Chapter 3

The sickness

Bruce looked over at Dick who had gone back to staring at the computer screen. "You used to be more helpful."

Dick pouted. "You used to let me out and have free range of the manor and go out with you on patrol. You need me out there! Don't you think after what happened to-"

"Stop it Richard! You can't leave here! Not now, not ever! That's an order!"

The defiant look in Dick's eyes faded and he looked down. "Yes, sir. Understood sir."

Bruce internally kicked himself. Of course Dick wanted to be free and interact with the world beyond a computer screen but it was just too dangerous. Bruce hated giving orders like that because Dick would never, could never violate them. The moment those blue eyes saw Bruce, was the moment Richard's freewill was null and void in regards to him. "Look, Dick I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I just think it's too dangerous for you to be out there."

Dick wasn't looking at him at all. "So say you. So what do you want to know about that junk you brought?"

Bruce sighed. "I want to know if it belongs to you, if you have any clues about the sickness and how it started before-"

"Before it 'wiped out' half of Gotham all those years before." Dick turned back to the stuff. "I'll analyze it and get back to you….you sure you don't want me to join you tonight? Even just to stay in the car."

Bruce nodded. "I'm sure, but if I need you I'll send the order."

Dick seemed to brighten a bit. "Ok."

.o. Past .o.

"You fools!" Joker hit one of his minions across the face before sitting down at his desk to glower at them. "You can't even complete a simple little task without letting the bat muck it up can you!? Dig a hole bring me the box! That simple! Still failure."

"But boss he just showed up and there was a kid in there."

"Exactly! That's what I wanted! And you let Batman get him."

"The kid?"

Joker slowly blinked. "Yes. The kid. That kid. The key to me bringing this whole city down to its knees! You see that kid is very special."

"But you shot him." One of the minions pointed out.

BAM! The minion dropped to the floor a small hold in the middle of his head. "And now I've shot you, but unlike you that kid will but up and about in no time. Probably begging to polish batman's cowl or something." He looked at his remaining staff. "You're probably wondering how that's possible aren't you?" They all nodded. "Well it's simple, the kid's a monster and was until he saw batman's mug an unclaimed one." He held up a beat up looking book. "Now I've got to find another unspoiled one or rather Benny does." He looked down at the dead minion. "Oh that was Benny, welp Jerry? You here?"

"Here." Jerry held up his hand and caught the book.

"Look through that book, find names in there that are not listed here." Joker threw another less beat up looking book. "and when you're done find out where those listed people are buried." He smiled. "Batman's new friend is going to need a playmate."

.o.

Bruce scanned Richard for the seventh time and shook his head. Still nothing on how he survived the gun shot and why he was drinking so much milk. Alfred had run to the store and practically bout the store out on all verity of milk…. leaving out the soy of course. Richard kept looking around asking about various things. He was also extremely helpful and rarely left his side. It was unnerving.

The first real clue Bruce got was when morning finally came. Richard had fallen asleep and Bruce decided to carry him up to the manor and into a room. Richard already knew who he was anyway so why try to hide it? On a similar note, he didn't seem all that impressed by knowing his name though did seem to know his last name and asked if he lived on a farm.

Bruce walked past a window and immediately recoiled into the shadows. The boy's skin had immediately burned and blistered in the seconds of exposure. He took Richard, who was still asleep, back to the cave and tended to the arm. Not knowing what else to do he and Alfred carried a bad down for Richard to sleep in. Against Alfred's wishes Bruce stayed up to research more. He fell asleep at the keyboard.

.o. Present .o.

Bruce left Dick and started to drive back to the other cave when the car suddenly hit something and veered off the road into a ditch. Someone cut the roof off with a saw and a dazed batman was dragged out into the street. Two big men held him up as what he hit walked towards them.

Harley Quinn smiled her sharp white teeth glimmered in the moonlight. "Hi yah Bats! Can Ricky come out to play tonight?" She rested her over sized hammer across her shoulders. She looked to be about seventeen but both of them new she was so much older. "It's a full moon and I'd really like to see an old face."