War Journal
Bruce,
I'm keeping these letters, because some day I know you'll be back and you'll read them.
I'm back in Gotham. I still don't know exactly what happened in...well wherever that was, but I know I made some sort of deal with N and wound up being his ..something. Sorry to be vague, but I really am fuzzy on the details. Whatever did happen, I've got both Richard Dragon and Shiva to thank for getting me out of there. Near as I can tell, there aren't any strings left on me when it comes to Neron.
Don't say it. I WILL get a pro to check me out like Fate or Zatanna.
Anyhow, when we got back to 'here', we found ourselves in a Gotham taken over by Darkseid and in the middle of a siege by an alliance of good guys, not-so goodguys and scum-bag badguys. I filed a report in the Batcave on the particulars. I'm pretty good with how my team performed. It got easier when I knew i had some of the Titans backing me up.
I'm really weired out by Bane. He's changed allot since I was gone, or at least it seems that way. He's off Venom (I noted he keeps a vial on him as a reminder, but it's there) and it's taken the edge off of his mannerisms. Actually I think it made him a more dangerous opponent.He's more controlled now, more purposeful in his actions. The brute power he used to have was scary for sure, but now he's more likely to keep control of his emotional state and we both know that means he's more capable.
That being said, he threw in to help save Gotham/The Planet from Darkseid. Sure, self-interest is an easy motive there, but he had no problem playing things by our rules. In fact he seemed 'reverent' when he talked about you and Dick. Oh yeah, he called me 'Drake'. I touched on that with him in the aftermath and he claims not to have informed Waller (Bane's working for suicide squad, so his rap sheet has been wiped), but suspects that she might know anyhow. Dick says that's crap but I think I need to check and be sure. Something for my bucket list in the next few weeks.
As I noted in my report, Cicada was with us and after Shiva pimp-slapped him out of the Anit-Life influence (Hersch is lucky he's un-killable) he managed to hold onto a moment of lucidity. I used your leadership tips to keep him in control and he actually was an asset in the fight. He even recognized that he wouldn't be in control of himself if he got near Darkseid and volunteered to be taken into custody. I know he's supposed to be in Arkham, but really? He seems like he's truly horrified of what he's done and that he deserves jail (and worse). Arkham just seemed like a formula to reinstate his full blown 'crazy'. So I had KF take him to Belle Reeve. I may have used some favors of yours to get a transfer to Belle Reve pushed though.
I know you might think that was a waste, and maybe I'm naive but I think Hersch might have a shot at actually regaining his mind and rehabilitating. Gotta hope now and then, right?
Hey, BTW. Dick makes a really convincing Batman as far as most of the folks are concerned. Bane and some of the really pro folks that have fought you up close before have started to notice differences though.
Also, Johnny Sorrow. Man do I wish Fate would stick him in a gem or something. I wonder if the Phantom Zone would hold him? Probably not. Stupid magic.
Anyhow, Johnny Pain-in-the-butt also hinted that he knows that the man under the cowl is not the original. His jacket says he was an accomplished theater performer before becoming a crazy freak of evil, so it may be that training that tipped him off. or he's guessing. Either way, I didn't let anyone really engage me on the subject. So no confirmations or denials from my end.
Oh yeah. Sorrow seems to HATE kid heroes. Must have something to do with your notes about the Sandy incident back in the day. It's pretty easy to get him to go into monologue mode though. Just be really dismissive with him. Do that and he'll chew the scene bragging about what he can do and what he's planning on doing.
I know. He's dangerous.
Ok, I have to say that storing hidden caches of equipment throughout Gotham was an awesome idea. Electrocutioner got a power upgrade while being DS's butt monkey, and fried my tech gear. I got to load up at the old firehouse afterwards. No signs of tampering with the locks. I'll refresh the cache tomorrow.
I really hope those power upgrades are gone now that we gave Rockface the boot. I'll check on that too.
Got back to the Cave and reconnected with Alfred and Dick. You had better give Alfred a raise. I'm just saying. Dick is doing awesome outwardly, but I can tell that he's under a ton of stress and is just as freaked as I am about your disappearance. He's going to have me take point for him with the Titans so he can get back to his triple life as Dick/Nightwing/Batman. I know I can do it, but I'm still psyched and maybe just a little nervous. Dick said I didn't have to put on the ABBA version of his Nightwing outfit. So that's a plus ;)
So. Wherever you are, remember us. I know you're alive. No body = not dead in our line of work, right?
Dammit Bruce. Be alive.
-Robin
I'm keeping these letters, because some day I know you'll be back and you'll read them.
I'm back in Gotham. I still don't know exactly what happened in...well wherever that was, but I know I made some sort of deal with N and wound up being his ..something. Sorry to be vague, but I really am fuzzy on the details. Whatever did happen, I've got both Richard Dragon and Shiva to thank for getting me out of there. Near as I can tell, there aren't any strings left on me when it comes to Neron.
Don't say it. I WILL get a pro to check me out like Fate or Zatanna.
Anyhow, when we got back to 'here', we found ourselves in a Gotham taken over by Darkseid and in the middle of a siege by an alliance of good guys, not-so goodguys and scum-bag badguys. I filed a report in the Batcave on the particulars. I'm pretty good with how my team performed. It got easier when I knew i had some of the Titans backing me up.
I'm really weired out by Bane. He's changed allot since I was gone, or at least it seems that way. He's off Venom (I noted he keeps a vial on him as a reminder, but it's there) and it's taken the edge off of his mannerisms. Actually I think it made him a more dangerous opponent.He's more controlled now, more purposeful in his actions. The brute power he used to have was scary for sure, but now he's more likely to keep control of his emotional state and we both know that means he's more capable.
That being said, he threw in to help save Gotham/The Planet from Darkseid. Sure, self-interest is an easy motive there, but he had no problem playing things by our rules. In fact he seemed 'reverent' when he talked about you and Dick. Oh yeah, he called me 'Drake'. I touched on that with him in the aftermath and he claims not to have informed Waller (Bane's working for suicide squad, so his rap sheet has been wiped), but suspects that she might know anyhow. Dick says that's crap but I think I need to check and be sure. Something for my bucket list in the next few weeks.
As I noted in my report, Cicada was with us and after Shiva pimp-slapped him out of the Anit-Life influence (Hersch is lucky he's un-killable) he managed to hold onto a moment of lucidity. I used your leadership tips to keep him in control and he actually was an asset in the fight. He even recognized that he wouldn't be in control of himself if he got near Darkseid and volunteered to be taken into custody. I know he's supposed to be in Arkham, but really? He seems like he's truly horrified of what he's done and that he deserves jail (and worse). Arkham just seemed like a formula to reinstate his full blown 'crazy'. So I had KF take him to Belle Reeve. I may have used some favors of yours to get a transfer to Belle Reve pushed though.
I know you might think that was a waste, and maybe I'm naive but I think Hersch might have a shot at actually regaining his mind and rehabilitating. Gotta hope now and then, right?
Hey, BTW. Dick makes a really convincing Batman as far as most of the folks are concerned. Bane and some of the really pro folks that have fought you up close before have started to notice differences though.
Also, Johnny Sorrow. Man do I wish Fate would stick him in a gem or something. I wonder if the Phantom Zone would hold him? Probably not. Stupid magic.
Anyhow, Johnny Pain-in-the-butt also hinted that he knows that the man under the cowl is not the original. His jacket says he was an accomplished theater performer before becoming a crazy freak of evil, so it may be that training that tipped him off. or he's guessing. Either way, I didn't let anyone really engage me on the subject. So no confirmations or denials from my end.
Oh yeah. Sorrow seems to HATE kid heroes. Must have something to do with your notes about the Sandy incident back in the day. It's pretty easy to get him to go into monologue mode though. Just be really dismissive with him. Do that and he'll chew the scene bragging about what he can do and what he's planning on doing.
I know. He's dangerous.
Ok, I have to say that storing hidden caches of equipment throughout Gotham was an awesome idea. Electrocutioner got a power upgrade while being DS's butt monkey, and fried my tech gear. I got to load up at the old firehouse afterwards. No signs of tampering with the locks. I'll refresh the cache tomorrow.
I really hope those power upgrades are gone now that we gave Rockface the boot. I'll check on that too.
Got back to the Cave and reconnected with Alfred and Dick. You had better give Alfred a raise. I'm just saying. Dick is doing awesome outwardly, but I can tell that he's under a ton of stress and is just as freaked as I am about your disappearance. He's going to have me take point for him with the Titans so he can get back to his triple life as Dick/Nightwing/Batman. I know I can do it, but I'm still psyched and maybe just a little nervous. Dick said I didn't have to put on the ABBA version of his Nightwing outfit. So that's a plus ;)
So. Wherever you are, remember us. I know you're alive. No body = not dead in our line of work, right?
Dammit Bruce. Be alive.
-Robin