Previous Events
Chapter 3 'New Rules, new Game'

(Crime Alley - three weeks later)

The chill in the air bit at Bruce as he sat atop an old tenement building. The ancient brownstone was one of the older buildings in Gotham, and one that had seen the most blood. constant shootings, robberies, rapes, murders happened in its walls and right outside of them, but tonight it wasn't the building that matter so much as it was the new soldier to the slowly growing army. Arthur 'Artie' McReilly was skilled, but he still lacked the finer tuning that would allow him to be completely unseen. Add to the fact that the principal of no killing was still new to him. The man couldn't understand why Bruce had broken his rifle and insisted on training him with shurikens, grappling lines, and gas pellets. Although his inability to understand didn't matter one bit. All that mattered was the fact that he learned. Bruce stayed back in the shadows watching 'Artie' as he stopped what could be considered a major robbery. Bruce ran a gloved hand over his stubble covered chin and found at least six mistakes that Arthur made. He became visible too early, he wasted two shuriken on one tire when one would easily have busted it, his attacks while borderline efficient still left him open to attacks. Moments later Arthur stood on the roof top opposite of Bruce. Of all of the lessons Arthur was picking up on one quickly. The most shadow covered, dark corner was the best to be invisible in.

"They're the police's problem now."

"Barely."

Arthur almost growled at the verbal attack on his performance.

Jesus what the fuck does this guy want? I took them out, I did it in less than five minutes, and no civilians died!

"It's still a win."

Arthur didn't budge on that. It was a win. Someone would get to keep their business, six punks would go to prison where they belonged, and no one died.

"You reacted to slow, you stood out too soon, your attacks where sloppy, undisciplined, and to open. If those would have been some of the darker element then you wouldn't be standing here."

Arthur let out a slow uneven breath. None of the men he trained under was this demanding, but he wasn't someone who would just quit either.

"There's a good chance that those punks will be out on the street in a few days."

"They'll remember."

"Wouldn't making an example..." Arthur didn't even get to finish his sentence before the intimidating figure of the Bat stood before him.

"There is a line that we do not cross. No killing. Every death those punks, their bosses, and every psychopath commit is blood on our hands. We do not add to it." Bruce growled.

"Alright, alright... Am I going to get to fight some of the darker elements?"

"When you're ready, and not a second before."

(Blüdhaven - Industrial harbor)

Dick groaned as he looked around. The soft sounds of something dripping caught his attention and he turned toward it. Hanging in a well lit corner was Huntress. He tried to speak, but all that came out was muffled sounds. Slowly he began to become aware of his surroundings. He was in a warehouse, real original, and he was taped, yep taped, to a chair with tape across his mouth.

"It was a lovely place just like this. Yes, I believe that was the last place I saw the second boy wonder. I believe what we need here is a few pictures. Me, the crowbar, and of course... someone else to take the boy wonder's place." A humorious, but dark voice said as a powder white individual walked out.

Dick studied the Joker as he stood there holding a short crowbar. It's metallic blue shine was off set to a dark stain. He walked toward Dick and rapped the crowbar across his ribs.

"This one man he played one! He played knick knack on my thumb!, oh, but that wasn't your thumb," He rapped the crowbar hard across Dick's right thumb instantly breaking it, and causing the skin to split open, "There we go! With a knick, knack, patty Wack!," He exclaimed as he rapped the crowbar across Dick's ribs again, "Give a Dog a bone! This old man when rolling home!"

"Second verse boss!"

"True right Bruno! This old man he played two, he played knick, knack on my shoe!," Joker exclaimed as he rammed the crowbar down on Dick's right foot breaking several bones and causing it to swell, "With a knick, Knack, patty, Wack!," This time the crowbar found Dick's right arm cracking the bone and causing the feeling of fire to spread through it. "Give a dog a bone! This old man when Rolling Home!"

"Looks like he needs you sing the entire song boss!"

"I think that you're right Bruno! This old man he played three, He played Knick," He shouted as he struck Dick's right knee. "Knack," He exclaimed as he struck Dick's left knee, "On my knees! With a knick, knack, Patty, Wack!," He squealed as he slammed the crowbar into Dick's stomach, "Give a dog a bone, This old man when rolling home!"

Dick's head began to roll slightly, "Don't go to sleep yet! We've still got several more lines to go... Oh what the hell we'll get to my favorites, This old man He played nine," He said as the tape around Dick was cut lose and the former boy wonder fell to the floor, "He played Knick!" He said as the crowbar came down hard on Dick's back. A muffled scream escaped Dick's lips for a moment, "Knack!," Joker shouted happily as he danced a little and brought his foot down hard on the small of Dick's back, "on my spine!" Joker screamed happily as he brought the crowbar back down and this time Dick felt as if his legs, his hips, and most of his lower back was suddenly filled with fire and then everything went numb.

"Well... Birdbrain it's time for my final lyric... This old man, he played seven, he played nightwing up to heaven..." Joker said with a wide grin as he brought the crowbar hard down on the back of Dick's head.

"Boys, our other guest looks dirty... Lets give her a bath." He said with a smile as the three henchmen there opened a trap door and dropped the huntress into the unforgiving ocean below.

(Dick's Apartment)

Galatea looked at the monitor in front of her with worry. Dick was usually back by now unless something big was going down, and if it was he would have contacted her. She started to contact him when his vitals began to drop. Worry filled her as she looked at the locator and realized where he was. Instantly she took off and headed in the direction of the warehouse. Within moments she flew inside and saw Dick laying in a puddle of blood.

"Dick... God no"

"Save huntress..." He whispered through a swollen jaw.

'Tea used her X'ray vision and saw a body sinking below the warehouse. She dove through the floor and caught the woman before she could sink any further. She brought Helena back up and the huntress coughed hard as she gasped for air. She went to dick and tried to move him only to hear him scream in pain. her hands gently let him back down.

"Joker... Broke my back... beat Huntress... call... help..." He could barely get out.

She tapped her communicator and for a moment no one answered.

"This is Troja." Donna answered over the communicator.

"It's Dick... Oh God! We need help now!" Galatea's worried filled, screaming voice said over the communicator.