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randomplaces2017-06-14 09:24 pm
random_xtras) wrote in randomplaces2017-06-14 09:24 pm
Entry tags:
Futureknight Prologue
((This is a very old story, from the late nineties. It started out on ff.net, and then was moved to Google Docs before being rescued and put here.))
And that's all we've got," said the man on the screen with a weary sigh. "But you've probably had this information for awhile now."
"Most of it." The reply was deep and emotionless.
Police Commissioner David Freeman raised one eyebrow at the admission, but refrained from commenting on it. "I hate cases like this. The guys lower in the department are always griping about how they wish the super-psychos would quit redoing what's already been done and think of something new." He smiled mirthlessly. "But they don't have to deal with it when someone does."
There was no reply from the menacing red figure in the chair.
David studied the expressionless faceplate crowned with the trademark ears and wondered again about the man inside. "How's Robin? Those darts looked bad."
"Alright." The figure stirred slightly, looking upward.
David nodded. "Good."
He glanced down at the bottom corner of his screen. "Calls backing up like water in the street. I'll let you know if we find anything."
The figure gave a short nod and reached to disconnect, but paused as David spoke again.
"Oh, and Batman?"
The figure regarded him impassively.
"Thanks."
* * *
The Batman sat for a few minutes and stared at the empty screen, then glanced up at the cronometer in the corner of the suit display.
"Are we goin' back out?" asked a youthful voice from overhead.
Batman gave a terse headshake and stood slowly, one of the servo motors in the red suit whining softly.
"No," said the emotionless synthetic voice as the tall figure made its way carefully across the huge cavern and into the costume vault.
"Batman?" A boy darted down from the shadows near the ceiling. "You took a hit, didn't you?"
"Yes." The reply was a soft feminine gasp. "Call your mom."
Robin landed in the chair in front of the huge computer screen, his small hands flying skillfully over the keys. He didn't look up as a black motorcycle purred into the Cave and came to a stop next to the Batmobile.
"Robin?" A lithe woman garbed in nearly-featureless black dismounted and pulled back her cat-eared cowl to display green eyes and tightly braided red hair.
"Prudence!" The child turned gladly. "She's hurt. I'm trying to call Ama, but she's not answering on any of the lines."
The red-haired woman turned and hurried into the vault. "Miss Veronica?"
* * *
Ronnie Greyson looked up guiltily, then returned her eyes to the helmet in her lap. "I can't move."
Prudence Pennyworth sighed and knelt next to her, eyes scanning for injury.
"I didn't dodge fast enough. A couple flechettes breached the suit." Ronnie leaned her head against her butler's shoulder. "The right hip servo's damaged."
"I see that." Prudence pushed her back gently and began removing the red armor. "Are you in pain?"
"Yes." Ronnie gasped.
Prudence stopped in dismay as the chestplate came away, revealing the tiny entry wound beneath Ronnie's lowest rib on the right side, then swiftly stripped away the rest of the Batman costume and gathered her young mistress into her arms.
"It didn't hit anything vital." Ronnie gritted her teeth and let herself be carried to the medical lab and lain on the table.
"Hush." Prudence covered her with a sheet and pulled down the internal imaging device.
"Ronnie?" Robin hovered over Prudence's shoulder, eyes on his senior partner's face.
"Yes, chum?" She turned her head slightly to look at him, her grey eyes dark with pain. "Don't worry, I'll be okay."
He nodded and reached up to tug at his mask.
"Use the releaser," Prudence said without turning.
"Yes, ma'am." He jumped guiltily. "Ama says she'll be here as soon as she can, but Kid Flash hit a truck and she's gotta make sure he's okay first."
Ronnie chuckled despite herself. "Poor Kenny."
"Whole new meaning to the term 'awkward growth spurt'." Robin grinned and darted away, then back, bright blue eyes twinkling in his fair face.
"Yes." Ronnie frowned at the imager screen.
"You've got a dart stuck in your life-support module." Robin's smile faded.
"Good thing I don't need it any more." Her eyes slipped shut as the IV Prudence had hooked her to began to take effect.
"Master Clark, could you please wait outside?" Prudence went to a cupboard and returned with a tray of surgical instruments.
His chin quivered slightly. "Sure. I'll pray, too."
"Thank you, Master Clark."
Ronnie forced her eyes open again to see him giving her a thumbs up as he backed out of the room.
"Stop fighting the sedative, Miss Veronica." Prudence went to the sink and started washing her hands.
Ronnie sighed and obeyed, hearing the rush of the transporter tube in the main Cave as her consciousness faded.
And that's all we've got," said the man on the screen with a weary sigh. "But you've probably had this information for awhile now."
"Most of it." The reply was deep and emotionless.
Police Commissioner David Freeman raised one eyebrow at the admission, but refrained from commenting on it. "I hate cases like this. The guys lower in the department are always griping about how they wish the super-psychos would quit redoing what's already been done and think of something new." He smiled mirthlessly. "But they don't have to deal with it when someone does."
There was no reply from the menacing red figure in the chair.
David studied the expressionless faceplate crowned with the trademark ears and wondered again about the man inside. "How's Robin? Those darts looked bad."
"Alright." The figure stirred slightly, looking upward.
David nodded. "Good."
He glanced down at the bottom corner of his screen. "Calls backing up like water in the street. I'll let you know if we find anything."
The figure gave a short nod and reached to disconnect, but paused as David spoke again.
"Oh, and Batman?"
The figure regarded him impassively.
"Thanks."
The Batman sat for a few minutes and stared at the empty screen, then glanced up at the cronometer in the corner of the suit display.
"Are we goin' back out?" asked a youthful voice from overhead.
Batman gave a terse headshake and stood slowly, one of the servo motors in the red suit whining softly.
"No," said the emotionless synthetic voice as the tall figure made its way carefully across the huge cavern and into the costume vault.
"Batman?" A boy darted down from the shadows near the ceiling. "You took a hit, didn't you?"
"Yes." The reply was a soft feminine gasp. "Call your mom."
Robin landed in the chair in front of the huge computer screen, his small hands flying skillfully over the keys. He didn't look up as a black motorcycle purred into the Cave and came to a stop next to the Batmobile.
"Robin?" A lithe woman garbed in nearly-featureless black dismounted and pulled back her cat-eared cowl to display green eyes and tightly braided red hair.
"Prudence!" The child turned gladly. "She's hurt. I'm trying to call Ama, but she's not answering on any of the lines."
The red-haired woman turned and hurried into the vault. "Miss Veronica?"
Ronnie Greyson looked up guiltily, then returned her eyes to the helmet in her lap. "I can't move."
Prudence Pennyworth sighed and knelt next to her, eyes scanning for injury.
"I didn't dodge fast enough. A couple flechettes breached the suit." Ronnie leaned her head against her butler's shoulder. "The right hip servo's damaged."
"I see that." Prudence pushed her back gently and began removing the red armor. "Are you in pain?"
"Yes." Ronnie gasped.
Prudence stopped in dismay as the chestplate came away, revealing the tiny entry wound beneath Ronnie's lowest rib on the right side, then swiftly stripped away the rest of the Batman costume and gathered her young mistress into her arms.
"It didn't hit anything vital." Ronnie gritted her teeth and let herself be carried to the medical lab and lain on the table.
"Hush." Prudence covered her with a sheet and pulled down the internal imaging device.
"Ronnie?" Robin hovered over Prudence's shoulder, eyes on his senior partner's face.
"Yes, chum?" She turned her head slightly to look at him, her grey eyes dark with pain. "Don't worry, I'll be okay."
He nodded and reached up to tug at his mask.
"Use the releaser," Prudence said without turning.
"Yes, ma'am." He jumped guiltily. "Ama says she'll be here as soon as she can, but Kid Flash hit a truck and she's gotta make sure he's okay first."
Ronnie chuckled despite herself. "Poor Kenny."
"Whole new meaning to the term 'awkward growth spurt'." Robin grinned and darted away, then back, bright blue eyes twinkling in his fair face.
"Yes." Ronnie frowned at the imager screen.
"You've got a dart stuck in your life-support module." Robin's smile faded.
"Good thing I don't need it any more." Her eyes slipped shut as the IV Prudence had hooked her to began to take effect.
"Master Clark, could you please wait outside?" Prudence went to a cupboard and returned with a tray of surgical instruments.
His chin quivered slightly. "Sure. I'll pray, too."
"Thank you, Master Clark."
Ronnie forced her eyes open again to see him giving her a thumbs up as he backed out of the room.
"Stop fighting the sedative, Miss Veronica." Prudence went to the sink and started washing her hands.
Ronnie sighed and obeyed, hearing the rush of the transporter tube in the main Cave as her consciousness faded.