Chapter 5: Darkest Before Dawn

- [location: Unknown, Time/Date:N/A (several days later)]

Jason woke up, again in his cell, but feeling stronger. Or at least not as hungry and fatigued, but still, it made a world of difference. His senses were working more properly, and therefore, he could spend more of his energy focusing on figuring out where the hell he was. Detective work was never his strongest suit, but it didn't mean he couldn't do it. Jason knew facts, and common knowledge and logic had gotten him out of one or more sticky situation, but he was no Tim; or Bruce for that matter. The walls of the vault were made out of a sandstone, but it was a unique sandstone, not the typical tan that was found almost anywhere in the world. He remembered reading about it in a book one time, or it was some random fact that Tim had let fly... what was it? Hell he knew this... Wait... that was it, Guber Hell, the unique blue grey sandstone that was inconsistent in particle size; great for building, commonly used in old castle construction in Switzerland. So he was somewhere in Switzerland... well that explained the cold temperatures. The only question now was how many days had he been there? At least two, traveling from the USA to Europe took time... unless you were in a private jet... Ok so his detective skills were lacking, but what he lacked in brains he made up for doubly in brawn. Now he needed an escape plan... The bars of the cell were a Steel and Iron alloy, reinforced with Titanium fiber cross-weaves... He knew metals, and he knew just by looking at the bars, that someone did NOT want him escaping. All his gear was piled in a corner of the room, and right now... that was exactly how his hopes of escape felt. Ok Todd, Think! What would Shiva want with you? He looked down at his torso and legs, which were crossed on his cot in front of him... Damn! Whatever they did to me they must've used a LOT of sedatives and morphine... His chest and legs has fresh sets of scars and stitches. He hadn't even noticed them or the bloody bandages on the floor, he had been so focused on figuring out where he was... he reached around to his back, he had a hunch about what they had been doing to him, he traced the line of stitches from the base of his back to the base of his skull... interesting, and very disturbing... but now he knew why they were suddenly feeding him again... couldn't have you patient dying on you hmm? Well if they were going to continue experimenting he might as well keep up his strength... he was not one to waste a chance to beat skulls together and break bones or spill a little blood... Speaking of bashing skulls... 'Big' and 'Ugly' had just returned from their break and were now watching him and laughing... Well at least I know who will be the first brains to beat in... He sat back against the wall and stared at them, silent...

"Oi' e's lookin' at us... Quit it!"

"..."

"Just ignore 'im... as long as e's being quiet... I ain't got a problem with it."
"I still don't like it... c'mmon boy... you got a problem with me?"

"..." Jason flipped up his middle finger and smirked, but remained silent.

"Damn you! Ya lit'll peice o' Shit! I'll show you some manners!"

With that the guard ran over and opened the cell door... and ran in with his gun Stupidly at his side, fists raised... Jason smirked as the other guard began to yell at his dumber compatriot... with a single move Jason jumped up grabbing the bars above him and kicking down, hard. The large guard barely had time to look up and realize what was happening, before Jason's wrathful kick connected with his head, sending the large man crashing to the floor, a crack as his head made contact with the cot and then the stone. Fluidly, Jason swung himself out of the cage and onto the other guard, who was frozen in place; pure terror plastering his face. Jason had only ever seen this look on the victims of the Batman, and was elated that he could also cause that level of terror. He landed a hard kick on the man's abdomen, and followed with the other leg swinging around and connecting with his face, sending the man flying into a nearby support column... He landed on his feet and ran over to the pile of gear grabbing his kevlar suit and quickly pulling that, his boots and gloves on, before picking up the two AK-47's the guard had been holding. He couldn't find his helmet, but it didn't matter. The guard in the cell was dead... he was pretty sure of that, but the other one was just unconscious, so he walked over to him and checked his pulse, oh well... guess it is better that he isn't dead... one death was enough. But still, he couldn't have loose ends hanging around, but he also needed to hurry... He knelt down next to the guard after swinging one of the guns over his shoulder. Lifting his free right hand up to his mouth, he began whispering a mantra he had learned from Druca, that would cause memory loss, he then lowered his hand to lightly tap the guard's temple a faint blue light crossed the guard's eyes then vanished. Jason smirked, but heard more guards coming, probably a roving patrol. He stood up and quickly ran for the opposite corridor, and just as the guards came into sight, he slipped into the shadows, his eyes faintly glowing like those of an animal... but just as the guards looked in his direction, he vanished.

- [location: Gotham, Wayne Manor; Time/Date: 06:00AM, Feb. 18]

Alfred, the one member of the family who had seen it all. Every side of the story, from every point of view. The one person they all trusted. The one person who they all knew would never turn them away or judge them for their past actions or mistakes. The father figure they all needed, and the one and only person who had carried all of their burdens at one point in time or another. And probably the most scarred member of the family... maybe not physically, but emotionally. He had buried more of the family than he wanted to count... and while most, if not all, had managed to not remain dead... it still took it's toll. Kendra, Jason, Damien, Richard, Bruce... more than once; but although they had all returned to him... he could never have that burden lifted, and again that weight laid on his mind as he watched Bruce and Tim work.

Dick was helping Barbara in the Computer Vault, while Bruce and Tim were working on the Central Computer, relaying data to each other. And while Damien was of course a trained and skilled detective, his skills in No way matched any of theirs... yet. But Alfred could tell that he was upset, the pacing, the aggravated gestures, intense training sessions trying to vent his frustration... He was very much like his father when he couldn't solve a case... but Damien was, different. He was working hard to not show any emotion... something Bruce did not hide as much. Finally after about an hour of venting his anger, Damien bee-lined towards the butler. Alfred smiled knowingly, as the small boy decked in Red, Yellow, and Green fumed towards him.

"Alfred... I feel... Useless, I need someone to hit!"
"Now, now Damien... have you tried helping your father and brothers with their work?"
"... I... No...they have it handled... they don't need my help."

The boy seemed to shrink in front of him and his dejectedness got the better of him, his eyes fell to the floor, and the butler knelt down infront of him, lifting his chin so that he could see his face. A single tear found its way down the boy's cheek as he strained hard to keep his emotions in check... Such a tough exterior, for one so young, Why must he carry this weight? Alfred pulled Damien into a protective hug, as the boy truly broke down. I wonder if this is how he would have reacted had he had still been alive when master Richard... He pulled Damien tighter, trying to protect him from some unknown darkness.

"Come now Damien... I'm sure that your father and brothers are doing all they can; and Master Todd and Miss Hunters will be back soon. They are both very capable of taking care of themselves!"
"I... I know. It's just... I miss them, and I'm afraid for them... I don't want anyone else... dying."

Alfred's heart broke at Damien's last words, but he forced his own emotions down and stood, taking the boy's hand in his own...

"Come, it is nearly time for lunch, do you wish to help me in the kitchen?"
"Just because I have nothing to do does not require you to come up with meager jobs for me!"
"I wouldn't presume to do so... but as you always claim to have mastered every skill possible, I can still think of one that you have not; and that would be Cooking!"
"Is that a challenge, Pennyworth?"

A smirk resumed its usual place on the young boy's small features. And Alfred was put at ease once again.

"I couldn't possibly tell you... but if you accept I could easily find you a fitting teacher, without having to look very far."
"You'll do Pennyworth, no need to abduct a master, as it isn't a fine art!"

And with that the boy ran up the stairs, disappearing quickly. The butler following at a slower, more dignified pace.

"Some would argue otherwise young Damien."

He turned at the base of the stairway to look one last time around the cave. The tension in the cave and determined looks of the two men at the computer left the older man sighing... What has become of us? And with one last saddened gaze at the cave, he turned to slowly ascend the stairs to the Manor.

- [location: Nanda Parbat, (Official location: Unknown); Time/Date: 06:00PM, Feb. 19]

"Master"
"Lady Shiva, I presume you are here to inform me of something? And I sense I will not like what I hear!"
"I have captured and imprisoned your treacherous former second hand, Lady Kiara Al'Korro."

"... And how did you manage to do such a thing?"
"During our attack on the Gotham Valentine's Day celebrations... I also managed to captured her partner, The Red Hood."

"And you expected my approval?"

"But master, I have brought the traitor to justice! She will suffer at the hands of the League of Assassins, this will show both our enemies and those who serve that you and the League are not to be crossed, and that traitors will not be tolerated! I-"

"I have heard enough Shiva! You cannot simply take two members of their family and expect to walk away unscathed! The vengeance of the Bat, rests upon you now. When they realise it is you who took them, and they will, you will suffer the consequences of your actions! I do consider Kiara Al'Korro a betrayer of my trust, but the Black Hawk's vengeance is a force to be reckoned with! You now find yourself trapped between two very powerful and very dangerous forces... the wrath of the Batman and his followers, and the vengeance of the Black Hawk. Should she get free, or should you hurt those she cares for... I would not expect to live much longer, her wrath is... well... you should know, first hand... I would hope you meet the Bat and his Birds before She escapes, if I were you!"

"But Master! I... We-"
"NO Shiva! I will not become involved in this! I have more important plans, and your personal vendetta will NOT interrupt nor impede those plans! And if you do, if your personal revenge hinders me... you will have a third party to worry about! Now leave!"

(As she storms out of the grand room, she whispers to herself)
"Fine! If you will not help me, then I can figure out a way to make all of them suffer! If it is wrath that I should fear, then I will give them a wrath that they should come to fear!"
"^Warriors! TO ME!^"

Hey again! Sorry this chapter took so long! Winter break means lots to do! But I'll be posting more regularly now! Thanks for staying with me! Happy New Year! Hope you enjoyed!