Disclaimer: I own none of these characters.  This story is strictly fan fiction.

I am aware that Barbara's real eye color is green, but in the Animated Series, it's blue, so don't rant me about it.

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Chapter Five (The Man of Steel):

Nightwing was at a loss.  His search only began but an hour ago, but it seemed like he's been there for days.  His mind started to clear as his dilapidated body began to heal.  The injuries were no longer weakening him.  Some bruises were already gone.  Nonetheless, his appearance was terrible.  He evaded guards all the time.  They were all ninjas.  If he proceeded to fight any of them, they'd know where to look for him.

He staggered into a dark room.  "Hey!" a ninja exclaimed.  Uh-oh, thought Nightwing.  He spun and kicked the approaching ninja.  The guy was out cold.  He stashed him in the nearest dark corner.  He looked at one of the cages.  There, with Kryptonite buried as a base, was Superman.  He was half unconscious all the time.

He opened the door and it creaked loudly.  He helped Superman up and dragged him out.  A minute later, Superman stood up, perfectly fine.  "You've got to help!" Nightwing asked.  "They've got the others and Bruce.  I know where they are." Superman merely nodded.  He grabbed Nightwing and flew at a speed that would make the sound barrier sweat.  They rammed into ninjas knocking them out and made their way to the room of eighty… or err… sixty ninjas.  This time, only thirty were left.  Piece of cake, Nightwing thought.  Superman flew to the center and spun so fast, it was like a tornado.  Twenty or so ninjas were slammed into the wall.  About ten were out cold.  Superman hit one with a jab.  The guy flew against the wall.  Now he was out cold.  The ones that recovered charged at Nightwing.  Better let Ra's handle the guy in blue tights as far as they were concerned.  One by one they charged at Nightwing.  Nightwing dodged, then hit, and soon they knew they got more than they bargained for.  The ones who thought they could take Superman piled on top of him.  In a flat second, all of them were rammed into either the wall or the ground… but most hit the ceiling first.  Superman just stretched and there they go.  The ones who got up knew Nightwing would be target number one.  There was no smile on Nightwing's face… only revenge.  This time he charged and made one ninja's face a punching bag.  The others got their sticks and tried to whack him with it.  He merely evaded the blows and landed a jump kick on their neck.  Superman knew that Nightwing was going to kill someone if he wasn't given help.  Superman took care of the remaining others.

"You're too late." Ra's growled as he crawled out of a Lazarus Pit.  Nightwing yelled a word that began with S and ended with T and it rhymes with Hit.  Ra's took out a huge portion of Kryptonite.  Superman groaned and fell to his knees.  It wasn't long.  Ra's approached Superman.  It wasn't long before the Man of Steel was on the ground gasping and struggling to stay awake.  Nightwing charged, but Ra's in this form was more powerful than Batman.  Nightwing bounced backward, but a charge from Nightwing can't be ignored.  Ra's staggered backward and let go of the Kryptonite.  It fell into the trap door that was still open.

"You little…" He stomped towards Nightwing.  Nightwing tried to get up, but was pushed back down by Ra's.  "No… I insist… stay down." He pinned Nightwing's arms with his knees then gave him a beating.  Superman knew that Ra's was aiming to kill Nightwing.  As soon as he recovered, he ran to Ra's, lifted him up, and punched a hole through him.  The blow made Ra's fly and fall into a Lazarus Pit.  They assumed him dead.  However, the Lazarus Pits had a surprise for them.  They freed the three vigilantes.  The ninjas fled as soon as they heard that their boss lost.  Apparently, the ones unconscious didn't stay out for long.  Bruce took off his suit to reveal his Batman costume.  He had it on the whole time.  He made the transformation to Batman.

"Waaaaahh!" a cry echoed through the room.  The five heroes turned around ready for a fight.  But below Batman's feet was a small baby.  It was Ra's! Apparently, the Lazarus Pit could only heal Ra's by restarting his body.

"What do we do?" Superman asked.  Nightwing had been wondering about that too.  Here was the reason why they were all here.

"Leave him," came Batman's reply.  The four looked at him.

"You can't be serious!" said Nightwing and Superman.  Batman just glared at them.  Suddenly, they knew.  Batman wanted Ra's to suffer, but couldn't kill him.  Ra's would not be killed.  His body will age rapidly because of his constant use of the pits.  Let him live, but have him experience pain.  That was Batman's answer.

"So where was that hot daughter of Ra's that keeps chasing you around, Batman?" Nightwing smiled.  Oh, yeah, Bruce would pay with constant teases.  No one man is a reason to get a beating in the Sahara and still expect to get nothing.

"The bodyguard's gone… his daughter…" Batman started.  He couldn't say her name.  He indicated to Ra's.  "His daughter wanted no part in my murder."  The others nodded.  They understood.  Superman put a hand on Batman's shoulder as he turned away.  Batman turned to Superman and glared.  Superman was surprised.  "No need to get touchy…" Superman was taken aback.  Then everyone laughed… except for Batman of course.  Too macho to laugh, huh?