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Jan. 16th, 2011 09:03 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
themightyoracle.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
jla_watchtower She was supposed to have ridden out the war with Darkseid in the Batcave. She had all the equipment she could ever need there to send information to the rest of the heroes in Bludhaven, or wherever else they chose as their base of operations. From her Clocktower, she'd taken very little - a few things she wouldn't find in Bruce's house, at least, to her satisfaction - and had gotten from the garage the last thing Bruce had ever made for her, but she had yet to use. It was a Batcycle - purple, of course - that started as a four-wheeler until the rear section detached (returning to base) and the driver lay forward in an enclosed pod. It was still suspended on four wheels, but the placement of them had the two front and two rear wheels side by side in the style of the average motorcycle.
Later, she would be glad she'd chosen not to ride in the prone position that evening. Heading north on the Ricochet for the Robert Kane Memorial Bridge, Barbara had needed to be careful. There were practically no other vehicles on the road, and she didn't want to look too closely at the ones that were. People were still leaving Gotham on foot, a few by vehicle, but the road had mostly been clogged with abandoned cars, trucks, vans, and bikes. Only half of her had wanted to know where their owners were.
Suddenly, it had become apparent that one truck, at least, was on the run out of town. It had only been a four wheeler, but whatever the freight in its hold, the speed of the cargo van around the corner sent it into a spin. Babs heard the squeal of breaks, smelled the burning rubber, and reached for the lever to open up the throttle... but it was too late.
The front right corner of the truck sent her bike spinning left off the road and into the mud beside the river. Before she could even think to move from her spot, the truck came flying after her. In a burst of white pain, the last thing Babs remembered was the image of the van in the air above her.
When she woke, it had been become evening. Nothing hurt, but that was one of the mixed blessings of being paralyzed. She could have been bleeding to death and she wouldn't have known it without looking. Carefully, Babs opened her eyes, and had tried to sit up. She was only partially successful. She could sit, and she could even move a little, but she clearly wasn't going anywhere, unless she was willing to amputate just below the knee.
Looking around, she'd taken stock of her surroundings. The river was thankfully within reach. As long as it didn't raise high enough to drown her, she should be alright with water. She had a little food in her pack, a box of tea, and there were some edible grasses on the bank. It wasn't at all good enough, but it was a start, and surely someone would find her soon, right?
Blinking, Babs had noticed that the padlock on the back of the truck was cracked. Looking around, she'd found a large rock and used it to bash the lock in until it fell to pieces. Pulling them away and sliding the hasp aside, she had pushed the rolling door left - what had once been up - and looked inside.
Everything had been thrown about, but there were a few things that made her immediately feel a bit better. A couple folded blue tarps were within reach, as were a nice big stack of shipping blankets. Looking further back at some of the boxes that had fallen, she recognized the label immediately.
"Oh, God..."
The blue script of the Entenmann's logo stared back at her. Okay, so she probably wouldn't starve, but she'd definitely make herself ill if she ate this stuff.
Remembering the electonics she'd packed, Babs took off her pack and pulled out the pieces. Frowning at them, she pieced them together carefully, repurposing a shoelace, a belt buckle, a stick, and a piece of duct tape stuck to the door. When she was done, Babs had a straight-key radio.
Over the following days, Babs set up a system, never using the radio over the same hours every day, but staggering them so that no one could track the radio signal when her radio was on. The message she sent was always the same. It started and ended with the word 'Bat', and the information between was in a code known only to members of that family.
She tried to keep her muscles strong, but was starting to feel tired. She tried to eat something everyday, but was starting to lose weight. She'd tried to keep warm, but the ground beneath her leached all heat from her body. Babs could only hope someone would hear her soon.
Otherwise, there was a very sharp rock just beyond her reach that could probably serve as an axe...
Later, she would be glad she'd chosen not to ride in the prone position that evening. Heading north on the Ricochet for the Robert Kane Memorial Bridge, Barbara had needed to be careful. There were practically no other vehicles on the road, and she didn't want to look too closely at the ones that were. People were still leaving Gotham on foot, a few by vehicle, but the road had mostly been clogged with abandoned cars, trucks, vans, and bikes. Only half of her had wanted to know where their owners were.
Suddenly, it had become apparent that one truck, at least, was on the run out of town. It had only been a four wheeler, but whatever the freight in its hold, the speed of the cargo van around the corner sent it into a spin. Babs heard the squeal of breaks, smelled the burning rubber, and reached for the lever to open up the throttle... but it was too late.
The front right corner of the truck sent her bike spinning left off the road and into the mud beside the river. Before she could even think to move from her spot, the truck came flying after her. In a burst of white pain, the last thing Babs remembered was the image of the van in the air above her.
When she woke, it had been become evening. Nothing hurt, but that was one of the mixed blessings of being paralyzed. She could have been bleeding to death and she wouldn't have known it without looking. Carefully, Babs opened her eyes, and had tried to sit up. She was only partially successful. She could sit, and she could even move a little, but she clearly wasn't going anywhere, unless she was willing to amputate just below the knee.
Looking around, she'd taken stock of her surroundings. The river was thankfully within reach. As long as it didn't raise high enough to drown her, she should be alright with water. She had a little food in her pack, a box of tea, and there were some edible grasses on the bank. It wasn't at all good enough, but it was a start, and surely someone would find her soon, right?
Blinking, Babs had noticed that the padlock on the back of the truck was cracked. Looking around, she'd found a large rock and used it to bash the lock in until it fell to pieces. Pulling them away and sliding the hasp aside, she had pushed the rolling door left - what had once been up - and looked inside.
Everything had been thrown about, but there were a few things that made her immediately feel a bit better. A couple folded blue tarps were within reach, as were a nice big stack of shipping blankets. Looking further back at some of the boxes that had fallen, she recognized the label immediately.
"Oh, God..."
The blue script of the Entenmann's logo stared back at her. Okay, so she probably wouldn't starve, but she'd definitely make herself ill if she ate this stuff.
Remembering the electonics she'd packed, Babs took off her pack and pulled out the pieces. Frowning at them, she pieced them together carefully, repurposing a shoelace, a belt buckle, a stick, and a piece of duct tape stuck to the door. When she was done, Babs had a straight-key radio.
Over the following days, Babs set up a system, never using the radio over the same hours every day, but staggering them so that no one could track the radio signal when her radio was on. The message she sent was always the same. It started and ended with the word 'Bat', and the information between was in a code known only to members of that family.
She tried to keep her muscles strong, but was starting to feel tired. She tried to eat something everyday, but was starting to lose weight. She'd tried to keep warm, but the ground beneath her leached all heat from her body. Babs could only hope someone would hear her soon.
Otherwise, there was a very sharp rock just beyond her reach that could probably serve as an axe...
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Date: 2011-01-17 03:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 09:26 am (UTC)Raising an arm, Babs waved, wishing she had something bright orange with her and vowing to never travel without one again.
Babs had begun digging a little around and beneath her trapped foot to free it, but so far, she'd had little luck, and she was moving slowly, checking her leg periodically for discoloration - bruising or breakages she couldn't feel.
Watching to make sure he saw her, or at least the ricochet, Babs waited with more patience than she thought she had.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 02:19 pm (UTC)"You know, you had us awfully worried there."
He's smiling a little.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-18 01:16 am (UTC)"Who, me?" she asked, her voice deceptively light, despite the fact that it broke with emotion. "Thought I deserved a little vacation."
"Something keeps holding me back from going home though." Babs nodded back to where her leg was pinned under the truck "Think you can give me a lift?"
no subject
Date: 2011-01-18 02:43 am (UTC)"Well, it doesn't look like you've got any bleeding, so it's probably safe to lift this thing off. Unfortunately, I lack super-strength under your yellow sun, so we'll have to do this the smart way."
Ted takes the handle of his zip-line, and adjusts it, activating a magnetic clamp inside, and attaches it to the truck.
"We can let the Bug do the work."
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Date: 2011-01-18 05:46 am (UTC)Turning her head, she looked at her own shin. "No bleeding, but I can't tell whether or not it's broken.
"I haven't heard a peep from the driver, either. It's possible he walked out of here while I was stunned or something, but maybe he didn't have a solid idea of where he was going anyway, and just walked the few miles back to Gotham."
no subject
Date: 2011-01-19 04:24 am (UTC)"I didn't see a driver, but I'll double-check. It's possible he got thrown clear, in which case he went into the Gotham River."
As the truck lifts, Ted nods approvingly.
"Okay, it looks like it had you pinned at the bone - that's good, because you'd still get blood flow to your legs, which means the tissue's still alive. Also less risk of a clot, but we're getting you to medical care right away, in any case."
no subject
Date: 2011-01-22 05:04 am (UTC)"Alright," she nodded agreeably; glad she wasn't actually going to loose part of her leg. "Um... I want to go to Wayne Manor. Before hospital, after - I don't want to get trapped in a hospital bed for observation. I need..." she choked a little as she realized they were disappearing, one by one. "I need my family," she finished quietly.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-22 05:22 am (UTC)Once she's freed completely, he has the Bug ease the truck back down in a more stable and less 'crushy' position, then detaches the handle.
"Any gear of yours we need to destroy, lest it fall into Communist hands?"
no subject
Date: 2011-01-22 05:39 am (UTC)"Hey. Thank-you, Ted. I don't know what I would have done if I'd been forced to live for months on nothing but donuts," she nodded at the white and blue boxes inside the truck.
"Probably the radio," she laughed, gathering the pieces within reach. And the ricochet, for sure. Bruce built that. It was the last thing he ever made for me." Brushing her hair aside, looking up at his face with a grin, she asked, "Communists?"
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Date: 2011-01-22 05:48 am (UTC)Ted lifts her carefully, fastening a safety catch on his belt to the line and ordering the Bug to winch them up.
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Date: 2011-01-22 06:51 am (UTC)Holding tight to his shoulders, she took a final look around. "Ready when you are, Captain."
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Date: 2011-01-23 05:00 am (UTC)it takes no time at all to get them both in the bug, and then only a few minutes to secure the Ricochet. Ted engages the Bug's stealth systems, and takes a wide route to avoid detection - on their way to the Batcave.