Posted by Ripper X on January 03, 2006 at 22:06:41:
Gotham City, a town ruled by crime, and by fear; corrupts from its very core. Five years ago, one man chose to make a difference, this man was Batman; however, he found that he could not do it alone and took on a squire. Dick Grayson, an orphan. Raised in a circus where he defied death daily, Gotham took his family, so he took the mantel of Robin, and became the Boy Wonder. Barbara Gordon, adopted by Police Commissioner James Gordon: because of her gender, and her small size, she was forced to forget her dreams of ever owning a badge, but instead of giving up, she took the symbol of the Bat, and became Batgirl! This is the tale of a young Dick Grayson, and Barbara Gordon, teaming up for the first time. This is . . .
Written by Ripper X
Part 1
A Simple Job
Quiet nights in Gotham are rare events indeed, but it appeared to be just that. It’s been three hours since Barbra Gordon donned the mantel of the bat. So far she foiled three purse snatchings, and a robbery down at some ethnic grocery, not to mention saving a hooker from her pimp, Shuddy, who had decided to settle their little dispute with a bottle of Liquid Plummer.
‘Shuddy,’ She winced, ‘who names these people?’
Yes, a quiet night indeed, and it has been a trend, too. Perhaps (despite what Batman says) they are doing some good, after all? It’s been weeks since anything ‘big’ went down.
She knows what Batman would say. "They are just bidding their time. When it’s quiet, that only means that they’re thinking." Such a pessimist! Though he’s probably right, all of that ‘Quiet before the storm stuff’.
"Hi!" a voice said, startling her from her thoughts. She immediately knew who it was; after all, there were only a handful of people who could sneak up on the Batgirl!
"Hey, Robin," She smiled, telling herself to focus on his eyes, (No love-life for superheroes, especially with that one) "Where’s the big Bat?"
"It’s been quiet in Gotham," he said, crouching next to her, gazing down into the alley, "He’s busy with the League, but he left me in charge here."
‘Quit it, Babs!’ she thought to herself, failing to ignore the clean fresh scent of him, feeling that familiar burning between her legs. He’s much too young! Why can’t she get all goofy over somebody older then her?
"I figured as much. Canary was pulled in as well." She sighed, the more she talked, the less she could fantasize, "Villains don’t take vacations, and they’re getting organized, no doubt."
"Yep," He agreed, "who knows when or where they’ll turn up; anything interesting happening tonight?"
"Negative. Besides the normal Gotham creeps doing their things, it’s been down right depressing." She answered, thinking about some way to keep him around. After all, there wasn’t any reason to be all alone.
"Same here," He said, pulling out a thermos and poured some soup into a cup. "I was just going to take a break when I saw you. It’s been awhile since we had some time to just . . . you know . . . talk."
He blushed while he offered her the cup. He wasn’t making this easy for her. God, why did he have to be so darned cute?
"You’re right." She said, taking the cup; vegetable beef! Her favorite! Good idea carrying soup around. Even on warm summer nights like this, it can get kind of chilly when one is just out patrolling. "I didn’t have a chance to thank you for giving me another motorcycle. I promise that I’ll try not to blow this one up."
"Don’t mention it!" Robin smiled, "We buy everything in bulk so that it doesn’t make the suppliers suspicious. We sell most of them, but I can always use some help destroying the ones that we keep."
God, it must be nice to actually be able to afford to do this on a full time basis. She was always juggling her job at the library with her nocturnal activities. If it hadn’t been for Robin sneaking behind Batman’s back and supplying her with what tools he could, she’d no doubt be dead by now.
"You’re pretty good at keeping things a secret," Robin added, "I know the first time I was forced to ditch my bike, I was so attached that I just couldn’t bring myself to push the auto-destruct button."
"Oh, I know all about that." She said with a smile, little did he know that they weren’t talking about the same thing; ignorance is bliss.
"It ended up getting picked up by the police, and a reporter got a few pictures of it while it was impounded. Batman was NOT thrilled. I had to sneak into the impound yard to steal it back, then find the photographer and ruin a whole role of his film. It wasn’t fun. After that I always blew them up. They’re such beautiful machines, but the risk to all of us if one is found is worth the sacrifice."
"So you’re not mad that I keep blowing them up?"
"No, that’s exactly what you should be doing." Robin smiled assuringly, "Let’s talk about your costume."
"What about it?"
"You made it yourself, right?" He asked, touching her cape and feeling the material. "Is it bulletproof?"
"Somewhat," She answered, "I borrowed some vests from dad’s closet. I took out the padding, but it can still withstand the low powered rounds that most punks use."
"That’s smart." Robin said, happy with her craftsmanship. She had sewed metal ball-bearings into the cape, so it was properly weighed down, and could serve as a weapon if she found herself in a pinch. "It gives you room to move, and besides, nothing can really stop the tougher rounds anyway. The best defense for those, is avoiding them completely. Have you been shot before?"
"No, I don’t like to give them the chance . . . speaking of costumes, why does he make you wear that?" ‘Great Babs,’ she thought, cursing herself for saying it, ‘real subtle.’
"He doesn’t make me wear anything." Robin answered with a touch of contempt, "This was what I chose. You see, I use to be in the circus. My mom and dad and me, we had a flying trapeze act, and this was my costume then. When my parents were murdered . . ."
"Your parents were killed?" Great, your big mouth does it again, "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to . . . ."
"No, it’s okay." He said bravely, "I’ve grieved enough. They thought that they could take away my spirit; my pride. This is where I belong, I see that now. Batman said that I needed a symbol, and this is it. This costume is proof that I’m tougher then they are. The gangs thought that they had killed me; this is proof that they killed nothing. I’m a ghost now; A ghost that comforts the needy, and taunts the wicked all at a glance. It reminds me of what I lost, too; and I won’t let anybody else ever have to feel what I did."
"Wow," she uttered, she had no clue that this kid could be so deep. Perhaps he is worth pursuing more? She found herself trying to look past the mask, trying to peer into his eyes. This was the first time that she was aware that there was actually a real person under there.
"Crap!" Robin said, tucking the thermos back where it belonged.
"What?" Batgirl asked, looking around, and then she saw it. It cut through the overcast sky like a knife; a beacon of hope, of justice, and of need.
"The Bat-signal." She uttered. "Care if I come with?"
"No, you don’t have time." He answered, pulling out a jump cord and grappling hook.
"What? I’ve got . . ."
"Could you stop that guy down there from robbing the ‘Grab-N-Pump’?"
"What?" she gasped, looking down into the street at the guy pulling a pistol out of a paper bag and running into the gas station, "Again? That’s the third time this week!"
"Thanks, Babs. If I need some help, I’ll come back."
"Promises, promises." She said, before jumping into action. Damn it all. He may be sexier then is humanly possible, but there’s no way that he’s going to get all the glory!
[Metropolis: Lexcorp Tower]
High atop Metropolis’s highest skyscraper, in the building that he built from the ground up, Lex Luther sat preparing for what surely would become his finest moment.
"Ahhhh, yes," mumbled Lex Luthor into his phone. He reached into his desk and pulled out a little vial of white liquid. "Yes, the Basidiomycetes formula arrived safe and sound, now all I need is the recipe so that I can mass produce it."
Such plans in the hands of amateurs would end in failure. It took more then ‘desire’ when it came to murdering those that are immortal. It took unshakable will-power. It took the true conviction that what one was doing was ultimately what was best for mankind. But it also required a genius . . . HIS genius. After all, was it not Lex Luther who had excelled while everyone around him had failed?
"Of course, I remembered your payment," he smiled as he opened his laptop PC, "however you know, now that I have the formula itself, I can assign my chemists to reverse engineer it. . . . No, I’m not trying to back out of our agreement; I’m simply stating how pleased I am with your merchandise. And I’m expressing my good will towards our . . . mutual agreement."
Lex tapped a button, "I’m sending you the package now. I must admit that I couldn’t find much information about the belt itself, however, I’ve found enough that you’ll be able to remove it without getting any nasty surprises . . . speaking of surprises. You will learn his little secret, and I would be most willing to pay you handsomely if you were to share it with me, as it may be the clue that I need to unlock the mystery of his . . . um . . . mentor."
Right now the people love them: this group of aliens and meta-humans that have the nerve to call themselves the ‘Justice League’. Justice, what do such people as THEM know of JUSTICE?
"Oh, I understand," Lex said, his vicious smile twisting into a scowl, "Well, if it just so happens to slip off during your time together, then you have my number. . . Wonderful! And do wish your new girlfriend a pleasant birthday for me, won’t you?"
They may have the people eating out of their hands, but HE knows the truth. Men with such power, they are not heroes. Heroes are men who do great things. They aren’t MEN. They were monsters. Monsters that came to Earth to take it over, but this world was not meant for them, it wasn’t theirs to take.
"I’ll be in touch." He smiled, eyeing his prize. He loves it when a plan runs this efficiently. His advisory won’t see this one coming, and if things continue to run smoothly, then he can kill two birds with one stone! Actually, he was surprised that he didn’t think of this sooner.
If those monsters want this world, they will have to pry it from his cold dead hands!
[Gotham City: GCPD HEADQUARTERS]
Commissioner Gordon stood solemnly smoking his pipe as he gazed over Gotham. Damn this city! Some days, he just wants to give up. He was just thinking that perhaps he didn’t need any Urban Legends anymore. That he had finally made a police department that was able to do its job by its damned self.
"Hello Commissioner." Said a youthful voice behind him; breaking his heart.
"Where is he?" Gordon asked, not even bothering to turn around and face him. Boys his age should be out causing trouble, and chasing skirts. Not putting their lives on the line for some foolish quest.
"He’s busy, sir." Robin answered, hopping off of the ledge onto the building itself, "I know what you’re thinking . . . but . . . I just want to help."
"Yes," signed Gordon, turning around to face him, this wasn’t going to get any easier. Damn Batman for making him do this, "At 6pm Mrs. Rachael Helmsley-Quinzel reported that her daughter didn’t come home after school. . . ."
"Mandy Quinzel is missing?" Robin interrupted, forgetting himself. Mandy Quinzel was captain of the cheerleading squad; everybody had a crush on her. "Holy . . . ."
"I take it you know her?" Gordon remarked, "Well of course you do . . . she’s probably your age." He remarked under his breath. He sighed again and continued. "One of the neighbors reported seeing her get into a white van with Gotham City plates, so we didn’t have much to go on. Then, about a half an hour, THIS arrived."
Commissioner Gordon pulled an envelope out of his coat pocket, and looked at it, "It’s addressed to you." He sighed, hesitantly handing it to the boy wonder, knowing full well that now he was just as guilty of using children as the Batman was.
Robin took the letter. He hated dealing with Gordon. He always makes him feel unwanted and he refused to have any faith in his abilities. He hasn’t ever failed him, yet the commissioner doesn’t seem to care. His curiosity, however, was too extreme to worry about Gordon right now. This mystery had hit way to close to home. Mandy and he worked on a Science Project together . . . a bright girl who was afraid that if anybody found out, then she wouldn’t be popular anymore. He had tried to talk her out of such nonsense, she had been blessed with a gift, but she let it embarrass her. Alfred says that she’ll get over it in time, but it still didn’t make much sense to him. And now THIS happens.
Dear Robin, the letter read.
My name is Mandy Quinzel, the people who have taken me have said that they are going to kill me. I think that they are serious, please help. I don’t want to die! I’m dropping this out of the window of a van in hopes that it some how gets to you. Please Robin, I’m afraid that you’re my only hope!
"Who brought this in?" The Boy Wonder asked, the girl sounded desperate and scared. He had to move quickly!
"It was a vacuum salesman, of all people." Gordon answered, "We checked him out, and he’s clean. He says that he found it lying on Andru Street. Thank god he picked it up, but it’s still not enough to go on. She could be up as far as Old Towne by now."
"Where’s Hatter?"
"Jervis Tetch?" Gordon said, bushy grey eyebrows registering surprise. Kids got a good head on his shoulders. "The Mad Hatter is still locked safe and sound in Arkham. It wasn’t him."
"Did you check with the school?" Robin asked, sticking the letter in a plastic bag and stuffing it in his utility belt.
"We tried, but so far the School District isn’t cooperating with us." Gordon scoffed, "They say that they are protecting the girl’s rights to privacy. Can you believe such a thing? The girl’s been kidnapped, and they are worried about her damned privacy!"
"Pardon my language." Gordon apologized, walking over to the ledge and peering down into the busy street below, "It’s just that this stuff burns my hide . . . I mean, the gall! A girl’s life is in danger, and . . . well, you know where I’m coming from, right?" He asked, turning around, and finding that he was alone on the roof.
"He’s got the same bad manners as Batman, too." He grumbled, "Good luck son."
[Barbara’s Apartment: The Bat-lair]
She had made short work of the Gas Station robbers. She’d done it so many times that it was almost becoming tedious. After calling the cops to pick up their package of street trash, Barbara had gone home, telling herself that it was to record her nights activity, but now she was doing something else entirely.
"ACROBATS PLUNGE TO THEIR DEATHS" read the headline on her Web Browser linking to a story from the Gotham Journal Online Archives. He gave her too much information. She thought about clicking it, to see exactly who he was. ‘He trusts you Babs, and you want to betray him like this? This would change things. Why don’t you just wait until he tells you himself?’
"Aurgghhhh, it’s not easy always being the good guy." She said as she closed the web browser.
{Shurk: Robin to Batgirl . . .} the radio whispered on her desk. Speak of the devil! He was actually calling her back, just as he said that he would. Could this guy actually be for real?
"Batgirl." She said into the microphone, "Go ahead, Boy Wonder."
{I told you that if I needed help, I’d call!}
"Noted." She said with a smile.
{You’re good with computers, aren’t you?}
"Depends; are you looking to play World of Warcraft? Cause if so, I’ve got an elf that could so kick your butt." That’s it Babs, try and impress him by geeking out. Is it any wonder you’re still single?
{Maybe later, right now I could use some help at school.}
"Need some help turning an F into an A? Try hitting the books and doing your homework, Wonder boy."
{No, nothing like that.} Robin replied, {I left a book in a missing friend’s locker, and I’m wondering if you could tell me which one it is?}
"You do know that this is illegal, don’t you?" she teased, opening up her hacking program and dialing up the High School.
{Come on. Us superhero’s have to stick together! Besides, consider this a down-payment for all those bikes I keep giving you.}
{Blackmail, now!} Batgirl’s voice said through Robin’s helmet as he raced through Gotham streets on his Bat-cycle, {what’s this friend’s name?}
"It’s Mandy Quinzel." He said quickly, as he rode up a ramp and jumped the bike over the freeway, "How long is this going to take, because I’m kind of pressed for . . . "
{Locker number 318.} Came her reply, cutting him off, {How’s that for fast? Who’s the Wonder now?}
"Unbelievable!" He said as his bike came to a screeching and skidding halt in front of the school.
{Do you need some help getting yourself in?} She asked.
"No, I think I got it, Robin out."
{Sure, use me and abuse me, Robin. I can take it.}
[Louis E. Grieve Memorial High School: Outside]
"Hey boss." Buster said into his radio, "The birds entered the coop. What’s say I pound him?"
"Negative, Eagle 1." Ordered the voice from the other side of the radio, "But follow the brat, and make sure that he finds what he’s looking for."
Buster grumbled. It’s been weeks since he’s seen any action. He should had listened to his self and worked for Penguin again when had the chance. Sure, it was dangerous work, but the payoffs were usually huge. He got more action too! He watched Robin pick the lock on the door, and quietly let himself into the school.
Screw the boss! He thought, getting up from his hiding place, and running around to Eastern doors with the key he’d been given, He didn’t care what the boss wanted; he was gonna pound that runt into the ground!