Fawkes

Curiosity Killed the Cat

The Bioship ride was just as silent. I sat near the front, cross legged with an elbow on the arm of the chair and my chin resting on my hand. I was fully clad in my new uniform, which, even if it was much like what I wore when with the Joker, I still loved. It was perfectly fitting and comfortable and adaptable to all conditions.

We got to Downtown Gotham in no time, and I sighed as the ship landed and Aqualad went through the plan again.

"Okay, everyone." We all gathered around him, Robin shifting close to me and putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I can't remember why I didn't shove it off, "We're going into this and we know what to expect. We know how many Bots there are, and we know that they are metal. Last time, they weren't waterproof, so I can take out most of them. M'gann, Connor, you both have useful powers as well. You too, Kid Flash. But that doesn't mean that we couldn't use the help of you three—" he gestured to me, Artemis, and Robin, "—Artemis, you've come prepared with electric arrows, and Robin and Fawkes, you've got your taser guns. Use them wisely. Connor, you and M'gann will go in first. Connor, try and figure out if the Bots are present with your super hearing, and M'gann, see what you can make out from the sky. Then call us through he mindlink on what you find."

We nodded again, even if we had heard the pep talk three times prior. I sucked in a breath as Robin took his hand off my shoulder and Superboy left with Miss Martian. No one spoke, only listened closely on the mindlinks as the anticipation grew like mold on a room temperature piece of cheese.

*I hear them,* Superboy reported, and we all lurched out of our seats, holding our breath.

*I can't spot anything from where I am, but if Superboy hears movement we should head inside.* M'gann joined the link, and we collectively agreed that she was right. I clicked my utility belt into place and was the first out the door as Aqualad opened it. I was ready for this mission. More than the last. I was more focused than I had ever been. I ignored the pressing fear, I ignored the gnawing intuition. The gut feeling, the agonizing suspense, and the plain reluctance to enter the last building I stayed in with the Joker.

The team had obviously been curious as to why I had been so affected by the location of the Bot sighting, but they refrained from asking questions. I was grateful; I just wanted to get this mission over with. The plan was to find a Bot, and either kill it and bring it back to MJ to study, or locate the source of its controls. Something had to be controlling the Bots, as they weren't an individual task force. They worked as a unit.

I couldn't help but be suspicious. Did the Bots have anything to do with the Joker? Was it simply a coincidence that the lead was in this warehouse? Of all warehouses? I found that there were no coincidences when it came to this stuff, but then again, Joker was still in Arkham. So how could he control the Bots? Maybe he was getting someone else to control them. Maybe Penguin contacted him somehow, and he was planning on getting me back.

No. That wasn't possible. There's no way to contact someone in Arkham. I knew from experience. The Joker still thought I was dead, and this was all just one of those strange moments when it feels like it's on purpose, but in reality it's just one of life's accidents.

A coincidence. That's all it was.

I realized I was at the doors of the warehouse, and I turned back to see the team stopping behind me.

"All right." Aqualad cleared his throat, "Kid Flash, do a sweep of the ground floor—"

He was interrupted by Wally speeding away, and in three seconds he returned.

"Nothing on the first floor."

"Okay. That gives us some space and time to close them in as a unit," Aqualad continued. "Artemis, you go with Wally. We'll have you two take the East Side. And then I'll go with—"