Tang Ri Shan

Red Wings

(This is a sequel to Beware the Batman: Conundrum. I suggest reading that story if you have not done so already)

Chapter 12

Barbara frowned as she watched the computer run its analysis of the toothpick she had recovered from Dinah's house. The item in question was currently lying underneath a scanner, which was sweeping up and down the wooden splinter, searching for DNA. The computer beeped, indicating a match had been found.

"Any luck?" Tatsu asked from her position behind Barbara's chair.

"Yeah, We've got some DNA" Barbara began typing in a few commands. "Now all we have to do is compare it with the police records. If the thug who took Dinah has been incarcerated before, they'll have his DNA on file."

"You can access the Police Network?" Tatsu raised an eyebrow.

Barbara paused, then glanced up at her. She was frowning. "Well...not legally, or course" She admitted.

Tatsu nodded. "You're upset about what happened to Dinah"

"It's not just that" Barbara admitted, scooting back from the counter. "It's about...well, about what I'm doing"

Tatsu raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I follow"

"Well, my dad taught me from an early age that laws need to be followed, and I've always done that" Seeing the small smile on Tatsu's face, she quickly added "Well, mostly"

"And now you think that just because you've broken one or two laws, it makes you a criminal?" Tatsu reasoned.

"Well, so far I've set up someone I care about, blackmailed someone, removed evidence from the scene of a crime, and now I'm about to hack into a police network" Barbara listed. "Not to mention everything I did while the Question was in town. I just...wonder if I'll know when to stop"

"The line between good and evil is often blurred" Tatsu quoted, smiling as she spoke. "But breaking a law is not always wrong, as long as you do it for the right reason"

For a few seconds, the two women stared at each other, then Barbara rose from her chair, walked over to Tatsu, and threw her arms around her in a big hug. "What's that for?" Tatsu asked, surprise written all over her face.

"For being there" Barbara simply answered. "You have no idea how confusing things have gotten for me. It's just...nice to know I have a rock that I can hang onto"

Tatsu raised an eyebrow. "I'm a rock?" She repeated, causing Barbara to giggle. Before she could explain however, the computer beeped. "Looks like a match"

"Right" Barbara dashed over the the computer screen and pressed a key, a face appeared on the screen of a large man with a balding head, and a thick forest of stubble on his chin. "Reginard Morraday, AKA Strongman. Former circus strongman who turned to a life of crime after the circus he was traveling with went under, rumored to be in league with gang boss Tony Zucco." Barbara read out loud.

"Lovely" Tatsu muttered sarcastically as Barbara hit a few more keys. A second image appeared next to Strongman's showing a thin man with white hair and mismatched eyes. "So that's Zucco?"

"Yeah" Barbara replied, scanning the info beneath the image. "And according to this, Zucco was in the circus himself. His family were knife-throwers."

"Great, so now we're fighting against circus freaks" Tatsu snorted, but her words made Barbara wince as her mind drifted to Richard.

Focus! Barbara shook her head to clear her mind. She type a command and ordered. "Computer, search police and federal records for any other known associates of Tony Zucco."

"Searching" The computer replied. A minute later it added "Found, two other known associates of Tony Zucco"

Two more images appeared on the screen next to Zucco's. One was thin with black hair and the other appeared to be a bald midget. "Nedry Lasher and Cyrus Gansley, AKA The Tamer and the Juggler" Barbra read the information aloud. "Both performed at the circus the Strongman worked at, as a lion tamer and an acrobat, and both became criminals alongside him when the circus went under"

"But why would a group of ex-circus performers want to kidnap Dinah Lance?" Tatsu asked.

"Revenge maybe?" Barbra suggested, "After all, they are cons and Dinah's father is a cop"

"Probable, but unlikely" The computer interrupted in its tinny voice. "My analysis of the police records indicates that there is no known connection between Tony Zucco and Officer Lance"

"Are you sure? Check all records again" Barbara ordered

"I have already triple checked all existing records" The compute replied "I have found no connection"

"That we know of" Barbara muttered, rubbing her chin. "Okay, so if it isn't revenge, then they must want something else from her father, but what?"

Before Tatsu could answer, the hiss of the opening elevator doors drew the ladies' attention. Bruce and Alfred appeared in the elevator, and their eyes widened in surprise upon seeing them there.

"What are you two doing down here?" Alfred asked.

"Trying to find a reason for Dinah's kidnapping" Barbara explained, turning back to the screen. "So far, we've determined that it isn't personal, like revenge."

"Has there been any ransom demands from the kidnappers?" Bruce asked.

"Not that I know of" Barbara shook her head. Tatsu mirrored her actions.

"Then it has to be personal" Bruce looked even more solemn than usual. "Which means there must be a link between Dinah and Zucco we're not seeing"

Alfred nodded "A policeman's daughter is usually not worth the trouble to kidnap, unless there's some kind of personal reason behind doing so. All we need to do now is find it"

Before Barbara could say anything else, the computer suddenly beeped. "Apologies for interrupting, but I have discovered something. It appears that Miss Lance was not the only person that this particular group has targeted."

"Explain" Bruce ordered.

The computer whirred and Dina's image on the screen shifted to one corner, to be replaced with three more images, two girls and one boy. "It seems that over the past few months, physical evidence from the Strongman has been found at the scene of three abductions, all involving teenagers"

Barbara eyes widened. "Who are they?"

"Checking" The computer whirred for a few moments, then one by one, each picture was highlighted on the screen.

The first image showed a girl with blonde, almost white, hair wearing a white lab coat. "One Dawn Granger by name. British transfer student currently attending University of Gotham"

The second image showed a muscular boy with short red hair wearing football pads. "One Hank Hall by name. Football star at the University of Gotham"

The final image showed a girl with black hair wearing a magician costume "One Zatanna by name, daughter of the famous stage magician Giovanni Zatara."

"Zatanna?" Alfred's eyes widened. "How interesting."

"It's a start" Bruce said before turning towards the vault that stored his costumes.

"Where are you going?" Tatsu asked.

"To make a house call" Bruce said simply, disappearing into the vault.

"Did we miss something?" Tatsu and Barbara looked at Alfred, who sighed.

"Bruce and Zatanna have history." He explained. "Bruce studied with her father, the Great Zatara for a while while the magician was on tour, learning what he could about illusion effects and escape tricks. Zatanna was just a young girl at the time, working as one of her father's stage hands and...well...she..." Alfred paused.

Tatsu suddenly smiled. "Oh, I think I see where this is going"

Alfred nodded. "Zatanna had a crush on Master Bruce."

Barbara's eyes widened. "She did?"

"Oh yes" Alfred smiled. "She'd follow him for hours and watch him any chance she got. In the early stages she could barely be in the same room with him, and when she finally work up the courage to talk with him, she'd get all tongue-tied"

"Wow" Barbara giggled. "Yeah, that sounds like a crush to me"

"And how did Bruce take to this?" Tatsu asked.

"Actually, I think he seemed to...enjoy the attention." Alfred said, and his eyes seemed to glaze over. "As time went by, he and Zatanna began spending more and more time together. He'd help Zatanna practice her own magic act, she'd always insist that Bruce play with her, even though he was ten years older than her."

"Wow" Barbara said, her eyes wide, "Obsessed-much?"

Alfred suddenly became solemn. "In a way, I'm actually very grateful to Zatanna. I believe the affection she showed for Master Bruce, and the attention she gave him...may have helped to patch the void left by his parent's death"

The cave grew silent as Tatsu and Barbara pondered the weight of Alfred's words.

Alfred sighed. "Zatanna was...crushed when Bruce eventually left her father's act. But I like to think that Bruce was an inspiration to her." He typed a command on the keyboard and a series of newspaper clippings and pictures appeared on the screen. "Zatara has recently retired from performing, and Zatanna has stepped into the spotlight in his place. From what I her, she's become quite the magic sensation."

"Wow, I'll say" Barbara said as her eyes rolled over stories of Zatanna's performances.

"Any way, Zatara and Bruce have kept in contact ever since Bruce left. It's as good a place as any to start investigating." Alfred said.

"Then let's pay the magician a visit" Barbara said. She felt excited.

"I'll be paying him a visit" Bruce spoke up, having just emerged from the Vault in his costume, except for his cowl, which was down. "Alone"

"What?" Barbara gasped.

Bruce ignored her and turned to Tatsu. "Tatsu, the Question will be arriving in Gotham later today, I want you to meet him."

"The Question?" Tatsu raised an eyebrow. "Why's he coming back here?"

"Because I invited him" Bruce answered.

"And why would you do that?"

"Because if my hunch is right, we're going to need all the help we can get dealing with Zucco and his circus freaks" Bruce said.

Tatsu stared for a moment, then she nodded. "Fine. But I don't like him"

"I'm not asking you to like him, I'm asking you just to work with him" Bruce said, before turning away.

"Easier said than done" Tatsu muttered.

"Hey! What about me?" Barbara said, but Bruce again ignored her, turning to Alfred.

"Alfred, have you had any luck contacting the person we talked about?"

A faint smile appeared on Alfred's lips. "Indeed I have. They are awaiting your call at this moment"

"I'll take it on the way over" Bruce said and turned to head towards the batmobile.

"WHAT ABOUT ME?" Barbara wailed, her voice echoing through the cave.

This time, Bruce did turn to look at her. "What about you?"

"Dinah's my friend! If Zucco's taken her, than I have to help!" Barbara took a step towards Bruce.

"You already have your mission, Barbara" Bruce answered.

Barbara blinked for a second. "You mean Richard? I told you, it's taken care of!"

"All the same, I want you to continue keeping an eye on him" Bruce said, then he dashed towards the batmobile.

"Oh come on, this isn't fair!" Barbara ran after him. "I'm an Outsider too, remember? I've taken the same risks as any of you, or have you forgotten that?"

Bruce froze.

Silence echoed in the cave.

Bruce slowly turned around and stalked forwards until he towered above Barbara, who tried not to blink as she stared into his cold eyes.

"Yes Barbara, you are an Outsider. No, I have not forgotten the risks you have undertaken to protect Gotham. But need I remind you that the Outsiders are my team?" He knelt down until he was nose to nose with Barbara. "And as such, anyone who signs on plays by my rules, or they don't play at all"

"But I...!"

"You have your assignment, and I expect you to follow through with it" Bruce cut her off as he straightened up. "You will stick with Richard, and you will do nothing else, until I say otherwise, is that clear?"

Barbara couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You can't just expect me to...!"

"IS. THAT. CLEAR?" Bruce said, his voice becoming dangerously sharp. The cave grew silent.

Barbara felt her whole body trembling. Her breathing was shaky and her teeth ground together in silent protest. But she knew that Batman was right. She had to play by his rules. "Crystal" She growled, her mouth set so tight she could barely get the word out.

"Good" Bruce said as he pulled his cowl over his face. He looked up at the others.

"I'll be back" He said, switching to his Batman voice. "And when I do, I will expect results"

"Yes sir" Alfred nodded.

"Of course" Tatsu said.

Barbara didn't say anything, she just watched Batman dash to his car.

How could this be happening? Barbara had thought that joining the Outsiders would make things easier, but she was starting to see herself as even more of Batman's puppet. Didn't he care that Dinah, one of her good friends, was in danger? Obviously not, or he wouldn't be forcing her to tail the idiotic Richard instead of rescuing her friend.

Barbara's eyes suddenly lit up as an idea came to her. Maybe there was a way she could do both! Barbara quickly frowned as she realized what that would involve her doing. But she had no choice. With that in mind, Barbara turned and stalked towards the elevator.

"Barbara, where are you going?" Tatsu called after her.

"To do my assignment" Barbara replied, trying to keep her voice calm as she stepped into the elevator. "He wants me to stick with Richard Grayson, that's exactly what I'll do"

As the elevator doors closed, she saw Tatsu and Alfred exchange a look and gave a wicked smile. "I just wonder what Richard is going to be doing tonight" She said to herself.

And Cut!

Wow, it's been a while since I updated this story! But I've recently re-watched Beware the Batman and I feel re-inspired.

It looks like Barbara will be going behind Batman's back. I wonder how Batman will react when he finds out about it! (Evil chuckle)

So begins the climax of this story. Hang on tight everyone!

Until next time!