Dynasty: A Batman Tale Part 17

NOW

Any other time, keeping his eyes closed after regaining consciousness wouldn’t be difficult for Tim Drake. However, the electric current continuously shocking his body left him no choice. His eyes flashed open as he exhaled an agonizing scream. The shock lasted only seconds, but the residual pain continued long after. At first everything was still blurry. Need to focus. Where the hell Am I? Gradually the darkness lessened. Tim was able to make out circles of light on the floor in front of him. He quickly accessed his surroundings. He was in a large empty warehouse with continuous rows of hanging lamps, all which were slowly swaying from side to side. I’m near the water. Tim could taste the salt in the air.

Tim could see a silhouette of somebody in front of him, suddenly from behind a young soft sounding voice whispered in his ear. “Wake up bird boy.” The voice was female, but somewhat unfamiliar to Tim.

“Who are you, what do you want?” Asked Tim, desperately trying to hide any sign of panic in his voice.

“Ah shucks, you don’t remember me?” Harley spun out in front of her prisoner. She next spoke with pouted lips raising her voice into a higher sadder octave. “I thought you liked me, weren’t you going to buy me a drink.”

The fog hanging over Tim’s memory began to clear up. He remembered being at the nightclub Freeze, and vague images of a young woman began to enter his mind. Though in his current state, he couldn’t focus and the lady in front of him now did not match those from his memory. “What do you want?” Tim mustered.

“What do I want?” Harley replied acting offended by jerking up straight and jamming her hands on her hips. “What makes you think I want anything?”

She’s playing games with me. She had to have drugged me at the club. I can’t remember anything else. Tim was now staring at the freaky individual with the pigtails. He had seen photos of her while studying old case files in the Cave, and then it hit him. She looked as if she hadn’t aged a day in the last ten years. Harley Quinn. “I know who you are.”

“And we know who you are little birdy, a cheap copy of a copy of the boy wonder.” Harley snapped. “The game’s the same sugar-pie, only the players have changed.”

“What game?” Tim asked.

“Oh you know…,” a new voice echoed throughout the warehouse. Accompanied by the steady beat of a cane drumming the floor. Tim saw a tall skinny creature approaching. Oh my God! Tim was experiencing a new level of fear; instantly he truly knew how much danger he was in. He had read the stories, had heard the tales, though all of them from before his time with Bruce. All his thoughts began to betray him. Through years working with Bruce, Tim had become a resilient crime fighter, but right at this moment he was for the first time in a long time completely overwhelmed by fear. The being stepped out of the shadows and stood under one of the swaying lamps directly in front of Tim. The young hero could now make out all the features he had heard about as a child, the boogeyman incarnate. Pale white skin, blood scarred smile, blacked out eyes with red pupils. Joker!

The Clown Prince of Crime observed the pieces connect in Tim’s eyes, causing the demon to begin laughing hysterically as he continued, “…The kind of game where I kill a Robin to capture a Bat! Ha! Ha! Ha!”

THEN

Laughter was an unfamiliar sound at Wayne Manor, so when it rang through the grounds it was welcomed. That was the impression young Tim Drake was given when he first arrived at Wayne Manor. His father Jack was responsible for the estate’s landscaping and lived on the property full time. Tim came to live with him after his mother had been tragically killed in an auto accident.

At first Tim was too young to help with any of the landscaping, so instead he would run around and explore every inch of the estate. He couldn’t help but notice that the mood around Wayne Manor was extremely somber. When he asked his father why, all Jack would say was “There was a death in the family.” That was all the information Tim was given for nearly a year. Tim would see Alfred regularly tend his garden on the Southwest side of the mansion. Tim learned how Alfred would spend up to one hour a day tending his plants and flowers. One day Alfred was sitting by his most prized rose bush sipping on a glass of lemonade enjoying the afternoon sun when Tim approached.

“Hi, Mr. Pennyworth sir”

“Good day to you young chap, and how is young Master Tim this fine day?” Alfred motioned for Tim to join him and poured him a cup of lemonade. “And please it’s just Alfred.”

“OK Alfred,” Tim said, “may I ask you a question?”

“I believe you just did.”

Tim decided to not be coy and rather just be out with it. He looked Alfred in his eyes, “Who died?”

The look on Alfred’s face spoke volumes and after a moment of shocked silence, he told Tim about Jason Todd. However, at that time it was only half the story. He explained how Bruce had taken in the orphaned Jason as a teenager and tried to raise him as his own. Without going into detail Alfred told Tim that Jason had passed away and that Bruce had been sickened with grief.

“I understand how he feels.” Tim said somberly.

“I know you do.”

“Let him know that it gets better, I mean I still miss my mom and all, but I’m not sad all the time like I was. So it’s got to get better for Mr. Wayne. Right?”

Alfred appreciated the young man’s mature candor. “Indeed it does.”

In the months that followed it did, the dark veil that had been draped over Wayne Manor slowly began to rescind. Tim had brought a sense of youthfulness back to the Manor. He began to wake up before sunrise and try to join Bruce while he went on his morning run around the estate. Tim could never keep up and Bruce tried to ignore him. Eventually Bruce allowed Tim to run along side him, but always in silence. Tim was an astute child, without so many words from Alfred he knew Bruce held regrets concerning Jason. According to Alfred, with Tim’s presence Bruce seemed to be returning to his former self.

Tim enjoyed living with his father Jack at Wayne Manor. Occasionally he would help out with the landscaping, but it was obvious when Tim turned 13 that his curiosity for almost everything and anything would lead him down a different path.

One day while Tim was sitting up against an oak tree on the East lawn, Alfred approached. Tim was hard a work on a project he’d begun months ago. He had a large sketch pad filled with both drawings and equations. As Alfred came closer, Tim tried to hide his work, but it was evident that Alfred had caught him.

“What are we working on out here so far from the house?” Alfred inquired.

“Ah not much just…,” Tim paused somewhat embarrassed, but decided to reveal his drawing.

“A map?” Alfred asked, but not just a map, this was a fully detailed scaled diagram of the Wayne Manor grounds. “Very impressive! May I?” Tim smiled and handed it to Alfred, he watched Alfred scan over the homemade map. “Like I said, very impressive.”

“Thanks, I’m almost done with this side, I’ve got the front of the property done as well, but this place is sooo big. The West side is twice as big as this side, and the back is who knows how much bigger than that, It would be a miracle if I ever finish it, but I figured this way people won’t get lost.”

“What people are you speaking of?” Asked Alfred.

“I don’t know, just...people.”

“You’re certainly a very curious chap now, aren’t you?” Alfred asked, but didn’t wait for a reply before continuing. “I look forward to looking over it upon completion.” Alfred finished then headed back towards the mansion. Tim espied Alfred grow smaller the further he got and once he was no longer able to see the butler, he removed a folded parchment from underneath where he was sitting. Drawn on it was a fully detailed map of Wayne Manor encompassing everything within the property line including a hidden entrance to a cave.

NOW

Tim’s face was burning, a fresh handprint swelling on his cheek from where Harley had slapped him multiple times trying to keep him conscious. Tim opened his eyes. I must have passed out! He was alone for the moment, Tim could see movement upstairs. Behind drawn blinds of what Tim assumed was some type of office, he discerned shadows in motion. He had no idea how much time had passed or even how long he’d now been missing.

Calm down Tim, he thought to himself, figure out where you are and see if you can get yourself untied. He began fidgeting with the rope binding his hands, but to no effect. Suddenly he heard the echoes of Joker’s evil laugh vibrating through the empty warehouse. Tim tried not to panic. Instead he concentrated on the past. He remembered back to how he first became Robin, how he first stumbled upon the Bat-cave and discovered Batman’s true identity.

THEN

While mapping out the grounds surrounding Wayne Manor, Tim had come across a cave entrance. As an eager, adventurous and curious thirteen year old, Tim equipped with a flashlight had no choice but to venture inward and explore. The size of the underground chamber was overwhelming. Tim ventured on further and further through the darkness until he came across an underground river. It appeared that the river flowed directly into a rock wall, Tim noticed that the water didn’t end at the wall, but instead was somehow continuing to flow. He reached out towards the wall and watched his hand disappear. The wall was a hologram. Any other thirteen-year-old kid who just discovered a secret layer beneath Wayne Manor would most likely and appropriately freak out, nonetheless Tim kept cool and calm and most of all curious.

Tim’s curiosity now peaked, he fearlessly stepped forward watching his foot vanish. He stepped all the way through, but when he turned around the wall was gone. The wall can only be seen from one side. Interesting! Tim continued on and headed down a dark corridor. Ahead of him he saw a feint light that gave the enclosure a soft glow, it was getting brighter the closer he approached until the corridor itself opened up into a cave of which the likes Tim had never seen. His eyes grew large and his heart nearly skipped a beat. In front of him, Tim saw a wall made of computer screens. There were railed walkways around the perimeter of the cave going to many different locations. Tim hopped over the rail onto the steel plated walkway. Suddenly he heard footsteps echoing and quickly ducked into the first entryway he found. A steel door shut behind him. Tim’s movement triggered a motion sensor activating the lights, he then found himself in the armory. The wall to his right was lined with different pieces of body armor, while the other was covered in gadgets and things he couldn’t identify and had never seen before. There were three covered cases wrapping around the back end of the room. He slowly began to cross the room glancing from left to right and back to make sure he saw everything there was to see. Tim was giddy with astonishment as he approached the back of the room, until he stopped dead in his tracks. Tim couldn’t believe his eyes, the lights brightened revealing a set of glass cases, but it was what was centered among the cases that stole Tim’s attention; it was the cowl, cape and chest plate for the Batman.

The sound of the door opening snapped Tim back to reality. He ducked behind one of the covered cases and waited. He scrunched up in a ball pulling his foot out of the light just as he heard muffled footsteps enter. Tim didn’t dare move, nor did he panic, rather he was strategically calm. He had discovered the biggest secret in the history of secrets, but it wasn’t his to know or share so getting caught wasn’t an option. Tim put any idea of the consequences out of his mind, for both him and his father. Instead he silenced his breathing and remained motionless. A song Tim didn’t recognize started to play and then a second set of footsteps. The two men started speaking, Tim only heard bits and pieces. Something about some woman named Barbara getting shot, the men were still speaking as they left the room. Tim heard the door shut again, the music ceased and the lights dimmed. Tim heard a vehicle start up and then depart. He waited until he no longer heard anything before he finally made his exit.

Tim never mentioned his unearthing to anyone until six months later when tragedy struck. Once a week, Jack took Tim out for dinner to their favorite eatery, The Magpie Diner. Tim was in the main house playing a game of chess with Alfred waiting for Jack, though when he never arrived Tim and Alfred went in search of him, but they didn’t need to go far. They found Jack Drake face down outside the front door to Wayne Manor. He wasn’t breathing and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Gotham General. An autopsy showed that a ruptured brain aneurysm had been the cause of death. The doctors assured Tim that his father had gone painlessly, but that hadn’t made it hurt any less for Tim.

A few days later Bruce had financially taken care of everything for Tim, a small funeral service was held with only Tim, Bruce, and Alfred in attendance. Jack was buried next to Tim’s mother, his parents were here together forever, and having a place to come when he needed them made Tim happy.

That night Alfred brought Tim down to the library where Bruce was waiting for him.

“How are you holding up?” Bruce asked, before Tim could answer he continued. “When I was your age, I lost both my parents as well. Did you know that?”

In that sentence everything became clear to Tim. He had heard the stories about young Bruce Wayne surviving the murder of his parents. He had also heard reports about the mysterious Batman and his partner the Robin. He knew Bruce Wayne was Batman, now he knew why.

Tim felt like he had nothing to lose so he went ahead and asked for confirmation. “That’s why you do it, isn’t it?”

“Do what?”

“That’s why you’re the Batman.”

Bruce and Alfred looked at one another. The silence was all the confirmation Tim needed. Bruce walked over towards the Grandfather clock against the far wall. “See Alfred, I told you he was in there.”

“You knew I was in there?” Tim asked surprisingly.

“I do now!” Bruce responded. “Though I had a feeling, that was six months ago and you didn’t say anything to anyone, Why is that?”

“It’s not my secret to share. Are you going to make me leave! or can I still live here even though…,” Tim paused and cleared his throat, “…my dad…,” he couldn’t finish. Instead he blurted out, “I know Jason was Robin, I know he died, and I’m sorry he’s gone…,but, I can be Robin.”

Bruce didn’t immediately respond, instead he began fiddling with the grandfather clock, he looked at Tim and then over to Alfred and said, “Another one Alfred.”

“Another one, indeed Sir! I’ll make all appropriate arrangements.”

Bruce shifted the pendulum of the grandfather clock while Tim observed part of the Bookshelf wall move revealing a secret passage. “You’ll always have a home here. As for Robin, why don’t we talk while I show you around.”

NOW

Tim was facing the reality of his situation, he wasn’t sure how much time had gone by since his abduction. He had begun training to become Robin the first night Bruce showed him around the Bat-cave. He needed to breathe and remember his training. His initial panic from being face to face with the Joker had passed. Joker is using me to bait Batman, that means he needs me alive. Tim thought. For now!