Standing atop a bluff overlooking Gotham City, Tim is trying to take inventory of his life and figure out where to go next when suddenly his world is engulfed in the powerful white light of the Batmobile's high-beams. It's come to this. Everyone in Tim's life has tried to dissuade him from his quest but now Dick Grayson tries in one last attempt to talk some sense into the boy. And the brewing tension between the two brothers erupts and it's there far removed from the city they now both stand to protect that a mini-battle ensues.

Ultimately however Tim's logic wins out. If the reason why Tim was demoted from his position as Robin is truly because Dick views him as an equal, then he needs to show it. He needs to allow Tim to follow this hunch all the way through and to be his own man. Left with no other defenses, Dick watches as Tim rides off towards a destination unknown.

But that was then. And now, with Tiffany Fox following his globe-trotting trail closely behind, Tim arrives in Iraq. The artifact from Berlin, a batarang shaped fossil in tow. But it isn't just Ms. Fox who is looking for him. Stepping outside the terminal gates Tim is greeted by US officials. Luckily his gear and weapons were not the cause of this inquest, the otherwise questionable carry-ons are kept in a state of the art bag made to specifically deflect X-rays. But it seems Alvin Draper is wanted for questioning with regards to a break in at the German Museum of Anthropology. Tim's emotions had gotten the best of him and allowed him to become sloppy when switching from country to country.

Yet strangely enough, with Tim's back against the wall it's Z, one of the League of Assassins tasked to watch over Tim that saves the day. Using Tim Wayne's affiliation with Wayne Enterprises (a supplier of body armor and equipment to the troops deployed there), the guards are convinced to let Tim go. Ever since the two first met doing battle during the Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul, Z. has taken a particular interest in Tim Wayne. And now it looks like he's stuck with the gang of killers whether he likes it or not, forced to rely on them to traverse the dangerous terrain in and around Baghdad.

That evening, while traveling to their destination, Tim discovers strangely enough that he's developed a kind of rapport with the cold blooded murderers. And that, more than anything un-nerves him most of all. But unsubstantiated quests make for strange bedfellows. And that night, Tim becomes closer to uncovering the mystery of what happened to Bruce than he ever had been before. There, in a cave in Iraq, Tim discovers a familiar ancient cave painting of a Bat. Still unfinished after all these millennia. It gives him hope that Bruce Wayne is still alive somewhere... or some when.

But as he steps outside the cave to relay the good news he sees a sword wielding assassin begin slicing through his colleagues like warm butter. One of the 'Council of Spiders' tasked with knocking off the League, the 'Widower' slashes through Tim's entourage before impaling Red Robin as well. Lying there in the cold dessert air, Tim's life blood begins to seep out around him and it looks like his quest may have met a tragic end. Has his dangerous allegiance with Ra's Al Ghul cost him the ultimate price?