Disclaimer: Not mine. Rated T for language and violence.
Edited: 10/21/18
Gotham Holiday
Chapter Seven: Gravity
Positioned high in a tree, Slade watched through the small scope of his rifle as two smartly-dressed women hurried down the manor's front steps and into their respective cabs.
"Thanks for getting dinner ready tonight under such short notice," Wayne said to the butler. Together they stood on the front porch and waved their guests farewell.
"You're quite welcome, sir."
The boy shivered between them. Like Wayne, he wore a black suit and a crisp, white-collared shirt. His dress shoes were dark leather.
Slade couldn't help but scoff. Robin looked every bit the part of a glossed up Gotham elite.
The two cabs pulled away and Robin looked up at his guardian. "So, were you really late tonight just because of traffic?"
Wayne nodded. "There was a multicar collision on Memorial Bridge, but I also met with Lucius. He wanted to show me a prototype for a cowl that's resistant to Crane's airborne version of the Scare Dust."
"Cool. I wonder if he could make me a mask more like yours," Robin said. "You know, one that can see in the dark?"
"It wouldn't hurt to ask," Wayne said, but then his tone grew serious. "Dick, there's something I meant to tell you this morning. Robert King is dead. Scarecrow killed him in retaliation."
"How do you know it was Scarecrow?"
"He used barbed wire. Even if it wasn't Crane, it was definitely someone sent by him."
Robin frowned. "Another message I guess."
"I'm heading out to Park Row in an hour. One of Gordon's men reported seeing Scarecrow in the area last night. Do you want to come?" The question was asked as Wayne circled an arm around Robin's shoulders and the two, plus the butler, headed back into the warmth of the manor.
Once they were inside, Slade could no longer see them through his small scope, but their voices were still well within range of the transmitter he'd fired into the shadows near the manor's front steps.
Robin said, "I'll need to tell the Titans first, and I'll have to find another costume. Mine got pretty torn up the other night."
"It's already been repaired, Master Richard," the butler assured him, "and if you check the armory, I'm quite sure that you'll find replacements for the weapons you lost as well."
"Awesome. Thanks, Alfred."
"I'll be downstairs," Wayne said. "Meet me there after you've updated your team. And be sure to let them know we appreciate their cooperation. They were so quiet while the lawyers were here."
Wayne chuckled. "No one would ever know we're hiding four extra teenagers. Although, I couldn't help but notice that you were pretty subdued at dinner tonight, too, Dick. Did anything happen while I was gone?"
"Nothing stands out as worth mentioning, sir," the butler replied. "It's been a very quiet day, but I suppose even children with extraordinary abilities have their down time. And speaking of which, I should see if our young guests would like a late dinner. They ate very little of their lunch today."
"Maybe it's the weather," Wayne guessed. "I bet this place feels pretty oppressive compared to your Tower in Jump—especially with every window covered up like this. Has anything come of Raven's vision?"
"No," Robin said, "and hopefully nothing ever will."
"Perhaps it was only a bad dream after all," said the butler.
"Perhaps," Wayne agreed, "but if this makes her feel safer, then there's really no harm."
They then spoke again of the lawyers; a topic that held no interest for Slade. Not that it mattered. Their voices faded as they moved too far beyond the range of his transmitter.
Alone again in silence, Slade's watchful eye swept the deep shadows caking the manor. There was no movement, nor the telltale red flash of a sniper's presence. He rubbed one of his temples and tried to suppress the fatigue eating at his body, but the harsh winter air and the discomfort of being perched so long in a tree were no longer enough to keep his mind from drifting. He was so tired. His eye closed for a mere second and suddenly Slade was no longer perched high in a tree.
He was in a cabin.
It had taken him an eternity to drag himself across the snow-covered lawn, up the old wooden steps, and through the cabin's already kicked-open front door. He couldn't get up, not even to his knees, so Slade grabbed the coffee table's thick leg and used it to pull himself further into the living room.
Frannie's pink recliner was flipped over.
Only her legs were visible. With great effort, Slade heaved himself around the chair to see the rest of her.
Like Joseph, the word NINE was carved with precision into her forearm. She wore a nightdress that she'd probably sewn herself. It was lavender and bloodstained. The residue on her skin and the damage done to what was left of her head told Slade that his stepmother, the woman who'd raised him and never once turned her back on him, had been killed point blank with a shotgun.
He imagined Frannie going down looking her murderer right in the eyes—fearless and knowing that she'd be avenged—that Slade would be the one doing it—and that it would be everything her killer deserved.
Slade had tried to warn Frannie. As soon as he'd found Adeline, he'd called and told his stepmother to get out of the cabin; to go underground until Slade could find whoever was hunting down their family.
Frannie scoffed. "I'm a decent shot myself, you know. I hope the bastard does show up. I'd love to put a bullet in his balls!"
She hung up, and days later, when Slade finally reached the cabin, he found the front door already kicked in. From across the snow-covered lawn he could see that the inside of the cabin was dark.
His half-brother waited for him at the top of the old wooden steps. Wade wore red and blue armor that covered most of his body, including his face, but Slade knew him instantly. He knew that posture, and he especially knew the sword strapped to Wade's back.
"I killed Mom," Wade said without remorse. In fact, Slade was sure the man was grinning beneath his mask.
Slade's eye narrowed at the confession. On the surface he was calm and still, but inside, his mind was racing to catch up.
Wade had killed them. Wade was alive. It didn't matter why or how. Slade darted across the lawn with his weapons drawn. The fight was swift and brutal. Wade moved so fast that Slade was barely able to track his movements. The man's relentless punches were incredibly strong. They cracked and shattered through Slade's armor.
Slade's mind struggled to comprehend what was happening. Now the why and how did matter. Why did he kill them? How had Wade become so fast and strong? How was he even alive? Slade had watched Frannie shoot the man right out the window of another cabin years ago. Wade had fallen thousands of feet off a mountainside to what should have been his death.
Now Wade slung him around like a rag doll. He slammed Slade into the snow again and again. Slade heard more than felt the sickening crunch of his own limbs breaking. Only when he could no longer fight back, Wade at last released him to the snow.
Slade tried to push himself back up from the ground, but his arms were broken. The fact that they were broken startled him.
Wade stepped over him and crouched nearby. He regarded Slade with a derisive laugh. "Well, that was fun. What's wrong, Brother? Old age starting to slow you down? And here I thought you couldn't age."
"Wade… what…" Slade got to his elbows; his teeth clenched against the pain.
"Seeing you suffer makes everything I've done worthwhile," Wade said. "But I can't stay long. You see, I've still got some little friends of yours out West to go visit. One of those kids looks pretty tough, I'll admit, but don't worry, Brother. Once I shoot blondie with one of these bad boys I think you can agree the playing field will get real even."
Wade held up what looked like a tranquilizer dart. It was clear and filled with a blue liquid that sparkled in the moonlight.
"Is that what you shot me with?" Slade asked, trying to get his knees under him, but some of his ribs were broken. He fell flat against the snow. He heard his brother chuckle and wanted nothing more than to crush Wade's throat with his own hands.
"I shot you with two of them. They're called Limiters. I stole them from LexCorp. You can probably guess who Luthor's been making them for," Wade explained with a sneer. "What's it feel like, anyway? It's been a long time since you've had to deal with little old things like pain that doesn't just go away after a few minutes, right? I bet your brain's just eating itself up trying to figure out what the hell's going on."
"What else have you done?" Slade asked. He made it to his elbows again, but the pain it caused his arms and his ribs was excruciating. "You were never this strong."
"Oh you noticed? I helped myself to some kind of super soldier cocktail they were cooking up, too. Honestly, I think it's made me damn-near unstoppable. If I could fly and shoot lasers out of my eyes, I'd be a bonafide Superman."
Wade laughed. "What do you think, Slade? Feel like you just got beat down by a bonafide Superman?"
Breathing hard, Slade looked up at him and asked the question that had burned in his mind the moment he'd realized his own half-brother was the one massacring their family.
"How could you kill them?"
Wade was silent. Then he said, "I thought it'd make me feel terrible. I was even worried about crying. It actually felt really good. In fact, I feel more relieved every time it happens. More at peace with myself. Like a hole in my soul's being filled. I guess knowing they're all in a better place just makes me feel better."
Slade's voice was low and menacing. "Murdering my children... made you feel 'better'?"
"The world never deserved them," Wade replied, "and neither did you. You just had to start coming around again. Did you really think she'd ever take you—"
"Where have you been all this time? How did you survive the fall?" Slade made it to his hands and knees. His body trembled from the effort.
"Bet it blew your mind when you realized I wasn't dead after all." Wade laughed again. "It definitely blew a few other people's!"
Wade laughed, loud and hard with his head thrown back.
Fueled by sheer adrenaline and hate, Slade lunged forward. He came seconds from getting his fingers around the man's neck—but then there was an explosion of air. A third Limiter pierced Slade's armor; just above the heart. Slade was thrown backwards. When he regained enough of his senses, he realized he was on his back and Wade was kneeling beside him. Slade couldn't move. He could do nothing as Wade snatched him by the helmet and tore the piece of armor off.
Wade crumpled the helmet and tossed it aside like a piece of trash.
"There you are. I almost forgot what you looked like underneath that thing."
Slade's glare was murderous.
"Well, Brother, this has been a truly meaningful bonding experience for me," Wade said, "but I don't think you quite understand yet what it's like to have everything—and I mean everything—ripped out of your life. Like I said, you still got some friends out West I need to visit. I almost missed one of them. I saw you and blondie in the news a while back when you tried to take over Jump City, but she wasn't your first little disciple, was she?"
Slade's eye widened a fraction.
"I dropped by your so-called secret lair in Midway City the other day and found out about the other one," Wade told him, relishing the anger he could see in that blue eye. "You sure are keeping tabs on that kid. I wonder what Gotham's Big Bad Bat would have to say about that? It took quite a bit of asking around to figure out Robin had actually worked for you, too. Maybe he still does. Maybe he's your own little undercover super-spy."
"He's an enemy," Slade said, grimacing at the sharp pain in his ribs.
Wade snorted. "Even when we were little kids I always could tell when you were telling a story, Slade. I think I'll go find out about him myself."
"But wait," Wade cupped a hand at the level of his ear, "I think I hear Mom still stirring around. She always was a tough old bird. You stay here and rest while I go… check on her."
Wade stood up.
"She's your mother," Slade tried, but he knew that such words could mean nothing to a man who'd killed his own niece and nephews—and Adeline.
"No she's not. You took that from me, too. Taking things is all you ever seem to do. But hey, don't worry about it, Slade. It's not all your fault. In fact, I'll be sure to remind her of how she picked you over me."
"Of how she shot me out of that window," Wade said with malice, "and left me for dead. I guess I wasn't even worth burying to you all."
"I'll bury you this time," Slade promised. "Once I'm done with you."
"You'll have to get yourself out of the ground first, Brother."
Slade gasped awake and was lucky not to fall right out of the tree. He checked the watch he'd stolen from the GCPD officer. His accidental nap had lasted for only ten minutes, which meant that Batman and Robin were surely still inside the manor.
He shook the memories away. He couldn't afford to keep getting distracted by the past.
He won't strike here, Slade told himself. The odds of him knowing Robin's civilian identity are slim to none.
According to Slade's old Gotham contacts, and the Scarecrow, Wade had entered the city two hours ago. He was lurking about North Gotham.
Slade noticed that a new message from Crane had appeared on his temporary communicator. It read: BAT-SIGNAL.
Of course. What better place to wait for Robin.
Slade looked towards Gotham and saw that the signal was already lit. Whether the police commissioner or Wade had turned it on didn't matter. Batman and Robin would surely answer the call, and then Robin would be dead. Even the Dark Knight's honed instincts wouldn't be able to stop it. Not if Wade used his sniper rifle.
But Wade wasn't the only one with plans that night. Mindful of his injuries, Slade dropped down from the tree and started making his way towards the police motorcycle he'd hidden amongst the cliff-side brush. He straddled the seat; swapping his GCPD cap for the bike's helmet. Slade pulled its black visor down to conceal his face and took off for the city.
Inside the manor, the Titans sat in a circle on Cyborg's king-sized bed and distracted themselves with a card game.
Beast Boy's stomach growled. "I really wish I'd eaten more of that spaghetti. I'm so hungry! Do you think Alfred's gonna starve us as punishment?"
"Well if he does, I guess we could always transform you into a pig. Then we could have us some green bacon," Cyborg said, grinning as he shuffled the cards.
"Dude, you guys are not eating me," Beast Boy said with a huff and crossed his arms.
Cyborg dealt the cards. "Come on now, boy. You gotta be willing to take one for the team!"
Starfire sighed. "I cannot help but wonder where Richard is. Do you think perhaps that his K'norfka has banished him to his room?"
"Relax, Starfire," Raven said. "He's going out with Batman again tonight."
Raven's eyes cut towards the shadows of Cy's opened closet. "Aren't you, Robin?"
Surprised, the other Titans whipped their attention to the closet just as Robin stepped out. He was dressed again in his winter costume. He flashed a smirk Raven's way and said, "I guess I should've known you'd sense me."
"Dude, how long have you been there?" Beast Boy asked. "Better yet, how did you get there? Are there secret passages in your house? I mean, I know there's got to be one down to the Batcave, but do you have like secret corridors connecting different rooms and stuff?"
Robin hopped onto the bed and sat between him and Starfire. He grinned at the shape-shifter. "Maybe. There are lots of secrets in this house, but right now I need to talk to you guys about something serious."
"Look, Rob, about earlier with the spaghetti—" Cyborg paused when Robin held up a gloved hand.
"Not about that," Robin said. "At dinner tonight one of the lawyers said they saw a girl resembling Bumblebee crash straight into traffic. They said she was looking for me, and that she was injured."
"Whoa. What's Bee doing in town? How bad was she hurt?" Cyborg asked.
Starfire's worried green eyes met his. "And why does she search for you?"
"I don't know. I couldn't find out because Bruce showed up, and I don't think it'd be good if he found out she's in Gotham," Robin said.
"After having a food fight in his dining room," Raven muttered, "I doubt that we could screw up much worse."
"Alfred didn't tell him about it," Robin told them, and the Titans were visibly relieved. "He was really impressed by how well you guys cleaned up the mess. Plus, I think he knows it won't happen again."
"It definitely won't," Cyborg promised.
Robin said, "Raven, do you think you could find Bumblebee with your soul-self?"
"Most likely."
"Then find her. Make sure she's okay and find out why she's in the Gotham. Hopefully Batman won't run across her tonight and we can get all this sorted out without him thinking we weren't careful enough traveling here."
"I'll search for her as soon as Alfred's in the Batcave," Raven said. "But Robin, I won't be able to heal her as my soul-self. What if she's heavily injured?"
Robin ran his fingers through his dark hair as he considered the problem. "After your vision, I don't think it'd be wise for you to leave the manor. To be honest, I don't even like sending a part of you outside until we know what the vision means. I guess if it comes down to it, you can bring her here. I'd say teleport her home, but I don't know if you should go that far on your own while we still don't understand your vision. Just make her think this is a hotel room or something, and don't forget to turn off your holo-watches. And definitely don't let Alfred see her! And hey, and if she gets too suspicious, can't you just make her go to sleep, you know, like you did with me the other morning?"
Raven nodded, and Robin smirked. "Good. Now that that's settled, are you guys up for leftovers? Alfred set the dining room back up for you. Just go help yourselves—and try not to paint the walls with it this time."
Beast Boy laughed. "No problem! I am way too hungry to waste food right now. C'mon, Cy!"
"Ain't gotta tell me twice." But Cyborg paused at the door. "Hey man, be safe out there tonight, okay? Don't go gettin' distracted worrying your spikey head about Bee. We'll get that figured out and handled."
"Thanks," Robin said. "I know I can count on you guys."
When Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven were gone from the bedroom, Robin slid off the bed. When Starfire remained sitting on it, frowning down at her hands, he said, "Don't look so worried. I'm sure Bumblebee's okay. She's super tough."
"Although I care for our friend, she is not the cause of my worrying." Starfire moved off the bed and pulled him into a strong hug. "You must promise to be wary of all threats. You will do your best to return to us swiftly and uninjured this time, yes?"
"Of course I will," Robin assured; returning her embrace. "And if anyone tries to start another food fight while I'm gone, knock them out for me, okay?"
"Timnar, I am serious." Starfire hugged him tighter, ignoring the way he gasped for air. She closed her eyes and prayed that X'hal would protect him. "Please be careful."
"Master Richard?" Alfred peeked into the bedroom. "There you are. Are you ready, sir? Master Bruce has already started the car. Apparently the Signal has been lit."
"Coming, Alfred," Robin said. He wanted to give the alien girl a quick kiss, but just couldn't do it with Alfred standing in the door. Instead he gently disentangled himself from her impossibly strong arms and offered her another smile.
"Don't worry, Star. I'll be back soon. I promise."
Halfway to the study, Alfred regarded Robin with a raised eyebrow.
"Master Richard, does the young lady refer to all of her friends as—what was that curious word again? Oh yes. Timnar?"
Robin blushed. He swallowed and said, "Oh that? It's uh—it's just a Tamaranean word—cause you know, she's from Tamaran. It's a planet."
Smooth, Boy Wonder, Robin inwardly groaned. He kept his eyes anywhere but Alfred and started walking faster.
"I assumed as much," Alfred said, keeping pace effortlessly. "Pray tell, Master Richard, what does the word mean? I recall from one of your recent letters that Ms. Koriand'r has been teaching you some of her native language. Could this Timnar perhaps be a term of endearment?"
Robin missed a step.
Alfred noticed. "Oh it is? How very romantic, sir. Well, I suppose it was only a matter of time."
The butler sighed dramatically. "Oh, how they grow so fast."
They rounded another hallway, and Alfred added, "And to think I may yet live to see Master Bruce become a grandfather; hopefully not anytime soon, of course."
Robin's masked eyes widened. "What?"
"Not to be prudish, and I'm quite sure you're a wise enough lad to use protection—"
"What?"
"—and although we would always support you regardless—"
"Alfred, stop!"
"—vigilantism and young children—
"I'll call Maggie!"
"—are two tigers that simply do not play well together."
"And she'll have everyone calling you Alfie by sunrise!"
"Good Lord, Master Richard," Alfred said, holding open the study's door. "Now that is a threat. I suppose I'll stop nettling you then. Although I hope that my point has been made quite clear?"
"Crystal," Robin said, mortified as he stalked over to the grandfather clock.
Well... I guess that kind of talk is better coming from Alfred than Bruce. Speaking of Bruce…
Robin let go of his indignation. He looked back at Alfred. "Thanks for not telling Bruce about earlier."
"I consider the matter settled," Alfred replied. "I do, however, ask that both of you take Ms. Koriand'r's request to heart while out and about tonight. Be careful, young sir. I will be at the console shortly should either of you need my assistance."
Robin smiled. He stepped through the clock and started making his way down into the Batcave.
There was a lot of chaos in the world, but there were a few things that he knew he could always be sure of—that Batman and he would never stop protecting the innocent, and that Alfred would always be there—a voice in the dark to help them find their way back home. Until death, sickness, or age ended the mission, those things, at least, were certain.
The Batmobile raced over Memorial Bridge towards the GCPD. In the front passenger seat, Robin looked out the window, watching the other cars pass by in a colorful blur.
"After we check in with Gordon, we'll see if we can find any leads on Scarecrow," Batman said as he drove. "We'll start in Park Row since that's his last known location."
They were only two blocks away when an explosion suddenly lit up the sky over Old Gotham.
"What was that?" Robin asked, sitting up straight in his seat.
"Apparently several stores in Park Row are being hit simultaneously," Alfred replied through the car's communications. "There are multiple reports of both gang activity and civilian mischief. Police are trying to get the block back under control. There may be hostages... Yes. There are confirmed hostages being held captive in Foster's Fine Jewelry."
"Looks like Gordon will have to wait," Batman said, turning west towards the fire and smoke.
"According to police chatter he's already on his way with a hostage negotiator. Sir, the men robbing the stores are all wearing gas masks, and Scarecrow has been identified as one of the hostage-takers. It's possible he may be planning to release his toxin again."
"Thanks, Alfred. Keep your ear to the ground for us."
"Even if he does have more of the airborne toxin, why would he release it this way?" Robin asked. "He's practically asking us to come and kick his butt."
"Our first priority is to get the hostages out of harm's way," Batman replied. "That'll be your job. Let me handle Crane."
Park Row was alive with the flash of blue and red police lights; and the flickering glow of an orange fire that spit from the windows of two local shops. The GCFD were battling the flames when Batman and Robin arrived.
Several of the other stores on the same block had been robbed. Their windows were smashed and the sidewalk was littered with items from their shelves. The GCPD had their hands full trying to keep criminals and opportunistic civilians from looting.
Batman and Robin watched the chaos from a rooftop across from Foster's Fine Jewelry. Down below, Gordon and dozens of police were set up, facing the store with shields raised and guns drawn. The hostage-negotiator was trying to make contact with Scarecrow through a megaphone.
"They've covered up the store windows," Robin said, looking through his collapsible scope. "I'm sure they've got guys covering all the exits, too. How do we get in without getting the hostages killed?"
"We might be able to get in through there." Batman pointed towards Gretchen's Antiques. It was right next to the jewelry shop. Like most of the businesses in Park Row, the buildings bumped right into each other.
They swung across the street and landed on the roof of Gretchen's. Sneaking in through the rear exit, they searched for any connection between the antique store and the jewelry shop. Batman found a promising ventilation shaft.
"It looks like these buildings have shared ventilation," Batman said.
Robin eyed the vent with skepticism. "There's no way you're fitting through that."
Batman reached up and forced the grate aside. They could hear voices coming from the other building. Scared voices.
"Whoa, do you think that's the hostages?" Robin asked. "What are the odds of that?"
"Too good. Nothing's ever this easy. Go ahead and check it out, but stay out of sight," Batman told him.
Robin nodded. He jumped and pulled himself up into the vent. "What about you?"
"I'll find another way in."
Robin sneezed as he crawled through the ventilation shaft. It was full of dust and cobwebs. Eventually he came to a place where he could see light coming up through slits in the vent's bottom.
Robin slowed down so that he wouldn't make as much noise and peered down through the grated slits into a small room. It looked like an office. There were two people tied up together and seated on the floor by a mahogany desk. A man wearing a gas mask was pointing a rifle at them. Both hostages were crying.
"Please, please don't kill me!" begged a woman dressed in a dark pink business suit. Her gold pin labeled her MANAGER.
Robin assumed the other hostage was a customer or employee. The poor guy looked terrified.
"Batman," Robin whispered into his communicator. "There are two people trapped in what I think is the manager's office. There's just one guy in here watching them."
"He's about to be distracted. When he leaves the room, get them out of there."
Screams and yells erupted from another part of the store. There were explosions, the sounds of bodies crashing through glass display cases, and especially the sound of gunfire. The man guarding the hostages let loose a curse, cocked his weapon, and ran from the room.
Well sounds like Batman's having fun, Robin thought with a smirk. He wedged his bo-staff between two of the vent's slits and used it to pry them further apart. He then grabbed the weakened sheet metal, wary of its sharp edges, and pulled until there was a hole big enough for him to slip through and down into the office. Right away Robin closed and locked the room's only door. He shoved a file cabinet in front of it, too.
"Oh thank god!" the woman cried. "You have to get me out here!"
Robin moved to untie them both. "I will, but I don't think I can get you out the way I came in. Don't worry though. I promise I'll get you both to safety."
Once the hostages were free, Robin led them over to the door. He grunted as he pushed the heavy file cabinet aside to clear their path.
The manager snatched his sleeve. "Are you crazy?" she hissed. "It sounded like a war out there!"
Robin took three smoke pellets from his utility belt and held them up in his gloved hand for her to see. "These will make it where they can't see you. Just run straight for the exit and don't look back. When you get outside, do exactly what the police tell you to do and you'll be okay."
"W-What about you?" the other hostage asked nervously. "You're coming w-with us, right?"
Robin shook his head. "No. I'm going to cover your escape. When I say run—run. Got it?"
Robin opened the door and swept the room for danger, but all he saw were knocked out thugs lying everywhere. The jewelry store was a wreck.
There was no sign of Batman or the Scarecrow.
Robin pulled out his communicator. "Batman, where are you?"
There was no answer. He frowned and checked the tracker. Batman was moving fast towards the docks. He must be chasing Scarecrow. I'll call Alfred and see what's up once I get these people out of harm's way.
Cautiously, Robin walked the two hostages to the store's front door. They slipped out ran towards the police.
"Close the door, kid."
A gun clicked behind Robin's ear.
I'm so stupid! the hero thought, scowling deeply as he closed the door and raised his hands in surrender. They must have been hiding or just pretending to be unconscious!
"Oh good," the man behind him sneered, "he's a smart kid. Keep being smart and turn around, Boy Wonder. Do it nice and slow."
Irritated, Robin followed directions and found himself glaring at two henchmen who both wore gas masks.
One of them was turned away and talking on his phone. He put it away and said, "Good news, Frankie! Our guy in the GCPD came through. We got a ride waiting out back. Boss says to bring the kid in alive."
"But Lou, what if the Bat does show up?" Frankie asked. He kept his gun trained on Robin's head.
"Don't sweat it. We got the little one," Lou assured him. "If that thing shows up, we can always use the kid as leverage. Besides, you want to be the one telling the boss you let the kid go?"
"I'd rather put a bullet in his head and be done with it," Frankie said. "But all right. Listen up, Boy Wonder. You make one stupid move and I'll shoot. Keep your hands up where I can see them."
The two henchmen shoved Robin towards the back of the jewelry store and through a rear exit. Behind the store there wasn't a single cop in the alley. There was, however, a black car with tinted windows. Lou opened both of the back doors and slid into the left side. He slammed his door shut.
The gun dug into the back of Robin's head. The Titan took a deep breath to keep his annoyance in check.
Wait for an opening, he told himself. If I get shot again he might fire me a second time. Maybe for good...
"Get in. On the right side." Frankie ordered.
Well, at least they haven't thought to take away my weapons. Or my communicator. If I can't get away on my own, Batman can use it to track me down.
Robin slipped into the car and Frankie followed him with the gun still inches from his head. Robin was stuck between the two thugs. He frowned as the other door was shut.
"The boss says to drop all three of you off at Third Avenue," the driver said, pulling away from the store. "He wants you to take that kid down in the sewers and wait for him."
"Sounds great," Frankie said sarcastically. During the short ride he kept his gun pressed against Robin's temple.
Robin kept his glare fixed on Frankie.
"I don't like that mask," Frankie grumbled as the car turned onto Third Avenue and parked by a dumpster. "I can't tell where you're looking. Take it off."
"Not happening," Robin said. "Why are you still wearing that gas mask? Do you really think it'll do you any good? Scarecrow's been known to give his henchmen faulty masks in the past, you know."
"Shut up," Frankie snapped. "That reverse psychology crap only works in the movies, kid."
Once out of the car, the two henchmen marched Robin towards a manhole. Lou bent down to remove it. Frankie made Robin stand with his hands against the graffiti-covered alley wall like a suspect about to be arrested.
"Sure you want to go down there?" Robin asked, glancing over his shoulder at Frankie. "Killer Croc likes Park Row, and he'd love to eat a fat guy like you."
"Maybe I'll throw you to him as an appetizer, huh punk?" Frankie snatched Robin by the back of his hoodie and yanked him away from the wall. He held the gun to the hero's head again.
"Why would he need an appetizer?" Robin muttered as he was pushed towards the opened manhole. "He could eat you and go into hibernation for years."
"As soon as we get down to the lair, I swear to god kid, I'm finding the duct tape and shutting you up!" Frankie roughly walked Robin forward. "I can't wait to see what Scarecrow has planned for you."
"Nah, he ain't going down there," said a new voice. "But you two idiots are."
Frankie gasped. Along with Lou, he whipped around, but he wisely kept his gun pressed against the Titan's head.
"Who the hell are you?" Lou demanded; his gun aimed at the huge man approaching them.
"My friends call me Hijack." The man laughed. "Well, my enemies call me that, too, I guess."
Robin sized him up. The man was really tall and muscular. He wore a red costume and blue armor. His face was completely covered up by a red mask, but the eyes of the mask were white like Robin's, only way smaller. He had quite the arsenal of weapons strapped to his body. Even a sword.
"And you're Robin, right?" Hijack asked, coming to a stop about ten feet from the captured hero. "The Boy Wonder himself. I've been looking for you all night."
Confused, Robin was about to ask why, but Frankie was getting impatient. He pressed the gun hard enough against Robin's head to make the hero grimace.
"Well we found him first," Frankie said, backing towards the sewer with Robin. "This kid belongs to Scarecrow. If you want a shot at him, you'll have to talk to the boss!"
Hijack laughed and regarded Robin again. "You're a popular little thing, aren't you?"
His attention shifted back to the thugs, and the jovial tone dropped from his voice. "How about this offer? You back off from that kid now, and I'll let you live. Make me wait another minute and I'm going to break your necks and stuff your corpses down into that sewer you seem so keen on getting into."
"We don't have time for this guy," Frankie snapped. "Shoot him, Lou!"
All Robin saw next was a red and blue blur. Frankie was ripped away. There were screams. A hideous crunching noise, and as Robin whirled around, he saw Hijack standing by the open sewer.
Robin's mouth fell open in shock. His eyes switched between the man and the dark hole in the street. "Did you… Did you really kill them?"
Hijack chuckled and slid the manhole cover back over the hole with one of his boots. "Of course not. They're fine. I promise. And hey, trapped down there they can't bother you again tonight, right?"
Swallowing, Robin nodded. "I guess not. Um, thanks for your help, Hijack."
He gave the manhole another uneasy glance. "I've got to go."
Robin turned and pulled out his grapple gun. He aimed it for a rooftop, but suddenly his arm was seized in a grip that rivaled Starfire's. He gasped as the limb was twisted behind his back and a large hand clamped over his mouth. His cry was muffled and he was pulled back tight against Hijack's armored chest. He kicked at the man's legs, but Hijack gave his arm a brutal twist, and with a muffled scream, Robin limited his struggles to trying to relieve the intense pressure building in his shoulder socket.
I knew something was up with this guy! He said he'd been looking for me. What does he want?
"Stop squirming or I swear I'll pop this arm right out," Hijack warned in his ear. "My mom caught me twisting the heads off of little birds when I was a kid. I would twist until there was a little pop noise. They struggled, the tiny things, just like you're struggling now, but nothing could save them. They didn't know that—but I did. It would take nothing for me to break your arm, or your neck, or any part of you for that matter. So stop moving, or I'll make you stop."
Robin's instincts screamed at him to comply. Though every muscle in his body remained on edge, he forced himself to stop fighting. He concentrated instead on bringing his panicked breathing and heart rate back under control.
"Good boy. You know. I've been thinking of what to do with you," Hijack said, lifting Robin off of his feet. He walked further up the alley with Robin tucked against him as if he weighed nothing. His hand stayed over the hero's mouth.
"You're the last one he cares about, after all, so I should make this one truly memorable. I was kind of in a rush with the others," Hijack said. They rounded into another alley. It was a dead end.
A shadow passed over them.
Hijack looked up. His eyes narrowed. "Keep your mouth shut or I'll rip it out."
Hijack removed his hand from Robin's face and pulled out a gun. It was loaded with darts that were filled with a blue liquid.
A Batarang zipped from the shadows and sliced across his fingers. Hijack growled, accidentally dropping his gun. Before he could reclaim it Batman threw a series of smoke pellets and the villain found himself shrouded in thick smoke.
Right away Robin started kicking and punching the villain's body again, although his efforts didn't seem to phase the man at all.
Hijack moved warily through the smoke; his mask protected him from inhaling too much of it, but he was still blinded. There was a powerful kick to his jaw that he was sure came from the Bat. Cursing, Hijack stumbled backwards. He kept his arm hooked around the struggling boy and backed up against the alley's wall.
"Back off or I'll break this kid's spine!" he threatened; squeezing Robin until the Titan cried out in pain.
In response there were two more punches to his face.
Snarling, Hijack groped in the smoke and managed to catch the older hero by what felt like a forearm. He yanked Batman forward and slammed him into the alley wall. Hijack moved to attack again, but his fist found only the brick wall. It smashed into it hard enough to shatter some of the bricks. Frusrated, he realized that Batman had evaded him yet again.
Batman continued to pummel the villain in quick, calculated strikes. He threw another smoke pellet to keep his advantage. With his cowl he could see perfectly fine in both darkness and through the thick screen of smoke. He landed a brutal strike to Hijack's neck, and with a strangled gasp, the man released Robin at last. The coughing boy darted away from him.
"Run!" Batman ordered. "I'm right behind you!"
Unlike his mentor, Robin couldn't see in the smoke. He blindly ran and fortunately didn't smack straight into an alley wall. His heart hammered in his chest as he rounded the alley corner and into clear air. He ran another few feet before using his grapple gun to escape the streets. Up on the roof of a bakery, the Titan collapsed to catch his breath. He expected Batman to join him any second, but when the older didn't show, Robin cautiously peered over the roof edge.
He stifled a gasp. Down in the alley below was Hijack. He watched as the villain tore a dumpster lid off of its hinges and looked inside. Finding nothing, Hijack slammed the lid back down and angrily continued his search.
Robin reached for his communicator, but a hand seized him by the shoulder and another covered his mouth for the second time that night.
"It's me," Batman quickly whispered into his ear, and Robin sagged in relief as the older hero released him. "Let's go. Whatever that man is, we're not prepared to take him down yet."
"He said his name is Hijack." Robin followed Batman onto the next roof. "I was captured by two of Scarecrow's men at the jewelry store. They were trying to take me to his lair. Apparently it's in the sewers now. But then that guy showed up. I think he killed them. Where were you?"
Batman led them down a fire escape. He didn't want to use his grappling gun; wary that the noise might attract the man, or whatever that was, that had attacked his ward. "Scarecrow had a canister of his fear toxin. He threatened to use on the police, but it turned out to be a fake. Still, he managed to get outside. I lost him at the docks. Alfred contacted me and said you weren't answering your communicator, so I used its signal to track you down."
Batman grabbed Robin and pulled him close.
He crouched down with the boy and wrapped his dark cape around them both. They were in the middle of the fire escape—still three floors from street level, when Hijack jumped off the roof they'd just been on. He passed them in a blur and landed effortlessly in the alley below. He looked both ways and back up before stalking off.
"We can't let that guy just waltz around the city," Robin whispered. "He'll start hurting people. Maybe even just to get us to face him again. He said he'd been looking for me all night."
Still crouching on the stairwell, Batman pulled out his communicator. "Alfred."
"Did you find Robin, sir?"
"He's here with me now," Batman assured. "See what you can find out about a man who goes by the handle Hijack. He's some kind of modified human."
"Maybe we should call for help," Robin said. "This guy is ridiculously strong. Like Superman strong."
Batman narrowed his eyes down at the younger hero. "Bane was stronger."
Robin scoffed. He fiddled with his own communicator. "If you say so."
"What else did he say to you before I arrived?"
"He said I was the last one that 'he' cares about," Robin said. "Hijack didn't say who 'he' was, but I figured he meant you."
"It sounds like he's working off a list," Batman said. "If you're the last one, then we need to find out who his previous victims were."
"Maybe Scarecrow hired him," Robin figured. He exposed the wires in his communicator and rerouted some of them, and grinned when the device came fully back online.
"Not his style."
"Who else would want to kill me?" Robin wondered. Batman shot him another look. "Lately, I mean."
There was a loud crash followed by screams. Right away the two vigilantes grappled their way towards the commotion. Out in the main street there were people running everywhere. There were several wrecked cars. They spotted Hijack standing next to a flipped city bus. He held the driver in the air.
Upon seeing Batman and Robin, Hijack tossed the old man aside. "There you are! Get down here and save these people! What kind of heroes are you, anyway?"
Hijack kicked the bus and terrified screams came from the inside.
"Robin, you get the people on the bus. I'll distract our new friend," Batman said. He then glided down and landed directly on top of the bus. He glared down at Hijack, who swaggered closer.
Beneath his mask, Hijack grinned. "Well, well. I guess I'll have to go through you to get to him after all. To tell you the truth, I kind of figured this would happen."
As Robin swung down to the street, he flung a series of flash discs at Hijack. They hit the villain and Robin couldn't help but smirk at the man's frustrated snarl. Batman attacked. Robin landed near the bus and threw four of his smoke pellets to provide his mentor with cover.
That's all I can do to help Batman for now, he told himself, focusing on the trapped citizens. He hurried to the back of the bus and used his bo-staff to pry open the jammed emergency rear exit. Over his shoulder, he could hear Batman and Hijack fighting. He glanced back at them and saw that Batman was leading the villain in circles within the shroud of smoke.
As soon as Robin got the door open, the people inside started tumbling out. They were bruised and bleeding.
"Just go!" Robin told them. "Go find shelter in a building!"
A blast of energy knocked him right off his feet.
Robin hit the ground hard. He heard several more blasts and the people around him were also shot down. When the attack ceased, Robin pushed himself up and swept his gaze around to assess the situation. He looked down at his body and saw that he was uninjured.
"What happened?" a woman beside him asked. Mascara stains on her cheeks gave away the fact that she'd been crying. "I swear something hit me!"
A man helped her up from the ground and said, "I was hit, too. It knocked me right off my feet."
People started gathering around Robin. An older man offered him his hand and pulled Robin up to his feet.
"What do you think that was?" he asked the young hero.
"I don't know," Robin admitted, "but I promise I'll find out. Look, I need to help Batman. Do you think you could get these people to safety for me? I..."
Robin paused. His mouth fell open in shock.
Scarecrow stood across the street under a light pole. Apparently satisfied that he had Robin's attention, the villain turned on his heel and sprinted up the street.
"Wait! Get back here!" Robin tore after him; his bo-staff extended. He looked back as he ran and saw that Hijack as also on the run, but in the opposite direction. Batman was following.
Robin refocused on Scarecrow. His steel-toed boots flew across the pavement. I can't afford any mistakes! He'll disappear if I don't catch up to him!
Scarecrow scaled a fire escape, and Robin followed. He ran and jumped across rooftops to keep up with the villain.
"Batman, I'm chasing Scarecrow!" Robin said breathlessly into his communicator. "He's got some kind of laser weapon!"
"Were you hit?"
"Maybe." Robin leapt over a parapet and onto a new roof. He grinned. He was gaining on Scarecrow. "Did you get Hijack?"
"No. He dove into the river when I ripped off his mask. I'm hoping my cowl managed to capture an image of his face. Where are you?"
"Up on the roofs. Still in Park Row and near the movie theatre." Robin ran up a slanted roof and half-ran, half-skidded down the other sloped side. He jumped a short gap to the next roof.
"I'm on my way," Batman said. "Be careful. If you run into Hijack again, don't engage. If he doesn't see you then hide. If he does, just keep running."
Soaring over Park Row, Raven's soul-self gazed down and saw Robin running across a rooftop.
That's the Scarecrow he's chasing. Maybe I should help.
But Raven didn't want to risk Batman showing up and catching her in the act, so she left Robin and doubled back south in her search for Bumblebee. She'd swept over buildings and through the streets. To anyone who noticed her, she appeared to be a terrifying shadow in the shape of a bird.
Something drew her to the large bridge that connected Gotham's north and central islands. It was there that she found Bumblebee. The young hero was tiny—like a pixie in a fairy tale. She sat on a concrete support beam; her arms resting on her knees. Her wings were torn and a piece of her uniform was wrapped around her upper left thigh like a bandage.
Raven changed into a shadow version of her normal self and shrunk down to the tiny size of her friend. She joined her on the concrete beam.
"Raven! I'm so glad you're here!" Bumblebee said. "Please tell me Robin's okay! He's okay, isn't he?"
Yes, Raven assured, speaking directly into the other Titan's mind. He's on a mission with Batman. What happened to you?
Bumblebee scowled. "What happened is I got shot out of the sky by some punk kid standing on his balcony. He's lucky he knocked me out, and he better pray I don't run across him again! He got my wings and my leg. When I woke up on the ground both my Stingers and my communicator were missing. I tried to get help from the police, but get this—they tried to arrest me! Me! A hero! I got away from them only to start running into Gotham's Most Wanted on every street corner, so I tried going tiny to get the target off my back. But then I swear every cat in Gotham suddenly had GPS on me. It took a lot of hide and seek, but I finally found this bridge to take cover under. I've been sitting here for hours trying to think of a way to contact you guys."
What do you need to tell us? Please hurry—I need to return to my body soon.
"Two nights ago someone tried to kill Speedy," Bumblebee explained. "He was the first person back from patrol, and when he got up to the living room, he found this giant armored-up guy waiting for him inside the Tower. The man asked if Speedy was Robin. You can imagine how Speedy reacted to that."
Then what happened?
"The man told Speedy if he didn't tell him how to find the Boy Wonder, he'd kill him. Speedy told him where to stuff it, and the guy started shooting up the place. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, Raven, but ya'll need a new couch, and your big screen's definitely toast."
Those things are replaceable. What happened to Speedy?
"He fought back, but his arrows just bounced right off the dude's armor. Lucky for Speedy though, the rest of us happened to get home. We got there right when the big guy had him pinned against the wall. He'd broken Speedy's arm, and he was threatening to pull it all the way off if Speedy didn't cooperate. We all attacked and Mr. Ninja Assassin decided to make his exit. But Raven… it was really strange. He was winning when he took off. If he wanted to, he could have killed us. Still, I promise we spent all night trying to find the jerk, but he was super-fast; especially for such a huge guy."
What did he look like?
"Super tall," Bumblebee said. "He was decked out in weapons and wore this red getup with blue armor. His whole face was covered up. I mean, you couldn't even see his mouth or his nose. His eyes were white, but I think that was part of the mask, and his hair was brown. It stuck out the back and looked like a straight up rat's nest. Sound like someone you guys know?"
Not unless Robin knows him. How do you know the attacker didn't follow you here to Gotham?
"What choice did we have? You all turned off your communicators," Bumblebee said. "Besides, Robin and Batman were all over the national news the other night anyway trying to catch that Scarecrow nut. Sure it was just some three-second clip of them together, but—"
But it's enough that anyone searching for Robin would know where to look next. Thanks for letting us know. And… we're sorry that Speedy got hurt.
"Hey, no sweat! We know you guys got our backs, too," Bumblebee said with a confident smile. She glanced down at her wounded leg. "Now I just gotta figure out how to get back to Jump."
I can heal your injuries, Raven said, but not like this. You'll have to come with me. We're staying in a hotel, but it's a secret that we're there. You have to promise me that you'll keep your voice low. If someone hears us, it could jeopardize the entire mission. As soon as you're healed you have to leave Gotham. Do you understand?
Bumblebee blinked. "Wow. That serious, huh? Don't worry about me. I'll be quiet as a mouse. Scout's honor!"
Raven morphed into a shadow that enveloped the tiny hero. Bumblebee gasped. She couldn't see or hear anything—but she could feel the cold. Her body felt like it had been plunged into a bath of ice.
And then suddenly she was in a huge bedroom surrounded by the Titans. She was also her normal size and lying on a king-sized bed. Bumblebee sat up and looked curiously around. "Wow. Nice hotel."
"Hey, Bee," Cyborg greeted from the foot of the bed. "Raven's been filling us in. Thanks for coming all this way to warn us about that crazy ninja guy."
"Yes," Starfire hovered close, her green eyes concerned. "We are most welcome."
Raven sat on the edge of the bed and placed her hand over Bumblebee's wounded thigh. She used her power to disintegrate the bullet. The particles then passed through her friend's leg without causing the slightest pain.
"Cool trick." Bumblebee grinned. "So Robin's off doing his Dynamic Duo thing with Batman? You guys warned him, right?"
"Not yet," Raven admitted as white, ethereal light spread from her fingers. She pressed her hand to Bumblebee's thigh. "But don't worry. I would know if something were wrong."
"How?" Bumblebee asked. She shivered under the cold touch of Raven's magic.
"They've got like this creepy psychic connection," Beast Boy explained, wiggling his fingers on either side of his head. "I think they use it beat us in card games all the time."
Raven scoffed. "I've told you before, that's not how it works. Let me see your back, Bumblebee. I think I can repair your wings."
"Great! But I don't suppose you guys can fill me in on why you're all out here in Gotham in the first place and being so darn secretive about it? And hey, this place sure has high ceilings for a hotel room. And where's the bathroom?" Bumblebee asked.
"Your wings should work now," Raven said, pleased by how quickly and easily the soft wings had knitted back to their normal state. "You promised you'd leave, so when you wake up, don't look for us. Thanks again for warning us about the attacker."
Bumblebee's mouth fell open. Since when does Raven have four eyes? And why are they glowing at me like that!?
But Bumblebee didn't have time to think about it. She fell backwards on the comforter and was deeply asleep.
"Okay," Beast Boy said, "Can I just admit that after seeing you guys look like normal people for almost a week that now it's kind of weird to see you with the holo-watches turned off?"
"You're the weirdest looking out of all of us," Raven said. "I almost forgot how green you are."
Cyborg said, "So who could this guy be? He doesn't sound like anyone we've come up against before. Do you think Robin knows him?"
"I don't think so," Raven said. "The person couldn't tell Speedy from Robin. He just knows that Robin lives at the Tower, and perhaps a general description of what he looks like."
"Dude, maybe it's a hitman," Beast Boy said. He glanced at Starfire and added, "That's a bad guy hired to kill someone for money."
Her green eyes widened. "But who would hire such a person to kill Robin?"
Cyborg said, "Hate to break it, Star, but Robin's probably got more personal enemies than friends. I mean, how could he not? He's been at this game half his life. There's no telling who could've hired that guy to take him out."
Beast Boy added, "Or maybe it's just some whacko who wants to use Robin to get to Batman."
"All we can do is speculate until we have more information. We should —" Raven gasped and dropped to her knees, clutching her stomach in breathless pain.
"Raven!" Beast Boy cried. He knelt beside her and held the young sorceress by her shoulders. "What's wrong?"
Cyborg and Starfire knelt beside her in concern, too.
Raven's eyes squeezed tight. Her teeth grinded together. "So… much… pain. My body. It's on fire."
Raven grabbed both sides of her head and cried out. Her powers made the walls in the room turn pitch black. The Titans gasped and looked around at the complete, consuming darkness. To their horror, red eyes began to open all over the blackened walls.
"Raven, what are you doing!?" Cyborg asked, afraid. "Stop this!"
Raven opened her eyes. They were red, too. All four of them. She gasped in pain and tears escaped down her cheeks.
"It really hurts," she managed, looking at Beast Boy, and the young sorceress fell unconscious. The room returned to normal.
"Raven!" Beast Boy caught her and carefully lowered his friend to the carpeted floor. He looked up at the other Titans. His eyes were fearful. "What's going on? What's wrong with her?"
"Was she perhaps being attacked by an invisible monster?" Starfire's eyes and hands glowed green as she warily looked around the bedroom.
"I don't think so," Cyborg said. "We'll have to wait for her to wake up to find out. Come on. Let's get her up next to Bee."
In the city, Robin's body finally stopped rolling across the rooftop. He realized the hideous pain that had wracked him from head to toe was gone and managed to get up to his knees.
"What was that?" he whispered, breathing hard. The pain had been so sudden and intense. His heart beat so fast in his chest he thought it might explode.
He looked ahead and saw that Scarecrow stood on the opposite end of the rooftop.
The villain regarded him with a huff. "That was supposed to send you into unconsciousness. You really are a stubborn boy. Still, I was wondering how long he'd let this little charade carry on. Someday I'll have to show him that my time isn't to be trifled with."
Robin struggled to his feet while echoes of the pain still traveled throughout his body. "Who are you talking about? Are you working with Hijack?"
Instead of answering him, Scarecrow advanced on the Titan. His pale eyes were alive with hate. He had a syringe filled with sickly yellow liquid in his hand. It was Paranoia, the liquid version of his Scare Dust.
"I think it's time to go off script," Scarecrow said. "If he won't end this, then I will."
Robin brought up his bo-staff—prepared to knock the villain back—but hideous pain erupted in his body again. The Titan cried out and fell back to his knees, clutching his stomach.
What's going on? What is this!? He looked down at himself and realized through the pain that his whole body was glowing orange and yellow—as if he were on fire inside—and that's what it felt like—like he'd been skinned alive and now his muscles were being drenched in corrosive acid.
His bo-staff was wrenched from his hands and tossed aside. Scarecrow grabbed for him, but Robin twisted away and ran. The pain made him stumble and fall. He pushed himself up and kept running. Through his confusion and fear, the Titan knew he'd felt this pain before.
He'd seen this strange glow.
"Slade," Robin said the name bitterly. Scarecrow must have shot me with his nanoscopic probes. Maybe they traded before—Scare Dust for a laser that could deliver the probes. If that's so, than Scarecrow must have the trigger. But I can't let him inject me with Paranoia. I've got to get away.
"Batman!" Robin yelled into his communicator as he ran, "Where are you? You have to watch out! Scarecrow has a laser that—huh?" He realized his communicator wasn't working again. The screen was nothing but static.
"There's no point in running from your fears, boy!" Scarecrow called after him. "They always catch up to you in the end."
"Let's see you catch me up here!" Robin fired his grappling hook and was pulled hundreds of feet higher to a skyscraper's roof. At the top, he looked down to see that Scarecrow was nothing but a tiny dot against the snow-covered roof he'd just escaped.
Breathing hard, Robin pulled out his communicator again, but the screen still buzzed with static. I wonder if it got damaged or if someone's jamming it. I hope Batman's not having the same problem. Maybe I should go back to the car.
The Titan looked out over the city. Even though it was nighttime, the streets far, far below were full of people and cars moving steadily under the neon lights of bars and restaurants.
He glanced back to the rooftop where he'd left Scarecrow behind, and to his surprise, the villain was still there. Robin couldn't make out his features, but he could imagine those pale, malevolent eyes glaring up at him.
Why is he just watching me? Unease crept around the back of Robin's neck. Better yet, why doesn't he activate the probes? If he left them on long enough he could kill me, or at least make me lose consciousness.
A thought occurred. What if it was Hijack that busted him out of Arkham? If they're working together, then Hijack might be the one who shot me with the laser, and he could be the one triggering the probes, too.
Robin frowned. It felt like he was being herded right into a trap. He stepped away from the roof's edge so that Scarecrow could no longer see his position.
He'll have to assume I'm still up here or that I've jumped off the side he can't see from his vantage point. Either way, he still has tabs on me. I could try going through the building to get away, but that could put innocent people in danger. My best bet is to get back to the car. I can use it to contact Batman or Alfred.
But it's also possible that Hijack knows where we left the car. Maybe I should go to the Bat-Signal. It's just a few blocks away. If Batman's communicator is messed up, too, then maybe he'll come if I make it blink an SOS.
Robin ran to the edge of the roof where Scarecrow wouldn't be able to see him and jumped into the air. He grappled across the street to another skyscraper's roof, quickly pulling himself over the concrete railing that ringed the rooftop. He ran across. His eyes were on the Signal high in the dark clouds. The GCPD seemed far away, but Robin knew it would only take him minutes to grapple and swing his way there. He only had to hurry. He did not hesitate when he leapt off the roof and fired his grapple gun for the next.
The moment his foot left the roof, the probes activated.
"No!" Robin's body contorted in pain. His fingers somehow lost the grapple, and gravity snatched him from the sky.
The hungry street waited below.
The air was so cold Robin believed it might strip the skin from his face. The probes burned inside him.
He didn't try to control the fall.
He knew there was no point.
He was falling too fast.
There was nothing in his utility belt that could save him.
Robin wanted to scream, but he was in too much pain, or perhaps too much shock.
He could only fall.
In his mind, he saw his parents.
This is what they felt.
Slade caught the hero and landed safely on a parapet. In his arms, Robin looked up at him in pain and confusion. He was probably wondering how a mere police officer had managed to pull off such a death-defying rescue. Of course, even if Robin could see his face behind the helmet's dark visor, Slade knew he wouldn't recognize him.
"Who are you? What's going on?" the Titan asked in a strained voice. The probes stabbed at his stomach and Robin curled in on himself; unintentionally tucking further into Slade's chest.
"You fell, and I caught you," Slade said; his hand quickly covering Robin's mouth even as those masked eyes widened in recognition of his voice.
"I've shot you and a dozen other people with an updated, more advanced version of my nanoscopic probes," Slade explained. "As you can tell, Robin, the probes have been activated. You'll be unconscious in less than a minute."
Robin glowered up at him; his muffled cries growing angry. His body stiffened, however, as the probes sent a fresh wave of pain washing over him. It felt like hot, scalding water being poured on him from head to toe. He struggled to fight back both against Slade and the pain; the probes made it difficult to concentrate on anything else. He couldn't escape the consuming pain.
"Forty seconds, Robin. Just relax. Trust me. This is for your own good," Slade said in a tone that was both calming and malevolent.
He watched Robin suffer a moment more before adding, "It's quite remarkable, really. You've stayed conscious longer than anyone I've ever subjected to this level. You truly are one of a kind ...my Apprentice."
Robin's eyes widened again, but then he shook his head, dismissing what he was sure was just another one of Slade's mind games.
"Perhaps if we go up a level," Slade said.
Robin lost his breath as sudden, violent bursts of pain scattered throughout his body; like a thousand pins and needles shooting through his skin and burrowing down deep into his muscles. Robin's hands balled into fists, his body went rigid with pain, and he screamed in agony against Slade's palm before finally passing out.
Slade pushed a button and the probes ceased their assault on the hero's unconscious body.
"Robin!" called a voice. It was the Dark Knight.
Slade jumped off the parapet to the streets not far below. Landing with Robin still in his arms, he darted into the shadows of Crime Alley.
Minutes later Slade ran past the Scarecrow, who waited in the shadows. The two exchanged a glance, and with an animal grin, the Scarecrow pushed himself from the alley wall and started walking back in the direction that Slade had run from.
Soon Batman was upon him. He swept down on the Scarecrow and flattened the villain onto the pavement. Before Scarecrow could react, he was hauled up from the ground and slammed hard against an alley wall. Disoriented, he clutched at the Dark Knight's wrist as Batman's hand pinned him to the wall. The vigilante's gloved fingers wrapped tight around his throat.
Menace laced each word that Batman spoke. "Where is the boy?"
"Dead? Dying?" Scarecrow struggled; his feet dangling in the air and his fingers scrabbling to put some space between Batman's hand and his throat. "Who knows what's happening to the little cretin! My job was to distract you. Evidently I'm quite proficient at the task!"
"What are you talking about?" Batman's grip tightened. "Tell me!"
The villain choked. His pale eyes brimmed with hate. His lips were sealed.
"If you don't, I'm going to start breaking you," Batman warned, leaning closer. "This is your last chance, Crane. Where is Robin?"
"You're the detective," Scarecrow sneered. "Surely such a simple puzzle isn't beyond your intellect."
Without reply, Batman grabbed the villain by his left arm and gave the limb a vicious twist—it broke at the elbow with a loud crack—eliciting a strangled scream from the Scarecrow's throat.
"I'll kill you for that!" the villain swore. "I'll find out who you are, and I'll kill you and everyone you hold dear!"
"Tell me where Robin is or I'll break the other one," Batman promised in return, shoving Scarecrow even harder against the wall. "You have two seconds, Crane."
Two seconds passed and he grabbed Scarecrow by the other arm and swung the villain to the ground. Batman planted a boot in the middle of his back and kept the arm held hostage—twisted above Scarecrow. At such an angle, both men knew it would take nothing for the limb to be wrenched to the side and pulled brutally from its socket.
With a baleful glower, Scarecrow snarled, "I don't care if he's an assassin—I'll not become a cripple!"
"Then tell me what you know," Batman said. "What assassin?"
Scarecrow grinned; detecting a hint of alarm in Batman's voice. "Deathstroke the Terminator. He got me out of the asylum, but on the condition that I would help him get his hands on your precious sidekick and distract you while he escaped with the boy. They're probably in the sewers. It's where I was supposed to send him if the opportunity arose."
"I hope," Scarecrow added, "that he makes him suffer—that the boy's last moments are terrifying. He's probably down there screaming even as we speak, wondering why the Batman has abandoned him to die alone with his tormenter in such a cold, dark place."
Scarecrow started laughing; the sound was mad and cruel.
Unable to stand another second of it, Batman knocked him out. He left Scarecrow on the pavement.
"Alfred, Robin's been taken by Deathstroke the Terminator. Scarecrow claims they went down into the sewer." Batman's eyes scanned every direction of Park Row.
"Good Lord, is the young master all right?"
"I don't know, but it's safe to assume he's injured. Robin wouldn't have gone down without a fight."
"Should I alert the Titans, sir?"
"No. I don't have time to worry about them. I have to find Robin before Deathstroke gets out of the city, and for now they'd just slow me down," Batman said. "Besides, for all we know he could be targeting all of them."
"Sir, the locator on Robin's communicator just came back online. He's roughly two kilometers south of your current position and moving at a slow pace. Are you reading him?"
Batman checked his gauntlet, and sure enough, Robin's symbol was tracking across the blue screen. "Got him. Looks like Scarecrow may be telling the truth. He's underground, Alfred. Send me a map of North Gotham's traversable sewer system."
"Be on your guard, sir. This may well be a trap or another diversionary tactic," Alfred said as Batman ran towards the nearest sewer entrance.
"Have you found anything on Hijack yet?"
"Nothing as of yet, sir."
"I'll send you the captured images of him from my cowl. Maybe it'll help. It's possible that Hijack's working with Deathstroke, too. If there's a connection between them, we need to find it."
"The three of them working in tandem? What on Earth could they possibly be planning?"
"Don't worry, Alfred." Batman angrily shoved a manhole cover aside. He dropped down into the sewer tunnel; his boots squelching against the slime and muck.
"Whatever new game Deathstroke is up to, I'm not playing it—I'm ending it."
1) In the comics Wade LaFarge uses the name Ravager to mess with Slade's head during one of his revenge campaigns because Grant Wilson was killed as the first Ravager. In this story, Grant's already dead and will never have the opportunity to become the first Ravager, so Wade uses the name Hijack because in my head canon he's been working as a mercenary for terrorist groups to amass his own fortune.
