Batman Beyond #14

“Damn, this thing runs quiet,” Terry said, looking over the interior of the plane for what had to be the sixteenth time. “Also, are we there yet?”

“Kid, I swear to God, if you ask me that one more time, you and I are both going to the hospital tonight,” Dick retorted over his shoulder.

They had been flying for a while now, Terry stuck sitting in the seat behind Dick, with nothing to look at but the same buttons and ocean view he’d already seen a couple dozen times over. The anxiousness he felt didn’t help matters either. They had to get to Bruce, and soon.

“It was just a joke, grandpa, relax.”

“Trust me, kid, I recognize sarcasm when I hear it, but when you ask that every five minutes, it gets annoying.”

“And just for clarity, why’d you say we’d both be going to the hospital?”

“So the docs could remove my foot from your ass.”

Terry almost chuckled. And he was pretty sure there was a smirk on Dick’s face after that line.

“Seriously though, how far out are we now?”

“Another seven minutes and we’ll touch down. And by that I mean you and I, not the plane. We’re ditching in three.”

Terry nodded to himself. That was a good idea; taking the plane all the way would be like waving a neon sign over their heads, and they didn’t need anyone knowing they were there until they found Bruce. But damn if there wasn’t a part of Terry that wanted to charge in with guns blazing after all this time of sitting back, doing nothing.

“Oh, and another thing,” Terry began. “You never told me exactly how you figured out who was behind all this.”

“For one, the soil sample I found. The scans I ran on it led me in two different directions, and of course one of them was the direction we’re heading now. Not just anyone would purposely mix two types of soil to throw us off.”

“What makes you so sure you picked the right one then?”

“Because the other one led to Metropolis. Bad idea to start anything in the big guy’s city, and Ra’s knows that. He tried it once before, and it didn’t exactly go his w- Holy hell, I think I know what he wants with Bruce.”

Terry leaned forward in his seat. “What?”

“No time to explain now, kid, here’s where we bail. Remember, only codenames while we’re in the field,” Dick said, keying in a sequence which, Terry assumed, would put the plane on autopilot.

“Gotcha, Nightwing.”

“You get a gold star, kid.”

“Don’t you mean Batman?” Terry smirked.

“Not yet, kid.”

Terry was about to object, but before he could get the words out of his mouth, the cockpit opened and Nightwing jetted out into the sky. He had no choice but to follow for now, but in no way was that conversation over.



“You want to run that by me again, Ra’s? My hearing’s not what it used to be,” Bruce said calmly as he stared his enemy straight in the eye.

“I see your tongue is still sharp as well,” Ra’s said, face still painted in the same, conceited grin. “But yes, Bruce, you heard correctly. I need your help.”

The room was fairly open, with only two chairs and a few bookshelves to take up any sort of space. The carpet was a rich burgundy, with a dark green rug lying in front of the fireplace. Not a speck of dust rested on any of the shelves, books, or the massive portrait of Talia that hung over the fireplace. That last one actually surprised Bruce; usually Ra’s would have his own portrait on display. His ego never really allowed even his own daughter any sort of spotlight. This was a new one.

“I see you’re admiring the portrait of my daughter. Have you truly not spoken to her all this time?”

“Why do you care, Ra’s?” Bruce replied, fighting to keep the bitterness out of his voice. He couldn’t let Ra’s get an emotional reaction out of him. “It’s not like you ever approved of my relationship with your daughter.”

“As you well know, Bruce, that could have been rectified.”

“By selling my soul? I wasn’t interested then, and I’m not now.”

“And in that, you are a fool.”

“Enough talking. Just hurry up and tell me what you want so I can say no.”

Ra’s smiled. “I’m dying.”

“You’ve been dying for years, Ra’s. You’re just too much of a coward to accept it.”

“Careful, Bruce.” Ra’s’s tone remained the same, but his eyes narrowed. “I’ve shown you nothing but hospitality since you arrived. I suggest you watch your tongue, lest I rethink my stance.”

“I wasn’t aware poisoning someone’s food was considered ‘hospitable’ these days.” Bruce met him with a level stare.

Ra’s smiled. “I see your skills are as sharp as ever. That’s good. Here,” he said, and motioned toward the two chairs.

“I don’t need to sit.”

“Very well, Bruce, I’ll get to the point. You see, this most recent body I’ve acquired is failing me much sooner than I’d hoped.”

That much Bruce had already surmised. The wrinkles around the eyes were a dead giveaway. Ra’s was probably forced to go back to the pit at least once, maybe even twice every day at this point. The body wouldn’t hold out much longer at this rate.

“And you want a new body that hasn’t been tainted by Lazarus chemicals. Like mine.”

“Indeed. You should already know that there’s no escape from this place, Bruce. You have little choice, but I would appreciate your cooperation. It makes that process that much more smooth.”

“Do you really think no one’s noticed I’m gone yet? They’ll be coming after me.”

“I’m counting on it. That’s why I left a few soils samples behind for Grayson to follow. And when he and the boy make their way here in your aircraft, they’ll be blown out of the sky.”

Bruce smiled. “If you think it’ll be that easy, you don’t know them at all.”

“My only concern is Grayson. I’ve no interest in your latest ward. The boy is barely intelligent enough put on his own shoes.”

“Are we done here? I’m already old; I don’t need you eating up any more of my life with this kind of drivel.”

“Very well, Bruce.” Ra’s snapped his fingers and two tall, broad-shouldered men in brown uniforms entered the room, then took a place on either side of Bruce. “You have half an hour to change your mind. Either way, your body will be mine within the hour.”

He turned his back, then motioned for Bruce to be taken away.

“We’ll see,” Bruce said.

He let them escort him back to his quarters, and when the door closed behind them, he took a seat on the bed. Standing up for that long hadn’t been easy on him, but he wouldn’t let Ra’s see even a moment of weakness.

Alright you two, he thought. You’d better get here in time.

He knew they would make it, he just wasn’t sure how soon. And, as much as he hated to admit it, there was little chance of him fighting his own way out of this.



This wasn’t going to be easy, and Dick knew that. Breaking into any stronghold run by Ra’s would take quick planning, and precision. He hoped Terry would be able to keep up.

It had been decided that touching down on the far side of the island would be best. From there, they could go into stealth-mode and make their way to the fortress at a steady pace. It would probably take them less than an hour to make it there at the pace he had planned, assuming they didn’t run into any trouble along the way…. OK, knowing his luck, there would be some kind of trouble along the way, so he mentally prepared for it to take a little over an hour.

Here goes.

He activated the stealth function of his suit, and the kid did the same. Slowly at first, they moved into the trees, Nightwing in the lead, making sure they weren’t triggering any traps or sensors. When he was satisfied, he picked up the pace, and even after a half-hour the kid was keeping up just fine. But something was still bugging him.

This isn’t right, he thought. There’s no way Ra’s would leave himself this wide open. I haven’t seen a single motion-detector, camera, tripwire, or anything. Hell, the sensors in the suit aren’t even picking up anything. I don’t like this.

All the same, he moved forward. What choice did he really have when Ra’s had already gotten a helluva head start on them? And who knew what the bastard was planning?

The sun was beginning to set on them just as they reached the edge of the trees. The complex lay spread out before them, guarded, but not as heavily as Nightwing would have thought. There were only sparse patrols of guards roaming about, none of them even carried themselves like they’d be much of a threat.

Something’s wrong here. I’ve never seen Ra’s so lax on the security, Nightwing thought. This has to be a setup. He must know we’re coming.

He motioned for the kid to come closer, and whispered, “He knows we’re coming, so I say we make an entrance.”

Terry nodded.

“On my mark,” Nightwing said.

He held his hand up, then, after a silent count, he closed it into a fist, already darting toward the first patrol in front of them.



His time was almost up. Less than thirty seconds until Ra’s would come for his answer, even though he already knew what the answer would be. Ra’s was always one for formalities.

I still wonder how you survived, Bruce thought to himself. I was certain I’d never see you again, Ra’s.

And something else was bothering him as well; the way Ra’s had talked to him was off. His posture wasn’t quite right either. Had he really changed that much in all these years? It was possible, Bruce supposed, but something just didn’t feel right about it.

Before he could think things through any further, a smell caught his attention. It was followed by a wave of dizziness. Damn. How had he not noticed the gas sooner?

He recognized the feeling, and knew the gas wasn’t lethal, but that was of little comfort. He had to get out of the room before he passed out.

He moved toward the door as fast as he could. Then, just as his hand touched the keypad, everything went black.



“These guys are a joke!” Terry called out as he took down yet another incompetent guard.

“That’s the point,” Dick replied. “He’s trying to lure us deeper in, otherwise there’d be actual fighters out here.”

He watched as Dick took another man down with a kick to the side of the knee. Terry could hear the snap from where he was.

Damn, he doesn’t play around. These guys are hardly a threat and he’s snapping their bones like twigs.

Somehow, that just seemed a little extreme. Weren’t they supposed to hold to a higher standard or something? Wait, what 'standard' was he even talking about here? It’s not like Dick was killing anyone, or causing any permanent damage … but still, this fight felt like two full-grown men were pounding the slag out of a playground full of kindergarteners. Maybe Dick should be taking it a little easier on these guys.

Yeah, try telling him that and see what he says, dumbass.

Before long, the area around them was littered with the broken, bruised bodies of Ra’s’s 'elite' guard. All of them still breathing, although most would probably wish they were dead when they woke up with half their bones broken.

“I know what you’re thinking, kid,” Nightwing said. “And we can talk about it later, but right now we need to get to Bruce, understood?”

Terry nodded and followed after Dick, into the fortress.



Consciousness came in waves at first. He would come to for a couple of seconds here and there, then black out again. Finally, when he fully regained consciousness, the pounding headache hit him. Yeah, it was exactly the gas he’d thought it was.

He tried to shake his head, but it was locked in place. So was every other part of his body, he noticed.

“Where… am I?” he said groggily.

“Do you really not know, Bruce?” Ra’s’s voice replied.

“Wait, that smell…” He lowered his eyes and saw the bubbling pit below him.

“Before I can attain your body, I must first revert your age. The procedure would be far too hard on your body in its current state. You would not survive as you are.”

“How touching that you’d consider my health like that.”

“Enough, Bruce. I grow tired of these conversations, and I’m afraid your underlings breached the perimeter. I can’t risk waiting any longer.” And with that, Ra’s pulled the lever to his right, and Bruce began lowering toward the pit.

He tried to fight free of his restraints, but they were too strong. Or maybe he was too weak. Both, more likely. Either way, he continued to struggle with everything he had. Damned if he’d go without at least some sort of fight in him.

The burning, green liquid of the pit bit into his skin. At first it felt like thousands of needles jabbing into every inch of his body, followed by white-hot fire erupting from every pore.

Bruce screamed.



The security on the inside was the same calibre as what they’d faced on the outside, and Nightwing was starting to worry.

Dammit, this isn’t right! Why haven’t the big guns come out yet?

Just as they began working their way to the lower levels, he heard a scream, and it sent chills down his spine. He broke into a full sprint towards the source of the noise. The corridors here were too narrow for them to use their jets, or by God, they would have.

“Pick up the pace, kid!” He yelled.

That was Bruce, no doubt. And, in all the years he’d known him, Dick had never heard Bruce scream like that. Never. A sense of dread washed over him, and he hoped they weren’t already too late.

At the end of the hall, there was a large door and keypad. With no time to hack it, Nightwing braced himself as he crashed into it, shoulder-first. The door collapsed inwards and he tucked into a roll, then used his momentum to launch himself straight at Ra’s.

Ra’s actually looked shocked as Nightwing crashed into him and took him to the ground.

“The lever, kid!” Nightwing yelled.

“On it!”

“Why must you interfere, you fools?!” Ra’s barked, enraged.

Nightwing tilted his head to the left, just clearing Ra’s’s poor attempt at a punch. Whatever Ra’s had been doing all these years, maintaining his technique certainly hadn’t been at the top of the list. He hauled Ra’s to his feet and landed a firm punch to the gut. Ra’s doubled over, the wind knocked out of him.

What the hell’s happened to Ra’s? He’s not putting up any more of a fight than his piss-poor guard. Why can’t I shake the feeling that something’s wrong with this?

Nightwing turned around. The kid had already raised Bruce out of the pit, and was about to hit the button to let him loose.

“No! Not yet, kid, he’s still—” His warning reached Terry too late, as the restraints holding Bruce back were let go, and he jumped across the pit, straight for Terry.

“Bruce, what the hell?” Terry exclaimed as he dodged a flurry of blows from Bruce.

“Move over!” Dick said, charging toward them. “I’ve got this.”

He shoved Terry out of the way and blocked Bruce’s overhead strike.

Damn, he’s hitting like a truck! Have to be careful how I handle this.

He had to be careful not to hurt Bruce, but he couldn’t let himself be hurt either. He’d have to find his moment, and land a clean hit on Bruce to snap him out of this.

They were in deadlock for a while, neither of them able to gain any kind of upper hand. This dance was one Dick was very familiar with; he’d sparred with Bruce for half his life, and they both knew each other inside and out. And this Bruce was younger; not quite in his prime, but close to it, and still very dangerous.

So I’ll have to try something a little different on you, won’t I, old man?

He thrust his knee upward, towards Bruce’s chin. As Bruce quickly brought his hand in to catch the leg, Dick activated his thrusters and clocked him clean. The force of the hit lifted Bruce off the ground and knocked him on his back. Then he sat up, shaking his head.

“Hm, not bad,” Bruce said, rubbing his chin. “And how many years have you been waiting to hit me like that?”

Nightwing smiled. “Too damn many, I’ll tell you that.” He offered a hand to help Bruce up. “Need a hand there, old man?”

“Who are you calling old?” He took the outstretched hand and pulled himself up. “If I had to guess, I’d say I’m physically about the same age you are right now.”

“Yeah, but for how long?”

“Long enough for us to get out of here. Now let’s go.”

“What the hell was that, Bruce?” Terry asked, over to meet them. “You almost took my head off.”

“Your head and a few other limbs. Looks like your reflexes have gotten better. I never touched you.”

“Yeah, yeah, can we discuss all this later?” Dick said. “I’m sick of this place, and -” The whole building shook around them and alarms began to blare. Nightwing looked back and saw Ra’s, smiling. “Dammit, why do they always hit self-destruct?” He shook his head and sighed.

“This is how it must end,” Ra’s declared, tossing his shirt aside. He pulled a scimitar from the sheath at his side. “Come, Bruce. Let us finish this.”

Bruce nodded. “This won’t take long.”

He approached Ra’s, dodged a few telegraphed slashes of the sword, then knocked him out with one punch. With a huff, he tossed the unconscious Ra’s over his shoulder.

Dick wished he could say he was surprised, but at this point, no. This Ra’s was nothing like he remembered. The incompetence and lack of skill didn’t fit Ra’s at all. None of it made sense.

“Let’s get moving,” Bruce said. “We’ll discuss this more outside.”

He nodded and followed after Bruce, Terry bringing up the rear.

Yeah, Bruce knows something’s up too. Glad I’m not the only one.



They easily managed a safe distance before the explosion reduced the entire complex to a slag heap.

What was with that look Bruce and Dick gave each other? Terry thought.

“OK, now that we’re out of the fire, either of you mind telling me what the hell I’m missing here?”

“This whole operation was poorly planned and executed,” Bruce answered. “Plus, security was lax and Ra’s didn’t put up an even passable fight.”

“Yeah, and?”

“It isn’t like Ra’s at all,” Dick said. “The man’s a meticulous planner, and nothing ever goes this smooth where he’s concerned.” He turned to Bruce. “You think maybe he’s just outta practice? Or hell, maybe all these years bath-time in Lazarus pits finally took its toll and he’s just lost it.”

“Maybe,” Bruce admitted, and tossed the unconscious Ra’s to the ground. “But I’m not convinced.”

“What’s the deal then?” Terry asked.

“Maybe a lookalike?” Dick thought aloud. “Nah, that wouldn’t make sense. What would that accomplish?”

“Nothing,” Bruce agreed. “But you and I both know he’s acting very out-of-character. He hasn’t referred to me as ‘Detective’ a single time.”

Are they really just gonna leave me out of the conversation? Terry thought, angrily. I’m in this too, dammit!

“Y’know, you can feel free to include me in the conversation any time.”

“Relax, kid, we’re just thinking out loud. Besides, you don’t know Ra’s like we do,” Dick said. “And honestly, I hope you never have to get to know him that well.”

“Again with this ‘kid’ stuff!” Terry barked. “What the hell is your deal, old man?”

“Enough! Both of you!” Bruce interjected. “He’s coming to.”

Bruce knelt next to Ra’s and grabbed him by the hair, jerking his head forward. Ra’s’s eyes flew open.

“Damn you all!” He yelled. “I swear to you I’ll….” As the words died in his mouth, his eyes rolled back and he stopped moving.

In shock, Terry watched as Bruce checked for vitals, then stood and shook his head.

What the hell happened?

Dick asked the obvious question. “Dead?”

Bruce nodded.

“Whoa whoa whoa!” Terry said. “How? He was fine three seconds ago.”

“I get it now,” Bruce said, ignoring Terry.

“Yeah,” Dick agreed. “It all makes sense.”

“What the hell are you two talking about?!”

“This whole thing was a message from whoever’s pulling the strings. They wanted to test us,” Bruce said.

First an immortal psychopath, and now someone possibly bigger and badder pulling the strings? This was beginning to be too much. What were they supposed to do now?

“Well, looks like we passed whatever test this was supposed to be,” Dick said confidently.

Bruce stood and took a careful look all around them. “I’m not so sure we did.”



The man smiled as Bruce stood and took a look around. For a moment, their eyes locked, although Bruce wouldn’t know it.

“I’m not so sure we did.”

It was here, in a pitch-black room, eyes locked on the screen in front of him, that he smiled for the first time since he could remember.

“You have no idea, Bruce,” he whispered. “Let’s see if you can figure it out before it’s too late.”



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