Here it is: the first official chapter to The Hunted sequel. I'm sure the preface had you guys curious as to what was going on. Remember, these characters are going to be OOC seeing as how it is a sequel and the characters are now a bit older than they were before. Anyways, please review - i'd like to know if you guys are pleased! ~RyokoMist
Batman Beyond: The Hunted
Unlimited Eternity
What Once Was part II
Her foot taps against the hardened floor in growing agitation as Max's eyes shift upwards to the digital clock hanging above the main reception desk boldly. She then lets out a huff and looks around the lobby some more while her long nails thrum upon her folded arms impatiently. "I'm going to kill him," she finally growls out.
"Now, now. That's not nice," Bruce coos although his voice held a tint of pleasure within it as the old man tugs at the collar of his suit uncomfortably. "I'm sure Terry has a good excuse this time for being late…or at least abandoning us." Wayne grins to himself at the memory of the last few instances when McGinnis never showed up…and at Max's wild reaction. Oh how he hoped to see something like that again. He needed some excitement in his life.
"Since when did you start defending him?
"Since you came in the picture," Bruce responds, adjusting his hold on the old man's cane, nodding at the passersby.
Max rolls her eyes, however unable to suppress a giggle. "And The Joker said you had no sense of humor," she muses.
"I'm a man of many talents."
"Maybe, but funny definitely isn't one of them…not unless you can call sadism humor."
"I swear you're hanging around the kid way too much. Anyways, let's head on up – there's no telling what trouble that boy has gotten himself into…though I'm sure it's nothing like what you'll have in store for him," Bruce adds hopefully.
The two head towards the elevator with another group of people as Maxine states with a sigh, "I wouldn't be surprised if he did this on purpose…the two of you are so much alike after all." Bruce snorts, attempting not to be offended. The elevator ascends as the lights flash upon the people in almost hypnotic waves before coming to a halt and opening up into a large conference room surrounded in body guards dressed down in black and looking back and forth at one another nervously while the ones they were protecting were much more relaxed; probably feeling big headed on the abilities of the guards – Max could take them all out in a few minutes. Many of the seats were already taken while the others were filling up. The body count of the Wayne-Powers Industries council members had grown significantly, seeing as how many of the chair holders were now involving their own family in the powerful business. Max pulls along the jacket of her cream pants suit, smoothing the fabric along neatly before walking with Bruce towards their end of the table. She hated this – but it was part of her job, and was an excellent cover up. They reach the head end of the table and a growl immediately reverberates in her throat at the sight of Paxton standing there possessively. So he thought he could take the CEO's chair, did he? Well, he shared that much in common with his father.
Paxton's gaze meets hers as he declares with arms outstretched in a welcome that everyone was sure he did not possess, "Ah, Maxine Wayne. What a pleasure to see you again, my dear. And dear old Bruce too!" Bruce's seemingly natural scowl deepens.
"Paxton," both acknowledge monotonously.
"Well," Paxton states. "Don't just stand there. Sit. The meeting is about to begin."
"Thank you, Max says, hand clutching the CEO's chair and giving Powers a threatening stare. The young power hungry man smiles sheepishly and steps away to allow Bruce into his seat. Max pulls out a chair beside the elder.
"Oh," Paxton states in a sly tone to Max, "here alone? Isn't the boy coming as well?"
Bruce sighs. "My son, you mean?"
"But ofcourse. How could we forget the long lost son?" Paxton sneers with an upraised brow. Here was the story, the cover up: Terry was the long lost son of Bruce Wayne by no means other than artificial insemination. Quite an interesting story the Wayne's had to create after Paxton's prying discovered Terry to be a descendant of Bruce. As the cover up goes: Bruce donated some of his…genetics to a sperm bank and Mary McGinnis – who was having difficulty getting pregnant at the time – went to get inseminated without her current husband's knowledge, just to provide Warren with a child. Not long after she was with child. Wayne took in Terry after his "father's" murder, then discovered the truth and accepted McGinnis as the son he never had…in terms of speaking. Poor Paxton had hoped to destroy Wayne with this "discovery"; but failed miserably since it only made the old man's popularity grow.
"My husband," Max corrects between locked jaws, "is very busy with other work, and will not be coming. Now let's get to business shall we?"
Paxton nods eyeing the young beauty sinisterly as he takes in the sight of her full breast – coughing to keep his mind momentarily under control. Ever since he first laid eyes on her at that banquet years ago it was no mystery how much the young Powers craved for Max; and he naturally could care less about her being married – though it did prove its difficulties. "Good morning ladies and gentlemen," he says aloud gaining everyone's attention. "I'd like to welcome you all – and give a special acknowledgment to Mr. Wayne, who managed to make it out here today along with his beautiful daughter Maxine McGinnis-Wayne, who" Paxton adds with an obviously forced smile, "has begun preparations for taking over the rights alongside Terrence of Wayne-Powers."
There is a brief round of applause before he continues, "Although relations with Wayne-Powers has proven successful across the country and world, there's still the issue with Mexico."
Wayne asks, "Same complaints?"
Paxton nods causing Max to interrupt. "And these complaints consist of what, exactly?"
"The same as before."
Max leans back in her chair. "In that case, I don't blame them." The board members look at her strangely and whisper amongst one another. "Dumping waster in their waters, in any waters, is wrong."
Paxton crosses his hands, arguing innocently, "It's just a little river."
"A little river that practically travels through the entire country. The toxins are killing their water and food. You're destroying them. I propose to put the toxins to better use. You suits think just because there are scrapings left over, they have to be tossed. That's not true. Recycle the material, see what other benefits it can bring; major or minor. You save money, won't have to worry about angry clients, and can receive praise for being environmentally friendly. The originality of Wayne Enterprises was to help people. But since the name Powers got thrown in the title," Max declares boldly, "we've been doing the opposite."
Paxton smirks, more than pleased and turned on by her defensive response, clapping his hands together in an almost mocking praise. "Interesting diagnosis, Maxine. It seems promising. Shall we put it to a vote?"
**********Max kicks off her shoes at the door and walks into the main living room, plopping upon the couch heavily with a groan. She was tired. Board meetings were a waste of time to her – they did nothing except sit and toss the same ideas back and forth without never coming to a decision. With an exuberant sigh the young woman rolls on her stomach and buries her face into the pillow enjoying the sensation of her muscles easing out of tension. The patter of Bruce's cane vanishes along with the scratches of Ace's nails upon the hardwood down the hall. "Heard you got the board to pass your suggestion."
Max's shoulders stiffen. "Press hasn't released a statement yet so how you find out?" Silence is the answer. "I swear to God, Terry!" Max yells, forcing her gaze up and staring at the man standing just inches from her. "If you're going to hear everything inside a suit, do it without camouflage and the bat insignia!"
"C'mon Max," Terry protests, going on the other side of Max and sitting beside her. "Don't be mad. I was running late."
"It's not fair, Terry."
McGinnis pulls Maxine over onto her back and climbs on top of her, nestling his frame between her legs and caressing his wife's face with gentle strokes of his fingertips; eyeing her in admiration. "There has to be some kind of instinctual thing in there that enjoyed telling off Paxton without me being in the room." Max pouts and Terry chuckles, kissing her lips softly. "I'm sorry baby. I love you."
Max sighs – unable to stay angry any longer. She couldn't stand the fact that no matter how hard the young woman tried it seemed virtually impossible to remain upset at Terry. Sometimes it still seemed unbelievable: the realization that here they were (Max 24 and Terry 25) married for three years, living in Wayne Manor, and taking hold of Wayne Enterprises…and protecting the streets of Gotham as Batman and Saber. It was a simple decision really, getting married. After all the couple had been through Terry just couldn't hold out any longer. She was the girl he always wanted by his side – and he would spend as much time on this earth with her as was humanly possible. The wedding had been small, yet grand by standards…i.e. Chelsea Cunningham. Chelsea planned the wedding naturally and ensured everyone from the high school was there. They had it in a large old Cathedral down in old Gotham, the perfect location once it was did up.
Everybody was there – including the press once the news of Wayne's blood son and "daughter" were getting hitched leaked out. There were some uninvited guests…Paxton. And even Max's old family dared to show face. When the invitations had initially been sent out they'd immediately declined to attend. But when they learned who Max was marrying and his connection to the Wayne name the Gibson's found it appropriate to come and raise hell – hell which Maxine quickly extinguished at the reception. The wedding was the best day of her life – and the newlyweds honeymooned briefly on a private island that Bruce owned and practically forgot existed. Maxine McGinnis-Wayne…even now Max shivered at the new name that was now hers – shivered in pleasure.
Life was good. Their love was pure – and even Terry's once fear had diminished significantly; or at least as much as possible for the paranoid young man.
B just then a violent tremor strikes the house interrupting Max's thoughts and the sudden romantic atmosphere that had aroused amongst the two; shaking it ferociously enough to tilt the couch over. Terry stares at Max in utter shock once they recover from the fall, his arms wrapped around his wife protectively. "Bruce," he whispers.
"Just fine," the old man answers as he suddenly appears around the corner looking at them with a strange emotion. "Come with me, now," he declares, leading them towards the old grandfather clock and finally down the old staircase into the midst of the cave. He ignores their questions and pleas as he hobbles forth to the computer – punching in some keys and frowning at the screen before changing direction towards a set of pillars underneath a tarp.
Terry asks warily, "Bruce, what's that."
"Hopefully we won't need it," the original Batman answers to himself more so them. "Go downtown – that appears to be the source of the disturbance."
The husband and wife duo exchange nervous glances but do as their told: changing immediately into their heroic attire and mounting their vehicles (Terry within the batcar, and Max wrapping her perfect legs around a motorcycle sensually enough for her husband to become distracted and hope the disturbance minor; the things he would do to that body when they got home…). They weren't exactly sure of what could possibly have their father on edge – and the mere realization that Bruce was on edge period was enough to throw them for an uncomfortable loop; enough to get them on serious alert. They fly out from the cave and onto the road and into the streets of Gotham.
"Baby," Saber says through the microphone within her helmet as they race through the streets passing numerous onlookers and fleeing citizens, "it's got me worried."
"Don't be," Batman responds, turning his head towards her. "I'm sure it's nothing. Bruce probably took a water pill or something."
"Nothing, especially not a water pill, makes Bruce Wayne turn into a ghost."
"Saber, don't-oh my God!" Batman pulls back on the throttle after having finally looked ahead, bringing the car to an automatic halt as Saber's bike screeches to a stop as well. The top of the bat car opens up and Batman stands with wide eyes and mouth gaped open in disbelief.
Saber removes her helmet, dropping it to the ground in sheer terror as a shiver runs through her body with such force the heroine's body trembles visibly. "What…What the hell…is that thing?"
To Be Continued…
