Early Days Story: Tim Drake meets Joseph and Sam

Red Robin/Tim Drake decides to take a break from the Teen Titans and do some crimefighting in Gotham. However, in the process of stopping a crime that is incredibly organized; Red Robin in seriously injured by a powerful opponent who takes him by surprise. He doesn't see who it is; he only knows that his opponent is good. Red Robin is beaten to a pulp and is thrown off a building. He begins floating in and out of consciousness. First, he sees Nightwing talking to him and putting him in his car. He's told he's being taken to the Batcave. Next thing he knows he's hearing people around him but sees them as foggy images due to the damage to his body and the painkillers he's on.

Batman: What are his injuries?

Tim: (narrating) Bruce...I'm home! I'm back in the Cave.

Alfred: Cracked ribs, blood loss, a broken leg and a concussion; not to mention bruises and cuts. Whoever did this to him is an able combatant.

Tim: (narrating) Good old Alfred; he'll get me fixed up.

Batman: Can you get him on the mend?

Joseph: Don't worry, Bruce; we'll take good care of him. I got a couple pints of blood being transfused into him. Just take Damian and go on patrol. Though to be on the safe side, we shouldn't let him get close to the medlab.

Tim: (narrating) Who's that? He knows Bruce's secret...he also sounds familiar for some reason. Who is this guy?

Alfred: I'll bind the cracked ribs if you can set the leg, sir.

Joseph: Right away. Just need to adjust the flow of the painkiller to ease Tim's pain.

Tim: (narrating) Who is this guy? He sounds only a couple years older than me at least. And he's talking to Batman like an ally. What's been happening since I was last in town?

Tim falls into unconsciousness. When he wakes up, he's in his old room in Wayne Manor. He's been changed into pajamas and has an IV in him. His injuries have been tended to. He also notices the small blond boy watching him from the foot of the bed. They both scream in surprise.

Tim: Who are you?!

Sam: Joey; he's awake!

Joseph walks in. Joseph is wearing his suit minus the jacket and has his shirt sleeves rolled up.

Tim: (narrating) Those two are definitely brothers. (speaking) Who are you?

Joseph: I am Dr. Joseph Kane; this is my brother Sam. (prods Sam) Where are your manners, Sam?

Sam: (nervously) Hi, I'm Sam Kane. Nice to meet you.

Tim: Finally, a kid in this house who has manners.

Sam: I'm not a kid, I'm 8!

Joseph: (shaking his head) Don't mind him.

Tim: I'm Tim....

Joseph: I know who you are; Tim Drake, also known as Tim Wayne, also known as Tim Drake-Wayne....(has a smirk on his face) Also known as the teenage vigilante Red Robin.

Tim: How did you know that?

Joseph: Good old fashioned detective work; plus I'm working for Bruce.

Tim: At WayneTech?

Joseph: Well, I do have a "night job" under him as well.

Tim: You mean you're fighting crime here in Gotham?

Joseph: Not exactly; I'm merely the info gatherer and an occasional hacker.

Tim: When did this start?

Sam: It's a long story.

Joseph: Bruce should get you up to speed.

Tim: You said you were a doctor.

Joseph: I am.

Tim: But...you can't be no older than 18.

Joseph: Almost 19; but you're right.

Tim: How?

Joseph: I'm smart.

Tim: How smart?

Joseph: Very. And let's leave it at that.

Tim: (realizing) Now, I remember who you are. You were a big shot in New York; the big time boy genius catapulting the family company into the big leagues.

Joseph: Pretty much.

Tim: Now I really want to know what happened.

Joseph sits down in a chair next to the bed. Sam sits down on the floor or on the bed.

Joseph: Well, the bullet points are like this. Sickly 10 year old is nearly killed; is inspired to fight injustice by a supposed urban legend from Gotham. Trains for 8 years, five of them abroad. Thinks he's good; starts fighting the New York underworld. Notices a connection between crimes in New York and in Gotham and crosses paths with his childhood hero. Reunites with childhood best friend who was the first Robin and is now Nightwing...who was sent to see if he wasn't the one behind the crimes. Meets idol again, fights him because of being shown he's not good enough yet, gets angry, finds out he has metahuman abilities.....

Tim: You're a metahuman?

Joseph: Yeah; which explained my VERY high intelligence. The other powers are increased strength, speed, stamina; and so on. But its only happened once and Bruce knocked me out when that happened. After that, I teamed up with Bruce, Dick and Damian, with Sam helping behind the scenes, to take down the person behind the crimes. After that, Bruce offered me a job at WayneTech and as his computer guy. I refused, wanting my independence. He then tricked my dad into having me join up with WayneTech. I've been helping out here ever since.

Tim: He's not letting you be a hero.

Joseph: He's offered to train me, once I've shown I've earned it; after that I can fight crime. It's...aggravating; but I want to prove myself.

Sam: I'm just happy to watch; though a couple weeks ago I helped out Damian take down....

Tim: You're friends WITH DAMIAN?!

Sam: Not at first; but we are now.

Tim: How is this possible?

Sam: (to Joseph) What's wrong with him?

Joseph: Let's just say he and Damian have a bit of a sibling rivalry....

Tim: He's not my brother! He tried to kill me the first time we met.

Joseph: I'm well aware; which is why Bruce is making damn sure he doesn't do anything to you while you heal. Whoever did that number on you cracked your ribs, broke your leg, and given you one of the biggest concussions I've ever seen!

Tim: Thanks.

Joseph: No problem; now I will let you rest. Come along, Sam.

Sam: (to Tim) Nice meeting you.

The Kane brothers leave. Tim thinks a second and shouts.

Tim: Dr. Kane!

Joseph pokes his head in.

Joseph: You can call me Joseph. And no need to shout, I'm not in Krakow!

Tim: Could I give you a message to send to my...friends?

Joseph: You mean your team? Sure I can. I can even encrypt it.

Tim: Thanks.

Joseph: And you have another visitor. I'll leave you two to catch up.

Joseph leaves and Dick enters.

Dick: Hey Timmy, how are you feeling?

Tim: Like I got hit by a truck. Your friend is pretty interesting.

Dick: He definitely is. And I assume he gave you the basics of how he got here?

Tim: Yeah.

Dick: I can fill in the holes and tell you what's happened since he got to Gotham. Did you know he was twice tempted to volunteer to be Robin?

Tim: You're joking.

Dick: No, I'm not. First time was when I was fired from being Robin; but he didn't want to stab me in the back and become the new Robin. Second time was after Jason died. Like you, he felt Batman was getting out of control. But, at the time he was getting a bit stubborn and felt he could continue training on his own without needing Bruce as a mentor. He's actually not that bad; but he needs improvement.

Tim: Interesting.

Dick: He's a cool guy once you get to know him; weird and a tad nuts, but a cool guy.

Tim: Guess I'll have to do that. Now, catch me up.