CHARACTERS: Robin (Tim Drake); Spoiler (Stephanie Brown); Nightwing (Dick Grayson); Lady Shiva; Anarky (Ulysses Armstrong); Commissioner James Gordon; Detective Specialist Jamie Harper; Jason Bard; Lonnie Machin; Martin Ives; Zoanne Wilkins

PLOT:
The city's gang war behind them, Robin, Detective Harper and the recently established Neon Knights gang outreach centers set about returning the city to some level of normalcy. Per his wishes, Robin has the 'Robin-Signal' taken down and replaced with the standard Bat-Symbol as a reminder to the city (and possibly to himself) that Batman will return one day. His burn wounds are healing nicely and his hair has returned but while some scars heal, others never will. Somewhere within the city, the new Anarky, Ulysses Armstrong is plotting his revenge against Robin for his parents' deaths. Talking with his hostage/co-conspirator Lonnie Machin (the former Anarky), Ulysses decides that the best way to introduce true anarchy into Gotham City is by making the public ask themselves one question - Who is Robin?

But a more immediate threat rears its head when a letter arrives at the Gotham precinct for the city's de-facto protector Robin the Teen Wonder. In it, the author foretells of Robin's death by dawn. From the sentence structure and the verbiage, Tim determines that the letter was sent by Lady Shiva, the deadly assassin that helped forge him into the hero he is today. It's only fitting that she return now to test his mettle and see how her 'little bird' is doing now that Batman is gone. But does Tim have what it takes to defeat her one on one? Or could he be embarking on his final mission?

Regardless of if he lives or dies, Tim knows that his extra responsibilities means that he can no longer live the life he struggled so hard over the years to maintain. Acting on the assumption that this is in fact his last night on Earth he phones his loved ones one by one to tie up as many loose ends as he can. He spends some time laughing with his dear friend Ives before phoning his oft-neglected girlfriend Zoanne Wilkins to break off their relationship. From there he moves on to his would-be-girlfriend Stephanie Brown. Still sore at him for ordering her to hang up her Spoiler attire, Stephanie refuses to take Tim's phone call - a sentiment that Tim must bravely accept. Finally Tim makes one last pass through the city's dark and gothic rooftops where he spies his two closest confidants - Jason Bard and Jamie Harper having dinner together. It is there, in the shadows watching their budding romance from the outside looking in that Tim finally believes he understands why Batman was so closed-off emotionally. He worries to himself that there may be no other way.

One of the other factions of Batman's life that Tim has now inherited is his troublesome predecessor Jason Todd. With Alfred busy with the newly re-formed Outsiders and Nightwing off attending to other matters, the task of delivering Batman's personal final message to Jason falls directly in Tim's lap. As Jason makes his way into the Bat-Cave, Tim directs him to the newly discovered panic room in which Batman has chosen to deliver his pre-taped final messages to each of his family members. After watching Bruce's message, Jason steps out of the hidden room solemnly. Though Tim does not enquire as to what Bruce's final message for Jason was, he does make sure to mention that upon Jason's exit, all of the Bat-Cave's security codes will have been re-set. Releasing Jason from prison and granting him a second-chance may have been what Bruce wanted, but trust is earned not given.

With everything in order, Tim heads to Shiva's meeting location - the statue of St. Germaine at the Gotham Church of the Holy Spirit. There Tim stares down his combatant and prepares for battle. Moments into combat however, Shiva collapses to the ground unable to move. Standing over her, Tim reveals that he had anticipated Shiva's arrival in Gotham for quite some time. Working in conjunction with Nightwing, Tim had capitalized on Shiva's weakness for sweets by sneaking a heart rate activated paralytic poison into the complimentary hotel chocolates given to Shiva when she checked into town. Knowing that no prison could hold Shiva for long he tells the hit-woman that when she does break out she is not welcome back in his town.

Once again taking flight through Gotham's skyline Tim reflects on his accomplishments and looks towards the future. He knows that soon someone will have to step in and fill Batman's cowl but until then he can barely contain his excitement over the future unveiling of the brand new Robin!

CHARACTERS: Scar the Guardian; Robin (Tim Drake); Obeah Man

PLOT:
Long ago, Tim Drake's mother was murdered by the Drug Kingpin Obeah Man. When word reaches Tim that Voodoo priest had finally bribed his way out of prison, Tim heads to Haiti where he knows that his mother's killer has fled.

There he tracks down Obeah Man's whereabouts and stumbles into his poisonous sanctuary. Breathing in Obeah Man's hallucinogenic toxins, Tim faces manifestations of own his guilt over his parents deaths. Conquering the illusions before him he makes his way to Obeah Man's chambers. Tim is able to achieve justice for his mother's death when he defeats the murderer and brings him back into custody.