Author: Syl Francis
Email: [email protected]
Title: Robin, the Boy of Steel [An Elseworlds Tale]
Rating: PG
Part 5

****

Summary: It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...Robin?! Part 5 contains Chapters 21-
26, plus the Epilogue. The conclusion to the series: Robin survives his first
exposure to Kryptonite, but will he survive Ra's Al Ghul's diabolical plans for
him? Tune in, Bat-fans!

Disclaimer: All the characters are owned by DC Comics and Time/Warner; this is
an original story that does not intend to infringe on their copyright.

Feedback is welcome!

Copyright June 2000

****

Robin: the Boy of Steel [An Elseworlds Tale]
By Syl Francis

Chapter Twenty-One

"Bruce?" Dick's raspy voice sounded frightened. "What's the matter?"

Bruce's tear-streaked countenance smiled down at him. "Nothing, son. Everything
is fine, now." Touching his forehead to Dick's, Bruce closed his eyes
momentarily, sending a silent prayer of thanks. He felt Alfred's warm hand on
his shoulder, squeezing sympathetically.

Bruce stood, mindful of his precious bundle. "Don't worry, Dick. We'll have you
back in your own bed in no time," he said.

"Bed--?" Dick whispered. "But I just woke up..."

Bruce felt his throat tighten. Despite his weakness, Dick sounded feisty.
Bruce's mouth quirked slightly. He carefully laid the sick boy in bed and tucked
the blankets all around him.

"Hey, who's the boss?" he asked, his voice gently caressing.

As Bruce arranged the pillows, Dick looked up at him, blinking slowly as if
having trouble with the meaning behind the words. Finally, his mouth formed the
barest ghost of a sleepy, lopsided grin.

"You are," he whispered.

His heart filling with happiness, Bruce continued the game. "Who makes the
rules?"

"You do..." Dick said softly, his eyes fluttering

"Who loves you more than..." Bruce's voice caught. He bent down and kissed his
son on the forehead. "...more than anything in the world?"

"You..." Dick said, and dropped off...

****

"I don't understand," Leslie said, shaking her head. "Dick's entire immune
system was in total arrest. Don't get me wrong, Bruce. But why isn't he dead?"

Bruce looked up from the blood samples he was studying. Nothing made sense. The
original blood samples had succumbed entirely to the radiation poisoning. Under
the electron microscope they were pulsing with the now familiar sickly green.

Bruce ran his hand through his hair. It was past noon and he still hadn't been
to bed. Dick was sleeping soundly. He'd even been able to take a little broth
earlier. He'd shown steady improvement throughout the morning; however, since
noon he'd remained about the same. He was still extremely weak, barely able to
hold his head up without assistance.

"I don't know, Doc," Bruce admitted. "The data tells us nothing except that Dick
should be dead. And yet, he isn't--for which I'm grateful. But, what do we do
now?"

"Start over," Leslie said. "Run new blood tests, use the old samples as the
control. I hate to do this to him, but we should probably draw samples at least
once an hour to track his progress." She sighed. "And if I weren't so completely
exhausted, I would've suggested that already."

Leslie pinned Bruce with a tired stare. "For now, all we can do, Bruce, is keep
him comfortable. And *you* should get some rest. You're no good to Dick this
way." She walked up to where he was sitting hunched over, and gently took his
face in her hands. Bending down, she kissed him tenderly on the forehead.

"You, Dick, and Alfred are all the family I have, Bruce. Call me selfish, but I
don't want to lose any of you. We all had a terrible fright last night. We're
exhausted and not functioning at full capacity. A good night's sleep will help
clear the cobwebs. Who knows, maybe the answer is right in front of us, but our
brains are too foggy to see it."

Bruce nodded in reluctant agreement. He stood, too, and placing his arm around
Leslie's small waist, he walked upstairs with her.

"Let's look in on him, Bruce," Leslie suggested. Bruce nodded.

The gloomy interior emphasized that Dick's room was a sick chamber. Earlier with
the sun streaming in, it had seemed more hopeful somehow, but now with the
shades drawn, it'd grown depressing.

Bruce walked over to Dick's bed and sat on the side. The youngster appeared
weaker than before.

"Leslie, I don't like the way he looks," Bruce said worriedly. "You don't think
he might be having a relapse?"

Leslie answered by opening her medical bag and taking out her stethoscope. She
checked Dick's vitals and didn't like what she saw. Dick *was* weaker than he'd
been this morning.

"Bruce, he's slipping. I suggest we set up the monitoring equipment again. Just
in case," she added.

"Let's get some light in here," Bruce growled. "It looks like a morgue!" With
angry movements, he drew the curtains and blinds to let in the day. Because the
room was facing east, the afternoon sun wasn't streaming in.

"I don't understand, Leslie. He was improving steadily this morning. What
happened?"

Leslie shook her head and shrugged helplessly. "I just don't know, Bruce. I
don't know." She turned to look down at Dick's pinched face.

Bruce walked to the French doors, his hands deep in his pockets. After all this,
could he still lose Dick? It seemed impossible.

"Master Bruce?" Alfred stood respectfully at the door. "Sir, should I inform
Miss Selina? She would wish to be told, I believe."

"Tell her what?" Bruce asked quietly. "That Dick may be dying and we don't know
the reason? That I can't take him to a hospital, because--excuse me--but his
alien physiology might give away the fact that he isn't quite human?" Bruce
pinned Alfred with a cold glare.

"Should we tell her that he's been accidentally poisoned by a rock that I
stupidly left where it could be reached by a curious child with no warnings of
its being a potential hazard?"

"Sir, you didn't know. You mustn't blame yourself!"

"The *hell* I can't!" Bruce stopped, working through the passions that were
threatening to consume him. "I'd just told him...*told* him, that it was my job
to love and protect him. But now when he needs me, *really* needs me to come
through for him, I've failed him."

"Bruce, Alfred's right. You can't blame yourself. Household accidents happen. No
one's to blame."

"I know," Bruce said quietly. "But it doesn't help." He stepped out into the
balcony and breathed in the warm summer air. "I should've let him play out here
more often," he said. "Let him fly up there in the clouds with the sun shining
on him. Dick loves to play outside, Leslie. Did you know that? He told me once
that it made him feel all sunshiny on the inside." Bruce grinned. "All sunshiny
on the inside," he repeated.

"But I wouldn't let him. Rule number one...no daylight flying where you might be
seen." A bright red cardinal flew across the vast lawn at this moment and
alighted on the giant maple. "Yet, if Dick were a *normal* kid with a special
gift for playing the piano, I would never have denied him. I would've encouraged
him, in fact--"

"Master Bruce!" Alfred interrupted. Bruce looked at him, surprised. "I
apologize, sir, but what you just said about Master Dick playing outside! How
did he describe it again?"

"What? That it made him feel all 'sunshiny' inside," Bruce repeated. "I thought
it was cute," he added, shrugging.

"Sir, Dr. Leslie, if I might be so bold, but could that be the answer?"

"What? Could what be the answer?" Bruce asked blankly.

"Sir, remember the young master's sleepwalking episode?"

"Of course."

"Do you remember Master Dick's condition the following morning?"

Bruce nodded. "He complained of a headache."

"Yes, and do you remember that I gave him two children's aspirin?"

Bruce nodded again. "So, what's your point?"

"Sir, I remember distinctly that almost within seconds of taking the aspirin,
Master Dick reported his headache gone. But that's not possible. The aspirins
can't take effect that quickly."

"I still don't understand what you're trying to get at, Alfred," Bruce said,
confused. By now Leslie was also paying close attention to what Alfred was
saying.

"Sir, I remember the morning as if it were yesterday. It's a memory that's
remained indelibly imprinted. I remember how the sky looked when the sun began
to rise. How the winter landscape looked with the sun gleaming upon it. But more
importantly, I remember that because Master Dick was feeling ill, you'd sat him
on your lap. It was the first time you'd ever done that. You were comforting him
as naturally as any father would, and I remember thinking that perhaps, now--
well, never mind what I was thinking." Alfred waved his hand as if erasing his
words.

"I remember that the sunlight finally reached the kitchen bow windows and came
streaming in. You and Master Dick were clearly outlined in a bright sunbeam.
Master Bruce, it was a wondrous sight to behold. And that's why I never forgot
it."

Leslie and Bruce exchanged strange looks and then turned back to him. This time
it was Leslie who spoke.

"Alfred, what are trying to say? Is there something significant to what you're
telling us? I mean, besides it being a beautiful memory?"

Alfred sighed exasperatedly. "Don't you see? As soon as you were bathed in the
sunlight, Master Dick announced that his headache was gone. Almost to the
second." He looked at each one in turn. "The same thing happened here. Master
Dick was near death, but as soon as he was bathed in sunshine, he took a turn
for the better."

Leslie and Bruce looked stunned at Alfred's words. The implications were
astonishing.

"But how could the *sun* be responsible?" Leslie asked. "I mean, it's only white
light. We've exposed Dick *and* the blood samples to white light all night long.
It's made no difference whatsoever."

"I can't explain that, of course," Alfred said. "Perhaps there's something
specific to sunlight--"

"Waitaminute," Bruce interrupted. "When Dick's told us about his dreams, he's
mentioned a world with red skies. All this time, I was picturing a sky like ours
during sunset. You know, a star that doesn't rise far above the horizon. But
what if--? What if, he's describing a planet with red skies, because--"

"--Because it has a *red* sun?" Alfred finished. "Sir, isn't a red star an older
star? Perhaps even a dying star?"

Bruce nodded. "I've assumed that Dick's powers were indigenous to his people.
That his flying ability was maybe a result of our planet's lighter gravity. But
lighter gravity wouldn't really explain an ability to fly, just jump farther and
higher."

"Sir, I don't believe that Master Dick has ever mentioned that the people of his
planet were anything other than normal. Much as we are."

Bruce held up his hand, as if thinking.

"Normal," Bruce repeated. "His people were normal." Turning excitedly, he
addressed Leslie.

"Doc--theory: Let's say that Dick comes from a planet that had a much heavier
gravity than Earth's and revolved around a red star. His home world was part of
a much older, dying star system. Perhaps the star itself was getting ready to go
nova and its own internal instability affected the planets around it--I don't
know, maybe caused some kind of gravity spatial anomaly or something--and this
resulted in Krypton exploding."

Leslie joined in. "If the key is the sun, then perhaps Dick's people were
'normal' because the light from the red star was too weak to produce these
incredible powers that Dick has here on Earth."

"Sunshiny inside," Bruce murmured to himself. "Dick *feels* sunshiny inside...I
thought he meant that sunshine made him feel happy, but what if--? Doc, are you
thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I'm not sure, Bruce, but let's try it anyway...!"

****

By mid-afternoon Dick was sitting up and looking almost like his former self.
Alfred had set up a chaise lounge on the poolside patio. Prior to taking him
outside, Leslie had drawn four tubes of blood. Once Dick was outside for an
hour, she'd drawn another four tubes.

As soon as she had them, she hurried downstairs to the cave and began to work.
Bruce stayed outside with Dick, refusing to leave his side.

With each hour that passed, Leslie wordlessly drew another four samples from the
boy. Dick slept through most of the ministrations, stirring on occasion,
murmuring softly in his sleep.

"Bruce--? Dad--?" he mumbled, his face troubled. "Daddy--?"

"I'm here, son," Bruce said softly. Hesitating slightly, he choked, "Daddy's
here. I won't leave you, son. I promise."

Dick's face smoothed out, becoming relaxed. As Bruce sat over him, he was
startled by the miraculous transformation. Within minutes of being outside in
the sun, Dick's deathly pallor began to gain its normal rosy coloring. His
breathing grew steadier, stronger...

****

When Dick woke, the first thing he saw was Bruce leaning over him, his dark blue
eyes smiling softly. Fuzzy from sleep, still weak from his illness, Dick smiled
back.

"Hey, partner," Bruce greeted. "How're you feeling?"

Dick realized he was parched from thirst. And starving. Blinking at Bruce, he
tried to answer him but couldn't.

Bruce instantly had a glass of water next to him. He solicitously held a straw
up to Dick's dry lips and helped him sip.

"Better?" Bruce asked. Dick nodded gratefully.

"Uh-huh," he said softly. Looking around, he was surprised to see that he was
lying outside by the pool. "What--? Why--?"

"Later," Bruce said gently. "Are you hungry?"

Dick nodded. Talking was too tiring.

"Good. Alfred's fixed you some of his special chicken soup and homemade bread.
What do you think? Would you like some?"

Smiling slightly, Dick nodded again.

"Did I hear someone mention 'Chicken soup'?" Alfred asked. He placed a fully
laden tray down on a poolside table. Beaming at Dick, he uncovered the soup
tureen and started to serve the patient a generous portion.

Dick tried to reach for the soup bowl, but found that his arms felt too heavy to
lift. Inexplicably he felt like crying and tears suddenly started to fall down
his cheeks. What was wrong with him, he wondered?

Bruce saw the tears right away, and gently took Dick into his arms. "Hey,
munchkin, everything's going to be all right," he murmured. Dick nodded, gaining
comfort from being held. "Here, why don't we raise your lounger so's you can sit
up a bit more?"

As Bruce said this, Alfred adjusted the chaise lounge. Bruce then gently sat
Dick back, drawing the light blanket around his shoulders.

"There," Bruce said, sitting back. "Now, you let *me* do all the work. You just
eat and enjoy, understand?"

Dick nodded. "'Kay."

****

Bruce sat by Dick all afternoon. As the shadows started growing, he felt a
growing fear inside. What if this wasn't working? What if Dick needed continuous
exposure to the sun, and now that the sun was going down he'd have a relapse?
Could he survive another night like last night?

Dick was resting again. A light evening breeze ruffled his dark hair. He looked
so peaceful. Perhaps everything was going to be all right after all. Bruce
suddenly felt someone's eyes on him. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Leslie
leaning against the open door.

She was smiling.

Bruce instantly felt a stab of hope.

Leslie nodded at him. Moving from the open door, she walked up to Bruce who
stood immediately and gratefully fell in her arms. All the worry, all the fear,
all the terror of the past twenty hours washed over him. He allowed her to hold
him once again, to comfort him like that time so long ago in a dark alley. A
dark night when he'd lost all that he'd held dear to him.

Bruce allowed himself to cry softly on her shoulder once again.

"Thank you, Leslie," he whispered in soft sobs. "Thank you."

Gently taking his face in her hands, Leslie kissed him tenderly on the cheek.
"We have a very special boy here, Bruce. Very special." She smiled. "'Sunshiny
inside' indeed." Her smile broadened. "It's nothing short of miraculous. With
each hour of being exposed to the sunlight, his blood built stronger and
stronger resistance to the radiation. Each subsequent exposure produced a weaker
and weaker attack on his system."

Bruce looked at her, hope in his eyes. "Does this mean that he's immune to it?"

Leslie regretfully shook her head. "No. Not exactly. Constant exposure brings on
the blood poisoning; however, when the radiation source is removed, his natural
immunosystem kicks in, and he comes to a full recovery. With each subsequent
exposure and removal of the radiation source, the recovery comes faster."

Leslie bent over Dick who was slumbering and kissed him gently on the forehead.
"You're the closest thing to a grandson I have, sweetheart. Thank you for
staying with us. You've made us all very happy." She smiled up at Bruce.

"Bruce, the closest that can I explain it--and believe me, this is as near to
pseudo-science as I hope to ever get--is that Dick is a living solar battery.
His body absorbs sunlight and not unlike photosynthesis, turns it into pure
energy. However, unlike plants that also produce photosynthesis under artificial
light, Dick *does not*! It's either the sunlight or nothing."

Bruce looked at her solemnly and nodded in understanding. And then looking down
at Dick, his mouth quirked in his usual half-smile. "I guess this means that
Robin will have to fly during the day more often..."

****

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Hey! How's the patient?" Selina's cheerful voice immediately perked Dick up. He
was lounging on a bench swing, which was located at the edge of the sun-drenched
garden. He was sitting up, watching the birds peck at breadcrumbs. Selina came
up to him and kissed him tenderly on the cheek.

"How's my favorite guy?" she asked. She was wearing a light yellow, linen
sundress with a full skirt that fell below her knees and matching sandals. She
was carrying a brown paper bag and a brightly wrapped parcel. She placed them
both next to the swing.

Dick grinned goofily and blushed. "Awwww...cut it out, Selina," he protested.
Then without skipping a beat asked, "What's in the package?"

Selina grinned, picking up the parcel.

"Here, munchkin. This is for you."

Dick took it, his young face expressing surprise. "But why? It isn't even my
birthday!"

"Why? Just because," Selina said, leaning forward and playfully rubbing her nose
to his.

"Just because--?" Dick asked, eyes smiling.

"Uh-huh," Selina said. "Just because I love you." She kissed him on the
forehead. "Now, go on. Open it."

Dick nodded and eagerly tore through the wrapping. Opening the box, he found a
catcher's mitt. Eyes wide, he said, "Whoa...an official All-Stars commemorative
glove. How'd you get it?"

Selina smiled impishly. "I have my ways. But that's not all that's in there.
There's a card, too. Go on, read it."

Dick did as told. There were four tickets inside with a note written in a lovely
feminine hand.

//Happy 'Just Because,' Dick! Enclosed are four tickets to this year's Baseball
All-Stars Game to be held in Gotham Stadium. You are about to make three other
people very happy. Choose them wisely. Enjoy!--Selina//

"The All-Stars Game!" Dick cried excitedly, his mouth gaping. "Whoa...! Even
*Bruce* couldn't get tickets. The game's been sold out for months! How'd you
*do* it, Selina?"

Selina smiled her enigmatic smile. "Ask me no secrets," she said tickling him
gently on the ribs. "I'll tell you no lies." Dick giggled happily, struggling
only half-heartedly...

A few minutes later, Alfred found them together on the swing. Selina was sitting
up, her feet gently pushing the swing back and forth. Dick lay stretched out on
the swing, his head on her lap. He was slamming his small fist into a baseball
mitt. Another glove was lying, ignored, on top of a brown paper bag. Selina was
gently running her hand through Dick's dark hair.

Dick was talking. "Do you *really* know how to hit a curve ball?" he asked.

"Of course. You're talking to the champion shortstop of Madame Dutetre's
Finishing School for Girls' softball team."

"Awwww...you're making that up!" Dick said, looking skeptical.

"Cross my heart," Selina insisted. "Of course, I was the shortstop *and* pitcher
*and* catcher *and* the entire outfield!" she added with a low chuckle. "There
weren't too many softball enthusiasts in Europe. They're more into soccer."

Dick laughed at her silliness, and then asked seriously, "So who was the first
baseman?"

"That's right," Selina said straight faced.

"No, I asked who was on first?" Dick said.

"That's right," Selina repeated, smiling. She looked up at Alfred and winked.
Alfred raised a single eyebrow at the old joke.

Dick turned to look at her, slightly put out. "I asked you *what* was the name
of the first baseman!" His tone took on the air of someone speaking to a very
dense individual.

"No, What was on second base," Selina said, answering in kind.

Dick grimaced. "*I* don't know!" Dick protested.

Selina could see that he wanted to say something rude, but his innate respect
for his elders kept him from doing it. Alfred chuckled softly. He was setting
out a light snack.

"I Don't Know was on third," Selina said earnestly. Alfred looked away, covering
his mouth.

Dick looked at the both of them accusingly. "You're picking on me," he said
sounding hurt.

"I'm sorry, Dick," Selina apologized, with a slight laugh. "But I thought you
said that you were a baseball fan."

"I *am*!" Dick insisted.

"Have you ever heard of Abbot and Costello?"

"Were they ball players?" Dick asked seriously.

"I have an idea, Miss Selina," Alfred said. "Might I suggest that you fill
Master Dick with tales of the famous duo over this light repast?" He indicated
the snack he'd just laid out for them.

"I think, Alfred, that that's an excellent idea," Selina agreed. "Come on,
munchkin. Take a seat."

Dick nodded, feeling piqued. He still tired easily, but he was doing much
better. The wedding was tomorrow, and they were all holding their breaths.

"Now, Dick, if you wanted to know the name of the first baseman, what would you
ask?" Her expression was completely guileless. Dick shrugged and innocently
played into her hands.

"I already asked you," he said exasperatedly. "Who's on first?"

****

"That's it, Dick," Selina called. She was crouched, holding a catcher's mitt out
for the ball. Her dress formed a bright yellow circle underneath her. "Right
here! You can do it!"

Dick assumed his best pitcher's stance and *threw*!

He threw a little too hard. When the ball *slammed* into Selina's mitt, she
tumbled backwards about a foot.

"Selina!" he cried, running to her. "Are you all right?" he asked, helping her
up.

She waved her hand, indicating she wasn't hurt. "I'm okay, Dick," she said,
slightly dazed. "Just landed on my dignity." She looked up at up at him. "That's
some fast ball you've got there, munchkin. I think the Gotham Griffins are
looking for a new pitcher. Maybe you should go to their open tryouts next
spring."

Dick grinned, embarrassed. He went suddenly still, as if listening.

"Bruce!" he cried. "It's Bruce!"

"I don't hear anything--" Selina said, and then heard it, too--the distinct
sound of the Wayne Enterprises' helicopter.

Dick jumped up and began running towards the waiting area by the landing zone.
As he ran, Selina smiled.

"I guess you *are* going to be all right after all." Rising slowly, she began
walking towards the waiting area. As the helicopter came in for a landing, Dick
looked beside himself with excitement, as if he hadn't seen Bruce in over a
month.

Selina stood back slightly, not wanting to intrude on what would be their
moment.

Dick began waving madly before Bruce even emerged from the helicopter. As soon
as the helicopter started lifting, Bruce started towards Dick. Dick unable to
contain himself began running towards his dad. As Selina watched, Dick ran up to
Bruce who lifted him up and swung him around, both laughing and hugging, happy
at the reunion.

Walking up to the waiting area, Selina watched, her eyes stinging. Whatever
illness had struck the Boy of Steel, it had to have been serious. Bruce and
Alfred had both looked haunted during the past few days, afraid of how close
they'd come to losing the boy.

"Selina!"

She blinked the tears away that had been threatening and looked up, smiling.
Dick was waving excitedly. Bruce still held him in his arms. As they walked up
to her, she moved towards them.

"...And she was showing me how to throw and catch!" Dick was saying. He held up
his mitt for emphasis.

"Wow!" Bruce said, sounding impressed. "I think we've found the perfect woman,
Dick--one who likes sports!" He leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips.
Dick watched from his vantage point between them, grinning happily. Looking
Selina in the eyes, Bruce added, "Talk about a dream come true."

Setting Dick down, Bruce took Selina's arm and all three began walking towards
the house.

"Oh! I almost forgot, Bruce," Dick said holding up the tickets. "Look at what
else she gave me--just because!" He held up the four tickets. Bruce took them,
his eyes widening.

"'Just because'?" Bruce echoed distractedly. "The All-Stars Game?"

"Uh-huh. Just because she loves me," Dick said smugly. "She said I can pick
anyone I want to go with me, too." Looking at them both askance, he added slyly,
"Too bad you'll be out of town, huh?" He snatched the tickets back.

"Out of town?" Bruce echoed as if not quite understanding what was happening. He
looked at Selina with stunned respect. His eyes asked, 'How'd you *get* them?'
Selina smiled, shrugging condescendingly.

"Sure. You'll be on your honeymoon, remember?" Dick said casually. "I guess I'll
have to ask Commissioner Gordon to go with me. You think Mr. Fox would like to
go? I'll ask Alfred, too." Turning, he skipped into the house.

Bruce stood still, watching his boy as he disappeared inside. He turned to
Selina. "All-Stars tickets?" he mumbled dazedly.

Her emerald eyes sparkled in amused affection. "Since Dick won't be going with
us on our honeymoon, I thought I'd give him something--*small*--to make it up to
him."

"All-Stars tickets?" Bruce repeated, emphasizing each word. He felt her fingers
lightly going up his chest. A warm tingle began to spread inside him as he again
gazed into her eyes.

"Don't worry, Bruce," Selina said huskily. "I'll make it up to you, too. I
promise." She stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear.

Bruce felt himself suddenly blushing, a slight smile struggling to break out of
the corner of his mouth. Looking deeply into her eyes, Bruce felt as if he were
falling without a safety line. He knew at that moment that he'd love Selina for
the rest of his life.

Standing in the late afternoon sun, Selina's yellow dress flowing softly around
both their legs, Bruce took her gently into his arms and they kissed...

****

Selina hummed to herself as she walked up the hallway to her hotel room.
Tomorrow she'd be Mrs. Bruce Wayne, and Dick's Mom. Could she be any happier?
She smiled with anticipation. There was so much to do before tomorrow.

She still had five more stops to do tonight. Once done, she'd have returned all
of the stolen jewelry. She paused at her door. How did she feel about that?
Recalling Dick's happy smile today, and Bruce's knee-watering kiss, she knew the
answer.

Turning the key in the lock, she stepped into the entranceway. Flicking the
lights, she was momentarily startled when they didn't come on.

Sighing, she felt her way to the living area and flipped another light switch.
Still nothing.

"That's strange," she muttered. Instantly, she knew. Standing perfectly still,
Selina knew she wasn't alone. "Not again," she said exasperatedly. "Boys, I
thought I told Falcone that--"

She was grabbed from behind. How--? No one had *ever* sneaked up behind her. She
remained cool, listening with all of her senses. The person behind her was
*huge*--bigger even than Bruce.

Okay, this wasn't one of Falcone's goons. No problem. Selina Kyle could take
care of herself under *any* circumstances.

Stomping down with her foot, Selina bent forward and threw her surprised captor
over her head. She heard a yelp of surprise. Selina didn't stay in place. As
soon as she'd thrown him, she'd vaulted over a bookcase that she knew was to her
left. Landing at a crouch, Selina rolled until she found herself next to the
door leading to the bedroom.

Her whip. She had to get to it. Meanwhile, she reached into her small handbag,
and took out her lipstick. Opening it from the bottom end, she threw it across
the room.

It made a soft ~whoomph~ as it hit the wall on the opposite side. Darn! It was
her favorite color, she thought. Entering her bedroom, she made her way quickly
to where she kept her cat-o'-nine tails.

She was hit from behind with the force of a Mack truck.

"Oof!" she grunted, falling forward.

"Not a very lady-like sound," a taunting voice said over her. Selina was kicked
again, this time across the jaw. She saw stars momentarily. "But then, you're
nothing but a common *thief*--!"

Selina felt another kick, her ribs. She felt herself losing consciousness.

"You do not deserve him," a cold, feminine voice said. "I will not let you come
between me and my beloved."

Beloved? Selina felt her blood boil. "That's what *you* think!" She kicked out,
connecting with her mysterious opponent's abdomen.

"Urk!" came a gagging sound.

"Not very lady-like," Selina jeered. She'd dived for her hiding place and
retrieved her whip. Cracking it menacingly, she waited. "Okay, girlie, come and
eat it!"

A soft ~pfwppt~ sound to her left, startled her. She felt a sharp, stinging pain
at her side.

"Wha--?" she gasped. Her numbed fingers released their hold on her whip. Her
mouth opened, working to say more, but she couldn't articulate her words. The
room started spinning crazily. The lights from the city below strobed eerily in
a wild staccato.

Drugged--! Her mind screamed.

Selina felt herself going down, her knees giving way. She was confused, fuzzy.
The lights in the room suddenly came on. Selina looked around her, trying to
focus. She found herself on a merry-go-round looking up.

A face swam into focus, immediately above her. Cold amethyst eyes looked down at
her, set off against beautiful, exotic features. Selina tried to lift her arm to
reach her mysterious opponent, but couldn't move.

"I am sorry to have interfered, mistress," a deep, masculine voice said from
somewhere out of Selina's line of sight.

"That is quite all right, Ubu," the woman above Selina replied. "Felines are
notoriously difficult to handle, and the Kyle woman is no exception." She smiled
down at Selina. "Besides, I read a veterinary report once that said it's better
to drug a cat before boarding a plane. That way it'll travel more comfortably.
Enjoy your trip, Cat."

Selina lost consciousness...

****

She woke up to a confusion of loud voices, flashbulbs, and cold metal handcuffs
being snapped on her wrists. Where was she? What was happening?

"What--?" she gasped, dazed. The drugs still hadn't completely worn off. There
were more than a dozen men in police uniforms around her. A heavy, rumpled man
with a vile cigar jammed in the side of his mouth was barking orders.

"Make sure those handcuffs are on tight," he growled. "The Catwoman has been
known to escape before."

"What's going on here?" Selina asked, barely able to focus from the flashbulbs
going off in her eyes.

"Commissioner!" a plain-clothed officer walked up, carrying Selina's cosmetic
case. "We've got it, sir. Look!" He opened it, displaying a dazzling array of
jewels. Selina gasped. There was more in there than should have been.

A sealed envelope fluttered out. She looked at it, struggling to focus through
her blurred vision. It was addressed to--?

No! Selina shook her head. It couldn't be. It wasn't true!

A pair of scuffed shoes swam into her line of vision, stopping less than an inch
from the envelope. A hand encased in surgical gloves, picked it up. Gordon's
exhausted eyes steadily gazed into hers. Shaking his head sadly, he turned away.

"Read her her rights, Bullock," he said tiredly.

"Sure 'nuff, Commish," Bullock answered. "Selina Kyle, you are under arrest on
several counts of burglary. You have the right to remain silent. You have the
right to an attorney..."

****

Flash forward three years...

Bruce sat in the Batcave remembering the days and weeks that followed.

Selina's weak denials...

"Yes! I'm the Catwoman," she cried desperately, holding her hands out
pleadingly. "But you have to *believe* me, Bruce! I was returning it all--!"

"And my mother's pearl necklace? When did you take that? The night we made
love?"

"No--! Bruce...please! I never took your mother's necklace. It was planted on
me."

"By who? Commissioner Gordon? The GCPD?" Bruce turned away, unable to look at
her anymore. "I *loved* you. *Trusted* you. And you betrayed me. Betrayed us--me
*and* Dick." He paused at the holding cell's visitors' entrance. "Goodbye,
Selina..."

Selina's trial, more denials...

"Yes, I stole! Yes, I took the jewels, but I was returning them. I swear--!"

"If that's the case, Miss Kyle," Harvey Dent interrupted. "How do you explain
being found at the airport, with the jewels *and* a one-way ticket to Rio on
you?"

"I was drugged," Selina said tiredly. "I've told you this before. *She* drugged
me."

"Ah, yes," Dent said. "Your mysterious woman visitor and her giant assistant.
Miss Kyle, I'm afraid that the people of Gotham will need a little something
more substantial than wild tales about the wicked witch of the west and her
bogey-man friend in order to acquit you."

"Objection, your honor! The Prosecution is badgering the witness!"

"Objection sustained. Mr. Dent, do you have any more questions of the
defendant?"

"No, your honor. I believe that the Prosecution has made its point."

Bruce stared at Selina from where he sat in the back of the courtroom. She sat,
head bowed, hair falling loosely and covering her face. She was the picture of
broken dejection. Bruce wanted to take her in his arms, to comfort her, tell her
everything was going to be all right.

And then the cold, burning anger that had begun to take hold when Gordon first
showed him Selina's cosmetics case threatened to consume him. This was followed
closely by the recollection of the letter with its cutting, hurtful words.
Unconsciously, he squeezed the armrest next to him, the force of his strength
warping it.

"The defendant is excused," the judge stated. Selina nodded mutely and slowly
returned to her seat.

"The Prosecution rests, your honor," Dent announced formally.

Bruce stood, and without a backward glance, walked out of the courtroom...

Bruce remembered...

Bruce and Dick left town on an extended trip unable to bear the catty whispers
and gossipmongers...

Bruce remembered...

Dick crying at night in his sleep. His heartbreak causing the nightmares of his
parents' deaths to return with full force.

Bruce remembered...

Dick waking in his arms, sobbing for Selina.

"Why couldn't she love us like we loved her? Why did she lie, Bruce? Why...?"

Bruce remembered...

The long walks as he tried to work her out of his system. Everywhere he looked
he was reminded of her. He listened for her laugh. He looked for the dazzling
emerald of her eyes. He filled his lungs, hoping for the scent of her perfume...

Bruce remembered...

Dick looking up him with his serious dark blue eyes and asking, "Should I hate
her, Bruce? If you tell me to, I will..."

Bruce remembered...

"No, Dick," he'd said, his voice catching. "I don't want you to hate her. I
don't want you to hate anyone, son..."

Bruce remembered and closed his eyes. He brought his hand up to them, squeezing
hard. Selina was back and with her all of the old hurts and feelings of
betrayal. She said she needed his help. That she was in trouble.

Straightening his shoulders, Bruce pulled on the cowl. Batman stood up and
purposefully strode towards the Batmobile.

Whatever trouble she was in, it could only lead to trouble for Batman and Robin.
If that were the case, then *Batman* was going to stop it before it happened...

****

Chapter Twenty-three

As he drove through the silent, darkened streets, Batman went back to the moment
of truth with Gordon.

He'd already suspected. No, he'd already known but had closed his eyes to it.
Watching her from afar as she returned the jewels, Batman had *known* that the
Catwoman was Selina.

Her moves, her silhouette, her sensuality. He'd only made love to her that one
time, but in that one night he'd committed himself, body and soul, to Selina.

He'd have recognized her anywhere.

But he refused to believe. Until the moment of truth. The moment that Jim Gordon
walked into his home, less than an hour away from his wedding. At that moment,
he knew that he couldn't hide the truth any longer.

Batman remembered...

****

Selina's cosmetic case. The damning evidence. Even then, he'd refused to
believe. His mother's pearl necklace--his wedding gift for his new bride.

Even then, he'd held back judgment.

And then, Gordon handed him the envelope. It was addressed to him, in a
familiar, flowing, feminine hand. It had been opened already, the contents read
by others.

Bruce took it in his hand, his fingers shaking slightly. His dark eyes boring
into Gordon's, he pulled the letter out. Gordon broke eye content first, unable
to look at his friend. It was written on a small stationary-sized piece of
paper. The letterhead was that of the Gotham Regency, Selina's hotel.

Bruce unfolded the letter and began to read:

//Darling Bruce, As you know by now, I'm long gone and in Rio. Really, darling,
it's for the best. I just don't see myself as the society matron type, married
to the world's dullest billionaire. And as for being a mother to Dick, I'm
certain that by now you've determined that I'm hardly the Mommy-type. Bruce,
darling, you were wonderful in bed, but I've had better. No hard feelings. Ta!
Selina//

Bruce's jaw had worked as he struggled to control his growing fury and
humiliation.

"Bruce, I--" Gordon began.

"--Thank you, Jim," Bruce interrupted, crumpling the paper in his hand. "I guess
you were right all along. I *was* a fool."

"Bruce?" Dick's small, scared voice called from the door. "Bruce, what's the
matter? Aren't we going to the church?"

Gordon picked up the letter and envelope, and began to smooth out the wrinkled
paper. He was about to place them in his inside jacket pocket when Bruce spoke
up.

"Jim, I'd appreciate it if that letter wasn't used as evidence. It's not just
me..." he let his voice trail off, his eyes darting quickly towards Dick and
back. Gordon stared at Bruce for a moment longer. Finally, he too glanced at
Dick who was staring wide-eyed at the two of them.

With a slight shake of his head, Gordon placed the letter and envelope in his
inside jacket pocket. Taking the cosmetics case, he headed out the door. Pausing
where Dick stood, he gently ran his hand along the boy's cheek.

"I'm sorry, Bruce, but--" He shrugged helplessly. "--my hands are tied."

After Gordon left, Dick stepped into the study. He looked at Bruce with solemn
blue eyes. His normally apricot complexion, so recently pale from illness, had
again lost its color.

"Bruce?" he whispered. "What is it?"

Unable to turn and face Dick, Bruce spoke with his back to him. Left hand
covering his eyes, Bruce gave a short, forced laugh.

"Ah, um, well, son," he said, struggling to keep his voice even. "There isn't
going to be a wedding after all."

"Why?" Dick asked. "Is Selina sick? Is she all right? Can we go see her?"

Bruce dropped his hand, his shoulders sagging. He shook his head. "No, son.
She's not sick," he said. Bruce felt his jacket being yanked insistently from
below.

"Then why? Where *is* she? Doesn't she want to marry us anymore?"

At Dick's question, Bruce slowly went down to his knees and pulled his son to
him, hugging him tightly.

"No, Dick," he said, his voice slightly catching. "She won't be marrying us
after all."

****

Batman swung down from the GCPD Headquarters building rooftop. He paused briefly
at the familiar window. About to go in, he was startled by Gordon's voice
addressing him from inside.

"I thought you'd be here," Gordon said without preamble. He picked up a manila
folder that was lying on the middle of his desk. "Here's the file."

Wordlessly, Batman climbed inside and took the proffered file. It was everything
the GCPD had on Selina Kyle. It wasn't much.

"Figured you'd be wanting it," Gordon continued blandly. He felt a soft breeze
from the open window. Grimacing, he mumbled, "You're welcome."

****

Batman inspected the file in the Batmobile. Selina Kyle was an enigma. There
were no records of her birth, of her parents, or of any family members. No
record of any known residences. Her passport was a forgery. Her fingerprints
produced no 'Knowns'.

No federal warrants. No Interpol warrants. Not even a ticket for jaywalking. But
then, a person who doesn't exist can't be wanted by the authorities.

"Who are you, Selina Kyle?" he muttered. It was almost as if she'd never existed
before she disembarked from her plane at Gotham International Airport. That is,
if she'd even arrived by plane. There seemed to be no record of *that* either.

The only solid lead was a photograph of Selina and a known federal fugitive
known as Jake 'the Fake' McCabe. According to Bullock's report, he'd followed
McCabe until he'd entered the Falcone estate grounds.

"So, we come full circle," Batman said. Falcone had provided Selina's defense
attorney. The photo showed that her ties to the Falcone organization ran even
deeper.

As he perused the file, a small stationary-sized piece of paper fell out. He
recognized the letterhead as that of the hotel that Selina had been staying in.
About to give it a cursory glance, he realized that it was the same letter that
Gordon had shown him three years ago.

Steeling himself mentally, he forced himself to re-read it. His jaw clenched.
The words hadn't lost any of their biting sting over the ensuing years. He was
about to crumple it once again, when he stopped. Abruptly, he punched a digital
code into his onboard computer and instantly accessed the Batcomputer's memory
banks.

Holding the paper carefully, he put it through the onboard scanner.

~SCANNING COMPLETE~ The Batmobile's LCD screen flashed. Batman typed in a few
more commands and hit 'Enter.' He returned the letter to the file folder, put
the Batmobile in gear, and then slammed his foot down on the accelerator as hard
as he could.

Tires screeching, the Batmobile roared into the Gotham City cool spring night.

****

Dick bolted awake, drenched in sweat. He was gasping for air. He brought his
knees up and laid his forehead on them for a moment. He looked around the room,
lit dimly by the recessed illumination of a nightlight.

What had he been dreaming about? Flashes of hot pits and demons rising came
unbidden. Beautiful, almond-shaped amethyst eyes haunted him. What had the dream
been about?

He tried to grasp the faint memory tendrils, but the dream was evaporating
already like morning fog.

"Get a grip, Grayson," he muttered. "Sheesh!" He fell back on the pillows,
staring up the ceiling. His heart seemed to be back to its normal rhythm. "I
wonder what Selina wanted?" he murmured. "Bruce sure didn't seem happy to see
her." He sighed unhappily.

"Dick?" a sleepy voice said from below. A tousled red head looked up from the
pullout trundle bed. "Whuz'up?"

"Go back to sleep, Wally," Dick said. His best friend had been allowed to sleep
over. Tomorrow they were going to catch the Gotham Griffins' opening game, a
birthday present from Bruce.

"Who was the dish, anyway, Dick?" Wally asked, ignoring Dick's command to go
back to sleep.

Dick knew Wally was talking about Selina. He sighed. "The 'dish,' as you call
her, came *this* close--" he said, holding out his thumb and forefinger, "--to
becoming my new mother, about three years ago."

"No kidding?" Wally was sitting up now. "What happened?"

Dick looked away momentarily and then shrugged. "Nothing happened. Least of all,
the wedding. They called it off at the last minute. Today was the first day I've
even *seen* Selina since then."

"Wow," Wally whispered. "And neither one's married anyone else?"

Dick shook his head. He didn't mention Selina's incarceration.

"Funny, for a while there, Uncle Barry mentioned that your dad and Ms. Lance
were dating. What happened?"

Dick's eyes instantly grew cold. "I don't want to talk about it."

"No, really," Wally insisted. "I overheard Uncle Barry talking to Aunt Iris and
he said that your dad and Ms. Lance were, like, 'made for each other.' Both
martial artists, crimefighters, you know?"

"I *said* I don't want to talk about it!" Dick said, and pushed off the bed,
floating to the door.

"Hey, Batboy!" Wally called. "I didn't mean nothing, honest." Dick flew out of
the room. "I thought you *liked* Black Canary," he added to himself.

Dick paused right outside his room, thinking back to those awful days. After the
wedding had been cancelled and the trial over, Bruce never talked about Selina
again. Although Dick understood, not being allowed to talk about someone he
loved had hurt deeply.

Also, being forced to watch Bruce date other women had caused many long nights
of silence between father and son. But the woman who caused the greatest rift
and threatened to come between them was Dinah Lance, the hero known as Black
Canary.

As much as Dick liked and admired Black Canary, when Bruce brought her home one
evening for dinner, Dick threw a tantrum. It was too soon in his eyes. Losing
Selina so suddenly was almost like she'd died. He needed time to mourn her loss
and felt Bruce turning so soon to another woman was tantamount to betrayal...

****

"That's the *second* time tonight, young man that you said something extremely
rude to Dinah!" Bruce said sternly. Throwing his napkin on the table, he stood,
pushing his chair backwards. "I won't have you being disrespectful to my
friends." Dinah sat still, eyes shocked, her hand covering her mouth.

"Bruce, please--" she began.

"Apologize this instant, young man!" Bruce demanded, ignoring Dinah's efforts at
peacekeeping.

"I won't!" Dick yelled. Inadvertently, he flew straight up and hovered above the
expansive dining room.

"Richard John Grayson Wayne!" Bruce said in a cold voice. "You know the rules
against the use of your powers in this house. Come down and apologize right
now!"

"*NO*! I *won't*! I *hate* her! You were supposed to love Selina, but you let
her go to jail! I *hate* you! I *hate* you!" With that, Dick flew to his room
and threw himself on his bed. That night he cried himself to sleep.

The next day, at breakfast, Dick sat alone. Bruce was long-gone to the office.
Unable to bear the loneliness and heartbreak he was feeling, Dick finally broke
down in front of Alfred. The loyal friend swept the boy in his arms and held him
until his tears were spent.

Dick didn't know if Alfred spoke to Bruce, but later that morning, while sitting
in his room, he heard the familiar sounds of the Wayne Enterprises' helicopter
landing outside. He didn't run to greet his dad like he usually did, instead, he
walked outside and stood on the balcony, looking out as the aircraft pulled away
again.

A few minutes later, there was a soft knock at his door followed by its being
opened. Dick couldn't remember clearly what happened next, except that he ended
up sobbing in Bruce's arms with both of them saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry,"
over and over...

****

The memory was still painful. Dick tried to accept that Bruce had to put his
relationship with Selina behind him, but the boy couldn't deny his feelings. He
never stopped loving Selina. He didn't know why she did what she did, and he
didn't care. He'd forgiven her long ago. Besides, it was in the past.

Selina had served her time in prison and was out, free and clear. He wondered
about the reason behind her visit. Dick was sufficiently astute to realize that
his birthday party was merely an excuse. Selina had been here today for a
reason.

Floating through Wayne Manor's darkened corridors, Dick's jaw took on the same
determined look that Bruce's did during a particularly difficult case. Passing
by Alfred's suite, Dick listened carefully to make sure his beloved friend was
sleeping soundly and then flew downstairs to the secret entrance.

Accessing the hidden door, Dick flew into the Batcave. Flicking an array of
light switches, Dick floated, suspended in front of the spacecraft. Remembering
what happened the *last* time he'd done this, Dick hesitated.

"Come on, Chicken-boy," he chastised. "Bruce wouldn't have left anything that
could hurt you." He thought back over the past few years. Bruce had become even
*more* protective after the scare with the mysterious mineral that they'd
dubbed, 'Kryptonite.'

Never mind the fact that Dick's powers were probably the most awesome of any of
the new crop of superheroes that suddenly started springing like wildflowers all
over the place--

"Whoa!" Wally said next to him. Startled, Dick almost flew straight up into the
Batcave's ceiling. "So *this* is the infamous Batcave. Awesome! Uncle Barry's
told me that *no one* except you guys has ever been inside it!"

Dick crossed his arms and looked quite put out.

"That was true up until about fifteen seconds ago. What's the matter with you?
Bruce and your uncle *told* you that you couldn't go anywhere in the house
without permission. Especially, the Batcave! Don't you ever follow orders, or
remember anything you've been told?"

"Wow! What's this?" Wally asked totally ignoring Dick's question. He was staring
at the spacecraft. "Is *this* what brought you here to Earth?" he asked.

Relenting, Dick nodded. "Yeah. It's just big enough to carry a baby." They both
stared at it a moment longer.

At this moment, the Batcomputer came online. Dick could see that it was
processing data that was being fed to it from a remote terminal. He quickly flew
to the station and began flicking switches. Soon, he saw that something was
being scanned into it. Typing quickly, he accessed the information as it was
being processed.

In the next instant, he read for the first time, the letter that Commissioner
Gordon had shown Bruce all those years ago.

****

Dick sat at the computer station feeling as if he'd been kicked in the stomach.
Selina had never loved them, after all. She'd planned to leave the whole time.
Everything she ever said to them was nothing but a lie.

"Hey, Dick," Wally said. "What is it? What happened?" Wally had been exploring
the Batcave when Dick returned to the computer station and read the letter.

"Nothing, Wally," he said sadly. "Just that...just that--" he stopped, unable to
go on.

Wally saw the letter still on the screen at that moment. Curious, he read it. He
felt his face go beet-red when he read the extremely personal comments to Bruce
from Selina. But the comments that really grabbed his attention were the "Mommy"
ones directed at Dick. He now knew how his friend must feel.

"Dick, I'm sorry about the letter. I wish there were something I could do to
help you."

Dick shook his head. "That's okay, Wally. Thanks anyway." He looked up. "I guess
she never really loved us, after all." He shrugged. "Come on. Let's go back to
bed."

"Hey, Dick?" Wally began. Dick turned back. "How do you know that she wrote it?
I mean have you done one of those...whatchacallit...? A handwriting analysis?"

Dick nodded. "That's why Batman scanned it in. The Batcomputer ran a handwriting
analysis on the letter."

"And--?" Wally asked.

"The computer says that's Selina's handwriting, all right. An almost ninety-nine
point nine nine nine chance, in fact."

"What does that mean?" Wally asked. "Smoking gun?"

Dick nodded. "More like an eyewitness *saw* you first load the gun and *then*
shoot. It's about as accurate as we can get."

"Does it leave her any wiggle room?" Wally asked.

"Any what?"

"You know, room to maneuver? Any chance that it might not be her handwriting?"

"Well, yeah, of course," Dick said exasperatedly. "I mean you can't ever be one
hundred percent sure with handwriting analysis."

"Well, that's good, isn't it?" Wally asked. "Maybe with *your* vision powers you
can do the computer one better. I mean, you *are* the Boy of Steel and
everything. Do you have anything that you could maybe compare it to?"

Dick looked at Wally as if he'd grown another head. Finally, he nodded. "Yeah, I
do. Wait here a sec." In an eyeblink, Dick rummaged through his bedroom, found
what he wanted, then returned to the Batcave.

"Hey, that was *way* longer than just 'a sec,'" Wally protested. Dick grinned.

"Oh yeah? And I suppose *you* can do better?"

"I *own* the title, 'Fastest Boy Alive,' remember?" Wally boasted immodestly.
"You may have super-speed, but I'm still faster."

"We'll see one day," Dick replied dismissively. "A race around the world. Just
you'n me, Flasheroo. We'll set the record straight then."

"You're on, Batboy."

Dick brought the note that Selina gave him three years ago, "Just because," and
the scanned digital copy of the letter that she'd supposedly left Bruce when she
was about to skip the country. He also picked up the Batcomputer's readout of
its analysis of the letter. He then brought everything to Batman's lab.

With great care, he next began to set up the electron microscope and the special
alternative light source unit on Batman's lab table.

"I don't get it, Dick," Wally said. "You already have microscopic vision. What
do you all of this equipment for?"

"'Cause I want to do it right the first time, Twinkletoes," Dick said only half-
listening. "First things first. The note that she gave me three years ago is
written on stationary with the same letterhead as the scanned copy. See? Gotham
Regency?"

Wally nodded.

"And since that's a really expensive hotel, it's possible that it has a special
paper for its stationary. So, we look for grade of paper, any special
watermarks, that kind of thing. Hmmmm...nothing special here. Let's check the
computer readout...um...same here. Nothing special."

"Nothing special, check," Wally said, fascinated.

"Next thing we check for is the ink. Did the writer use the cheap stuff in the
hotel, or did she use something more expensive...? Hey, wait! We have another
sample of the writing. I almost forgot!"

Dick quickly scanned the Batcave's files with his X-ray vision until he found
the Catwoman's files. There he spotted the burglar's calling card, with its
little note of apology to her victims.

"Okay, here we go! Check for grade..." he sighed. "Probably can't trace it. Or
the stuff printed on it. She probably did it herself on a laser-jet printer.
However, the handwritten part. We can check that the same way as the other two
samples."

"What are you looking for?" Wally asked.

"Still checking the ink...Hel-lo! What do we have here?" he asked.

"What? What?" Wally jumped in.

"The ink on the note she gave me and the card are identical. Not the standard
American instruments stuff. I'll have to run a further analysis on it. Hold on a
sec--"

Taking the alternative light source unit, he ran the handwriting samples through
it. The ALS unit was capable of picking up substances invisible to the human
eye. Once he had an idea of what he was looking for, Dick then used his own
vision powers to do the same. Therefore, he was checking the samples by two
means--through Batman's methodical steps, and his own unique manner.

"What do you see?" Wally finally asked.

"I'll have to run a chemical analysis to be sure, but I think that the ink is
manufactured in western Europe, probably Germany or France. Nothing really
exotic about it, it's just not standard American."

"Oh," Wally shrugged. "What kind of ink was used in the other letter?"

Dick picked up the Batcomputer's readout. About to shrug and put it away, he
suddenly frowned. "That's funny."

"What's funny?"

"According to the Batcomputer's analysis, the ink used on the letter is American
standard. Probably from some cheap writing instrument. My guess would be that
the courtesy ballpoint in the hotel room was probably used to write it."

"So?" Wally shrugged. "What's the big deal?"

"Maybe nothing," Dick said pensively.

Placing all three samples side-by-side, he looked at each carefully with his X-
ray and microscopic visions. What was he looking for? He remembered that time
three years ago when Bruce had showed him a little bit about handwriting
analysis. What was it they'd found? That the Catwoman was probably left-handed
because of how she dotted her small-case _i_'s.

Carefully placing all three samples on a special drafting table that was backlit
with a fluorescent light, he studied all three again.

Finally, grinning broadly, he nodded in satisfaction.

"The _i_'s have it, as they say."

****

Chapter Twenty-four

"What do you see?" Wally asked curiously.

"Look." Dick pointed at each of the writing samples. Wally dutifully read each
one through:

//Forgive me. I hope my actions didn't cause you undue pain.//

//Happy 'Just Because,' Dick! Enclosed are four tickets to this year's Baseball
All-Stars Game to be held in Gotham Stadium. You are about to make three other
people very happy. Choose them wisely. Enjoy!--Selina//

//Darling Bruce, As you know by now, I'm long gone and in Rio. Really, darling,
it's for the best. I just don't see myself as the society matron type, married
to the world's dullest billionaire. And as for being a mother to Dick, I'm
certain that by now you've determined that I'm hardly the Mommy-type. Bruce,
darling, you were wonderful in bed, but I've had better. No hard feelings. Ta!
Selina//

Seeing that Wally had finished reading, Dick next pointed out the lower case
_i_'s in each of the samples. "Notice how the _i_'s are dotted here, here, and
here."

He pointed out random words in each of the samples. Each word had a perfectly
round dot delicately topping it.

Unsure what he was supposed to be looking for, Wally nodded and shrugged. "Okay,
so?" he asked.

"Now, look at how these two _i_'s are dotted." Dick pointed at the word
'actions' in the first sample and 'Stadium' in the second. "What do you see?"

Chin in hand, Wally studied the two words that Dick pointed out. Finally, his
green eyes widened in recognition. "The dots are different. They look like
little comets--with a head and a comet tail!"

"You know, you're really pretty sharp. I don't care *what* Roy says."

Wally blushed scarlet, pleased at the compliment from his friend.

"So, my dear Dr. West, what *tale* do you s'pose those little comet tails are
*telling*?"

Wally grimaced at Dick's bad pun. "Hmmmm. I'm not sure, but I'd guess that maybe
because they're going in *that* direction--" He pointed 'left' with his thumb.
"--that the writer is left-handed?"

"Is that you're final answer?" Dick asked straight-faced. Wally nodded,
grinning. "Good deductive reasoning, pal."

"Thanks, but what about the last note? Doesn't that one have any clues?"

"You tell me, Detective West. What do you see? Take your time," Dick urged.
"Here, use the magnifier." He handed Wally a large magnifying glass.

Wally studied the third sample carefully. "Lots of _i_'s," he said, sounding
nervous. He kept looking. "It's kinda funny, Dick. They're all so perfect, like
the person writing was extra-careful to make sure that the letters were dotted
just so."

"Good observation, Wally," Dick said.

After several more minutes of close scrutiny, Wally stopped. He bent closer to
the piece of paper. "Huh," he grunted. "Dick, I'm not sure, but I *think* I see
something--"

"--What do you see?" Dick asked immediately.

"Well, the _i_ in the signature, 'Selina'...Dick I can't be sure, but it looks
different."

"You're right, Wally," Dick said, helping. "It *is* different. But the
difference is so slight that only a really careful eye would've caught it. Good
work."

"But, what of it?" Wally asked. "I don't understand."

"Look at the comet tail, as you call it," Dick said. "The other tails went to
the left, but *this* one goes--"

"--It goes to the *right*!" Wally yelled.

"Exactly. This comet tail goes to the right. It's really hard to spot because
the writer was being extra careful to make sure that all of the _i_'s were
dotted just so. But here, the very last word of the document, his or her hand
must have slipped just a little. Not enough to be spotted by the casual eye, and
not even by an investigator that isn't really looking for it."

Dick locked eyes with Wally. "The writer of this last letter was right-handed."
Recalling the day Selina taught him how to throw and catch, he added, "And I
happen to know that Selina Kyle is a southpaw."

****

Falcone awoke with a start. He wasn't alone.

"No-oo-o. Not again," he groaned. "Look, I *told* you already! I don't *know*
nothing--URK!!" He was grabbed roughly by the neck. Strong fingers like steel
constricted his Adam's apple, cutting off his oxygen supply. "~URK~!" He gagged.

"You're going to talk Falcone," a menacing voice growled less than an inch from
his face. "You're going to talk, or you're never going to talk again. Do I make
myself clear?"

Falcone nodded nervously, his forehead beaded in sweat. He thought he was going
to pass out from lack of air, when his dark assailant finally loosened his
powerful grip.

"Talk, Falcone," Batman growled. "What does Jake McCabe have to do with Selina
Kyle? Why did you hire a lawyer to defend her? And who's after her?"

He threw out the last question without thinking.

"Uh, uh, Jake McCabe's *dead*! He was killed several years ago by the Feds. You
can check it out--!"

"Try again, Falcone," Batman hissed, tightening his grip. "Before I run out of
patience."

"~URK~! Pl-Please...I--can't--breathe--!"

Batman loosened his hold slightly. "*Talk*!"

"Okay, okay!" Falcone whined. "McCabe showed up about three years ago. He'd been
hired by an outside agency to snatch the Wayne kid."

"What?" The news took Batman by surprise. Dick? It was Dick they were after?
"Who sent him? Who?"

Falcone swallowed, and then added hurriedly. "Some dame named Talia something or
other! I swear--that's all I know!"

"What did Selina Kyle have to do with this?"

"McCabe recommended her to Talia's people. Said he knew her father--the best in
the business before he died. He also said that the Kyle dame had been mixed up
in something *big* somewhere in Russia. She needed to get out of the country--
fast--and wouldn't ask too many questions if she was approached right."

"Go *on*!"

Falcone swallowed several more times. "By the time I took the contract to assist
the Kyle dame on this end, she'd already been broken out of some Russian gulag
in Siberia. She arrived a few weeks later."

"Who is 'Talia'?" Batman demanded. "What's her connection to this?"

Falcone blanched. His frightened countenance became even more terrified.

"I can't tell you--! Please--! You don't know them...they're demons...straight
out of Hell!" Tears were suddenly streaming out of his eyes. His face went slack
with fear, spittle dripping down the sides of his mouth.

"And where do you think *I* come from?" Batman snarled. "Talk, Falcone. Tell me
*everything* you know, or I swear you'll see Hell first hand."

Blubbering in mortal terror, Falcone began to talk.

****

"Then, Selina didn't write that letter?" Wally asked.

Dick shook his head. "She was framed." Dick thought of the years of heartache
that he and Bruce had been put through since her arrest. "I've gotta find Bruce.
I've gotta make him see that Selina really *does* love us."

"Let's go," Wally said.

"Uh-uh, Flasheroo. No can do. This is a family matter. I can't have you tagging
along on this."

"But--"

"No buts!" Dick insisted. At Wally's hurt look, Dick added, "I'm sorry, buddy. I
know you just want to help and I appreciate it, but I've gotta handle this by
myself."

Wally nodded. "Okay, Robbie, I understand."

"Good, 'cause you're gonna have to have a really good explanation for Alfred
when he finds me gone."

"What--? But I--!"

"Don't worry. His bark's worse than his bite. He'll start talking to himself in
big words that you have to look up in the dictionary, but he's okay. Just keep
your head down and apologize--a lot!"

"Apologize? But *I* didn't do anything!"

"Doesn't matter. It'll be your fault...until either me or Bruce gets back. Then
it'll be *our* fault. So, remember--"

"--Keep my head down and apologize," Wally finished.

"You got it!" Dick suddenly zipped to the uniform vault and in less than
eyeblink, Wally saw a red, green and gold blur zoom towards the Batcomputer. In
the next instant the supercomputers were being scanned at incredible speeds.
Images flashed by at rates that the human eye would be unable to follow.

Suddenly, Robin, the Boy of Steel was hovering in front of Wally. "Thanks, pal.
I owe you." He was gone.

Wally stared at the long dark recesses of the Batcave through which his friend
had disappeared.

"Hummph. You call *that* fast?"

****

The Batmobile roared through the empty streets. They'd framed her. They'd framed
her and he'd allowed them to get away with it. And when she'd come back to ask
for help, he'd thrown her out. Because of his stupid pride.

And now it was too late. He'd shut too many doors in her face. She'd never
forgive him.

Batman slammed his fist on the steering wheel. But did he *want* forgiveness?
What of her role in all of this? She'd accepted a contract to kidnap Dick. No
matter her desperate circumstances, the fact remained that she'd at first
intended to carry out her contract.

Falcone was unable to explain her sudden change of heart. Something about a
"better deal."

"What deal?" he wondered aloud. "Bruce Wayne's marriage proposal?" Was it the
Wayne fortune she wanted after all? He found himself doubting her again.

"Selina, I don't know what your true intentions were, but I'm going to find
out."

****

Robin streaked across the Gotham night sky. He scanned the city below for the
Batmobile's unique signature. He sighed. Batman was running on stealth mode.
Finding him was going to be a little harder, even for Robin.

"Okay, Grayson, what now?" Hesitating momentarily, he headed towards the luxury
apartments overlooking Robinson Park.

His super-hearing picked up a cry for help from down below. Searching, he
quickly spotted them--a gang of thugs surrounding a young couple. Eyes
narrowing, Robin changed directions.

****

Batman hesitated outside her balcony. Was he ready? Could he maintain his
objectivity when he questioned her? He recalled what Falcone had told him about
her activities in Russia.

In addition to being master thieves, Selina and her father had also been
superior bunco artists. Apparently, they'd nearly conned a Russian agent into
transferring close to a billion in rubles to a Swiss bank account in "exchange"
for US nuclear secrets. The ruse was discovered at the last minute, and the
father/daughter confidence team was arrested.

Selina's father was shot as a spy, while she was sentenced to life imprisonment
in a Siberian gulag.

When her mysterious benefactors offered to break her out in exchange for a
"small favor" she readily accepted.

Batman stood uncertainly outside her apartment. And how did that make him feel?
Knowing that Selina had contracted to put Dick in harm's way? Could *he* ever
forgive *her*? He shook his head.

Whatever her reasons, or her desperate circumstances, Batman felt in his heart
that that was the one thing he could *never* forgive. Straightening his
shoulders he reached inside his utility belt for a lock pick.

Entering with the stealth borne of long practice, Batman crossed the room
towards the large bed. A sliver of moon broke through the clouds, casting a thin
beam on Selina's supine form. She was bound and gagged, her eyes silently crying
out a warning.

Batman immediately dove to the floor.

In the next instant, he was set upon by several figures covered from head to toe
in black. Batman kicked, punched, and ducked. His assailants' grunts of pain
told him that he was gaining the upper hand.

The next instant, he was struck in the abdomen with the force of a truck. He
doubled over in pain, gasping for breath. Before he could recover, he was kicked
in the head, again with surprising power. Falling on his knees, he could feel
himself blacking out. He weakly struggled to regain his feet.

Another powerful blow to his side made him see stars momentarily. Falling on his
back, he looked up, his vision swimming. A tall, slender figure walked into his
line of sight, a beautiful woman with exotic eyes.

"I am sorry, my beloved," she said with sincere regret. She was pointing a small
pistol at him. "But it is time."

"Who are you--?" Batman whispered.

Smiling sadly, she pulled the trigger. Batman's hand automatically went to his
shoulder. With numbing fingers, he was just able to pull out a small dart as he
blacked out.

****

Robin stopped the surprised muggers with ease. Using plastic tie-wraps, he bound
them and called the GCPD to pick them up. The young couple thanked him
profusely. They were just a few years older than he was.

"Thanks, Robin," the girl said, kissing him lightly on the cheek. Robin blushed
goofily.

"Aw, gee," he said, scuffing his toe on the ground. "It wasn't anything."

The boy shook hands with him. "I don't know how to thank you. It was stupid of
me to take Cindy through the park at night, but we're late getting home. I
promised her dad I'd have her home before one."

"Robinson Park *is* pretty dangerous at night," Robin said unnecessarily. "Even
with the Dynamic Duo patrolling the streets of Gotham. You're just lucky I
happened to be flying over."

The two teens looked embarrassed at his mild rebuke. Robin shrugged. "But, hey,"
he added, "I know all about breaking curfew--Believe me! Grown-ups can be pretty
autocratic sometimes."

"Tell us about it," Cindy sighed.

"Look, you still have five minutes before you're overdue. How far do you live?"
Robin asked.

"Just in those high-rises," Cindy said, pointing in the general direction that
Robin had been headed. Snatching them both up, Robin took off.

"You're in luck," he said, flying them over the treetops. "That's on my way."

****

Selina flexed and released her wrists. It was slow going, but she knew that
eventually she'd be able to slip out of her bonds. She couldn't believe what
she'd seen. The witch had single-handedly taken out Batman! How was that
possible?

The woman stood over Selina, looking down at her with disdain.

"You are most unworthy of him, thief. Can you not see that now? He is of noble
blood. Destined to be my consort, as he has been in many previous lifetimes."
She turned to where Batman lay still in the middle of the floor.

"Ubu, move him so that the boy sees him as soon as he enters. Robin is most
powerful. We must distract him momentarily."

Ubu nodded. "Yes, mistress."

"But this time," Talia continued, addressing Selina, "my beloved shall not be
allowed to die. Two hundred and fifty years ago, he fought against my father in
Tibet. He led a faction, which destroyed my father's base. In the aftermath, my
beloved died in the attempt to destroy the Lazarus Pit that my father had only
recently established there. After three generations passed, I once more felt my
beloved's presence in this world. This time in Peru."

She paused, looking at a point above Selina's head.

"Again, he came into the world only to stop Father from completing his base of
operations in the Andes from whence Father planned to seize ultimate control of
the world. My beloved's life was forfeited in the great battle that soon
followed."

Talia's eyes took on an inner light.

"Several more generations went by, before I at last felt his soul once more.
With each rebirth, thief, he has been drawn to me, like a firefly to a lamp. Our
souls have come ever closer to being united as one. For it has been written that
the Dark Knight shall join with the daughter of the demon and spawn a new
generation of super-men."

She gazed on Selina with hate-filled eyes.

"You and the boy have distracted my beloved from his true calling long enough.
He is *mine*! And this time round, he shall be unable to resist our destiny.
When he dies, he *will* enter the Lazarus Pit and rise again, to rule by my side
for all eternity." She laughed suddenly, a fanatical look coming over her. "And
the boy? His DNA will be used to--"

The crack of a whip broke the stillness of the night.

****

Robin's super-hearing picked up the distinct sound of a whip. Catwoman! He
zoomed his X-ray/telescopic vision into her apartment. Selina was fighting
against a large group of people.

"Batman!" he whispered. His dad was lying unconscious on the floor. A determined
look came over Robin. "No body hurts my mom and dad," he muttered.

****

"It looks to me like Batman has found you very resistible in the past, witch,"
Selina snarled, lashing out with her whip. "He obviously doesn't want anything
to *do* with you!" Selina kicked out, spun and lashed out again with her cat-o'-
nine-tails.

~CRACK!~

"Maybe you should the hint," she taunted. "'No' *means* 'no'!"

"Stop her!" Talia shouted. Her men surrounded Selina, keeping just out of reach
of her whip. "Ubu! My beloved! If she does not surrender in the next instant--
break his neck!"

"Yes, mistress," Ubu replied.

"*No*!" Selina shouted, leaping over the heads of her attackers. She landed--
hard--both feet on the hated woman.

"Mistress!" Ubu roared.

At that moment, the entire outer wall of the apartment collapsed. When the dust
cleared, they all saw a small masked figure in red, green, and gold standing in
the center of the opening.

****

Chapter Twenty-five

"*Ubu*! The boy!" Talia warned. Robin whirled towards the sound of her voice.
His momentary distraction was all the time the giant Ubu needed. He fired a
large pistol, the room resounding with its sharp report.

The next few moments passed in the twinkling of an eye, but seemed an eternity
to Selina. She leaped towards Robin, crying out at the same time. "Robin! Look
out--!"

Meanwhile, when Robin heard the sound of the shot, he calmly stood his ground.
In the years since he'd discovered his invulnerability, he'd learned not to
flinch and duck when someone fired upon him. It was always kind of fun to see
the crooks' faces when their bullets bounced off his chest.

Too late, he saw that the pistol had not fired a bullet at him, but rather a
long, trailing monofilament that glowed green. As he was about to duck, the
leading edge of the green line reached him. Robin froze, paralyzed in
excruciating pain--!

Flying towards Robin, Selina saw the strangely glowing green line begin to wind
itself around the Boy of Steel. To her horror, she saw the boy's entire body
shudder in a paroxysm of agony.

"ARGHARGHARGHARGH!!!!" Robin screamed. Kryptonite! Going down he valiantly
struggled against his bonds, but felt himself blacking out. As he fell,
frightening images of a giant and a woman with amethyst eyes came to him. His
eyes widening in recognition, he addressed Talia. "You..." he whispered weakly.
"It was you..."

Alighting next to Robin, Selina desperately started clawing at the fine cable
that was holding him immobilized.

He looked up at her, his mind hazy from pain.

"Selina," he whispered. "...Knew you loved us..." Closing his eyes, his face
contorted in agony. "Hurts..." Blessedly, the boy passed out.

Selina saw that Robin's skin was beginning to turn a shade of green. Hot tears
start streaming down her cheeks.

"Dick--! Hold on, sweetheart. I'll free you. Please, hold on!"

"How touching," an ugly, mocking voice said from behind. "The Cat wishes to save
the little bird." Selina suddenly felt something cold on her forehead and froze.
Tears stinging her eyes, she looked up.

"Please!" she begged. "You're killing him!"

"No," Talia said coldly. "At least, not yet." She turned to her henchmen. "Ubu,
you know what to do." Turning to Selina, she smiled kindly. "I see that you love
them both. *Good*! You shall be there to see them both *die*!"

Before Selina could react, she heard a light ~pffpft~ and felt herself suddenly
going cold. Drugged! The same as last time!

No-oo-ooo! her mind cried.

****

He was flying across red-laden skies. Below, the endless white of the dying
planet stretched from horizon to horizon. The lights of the last city could be
seen up ahead. Even from up here, he could feel the shockwaves that were even
now tearing the inner core of the homeworld.

Next to him, the tiny bundle slept soundly. He turned, smiling at his sleeping
son. Little Van sighed in his sleep.

He adjusted the video pickup in the aircar.

"My son, my sole regret is that I shan't be there when you take your first step
or say your first word. I pray to Rao, the Creator, that at the end of your
journey, you will find another whom you shall call 'Father'--and who shall call
you 'Son.'"

He reached over and lightly traced his son's damask cheek.

"Soon, I shall join your mother in the House of Rao. Together, she and I will
watch over you and protect you." He looked directly into the video pickup.

"You are Van Zee-Two, last scion of the Houses of Zee and El, two houses with a
long, proud history. Our family has provided many scientists and recognized
leaders to our world, Krypton. Our cousin, Jor-El, is this generation's greatest
living scientist." He smiled with pride.

"Men and women such as he have brought our planet to the zenith of
enlightenment." He shook his head and sighed. "But such knowledge has its dark
side. You are too young yet to fear more than the shadows on your wall. But more
frightening shadows grow within our society with each passing day." He looked
away momentarily.

"We have tapped the planet's resources to the point that there is literally
nothing left to retrieve. Whereas once no Kryptonian ever went hungry, or
suffered from want, today the masses are crying for food, for heat, for basic
needs." He wiped a lone tear that had started trickling down his cheek.

"Now, Krypton is dying. The quakes expose us to the green radiation and each day
hundreds more journey to Rao before their time. The Ruling Council closes its
collective eyes to the problem. The masses grow closer to anarchy each day. To
protect the innocent from becoming victims of the predators that have been
springing across the great city of Kryptonopolis, I donned the mantle of
Nightwing." He smiled ruefully.

"Some call me hero. The Council refers to me by another word." His eyes taking
on a faraway look, he spoke softly. "Because the Nightwing always flies
alongside the Flamebird, your mother, Kara, became Flamebird before her death.
Together we fought against the forces of ignorance and hatred that threatened to
destroy the very fabric of Kryptonian culture." He choked on his words.

"Before Kara journeyed to Rao, she made me promise that you would be given a
chance at life. Now, you and I travel to our cousin's home. I know not if I
shall convince Jor-El that he should help, but as we are his last living
kinsmen, I believe that he shall honor my request."

He smiled sadly. "Farewell, my son. This recording is a poor legacy with which
to leave you, but it is all I have left to give. Except my love. That you shall
always carry with you, little Van Zee-Two."

****

Robin opened his eyes.

Where was he? He turned his head slightly, but couldn't focus. Everything was a
confusing blur of light and sound. He became suddenly aware of the pain.

"Uhhnnn..." he groaned.

"Robin!" a soft whisper hissed instantly next to his ear. He felt a light kiss
on his forehead, followed by a soft caress on his cheek.

"Selina?" He looked up, Selina swimming in and out of focus. She nodded, a
tearful smile breaking through.

"Yes, sweetheart. It's me."

"Batman?" he asked.

"He's here, sweetie," Selina reassured him. "He can't come to you right now.
We're in different holding cells. How are you feeling?"

"It hurts..." he whimpered softly, ashamed of his weakness. "It hurts so
much..." Comforting arms enveloped him instantly. He felt himself being rocked
gently to sleep. "Please, make it stop hurting...please..."

****

Selina held him closely. The cell was cold and dank. She tried transferring some
of her own body heat to Robin.

"How could they do this to you?" Selina whispered fiercely, rocking him back and
forth. Whatever they'd done to him, it was just making him weaker. She began to
sob.

"Oh, how could Bruce bring you into this life? You're just a boy! I don't care
how powerful. You're only a little boy!"

She buried her face in Dick's dark hair, crying raggedly.

****

Selina's sobs echoed in the outer chamber. A pair of amethyst eyes smiled in
malevolent delight.

"Soon, my dear," Talia uttered. "Soon, both you and that alien brat will be but
a bad memory. And my beloved and I shall be joined as it was meant to be."

****

Light images swam in and out of sight. Luminescent snapshots of his life.

Mom and Dad on the trapeze. "Let's go little Robin!"

Reaching out to each other as they fall. "John!" "Mary!"

Bruce holding him on the way home from the funeral. "Everything's going to be
all right, son."

Bruce standing in the middle of the kitchen with a pancake on his head, while he
and Selina double over in laughter. "Think that's funny?"

Selina crouched on the lawn, holding out her fielder's glove. "Come on, Dick.
You can do it!"

Alfred standing calmly, hand on his shoulder, offering quiet support after
Selina's arrest. "Everything's going to be all right, Master Dick."

The light dims. The images grow darker.

His hand opens the lead-lined box and he experiences searing-white pain for the
first time in his life.

He doesn't know where he is. He's cold and then hot. He's too weak to hold his
head up. Voices swell and recede.

"Ubu, you know what you must do."

"Yes, mistress."

He struggles to see, opening his eyes with difficulty. A strange giant of a man
approaches him, while a beautiful woman with purple eyes glares down at him. He
tries to say 'Hello,' but words fail him.

The giant takes out a syringe, and he feels an instant of panic. Something cold
and sharp pierces his upper arm. This quickly passes. He concentrates on the
woman trying to memorize her features, but his illness has left him too weak.

She approaches him, reaching her hand out to him. Her fingers are cool on his
forehead. She begins to chant, and he soon falls under its soothing spell.

****

"Everything's going to be all right, Dick," Selina's soothing voice crooned. "I
promise."

Robin tried to but couldn't open his eyes. "Selina?" he croaked faintly. Selina
immediately grabbed his hand and held it tightly to her wet cheek. She struggled
to speak, finally getting the words out.

"Yes, it's me, sweetheart. How are you feeling?" she asked. "Are you still in
pain?"

His face clenched as a sudden spasm violently shook him. He buried his face in
her arms, too sick to be brave. "It hurts so much," he admitted in a little boy
voice.

"Oh, honey, I wish I could make the pain go away," Selina said, holding him
closer. "But I don't know what that the witch did to you!"

"Kryptonite..." Robin whispered.

"What? Krypton-what?" Selina asked. "What's that?"

"Kryptonite..." Robin repeated. "...Makes me sick...takes my powers away..."

Selina took his face in her hands. "Dick, listen to me, sweetheart. Is *this*
what made you sick before?" He nodded. "Honey, how were you cured? Please, I
have to know in order to help you."

"Sunlight..." Robin whispered. "Need...sunlight..."

"Sunlight?" Selina repeated. That didn't make sense. And yet, during his
recovery period, Dick had been placed outside in the sun as much as possible.
She'd assumed that they'd wanted him to have fresh air, but perhaps it *had*
been the sun all along.

If it was sunlight Dick needed, then that's what he was going to get! Looking
around the dank cell, she assessed her chances of breaking out. Above the door
the stones had been unevenly laid and formed what looked like a thin ledge no
more than three inches in width.

She heard the key being turned in the outer lock.

****

Sound returned first. Voices, machinery, metal doors opening and slamming shut.
Next, he felt the cold floor underneath. Dampness seeped through his costume and
left a bone deep chill throughout his entire body.

I'm in a cell, he deduced. He slit his eyes open, just enough to get his
bearings. Not turning his head, he surveyed the area immediately before him:
mortar and stone. Very old. He could hear water dripping from somewhere. The
walls themselves were covered with a thin veneer of mold and slime.

Underground dungeon, he thought.

Taking a chance he rolled onto his back. He was alone. Sitting up, he fought a
momentary wave of vertigo, but this soon passed. He felt around his waist. His
utility belt was gone.

Using the wall as leverage, he stood. Eyes narrowed, he immediately started
looking for a means of escape. A little to the right and above the door, he
noticed that the stones had been unevenly laid. He ran his hands carefully along
it. The stones formed a very thin ledge here, no more than two-three inches in
width.

Batman heard the keys jangling outside the cell.

****

"Guards! Prepare the prisoners" Ubu ordered. "The mistress wishes to see them.
Ensure that the detective and the woman are shackled properly."

"Yes, overseer!" The two guards promptly turned to open the doors of the
respective prisoners.

"Arshavir! If the woman does not cooperate," Ubu said coldly. "Kill her!"

"Yes, overseer!" Arshavir replied.

"Jirair, the detective must not be harmed. The mistress will be most
displeased."

"Yes, overseer!" Jirair replied, his voice betraying his nervousness.

Both men opened their doors and waited a split second in the doorway before
stepping through the threshold.

Arshavir heard the sound before a heavy mass suddenly dropped on top of him.

****

As soon as her guard walked through the door, Selina let go and crashed down on
top of him. She'd held onto the three-inch ledge over the door with little more
than her fingers and toes and lay in wait for her jailers.

Arshavir cried out in surprise as Selina slammed into him. "Overseer!"

Selina's momentum caused them both to tumble in a heap on the floor. Selina
recovered first. Kicking out with all the force she could muster, she struck him
on the temple, instantly knocking him out.

Alerted by Arsahvir's cry, Ubu immediately ran in. Seeing the guard lying
unconscious on the floor, the human giant turned towards Selina and assumed a
defensive stance. Although he was a huge man, there was nothing awkward about
Ubu. His movements rivaled Selina's in their feline grace. Giving the impression
of a tiger on the prowl, Ubu advanced methodically.

He soon had her cornered.

As Ubu got closer, Selina's growing sense of desperation escalated. Dick needed
her!

She feinted left and slipped out from under Ubu's grasp. Enraged, Ubu took a
flying leap after her. Catching her in his strong grip, he held her firmly as
she struggled uselessly to escape.

"Let me go, you zombie!" Selina shouted. In response, Ubu tightened his hold on
her.

"You are unimportant, thief," Ubu uttered, squeezing harder. "The mistress will
not be angered by your death. And I have not had the *pleasure* of killing
anyone today." As he spoke, Ubu's arms clamped down with ever increasing
pressure.

Selina couldn't breathe. She felt as if her lungs were being squeezed out of her
chest. He was crushing her to death! A black maw opened up in front of her,
threatening to swallow her whole. Her struggles slowed, growing feebler with
each passing moment. She thought of Dick and of Bruce. They needed her and she'd
failed them.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, succumbing to the descending darkness.

Tiring of the game, Ubu decided that it was time to end it. The mistress would
not wish to be kept waiting from her audience with the detective.

About to give Selina the deathblow, Ubu was unexpectedly struck from behind by a
moving freight train!

****

Batman dropped from the thin ledge above the door and easily subdued his jailer.
He then dashed towards the cell where Selina and Robin were being held. Seeing
her go down, he went airborne and slammed feet first into her attacker.

All three went down in a jumble, Selina apparently unconscious. Batman instantly
rolled over and regaining his feet took up a wary defensive stance. He and his
giant opponent circled each other, neither daring take his eyes off his
dangerous opponent.

****

Selina opened her eyes and focused groggily on the battle going on above her.
Turning her head, she saw Robin still lying in a small huddle on the floor. She
had to get him to sunlight! Moving with excruciating slowness, Selina began
crawling towards the Boy of Steel.

****

Ubu charged Batman, determined to end the altercation by the quickest means
possible. He had to take the Dark Knight without injuring him too badly;
otherwise, his mistress would take out her wrath on him.

Remembering the last time she'd thrown a tantrum, Ubu shuddered in fear.

Batman grabbed Ubu by the wrist and forearm, spun underneath him, and using the
giant's own forward momentum threw him against the wall.

Ubu struck his head on the stonewalls with a resounding ~crack~. His eyes
rolling upwards, Ubu slowly slid down the wall to a sitting position on the
floor.

****

Gently raising Robin to a sitting position, Selina somehow managed to throw him
over her shoulder in a fireman's carry. Moving towards the door, she almost
collapsed under his weight. Leaning against the wall for added support, Selina
set her jaw in a straight line and placed one foot in front of the other.

Walking out into the corridor, she saw that there was only one way out. Taking a
look back, she saw Batman and Ubu in a deadly struggle. A warning bell jangled
inside her head. She had to get Dick to safety. But how could she abandon Bruce?

Dick and Bruce, the two men she loved, needed her. But Dick was still a child,
and in Selina's heart, he had become her child. His safety was her
responsibility. Bruce would understand.

About to leave, she saw Batman slam Ubu against the wall. The giant slid to the
floor, unconscious. It was over. Smiling in relief, Selina waited for Batman--
no, she waited for Bruce.

Gasping raggedly, Batman stared long and hard at her. His insides were torn by
conflicting emotions. Seeing her almost killed by Ubu had sent him into a wild
frenzy of fear mixed with rage. Seeing her standing there, impossibly beautiful
despite their filthy circumstances, he felt his heart catch in his throat.

He wanted to take her in his arms. But seeing Robin so impossibly still, his
heart almost stopped in fear.

"Robin?" he whispered. He hurried to them, and Selina gently turned the boy over
to his father.

"He's in terrible pain, Bruce. Something about Kryptonite--?"

"Bruce--?" Batman looked at her in surprise. She nodded.

"I've known almost from the beginning--" Seeing movement behind Batman, Selina
suddenly pushed him out of the way. Hissing, she leaped and kicked out.

Ubu! He'd regained consciousness and was trying to stop them. With Batman
looking on with open admiration, Selina lithely spun in midair, kicked out once
more, and connected with the giant's abdomen. Still groggy from the earlier blow
to the head, Ubu bent over, the wind knocked out of him.

Landing gracefully in front of him, Selina waited for Ubu to look up.

"*This* is for Robin!" She kicked out, striking him on the chin. Ubu staggered
back, but didn't fall. Selina spun in fury, and kicking out, snarled, "*This* is
for Batman!" Ubu again took a few steps backward, but remained on his feet,
stunned.

"And *this*--" Selina took a flying leap and cart-wheeling in midair, she caught
him with two solid blows to the head. "--is for *me*!"

Ubu fell straight back, a giant tree meeting its end. Selina stood over him, her
pulse pounding in her ears, her breathing in quick, short gasps. Turning to the
two men whom she loved more than anything else in the world, Selina just stood
and waited.

It was Bruce's move.

Robin stirred. "Bruce?" he whispered. Batman immediately looked down at his boy,
holding him closer. Instantly, Selina was standing next to them, her fingertips
gently brushing Robin's hair back from his forehead.

"She loves us, Bruce..." Robin slipped back into unconsciousness.

Keeping his eyes on Selina, Batman answered, "I know she does, son."

Selina felt the tears flow unchecked. She tentatively reached a hand up to
Batman's cheek.

"What I don't know," Batman continued, "is if she'll ever forgive me for not
believing in her."

Unable to speak, Selina nodded. Finding her voice, she began, "I can't blame
you, Bruce. I've done too many things in my life that I'm ashamed of. The only
good thing that I've ever done is fall in love with you and Dick." She looked
down at Robin, her face racked by guilt.

"I was hired to kidnap Dick and deliver him to these monsters. I was in trouble
and I was desperate, but I know that doesn't excuse what I almost did." Locking
eyes with Batman she spoke softly.

"But when I met Bruce Wayne, I fell in love with him...and his son." Selina's
voice caught. "I just couldn't go through with it. Everything that happened was
my fault, not yours."

Batman shook his head. "No, not everything, Selina--" he looked down at Robin.
"--but this isn't the time or the place. When we get out of here--and I swear to
you that we will get out--we'll talk. Until then..." He bent down and Selina
willingly kissed him softly, tenderly, a promise of love and forgiveness.

****

Chapter Twenty-six

Wally kept his eyes carefully downcast. Alfred was methodically preparing
breakfast. The dignified butler hadn't spoken a word since he discovered Dick's
absence. Wally felt uncomfortably guilty over the entire episode and was growing
increasingly worried.

Dick should've been back by now. All he was supposed to do was *talk* to Bruce.
Show him the proof that Selina had been framed.

Something must've gone wrong.

"Alfred?" he asked tentatively. Alfred looked up.

"Yes, Master Wallace?"

Master Wallace. Alfred only called him that when he was in trouble. The same
with Dick. He was 'Master Richard' whenever he pulled a particular boner. Wally
grimaced.

"I'm really sorry, sir," he apologized, though what he'd done wrong was beyond
him. Like Dick had warned him. It was *his* fault, until either Dick or Bruce
returned. Then it would be *their* fault. He sighed. He'd never understand
grownups.

"No need to apologize, young sir," Alfred said, returning to the task at hand.
"I am quite certain that Master Richard left under his own power."

"Yes, sir," Wally said. "I'm sorry, sir." He looked down at the empty place
setting in front of him. His worry getting the better of him, he spoke again.
"Alfred?"

Alfred looked up again. His blank English butler's expression gave nothing away,
yet he somehow exuded 'attitude' nonetheless. He raised a single eyebrow. Wally
had the sudden feeling he'd just been chewed out without a word being spoken. He
swallowed nervously.

"Alfred, I'm getting really worried," he said in a small voice. "May I go look
for them?"

Alfred's expression didn't change, although Wally thought he caught a brief
flash of surprise in his eyes.

"And why, Master Wallace, are you asking *my* permission to conduct a search?"

Wally's normally pale cheeks reddened, matching the color of his hair. "Because-
-" His voice squeaked. Swallowing, he tried again. "Because, I gave my word,
sir. I promised Uncle Barry that I'd do whatever you and Mr. Wayne told me to.
A-And 'cause I promised Dick I wouldn't follow him." He dropped his eyes again.
Inexplicably feeling the urge to start crying, he looked beseechingly at Alfred.

"Please, sir. I'm *really* worried. May I?"

Alfred stared at the boy for a long moment. The loyal butler was deathly worried
for the two masters. It wasn't like either Master Bruce or Master Dick not to
call if they were to be held up.

Something had happened. Something terrible. He was sure of it. He nodded in
agreement.

"Very well, Master Wally. I believe that you should--"

Before he could finish the sentence, Alfred felt a sudden tornado sweep through
the kitchen.

"--go check on Master Dick."

As these words left his lips, a second whirlwind swept into the kitchen toppling
anything that was not bolted down. Alfred had to duck against the flying debris,
covering his eyes from the sudden dust that was kicked up. Within an eyeblink,
everything was back in order.

When his vision cleared, Alfred saw Kid Flash standing before him.

"They're in trouble," the junior speedster reported.

****

Carrying Robin, Batman raced down the dark, labyrinthine tunnels. Selina
followed closely at his heels.

"Where are we going?" Selina gasped. She was holding her sides as she ran. Ubu's
deadly embrace might have broken a couple of her ribs. As she spoke, they came
to a large natural cavern. They immediately spotted another tunnel entrance
further ahead and started running towards it.

They didn't get twenty feet.

The cavern was suddenly flooded with huge magnesium stadium lights. All around
them stood armed guards dressed in black.

****

Batman yanked uselessly at his shackles--again. He was chained, immobilized, to
a pole. He'd been stripped of his cape and cowl, as well as his gauntlets and
boots. Apparently, his jailers were no longer taking any chances that he might
have hidden weapons.

Selina was likewise restrained a few feet further down. Robin was tossing
restlessly on a hospital gurney, his face grimaced in anguish. His complexion
was cast in a faint veneer of green overlaid with a fine sheen of perspiration.
His breathing was labored and rapid.

Even unconscious, the boy was suffering.

Batman clenched his jaw, a muscle throbbing on his temple the only sign that he
suffered along with Robin.

He felt a slight, cool breeze on his cheek and smelled fresh air. He looked
around trying to discern its possible origin. Try as he might, he couldn't see
anything past the magnesium lights. Everything beyond the circle of illumination
was in deep shadow.

"Bruce, we have to do something!" Selina sobbed. "Dick looks worse than before!"

Batman shook his head. "I know."

A tall, stately gentleman dressed in long, flowing robes stepped forward. He had
piercing black eyes that sent a chill down Batman's spine. The man oozed danger.

"So, Detective," he said in a quiet, basso voice. "We meet at last."

"You have me at a disadvantage," Batman said wryly.

A brief flicker of amusement passed across the newcomer's eyes.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Batman asked bluntly.

"Straight to the point. I approve. I am Ra's al Ghul and I am destined to one
day rule the world."

"Oh, really?" Selina piped in. "Was there a vote taken? I mean, how does one get
to be 'destined to rule the world'?"

Ghul ignored her outburst. Instead, he walked over to where Robin lay restively.

"So young, so brave." He laid his hand almost tenderly on the boy's forehead. A
vague expression of remorse registered briefly on his face. "So sad that he must
die in order to save the world." He turned to them. "But it is a small enough
sacrifice."

"What do you mean by that?" Selina demanded. "What did you do to him, you
vampire?"

"What was necessary," Ghul replied.

"How can it be deemed 'necessary' to hurt a child?" she cried. "What kind of
monsters *are* you?"

A new voice answered. "The kind of 'monsters' that are willing to sacrifice in
order to achieve the greater good." Talia stepped into the circle of light.

"*You*!" Selina hissed. "If that boy dies, witch, there won't be a rock you can
crawl under. I'll find you! And when I do I'll--"

"You'll what, thief?" Talia mocked. "Did I not mention that your death was
preordained? The boy shall not die--yet. My beloved..." She walked up to Batman,
cast a disdainful look at Selina, and kissed him fully on the lips.

Repulsed by her, Batman struggled to fight her off despite his restraints.
Finally, he struck out with a reckless move. He butted his head against hers.
Talia fell back, momentarily stunned. Her father caught her before she hit the
floor.

Selina broke into helpless giggles. "Good one, Batman!" she gasped. "That oughta
show her that a gentleman likes to be asked."

Recovering, Talia walked up to the bound prisoners. In a rage, she leaped
straight up and kicked out, striking Batman savagely on the temple.

Batman felt his head explode in a shower of red and black sparks. Blinking to
clear his vision, he saw three Talias advancing towards him. She was smiling
malevolently, yet tenderly.

She caressed his cheek. "Beloved, I forgive you your actions, because you do not
understand." Batman jerked his head away from her touch.

She smiled in amusement, but didn't reach for him again. "You do not understand,
because you do not remember your past lives."

"Past lives?" Batman asked sardonically.

Talia gave a single nod. "In each of your previous incarnations you've fought
against my father. But do not worry. This time, when you die, you shall be
placed in the Lazarus Pit." Her eyes locked on his, she approached him
cautiously, her hand reaching out for him.

"Once you have risen, all you will remember is my love for you. And you will
rule as my consort for all eternity." She raised herself on her tiptoes and
kissed him gently on the lips.

Batman again jerked his head away from her touch.

"Oh, get a job, lady," Selina spluttered. "What *is* it with you? Can't get a
man, so you drug and chain mine? What's next? Are you going to club him and drag
him into your lair?" Selina paused and looked around. "Oh, duh! You've already
done that!"

Talia lunged towards Selina, her talons extended. "I *will* silence you, thief!
But first you'll witness--!"

"*Enough*!" Ghul roared, interrupting his daughter. "We have much to do. Prepare
the boy. It will be sunup soon. When he is exposed to the sunlight, his
bloodstream will begin to metabolize the serum--"

"*What* serum?" Batman demanded.

Standing shakily from the blow to the head, Talia snapped her fingers. A team of
medical personnel entered the circle of light. They were pushing several carts
filled with medical instruments and bottles filled with strange liquids.

Talia extracted a single tube that glowed a fluorescent green from the cart. She
held it up for Selina and Batman to see.

"*This* serum," she said. "About three years ago, we hired this traitor--" She
glanced spitefully at Selina. "--to bring us Richard Grayson. We knew of his
extraordinary powers and wished to control them. Much to our surprise, as our
plan was about to be set in motion, we received word that the boy was dying from
a mysterious blood ailment." She paused.

"To make a long story short, we were puzzled as to what could make the Boy of
Steel deathly ill and were determined to find out."

Ghul stepped forward. "I had my daughter extract several blood samples from the
boy while his invulnerability was cancelled."

"We'd intended to analyze his DNA as well," Talia added, "but to our surprise,
we were not able--"

"Talia!" Ghul said sharply.

"Really, father," Talia chided, "what difference can it make if they know? In
another few minutes it won't matter either way."

Ghul glowered at his daughter, but finally nodded in acquiescence.

"So far we have not been able to crack his DNA code," she continued. "It is most
unusual. But not to worry. We will. Eventually." She nodded at the medical
personnel.

They descended on Robin like vultures.

As one, Batman and Selina once again fought violently against their bonds.

"What are you *doing* to him?" demanded Batman.

"What kind of people *are* you?" Selina asked, her voice shrill. "He's just a
*boy*!"

"No," Ghul said, walking over to where the medical personnel were connecting
Robin to a variety of tubes and monitoring equipment.

"He is much more than a mere boy. He is the single-most powerful being on the
planet. And as such, he is a danger to my plans. But soon...soon his power will
be mine."

"Father!" Talia called. She was listening into a headset. "I'm receiving
unconfirmed reports of activity outside the compound."

"What kind of activity?" Ghul demanded. Selina and Batman exchanged hopeful
glances.

Talia shook her head. "I am receiving conflicting reports, Father."

"Where is Ubu?" Ghul asked. The giant stepped into the light. His battered face
showed that he'd been on the losing end earlier.

"Go investigate!" Ghul ordered.

"Yes, master," Ubu said, bowing out.

"Father, sunrise in two minutes. Everything is ready." Talia stepped away from
the gurney.

Robin was connected to several tubes that ran ominously to a bank of electronic
equipment. A heart/lung machine assisted his labored breathing. The steady
rhythm of his heartbeat beeped in the background.

Ghul walked up to his daughter. "Syringe?" he asked, holding out his hand. Talia
held out a small silver tray. She pulled back a cloth, uncovering a hypodermic
filled with the same glowing, green liquid that she'd shown earlier.

Selina gasped. "What *is* it?" she asked fearfully.

"As we said earlier," Ghul explained calmly as he removed the syringe, "we
extracted several blood samples from the boy three years ago. In the ensuing
time, even though we weren't able to analyze his DNA, we were nevertheless able
to duplicate the poison." He smiled, a cold smile that chilled his captive
audience.

"After we successfully duplicated the poison, we were able to manufacture a
strain that was five times as powerful. We injected the boy with a weakened
strain of the original. Not enough to kill, just enough to--"

"--Just to *torture* him!" hissed Selina.

Ghul's smile temporarily disappeared. "Naturally, that side-effect is
unfortunate. But I assure you that it is quite necessary. The boy's blood is
even now building anti-bodies against the poison. When exposed to sunlight, his
system will metabolize the serum, thus building even stronger antigens against
the blood poison. As he builds his immunity, I shall inject him with a strain
that's five times as powerful. The additional poison will force his metabolism
to work even harder and produce antigens that are even *more* potent."

"I don't understand," Batman said. "Why would you want--?"

Ghul looked like a teacher addressing a very dense student.

"When the boy builds an immunity to the radiation poisoning, then *nothing* will
be able to hurt him. But--" He turned and walked towards Robin, holding the
syringe at ready. "--he will never be allowed to enjoy the fruits of his
suffering. For as the sunlight filters down through the ceiling skylights and
touches him, my people will drain all of his blood, even as it metabolizes the
serum."

His words were met with gasps of outrage and horror from Batman and Selina,
their desperate struggles against their bonds tripled.

"You *can't*!" Selina cried, tears of frustration streaming down her cheeks.
"*Please*! I *beg* you! You *can't*!"

Talia looked at her with mock pity. "Oh, but we can, my dear. And we *are*!" She
turned to Batman. His naked hatred was almost a physical blow. "I am sorry to
cause you such grief, beloved. But I promise. You will soon forget this. All you
will remember is my love for you."

"*Never*!" Batman vowed. "I swear, whatever happens to me, Robin *will* have
vengeance."

"Daughter!" Ghul said sharply. "It is time!"

"I *still* don't understand!" Batman called in a desperate bid for time. "You
said it yourself, Ghul--Robin's blood-type is unique! It's incompatible with
yours. What *good* will it do you?"

Ghul looked up from his evil ministrations and smiled. Batman again felt a cold
chill zoom up and down his back.

"Good, Detective?" he asked. "Why it will probably kill me. Correct, daughter?"

Talia smiled up at her father. "As you say, Father."

Batman looked at them with obvious incomprehension.

"Detective, I find your concern for me deeply touching," Ghul said sardonically.
"But I assure you that your concern is misplaced. As soon as I die from the
boy's blood, Talia will submerge me in the Lazarus Pit. And when I rise--"

"--When Father rises, he *will* be born anew," Talia broke in. "But *this* time,
he will have the boy's blood flowing in his veins."

"As well as, the boy's powers!" Ghul finished.

"You're mad!" Batman retorted. "You can't transfer his powers like that. It's
medically and scientifically impossible!"

"Ah, Detective," Ghul replied, "you disappoint me. Whoever said that we are
dealing with the mere laws of science? The Lazarus Pit operates under much more
arcane laws. Some would even call it 'magic.'" He smiled at Batman's look of
utter disbelief.

"Ah, a skeptic, I see," he observed. "No matter. Soon, I shall make a believer
of you." He turned back to the lurid task at hand.

Batman looked up. He could just make out the telltale signs of the night sky
lightening into the promise of dawn. Closing his eyes against the sight of death
descending in the form of the new day, Batman let his mind go still and began to
concentrate on his bonds.

****

Selina watched with growing revulsion. She wanted to tear her eyes away, but
couldn't. If she didn't witness the horror before her, then she'd feel as if
she'd abandoned Dick when he needed her most.

Ghul was bent over Robin, ready to plunge the syringe filled with deadly poison
into his veins.

She gasped as the first rays of sunlight struck her eyes. Blinking rapidly, she
tried to see through her tears.

"*NO-OOO-OO*!!!"

****

Batman worked steadily at his bonds, flexing and relaxing his wrists. The only
hope left was to break free. Now! He began applying steady pressure on the wrist
shackles, concentrating on contracting and expanding his wrists and forearms.

He could feel the veins on his neck popping, perspiration streaming down his
face at the tremendous exertion he was putting forth. This had to work. It *had*
to.

A sudden warmth began to spread across his body. Simultaneously he heard Selina
scream.

Sunlight!

Time had just run out.

With one last desperate effort, Batman strained at his bonds and broke free.

****

They were everywhere! Children! Mere children. Dressed in clothing that reminded
Ubu of their elder mentors--

A boy dressed almost entirely in red, shot an *arrow* (!?) at the satcom
antenna. Ubu watched as the arrow flew true and in an amazing display of
pyrotechnics exploded on impact. The boy had destroyed not just their primary
satellite uplink, but their first line of defense as well.

"Good work, Speedy!"

Ubu looked up at the sound of the young, female voice. A beautiful child of no
more than thirteen years flew over the young archer and waved. The boy waved
back.

"That's nothing, Wonder Doll!" he called. "You should see me do it with my back
turned and my eyes closed!" But the girl was no longer listening. She'd turned
at the sound of heavy machinery moving towards them.

Eyes narrowing, she flew at the armored personnel carrier. The vehicle's turret
rapidly adjusted its large caliber gun tube until it was aimed directly at her.
To Ubu's surprise, rather than retreating, the pony-tailed girl child hovered,
calmly waiting.

With an earsplitting roar, the gun fired and in less than an eyeblink, the
armor-piercing shell struck its small, frail target. As the smoke cleared, Ubu
was stunned to see the girl still hovering in the same location.

"Now it's *my* turn!" she said, a dangerous glint in her eyes. She dived towards
the hastily retreating tank, and with one well-placed punch, disabled it. The
crew abandoned ship in several different directions. Twirling a golden lasso,
she was about to throw it to roundup the fugitives, when a red and gold blur
suddenly appeared in front of her.

"No *time*, Wonder Girl! We've found the green radiation trail again. It goes
into the side of the mountain--it's probably a camouflaged entrance. I'm gonna
scout it out by vibrating through it. Aqualad's already waiting over there."

"We're right behind you, Flasheroo!" the young archer called. The flying girl
swooped down and lifted the boy. "Now *this* is what *I* call 'Flying the
friendly skies'!" he quipped.

The girl laughed, a clear musical sound like that of wind chimes.

Ubu faded into the shadows and hurried back to the underground complex by a
different route. If he were to save the Master and Mistress, then he had to act
quickly.

****

Like an avenging angel, Batman leaped across the short space separating him from
the huddle of medical personnel. His momentum carried him almost within arms
reach of Ghul. The others fell all around him, knocking over surgical
instruments and monitoring equipment.

Ghul backed away from Robin. "*Stop him*, you fools!" he ordered sharply, waving
his arms for added emphasis.

Never taking his burning eyes off Ghul, Batman battled his way towards the
would-be world leader, fending off his minions by instinct. Batman witnessed the
fight through a red haze. Ghul's followers were as nothing to him. He wanted
Ghul.

"*Batman*! Behind you!" Selina cried in warning.

Batman instantly whirled and ducked. He swept his legs out in a scissors kick,
knocking his opponent down. It was Talia. She retaliated in kind, striking with
a force that took Batman by surprise.

"Father! Hurry!" she urged. "I'll keep him occupied!"

Ghul nodded and immediately rushed to Robin's side.

"*Batman*!" Selina called. "He's injecting Robin with the poison!"

At her words, Batman went into super-overdrive. With a rage fueled by
desperation, he held nothing back. Pounding the young woman who professed to
love him, but who was willing to cold-bloodedly murder his son, Batman struck
out with an energy he normally reserved for his practice dummies.

He slammed the lower palm of his right hand into her chin and followed through
with an elbow to the temple and a straight kick to the solar plexus. As his
dazed opponent staggered before him, Batman grabbed her by the collar and was
about to deliver the final blow, when he stopped.

She was looking up at him, her expression serene and accepting. "Beloved..." she
whispered. "Perhaps, the next time we meet--" She fell unconscious.

Releasing her, Batman whirled towards Ghul who was even now turning on the
machines whose dire purpose was to drain the Boy of Steel of his life's blood.
Without looking back towards the fallen Talia, Batman vaulted over several
obstacles that stood between him and Ghul.

To Batman's horror, the bright sunlight that now bathed Robin in its life-giving
embrace clearly exposed the first faint signs of red liquid as it began to pump
out of the boy's veins.

"*No-oo-o*!" he roared, landing feet first on Ghul. They both tumbled to the
floor together. Ghul recovered and viciously kicked out, connecting with the
back of Batman's head. The Dark Knight went down in a heap, the world spinning
madly and going black...

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could hear his mother calling him.
"Bruce!" He shook his head and rolled over.

"Mom?" he whispered. "Five more minutes, please?"

"*BRUCE*!" His mother's voice was becoming increasingly insistent. Almost
shrill.

"I'm coming, Mom," he promised. "So sleepy..."

"The tubes--! Bruce, you have to remove the tubes!"

"Tubes?" he asked, not understanding.

"Bruce! Dick *needs* you! *BRUCE*!"

"Dick?" he whispered. His eyes snapped open. His vision was assailed by the
increasingly bright sun that poured down from the high skylights, 'portholes'
carved out of the side of the mountain where they were located. He painfully
turned his head.

Ghul was standing over Dick, his vile machine still relentlessly doing its job.
How long had he been out, Batman wondered? He had to move. Gritting his teeth
against the wave of nausea that washed over him, Batman *willed* himself to
sidestep the blackness that once again threatened to enshroud him.

Seeing Dick's life steadily dripping out of his veins, Batman began to crawl
across the interminable distance that separated them. He had to remain out of
Ghul's peripheral vision. As he pulled himself forward, Batman felt the world
phase in and out, like a badly tuned television set.

He felt dissociated from his body, almost floating. The tube filled with red
liquid loomed before him.

Almost there.

He reached out, his fingers looking oddly misshapen and faraway. He strained for
it, but it remained just out of his reach.

The perspiration streamed down his face, trickling off his chin. He willed his
body to gain the additional inch he needed. Looking up, he gaped almost
mesmerized by the drip...drip...drip...of the red pearls as they oozed into the
tube.

"*Bruce*! *Hurry*!" Selina's sharp voice startled him back to reality. Snapping
out of the fugue he'd fallen into Batman's fingers closed around the tube and
yanked.

Batman heard Ghul's surprised cry of outrage. This was immediately followed by a
second, more powerful kick to the base of his skull. Once again, Batman's head
exploded in a shower of stars and pain.

Ghul cried out in triumph.

"Soon, Detective, it shall be over. The boy's powers will be mine, and *you*--
you shall be my beloved daughter's *pet* for all eternity."

"Oh, I wouldn't bet on *that*!" a young voice said. It was the last thing Batman
heard before he succumbed to the blackness that again descended to claim him.

****

Ubu ran down the secret passageways, reviewing his standing orders as he did so.
Coming to a set of security doors, he placed his palm on an electronic scanner.
The doors opened smoothly.

Stepping into the chamber, Ubu hurried to the command console and sat down. He
flipped switches and pressed buttons. The sounds of powerful engines coming
online rumbled quietly through the bulkheads.

Ubu touched a button and a computer monitor and keyboard emerged from the
console. He typed a few commands and soon had a view of the open cavern. The
Master was facing off against the Dark Knight.

The Mistress was lying, unconscious on the floor.

"I must rescue them," he muttered and began inputting the necessary commands
into the computer. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the transporter chamber
start its signature glow.

****

Robin flexed his biceps. The straps holding him down split apart. In an instant,
he was in the air taking in the situation. Warm sunlight bathed him in its life-
giving rays.

Seeing Batman on the floor, unmasked and unconscious, and Selina bruised and
battered, Robin felt a cold, black anger slowly consume him.

"You hurt them." Robin's low voice shook slightly. His normally clear, blue eyes
began to burn, mirroring the white-hot rage that was building inside him.

Selina heard the cold, frightening quality in the boy's voice and grew
immediately worried. "Robin, sweetheart...please don't--" she pleaded.

Ghul's eyes widened. For the first time in an eternity, he knew fear.

Robin heard Selina's voice somewhere in the shadowy recesses of the darkness
that was enveloping his soul.

"He hurt you and Bruce," he said between gritted teeth. "He *deserves* to--"

"Robbie!"

Robin turned towards the sound of the voice. Kid Flash! And with him were Wonder
Girl, Speedy and Aqualad! The momentary distraction broke his mounting wrath.
His blazing eyes returned to their normal cool blue.

"Robin--!" "Robbie! He's--!" Selina and Wonder Girl cried out simultaneously.

Robin whirled back in time to see Ghul disappearing in a sparkling display of
light. Kid Flash was suddenly there, his hands grabbing for the fading villain,
touching only empty air.

A second sparkling display followed in its heels. The unconscious form of Talia
disappeared from where she lay. Again, Kid Flash was too late.

Robin looked at his friend in disbelief.

"I thought you said you were fast."

Kid Flash looked at him sheepishly. The others gathered around him, slapping his
shoulder, Wonder Girl hugging him.

"Look, we don't have time for this. We've gotta search the place for the
transporter. It's gotta be here somewhere." He did a quick 360-degree scan of
the area with his X-ray vision. "The place is lead-lined. I can't see through
any of the walls. Let's go!"

"No, Batboy!" Speedy said, stopping him. "We'll go look for the bad guys. You
take care of your dad and the pretty lady."

Robin suddenly remembered Selina and quickly broke away to free her. As soon as
her bonds were removed she hugged him to her. Pulling back slightly, she cupped
his face in her hands, amazed at his healthy, apricot cheeks and bright blue
eyes.

She leaned down and kissed him gently on the forehead. "Thank you, munchkin,"
she whispered. "For believing in me." Robin blushed to the tips of his ears. He
dropped his eyes in embarrassment, but felt secretly pleased.

"Bruce!" Selina said sharply. They both turned in time to see Wonder Girl easily
lifting the 200-pound Dark Knight onto the gurney so recently vacated by Robin.
With a wave, the group of teens broke up into teams and left to search the vast
complex.

The next few moments happened quickly. A deep thrumming started vibrating
throughout the underground multiplex. Soon, the walls and ceiling were caving in
all around them, the floor heaving unsteadily.

"Robin!" Selina screamed pointing up. Robin looked where she pointed. The
ceiling skylights were coming down on her and Bruce. A feeling of deja vu
washing over him, Robin flew towards them, pushing them out of the way...

"Van!" Lara's cries echoed in Dick's mind. Dick/Van Zee saw her horror as the
skylights crashed down on him. He felt a momentary sadness at never seeing his
son again, but triumphant that his baby was safe...

"Dick!" Selina cried. Dick saw her horror as the skylights came crashing down on
him. Remembering the father who'd sacrificed his life for him, Dick felt a
momentary stab of regret at never having known him, but seeing that the father
who'd raised him these past years was safe, he experienced the same sense of
triumph that Van Zee felt even as he'd died.

Robin quickly evacuated the two people whom he loved most in the world, and
leaving them at a safe distance from the collapsing mountain, turned to find his
friends.

As the Boy of Steel dove back into the underground complex, a hidden entrance
opened and a small, stealth aircraft made its escape.

****

Epilogue

"Dad, are you sure?" Dick asked. "It's not like you're an old man or anything
like that."

Bruce looked at his oldest son and smiled. "Gotham City doesn't need Batman
anymore, son. She has new protector now." He slammed the door to the uniform
vault with a permanent sounding echo.

"But, Dad!" Dick looked over at Selina. She was standing to the side, not
wanting to interfere in what was essentially Batman and Robin business. "Mom,
*you* talk to him!"

She smiled tolerantly at her first son. "Sweetheart, how can I argue against
something that I agree with? Something that I've prayed for?"

Dick looked at her in surprise. They were interrupted by the sounds of a human
dynamo running down the stairs towards them.

"Mommy! Daddy!" A five-year-old boy with Bruce's dark looks and Selina's green
eyes literally tumbled in. In a blink, he executed five expert handsprings and a
round off.

Smiling, Dick bent down to eye level with his little brother. "Hey, Tommy, that
was a perfect ten! Gimme five!" The two brothers slapped hands. Dick picked him
up.

"I wanna see," Tommy said. "Please?"

A polite throat being cleared announced that it was time. "Master Richard, I
believe that you shall find all is in order."

"'Master Richard'?" Dick asked, half-joking. "You only call me that when I'm in
serious dog-doo with you, Alfred."

Alfred rolled his eyes. "As you have reached your eighteenth birthday, young
sir, and surprised both your parents and myself by somehow graduating from high
school with highest honors, I felt that you'd come of age." He paused.
"Apparently, I was sorely mistaken."

He spun on his heel. Bruce and Dick exchanged amused glances. Dick lowered Tommy
to the floor and followed Alfred into the uniform vault.

"Why can't I go with him, Daddy?" Tommy asked. Selina walked up to her baby and
placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"One day, munchkin," she whispered reassuringly. She met Bruce's surprised look.
"It's the 'family business,' after all."

The door to the uniform vault slowly opened, and Alfred walked out. His most
urbane expression firmly in place, he stepped to the side and waited.

A minute passed.

Tommy began to fidget restlessly. Catching sight of someone standing in the
doorway, he gasped suddenly.

A figure in black stood before them, hidden by the shadows surrounding him.
Stepping out into the light, he looked momentarily uncomfortable at being the
center of attention.

Unlike his mentor, Dick opted to forego a cape and cowl, preferring the feel of
the wind on his hair and face.

The others studied the new, darker look. Gone were the bright red, gold, and
green of Robin. Before them stood a young man who'd come into his own. But he
nonetheless chose to honor those who'd come before him with subtle touches in
his new uniform.

A bat-like mask honored the man he called 'Dad' today, while a midnight blue
stylized wing that ran across his chest honored the father who'd given him life.
The sleek, aerodynamic bodysuit--the envy of any acrobat--honored the memory of
the first man he'd called 'Daddy.'

And unlike his mentor whose hallmark was instilling fear into the hearts of the
criminals against whom he'd fought relentlessly, this hero broke into a wide,
ear-to-ear grin. "So? Whadaya think?" He twirled and then posed in a strongman
stance.

Selina laughed lightly. "I think it's wonderful, Dick. But I'm afraid that you
may wind up fighting off the girls instead of Gotham's criminals."

Dick blushed at his mother's comments. "Aw, mom," he protested. Tommy giggled at
his brother's discomfiture, not really understanding it.

Bruce walked up to Dick and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"I'm proud of you, son," he said. "Now, go out and make Gotham City proud of her
new protector--Nightwing!"

The End

####