The Hunted
Summary: Slade was gone. The villains were defeated, and yet, Robin wanted something more challenging. He gets what he wants when Ra's Al Ghul puts a plan into effect that will change his life forever, but what does it have to do with his long dead parents?
Chapter One: Rebirthing
Ra's Al Ghul stood in his dessert stronghold, contemplating his next move. The dream of a world free of crime and restored to its former pristine glory was far from fruition. The Detective and others like him were obstacles standing between him and a perfect world. He knew he must find a way to stop the Detective, he knew that to attack him directly was a foolish decision. The Detective's Prodigy, the Boy Wonder would be an easier target, as would the butler and surrogate father, Alfred Pennyworth.
How to do that, however, would prove a challenge. There were many ways to kill a person without it appearing intentional. But Robin, he was like his mentor, clever and resourceful. His demise would have to be well thought out, well planned, and fiendishly clever. He had existed for over 600 years; he had seen many things and had many experiences. He knew there were many ways to destroy a person. He had studied the Detective and knew many things about his surrogate son.
Ra's' mind began to conceive a plan that would destroy the Detective and his Prodigy, all in one swift stroke. The plan itself disturbed him. There were many risks. The Lazarus Pit he reserved for himself alone, but in order to carry out his plan, he would have to use one as a means to an end. He hated the thought of using it on anyone else. But to destroy the Boy Wonder he would use the people he loved the most: his long dead parents.
The plan was perfect. They would reappear in his life and he would be overjoyed at their miraculous return. They would earn his trust and love and when he least expected it, they would kill him. There was still something that he thought of that he knew would jeopardize the success of his mission. Paternal instinct and love between parents and their children. He would have to convince them that their son was an enemy of true justice and had to be eliminated.
It would take time and work, but it would be worth it to see his greatest enemies destroyed. Ra's Al Ghul ordered Ubu to his private jet and they flew to an airport just outside Gotham City. They drove to Gotham City and made their way to the Gotham Cemetery. They easily located the graves and he ordered his men to dig them up.
It was the dead of night and no one was anywhere near the area. He had his men load the caskets into the back of a large freight truck and drive them back to the plane where they retreated to his dessert fortress. Ra's had his men carry the caskets into a dark, dim room. He had his men carefully remove the bodies from the coffins and place them on a concrete slab.
You will witness something that you will take to your graves, my acolytes! You will bear the responsibility of this secret for the rest of your lives!" Ra's ordered Ubu to lower the skeletons down into the Lazarus Pit, the men moved closer to get a better look at what was happening to the bodies. While they were distracted, Ra's summoned one of his other assassins.
"Lady Shiva, kill them," he ordered "No one must know about what will take place tonight besides the two of us." Without hesitation, Lady Shiva viciously attacked the other assassins, stabbing some and shooting others in the back before they could react. Within minutes, 24 bodies lay dead as the putrid smell of blood filled the air.
"Very good, Lady Shiva," Ra's said. She turned to leave. "Where are you going?"
"I do not know what I have not seen. I do not have to lie if I am asked about what you have done in this room." Shiva exited the room.
Ra's stood, eagerly awaiting the results of the Pit's effect on the Flying Graysons. Ubu said nothing. They waited for a few minutes, and then Ubu spoke.
"It has been too long, Master. They still have not emerged. It is too late for—"
There was a bubbling in the fiery liquid and a sinister smile slipped across Ra's' face. "No. They have returned. Quick, restrain them. I wish to keep both of them alive in order to destroy the Detective's surrogate son."
The unknown fiery liquid rose up in a large wave as John and Mary Grayson leapt out of the Lazarus Pit. Their maddened screams filled the room as they landed on the floor. They both stared at Ra's with wild eyes before Ubu clubbed them senseless. They were both naked; their clothes had long since rotted away. Ubu fumbled for something to cover them both but couldn't find anything for them to wear.
"Take them somewhere where they will be kept safe but secret. Then get them some clothes. If anyone sees you or questions you, kill them, Ubu," Ra's said. He turned and walked out of the room.
Ubu dragged the two bodies down the hall and placed them in two separate rooms. He found clothes that would fit both of them and placed them in each of the rooms.
Ubu made his way into another room where he found Ra's Al Ghul waiting for him. "All your instructions have been carried out, Master."
"Good, we will wait for the Graysons to come to their senses…I have lived for over six hundred years. I have become a very patient man. Convincing them to join us when they wake will not be a problem. All that is required is that we be patient…"
The one thing Mary Grayson felt first was the cold. The chill seeped through her entire body. She sat up, panicked and looked around. She didn't recognize her surroundings. She looked down at herself and realized to her horror she was naked. Her mind was a mess and her memories were a muddle. She could remember Haly Circus; the performance in Gotham City She remembered something had gone wrong. She could remember falling…falling to her death.
How had she come back? And where were her clothes? They didn't bury you naked; she knew that. She looked around and saw a pile of clothes lying on the floor. Without any thought, she put them on. She walked to the door and hesitantly opened it. She slipped quietly into the hallway.
"Hello, Mrs. Grayson," Ra's said. Mary jumped out of her skin and whirled around to face him.
"Calm yourself. I mean you no harm," Ra's said soothingly, "I want to help you."
"Where am I?" she demanded. "Who are you? Where's John?"
"Where you are does not matter, but I am he who is called Ra's Al Ghul. I am the leader of a global organization dedicated to ridding the world of evil, Mrs. Grayson. And as to the whereabouts of your husband John Grayson he sits in the next room. If you'll follow me."
He led her into large, spacious room where she saw her husband, John Grayson waiting for her, clothed in the same attire she was wearing. Without hesitation, she ran into his arms, and they embraced. Zealous kisses were exchanged with whispers of, "I love you" and "What's going on?" between both husband and wife. They both forced themselves to relax and pulled away. They were both very confused and hoped to gain some answers from the mysterious Ra's Al Ghul.
Regaining their composures, they turned their attention to Ra's Al Ghul.
"How…how did this happen to us?" John asked. He folded his arms and waited for answers. Ra's Al Ghul was impressed. The man was very blunt and straight to the point. He was like his son. Ra's remembered Robin's appearance from the time he had kidnapped the Boy Wonder in order to test the Detective's skills to see if he was a worthy suitor for his daughter Talia.
Staring at the Flying Graysons, he half expected that Robin would have had a stronger resemblance to his birth father. But that was not so, he had his father's dark hair and some of his personality traits, but Robin's physical appearance came from his mother. She was shorter, had a smaller build and he noted that Robin had his mother's chin and eyes. He snapped out of his reverie and answered their questions. He had always been very skilled in the art of deception. They did not know that he knew who and where their son was. He also knew plenty of things about them through his research on the Detective and his adopted son.
"The miracle of the Lazarus Pit. It can restore life to the dead," Ra's explained. "I wished to bring you back to life because I heard of your tragic demise and I wish for your killer to be punished."
"What happened to the man who killed us?" John asked.
"Tony Zucco still lives. And he has not yet been found. He disappeared seven years ago shortly after you were murdered. Not even the Batman could find him. I have the knowledge and the skills to bring him to justice. And I wish to help you avenge you and your wife."
"I don't want revenge, I want justice," John said, anger seeping into his voice. "Tony Zucco should pay for what he did to us."
"And I will help you get justice. True justice. I'm offering you a path. Whether or not you take it is up to you. But I should warn you that if you refuse my offer, such opportunities do not present themselves on their own. You have the chance to make yourself more than just a man. And when you make yourself more than just a man, you become something else entirely…a legend."
"What makes you think we need a path?" John asked. "What makes you think we need your guidance?"
"Men take paths because they are searching for something. You want to find something, don't you? Your wife has mentioned it before."
"Yes," Mary answered. "I want to find my son. If we take this path, will it help us find him?"
"Only you can decide where your path takes you," Ra's said simply.
"May I speak to my wife in private?" John asked. "We've always made decisions together as a family."
"Of course," Ra's said politely. He turned around and walked out of the room. John and Mary sat beside each other; both were contemplating their next actions. What should they do? Should they take Ra's' advice and follow the path he had shown them? Or should they leave and search for answers on their own?
"What should we do John?" Mary asked.
"I'm not sure, Mary. What Ra's said makes sense…I want to punish Zucco for what he did to us," John said angrily. "We didn't deserve to die like we did!"
"I know…but how are we supposed to find Dick?" Mary asked. "All I care about is my son."
"He said he'd teach us what we would need to find him. When this is all over we'll find Dick and explain everything to him," John said, trying to reassure his wife.
"How long will this take John? Weeks? Months? Years?" Mary asked. She pulled her husband into a hug. "I miss him."
"I know. I miss him too," John whispered, kissing her forehead. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she laid her head on his shoulder as she rested a hand on his chest.
John stood up and Mary joined him as they walked with one arm around the other's waist, toward the door. They knocked and the door opened with Ra's Al Ghul standing in front of them.
"Have you both reached a decision, then?" he asked the former Flying Graysons.
"Yes, we have," John said. "We're staying. We want you to teach us everything you know."