Another sad chapter! I cried again you guys. So sad! I don't know why I like to cause sadness but I do!
Haha, I sounded evil didn't I?
Anyways, don't forget to review.
I need help! HOW SHOULD I BRING IN DAMIAN!
"You're late."
"I over slept."
"We agreed on six thirty."
"Why don't you try getting in from a mission at four and then come lecture me about my arrival." Conner grumbles as he rubs his tired eyes yet again. He sits in the couch that's positioned in the corner of Lex's office and yawns.
" I'll pass, Thank you though. Get up, we have to go." Lex sighs and lifts himself from his chair. He packs his lap top, notebooks, pens and other small things into a briefcase before making his way towards the door.
"Where are we going this time?" Conner asks and follows his father up to the roof where a helicopter waits.
"Gotham. I have a meeting with Mr. Bruce Wayne this morning."
"Bruce…Wayne? Sound familiar."
"I was hoping it would. You're sitting in with me."
"What? Why?"
"He's bringing his son. I thought maybe you could…make friends. An alliance maybe. Be nice, and try to get that boy on your good side. He could help both you and I in the future."
" I thought us Luthors didn't need help." Conner says as he straps himself into the seat of the plane.
"We don't. we may need assistance every now and then though."
"Why do you have to meet with this Wayne guy?"
" He's interested in the research I'm doing."
"The brain stuff?"
"Yes. He says he knows of someone who could use the information. I'm very willing to sell it, for a good price that is."
" Whatever you say." Conner shuts his eyes when they take off and sighs in boredom, wishing he could be in Smallville with Clark rather than heading to Gotham with Lex.
DICK
"so I have to?" I ask, pulling on the tie that's wrapped tightly around my neck.
"Yes. I swore to myself I'd never go to Luthor for help. But if he can help…it'll be worth it."
"This is your deal! Why am I coming?"
" I need you close."
"You mean you don't trust me to be alone."
"No. I don't want you to wander off without someone with you."
"I could have just gone to Happy Harbor."
"Come on." Bruce sighs and gets out of the ar. He makes his way through the large building, me at his heels, and doesn't stop walking until he's seated in a conference room.
"Isn't that him coming?" I ask when I spot the shiny purple helicopter making its way towards the roof.
Bruce mumbles something with a glare and sighs. He motions for me to sit next to him and I comply.
"Don't speak unless spoken to alright?" He pleads.
"whatever." I respond, turning my attention to the large windows beside us.
I hear someone enter the room but don't bother to turn and acknowledge them.
Vibrations fill the room as greetings and introductions are made and I have to stop myself from telling them to shut up when the vibrations go on nonstop for at least half an hour.
They talk…and talk…and talk. And they keep talking, until a third voice shimmies its way through the air. I turn and feel my blood run cold at the sight.
There, seated right next to Alexander Luthor, was a perfectly groomed Conner.
He was clad in a silk Button up and freshly ironed slacks. His hair had been styled to ferfection and his hands were folded politely on his lap. His eyes held boredom and his lips were turned into a forced smile.
He was speaking quickly, far too quickly for me to even catch the simple words. I can read snippets but they make no sense to me.
"…team…seventy two…seventeen…happy…don't…mother…sadly…" and the odd sentences continue. Bruce responds, slowly enough for me to catch, with a sad frown.
"I'm very sorry Conner." He says.
Conner responds and nods.
"Hello." He smiles slightly at me. The forced look leaves his eyes and he genially gives me a shy grin.
"Hi. I'm Richard." I say slowly, not sure how to react.
"Conner Ke-" Lex lays a rough hand on Conner's shoulder and Conner catches himself in time. "Conner Luthor. Pleasure to meet you."
" Richard Grayson- Wayne." I smile back before turning back to the window.
Gotham was always a lot more innocent looking in the daylight. The thieves and muggers seemed to head off to sleep and the innocent slowly came out for their daily routine. The streets seemed to be less littered and the buildings always looked cleaner. There was still the cloud of smog and the windows on every shop were still littered with dirt and grime but…the city still looked better in the light.
Vibrations fill the room again.
Around an hour later, Bruce and Lex finally stand. They shake hands with stiff smiles and nod before looking at their sons and leading them out of the room.
I follow Bruce back to the car and wait until we're far from Wayne Tech before speaking.
" Why was he there?" I ask.
"I don't know. I didn't even know Conner was involved with Luthor.
"Well he obviously is. What are we going to do? Luthor isn't good. He'll take Conner down with him.
"We have to give him a chance at least Conner was there willingly."
"He was bored!"
"That doesn't mean Lex dragged him there against his will. Conner willingly talked about himself and even put in his opinion about a lot of things. Dick maybe this is what Conner wants. Lex doesn't seem to mind the task of giving the boy attention."
CONNER:
"Why did I have to wear this?" I ask as IU pull off the un comfortable shirt and pull on the T-shirt I'd left in the helicopter.
"You have to look professional." Lex answers calmly.
"Right." I mumble and run a hand through my stiff hair.
"We're going to the labs. It's time you see the research."
"About time."
"Don't get cocky Conner."
We fly south until we reach what I assume is Miami. The beaches and tall buildings decorate the floor. We land on one of the tall buildings and move inside. Lex leads me through the halls and stair ways until we reach a door labeled 'Lab 00'.
Lex walks in with no problem and shuts the door behind us.
The room is littered with large screens that show DNA and RNA models. Others show atom structures, come show small videos of explosions, one shows a slow motion video of a gun being fired.
In the middle of the room, three metal tables stand. Vials, tubes, vaccinations, mixtures, and other things are set up neatly on one table. On another, papers are strewn everywhere. At the last, two men are looking through telescopes. They move their hands quickly as they work on something.
"Doctor Heinz, Doctor Quentin I hope that you have what I asked for." Lex says as he looks around the room.
" Yes Mr, Luthor. Right this way." One of the men – A blond one with eager green eyes- leads us towards one of the large screens.
"Perfect Quentin." The man hands Lex a remote and Lex sighs in satisfaction.
"Pay attention Conner."
I obey and Lex presses a button.
A picture of a brain fills the screen.
"The brain is split into many sections. There are certain sections…that can be tinkered with and improved to make the person holding the brain…better. Stronger, smarter, anything really. Lex Corp is paying for research on these possibilities. It could be revolutionary. If the research goes as planned…the impossible will be within my reach."
"How so?"
"Operations will be able to be made Conner. A paralyzed man would be able to walk. A blind girl would see once more. A mentally ill woman would become sane and brilliant. A deaf child…they would be given the gift of sound!"
Conner can only stare at the blind man in shock, happiness, and fright.
Could this be his chance? To help not only the innocent…but Robin as well?
DICK
"Why are we here?" I ask when we pull up in front of Dr. Drake's clinic.
"Drake called me earlier today. He said…he had some news." Bruce mumbles and starts getting out of the car.
"News? What kind of news?" I ask after I'm out as well.
He turns to face me with a small smile.
"I'm not sure…"
His voice trails off when I feel the sudden shake. The ground vibrates so slightly that I can barely even feel it. But it's there. And I know what it is immediately.
I instinctively grab Bruce's collar and pull him down.
As soon as we hit the hard asphalt…it happens.
The sudden pressure of an explosion. The intense heat of the fire. The chunks of concrete flying in all directions. The dull ring after the loud sound.
Bruce's arms are around me. It all happens in less than fifteen seconds but…everything is in slow motion for a few milliseconds.
When we stand…Bruce's eyes hold nothing but horror and sadness.
His eyes flicker over to the side suddenly and I follow his gaze…only to see the most heart wrenching thing in the world.
Through the pouring rain that had seemed to come from nowhere…Timothy Drake was on his knees in front of the rubble crying.
His desperate voice rips through the dusty air. His lips quivering and his tears flowing out like rivers.