Chapter 10:
"Blank Slate"

Bruce, his cowl withdrawn, threw a chair across the Batcave. Dick was thankful it wasn't thrown into the Batcomputer screen, or that would have been very expensive to replace. And they needed the Batcomputer right now. Both Dick and Jason tried to calm him down, but with no success.

Bruce wasn't angry at The Riddler, he was angry with himself for allowing the villain to kidnap both Damian and Tim with very little effort.

Normally Bruce was pretty calm, he had years of experience in dealing with mental stress issues. But sometimes they got the better of a person. This was one of those times.

"If this was an actual job, we be fired," Jason quipped.

"I've been fired from this job once, I didn't much like it," Dick replied.

"I wasn't necessarily fired, I just died."

"Not cool, Jason. Not now."

Jason had a smirk on his face. Despite the dire connotations of his remark, Dick did not smile. Death was nothing to laugh about.

"Bruce, calm down!" Dick said, when lifted, and planned to throw another chair. Even Alfred was at his wit's end what to do, even the oldest member of the Batfamily could not calm him down.

But Dick sort of understood Bruce's feelings. He had allowed a villain to kidnap two have his sons, that would weigh heavily on any parent.

"What do we do?" Jason wondered. "I've never seen him like this before, except when he was beating my brains out, after I took out a crapload of criminals."

"Again, Jason. Not the right time for jokes."

"Dick, I really don't understand what's going on here. He has a cardinal rule, but he's a vigilante, he breaks the laws every night. You'd think one of those villains would strike back. He saved the Joker, Dick. I shot the bastard in the chest, and Bruce brought him back to life. Now he's getting all mad that Damian and Tim have been kidnapped by Edward Nygma? It comes with the territory. He never did the same for me."

"That's cruel, Master Jason," Alfred said. "When it came to you, if he could have saved you, he would have."

"Yeah, but he preferred to save the man who killed me instead. That's why I have little sympathy for him right now. The brat and the genius can take care of themselves. Bruce doesn't need to babysit them."

"I was a member of the Titans at the time you died, Jason. I was heartbroken when I found out, a week after you died, and by accident. Bruce didn't tell me. Did Bruce ever tell you the story of how we fought over your adoption years back?"

Jason looked intrigued.

"I wanted to adopt you, Jason, because at the time, I thought I could do a better job than Bruce. Ultimately, he won the fight; legalities. And I had to contend with that. I instead tried to pass down all my crime-fighting knowledge and wisdom to you when you became Robin. All my secrets, tricks, trades, and even humour. In this line of business, you can't be serious all the time, because eventually, if you don't die a hero you become the villain."

Jason nodded. "I died and then became a villain, then a hero, then a villain, then a hero, then a villain. I'm starting to get a complex, please stop me. None of us anticipated, Bane. Arsenal is out with the rest of the Outsiders hunting for clues. I thought it best to be here—"

It was then they heard Alfred shout with such authority that it made Bruce halted in his tracks. Alfred stood straight and staunch like. "Bruce. Thomas. Wayne. Stop this childishness at once!"

Jason breathed in. "Oh, Alfred said his full name. Now you know he's serious."

Dick hushed Jason with a finger to his mouth. It wasn't the first time Dick had heard Alfred speak Bruce's full name when he wanted his attention. The same went with himself. And when Alfred got in this state, to ignore him was not an option.

"Accept the situation and move on, Master Bruce," Alfred said firmly. "Master's Timothy and Damian are prisoners, in the hands of an evil man, and we all need our collective wits to rescue them. Throwing temper tantrums will not solve anything, and neither will making snide and childish jokes to ease the tension, young sirs. There is a time and place for that, just not here." The last comment was for both Dick and Jason.

Alfred continued, "You're a pillar of strength for so many. Our family bonds go deep, and much deeper then the Caped Crusader. I did not teach you to throw things like some child when things did not go your way. I know you love those boys, but this is not you, Master Bruce. Grow up!"

Bruce Wayne was stunned that Alfred would speak to him in such a candid manner. But the man was much more than the Wayne Butler, he was a father figure to everyone, and to Alfred, Bruce will forever be that boy, whose parents Bruce had lost to a criminal shooting so many years ago.

"If you wish to take out your anger, sir, may I suggest a punching bag, or one of these to facetious gentleman standing nearby, who rather make humorous comments then help a person in need."

"Does he mean us?" Jason said.

"Take heed, Master Bruce," Alfred addressed him, returning to the proper respect to the household. "We'll get Master's Timothy and Damian back. Just use your head not your fists."

It was then that Bruce started laughing and to Dick it felt unnatural.

Bruce put a hand to Alfred's shoulder. "You're right, Alfred," he said with a thin smile. He then looked around at the mess he had made. Chairs, tables, and other items were asunder. He was just glad he didn't hurt anyone in his blind anger. "Thank you for bringing me back to reality."

It was then that Jason retrieved a small metal cylinder that was found on the roof of Arkham. Riddler had left it, and it obviously contained a clue. He plucked off the top with some effort and then tipped it over, spelling its contents onto a table.

They were jigsaw puzzle pieces and the confusing bit about it was they were all black. And there was no picture. They took some time and putting it together, a thousand pieces. It was a portrait of darkness, blackness, with one small corner missing.

"I don't get it," Jason said, scratching the back of his head. "It's nothing but a blank canvas. What the hell?"

Dick looked inside the cylinder just in case they had missed something, but it was empty. "I'm confused, too," he said. "I have no idea what Riddler is trying to say to us with this clue. It's nothing."

"Nothing is still something in the eyes of the beholder," Alfred said philosophically.

"Deep, Alfie," Dick said.

"Let's recap everything we know," Bruce said. "Adam Nichols befriended Edward Nygma through a penpal exchange letter program, administrated through Arkham to promote community with those who share a similar interest. It was a pilot project. It ended up giving birth to a mutually beneficial criminal with similar traits. Riddler used his own modus operandi and targeted Adam Nichols. Through letters and ciphers, both fiendishly plotted a method to brainwash people. With the wealthy, they donated large sums of money to bogus charities, a form of money laundering for Nichols to fund his secret operation. Tim found this out when he did in-depth research. This has now been put to an end, the information given to the Gotham City Police to investigate."

Dick was about to interrupt, but Bruce continued.

"However, Riddler escaped with Nichols' equipment to a secondary site, for which we have yet to find. Coinciding with this plot, Riddler also has Tim and Damian now, kidnapping them, their GPS locators rendered inert. With more information, perhaps by investigating some of Nichols other victims, we may be able to find some decisive clues. Additionally, we now know Jonathan Crane, Scarecrow, was in some way previously involved with Nichols. The caper at the carnival, and the hallucinogenic gas, that he used to brainwash people. With this connection in mind, we surmised that Riddler would attempt to break Crane out of Arkham. We were right, but we were too late, and Edward Nygma got the upper hand. Now, all we are left is this confusing clue."

"Great summation, Bruce," Dick said, "although a little vague on details for Alfred."

"I may not have been present for everything, Master Dick, but I was listening in," Alfred said. "And I have asked the GCPD to release Red Robin's drones from custody, using a voice synthesizer to sound like Batman. The drones can be picked up at any time."

"Brilliant! But one element of the story is missing. Namely Nichols' game shop blowing up. Forensics said it was a gas leak, but I think it was done on purpose to high his tracks. However, his actions don't fit into the over all puzzle here."

"It is its own riddle," Jason said. "Or, just a dumb mistake."

Bruce put a hand to his chin rubbing it, thinking, looking at the puzzle. "He wanted a clean slate," he mused, "so, he tried to destroy his past. Riddler offered Nichols an opportunity for him to expand his hidden operations into brainwashing people. Destroying his store was the only way for him to disappear. But when we found out about him, he needed to disappear again. The explosion at the warehouse was faked. Nichols used a stand in."

"But you saw him die," Dick said.

"No, I didn't. I fled before the bomb went off. Nichols had a good thirty-seconds to put someone in his place. Whoever it was, was murdered to hide Nichols' escape."

"Then Nichols is still alive," Jason voiced. "And from Intel Roy gathered with his awesome computer skills, he was able to find some curious information, supposedly deleted about a Nic Ahols Dam, I just remembered. He was a doctor of parapsychology and neuropathy, who studied abroad. But he was discredited for unsavoury practices. He suddenly disappeared two years ago, too. Anyone want to take a guess where he went? I'll give you a hint: Home of Batman."

Bruce, Dick and Alfred all smiled. "Nic Ahols Dam, change the letters around and you get Adam Nichols," Dick said. "Do I get a gold star?"

"Okay, so now that it has been established that Doctor Adam Nichols is alive," Jason said, "What the hell does this clue that Riddler gave us mean?"

"Maybe, I can fill in the blanks," came a voice from an adjacent part of the cave. And Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, came walking towards them. In her hand was a wheel to a chair. In Bruce's anger, it must have rolled afar, breaking off. She gave it back to him. "I may have been banned from the Batcave for a little while because I was writing erotic fanfiction to Dick, but after hearing that Riddler had escaped, with Crane, and Bane involved, I thought I would lend my expertise."
Dick smiled broadly. "Most definitely," he said. And she came to stand next to Dick. They were in a close relationship. He flinched when she pinched his butt.

"We never finished our date," she said. "You left so quickly."

"I bet he does everything quickly," Jason said.

Dick gave Jason a nasty stare.

"Anyway, we're really glad you're here, Barb," Dick said. "We're stumped on this clue. We need another set of eyes. Maybe you can make sense of it?"
"I thought it would be obvious," she said, "but sometimes it takes a fresh mind, and a woman's perspective. You're in the dark on this puzzle for a reason. What do most older people do for recreation?"

"They do puzzles," Dick answered.

Jason face palmed himself. "Of course, the old recreation centre" —and he gave the street address. "Why didn't we think of it sooner? That's Nichols secondary site."

"Because when you're frustrated you can't think clearly and there's always a piece missing to your thought processes. Hence, Riddler's puzzle clue."

"He knew that we would be distracted after he kidnapped Tim and Damian," Dick put in. "And our worry for them could be a crucial in not solving this puzzle. I have to give the man some credit, Edward Nygma does have a brilliant mind. But," he smiled at Bruce, "we have the greatest detective in the world."

"Detectives, plural," Barbara said. "Frankly, I can't imagine what you men would do without us woman." Then she pointed the finger at Jason. "Don't you dare say it, Jay."

Jason put his hands up in defence. "Hey, I only experimented once, you once live once. Well, in my case, twice."

Dick winked at him. "With Roy? I thought he was straight as an arrow?"

Jason rolled his eyes. "You are so childish, Dick. What about your friend Paul Hudson? I heard when you were working in his club Bludhaven, you planted a major smacker on his lips so Harley Quinn wouldn't start shooting people. One of the bartenders saw it and told me."

Dick cupped his hips. "And, your point being? C'mon, Jay. Live in the moment. Carpe diem, seize the day. I kissed my friend because it warranted it, and it saved thousands of people. Paul Hudson is gay, so what? Unfortunately, he got into a situation that put them in prison for three years, minimal confinement."

Dick smiled. "But, I have to tell you, it wasn't all bad. He was a pretty good kisser, for a guy."

Barbara's brow rose. "Why does that make me want you more, Richard John Grayson?"

"Oh, she's serious. She said your full name," Jason said.

"Because I don't care what people think? People have their opinions on things, let them. If you spend your entire life hiding behind a mask…" He cleared his throat, the irony of who he was, where he was, and what he did, resounded. "Anyway, shall we go rescue the kids?"

Everyone put their masks back on. Nightwing got on Jason's bike behind him, as Jason put in his helmet before he switched on the bike. Batgirl got into the Batmobile with Batman.

Alfred said he would monitor everything from the Batcave, keeping in touch with the universal comm-link.

Jason/Dick left first, followed by The Batmobile, through the cave system. It was time to confront Riddler, and stop his plans.

To be continued...