Dick Grayson
Chapter 16
Ice Age(Part 2 of 10)
Unknown Location
Well, here I am. Sitting. Waiting and being tortured once again. Geez, don't any of Batman's villains have any manners at all? I mean first I'm beaten to a bloody pulp in the humid desert and now I'm being beaten to an icy slushie in this blistering cold. I may not be outside, in the dark and creepy woods anymore, but being in here makes me wish I was out there. I bet that wolves are more better of a host than this creepy old guy. Heck, I shouldn't even be in this predicament. I should be at home drinking tea and eating biscuits while Alfred yaps away about his good old glory days, working for "his Majesty". I think anything would be better than having to listen to mister Frosty here. All he ever talks about is revenge this and revenge that, oh and my favorite line..."where is batman!" Shesh, as many times that I've said "I had no idea" you'd think he would give up on asking. But I guess my highly attractive suit says otherwise. But there is one thing that keeps me sane int this tub of a cell and that would be that mysterious but soothing noise that keeps batting at the back of my mind. Hopefully I'm not loosing it, if I am...well actually, then I say oh well. I had a good run on sanity. After all, everyone else in this City is crazy, so why can't I join the parade, right?
"Where is Batman you ignorant little child?"
"Blah...I thought I already told you my answer."
"Yes you have, but I know it's a lie."
"Yeah, and whats making you believe that Frosty?"
"The fact that you were in the Batmobile and that you are wearing a mask just like his. Meaning that you must know him quite personally if he allows you to run around in his toys and play his games."
"And here I thought you were always having a brain freeze. Wow, was I ever so wrong."
"Err...Quit joking around!"
SLAP
I seriously have no idea how much longer I can take his freezing punches. Every smack feels like slamming face first into a deep deep and cold pool of water. I mean he hits me, but I feel nothing for about a minute and then when time passes in this freezer I'm sitting in...well you get the picture. Ice plus heat minus temperature equals a long and brutal type of pain. Especially if your a young Chickie chick like me. Anyway, if he were smart he should stop slapping me around. Eventually Batman will swoop in and save the day. Kicking his keester in the process. On a sided note...I think the longer I stay in here, the more my face and body grow numb. Meaning that my body is starting to break down. And if I'm right...that could lead to death, or at least thats what my dad told me back when we did a show in Germany. If thats not bad enough, I have this strong feeling that Mister Freeze will either get information out of me or he'll leave me to die and end up, keeping me as his little trophy. Just like all the other frozen people around me. Speaking of which...where in the world are you Batman!
Gotham Clock tower
Batman searches the top of the Clock Tower. He walked around each room where monitors and strange equipment were in the process of creating the freezing temperatures throughout the City. Or so it appeared to be the machines he was looking for.
"Theres something wrong here. This trail was too easy follow."
Batman rubbed his chin as he pulled on a wire that was connected to a machine and began studying the wiring and devices. As he was figuring out what was what, a small shadow rushed behind him. He quickly swung around and scouted his the area to where he heard something fly by.
"Come out already. I know your out there..."
Batman released the wire and placed both arms under his cape as he searched the room with a sharp and keen set of eyes. He stopped walking and quickly threw a batarang at a wall to the side of him, which caught onto something on impact. At that exact moment, the voice of a young girl could be heard as she wriggled and screeched from being caught.
"Eeeep! I can't move!! I'm stuck. Get me out of this thing!"
Batman jerked his head back as he took out a flashlight and flicked it on. He flashed the light toward the figure as his eyes widened. To his surprise, it was a young girl who looked around the same age as Dick. And just like him, she was wearing a pair of pajamas that he wished he hadn't seen. Every inch of clothing she was wearing, bared the mark of the Batman, with the exception of different colors. The main colors that she was parading in were mostly purple and of course black while certain parts of her clothing were purposely cut and uncovered.
"As much as I'd love to hear why your playing games up here. I'll have to pass and get down to the real talk at hand. Now this is going to be the one and only time I'll tell you this. Take off the suit and run along home. Crime fighting is for adults only."
"Hah, your one to talk! I know all about that Robin character. He's young like me and you allow him to tag along with you, so why can't I? or any other kid out there who wants to make a difference for this City! Gotham is not only your home and responsibility! it's mine too."
"Because..."
Just then, batman had a brief moment of silence. He then closed his eyes and quickly ripped the mask from the girls face as he continued to talk.
"Unlike you miss Gordon. This "Robin" that you speak of has nothing to live for. And theres nothing that can help ease the pain that he has endured. In other words, it's either crime fighting or death. The same goes for me. So don't judge us just yet. Your not the first to question my reason."
Barbara relaxed her shoulders as she fell to her knees. As she did so, the back of her shirt ripped off and allowed her to be free of the batarang.
"...so it is him, isn't it. Robin is Dick Grayson...my father was right."
Batman raised a curious eye as he placed his hand on Barbara's shoulder.
"What do you mean?"
"My father. He's been investigating you. Only because he has to. You see...child services has called an arrest on you because your placing a child in danger. So my dad had to do it...he had to follow the leads and timings and everything to figure out who Robin is. So far he's only told me about it."
Batman looked away and thought to himself for a moment. He then stood up and pulled Barbara to her feet.
"I know."
"What? if you did, then how come you still let Robin run around?"
"Because I didn't think your father would reach that far in his case and this quick.
Batman pushed Barbara ahead of him softly and slowly as he flicked the flashlight off.
"Come on now. We have to get you out of here. It's not safe for you to be staying in this crime scene."
"But.."
"No buts miss Gordon. Let's go. I need to have a word with that father of yours."
'Oh alright. But can you at leas let me change? I don't want him knowing that I ran out of the house just to play dress up."
"Fine. I suppose I can allow it this once. Just as long as you promise to never ever where that ridiculous outfit again."
"You got it Bob!"
Batman pulled Barbara over his shoulders as he walked to the window he had entered through and shot a grapple line from the edge of the rather large window.
Minutes later, they landed on roof top of the Police Department. As soon as they touched the roof, Barbara quickly dashed behind the bat signal. Just when she hid, Commissioner Gordon stepped onto the roofs grounds. Gordon jumped back and dropped a cup of coffee that he held onto, all over the ground. He then wiped his coat and relaxed himself from being surprised and startled by seeing Batman in front of his sights.
"Sorry to frighten you Gordon, but I think it's time you told me everything about this investigation that your performing on me."
"I already told you all about it Batman. I don't think theres any more that I can tell you at this time."
"No. You didn't tell me everything Jim. I know that theres more to the story than what you've told me so far."
Gordon scratched the back of his head as he shrugged and let out a large breath of air.
"Fine. If you want the the truth that bad , then lets see...well...how can I put this...we.. I mean I."
Just then a policeman barged onto the scene of the roof and held the door open as he panted while out of breath.
"Commissioner! we have news about the Freeze case. You might want to come down and take a look at the footage we have."
The commissioner waved his hand as he shook his head at the policeman.
"Whatever it is, I'm sure that it can wait another five minutes. Alright?"
"No sir, I mean you really really have to take a look. It involves that Robin kid. Freeze has captured him and it's all on tape."
"What! any idea on where he took off to?"
"Well...were not one hundred percent positive, but witnesses say that it looked like he was driving a vehicle that belongs to the Zoo. And we cross checked all the vehicles in Gotham and it seems that one of the Zoo's Polar trucks was in use during the time that Freeze kidnapped the child."
Batman stared at Gordon as both of their eyes widened.
"Well, it looks like this will have to wait...right Batman?"
Batman nodded as he turned his head to the bat signal. To his surprise, there was no one hiding behind the large machine.
"Hm...it appears that way Gordon."
Batman shot a line out and leaped off of the building as Gordon pulled his gun out.
"Get a squad ready. We're going to the Zoo."
"Yes sir."
Gotham Zoo: First Floor Elevator
The lights in the small cubical flashed on and off, clouding the identities of all three men that stood inside the rising transportation. Within these band of men stood an average sized man who stood in the center of the elevator as the other two men who were large, muscular and built men stood on both sides of the shorter middle man.The short and skinny man pressed on a button in the elevator as he pulled out a deck of cards on the retrieval of his hand. He shuffled the deck and threw the cards into the air as he quickly snatched one of the cards before it fell out of his grasp. He lifted the card and placed it in the air, revealing it to be the joker of the deck. A large and sickening smile widened on the mans face as he let out a small laugh.
"Well gentlemen. It looks like Youtube will have another million hits by the morning for that tape we leaked out to the general public. Oh how long, how long do you think it will take for the Bat to make his mark, hm? any ideas or shall I say bets?"
The two men stayed quiet as they stared at the walls in the elevator.
"Bah! you two are ridiculous! I asked for the two strongest and funny looking men and all I received was you two wise guys. No matter. By the end of today, I! The ever loving JOKER will have you laughing like a pair of hyenas. You'll see! just wait and see. For the party has only begun! AHhHAHHAHAHAhhaahahahaHAHHAhahahaahHAHahahahHAAhHHAHhHAhaaaaaaaaaa"
To Be Continued
