Ravynne Nightshade: Thanks so much for my first review ever! I'm glad you like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Batman, Bruce, the jokerz or anybody/anything else DC or Warner Bruce or anybody else owns. All I own is Daphne, Jake, Sara and the other characters I will make up. Poor me…

Author's Note:

Stress 'Thought' "Speech"

I appreciate reviews and welcome criticism.

6:07 pm – Gotham:

Terry and Daphne had been out cold for almost five minutes. Through the video link, Bruce saw the criminals open Daphne's mouth roughly and poor in a blue liquid. Then, they moved closer to Terry and poured the same liquid down his throat through the mouth hole in his mask. Droplets of the liquid fell onto the batsuit. And through the main controls, Bruce analyzed these droplets. It was a drug to put them to sleep for three and a half to four hours; judging by the dosage they were given.

The former batman watched as a tall man in his sixties entered. Despite his age, he looked fit and sharp. He was wearing tinted glasses reflecting what was happening behind Terry. Bruce had to enlarge the seen a couple of times to see the seen reflected by the glasses, but he also made sure he had the tall man's face in view.

"Not a bad day's catch, is it boys." said thenewcomer smiling.

"I knocked the bat out myself" said a broad-shouldered blonde man with a childish voice behind Terry.

"Yes… very good Bruno"

The bald man, Sanlan, stepped over Terry's limp body. Then, he shook the tall man's hand. They were both grinning like they had just won a prize. "So how about this? We get that meddling little Daphne and the bat!" said Sanlan "So, what do you think we should do now?"

"I don't know Sanlan… but I do know you don't kill your victims when they're unconscious, so you might have to wait for four hours or so. I hope that doesn't ruin anything for you."

"No, no, my friend. Not at all. This agent is special. I thought of putting the pocket knife in her throat, but you know how I like a nice scared face on my precious victims. Unfortunately, Agent Daphne doesn't remember how to make a scared face. So I changed my mind and thought we might as well do her a favor and teach her how to do that as soon as she wakes up. And I've got just the thing in mind. Remember that maze of yours?"

"Great idea … And I'm dying to know who the bat is, but you know how I love a good mystery… Then… I can let the whole community know that I, The Assassin, have caught the bat alive…" He looked up at the ceiling dreamily but then his expression disappeared and he looked stressed "But we have more urgent business now… Imagine the headlines tomorrow, Sanlan… "

Relieved that the criminals weren't going to harm Terry and Daphne for that time-being, Bruce did a character search on The Assassin, Sanlan and Bruno. What he found took him to Bludhaven on the 10 minute subway train. But before he left, he made sure he was recording what was happening through the video link.

6:21 pm – Tokyo – Jake's P.O.V:

I tried calling my sister on her mobile and at home, but my attempts were fruitless. 'She must be at the sector' I thought. So I dialed Daphne's office. On the third ring her secretary picked up.

"Hello" she said in a sleepy voice

"Hi Sara, can I talk to Daph"

"Didn't she tell you that- um … nothing. Umm… she's at the … the chocolate store!" The young secretary said with so much enthusiasm, I wondered what was so interesting in a chocolate store.

"Um … Okay… Can you tell her that my plans have changed and that I'll reach Gotham in one and a half hours or so?"

"Sure, I'll tell her. Have a nice trip"

"Thanks"

6:35 pm – Bludhaven:

Bruce walked slowly, but deliberately down the long well-lit corridor. When he reached the last apartment on the right, he drew-in a deep breath and finally found the courage to knock on the door. A muscular man in his mid 50's opened it. He was around 5'10 and had black hair with a couple of grey ones. His eyes were a deep ocean blue. The man was wearing blue jeans and a plain black T-shirt. When the two met each other's eyes, Bruce found the carvings on his cane extremely interesting and the other man looked down at his navy blue carpet. After a couple of uncomfortable minutes, Bruce looked up and broke the silence, "Dick…"

"You can come in, Bruce" Dick replied, but his eyes were still glued to the floor. He led the way to the living room and took a seat across the older man. Again, there was an awkward silence. Then, Bruce finally said, "So… how have you been, Dick?"

It had been almost seven years since they had last talked, so Bruce expected the distance and animosity. But, even so, Dick's retort shook him.

"We both know you didn't come here to patch things up, Bruce. So just cut to the chase, will ya? Why did you come to Bludhaven?"

"Dick I- Gotham needs your help again."

"Look Bruce," Dick finally managed to look him in the eye, "my days as a masked vigilante are over." He stood up and started balling and un-balling his fists at his sides trying feebly to control his anger." And they've been over ever since- they've been over for five years now, Bruce. Five years! I'm not going down that road again!"

Bruce smiled and thought that this older version of Dick was almost as hot-headed as the teenage one he had worked with for years. But his smile melted as soon as he realized it used to be him who wanted Dick off the streets while Dick wanted to be part of his night life. But now, everything had changed… Bruce got up from his chair and, although he was leaning on his cane, Dick could feel his unmistakable authority. Then, Bruce put his free hand on Dick's shoulder and said softly, "It's up to you, Dick. But I'm pretty sure you'd want to involve yourself in this one" Bruce raised his hand as soon as Dick opened his mouth to interrupt. Again, that gesture of superiority bothered Dick. But he kept quite.

"It's about your ex- partner at Bludhaven Police Department, Robert Brown. He calls himself The Assassin and he's in Gotham now planning for something. I've got a couple of clues, but I need your help to put the pieces together, since you're more familiar with his background. It also seems like he's very popular with the small-time criminals, and he has at least seventy or eighty henchmen working for him now."

"Well, I'm sure the Gotham police can take care of it with the help of this new bat I've been reading about in the papers!"

"It's much deeper than you think Dick… and … your niece… Daphne, is involved"

"What! Daphne! … Wait a minute… Bruce… how did you know about…?"

"I'll explain on the train back to Gotham… If you do decide to come?"