Chapter One:
The Mysterious Package Arrives
1
Seconds after an awestruck Mike Wachowski was buzzed past ominous iron gates, the portly courier leaned forward on the delivery van's worn dashboard, casting his mesmerized gaze upwards towards the expansive property which was now spread out like a hidden kingdom before him…
Wayne Manor.
The delivery driver quietly whistled in amazement, secretly wondering if he were lucky enough to win the state lottery, would he still be able to afford a place like this? It seemed like something out of a dark fairy tale, a relic of Gotham royalty from a bygone era far removed from his own little world…
Parking his delivery van in the visitor's stall and then fixing his wrinkled shirt, the stout courier gathered up the rush-delivery package and made his way along the estate's manicured promenade towards its curving stone stairways. As he climbed the twisting stairs leading up to Wayne Manor's imposing entrance, Mike Wachowski noticed security cameras following his every move.
Cresting the stairwell, Mike soon felt the chill of the late autumn air whispering the cold promise of winter in stops and starts. Halloween had been a week ago and now, glancing up at the creepy stone gargoyles, the courier was thankful it was daylight. He wasn't the superstitious type, but he could see how this place could get pretty spooky at night, even with all those celebrity charity parties Bruce Wayne used to be known for.
The lifestyles of the rich and infamous…
Making his way towards the front entrance, the delivery man suddenly recalled an item on the news last year about Bruce Wayne finding a long-lost son he'd apparently had with some foreign woman years ago. A lucky stiff like Wayne was bound to have a few illegitimate kids wandering around. Heck, he probably even had an entire accounting department dedicated to settling his domestic affairs just to keep the little rugrats and their mothers out of the press…
When the courier swung his thick finger upwards towards the ornate doorbell button, he instinctively stepped backwards as one of the large oak doors impatiently swung open. The delivery man actually had to tilt his head down to see a thin, dark-haired boy in the grand entryway.
The kid was a full foot shorter than Mike Wachowski, and perhaps a third of his weight, but his angry-looking expression still managed to seem somehow menacing as he glared intensely upwards at the courier.
"It's about time."
"… Traffic."
"It's Sunday."
"So it is… Anyways, I have a package here for Mr. Damian Wayne… Is your mother or father home?"
"My mother doesn't live here and my father is currently out of the country on business… I'm Damian Wayne, I'll take that."
As the boy quickly took hold of the package, the stunned courier still maintained his grip, refusing to let go, even though the kid was now pulling with everything he had. Like gunfighters at high noon, the two of them silently stared at one another, locked in a stalemate of strength and willpower until the larger man broke the tense silence.
"I just need a signature for this package… An adult signature."
"Why? This is my package. I ordered it. It's for me. Your job is simply to deliver it… So let go."
"As soon as an adult signs for it, it's all yours... Could you get one please?"
The kid wasn't backing down.
The heavily built courier was now being forced to hold tightly onto the package, struggling to maintain his poise and his grip as he stared down at the diminutive Damian Wayne standing directly opposite him, the kid's own small hands continually tugging at the hotly contested box as though they were in some strange tug of war.
And although Mike would have loved to let the little brat take the package and just leave, the simple fact of the matter was that someone that young couldn't sign for this type of delivery, no matter how much they wanted to complain about it.
But that didn't stop Damian Wayne.
"Why aren't you letting me take my package? Surely you can't be blind as well as stupid?... If you look closely, you'll see that's my name on this box which means it's for me... I'm also the one who paid a lot of money for your overrated company to deliver this shipment… To me… By noon… TODAY!… So, in light of all these recent revelations, what possible reason could you possibly have to tell me that I'm still unable to receive my own delivery?!"
"Look kid, I'm real sorry… But as you can plainly see on this purple sticker here, it says Adult Signature Required. And since this is an International Shipment, I need someone twenty-one years or older to sign for it, or else I could be breaking the law… And you ain't twenty-one, son… You may not like 'em, but them's the rules… Otherwise I gotta come back later… You're sure there's no adult home?... Maybe a babysitter?"
"Tt! I have never required the services of a babysitter, you lack-witted oaf! Do you have any idea of who I am or what I could do to you?"
As the arriving Richard Grayson ascended the familiar stone stairway towards the front entryway of Wayne Manor and overheard Damian's threats to the large delivery driver, his pace and heart rate quickened. When the athletic young man crested the stairs and caught sight of the besieged courier who'd finally reclaimed his package and was now preparing to leave, he also noticed that Bruce's biological son, a pint-sized terror named Damian Wayne, had reached out with his hands to take hold of the large man from behind.
Dick decided he'd better intervene before assault charges were laid.
"Good morning. Can I help you with something?"
As Damian's fingers suddenly froze on the verge of gripping the fabric of the driver's collar, each of them turned to the sound of Richard Grayson's charismatic voice as he emerged like a smiling politician on their doorstep.
Damian lowered his hands and pursued a different tact.
"Ah, Grayson… Perhaps you can explain to this imbecile who I am."
Dick shot one of his patented Grayson nods at the distressed courier in an attempt to diffuse yet another of the tense confrontations which Bruce's newly discovered son always seemed to place himself in…
Like an errant storm cell set loose upon a sea of unsuspecting humanity.
"Why don't I just sign for your package, Damian?"
With a relieved sigh (and a suspicious backwards glance at Damian), Mike Wachowski turned to the recently arrived Richard Grayson and responded to the proposed solution with a tight smile, eager to wash his hands of this contested package and its tiny hostile recipient.
"Sure… But I'll need to see some ID, buddy… Secure delivery… Say, do you live here in this mansion?"
As Richard pulled out his driver's license so that the courier could read it, he watched Damian making obscene facial gestures behind the man's back and shot him a quick glance.
"Grew up here. I'm actually this kid's step-brother... I admit, he can be a bit of a handful at times."
"You don't say."
As Dick signed for Damian's shipment, the original Boy Wonder noticed that the shipping address on the bill of lading was from a company named Argus Corporation located in Japan. And the sole recipient was Damian Wayne. The mystery package was also quite large and sent priority rush, containing some sort of electronic device…
Well, this was certainly getting interesting.
Once the relieved courier had departed, Richard continued to examine the mysterious shipment (much to Damian's chagrin) as the two step-brothers strolled through the Manor's extensive foyer. As Damian's name was listed as the only recipient, Dick was becoming increasingly curious as to just what could be inside this box from halfway around the world.
"I'll take that now, Grayson."
"Sorry, junior... Not until I know what's in it… Let me guess… Laser cannon?"
"I don't see how that's any of your business. And why are you even here? Looking for another loan from father, I expect…"
Dick grimaced a little.
"That's my salary actually... He pays me out of your inheritance… No, I'm here because Bruce called me yesterday and personally asked me to check in on you... And it's probably a good thing he did… Exactly what were you planning on doing to that driver, anyways?"
"I was simply about to educate him on a basic tenet of customer relations… Namely that the customer is always right… And may know jiu jitsu."
"Uh-huh… By the way, where's Alfred?... You didn't do anything to him, did you?"
"Tt… In the greenhouse, I expect... And if you must know, this package contains state-of-the-art NerveGear equipment as well as an incredibly limited copy of Sword Art Online... So now that your unsolicited curiosity has been satisfied… Give me my package and get out."
As the pair proceeded into the extensive kitchen, Richard ignored Damian's petulant demands and carefully placed the boy's package down on Alfred's preparation table. Then, like a man on a mission, Dick made his way straight to the large refrigerator where he eagerly scanned the ice box's well-stocked contents for leftovers.
Happily pulling out an armful of ingredients, the muscular Richard managed to catch Damian's disapproving glare before sitting himself down in front of a veritable smorgasbord of Alfred's culinary delights.
The little tyke really didn't know how good he had it here...
Dick hated to admit it, but as much as he missed Bruce, there were days when he thought he might have missed Alfred's cooking even more. Life as a bachelor in Blüdhaven wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
"Sword Art Online? Isn't that the new Virtual Reality game that's all the rage in Japan? I caught something about it on the news last week, people were lining up for blocks… Funny though, I never took you for the gaming type."
That familiar arrogance crept into Damian's blue eyes as though he were poised to deliver yet another lecture as Dick realized he'd made the conversational gaffe of once again assuming that he was talking to a normal person…
"As usual Grayson, your inability to foresee anything beyond your next meal continues to astound even me… The strain on my poor father's back must have been absolutely crippling from all those years of having to carry you around as his so-called partner."
As Richard simply shrugged off Damian's insult about his days as Robin the Boy Wonder, he instead put the finishing touches on his triple-decker turkey-and-beef sandwich, making an obvious production of applying just the right amount of salt and pepper to his culinary masterpiece in order to annoy Damian. While it was true that Dick had given Batman his fair share of grief over the years, it was nothing compared to the ulcer-inducing misery that this little homicidal maniac had put the Dark Knight through over the course of only the last year alone.
He couldn't even imagine what the first ten years of Damian's life had been like in the League of Shadows.
Before Dick had even finished middle school, the child who would become Damian Wayne had been the unexpected result of a one-time tryst between the beautiful daughter of Ra's al Ghul and the Batman, two lost souls found in some far off Arabian desert. The unexpected child of their passionate one-night affair had been raised in secrecy by his mother, the mysterious Talia al Ghul.
For ten years, Damian's existence had been kept secret from Bruce until the day when Talia had dropped off the junior assassin like a ticking time bomb onto Bruce's lap, informing the Batman that Damian needed to train under his father now. Days later, Bruce had managed to discover that the centuries-old Ra's al Ghul was once again dead, but that this time Talia had instead focused on rebuilding a new League of Shadows as opposed to resurrecting her nihilistic father and enabling his mad dreams of global genocide.
Dick figured that if Talia al Ghul had intended Damian as nothing more than a distraction to keep Batman out of her private affairs, it had worked like a charm…
While the industrious Bruce Wayne may have created scenarios for countless global emergencies, suddenly becoming the father of a ten-year-old assassin hadn't been one of them. Dick tensed as he recalled the chaotic upheaval of violence and destruction their lives had become shortly after Damian's less-than-fortuitous arrival.
'Unholy Terror' seemed like an apt description.
The thought suddenly struck him as he wondered (jokingly) if Bruce had arranged this business trip to Japan in order to preserve his own fleeting sanity and perhaps get away from Damian for a few days.
But surely he wouldn't do that to poor Alfred…
Would he?
"I think your father and I made a pretty good team, actually… But speaking of strain, did you ever notice how Bruce only started developing grey hair over this past year?… As I recall, it seemed to be right around the time when you first showed up on his doorstep."
Damian grinned.
"Heh… I admit, my transition to the 'Boy Wonder' has proven difficult for both myself and father… I wasn't trained to be so… gentle… Yet, in true heroic fashion, I have come to embrace my father's rather idealistic philosophy of live and let live…Which explains why you're still alive, Grayson."
"Are you seeing that therapist I recommended?"
"Tt… I'm the sanest member of this family by far."
"Yeah, you're a perfectly normal, well-adjusted eleven-year-old."
"Don't be so obtuse, Grayson... I've researched your academic records and you're not nearly as dense as you pretend to be… My grandfather could make an effective argument that preserving human life at any cost is even more dangerous than allowing our inherent violence to balance humanity's unmitigated population growth... Yet my father has shown me the power of hope for our common future... I believe we both owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for that alone."
"We do and trust me, I'm relieved you're following in Bruce's footsteps and not those of your grandfather... So what's the plan with this NerveGear?"
"To play it of course."
Dick swallowed another bite of his triple-decker sandwich before deciding to subject himself to yet another round of Damian's barbed insults.
"Alright, I know I'm asking for this… But explain to me how that doesn't make you a gamer."
Damian drew a long tedious sigh while Dick took a drink of milk.
"Because unlike you, I am a visionary. Have you never truly considered the implications of a full-dive Virtual Reality system upon our society, Grayson? This technology will completely revolutionize our education system, the way we do business, and the way we live. We are on the verge of a major paradigm shift which I fully intend for Wayne Industries to be a part of…
"The ability for a piece of equipment to intercept its user's thoughts and then instantly translate them into a virtual avatar interacting with its landscape and other people has limitless possibilities. We can recreate ourselves as anything we'd like, anywhere we'd like. And these new worlds will be fully tactile, so incredibly real to our senses that it will be difficult not to believe we're actually there…
"Just think, a shared reality of sight, sound, smell, taste and feel created by computer, streamed to our own minds at real-time where we can interact with other connected users. Why read about history when we can experience it firsthand? We could march with Alexander's army across the Anatolian Plateau or debate in the Athenian Senate during the birth of democracy…
"Our minds can develop the muscle memory for techniques which our hands have never experienced. Language barriers can be overcome as computers instantly translate our thoughts into each other's languages in this new shared environment. Our world's greatest minds and leaders can all be joined together and openly communicate about creating solutions for our most pressing challenges…
"So tell me, Grayson… Would that make them 'gamers' as well?"
Dick neatly wiped the corner of his mouth with a paper napkin.
"Nice speech… So what does Bruce have to say about all of this?"
"As the CEO of Wayne Industries, he's personally investigating this technology… Due to his advanced years, I expect he moves with more caution than is actually necessary... Old people seem to be that way."
"It's called experience… Is that why he's off to Japan then?... To check out this NerveGear technology?"
Damian shook his head in exasperation.
"Seriously Grayson, there are days when I expect that my father dressed you up in red, yellow and green to act as nothing more than a human target… In fact, he's probably just as surprised as I am that you've survived this long on nothing more than good looks, quick reflexes and dumb luck…
"Yes, he's flying to Japan to discuss this ground-breaking technology with the Argus Corporation executives... The NerveGear also has a number of military training applications, so that's how he's presented it to our shareholders... And in the wrong hands it could be extremely dangerous."
Dick managed to wash down the rest of his sandwich with the remaining milk before he smiled slyly at Damian.
"And that's why you arranged for this package's delivery on a Sunday… Because you knew he wouldn't be around, right?... Which means that Bruce has no idea you even have it."
He noticed the tell-tale sign of Damian's cheeks flushing ever so slightly...
Gotcha!
"Simply an oversight… It was supposed to arrive late last week… But rest assured, my customs broker has been fired due to her mishandling of this important shipment."
"You don't have a customs broker or the authority to fire anyone… And thank God for that… But besides the fact you went around Bruce's back to obtain this technology, is it even safe?... Personally I'm even surprised you were able to import something like this into the country."
Damian quickly regained his smug composure.
"Once again you underestimate my capabilities, Grayson… I understand that no one ever expected a former circus performer to take an active role in father's business... But the irrefutable fact remains that if Wayne Industries is to survive in this new virtual millennium, we need a well-funded, robust division of our company devoted to this revolutionary technology… A division which I intend to personally head in order to lessen the burden on poor Father."
"You're eleven-years-old."
"And also the biological heir of Bruce Wayne as well as pre-eminently qualified... But don't worry, I'm sure I could offer you a position as a mail clerk… After all, you've displayed a considerable talent for receiving parcels… If not much else."
"Very funny… But don't you think you should actually discuss this whole NerveGear thing with Bruce before you actually plug your brain into it?… At least be responsible enough to wait until he's back."
Damian paused for a moment.
"The Sword Art Online servers go online at 13:00 Japanese Standard Time today… With the thirteen hour time zone difference, that means the game will start at two o'clock this morning here in Gotham… I need to be online at that time."
"Which means that you'll have more than enough time to call him before then."
"Fine…"
"Alright, but I would still prefer if you actually waited for Bruce to get back… A few days won't make a difference."
"If that's what you truly believe, then it's obvious that my time is much more valuable than yours… When Father returns, I have every intention of joining him on patrol… I would go on my own of course, but I gave him my word that I wouldn't while he was away… As such, these three nights are all that I require to gather sufficient first-hand knowledge of this new technology...
"Now, if you'll excuse me Grayson, I need to set this equipment up in my room before my afternoon workout… And don't forget to clean up after yourself, you've left your crumbs all over Alfred's table."
An annoyed Dick watched as Damian retrieved his recently-delivered package from the table and then stomped off towards the stairs without so much as another word.
"Sure, I've got to get back to Blüdhaven anyways… CALL HIM!"
"… Tt."
There were times when he really hated that kid.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading Chapter One!
This is an Alternative Universe story rated Teen and up which takes place in the near future… Sunday November 06, 2022 to be exact. Since the events of Sword Art Online (SAO) have a very definitive timeline, I'll be following that narrative's schedule for awhile...
At least until Damian fouls it all up.
To fans who may be unfamiliar with Sword Art Online, don't worry. I'm pretty much rewriting the entire arc so you'll be able to easily follow along. For now, all you need to know is that it's a fantasy-based massive multiplayer online role playing game where players wear a futuristic helmet called NerveGear which allows them to 'exist' in an imaginary, virtual world by translating their mental commands into their character's actions.
Once we 'dive' into the Sword Art Online portion of the FanFic, I'll be introducing a few new original characters. By allowing Damian to form his own party with mainly original characters, it allows the original SAO story (featuring Kirito) to remain relatively unscathed.
For this FanFic, we'll keep it simple: Damian Wayne is the lovechild of Talia al Ghul and Bruce Wayne. He's also the newest Robin. Bruce has been the Batman for around twenty years. Richard 'Dick' Grayson was the original Robin but has since moved out of Wayne Manor to set up in nearby Blüdhaven as its dark defender; Nightwing.
After being shot in the spine by the Joker, the former Batgirl Barbara Gordon has been in a wheelchair for the past five years, utilizing state-of-the-art surveillance and network technology to aid Batman in his continual fight against the forces of evil. As her alter-ego Oracle, she's set up her secret headquarters in the Gotham Clock Tower to provide field support for Batman and his team.
And since we're keeping it simple, none of these characters have ever died or have been resurrected in this story. Richard Grayson is Bruce Wayne's adopted son while Damian Wayne is his biological son. Bruce is 44-years-old, Damian is 11, Richard Grayson is 24 and Barbara Gordon is 25.
Also, I love to hide little Easter eggs in my stories, especially when I'm naming minor characters like Mike Wachowski… Any guesses where that name is from?... If you guessed 'Mike Wazowski' (the one-eyed green guy) from Pixar's "Monsters, Inc."… Good job!
And finally, I promise to keep this non-cannon work of fiction suitable for Teens and up. If you're comfortable reading the current Batman comics or reading/watching Sword Art Online, you'll have no concerns reading more...
In Our Next Chapter: Bruce Wayne arrives in Tokyo only to later discover some very shocking news…