EARTH 2: CHRONICLES

BATMAN

Batman watched as Huntress followed after Black Canary to go help her with the trouble going on in Starling. From what he could gather it was a pretty serious situation. At Iron Heights inmates broke out of their cells and this Count Vertigo was causing some damage to. He would like to go and help but he couldn't be everywhere at once and he had his city to look after. He would have to put faith in Dinah and the new guy calling himself the Arrow in hopes of them saving the city. Bruce Wayne would have to make a generous donation when it was all over.

He opened the bag Huntress left him and his narrowed at the fear toxin inside it. He had heard rumors Scarecrow was back in Gotham but he didn't know he had started producing again. He was going to need to get answers out of the group of unconscious bodies that Helena and Dinah left behind.


Moments passed as the thug finally opened his eyes and was staring down at the Gotham streets from a skyscraper. The only thing keeping him from falling was the Batman holding one of his legs. He looked in fear at the built man in his black and gray suit with his cape waving in the wind.

"I don't know nothin," were the first words out his mouth.

"We both know that's a lie," Batman responded. "Talk or I start losing my grip."

"How long have you been doing this Bat?" he asked. "Everyone knows you don't kill."

"I killed Two-Face," he stated.

"Everyone knows that was an accident."

"Was it?" he asked and his grip began to loosen.

"You're bluffing."

"Am I? It's getting kind of windy" he loosened his grip a little more and the thug began to slip

"Okay, okay, Scarecrow! He set up in the sewers of East Gotham. He has an entire network down there."

Batman lifted the thug and tossed him back on the roof. Batman then walked over and delivered a punch to the face knocking him out. Batman then handcuffed him and shot a grappling hook to the nearest building and headed towards Scarecrow.

As he swung through the Gotham City sky he thought back to the night Harvey Dent AKA Two-Face died. He had captured Commissioner Gordon's family and was holding them hostage in a construction site. When Batman got there Dent had Gordon's son with a gun to his head. It was instinct mostly but Batman jumped at him causing both to fall over a ledge where Dent's neck broke. So in a way Dent's death was an accident but that blood was still on his hands.


Scarecrow stood looking down at his henchmen creating the newest version of the fear toxin. He had sent a group of men to start passing the fear toxin around disguised as drugs. He needed to spread fear because without fear there is no point to life. He wore his damaged scarecrow mask that covered everything but his eyes.

"Let's get the next shipment out," Scarecrow ordered his men.

"Sir," they all said.

They started loading bags with vials containing the fear toxin when metal clanking sound caught everyone's attention. They saw a grenade roll closer to them before dispersing a cloud of smoke clouding there vision.

Batman made his move taking down the first guy with a punch across the face. He moved swiftly to the next guy who was holding a gun and knocked out his hand before giving him punch across the jaw. He turned to see two guys coming at him and blocked the first ones attack before grabbing him and tossing him into the other attacker. He heard footsteps coming up fast behind him and without turning he elbowed the man in the face. He looked up and saw Scarecrow making a run for the exit. He quickly fired his grappling hook and propelled himself on to the level Scarecrow was on. Scarecrow stopped in his footsteps when the Dark Knight landed in front of him.

"How long are we going to play this game Crane," Batman said approaching the villain. "You failed to disperse your fear toxin with the help of Ra's years ago. What makes you think you'll succeed today?"

"Because you won't be here to stop me?" Scarecrow shouted pulling out a gun.

Batman slapped the gun out Scarecrows hand and lifted him in the air by the neck. Before he could do anything else Scarecrow shoved a needle into the Dark Knights shoulder. Batman dropped Scarecrow and his eyes began to get hazy.

"How do you like my newest iteration of the fear toxin Batm-?"

Batman grabbed him by the neck and squeezed tighter than before. When he looked at Scarecrow the only thing he saw was a man with a bleach white face, green hair, and a wicked smile. He brought his fist back and punched him as hard as he could leaving him unconscious.


It took no time at all to get GCPD to apprehend Crane and his goons and Batman looked down from a nearby building perched like a gargoyle watching as Gordon and the other members of GCPD hauled them all away. Batman activated his communicator in his mask.

"Alfred I think I turning it in for tonight," Batman said.

"Should I start on dinner then sir?" Alfred responded.

"That won't be necessary," he answered.

"It'll be done by the time you get here," the butler said ignoring what Batman just said.

"Of course it will," Batman said with a smile firing his grappling hook.


He entered the Batcave where he saw Alfred at the computer and next to him was a plate of hot food. Alfred turned to see Bruce walking into the hideout under Wayne Manor taking his cowl off. Bruce ran his fingers though his black and graying hair as he rubbed his eyes.

"Long night Master Bruce?" Alfred asked

"You could say that," Bruce answered making his way to the hot plate of food waiting for him. He sat down at the computer picked up the fork and took a bite. "I know you there Dick."

All of a sudden young man in all black suit with a blue bird across his chest came down from the ceiling. He landed perfectly on his legs before walking over to Bruce.

"How did you know it was me?" Dick asked.

"You sometimes forget who trained you?" Bruce responded.

"Yeah, but how did you know it was ME? How do you know it wasn't Barbra, Tim, or hell even Jason?"

"I know how all of you operate and you have a habit on getting in high places to sneak on people."

"What can I say? I was in high flying circus act," Dick said casually.

"What are you doing here?" Bruce finally asked. "I thought you had a big case going on in Bludhaven."

"Solved it! Turns out Barbra was working a case similar to mine and once we put our notes together everything fell into place. So I thought I would swing by and see how my two favorite old guys were doing.

"If Master Bruce is old them I fear my days are numbered," Alfred dead panned.

"Please Al you'll out live us all," Dick said.

"I doubt it. Would you like to join us for dinner Master Richard?" Alfred asked.

"Sure," Dick said taking a seat by Bruce.

The three sat together and talked about old times for the remainder of the night.


NEXT STORY: Deathstroke