Bruce Wayne open his eyes to see Tasu, a cold sawt dripping down his brow.
"How long was I out?" He asked
"A day." Replied Tasu. "Not surprising constringe you condition."
"Well thank you but..." Bruce said only for his doubt to settle in again.
"You'll need to stay up there until you can walk again." Said Tasu as she got him a boil of water.
"Well good that will I still failed my city." Said Bruce
Tasu then took a damp rag and whapped his brow. "Have you no one left to protect?"
Bruce sighed and said "That I do but right now there on there own."
"It is now 8:15!" The clock King announce to the city once again. "All should be home and setting for dinner, I recommend that the children go to bed early these are dangerous times we live in, dangerous times indeed."
Up on the ruff tops of Gotham a figure of robin leaped from building to building surveying the city below. "It's been days Bruce where are you?"
"Help!" A voice cried below.
Robin looked down seeing a women fallen to the ground. "That theft he stole my purse!"
Robin sighted a hooded figured running down the streets.
"Not this time." Said Robin he quickly leaped down from the roof and landed on top of the theft. "Not so fast you.."
Robin eyes when wide as the hood when off a filmier looking girl about his age sat on the ground in front of him.
"Andy?" Asked Robin
"Who?" the frighten girl said.
"I'm sorry you look like someone.." Robin said "You know it doesn't matter you shouldn't be stealing."
"And you shouldn't be here." She said while Backing away. "He'll find you."
"Who'll find me?"
A large shadow the looms over Robin he turn as a massive fist knocked him in the face.
Robin woke up with a sudden moan.
"Aaahhh...What?" He said as he open his eyes to see several small children looking down at him. "What in the?"
A hand suddenly covered his mouth.
"Ssshhh." The girl from earlier said putting a figure to her lips.
Robin looked around there where in a small brick room water seem to dripped from the ceiling.
"Where are?" Robin was interrupted again by a loud gong repeating over and over again. The young children helped Robin up as the girl pushed him forward, to Robin surprise they lead him to the swear tunnel as Robin was lead forward he saw numerous other children ,making there way thought the maze of tunnels all heading to the derision to the loud gonging. Finally they entered in to a large dark chamber setting in front the crowed of children was elderly man in a pirate garb a single eyepatch covering one of his eyes thought his glasses behind him stood a missive reptilian creature that looks slightly familiar.
Robin then glace over to the girl again. "Why are we?"
She covered his mouth again putting her figure to her lips. "Ssshhhh."
"Well children." Said the figurer setting in the chair. "It's time for you listen again."
The old man stood and began walking back and forward. "Frist listen Children should be seen not hard. But you, you took didn't you!?"
He pointed his cane at the young girl next to Robin.
Two teenagers walked behind her and gapped her and dragged her up to the old man.
"This is the one who spoke is it not?" Shouted the old man.
"That's right Swear King." one of the teens said. "We heard her talking to the boy blunder."
"I'm sorry.." The girl stated "I..." She suddenly covered her mouth realizing what she had done.
The old then slappes her and shouted "Children should not speak unless there spoken to!"
"Leave her alone!" Robin shouted as he leaped at the old man and kicked him in the gut.
The teens try to subdue him but Robin knocks them both out with one paunch.
"Whos next?" Said Robin
"I am." The large figure came out of the shadows.
Robin gasp it was Killer Croc but he looked different his scales here greener then ever his was at least twice his size as he was original, but strangest of all he had a long crocodile tail coming from behind him.
The monstrous creature grappled ahold of Robin and lifted him up the air and toss aside.
"That enough Croc!" The Swear King said as the teens picked him up.
The old man then walked over to the boy wonder then point is cane at him. "Well we have a new comer, well listen up boy in the swear I am the King and my word is law."
"And what makes you think I'll do what you say old man?" Asked Robin
"Did I give you permission to speak?" Shouted The Swear King as he rise his cane and ready to strike.
But Robin saw and opening and punch him in the face.
"Croc contain him!"
Killer Croc then gripped Robin again.
"You do who I am right?" Robin asked
"The Bat's ward, But the Bat is no more which makes you mine, just as all the abandon children of city are mine!" The Swear King shouted
"I'm not yours in fact none of us are!" Said Robin "I'm not doing anything you say!"
The Swear King smiled. "But we have way of making you behave."
In another room in the swears Robin was chained to the wall by his arms and legs, Water was dripping from the ceiling much to the boy wonder's annoyance. Suddenly a large metal door creeped open and the girl from early walked in with a boil of food.
"Thanks." Said Robin "For a minute there I thought you didn't like me."
The girl kneeled down and a began feeding him the food.
"Why are you leaving down here where are you parents." Robin said
The girl glance away for a moment a mixer of sadness and fright on her face.
"Oh I get it." Said Robin "My dad wasn't great either."
The girl began to pick herself and started to walk out.
"Why do you let that man treat you and all the other kids like that?"
The girl pause for a moment and then spoke. "He protects us."
"From what exactly?" Robin asked.
The girl pause for a moment and then made her way to the door.
"By the way I never got you name." Said Robin
"Stephanie." the girl said as walked out.
"You should watch how you speak to me old man." Said Croc to Swear King.
Croc and The swear king were watch over the children working in a large field.
"If you doing you're job I would not have to give you order."
"I'm not you lacy we suppose to be partners." Said Croc "Remember our deal."
"Of course I get the young one you and friends get the old one, all I ask is that you help keep my Kingdome in order while you remind in it." The king said
"And the only reason I don't kill you is because you know the swears better then I do." Croc replied
Upon hearing this the swear king tapped his cane on the floor and two large crocodile appeared behind him.
"You not the only beast that lives in these swear and my pets out number you a million to one."
"You seem to forget how I got my name." Croc replied "I wrestled crocodiles."
The two villains stared each other down but Croc can tell his afraid.
"I not as easy to control as kids remember that." Croc said as he walks off.
"WE got him for ya boss." The two teenage boy dragged Robin forward up to the swear king holding him tightly.
"Excellent work boys." Said the king "Leave him to me."
The swear king then puts his arm around Robin's shoulder.
"Take a look my boy what do you see." The Swear King said
Robin looked out at the field of children. "Innocent kids being treated like slaves."
"Do you know what I see." Said the Swear King. "I see a family working together keeping one other safe."
"You certainly have a strange way of treating family."
The swear king frown. "Would you like to know where these children were before this city fell? Leaving on the streets homeless friendless hiding from those who'd abused them. With Gotham in it's current state they never would have survive but here they are safe, safe under my watchful eye."
"Yeah right." Said Robin gritting his teeth. "You just using them."
The Swear King chuckles "You are not like the rest of the children are you boy, you are strong. Unwilling to break."
"I learn from the best." Said Robin
Swear King smiled "I think you can be one of my enforcers."
"Forget you just want me to keep these other kids in line." Said Robin
"Someone must keep the peace and I can not do it alone." Said the King
"Is that way you got Croc here?" Asked Robin
Swear king frown he then looked at the two teenagers.
"Take him out to the field." He said "He can work with the others until he changes his mind."
"I told you I'm not going to do any work for you." Said Robin
The swear king smiled. "I know you are strong but they are weak."
The swear king them slams the cane on the ground all of as sudden his pet crocodiles headed for the field the children panicked as they bared their teeth heading for a smile blond boy.
"No! Stop!" Robin shouted
Swear King turn to Robin with a wicked smile.
"You win." Said Robin as bowed his head.
"Good." Said the swear King "You see I told you you'll learn."
Several days Later
Robin was tending the field with Stephanie by his side, he looked up and watch the swear king's goons pass by with cocky smiles.
Robin then said in his mind. "I need a way to get this kids out of here." He picked out a trowel and began tapping it repeatedly on a rock.
Stephine looked up at him several of the children had learn to communicate thought mores code, so as to not anger the swear king.
She nodded her head in agreement.
Later that night
Stephine meet Robin at a hidden part of the swear.
"You said you wanted to talk?" Asked Stephine
Robin frown. "Look we need to get these kids out of here."
"There is no getting out of here." Said Stephine.
"Yes there is." Said Robin. "We just need a way to take out The Swear King."
"You can't take him out." Said Stephine "His to powerful."
"No his not." Said Robin. "Look around you we out number him a million to one, All we need is a way to get pass his thugs."
Stephine thought for a moment. "Look even if we could get out of here, where would we go nobody up there wants us."
"That's just what he wants you to think." Said Robin "Somebody once taught that everyone had value no matter where they come from."
"So you have a plan?" Asked Stephine
"Yes but it's going to take sometime." Said Robin
A few more days later
Robin was in the garden field again with several of the children he looked over to Stephine in another field and nodded his head.
Stephine began to tapped her trowel on a rock getting the other children's attention.
Later that night
The children met at there chambers, Robin held out a metal pipe and began to show the children what he had learn over the years.
Each of the children picked up a stick and began fallowing in suite.
Weeks pass and the children train in secret undenounced to the swear king, one time Killer Croc spotted Robin teaching the kids some moves but choose to ignored it with a sinister grind.
A few days later
Robin stood up and walked out of the fields.
"And where do you think your going?" said one of the goons as Robin was approaching the Swear King.
Robin stood silenced for a moment. "Tell you're boss I'm ready to talk."
The Swear King smiled. "This way boy fallow me to my personal chambers.
Croc glared at Robin as he fallowed the swear king then he glance back at the children at the field in the end he decide to fallow the swear king as well.
Robin fallowed the Swear King to his personal chambers, It was felled with fancy furnitures and other luxuries the children have never seen before.
"Well my boy." Said the Swear King as he approach a large cabinet.
"Say you piece." Said the Swear King
Robin scowled. "I decided to take you up on you're offer."
"Ah excellent." Said the Swear King as he pored a glass of wine. "I knew you would come to see things my way."
Croc scowled highly suspicious of robin change of heart.
"I know you may not have particular fond of me but I hope in time you would come to think of me as a father." The Swear King then handed the glass to Robin.
Robin took the glass. "There's just one problem with that, I already have a father."
Robin the toss the glass in the swear king's face and then landed a uppercut to his jaw, he then quickly ran pass Croc and out of the chamber."
"Don't just stand you fool after him!" Shouted The Swear King
Croc then began to chance after Robin with the Swear King close behind as then fallowed him into the main chambers they saw something that shocked them both. The army of children that had once been tending the fields were swarming agents the Swear King's teenage thugs pinning them down to the ground and ting them up.
"What is happing?" Said the Swear King
"Looks like you lose control of you're Kingdome." snickered Croc.
"I'll show you control!" Shouted the Swear King as he slams his staff to the ground.
Then two large crocodiles slinked out of the darkness thaws the children.
"Now everyone just like we practice!" Ordered Robin.
The group of children charge throws the crocodiles and surrounded them, the croc hiss and snapped trying to figure out witch detraction to attack as they open there jaws Stephine and Robin took two large metal pipes and shove them in the crocodiles mouths forcing them open, the crocs began to roll on the floor in a panic trying to find a way to shut their mouths.
"Croc do something!" The Swear King in a panic.
"Umm...Nah I think I'll pass on this one." Said Killer Croc as he slummed back in to the shadows.
"What!? You traitor we had a deal!" The Swear King shouted as his now former ally left him.
He then turn to see and army of angry children looking at him furiously, in a panic the Swear King began to run.
Robin lead the charge though the after the cowardly Swear King as he race his way thought the tunnels.
The Swear King panted trying to escaped until he came to an all to familiar drop, the Swear King looked down the storm drain down below, and the army of children that now approach him.
"Wait my children!" The Swear King began to coward.
Robin then grabbed the Swear king by his caller and hung him over the edge of the drop. "Give me one good reason why I should drop you here and now."
Sweat began to dripped down The Swear King's brow. "The Batman won't do this to me, he would have spared me."
"Got better reason then that?" Said Robin
"Please I can tell you things, many wonderful glorious things, I know why Killer is like this, Just give me a chance!" He said
Robin glared at the Swear king still considering dropping him. All of a sudden Stephine put an arm at his shoulder, Robin glance at her and the numerus children behind her.
"His not even worth it." Said Stephine.
Robin sighed and set the Swear King down.
The Swear King chuckled to himself only to get knocked unconscious by the boy wonder.
Back at the Gotham police Station.
Jim Gordan was speaking on the phone as his fellow cops was run about in the background.
"No where have not found mayor Hill yet when we do we'll send a squad to his location!" Said Jim
"Commissioner Gordan!" Said Batgirl as she rushed in to the room. "You've got to come see this!"
Commissioner Gordan Batgirl, and the rest of the cops ran out of the police station.
As the sun rose over Gotham a large crowed of children approach the front of station with Robin leading them.
"Commissioner Gordan we have someone you might be looking for." Said Robin
Stephine approach from the crowed of children pushing forwarded a bound and gagged Swear King.
Commissioner Gordan then smiled. "LT. get these kids some blankets and some warm food they earned it."
