CHAPTER 2
UNDISCLOSED LOCATION
GOTHAM CITY
Batman reported to an abandoned house a block off Crime Alley. The door was opened immediately to his knock and he was ushered in by a familiar figure, Ubu, Ra's al Ghul's bodyguard and servant. They eyed each other with undisguised rancor, but Ubu showed him into the house's main room where Ra's al Ghul sat in a thronelike chair.
"So, Detective, you have decided to keep our bargain. I'm glad I didn't misjudge you. I take it that the Young Detective is on the mend?"
"He is awake and the brain damage has been healed. All that remains is for him to complete physical therapy and he should be good as new," Batman admitted grudgingly.
"Good," al Ghul said briskly and cast a glance at Ubu. The servant disappeared and returned with a laptop computer, setting it up on a central table. "It is time for me to explain the task I have for you. It is neither simple nor without its danger, yet I am glad to have your services to resolve this problem." Al Ghul nodded and a large screen on the wall lit. "This sort of thing is so much easier in this technological day than in my youth when even the paper was made from scraped hides," he said conversationally. "In any case, behold this man."
The screen showed a man in his middle forties with graying hair and a short beard. "This man, Iskandar, was formerly one of my satraps, the governor of a portion of my empire. I trusted him implicitly and had planned to raise him above his fellows in authority and power. Alas, he was murdered before that became possible. I have narrowed his probable killer to one of three men." He gestured and three photographs flashed on the screen. "These men are all Iskandar's equals in my organization, each having similar power and autonomy within each satrapy."
Batman watched the faces go by on the screen. "Motive?"
"Jealousy, possibly. Or ambition. It was known that I was giving Iskandar greater authority. This is not the first time that someone in my organization sought promotion with a murder," Ra's smiled. "A job risk when working for the League."
"If this is normal for your League, then why hasn't the killer come forward? And why do you care?" Batman stood with arms folded across his chest. "You don't need me."
"Ah," said al Ghul. "I did say that they are brothers. These men, including the murdered one, are my descendants. They are family and the murder of my blood cannot go unavenged. You are here to find the murderer for me so that justice and order may be maintained."
"So why not just put Iskandar's body into a Lazarus pit and ask him who the murderer is?" Batman asked reasonably.
"Alas, although the Lazarus pit is miraculous in its healing power for the dead, a healthy man thrown into it dies and cannot be reborn. Each of these men had access to the pit where Iskandar's body was found." Ra's raised a hand and Ubu put a file folder into it. "Your name will be Asim and I will let it be known that you are to be Iskandar's successor, chosen over the others. You will be given quarters in Gotham City, to develop and organize the new satrapy that I have been formerly prevented from creating by the Batman. You will also teach a master class in combat for these, my satraps, to hone their skills. This will give you an opportunity to evaluate their skills and, " al Ghul cocked his head to one side, eyes glittering. "perhaps teach them something."
"Aren't you concerned about the inside knowledge I gain while organizing your toehold in my city? You know that I'll take you down as fast as I built you up," Batman said calmly.
"No fear, White Ghost will be your aide. He will be doing the actual work while you investigate. And our bargain requires you to pay attention to my interests while you pay back the debt. Recall, that if you break our agreement, I am free to rescind the gift of life to your young protégé. You will find him very dead before you can get to him," the smug satisfaction on Ra's face was hard to take but Batman swallowed down the rage that threatened to overcome him. He'd beaten Ra's before, he would again. The important thing was Dick's continued wellbeing and paying off this debt.
"And Ubu will remain with you as a bodyguard." Ra's continued. At Batman's flinch, Ra's raised a hand. "No, you will be a target throughout your investigation. A man must sleep some time. Ubu will ensure that you can complete your assignment."
"How will my identity remain a secret? My face is known throughout Gotham," Batman asked in a skeptical tone.
"You will wear a mask, Detective, at all times. It is not unusual for a Hashashiyyin to do so. Yes, Detective, we are that old. This organization descends from the ancient killers of the Crusades, as my role derives from the Old Man of the Mountain, although I am not so ancient," al Ghul said. "Shall we get started, then?"
TWO WEEKS LATER
WAYNE MANOR
Dick Grayson, aka Nightwing, was going through his daily workout. Over a month in a coma, excuse me, persistent vegetative state, had sapped his energy and wasted his muscles. He sometimes wondered if his skills would ever come all the way back. He took a long run to vault the horse, grasping the handles with both hands and swung his legs around and around until one hand slipped and he went over sideways. He banged a shoulder on the horse before he hit the mat and was left cursing under his breath just to get the frustration out of him. He'd lost so much ground; he'd never been this clumsy before, even after major injuries. Even more maddening, he couldn't even remember how he'd been injured so badly this time.
"It takes time to come back from brain injuries, young sir," Alfred handed him a towel and a bottle of water. Dick mopped his face and took a swig. "Even for one as miraculously healed as yours were."
"Alfred, where is Bruce?" Dick put himself directly into Alfred's path. "What did promise Ra's al Ghul? He didn't put me into a Lazarus pit, for God's sake, did he?"
"No, no Lazarus pit. Alfred sighed and shifted his weight. "All that I know, is that Master Bruce was desperate at the time. When the first preparation failed, al Ghul provided a second, stronger dose." He met Dick's blue eyes. "You must understand, my boy, you were dying. It was unmistakable that you had very little time left. Ra's al Ghul offered the only possible cure for you." Alfred took the damp towel from Dick's shoulder and put it into the laundry hamper. "And, as you can see, the cure worked. Within a day, you were complaining about being confined to bed." Alfred cast him a look of mixed guilt and defiance. "And we were grateful!"
"Do you have any left? I'd like to analyze it." Dick said.
"Master Bruce instructed me to destroy the remaining chemicals," Alfred admitted with discomfort. "I...ah...did take the liberty of retaining the original containers. There may be a residue remaining."
"I'll take it," Dick said. "And where is Bruce, anyway? As soon as I woke up, he disappeared."
"You know that Master Bruce has a number of responsibilities and Batman has more," Alfred reminded him. "He is attending to them."
"Just what was his deal with Ra's?"
"I'm afraid I don't know," Alfred replied. "Shortly after we had you walking again, he told me that he was leaving to pay the debt and I have not seen Master Bruce since then. Given the obvious benefit we received, I do not question Master Bruce's bargain." Alfred poked a bony finger into Dick's chest. "And neither should you."
Dick finished off the water bottle and tossed it into the recycle bin. "How long will he be gone?" he said with resignation.
"I believe, about six months. At least that is the period of time that he arranged for the Young Justice team to cover Gotham City." Alfred gave Dick a bright-eyed look. "Shouldn't you rejoin your fellows on active duty? You seem fit enough."
"I suppose so," Dick said, grabbing a second water bottle from the refrigerator. "I know I'm supposed to be a big hero to the League, but...well, all this just makes me feel uncomfortable. It's like they're admiring some stranger named Nightwing, and not me." He sat on the bench, chin on raised knee. "It feels...weird."
Alfred sat down next to him. "I understand, lad. But the fact remains that you are a hero, and no one else. You took on a mission, fully intending to die, and chased the invaders off the planet in a blast of psychic power." Alfred's face dropped for a moment. "Neither Master Bruce, nor I, approve of your approach but we cannot fault your results. Trust me, dear boy. You really did do everything for which you are credited. You've earned the kudos. I would simply ask that you not try to cheat death twice," he said earnestly. "You have already beaten more odds than any man has a right to expect."
"All right, Alfie," Dick replied. "So, I guess I'm up for a patrol tonight, if the team is ready for me."
GOTHAM SATRAP
LEAGUE OF ASSASSINS
Ra's had rented a small building in a quiet corner of Gotham to house Algol Ventures. Batman was housed on the top floor, sharing living quarters and an office with a large training area. He had to admit that al Ghul knew his business; it duplicated his own penthouse on the top of the Wayne Building.
Before meeting his 'students', he reviewed the files he'd been given. Sayyed, had dark hair, his ancestor's blue eyes and a resolute expression. He was a master swordsman with a Ph.D. in economics. Waqar, an ordinary looking man with brown eyes and hair, sporting a goatee, was an engineer with a black belt in karate. Jamal, an albino with a close resemblance to White Ghost, was also a geneticist.
Cowl pulled back, Batman contemplated the brief biographies he had been given. Each man brought his own skills to the organization and was deadly in his own right. He had asked to examine Iskandar's body but was dismayed to find that it had been rendered into a skeleton by the Lazarus Pit. al Ghul's pathologist had already examined it and found no broken bones. The pit itself gave no clues. Buried underground in London, England, it was a simple hole in the ground. There were no footprints and no witnesses. He would have to work on motive, then, and opportunity.
He dimly wondered how Dick and the team were doing. He assumed that Dick's recovery was proceeding. He had left a number with Alfred to be used in dire emergency and hadn't heard anything, so he supposed that all was well.
GOTHAM CITY
9:00 P.M.
The team followed the patrol pattern that Dick had set up, focusing on known trouble areas in Gotham. M'gann, who had been acting leader, seemed relieved to pass the burden to Dick.
"I don't like leading the team," she admitted. "I can if I need to, but you're really the leader, Nightwing. We need your experience."
"Thanks," Nightwing said with a smile. It felt good to be back in uniform. He shot a jump line and swung over to the Wayne Tower and gestured for the team to follow. M'gann lifted Superboy and Artemis while Wally 'ran' up the side of the building. Once at the top, Dick posted them at the four quarters with binoculars. "Scan the city and see if there's anything suspicious. I'll start with the Park Row corner and back you up," he said, unlimbering his binoculars.
"You mean Crime Alley, don't you Nightwing?" Wally commented, his goggles adjusted to distance viewing.
"Yeah, what's all this about Crime Alley?" Artemis asked while scanning her portion. "Your voices change when you talk about it, like it's some dreaded horrific place."
Nightwing's face became stony. He supposed it was okay to discuss since they were already in on the secret. "Bruce's parents were killed there by a robber when he was just a kid. Bruce was there and witnessed the whole thing. He's never forgotten it."
"So, that's what made him Batman?" M'gann asked softly. "I had a feeling that there had to be something...big...to compel him to create the Batman."
"Yeah, compelling is the word," Wally said. "You don't want to be around Bruce on the anniversary of his parents' death. I visited Dick once on that day..." he shivered.
"Well, he handles it okay for the most part," Dick said, feeling like he was defending Bruce somehow. "Crime Alley is still the rottenest spot in Gotham; almost cursed. Aaaaand...I think that's where we're going next. Burglary in progress at Denton's Jewelers. Okay, team, we're on!" He shot out a jump line and headed for Park Row. The rest of the team followed, with a little help from M'gann.
Soon they were standing in front of the shattered window. The front door had been hacked through and the sounds of glass cases breaking echoed out into the street. Nightwing ran through the opening, followed closely by the team.
Four masked men were methodically breaking and emptying cases while a fifth was crouched in the back trying to open a floor safe. Nightwing went after him while each of the team took on the rest.
Artemis used a bolo arrow to wrap her target and his loot, then casually grabbed the bag he held. "Wow," she said, peering into the bag. "Nice jewelry."
In the meantime had circled his target to exhaustion, then after tying the man up, quickly swept up the broken glass and stray pieces of jewelry. M'gann and Superboy tied theirs up as well, stacking them next to their fellows. "Now what?" Superboy asked.
"I call Gotham P.D.," Nightwing said. "I have them on speed dial." He took out his cell and made the call. "Okay, back on patrol."
GOTHAM CITY
3 A.M.
GLADYS' ALL-NITE DINER
(FOUR ROBBERIES, TWO MUGGINGS AND A CAR-JACKING LATER)
"Do you meant to tell me that this is your usual routine? You've been doing this every night for ten years?" Superboy spooned up the last bit of apple pie on his plate. "This is good. Not as good as Ma Kent's, but good."
"Yup, this is our normal routine, isn't it, Gladys?" Dick held his coffee cup so that Gladys could refill it.
Gladys, a heavy-set woman in her sixties, filled all the coffee cups on the table. "Every morning, about three a.m. since this one was a little kid called Robin! I still remember the first night Batman brought him here; his first patrol. You were so excited. "She shook her head and chuckled. "And now, look at you. You're bringing your friends along. So, where is Batman? I've got his favorite banana cream pie ready."
"I'll have some of that, ma'am," Wally offered brightly, handing her his plate. "The apple was marvelous, I'm sure the banana cream is just as good. Two slices, please."
Nightwing grinned and handed Gladys the empty plate. "You'd better just give him half the pie. Don't worry, he'll run it off. So, anyway, Batman's out of town for a bit. We're filling in." Nightwing took a sip of his coffee. "Have you heard anything interesting?"
Gladys set down the coffee pot and glanced around the empty diner. "There's a new gang in town. They're set up in a building just off Crime Alley; they look foreign. Rumor says they're killers for hire working for somebody called the Demon."
Nightwing straightened. "Isn't that where...?" began Artemis when Wally shushed her. She glared at him but remained silent.
"What else do you hear?" Nightwing asked carefully.
"They've been recruiting kids, y'know, street kids into some kind of fighting school. They feed 'em, educate 'em and teach 'em how to kill. At least that's the word. Two of my regulars, you know, the boys I feed out the back door, have disappeared. Word is they were recruited, whether they wanted to go or not," she said in a low voice.
Nightwing's eyes narrowed and he nodded. "Thanks, Gladys. I'll see what I can do about that. I know this group."
Gladys smiled. "Good. I knew you'd know what to do. The desserts and coffee are on the house." She wandered back into the kitchen.
"Isn't that where Batman got your cure from?" demanded Artemis in a whisper. "The Demon?"
"Yeah," Nightwing said, troubled. "Batman's out of town paying off his debt to Ra's al Ghul for my cure and Ra's knows it. He's decided to move in while Batman's gone. Damn! The League of Assassins have been trying to move into Gotham since I was ten years old and Batman always stopped them. Well, they can't have my city. Ra's thinks the City is unprotected, but he's wrong. We're going to drive the Demon and all his goons out of Gotham if it's the last thing I do!"
