Prologue
Monday 9 AM
A broadcast is playing on citizens phones, a train hijacking. Batman and Robin stalk the gang who are loading in cargo into the train. Batman observes the group counting how many there are.
"Well you going to sit there and do nothing or are you gonna tell me the details?" Damien says sarcastically.
Batman inspects the gang for a few more seconds before replying, "Six guards outside, two loading cargo into the train. Eight on the inside."
Damian curiously looks at the situation. "Don't you think this seems like a setup? Causing this huge commotion when there are several alternative and more straightforward methods."
"Exactly keep your guard up." Before long the GCPD show up, following them is two helicopters with their lights trained on the six guards. Batman reaches toward his utility belt pulling out a portable radio, phoning in Gordon. "Gordon what do you see?"
"These guys are new calling themselves Ace. They aren't taking in much, whatever is in those few crates must be extremely important. I think they've prepared for you I'd be cautious."
"Always Gordon," Batman turns it off returning it to his belt. At the notion of the GCPD, the Aces begin starting the train. Batman turns toward Damian, "I'll grapple to the top, only follow once the coast is clear." Batman instructs, Damian only nods and signals that he's ready. Batman stretches out his arms shooting his hook clinging to the edge of the train, Batman flings from his hidden location to the top of the moving train. The sound of him tackling the top of the train is masked by Gordon yelling at the gang through a megaphone. Damian follows suit; that's when suddenly bullets came flinging from the inside of the train. "They know we're here."
"Yeah I got that father."
Gangsters started climbing to the top through the windows. "We've been waiting for you bats."
Unfazed Batman prepared a battle position with Robin beside him. "Cover my back," Batman rushed toward the gangsters, the two that had climbed up prepared to discharge their guns, predicting this Batman launched 2 batarangs plugging their guns.
Click
Click
Click
"Goddamn these stupid things! Guess we'll do it the old fashion way," the first gangster pulled out a small combat knife. Behind the ensuing combat Damian watched the bulk of the gangs next moves. They were unloading the few crates they had. Damian swiftly swung into the train throwing down a smoke grenade, the gangsters fired blindly into the void of smoke as Damian pounced on them one by one.
The gangster ran at batman swinging his knife toward Batman's cheek. It took minimal effort for Batman to deflect this with his leftmost arm and finish the gangster with a tough blow to the stomach. In the train the smoke started to clear, Damian had only taken out three of them and he couldn't evade that many guns in such a small place, he seized one of the crates as he worked his way back up.
"This crate feels light," Damian announced. He began clawing at the crate to open.
Batman came to striking realization when he saw the thug pull out a detonator. This was a suicide mission to kill us, this train is rigged to explode. "Robin it's a bomb!" He yelled rushing toward and concealing Damian in his cloak as the explosives went off.
BOOM!
Screams from the surrounding area can be heard. Police sirens wailed. The train collapsed wrecking several buildings. The Dark Knight laid on the ground still holding Damian. Blood obscured his left eye and in the other was tunnel vision. A man came running up them, and like that the Dark Knight fell faint.
Monday 1 PM
Bruce Wayne's eyes raced open. He was out of his suit and bandaged up all around lying in a clinical bed. The room that surrounded him looked like the room of a little girl. Where am I? Bruce thought to himself. The door jerked open and in entered a man, someone he had never seen before. A tall fellow partially tan with spiky black hair. Bruce made sure to maintain his composure.
"Well welcome up," the friendly voice greeted him, "I understand you're confused, would you like something to drink?"
"Anything non-alcoholic."
"Well that's a pleasant surprise; I don't drink myself I was worried I'd disappoint the Bruce Wayne." Bruce harbored suspicions about this guy, but right now he was in a hospital bed he's at the whim of this stranger. The man easily noticed Bruce's discomfort, "you don't have to worry; I know who you are and I have no intentions of revealing your secret."
"Getting straight to the point I see."
"I'm entertaining a very special guest so might as well," he chuckled to himself. "My name is Christopher, Christopher Jackson."
The name struck a string of familiarity in Bruce. "Do we know each other? I feel like I've heard your name before."
"Probably from the endless articles of my failed inventions…"
"An inventor with medical equipment?"
"Failed doctor as well… But I couldn't send you to a real hospital. And your injuries weren't too bad."
A thought sprung back to Bruce's mind. "Robin!" Bruce started picking himself up ignoring the ever growing pain in his abdomen. Chris went over grabbing his shoulders.
"He's fine, he's on the 1st floor practicing with my workout equipment. It took a lot of convincing to stop him from taking you and leaving."
Bruce regained his composure. "Can you explain what happened?"
Chris walked over helping to pick Bruce up. "The train caused a lot damage, in the chaos I saw you and decided to help you out. Lucky for you, you got out of the way of the explosion the real damage came from the landing. Afterwards, the Aces gang then did a series of crimes, they were all well coordinated; it all culminated to a Arkham and Blackgate breach."
Guilt washed over Bruce. "Thank you for your help but I need my suit and I need to go."
"Mr. Wayne, you have a broken rib and a concussion."
Bruce had noticed the pain from those two areas. "And Robin?"
"A broken arm." Chris brought Bruce to a living room and seated him on an old couch, like one you'd see at a motel. Chris poured himself, and Bruce a cup of coffee and placed it next him.
Damian had come up glaring at his father, "father we have to get moving."
"In your condition you won't be doing any moving," Bruce responded. "But I will, Chris where did you take my gear?"
"I suppose I can't stop you." Chris walked over to Bruce and once again helped him up, but Bruce pushed him away.
"Sorry; I can handle myself."
Christopher nodded. "Follow me to my lab." Chris walked over to a door with Bruce and Damian following. He opened it revealing a silver room filled with numerous contraptions. On one of the many tables the Bat Suit rested, fully repaired but with gadgets and gear scattered.
"Did you get any calls?" Bruce queried.
"Should I have?" Chris picked up a small gadget, "I'm sure I fixed your communication arr-" a ring blared in Chris' ear. "Looks like it's for you."
Chris tossed it over to Bruce. He nabbed it and answered. "Master Bruce is that you!?" A mix of joy and concern erupted from the gadget.
"Yes and I'm fine, prepare the manor for our arrival I need you to watch Damian while he heals," Damian went to object before Bruce shushed him.
"Yes of course when will I be expecting you?"
"Two hours at most, also I'll need you pick Damian up, I'll send you the address soon."
"Best of luck to you Master Bruce."
BEEP
Bruce hanged up, he turned to face Christopher.
"I still have questions," Christopher sat down in a desk chair.
"Yes of cours-"
"Wait a second," Damian interjected, "you're putting me on ice while all of Gotham's villains are free?"
"You have a broken arm; it's best that you rest."
"Really? What about you father," Damian was staring daggers at Bruce.
"I am completely fine but you need to rest."
"Stop treating me like a child I can handle myself!"
"Maybe so but for now you will be under Alfred's care."
"Bu-"
"No Damian that is final!" The grim billionaire's voice filled the room.
Damian taken back returned to his snarky look. "I'll be downstairs," he spit on the ground before heading down.
Chris looked at the two, with envious eyes. "Ah kids," Bruce's stare returned to Chris.
"What were you doing with all my equipment?"
"Study; your tech is amazing."
"I'm afraid I'll have to unplug your study session."
"Oh I know," Chris leaned back into his chair, "what are you going to do for those two hours?"
Bruce reluctantly spoke up, "Investigate and stop what crime I can."
"Mr. Wayne with all do respect I saw what you said to your son and your just going to go and defy your own words?"
"It's… Complicated, I do what I can; he's a young boy," Bruce started packing up his equipment, "just one more question… Why should I trust your hospitality?"
The question struck deep for Chris. "You might not remember but about 1 year ago you saved my daughter's life," a grin widened on his face, "it was such a relief; my shitty parenting almost got her killed."
Bruce raised an eyebrow. "Your shitty parenting? What do you mean?"
"I was just taking her out to go grab some snacks at a convenient store when some thugs pulled out guns; one of my biggest failures as a parent was getting her into that kind of danger."
"But that wasn't your faul-"
"Bruce, I'm sure you're busy don't let me hold you up," Chris interrupted wanting to end the conversation. Bruce had finished packing up his gear he as ready to depart.
"Um can I borrow your bathroom?"
"Down to the hall to the left," Chris' radiant smile never left. Bruce entered the small bathroom and swiftly changed into costume. Chris noticed a limo in front of the house; he drew closer to the bathroom to inform Bruce. "Hey I think someone you know is here." Silence, "are you ok?" Chris opened the bathroom door, nothing but an open window.