Chapter 11 Fear of the Past
Batman's troubled mind unknown time and time zone
Batman found himself in a place he'd wished never existed. Crime Alley. He saw a couple with their young son walking through the alley, going the short way home. The couple in question, were Thomas and Martha Wayne, walking home from a movie, The Legend of Zorro, with their eight year-old son, Bruce. Waving a poster around like it was a sword, Bruce was a happy lad. Batman shed a tear at the memory. It was the last time he'd ever be happy. The last time he was under the wing of childhood innocence.
The Waynes stopped when a man emerged from the shadows. Batman scowled. Joe Chill.
"Hand over those pearls lady." The man ordered.
"Leave her alone! Martha, Bruce get behind me." Thomas confronted the gunman.
"Eh! I said hand over those pearls!" Thomas jumped at the man. He wrestled Chill, but he wasn't strong enough. Chill overpowered Wayne, and shot him and Martha. The man then ran. Bruce wished that Chill hadn't spared him. The years went by fast after that. Batman saw the training, the costume designing, the weapon forming, and the fleet building. Then Batman found himself at the circus. Batman knew better than to smile, but he did. He knew this event had tragedy, but it also gave Bruce happiness. He was sad because the Flying Graysons died here, but he was happy because this was where he met Dick. Dick became his son, and he made Bruce happy.
Batman took the seat where Bruce Wayne sat at the original event. The act was normal, flips, and swings, nothing Bruce hadn't seen before. But then the SNAP!
Bruce knew that Mary and John Grayson would fall, but his jaw dropped when he saw Dick falling too. Batman wanted to save his little bird, but his legs wouldn't move. He wanted to scream, but his lungs wouldn't let him.
Bruce could only mouth "Dick" looking down sadly. Suddenly the scene changed, and all was black.
HA HA HA. HEE HA HA HA! MMM HMM HM HMMM! AH HA HA HA HA HA!
Batman was encircled by his enemies. Joker, Poison Ivy, Freeze, Two-Face, Penguin, Riddler, Croc, Firefly, Zsasz, Mad Hatter, Bane, Catwoman, Clayface, Harley Quinn, Anarchy, Deadshot, Bronze Tiger, Magpie, and Scarecrow surrounded Batman, ready to attack. Batman got down on his knees and pleaded, "Do it. Finish me."
He didn't move an inch as the worst of Gotham closed in on him.
Gotham's uptown district, 2:00 am EST
Kid Flash, Green Lantern, Robin, Superboy, and Aqualad had searched most of Gotham's Uptown district, and had freed about twenty one people who had been kidnapped by Scarecrow and his friends.
One last location was left to be searched. Gotham North Clinic.
Scarecrow had gotten back from the League of Shadows base to check on his 'patients'.
"Everything's going well I see." He said.
"Yes, just peachy, WHERE'S OUR MONEY!?" Sportsmaster asked, almost popping a vein.
"I don't have the whole Team in my grasp, so you don't get paid." Scarecrow said. Sportsmaster grabbed Scarecrow by his shirt collar.
"Oh that's right. Kill me, and you'll get paid faster." Scarecrow mocked. Sportsmaster let him down. Scarecrow cackled.
Outside, Kyle was scanning the building with his ring.
"Yep, they're inside."
"Superboy, would you do the honors?" Robin asked. The Boy of Steel was about to bust in the door, when Kyle floated down and said, "Hold on, Supey. This is how you open a door."
Two goons were standing inside the door when the edges turned green. The door was then violently pushed in. Kid Flash muttered, "Show off." Another goon that was inside, saw the five young heroes and shouted, "It's the Justice Brats! Get 'em!"
Kaldur took his water bearers and formed swords with them. He sliced one goon's gun, and sweep kicked another. Kid Flash dashed in and punched out five more before one could blink. Robin threw birdirangs at one, and drop kicked another. Superboy punched out two more. They all ran into the main room. When they entered, Secret Soldier's eyes went wide.
"Get down!" He shouted. Superboy ran into the Shadow's stomach head first. Kyle then punched the guy out with a fist construct. Kid and Kaldur took care of two more goons that were stationed in the room, while Robin and Kyle finished off Sportsmaster.
Sportsmaster took out his flail and threw it at Kyle, who created a shield construct to block it. Robin took out his Bo staff and pole vaulted over Sportsmaster and kicked him in the back of the knees.
Haverage tried to run, when Robin tackled him, punching him till he was unconscious.
Robin ran into the patient rooms. Scarecrow tried to go after Robin, when a green band construct wrapped around him. He was lifted into the air, and then smacked into a wall.
Robin released his teammates and gave them each a bit of fear gas antidote. When Zatanna saw him, she tackled Robin in a tight embrace.
"Zee, it's okay, you're safe now." Before Robin could speak again, Zatanna put a finger on Robin's mouth, and began to kiss him. Wally fished out his phone from his pocket and snapped a picture super fast. Perfect blackmail.
The rest of the Team decided to get the villains to the police. They left Robin and Zatanna at the clinic.
When they were loading Scarecrow onto a police van, Crane laughed and said, "You still have one person left to save."
"Who do you still have captured?" Kaldur asked.
"Batman. And I doubt you'll be able to rescue him. He's at the League of Shadows base."
The Team paled. What were they going to do?
A/N: Next chapter: Finale. R&R.