Enter Sandman
Hush little baby don't say a word,
and never mind that noise you heard.
It's just a beast beneath your bed,
In your closet,
In your head!
Exit light,
Enter night.
Take my hand,
We're off to never-never land!
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Prologue:
For the past hour explosions seem to be the run of the day. Everyone else is scared out of their minds. I mean, it's not like they are kidnaped every day by alien scum-bags from wherever. I try to calm those nearest me down. I do have an unfair advantage over them though. I know what is causing all of those explosions!
Batmanishere.
ROCK!
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I can't believe that I just yelled at the Justice League like that. It's true though, they should have been there to help earlier. I know the Man Hunter is probably reading my thoughts right now, they ain't pretty, and I don't freakin' care!
He shouldn't have come! I knew he would. Hoping against hope (and believing) that he would make everything right again, like he always does. I know it's not fair, even he can't do that. Something wasn't right. I couldn't make out what he was telling the aliens. Probably the 'I'll ripe your lungs out' routine. He's nothing but a big softy, well sorta. They seemed frightened of him alright, because after that they let us go. He told me leave and take the civs with me, like now.
I should have guessed right then what was wrong, I am apprenticed to the World's Greatest Detective. He looked almost ready to drop, but I was so happy at being rescued and that no more people had to die that everything just had to be alright with the world. He was a member, a founding member, of the JLA for crying out loud! Things like this don't happen to them because they run back-up for each other. He would be fine. The bad guys never stand a chance.
So I left, like he told me to. A good soldier, that's me. Always obey the commander, even if it seems to mean suicide, heh? J'onn has been looking at me funny ever since they arrived. It would almost be comical, the looks on their faces as they turn and see what has been done to him.
What am I gonna tell Alfie and the gang?!?
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J'onn didn't even know if he was still alive or not. From the time we arrived on scene he had been trying to connect to him. It was starting to look grim indeed when we stumbled upon Robin. He was falling apart. That is definitely one of those 'uh-oh' signs that herald the worst, one of Bruce's children showing emotion. So while J'onn tried to make some sense out of the situation the rest of us did what we do best. Save people.
I could almost laugh at that arrogance, but won't. Bitterness won't help him now, nor will self-loathing. Scanning into the hold I see a giant area with the alien's bodies laying all around. Most are a bloody mess, but I think they'll live. We'll make sure of that. I won't have that laid on him now. Not that anyone could or would, but He will. Blaming Himself must be His power, at least ,we who know Him sometimes think so.
Where he is hiding I don't know. Behind something lead probably. I hope it was a conscious thing on his part and not just dumb luck.
If that much of him survived, then there is hope. At least I pray so...
I wanted to spare him the agony I know he must feel to be this way. Helpless. There is nothing He hates more than being helpless. So I go in after him alone. I don't know why I think I have a better chance at fixing this than the others. This being my fault in the first place and all.
Robin will hear none of it though. He blames us with this thing and he is right to. But I will not allow Bruce's child¹ to be in any more danger this day because of me. J'onn helpfully nudges the boy into a restful sleep. As he gently wraps him in his cape and walks towards the Javelin 7, I wonder at how tiny he looks in his sleep.
Bruce, did you ever just watch them sleep? Nat a bedside sitting, just waiting for them to get well, but a honest to goodness human moment?
Somehow I think you have and many times at that. By everything good I swear you will again my friend. With this in mind I head out. The others understand this is something I must do alone.
After that first glimpse when we all saw him, he appeared to head back into the ship's outer hull. Asking anyone who is listening, I hope he stays in the outer parts. This is going to be had enough without having to play cat and mouse with him.
They must have been smiling on me for the first room I check held that which I searched for. Coming in through a rather large hole in the ceiling I got my first close up glimpse of Bruce. I was shocked. More than shocked. If so much wasn't on the line I think that I would have cried right then.
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Seeing Clark standing there I wonder. What is he doing here? Taking a closer at his face (why is it so hard to see?), I also wonder why he looks so pale. Something is obviously wrong here.
"Clark?"
***I realize I say that out loud only after he reacts.*** Something is very wrong. What's the matter with me? I remember fighting the N'Gathi matter in their Mother Ship. Somehow I believe the hostages were rescued. Tim is safe. I had to believe that. If only Dick was here..... Where is he?
Why can't I remember?
At about that moment Superman starts to move closer to me. He tries to talk in a soothing voice but for some reason I can't understand him. Why is he yelling like that? This is very, very wrong. I look down to get something out of my belt. Everything hurts so much, time for a little .......
Perhaps that wasn't one of my better moments, for as I look down it all comes back to me in a rush. Dimly I'm aware of something screeching. It sounds like someone is torturing a house full of cats. I realize the humor of the situation even as my mind begins to shatter when the thought crosses my mind that Catwoman would kill anyone who even thinks that is funny.
It's about then that I also realize that it is myself I hear screaming.
Yea, definitely not one of my better days.
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Oh crap, crap, crap. That thing couldn't have been Batman. From the reports of the rescued people, only about two hours or so had passed since they were freed. Not enough time for anything really bad to happen. Right? This is why you should never tempt fate with statements like that. Never.
A horrific scream erupts from the space ship. I erect a quick bubble shield around the nearest people that blocks most of the noise, but not all of it. Sounds like that could only come out of the deepest pit of hell itself.
Boy, do I hate it when I am right.....
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Void. Pain. Hurt. Where am I? Mother? Father?
"Dead!!!" I scream to the world.
Shots in the dark. A shadow flees. There. Get it. It took them from me!
Who is them? Tim? Alfred?
"Dick!"
..............................
Suddenly he lunges at me. I can barely make out what he is saying.
" I wish Dick was here too Bruce.: I answer back sadly.
My God, what have they done to him? It appears to be much like what the Man-Bat has gone through, but somehow terribly twisted. Perhaps he interrupted the process and escaped before they could complete it. It certainly seems unfinished.
Of course as I am cowishly sitting here thinking this all out he has had more than ample time to prepare for the attack. Thankfully I am invincible. My only problem now is how do I capture him without making this bad situation worse?
Swooping down from above me I quickly dodge less he break more bones on impact. I wish Batman was here to make a plan. Of course, I also think stupidly, this is Batman and this is all your fault he can't make a plan for us!
Shaking my head to clear the anger and self-loathing, I am stilled faced with the problem of capturing him without 0causing further harm.
Yet again I fail to notice a key thing about my poor friend. He is still bleeding ( "But much worse now, I add mentally) and probably with more injuries than before, to judge by hy jerky movements. Thankfully (in some sad way) my most pressing problem took care of itself right about then.
From the shock, loss of blood or sheer exhaustion, he collapses. Bruce never was one to do things the easy way, so perhaps I should not have been that surprised when he is mid-air when it happens. Fortunately I am 'Faster than a Speeding Bullet'.
It shocks me. After all that has happened this day, somehow this tiny detail shakes me to my very being. Even in his sleep he is raked by bone shaking pain.....
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Alfred has already called me a half dozen different times tonight. Asking about you know who again. I honestly can't believe the things He puts that poor man through. Running off into the night like this. I know why He thinks he must, but sometimes he goes to far, pushing himself and others to their limits and beyond.
Of course I would never forgive him if he didn't go after Tim though. I am glad Alfred talked him into going to the JLA for help this time. He is probably going to need it. Let's just hope he doesn't need my help before this is over with......
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As we disperse the rest of the civilians and help those too injured to move out, J'onn contacts the rest of us.
" Superman has Batman, but he is badly injured. After clean-up met us at the Watch-Tower. Superman and I are heading directly to the infirmiry."
Great gods above help us. It must be much worse than I thought if he isn't telling us any more than that and he forgot to mention who had the un-enviable task of informing His family about this horrible occurrence.
Hera help the poor fool who does, perhaps we should send the Flash. He would have more of a chance at escaping......
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Note I :
Well guys, I finally got this chapter done. Sorry it took so long, but life interrupted and me funky Neph hid the booklet with the story ya know. Well, chapters 4-8 have already been written and all that nifty jazz, so the next installments should not be all that far off. I am such a lazy bugger when it comes to typing also and not even me ( I am very mad at him right now anyway) Beau can read it, so I am stuck typing it all myself until I get all that cool voice typing program to work for me. Well, Ta for now chaps (and gels).
Note II :
I wish to thank all you people who read my story and reviewed it for me. It is amazing what a confidence booster (Hmmm, wonder if I should put him in there.... naw!) a review can be, definitely makes me write faster! (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge and all that stuff!!!)