In Bludhaven, Nightwing, the first Robin and oldest adopted son of Batman, is on patrol. So far, it s been quiet. The worst thing tonight was attempted mugging which he interrupted about 9: 00 P. M.
He s sitting on the roof of a warehouse thinking of going home when he sees something across the street. He swings gracefully thorough the night sky, He lands in front of Magic World Bookstore. So much for going home early, Nightwing says when he sees a trail of blood leading to a trash bin behind the store. He turns on his night vision lens in his mask to examine the scene further. Another murder, he sighs He takes a Look at the body. It s dressed in a dark green sweatshirt and Blue jeans and appears to be female. He removes the mask.
Yes, she s a female with long red hair; eyes closed; she doesn t look much older than Beth, maybe 14 at the oldest. He removes the gloves. She s wearing gloves and not a coat. Odd. What are these marks on both her hands? A Chinese dragon on her Left hand and down her wrist. Her Right hand has a black T and a red heart with tears like blood coming out of it, He says. Since the marks may be Important, he photographs them. Besides the marks, the only thing that seems unusual on her is a gash on her neck. He photographs it too. He bags the evidence and gloves he used according to police procedure then changes into civilian clothes and calls in the death. This is Detective 2nd grade Richard Grayson. I just found a body in a dumpster behind Magic World Book store on 12th street. I was on my way home from Picking up a few Things for my wife When I found the body of a teenage Girl. I already found some evidence, he says. Luckily, for Dick, the arriving officer is Sergeant Amy Rorhurbach, his former training officer who knows his secret. Dick I ve been to your house. This area of town is miles away from your home. Nightwing found this girl, didn t he? Amy asks. He nods.
In Gotham, Batman is also In the midst of his nightly patrol. He just interrupted two drug deals and intercepted a shipment of Heroin from the Far East plus the usual muggings and rapes. It s just a typical night in the life of the caped crusader, so far.
Robin, head to the old section of the city, Batman Commands. If it s calm there, we might call it a night. You mean the area near Jason Blood s Shop? He asks. Yes, Batman Says. Any problem with that? No Sir; Just its Batgirl s Sector, He says. He hears a sound from his radio.
Planning to make Kissy face with Cassie? Oracle asks. The young hero just blushes. When they get there, they find Batgirl. The young crime fighter looks ashamed. Look at this, she says, voice trembling. She s starting to sound like she did when she first learned to talk. She holds up a martial arts weapon with blood on it.
HIS. she says angrily Who s? Robin asks.
David Cain s, Cassandra says.
As they ponder this, Cassandra notices a leg sticking out of a rain gutter. The three of them pull the body out carefully. A female looks Asian and appears to be about seventeen. She also appears to be pregnant. Stuck down further in the rain gutter is a mask. That mask reminds me of me of something one of my instructors told me, he tells his partners. I want to get a good look at the palms of this girl s hands. Batman shines a light on both of her palms. The left hand has a Chinese dragon on it. The right hand has a tattoo of a heart with drops of blood and black B.
If the marks and mask are connected, why would David Cain be involved if he is? The people this seems to point to usually do their own dirty work, Batman says. We need to call Gordon, but I want to do the autopsy myself. Jim Gordon arrives a few minutes later. Another Jane Doe? Jim asks.
So far, Batman says. I want to do her autopsy. I think this girl s death is related to a secret society that one of my mentors fought against. What Society? Jim asks. You wouldn t have heard of it and you d think I was insane if I told you what they believe, Batman says. You may do it with a trained doctor of your choice by your side, but you have to return the result to the DA if a viable suspect is found. The fact you re still alive after all these years leads me to assume you have a doctor who knows your Identity, Bruce, Jim says. I Agree to the conditions, Batman says reluctantly. By the way, Jim, I may need to go to New York City to tell my mentor what I found. This case may concern him. At seven the next morning with just a little sleep, Batman is standing over the body of the young Jane Doe with Dr. Tompkins.
Did you find someone to handle the clinic, Batman asks Yes. Thank you, my assistant. she says So far, nothing looks amiss besides low blood volume. I d say she died of blood loss from a severed artery in her neck, she says. You said you thought she was Pregnant. Finding out for sure and the age of the fetus could make the difference been the killer being charged with one or two murders if he s caught, of course she says.
Batman just nods.
They check the womb. Yes, she was pregnant, Dr. Tompkins says. Approximately 7 months. A girl. What would make someone go after a girl who s pregnant; the father of the child? Normally I d say the father was the Prime suspect, but I don t think this case will be that clear cut, He says.
Later that Day, Bruce receives a call from New York City.
Hello Bruce, says an elderly voice Bruce hasn t heard from in nearly 25 years.
Hello Master Lau Shi. Robin looks at Batman strangely when he hears him call someone master.
I hope you remember the promise you made when you trained under me, Lau Shi says.
Yes, it was a pact based on honor, he says
It is time for you to honor that vow. You do remember what told you about a group called the Huntsclan and the magic world s centuries old war against them? Yes sir. They ve terrorized your people at least since he Crusades. Now it seems they ve turned against some of their own young. This wouldn t be our problem if some of the victims weren t known to work for us, G says.
That seems suspiciously like a homicide I encountered last night. Young girl who looked 17. The fact she turned out to be 7 months pregnant makes the case even worse.
What evidence did you see that leads you to believe the young mother was a Huntsclan student? She has a dragon-shaped birthmark on her left palm, Batman says.
Was there a mask on her? G asks.
A maroon mask was found under her in the rain gutter, Batman says. Were any other marks found on her? Lau Shi asks. A bleeding heart and a black B. The oddest thing was the fact that someone seems to have forced a Silver ring down her throat, Batman adds.
It seems this young lady s crime was falling in love with a magical being, most likely a dragon, G says. Yes. They most likely thought or knew the baby was a dragon s offspring, Batman says.
Did you save genetic material from her child? We have equipment to test it, G says.
Yes, I did. I will bring it to you to test. The tests may Help clarify who we re looking for or at least narrow the suspects to the Hunts clan and to show motives, He tells Louis. I plan to bring a team of other heroes to assist me. You will need a team. The Huntsclan is worldwide. Is your son going to be part of your team? How do you know about Dick? he asks.
The same way I know you re Batman. I ve kept tabs on one of my best students, G says.
ONE? Batman says surprised. YES. My grandson, Jake. He s 14 and the first American Dragon. So your Grandchild did inherit Dragon powers. Did she marry that Jonathon? Susan Kept Tell me he was her destined love. I remember you weren t happy about that, He tells G.
Yes, as did his younger sister Hayley. No, I wasn t happy for a long but I finally accepted it. The fact that both children have dragon powers helps. Hayley is gifted academically and artistically as well, G says. I heard you have a Granddaughter too. For the first time during the conversation, Bruce smiles at the mention of Beth. Yes, I do. She s 10. Mary Elizabeth Grayson. She s very smart and quite the athlete, like her parents. She is being trained; partly for her safety, partly because she persuaded me to let her train. I hope that you can meet her someday.
You mentioned soul mates earlier. The fact that Dragons have soul mates is one reason we ve gotten involved. My Grandson Jake seems to have found his true love, a young girl named Rose. She was born with a hunts mark but she has turned her back on the Huntsclan to help subvert their plans, G says. I do believe that even the vilest villain can change, but you ll have to forgive me if I test her honesty, Batman says. I wasn t convinced myself at first, but Rose has shown herself to be loyal to my grandson and Team dragon as Jake calls it, G says.
Just then, Batman receives another message. Hello Bruce, I want to ask you about a murder I encountered last night. I found a girl about 14 in a trash bin behind the Magic World bookstore. She had strange marks on both palms: Dragon on the left, and a black T and bleeding heart on the right. The autopsy said she died of internal burns and blood loss. Where are you son? Batman asks In my work room in the basement of the house, Dick says. I want to add you to a conversation concerning similar murders in Gotham and New York, He tells him.
Yes sir, Dick says Lau Shi, this Is Dick Grayson, Also known as Nightwing, Bruce says. I ve heard much about you, young man. It s a pleasure to finally meet you, He says.
Only believe half of what you heard, both good and bad, sir, DICK says.
Good. You re humble, Lau Shi says. Lau Shi taught me much of what I know about Martial arts and other things you ll find out about soon, Bruce says.
What do you know about the murders Bruce and I both encountered? Dick asks.
First, what did your master tell you about a group called Huntsclan? He asks the younger man. He told me a story about dragons fighting an organization that was that was trying to wipe them and other magic creatures off the Earth. He told me the dragons could change into human form at will. I figured it was just a lesson about not judging a book by its cover. I know aliens and some magic beings exist but I ve never seen a dragon, Dick says. Dragons do exist. I m one, as are most of my relatives. You have met at least one Dragon. I remember your daughter s name from a spelling bee my Granddaughter Hayley Long attended. She and your daughter finished first and second, Lau Shi says. Oh, that cute little girl? Dick asks. Yes, G says.
Back the murder. The two we know about were murdered because they betrayed the Huntsclan, G says. Were any strange marks found on the girl s palms?
A Chinese dragon on the left palm and a bleeding heart and T on the right hand, Dick says.
The Dragon you spoke is the birthmark all Huntsclan members are born with. The Black T symbolizes that the higher up in the Huntsclan think the child committed treason. The bleeding hearts shows that she showed mercy to a magic being. Showing mercy or love to magic being is considered High treason to them. The third mark was found on the girl Bruce found. A B for bestiality, meaning she fell in love with a magic being. Was the girl pregnant that you could tell? WAS a ring found in her throat? No sir. Was the girl you found pregnant, Bruce? Dick asks. Yes, probably 7 months, unfortunately. Dr. Thompkin and I also found a Silver ring in her throat.
These guys have to be monsters to do that a person, Dick says Do you have the ring? Lau Shi asks. Yes Bruce says. Bring it, he says.
Excuse me, Fu is being Fu, G says.
Fu, What did I tell you about Interrupting my phone calls? G says. Just Wanted to talk to Bruce, Fu says.
Bruce knows you can talk But his son doesn t, G says. Who is Fu? Dick Asks. Lau Shi s animal guardian, Bruce tells him.
Ok. I can believe that after all I ve heard, He says We need to agree on a team for a mission, Batman says.
The obvious ones are Tim and Cassandra, Dick says.
I Think Selena will want in on this, Batman says.
Yes. I almost Pity them when Cassandra and Selena get through with them.
You d be surprised knowing how I felt in the past about Roy Harper, but I think He d Be good for this mission. He did well when we went to the island to rescue Beth, Bruce says. Yes, I always told you Roy worked well with others, at least with the Titans; besides, Beth is like family to him Dick says. The Victims so far have been teens close to Lian s age, Dick says.
Tim, you in? Dick asks. Of course I m in, I m Robin. Besides, those guys need be stopped and I want in on it! Tim says.
Cassandra, come out from behind the dinosaur, Batman says. Yes, Batman, she says shyly.
Are you in on the mission? Dick asks.
Yes, No one should have to die that way, Cassandra says.
What did you hear? Batman asks her.
Most of it. Some strange cult is killing their young members who betrayed them and one of the victims was pregnant. Dragons are real and can change into human form, Cassandra says. Yes. The rest we will learn when we get to New York, Batman says. We leave at dawn, so get some rest. Dick goes upstairs and calls his old friend, Roy. Roy, I have an interesting case for you.
Shoot Buddy, Roy says.
When Dick gets though explaining the case, the archer s first reaction is You have to be kidding. I wouldn t kid you about kids being murdered and Batman doesn t tease. Dick tells his friend.
Ok. What Time do I need to be in Gotham so can I can Leave Lian with somebody, Roy asks.
We leave at dawn, he says. Beth s probably going to be mad at me because it was going to be Family Day tomorrow. Yea. Donna, Lian and I were going to spend the day together too but I think they ll Understand. We had better leave the part out about dragons, though. That will make the kids want to go even more. I know. Beth loves magic creatures. Mermaids and cat people are her favorite. I think I should call Donna. She d kill me if didn t at least tell her about this case. She s Amazon. They live for things like this, Roy says.
When Dick hangs up, he hears his daughter Beth. I ll be ok with you going on a mission tomorrow, Beth says with a sneaky smile.
Good. What are you doing out of bed, Ladybug? Dick asks.
I was getting water, she says honestly. They go to Bed and Prepare for tomorrow. End of chapter Two