CHAPTER 21
Batman sat uncomfortably in the center of three seats at the back of the helicopter. He knew that they'd have to land soon; they'd need to transfer to a jet if they were to travel to the United States. Maybe he could break away when they landed at whatever airport housed the jet.
Mr...uh...Batman, said Mr. Pak, riffling the folder he carried. "You do understand that any action you take against President Lee will have negative repercussions for your son." He set the folder down on the helicopter's floor. "I understand your restlessness but you can do nothing about the situation except obey the Beloved Leader's orders."
Batman's glare took on extra heat as he eyed Pak with distaste. "You, of all people, know why I have to fight Lee with all my strength. You were in Gotham five years ago. You saw those kidnapped girls and you know what Lee had planned for them! How can you follow such a monster?"
"I have my reasons," Pak said shortly. "Just take some advice from a Rheelasian. Torture is a way of life for our Beloved Leader. If you step out of line, your boy will die, slowly and horribly, even if the Generalissimo is obsessed with Robin. He loves power more."
Batman sank back into his seat, the roiling in his gut turning more acidic by the minute. He knew Lee's history only too well. Amnesty Inc. had listed Generalissimo Lee and his government as one of the most repressive offenders against human rights on the planet. And he'd left Robin there, in Lee's hands. Damn the boy! He didn't believe for a moment that Robin had been captured. Dick was smarter than that; he'd come in to save Batman's life in response to the leaflets. "When are these chains coming off?" he asked in what he hoped was a level tone. "You can't expect me to follow Lee's orders while cuffed and manacled."
"When we reach American airspace you will be released and allowed to dress in civilian clothing," Mr. Tan replied. He reached into a pocket and removed an injection kit. "And to make sure that you arrive there safely, I have insurance. Nothing harmful, just a good sleep." He uncapped the needle and stabbed it into Batman's body just as he began to struggle. The last thing Bruce heard was Tan's voice. "You will arrive home in Gotham soon enough." And all was darkness.
He woke up hours later. His arms and legs had been unshackled and he lay across a row of airplane seats. Of Harrison and Hamilton there was no sign. "Wake up, Mr. Wayne," said Mr. Tan. "It's time for you to dress. Mr. Pak and I will be staying at the Rheelasian Consulate and will meet with you at your offices at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow to put the plans into effect. We've already called Wayne Manor and arranged for your limousine to meet us."
Bruce sat up and rubbed his wrists absently. "What am I supposed to wear?" he asked. "Where is Mr. Pak?"
"We have clothing for you. It should fit well enough," Mr. Tan said."Mr. Pak is piloting the jet. We land in ten minutes."
Bruce struggled into sweat pants and a t-shirt provided by his captors. Mr. Pak had placed the Batman uniform in a suitcase and carried it himself. Tan went first down the stairway with Bruce in the middle and Pak following. Bruce looked over their heads and saw Alfred waiting by the limo.
"A pleasant flight, Master Bruce?" the butler asked smoothly, opening the passenger door. "And who are your companions, if I might ask?"
The smile Bruce gave Alfred was more grimace than anything else. "Mr. Pak," he gestured left. "And Mr. Tran," he motioned to his right. "come to us on loan from the President of Rheelasia to help implement some financial arrangements I have made with President Lee."
"Ah, I see," Alfred held the door as the men got into the car, Bruce seated in the center of the back seat with a man on each side. Placing himself in the driver's seat, the butler started the car. "And Master Dick? How is he?" Alfred asked, looking in the mirror at his master. Bruce's jaw clenched so tightly that Alfred's teeth hurt in sympathy.
"We'll discuss that later, Alfred," Bruce finally said, not meeting Alfred's eyes. "In the meantime, I think we'd like our privacy."
Alfred's eyebrows rose. "Ah, I see, sir. A moment, then." A clear glass partition between the driver's seat and the back slowly rose and clicked into place. A minute later, the three men heard a hissing noise as a gas filtered into the back seat area. Both strangers began to struggle but were soon rendered unconscious. Bruce, as soon as the partition came down, had dug his hand between the seat cushions and found nose filters which he quickly donned.
Alfred pulled the limo to a stop and opened the doors. They both quickly bound both men and put them back into the limo. Bruce climbed into the front seat and settled in with a long sigh. "Take us to the Batcave," he said.
"And Master Dick?" The old man asked with concern.
"He's still in Rheelasia. I had him, Alfred. When I got there..." Bruce swallowed and rubbed his eyes. "Lee had him drugged and on a bed, but I was in time...just. I got Robin out of there. They blew up the Batwing but we took cover in a burned out house. They took me but Robin got away." Bruce looked bleakly out the window.
"And?" Alfred prompted.
"And they got me. I had a leg injury and I was a prisoner, but that was okay because Dick was free. Until Dick's friend Rufus turned him in for the reward...Lee's holding him for ransom. I'm to transfer most of my stock in Wayne Enterprises and WayneTech over to him and use both Batman's influence and Bruce Wayne's to support Rheelasia's application for membership in the U.N. Until I've done those things, Dick is there, with him. Unprotected." Bruce turned to Alfred, face lined with agony. "Alfred, I'd rather leave Dick in the Joker's custody than with Singh Manh Lee! Joker only kills, Lee...despoils."
"Oh dear," Alfred said softly. "What can we do?" He glanced in the mirror at the sleeping men in the back seat.
"I don't know," Bruce said. "But we don't have much time."
"Surely, the League..."
"Superman refused to help me the first time I asked him. He's afraid of the political repercussions. But I think I know someone who will..." Bruce picked up the handset in the car and dialed a number.
"Ollie? Yeah, it's Bruce. I need you to help me with something. It's urgent and completely outside the League's purview, you okay with that? Yes, they can't know and it'll get us expelled if they find out. Robin's being held hostage by Singh Manh Lee at his compound in Rheelasia. Yes...that pervert...Good. Meet me at Wayne Manor and I'll explain everything. No, leave Speedy at home; it's too dangerous for someone his age. Okay, I'll see you in a few hours. Thanks." He put the phone down and dialed a second number.
"Barry? It's Bruce Wayne...yes, that Bruce Wayne. Listen, I've got a dangerous job that can't come to the attention of the League, you willing to help out? Robin's being held by Sing Manh Lee at his compound in Rheelasia, I need help to get him out...you've heard of him too, that's why we have to move fast...No...No, I agree, don't bring Wally. You know why he can't be in on this. It's much too dangerous...I'll see you at the Manor. Thanks." He put the phone in its cradle thoughtfully. "What the League really needs is a 'dirty tricks' squad, one that can operate under the radar without overt ties to the League itself. Outsiders. I'll have to think about putting together some kind of team after this is over."
Rufus watched the vignette on the rooftop from the shadows of the doorway. He could feel his stomach twist when Batman and Robin hugged for such a long time. His father had never touched him, unless it was to slap him. He thought it might be because he looked so much like his runaway mother, now living in Monte Carlo with her third boyfriend. He'd never had a family, as such, and had long envied Dick's possession of two doting adults who lived only to care for his every need. Every day after school, the old butler had come to the school in a limousine and each and every day had asked 'Master Dick' how his day had gone. If it were a bad day, the butler always told him in an affectionate tone that tomorrow would be better and offered hot cocoa and fresh cookies when the boy got home.
When Rufus got home, it was to a cold and empty house. The maid had usually left by then, his step-mother was out shopping and his Dad was at work. He'd make his own snack and hide in his room with his gaming system. His Dad gave him anything he wanted, as long as Rufus didn't bother him.
He watched Batman get into the helicopter and bit down the impulse to run after him. He could still go, get far away from here and back to the United States. But if he did, he'd betray Dick a second time; he couldn't do that, especially now that Dick had trusted him with his secret. And what a secret! Every kid in school wanted to be Robin. He smiled a little. Robin was his friend. Robin had come after him in the face of Batman's disapproval, even. He owed him.
The helicopter took off and Robin stood alone, his cape flapping in the wash off the rotors. Dick must feel awful, Rufus thought, but he wasn't all alone. Dick still had a friend and this time, Rufus wasn't going to let him down.
Robin stood alone, watching the helicopter take Batman miles away and felt his insides go hollow. Batman was coming back. He'd said he would, therefore he'd be back for him, he reminded himself in a kind of mantra.
Lee broke the moment. "Well," he said, clapping his hands together. "I think it's time for dinner." A beefy hand came down hard on Robin's shoulder. "Let's see what the cook has prepared for us tonight, shall we?"
Robin just looked up at him, not trying to disguise the hatred in his eyes. Lee ignored it and propelled the Boy Wonder down the stairs and into the formal dining room. Robin was seated in the same place he'd occupied at the other, ill-omened dinner. This time he didn't dare eat or drink anything, so he sat immobile, watching Lee serve himself generously from the platter brought by the waiter. He wouldn't let the man see how afraid he was.
"You're not eating," Lee said, his mouth full. "I can't have you starving yourself, now can I? Batman would accuse me of not taking good care of you! Eat!"
"I'm not hungry," Robin said firmly, his gloved hands in his lap. He'd fasted before, training with Batman. He could do it now. He glanced back at the doorway, blocked by two beefy-looking guards with machine guns and considered fighting his way out.
"I see," Lee said, sipping his wine. "Well, I see no reason for you to ruin my meal." He nodded toward the guards, who came forward immediately. "Take Robin to my bedroom. After I've dined, he and I are going to become much better acquainted."
Robin exploded into action, jamming an elbow into the face of the first soldier and a knee into the abdomen of the second, winding him. The boy leapt up onto the table and grabbed the chandelier overhead, pushing himself into a broad swing that took him closer to the door. He landed on the floor well past the guards and pulled the door open and found two more soldiers, pointing guns at him. Hands raised, he backed slowly away to the sound of applause.
Lee, still seated at the table eating, was clapping. "Bravo, boy! An excellent demonstration of skill. I look forward to seeing much more of your talent and Batman's training. But, for the moment, Guards escort him out and secure him for me..." He waved a leisurely hand and Robin was taken down the hall by the four soldiers.
When he saw the door to Lee's bedroom, he tried again. Spinning, he kicked one in the knee and got another with a well-placed punch. The third had martial arts training but wasn't very good; Robin put him down in three moves. He didn't notice that the forth was now behind him with a rifle in his hands.
The forth guard clubbed him in the head with the butt of the rifle and the boy went down like a stone. Stunned, he was dragged by the two guards who could still move, into the President's suite and dumped onto Lee's huge bed. The first soldier grinned and said something to the second, then pulled a set of hand cuffs from his belt. He fastened a dazed Robin to the wrought iron bedpost by his right wrist. They left, chuckling and joking among themselves.
Robin never knew how long he was out but when he woke he was still alone. He scrambled upright and tried to run for the door, but found out the hard way that he'd been cuffed when he was pulled back abruptly. Panting in near panic, he fished the lock picks out of his belt and began to work on the cuffs. Steady...steady...and open! He raced to the door and of course he was locked in. The picks were ready. Calmer now, he worked on the door lock. He didn't understand it, but Lee gave him a feeling of horror that no other villain ever had, not even the Joker. Somehow, just being in the man's presence was enough to rattle him. Maybe it was the greedy way the Generalissimo looked at him that did it; he felt like a bird facing a snake. He had to get out of here.
With relief, he heard the lock click open and hauled the heavy door open. And walked right into Generalissimo Lee with his ever-present bodyguards.
Lee reached out and grabbed both of Robin's shoulders before he could get away, the man's eyes staring at the boy with glittering intent. Robin was transfixed by those eyes and he froze. Walking the boy backward into the room, Lee said to his guards in a gentle tone, "Who was it that forgot to lock the door? Chung-Hee?"
A guard answered in Rheelasian and bowed. Lee rattled off a series of commands in Rheelasian. "Whoever it was, make sure he is disciplined! I've gone through too much trouble to get and keep this boy to lose him through someone's carelessness. Now, lock the door and leave us alone. The boy and I are going to become better friends."
The guard bowed again and, taking the other guard with him, left the room and locked the door behind them. Lee gripped Robin's shoulders more firmly and slowly backed him towards the bed. Holding a shoulder with a vice-like grip, he undid the fastener that held his cape. "You'll be much more comfortable without this," he said, taking the yellow silk garment and tossing it onto the floor. Robin's eyes followed it down, then looked quickly up again. He felt frozen with a kind of panic even though the back of his mind was screaming at him to do something! Anything! Yes, just like a bird with a snake, he thought, transfixed by Lee's knowing gaze.
A younger Dick Grayson had frozen like that when he saw his parents fall to their deaths; helpless to do anything but watch. Helpless...He...He...He wasn't helpless. He was Robin, dammit! Robin fought...he wasn't paralyzed with terror...He'd been pushed back onto the bed, lying on his back. What was Lee doing? Oh crap...he's unzipping his pants...Bending over him...This isn't happening...This isn't happening...