Gotham Adventures

Revolution part 2

By Bruce Smith and Priya Sridhar

Rupert Thorne kept his office dark at night. He hadn't run into any trouble with the law in years, but the Bat's shadow always loomed over Gotham. Rupert was many things, but he didn't want to hear a cape swishing. One of his therapists had mentioned it was reasonable to fear someone like Batman, or any of the birds in his family.

His first crushed a newspaper. The headline showed the news about Anarky, another lunatic going around in a mask. The half-pint couldn't be older than fifteen, but he was inciting riots like a pro.

"It's absurd," he complained to his men. "At this rate there will be more vigilantes than normal citizens. Shouldn't they tax the costume shops?"

"The police will get the Anarky one, boss," one of them assured him. "The Bat's focusing on Anarky, and when Bats is on your case . . ."

"Even so!" Rupert snapped. "Do what you can to find intel on this Anarky. We can't afford another loss. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," another answered. "Crystal clear."

The commissioner mused over several case files. As he rustled old papers, a familiar silky voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Good evening, commissioner."

"Evening. Any leads on Anarky?"

"Lonnie Menchin. Late teens, Caucasian, lives in the slums. Not an Arkham asylum type. "

"Why did he have to be young?" The commissioner flipped through the file. "Someone like him should be in college or volunteering in Africa. He'd do better for society if he put more effort into himself."

"Not everyone has that opportunity."

"I know. But this makes things hard." He slapped the file into his desk. "He's only safe until a riot actually happens. Then the public will want his head."

"I may be able to prevent that," Batman said.

"This isn't some lowlife you can tie up with a Batarang. He is a child."

"People don't riot for the fun of it." Batman spoke bluntly. "I will see if he can be reasoned with, before he actively breaks the law."

"I hope you can," the Commissioner said. "Reminds me of Barbara in her younger days. My God . . ."

He sat on the chair.

"I know we're not a perfect city. We have our homeless, our poor, and our criminalized. But we're trying our best. With the mayor retiring, the timing couldn't be worse."

"I've heard Rupert Thorne is planning to run."

"Ugh." The commissioner's head sank onto the desk. "That's all we need; one of Gotham's parolees running a crime operation while wearing the sash. If only Bruce Wayne would run!"

"Wayne?" Batman sounded puzzled. "Why. . .?"

"The man is better than Gotham gives him credit for," the Commissioner said. "Between you and me, I think his partying is an act. When he isn't socializing, he volunteers on the Arkham Board, donates private scholarships to kids in need, and pays the medical bills for those who can't afford them. He's adopted at least three orphans, and helps so many more. But he doesn't want anyone to know about his heart. You know why?"

Batman didn't respond.

"Because when this city finds a good man, it eats him up alive. The parasites demand his money and time, while the mob bosses like Thorne try to buy his fortune. Wayne would have to make compromises that would tear apart his soul. That way he lets no one in, why he puts on that mask. But I wish he would take it off. The city needs someone to challenge Thorne, and Wayne is the man for the job."

"You should tell Mr. Wayne."

"Yes, I should ring up his butler," Gordon remarked sarcastically. "The man's never available. I may as well as you to ferry the message to him."

"I think he would be too intimidated," Batman said.

"Good," Gordon said. "Scare him into running for office. Maybe that can stop these riots before they start."

After Bats and the Commissioner are done with their conversation while Robin and Claydoll are listening to them the things Gordon said about Bruce gives Claydoll a question she wanted to ask.

"Excuse me Batman but I'm curious about what the Commissioner said about you running for mayor. What's does that even mean?" Claydoll asked

"What the Commissioner means by that is that a Mayor is someone who oversee a city's main departments, including the police, fire, education, housing and transportation departments. At the same time, their responsibilities vary depending on the local power structure," Batman succinctly explained

"Sounds like the Mayor has to be the most powerful of them all in Gotham. Why don't you choose that opportunity to take that kind of role?" Claydoll asked

"Well it's can be a risk like having my secret exposed by any curious journalists, any private investigators and worst Rupert Thorne's mob will do anything to dig up dirt on me and used it like a scandal, a publicity stunt which is something that is not true and just a lie to get others to be on his side that will cause things to get worst that can affect the Wayne Foundation everything."

"But what if you get someone to be your stand in when you are not choosing to be mayor?" Robin point out to Batman

"Maybe I'll will in order to make a safer Gotham by sponsors somebody to help out on things in the role once I refuse."

"But for now we have to stop Anarky from causing trouble before he starts a riot against Thorne." Batman stated as the Dynamic trio swing on rooftops to hopefully find a way to reach out to Anarky.

"The people of Gotham deserve better!" Anarky told the crowd.

Rupert Thorne had changed into street clothes, hiding his paunch with a grey overcoat and a flat newsboy cap. He had considered a ratty scarf as well but had dismissed it as overkill.

"This city has been for years full of crime, corrupt cops and politics with the mob like Thorne trying to get the higher power with theirs lies and the money. We need to see that all your channels and the news in the media need to show the truth of what this city needs, but never fear because your cry for help as finally had been heard as we the Revolution will clear Gotham City to make it what it should be. This is getting to be a grand judgment for all of those rats who dares trying to stop us but not with we as individuals who see the truth and shallow some false savior down. I Anarky have one thing to said let this be the real beginning of the Revolution starting with the mission!!"

Anarky has finished his speech as the crowds cheer for him.

"Is the mime masked boy done singing boss?" ones of Thorne's mob asked

"Yes you know what to do before things get rusty with already enough dirt is about to fall if you don't make it work." Thorne answered.

He wasn't too worried, seeing Anarky in the flesh. While he knew that children were tough and stubborn, they had one thing against them: their age. Children could be influenced, or squelched. To another cop they looked like ragamuffins in need of help, rather than actual people. You could discredit a child far more easily than discrediting an adult.

As the mob are on the roof each on four sides and one of them was about to aim for Anarky. A black shadowy figure silently take down the one them after the goon pulled the trigger and the bullet has hit one of the members take shielded Anarky and got injured as a result. Then as Batman is giving a signal to Robin and Claydoll their on each different roof as the others are now trying to fire at them but Robin and Claydoll manage to dodge bullets and Claydoll had a bullet hit her arm after she threw a Batarang at once of the men's hand that's make him drop the gun and she managed to beat him as Robin is done with the other guy and check on Claydoll as she holding her right arm where the bullet hit her.

"Claydoll you alright? Can you still move your arm?" Robin asked her.

"I'm okay my dear boy wonder I can recover. But thank you for looking out for me." Claydoll answered. While the Couple Crusader are talking the last mob member was arming for them as he is about to pulled the trigger, then Batman comes behind him and stopped the man before he gets to shoot Batman's sidekicks.

As the Revolution hear commotion going on the top Anarky wasn't surprised that Batman and any of his fellow members would interpret the Revolution mission as Rupert Thorne is frustrated by the plan of getting rid of this masked child but now he have to once again got ruined by more costumed individuals.

When the Dynamic trio get down to the stage where Anarky is not looking forward to fight but is growing fond about them.

"Humph interesting isn't it? I was expecting my inspiration to get your attention too but when you really get down to it I think we really have something in common here if you think about it." Anarky admired them

"You need to stop this Lonnie Machin. This isn't the right way to make a difference to this city." Batman said trying to reason with him "Don't pretend that you don't see what is better for everyone in this world. I think we can make great things happened if we proposed an alliance, besides I'm not the only who go out putting on a mask and plan to do go commit reckless actions around the streets and trying to make a difference for everyone even if these people don't accept that we are trying to help them. I think you all both agreed on that; right, guys?"

"Look I understand that but not like this think about what if we make certain actions that will cross the line of makes a difference for the greater good but instead make things worse this is what you should think about before getting your group in the path you will later regret if you started this tonight." Batman is trying to talk scene in Lonnie's head

"SHUT UP!!! You're not a fool. You know that these people like Thorne and the rest of the scumbags the system have let run around free while both of us are suffering from them because we are afraid to pushing this so-called justice to make sure that no one will ever be able to have lose their families and friends and the life they have because of this society. And all you all do is "Oh lock em away or hope to help them" and what they do? Oh yeah. They'll just breakout and to it again! What justice is that huh Batman or you all just like those hypocrites who say they are going to make the society great again? TELL ME!!!"

Lonnie has his eyes are boiled with rage and confused about the Bat Family's method and was ready to swing his fist to Batman until Robin get in the way to counter it as they are having a fight while is trying Claydoll is trying to pinned him down. "Please Anarky you need to calm down and let us help you we are trying to save you before things get worst!" The Magnificent Claydoll begged. But as she is getting to hold him down and Batman is looking at the Revolution with an intimidating stare so he won't hurt the children and homeless people who are trying to get in the stage and trying to save their leader. During all this commotion one of Thorne's men that shot Claydoll have got down and has make another but this time as bullet was about to hit Anarky one of Anarky's right hand member who the same female kid that he gives an invitation to in Gotham high heard the shot and protect the masked boy and is coughing up blood as Lonnie is shocked and pushed Robin and Claydoll away from him when they and Batman are surprised at this turn of events.

Anarky is looking at girl who has is critically wounded by the shot and is grunted in pain

"Why would you do this?! I don't want you to get like this not here or now!" Lonnie is holding the wounded girl as she is managed to speak and puts her hand on his mask.

"I see him the guy who looks like he is trying to destroy us from the start I have to take this one for the team Anarky sir. Please, please help us the Revolution can't lose like this we are the people!" she spoke as Anarky hugs her to keep her from saying anything "Shhh don't say anything I think I know who plotting to finish us before we rise and I say we stop Rupert Thorne before he get all of us in order to get to help Gotham!" Anarky stated but Batman manages to respond with that statement.

"No you're not. Listen Lonnie I know why you're doing this from the start and believe me I wanted to help Gotham the best I can and we can relate to that and I'm still trying to help them all even my group by giving them enough strength and hope to help make the world a better place. I know what it's like to trying harder and make people see the real monsters in this system we live in and have make mistakes along the way. But just because I was angry and had that some hard times and my life doesn't mean that I should be threaten to destroy my enemies instead I do something better by helping others and make srue that no one's lives don't get worst to the point of where there's nothing we can do to rise above hatred, chaos and worst of off cruelty and even if we do the things to finish these things what makes us better than them if we decide to kill and threatened to destroy others in the same way that others like the terrorists and any form of criminals and crime lords and corruption that hurt us for generations. But if you do this, if we allow this happened and once you start this riot everyone will be after you and there won't be nothing to do for to make a difference in the world if that happens. So what will it be Machin? Keep this Revolution going and start a riot or give up this madness and do and be something better than this? What do you say Lonnie please we can do this to you you're better than this and I'm sure of it."

Batman concluded his speech.

Lonnie takes his mask off and has a deep thought look while still looking at his two injured companion then he stands up and raised his hands.

"I surrender we the Revolution must fall back and put down our actions and make peace with you guys and I'm sorry." he gets on his knees and feel disappointed for his actions but Batman is on one knees and puts his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"It's okay. Like I said I know what it's like to try and take drastic measures in order to save others." he accepted his apologies.

"Woah I never thought that the leader is doing this but yet he wanted to protect us now that's a true leader man." one of the members said silently while all this is going on Robin looking around to make sure that Thorne is not up to anymore trouble but he is not there.

"Is everything okay Robin you looked concerned like we missed somebody?"

"As long as that somebody is not causing any problems I'll be okay right now you don't have to worry this time Claydoll. I'm was worried about your arm but seeing that you ignore your pain and managed to hold down Lonnie maybe there is chance for me not to let my fear and stress get to me too." Claydoll hugs him after his response "You don't have to be scared is what we do right?" She asked

"Sure I just hope that the kids and especially these homeless people can have a safer outcome from this." Robin answered as the Police have get to the scene as Batman explained to them was really going on with this Revolution situation as Lonnie works in fear and holds Batman.

"Please Batman don't let them hurt me I'm so sorry I promise that I won't do anything like this. I'm so sorry I so so sorry I just wanted to make a difference in the world for the better is that a crime?" Lonnie is tearing up in fear as Batman remind him

"Hey don't worry I know what it's like remember you don't have to be afraid you haven't done anything yet and we all can let our emotions guide us to do reckless choice in order to make a difference in the world they we think is best for us but that doesn't mean that we have a choice to start over anew alright?" Batman then let the police know that they shouldn't go after him as they already know from Gordon and the events Batman gives him that Lonnie Machin won't be a problem anymore.