Chapter 3

Bruce pulled up to his reserved parking spot at the Wayne Enterprises parking lot and headed up to his office. As soon as he sat down, Lucius Fox came into the office.

"Good morning, Bruce." he said, carrying a portfolio.

"Good morning, Lucius." Bruce said.

"I just wanted to let you know." Lucius said. "That the military weapon we've been designing is nearly completed, it will make Gotham a better place hopefully with its ability to pick up when a villain escapes from Arkham."

"You do realize though, that in the wrong hands it could destroy the entire world." said Bruce. "I almost denied the making of such a weapon, but I remembered what happened to my parents."

"Your father was a good man, Bruce. He'd be proud to see the man you've become."

"Would he?" said Bruce, thinking of his commitment to the Batman.

The phone rang; Bruce looked at the caller id.

"Better not be a damn telemarketer." he said.

It said: Gordon, Barbara.

"Could you excuse me Lucius? This is a private call."

"Of course." said Lucius.

Lucius left the room. Bruce picked up the phone.

"Barbara? What is it?"

"I'd just thought I'd let you know. That I was doing some research about what happened last night." said Barbara.

"What did you find?" asked Bruce.

"That Bane wasn't just trying to get the money for himself; he was trying to get it for Ra's Al Ghul."

"Ra's Al Ghul? I should have known. Kidnapping Veronica was just a way of covering things up."

"Exactly. What do you think he needs the money for anyway?" asked Barbara.

"Let's find out tonight, you, me and Tim." said Bruce.

"Gotcha."

Later that night, they all changed into their costumes and headed down to the Harbor in the Batboat. Once they arrived, they examined the area where Batman and Batgirl battled Bane.

"I think I've found something." said Batman almost immediately.

"Wow, that was fast." said Robin.

Batman had noticed a small factory; he led Batgirl and Robin to it. Once inside they noticed that it was actually a base, it was filled with computers, electronics, the likes.

"Wow, this is probably where Bane was hiding." said Robin.

"Obviously, kid." said Batgirl.

"Just keep your eyes open, we may be able to find something that leads us to Ra's." said Batman.

"Why hasn't Veronica reported this place to the cops?" asked Robin, curiously.

"Well, she said that most of the time she was blindfolded, probably to keep this place a secret from the cops." said Batgirl.

"Batgirl, there's the main computer, could you…?" asked Batman.

"My pleasure." said Batgirl.

All three stood in front of the computer. Batgirl pressed a few keys until finally something appeared on the screen. It was Bane's face.

"Welcome intruders. If you are seeing this message it means I've failed." he said, his voice booming.

Batgirl's heart sank.

"Do not feel down, nobody could have gotten into this computer anyway, Ra's Al Ghul had me implant many bugs to prevent anyone from hacking in."

Batgirl was extremely relieved about that. Batman stood however staring at Bane's face listening for any possible clues.

"I can only tell you, that if I had gotten the money for Ra's, I would have become his heir. I would have married his daughter."

Robin and Batgirl looked up at Batman, but he gave no response.

"But now that I've fail, Ra's will no longer see me worthy. Sadly though you have seen enough, and I have told you enough. Farewell."

Batman and his partners backed away cautiously. But as they took their first steps, they stumbled through a trap door. Batgirl and Robin yelled at first. There was no time to activate their grapples for the door had closed before they could even get them out; all three grunted the whole way down. When they finally landed, they found themselves inside a square, long room.

"What is this place?" asked Batgirl.

"Don't ask me." said Batman.

There were some shackles on the wall; Batman guessed it once a torture chamber. He was wrong however for they sprung out the wall and shackled their arms and legs, they didn't have time to fight back for it immediately put them up against the wall in an X-shape fashion. All 3 struggled against their restraints, but it was no use.

"Now what do we do?" asked Batgirl.

Batman didn't get time to answer for then there was a rattling noise, then spikes shot of the wall opposite of them. It began to move towards them.

"The oldest trap in the book." said Robin. "All we have to do is move out of the way."

"Yeah, but don't forget Robin, is that we're restrained to a wall." said Batgirl, her temper rising.

Batman however was watching the situation intently. He noticed it was moving towards them rather quickly. But then he saw a whole set of computers apparently operating the trap.


"Batgirl, use your spare batarang up your sleeve, aim for those computers!" he exclaimed.

"OK, but I won't have any more for a while." she warned.

"Just do it!"

And so she did, luckily she hit the computers directly. The trap stopped just before it was able to pierce their bodies. (It was a lucky thing Batgirl didn't have to throw very far) The shackles binding them set them loose.

"Thanks Batgirl. I thought we had it for a minute there." said Robin.

"No sweat kid."

"Congratulations on your escape Detective." came a voice booming from the speakers.

"Ra's Al Ghul, get your ass out here." said Batman.

"I'm afraid I can't do that Detective not yet. You will hopefully live long enough to clash swords with me."

"What do you want Ra's?"

"You'll find out soon enough. In the meantime I offer you advice. Get out of there as soon as possible for my plan is nearly complete."

"You know what this means?" said Batgirl. "Don't you?"

"Explosions?" said Robin.

"Yes." said Batman.

Before they could even run away, explosions had already begun going up in the area, Batman was able to launch an explosive batarang to a computer causing it to explode and form a way out. He motioned to Batgirl and Robin to follow him, but Robin was too slow. For a piece of the roof came crashing down onto him. Batgirl turned around and clapped hands to her mouth. Batman looked as well; he gasped in shock and immediately turned around to help Robin.

"Don't worry about me, go! I'll be fine, I always find a way out of these messes." he said.

"But this time we're dealing with a terrorist kid." said Batgirl, who also running to help Batman.

"Don't move." Batman said, "I can get you out of there in no time if you hold still."

"That won't be a problem, I think I broke my leg." said Robin.

"Great." said Batman, coldly. "Batgirl, help me get him out of there!"

"No problem."

Batman lifted up the debris over Robin, while Batgirl pulled him out. Batman dropped the debris and turned to Batgirl, who was carrying Robin.

"Come on, we've got to get out of here now!"

So Batgirl followed Batman out the passage way, they dived into the water, Batgirl making sure she held on tight to Robin. Batman could feel the cold, dark water shivering his spine. But he grabbed Batgirl by the wrist and helped her to the surface. Once at the surface, they witness the factory go up in flames.

"We've got to get to the boat and get out of here. This place will be swarming with police in minutes!" exclaimed Batman, Batgirl nodded in agreement.

So they returned to the Batcave, weary and exhausted. Robin was out of action for a while, and that investigation gave them nothing. All they could do now was wait for Ra's next move and somehow Batman knew it would be soon.