Some weeks had passed since the current group of Outsiders had come together for their innaugural mission, and things were going fairly well. The team was working better together, although tempers still flared and personalities grated from time to time. Training sessions were going well. And, best of all, no serious crises had occured to threaten to destroy the world, or even Boston. All things considered, life for the Outsiders was good.

For young Laurel Candor, alias Esper, things were even better! After constant whining, nagging and begging, Nightwing had finally seen fit to let her have a little bit of responsibility with the team. And so, she found herself on monitor duty. All by herself. What fun!!

"What the sprock are you talking about?" growled Invisible Kid over the communication circuit.

"All I'm saying is that if you guys didn't live in some wierd volcano in the middle of nowhere, you wouldn't be having these problems," replied the heroine smugly. "You should be based in an important, major city, like we are."

"What problems? All I asked was if you're headquarters had an extra power cell!"

"If you weren't on a desert island, you wouldn't need extra power cells."

"Do you have any idea what the grife you're talking about?"

"Yes," the arrogant heroine replied. "I'm on monitor duty; of COURSE I know what I'm talking about. What do YOU know, Invisible Boy,especially since you like using made up words?" What the heck was a "grife" or "sprock" supposed to be, anyway?

The Legionnaire's face on the screen, transmitted from the monitor room of Young Justice's Secret Volcano Lair, turned bright red. "It's Invisible Kid, you incompetant twit. Now, I've had enough of this nonsense- I DEMAND to speak with Nightwing, or Arsenal, or somebody who knows what they're talking about!"

"Well, if you're going to be rude, then I will bid you good day!"

"Are you hanging up on me? You can't hang up on me!! Don't you know who I..."

And the transmission was cut off by the smiling young heroine. "Good thing Nightwing put me in charge of the monitor, so I can keep jerks like that from bothering him." The console beeped, indicating another call. "Thank you for calling Outsiders Headquarters," replied Laurel in a sweet voice when she activated the com. "This is Esper speaking, how may I direct your call?"

"I need to speak to Nightwing," replied the chief of the Boston Police when his image came up on the screen. He was wearing his full uniform, rank insignia clearly visible, and he did not look like a happy or patient man.

"And whom may I say is calling?"

The chief just stared at her expressionlessly before answering. "The Chief of Police."

"What city, please?"

"This city," he growled, his face starting to turn a little red.

"And what is this in regards to?"

"A recent wave of minor, unexplained thefts that is starting to get out of hand."

"Hold, please."

"You're putting me on hold? You can't put me on hold! Don't you know who I..." the irate face of the Police Chief was replaced by the call waiting signal as Esper telekinetically manipulated the controls of the monitor room, putting the Outsider's base on yellow alert, sending out a signal to all Outsiders not on base alerting them that they might be recalled shortly fora mission, and activating the intercom system throughout the whole headquarters, which she spoke into with a voice like a department store announcer. "Nightwing, you have a call in the monitor room. Nightwing, you have a call in the monitor room."

Dick Grayson had been having a bad couple of months. After getting kicked off the Bludhaven Police Force, Barbara Gordon leaving him, all the evidence in his Blockbuster investigation getting destoryed, followed by Tarantula killing Blockbuster AND all the hell that occured during the Gotham Gang War, the Sue Dibney Murder and Tim's dad getting killed...

Yeah, it was safe to say Dick Grayons was having a bad couple of months.

Dressed in the garb of his alter-ego Nightwing, Dick stood in his Spartan-style room (as Roy had once called it), breathing deeply as he shifted his stance to one leg. In each hand he held an Escima fighting stick, which was positioned over his head in a defensive postion.

He always perfered these sort of martial arts forms. It was meant as a mobile mediation that worked both body and mind. And since it was hard to get himself to hold still for long, this was the perfect type of mediation.

Despite all the problems of the past, Dick was steadily rebuilding his life in light of everything. His injuries were healed up finally, Haley's Circus had finally gotten enough money to start touring again, and he was considering to take up Amy on her offer to become an offical Bludhaven cop again. A detective no less in Major Case Squad.

Still that didn't mean he was going to shirk on his duties with the Outsiders. Jade had once again returned command of the team to Nightwing, and thus that gave him even more responsibilities, which he accepted.

Dick took another deep breath as he flipped foward to one hand, his held perfect up in the air, while his free arm was positioned outwards still clutching the fighting stick.

Still there were alot of things he needed to work on. Barbara and himself for example. They were broken up, but he still loved her more than life itself. But she was still... 'away' so to speak.

And then there was Kory, who had re-entered his life. There was still something between them, but what was it? Kory had joined the Outsiders recently, and as Wally would say 'the old spark was still there'. But what that meant was still unclear. And Dick wasn't sure if he wanted that spark anymore.

And then there was Bruce who was acting more distant and using the 'this is MY city' bullsh*t to the clan again. Not to mention Tim who was still acting out of sorts. The only people who seemed to be doing okay was Falcon and Batgirl. More or less...

The former-Boy Wonder's thoughts were then interupted by a loud intrusive voice.

"Nightwing, you have a call in the monitor room. Nightwing, you have a call in the monitor room."

Nightwing sighed deeply, as he executed a double front handspring to his feet. He was still debating his sanity about allowing Esper join the Outsiders. In all honestly he reminded her too much of Flamebird only with meta-human powers. His only comfort was that Esper wasn't crushing on him as much as Bette had done. And still does as he understood from Gar Logan.

Returning his fighting sticks to his back-holster, Nightwing strolled through the HQ towards the monitor room. As the doors to the room slid open, Esper was sitting smuggly in her chair before the computer womb, in which case caused Dick to tense. That smug little smile always worried, because it usually meant someone else was probably ticked off and he'd have to hear about it later.

Going to the console, Dick activated the 'call-waiting'.

"Nightwing here," he said.

Going to the console, Dick activated the 'call-waiting'.

"Nightwing here," he said.

The image of the Chief of the Boston Police returned to the monitor. His face was red and he was breathing heavily, as if he had been shouting angrilly at the videophone while Esper had had him on hold. For a few long moments he didn't even look at Nightwing; the chief just stared over the screen at Esper with loathing and hatred. Esper, for her part, smiled back sweetly, and let Nightwing do the talking. After a few moments, the chief turned his attention to Nightwing; by that time, he had begun to regain control over his emotions. His face was less red, his breathing was under control, and his voice was something approaching calm. Obviously, however, the chief was what his underlings described as a screamer- someone who got his point across in the loudest possible way, generaly speaking.

But he knew that wouldn't fly with the leader of the Outsiders.

"Nightwing," he began, "Thank you for taking my call. At the mayor's instructions," he continued,making clear that he was not really doing this of his own accord, "I've contacted you to ask for the assistance of the Outsiders with a police investigation."

"Over the past two weeks, a number of items have gone missing all over the city. Most of them are practicaly worthless, and have no apparent connection to each other except the manner of there theft. Every item missing seems to have just dissappeared, without a trace. Almost as if it had never been there at all. No forced entry, no witnesses, not even a hair or a fingerprint. Completely astounding," the chief continued, his mood getting worse as he pointed out, without actually saying it, that the Boston Police were stumped.

"We wouldn't be calling you, except that the last theft, just last night, was of an important historical artifact dating back to the American Revolution, a Masonic ritual tool that was supposed to have been used by some of the founding fathers themselves. The Mayor wants this crime spree solved yesterday, and insisted that I contact your team."

"So, are you willing to help us?"

"Oh, can we, Nightwing? It'll be fun! No super-villains or wierd cults or people made of clay, just a minor mystery!" replied Esper joyously. The chief gave her a wry look.

"Quite Esper," Nightwing said, in his no-nonsense voice, though never turning to look at her.

Normally this kind of case would be beneath the Outsiders team and he'd maybe take it on his own. But considering the complexity of it, he opted to have the full team involved nontheless. After all, the small things often turned into bigger things down the road.

Still, he was somewhat suprised that the police would call them in for a crime they would normally claim to be able to handle themselves.

The Chief of Police was obviously unahppy with calling in the outsiders, much less talking to a documented vigilante. Where Batman and Robin kept out of the spotlight at all times, Nightwing had always been a somewhat more public figure during his time with the Titans, which of course explained why the Cheif had asked for him directly.

"Of course well help," he repleid to the cop on the view screen. "We'll need you to send us a complete list of what was stolen, all the locations of the thefts. Esper, if you would please send the Chief the proper fax-number?"

Nightwing crossed his arms and looked thoughtful. "Is there anything more that we should know about the crimes, prior to starting out own investigation sir?"

((OK, we're going to hold here for a minute. No more posts for Nightwing, Esper or the Chief untill at least two other players post for their characters. Let's get this one off and swinging, ladies and gentlemen.))

Lobo looked around the supply closet he looked for lighter fluid and grabbed some. He walked alog the halls and walked past the monitor room
Nightwing crossed his arms and looked thoughtful. "Is there anything more that we should know about the crimes, prior to starting out own investigation sir?"
'Hey green pants! What's going on? Who's that loser?" Lobo asked he smiled and put a cigar in his mouth and used the lighter fluid on it. "Hey girlie you want to get drunk in myy room later?" he said to Esper smirking in an evil kind of way.

((Just so you all know all the stuff happening in my training is just the beginning for a side story later on. I just thought it would be fun to introduce some of it now.))

Through the minute window, rays of the sun, high in the sky, shown through the translucent, white screen. The rays collectively landed upon the small, stout Bonsai trees and the colored flowers of the Ajisai, getting lost in all the twists and turn the plants provided. The walls seemed to follow the Japanese style more then the American. They were simply wooden pillars with a rather thick, durable paper in-between. Upon the papered walls were many scriptures, written in the Japanese language, allowing only the hero known as Bushido, of the newly formed Outsider’s, mind to read them. They were all warnings and prophecies of his people, lest we forget. But more importantly they were messages from the former Bushido’s.

In the center of the room, Bushido stood, he stood still his legs together his arms angled and forming at the hands. It was a form of meditation, yet it was also another form of conversing with the souls within the weapons. They were changing as of late; no longer were they as clear as before. They seemed to be growing in strength, and they seemed to be… different. But the change was not grand yet; there was still time to figure out why they had become restless.

After leaving his meditation stance he went to the corner of the room, where his Bonsai plant was, and pulled out three pieces of wooden blocks. The blocks, within, had a core of strong steel. After placing them in the center of the room, he pulled out his Kama Yari from the sheath on his back. He blindfolded himself and began to use his Mind’s eye. He saw the room once more, though what he saw was different now. He allowed the souls to give him a sense of his surroundings. It wasn’t as clear as normal site, he simply saw vague outlines of what was before him, but he was aware of this fact, and after adjusting he saw the blocks. As fast as he saw it all, it disappeared. Either the souls were not strong because of their years of not being used, or they did not fully allow him to tap into their power. Regardless it was time for him to train. He placed his Kama Yari in its proper position and went for the block on the far left, where he assumed it to be. After striking down he felt the weight of the block. The Kama Yari then struck the steel and he was forced to pull back, he was not yet strong enough to fully cut through it. He put away the Kama Yari and then pulled out his Flintlock Pistol. He put in some newly made bullets and wanted to test them. He aimed for what he thought was the middle block and fired. He heard some wood fly… But then he heard a second sound of the bullet piercing another object. Perhaps he missed after all and it continued through some artifact. Regardless in a battle situation he would not have time to wait and so he placed his gun in his holster and took out one more weapon. His final weapon was the Nagin Ata. He held it in his favored position and struck the third block in a horizontal fashion. There was then a loud crash… This was the final oddity, which caused him to look at his mistakes…

With the blindfold off he let go of his Halberd, his mouth agape. He walked forward and saw the three blocks, or rather two blocks, the right one had been thrust into the wall causing s great hole to form about it. The left block… The steel had melted, the center block had indeed a bullet mark but it had two… The third had a slash across the front but it had many more cuts about its sides.

“What the hell?!” He cursed.

Just then a he heard a sound, which emanated from the monitor room, and one other coming from Nightwing’s quarters. One private the other, not so much. Bushido gathered his lain weapons and exited his room, sliding open the door. Clearly something needed the Outsider’s attention. Bushido went through the hallways going for the monitor room
Upon reaching it he saw three members, Lobo, Esper and Nightwing. Not much of the team but regardless he joined them.

“Do tell, what does this concern?” He forgot of the occurrences for the moment. What mattered was not what he thought odd currently, what he needed to focus on now was what the Outsider’s needed.

'Hey green pants! What's going on? Who's that loser?" Lobo asked he smiled and put a cigar in his mouth and used the lighter fluid on it. "Hey girlie you want to get drunk in myy room later?" he said to Esper smirking in an evil kind of way.

"Lobo, shut up," Nightwing siad in a low monetone voice, as Bushido entered the room. Once the martial artist was inside the rooom, Nightwing hit a switch on the console. As he did so, the large titanium door that led to the hallway slammed shut, thus keeping Lobo in the hallway. Lobo had only walked past the monitor room, but had not entered it.

Nightwing still wasn't sure WHY Lobo was still following them around like some demented puppy in need a giant rolled up newspaper. He wasn't member of the Outsiders. He had just been someone who helped them on one case. He had more or less gotten his bounty during the Dumas caper and thus he should have gone back to water rock he crawled out from under.

Unfortunantly, Lobo refused to leave. Nightwing often compared Lobo to a spoiled child, who bothered everyone simply because no one listened to him.

“Do tell, what does this concern?” Boshido asked.

"One moment," Nightwing said before looking back at the monitor. "You were saying Chief?"

Roy Harper had just gotten back from visiting is daugter at the latest house where she was staying "I know what I do keeps me away from you, but I want you to be a good girl and know that I am always thinking of you." he had told her with tears in his eyes. As soon as he had gotten into the Outsiders base, he saw the others standing at the console, He saw that Dick was talking to someone so he asked "Hey Esper, what's going on?"

((Ummm, kidflash, Nightwing closed a big titanium door between where he, Esper and Bushido are standing in the Monitor Room and where Lobo is standing in the hallway. There's no way Arsenal could have seen them if he came in at that point. He would have noticed the door to the monitor room closed and locked, and Lobo standing outside it with a cigar drenched in lighter fluid. ;)2 ))

"Of course well help," he repleid to the cop on the view screen. "We'll need you to send us a complete list of what was stolen, all the locations of the thefts. Esper, if you would please send the Chief the proper fax-number?"

"I would be happy to, Nightwing," replied Esper with a smile. She pressed a few buttons, and on the Chief's screen the number "555-6887" flashed annoyingly, like on those infomercials calling upon the viewer to purchase some useless kitchen gadget or another.

Nightwing crossed his arms and looked thoughtful. "Is there anything more that we should know about the crimes, prior to starting out own investigation sir?"

"Only that..."

'Hey green pants! What's going on? Who's that loser?" Lobo asked he smiled and put a cigar in his mouth and used the lighter fluid on it.

The chief gaped at Lobo. "How DARE you, you..."

"Hey girlie you want to get drunk in myy room later?" he said to Esper smirking in an evil kind of way.

"Why you..." Esper, her face red with anger, started to rise from her chair, not even noticing the arrival of Bushido. Esper had not even gotten halfway out of her chair, however, when Nightwing responded.

"Lobo, shut up," Nightwing siad in a low monetone voice, as Bushido entered the room. Once the martial artist was inside the rooom, Nightwing hit a switch on the console. As he did so, the large titanium door that led to the hallway slammed shut, thus keeping Lobo in the hallway. Lobo had only walked past the monitor room, but had not entered it.

Esper blinked. "We have a door there? I'll have to remember that..."

“Do tell, what does this concern?” He [Bushido] forgot of the occurrences for the moment. What mattered was not what he thought odd currently, what he needed to focus on now was what the Outsider’s needed.

"One moment," Nightwing said before looking back at the monitor. "You were saying Chief?"

As Nightwing spoke to the chief, Esper whispered to Bushido, "It concerns getting rid of that whore-hopping, drunken, lecherous space bum! Can you ninja him up into orbit or something?" she whispered, referring of course to Lobo.

Ignoring Esper and Bushido, the Chief, again red faced with anger, turned his attention back to Nightwing. "Only that no one has been hurt yet," the chief continued through gritted teeth. "Like I said, if it weren't for this important historic artifact being stolen, the Mayor would never have insisted that we call you. I'll have my people fax over the list you requested. Good day!" he concluded with vehemence before slamming his hand down on the vid-phone console, shutting off the conversation.

(Once again Kidflash3, you must read everyone else's posts completely before you post.)

---

Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed once the Cheif had ended the transmition. Lobo had succefully acted like a world class ass and Why had he agreed to be the leader again?

Nightwing turned to look at Esper and Boshido with serious expression. "Looks we we've got a new case. Esper, hail the other Outsiders and tell them to get her ASAP. And try not to tick everyone off, alright?"

The Bludhaven hero then turned to Boshido and gave a quick explination about what the call was all about. Boshido had been a new recruit needed while Thunder was still recovering from recent injuries and Grace was taking some R&R after her own recent... problems.

Taking a seat at the large meeting table, Nightwing awaited the in-coming information from the Chief of Police as well as the arrival of the others.

Nightwing turned to look at Esper and Boshido with serious expression. "Looks we we've got a new case. Esper, hail the other Outsiders and tell them to get her ASAP. And try not to tick everyone off, alright?"

Esper saluted him with a mock-serious expression before breaking into giggles and saying "Yes, sir!!" She then checked the monitor board. "It looks like everybody's here but Bloodless. Arsenal just got back on base... he must be locked out there with Lobo." Esper grimaced as she said Lobo's name, filling the word with disgust and loathing. "I'm not letting him in here, though. YOU let him in here."

That done, she activated the com system, establishing a link with Bloodless's communicator. It would chirp annoyingly, then repeat what she said when he opened it up. "Oh, Bloodless? BLOODLESS!!" she called with a sickingly sweet voice. "Wakey wakey time! We have a mission, and Nightwing says report to HQ ASAP. And, on your way in, can you maybe stop and pick up some donuts or something for the conference room? That is to say, Nightwing commands that you stop and pick up some donuts for... ummm... official Outsiders business. make sure you get some creme ones."

After Bushido’s entrance, Nightwing shut the door on Lobo, locking him, and all others, out. After which Nightwing answered Bushido’s question… To some extent.

"One moment. You were saying Chief?"

The… Chief, then continued with his explanations of what was happening and why the Outsider’s were needed. Yet since his entrance the Chief did not say much. All that needed to be said was clearly said before his coming. Esper took it upon herself to answer Bushido's question however...

"It concerns getting rid of that whore-hopping, drunken, lecherous space bum! Can you ninja him up into orbit or something?"

“No, no… I am not a ninja; a samurai is everything the Bushido are, past, present and future. And, Lobo… Lobo is simply another being. His flaws are merely more apparent then others. His has merely mouthed off a bit too much, nothing else can be done to calm him down.”

After the red faced Chief cut off the conversation Nightwing in turn turned to Esper and Bushido. Nightwing told Bushido of what exactly was happening and why the Outsider’s were needed. It was simple, there were a string of thefts that alarmed the police, merely because there was no evidence of the culprits being there. In truth it did not seem to be of much concern, but apparently Nightwing seemed to think the Outsider’s should help out.

Esper, after Nightwing’s command, went to someone the other members of the Outsider group. Or rather member. There weren’t any others who were not present on the base. The team was small in fact, yet for a case like this they should not need more then they already have.

“No, no… I am not a ninja; a samurai is everything the Bushido are, past, present and future. And, Lobo… Lobo is simply another being. His flaws are merely more apparent then others. His has merely mouthed off a bit too much, nothing else can be done to calm him down.”

"Well, maybe you can samurai him into orbit then," mutters Esper under her breath. "He seems like one big flaw to me. Just you wait untill you've been here as long as I have," she said at a normal volume, sounding for all the world like she had been a heroine for years. "What he did today was mild, for him."

Arsenal was in the lobby stil dreesed in his civilian clothes, when he had noticed that Lobo was also locked out of the meeting room, "Wonder what he did this time" he thought to himself, he wasn't thrilled about having lobo as a member, but since he had helped them on certain missions he had to deal with it. "there is Esper, he thought, maybe she went to get the others." Then he had decided to change and go get his bow and quiver from his room.

(OOC: Kidflash3, again, PLEASE read the past post completely, before you post. Esper, Boshido and Nightwing are in the Monitor Room. They closed the door to keep Lobo out and there are no windows. Arsenal is also locked out. Arsenal can't see Esper, because he's not in the room with her. Esper was able to see Arsenal because she saw him arrive on a security camera monitor.)

---

Nightwing looked up to one of the monitors and saw that Arsenal had arrived at the base, and was currently going to his room. Well that was one person. Starfire, Jade, Shift and Indigo were currently on another mission that Dick had sent them on earlier that week in Hong Kong.

Roy meanwhile had remained behind so as to look after his daugther Lian, who

"Oh, Bloodless? BLOODLESS!!" Esper said into the com-system with a somewhat annoyingly sweet tone of voice. "Wakey wakey time! We have a mission, and Nightwing says report to HQ ASAP. And, on your way in, can you maybe stop and pick up some donuts or something for the conference room? That is to say, Nightwing commands that you stop and pick up some donuts for... ummm... official Outsiders business. make sure you get some creme ones."

"Esper," Nightwing growled, shooting her an pointed look. "Do that again Donut duty is going to be your only responsibility, got it?"

Turning his attention back to the monitors, it was clear that Lobo wasn't going to leave and sooner or later Arsenal was going to need to get into the Monitor Room. Dick's only hope was the Lobo would find this case so 'dull and fraggin' stupid' that he'd leave to find something more intersting to do.

Relucantly he pressed the nearby button that caused the door to open again. Lobo was standing in the doorway, and Nightwing rolled his eyes.

"As soon as Roy gets here we can begin," Nightwing said, since he was uncertain about Bloodless.

Roy had just gotten changed and gotten all of his arrows in place and reloaded his guns. "Now to get to the meeting room". Arsenal came into the lobby and saw the meeting room door open. He decided to go see if the others were there.

Relucantly he(Nightwing) pressed the nearby button that caused the door to open again. Lobo was standing in the doorway, and Nightwing rolled his eyes.

"As soon as Roy gets here we can begin," Nightwing said, since he was uncertain about Bloodless.

Lobo ran into the monitor room and gave Nightwing a big kiss then he piked up a match and lit his cigar and smoked it. "So almost-topless-girl want to be topless girl?" he asked he decided that he would stick around and follow Nightwing.

When Lobo had entered the room, he had raced up to Nightwing in order to (of all disgusting things) kiss him. Dick quickly shot up two fingers to intercept, in which he unluckly found his index and middle finger touching Lobo lips. 'Note to self. Burn those gloves.'

"I always knew there was a reason you why you dressed like one of the Village People, Lobo," Nightwing drawled sarcastically, while he wipped his slobber covered fingers on the table. "Now we know the truth. A couple of eyelashes and you could be the universe's ugliest Judy Garlen impersonator."

Nightwing shook his head. "Nice cover up. Almost believable." All Lobo ever said was something about seeing one of the girls naked. It was just sad. Well, that an trying to kiss Nightwing. That was both sad and creepy.

As Lobo lit his cigar, an automated arm dropped from the ceiling with a nozzle at the end. A liquid gel substance shot forth from it, completely covering Lobo's head and extinguishing the cigar. One of the many features of the HQ, was an anti-smoking system that would extinguish flames and in turn cigars and cigarettes. Considering the equipment in this place it was necessary that it stay steril.

"I told you before Lobo. No smoking in HQ or in the Prequod."

Once Arsenal had arrived, Nightwing called for attention. "A little while ago, we got a call from Boston PD. Apparently there has been a rash of baffling robberies all across the city. The thefts haven't been what could be considered high profile, except for the fact that there is no sigh of how the theifs got in, or out. There are no fiber samples, DNA, or antyhing. According to the BPD, everything just vanished. Considering how... unusual that seems, they've called in us."

Nightwing looked at the telepathic Esper, who had the faxed info. "Esper read off the items stolen and the places that were hit, please."

"Esper," Nightwing growled, shooting her an pointed look. "Do that again Donut duty is going to be your only responsibility, got it?"

Esper winced, and muttered, "Sorry, Nightwing..."

"So almost-topless-girl want to be topless girl?"

"Why you... you..." Esper growled at Lobo...

Untill he was covered with flame retardant foam from the neck up, at which point Esper's angry growl turned into a fit of giggles.

"I told you before Lobo. No smoking in HQ or in the Prequod."

Once Arsenal had arrived, Nightwing called for attention. "A little while ago, we got a call from Boston PD. Apparently there has been a rash of baffling robberies all across the city. The thefts haven't been what could be considered high profile, except for the fact that there is no sigh of how the theifs got in, or out. There are no fiber samples, DNA, or antyhing. According to the BPD, everything just vanished. Considering how... unusual that seems, they've called in us."

Nightwing looked at the telepathic Esper, who had the faxed info. "Esper read off the items stolen and the places that were hit, please."

"Yes, sir!" replied Esper, ripping the fax sheet off of it's machine and stepping over to the meeting table to read it. "Let's see... Three gallons of absinthe from Harold's Pharmacy on 12th street... An unspecified quantity of dried amaranth from a wiccan supply store... three depleted uranium tank shells from the history museum... a twelve karat uncut piece of onyx from Littman Jewelers... an unspecified quantity of alum from the Lexcorp Industrial Foundry... about three pounds of Myrrh incense from the Greek Orthodox Church on 33rd Street... an entire Rowan tree from a local arboreatum... another tree, this one Ash, taken from the grounds Boston University... a Nile Crocodile from the Franklin Park Zoo... wow, they took a whole crocodile? Cool..." Esper looked up, saw everyone staring at her, blushed, and continued.

"Sorry. Where was I? Right, after the crocodile, a box of promegranites from the downtown Acme... a case of sea salt from the desalinization plant... kind of silly to steal that, they were going to throw it out anyway... a family heirloom tarot deck from a local fortune teller... a ton of coal from an old railroad storage depot... an unspecified supply of opium from the evicence room of the 3rd precinct... and, just last night, a priceless historical relic- a masonic ritual tool allegedly used by the Founding Fathers, which was kept at the Masonic Temple." As she finished reading, Esper handed the list to Nightwing and took her seat- as far away from Lobo's seat as she could get. She grimaced and looked up at Nightwing.

"None of that makes any sense to me... do any of you see any connection?"

"Aparently, all of these stolen things have to deal with someone/something or some group with a very wierd hobby." Arsenal said.

"I don't think so Roy," Nightwing said taking the list from and studying it. "Taking pillow cases from hotels and selling them on e-bay is a weird hobby. Stealing an entire crocodile from a zoo, is something else entirely."

Placing the list down, Nightwing fell into silence. None of these things had any obvious connection to one another, at least not yet. Absinthe, amaranth, uranium tank shells, onyx, alum, Myrrh, Rowan tree, ash tree, Crocodile, promegranites, sea salt, tarot deck, coal, opium, and a masonic ritual tool.

Looking up at Boshido, Arsenal and Esper (he didn't even gaze at Lobo, because he would have nothing relivant to say), Nightwing mulled over the information for a bit. "Okay, let's play this out slowlyI'm going to send this info to the Oracle, and see if they can find any specific link to all these items. Meanwhile, Roy and Esper will go check out the last crime scene. See if your tracking skills or telepathy can pick up on..." Nightwing trailed off for a moment.

"Wait..." he began slowly. "Tarrot carts, wiccan stores, and ritual tools... Now that I think about it, it does sound like there could be a rather obvious connection..."

"Wait..." he began slowly. "Tarrot carts, wiccan stores, and ritual tools... Now that I think about it, it does sound like there could be a rather obvious connection..."

"Witchcraft?" asks Esper in a whispered voice.

The room was full now; Arsenal and Lobo were both in the room now. The only one missing was the one called Bloodless, and Bushido was positive he would come soon; after all you do join a super hero team for a reason. Regardless the room was kept lively with the rather disgusting Lobo, yelling out obscenities to Esper. Clearly he was not shown proper etiquette, nor was he aware that chivalry never dies. It caused Bushido to reflect upon the words of Esper, she said he would surely become a nuisance to Bushido if Lobo were to stay with the Outsider’s. Bushido found this inference reasonable, but it is always better to give people the benefit of the doubt.

Nightwing then called the group to attention and explained the situation to all those who were absent from the beginning.

"A little while ago, we got a call from Boston PD. Apparently there has been a rash of baffling robberies all across the city. The thefts haven't been what could be considered high profile, except for the fact that there is no sigh of how the theifs got in, or out. There are no fiber samples, DNA, or antyhing. According to the BPD, everything just vanished. Considering how... unusual that seems, they've called in us."

After the brief explanation, Nightwing called forth Esper, and asked her to bring up the list of items stolen. There were many items, ranging from blackened coal, to some ancient ritual artifacts. The one thing that stuck in Bushido’s mind were the items taken from the Wiccan stores. All the items together spoke of witchcraft, however, witchcraft, to Bushido, was a silly, frivolous act. It did not seem very realistic to the Samurai, on most cases it was used for the wrong reasons. His thoughts quickly drifted to the evil of the Tengu. Magic was said to be dead the day the Tengu was taken out of the Beast Boy. Witchcraft, magic, all of it… It was a senseless ideal. Bushido did not believe magic could be the answer to these thefts; they were the first things that came to mind, yet there had to be another answer… There had to be.

Yet it was all answered in the next words of the two before him… They were not answered with assuredness, yet they were enough to cause a revulsion in Bushido’s stomach.

"Wait... Tarrot carts, wiccan stores, and ritual tools... Now that I think about it, it does sound like there could be a rather obvious connection..."

"Witchcraft?"

Nightwing and Esper both thought the same thing that Bushido thought. He seriously hope they were all wrong.

“If… it is witchcraft… Magic then that could explain quite a bit…”

Nightwing nodded darkly. "And it would also mean, things just got way more complicated. And considering the complextities of the crime, the fact that they got in undetected and the specific items stolen, we aren't dealing with a wannabe-occultist."

"Now the question remains who we're dealing with. Someone old or someone new?" There were dozens of villains who had magical based powers like Morgna Le Fey or Faust. But there were also hundreds of new magic-psychos coming out of the wood works regularly.

"Maybe it's one of those creeps in Gotham coming to get revenge on green pants here." Lobo said he thought that if Nightwing would take this seriously then he wouldn't...plus he wanted to take down that crocodile

(OOC: 'Take down the crocidile'...? Why...? Never mind. :huh:2 )

"That is HIGHLY unlikely," Nightwing said flatly, knowing perfectly well Lobo had just said that for the excuse of getting attention. It was times like this, Nightwing was suprised Lobo could dress himself. Meeting Lobo's eyes with an icy glare he lifted up his hand a raised one finger.

"First: The attacks have not be directed at me or the Outsiders. In fact, the only reason we're involved is because the police asked us. Otherwise we probably wouldn't even be aware of this." He raised another finger. "And second: The Gotham breed of psychos rarely, if ever, get involved in the occult."

"Fact is, we won't get anywhere by guessing. As I was saying before, I'll send the list of items to Oracle. Considering this might be mystical, Oracle can possible contact some of the JLA occult experts and see if any of these things ring a bell. Meanwhile, we can check out the last crime scene. Maybe get a our own idea about what happened."

"And Lobo," Nightwing said. "Don't you have a bar in the blackhole to visit? I'm certain this is far to 'straight and narrow' for your attention span."

standing in the back in a dark corner bloodless steps out....

"do we always get the strange missions...." he said


looking at nightwing with a glance.....

"Fact is, we won't get anywhere by guessing. As I was saying before, I'll send the list of items to Oracle. Considering this might be mystical, Oracle can possible contact some of the JLA occult experts and see if any of these things ring a bell. Meanwhile, we can check out the last crime scene. Maybe get a our own idea about what happened."

"sounds good to me.....when ever your ready boss"he said

"ohh and by the way" he say's looking towards esper " i wasn't able to swing by to get em donut's"

"sounds good to me.....when ever your ready boss" he (Bloodless) said.

"So glad you finally decided to grace us with your presence, Bloodless," Nightwing said in a somwhat sarcastic tone, not turning to look at water-metamorph. "Next time, please attend the meeting on time. I don't appreciate unexplained tardiness."

The Bludhaven vigilante looked at the rest of the group seriously. "Any further questions?"

"ohh and by the way" he [Bloodless] say's looking towards esper " i wasn't able to swing by to get em donut's"

Esper blushes bright red and pointedly avoids looking at Nightwing, after the tongue-lashing she had gotten over the whole donut thing.

The Bludhaven vigilante looked at the rest of the group seriously. "Any further questions?"

Esper raised her hand cautiously, then spoke quietly. "Ummm... what if the Masons don't cooperate with us? I mean, don't you have to be a mason to get into the temple thing? And I heard that to be a mason, you had to go through secret rituals, and memorize books, and drink blood and stuff. And they rule the world, and stuff." That last part was said with more authority than that which had preceeded it.

"There are other ways to get into a temple." Roy said

"And it would also mean, things just got way more complicated. And considering the complextities of the crime, the fact that they got in undetected and the specific items stolen, we aren't dealing with a wannabe-occultist."

"Now the question remains who we're dealing with. Someone old or someone new?"

Nightwing seemed to understand how different things would be if in fact magic were at the source of their worries. He knew everything had changed; sadly everything had changed for the worse. Magic was a rather… A rather tricky subject… No not tricky, it could not be called a substance either; it was a lively source from which many things thrived; yet not a soul as effectively found out how it lives.

The small argument between the leader and the outcast brought him back to reality. For a moment his thoughts had traveled back to the occurrences in his room… But that was something entirely. Nightwing did not appreciate Lobo’s incessant jabber, and truthfully it was beginning to wear away at Bushido, much like Esper had said, only much more quickly.


"Fact is, we won't get anywhere by guessing. As I was saying before, I'll send the list of items to Oracle. Considering this might be mystical, Oracle can possible contact some of the JLA occult experts and see if any of these things ring a bell. Meanwhile, we can check out the last crime scene. Maybe get a our own idea about what happened."

“Indeed.” Bushido agreed with Nightwing, he certainly knew what he was talking about. Bloodless finally came, adhering to Esper’s call.

"Ummm... what if the Masons don't cooperate with us? I mean, don't you have to be a mason to get into the temple thing? And I heard that to be a mason, you had to go through secret rituals, and memorize books, and drink blood and stuff. And they rule the world, and stuff."

"There are other ways to get into a temple."

“Really now? Do tell…”

"We can always get in through the roof." Or, we could have Lobo take care of everyone for us" Roy said with knowlege and a smirk on his face.

Nightwing had to do his best to keep his eyes from rolling and sighing deeply. He expected Roy to be at least the ONE person who would actually take this seriously least of all encouraging Lobo. Especially after what had happened to Lian last month.

"Or how about not," Nightwing said. "Let's not over simplify things here shall we Roy?"

"Esper is partially right. The Mason's are a highly secretive group. They don't really rule the world, though. That's an urban legend. The Mason's control the United State. It the Luminati who control the world."

His eyebrow raised, asking the question of whether or not he was being serious or joking. It was difficult to say, when his face was so serious looking.

"The Masons were willing to call in the police and allow them to examine the crime scene correct? I'm doubt that every cop in the Police's forensics squad and Robbery group is a member of the Masons. And if they want to their artifact returned to them, they might be willing to let us in to look around." Nightwing fell silent for a minute, contiplating things a bit further.

"Or at the very least, they might allow another member in," When Nightwing said this he got wore barely noticable wrly smile. The Wayne Family of Gotham had been members of the Masons since colonial times, and thus that made Bruce Wayne a member through blood. And since Bludhaven Detective Richard Grayson was the adopted son of Bruce Wayne, by legal standards, that would make him a member as well.

"Let's contact the Masonic Temple, and explain the situation. They'll let us in, one way or another."

"So green pants you know someone who can get us in?" Lobo hadn't really been listening but he fairly understood the situation.

"Do you want me to call them, Nightwing, or should we do the whole dramatic-superheroes-on-the-front-doorstep-out-of-nowhere thing?" asked Esper, though she was still somewhat distracted trying to decide whether Nightwing had, in fact, been serious about that Illuminati thing without reading his mind.

Nightwing shot the drunken alien a pointed look, which basically said 'what do you think?' yet he never actually answered Lobo's question (or aknowleged his constant us of 'green pants' comment. Lobo and Dick had only met once in the past when he was Robin, and frankly Lobo's constant fixation of the green short pants he wore, only made the near kiss from earlier far more disturbing), and instead turned to answer Esper's question.

"Well, considering who we're dealing with, we could always go for the dramatic approach," he said with wrly half-smile.

"Well, considering who we're dealing with, we could always go for the dramatic approach," he said with wrly half-smile.


"hey i myself have found a flare for the dramatic" bloodless said with a smile of his own


"and by the way should we yust appear with this new found full team or should some of us stay away till further notice" he said with a rather sarcastic tone

"oh and by the way any word from azrael" he said looking towards nightwing

Nightwing looked at Bloodless with a raised eyebrow. Full team? They could barely be considered a team. Esper and Bloodless were still learning the hero bit. Boshido had only joined them a week ago, and Lobo wasn't even a member of the team. "We're all going. Bloodless Esper and I will investigate the actual crime scene. Meanwhile, Arsenal and Boshido, I need you two to examine the outside for clues. Roy and myself have the most detective and forensic skills, while Esper can try and pick up on residual memories."

That was extremely off topic, but Nightwing decided to appease the question if only for the moment. "No. Azrael was never a member of the Outsiders. He asked for our assistance in one mission. Since then he's gone off on his own. Where that is, I couldn't say."

Standing up, Nightwing cleared his throat. "Now lets move out people."

"We can always get in through the roof."

Bushido scoffed, he almost for a moment thought Roy was serious, but apparently not. Roy always struck Bushido as a man who gets down to business, but apparently it was not always. He did, in fact, make the situation lighter, yet what they needed now as a plan.

After much debating, the Outsider’s, or more officially what was left of the Outsiders concocted a plan. Nightwing knew about the Mason clan, he knew what Esper said was correct, or partially so. The Mason’s allowed the police to come in, investigators, not all could have been a Mason. So clearly it could not have been as tight as Esper suggested. Nightwing seemed to think they would let another member in, from his explanation it seemed to be true. But they would need another member…

After Nightwing’s proclamation Lobo asked the obvious question but Nightwing never really gave him an answer, yet it was obvious.

"Well, considering who we're dealing with, we could always go for the dramatic approach,"

Bloodless then spoke up, and Nightwing answered…

"We're all going. Bloodless Esper and I will investigate the actual crime scene. Meanwhile, Arsenal and Boshido, I need you two to examine the outside for clues. Roy and myself have the most detective and forensic skills, while Esper can try and pick up on residual memories. Now lets move out people."

Bushido heard his and Arsenal’s assignments. It was not hard to understand, the two could easily work it out.

“Yes everyone, let’s go, we want to finish this as soon as possible now, don’t we? Arsenal are you ready?”