Batman copyright Bob Kane/DC Comics
Teen Titans copyright DC Comics/Warner Brothers
On Dark Wings...
Chapter 10: Ravaged
FWOOOOOOM!
The "Jabberwocky" blasted a stream of flames at Robin...
who quickly grabbed Kitten and evaded out of the way.
"OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOOOOOOOOD!" shrieked Kitten, rapidly
"quiet."
"I'M GONNA DIIIIIIIIIIIE!"
"I said: SHUT UP!" Snapped Robin, covering her mouth
"YE-E-ES!, GET THEM!" exclaimed the Mad Hatter
Holly (sensing an oppertunity) took advantage of the chaos and, swiftly kicked the guards holding her away and joined Robin.
all three ran for over as the Dragon breathed more fire.
"SO, tell me "Bird Wonder"...you got a plan to get us out of this!" said Holly
Robin was silent.
"WELL!"
"I'm thinking!"
Kitten gulped.
"i was right: I'm gonna die."
"CALM DOWN...we'll get through this." said Robin, sternly
the dragon breathed MORE fire at their cover (which was holding up surprisingly well)
"yeah?...well, you'd better think up "a way" QUICK!
unless you WANT us to be roasted!" said Holly, sarcasticly
Robin looks around the area, trying to form a "plan-of-attack" in his head.
(("ZZZZZZZ!"))
Robin cocked his head.
"huh?"
(("ZZZZZZ!, Rob-ZZZZZ!
-an yo-ZZZZZZ!, ere me-ZZZZZZZZ!"))
Robin pressed the hidden button on his mask.
"Oracle?"
(("ZZZZZZZ!"))
"ORACLE, COME IN!"
"who are you talking to-"
"SHHH!"
Kitten crossed her arms and huffed.
Robin listened, then the static cleared up.
(("Robin, are you there!...COME IN!"))
Robin heard a voice...but, it wasn't Barbara's.
"Who is this?"
(("It's ME, Cyborg."))
Robin widened an eye.
"Victor Stone!"
(("Uhh...YEAH, that's me."))
"What are YOU doing on this frequency?"
(("I helped Bar-, I mean ORACLE bypass Hatter's Signal Jammer.
though, I'm not exactly sure HOW LONG this will last...what's happening?"))
Robin looked at the Dragon...which continued to breath fire at their cover.
"Let's just say...we're caught between a Rock and a "Hot Place." began Robin
"Hatter has some kind of Mechanical Jabberwocky spitting fire at us."
(("Jabberwocky?...OH!, you mean the Dragon say, wasn't it called the "Jabberwock" in the original poem?"))
Robin growled.
"LOOK!, we're kinda in a PINCH here!
so, we don't have time to debate on what it's name is."
(("Okay-Okay!, calm down."))
Robin noticed that the cover he was behind was starting to melt.
"Stone, it's getting REALLY hot in here.
you have any advice to give us, because we could use some!"
(("is your mask's fancy "Vision Mode" working?"))
Robin pressed a button, making his white lens flash.
"yes, but BARELY..." began Robin
"It fizzles a bit...but, I AM recieving data."
(("Good, can you locate the Jab-, err..the DRAGON'S Power Supply?"))
Robin looked.
he saw an X-Ray image of the Dragon Robot...one part was glowing brightly.
"I do.
it's head...it's HOT with energy."
(("well, then I guess you need to...errr, "take it's head off."))
"figures."
(("do you know a way to do that?"))
Robin looked around for a solution...he spotted the Castle Drawbridge.
"I do: the Drawbridge...
I but with enough force, the grating could severe it's head...providing I can lure it there."
(("Then, DO IT!"))
Robin released the button.
"WELL!" exclaimed Holly
"Have you figured out how to kill that "Jabber-Whatsit!"
"Yes, but I'll need your help...ALL your help."
Kitten gulped.
"Holly, take Kitten to the walkway of the Castle walls.
I will get that beast to chase me, YOU and KITTEN will wait near the drawbridge crank.
wait until I lure it's neck directly under the grating, then RELEASE IT!"
Holly thought a bit, then got the idea.
"OH!, I get it...
we're gonna take it's head off!"
"NO, were severing the main power supply to that machine...this is all an illusion, remember?"
"oh, right...I keep forgeting."
Robin turned, and readied himself.
"as soon as I get that thing's attention...you and Kitten RUN LIKE HECK!"
"Got it."
Robin waited for the right moment.
then, when the Dragon stopped breathing fire...Robin sprinted away.
"GET HIM MY JABBERWOCKY!, FINISH HIM!"
the Dragon turned and chased after Robin.
"NOW!"
Holly and Kitten ran for the opposite direction once they were at the wall, Holly drew out her bullwhip.
"get on my back."
Kitten clung to Holly's back.
holly cracked her whip, snagging SOMETHING atop the wall.
she then began to scale up the wall, eventually reaching the top.
"okay...LET'S GO!"
the two girls ran down the walkway.
luckily, Hatter was too distracted with his Jabberwocky and Robin to notice them.
Robin continued to evade the Dragon's fire blasts all the while watching Kitten and Holly's progress.
the Dragon opened it's mouth and readied to shoot a stream of fire.
Robin, however...quickly tossed a Freeze Grenade into it's mouth.
it detonated, flash freezing the beast chomped HARD on the black of ice in it's mouth, snowing shattered ice.
"HA!, you think THAT would stop my Jabberwocky!"
Robin growled.
(("no, you idiot...i'm just stalling."))
Robin looked and saw that Holly and Kitten had reached the drawbridge crank.
Holly stayed at the left crank, while Kitten ran to the Right Crank.
Robin grinned.
"exellent..."
Robin drew out two birdarangs and tossed them both at the Dragon's face.
the beast growled angrily.
"HEY, WHISKERS!" called Robin
the Dragon looked at Robin.
"COME AND GET ME!"
the Jabberwock snapped at Robin, who evaded away.
hh ran for the door, and the Dragon chased him.
"Okay, Kitten, GET READY!" said Holly
Kitten nodded nervously
Robin passed thru the doorway and stopped atop the wooden drawbridge.
he turned and watched at the Dragon moved got CLOSER and CLOSER...
the Jabberwocky snapped at Robin like a cobra, extending it's neck Robin leapts away, narrowly avoiding it's teeth.
"NOW!"
Holly and Kitten released the crank, letting it unwind wildly.
the grate fell freely onto the Dragon's long, serpentine neck.
and, with a loud CLANK...severed it's head.
Robin looked and saw the light go out in it's eyes.
he grinned.
"off with it's head."
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" exclaimed Hatter from within the castle
Holly (with Kitten) leapt from the wall and tumbled into the ground.
Robin ran over to the girls and helped them up.
"you never said you were GONNA JUMP!" snapped Kitten
Suddenly, the world began to "flicker" and "fade"
before long, "Wonderland" faded away, transforming into an old, beat-up theme park.
teh three looked and saw the Gotham Cityscape over the horizion.
"hey!...Everything's back to normal!" exclaimed Holly
Robin pondered this.
"Hmmm...guess Hatter's Hypno-Transmitters was being powered by the Jabberwock itself."
"I thought it was called a "Jabberwocky" said Kitten
"WHATEVER!" exclaimed Holly, loudly
"It was a BIG, UGLY DRAGON!"
suddenly, Robin (and, Holly and Kitten) saw a helicopter fly overhead.
it lowered into the castle courtyard...then, rose up and flew away.
Robin managed to make out some lettering on the choppers side: CRANE CHEMICALS
"well...looks like Tetch got away."
"and, SO DID CHESHIRE!" said Kitten, angrily
"no, Cheshire wasn't on the Chopper."
Holly and Kitten looked at Robin.
"How do YOU know that?"
Robin pressed invisible buttons on his guantlet, which beeped.
"Because during my first encounter with her, I planted a Bat-Tracer on her kimono.
and, according to my tracker...she's not in the air, but she IS advancing into the city."
"THEN, COME ON!
Let's get her!" exclaimed Kitten
"No, not yet...I'm taking you home."
"BUT-"
"Cheshire is MINE.
your Emotional, Kitten...and, inexperienced."
Kitten growled loudly Robin then pressed some more buttons on his guantlet.
"Soooo...I guess you won't be needing ME, now." said Holly
"guess so."
"Well...I'll be seeing you, then."
Holly gave Robin a quick kiss on his cheek.
"later, doll."
Holly did some cartwheels, and slipped away into the shadows.
Robin scowled at her, then he eyed Kitten...who just stared at him.
"don't even THINK about trying kiss me."
just then, Robin's Batcycle drove up on it's own.
Robin walked over, picked up a helmet and put it on over his hood.
Robin grabbed another bat helmet and tossed it to Kitten.
"put it on."
Kitten examined it.
"you have this in PINK?"
Robin gave Kitten a GLARE.
"right, sorry...I forgot who I was talking." said Kitten, who put the helmet on
Robin sighed as he mounted the motercycle Kitten got on behind him, grasping his waist with her arms.
"hold on."
"I AM!"
Robin revved his Bike's moter and sped off.
Kitten SCREAMED the whole way.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
[Wayne Manor Batcave]
"Robin!, ROBIN!"
Cyborg was tapping some buttons on the Batcomputer keyboard (Barbara was near him)
"ROB-"
(("Yeah?, what is it?")) said Robin, finally
Cyborg exhaled.
"Thank god...you had me worried, there."
(("Don't worry, Stone...I'm still alive."))
(("SLOW THIS THING DOWN!")) shrieked a voice
Cyborg raised his eyebrow.
"Uhhh...Robin, whose that?"
(("Kathrine Van Cleer...YOU know her as "Kitten", Killer Moth's Daughter"))
(("I...think i'm gonna be...SICK."))
"KITTEN!
what SHE doing with you?"
(("Mad Hatter kidnapped her.")) began Robin
(("Killer Moth asked me to save her...
and, DESPITE how annoying she is...she was an innocent in danger, I had to save her."))
(("WATCH OUT FOR THAT TRU-AAAAAHHH!"))
"ROBIN!"
(("I'm fine.
Kathrine just can't handle High Speeds."))
"Are you...driving a car!"
(("no, I'm on a Motercycle.
I'm taking Kitten back to her father...THEN, I'm going after Cheshire."))
"Cheshire?
you mean that Ninja Chick who attack Speedy, once?"
(("If she's wears a Grinning Cat mask, a Kimono disappears in a puff of smoke and attacks with knives, then YES."))
"Tell me where you are, maybe I can-"
(("NO, I'm better off alone."))
"BUT-"
(("I'll be FINE, Vic...trust me."))
(("MOMMYYYYYY-!"))
Robin turned off is InterCOMM.
"Robin!, ROBIN!"
Cyborg tried to reach him...but, failed.
"D*MN!"
"Trust Max, Victor...he knows what he's doing." said Barbara
Cyborg looked at Barbara.
"can't we track him?"
"No, the tracking devices on Robin's vehicles are ENCRYPTED.
Max DOESN'T want to be found...at least, not by the Titans."
"but, WHY?
what if he gets in trouble, and needs our help!"
"Like I said: he KNOWS what he's doing.
BESIDES, Max has his OWN friends who are backing him up."
"like who?"
Barbara shrugged.
"don't know...he never told me."
Cyborg sighed sharply, looking down.
"what IS he hiding?"
[Later, at Krank Co Toys]
Robin drove his motercycle up to the Krank Co Toys factory.
he got up and removed his helmet (as did Kitten) and placed it down.
"Is...this where daddy is?" asked Kitten
"yep...let's go."
Robin approached the factory, Kitten followed him.
the two entered the facility and walked down the long, dark path.
the two soon reached the end of the room...where Killer Moth was.
"DADDY!"
Killer Moth turned and smiled.
"KITTEN!"
Kitten ran to her father, who hugged her tight Kitten actually cried in his chest, relieved that her nightmare was over.
"I told you i'd find her, Van Cleer." said Robin, bluntly
Killer Moth released Kitten and rose up.
"thank you, Robin."
"yeah, well...just remember to lock your doors, next time.
because, I won't ALWAYS be around to save your daughter."
"what about Hatter?, did you take him down?"
Robin sighed.
"no...Scarecrow helped him escape.
I'll get him later, but FIRST...I'm going after Cheshire."
"Cheshire?"
"a friend of hers killed your Daughter's boyfriend, Moth.
Cheshire KNOWS who it is, and she IS going to tell me."
Killer Moth eyed him.
"why should YOU care?"
"a man was murdered, Van Cleer..." began Robin
"Fang may have been a criminal...but, he was still a Human Being.
and, everyone deserves Justice...even punks like Fang."
Kitten looked away, a sad expression on her face.
"Kathrine..."
Kitten looked at Robin.
"I'm sorry...I'm sure Fang loved you."
Kitten was silent, trying to hold back her tears.
Robin continued.
"Fang may have been a crook, and I'm sure we would of NEVER been friends...
but, I understand that he loved you enough to sacrifice himself for you."
"you...do?"
"yes..."I" am trying to do that for someone I love, someone who was TAKEN from me."
Kitten looked at Robin, her eyes wide.
Robin then turned and walked off.
"I...hold you can save her." said Kitten
Robin paused, then spoke.
"so do I...Komi means EVERYTHING to me."
"Komi?"
"her name."
"oh...well, it's a nice name."
Robin nodded.
he then left.
Kitten looked at her father, her eyes watery.
"daddy...can we go home, now?"
"sure, Kitten...SURE."
[Later]
Robin was driving his Motercyle at high speed past many cars.
he activated his Tracking System, and looked at the GPS.
"hmm...the signal appears to be coming from CHINATOWN."
Robin huffs.
"a Ninja Assassin in Chinatown...seems TOO EASY."
Robin soon drove the Batcycle into the Oriental styled part of Gotham.
he parked his bike near a curb, dismounted and activated it's Security Protocol.
he walked off and pressed a button on his mask.
his Detective Vision mode displayed to his eyes the Tracking Signal.
the signal was originating from the rooftops.
"the rooftops?
I already don't like this." said Robin to himself
Robin took out his Grappel Gun and fired a line.
once it grappeled onto something, he retracted the cable and propelled himself upwards.
Robin climbed up and looked around.
he detected the tracking signal was CLOSE.
TOO CLOSE, in fact.
Robin advanced forward, hopping over gaps to other rooftops.
he soon came to a stopped and looked down...and, saw his Bat-Tracer laying on the ground.
"d*mmit!
Cheshire must of figured out I planted the tra-
SLASH!
"GAAHH!"
Robin was knocked down, his cape and the bacl of his bodysuit sliced open.
he got up, attempting to clear his now blurred vision.
once his vision focused, he saw a figure running across the rooftops.
the figure was TOO FAR for Robin to properly identify...
but, he saw long, White Hair...and, a pair of Katana Swords.
"man, I have got to stop falling for that!"
Robin stood up and chased after his unknown attacker.
to make his pursuit EASIER, he used his grappel gun to gain a HIGHER vantage point.
but, he SOMEHOW lost track of her.
Robin finally stopped, standing on a rooftop.
"blast it!, where did she go!"
Robin stood alone for awhile, almost as still as a statue.
then...he quickly turned and blocked a pair of swords.
he stared right at his attacker: a girl dressed in a Ninja/Commando outfit.
her had a long, white poneytail and wore a bandana mask with a two tail-like cloths at the back.
the mask was Black on one side, and bronze on the other with an eyehole.
whoever she was...she worked for SLADE WILSON Alias "Deathstroke"
Robin finally shoved her away, then quickly drew out and extended his bo-staff.
"WHO ARE YOU!"
the Girl was silent, but grinned.
"my Victims know me as RAVAGER...but, YOU can call me "Rose"
Robin and Ravager circled around each other.
"you set a trap for me."
"I did, yes...
I couldn't have you chasing Cheshire around all night."
"are YOU her associate?"
Ravager smiled.
"we HAVE "hunted" together from time-to-time."
Robin clenched his bo-staff.
"then YOU killed Fang."
Ravager snickered wickedly.
"so what if I DID?
"Fang" was a Criminal, a Thief-"
"a HUMAN BEING!...whose now Dead."
Ravager scoffed.
"the world will not miss him, WHY SHOULD YOU!"
Robin narrowed his white lensed eyes.
"your going to JAIL."
Ravager held her swords up, the blades shimmering in the moonlight.
"come over here...and, just TRY and slap the cuffs on me."
Robin charged and attacked.
he struck at Ravager with his staff, which Ravager just blocked with her swords sparks flew at the metal rod and steel blades clashed with one another.
Ravager was smiling the whole time (much to Robin's Annoyance)
they soon locked their weapons, staring at each others faces.
"your pretty good...no wonder father's so interested in you."
"i've gotten the attention of ALOT of people, lady."
"well, you've certainly gotten MINE."
Robin growled.
he then forced his staff down, thus forcing Ravager down.
he stomped on one of her swords, snapping it in two.
Rabager then kicked him away, then looked at her broken sword.
she angrily tossed the sword away then, gripped her only remaining one.
Robin then made a "come on" gesture.
Ravager charged after him, wielding her sword.
she slashed at Robin, who countered her attack.
in a split second, Robin planted a Bat-Tracer on her back...just as she knocked him down.
Ravager pinned Robin down, holding her blade against his neck.
"your lucky father's taken an interest in you..." began Ravager
"heh!, even I gotta admit...I'm impressed myself."
at that moment, four "ninjas" Dropped down beside Ravager.
they were dressed in all black, and their facemasks had orange spots on their centers
Robin could hear gears grinding from within them so, he KNEW they were androids, and not human.
"but, you are a FOOL to track down a Trained Assassin on your own!"
Robin grinned.
"who says I'm ALONE?"
Ravager looked confused.
THEN, all of a sudden...four pink bolts of energy flew in the air over her.
the energy impacted the Foot Soldiers...and, made them explode.
Ravager looked up and saw a figure drop down from a higher rooftop.
the figure was a girl with grey skin, pink hair with horn-like pigtails and, wearing a purple gown and black/purple striped stockings.
the girl glared at Ravager, her eyes Pink with Cat-like slits for puples.
Ravager scowled angrily.
"jinx."
Jinx stood and made a fighting stance her hand flexed like claws and glowing with pink energy.
Ravager looked at Robin.
"CALL. HER. OFF."
Jinx tried to approached, her eyes glowing.
"I can take her."
"stand down." said Robin, calmly
Jinx paused, surprised at Robin's order.
but, she figured he had a good reason and stopped, her glow fading.
Ravager then released Robin and stood up.
"My father's patience (as my own) only goes SO FAR, "Bird of Prey"...
DO NOT seek us out...you'll have an audience with my father when he ALLOWS IT!"
Ravager then did a backflip, cartwheeled and leapted from the rooftop.
Robin sighed as he got up, Jinx approached him.
"You alright?"
"yeah...I'm fine." said Robin, as he stood up
"I had everything under control."
"Really?" said Jinx, with a smirk
"That's not what I saw."
Robin looked at Jinx.
"what are you doing here, Jinx?"
"HEY!, you told me to lay low and dig up some dirt on where Komi was taken."
"Have you?"
Jinx sighed sharply.
"no...nothing.
the mercs that helped take her KNEW what they were doing."
Robin grumbled.
Jinx then looked at him.
"but, I DID find out something else...something RELATED to this."
Robin looked at Jinx.
"what?"
"ALOT of people have been disappearing lately...people with "special talents"
what links them is that police have found NO CLUES to HOW they were Taken, WHO took them and WHERE."
Robin pondered this.
"Hmm...Bruce always DID say that: "Sometimes the LACK of Evidense, is all the Evidense you need."
"Max, I think Komi was just ONE-OF-MANY that are in trouble."
"and, if she was taken because of her "Special Talents"...then, YOU had better watch yourself."
Jinx placed her fists on her sides, eyeing Robin.
"HEY!, are you forgeting who your talking to!
I am JINX, MISTRESS OF CHAOS...No prison can hold me."
"for LONG, anyway."
Jinx winked at Robin and smiled.
"you got that right, Maxie."
Jinx then got serious.
"Listen, MAX..."
Robin looked at Jinx.
"don't make the mistake of thinking your the ONLY ONE who cares about Komi...
REMEMBER, she may be your girlfriend...but, she's MY Best Friend."
Robin stared at Jinx...then, smiled weakly.
"right...I keep forgeting." began Robin
"I'm been with her for so long, that all I ever thought about was ME and HER."
Robin fell silent.
Jinx then approached him...then, put his arm around him.
"hey...it'll be OKAY.
we'll find her, I promise."
Robin smiled.
"I know...I won't stop until I DO find her."
Robin then sighed.
"I'll NEVER stop..."
-[Flashback]-
Max is standing in the Batcave, he is wearing only a black sweater and long pants.
he held a bo-staff firmly in his hand, his short, ginger hair casting a shadow over his green eyes.
Bruce Wayne stood at a console.
(("COMMENCING SIMULATION."))
Practice dummies popped out of the floor, and laser turrets lower from the cealing.
the lasers fired at Max, who quickled dodged and evaded the shots.
Max struck at the dummies with his staff, making then lower until they rose up again while he struck the dummies, he was attempting the dodge the lasers at the same time.
as their speed picked up...the lasers managed to hit him.
despite the burning pain, Max continued to attack and dodge.
after about an hour of this...the simulation ended.
(("SIMULATION TERMINATED."))
Max gripped the staff as it lodged into the floor.
he was literaly clinging to it, tired and exhausted.
sweat was dripping from his scalp, almost soaking his shirt.
he huffed and panted, trying his best to breath.
his throat was dry, too.
Bruce looked at the screen.
"not bad...you beat your record by about a quarter of an hour."
Max continued to pant.
"not (huff)...good (pant)...enough." started Max
"will...never be...enough.
not...until...I'm the BEST."
Bruce left the console and approached Max.
"your already doing all you can."
"I need to be BETTER.
until she's back in my arms, I'll NEVER stop...never."
-[End of Flashback]-
"I'll NEVER stop, Jinx...not until Komi is back and SAFE."
"Your already doing all you can, Max."
"I have to be BETTER, Jinx."
Jinx sighed sharply.
"Honestly, Max.
your either the most FAITHFUL Boyfriend ever...or, the most OBSESSIVE Crime Fighter who ever lived."
"Bruce has THAT Title narrowed down."
"well, you come at a close second."
Jinx then smirk.
"hey, I know!
maybe when Wayne get's old, YOU could be Batman." said Jinx with a laugh
"I doubt that'll ever happen."
"hey, you never know what the future will brin-"
KA-BOOOOOOOM!
Author Note: I reveal a little MORE about the identity of Hooded Robin's girlfriend (her name)
and, I also reveal that Jinx (Former villain, and Honorary Titan) is Hooded Robin's Ally (and, she knows Batman's secret)
Also, I've introduced Rose Wilson/Ravager as the assassin who killed Fang (this outta make "coldblue" happy)
a flashback to when Max was training with Bruce to be Robin, and a Cliffhanger (What's happening in Gotham, now!)
Note: Scarecrow rescuing Hatter is a reference to Jervis Tetch and Johnathan Crane being FRIENDS
seeing as how BOTH are doctors, are modeled after popular characters and specialize in "warping minds"