Part Four

by different author


"It's a dead end," Red Robin said as he shook his head. He had been reviewing security footage from around Bludhaven to see if he could find where the vigilante was kidnapped. He only caught glimpses of Nightwing in the footage he found. For once Batman was wishing the boy didn't have the ability to completely disappear from sight.

"I'm unable to trace the signal. Joker's tech is strangely sophisticated. I'm going to review the last tape and see if I can figure out what the clue was," Oracle announced.

"I still don't understand why the Joker has suddenly switched directions with his strategies, usually he's less calculating and more... straightforward," Robin shrugged.

"What?" Oracle perked up.

"Nothing, I was just confused..." Robin looked at her strangely. She looked as if she had just had an idea.

"Direction!"

"Ya, I was asking why the Joker suddenly switched directions," Robin repeated irritatedly,"Are you deaf or something?"

"No, I mean that's the clue! Joker specifically said for us to head in the right direction."

"The letters stand for Northwest, not Nightwing," Batman finished her thought. "Red Robin search the towns northwest of Gotham and Bludhaven. Oracle, do a search for any place involving the word northwest."

They all hustled into action.

()()()

"I'm baaack! Did ya miss me?" the Joker announced as he entered the cement room where Nightwing was bound. He pulled a crowbar from behind his back. "I brought you something."

He grabbed Nightwing by the hair abruptly and threw the handcuffed vigilante to the floor. The Joker removed the chair from the room and returned shortly.

"They'll come for you, Joker," Nightwing spat. And for me, he added in his head. "You're not coming out of this unharmed."

"Batsy wouldn't kill me! What do I have to lose?" Joker sneered.

"Red Hood might." Nightwing had no idea if what he was saying was truth, but he tried anyway. Joker waved his hand through the air as if to wave off the threat.

"Life is short. What do I care? As long as I have my fun. All this talk about heroism and justice? It's a load of bullshit. I don't care if I die," He paused and put the crowbar to the hero's throat,"You, on the other hand... I'm assuming you would care."

"I'll gladly die being a hero," Nightwing defended. It was true. He believed those words with all his heart.

"You're pathetic." The Joker rolled his eyes.

"Go to Hell."

"Not today!" Joker started a fit of laughter at his own joke. He bent down to be on the level of Nightwing, who was now on the floor. "You better hope that your family finds you soon. I don't know how much longer you're going to make it," he whispered in Nightwing's ear. The vigilante shuddered.

()()()

"Video number two!" The vigilantes turned around to the screen.

"Already?" Robin mumbled.

"This is a special video! In my opinion it will be the funnest... well for me anyway," Joker shrugged. "Harleeey!"

"Coming!"

A moment later Harley handed Joker a bucket full of liquid. He held it up so the video viewers couldn't see what it contained. He walked around Nightwing, who was lying facedown in a puddle of his own blood, and raised the bucket over his head. Batman found himself physically unable to keep himself from reaching toward the screen, even though he knew he was not going to be able to stop what was coming next. The Joker tipped the bucket.

Nightwing raised his hands above his head and attempted to shield his face. He screamed when the liquid made contact with his skin. The Joker watched the man writhe for a moment with amusement.

"Don't worry, Daddy Bats! It's just salt water! Completely harmless... well I'm sure it doesn't feel good in open wounds," he gestured to the screaming vigilante beneath him,"Although it does make what's coming next much more painful... Harleeey!" he called again.

"Coming!"

Batman closed his eyes tightly as he tried to banish the horrible visions of how much worse it could've been if it had not been salt water. Images of acid burning and scarring his son's face shown brightly in his mind. He was snapped out of his morbid thoughts by the sight of Harley Quinn handing the Joker what looked like one of Nightwing's escrima sticks.

"Isn't this cool? Nightwing was even nice enough to provide this for us!" He pressed a button on the end and sparks flew from the other tip. "From what I understand it works just like a taser."

He took a few steps forward and put the end of the sparking baton into the puddle of water near Nightwing's body. The shocks left the man convulsing in pain. After a few moments he shut the taser shut off.

"I told you this would be fun! Oh and you better come soon! There's only three more videos to go!" Joker held up Nightwings head by the hair. Nightwing was spitting blood.

"Anything you want to say?"

"Go. to. Hell!" Nighwing spat again. The Joker raised the baton and gave Nightwing a hit to the face. The last thing on the screen was Nightwing's blood, slowly creeping towards the lens.

Batman put his head in his hands and slumped against his keyboard. He prayed that his son would make it out of the Joker's hands alive.

"Water? It... it was just water..." Red Robin breathed for a moment. It was obvious that he had been thinking the worst as well. They were all shaken up.

"Not just any water: Salt water. Do you think that's the clue?" Batman suggested.

"Gotham Harbor is the closest salt water source... it's also Northwest of here. He could be in one of the warehouses down there," Red Robin voiced.

"This is stupid!" Robin shouted. Everyone looked at him in surprise for his outburst. "These clues! It's like a four year old came up with them! We figured them out in thirty seconds!" He threw his hands up in exasperation. "I'm not complaining or anything... but really?"

"It's the Joker, not the Riddler, Robin," Red Hood deadpanned.

"The clues are still vaugue enough to where we can't get the full picture," Red Robin added his input.

"Stop wasting time! Gotham Harbor is our best bet," Batman overroad their conversation. Red Hood, and Red Robin got up from their chairs.

"I have to go alone. Joker will kill him if I don't," Batman reminded them.

"So we're supposed to just... sit here?" Red Hood exlaimed. Batman hesitated to answer.

"Do all you can from here, I don't want to risk it." Red Hood and Red Robin reluctantly agreed.