A Different Game: 5b:



" It's a prison, getting in won't be a problem. Getting out's the tricky part," Dick said. "That's why I'm hoping you can help me with the info I asked for."

"Sorry Short Pants," Barbara said. Her voice trickling through via the communicator in the Batwing, "Pena Duro was originally a Spanish fortress built in 1639. There aren't any 'plans' on-line that I can send you."

"That's okay, Babs. It was worth a shot."

"What do you plan to do?" she asked, worry in her voice.

"Bruce may be in there, we're going in," Dick said determinedly.

"Need I remind you that IF Bruce is in there, he's been there since about the beginning of August and hasn't been able to escape yet. What makes you think you two will have any better chance in getting out IF you do manage to get in?"

"Yeah Dick," Tim added, "What makes you think that?"

"Because I won't accept any other option," he responded as he glared at Tim.

"Why don't you just let me send Superman in? You know he's willing to help," Barbara asked.

"I know he is. And he's great. He's been great through everything," Dick said with a sigh. "But I don't know that Bruce is in there. It's just a hunch, a suspicion. If Superman were to bust into another country's prison for a "jail break" and Bruce isn't there ... Well ... that's just the type of international incident 'President' Luthor's been looking for to go after him. No, Tim and I are doing this. We have to. I have to."

Barbara looked at him, understanding in her eyes. "And that's why you don't want Nightwing and Robin going in either. Just be careful, okay?"

"I will, promise. Don't worry, Red, we're going in prepared," Dick replied with a wide grin.

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Silently, Tim and Dick crept into the constabulary's office of Camiri, past the sleeping guards and into the cellblock. They had heard two young Americans had been arrested and sentenced to Pena Duro for stealing horses. In an Agrarian culture such as Santa Prisca, horse theft equaled a life sentence. Dick assumed that these two young men wouldn't mind trading places with them. Quietly, Dick picked the lock on the cell door and they entered the cell.

Placing their hands over the mouths of the other two young men, Dick whispered, "Don't make a sound. We're here to help." The two prisoners looked wide-eyed at the two dark figures. "You two want to get out of here and go back to the States," Dick said.

The two prisoners nodded their heads .

Tim placed his finger to his lips. "Shh, just listen to us, okay?" he said as he and Dick took their hands from covering the two prisoners' mouths. "Here's some money and the keys to a jeep outside. Take it and leave Santa Prisca."

"Why?" asked one of the confused prisoners.

"Let's just say, we need you two out of here."

"They'll be looking us," the other prisoner added.

"No they won't. We're taking your place. They won't notice the difference. The guards are paid by the number of prisoners they deliver," Dick replied.

"Why would you want to go to Pena Duro?" asked the first prisoner. "They say hell's easier than that place."

"Never mind that. Do you want of here or not?" Dick asked in a low voice.

"Out!" the two prisoners whispered in unison as one took the money and the other took the keys.

Tim showed them out of the constabulary's office to ensure they didn't wake any of the guards and returned to the cellblock. Once in, he shut the door and, using his lock pick, relocked the door. He moved and sat beside Dick on the cell floor. The cells weren't like the ones they had gotten use to at the Gotham City Jail. It was just a room with a barred door and a small barred window. No furniture of any kind. Just two moth- eaten blankets on the floor.

"You think Pena Duro's going to be better than this?" Tim asked.

"Worse," Dick replied.

Tim looked at Dick, "Maybe Blackgate wouldn't be so bad after all." Dick glared at the young boy. "Well, I uh, guess it wouldn't be that good for you, toasty and all."

"Shut Up. Sleep," Dick commanded.

"Er... yeah... I'll be shutting up and sleeping now. Don't mind me."

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Guards entered their cell early the next morning ordering them outside. There were eight prisoners, counting Dick and Tim, who were being transferred to Pena Duro. The armed guards shackled their hands and feet and moved them out of the constabulary's office. There was a wide uncovered truck in front of the building. The guards ordered them to start boarding in the back. Four guards with rifles boarded the open bed of the truck after the last prisoners.

"Sit down," a guard barked at them.

Dick and Tim, along with the other prisoners, complied. They rested their hands on their knees. As they passed by the cantina, Dick made eye contact with the young girl who had waited on them there. He saw the confused and sad look on her face as she shook her head. Breaking from his gaze, she turned and entered the cantina.

"I bet she wonders what we've done in the last two days to end up headed to Pena Duro," Dick whispered to Tim.

"Yeah. So do I."

"Shut up," Dick said lightly, rolling his eyes at his 'little brother'.

The prison was two hours away from the town they had been in. The only scenery they had was Santa Prisca's rural farmlands, occasionally they would pass a farmer. Only once did they pass another truck. It was an isolated area. The sun was hot and beat heavily down on them in the uncovered truck as it drove down the dusty dirt road toward Pena Duro. Although it was early November, temperatures in this part of Santa Prista could reach ninety degrees or more by noon.

The guards were drinking water, but none of the prisoners had been offered any on the way. Tim looked across the flat bed of the truck at the guard who was drinking water from a canteen. The guard saw the young boy watching him and moved the canteen toward Tim. Tim reached out to take the canteen, but the guard pulled it away laughing.

Dick's eyes narrowed as he glared at the guard. He would love to stop the guy's laughter. Then he looked down at Tim. 'Maybe, I should've come alone,' Dick thought to himself. Tim looked up at him with a slight smile right as the truck hit a large pothole in the road. Tim grabbed Dick's arm as the truck lurched. Dick used his feet to try and steady them. It was hard, manacled as he was, but he succeeded.

The truck stopped at an angle across the road. The guards jumped down and started inspecting the truck for damages.

"You okay, kid?" Dick asked concerned as he shifted on the truck bed, trying to get in a comfortable position. Or as comfortable as he could be.

"Yeah. I'm more thirsty and sweaty than shaken up from this roller coaster ride. It's so hot."

"I know," Dick replied as he brushed away that lock of hair that always fell in his face. It was damp with sweat.

One of the prisoners jumped up and over the side of the truck in a futile attempt to escape. It happened so fast, Dick and Tim almost couldn't believe it was real. A guard aimed the rifle and fired. The prisoner fell dead.

Tim turned his face into Dick's shoulder, "They didn't even warn him. Didn't even say stop."

"I know," Dick said weakly, not wanting to voice the fear that was now eating at their souls.

The guards finished inspecting the truck, then went and grabbed the body. The guards threw the dead man onto the truck, so that his body lay between the other prisoners. The guards climbed aboard the truck and they resumed the trek to Pena Duro. Tim and Dick stared at the dead man laying at their feet, remembering what they had been told about Pena Duro. 'Hell's easier than that place.'

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Pena Duro wasn't like an American prison. Barbara had been right, it was an old Spanish fortress. After entering the massive gates to the prison, they were placed in a large cell with forty or so other prisoners. Like the constabulary's jail in Camiri, this cell was empty of furnishings. It was dimly lit, however, here they didn't even get the moth eaten blankets. It was like the dungeons seen on old movies. The other prisoners had a hardness in their eyes, and absolutely no spark of hope. As Dick and Tim walked through the cell, they looked at the men who stood or sat or huddled on the floor, hoping to find Bruce. But they didn't see him. Dick directed Tim to a back corner of the cell. With their backs to the wall, they sat down side by side, and looked out at their dreary surroundings.

"Tomorrow, we'll have more access to the rest of the prison and we can look for Bruce," Dick said softly to Tim.

"This place is worse than I imagined Dick," Tim replied as he stared at his surroundings. There was an odor that filled the room. It had almost made Tim retch.

"Yeah," Dick replied, as he saw a rat run past his foot.

"I can't believe Bruce's been here for months. I can't imagine anyone being here that long."

"Some of these men have been here for years, and they will be when we leave. Most men live the rest of their lives here once they enter those gates. That's what Bane had planned for Bruce."

"But you know, he's tried to escape, he's had to. We know him. We know what he'd do, and what he can do. Dick, what if -- "

"Not now Tim," Dick said in a pained voice, stopping the boy from finishing his thought. It was a thought they both shared, but Dick wasn't ready to hear it voiced. Not yet. "Why don't we try and get some sleep? We're going to need our strength."

"I don't know if I can sleep in here Dick."

"I know," Dick replied. He imagined how Tim felt. Remembered the first time he had been in a place such as this. It was Brother Blood's dungeon at his compound. Dick remembered the tortures he endured while there and now prayed to God that Tim would never have to suffer such agony. "Just sit quietly and meditate. Don't think about where we are." They heard a prisoner on the far side of the cell cry out in pain. Dick noticed Tim jump. Putting his arm around Tim's shoulder, he pulled the boy even closer to him. "Try to block it out. Rest. We need our strength."

Tim nodded his head as he shut his eyes, attempting to block out his surroundings. By shutting his eyes, he could block out the sights, but not the sounds and smells. If he could sleep, he could dream. And in his dreams, he and Bruce and Dick would be in Gotham.

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They moved silently in the darkness of the cell. Standing near the new pair, they watched them sleeping. They were both young. The younger of the two slept against the older, his head resting on the older boy's chest. Yes, the younger boy would do nicely. Quickly they grabbed him by both ankles and pulled, yanking him into a circle of other prisoners.

"Dick!" Tim cried out, as he desperately tried to grab Dick's leg, but just missed. There was nothing on the barren floor for him to grab to stop himself from being pulled off. He knew what they wanted. Hands were already grabbing him, touching him. He had to think fast. He knew he needed help. "Dick!"

Dick awoke to chaos. He tried to stand, but was kicked backwards into the wall.

"Stay down. They want the boy."

"They can go to hell!" Dick growled as he kicked upwards. Spinning on his hands, he pushed himself up. He heard Tim calling for him. Two prisoners grabbed Dick as he lunged forward. He used their weight against them, throwing them both into the wall. He dove into the crowd in an attempt to rescue Tim.

When he first saw Tim, the prisoners still had the boy by both legs. Tim used this against them by spinning his body and twisting his legs. He landed face down, but quickly rolled and sprang up in a fighting stance. He wished he had his bo staff.

Instantly, Dick was at his side. Shoulder to shoulder, they started fighting through the throng of advancing prisoners.

"We are WAY outnumbered here, bro," Tim called out as he kicked one guy in the jaw.

"Only about twenty to one. We can handle that," Dick called back, punching one prisoner in the face and ducking another prisoners attempt to hit him from behind.

"Stop! they heard the guards yelling as they made their way toward the center of the commotion.

Slowly, Tim and Dick backed toward each other, until they backs touched. They were still in the ready position to fight. The approaching guards reached out at hit them with electric cattle prods.

Dick gritted his teeth as he jumped back, pulling Tim with him. He put his hands in the defensive position toward the guards, who kept advancing on them until he and Tim were backed against the wall. Dick and Tim's breathing was heavy, as their eyes darted from around the cell. "Senor, please, we were just trying to protect ourselves."

"No, they tried to rob us," another prisoner said. "They started this."

"They grabbed me, were pulling me into the center of the cell to -- Agh," Tim yelled as they hit him with the cattle prod again.

Dick grabbed Tim by the arm and pulled him behind him so that he was between Dick and the wall. The other prisoners kept pointing at them, blaming them, accusing them.

"Take them to the Cavidad Obscuro!" the Captain of the guards barked as he walked up.

"The what? Dick, what's that?"

"A place we can't be," Dick replied.

"Let the other American teach them our rules, if he still lives."

Tim and Dick looked at each other, their eyes wide. The OTHER American. Could it be? Dick signaled Tim not to fight with the guards, to go along. For now. Dick took Tim by the arm, guiding the boy behind the guards as they were led through the cell. Other prisoners hit at them as they moved through. They tried to block the blows. The guards didn't, but would poke Dick and Tim with the cattle prods.

Once outside the cell, the guards led them down the dark corridors. They could tell they were going deeper and deeper into the fortress prison. The Cavidad Obscuro was a place of forgetting, many medieval castles and fortresses in Europe had these. Once there, a prisoner could forget all hope, because he was forgotten by all the world. Pena Duro's Cavidad Obscuro was below sea level. Dick remembered reading in Bruce's case files, this was where Bane had been kept for almost the first forty years of his life. It had protected Bane as a child from the other prisoners. Dick, now knew all too well, why. Later, Bane was just forgotten, until needed for the expiraments that resulted in Venom.

Dick was sure this is where Bruce would be.

Dick pulled Tim as close to him as he could as they were being led toward this most feared place in Pena Duro. "We take out the guards when they open it up. If Bruce is here, this is it. This is our only chance," he whispered.

Tim nodded his understanding as a guard pushed Dick into Tim.

"No talking!"

"I was just telling my brother not to worry," Dick replied.

"Tell him to worry," the guard replied.

Suddenly, the guards in front of them stopped. Tim looked around the room. There was nothing but stone. No windows, no doors other than the entry they had just emerged from. Where was the --- his eyes grew wide as the Captain of the Guards kneeled in the center of the room. Removing a key, he turned a lock in what seemed to be a pattern in the flooring. Tim and Dick watched as the Captain twisted the tile key to the mechanism. Then the other guards used a bar to pull the center stones from the floor.

The guards behind them pushed Dick and Tim toward the precipice. They looked down into the all-encompassing darkness. There was no way to tell how deep the cavern was or how far the drop to the bottom was.

"Throw them in," the Captain of the Guard ordered.



To be continued ...