Disclaimer—If I owned YJ, it would have a lot more like Teen Titans. :P

I have but one thing to say about this chapter: there's no Dick/Robin scenes in it. Don't worry, though. You will finally discover what happened from his POV . . . in the next chapter. Sorry, but I just didn't think that a scene with Dick's POV would have been a nice ending to this chapter. I think it was better to . . . You'll see. ;)

CHAPTER FOUR

"Team, I have a mission for you."

Wally's head jerked up from its downward position and his eyes searched for his best friend at Batman's side. Disappointment sank into his lungs, but he shrugged it off as he watched his other teammates stand up. Wally stood up as well, not wanting to seem lazy in comparison, and he was hit with a sense of dread. The way Batman's lower face looked at the moment . . . It set off alarm bells. Wally was all too familiar with that expression from the times that Dick had been kidnapped as his civilian identity.

"Where's Robin? Why isn't he here?" Wally asked, his hands twitching with anxious energy.

Batman's mouth tightened, but his voice did not betray his emotions. "He is currently tasked with protecting Gotham City in my absence. He will not be joining you on this mission."

Wally struggled with that answer, unsure if Batman was feeding the team excuses or simply the truth. On one hand, Batman may be covering for Robin due to a sickness or a school event. On the other hand, it would just be like Batman to never tell the team if Robin as Dick Grayson was in some kind trouble. Batman was very strict about Robin keeping his identity a secret from the team, going as far as to not mention Robin's personal life and status.

"In your absence?" Aqualad questioned with a polite air.

"Yes. While Robin is in Gotham, I will be accompanying you on this mission."

Artemis frowned. "Why?"

Wally mentally echoed her question.

Batman stepped closer to the young heroes. "Because unlike your other covert missions, there is more at stake and it is significantly more dangerous."

"Why is it more dangerous?" M'gann asked as she started to fiddle with her fingers.

"Because this mission is a rescue mission on another planet. We will be among enemies and therefore, if we are discovered, will most likely not escape."

When no one responded to the bomb that Batman had just dropped, he continued to explain the details of the mission.

"When Daniel came to this planet, he had stated that he was here for a criminal, but recent information has been learned. The person he was searching for, Alastair, was not a criminal, but in fact a runaway whose own people planned on killing."

A light burned in M'gann's eye. "It's because he's different, isn't it? That's why they want him dead."

"Yes. Alastair's Earth family has not seen him since late last night and no one has been able to contact or locate him. Coupled with Daniel's departure from Earth, it has been assumed that Alastair has been taken back to Terra where he will be killed."

Superboy cross his arms. "So we're rescuing him."

Batman spared the half clone a look before answering. "That is correct. In addition, Superman will joining us as backup."

Wally saw Superboy clenched his teeth, but he knew that having Superman with them was a smart decision. Between having Batman there as the brains and Superman with his own abilities, Young Justice had a greater chance of rescuing Alastair and leaving Terra safely. However, Wally understood how Superboy felt about Superman and knew that having the two work together would a challenge. Somehow, Wally had a feeling that they would eventually butt heads and it would escalate into a physical fight. He hoped that they would wait until they got back to Earth, but Wally doubted Superboy and Superman would be able to remain civil until then.

"I have spent the day preparing for your absences from your daily lives so you will not have to attend to coming up with excuses. The only thing that remains undone is packing. Food and drinks have been dealt with so focus on weapons, clothing, and anything else you will require for this mission," Batman said. "The moment you have completed that task, regroup in the living room. Once all of you are here, we will be departing to the Watch Tower where we will board a space ship. You are dismissed."

The teammates of Young Justice shuffled quickly to their rooms to do as Batman ordered, leaving only Wally in the room with Batman. Wally couldn't bring himself to pack until he was certain that his best friend wasn't in some sort of trouble. Once he confirmed that Dick was alright, then he would be fine and would join his teammates in their excitement for an off-planet mission.

"Is he really okay?" Wally asked with a soft voice while his eyes watched for any eavesdropper.

Batman's mouth was a solid line, letting no answers reach Wally's eager ears.

"Please," he begged. "I won't be able to focus if I don't know."

"Then perhaps you should excluded from the mission. Your wavering attention will only get one of your teammates captured or worse," Batman replied, his voice like stone, hard and unforgiving.

Wally huffed as he crossed his arms across his chest. "I don't care about the mission. Just tell me the truth. Di—Robin's my best friend. I have to know."

Something shifted in Batman's body, muscles tensing with some untold emotion.

"You should care about this mission, Wally."

"Well, I can't. I'm more worried about Robin at the moment since you won't tell—"

"You should care about this mission," Batman repeated, emphasizing the entire sentence as he tried to convey something to Wally. "Just as much as I do."

Wally knew that he was being told something, but he just couldn't put the pieces together. He couldn't figure out what Batman was trying to tell him. Man, why couldn't Batman just speak plainly? Did he get a kick out of being cryptic?

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Batman, is the team ready—What's going on here?" Superman walked in behind Batman and stood in the space between Batman and Wally.

Wally turned his attention to Superman. "Is there something wrong with Robin? Civilian wise, I mean."

Superman blinked and glanced at Batman, confusion clear in his eyes. "You didn't tell them? Don't you think they deserve to know?"

"Tell us what?" Wally said, his eyes searching Superman's bare face.

Batman and Superman didn't hear Wally as they descended into an argument.

"It is not required information—"

"Not required information? Batman, that's not true—"

"Will it help them to rescue him? No—"

"It'll motivate them! They'll put everything into—"

Artemis and Aqualad enter the living room, unable to do anything but watch and listen as the two great superheroes remained oblivious to their surroundings.

"It'll blind them, hinder them, Superman—"

"You don't know that! They're more capable than you—"

M'gann and Superboy come moments after Artemis and Aqualad and join their teammates in awe and shock that Batman and Superman were lost in their growing argument.

"I am aware of how capable they are. However, I—"

"You don't trust them, do you? You don't trust anyone who—"

"Neither did Dick!"

Batman's voice boomed throughout the room, silencing the words that Superman had prepared to speak. The members of Young Justice felt the tension fade from the two men, replaced by something that only M'gann could identity as sympathetic understanding.

"He never told them," Batman explained in a calmer voice, his eyes momentarily landing on Young Justice before looking at Superman. "It's his secret and I will not betray his trust. I will not."

"But they need, no, they deserve to know," Superman countered. "You know they deserve it."

Batman was wrapped in silence before he turned on his heel to go to the Watch Tower. "Do what you will. However, they are not to know about. . . that."

Superman nodded. "Of course."

Batman paused before departing to the Watch Tower. "And you will explain to him why they know."

"Understood."

Somewhat satisfied despite still believing that Young Justice had no business of knowing, Batman left and Superman waited for a moment before gesturing to the couch and the chairs.

"You may want to take a seat. You'll want it in a minute, trust me."

On Terra, a planet far from Earth, was a certain cousin of Dick's that was lurking in the shadows just outside of her father's study. She had flattened herself against the wall, leaning as close as she dared to the door in hope of learning whatever plot was afoot in the palace. There had been the barest of whispers breathed in the palace's hallways and between her father and uncle. No one had the slightest idea of what her two relatives were planning, but that didn't stop people from talking about the mystery of it. Only her father and uncle knew of what they actually doing away from the view of the public.

Though Beth longed to believe that, like the rumors said, her father was helping her uncle to train her fourteen-year-old cousin which was the Earth equivalent to a seven-year-old. It was easy to believe that the secrecy was about training since the Tournament was coming nearer and nearer. Her young cousin would need the training to be able to face competitors much older, stronger and more experienced than himself. However likely it was for this rumor to be true about the training, Beth had an edge of doubt lodged in her throat. The secrecy, the lying, and avoiding telling explanation was something that she was familiar with and it was that familiarity that had her skin crawling.

"Did Daniel . . . ?"

That was her father talking, Beth noted to herself. She was unfamiliar with this Daniel person and that did not comfort her worries. She knew the names of all the instructors who taught people how to fight, move, and use their abilities. Daniel was a name that was not among them. Perhaps he was someone new.

". . . said . . . contact . . . location."

It was her uncle, the king, talking this time, though she wasn't able to hear everything that the two were talking about. She could only catch a few words here and there and it was frustrating. It made her wish she had heightened hearing if only for these next few minutes.

Beth waited for anything specific, anything import to be said, but for the next half hour, her father and uncle talked about mundane things. That is, until Beth heard a sharp ring echo in the room and the sound of shuffling as though someone had walked towards something.

She strained her ears to hear if anything was being said and waited for some piece of information.

". . . locate him?"

Beth's stomach fluttered with butterflies. Though she tried to shrug it off, she knew deep down that she wasn't going to like what she was going to learn.

". . . have him . . . on way to Terra."

She heard her father's voice next.

"certain . . . Alastair?"

Beth leaned away from the door, straightening up as panic and fear dug their nails into her heart. She braced herself with shaking hands before slipping away with an absence of noise. She was thankful that she ran into no one as she headed towards her set of rooms. She wasn't certain that she would have been able to control herself enough to smoothly lie.

It was once she closed her bedroom door that she allowed herself to sink to the floor with her back against the door. What was she going to do? They had found Dick and she had no doubt what plan they had in store for Dick this time. It wasn't something that she would be able to save him from. No matter what happened Dick would find himself in a place that he didn't want to be. Whether it be death or captivity, Beth was sure that Dick would still find no peace and she wasn't sure she would be able to save him from either fates.

Beth clenched her teeth. No, she would save him. She would save him one last time.

Even if it killed her.

A/N—Beth is finally in the fic now. Yay! Please review. This was published on 7-20-16 with the length of 2128 words.