CHAPTER 28:
"TREASURE ISLAND"

When the Batplane secretly blasted off from its underground hanger on the Wayne Manor grounds, four occupants were seated in the craft as it soared its way across the Atlantic Ocean towards Treasure Island. They would be soon upon the once restricted Spyral storage stronghold, the final hurtle in this game that had begun when Nightwing was targeted, and everyone was anxious.

After a thorough discussion, they came to the conclusion that Jakes Handles had indeed resurrected the sonic device that Dick had supposedly sabotaged when he was Agent 37 before taking it to the island and amplified it. In concluding quick searches of strange phenomenon that reflected 'sonic attacks', including two International diplomats, every single attack originated from the Atlantic, specially Treasure Island—using technology Tim had developed to track harmonic frequencies.

Finally, it would all come to a head and Dick would confront his old ally in Spyral. His philosophy was to never kill, but he felt this urge to break that rule just this once after everything Jake Handles had done to him. Dick had just been doing his job as Agent 37 when he confronted Handles way back then before his supposedly untimely demise. Once again, one of his own enemies had come back to evoke their revenge upon him, and for a time, it appeared it was going to end badly for Dick—that he would lose everything.

Once we find Damian, I'm going to have to give him a great big hug to thank him for bringing me back, he jokingly thought.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Barbara sitting in the chair next to him. He had had wanted Barbara to stay behind, but he knew that was never going to happen. And she would never allow it to happen. He didn't believe his concern for her well being was honed in male misogyny or sexism, he just knew what they were going up against. It was a good thing he kept his mouth shut, though. Because, in truth, he realized, he really wanted her along because he was still not up to par. And if he ever wanted anyone to cover his back, he wanted Barbara, or as she dressed, Batgirl, to be with him.

As she sat beside him in the Batplane, with Bruce piloting upfront, she was all woman in his eyes. Her costume was skin tight and she was forever the light in his darkest of nights. She was beautiful. Ever since they first met, he felt an attraction towards her, and it was not just physical. She had a kind soul. And there was always something about Barbara that reminded him of a beacon of hope. Whenever he was feeling down and in need of help, she was always there. Even after all those times he had gone out and struck up relationships with other women, she was always there for him when he needed to talk.

I've been such a fool, I never realized I had complete happiness right before me the whole time, he thought.

Since her Batgirl attire was still in Bludhaven, she opted to borrow one of the tribute costumes that was under-glass in the capsule chambers, one of which that had not been damaged during his fight with Arkells in the Batcave. And she looked stunning in it. He didn't know if it was his hormones, but he felt the black and gold gave her an angelic and sheer brilliant, goddess look.

He wanted to hold her hand, but felt now was not the time to engage in distraction. They were about to go into battle and a level head was needed, not one filled with lust. So, he used a technique that he had learned over time, mentally forming a corridor that housed a multiple array of half-moon metal doors in his min, and temporarily shut the door on that current thinking. He had learned over time to shut things out, but he only wished he could do the same thing with some of the other things that affected his PTSD.

Over his tenure with amnesia had had put on a few pounds, but his Nightwing costume still fit well, along with a black toque to cover his head. His hair was growing in fast and his scars were minimal, but he wanted something to cover his head for this mission. Call it narcissistic, but he did pride himself on his looks and his short hair as it was wasn't the best looking at the moment.

As he sat in the chair next to Barbara, he secretly did stomach crunches. He had to flatten his mid-section down. He knew he had to take it easy, as per doctor's orders, but he had to be in the best shape possible to be a helpful in this fight. Despite the added weight, he knew he could still hold his own. Twenty, now fifteen pounds, was not a lot of weight, but to his fluidity of motion, it would be a hinderance he didn't need. Not to mention his blood pressure. But he knew he could keep that under control with medicine that thinned his blood. His doctor mentioned he may need to take it for the rest of his life due to his injury, but only time would tell. He also had a new set of escrima sticks, so battling through whatever Jake Handles threw against him would be easier. And he'd find a way to win. He always did. Damian had his other set, using them in his persona as Nightwing Junior. He still got a chuckle when he thought about it. And he wondered, after all this, would Damian continue with it or hang up the costume? He had told the kid that he had to keep being Nightwing Junior because those who had targeted him had to believe Nightwing was out for the count. But now that the cat was out of the bag and all those who participated in the plot to destroy him knew Dick was back with all his memories in tact, was there still a need for a pint-sized Nightwing?

He'd let Damian decide. But there was still a need for Robin. And with Tim's condition, he couldn't be any help right now in that department. Barbara had told him that Tim's paralysis may only be temporarily, and he hoped that was the case, but he'd still need therapy after his movement back. Dick knew when the muscles atrophied, they needed a lot of re-conditioning.

Across from him, in another seat, sat Arkells, who had literally begged Bruce to come along. He wanted to make amends for all the trouble he had put everyone through. His sudden personality change was suspicious but seemed genuine for the most part, he didn't want to die anymore. Had the AI convinced him of that? Was the AI in survival mode? Nothing was certain.

The EMP bomb Alfred threatened him with that would fry his AI matrix also came along with them, just in case. Arkells gave his word that he wouldn't try anything stupid. All he wanted to do was help. But precautions were always the best thing when it came to an entity that once tried to kill everyone around them in a fit of revenge.

Dick suspected Future Drake had a secret agenda coming along with them, so he opted to keep a close eye on him.

Barbara suddenly snickered and Dick looked at her. "What?"

She looked down at his mid-section, he was still doing stomach crunches. His stomach folding in and out. Tights showed quite a lot, and there was very little to the imagination especially in Dick Grayson's case. "Dick Grayson, stop trying to impress me with your macho-manliness," she said smiling and she slapped his abs. He flinched. "I love you just the way you are, belly and all. And even when we're old and grey, I'll still love every inch of you." She winked.

He smiled, and then relaxed.

He then felt his face flush slightly as they both leaked in for a kiss. He was a modest guy, and with others around, he felt a little embarrassed engaging in intimacy, but he didn't care at the moment. He would use her kiss to fuel the fires inside him for the battle ahead. And he promised himself that would make every effort to talk to her about their future together after all of this was over. He had been thinking about the two of them a lot lately, and even before he was targeted. He also confided in Alfred about what he should do, asking his advice on possible 'future plans'. Even after all this time, she was the only women whom he felt nervous around—but in a good way.

He had once revealed that Barbara was the only woman who ever made him feel inadequate. But she then proved him wrong after the fact when they engaged in intimacy, even though she was still suffering from Joker's attack on her spine at the time. She told him afterwards, he was all man. And he made her feel like the luckiest woman in the world to have him.

They broke the kiss.

Suddenly, he found Arkells grinning at them. Dick saw his stare and looked over. "You do know voyeurism is a crime, right?" he said with sarcastic wit.
Arkells rolled his eyes. "It's hard not to see when I'm sitting straight across from you. Incidentally, your children will be beautiful."

Dick didn't know if Arkells was being sarcastic or serious since he was from the future. From his appearance, Future Drake was at least ten years older than the present Tim Drake, so Dick knew anything could happen within that time from now and then when it came to his relationship with Barbara—marriage, children, or something else. The good thing was, at least all the anger Arkells felt when he first saw him had seem to have melted away. He and the AI must be integrating better than Future Drake had originally thought, begging for Bruce to kill him at first because he thought the AI was going to completely take over him personality. Of course he was scared. Everything new was frightening to some, but after a time, things become secondary to their benefits. Dick just hoped both existed collectively well. But he would still keep on any sudden changes.

Dick was about to ask Arkells what he meant when Batman called out from the pilot seat: "ETA, three minutes!"

Barbara smiled and gave Dick a quick peck on the cheek before he moved to the co-pilot seat. Dick checked over and verified the instrument panel and confirmed that Treasure Island was dead centre on the radar. The last known GPS signal from the Batboat gave them the exact coordinates to the island.

Suddenly, a pre-recorded message sounded after a sudden audio bleep on the comm:

"WARNING! YOU ARE ENTERING A RESTRICTED AREA! ADJUST YOUR COURSE AND OBEY THE BUOY SIGNAL MARKERS PROVIDED; FAILURE TO DO SO WILL SUBJECT YOUR CRAFT TO SEVERE PROSECUTION AND IMMEDIATE APPROPRIATE ACTION. YOUR ID NUMBER IS BEING RECORDED AND TRACKED. LANDING IS PROHIBITED."

It repeated again before Batman switched off the speaker.

"Sort of a relaxed threat, no meat to it," Dick remarked. "It's changed since the last time I heard it."

"Do you think Handles will attack us in the air?" Barbara asked, coming to stand in between their seats. She gazed out the front canopy. In her sights was a beautiful looking island one would find in a fairy tale that had been hidden away from the civilized world. It was shaped like an S, with two enclosed bays, plenty of foliage and fauna, three-quarters of it was surrounded with sandy beaches, and in the centre was a mountain that jettisoned into the sky. It was hard to believe it was all a facade and built by Spyral to store their confiscated toys taken from criminals when they policed the world.

"I don't think so, he wants us alive," Dick replied. "He wants me alive, so he can finish the job he started, to get me out of the way of his plans. He's always been a person who hates leaving things undone. Handles mental profile has him suffering from OCD. So, let's give him incentive to give us a safe landing. I'll let him know I'm on board."

Dick was about to switch on the communications to an open frequency, but then Bruce put a hand over the toggle. "Let him wonder," Bruce said. "He's already tried to eliminate you once. He won't hesitate to quickly do it again by any means at this stage of the game. You're still a threat to his plans. Killing you now would only benefit him. Those sonic attacks detected all around the world have been originating from here. The Batplane is protected from such an attack, but it's still a threat to us."

Dick nodded. "You're right. Everyone put in your…earpieces," he said, Barbara smirked. He looked at her and knew exactly why she was withholding a laugh. "They will help inhabitant the effects of the sub-harmonics of Handles device. They'll also keep us in constant contact in case we get separated while protecting us from any sonic attack Jake Handles may throw at it. Sonic attacks are literally invisible attacks. No conventional weapon can stop them. And an attack of such can scramble your brains and blow them out from the inside. So, we're going to have to destroy his device or the whole world will be at jeopardy."

Arkells turned his seat to face the front. He held what looked like a standard, but soft looking hearing aid in between two fingers. He squeezed it and knew it would conform to an unintrusive shape when inserted. "I know what this looks like, but what exactly is it?"

"They are Sub-Harmonic Interference Technology, created by your younger self," Batman explained.

Arkells gave both Dick and Barbara an incredulous, but humour look. They shared it. "Really? And who thought of the name?"

"Why? What's wrong with the name?" Batman questioned, giving a momentary glance back. "It suits its function."

Dick withheld a smile. "And you wonder why I didn't use its abbreviation," he expressed.

"Just insert it!" Batman ordered. "Sonic attacks can deadly."

"Fine, putting S-H-I-T in my ears," Arkells replied, pressing the earpieces into his ear canals.

Dick chuckled and Barbara snickered.

It didn't take them long to get to Treasure Island, and before they landed on a make-shift landing strip without incident, they saw what remained of the Batboat, submerged half underwater near to a rickety old dock in one of the bays. Bruce did a quick scan of the interior and found there was no one inside the boat, but a good portion of the cliffside near the dock had seen better days. It appeared it had been subjected to a massive explosion. But investigating that would have to serve for a later time if allotted.

Once the engines had shut down, Dick turned to Bruce and said, "That was too easy. Handles must know we've landed."

Bruce concurred, then donned his cowl. "Be ready for anything," he emphasized before he leaving the pilot seat and headed to the bay door. Dick followed, and placed his face mask on with its adhesive to keep it attached. Barbara donned her cowl. Arkells used his chameleon ability to add a black face mask much like Dick's. Apart from the wings, he looked just like Tim Drake but dressed all in black like had been in the Batcave.

They all gathered at the bay door, Batman with his had on the handle. Everyone was ready, nothing needed to be said.

Once the door was pulled back, the stairs had already deported when the plane had landed, they rushed down to ground, weapons at the ready. Batman with his Batarangs, Nightwing with his escrima sticks, and Batgirl with her bo staff. Arkells had nothing. Batman wouldn't give him a weapon for fear he'd turn against them. If that happened, Dick would use the EMP bomb. Who had it was hidden from Arkells. So, if he did attack one of them, whoever had it, Arkells had a one-in-three chance of success.

But he didn't. Instead, they all stood back-to-back in a circle, their eyes glued in their respected direction.

Arkells looked around. "No welcoming party, huh?" he voiced. "I feel kind of insulted."

Nightwing looked around. He knew the island for the most part, bringing the sonic device here for storage, and subsequently sabotaging it. He should have known Jake Handles would repair it. He should have followed his gut instinct at the time and completely destroyed it. But at the time he was under Spyral jurisdiction as Agent 37 and he would have to answer for it. Too many times this sort of thing came to bite him back in the butt. Sometimes he wondered if Jason had the best philosophy.

The only way to truly eliminate a threat was to either kill it or blow it up completely, so it can't be resurrected, Dick recalled Jason once said. And he was starting to wonder if he was right?

Now because of his ineptness at the time, he may have been responsible for the sonic attacks around the world. No, he couldn't think that way. As Batman once said, "A gun is an inanimate object, it can't kill. Only when a human picks it up and uses it does it become a threat to society." By way of that thinking, Jake Handles was the direct threat. He had to be taken out.

"The mountain is hollow," Nightwing began. "There's a main operation centre housed within, that Handles is no doubt using as his lair, with storage depots scattered into sections, there's eight floors in total, including a subterranean cavernous system. The island has always been here but uninhabited. It was purchased by Spyral some time ago through an ecumenical exchange that was before my time. It was artificially built like Manhattan Island, I was told, but then it was built upon to make it look natural. As it stands, it houses some of the most deadliest weapons built by humankind."

He paused, clenching a fist.

He further said: "If it was up to me, I'd destroy this entire place! Be careful, I know Jake Handles, and he knows we're here. There are booby-traps everywhere for unsuspecting trespassers who ignore the warnings. He can probably see us on camera right now." Suddenly, he felt he was forgetting something and something important. But he couldn't quite grasp it. Hopefully, his concern of this forgotten thing wasn't something that would come back to bite him later.

"So, maybe we should finally announce yourselves," Batman said.

"Good idea!" Nightwing concurred, his sudden lapse pushed aside. He focused on the current situation. He cupped his hands around his mouth, then shouted: "Handles! Here I am, you son-of-a bitch! Come and finish what you started!"

To be continued...