Chapter 5: One Step Closer

Feeling lighter than I had in a while I stretched out my severely neglected leg muscles. Being anchored by that wretched cast for four weeks was arguably the most maddening experience I've ever endured. I will never again complain about the advanced medical technology back home. "Damian?" I spun around and saw Emily. "I forgot how quiet you are, I didn't hear you come in." "You're lucky it was just me or you'd be in trouble youre supposed to be taking it easy." "-tt- Say's who that effeminate doctor I'd like to know where he got his medical license." She shook her head and sat at the desk setting her laptop down. "I wanted to show you something." "Hm?" I peered over her shoulder at the screen. "This. It's the place we found you it's been zoned off by the government they have big time scientists, hazmat suits, and FBI agents all here to, get this, study the soil." She rolled her eyes. "You don't believe that?" "Seriously? After a freak light show we run down a mysterious boy who seemingly doesn't exist the FBI rolls into town just to check out some dirt, I call bullshit." She stared at me pointedly. "What?" Sighing heavily she frowned, Look, this is all really weird you can't tell me you think it's all just a coincidence." "I was taught never to believe in coincidence." She watched me intently as my eyes roamed over the screen. "Promise me something." I looked at her curious. "Don't do anything reckless, okay?"

She sat waiting, I frowned and turned away walking towards the door. "Damian!?" "I promise." I mumbled not facing her I exited the room. ---Later that evening--I returned to the room and dressed for bed when I noticed the box Jazmine had set aside my belongings in atop the wardrobe. I hadn't once opened it since arriving telling myself I would be tempted to put it on before I had healed but I really just didn't want to relive my failure. I took it down and set it on the bed, lifting the lid to reveal the familiar red tunic and 'R' insignia. Laying each article of clothing across the bed I stared at the uniform which was still in good condition with few tears the only remaining evidence of the events of that night. Moving the box aside the metallic sound scraping the inside of the box caught my attention. Inside was a small chipped disk that had once belonged to Paradox. My pulse quickened. There was very little known about the man, but my father had a theory about the technology he used. The gauntlets he possessed each had a disk embedded in them which my father believed controlled the time and space of Paradox's transportation respectively. If this one was the latter I could very well use it to return home especially if the portal that was opened to get us here hadn't closed properly. I began deftly sifted through my utility belt my tools were limited, but I was able to remove the cover of the device. It seemed to be in good condition but a few circuits seemed to have fallen out, if I could replace them the device might work but I would have to find where to get the materials which would require research. Carefully I put everything as it was before lying down to sleep. I was one monumental step closer to completing the journey home. ------------------------------------------------------

After spending then entire day planning for my late night excursion to the research site I was now viewing myself as Robin for the first time in awhile. Standing here alone I felt strange and out of place, shaking my head to rid myself of these useless thoughts I climbed from the window into the back yard. It was half past two in the morning everyone was asleep this gave me a 3 hour window before Rachel woke up for work, it would be more than enough. "So you're leaving then?" Nearly over the fence I turned Emily was leaning stoically against the tree her eyes shaded by her hair. I hopped down dismayed, "What are you doing up?" "I figured you'd leave once your cast was off, I just thought you'd say good-bye." She turned on her heel returning to the house. I caught her by the arm making her face me but she simply stared at the ground. "I'm not leaving. I was going to investigate the research site." "Why?" My jaw clenched, I knew I was just wasting time by explaining, but she did provide me with the information so she had a right to know. "I think they might have some information that could help me get back home." Contemplating her mouth set in a thin line, "You promised me you wouldn't do anything reckless." Rubbing my temples, I groaned internally she wasn't going to make this easy. "I know what I said and this won't be dangerous, it is simple reconnaissance." "Simple? You are talking about breaking in and stealing federal data. Are you crazy?" "No. Believe it or not I do stuff like this all the time." She gaped at me incredulous then grinned mischievously, "If it's that easy then I'm going with you." "What!?" Staring at her in disbelief I realized she was serious. "Don't bother arguing or I'll scream and then youre screwed."

"I thought we had a truce?" "We do but you also made a promise and I am just making sure you keep that promise. Every deal has a loophole, remember that." "You're going to make a great lawyer one day." Grimacing I watched her move past me and in one swift move she was over the fence, I followed. ---A bit later--"Can I ask why you are wearing your Halloween costume for this?" "It's not a Halloween costume it's the Robin uniform." "Robin?" She eyed me curiously as we started down the winding road. I stayed silent contemplating how much I should tell her knowing that I could use the help with future cover stories should anyone become curious about my afterhours activities. However, I was unsure if I could trust her with my secrets. "If I tell you the truth you must swear to me that you will never tell anyone." "Okay." I stopped staring at her fierily, "I am serious you cannot tell anyone not your sisters not even your mother. My family as well as my own safety would be at risk if the wrong person learned about what I am about to disclose to you." Alarmed she stood silent before finding her resolve and nodding. "I understand I won't tell anyone. Pinky Swear." Holding out her hand with only her pinky finger extended I stared dumbfounded. "What is a 'Pinky Swear'?" Clearing her throat she explained very matter-of-factly, "The Pinky Swear signifies a promise that cannot be broken or counteracted by the crossing of fingers or other cheap trickery, it is binding and whoever breaks it loses their pinky finger."

My eyes widened, and she giggled, "Well people don't really chop off fingers anymore but you get the idea." I nodded, "How do you do it?" "Hold out your hand like mine." When I did she interlocked her pinky finger and pressed her thumb with mine. "I swear that I will never reveal the secret Damian Wayne will share with me, ever." Then she released my hand, "That's it?" "Yup, that's it." We continued on and I began my story I told her of my mother and father, my upbringing with the League of Assassins, my decision to go against the path my mother set for me as well as my failures and triumphs, and how I came to be here and why I needed to return. She listened intently as we traveled down the very same road I had arrived on. "That sounds amazing and terrible all at once." "-tt- Try living it." "You see those lights up ahead I think that's it." I nodded, ushering her into the field opposite atop a hill with a decent vantage point of the site. From my utility belt I pulled a pair of binoculars and an earpiece. "Here put this in your ear, you're going to stay here and keep lookout while I hack the mainframe." She nodded settling on her belly testing the binoculars, "Wow, they have night vision never used that before." "They also have infrared. The earpiece is sensitive so you won't need to talk above a whisper. Also whatever you do never call me by my real name only Robin." "Robin, got it. Um?" "Yes?" "Do I need a code name?" "For now....we'll just use Oracle."

"Oracle? I like it. You're really good at this codename thing." I smirked now debating on whether or not to tell her that the name wasn't exactly original but I thought I might let her enjoy it for now. Making my way across the street and over the gates into the facility evading guards was simple enough as I checked each tent for the data. "Oracle, can you hear me?" "Yeah, perfectly." "Good, I found the mainframe watch and let me know if anyone heads my way." "Sure thing." Entering the tent I inserted my USB into the computer and it began copying the files. "Robin security is heading your way fast I think they know you're there." "Shit, alright it's almost done just a couple seconds." "You don't have a couple seconds you need to get out now!" She whispered urgently. Staring at the screen watching the bar fill up 95, 96, 97, I could hear the tent flap open and footsteps stomping down the hall 98, 99, voices and shadows were nearing the room 100. "Robin get out of there!" The men barged in guns raised as they carefully searched the room. "There's no one here." "The alert said someone was accessing restricted data I want a clean sweep of everything now." The man ordered both the men surrounding him and the others through radio. The room emptied and I sat perched silently on the frame of the tent, I waited. "Robin, I can give you a clear path on the north side for about three seconds. Can you make it?" "Yeah, I can make it."

After a momentary pause she was back, "Now!" I bolted through the side of the tent keeping my head lowered I wondered minutely how she managed to clear a path as I flew over the fence not stopping until I reached the hill plopping down beside her. We grinned at one another and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through me, it felt good to be back in action. "Christ, I almost had a heart attack. Are you okay?" She asked running her hands through her hair. "I'm fine. How did you get the guards attention?" "Oh, I threw a rock and hit one in the head." "From all the way over here? Impressive." I commended unable to hide my amusement. "I play sports so I've had years of practice." "I noticed all the trophies, we should get going this took a lot longer than it should have." "Right, did you get everything?" "Yeah right here." I held up the USB for inspection; she was impressed. "That is great! For a moment I thought you were done for, and you said you do this often." "I do but most of the time I am stopping criminals not hacking government databases." "Awesome." She held out the devices I had given her. "No you can keep them I may need you again." She smiled, "Thanks 'Robin'." I rolled my eyes, "-tt- Whatever 'Oracle'."

Disclaimer: I do not own Damian Wayne he is the property of DC, I do however own the OC's used in this story as well as the plot.