I don't own Dc Comics, Batman Beyond, or most of the plot of this story.
Drake Manor, early the next morning
Dana Drake was sitting at her kitchen table, eating bacon and eggs while her husband, Jack, read the newspaper. Dana put her fork down and turned Jack.
"Do you know if Tim is awake yet?" she asked.
Jack's hands tightened around the newspaper. "no." he grunted.
She sighed. "Jack, you can't force him to stay home," she said, "He's a teenager. He's going to want to spend more time with his friends than at home. You can't force him to; this is just going to strain your relationship if you keep pushing."
"…I know. I'm just being stubborn, aren't I?"
"Yes, yes you are," Dana smiled, "How about I go wake him up and you two talk about it?"
"Yeah, good idea Dana." Jack said.
Dana kissed Jack on the cheek and got up for the table. She walked up the staircase to the upper level and walked down the hall until she stood in front of her stepson's room. She raised her hand and gently knocked on the door.
"Tim, it's Dana, you need to wake up. You'll be late for school."
The was no answer or even a sound.
Dana sighed. "Looks like we'll have to do this the hard way," she muttered, "Tim, I hope you're dressed because I'm coming in." she sad in a louder voice.
She turned the door knob and opened the door. She stepped into the room before she realized something: Tim was not in here. The bed was unmade and didn't appear to have been slept in, and Tim always, always made his bed. She walked over to his desk, his homework was still there. Tim usually put his school stuff together first thing when he got up. Something was clearly wrong. Dana ran out into the hall and put her hands to the sides of her mouth.
"Tim, Tim answer me!" she shouted.
Jack ran up the stairs and over to her. "Dana, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Tim's not in his room, his bed isn't made, and his stuff isn't ready for school." She said frantically.
Jack's eyes widened before he ran down the hall.
"Tim, Tim!" but no one answered.
Wayne Manor, 10 minutes later
Bruce Wayne was sitting in the kitchen, reading the newspaper. He was taking a sip of coffee when Alfred came in with the phone in hand.
"Master Timothy's father is calling for you, Master Bruce." He said while handing him the phone. Bruce put his coffee and paper down and put the phone to his ear.
"Hello Jack, what I do for you?" He asked pleasantly.
"Is Tim over there, because his bed hasn't been slept in, and Dana and I can't find him?" Jack asked nervously.
Bruce froze, but then he composed himself.
"No. Jack, did anything happen last night?" Bruce asked.
"Well, he and I kind of had a fight before he went to bed, but what does that have to do with anything?"
"Tim's probably staying with one of his friends, you know how kid's are. I wouldn't worry." Bruce lied calmly.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Jack said uneasily.
"Now relax and focus on other things. I have to go, so I'll talk to you later." He said before quickly hanging up and getting up from the table.
"Alfred, clear my schedule." He said in his Batman voice.
"Is something wrong sir?" Alfred asked.
"Tim never made it home last night." Batman said as Alfred gasped in horror.
"Sir, what do you think could have happened to him?" Alfred asked.
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out."
Bruce walked out of the kitchen, down the hall, and into his study. He walked over to the grandfather clock, opened it, and pushed the lever back. The clock moved aside to reveal a staircase. Batman walked down the stairwell into the Batcave. He walked over to computer and typed a few keys as he sat down. A ringing was heard before a click was heard.
"What is it Batman?" a female voice asked.
"There's a situation Oracle." He said.
"What is it?" Barbara Gordon asked.
"Tim never made it home last night." Batman told her.
There was a short silence. "How do you know?" She asked frantically.
"His father called me this morning and said his bed wasn't slept in and they can't find him. I don't know if it's anything serious, but I will not take any chances. I'm going to look for him, but I want you to keep an eye on his class attendance." Batman told her.
"And…if he doesn't show up for school." She asked.
"Then call Batgirl and Nightwing and inform them of the situation." Batman said.
"What about Stephanie?" Barbara asked.
"If my suspicions are confirmed, and we haven't found Robin by the time her school lets out, then inform Spoiler then and only then." He ordered as he ended the call.
Unknown location, 8:35 a.m.
Robin groaned as he started to regained consciousness. He tried to ignore the pain in head as attempted to remember what had happened. He had been out on solo patrol, he'd come across a women in trouble, helped her, and then…Harley! She'd knocked him out with a mallet. Great, now that he'd figured out what happened to him, he just needs to figure out how to escape. He took a look at his surroundings. He was strapped to some sort of trolley and was in some sort of lab-like room.
"Well, well, well, it seems as if our little birdie has woken up for his little nappie-poo." A hauntingly familiar voice said cheerily.
Robin's heart began to race, but he did not let his fear show on his face. He looked ahead of him and saw the Joker standing in the room, dressed in his usual purple suit and green tie, sporting his usual insane smile.
"Joker." Robin hissed.
"Aw, is that any way to greet you dear ol' Uncle Jay?" he asked cheerily.
"Why did you bring me here, Joker?" Robin asked.
"Simple really, I wanted to ask you the million dollar question: Who is Batman?"
Robin scoffed "You're gonna have to do better than that."
Joker's smile turned far more sinister. "Oh, I intend to, my young friend."
Robin gulped nervously.
Bludhaven police department, around the same time
Officer Dick Grayson and his partner had just gotten back to headquarters after stopping a robbery when the chief came up to him.
"Grayson, you had a phone call earlier." He said.
"Really, from who?" He asked.
"I don't know, some woman, Barbara something." The chief said.
Dick nodded before picking up the phone and dialing her number. Almost immediately, she pick up.
"Dick, thank god you called." She said.
"What's up?" Dick asked.
"Tim's missing."
"What?" he shouted causing all officers to look his way. He smiled sheepishly and apologized before turning back to his phone call.
"Define 'missing.' He said.
"He never made it home from patrol last night, his dad called the manor this morning looking for him, and he didn't turn up for school." Barbara said.
Dick nodded "Okay Babs, I'll be there as soon as I can. Bye." He said as he hung up. He then walked over to the chief.
"Hey chief, I need to take a leave of absence, starting right now." Dick said.
"What! Why? Grayson, you'd better have a good explanation."
"My, uh, little brother is in the hospital." He said easily.
"Oh really, what does he have?" The chief asked.
"Some sort of virus."
"Well, go on then." The chief said.
Dick nodded and walked out of headquarters.
Gotham city, 9:30 a.m.
Batman stood atop a rooftop in his cape and cowl, looking out over the city with narrowed eyes and his usual scowl. He turned his head to the right.
"Did you find anything?" he asked.
"No. It's like he vanished." Batgirl said.
"People don't simply vanish into thin air," Batman growled, "He's out there, and we are not going to stop looking until we find him."
Batgirl nodded, and then started staring down in to the ally below. Batman turned toward her as he noticed this.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Something is down their." She said.
They both took out their grappling hooks and shot them off as they jumped. They landed on the ground and put their grappling hook away. They walked over to the Item and batgirl picked it up.
"Isn't this…" She began.
"Yes." Batman answered.
It was one of Robin's grappling hooks. They both followed the line and saw it was attached to the fire escape on the building they were just standing on.
"It isn't like him to just leave these lying around. Something is very wrong," Batman said as he put his hand to his cowl, " Oracle, have called Nightwing yet?"
"I called him over 45 minutes ago. He's on his way, why?"
Batman ignored her question. "Call Spoiler and inform her of the situation."
"What! But you said not inform her until after school if you hadn't found him by then." She protested.
"I know what I said! However, circumstances have changed. We found one hid grappling hooks hanging off a fire escape." He told her.
"But, that's not like him."
"I know, which is why I don't think we'll find him by the time Spoiler gets out of school. It looks like Robin has been kidnapped."
Well, what do you think? Sorry for the short chapter last time. Leave any thoughts or comments in a review or Private message. Also, check out my other story "A Robin's pain" and vote on what you think should happen.
