The Dark Knight: Knight of Gotham #44

"Master Timothy!"

 

"Hey Al, glad to see you're alright."

 

"The feeling is mutual Master Timothy......Is your father alright?"

 

Tim lowers his head without saying a word. Though he doesn't say a single word his silence says it all. I take a moment to inspect him, his suit is torn in various places and there's signs of bruising on his face. From the looks of it Alfred and I got lucky.

 

"Is he...."

 

"Dead? I don't know. They made a point of making sure I saw them take him."

 

"If they made a point of you seeing him then surely it's for you to know they have him. Maybe they plan to force you both into a trap of some sorts."

 

"It certainly explains their interest in taking someone close to us. Seeing as how they couldn't take the two of us they had to take the closest thing to father figures we have."

 

"Closest thing to father figures? That man is my dad Bruce! They didn't take him because they couldn't take you, they took him because he's my dad! He might not know it but the man means everything to me! Why do you think I was so angry when he left Gotham in the first place!?"

 

"Tim I promise we'll..."

 

"Get him back? E'd better, because the last thing I'm going to let happen is another innocent party suffers because of us. First Steph and her family, now my own family. I swear Bruce, I'm not going to lose him the way Steph lost her family."

 

"He'll be alright Master Timothy. I'm sure of it."

 

"I hope so Alfred. I really hope so."

 

Tim takes time to remove his cape and mask as Alfred comes to rest his hand on Tim's shoulder.

 

"How did he know about us?"

 

"I'm not sure. But he's known for a while."

 

"....He's known a while?"

 

"The night I faced him in the sewer tunnel he used my name. As far as I knew it was only me that was compromised."

 

"Yet despite the fact that you're Bruce Wayne, one of the most high profile figures in Gotham you thought that he only knew about your identity!?" I'm sorry Bruce but I'm sure Buddy Standler could figure out who Robin is if he knew who Batman was. You should of told me."

 

"It wasn't important to you at the time."

 

"WASN'T IMPORTANT?!"

 

"You were preoccupied with the Film Freak case, I didn't want to distract you from your work."

 

"I couldn't give a damn if I was tied up with Film Freak! If I had been compromised I'd tell you, so you could prepare for it. I thought you'd at least have the common decency to do the same for me."

 

"I'm sorry. I should of told you the moment I learned i'd been compromised."

 

"You should of. I swear to god Bruce, if something happens to him. It's your fault."

 

With that Tim walks away to remove his costume and clean his wounds. I've put that poor boy through hell tonight. Several near death experiences in the fight against the Crimson Knight and now his father has been taken, all because this man wants me dead. To complete his 'ascension' whatever the hell that means.

 

"What now?"

 

"Until the Crimson Knight is dealt with the Nightmare protocol remains in effect. None of us leave the premises."

 

"You're just going to sit here and wait for him to come here?"

 

"No Alfred. He took Jack Drake to force Tim and I to come to a battlefield of his own choice."

 

"Home field advantage sir?"

 

"Probably. We don't have to worry for Jack. He's the bait. All we can do for the moment is prepare ourselves. We won't know what we're walking into so it's important that every scenario is accounted for."

 

"Well make sure you get some rest. It's all well and good preparing all these counter measures but they're useless if you're too exhausted to use them."

 

"I will Alfred."

 

"I'll speak to Master Timothy. Hopefully calm him down a bit."

 

"Look after him Alfred, but don't try to calm him down. He has every right to despise me right now."

 

"It'll be alright in the end Master Bruce. These things always work out in the end."

 

-------------------------------

 

Twelve Hours Later

 

Based on the Crimson Knight's previous tactics it makes logical sense his home field advantage will focus on weakening me. It's what his first two encounters were focused on. The collapse of a warehouse on top of me to render me immobile making me an easy target. The second encounter in the sewer tunnels, intended to hinder Tim's agility. It's clear as day he tries to weaken his opponents strength, the question really is how will he attempt to weaken me?

 

Another explosion?

 

Small combat ground?

 

Maybe use Jack as a shield?

 

What could he be planning?

 

"Long night?"

 

"Victor? What are you doing here?"

 

"You missed your monitor duty. Barry isn't happy with you. He had to cancel a dinner date with Iris to cover your shift."

 

"Tell him I'll pay for their next night out. But until then I'm busy."

 

"When aren't you busy?"

 

"Monitor duty."

 

"Hard to believe people claim to of never seen the Batman smile."

 

"What do you want Victor?"

 

"I want to know what's going on Bruce. You've never skipped monitor duty. Heck at times you've volunteered to do shifts for others simply to avoid special occasions."

 

"Your point being?"

 

"Something serious must be going on for you to skip your shift without any notice. Not to mention when I interfaced with your computer it said you've activated your nightmare protocol. Isn't that for if your identity becomes exposed?"

 

"That information is on a need to know basis."

 

"Given how you're a member of the Justice League, I think we need to know."

 

I lean against my work bench and take a deep breath. My eyes are struggling to stay open, I think I've been awake for over twenty four hours. Maybe that's the reason I decided to tell Vic about what's going on.

 

"Yes. I've been compromised. Same for Tim as well. His father's been abducted by a man calling himself the Crimson Knight."

 

"Crimson Knight? Never heard of him."

 

"I have my suspicions, but he knows that I'm Bruce Wayne."

 

"Do you know how he found that out? What he wants?"

 

"What he wants is simple. He wants to kill me."

 

"Any particular reason?"

 

"Apparently if he's able to slay me he'll complete his ascension. Whatever the hell that means. In regards to how he knows the man behind the mask, that's still a mystery to me. But it's something I intend to find out."

 

"Is there any way I can help? Maybe I get the others to lend a hand."

 

"I have my leads and I'll figure this out Victor. This psychopath only wants me so he's my problem to deal with."

 

"You don't have to do this alone Bruce."

 

"Maybe I don't. But I'm going to anyways. My allies have suffered enough already. I won't let anyone else suffer because of me. I have to do this by myself Vic."

 

Vic pauses for a moment. Like the others he never likes it when I reject their offer of help which is completely understandable. In their eyes I'm just an self righteous ass who is letting his pride to dictate his actions. I should know, that's what I think when one of them rejects another Leaguer's help. Ideally it would be nice to ask the League for help. I bet we could find Jack with in an hour but for all I know he's prepared for such a scenario.

 

The Crimson Knight knows a lot about the Batman and his allies in Gotham. It's perfectly possible he's prepared for possible intervention by the League and I won't endanger any others.

 

"Alright. I'll cover your monitor duty shifts until you've dealt with this."

 

Vic turns to walk away as he prepares to remotely trigger the Watchtower's teleporter.

 

"Don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything."

 

I pause for a moment before walking towards him.

 

"Victor..."

 

He quickly turns to look at me.

 

"Where's Diana right now?"

 

"She should be on the Watchtower. Why?"

 

"I need a favour from her...."

 

Done