Barbara Gordon had never seen her father look so worried in her life.
She had come to his office to see how he was doing in the wake of Gotham's
latest crisis. Millionaire Bruce Wayne and his youthful ward Dick Grayson
were reported missing by their Aunt Harriet almost one week ago. The Gotham
police have been completely unsuccessful in locating them. To make matters
worse, The Dynamic Duo was out of town indefinately. At least that's what
the English voice on the other end of the Bat Phone told the Commissioner
when he called for Batman's help. The person who belonged to that voice,
however, was more worried than the Commissioner could ever be. Alfred the
butler saw Batman and Robin leave the Batcave over a week ago. They had yet
to return.
Barbara stared at her father who was holding his face in his hands. She was also worried. Even with all her training as Batgirl she was unable to assist the police at all. She also couldn't figure out why Batman would leave town so long without any word.
The door to the office opened and in walked a very tired looking Chief of Police O'Hara. The Commissioner rose quickly from the chair behind his desk in anticipation of some good news. "We got nothing, Commissioner" he said with his strong Irish accent and then turned in disgust and exited the office.
Commissioner Gordon sat back down and slowly sunk into his chair. He knew his chief of police and the rest of the force were doing all they could to locate the missing Millionaire and Ward. Barbara, standing behind the commissioner, put both of her hands on his shoulders trying to give him some consolation. He reached up with his right hand and took hold of her left hand acknowledging her support. "I don't know what to do, Barbara." he said staring straight ahead. "If only Batman were here. He might have some luck."
"Don't give up hope, Daddy," she said. "Maybe tomorrow will bring good news."
"Perhaps," he said with a voice of doubt."Perhaps."
The telephone rings.
"Excuse me, dear" Commisioner Gordon picked up the phone. "Gordon," he announced to the caller.
"YOU FOUND WHAT!" he yelled, startling his daughter.
"Okay . . . Don't move. I'm on my way!" He then hung up the phone and quickly put on his long trench coat.
"What is it, Daddy?" Barbara asked.
"The Batmobile . . . two of my officers just found the Batmobile sitting in front of the Gotham National Bank," he said with a renewed sound of optimism.
"Batman and Robin?" she questioned.
"No," he said "but there apppears to be a letter addressed to Batgirl on the front seat." Barbara raised her eyebrows in interest as her father suddenly looked a bit confused. "Oh, no," he mumbled "I have no way of contacting Batgirl."
Barbara kissed her father on his cheek "I'm sure you'll find a way." she told him with a positive tone that always made him feel better. "Since it seems everything is looking up," she continued "I'm going to head home, feed Charlie and get some rest."
"Okay, dear. Thank you for coming. l'll let you know what happens."
With that the two exited the office. Commissioner Gordon went straight to the Gotham National Bank. Barbara went home like she said, but not to rest. After feeding Charlie, she was going to change clothes and head right back out.
Next scene (Da da da da Da da da da Da)
Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara stood in front of Gotham National
Bank. Their police car was parked right in front of the abandoned Batmobile.
No sign of Batman . . . no way to contact Batgirl to give her this letter . . . no
further along in this ivestigation as they were an hour ago when Gordon
recieved the call.
"What's going on, Chief?" asked a dejected Commissioner.
"'Tis a question I wish I could answer for you, Commissioner."
The two men then looked down the street as they heard an approaching vehicle. Around the corner came the Batgirl cycle. Gordon couldn't believe his luck as Batgirl pulled up behind the Batmobile. She got off her bike and approached the two men.
"You were looking for me, Commissioner?" she asked.
A stunned Gordon replied, "AMAZING! . . . How did you know that?"
Batgirl paused and then answered, "Women's intuition."
"Ah . . . would be a fine day," added O'Hara, "when you could spread some of that throughout the police force."
Batgirl gave O'Hara a smile and then shocked the two officers again. "May I see the letter?" she said holding out her right hand.
"Incredible!" Gordon turned to O'Hara, "She knew about the letter too."
Batgirl took the letter which was sealed in an envelope. She ripped it open and read . . .
BATGIRL
MEET ROBIN AND ME AT 55436 QUAKER LANE. WE'VE TRACKED THE RIDDLER
HERE
AND NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE. WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE BAT-A-RAM ON THE
BATMOBILE,
SO I NEED YOU TO DRIVE IT BACK HERE.
REMEMBER TO BUCKLE UP . . . SAFETY
COMES
FIRST.
BATMAN
Batgirl shared the information in the letter with Gordon and O'Hara. Batgirl
could see relief on Gordon's face. Batman was back. The Chief, however, was
very confused. Just yesterday he took a visit to the Gotham City Prison and
made sure all of Batman's worst enemies were locked up tight. He was positive
The Riddler was there. He was going to have to check it out again.
"Do you want some back-up, Batgirl?" asked Gordon.
"Yes," she said without hesitation. She knew Batman would want back-up. "Meet us at 55436 Quaker Lane in twenty minutes."
With those words she hopped into the Batmobile. She started the engine and was about to pull away when she remembered Batman's instructions . . . BUCKLE UP!
She reached for the seat belt and began to click it into place when she noticed something different. The seat belt now had a shoulder strap that came across her left shoulder and met with the waist strap in the buckle . . . She remembered it use to go stictly across the waist only. No big deal. She knew it wasn't up to Batman to notify her every time he wanted to modify his own car. She buckled the belt and pulled away from the bank.
It wouldn't take her long to get to the address in the letter. She took a left on Broad Street and knew Quaker Lane would be the next right. She was aware of the seriousness of the situation, but was happy to know she'd soon see The Dynamic Duo.
She quickly approached Quaker Lane. Batgirl went to turn the wheel right, but the wheel would not turn. The Batmobile flew right by Quaker Lane. Batgirl tried again to turn the wheel, but had no luck. She then tried to apply the brake . . . it didn't work! Suddenly the Batmobile took a left turn down a very narrow alley all on it's own. Sparks flew from the side of the car as it scraped up against the building on its right. Batgirl tried but could not get control of the vehicle. The Batmobile then emerged from the other end of the alley and screeched on to another main road.
Batgirl knew she had to get out of this runaway car. She decided to jump for it. Reaching down, Batgirl pushed the button on the seat belt . . . but it didn't release. In fact it got tighter . . . very tight! It practically knocked the wind out of her. "What's going on!" she thought frantically to herself as the Batmobile continued at high speed down the street.
She tried to pull the belt off her chest, but was only able to get enough slack to take a quick breath. Then it snapped back against her. The Batmobile took a sharp left. The unexpected turn whipped Batgirl's head to the side. The car seemed to be on a set course. She reached for the steering wheel in hopes a second try at getting control of the car would work. What she got was another surprise. Batgirl placed both hands on each side of the bat shaped steering wheel. As soon as she got a good grip two thin metal wires shot out of the steering column. Each wire coiled itself around each of Batgirl's wrist and continued up her forearms to her elbows binding her arms to the steering wheel. Before she could even attempt a struggle to free herself, the Batmobile took another sharp left. Her unwilling arms twisted and crossed over one another and sent a pain to her shoulders she had never felt before.
Another left . . . Another right . . . Another left. Batgirl cringed with every turn. Trying to get some leverage, she managed to place her right foot on the dashboard and began to pull on her bound arms.
After about thirty seconds and a few more turns she decided this was making it worse. Her last chance depended on the brakes. "Please work!" she spoke out loud with definite dread in her voice. Taking her foot off the dashboard, she slammed on the brake with both feet using all she had left.
Without warning another thin metal wire shot up from between the gas pedal and the brake. It wrapped itself around both of her legs from ankles to knees securing them together tightly. She tried to pull them apart, but it was no use . . . She was now completely helpless.
Hands bound to the wheel, legs bound together and now the seatbelt seemed to be getting tighter. It was harder and harder to get oxygen. Batgirl felt dizzy, but knew she had to fight not to pass out.
Many people on the streets saw the Batmobile, but never assumed there was a problem. They'd seen the Batmobile race through the streets of Gotham before at these high speeds. Sure, it was strange to see Batgirl driving, but she was Batman's partner. Her driving was just accepted.
The Batmobile turned on to a road that headed for the outskirts of Gotham. The only thing on this road was an old condemned factory. That was the Batmobile's destination. It approached the factory and headed for an open garage door. Batgirl was still conscious, but just barely. The car entered, slowed down and came to a complete stop. The garage door closed behind it. Batgirl sat there completely exhausted and never noticed the figure approaching her until it spoke.
"Batgirl," a voice rang out "So nice to see the boss is letting you use the company car!"
Batgirl heard a crazed laugh and quickly realized . . .
"JOKER!?!?!" she cried out.
"Yes," he replied "Don't worry about paying to park here . . . It's Sunday."
Batgirl found herself wanting to send a remark back to him, but didn't want to risk speaking too much. The seatbelt was still restricting her air flow. She could see the Joker was holding a black box that was loaded with buttons, levers and knobs.
"Would you like to know what this is?" he said, holding the box up. "This is the device that controls all the modifications I made on the Batmobile." He reached for what looked like the biggest knob on the box. "This knob is my favorite." he said with a grin. "Let me show you why."
With those words he turned the knob clockwise a half turn. The seatbelt suddenly got even tighter. So tight Batgirl thought her chest was going to cave in. She clinced her fists and sat with her mouth wide open hoping for the slightest amount of air to enter her lungs.
Then The Joker did something completely out of character. He turned that same knob a full turn counter- clockwise releasing all the tension in the seat belt. This was Batgirl's first opportunity in almost 25 minutes to fill her lungs with oxygen. She sat with her head slumped forward taking deep, deep breaths.
"What have you done with Batman and Robin?" she still managed to ask.
"Excellent question, my dear," he said with a sound of excitement in his voice. He snapped his fingers and two of his henchmen emerged from behind a 7 foot tall, 5 foot wide crate. The crate, which was on wheels, was pushed over to the front of the Batmobile. Batgirl looked curiously at the crate and than looked quickly at Joker.
He then ordered the lid removed. Batgirl eyes widened as she saw the contents of the crate. It was the Dynamic Duo standing back to back and tied together in what appeared to be the same metal wire that kept her bound. She noticed how their upper bodies were almost completely covered in these binds. She knew what the small amount tied around her arms and legs was like. Even Batman's superior strength would be no match for that amount of wire.
"Batgirl!!" shouted a hoarse Batman. "Are you okay?"
The Joker quickly stepped in between the Dynamic Duo and Batgirl. "Let me get right to the point" he said turning to Batman. "I could have killed you a long time ago, but I want you to suffer in a different way." He said very seriously and then smiled a wicked smile. "I'm letting you and the Boy Wonder go free and keeping the Dominoed Daredoll. If you want to prevent her from going on another one of my special joyrides, you need to do only one simple thing."
The Joker raised his eyebrows -
"Kill Commissioner Gordon!"
Batgirl could't believe her ears. "NO!" she cried out.
"Holy Catch 22!" yelled Robin.
"Joker, You're mad!" Batman said.
"It's your choice," Joker interrupted "Gordon or the Bat-Girl? You have one hour to decide."
Joker then ordered the lid to the crate put back on and Batman and Robin were rolled out of sight. Batgirl began to struggle against her bonds. "Not her father!" she thought.
A few minutes later, one of Joker's henchmen returned. "All set, boss."
The Joker and his goon began to walk away from the struggling Batgirl, but suddenly stopped. Joker turned and spoke. "Just so you don't forget what your fate will be if Batman decides not to kill Gordon . . . "
He then turned the knob on the black box and once again tension was applied to the seat belt. Again the wind was knocked out of Batgirl and she found herself straining to take a breath.
"Remember, when you can't breathe, nothing else matters! Oooh, ha, ha, HA!"
The two villains then turned and continued their exit. "Are you really going to let her go if they kill Gordon?" asked the henchman.
"Of course not!" replied the Joker "If the Dynamic Duo kill Gordon and Batgirl is later found dead in their car, the whole city of Gotham will villainize them more than any real criminal." He continued, "The city will be in chaos and ripe for the pickin'!"
WHAT WILL HAPPEN?!?!?!
WILL BATMAN UNKNOWINGLY KILL FATHER AND DAUGHTER!?!?!
WILL HE COME UP WITH A PLAN TO SAVE EVERYONE AND CAPTURE THE JOKER?!?!?
FOR ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS AND MORE TUNE IN NEXT TIME . . .
SAME BAT-TIME!!!
SAME BAT-CHANNEL!!!