A.N. Hello people and welcome to another chapter…YAY! If people are actually reading this thank you!
A Captive Audience
Chapter 2: Beyond the Looking Glass
Batman was the first to recover. He slowly opened his eyes and was met with a harsh, sterile light similar to the bland hospital lights that burned the patients eyes upon awakening. He winced as the bright light only increased and he brought his arm up to shield his eyes.
He reached for his belt only to find it missing, this, naturally, was sufficient to wake him up and he sat upright suddenly as he looked around at his new surroundings. It almost looked like a hospital room; soulless, bland and nothing more than was necessary.
There were three beds in the far corner and the walls were a dull grey…all except one…he stood up and found himself facing a wall of solid glass. He couldn't see anything through it; it was like the lights were out on the other side so he was able to see his reflection. He was still dressed and suited as Batman minus his belt, his cowl and mask were still in place and his cape was there too.
Suddenly he heard a quiet moan and turned to see Batgirl and Robin; the two were lying flat on the ground and they were slowly moving to get up.
"Ugh…what hit me?" Batgirl moaned as the room continued to spin; the dull, muted colours swam and swirled in her eyes and she raised a gloved hand to steady her head.
"…Is this what gettin' drunk feels like?" Robin muttered as he tried to stand on shaky legs only to fall over and land on his knees.
"No," batman replied and knelt beside his young partners. Robin was still unsteady on his knees and Batgirl was still lying on her side. He helped move Robin so that the boy was able to lean against the wall and then looked down at Batgirl. "Are you alright?" he asked as he steadied her on her knees.
"…I dunno…" she mumbled and soon she was sitting down beside Robin as they tried to clear their vision. "What happened?"
"I'm not sure yet," Batman replied.
"Where exactly is here?" Robin asked as he pulled of his mask. His vision was beginning to clear and he was now staring transfixed at the wall of glass, "And what's with this glass?" the young boy stood slowly and walked over to the wall, he lifted a hand to rest it on the glass and squinted as he tried in vain to see beyond the darkness.
Batgirl was now able to see clearly and she too removed her mask, she reached for her belt but found it missing, "Whoa…I've been robbed," she exclaimed and saw that so had Bruce and Dick. "Okay, this is really not good," she sighed.
"Agreed," the Dark Knight nodded and stood, his dark cape enveloped his figure and he stalked silently over to his young ward, "I'd put your masks back on since we don't know where Gordon or Catwoman are yet."
"They even got my skeleton key," she moaned as he checked the heel of her boot, "It'll take me ages to get another one of those things…" she sighed as he pulled her mask back on.
"What'd you suppose happened to 'em?" Robin asked as he stared up at his guardian.
Batman said nothing. He didn't know what had happened to either of them…he didn't even know what had happened to himself yet, let alone anyone else.
Robin slowly put his mask back on and walked towards one of two metal doors, one of which was beside the glass wall and the boy tried ramming it with his shoulder. "OW!" he screamed as he hit the door, "OW, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow…" they boy repeated as he danced around while rubbing his shoulder.
"Well, thank you for that amazing escape attempt; a round of applause for the boy wonder ladies and gents," Batgirl laughed quietly and Robin glared at her.
"I don't see you tryin' anything, Barb," he muttered.
The two continued to glare at each other as Batman walked over to the door and muttered, "Reinforced steel doors…" he then knocked on the glass with his knuckles, "…Bullet-proof glass, someone doesn't want us getting out." He removed his right glove only to find that the small pins he kept hidden were also gone, he had no way of picking the lock either, who over was responsible for this had really done their homework.
"Stand aside, boys, and let a pro show you how it's done," Batgirl smiled and reached into her hair, she pulled out a small hairclip and waltzed over to the door. She knelt down and wormed the pin into the pock…only to be met with an electrical charge.
Batgirl was pushed backwards and the pin was incinerated as she examined her hands, luckily her gloves had protected her from the damage but she could still feel the heat. A loud alarm began to ring out, like a police siren and bright red lights illuminated the room.
"Oh, yeah, real professional, genius" Robin sarcastically commented over the noise.
"Put a feather in it, bird-boy," she shot back, she then glanced over at Batman, "…err…opps…" she shrugged.
"Uhh…Batman…look," Robin pointed over at the glass wall at what he saw.
Within a matter of seconds lights beyond the glass wall had allowed the trio to see what was beyond it. Stark, white lights showed a huge court lined with dull concrete walls on all sides, there was grass covering the area and above it there was a metal mesh, like over a bird cage in a zoo that obscured the view of a dark, black sky.
There were other windows of glass like theirs, dozens of them, but they appeared empty, and there were simple table and chairs that were littered around the enclosed area.
And the door on the opposite side of the room creaked open slowly, it was pulled outwards to reveal a pale man in monochrome; his skin was chalk white and his black suit was crisp and unblemished. Behind him marched 3 men, all of them bulky and muscles in khaki uniforms with glowing red eyes.
"Well, well," the man smiled serenely "Good morning, my little trio of heroes."
Batman thought to ask about what he meant by 'morning;' the sky was pitch black, but he didn't want to ask unnecessary questions and a glance at Batgirl and Robin told them to be quiet. "I must apologise for the way in which you were brought here, but I did not want any preventable damage," he began.
"Damage to what?" Batman asked.
"Why, to you, Batman," this man made his name sound almost derogatory and insulting as his voice deepened, "I like my exhibitions to be in perfect condition, you know." Once more the man smiled and it was beginning to irritate Robin.
"Who're you callin' an exhibition?" the boy shouted before Batman could order him to be silent.
"Not very bright, is he?" the man chuckled as he looked over at Batman.
"Hey!" Robin exclaimed and brandished his fist.
"You, my boy, you are my exhibitions, and this is my museum. My museum of curiosities and oddities from across the stars…earth has some fascinating things," he explained, "You may call me the Curator , and I am the keeper of this museum," at this Robin only growled.
"What makes you think you can just 'collect' humans and stick 'em in a box?" the boy shouted.
"I can do whatever I want boy, and if I were you I would hold my tongue, this can be as peaceful…or as difficult as you make it, but you will be staying, of that I assure you," he smirked.
This did not go down well with Batman, he stood forwards and glared at this creature that had to abduct him, "And if I refuse," he questioned.
"I did not offer you that luxury," the man replied and raised his hand as Batman swooped forwards to attack. "Stop, do not move, Batman" the man ordered as his eyes shone red, and strangely Batman did stop. He froze on the spot and the man smirked, he moved a step forwards and threw a mean right hook at the stationary Batman.
Then he laughed and straightened his suit jacket, he turned his gaze towards Batgirl and Robin and said, "Do not move, children," once again his eyes flashed red, then he walked over to where the Batman now lay. "You will remain here for as long as I wish," he smiled and knelt down to stare into the caped man's eyes.
"You don't know who you're dealing with," Batman replied.
"Oh, I know exactly who I am dealing with, Mr Wayne, and I know exactly what your weaknesses are and how to exploit them, but you do not know mine; a disadvantage for you perhaps. I have heard that they call you the world's greatest detective, but I shall save you the trouble; there is no escape for you, I have no weaknesses, and you will never defeat me."
The man stood up and walked back towards the door, "Any actions that you make which disrupt the peace here will result in painful consequences," he said, "Disobedience is not tolerated here…you will be allowed out of your case at meal times with my other collections, and you have been provided with the necessary human luxuries. During visiting hours you will be expected to entertain otherwise there will be repercussions, children you may move," he then added a quick, "good day," and then he and his men left them alone.
"What a creeper," Robin muttered as he ran over to Batman. Bruce removed his cowl and rubbed his chin with his right hand.
"Definitely a creeper," Batgirl nodded, and they watched as Bruce shrugged away their hands as they attempted to help him sit up.
Bruce was deep in thought; that man had given him an order and he had felt like he had no choice but to obey. His strong mental defences were useless…which meant that they were in very serious trouble. That man could get them to do anything he wanted and Bruce could do nothing about it.
"How'd he get you to stop like that?" Batgirl asked.
"I don't know, but I intend to find out, no matter how long it takes," Bruce scowled and stared at the black suited man's retreating form in the glass. Soon the lights went out again and the yard vanished from sight.
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After, what felt like hours, of attacking the door, the walls and the glass, Batgirl and Robin sighed heavily, "We won't get out that way," Bruce repeated for the 5th time…not that he was counting or anything. He was sitting against the far wall with his cape spread underneath him and he had been watching them attack the room for the last half an hour. Bruce knew how long it had been because he had been counting the minutes in his mind
His young partners nodded slowly and came to sit on either side of him; Robin wrapped himself in his cape while Batgirl lowered herself to the floor.
"Then how will we get out?" Robin asked hopeful, but soon he sighed again. He was going stir crazy just sitting around doing nothing.
Batman didn't answer and his young companions sighed simultaneously and soon they started tossing around wild theories based on what the 'Curator' had said while Batman sat silently.
"And what'd he mean by 'entertain, anyway?" Robin said.
"Hey, don't complain, circus boy, you could entertain everyone for us…whoever that is," Batgirl smiled.
"Hey, that's retired circus boy to you," the boy replied, "And I don't entertain anyone without a pay check."
The two young crime fighters suddenly jumped as the door beside the glass wall opened as a red light above it flashed on for a second. "I feel like a prisoner," the boy muttered.
"We are," Batman said as they walked out onto the grassy yard, not knowing what they were going to find.
A.N. I wanted to make this chapter longer originally but my love of cliff hangers won again, I promise…if anyone is actually reading this that future chapters will be longer. So, until then people!
