeles, ticked-off mobsters with guns.” Kid Flash said as sarcastically trying to raise her enthusiasm, though he was clearly not excited himself.

    A few minutes later, Dick Grayson was prepared. He walked out into a larger, yet still circular room, wearing his ‘civ’ clothes. They consisted of a simple, single colored sweatshirt, green, with a black leather jacket. He wore tight black jeans, and giant black and white tennis shoes. Thin, black shades barely covered his blue, unmasked eyes.
    Batman stepped forward handing him a small phone. Excitedly taking the device, he removed the back, thus revealing the battery, and took out an nearly microscopic ear-piece. Messing with it slightly, he fit it inside his ear. “Sweet” he smiled “What else do I get to play with?”
    “The rest is simple.” Green arrow chimed in.
    “Please, a protection detail is never simple. You have to literally stalk a person day and night, but without any else noticing. You have to adjust yourself to new surroundings, taking them in while you locate possible threats, and find all possible escape routes, all in an instant. Your senses are on high alert, and you have to revolve yourself entirely around their schedule, reacting to changes with a snap.” he corrected, snapping his right hand.
    “Told you.” Bats said in the background. Green Arrow rolled his eyes. “Sounds like you’re ready.” he said with a beaten chuckle.
    “Sure looks that way.” Dick muttered.
    “You’ll be fine.” Batman assured his boy.
    “If you leave now, you can arrive at the house before she does.” Green Arrow chimed, looking at a miscellaneous clock that hung on the wall.
    “Lastly, your alias...”Batman said watching Dick’s head as he walked out.
    “What, you’re just gonna leave without saying good-bye???” Kid Flash asked, racing out to meet his friend on the yard outside.

    Walking down the street, Dick observed everything of the neighborhood. Large, two-story houses crowded each side of the two-lane pavement. They had spacious front yards, most of which contained ancient looking trees.
    Reading the numbers on the mailbox, he took a brief moment to observe the exterior of his new home from street level. It was two-story, with a full sized porch. The walls had uneven siding, which was intentional. It had a slopping, dark green, tile roof.
    The yard was on a hill. A ring of pine-straw wrapped itself around a tall tree which swayed peacefully in the wind. It was a nice place. A really nice place. He wouldn’t mind living here, as long as he could just stay outside.
    But no, he was staying inside with a “foster dad” and a “foster sister” who he could tell was going to hate him. All this little excursion did for Dick Grayson was reinforce what he didn’t have. Even though his parents died leaving him as an only child, he sometimes wished that he had some sibling, other than Wally. He was the closest that anyone has gotten to Dick’s raised sibling expectations.
    Dick made his way up the drive-way, and soon came face to face with a two car garage.     Turning almost 90 degrees to the left, he picked his way along a curved cobblestone path which led to the long, white porch. There were smaller stones and pebbles hugging each of the larger steppingstones.
    Skipping up the four steps that led you up the porch, he examined it. It was good size, with the classic swinging bench on one end and a small glass table with two matching chairs sitting at the other. He looked at the big, ornate glass door, with a flower design, matching that of the glass table. Expertly picking the lock, he noticed that the dead-bolt wasn’t locked. He would have to warn the Doctor about that.
    He slipped inside. Examining the room, he heard the familiar beep of an alarm.
    “Oh shoot! Why didn’t you tell me they had an alarm system?” Dick exclaimed racing over to it, sliding his backpack off and dropping it on the hard wood floor on his way. Removing the face of the alarm box, he began to mess with its wires. But his hurried work was interrupted by a very low growl. Glancing nervously over his shoulder he saw a shiny, full grown, long-haired Golden Lab staring at him. “Or a dog.”