Bruce returned from a rather tiring mission but went directly to the Batcave where Richard and Damian were waiting for him. He had asked for Damian's presence because what he had recently discovered in Dr Kirk Langstrom's warehouse, concerned him as well.

He had found a League of Assassins star which indicated that after Raw Al Ghoul, Deathstroke had taken over the League and was threatening Dr Langstrom to recreate his Man Bat formula.

Kirk had been working with Raw previously but since Deathstroke took over after his death, he was forced to work for him instead, at the cost of his family locked away in a stronghold somewhere far off in the mountains.

Ever since then, Langstrom had disappeared as well. And Batman was concerned to find him and track out Deathstroke through him.

He had a few leads as of yet but that once, he wanted Damian to accompany him. As his sidekick, Robin.

"So you mean to say that you're letting Dami in on the team at last?" Richard asked positively surprised.

"Yes," he hadn't yet changed out of his Batman suit, "Damian will be Robin. But he has to promise to stay close to me and follow orders. I can't have him spiraling out of control."

"I promise, father," Damian spoke up, "I won't let you down."

"Good. A lot of lives are at stake already. Heads up," he threw him the League of Assassins star which he caught easily.

"Where did you get it?"

"At Kirk Langstrom's warehouse. Dr Kirk has been missing since days and there has been no sign of his family either."

Richard was already at the Bat computer, verifying Langstrom's credentials, "as far as we know, Langstrom had been working for Ras to create mutated soldiers."

"Man Bats," Damian nodded, "grandfather called it Operation Air Strike."  

"My guess is that Deathstroke has taken over the League and is forcefully obtaining the same services from Langstrom."

Damian's brow furrowed in concern, "so if he has taken over the league... Then where is Mother?"

"I'm sorry, Damian, I don't know yet."

Damian's jaw clenched as he tried to suppress the wave if internal fear coursing through him. What if Deathstroke had already gotten rid of Talia? Because there was no way she would give up the League so easily. After all she was Ras Al Ghul's daughter and after him, the worthy leader of the League of Assassins.

The Assassin star should have been with her, but it wasn't.

"Don't worry, kid, she'll be okay," Richard gently patted him on the shoulder.

"What are we going to do now?" Damian asked, turning his attention to Batman.

"Suit up, we're going to meet the Commissioner."

Richard stayed in the Batcave, working on tracking out Langstrom and his family while Batman and his Robin left in the direction of the Batsignal that was shining from the roof of the GCPD.

As expected the Commissioner, Jim Gordon, was waiting for Batman at the rooftop. He had been glancing at his watch to check the time every bow and then when he was shaken out of hid thoughts by Batman's voice behind him, "Jim."

He turned around exasperated, "is there any way you could show up without raising my blood pressure?"

Batman didn't feel the need to reply as Jim was temporarily distracted by Damian climbing down after Batman.

"Another one?"

"I'll explain later, how's Ubu doing?" Batman asked getting down to the topic immediately.

"We searched his place and found nothing much," Jim replied, "except for this."

He handed him a piece of paper placed securely in an evidence packet. It was the clue to the hideout chosen by Deathstroke's men in the city.

Gotham coliseum.

Bruce quickly connected with Tim Drake and send him the coordinates. He knew they had to break in the coliseum for all their answers would be there.

But before breaking in, he needed to be sure of the place such as its escape routes and other potential hiding areas. And the best person to work on that in such a short time was Tim Drake.

"Can you manage it in twenty minutes?" Bruce asked.

"Give me ten," Tim replied confidently, "I have the layout marked already."

***

It had started to pour when the caped crusader and his trusty sidekick reached Gotham coliseum. Batman warned Robin to stay silent because in the dark if the night as well as the not so favorable weather, it would be foolish to burst straight into the enemy's lair.

Moreover there were camera surveillance throughout the coliseum as they could clearly see through their special binoculars.

"We made a deal," Bruce warned him, "you're backup and this is no game. Think before you act."

"Very well then, you lead."

Using a hidden trap door, the two entered the coliseum. Tim had already been working on the layout of the whole place ever since Batman had received the clue from Jim Gordon, hence he had sent Bruce all the possible escape routes and information about potential places where Langstrom could be hidden.

Quiet as a shadow, they found Kirk in one of the rooms. He was working on his Man Bat formula.

"Dr Langstrom."

The man turned around as if afraid, "you?"

"You have to come with us."

"No you don't understand. I can't. Deathstroke has my family. He says he'll kill them if I don't do what he wants."

"Where is Deathstroke?"

Kirk's eyes were wide in fear, "I don't know. You have to believe me."

But amid all that commotion, the assassins dropped in. They surrounded Batman and Robin and went into aggressive mode instantly.

Langstrom succeeded in escaping while the two fought the assassins off. But about a hundred more of ninja assassins poured in on them.

"Now what?" Damian asked, ready to break bones and snap a few more necks.

"We retreat."

Batman left smoke in the room under cover of which the two made a run for the exit to the main ground of the coliseum. However, they were stopped by a flock of Man Bats; deadly mutated creatures that had been a result of Langstrom's experiments.

The two fought their way through the boards of Man Bats in the end managing to blast them off in an explosion. But while batman was focused on getting rid of the Man Bats, Damian spotted Langstrom making his escape so he followed.

"Robin!" Batman called out but the boy had left so he followed as well.

Damian had managed to stop Langstrom and was standing defiantly in front of him with his sword pointed towards him threateningly.

"Put the sword down," Batman ordered at which he lowered the weapon.

"Please try to understand," Langstrom begged, "I'm not doing this intentionally. My family is at stake."

"We know, that's why you're coming with us."

"If Deathstroke finds out... He will hurt Francine and Rebecca."

"He won't, leave that to us. Your family will be safe, I promise."

***