Chapter 2 - Gambling
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The TV in the white house previewed a commercial.
"Hello citizens of the United states, I'm Batman. I'd like to invite you to Washington, DC tommorow, November 6th, 2020, at approximately 9 o'clock, AM, Eastern time, at the Lincoln community centre. There is a shortage of blood in this country, blood that can save a human life. We need you, the citizens of this country, to donate your blood. For your contribution, you will get to meet me personally, and earn a cash reward for your donation. What do you say?" Batman extended his hand.
Then the screen showed a still card of the address and the time.
"Wonderful, Batman! This will definitely bring in the blood this country needs." The newly elected president praised the superhero.
"Thank the brave men and women who are willing to take a needle in the arm for the sake of someone else's life." Batman commented in his serious tone.
"And maybe we might be able to help someone get over the fear of needles." Added Robin, the Boy wonder.
"Oh yes, The fear of needles is one that runs over people rather easily." Added Batman, before turning to the president. "So, now we just await the arrival of Mr. Kent and Miss Prince so we can discuss this business with Russia."
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The mercedes cruised along city streets and Diana was on her way to the white house, with Clark kent of course.
"Well, that was an eventful morning." Diana started.
"I hope that girl will be alright." Clark added.
"I think she will. A little bit of counselling and she'll be fine. It's a young person thing."
The radio was playing some nice peaceful music. After preventing a morning suicide, it was nice to hear something that wasn't sad or angry.
()()()
"Flight 123 to Washington, DC, enjoy your flight, Mr. Triton." Said the flight attendant.
"I'll do my best." Kenny pulled his suitcase with his suit in it. As a hockey player, he needed to dress the part.
His hockey bag was already on the plane with a tag, ready to go east to Washington with him. The flight would take a few hours and then the jet lag would come into play, but to compensate for that, he would take a nap at his hotel before the big game.
()()()
Batman's Bat-smartphone began to ring as he walked through the hallway, awaiting the arrival of his superhero friends. He fished it from his bat-utility belt and answered it.
"Hello?" he asked.
"Bruce...it's your friend, Miss Wahlberg."
"Teena, it's a pleasure to speak with you." Batman replied.
The friend in question, Teena Wahlberg, knew Bruce Wayne through a series of business deals they had done together as millionaires.
"Likewise...hey, i've got a little bet for you." Teena dared Batman.
"I...don't like to gamble." Replied Batman
"This is also a business thing, so listen...you've been eyeballing that mansion at the end of Bimini lane on the no name key in Florida, right?" asked Teena.
"Yes, I have." replied Batman.
"Me too. But the problem is this. We both want it, and we both can't have it. And as friends, it wouldn't be fair if we competed to have it. So here's the bet. The Vancouver Canucks are playing the Washington Capitals, tonight, in Washington. I want to wager on the Vancouver Canucks, and if the Canucks win, I buy the house. If the Capitals win, you buy the house." Teena laid out the terms.
"I understand. And there's no hard feelings?" asked Batman.
"None at all." Replied Teena.
"Ok then, it's a bet." Batman confirmed the bet.
"Good...have a good day, Bruce." Teena hung up the phone.
()()()
The doors to the white house opened and both Clark Kent and Diana Prince entered the room. the first person to greet them was Batman himself.
"Clark, Diana, it's been way too long." Batman gave a hug to both of the heroes in their normal identities.
"Oh yes, it has. I'm glad you've taken a bit of time out from Gotham city to come here and discuss the bigger issues." said Clark.
"With the Joker in the hands of the Arkham Asylum, I shouldn't have to worry now, should I?" Replied Batman.
Then another friend entered the room. It was Diana's best friend for many years, Col. Steve Trevor.
"Good Morning, Diana, and good morning, mr. Kent, glad to see you made it here safe and sound." Steve came over to talk.
"Safe and sound is right." Replied Clark.
"Just a boring drive through downtown Washington, DC." Diana replied in Sarcasm.
()()()()
The group went to the conference room to meet with the president.
"Russia's been beefing up it's military for the last 5 years. they're a sleeping giant. Of course, the people are so caught up in this idea that their nation is safe, they elected Mr. Trump to run the country." the new president, President Lyle Drake spoke his worst fears.
"And now, we believe...the russians are coming." Said Steve Trevor.
"The Russians have always had a bit of discord with us, Mr. President. I would think it would be appropriate, to consider that a strike across this great nation of ours could happen." Replied Batman.
"I agree." Diana replied "I remember the cold war. There wasn't a day where the IADC wasn't pinned down with things that involved Russia."
"So you agree with me...Have you heard of the war dragon?" asked the president
"The War dragon, sir?" asked Batman
Outside of the conference room, Robin sat and watched TV and waited for Batman to come and talk. He had heard about the bet between his boss and his boss's friend, and had the TV tuned to ESPN to watch the local hockey game.
"...it's an experimental war weapon, designed to be able to take any punishment from tanks, attack choppers, jets, the works. And they'll want to test it on any of our allies, that means England, Germany, France, Japan...Canada."
()()()
The crowd listened to a lady sing the Canadian national anthem.
"Oh Canada, our home and native land..."
Kenny stood there in his modern day Vancouver Canucks hockey jersey, and sang right along with the theme, as that was what he was taught to do since he was a young child. Patriotism was near and dear to him.
"God...keep our land...glorius and free...Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee! Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee!"
The singing stopped, and then a man came out to sing The Star Spangled Banner.
()()()
By this time, Batman had walked out of the room for a moment, as he had been sitting for an hour and needed to stretch his legs.
"The game's about to start, Batman, they're just singing the national anthem now." Robin told his boss and mentor.
"Then we'll both stand...and salute our nation as Americans ourselves by singing along to the national anthem." Batman put his right hand to his chest and stood proudly. Robin stood right up with him.
During the national anthem, The people in the conference room could hear the sounds of singing from the TV outside.
"Is that Batman...singing along to the national anthem?" asked the president.
Diana took a look out in the hallway and saw that it was.
"That guy is soooo serious sometimes." Diana joked.
"He is?" Clark looked out into the hallway and saw it himself.
Both of them began to chuckle, but couldn't hold their laughter in and had to close the door before Batman knew he was being laughed at. After a few hours of discussing the possibility of an attack by Russia, watching Batman and Robin salute America in front of a TV was funny...but also, kind of comforting.
"Listen, we've been discussing these matters for hours, let's get something to eat." the president stood up and so did Clark and Diana.
()()()
For 2 periods of hockey, the Vancouver Canucks took a beating at the hands of the Washington Capitals. And for 90 minutes, the discussion about Russia continued in the cafeteria of the White House.
With about 10 minutes remaining in the 3rd period, the Vancouver Canucks coach, was ready to make his big move with his beer-leaguer defenseman.
"Kenny." he said. "Teddy Zanni. Light him up, get him out of here."
"You bet." Kenny promised he would do what he was told.
For what it was worth, Kenny stood exactly 6 feet tall and weighed in at 210 pounds of right defense. It was his job to stop a player from shooting on the net. And he also had to be an enforcer, and when there was a 6'9, 240 pound monster called "Teddy" coming after him, he really had a lot to fear.
But of all things, Kenny had learned to face fear. He had a good teacher who taught him how to face his fears, whatever they may have been. And his teacher would soon be watching.
"Ok, 3rd defense line, go!" the coach yelled out.
Back at the white house, Batman had a request for Robin while they were sitting in the cafeteria, eating together.
"Please Robin, turn on that TV, I want to see how our team is doing."
"Sure thing, Batman!" Robin turned on the TV and switched the channel to ESPN. The first thing that he noticed was the score was 4-1 for the Capitals. and with that, he smiled as he was sure to win the bet.
But then the announcer came on "And that Kenny Triton..."
Diana immediately pulled her head up to the TV screen, and there he was, skating around the faceoff circle in the attacking zone.
"Oh my god!" were the words that fell from Diana's mouth.
"...Boy i'll tell ya, what a Cinderella story he is, a beer-leager showing phenomenal talent at the training camp, and now a defensemen for this game."
At the circle, Kenny skated up to Teddy and taunted him.
"Hey buddy, I see you're crouched over doggy style. Is that the position you have in the showers too?" asked Kenny.
"Oh, you want some you little weasel?" Teddy threw his gloves off and Kenny followed suit, signaling that they were about to get into a hockey fight.
Back at the white house, Robin ran his mouth a bit.
"That Zanni is a fighter. I'll bet he'll knock out Triton in a few seconds."
Diana had a slight smile on her on her face.
"I'll take that bet. 20$?" Diana dared Robin.
"You're on, Diana!" Robin shook Diana's hand and they went back to viewing the screen.
Triton and Zanni kept their hands up, and waited for the other to throw the first punch. the Canucks coach finally let Kenny hear it.
"What are ya doing, Kenny? Hit him!"
Then, Kenny grabbed Teddy's jersey and began to punch him repeatedly. Teddy was a tough guy and a fighter, but he had no clue he was facing off against a guy who didn't feel pain like everyone else did.
The players threw punches and Teddy tried to ragdoll Kenny, but Kenny ragdolled him back and then threw a mean haymaker punch that knocked out the big man. Teddy hit the ice and blood began to leak from his nose.
"OH MY...Triton just knocked out the biggest hockey player in the NHL today! What a fight that was!" the TV announcer exclaimed.
Back at the white house, Diana extended her hand to Robin.
"A bet's a bet, robin." Batman reminded his protege.
Robin fished 20$ out of his pocket, and Diana went off into the other room but not before leaving robin with a few nice words.
"Nice doing business with you, Boy wonder."
()()()
Kenny stepped out of the shower and dried himself off, and wiped the spots on his face where he had been punched and hit by the 240 pound monster he just toppled.
"That was awesome, Kenny!" The coach walked in from the game.
"How's Teddy?" asked Kenny
"They took him off on a stretcher. Where'd you learn to fight, boy? That talent could be useful to a hockey team." The coach praised Kenny's skills.
"Oh, I had a good motivational speaker." Kenny smiled, and got up to put on his underwear and socks.
"Well, tell him I said thanks."
"It's a her. She gave me the motivation to win the fight." Kenny corrected the coach.
"Oh, well thank her for me."
"I will." Kenny began to put his suit on.
"I gotta get back to the game...I'll call ya if the organization needs ya."
The coach left the room to go back to the game. Kenny finished getting his clothes on, and then realized there was an incoming call on his smartphone. He fished it out of his dress coat pocket...and noticed it was his motivational speaker.
"Diana, how are you?" Kenny asked.
"Kenny, you're awesome, you know that?" Diana spoke with great joy.
"Why?"
"I made 20$ off that fight you just had." Diana looked at a crisp 20$ bill she had won from robin.
"You saw that?" Kenny smiled.
"I did...and if you're willing to spill more blood...I've got a proposition for you." Diana spoke.
"Blood spilling is what I do best." Kenny turned on the speakerphone and put on his shoes.
"Tommorow here in Washington, there's a blood bank at the Lincoln community centre. Batman's hosting it. You should come and donate a bit of blood." suggested Diana.
"Needles don't scare me, so sure." Kenny accepted the offer.
"Good. i'll be there at 9am, so be sure to come as early as possible, I have so much to talk about!" The joy in Diana's voice could not come down.
"I will...See you then." Kenny said a temporary farewell.
"Bye."
Both heroes hung up the calls and went on about their business.
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