Fan Fiction ❯ Birthdays ❯ Birthdays Part 13 ( Chapter 13 )

Hey, my name is Omega_Red9. I just want to remind you that I don't own any of these characters so if you happen to be the owners don't complain to me. Also, if you happen to like my work, please rate it and read some of my other stuff. Oh, by the way, I start at part 9 because it is his ninth birthday. So please don't ask where parts 1-8 are because I won't be writing them.

 

 

Birthdays

Part 13

When I got the call, I couldn't believe it. I was on patrol, trying to keep the streets of Blüdhaven, and I got the call that no one wants to get. It was my first time out on my own and I managed to keep everything in relative order. I was standing on one of the seemingly infinite number of rooftops just keeping an eye on the legendary pier 23. Legendary for its massive criminal population. I had just saved a young girl from a bunch of gang bangers; she looked to be about my age. It was shocking how depraved some people can be. She reminded me a lot of Kuki.

 

Anyway, back to the call. It was about 5 in the morning, and I had already been up all night patrolling. Suddenly my cell phone went off. I didn't recognize the number so my suspicions were already up. When I answered it they told me they were with the hospital and that I needed to rush over immediately. I changed into regular clothes and took Dick's bike over there. When I got there I saw my mentor and adoptive father, Dick Grayson, lying in a hospital bed hooked up to a thousand different devices. They told me that he was stopping a bank robbery when he got shot several times. He wasn't in his Nightwing outfit, so the bullets went right through. The doctors said that he shouldn't even be alive right now, but he pulled through the tough part. I was nearly in tears, but I tried to put on a tough front. Like usual.

 

“So doc, is he gonna be alright?”

 

“Well son, it'll be a long road for him, but I am confident that he will be able to walk again. It will not happen over night though, but don't worry. He will survive.”

 

The doctor wasn't very comforting, but in a situation like this, I couldn't imagine anything that could be said to me to console me. I walked into the room and sat down next to Dick. I thought that he was asleep. When he reached his hand over to grab my arm I nearly jumped out of my skin.

 

“Wally…”

 

“Dick, just relax. You're in the hospital. You were shot. The doctor says you'll be alright, but you need to rest.”

 

“Wally… the city can't survive for long without Nightwing. You are going… to have to put on the suit.”

 

“Dick… I… I… can't be you. I can barely go out on my own, much less protect an entire city.”

 

“Don't worry Wally. I've taught you everything I know, and I have complete confidence in you. Just open up the file called halo on the main computer. It will have everything you need. I am going to be transferred over to Gotham; I have some friends up there that can take care of me. I'll have them check in on you from time to time.”

 

Dick passed out from the medication that they had him on. Visiting hours ended shortly after and I had to leave. I went home and walked down to the warehouse where we keep all of the weapons. I sat down at the computer and searched for a file named “Halo.” When I located and opened it, I found special instructions and the location of a Nightwing suit that was my size. I found it and put it on. It was a perfect fit and that was good too. My Red Falcon suit was getting a little snug. I have grown a substantial amount in the last year. I suddenly remembered all that had happened to me and realized that today was my 13th birthday. If things had gone like they were supposed to, I would be getting decommissioned from the KND right now.

 

I pushed the terrible memory out of my mind and got ready to go on patrol. If the city needed Nightwing, they would get a Nightwing. I took Dick's cycle for a spin around the city. He hated it when I took this thing out. I could see why. This thing is amazing. It handles like a dream (excuse the clichéd reference). Dick works on this thing almost on a daily basis. I'm a little surprised that he doesn't have a name for it. Hell, who am I kidding, he probably does. He just doesn't tell me. He is such a dork. I smile at the thought of my mentor. Fond memories.

 

I check the local dispatch and hear how quiet it is today. Very surprising. It is usually at least a little busy this time of day. Oh well. I'm not complaining. I decide to get a better view of the city. If I am gonna do nothing today, I might as well do nothing at an inspiring spot. I use a grapple hook to make my way back up to the rooftops. The city is horrid from the ground floor, but from up here it is so peaceful. It is a little hard to believe that the city is crawling with corruption. The sun is just about to finish rising over the sea. Unfortunately the scene is interrupted by aloud explosion.

 

I look behind me to see the ship coming my way. There is smoke billowing out of the rear of the vessel. I get out my binoculars to get a closer look and realize that I am looking at a KND transport ship. I try to make out the I.D. number, but it is too damaged to make out. I start running across the rooftops to make my way towards where it is going to crash.

 

There is a huge explosion from the landing. I run over to the ship and break in.

 

“NO!”

 

The ship is one of the ones that I used to use when I was a member. I see my former team members strapped into the seats. The fire is spreading… rapidly. I don't have much time. I start to unstrap them and take them out of the altered school bus. Part of me wants to leave all of them except Kuki there. But I know that I can't do that. I get all of them out of the ship just before the ship explodes. I decide that I should take them to a safe house rather then go home. I can't give my home's location away.

 

We get to the safe house and they slowly begin to wake up. I'm waiting there when they do.

 

“So what's new guys?”

 

They all look at me as if they didn't know who I was. Kuki is the only one who recognizes me. She leaps forward to me and embraces me in a deep kiss. The others must have caught on after that because they all had shocked looks on their faces.

 

Numbah 1 was the first to chime in. “Wally, I'm sorry that we did to you what we did.”

 

I looked at him without emotion and said, “Don't apologize Nigel, what's happened. There is nothing that you can do about that.”

 

Numbah 2 popped his own pointless comments in, “Wow Numbah 4, you are THE Nightwing?”

 

“DON'T EVER CALL ME NUMBAH 4 AGAIN!!! As I recall, I was kicked out.”

 

Everybody backed up at my outburst. I don't care. They deserved it.

 

“So what happened? Why did you crash?”

 

Everyone looked down and had a depressed look on their face. They all told me their story about how they are about to turn thirteen. Apparently global command has been secretly decommissioning operatives who weren't 13. I realize now what he is trying to do. He is working for the other side now, and that was his way of weakening the KND for an assault. I can't believe I didn't see it before. From the story that the others were telling me, that is what it sounded like.

 

“OK guys, here is what has to be done. We have to take out global command. He is no longer on the side of the KND. He is working for father now. I don't know how he managed it without being detected, but if we don't alert the others, the entire KND will be destroyed and father will take over the world. Can you all still link up to the satellite network?”

 

They all shook their heads when Numbah 5 finally spoke up. “Our clearance codes were all revoked yesterday before the assault.”

 

“Then I guess we will just have to hack it then won't we.”

 

I pull out a small computer and hack into the Blüdhaven communication center and connect directly to the KND satellite in geosynchronous orbit over us. After a few moments without success, we finally accomplished our goal.

 

“Ok guys, I am about to connect to every KND operative station around the world. Numbah 1, I want you to deliver the message; you are better known and will be able to convince the other operative leaders. Once we send the message though, it will be traceable. So in other words, get ready for a fight.”

 

Everyone acknowledged the fact that we were about to be attacked by an unknown number of highly trained KND operatives and that we will probably lose this fight, but I knew that they didn't care. I started the transmission and they all watched as Numbah 1 started an action that many will call treason. He literally called for the removal of global command's leader. After he was done we waited.

 

I looked over at Kuki and smiled at her. I took her into my arms and whispered into her ears, “All of the hardships that I endured to get to this point were worth it just to have you in my arms.” I touched my lips to hers and it felt like time stopped. I imagined this moment in my dreams for two years and the power of the human mind did not do it justice. I had never felt happier. I love birthdays.

 

We heard a rumbling from outside and knew that time was up. We knew that some of us probably would not make it out of the incursion that we were about to enter. Everybody looked kind of scared and just stood there. I knew that if we allowed them to make the first move, we would be toast, so I jumped out of the window and started to mow my way through as many operatives as I could. The numbers were overwhelming. I was shocked at how many of these kids were loyal to the global command. I turned around and saw my former teammates charging to my aid. It felt good to see that site again. I fought my hardest against these warriors for child freedom, but I with held my full strength. I suppose it was out of sympathy for the poor kids. They were being deceived and didn't even know it.

 

One of them managed to sneak up on me and jumped on my back. I threw him off and into a charging line of kids. The projectile threw them off balance and allowed me an opportunity to get closer to the transport. I knew we were being monitored by global command. If I could make it on to the ship, I could find his location and maybe transmit his coordinates. That would give some of the others a chance to attack the problem at the source. Without a leader the other kids would have no choice but to give up. There would be no reason to fight after that. I pushed my way through what seemed like hundreds of these KND operatives until I found myself in the ship. I located a computer terminal and logged on. I managed to hack myself into the central computer bank while fighting off any guards that found their way into my room.

 

I looked out the window to see that the others weren't faring so well. I had to do this quickly or else they wouldn't make it. I saw Numbah 2 go down and started to become frantic. If I didn't hurry, they would be finished. I broke the final code barrier and realized the horrible truth. He was in the ship. The five of us could not defeat all of these operatives alone to get to him, and I don't think we can survive long enough to get reinforcements.

 

I transmitted his coordinates anyway and put my own special locking encryption on the system to make sure he didn't take off anytime soon. If we do fall he won't be able to leave. I looked out the window again to see the number of kids just absolutely overwhelming the others. I wish I was two men so that I could go and help them while doing my work here.

 

Suddenly, out of nowhere, I saw a handful of heroes arrive. Batman, Batgirl, and Robin, jumped onto the scene. I had only me them once, but they must have heard about dick's injuries and come to check up on me. It is a good thing they arrived too. This will buy me a few more minutes.

 

“Hello Wally.”

 

I turned around to see the head of KND's global command standing in the door way.

 

“YOU BASTARD!!!”

 

I stepped forward, ready to charge him, when father and cree stepped in front of him. I knew that he was working with father, but I didn't expect him to actually show up.

 

“Wally, Wally, Wally. You have been quite the nuisance. I can't believe you are even still alive, and here you are throwing a monkey wrench in my plans.”

 

I don't know if I can beat both father and Cree at the same time. They are the KND's worst enemies. I was suddenly reminded of Dick's training. He told me to never fear and enemy. There is a way to beat any enemy if you are willing to look for it. Ok. Let's see. Father is fire based so a couple of ice bombs courtesy of Mr. Freeze will temporarily neutralize him. Then all I have to do is get close enough to hit him and he'll be out for the count. He is no good at hand to hand and can't take a hit. Cree on the other hand will be a little more difficult. She is a hand to hand expert so I will have to be very careful with her. I believe she uses a kung-fu style. If I am correct in assessment, my Jeet-kun-do style will neutralize that immediately. I put my plan into action and almost instantly defeat father, I guess he wasn't as strong as I thought he was. Cree was a little more difficult though. I was a little off in thinking all she knew was Kung-fu. But I simply alternated every 20 seconds into any one of the different styles that Dick taught me. She went down relatively easily after that.

 

Now the only one left was global command. I turned to face him. It was odd that he didn't run. I looked him in the face and he had the oddest smile.

 

“So what in the hell is wrong with you? I would have thought that someone who was facing eminent defeat would have tried to escape.”

 

He chuckled a little bit and said, “Oh Numbah 4, you till don't get it do you. I can destroy you anytime I want. In fact, I believe the counter is almost up.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“Well Numbah 4, every operative who is designated as a fighter has a device planted in him.”

 

I scoffed at him, “Yeah, everyone knows that dummy.”

 

“Well, what no one knows is that it is a bomb connected to your heart rate. The design is that after it is activated it will give your heart a certain number of beats before it explodes. And if I am correct, your time is almost up. Yours however is special. When yours goes off, Numbah 5's will go off. You see, we thought that she would be a much better fighter then you, and so we placed a much more powerful explosive in her. When we placed yours in though, we put a link up to hers so when you blow, she blows, and vice versa. It is quite ingenious. You see, we thought that you were dead. So, there would be no point in activating yours because your heart would not be beating so the bomb would not go off. I was very surprised when I found out that you were out there fighting as well, I just had to activate your bomb. You don't have much time by the way. I would suggest you say your prayers.”

 

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. If that were true…

 

“How powerful is the bomb in Numbah 5. Strong enough to blow up everything outside this ship.”

 

“I can't believe how sick and low you would be willing to go to hurt us. I can never forgive you for this.”

 

After my emotions had reached their zenith I rushed that bastard and grabbed him by his throat. I hardened my grip and finally realized what I was about to do.

 

“No,” I said, “you don't deserve something so easy. You'll spend the rest of your existence in the cells at the moon prison camp.”

 

I handcuffed him to the deck of the ship and started to walk up to the roof. I couldn't decide what exactly to do, and then it hit me. There was only one thing I could do to save my friends. I may not like it, but I had to do it. I made it up to the roof and looked off the top. I could see that most of my friends had finally been beaten. Batman and the others were faring well but couldn't last much longer against such overwhelming numbers.

 

“Friends!” I shouted off the rooftop. “I forgive you. And Kuki I love you. Please… forgive me for what I am about to do.”

 

Everyone stopped dead I their tracks and looked up at me. I took off my bullet-proof vest and placed an explosive charge next to my chest. The only way to save my friends would be to take the lonely road. It certainly wouldn't be the first time I have taken the road less traveled, but this is a bit more permanent. I activate the charge and brake out into tears. I don't think I have cried since I was chased out of the KND. I am already regretting this, but I find solace in knowing that my friends will love long, happy and full-filling lives. I press and release the trigger.

 

I love birthdays.