Disclaimer….. Dick Grayson and batman and other DC comic
characters are property of DC comics… This was written for fun not profits and
no monetary profit is being made by me. The Character of JohnnyG was written with
the help of my anonymous co- writer JohnnyG himself…. Who says that names are
changed to protect the innocent …. And he ain,t innocent, but I still made some
changes. This story might step on some toes… I hope it doesn't but because I
felt it might I did want to warn you. JohnnyG is Gay… and quite happy with that
status. The part of JohnnyG was written with Johnny and he assures me he that
is how he would respond to the situations given. All things considered I can say in all honesty I
believe him. I hope you enjoy the story. … Cyndi
FLIGHT RISK
CYNDI SMITH
Dick watched the screen of his hand held
computer. The last of eight hours of the return flight to the states were
proving to be as boring as the week long Board meeting he had just left at
Wayne Industries German offices. If not worse.
"I'm serious Babs. According to him his ancestor walked on
water three days before Jesus," he whispered into the headset he wore.
"I swear, if this guy tells me his family history one more time, I am
going to have to do something drastic. I wonder how he would feel about being
the first to do a 30,000-foot swan dive in to the Atlantic?"
Every time he heard it, Babs' laughter always
made him feel good inside. It seem to
activate and image of her in the back of his mind. This time wasn't any different
"Richard John Grayson!" She laughed,
"You wouldn't dare," sounding almost unsure that he wouldn't do it.
"Ok, ok... I'll go talk to the Captain see
if I can get him to take the jet to 10 thousand, but no lower. After all, we have passenger safety to think
about. ...Damn he's coming back." He slipped the computer into his front
pocket but kept the audio connection open.
The man, who had introduced himself a James
Conrad of the New York Conrad's was stomping up to the front, looking quite
annoyed.
"I don't believe it, I don't believe
it. My Friend I tell you this is
absurd," he mumbled as he seated himself beside the unwilling friend.
"What is James?" Dick asked trying to
sound interested.
"I just walked through the lower
classes..." He began explaining.
"You went behind the curtain?" Dick
replied feigning a look of utter horror. "Surely you jest."
"Oh, don't I wish I were," the man
replied. As the Executive of Conrad
Corporation began to relay his harrowing experience.
Dick, who was still online with Babs, had to
listen to her rave. "Of all the hollow egotistical raging idiotic
dolts!" she babbled, "You have my permission to toss him out of the
jet, and the sooner the better."
"...And if that wasn't enough," the
one time sidekick, heard him say, "someone has seen to it that they get
served the same dinner options we had."
"NO!" Dick jumped forward in his seat
finding it harder and harder to keep a straight face, between the two
conversations going on in his ears.
"I kid you not," he barked, "I
cornered the lead servant..." He continued not ever knowing that the last
referral to the Flight Attendants as servants was the equivalent of a kick in
the teeth, to his fellow first class passenger. It would be like calling Alfred
a slave and Dick had been known to blacken a couple of eyes on the playground
standing up for the older man he considered more like a Grandfather than a
gentleman's gentleman.
"She said that some executive from Wayne
Tech, bought dinner for everyone in the lower class..." He emphasized,
"everyone."
"You don't say."
"I tell you this, the moment that I get
back to the office I am going to be on the phone with Bruce Wayne, personally.
We are going to have a heart to heart," he affirmed. "By the time I get through, there will not even be a
position in an executive bathroom for this Bozo anywhere in the world!"
"Why wait?" Dick encouraged. "I have my phone right here," he
reached in his pocket and pulled out his Wayne Tech Digital phone handing it
over to Mr. Conrad.
Taken aback Conrad stared at the phone for a few
minutes. Then admitted,
"Unfortunately I... I don't have the number on me at this time."
"Oh that's ok" Dick piped up. He was getting that same warm fuzzy feeling
he had dressed as Nightwing, just before he nailed the "normal"
slime-balls on the streets of Bludhaven. "Just press two." Dick would
have paid to have the reaction on the man's face recorded.
"No wait. He wouldn't be at the office this late. Try three, that's the
house. And if Alfred answers, tell him
I should be home just in time for dinner tomorrow."
Happy with the look of shock on Conrad's face,
he took back his phone, got up from his seat and went back to second class for
some air.
"Babs, are you still on the line?" he
whispered as he strolled down the isles to the rear area.
"Yeah, I'm still here. Twenty something wonder,"
she giggled. "I have two questions. The first is: if Bruce is number two and
three on your phone who do you have as number one?"
He pressed the one key on his the phone and
listened as the sound of her personal phone rang in the background. "I don't
know how many times I have to tell you," he said into his phone as she picked
it up, "But you have always been number one with me."
She laughed and hung up the phone returning to
the computer connection. "Cute, real cute." She laughed, "Guess I walked right
into that one.
"My other question is: did you really buy
dinner for everyone on the plane?"
"Un huh. And breakfast too; it was one of the perks I got for going to the bore
fest. Unlimited travel budget. I even splurged for Burger in the box for the
kids." He laughed as he saw some
of the kids playing with the toy surprise. "Oh man, looky there, they have
Superman action figures. That's not
fair why not Batman, Robin, or Nightwing? What am I chopped liver?" he whined low enough that Babs was the
only one who heard him.
She giggled "Nope, not chopped liver, ...
but your not Superman either. At least not to anyone over the age of
seven."
"Ouch..." he said mockingly. "Remind
me to go by Doc Leslie's and have that dagger pulled from my ego."
Suddenly, a little girl jumped from her seat
into his arms. "Whoa! Hi there. Who are you? Let me guess... uh...
Supergirl?" He laughed as the child lit up to his smile.
"No, silly, I'm Robin Dover." The little girl was probably five. She had an accent that sounded similar to
Clancy's and her hair was red as fire and freckles decorated her nose. "I
am sorry, I tripped."
"That's ok Robin. I have been waiting for a
pretty redhead to fall into my arms for years." Dick smiled.
"You smooth talker you," Babs
whispered, laughing as she listened to the conversation.
The older woman, whom Dick had assumed was the
girl's grandmother, started to get up. "Robin! Don't be disturbing the
young man, dear."
Dick whispered it was ok, and she sat down and
to watch the stranger interacting with her granddaughter.
"What's your name?" The little girl
asked.
"Richard Grayson."
"Richard Grayson,
I like it. It is strong like my da's
name. My da's name is Thomas Dover. Do
you know my da? He works in Metropolis. We are going to see him," she rattled on, not allowing time for a
response. "Have you ever been to Metropolis? It's in America. Nana is
taking me to the big building where he works. It's in America also. She said we might get to go to New York too, see
the Titan building. Do you know any Titans? My da met them once. A boy in a
black mask and yellow cape saved him. I thought masks was bad, but da said they
are special people, with special gifts. And sometimes, they wear masks to scare the bad guys, like bad guys wear
masks to scare the good peoples. He tells me stories all the time about
them. It was long time before I was
born. The guy in the mask his name was Robin like me."
The little girl's
words seemed to have no end, never leaving any time for a reply so Richard just
smiled and nodded or shook his head. "Do you know Robin? Da said that he is the
leader. He got to meet all of the Titans, even had his picture in the
newspaper. I saw the picture. My cousin her name is Alethea. She's almost
11. She thinks Speedy and Aqualad are
cute. I wanna be like Wonder Girl. My da told me all about them, and about New
York that's where he met my mom. She is from there. She lives in heaven now.
...Gosh. You're quiet. Are you always
this quiet? What's that in your ear?"
"Ummm," he laughed, unsure whether or
not he would get the next word in. "It's a hands free phone
connection. I'm talking to a friend of
mine; her name is Barbara." Adjusting the small transmitter towards the little
girl he whispered to her. "Can you say, hi. Barbara?"
The little girl waved at the earpiece and said,
"Hi."
"Is that your wife?" Dick only had
time to shake his head before Robin started talking again. "Is she
pretty?"
"She's beautiful..." slipped out.
"Do you love her?" she asked, this
time waiting for an answer.
"With all my heart," he returned
almost instinctively.
"I think you should marry her. My da says
that's what you do when you love someone."
"Is that so? I guess I will have to tell
her that you and your da said that's what we have to do. Ok?"
"Ok."
He stood her back in her chair... "I'll tell you what, do you like the
Circus, Robin?"
The
little girl smiled and shrugged her shoulders. Her grandmother explained that
she had never been to one.
"I have a friend with a small circus that
is going to be in Metropolis at the end of this week. Would you like to go? You can take your daddy and some friends
too if you would like."
The little girl nodded. He handed the old woman
a business card with a special number on it.
"Call him and let him know how many you
have coming and when. There will be
tickets at the front waiting for you. And you, young lady, no more flying into
strangers hands anymore. Stay close to
your grandmother and father. Ok?"
"Ok."
Dick started to return to the first class
section when plane lurched to the left. The next thing he knew, he and Robin were being flung into the aisle
seats. He caught her again, tucking her into his chest and turning to absorb
the impact of the seats. He hit the arm an aisle seat with such force, that his
shoulder popped totally out of socket with a snap, but there was no time to
worry about the unbelievable pain. As quickly as possible, he handed Robin to
her grandmother then ran to the front section of the plane.
The jet felt as if it would rattle apart any
moment. The passengers screamed out as
the oxygen masks fell from the overhead. And yet, at that moment in time, the
only thing he that worried him was that he had lost his connection with Babs.
It frightened him that he would not get the chance to tell her to her face the
things that the little girl had him saying over the phone.
He managed to push through the panicked
passengers and around the crewmembers that were trying to calm them. When he finally got to the front, he found
Connie McBride, the lead attendant, banging on the door to the cockpit.
"Tom? Hanson? Jonny? Are you ok?" There was no answer. She was about to bang
again, when a whiff if smoke caught the attention of another stewardess.
"Get an extinguisher!" Dick yelled as
he pushed her out of the way with his good arm. Then, using all the power his
legs could muster, he kicked open the door. The shock from the impact ripped
through him, going directly to his injured shoulder. Between the smell of burnt
flesh, the smoke from the cabin, and the wave of pain that flooded his senses,
what happened next was unstoppable. He
emptied the contents of his stomach on the floor. Someone grabbed him around
the shoulders trying to assist him, only sending another wave of pain and
nausea through him, but this time he kept his stomach.
Someone yelled out, "They're dead! Oh God!
Oh God, what are we going to do?"
Dick turned his attention back to the cockpit.
Two of the three men were definitely dead. The navigator must have been standing away from the panel when the
incident happened. Although he was badly burned, he was alive.
At first, no one had noticed two other people
from First class had joined them. One was a naval airman, Lieutenant Tanya
Ryder.
Dick had talked with her for a short period of
time before boarding. The other was Mr.
Congeniality himself... James. Who immediately informed them all that if he
died on this hunk of junk, he would sue everyone from them to the FAA.
Dick just rolled his eyes and pinched a nerve on
the man's neck causing him to drop like a rock. He ignored the look of shock from the lead attendant. "It's
only fair," he mumbled as he stepped over the unconscious figure,
"he's been a pain in my neck ever since he boarded."
Connie ordered Martin, one of the attendants, to
take Conrad to the rear and strap him in, and keep him out of the way. Tanya
had already dumped the co-pilot unceremoniously from the chair. Seating herself
next to Dick who had done the same to the captain.
"All gauges are down," the lieutenant
announced, as she and Dick struggled to pull back on the both wheels watching
the horizon for proof they still had controls. With Dick's right arm totally
useless, it took both of them to get the aircraft at an angle were they could
gain control.
"Yes!" they yelped triumphantly as the
plane became level. Then, as soon as he was sure she could handle the plane
alone, Dick began to check the radio.
"Richie, have you ever piloted a jet?"
she inquired.
When they met at the layover in Scotland the
Lieutenant told him she would probably not be calling him Dick. Her exact words
were, "I know too many guys who
live up to the name, and until you prove yourself one... I think I will call
you Richie." It made him cringe
the first time she said it but... by the time the delay had been taken care of
he was getting used to it.
Tanya was an older lady, about 40. Her brown hair was in a tight bun on her
head. She gave the air of authority needed by anyone in the service. They had
talked about flying and he told her he was an amateur pilot.
"I've been flying since I was kid," he had
told her.
She had laughed. "So, that means you had what? Two weeks air time?"
He had laughed then gave a quick and well-edited
synopsis of his life. He had told her that his love of flying came from his
life as a trapeze artist in the circus. Then, after the death of his parents,
his guardian had let him sit with the pilots of his private jets. He had told
her he had gotten his license when he was 15. It wasn't a complete lie, he
thought to himself, after all what was he supposed to say? 'Oh, I was flying
the batwing when I was 11 and the Titan Jet when I was 15...don't think so.'
"Does a Lear jet count?" he lied,
still trying to get some kind of signal on the radio.
"I suppose as much as a F-15. Well, between
you and me, we should be able to figure it out," she boasted.
He grimaced as he slammed the headphones on the
panel. "The only thing missing is a singing nun and we would have a bad
sequel to a movie I once saw. Looks like we are flying deaf...and blind." He
fumed, "Can you hold her? I am going to talk to Connie."
She nodded. "Kid, we're doing fine," she praised. "I can handle this for a bit. Go ahead...and get that shoulder
looked at!" she yelled, as he stepped out of the room.
Connie already had the emergency teams going
through the spiel about remaining in their seat belts and one by one they were
returning to the kitchen as they finished.
"Any other casualties?" he queried, as
he seated himself on an armrest.
"Not so far. There is a total of two
dead," she informed him, as she pointed to the bodies covered on the floor
in the corner, "and sixteen injuries. Most of them minor. There are couple of broken bones and four head
injuries. One man is still unconscious. We have turned the first class into an infirmary."
"Anyone with medical training on
board?" he inquired as he worked
to take off his dress shirt exposing a sweaty black T-shirt below.
"We have all been trained in first aid and Mrs.
Dover in 421 is a healer from her area of Ireland. Johnny G. used to be a Chiropractor. Martin and Denise are
assisting them." She watched him struggle with his shirt, that's when she
finally noticed the obvious dislocation in his shoulder.
"We had better get you back and have that
taken care of Mr. Grayson."
"Unless you found another pilot other than
myself or the Lieutenant, it won't be possible. Besides, it looks worse than it
is," he lied. "I just may need some help getting it back into socket, then I
have to get back to the cockpit ASAP. We have no gauges no radio. I have to find out what happened and try and
keep up this crate up for at least three and a half hours...you think maybe
Johnny can help me?" Normally, he could pop the shoulder in on his own.
Painful? Yes, but it worked and got him through until he got home. This time he
was pretty sure something was broken, torn, or ripped and re-aligning it was
the most he could hope for, but not with out help.
Connie ordered one of the other attendants to
retrieve the chiropractor-turned-Flight-attendant as Dick tried to explain the
situation from his end.
"We can't even tell what altitude we are flying
at." He continued, "but on the positive side the controls are
responding."
"What are we going to do? Just keep flying till the fuel runs out or
we just happened to spot a landing field?"
"Hopefully, we can get some assistance from
the Military or another jet. In my pocket, I have a hand held computer. If you can you reach it for me, I may have a
way to reestablish communications, with Metropolis."
As she struggled to manipulate the awkward
contraption from his rather snug dress denim pants pocket, Johnny came into the
room. Johnny was a small black man whom had no problem with what he termed his
uniqueness. As he put it, "I knew I was special since the campus recruiter told
me he was looking for a few good men. And I realized I was too." His humor made
it almost impossible for anyone not to accept him as he was.
"Oh my Lord. I have died and gone to
heaven," he proclaimed, glancing at the muscle
structure under the tee shirt on his new patient. "Wanda said you needed
my assistance. Please tell me she
didn't find what you were looking for in that pocket and I get to go
next." Johnny wasn't sure who blushed brighter Connie or Mr. Muscles but
he had to admit he wasn't really looking at his boss. He gave Mr. Grayson the
once over then jumped back when he saw the damaged shoulder "Oh my. Baby, that's got to hurt."
"Kinda, yea, you think you can help me
out?" Dick asked watching Johnny as he looked over the arm like it was a
piece of meat. Before Dick could inquire what he was doing, the man had grabbed
his upper arm and yanked on it with more strength than the little guy looked to
have. It worked. The shoulder shifted, with a resounding pop, back in to place.
Richard turned sheet white and then collapsed
into Connie. He had not completely
passed out but the pain took him close enough to the edge for him to look over
the side.
"Dear me," Johnny smiled. "You
get any whiter and you will glow in the dark. We should take you to first class
lay you back and tie you down." When he saw the look of shock on his boss's face and realized what he
said, he almost reluctantly reworded it. "OOPS," he said covering his
mouth ever so slightly, "I mean tie that down, let you get some rest." he
pointed daintily at the re-adjusted arm "There is still some deformity here."
He pointed at the clavicle, making Dick flinch, "It also has a lot of swelling
around it, my guess is your not liking life right now, am I right?"
Dick just nodded and swallowed hard, still
trying to stop the world from spinning.
"Well, let's get you back to first class. I
could make it as much fun for you as it could be for me. I have some morphine
in the meds cabinet, and can have you flying without the pain in no
time."
"No, thanks. I gotta get back to the
Cockpit." Dick smiled, trying to sound convincing. That's when he saw it.
The look. He knew the look. It was the
same look Alfred gave him if he tried to get out of the house without eating
breakfast, or Bruce gave him if he tried to go out with Batman on weekdays
after midnight. The *I know I didn't just hear you say that* look.
"Ok, first of all," The steward emphasized,
placing his hands on his hips, "you are not doing anything before I wrap that
arm down. It has to stay immobile if
you are going continue to use it in the not so near future. And second, if you
won't take the morphine at least take a couple of aspirin." He pulled out a
bottle of white tablets and gave them to Connie. "And I will be back with the
bandages in a minute. Ok? Ok..." not waiting for an answer he turned and
left mumbling something about a God damned stubborn Adonis. The man walked away
leaving Dick looking stunned and Connie struggling to contain her laughter.
When Dick finally returned to the cabin. He
placed his the computer on his lap tapping in the distress code got him immediate
access to Oracle. Babs came over the line through his earpiece in a panic.
"Dick, what happened? I heard some
screaming and then you when offline."
"Listen Mary we have a bit of a problem,"
he interrupted quickly.
"Mary? I take it you're not alone and you
have something you need me to do?" Her suspicions were verified as he
continued.
"I know you're only a tech, but I need your
expertise. I need you to contact Metropolis International Airport. There has
been an explosion on United World Air flight 179, killing the pilot and
co-pilot and severely injuring the navigator. All instruments are down. Radio
is down. We still have controls and are
flying blind. There are two experienced pilots on board. See if you can patch
us through to them, if not, we are going to need you as a relay.
"Are you ok?, Dick."
"Yea. I'm fine," he whispered.
"I'm going to pass you to Lieutenant Ryder. She is piloting this bucket. Give her anything she needs. I
have some exploring to do." He
passed the earpiece over to lieutenant. "Mary is a computer tech for
Grayson Industries. She's the best at
what she does. If anyone can get us connected to the outside world, she can.
"I'm going to see what happened and if I
can salvage this." He sighed, pointing out the remnants of the navigators
board, which was the to the best of his knowledge ground zero.
"Mary? How do you read me?" Tanya asked as
she adjusted the earpiece to his ear.
"Loud and clear Lieutenant," Mary
returned. "I am just getting through to the airport. Hold on. Be right back."
"Copy," the lieutenant replied.
Dick was carefully taking apart the board that
once housed the navigational equipment. Now, it was a mess of wires and melted
plastics glass and metals.
"Ok this isn't good," he whispered.
"What's up kid?"
"Looks like the explosion isn't done with
its damage yet. It intends to take out the whole cabin."
"What's wrong?"
"There's a hairline crack in the skin of we
should have lost this whole wall."
"Guess we were lucky..." she replied
dryly as Mary came back online. "Yes? Mary, I read you."
"Go ahead, patch me through. Yep, I will
handle it. Thanks, will do. Over and
out..." she paused only long enough for the transfer to be made then
continued. "Metropolis International? How do you read me? This is Lieutenant Ryder of US Navy. I have
emergency situation on board Flight 179 United World Air. Do you copy?"
The man on the line informed them he was Donnie
Edwards Air Traffic Controller at MIA. "I need to talk to one of the Crew
of Flight 179. I am instructed to only speak to a member of the crew."
"Richie, get the lead attendant in
here. They won't talk to anyone 'til
they talk to a crew member."
"Damn." He stepped out of the cockpit as Connie was coming in and ran right in
to her.
"Ow. Arrggh," he hissed, trying to
melt in to the doorframe as the pain shot through him.
"I'm sorry Mr. Grayson," Connie
gasped. She gently rested her hands on
his chest as if she would catch him if he passed out.
He just bit back the need to throw up again. "We have contact with Metropolis..." he
groaned, "...they want to talk to you." She helped him back to the Captain seat as Tanya handed the earpiece
over to Connie.
"Yes sir, this in Connie McBride, Head
Attendant. No sir, to the best of my
knowledge we are not being high-jacked," she said hotly. "... well
sir, that may be so, but I think their intent was to totally destroy the plane.
There is a big black spot where the navigational panel was and all three of the
crewmembers are dead. Yes sir, Tom died just a moment ago. Yes sir, both Mr.
Grayson and Lieutenant Ryder seem to know what they are doing."
Richard snagged the earpiece from her.
"This is worse then the emergency room at the hospital wanting your
insurance information before they will treat you." He was tired and he hurt like hell; he would
be damned if he was going to wait so they could play twenty questions while the
plane fell apart beneath them. "Look! Unless you got Superman available to
help out here, we are all you have," he growled hotly. "Even if we
were the high-jackers you think we are, wait till we land what is left of this
piece of crap and arrest us then. Right
now we need details ... you got it? ... good."
He passed the earpiece to the naval officer who
was smiling. "That's telling em,
Dick," she grinned.
He smiled back at her, guess he just earned his
name back. Leaning his head back in the chair, he closed his eyes trying to
think through the throbbing pain in his head that was now as painful as his
shoulder.
"Are you ok?" She saw him grimace and
swallow as he nodded. Leaving his eyes shut tight. It didn't take a doctor to
see how much he hurt still. Tanya knew it wouldn't show, once he got a handle
on the shock of the collision. Her father who lived and died military would
say: 'This boy had the soul of a warrior.' It was funny how she had spent all
these years in the service and now as she was retiring she finally understood
what her father meant. Connie tried to talk him in to going to the back but
they both knew he wasn't going anywhere.
"Connie please bring some crackers up here
and a couple of bottles of water." Connie just nodded, as she looked
worriedly at pilot, then left.
Once Tanya was sure Dick was gaining control
over the injury, she got back to Metropolis tower. "Ok, Mr. Edwards what
do you have for us?"
The well-chastised controller hummed and hawed
for a few moments.
"Well Lieutenant, it's not what we have but
what we don't have that is the problem. We currently don't have you on radar.
You might be too low. We are suggesting
you take the craft back up to 30,000 feet so we can get you back."
"No can do. We have a hairline crack in the
structure. We can't risk that kind of
stress on the plane. Do you copy? ... hello?... hello?"
Dick jumped up wanting to find out what just
happened. He felt bit unnerved when the
look on his co-pilot's face turned from panic to shock.
His worry was put to ease once again when Tanya
returned. "Who? ...Wonder Woman? Please tell me Superman is with
you."
A smile crossed Dick's face as he made note to
send Babs a room full of roses. He sat back down and closed his eyes again.
"Sorry, Lieutenant. Superman is currently
off the planet. The JLA has picked up you craft on satellite. We are showing you at 5000 feet and 300
miles off your original flight path to the South. We are currently sending
aircraft to your coordinates to escort you in. They will be attempting to land you at Wayne Industries Aeronautics test
facilities. ETA to your coordinates
should be approximately an hour and 15 minutes. Maintain Currant heading we will be monitoring you on this tact.
Do you copy, 179?"
"Roger that, Wonderwoman. We will maintain
this heading as long as possible will be expecting your escort in approximately
1 hour 15 minutes. We will leave this
frequency open. Over and out."
Connie was just returning with the requested
snack when Tanya went offline.
"Well Dick, I don't know what your tech
did, but what ever it was it may have saved our bacon."
"Superman?" He smiled and attempted to sit up
straight. A little more color was showing in his face by the time he got a
reply. Tanya instructed the stewardess to place the tray next to the pilot's
seat.
"No, he's unavailable right now. But the
JLA is sending an escort. Things are looking better already. All we can do is
wait. While we wait you, EAT." She
ordered pointing at the try next to him. "If you can hold the crackers down, in
an hour we'll see if they have some broth to try and keep your energy up."
He picked up a cracker and nibbled on it as she turned her attention to the
crewmember. "Miss McBride, I just got off line with Justice League of
America they have sent someone out as an escort to hopefully get us back home
safe and sound."
Richard swallowed the cracker and took a drink
of water then added, "One thing, I think you should know, but for now we
don't need to tell anyone else. There is a hairline fracture in the cabin. I have no clue why it is still together...
but it will wreak havoc on the pressurization if it starts peeling away. So
keep everyone who isn't working belted in."
"Ok," she confirmed. "How are you
feeling?"
He smiled, "Better, thanks."
"That's good. These are for you," she held out a hand with 4 tablets in
them ",they are aspirin. Johnny G said and I quote, 'Tell him to take them
immediately, because if I have to come up there it will be with an enema.' then
he said," she snickered, "he has a feeling he would enjoy that more then you
would..."
"What good will an enema do?" Tanya
wondered aloud, totally stunned by the conversation.
"It will guarantee I will take the
aspirin." He said swallowing all four at once. And showed an empty hand to Connie and swallowed the rest of his
water.
Both women laughed.
"What about the rest of the injured?" Tanya
questioned.
"Well as you heard Tom died, a while ago.
The head injuries seem to be the biggest problem. There was a little boy who broke his arm when he was slammed
against the bulkhead. He seems to taking it pretty good. but his mother on
other hand is screaming lawsuit. Everyone is in a panic. Mr. Conrad came to and
gave his interpretation of what he saw and has been bellowing doom and gloom
ever since. He's also madder than a wet hen because we turned first class into
an infirmary. He has everyone on board
on edge. And poor Mrs. Dover has been
so busy working on the other injured when her own granddaughter is in some kind
of catatonic state... I guess from the shock of what is going on."
Connie didn't get her explanation completed
before Dick was out of his seat in a full sprint to the first class
section. He found Robin laying down on
one of the reclined chairs her eyes open but distant. She seemed to be unaware of anything that was going on.
"Robin," he whispered gently lifting
her tiny hand in his. "Hey little robin. It's time to wake up." His
mother's words seemed to bubble out of him so quickly he didn't even notice the
tear that strayed down his cheek. "I am so sorry. I thought when I caught you,
you would be ok."
"Don't you be fretting your head,
child." He didn't know how long the girl's grandmother had been standing
over his shoulder.
"Mrs. Dover." He turned to face the older woman
who knelt down beside him.
"Do not fret," she whispered over his ear so
that only he could hear her. "She will wake up as soon as we are safe."
"What happen? What is wrong with her?"
"I don't know for certain, son." She said
sitting in the chair in front of her granddaughter's. "When she was a newborn.
Her father had noticed that she would oft be found lying between he and his
wife. At first, he thought his wife would just place her there after and early
feeding and not place her back in the crib afterwards. Then one nigh' he found
her floating above him, curled up in what he described as a bubble. He awoke Chrissy, and they watched in shock
as the bubble landed in between them and the bubble vanished. There been a
wives' tale in our family about the gifts that are passed to the woman of our
clan. He had never believed them because I did na think it was necessary to
tell him of my gifts, until that day. He sent his wife and daughter to live
with me so that we could train her to use and keep hidden her gifts. It was not
easy; she is quite the father's daughter, stubborn as a mule. She is a seer as well.
But her first gift is the strongest. She moves things by wrapping them with in a bubble and putting them
where she will. But anything she has taken cannot be touched by others. I tried
to take something from her, and it was pushed out of my reach bouncing off the
wall. Until she regained control of it and sat it down beside me.
"Your namesake is a special child young
Robin." Dick froze unsure he heard what he thought he had. He stood slowly
and faced her but before he could say anything, a smile crossed the old woman's
eyes and without moving her lips he heard her say, "Yes young man I know.
The reason she has been told so many stories of you and the other titans is
that he believed when she is older you will take her and train her further to use
her gifts for good like you and your friends. We believe that she was the
reason, you saved him that day, and it is possibly the reason you two were
brought together now. Don't worry your secret is safe with me just as I know
ours is with you." Before he could say or ask anything, Conrad came
bursting around the curtain.
"I suppose this is your idea too.
Grayson."
"I have no clue what your talking about,
Conrad," he growled. "And lower your voice."
"I will do as I damn...." Conrad began
to bark, but his words were quickly quailed by Dick's good hand gripped firmly
around his throat. Not making much of a note of the small group of people
around him.
"I will say this once and only once
Conrad. God willing there are two more
hours of this flight left. If you wish
to hang out in the first class section of the plane you will be quiet and
helpful. If you are unable to handle that task I will suggest you go back to
the...I believe the term you used was 'lower classes' sit down and be quiet.
The only reason you will have to come forward after this will be for medical
attention, to which I am sure Johnny G. will be more than happy to attend to.
If that is not to your satisfaction," he growled deeper releasing his grip
on the man's throat. "I will lock
you in a storage locker until this flight lands. Have I made myself clear? I
hear just once that you are attempting to stir up anymore trouble I will tend
to you myself."
James, still panting started to object,
"Who...do..." Dick just
brought his hand up to his lips and made the man jump back. "Johnny G.
please take Mr. Conrad to the nicest seat in third class and let me know if he
mouths off again."
"Oh I will," Johnny smiled, "but
I have to tell you if I knew stirring up trouble would get you to tend to me, yourself...
Oh hunny pleeease. Come on, mighty mouth, let's see if we can find a nice place
for you."
"Don't touch me.... you..."
"utt utt utt... you better watch your mouth
Mr. Conrad I have enema and I am not afraid to use it."
"Why I never."
"Oh dear, that could be your problem,"
Johnny informed him.
"You can't talk to me like that," he
roared as he unwillingly sat in the third class seat the steward appointed to
him. "I'll have your job!"
"You couldn't handle my job." The man
returned his eyes a fire. "Let me tell you something Mr. Perfect. You love to
hear yourself talk, call people names, and talk about them as though they are
beneath you. You have been spouting crap for the last hour or so about how we
are all going to die. But let me set you straight. So far except for the excess
use of your mouth, I have not seen you move any other part of your anatomy to
assist in this emergency. So tell me, Mr. Executive, Mr. Big Money, tell me. If
you are right and this is the end of the world for us all. You're going to have
to stand before the big man himself…" he emphasized as he pointed at the
ceiling. "Tell me, what will you have to say then?"
Knowing there was no answer forth coming Johnny
just walked away.
After Conrad was taken care of Dick looked up at
the circle of people his confrontation had attracted. Many of them, he knew,
were more frightened then angry, but the small mob had decided to choose sides
at the wrong time.
"Same goes for anyone else who wants to
stir up trouble, if you got something to say or threaten, hold your peace until
we get back on dry land. As for the rest of you. Lieutenant Ryder and myself
are experienced pilots. It is true that the on board communications have been
destroyed but we did manage to use a computer to contact Metropolis
International Airport who contacted the Justice League of America. They are
sending out someone to escort us home. Barring anymore incidences you should all be home by the after
morning." Suddenly, he was barraged with a hundred different questions at
once.
But what if there are more problems? You're hurt how can you fly this big
plane? Who put you in charge? And others that were not so important.
"Just like on a ship. The Captain and the first officer are in
charge now. If you have someone else in
mind for piloting this craft send him up front. If not, that puts me and the Lieutenant in charge. As for flying:
if I have too. My injury is minor," he lied again. "I dislocated my shoulder
and the bandage can be removed but for the most part I can fly her with one
hand. And if there are more problems, well, we will cross that bridge when we
get to it. Ok? Now if you can, make
yourselves useful but if you have nothing to do remain seated and belted in,
most of all—"
"I would like to help," came a familiar voice
behind him. He turned to find James Conrad standing behind them. "I'm sorry if
I have been acting poorly and there is no excuse but I would like another
chance."
Dick looked over at Johnny who just smiled
turning back to the crowd. "If we stay calm and work together we can get home
safe. I have to go back to the
cockpit." Johnny followed him up to the kitchen, where Dick turned laughing
"I'm afraid to ask, but what did you do to him back there?"
Johnny just cocked his head and smiled
back. "It's like I've been trying to
tell you sometimes all it takes is a good fairy," with a wink the black man
turned and walked away.
The last hour seemed like an eternity to Dick.
He was beginning to think that his injury was more than a dislocation, it hurt
so much. Of course, you dislocate something enough times, it is going to create
more problems but now was not the time for more problems. He changed positions
with Tanya so he was sitting next to the destroyed panel. He told her it was so he could explore the
damage more, and still be close to the chair if he was needed. But the truth
was when this cabin decided to disintegrate it was going to take everything and
body on this side of the cabin with them. Anything that wasn't tied down would be
fair game.
Tanya took a walk to the rear to stretch her
legs. And for the most part everything was going smoothly. He wished he could get rid of the feeling
that this was just the calm before the storm. He definitely hung out with the
Bat too long. He was looking for trouble where there wasn't any, or in this
case looking for more trouble where there was plenty. Just when he was
beginning to think the rescue would never show. The rear section filled with
cheers and hollers of excitement. A
shadow of a smile crossed his face as he recognized the large jet that came up
over his shoulder.
"Titans together," he whispered to himself as Troia came
over the radio.
"It seems we can't let you out of our sight
for a moment," she teased him. A second voice came over the comm., one a
little less welcoming.
"Flight one-seven-niner do you copy? This is Batman. I am coming up on your nine o'clock and as you have already
surmised the Titans T jet is currently at your three. Do you copy?"
"I copy Batman," Dick quickly replied
in a no nonsense tone of voice.
"We will be setting you on an intercepting
course for Wayne Aeronautics. We have
been advised of the situation so we should have no problem keeping you flying
at this altitude. I have been advised by one of the titans that there is
visible damage to the outer shell of the jet. There is going to be a slight
change of plans…"
"One-seven-niner to Batman," Dick
interrupted, "Be advised that any further instructions should be left
until the pilot has returned." It had gotten so quiet, that at first, Dick thought he might have lost communications
with the Batwing. Then he recognized the awkward sensation that came up when
the communication damper field was turned on.
"I guess you wanted to make this a private
conversation?" he smiled looking over his shoulder at damaged frame of the
door to the cabin.
"Make it
quick."
"What's wrong, that you're not the pilot,
Dick? It's obvious you told them you have piloting experience."
"I dislocated my shoulder, but Tanya is
capable, that's not important tell me what you know about these terrorists."
"They're part of an British version of an
Arab Sect that seem to like to hit big industry in their heraldry. It seems you
have a captain of industry by the name of Conrad who has a lot of holdings in
the OPEC nations."
"James?" he screeched. "They attempted
to kill over 100 people because of James Conrad."
"It seems he did a lot of bragging in front
of the wrong people before he left for England. Black Canary happened to be in
the neighborhood and when we told her what happened she managed to track down
one of the terrorist through her overseas connections she persuaded him to
explain their intentions. Unfortunately, his friends found out about it and
blew up the police substation at the airport in London to shut him up. Luckily,
he was the only casualty in that explosion."
Dick just closed his eyes and shook his head.
"There is another fact that has us worried. This group is, to say the least, thorough. I
find it hard to believe that they were depending on the force of one small
charge to create the kind of display of power they like to be known for. They
have been the involved in the downing of a German and Russian Passenger liner,
as well as an attack on three embassies and even one attempt on the Pope."
Tanya burst through the doorway like a woman
possessed. Her hair hung down around
her shoulders making her look like a totally different person, as she climbed
back into the pilot's seat.
"Hey Dick. Wanna catch me up?"
She settled into her chair awaiting more
information when he handed over the earpiece and opened the computer's speakers
so they could both hear what had to be said. Then he gave her a quick run down
of the what he had been told as he struggled to unravel himself from the
bandages that tied his arm to his side.
"Batman? This is Lieutenant Ryder US Navy,
Acting Captain for flight 179. I have just been debriefed by my second. Mr.
Grayson tells me you think there may be another bomb on board is that correct?"
"That's correct Lieutenant."
"Is there any idea where it may be
found?"
"My
best guess is that there is another one in or around the cockpit or in the
luggage compartment. There is a good chance one of the dead crewmembers had
been a member of the organization. So it would be someplace he or his luggage
could get with little or no trouble." Dick and Tanya quickly glanced at each
other.
Dick left the cockpit cornering a Connie and
Johnny at the kitchen area. "I know
you have some good reason for taking that bandage off your arm." Johnny G.
huffed in a 'start explaining yourself' kind of voice.
"There may be another bomb on board," Dick
explained
"It's not good but it is a reason." Johnny
returned to his seat. "Adonis has the floor."
"This can't go any further than us we got to see
if we can locate it and disarm it, before any one finds out about it or we'll
have a full fledged riot on our hands."
"Oh honey," Johnny pointed out, " you have one
going on right now. You just not looking close enough."
"Johnny, I just need your help to find it." He
pleaded. "I'll take care of the rest. Batman thinks he can talk me through it.
Ok?"
"No, it's not ok! You're talking the ultimate
big bang," he replied just Connie put her hand over his mouth and sat him down.
"Ok, ok it isn't a good thing but I still need
your help. We have to search all the places that a crewmember my have access,"
he explained.
"They think it is one of us?" Johnny whined.
"They think it might have been one of the
cockpit crew, or mechanic, someone who could have rummaged around the
navigation panel and not been noticed. Fortunately, the one in the panel didn't
have enough explosive power to do the damage that was intended. Unfortunately,
they usually have a back up device. Luckily, it must not have detonated when it
should have or we all would be dead."
"Mr. Grayson, there are some areas mechanics can
get to we can't check out," Martin pointed out
"The only other option left to us is to ditch
the plane in the water, pray we don't jar the explosive into detonating and,
evac everyone."
"Baby, you best know now, this mother's child
don't swim."
"Then let's go find the you know what." Connie
smiled. It was a fake smile on a worried lady but since she was the only
surviving senior officer the safety of the passengers came first.
"Ok but I go with Adonis here … if anything
should go wrong I'll hide behind these big pecks of his."
Johnny followed Dick to the rear compartment
that held some of the carry on and supplies on board, while Connie and Martin
searched the kitchen and crew lockers.
The pain in his arm slowed the young co-pilot
into a careful and articulate in the exploration of the luggage area. Johnny,
on the other hand, was finished with his area and contents. Since he didn't find anything in the lockers
he had checked out, ((he figured)) his luck would hold out in the supply closet. He
was wrong.
A small squeak fallowed by the slam of the door
got Dick's attention. Johnny's eyes were as big as saucers. "Ghost," he squeaked
again "… you didn't say nothing about no ghost."
Dick placed his fingers over Johnny's lip, as he
gently turned the doorknob to the storeroom not really knowing what to expect.
By the time he opened the door, Johnny was in the corner with his eyes closed
repeating some prayer he had been taught in his youth.
Dick too, was startled by what he saw in the
back of the closet floating silently above the deck was a spectral image of
little robin. She stared blankly at the ball that seemed to pulse within a
bubble in her tiny hands.
"Robin?" The little girl's image seemed to paid
no mind to him as he reached for the glowing object
"Do not touch Mr. Grayson," the child suddenly
possessed the voice of an elder. "The bomb has detonated within the sphere. Should the sphere rupture all would perish."
"Who are you? What have you done with Robin?" he
barked noting Johnny's trembling hands as he peered from behind him.
"We are Robin," she returned in a calming
whisper. "Like many who dwell this world. We have lived many lives, seen many
things. Ours is a soul who has been called goddess and witch, who has lived in
the luxury of wealth and the squalors of destitution. Ours is a soul that has
known the glories of peace and the horrors of war, and with each passing
lifetime my powers grow stronger. I entrust you, Mr. Grayson, and you too, Mr.
Garland, with this knowledge, as well as with the safety of my mortal body."
"She knows who I am?"
Yes, Mr. Garland we have known you many
lifetimes, and hoped to be blessed with many more. Know this: the child is not
strong enough to hold this much longer. She will awaken soon or she will die.
As will all who are with her. There is maybe ten minutes of strength left in
her. You know what you must do young Grayson, like me your soul has carried
many names, seen many sights, lived many trials. This is no different you were destined to be what you are and
will always be.
Dick acknowledged the soul before him with a
slight nod and backed away. Taking Johnny out of the room with him and closing
off the room as he exited.
"What do you think she meant by that?" Johnny
whispered
"I don't know, but I do know what we have seen
must be kept secret if the wrong person ever saw that."
"Honey, I am black and gay. You don't need to tell me about the
persecution a person of difference can be put through. Her secrets are safe
with me. Not that anyone would believe me, still finding it hard to believe it
myself. The question is what do we do now?"
"We ditch the plane," he answered.
"Sorry I asked,"
"I will
explain to the passengers that there is a fuel leak and we have to land the
plane. Lock that room and block with whatever you can find so no one can
enter. Then, meet me in the kitchen
area."
With Johnny attending to his orders, Dick
quickly left to tell Connie and Tanya. Dick caught up with Martin and Connie waiting in the kitchen. "Did you
find anything?" he whispered already sure he knew the answer.
"No, my guess you didn't either which means this
thing is in the belly somewhere and could still detonate at any time," Connie
pointed out.
"So what now?" Martin inquired.
"We have to put Batman's plan in the works now.
Ditch the plane and get these people off it."
"Are you crazy?" Martin objected.
"The
Titans jet is amphibious. It can land
in the water, and it is big enough to carry all of us," Dick explained.
"How do you know?" Martin balked. "How do you
know landing it won't detonate the damn thing?"
"I don't, but I will tell you what I do know. We
are flying in a jet that has no way for us to tell how much fuel we have. No navigational equipment. No way of knowing how high we are flying,
what direction we are going, nor if we have any landing gear, should we find
land. We also know that the people who have taken responsibility for placing
the bomb on this plane has never missed before. There has always been two devices found in the wreckage and I
know right now, we have a chance to survive. Martin, we have pushed our luck as
far as we should. Like or not we are taking her down."
"Who the hell does he think he is? " Martin
confronted Connie.
"He's the pilot, as well as a passenger. He and
the lieutenant have put their life on the line the moment they took over the
controls, and because of it we are still alive. I think that should earn him
enough respect to let him land this broken bird wherever he thinks it is best,"
she spouted. "I think he is right we have pushed our luck further than we could
have hoped for and if you don't like don't bother to get off when we do land."
Richard walked into the center of the
craft. The curtains were no longer
separating the sections of the plain. He picked up the mike to the internal
intercom systems. Quickly tested it and said:
"Ladies and Gentlemen. I need your attention please," after only giving them a moment to
settle down he continued. "We have run into a problem because of the damage
done to the jet, we have had no way to evaluate the fuel situation. According to the Titan's pilot we have
situation that is requiring us to ditch the plane." The momentary chaos was
expected by vigilante incognito. "Listen to me, we don't have much time. The
Titans jet is going to land in the water. It will serve as a lifeboat for us but we are going to have to act fast
and in an orderly fashion. We will only blow the hatches on the port side that
will give us two exits. The ship is
equipped with four life rafts as well as your life vests. I need four
volunteers to help Connie, Martin, and Johnny with the rafts. They will need to hold the craft to the
plane while the injured are loaded on them. There will be one or two people assigned to assist with the injured,
depending on the severity of the injuries. The women and children will quickly
load on to the second and third rafts and the remaining men and crewmembers
will disembark last." The mumbling of the crowd was almost deafening but he
didn't have time to play games. "LISTEN TO ME." His voice carried loudly over
the speakers, "We have been playing against the odds for the last two
hours. I know you are frightened, we
all are. But this has to be done and it
is going to be done now! We may not have a third chance. Please fasten your
seatbelts and listen to your assigned crewmembers. We have made it this far by
working together. Together we can beat
the odds again. Thank you."
He
handed the mike to Connie who began picking volunteers to hold the rafts and
assigning seats to the passengers to make exiting from the plane more
orderly. Luckily, the jet was not full
when it left England. Otherwise, they would have never been able to get
everyone into a life raft. Her mind was filled with all the "what ifs?" that
was probably that dwelled in the minds of everyone else, but they would have to
face that problem when they got to it. Martin followed Dick back to the front
of the plane.
The injured co-pilot turned just before getting
to the doorway. "I need you to help me close off the cockpit. There is a good chance it will begin to
flood a soon as we hit water. When I go inside, you hold the door to the frame
and I will prop it closed from the inside. I want you to find something to keep the water from coming past the
door."
"What about you and the lieutenant? You'll be
trapped."
"We'll be ok. We'll exit out the emergency hatch and take to the water. But whatever
you do, do not try something stupid. Your responsibility ends at this door. You get those people off this
thing as quickly as humanly possible."
"Yes sir," Martin agreed as he extended his hand
to the man he believed now was about to sacrifice everything for people he had
never known existed until now. " …and bout before … I'm sorry. "
"You get these people off this plane and all
will be forgiven. Now help me get this door into place." Once the door was up
and Dick had it blocked with rubble from the navigator board, he returned to
his seat
"You ready kid?" The lieutenant smiled "Still don't like the thought of novice
stuck in here, but I think you know the score as much as it do. I guess that's
the risk you take when you fly."
"Damaged aircraft. No instruments, no radio, no land which is ok because we have no
way to know if we have working landing gear, that I can work with, but don't
you think a bomb on board is just tacky?" he smiled.
Tanya laughed there was more to this kid than
met the eye, and there was a lot to look at. He was special that was for sure.
"What are you, Richard Grayson? You say you have never been in the military but
you have passed a test in the last two hours that would have sent experienced
marines running through the woods with need of a uniform change."
"All I am is a circus kid. I was swinging on a
trapeze before I could walk I walked a tightrope in my sleep and I did a quad
from the trapeze when I was five. We took the tents down one morning and before
sunset we were setting tents up in a different town state sometimes a different
country. Not much different then the military."
"I guess you're right. Sounds a lot like the
military to me," she returned. "Ok kid, let's land this bird."
"Flight 179 to Batman. We are ready to take her down, and in case we don't get a chance
to tell you guys, thanks for everything."
"You can thank us when we get you out of the
water," he replied, as he dropped behind them. The titan's jet followed behind him just above the water.
"Counting down altitude to landing.
1500.
1400.
1300."
Tanya began cutting back on the airspeed as they
descended, but there was no way to tell if it was working or not. Both of them
struggled with the controls as they tried to keep the craft level. They would
have to land flat on the belly of the plane or risk flipping her all together.
Seconds passed the engines totally shut down they were approaching 500 ft. and
there was no way to turn back now.
Dick's arm was completely numb from the pain. He
felt something else snap just before the engines shut down a momentary cry of
pain slipped out as he struggled to maintain his grip on the controls.
The jet skimmed the water like a flat stone
across a lake. The second impact caused
a wash of water to flood over the wreckage, totally destroying what was left of
the cockpit and knocking the two pilots across the small room. Hundreds of
pounds of wreckage and water came down on him. As darkness began to envelope him, he felt the plane settle. The hollow
sounds of wind and water rushed in on him. Screams were muffled by the great pounding in his head. He heard the
doors as they were released. A wash of relief that there would be survivors
filled him. But he could not see anything from the floor were he was
pinned. He thought he heard Tanya
calling him, but he couldn't move. He
couldn't respond. The water was too
quickly filling the cabin and covering his face. Just as the world went totally
black he felt something shoved between his teeth, and a breath of air being
pushed into his lungs. The last thought that pushed through his mind as he lost
consciousness was "Batman."
When the passengers and crew realized they had
landed, they began emergency procedures. The two side doors blew almost
simultaneously and the first of the rafts began being loaded. The water was
being lit by a search light from the batwing. The Titans jet had landed outside
the wingspan of the wreckage and one of them jumped into the water while another
shot a tow-rope across the bow of the raft. As soon as it was loaded, Arsenal and Robin began pulling it across to
them. Tempest had called for back up. Three blue dolphins popped their heads from out of the waves. He tied a rope to first raft and gave the
other end to the critters.
The second sets of rafts began to fill when the
jet began to shift and break apart. The remaining passengers were tossed around
like rag dolls, some in the water some back into the water filling wreckage.
Luckily, Tempest was prepared with back up actually, "humped" back up. Four hump-backed whales pushed the wreckage
of the back half of the plane up to the surface. Robin was in the water
assisting with those who where tossed in. Troia had to abandon her post in the pilot's seat to make sure everyone
got safely out of the wreckage. Luckily, only one of those tossed back into the
fuselage was hurt bad enough to require assistance. She carried him over to the T-jet as the last of the survivor was
being pulled in. The whale released the wreckage and just as it vanished from
site. There was a loud muffled rumble and explosion of water plumed up in to
the air, then settled roughly back to the water.
Johnny, Connie, and Martin looked at each other
then back at the other survivors. Almost as if they were thinking out loud, the
passengers began inquiring about the pilots. "Has anyone seen the lieutenant or
Mr. Grayson?"
Roy looked over at Donna then back to Robin and
Tempest who were all set to return to the water to look for them, when Batman's
voice came over the T-jet's internal communications link. "Batman to Titans, I
have the two pilots if you are clear, let's return these people home."
Cheers went through the jet that would have
drowned out the explosion and Donna quickly made her way up to the
cockpit. "Troia to Batman, I have a
group of very wet and but happy passengers who like your idea. Lead on."
Roy looked around the chaos that was mulling
around his jet. People were still
walking up and shaking his hand. Women
were hugging him and crying on his shoulder. Garth was seated next to an
injured little boy and his mother who both had him in a bear hug. And Robin,
was on the floor with a little red headed girl who, seemed to be talking his
ear off all he could do was nod or shake his head before she would hit him with
a barrage of unanswerable questions, and he smiled. After all this was the
reason they were in this biz. Tomorrow they might not even remember who they
are but now in this one moment of time they made a difference.
A year later, on board a Wayne Tech Yacht, the
crewmembers and their family and some of the Survivors of Flight 179 returned
to the place where they ditched the craft. They had found the maintenance crewman who was responsible for the
bombing but he did not live to see his trial. The bodies of the dead crewmen
were never recovered. It was believed
that they had evaporated in the explosion, along with most of the plane and one
of the little black boxes. One box was found but it was so heavily damaged that
it was no use to the investigation at all.
As for the survivors, some of them went on to
tell their stories. Some even sold them to television. Some sued the Airlines
and others attempted lawsuits on Conrad and Wayne Tech. As well as suits against
the Titans and JLA, as well as two suites that named Dick Grayson and Tanya
Ryder Lt. USN, Retired, as co-Defendants. None of which were ever brought to
court. The airlines had settled out of court and well the others were basically
laughed out. So now they chose to make closure. Last year there was a memorial
soon after the rescue but Dick had not been able to attend due to injuries.
This year, they decided to go out one last time with no press to interfere with
their grief.
Bruce and Tanya stood at the railing by the
bridge. They spent days together fending off the press as Dick and her, as well
other members of the surviving crew, awaited the final verdict of the FAA. Not to mention the common vulture curiosity
that came with any tragedy. She liked the man, who was not at all what she had
expected. He was like a rooster protecting his flock, sometimes coming short of
a fight when others proved most persistent. He saw to the comforts of the
families of the survivors and during the chaos the ensued afterwards.
Dick's injury, kept him in the hospital for a
couple of days. Then, to what Bruce called shielding of his son from the
stupidity of the world, he was taken out of the hospital in the dark of night,
so he could be better taken care of without the eyes of the world hovering over
him. They even treated her like family and let her stay at the house for a
couple of days until she could get a clean bill of health to return to get her
retirement papers She knew she had seen a totally different man than the world
knew and somehow felt honored that she was included in that world even if it
was just a moment. They watched the two other passengers as they sat alone on
the deck of the ship.
Barbara sat on the fantail watching Dick stare
blankly over the water as they got closer and closer to the spot of the crash.
She had been introduced at the hospital as Barbara, "friend of Dick's" but it
did not take a genius to see that they were more than friends. His suit jacket
sat over her shoulders. He sat with his knees tucked up and his arms wrapped
tightly around them and his head rested on the bars of the railing.
"Dick are you all right?" she whispered, almost
afraid to break the silence.
"I'm alive. I guess that is a good thing," he
replied solemnly.
"It means the world to me Boy Wonder," she
smiled.
You know when the first explosion happened and
everything was happening so fast the only thing I could think of was you." He
laughed. It was almost as if she wasn't there. "O2 masks dropping
out of the overhead like decorations across a room at a New Year's Eve party
and all I could think was that I lost any chance to tell you how I felt."
"Dick, you have told me many times and in many
ways," she interrupted. "I wish I could be as open and sure about what I am
feeling as you have been with me. But I am not ready."
"I know," he returned solemnly. "And I am
willing to wait, but if this whole insane thing taught me anything. Time is not ours to give." He gave her a
smile then stood up and walked away leaving her to think about it.
The service was held off the bow of the ship.
The pastor from one of the crewman's churches was presiding over it. The family
set a raft of flowers adrift at the end and they all went below for the
memorial.
Johnny G. sat next to the guy he introduced as
his soul mate. After introducing Dick as Adonis the man became very protective
of him every time he walked by. Connie was now working on getting her pilot's
license and still a part time flight attendant with the airlines. Miller was
too, in fact he was not able to make the trip because of a delay in Austria.
Most of the other crewmen no longer flew even for personal travel, Robin was
running around playing with some of the other kids from the families… like any
6 year old. She told them about getting to meet Robin and the other Titans and
going to the circus with her family she even talked about her new school in the
United States. Well, parts of it
anyway, she didn't tell them it was a school for the paranormally gifted. She
sounded just like every first grader she talked and talked and talked. Her
Grandmother too lived at the school now. She worked as the school nurse. But
today she was just another survivor. Sharing memories, she walked up to Bruce
Wayne as he stepped out to the deck.
"Hello Mr. Wayne." She smiled "I wanted to take
this moment to thank you for all you have done for Robin and myself."
He smiled back at her and stopped the railing.
"I am glad I could make an attempt repay your family for what they did for me
and mine. Dick has done nothing but praise you and your daughter since they
returned. Has Robin begun to remember anything yet?"
"No. Not yet. I don't think it is so much that
she has forgotten anything; it is more like she has not had need of the
memory. I have thought long and hard on
what your young son had told me happen in the storage room. It is still a bit
hard for me to comprehend but then it is not for me to understand."
"I guess it wasn't something I am suppose to
understand either," he admitted, "and has gotten harder since the day he flew
into my life."
" 'Tis the hardest part of parenting. We wait,
wonder, and worry that they will grow happy and healthy in the light of good.
We pray that when they go out in the world alone they will make a positive
effect on it. Look around you Mister Wayne. Because of your child the Titans
were formed, because of the Titans, Robin was born. Because of our children,
all these people are still alive. No our job is not an easy one. Tomorrow they
might not even remember who we are but now in this one moment of time we made a
difference."
