Young Justice Season 4 - The Red X Factor

Episode/Chapter 6 - Hawks or Human?

"No, no, no, and...no." Barbara answered as she shifted through some papers at her desk.

"Sweetheart? You done yet?" A voice asked from outside her door.

"Not yet, Dad." Barbara called.

"Okay, just come down when you're ready. And quickly, before your food gets cold." Commissioner Gordon answered as he left and went down the stairs. Barbara smiled,

"yes sir." She chuckled then turned back to her desk. She picked up the same bag that Nightwing had given Red Robin, but for some reason, he had given it to Barbara to figure out.

"Okay, let's do this again." Barbara said to herself. She referred back to the stack of papers on her desk, each paper had a description and a picture of some sort of red element.

"Anything?" A voice asked from right behind her, but she didn't even flinch.

"That's never gonna work on me." Barbara answered as she turned in her swivel chair to face Nightwing.

"Darn." Nightwing smirked as he walked over to her and gave her a kiss.

"Don't distract me, I'm working." Barbara laughed, "and my dad's downstairs."

"Fine." Nightwing said as he pulled up another chair and sat next to her.

"But no, nothing. There's no match."

"All elements world-wide?"

"Yeah. But the bonds in the cells of this element are far more complicated than anything on Earth." Barbara answered, "it just has to be something of... alien origin or something..."

"Mm-hmm..." Nightwing muttered as he looked at the red substance in the bag.

"Where in the world would we be able to find it if it's not on Earth? And an even better question: how does this Red X guy get it if it's not on Earth?! Is he some sort of alien?"

"I doubt it." Nightwing answered as he pulled up his wrist holo-computer, "he seems human enough."

"How can you prove that, though?" Barbara asked, turning to him.

"I....I can't. But he doesn't seem like an alien."

"What if his mask isn't even a mask?" Barbara asked.

"I guess that's up to us to find out." Nightwing sighed as he turned off the holographic image, leaned back in his chair and groaned, rubbing his forehead.
"Busy night?" Barbara asked as she rubbed his shoulder.

"You have no idea..." Nightwing said.

"Well, look, you wanna join us for dinner?" Barbara asked, "take a breather?"

"Sure, why not." Nightwing smiled. He got up and headed to her door.
"You'll scare the crap out of my dad if you go that way." Barbara laughed as she stood up. He turned back to her, then groaned when she gestured towards the window. She gave him a kiss before he nimbly and silently slipped out the window and jumped down. Barbara heard the doorbell ring, and she ran down and opened the door before her dad could get it.

"That was fast." Barbara laughed when she saw Dick standing before her, not in his Nightwing suit.

"Mr. Grayson, how are you doing tonight?" Commissioner Gordon asked as he passed by the door.

"Fine, Commissioner." Dick smiled as Barbara let him in. Once Commissioner Gordon left, Dick heard a ping. He checked his watch, tapped the screen, then bit his lip.

"What?"

"Sorry, but dinner's going to have to wait..." Dick answered Barbara, "sorry Commissioner, but we have to go." He called before they left.