The Sidekick Strike
Chapter Six
DISCLAIMER: None of this is mine, and from here on in, this story will really start to remind you of either the 60's Batman series or a rejected Scooby-Doo episode. ;) At least I hope not. And for you movie buffs out there, yes I did 'borrow' the Joker's last two lines from Tim Burton's '89 Batman movie. (cough) And yes I have actually seen it. It was okay, I guess, but let's face it--Michael Keaton was no Adam West! (laughs maniacally as she leaves the room)
Kid Flash opened his mouth to say something, but Robin placed a gloved hand over his mouth to keep him quiet. From that vantage point, Kid Flash could smell the dried oil on the boy's glove. He scrunched up his noise and pushed the hand away, fighting the conveniently-timed urge to sneeze.
"You look over there," the Joker was saying. "Turn off the printing machines, so we can hear if they try to make a break for it. And if you find anyone, don't ask questions, just kill 'em."
"Right," Green Lantern agreed.
Robin and Kid Flash felt their jaws hit the floor at that response. It had only been one word, but that word had made them feel as if they were being plunged deeper and deeper into the Twilight Zone.
But they had no time to think about that. Instead, they had to worry about being discovered by the Green Lantern, who was coming dangerously close to where the boys were hiding out.
Just as it looked like the only thing to do was pull out a Batarang and hope Green Lantern didn't see it coming, Robin felt something digging into his back and turned his head to see what it was.
It was a handle.
Robin pulled it a little. To his surprise, it opened. Now he could see all of the gears and switches and technological stuff that made the printing machine work.
And a great hiding place.
He gave Kid Flash's hair a little tug before using his tremendous stealth skills to creep inside silently. Kid Flash glanced from left to right as if crossing the road before sneaking in after his friend. Then Robin closed the small door.
Only after he closed the door did he realize what a mistake it was.
First of all, it was completely dark in the tiny compartment, and Robin didn't want to reach for his flashlight for fear of banging his arm against something noisy. Second, Kid Flash's knee was now in his face. Third—and most importantly—there was very little oxygen now that the door was closed, especially since the newspaper ink, dust, and dried oil had all mixed together to create the most nauseating scent known to man. And since his breather was in his utility belt, he didn't really want to go for that, either.
Besides, fair's fair. I've only got one breather. What about Kid Flash?
Yes, in spite of all that his best friend had put him through in the Batmobile, Kid Flash was still just that to Robin—his best friend. They had had some pretty wild times together, and would more often than not end up in a mock squabble over something completely unrelated to anything, but that was part of the fun. Robin couldn't imagine life without his prankster pal.
But crime-fighting wasn't exactly the safest of occupations, Robin reminded himself as his reminiscent smile faded. What if Kid Flash's incredible speed failed him someday, and something happened to him? What if he was killed? What if he was killed tonight? Robin didn't think he could forgive himself if something like that happened. He'd rather die than see Kid Flash get hurt.
Finally, when Robin was just about ready to take the plunge and pull out his breather anyway, he heard the Joker's muffled voice order Green Lantern back upstairs. There were footsteps as hero and villain headed back upstairs, then the tiny click of the light switch.
The very second the footsteps faded, Robin and Kid Flash threw themselves against the door and tumbled out onto the floor, gasping for breath as quietly as they could.
"You… okay, KF?" Robin breathed in a whisper.
"Yeah… you?"
"Yeah…"
Reluctantly, both boys dragged themselves to their feet, and Robin checked the watch that he always wore under his glove.
"Midnight," Robin said, mostly to himself. But Kid Flash heard anyway, expressed alarm at the time, and then explained to Robin about his hunch concerning the five o'clock deadline they might be fighting against.
"Well," Robin explained factually, "since we're already here, and we already know what the Joker is planning, and we already know that he's done something to Green Lantern and is probably planning to do the same thing to the rest of the Justice League, then all we have to do is figure out what he's done to Green Lantern, save him and Batman and Flash, arrest Joker, and get out of here! I think we can do that in less than five hours…"
"I think you're giving me a headache."
"Then stay here and take an aspirin. I'm following Green Lantern to see what happened to him."
Robin turned away and began to make his way to the stairs when Kid Flash started snickering for no apparent reason.
"What?" Robin snapped.
"You've got newspaper ink all over your sitter."
"Oh yeah? Well, I'm not even gonna tell you what's written on your forehead."
Kid Flash's smile faded instantly as Robin stalked upstairs. When he was gone, Flash's sidekick went over to the window and took a look at his reflection in the moonlit glass pane.
Nothing.
"Just wait'll I get a hold of that runt…" he griped as he stormed upstairs.
At first sight of his friend, Robin smirked and said sarcastically, "I see you're headache is gone and you've decided to rejoin the investigation."
Kid Flash took a moment to glare at his grinning black-haired friend. Then he made a disgusted noise and raised his arm as if he was going to punch Robin in the nose before climbing the remainder of the staircase.
There was now a long hallway before them, with various closed doors on either side. Robin decided that he'd take the doors on the left while Kid Flash explored the ones on the right.
"Just be careful," he warned. "We don't know where anybody is right now."
"Right."
The pair promptly got to work, pressing their ears against the doors and peeking through keyholes to see if anyone was in the room they wanted to explore. But while Kid Flash was off exploring his third room, Robin had sprung ahead to the fifth room on the left and was busily going through the desk drawers.
The door shut softly. Robin froze in place. His back was to the door, and he hadn't noticed anyone approaching from behind.
"Kid Flash?" he whispered.
No answer.
"Hey, KF, is that you?"
This time he turned around to check.
Robin's eyes widened in terror at the sight before him. He started to yell for Kid Flash, but a large hand was clamped over his mouth before he could finish. The other hand slithered around his waist and picked him up as if he was no heavier a feather.
As if things weren't bad enough, the door opened again, revealing the Joker. He was grinning, as usual, but this time he was grinning straight at Robin, which gave the already-queasy Boy Wonder a funny feeling in his stomach.
"I found him going through your drawers," the Man of Steel explained, holding the struggling Robin out as if he were a trophy.
"Good," the Joker replied. If possible, the sadistic grin grew even wider. "Now would you be so good as to set him down in that chair?"
Superman did as he was told.
"Alright now, Birdie Boy…" the Joker taunted. "Just sit quietly, and don't yell when Superman here lets you go. We wouldn't want anything… unfavorable to happen to your speedy little friend, now, would we?"
Robin glowered at his arch-nemesis, but didn't want to risk Kid Flash's life by doing something stupid while in such a vulnerable position. So when Superman let him go, Robin sat still and said nothing.
"That's a good boy…"
What I wouldn't give to pop you a good one right in that stupid smiling smirking mouth of yours, you son of a… Robin thought darkly.
"Now let's see," the Joker went on, laughing maniacally and pulling a small notepad and pencil out of his pocket. "Name: Robin the Boy Blunder, sidekick to the soon-to-be-terminated Fatman…" More laughter that just strengthened Robin's urge to sock it to him. "Current status: Guinea Pig #5…"
Five! Robin thought in a panic. Well if Batman and Flash are still okay… and Green Lantern and Superman are one and two… who are the other three?
As much as he hated to admit it, Robin felt as if he already knew the answer.
Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, and Martian Manhunter… the rest of the Justice League. Holy black cats, what rotten luck! Looks like Wally and I are their only hope. I have to get out of here!
But Robin didn't dare try to escape. With Superman so close by, he didn't stand a chance of getting within ten feet of the door. Or anywhere else, for that matter.
"Oh, who cares about stats!" the Joker exclaimed suddenly, cackling more insanely than ever. He threw his supplies across the room as if to emphasize his point. Then, becoming serious, "We have work to do…"
The Joker bent down so that he was eye to eye with the Boy Wonder, so that Robin was practically touching the sick clown's twisted features, the ghoulish white face, the crooked teeth, the bright red lips that were eternally turned upward in a cruel smile…
"Alright now, little Robin," the Clown Prince of Crime whispered threateningly. "Tell me… have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?"
"What?" Robin whispered, feeling terrified.
"It's a question I like to ask of all my victims…"
Suddenly, a strange song filled the air. Robin didn't know where it was coming from, but he found himself captivated by the music nonetheless. He felt as if he knew the little tune, even though he had never heard it before. He tried to figure out what it meant, but felt his eyes closing, suddenly he just felt so tired, so tired and wanted to sleep… just sleep… just…
Denny: Yes, we're back! Sorry for the delay. Oh, and I noticed that that idiot Panamint wrote in an earlier chapter that she was going to Disneyland. WRONG! It was Disneyworld. Gee, how stupid can you get...
Dick: (snickering) Luckily, she's still over in the Star Trek: TOS universe getting court martialed for theft. So we're in charge now. Finally!
Denny: Yeah! So... now that we're in charge, what do you want to do?
Dick: I don't know. I've never been in charge before.
Denny: Come to think of it, neither have I.
Dick: I got it! Let's go make Captain Kirk do the reviewer replies!
Denny: HA! Brilliant! But he's residing over that court martial, remember?
Dick: Oh, yeah... well, now that I'm in charge, I say YOU do the reviewer replies! Haha! That felt so good...! (wanders off)
Denny: Sigh...
Reviewer Replies
southrngrl16-Thank you! Okay, so this isn't exactly an update that qualifies as 'soon', but the next chapter will be up much faster, I promise!
SarahC4321-Well, the cookie finally arrived. In one piece, too. I'll be sure to give it to Panamint the next time I see her. And she says that she'd be happy to sign your petition to own Roy, but as far as Dick is concerned, this means WAR! ;-)
Andrew Joshua Talon-You're welcome, and thanks for the reviews! Panamint loves reviews... and yes, this is before Teen Titans. Chaos? Yup, definitely. But don't tell Dick or Wally I said that or they'll use me as a baseball again.