The Emperor's Talon

Chapter 7: Three Months Later

The Batmobile came to a screeching halt in the middle of the cave. Its sleek black frame reflected the lights as they blinked on. The canopy door of the driver's side popped up and out stepped the Batman with a flourish of his cape. He swept up the stairs like a thunderstorm before bracing himself against that back of the computer chair; not trusting his legs to hold his weight. His fingers shook with barely controlled rage and fear.

Behind him, Richard bounded up the stairs. His small frame radiated excitement tainted by dread. He had long since discarded his armor and weapons as the Talon, but he could still sense Batman's distrust of him. Over the three months he'd been in Gotham, Richard had learned that Batman didn't trust anyone. That, he supposed, was something they had in common. Or rather, that they only truly could say they trusted Alfred.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Batman whirled on him. To his credit, Richard held his ground as the Batman glared down at him. Most beings in the galaxy would have at least flinched if they didn't trip over their own feet trying to back away from the Bat's horrible visage. However, few things really terrified a boy who had been kidnapped by the Court of Owls as a five-year-old and handed over to Darth Vader at nine.

"What were you thinking?" shouted Batman. His voice was like thunder and crackled with power in the Force. He was so close to the Dark Side, that Richard almost flinched. Almost. The Dark Side to him, after all, was noting really new.

"I think I was saving your rather high and mighty ass," answered Richard, "for the second time since we met, I might add."

Batman actually paused. He blinked. Had someone really just said that to him? Richard was indeed full of surprises. It appeared that the overly polite, quiet, and subservient boy was beginning to fade away. And in it's place, leaving an unbridled child testing the limits of his freedom. "What did you just say to me?" he growled.

Richard cocked his head. Apparently not all his traits as the Talon had fully disintegrated, but then, years of training and habits could not be broken in a mere few months. "Am I to assume you didn't hear me?"

"You know the rules. You do not leave the cave for any reason whatsoever unless given express permission by either Alfred or myself."

"So, you would rather have been captured and dragged before the Emperor. Duly noted for future refence," said Richard. Somehow he managed to keep a straight face and minimalize the sarcasm in his voice.

"This isn't a game, Richard," growled Batman, "the Empire is not to be trifled with. Neither is the Dark Side of the Force."

Richard's calm aura suddenly snapped. His eyes flashed amber. "You think I don't know that?" he shouted.

Batman was again taken aback. This was what he had been afraid of. He had quickly learned that the boy's eyes were naturally deep blue but shone bright gold whenever his instincts as the Talon or the Dark Side kicked in. "What if you had slipped up and reverted to your former ways as the Talon? You could have put everything you've been working towards the last few months in jeopardy. You need more training and discipline. You're not ready for the field yet!"

"Hypocrite!"

"Excuse me?!"

"You're on the edge of the Dark Side right now," Richard pointed out, "I can feel you. You're angry and terrified. Or more accurately, you're so terrified that you've become angry. Tell me, what did your Jedi masters teach you about controlling your emotions?"

Batman was flabbergasted, and not for the first time that night. Firstly because, this child was talking with the wisdom of a Jedi knight. This boy, who had been trained in the Dark Side and raised as an assassin, was scolding Batman (former Jedi knight, the protector of Gotham) like a youngling. Secondly, he was astounded at the amount of knowledge the boy possessed. Batman was quite certain he had never told the boy that he had once been a Jedi Knight. And he knew Alfred would not have betrayed his secret.

For the first time since they met, Batman removed his cowl so that Richard could see his eyes. "How do you know all of this? Did you hack my computers and cover your tracks?"

"You're the detective," said Richard, "did I?"

"No." Batman would have seen it. He would have known. Unfortunately, the alternative was no more comforting. "You pieced the truth together yourself, didn't you?"

"You knew so much about the Force and you have a mastery of it that no sentient could have without training. Granted, there are many beings throughout the galaxy with a strong connection to the Force but no association with the Jedi. But I know one when I meet one," Richard stared straight into Batman's eyes, "and I do know the Dark Side when I feel it."

Batman decided that a change in subject was long overdue. "Do you realize how dangerous it was for you to come after me tonight? The Empire is still searching for the Talon. What if you were caught trying to save me?"

For the first time that night, Batman actually saw a flicker of fear in Richard's eyes. "I know. I don't think I'll ever forget." His voice had softened into a neutral monotone and his sentences had become clipped. The slave-like mindset of the Talon crept over him. Batman could see the change instantly.

"Richard…Dick, you need to stay in the cave until the Emperor's troops stop looking for you," said Batman. He had calmed down himself. He had a strange urge to pull the boy before him into a hug. And what was that? Batman doesn't hug anyone. That was perhaps one of the most terrifying revelations of the night; that he, the Force-damn Batman, had started feeling a connection to this child, the former Talon. Alfred had been right about one thing, Richard was destined to be a part of his life.

"Maybe it's time you came upstairs, Dick," said Batman thoughtfully.

"Upstairs?"

"To the house," he explained. "Come."

Richard followed Batman up the long light of stone stairs into the house above he had never been permitted to see.

Couracant: The Imperial Palace

"Lord Vader, have your troops recovered our missing Talon on Avolrion?" asked Emperor Palpatine. He spun his large black chair to face his apprentice.

Darth Vader knelt, subservient to his master like any slave. "No, my Master. Gotham is a vast crime ridden city. I fear the troops we sent are too incompetent and too few. Sources tell me that the Batman is still on the loose. He was nearly captured twice but he had the help of a young boy who was well trained and dangerous. I believe the Talon and the Batman have joined Forces."

Darth Sidious became suddenly angry though his face remained calm. Darth Vader was glad his mask was in place to cover his involuntary wince as Dark power crackled through the Force. "Batman is a symbol that must not be allowed to stand. As soon as other systems hear about a vigilante that protects citizens from the Empire, other's will seek to join him. We cannot allow either vigilantes or the Rebel Alliance to continue to oppose us."

"I agree, Master," said Darth Vader. He rolled his eyes behind his mask as the Sidious stated the obvious. "But if the troops we have sent are insufficient, what would you have me do?"

Sidious seemed to calm himself considerably. "We will remove half of the troops from Gotham and have them begin to search elsewhere on the planet. This will inevitably draw the Talon out of hiding. If he has indeed joined forces with the Bat, then he will eventually come out at night more frequently to fight crime around the city."

"You propose to lure them into a state of complicity."

"Precisely," Sidious purred, "we may very well kill two strayed birds with one stone, so to speak."

"Brilliant as always, my Master," said Vader, "but if the troops are gone when the Bat and the Talon resurface, how do you propose to capture them? Shall I go to Gotham myself?"

"No, Lord Vader," said Sidious dismissively, "your presence would warn the Talon of the trap and he would undoubtedly inform the Batman. The means by which they are captured are up to you to figure out."

"Yes, my Master." Darth Vader rose from his kneeling position and swept out of the room. Ok, so all he had to do was oversee the demise of Batman and his former apprentice the Talon. It was too bad really. He had hoped that one day the Talon would be strong enough to help him over throw the Emperor. Out of all his apprentices or trainees, the Talon was the youngest and most promising. Not to mention, he actually liked the kid. Grayson wasn't like those distasteful Inquisitors who were used to hunt down Jedi unworthy of his own attention or the attention of the Talon.

But returning to the problem at hand; Vader still needed a way to capture Batman and the Talon. It was going to take nothing short of an invisible army to bring those two in. And since such a thing did not exist and he could not go himself, Vader found that he would have to hire a bounty hunter. And a high caliber bounty hunter at that. Boba Fett and Deathstroke aka. Slade Wilson came to mind. Opening the door to his private quarters, Vader called to a nearby Storm Trooper.

"Sir," said the trooper coming to attention.

"Have the black-ops agents contact Boba Fett and Deathstroke immediately."

"Yes sir."

And so would fall the Talon and the Bat.

Gotham City: Alvorine

"Your tea will be ready in a moment Master Bruce," said Alfred without looking up from his work.

"So, this is where Bruce Wayne lives," said a young voice, "how many people guess that you're playing Batman in your basement?"

Alfred popped his head up and turned around at the sound of Richard's voice. Sure enough, there was the boy following Bruce into the kitchen. He was gazing around with curious darting blue eyes in a way the Alfred had always found endearing. He turned his attention back to Bruce as the man answered.

"I am not playing Batman in my basement. This crusade is not a joke," said Bruce in his no-nonsense tone.

Alfred quirked an eyebrow fondly at Bruce before turning his attention to Richard. "Master Bruce is most assuredly not playing dress up in his basement. He sees the bat-costume with the utmost seriousness." The old man's tone, while serious, was tinged with unmistakable sarcasm. Neither Richard nor Bruce missed the mirth glistening in his eyes.

"Must you make a point of mocking me, Alfred?" demanded Bruce.

"I sir?" Alfred feigned offence, "whatever do you mean?"

Richard laughed. It was an honest joyful laugh. Alfred hadn't heard one like it since before the Clone Wars. The old man handed the boy a mug of hot chocolate which was excepted with exuberant gratitude.

"Dick, wait for me in the living room we passed. I need to talk to Alfred for a moment," said Bruce.

"Yes, sir," said Dick. He walked out of the kitchen leaving Bruce and Alfred alone.

"I thought you said you weren't going to tell him your secret or ever allow him in the house. Dare I ask what changed that?" inquired Alfred. His face was puzzled but not displeased. Quite the contrary in fact.

Bruce sipped at his tea. "He figured it out a while ago. The kid's smart. I figured as long as he knew, there wasn't any reason to keep him locked up in the cave."

"I see," said Alfred. "but there's more to it, is there not?"

"Perhaps. I believe that you were right from the start. Dick is going to be a part of our lives. My fate and his are tied together somehow. I can feel a bond beginning in the Force."

Alfred finished taking the cookies off the tray and setting them in the storage unit. After removing his apron and wiping his hands on a rag, he regarded Bruce. "You're starting to like him despite yourself."

Bruce turned away. "Don't be ridiculous Alfred!" He stood and prepared to make his way to the living room where Dick was waiting for him. "All I'm saying is that I think I'm meant to help him. I think we belong together somehow."

"Like a master and a Padawan."

"Something like that."

"He's not what you expected, is he?"

"No."

Author's Note: Thank you all for reviews and spending your valuable time with my story. I hope you are enjoying it thus far. I know some authors like to message people back and thank them, but that's not something I remember to do. Never the less, I really do appreciate it and it helps me get going with the story again. Special thank you to the Guest who suggested adding Deathstroke in. I think it will be interesting.