DISCLAIMER: All recognizable characters belong to DC Comics.
CHAPTER THREE: Unleashed
"... it on the spill, turn it over without putting any pressure, 50% of the cola – right there! You following me camera guy..."
"...so happens that Deena defies the laws of intelligence. I never thought someone would make Snooki look like a rocket..."
"... doing what you are doing today because you want to do it or because it's what you were doing yesterday..."
From where he stood next to the kitchen island, Wally West watched the dark haired clone sitting on the leather sofa flipping through the channels. Behind him, and mumbling to herself, M'gann went about the kitchen gathering one item or another in her attempts to master human cooking. Kaldur, also known as Aqualad and their teams exalted leader, was somewhere outside on the beach going to a swim in the big blue. Like the Atlantean did every night. All in all, it was turning out to be a typical Thursday night inside The Cave.
"... married tomorrow and so help me God if I catch you even so much as breathing the same air as her I will take those peanuts you're trying to pass off as testicles and I will squeeze them so hard until your eyes pop out and then I'll..."
"... Academy, where thirteen year old student Richard Grayson was abducted by three masked and armed gunmen. Several students witnessed the horrifying event while school security was..."
"No, go back!" Wally shouted when Superboy changed the channel again. He rushed forward, hands resting on the back of the couch to the side of the young hero. "Back! Go back!"
Superboy looked up at the panicked expression on his team mate's face and flicked the station back without question.
A boy in his early teens stands in front of a microphone, eyes flicking between the reported of screen and the camera. "I was in the hall grabbing some books from my locker when the alarm sounded. Scared the *beep* out of my, man. I'd only ever heard it during drills before, but we'd had one just a couple of weeks ago so I knew it was the real thing. Something *beep* upped was going on! Me and my buds did what we're told do, the whole duck and cover shtick. Try to, ya know, NOT make yourself a *bleep* target."
The screen changes to another student, a young woman looking to be a senior and shaking in the arms of her parents. "I always sit in the quad – the large garden that's in the center of the school. Its quiet there, and with the snow melted now it's nice to get outside sometimes. I just – I don't know if I'll be able to go back out there again after..." she shakes her head and the image changes again.
"What's going on?" M'gann floated up beside Wally and sat on the back of the cough, her feet dangling over the edge beside Superboy.
"I don't know," the clone answered with a shrug, still watching the young speedster from the corner of his eyes.
"Megan, get Kaldur," Wally hissed, never looking away from the television.
The Martian looked between to two boys beside her before reaching out with her telepathy and calling their team leader back inside the mountain.
"He's in my advanced placement math class," a blond boy, standing with a group of other students, was now talking to the reporter, "a real genius, you know. Dick's pretty cool, for not even a freshy. I didn't really talk to him much outside of class, but he was always ready to help me if I needed help understand the assignments and stuff. He's really quiet though, kept to himself mostly. Not a lot of friends that I knew of, except if you counted that ass Hamilton – and I don't think Dick did, not really. But yeah, he's in the quad every day at lunch. I hear his old man has him check in all the time. I guess I can see why now. I mean, those guys were checking out the guys in the quad; none of the girls. After the one stared at you for a second or two he moved on to the next. Scared the *beep* out of me!"
Another boy speaks up. "The big guy, he looked at the Grayson kid the longest. Like he was studying him or something. Then he just leaned over, whispered something to the kid, and next thing I know the little dude's fighting the bastard! Even with the douchebag behind him holding on to his wrists and hair, he got in some decent hits before the third guy got in on it and took him down. Tied the poor kid up and then they were just out of there, taking him with them."
"And none of you tried to stop it?" the reported asks
All of the frowns deepen and some of the students turn away. The blond begins speaking again, his voice quiet and shaking. "It's not like we didn't want to, it's just... you don't know, man, what it was like to be kneeling there and thinking that if you weren't the one they were looking for you'd be getting a bullet to the brain. I mean, we'd been lined up that the pictures we've seen in World History, you know, the ones showing people about to be executed. That's what it felt like. That we were all about to die."
One of the girls took up the interview. "I don't care what everyone thinks, but what were we suppose to do? These guys came in, lined us up, and took what they wanted with military precision. No offense to Dick, and I'm sorry his foster dad is going through this, but I wasn't going to get myself killed trying to stop them. I'm not that stupid, not like that new transfer student."
"What is happening?" Aqualad asked as he joined them in the recroom, a towel draped around his shoulders.
"Yeah," the obese detective in the clichéd trench coat and fedora smirked at the reported off camera. "A little girl was hurt when she decided to play superhero and tried to stop the-"
Recognize: Flash, 0-4; Superman, 0-1; Green Arrow, 0-8
Wally was out of the room in a heartbeat, leaving the three Young Justice members to stare at one another in confusion. Superboy turned off the TV and the trio followed the redheaded speedster to the Zeta Beam.
"-I told?" Kid flash was standing toe to toe with his mentor, his voice echoing throughout The Cave. "I'm his best friend! I had a right to know!"
"Wally, calm down!" Barry Allen placed both hands on either of the boy's shoulder, leaning down to look his nephew face to face. "We didn't know! Watchtower alerted us to the news feed and we came here immediately when we couldn't contact Batman."
"Batman?" Superboy stared at Superman with the perpetual scowl he wore in the older hero's presence, but the query was directed at any of the senior JL members. "What does Batman have to do with this Grayson kid?"
The three League members looked to each other before turning back to the Young Justice heroes. "Dick Grayson is the adopted son of Bruce Wayne." Superman answered the clone after a moment.
"Bruce Wayne is a major contributor to the League, is he not?" Kaldur questioned, still uncertain as to what was going on.
"Via Wayne Enterprises, yes," Green Arrow nodded. "The League, and by extension this team, required a significant amount of monetary support. Queen Industries is another."
"I do not understand," M'gann shook her head. "Kid Flash's reaction is not one of an acquaintance. Do you know Richard Grayson?"
It was Wally's turn to hesitate, torn between loyalty to a friend and honesty with his team. He settled for the middle ground. "Yeah, I know Dick."
Recognize: Batman, 0-1; Artemis, B-0-7
The Zeta Beam glowed brightly for a moment before two shadows stepped into the entrance cavern. Both seemed surprised by the waiting protégés and mentors.
Superman was the first to approach Batman. "Watchtower alerted the League members with the clearance; the kids saw it here on the news. It's gone national already. It'll hit the AP before midnight."
The caped crusader nodded and looked to Green Arrow who had approached and was looking at his protégé with concern. "She tried to stop them."
"I thought it was you," Oliver Queen squeezed her shoulder gently. "The reports said a student was hurt."
"Wind knocked out of me," Artemis admitted with a blush under the scrutiny of the elder archer. "I was fine a few minutes later."
"Is someone going to tell the rest of us what the hell is going on?"
Wally's bellow surprised everyone gathered and the teens couldn't help but notice the hesitation amongst the JL members. They all looked to their leader and after another moment of silent contemplation Batman's body seemed to slump in defeat. "I will explain in the debriefing room."
He was moving before he had finished speaking, leaving the rest to follow without question.
A few minutes later the heroes, Young Justice in front of the League members, stood around the large central holographic computer. Batman was closest to the machine and brought up a small window that began playing the footage from the school security cameras. Artemis felt cold at the images playing and was grateful for Green Arrow's comforting hand still on her shoulder.
"Holy shit!" From next to Artemis, Kid Flash exhaled the expletive as the blood rushed from his face.
The Dark Knight spared the red haired teen a brief glance before speaking. "As you all heard, at precisely twelve-oh-eight, three armed gunmen entered Gotham City Academy and forcibly removed one of the students – Richard Grayson. Kaldur, you and your team will recognize one of the men." A square encompassed the masked face from the footage and popped it into a larger separate screen.
"Sportsmaster," the young Atlantean confirmed. "He was working for the League of Shadows last we encountered him.
"So what do they want some rich man's kid?" Superboy asked with a slight bored tone in his voice.
"Dick isn't just some kid," Artemis snapped and levelled a glare at the clone.
This drew everyone's attention to her and a moment later a third screen was brought up. Dick's struggling form in the grip of Sportsmaster was playing on a continuous loop for the gathered heroes.
Superman was the first to speak. "Batman-"
"As ward of Bruce Wayne, Richard Grayson is a prize any two bit hood looking for ransom would kill for." Batman continued, ignoring the looks he was getting from his team mates. Artemis and Wally were the only one from the younger team without looks of confusion on their faces.
"Except it wasn't Dick that was abducted," Artemis felt the hold on her shoulder tighten and she was grateful again for Oliver Queen's presence behind her.
"I do not understand," M'gann could obviously feel the growing tension and worry that was permeating the room.
"Batman, are you certain?" The Flash's eyes, noticeable even behind his mask, widened with the implication when their leader nodded.
"What do you know, Artemis?" Wally glowered at her, and she felt the weight of blame falling to her.
"I attend Gotham City Academy," she admitted, meeting the teens stare. He blinked owlishly at her, not having expected that answer. "I witnessed the kidnapping."
"She also tried to stop it," Batman snarled and despite the gruffness of his words she felt the blame lifting immediately. The video loop ended with the man's deft manipulation of the keyboard and the brief encounter between the civilian Artemis and Sportsmaster was played.
"I didn't think we were supposed to interfere when in our civvies?" Wally commented quietly and glanced at the young archer curiously, but no longer condemningly. "You didn't know. Why would you…?"
The silence was heavy as everyone waited for her answer; one she couldn't find the breath to voice.
"The point is that she did," Batman mercifully interceded. "But what she said is correct. Before Sportsmaster succeeded in taking Dick from the school he was able to pass a message, through Artemis, to Bruce Wayne-" He lifted a heavily gloved hand toward his cowl and Artemis saw him hesitated, but only a moment before he was pulling it back from his face- "To me."
As there were only three teenagers in the room that were not in the knowing, the reaction to his revelation was not what it might have been. But it was still enough to stun the occupants of the room into silence.
"That is why Robin is not here," Aqualad was the first to make the connection.
"Dick Grayson was not Sportsmaster's target," the billionaire confirmed, his dark eyes falling to Artemis.
"He told me, 'broken wing'." She told the group, matching the man's stare. "It's a code to let Batman, his father, know that Robin's identity had been compromised."
"So, wait," Wally shook his head, the fear for his friend evident in his voice and his eyes. "Just wait! You're telling me – us, that Sportsmaster knew Rob's secret identify? How is that even possible? Nobody on this team knew that!"
"You did," Miss Martian pointed out to him. "You reacted to the news feeds before we were told anything."
"Are you saying that I told ratted him out?"
"I am just saying that your statement was incorrect."
"Do we know how this Mercenary garnered that information, Bruce?" Superman asked guardedly, his eyes flicking toward Artemis.
The teen caught the look and frowned and, by Green Arrow's sudden tightened hand, knew her mentor had as well. "She had nothing to do with it, and you know it, Boyscout."
Superman bristled at the nickname, spoken this time as an obvious insult.
"We don't know how he knew," Batman spoke up before things got out hand. "It's one of the things Young Justice will need to find out."
"Us?" Kaldur's raised eyebrows were the only indication of his surprise.
"Kinda thought you'd want to run point on this one," Kid Flash said.
Bruce snarled, turning his back to everyone as he watched the videos playing out on the screens. His hands clenched into fists and Artemis could see his arms shaking with frustration.
"We can't know to what purpose Sportsmaster and the League of Shadows have for taking Robin," Green Arrow stated quietly, "but they were determined enough to learn his civilian identity to get to him. By kidnapping him so publicly, and as Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne will need to be seen doing what is expected of a man in his situation. He will need to work with the authorities to get his son back."
Superman nearly growled. "The abduction of a civilian, with no apparent reason warranting the involvement of the League, will have to be left to the local authorities. Unless it was to somehow become a national or global concern, the Justice League cannot be seen publicly helping.
Superboy clarified for the rest of Young Justice. "They've effectively taken Batman, and the League, out of the equation."
"Very effectively," Bruce sighed.
The billionaire quickly pulled his mask back over his face when a window opened on the screen in front of them. A moment later Wonder Woman appeared with a sever scowl marring her beautiful face.
"Good, you're there," she said when she saw Batman. "There's a communication coming through for you and I couldn't reach you at the Batcave. Watchtower received it on one of the lesser know League frequencies, and its encrypted."
"Have someone else handle it," Batman growled at the interruption.
"No one else can," the woman stated. "It's not one of our encryption codes. The only thing we can get from it is a series of letters and number. BW-R911-3323-6328."
"Whose is it?" Superman asked, seeing Batman move to another section of the computer and downloading the communication file to the Mount Justice computer.
"It's one of Robin's."
.
.
.
.
Normally, Dick found travelling in the Wayne Enterprise's executive helicopter a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Despite the similarities between the two aircrafts, flying while lying on the floor hogtied with piano wire was definitely not something he enjoyed. His chest ached from the strain of his pectorals stretching to accommodate the pull of his arms behind his back. He couldn't even relax in the bindings as every time he did the wire would cut into his flesh and reopen his clotting wounds.
He had lost all sensation in his hands shortly after Sportsmaster had stopped talking to him, and Robin had managed to keep an approximate track of time in the air. He couldn't be exact, but as the machine began its decent, he had counted to nearly three thousand without interruption. Equating one second with each count, would place their flight close to fifty minutes; which, with the average speed of a commercial helicopter, would place the distance flown at approximately 200 miles from Gotham City Academy.
This would also place him anywhere in an area of more than 125,000 square miles.
Robin's ears popped with the changing of altitude and he lifted his head to try and look out the window, hoping to get some idea of where they were. He managed to see a small copse of trees as the aircraft lowered itself into an underground bunker. A moment later, the helicopter touched down and the overhead doors clanged shut.
"Ah, home at last." Sportsmaster chuckled as he rose from his seat, stepping over his captive and opened the side door before leaping outside.
"Were there any complications?" A familiar voice asked from outside the machine.
Twisting his head to the side so quickly he wrenched a couple muscles in his neck, Robin stared wide-eyed at the man standing next to Sportsmaster. "You?"
The eyes visible through the golden helmet remained expressionless as Sportsmaster grabbed Rick by the knees and pulled him across the floor. The boy cried out as the wire cut into the flesh of his wrists and ankles.
"Was the wire truly necessary?" Guardian asked the mercenary who was smiling with sadistic pleasure.
"You don't like it; you kidnap the kid next time." Sportsmaster chuckled and accepted a pair of wire cutters from one of his men. The cable between wrists and ankles was snipped and the bound hero was easily slung over the hired gun's shoulder.
"I don't like it," Guardian sighed, sparing a glance at Robin before turning away. "I find the idea of using a child like this repulsive."
"Hey! I'm not a child!"
"No," Guardian admitted, taking something from within the folds of his dark blue jumpsuit. "I suppose you are not."
"No, don't!" Robin cried out as the once-hero stepped around Sportsmaster and pulled the piece of fabric around his eyes. The boy fought, swinging his head wildly in the effort of dislodging the blindfold, but the knot was secured at the back of his head and he sagged in defeat. He was more than a little surprised when he realized he could still see.
Seeing his confusion, Guardian answered his unspoken question. "You have an identity to protect, young man. I can respect that. We are in need of Robin, not Dick Grayson. The only ones aware that they are one in the same are inside this room."
"Speaking of which," Sportsman shifted his burden on his shoulder so he was holding Robin in place with only one arm. The other reached for the pistol on his hip and drew the weapon without thought. A split second, and two deafening gunshots, later the other two men were lying on the ground with matching bullet holes seeping blood between their eyes.
"Holy shit!" Robin shouted at the sudden murders.
"Language, young hero," Guardian scolded as he escorted Sportsmaster and their captive away from the gruesome sight.
"But, why?" Robin started struggling on the mercenaries shoulder, the desperate need to get away from the pair overshadowing all else. "Why would you kill them?"
"You really wanted them to keep the knowledge of who you are?" Sportsmaster questioned as they stepped into an awaiting elevator.
"Do you really care?" Robin grunted as he was dropped onto the floor.
Guardian pressed the single button on the control consol and crouched beside him as the car began its descent. There was a sympathetic look in the man's eyes. "I appreciate that this is all very confusion, but I can assure you that we do not wish you any undue harm."
It was hard to believe that statement when Sportsmaster was kneeling on the other side of him and drawing a vicious looking hunting blade. Robin looked at the gleaming knife warily. "You'll forgive me if I don't trust you on that."
The top of the serrated blade sliced into the expensive fabric of Dick's shirt, starting with the embossed crest of Gotham City Academy, and began cutting it away from his body.
"You are a Hero, Robin," Guardian said, watching his partner carefully, "A young man that has great potential for great things. It is a shame that you are influenced by those who do not understand what must be done in the name of the greater good. But you are young yet, and there is still hope for you."
He was shivering, from the recycled air chilling his now exposed torso and the dread creeping it at Guardian's words. "So, what, this is your idea of an intervention?"
Sportsman chuckled, gathering the remnants of the shirt, and Guardian shook his head. "We are in need of a way to negate the collateral damage while we gather certain items we require. You, Robin, are that way; and when you have fulfilled your purpose, you will be released unharmed and with your secrets still intact. No one inside this compound, with the exception of Sportsmaster and I, know of your secondary identity. Though our employers will undoubtedly want that information, I will swear an oath to you now that both of us will protect that identity fiercely."
Robin looked between his two kidnappers as the words began to sing in. "What did you mean, a way to negate collateral damage?"
"In the past, our organizations have clashed. There have always been casualties on both side and it is not something I am comfortable with."
"So how about we stop clashing?" Robin quipped, only to yelp in surprise a moment later as Guarding lifted him off the floor when the door opened. Waiting for them was the horned genomorph Robin remembered encountering in Cadmus' subterranean labs with a gurney. He was placed onto it and a thick strap was secured over his chest – causing him to hiss in pain as the wires on his wrists once again cut into him.
"I'm afraid that is not a possibility, young Robin." Guarding walked along side him, his hand on the gurney. "As I said, there are items which we need to procure and it is anticipated that the Justice League – and your own team – would inevitably interfere. When last that happened, lives were lost and millions of dollars sustained in damage. We are trying a different approach this time. With you, it is our hope that your friends and mentors will step aside, allowing us to gather what we need."
"So in other words, kidnap me, hold me hostage, and blackmail the League into giving you want you want or else... what? Killing me doesn't exactly go along with not meaning me any harm, you know."
"I believe he said undue harm," Sportsmaster said from where he marched at the foot of the gurney. He looked back at the boy with a frightening smirk. "I, on the other hand, am hoping that you little playmates don't go along with this scheme and I get my turn to play with the Bat and his bird."
Guardian glowered at the mercenary who just chuckled again and looked away. "It is unfortunate, Robin, but should the Justice League, or Young Justice, interfere in anyway, we will be forced to follow through with our incentives."
"Torturing, maiming, killing, you know," Sportsmaster looked over his shoulder, "all the horrifyingly fun stuff."
"Sportsmaster, enough!" Guardian stopped their procession and pulled him away from the gurney. "You are no longer needed today. Leave, now, before I feel the needed to remove the identity of this boy from your memory."
"Of course," Sportsmaster shrugged off the thread. "Just having a little fun. Catch you later, Robin."
"My apologies," Guardian said to Robin once the other man was gone and they were once again on their way. "He is, unfortunately, the best at what he does. I do not believe we would have discovered the truth of your identity were it not for him."
"That's supposed to make me feel better?"
"I suppose it would not." Guardian stopped led them into a room and sealed the door behind them. "I do, however, regret that it has become necessary for us to take this step to achieve our goals. It would be so much better were we able to work together."
The genomorph removed the strap securing Robin to the table and turned the boy onto his side. A moment later, several clips sounded at his back and the wire around his wrists loosened. At his feet, Guardian was methodically cutting at the bindings on his ankles. "Barbaric," the adult mumbled as he worked.
The twisted metal cord was carefully unwound from his skin, leaving Robin sweating and breathing hard at the pain as it was pulled from the wound. "The damage is superficial," the creature informed them. "It will heal on its own."
"Good to know," Robin muttered and leapt into motion.
He kicked out with his feet still held together, forcing Guardian to stumble back several paces. At the same time Robin twisted on the gurney, driving his elbow into the abdomen of the genomorph beside him. He moved his body with the momentum, allowing himself to roll off the gurney and onto his hands and knees on the floor. He was scrambling away from the pair an instant later, dashing for the door.
It was only when he reached it that, at the same moment lifting right hand to his left, he remembered he was not in his Robin uniform and did not have the gloves with his computer. His brief flight for freedom was halted before it even started, and a heavy arm wrapped around his waist, lifting him from the ground.
"I appreciate the need to attempt escape," Guardian said into Robin's ear as the boy fought against the former hero's vice-like hold. "But truthfully, even you must realize that at this point your cooperation is your only course of action."
"Let me go, jackass!" Robin kicked back, the heel of his shoe connecting solidly with the man's knee cap with an unpleasant popping sound.
Guardian grunted but still did not release him. "You are leaving me with little choice," the man growled from behind him. "I wish to make your time here comfortable, but you will need to cooperate!"
"Fuck you!" Robin snapped his head back.
With a clang the back of his head connected with the solid metal of the helmet his captor wore. His body went limp and the world around his spun sickeningly.
Robin was aware of being moved and laid onto a flat, relatively soft, surface. As his head began to clear he felt the thick weight of leather straps securing his wrists and ankles where he lay. Others were pulled over his waist and chest. The room tilted, but this time he realized it was the gurney he was on and not him. It lifted him until he was in an upright position and facing the man that held him captive.
Limping, Guardian came to stand in front of him with a regretful expression in his eyes. "I find I respect your attempt, Robin, and therefore I will not punish you. This time. However, we are wasting time and there is much that needs to be accomplished."
Unable to fight anymore, Robin went with his last course of defiance and spit in man's face.
Sighing, Guardian wiped the moisture from where it landed next to his exposed lips. At first it seemed as if he would not respond, but a moment later the fist backhanded the restrained teen. "Proceeding from this moment, you will be punished accordingly, young Robin."
Ears ringing from the blow, Robin probed at his throbbing lip with his tongue. It was sore, but he did not taste the coppery taste that came with blood. He remained silent, glowering at the man standing before him.
"Good," Guardian nodded and the genomorph came to stand beside him. "Now, we already have means to contact the Justice League. What we need from you is an encryption code that was ensure it is seen by Batman, and only him."
Robin snorted. "Right, like I'm just going to tell you that."
Guardian looked to the genomorph who nodded and walked to a computer that had been unnoticed until now. "Thank you, Robin."
"What fo-" Even from where he remained, Robin could see the coding the creature was imputing into the computer and swore under his breath. The thing had plucked his encryption code right from his head!
"Damn telepaths," He griped as Guardian limped away for a moment, only to come back a second later.
"Remember," the one-time hero told Robin while he fingered thick rubber tubing between his fingers, "the more you cooperate, and the better things will go for you. It won't take long now, a few days at most, before you will be returned to your friends and father."
Robin stared furiously at the man. "Batman is so going to kick your a-ahhf!" The rubber was slipped between his lips and his head was forced down as Guardian secured the medical gag behind his head.
"The communication will be sent momentarily," Guardian informed the helpless boy before walking away. "It will be over soon."