It wasn't
long before they were on their way down the streets of Gotham in the Redbird.
With Robin at the wheel, Nightwing took the backseat so he could give S`lea a
run down what was allowed and not allowed in this world.
"Most
important is that we are not allowed to kill or unnecessarily cause harm to a
life form," he insisted.
"At least
those that aren't already dead," Robin added.
Dragonwing,
as Robin dubbed her, was more than willing to fight the battle by the rules of
the Bat. She donned her mask while still in the vehicle they called the
Redbird, still arguing it didn't look anything like a bird, and if could not
fly like the Batwing, then it was a silly name. Other than that she had no real problems with the terms they told
her about; it was an adjustment she realized she had to make for the safety of
the others more than for herself. But then again, she was not the only one who
had to make an adjustment. Both Nightwing and Robin would have to accept that
the zombie-like creatures they would be fighting were dead and that they had to
do whatever it took to separate the bond of Golnac's from his army. It made the
decision easier when she explained to them that the bodies would disintegrate
into a black goo when the connection was broken. They would not have to explain
any bodies or injuries these creatures might sustain, including dismemberment.
"My guess
is they're down in the sewage tunnels," Robin reported. When they reached their
destination, they found that there was nothing more than an open field where a
large church had once stood before the quake. They also found a large drain
grate that had been bent open.
"I will go
in first," S`lea announced.
"Are you
nuts?! I--" Robin voiced. "No one goes in there alone!"
"Your
concern is not necessary, Robin. You will need a distraction. When I go into
the tunnels, I will make certain he is aware of my existence in this world.
Being from my world, he will sense the danger he is in. Coward that he is, he will
send them to hunt me. As for Golnac, when he realizes who I am, he will want
revenge, and I do so want to give him his chance. But if I have not contained
him before he realizes you have the Shadow Walker, he will return with a
vengeance.
Then those
still standing will most likely join in the fight. They do not wander far from their master. Trust in the crystal it
will strengthen your powers.
"What
powers!" Dick growled.
"All your
powers of the heart, including those of self pity. So choose wisely which ones
you are going in there with for if you choose wrong you will not be coming
out."
You must
get Milord Wayne out of that place and as far away as possible."
"I don't
like this," Nightwing started to object, "but I don't suppose there's a
way to prevent you from doing such a stupid trick."
"You
remind me a lot of Prince Dusty," S`lea smiled. "Worry not of your own hide,
but let anyone else attempt such a -- what did you call it? -- 'stupid trick'
and there will be hell to pay. How do you say it? 'Do as I say, not as I do?'"
"She's got
you there," Robin laughed.
"And what
did he do to prevent you from doing such a stupid trick before?" Nightwing
asked, giving Robin a Look that would have made Batman proud. "Or did he even
try?"
"Oh, he
tried, but it was only successful once."
"Yeah?
What did he do?" Tim inquired.
"He took
me to his bed," she answered. Both Nightwing and Robin were speechless. It was
a few minutes before they realized they were staring at her.
Clearing
his throat Dick fidgeted as if he was sitting on tacks. "Uhmmm, ah, ok, so we
do things your way."
S`lea
smiled and winked at Tim, whose chin was still scraping the floor. "Stay safe,
my friends," she grinned as she quickly headed for the broken drain grate. "And
if God should choose this day to deliver our souls to another life, I pray we
meet again."
"My dad
used to say, 'May we be granted a tomorrow for the things we do today,'" Tim
said. "I kind of like that thought."
***
The pain
in Bruce's heart was as bad as the invisible force that seemed to be trying to
crush his head. Every moment of breath brought a wave of memories that ripped
through him as a bear would gnaw on the fleshy meat of a steak. What price was
he willing to pay for internal peace? The voices in his head cried out for
help, but he would fail them as he did the others. And again he remembered. His
mother's pearls, his son's shredded uniform, the feel of his family's blood as
it soaked into his clothes. Burning through to his soul, he lived and relived
every painful moment of his life. What price was he willing to pay to stop the
visions of hundreds of thousands of people trapped within the gutted, shattered
ruins of Gotham? The look of women as the gently rocked their dead children in
their laps. What could he do?! The uncontrolled tears of a child as he held
onto a dead hand. The only visible part of his father's body that lay under a
fallen building. Every moment of his horrid life relived in a painful cycle as
the words repeated themselves in his head:
"What will
you give to be free of the pain, to be free of the memories, to be free of the
fire that is consuming your soul?"
***
"Bruce is
sitting on the ground, rocking back and forth," Tim announced. "His cowl has
been pulled back from his head, and he's cradling a body in his arms."
Dick's
stomach wrenched. "Oracle, do you copy? We have found Batman, and we are going
in." He knew Golnac was messing with his mind, and if they didn't hurry, Bruce
would lose his soul.
"I copy,
Nightwing," she returned, knowing the fear everyone on the case was feeling.
"Just please be careful."
"Will
do," he returned, trying to fight back the anger he was feeling. "Do me a
favor. If I don't make it back, tell Supes and the other League members that
they are off my Christmas list."
"Not
funny, Boy Wonder."
"Not
laughing, Babs," he returned. Then Nightwing stood up and placed his hands on
Robin's utility belt. There was only one chance to save their mentor. They had
to break the spell and make him fight back.
"Bruce?"
Startled,
Bruce looked up at the young Robin, then quickly grabbed the body he clung to
and backed away. "Get away, Tim. Please go. I don't want you to die too.
Please, I'm cursed. Please, run."
"Bruce,
LISTEN TO US," Dick interjected. A look of pain crossed the elder man's face as
he pulled away, dragging the unknown body with him.
Tim just
led Dick closer. "Bruce is looking at you like he's seen a ghost," he
informed his friend.
"Bruce."
Dick tried blindly to reach out for his mentor. "Let us help you."
"Oh God,
no, I'm too late," the Caped Crusader looked down at the man he cradled.
In his mind's eye, he saw Dick Grayson, his flesh deathly gray, while his
muddled mind was trying to make sense of everything. If Dick was dead and Robin
and Nightwing were together then … "I've killed you all. God forgive me. I
killed you all."
"Bruce,
what are you talking about? We are not dead."
He began
rocking back and forth as if he hadn't heard him, cradling the body in his arms
"Oh God, son, I am so sorry. Dick, please forgive me."
"Oh geeze,
he thinks that dead man is you." Robin looked protectively around him. "God
help us, Golnac has him."
"Bruce,
that is not me. I'm alive! LOOK AT ME!"
"Not
working," Tim whispered.
In a
moment of panic, Dick grabbed Bruce's head and forced him to look at him. He
couldn't see the look of total horror that crossed his mentor's face. A sudden
warmth washed over him as he touched his mentor. It was as if everything he
ever felt about the man whom raised him was being radiated by the crystal
around his neck. "Open your heart, Bruce, and look at me."
"Aw man,
it's not working. We're too late." Robin panicked
Dick
pulled his mask off his face. "Bruce,
don't give up on me yet. I need you." Bruce's hand came up and gently stroked
the face of the young man in front of him.
"I think
you're getting to him, Dick."
He was
breaking through the bond that Golnac had tried to build. But by breaking the
hold, he also bought wrath of the Devil himself on them all. Dick felt coldness
stir deep in his bones. Something big was about to happen. He had to get Bruce
and Tim to safety. He had to find a way to break the connection for good. He
stood slowly, and in a voice not much above a whisper, he ordered his friends
to safety.
"Robin,
go. Get Bruce out of here now." Standing quietly, Dick replaced his mask.
Suddenly a
voice exploded behind him. "Release him. He is mine."
"Wrong,
guess again," Dick smiled as realized the crystal was enhancing his other
senses, he almost felt he could see Golnac as he turned to confront the demon.
The darkness that emanated within this creature was so powerful he could almost
picture the man in his head, and was suddenly grateful for the blindness.
"He is not yours to take. He hasn't given up,
I can feel it. I know you can't have him unless he gives you dominion. I won't
let you hurt him anymore."
"How do
you think you can stop me?" Golnac laughed.
Dick
smiled. The truth was he had no clue, but everything Batman ever taught him
about fighting blind was coming into play and the crystal began to burn as if
it were becoming a part of him or he apart of it. He could feel the presence of others in the room, and in his mind
he could see the evil he knew he had to confront. It felt different knowing he
would not be able to take the blindfold off and see the things he did right or
wrong in this fight. It was different in that it was colder more frightening
than anything he could imagine, and yet, at the same time, it was exciting.
Somehow he felt as if he had an advantage over this creature. It all came down
to this; he was more than willing to die for the man, who had raised him, but
right now he planned living for him and that was something he was experienced
in.
