[27 December 2003]
Glitch is running across rooftops jumping and vaulting over obstacles trying to lose his pursuer. He glances behind not seeing his pursuer but knowing his right behind him in the shadows, waiting for a single miss-step or mistake to pounce on him. "Shit...think Nathan think..." Glitch mumbles to himself looking around for a way to escape.
He flips over to another building. He finally hears his pursuer close behind him. He looks around the roof of the building and sees a corner he can use. He sneakily takes out a shock charge preparing to place it. He turns the corner and places the shock charge. Hears the shock charge go off, followed by a grunt of pain. He glances behind and sees his pursuer leaning against a wall in pain.
He smirks in victory and picks up the pace. He descends the rooftops into an alley and hides behind a trash bin. He looks up and sees his pursuer jump over the gap in the buildings, going in the wrong direction. He sighs heavily in relief. He stands up and tries to calm his breathing after that long run. As he gets his breathing under control, he is suddenly grabbed around the throat and smashed into the wall behind him. "We done here or do you still feel like running?" A modulated voice asks him calmly.
Glitch gasps having the wind knocked out of him and goes into a coughing fit. After calming down still being held by the throat he sighs in defeat and looks up at Robin's mask and says "Ok, I give up,". The Robin narrows his eyes at him for a few moments then nods his head and says, "Goodnight Nathan,". Glitch's eyes widen in shock "How d--," He is cut off by a punch to the face that knocks him out.
--Line Break--
Nathan wakes up groaning in pain and blinks his eyes open slowly, "God I feel like I got hit by a bat,". He tries to feel his face for any bruising and realizes he can't, his eyes widen in panic and he starts struggling against his restraints, "What the fuck!". "You're gonna hurt yourself if you keep that up," A modulated voice says from his side.
He stops struggling and snaps his attention to the sound of the voice and sees Robin leaning against the wall casually. He suddenly remembers how he ended up in this situation and sighs slumping in the chair. He takes a cursory glance around and sees it's a small-sized room with one hanging light, a single door, and zero windows.
"So what are you gonna do to me?" Nathan asks looking at Robin. Robin tilts his head intrigued by his reaction, "That's it?". Nathan chuckles weakly and shrugs, "What can I do?... I've read the police and eyewitness reports about you man., And from what I've read and seen you're not normal at all,".
"I think I'm normal," Robin says shrugging. Nathan looks at him in disbelief and shakes his head, "Dude you were reported to have single-handled taken down an entire SWAT team before they even had a chance to aim their weapons, you apparently moved so fast they could barely see you. You once held up that burning building saving those dozens of people. Yeah, that is definitely not normal,"
Robin looks at smirks at him amused, "If you knew all that then why did you run?". He chuckles when he sees him freeze in ducks his head embarrassed. "I had to at least try...I guess," Nathan grumbles indignantly.
"Well, let's get down to business then, try to keep your mouth shut until I'm done," Robin stare at him waiting for an affirmation. Nathan looks uncertain but nods nonetheless. "Good...Nathan Holloway was Born on December 12, 1980. In Los Angeles, California. But moved to Oakland at a young age with your Father...You were placed into a community program and discovered you had an affinity for computers. You ran away from home when you were seventeen years old. For the next four years, you were off the grid...Then you resurfaced about a year ago in New York's criminal underground working as an information broker, and Grey Hat hacker under the alias Glitch, and sometime Retr0."
Robin looks amused at Nathan's slack jaw shocked, and frightened face. His facial expression changes and he glares at him causing him to flinch and says in a serious tone, "About two weeks ago, you thought it would be a good idea, to hack into my systems and install a backdoor so you could easily access my database whenever you felt like it.". Robin walks slowly towards him and kicks the chair toppling it over but catches him by the collar stopping his fall and growls, "Did you really think it was going to be that easy?...I will admit you are good...good enough to break through my security measures and firewalls. But you were overconfident, arrogant, and sloppy. If you weren't so overconfident in your skills, you would have noticed the countermeasure which pinged your location, the moment you gained access,"
Robin glares coldly at his fearful expression. He straightens the chair and steps back. Nathan blurts out, "God, you're terrifying for a short guy," His eyes widen in horror, and winces expecting a punch to the face. He watches dumbfounded as Robin chuckles in amusement. Nathan chuckles nervously and then clears his throat awkwardly and says "Sorry it's just I got so scared my brain-to-mouth filter malfunctioned for a bit there... Anyway, how did you get all that info? I'm pretty sure I dealt with that a long time ago."
Robin just shrugs, "I know a guy,". Nathan stares at him and then sighs "You're not gonna tell me are you?". Robin smirks not answering his question. "So...what happens now?" Nathan asks tentatively. Robin stares making him squirm in his seat, "What happens now is I call my friend in the NYPD and let him haul you off to where you belong, behind bars..." Robin watches as Nathan's face falls in resignation probably already expecting this outcome.
"...Or," Robin adds and watches as his face lifts a bit, and a look of hope shines in his eyes. "...Or," Nathan repeats hopeful. "...Or...You join me. You have skills that could make you a valuable ally to have on my team..." Robin says. "You want me to join, your team?" Nathan asks shocked in disbelief. Robin just shrugs waiting for an answer, "I could use the help...I realize doing this alone is gonna get me killed sooner rather than later...And it would be nice to know someone's watching my six,"
Nathan still shocked asks, "Your serious?". Robin just nods. Nathan watches him for any sign that the offer is a trick. Nathan looks at Robin seriously and sincerely and nods firmly, "Yes...". Robin nods and starts removing his restraints and once he is released holds out his hand to shake. Nathan looks down at his hand then up at his mask and then grins shaking his hand. "Welcome to the Titans," Robin says releasing his hand and then turning to walk out of the room. "Titans?" Nathan asks following behind Robin and only gets a shrug as an answer.
--Line Break--
[Few Days Later]
It's a Wednesday afternoon and Nathan is dressed in a black two-piece suit and is standing in front of a large building with 'Hyde Consolidated' written on it. He nervously fixes his tie taking a deep breath, "I really hope Robin isn't messing with me," He mumbles quietly to himself and enters the building. He passes the security check and makes his way to the reception.
"Welcome to Hyde Consolidated. How can I help you, sir?" The receptionist asks smiling politely. He clears his throat awkwardly and says, "I have an appointment with Mr. Hyde,".The receptionist checks on her computer and then pulls out a keycard handing it to him, "Here you go Mr.Holloway. Just go through there to the elevator and take it to the top floor,". Nathan nods nervously and gives her a smile. He waves her goodbye and makes his way to the elevator.
He walks out of the elevator and walks down the hall to the woman sitting by a desk outside the office with 'Mr.Hyde' labeled on top. "Uhm hello, my name is--" The woman cuts him off not looking up from her computer, and says "Mr. Holloway. I know they said you were on your way. Just go in Mr.Hyde is expecting you.". Nathan just nods and walks into the office.
He looks around as he enters the office, and finds the office looks average at best...well average for a CEO's office. "Ah, Mr.Holloway. What a pleasure it is, to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you," He turns towards the desk and sees a brown-haired well-built middle-aged man dressed in a blue suit coming towards him. "Uhm...You have?" Nathan asks dumbly. Mr.Hyde after shaking his hand leads him over to his desk both of them take seats. Mr.Hyde flashes him a conspiratorial smile and says "From our mutual of course,".
Nathan shifts in his seat and then smiles anxiously "All good things I hope,". Mr.Hyde smiles reassuringly and says, "Only good things,". Nathan sighs in relief and relaxes a bit and says, "So...how do we do this?". Mr.Hyde chuckles and says, "Oh you already got the job. I just wanted to meet and get to know the man, our friend has spoken so highly of,".
Nathan looks surprised and asks, "He did...?". Mr.Hyde nods and scratches his beard in thought, "Indeed...He said you were a genius at anything computer and technology related...He said that you would be a great addition to our Cyber-Security Division,". Nathan scratches the back of his neck smiling bashfully at the praise, "Ah..Thanks,". Mr.Hyde smiles and nods, "So is there anything you would like to know?".
--line Break--
Nathan walks into the 'Birds Nest' after passing the Biometric scan and entering his personal password. He walks down the hall and enters the main area of the underground base. He sees Robin standing by his workbench working on his utility belt while seeming to be in an argument with a man about something he can't really hear. "Here he comes right now," Robin says not looking up from his tinkering. The man looks up and gives Nathan a once over and then scoffs, "Come on Kid, you can't be serious... He looks like my grandma can beat him,"
"Enough Victor...Besides he's only going to be working Comms," Robin says sternly giving him a side glare which Victor meets head-on for a few seconds then sighs backing down, "Fine Kid. Don't say I didn't warn you," Victor says frowning at him, and then walking past Nathan purposefully bumping shoulders with him as he passes him. Nathan looks in astonishment at Victor. "What's his deal...your brother or something," Nathan asks Robin.
Robin gives him a look and then makes a final adjustment to his utility belt and puts it on, "His name is Victor, and no he is not my brother...His just very overprotective, because I'm a kid and he doesn't want me kidding hurt...Well, more hurt I guess,". Nathan freezes and looks at him perplexed and asks full of confusion "What do you mean you're a kid?". Robin doesn't take notice of his facial expression and answers nonchalantly, "...Oh I just turned fourteen years old a week ago,".
Nathan looks at Robin frozen in place and utterly dumbfounded by this new piece of information. Robin not really paying attention says to him "I'm heading out now. Get on the Comms." Robin exits out of a secret passage leaving a frozen Nathan behind. "YOU'RE ONLY FOURTEEN YEARS OLD!!??" Nathan shouts coming out of his shock.