Prologue
In the very early morning when sun is soon to be up two rat catchers have to keys to open their stations so they can be ready to get the call of any rat problem out in Gotham city both having a conversation on about one of their co workers got on heat with their higher ups already in their uniforms and I.Ds
"Can you believe that guy the you had to get on to yesterday? I heard that you and the boss have to promote him down the cleaners and keep him out hehehehe!" One assist Worker turning up the lights gloating.
"Enough with your jokes! We still need to set up the place there's been a laundry list of reports of a lot of rat infestation around the size of the slums in Gotham in my phone tsk, I tell ya people should find a better way to deal with these creatures with rat traps these days not enough for them. Now get out there and make sure our equipments are ready and full" An older ponytail woman with glasses stated to her employer with wrote down the schedules on her notebook for the workers.
"Yeah sure Manger Jones I have to warn the other guys about you without coffee last time I check there's reports saying the rats are now gone and people are relief so what can be the problem." He said then suddenly a loud crashing sound like something knock over something come from the locker rooms as the two looks at each other in worry.
"Actually we'll both see who's out and about and make sure are you got your taser stick ready it sounds like a burglar crook doesn't know what close means of all the luck." Manager Jones and her assistant worker get their tasers ready as they creep in the dark locker room door and then the lights shut down caught them off guard then then sudden a rat like squeal mixed with a growl came from the door the manager feel relieved.
"HA! I knew its it's a big one. Alright Big fur ball save your last time taking over our spot because we *gasp*" She stops her speech after hearing rat like squeal turns to almost human animal hybrid scratches echo the station make her shake on her boots as a bang sound came from the door like it's coming out causing the workers to back away.
"Maybe maybe somebody watches a horror movie trying to scare us hehehe." the worker shaken as the door and noise go silent and just as the manager shine a light on it a huge pair of red eyes is spotted at the corner of her eyes as she shines there and the locker room door push to the wall and they spot the figure that's revealed to be a 9ft rat like skinny arm and leg bucky muscle creature in black brownish fur and red eyes almost like mutant like doing its roaring squeal growl at the two workers caused more eyes that are actual rats frightened the workers.
"WHAT THE HECK IT'S THAT!?"
the worker asked as he trying to open the door and the creature coming closer.
"EEEEEK IT'S A MUTANT RATS LET ME OUT OF HERE!!!" she ran push him to break the door that was locked somehow the moment the Mutant rat coming after them in fours as they get outside far away from their stations and the monster keeps going and screeches at them till the worker finally stops and use his teaser at it but it bites it in two with its rat teeth and roars attacking him by knocking him down with it's claws as the manager is in fright even though the worker barely alive to move then the unthinkable happened.
" *Bloodcurdling Screeches* I WARN YOU JONES TELL THEM THAT HUMANITY WILL PAY FOR ITS CRIMES AND GIVE UP IT'S TOOLS AGAINST MY PEOPLE OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES LIKE YOUR FRIEND!!! *Screeches*" the Mutant rat runs in the darkness in the station as Jones is horrified at what she just seen.
Gotham adventures
Oh RATS! It's the Mutant Rats!
A Detective club Mystery!
By Bruce Smith
Meanwhile in the treehouse HQ of the Detective club near Gotham high, where our teenage students stumbled by a news of the an attack of Mutants Rats in Gotham's rathunter headquarters last night. With school upcoming and summer coming to close it looks like another caper for our teenage sleuths and their mascot Ace on the case.
"Hey gang get this. Two coworkers were viciously attacked by what they say to be a man size creatures called the mutant rats. The manager of the headquarters Keith Jones is the only one that make it while her co worker freshmen injured at the scene." Tim reading the schools paper made Annie hold his arm in worry but confused.
"A mutant rat Tim?" Annie said in a puzzled manner.
"He means that the Rats who they speaking of the not ordinary followed by a person or thing mutated into a monstrous like structure of its former self." Olive explain reading her horror novels.
"Monster!?" both Eric and Annie exclaim made Annie jumps to her teen wonders arms and Eric jumps on Maps interrupted her game of chess against Cassandra Cain who's moved the Chess table away from harm.
"You know Eric has a problem with rats which is common to most people, oh I know! Annie does your mom Selina is sorta A Catwoman mean she'll also catch rats right? Which reminds me don't get mad but unlike most cat your mom wouldn't eat a live or not rat like a real cat, I think." Maps said to Annie who's takes time to think and looks at Ace.
"Let's say mom had an interesting childhood that also give her the name Catwoman among other things in the down side. But she's told me she grown out of it when she find better things than that." Annie said in embarrassment others are a little disgusted except for Olive.
"Wicked your mom and mines will be best friends." the red eyed albino reacted respectfully.
"Easy spooky the first thing first is maybe with permission, we can all go to the Mutant rats first sighting and speak with the manager of the HQ. She can clue us in one the history of the employees and maps of the place." Carrie stated
"Now that's sounds like a rad idea Kelly as long as we have updated rat rabies shots in case we're dealing with an actual mutation of a rat monster starting now my dudes and dog too. Maybe there is a grand slam to this whole thing!" Heathcliff respond
"Good a battle with a mutant animal how exciting will that be to accomplish what any Cain can dream about Sister Annie." Cassandra pumped of the whole situation.
"Yeah if you like to saved me and my mind from the image of rat eating then please let's do it." Annie agreed getting off of Tim's arms.
"Hopefully the only eating we get with being ratcatchers are belly burgers busting hero sandwiches for long hours until the mutant rat finds a new rathunter business to mess with like New York or a farm near Kansas." Eric rather be near food breaks then facing anything that can be scary.
"Then it settles gang because it looks like we got a mystery afoot!" Tim announced to the whole club.
"YESSIE!!! We're now ratbusters can we get are own retro catchy theme song too can we can we?" Maps is pumped up for the idea.
"Umm I don't think it won't be my style Maps more like we're now in a business situation here of investigation and not programming." Olive turns down Maps expectations.
"Awww Olive you and your goth style are really special hehehehe!" Maps respond.
The gang goes outside, had their Mystery Hunter ready beside to school grounds and head inside as Heathcliff put the pedal to the metal as the van drives Gotham High ground and into to distinct roads.
An hour later.
There's will be an interview of the incident that manger Jones is informing the public and reporter Summer Gleason sooner as she's was called in her office by the boss to expecting visitors in the front entrance.
She's lucky that there's one and not the whole workers being face to face with the creature heck some of them believe in it and "called sick," then just now the guards spot an colorful blue stripe on each side and green GMC van around the parking lot are being informed by the manager.
"Oh great more swarm of protesters, we're not having this today!" she scolds
"Don't get hostile Keith those are not so called rat god protesters we been dealing with...hopefully." A older man's voice in the intercom.
As the Mystery Hunter side door slides open revealing a skittish Annie and Ace out the van first with Tim Drake.
"You guys wait in here until we're in further instructions of what's going on." Tim whisper to the gang.
"Say isn't that Billionaire philanthropist little princess from the magazines and papers?" one of the guards asked the other.
"I see the resemblance but I think it rings a bell."
"H Hello sorry for not calling sirs but we're solving the mystery of the Mutant rat case that was attacking your jobs" Annie act like her skittish side to keep her civilian reputation as a Wayne twirling her fingers.
"Meaning we wonder if we can speak to the manager to give us details of the story in order to keep your jobs. Our old man say he's going to keep in touch of you guys cleaning the streets ok?" Tim came to Annie besides her with Ace to keep their reasoning sums up to the guards.
"No need, I already expected you kids. I'm manger Jones who witness this and me and the boss can sure use some help with strange recent stuff around are business." Jones said as Tim looks puzzled.
"Recent?"
"Before the mutant rat thing came in the pictures there been a lot of infestation in recent places in the neighborhood mostly where most workers stayed. I try to get the big major league in blue and news about this but I assume think I'm crazy then again it's Gotham city after all. Guess the City is nothing but a city wide home of rats if I don't get this solved for me and my husband business now that mutant rat will continue scaring and threaten to attack more workers." Keith explained the disaster as Annie feels bad.
"How awful Manger Jones! Well don't worry m.am you can count on the Detective club to solve the mystery for you and see who's behind these threats. We got the whole gang and my adorable hound named Ace to come and help be on the case whenever there's a smell of mystery afoot ok then?" Annie cheers Keith up with her words as the rest of the gang got their cue to come forth greeting her.
"I admire you kids heart to help others it's rare for the youth these days to be curious about our world and as I promise I'll get you kids the recording of the mutant rat. Are you sure you kids are brave and older enough handle it all you all don't seem like proper detectives yet." Keith concerned over the kids mentality.
"Oh trust us I have seen nasty pest in my friend's attic and the school basement, like what can possibly go wrong?" Eric respond as the kids get a tour of the station so Manger Jones can use her key to unlock the security record room with so far a few workers seem to surprise of a group of kids and a billionaire's German Shepherd are going to help them.
As the gang get their Mrs Jones after convincing the security guards about letting Ace in the room due to no dogs until approved policy but one guard warns the kids.
"Just don't say I didn't warn you guys that's no ordinary animal and I'll hope that you don't be their next targets for working with this place." and close the door leaving Carrie and the others a little disgusted.
"Gee what a creep I'll feel sorry for the crook butting heads with him." she said
"Owen Wickers is always has an attitude but loyal guard he's such had one heck of a character though I say." Keith explained succinctly
"Thanks for helping Ace get in the room with Manager Jones. He'll get lonely without me and the others being near him." Maps thanks the manager as Ace smiles ready to lick Keith.
"Just keep your friend under control little lady and I'll keep my word ya hear." Keith shut down Ace offer but pets his head as he goes back Cassandra in slight disappointment.
"Don't threat we're all at least I think your ways of thank you is nice to me Ace." Cassandra said to Ace as he feels better again now sit beside her enough to see the monitor with the rest of the gang.
"Now everyone I want you guys to let me know if you guys have second thoughts about this before I show you the thing understand?" Keith stated
"Yes m.am we would like to give it a shot." Heathcliff respond as Keith puts the tape inside the TV and reveals that Mutant Rat attack that's on the paper as it jumps out the darkness and it's eyes, size and screeches made Eric and Annie shake as they hide behind Cassandra and Eric hides behind Olive but she moves away and pushed him on Maps arms scolding at his cowardice.
As the gang and Ace witness what their dealing with.
"So to you kids think you can get that thing out of here in this journey of yours?" Keith asked as she pause the video as most of the gang stands behind the wards and Ace expect Olive who excited about what she witnessed.
"Wicked Manager Jones! I'm sure our brave Eric Jorgensen have a few words to say the matter." She teased Eric who had ratcatcher gear on shaking in the suit.
"B Bring it on Rat man hehehe oh golly." Eric responded in fear hiding his face with nervous false laugh and courage.
"That's my Eric for ya! Always ready for another! Oh yes he is Olive he is not really afraid." Maps backup Eric as Olive sigh whatever to them.
"Dang that thing doesn't look like what I expected to be on comics looks like it has a mad grudge on you guys for some reason." Heathcliff said
"That's what he keeps saying warning about us leaving the business to die and never be in Gotham again or else it's coming after me, I don't even know rats can talk about send threats to my doorstep!" Keith frustrated by the mutant.
"Maybe there's more to this extermination in means the eye, do you mind if we can check on the locker room where the thing came from Mrs?" Carrie asked agreeing with Heathcliff about it.
"Why yes I suppose I'll let you kids find what the heck is wrong here there isn't anyone who wants to come after us do please let me know if you find anything." Manger Jones answered.
"Wait maybe we could use some help? Can you give us the places where the recent infestation took place before the mutant rats appeared. My girlfriend will take the gang to the last sighting of where you seen the vermin." Tim asked
"I'll get my past cases and give it to you Mr Drake. Oh I almost forgot in case you need to be back around certain areas of the station used this key I found it can get you to uncommon parts of the station." Manager Jones hands the gang a key to the whole building.
"Thanks for trusting us m.am we'll get to the bottom of this mystery, starting with the Mutant rats last sighting come on gang!" Annie said as Ace smalls any trances of anything out the ordinary especially for the Mutant rat.
As the Detective club walks together to the front door locker room.
"Umm Eric I know we're chasing Rats but don't you think it's a bit much wearing its enemy's uniform that barely fit you?" Carrie asked Eric who even had a big rat taser and helmet on like he's in a space film has his voice echo.
"Like they say the first thing to catch a rat even a monster is by getting its attention by being what it wants more the suit." Eric respond holding the teaser stick as Carrie whispered to Maps.
"Did you put him into this Mizoguchi? I know your type."
"Oh maybe at least he's happy to be here now he's empowered." Maps respond innocently with glee.
Ace stumbled on the damage door and locker room as the gang see that the door and room is destroyed except the TV even the lockers.
"Holy Moly that thing sure is strong looks like we're going to need Eric shock treatment to stop it sooner than later!" Heathcliff reactions to the broken door.
"Hmmm something not add up the lockers and TV are still there yet the lockers look undamaged. Rats are highly intelligent a giant perhaps too smart then the average rat because there's no way it could enter here without alerting the place this building is active when an unexpected thing comes in." Olive stated as Maps eject the tape from the T.V
"Maybe he's busy sneaking in on a secret hidden place to watch his scary movie in peace without the sewer smell." Maps answered as Olive looked unamused by it.
"The Mutant Rat must've know his way around the station like the others sound like it has more experience in here than the employees now." Annie stated as she looks around to make sure no one except the gang see her and moved the lockers with her Clay strength to see if there's a passageway connecting to the locker room tapping the walls as Cassandra join in.
"Found anything sister Cass?"
"Odd I don't sense anything strange even Ace and I can see these walls are standard, I'm sorry I disappoint you Sister Annie." Cassandra apologizes to Annie look sad.
"Hey hey don't be apologetic sis you didn't do anything wrong. Remember that we're still awesome screw up or not so don't take your impress and becoming like me too seriously ok?" Annie pets Cassandra to cheer her up as Cassandra looks at her twin role model with comfort smile to show she understands.
"Yeah Cassandra for example I'm glad you didn't get us closer to the monster so we don't become its next cheese for the menu." Eric feels reassuring that there's no rat monster in sight. Annie help back put the lockers to their place.
Ace detected one of the locker knocks on it's own made Annie yelp in fright and get in front of Cass and Olive telling them to get back as Carrie jumped as well holds Heathcliff arm just a moment.
"Yikes! It's the mutant rat!" Eric grabs his ratcatcher teaser shaking in his ratcatcher suit as the locker rocks around as Ace growls as it
"Hmmm hold just the moment, We'll get you out now, let me go Sister Annie!" Cassandra push Annie aside and takes Eric's rat teaser stick and hit the lock with the bottom of the teaser so hard that it break the lock only to see an tied up brushed middle aged man trying to catch his breath fail off from the Locker as Cassandra catch him with Ace check on his pulse.
Tim appears going to tell the gang he have pinpoint the location of the recent rat infestation parts of Gotham.
"I heard the commotion who's that is he alright?" Tim asked
"It must be another worker don't worry my friends he is lucky to be alive just a few rough up claw mark and actual rat bite marks with a concussion to the head." Cassandra explains as the man groans in pain.
"Poor guy he must be scared to the teeth by whoever stuffed him in the locker we need to take him to the security so they can look after him." Carrie suggested.
Only the beginning of afternoon Owen Wicker the security guard got the information of another attack as the medics treated the found attacked worker.
"Now you see what happens when you stick your nose into potential too big for your type of problems? I thought I warned you kids to turn around and leave this case to the professionals." Wicker scold the Detective club.
"But mister Wicker the manager agree we can help solve the mystery so you just have to count on us as well." Maps argues frowning up
"Maps maybe we should listen to what he says we're much better finding the nearest rat free cheezers." Eric agreed with getting away
"Exactly I can handle the creep who threaten my job now stay and play detective somewhere else it's bad enough that this place had enough trouble as with some furry weirdo giving us death threats." Wicker stated and walks off.
"Oh I'll show him how we play detective alright right here and now." Carrie said frown up as well as Cassandra agreed with cracking her knuckles.
"Don't get yourself in high horse as they say, being a detective is not always about being better at solving problems and yes that goes for you Sister we don't want to get in trouble we're the good guys." Annie said in a stern motherly tone as Cassandra groans in disappointment.
"I just want to hit something but fine saved it for later and do it your way." she responded
"You sound just like Stephanie when she tag along." Annie sighed
"Annie have a point besides we got our first crime scene solved for today!" Heathcliff reminded
"YESSIE that will teach him to look down on us! So what next?" Maps asked.
"Well while you guys play Good and bad cop with the guard I printed each copies of the map and location of the recent infestation." Olive with wet hair and White dress appear out of the shadows of the trees.
"How you managed to do that without Owen's given you a hard time?"Annie asked with concerned
Flashback to Olive given Owen's her dark zombie like red eyes stare while wet and cover in ghostly pale and blood colored make up making herself look possessed repeatedly telling him to give her the machine and bring up her knowing where he sleeps.
Back to now
"I convinced anyone who's narrowly foolish to see through smokes and mirrors. Now let's get out of here before someone but us knows!" Olive pushes Annie away from the Stations entrances and to the Mystery Hunter as the others follow.
In the van as it moves away from the parking lot and Olive dry up her hair squeeze and twist the water out the van in the front seat, Cassandra looked back the Rat em out Station and seems uneasy as her twin Annie who seat beside her on the very back with Ace notice her looking back at her.
"Sister? What's wrong you're worried about that employee? I rarely seen you behave like something given you the creeps." Annie asked in concerned.
"Yes Sister Annie I'm still steady but I can't shake the feeling we're being watched by more than two sets of eyes." Cassandra whisper in Annie's ear to keep others from being startled again after what happened earlier as Ace and Annie whimpered silently knowing when Cassandra feel uneasy something mysterious is going on.
Unknown to the Detective club it appears that Cassandra might be right as in the distance the big red eyed mutant rat grins peeking his snout out of the grassy backyard of the station between the bushes and let out a squeaky silent laugh before it moves away in two feet hidden in the huge grass without anyone knowing.
# On the gangs location to the of the rat problem near the Bowery Rise and Yum cafe bakery where another street fall victim to the mutant rat band of rodents, just like with other ratcatcher victims the rats of being causing problems with gothamites sugary delights out of hunger makes it another business being in crossfire with the case. But lucky since it's a place of cold iced desserts Eric and Annie are just as happy about being in something with less dread as they are the first to be eager go inside.
"Just remember you two we're only looking for information about this mystery and preventing you guys from getting possible rat diseases so we leaving Cassandra to watching over you." Tim informed as Annie feels worried about getting sick.
"Body illnesses like rabies, oh no I don't want to make up work!" Annie whimpered as she enters the cafe with Cassandra, Ace,Eric and Maps along with her as they entered through the door that has a slip on the entrance about any possible slip ups and it's shut down by dawn.
The place is half empty and ransacked like a storm just crashed in like in the station, it seems these rats were too smart enough to cause such damage but at least the loyal customers and lowest of luck individuals are there to have there service taken care of,only a Baker, his employees who still have enough stones and his daughter named Anna hathaway a Gotham high student with blonde medium sized hair and brown eyes eager to help her father's business as she even have her own bakers uniform
"Oh good daddy more customers and they are from my school!" Anna waving at the gang.
"Hey Maps how is your brother Kyle doing, I still wonder if I can still hang with him if that Olive girl give him a hard time. Which reminds me is she still grouchy at me?" she asked as Maps had to think about it with her hand on her chin.
"Ummm you I don't know I haven't asked her that let's see her reaction through the window. Hey buddy look who I found!" Maps
Waved at Olive who's the only one outside of the window, arms folded only to frown and stare grimly at Anna Hathaway for trying to get near her beloved Kyle an older brother of Maps.
"Woah someone still holds a grudge hey I might as well give her best and cheer her up with a donut." Anna suggested Eric gulped at the idea.
"Oh no like I think she's better off remaining outside and had enough for today but speaking of donuts. I'll take a box with chocolate and glazed sprinkle mixed in hahaha!" Eric respond with his requests.
"It will take awhile kid, those blasted rats and now this rat god or mutant had scare half of my workers since my brother works at the Rat em out Ratcatcher station who also my number one customer! It's a darn shame he sacrificed his health to save what's left of this place." The Baker Mr Hathaway explained as The Wayne twins and Maps are shocked at what they heard.
"An another Rat attack on another employee from that place!? Seems like our hunch on targeted ratcatchers is right not only someone who's responsible for the death threats on their station is our mutant rat. Well you can count on the Detective club and the Wayne kids to deal with this mess for you and the business of two!" Maps states with Cassandra looks around at the possibility of where the rats come from.
"It's good to know you guys are good at mysteries. Oh and please have as much energy as you needed here!" Anna glad to hear that as she looks for Ace and Eric to see they are missing, but before she calls them out. The phone rings as Mr Hathaway picks it up.
"Hello this is Gotham's Rise and Yum here to shine your days with a delicious wake eatery! …..Oh I see, excuse me little Annie you got a phone call from a friend." He responded as Annie looks puzzled.
"That's strange I didn't recall anyone knowing my location, let me talk to em." Annie respond as Mr hathaway hands the phone to Annie.
"Hello?" she answers with Cassandra and Maps listen in as a male's high pitched raspy voice spoke in the phone.
"You'll be doomed if you meddle further for the ratcatchers. Quit now or you'll disappear and suffering the same wrath as the others while you still can!" The voice warned them as Annie gasped in fear.
"That must been the same voice that warn the other workers from doing their job Annie." Maps points out but Annie shhhhhed her.
"Ummm excuse me sir I don't mean any harm and we'll think about your words in the meantime. Can I at least know what all this about and what do you mean I'll disappear and suffer like the others?" Annie asked in a shaken body like she heard a ghost but keeps her voice in a concerned tone regret asking the question.
"Silents little girl! I repeat, leave this case behind if you want to keep what you care about in harm's ways if you go further and heard my warnings for my revenge will be complete!" The Voice responded abruptly ends the call leaving Annie shaken in fear of the thought she and the gang are being threatened by an unknown person,while Cassandra recorded the entire thing.
"Interesting. This can be our next what they call it clue to piece the puzzle of this mystery good work Sister Annie!" Cassandra pat Annie's back.
"How can you be so relaxed after all that Sister Cass? We're in danger, we have no choice but to alert the gang!" Annie respond almost baffled at Cassandra's reaction.
"But that mean man is giving us threats like with the workers. Does it mean that us being involved make all of us in the Mutant Rat next meal? Oh no Where's Eric?!" Maps is worried as well notice Eric is missing who's sneak his way behind to the kitchen to give himself food for the road with a little trouble.
"Who keeps taking my Cinnamon Rolls behind my back!?" one baker asked as Ace looks under the curtain Table and pulls Eric out by having his ankle in his mouth.
"Hey! Help, let me go the mutant rat got me!" Eric panics being dragged from under the table along his hands sticky from Cinnamon Rolls as he nervously laugh once he knows who found him as Ace glare at him.
"Oh sorry heh I,"
"It's ok Eric I know you need constant feeding when your nervous. Just asked me next time and I'll give you something special ok?" Maps forgives Eric
"But still someone needs to pay for it. We don't condoned stowaways regardless of your intentions!" Mr Hathaway stated makes Annie sighed at Eric.
"I'm sorry Annie I'll I p pay for it if you want."He skittishly say.
"It's ok Eric just don't do that again. We don't have time for goofy off now when we're being targeted." Annie respond pays her money to the Hathaways and returns buys enough Cinnamon Rolls to make for it.