CHAPTER 21

Back in Action (7 of 10)

A few days pass me by and all the while I've been faced with countless mental and physical "training". I say it that way only because Alfred has been doing more therapy than training with me. Meanwhile, Batman has been out and about without me. There are times where he doesn't even look at me when we're in the same room. I feel very much like I disappointed him. But here I am. Sitting outside staring at this lovely garden late at night.

"Its time Dick."

Says a voice from behind me. I know it's Bruce, so I shake my head and rub the temples of my forehead.

"Time for what? More talking and walking around with Alfred?"

Just then I feel the air shift near my shoulder and on instinct I roll to the side and avoid a karate chop from Bruce's hand.

"heh, now that's more like it."

I smirk and rip some bandages off my face.

"Good. Looks like your senses are back. But you did leave your legs wide open."

Just then I feel his leg sweep right under mine and I land flat on my back. Just as quickly as I fell, I leapt back to my feet. My pulse races and my mind begins to go into over drive. I begin thinking of what he could possibly do next. As I thought, he knees me in the stomach and elbows my back. I land on the ground again, but this time I stay down since his foot was weighing me down from my back.

"I can see you thinking too much. You need to stop worrying about how I'm going to hurt you. The pain will come, but you need to brace yourself. You are always going to fight people stronger than you. You need to endure and trick your opponent. It's the only advantage you can have."

I sigh and release the struggle from my body. I see no point in trying to escape.

"You have been through a lot these past couple of months Dick. I need you to realize that I am putting you in danger. If you cannot face me, how do you expect to continue the crusade?"

I look up as much as I can. From the distance I see my father. However, his image begins to slowly fade. All I can feel is anger and resentment. With all my strength, I roll to the side and wrap my legs around one of his and twist as quick and as hard as I can. All I hear is a snap and Bruce quickly swings me away. I fall into some bushes as he sits himself on a bench. Alfred quickly rushed to his aide and begins working on his now injured leg.

"hah! Smart thinking….I sure wasn't expecting that one. Dick, I think your ready to get back in the game."

I jump out of the bushes and stand before Bruce and Alfred. I rub the back of my neck and let out a light laugh.

"Sorry about your leg. And yeah…I've been ready for quite some time now you know."

Bruce smirks and takes out a photo.

"I think I know who arranged all this craziness this past week. His name is"

"Vandal Savage!"

I interrupted and take hold of the photo.

"I met him back in Indiana Jones town with all those ninjas. But I thought he was you know…some kind of good guy or victim or something."

"Sorry to disappoint, but according to history books, Vandal is one crazy villain. The League apparently locked him away as a means of cleansing the earth of his evil. In their text books, Vandal is a man who cannot air and only seeks to rule everything and everyone."

I give the photo back to Bruce and cross my arms.

"hmm, I find that hard to believe…but what is he doing here in Gotham?"

"From what I heard, he's looking for you. He's searching for a boy named Robin who saved him."

I raise an eyebrow and shake my head in confusion.

"If he's trying to thank me, he's doing it in a really weird way."

Bruce stands up with the help of Alfred and limps into the house.

"Well Dick, you need to remember that he comes from a different time. Crazies like him do weird things. But it's up to you and I to find him and lock him up again. From the sounds of things, I believe he will do more damage if left free."

I don't know if that's true, but he sounds like he's done his homework on this. I just hope this is the end of the case. We all enter the Batcave together and Alfred places a leg brace on Bruce's broken leg. I quickly race to the Bat computer to check on his progress. All I see are news clippings, letters, typed recordings and a map of Gotham with marked spots on them. There is one that stands out the most to me though.

"That's it son. Go to where your gut is telling you to go" says a voice in the back of my head that resembles that of my late father.

I tap my head and point to Robinson Park.

"Here….The maps say there are underground caves here right? I mean…if I were someone last in time, I would figure hiding in caves might feel like home."

Batman raises his eye and pushes a button from afar that turns off the computer.

"Dick, that is a lot of ground to cover, plus a long shot. Besides, my intel suggests that he's holding up a place in the East side docks."

Well it was worth a shot putting my two sense in….but I feel so drawn to that idea. I turn around and start heading up the stairs to the mansion.

"I suppose your right. I'm going to see about turning in. That fight seems to have made me kind of tired."

But little does he know that I'm going out tonight. I need to trust my instinct and just go for curiosities sake. But first I may need a little help. I quickly go into my room and look through my suit cases. I find a dark hoodie, along with some dark levi pants. I put them on and pull my hoodie over my face. I leap to the window and look back for a moment.

"Don't you worry guys…I wont be gone for too long."

I jump down from the window and land in some bushes. I roll as my feet touch the ground. Soon after, I'm racing to the gate of the mansion which I am able to leap up and over. In a matter of seconds, I am able to blend in with the forest. Darkness and cold air encase my very being as I journey towards the City. This adventure may take some time, but I need this. I need some time outside where I can better prepare myself without Bruce or Alfred holding me back…

In a place not so far away….

A figure in a clouded room stairs intently at a large white stone that lay before them. The figure wears a white set of garments that cover his entire being. They stare at the rock that projects the image of Grayson.

"Run little one. You have the heart of gold and the might of Hercules. Travel forth….for this world may soon see your true power."

A flash of lightning strikes the figure and they vanish. The room turns dark and the scene fades to black.

To Be Continued….

Next time on…..Grayson.

"Hmmm….I don't think it fits in that way Dick. You may want to try and push it harder and twist it a little."

"Hush, it's my first time ok….don't make me loose focus Barbara…."

I push it in and twist like she says and finally I sigh with relief. I finally got this to work in the end.

"See, nothing to it!"