CHAPTER 11
"Well, it looks as though you've made your own way to me," an oily voice said from behind him. Startled, Dick whirled around to see Generalissimo and President-for-Life Lee standing much too close to him and beaming.
Dick backed away until his bare shoulders touched the cold wall. An angry Mr. Pak stood behind Lee and glared at the boy through his round lenses. "Not by choice," Dick said, trying to look strong and defiant. Hard to do, he reflected briefly, when you're facing down a villain in your skivvies.
"Oh, come now, Dick," Lee said unctuously. "You're my honored guest." At Dick's suddenly wide eyes, Lee laughed easily. "Of course I know your name. Mr. Hamilton has supplied me with your complete file."
Complete file? Dick's eyes wandered to the pictures on the wall. Did he know? Did he know? "I see," Dick said, calmly enough to be the Bat himself. "So you know why I got stuck in that juvie jail."
"Oh yes," Lee said, eyes gleaming. "If you'd like any drug for your own use, you have but to ask. I don't partake myself, but I like to see my guests comfortable and enjoying themselves."
Yeah, and easy to control, Dick mused. "I'm fine, thanks. What I really want right now is some clothing." He folded long spindly arms across his suddenly goose-pimpled chest.
Lee's face brightened as he watched the movement. "A shame, Dick. You look to be very athletic, your muscles are very well developed. Your file says that you began life in a circus as a trapeze performer. Is that right?"
At Lee's comment, Dick couldn't control his blush and suddenly didn't know where to put his hands, so he left them where they were. Clothing. He wanted clothing! His eyes sharpened as a thought occurred to him. Oh. Lee was keeping him half naked as a control method, to keep him off balance and malleable. Dick straightened. Lee wasn't gonna win this round and if he laid a hand on him, Dick would kill him and Batman's rules be damned. "Yes, I was a member of the Flying Graysons," Dick said. "But I've retired. I don't do much acrobatics these days."
"I see," Lee said. "I also note that you and I have met. At your home, as I recall. Wayne Manor?" Lee licked his lips almost hungrily, eyeing the boy in front of him.
"I wouldn't know," Dick said in a bored voice. "That was years ago, wasn't it? Bruce had that party what, five years ago now? I met a lot of people that night."
"I remember you," Lee replied, eyes deepening. "I remember what a...what was it Sheri said? What a heartbreaker you were." He took a step closer. "It is surprising that you look so similar to my true obsession," he gestured toward a picture of Robin on the wall.
He didn't know! Dick almost sagged with relief but realized that to do so would be a giveaway. He kept himself straight and answered, still bored. "The vigilante kid? Well, live in Gotham and you meet all types, from the overdressed villains to the weird vigilantes." He cast a dismissive glance at the photo. "I never thought that I looked like Robin, though. He's much more...coarse...than I am. Like a street kid, y'know?" He made his voice drawl into the spoiled rich kid tone he'd used in court.
Lee wasn't fazed. "Oh, I don't think so. You're very like Robin and you'll strive to recreate him for me, Dick. If you don't, you'll join your predecessors in another...career choice."
Dick raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
"I see that you need an explanation," Lee said patiently. "All right. Here it is. I visited Gotham City five years ago. A diplomatic mission on paper, but really to collect my shipment of nine blonde little girls for my personal...ah hah," he chuckled. "Amusement. That shipment was spoiled for me by the overt actions of a young vigilante," he nodded toward the monitor on the wall. "Robin, the Boy Wonder. I don't doubt that Batman was somewhere in the shadows, but Robin is the one I saw. I watched him fly on a rope, take down my Mr. Pak with a single blow, casually toss a batarang and take down Mr. Tetch. The boy was poetry in motion; the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen..." He sighed with the memory. "I had to have that beauty, that grace for my own. I had to hold it in my grasp..." He clenched pudgy fists tightly together and reopened his eyes. "From that day, my only goal has been to acquire Robin somehow. But I discovered how closely guarded the boy is. He rarely leaves Batman's side. His true identity and home are unknown." He walked over to the photo of Robin taken at age nine.
"I hired a photographer to take pictures and films of the boy in action. I found no gaps in Batman's security. None. Then I decided that if I couldn't have the real thing, I could at least love a copy." Lee turned back to Dick. "And you, my boy, are my copy. For as long as you are cooperative and able to simulate Robin for me, you will live in luxury, your every whim catered to."
"And if I don't," Dick all but whispered, captured by the sheer madness in the man's eyes.
"If you don't, you'll go to our famous red light district to earn your living. The soft don't survive very long there, although the candidates I send are usually well received and quite popular. For a few months, until they're all used up," Lee said dismissively.
"You know that Bruce Wayne is my guardian," Dick said desperately. "He'd pay you anything you asked for my return."
"I know that, but it isn't possible," Lee said. "If any word of my current arrangement got out, it would make me look very bad. Maybe bad enough to engulf my country in a war it cannot afford. No, my dear boy, you're mine for the rest of your life. How long that life is, well, that's up to you."
"Wha..what is it you want me to do?" Dick closed his eyes, not wanting to hear the answer plain, but he needed to know, to plan.
"For now, put this on," A servant approached Lee and handed him a bundle of yellow, green and red cloth. Lee took it and gave it to Dick. On top of the bundle was a pair of green pixie boots. "You did say you wanted some clothing. Well, there you are, Robin."
Dick looked around to see if anyone was going to leave while he dressed. When it seemed clear that they weren't, he quickly donned the Robin suit. It wasn't made of kevlar and nomex, like the original, but silk and linen. The shoes were doeskin and much softer than his own. Also much less sturdy. He fastened the cape of heavy silk-satin, then tied on the face mask. At last, he stood awkwardly instead of proudly, as he usually wore the uniform.
"Very good, Robin," Lee said. "Now, I want you to learn a few routines so that you can be my Robin. Mr. Tan will instruct you." He gestured and a small man in a black gi approached. Robin breathed a tiny sigh of relief. Whatever was going to happen wasn't immediate. He had a little bit of time to plan an escape.
HAMILTON SCHOOL-
Batman's next move was to call the only law enforcement agency he could be sure wasn't tainted, bought off or corrupted by Hamilton. Five minutes later, Superman landed.
"Batman," Superman looked around at the awed student body gathered outside the cafeteria. "What's your emergency? " He took a close look at Batman. "Your stomach is churning and your blood pressure's through the roof..."He looked around. "Where's Robin?" Superman demanded.
Batman tugged at Superman's arm and pulled him out of earshot. "Dick's being taken to a predator of children who has already stolen half a dozen boys who look like him. The helicopter took off three hours ago. We don't know the destination," Batman said in despair. "I...I failed to safeguard him. I put a tracker in his shoes, but they were stolen. I just found out. Clark," Batman gave Superman the only look of entreaty his friend had ever seen on Bruce's face. "I have to go hack the administrator's computer, see if I can find out where they've taken him before...before something terrible happens to him. I'm told that local law enforcement has been paid off. Can you..."
"Of course, I can," Superman said. "I'll call a friend at the FBI and get them to take over this school, make some arrests. They'll make alternate arrangements for the kids. I love Dick as much as you do. Go take that computer apart. If there's anything I can do, you only have to ask," he said to Batman.
But Batman was already running to the Administrative Building. It was empty of personnel; they'd already heard what was happening and, like the rats they were, they were scurrying off the sinking barge. He found the principal's office and sat down at his desk, booting the computer up and working as fast as he could. Dick had already been gone for three hours, he could already be past saving...
PRESIDENT'S PALACE, RHEELASIA
Robin circled Mister Tan, body set in a defensive stance. Tan, to his surprise, was almost as fast as Batman but twice as brutal on a lagging student.
"You are capable of much more than you are demonstrating," Tan had said when Dick feigned a lack of knowledge of martial arts. "I can tell by the way you move that you are trained."
Dick had already taken some serious punishment from Tan when he didn't try his best, so stepped up his effort but tried to keep it below Robin's level of expertise.
"Why do you work for a perverted sack-o-shit like Lee?" Dick panted as he defended against a kick from Tan.
"He is my master. I owe him my livelihood," Tan said, landing a blow to Dick's shoulder and forcing him down to the mat.
"You know what he wants me for," Dick said, circling again.
"I'm well aware that you are his catamite," Tan said. "You will eat and live better than most boys your age in this country. All that the Generalissimo asks of you is your love and devotion."
"And sex, don't forget that," Dick lunged at Tan and used the man's head to propel him over his opponent, landing behind him and placing a kick to the man's backside. "He's a pervert who steals children. He's stolen me and I have no choice."
Tan picked himself up and faced his opponent. "Better. You are the most gifted athlete I've trained so far. You will make him a fine Robin." Tan shrugged. "You will adjust. Or you'll die."
At the end of the day, Robin was taken back to his original room. This time, the closet was full of clothing: Robin suits identical to the one he wore. The fear and panic he'd been fighting down, began to rise again. He decided that a shower might help him feel better. He stripped off the dirty costume, leaving it on the floor of the bedroom and ran the shower extra-hot. He found the shampoo and had just finished washing his hair when his eye caught a small, round divot in the tile about waist level.
He grabbed a towel and had covered himself before he even turned the water off. He looked at it closely and was pretty sure he'd found a hidden camera. So, why was he so surprised? This was no more than par for the course. He took a second towel and hung it over the shower spigot, draping it over the mini-cam.
Wrapping the towel securely around his waist, he dashed into the room and grabbed fresh underwear from the drawer. He went into the dark closet and dressed in a fresh Robin uniform. If Lee had a camera in the closet, it had better be infrared for all the jollies he was going to get!
HAMILTON SCHOOL
Batman heard the bustle when the FBI arrived. Superman, bless him, kept everyone out of the office while Batman worked. He'd been through every file twice and was now looking on the flash drives he'd found in the desk. The first had nothing on it, but the second...There were three files, encrypted. He focused harder and dug into the files.
Four hours later, a hand set a cup of steaming coffee in front of him. Batman came out of his trance and looked to see who it was. Superman stood next to the computer with his own cup of coffee in hand.
"You're still here?" Batman rasped.
Superman nodded. "They just took the last bus of students away. They've arrested all the staff here and some of them are starting to sing. None of them know where Dick is, though," he sighed and sipped at his coffee.
Batman took a sip of his as well. "You make this?" he gestured with the cup.
Superman nodded.
"It's crap," Batman said.
Superman just smiled. "Have you found anything yet?" he asked.
Batman pulled his cowl back and rubbed at tired eyes. "I've found hints of where they take the boys. I pray that I'm wrong."
Superman's eyes sharpened. He suddenly became the ace investigative reporter, Clark Kent. "What have you found?" He pulled a chair over and sat next to Batman.
"Do you see these e-mails here...and here?" Batman said. "They've bounced all over to hell and gone but seem to have originated in Rheelasia." He sipped at the coffee again, grimaced and set it down. "Did I ever tell you about the Generalissimo, President-for-Life Singh Manh Lee?"
"You don't have to," Superman said. "I did an expose on child trafficking last year. Rheelasia is pulling in several billion dollars per year running brothels filled with children stolen from other countries..." Superman stopped and his eyes grew wide. "Not Dick...Not there!"
Batman simply nodded. "I think so. The last time I dealt with Generalissimo Lee, it was little girls and...my God...I introduced Dick to that bastard!" He stood up. "I have to go. I have to go now!" He looked over at Superman again. "It'll take me eight hours steady flight to get there from here...Superman, you're faster. Can you fly there and get my boy back?"
Superman's face took on a troubled expression. "Bruce...I...I...wish I could," he said.
"What do you mean?" Batman was aghast. Superman had never refused a request like that. Ever.
Superman turned agonized eyes on his best friend. "Bruce, last week Rheelasia entered a petition with the United Nations to become a member. The UN is committed to this. It could normalize relations with Rheelasia if it passes and allow some real changes to be effected. If I enter Rheelasian airspace without permission, I'll jeopardize the League's UN charter. And that holds true for any member of the Justice League," he said miserably. "Generalissimo Lee is untouchable, Bruce."
Batman fixed Superman with a long, cold glance. "You'd put politics ahead of Dick's safety? You've known him since he was eight years old!"
"If we lose that charter, we lose the League," Superman said. "And think of all the people the Justice League is able to help every year because the UN sanctions us!"
"To Hell with you and your UN Sanction!" Batman shouted. "At least tell me you aren't going to try to stop me, because you know I'll stop you first. And I'll make it hurt."
Superman stood with hands raised. "I won't try to stop you, Bruce. I just can't be seen to be helping you. Go! Get him back. I'll do what I can from this end."
Batman raced to the Batwing, which he'd parked out in the desert near the school. As he began pre-flight checks and set the course, he pondered the call he'd have to make now. As far as Alfred knew, Dick and he were still working undercover at the school. But he knew he'd need Alfred's help on this one, if only to keep him sane.
The preflight took much less time than anticipated and Batman set off, the Batwing pointing due west toward the Pacific Ocean. Hesitantly, he touched a hand to the radio.
"Yes sir," Alfred answered promptly. "How may I help you?"
Bruce cleared his throat, his voice barely audible. "Alfred...I...I've lost Dick. He's been taken."
"Excuse me, Sir, but I didn't catch that," Alfred responded. "Please say again?"
"Alfred, I should never have allowed this. At least if Dick were in juvenile hall, he'd be safe. He's...he's been sold to the pedophile that's been taking boys from this school..."
Bruce heard a long silence before Alfred's voice responded. "Understood, Sir. You are going after him?"
"Yes. He's eight hours ahead of me, travelling to Rheelasia, probably to the presidential palace of Singh Manh Lee. I'll need weather reports for the area, wind speeds and potential landing places for the Batwing," Batman said as crisply as he could.
"He'll be safe, Sir," Alfred said. "He's a resourceful lad and you've trained him well."
"I hope so," Batman said.
Being Batman, he couldn't help his training. During his career as the Bat, he had made a practice of planning for contingencies, all contingencies. He had plans for alien invasion of earth, plans to take down each member of the Justice League if it became necessary, plans in case of his own death. He had never thought to plan for...he took in a deep breath...He had never thought to plan for the sexual assault of his young partner and its aftermath. He had never considered the possibility that he would fail to protect young Robin from any danger, and such a danger...The files flashed through his mind, the ones he'd forbidden Dick to read. Bruce knew what had become of other children kidnapped by and for Generalissimo Lee. They hadn't just disappeared or just died. The lucky ones died quickly. The less lucky...He'd spent millions quietly tracking them down and offering them transport out of the country if they wanted it, to a place of safety where they could recover from Lee's brothels.
Leslie managed that fund and supervised the workers. The underground railroad out of Rheelasia still existed, as did the safe houses. If necessary, he could take Dick to one of them, where there were counselors and medical care.
The other statistic flashed across his memory. Those kidnapped children, now grown up too soon...Most of them didn't want to be returned to their families. They had been too changed, too damaged by their experiences, what they had had to do to survive.