Chapter 3.
"So, tell me, how you really liking Gotham?" Lois asked across the table to Lana as they sat in a nightclub with music blaring and people dancing all around them.
"It's taking some getting used to, and I did have at least one very unpleasant experience, but other than that..." Lana replied.
"What unpleasant experience?" Lois asked, taking another sip of her drink.
"A few nights ago, I was taking the subway, cause you know, I just thought I would explore the city a bit, and it seemed faster than driving," Lana began to explain. "So anyway it breaks down."
"I could see how that would be unpleasant for sure," Lois commented.
"Well, that in itself wasn't too bad," Lana responded. "But it did lead to the..uh...badness."
"Oh.. do tell," Lois said.
"I decided to go up and look for a cab instead of waiting it out," Lana stated. "Really the fact that no one else was doing this should have tipped me off."
"Let me guess... very bad part of town?" Lois asked.
"Definitely," Lana answered. "Needless to say, I couldn't find a cab."
"What happened?" Lois asked.
"These guys... I guess a gang of some sort, well they cornered me... "Lana replied, before taking a sip of her drink.
"They didn't hurt you did they?" Lois questioned, growing concerned.
"No.. they didn't get a chance to," Lana answered.
"Police?" Lois asked.
"No.. not exactly," Lana answered.
"What's that mean?" Lois asked.
"Let's just say that Gotham seems to have it's own.. uh.. Superman..." Lana stated.
"Really?!" Lois exclaimed.
"Except he is..different," Lana said.
"How so?" Lois asked, really intrigued.
"I'm surprised you don't know about him..." Lana commented.
"Why do you say that?" Lois questioned.
"He has made the papers here, and you being a reporter," Lana answered.
"Oh.. well, for the most part I stick to news in Metropolis," Lois said.
"Apparently he goes by "Batman", Lana stated.
"Does he dress like a bat or something?" Lois asked.
"Kind of," Lana answered. "I don't think anyone has ever really gotten a picture of him."
"I sure hope I get to meet him, only under better circumstances," Lois said. "Does he have powers like Superman?"
"I don't think they are the same kind of powers... I'm not really sure what kind of powers he has," Lana responded.
(***)
Superman flew over the streets of Gotham, taking it all in. He had been over most of the city now and it really bothered him to see the state it was in. Very different that Metropolis, very dark, dreary, and just ugly in places. It was depressing to think of Lana living in a city like this. He actually worried for her safety more than ever upon seeing some of the sights. Superman found a tall building in the center of town and landed on top of it. He began to exam his surroundings and looking for anything he could help with. It was then that he spotted a figure just a couple buildings over. It was just standing there, nonmoving in the darkness. Figuring it was a robber, Superman sprang into action and flew over to the nearby building.
"Hey.." Superman spoke into the darkness, only to find nothing there. "Weird."
Superman began to look all around him and use his X-Ray vision, but he found nothing. He took to the skies again and this time spotted another figure upon another roof. This time he made sure to keep his eyes focused on it while he flew over to it. He landed just behind the person, who was immediately startled and fell to the ground.
"Holy..." the guy clad all in black said. "Who are you?"
"The name is Superman, and what may I ask are you doing lurking around upon buildings."
"I uh...uh..." the guy tried to think of a plausible excuse. Superman glanced over to the glass sun roof that the man was obviously trying to get into. He almost had to laugh at how cliched the whole thing was. A guy clad in the typical "robber" suit, trying to break into the roof of a jewelry store. In Metropolis, people were not trying this kinds of crimes anymore, knowing they would only get caught.
"Come on, I think you need to take a little trip downtown," Superman said grabbing the obviously intimidated burglar.
"I think I'll take it from here," a voice from behind Superman spoke. Superman turned to see someone lurking in the shadows behind him. He watched as the figure stepped out from the darkness.
"Who are you?" Superman asked, taking in the appearance of the person standing in front of him. Black suit of armor, cape, intense eyes. All in all Superman figured he was going to have to take in two bad guys instead of one on this night.
"None of your concern," Batman answered.
"I beg to differ," Superman responded. "You look like someone who needs to take the same trip that this guy does."
"Then you are obviously lacking in intelligence," Batman said.
"What was that?" Superman asked, getting a little ticked off.
"If I resemble this person to you at all, then either you need to have your eyes checked, or you are lacking in intelligence," Batman answered.
"Well let's see.. black suit, creeping around on rooftops... looks pretty similar to me," Superman said.
"Thieves come in many shapes, sizes, and colors," Batman responded. "I think your idea of what makes a bad guy is outdated."
"I think you made a big mistake by making your presence known to me," Superman said, taking some steps towards Batman so that they were now eye to eye.
"I think you need to keep a better eye on your surroundings," Batman said glancing to were the burglar, used to be. Superman turned to see that the spot was empty as well.
"That's your fault," Superman said. "However, it's OK, I'll find him again, after I take you in."
"Don't worry about him," Batman said. "I know where he lives, I was just waiting for him to make a move."
"I bet you do know where he lives, you guys probably stick together.." Superman remarked. Batman didn't respond, and instead just turned to leave. Superman however reached out and grabbed his arm and turned him back to him. "Where do you think you are going?"
(***)
Lana and Lois walked out of the nightclub and began to make their way to Lana's car parked around the back. They had just reached it when they saw a man dressed all in black running across the street and down an alley.
"Wonder what's got into him?" Lois asked.
"No idea," Lana replied. "But then, I guess I am getting used to seeing strange things here."
"He was dressed like a burglar or something," Lois said.
"Yeah he was," Lana agreed. "Wonder what he was running from?"
"Why don't we find out?" Lois suggested with a mischievous grin on her face.
"What do you mean?" Lana asked.
"Let's head in the direction he was running from and see if there is anything of interest that way," Lois answered.
"That could be dangerous," Lana said.
"Which is part of the fun," Lois stated, before getting into the car and starting it up. Lana let out a sigh, before climbing into the car with her.
(***)
"I think you should go back to Metropolis," Batman stated looking down at where Superman held his arm.
"I don't know, I am thinking of sticking around here and ridding it of a few menaces," Superman responded. Batman didn't respond, but instead jerked his arm out of Superman's grasp before giving him a sweeping kick and knocking his feet out from under him. Superman crashed onto the rooftop. Batman turned to leave, but Superman jumped up and grabbed his cape and flung him into a nearby wall, using it. Batman crashed into it with a thud, before going down to the ground. Superman made his way over to him, and was met with a kick to his stomach that didn't phase him. Batman's eyes grew wide upon seeing his kick had no effect. Superman grabbed Batman's leg and flung him up and over his head. Batman went crashing through the sun roof of the building down into the store below causing sirens to go off.
Superman made his way over to the opening and looked down into it, to find nothing but darkness. He was just about to use his X-Ray vision when something shot up out of the darkness and wrapped around his neck. He felt a tug and felt himself being pulled into the opening. He crashed into the ground below and quickly tore the rope from off his neck. He focused his X-Ray vision all around to see anything, but he found nothing. He didn't even see the attack coming from above until he felt Batman's feet connect with the back of his neck. However, the blow didn't phase him or even really knock him off balance. Superman simply turned and pushed a startled Batman through the glass doors of the building and out onto the street.
(***)
Lois slammed on her brakes when the cars in front of her came to an abrupt stop. She narrowly avoided hitting the car directly in front of her.
"What the heck?" Lois remarked.
"Something stopped traffic," Lana commented, before opening her car door and climbing out.
"Hey, I'm supposed to be the nosy one here," Lois said, before climbing out of the car on her side. Other people were beginning to get out of their cars as well, and traffic was becoming backed up for a long stretch.
"Let's go check it out," Lana said.
"I'm already ahead of you," Lois called back from in front of Lana, as she jogged down the sidewalk. Lana wasted no time in following after her. They soon came to a crowd gathered around watching something. Lana followed Lois as she pushed through people. They finally made their way to front of the crowd and were both shocked at what they saw.
(***)
Batman got to his feet as cars came to a screeching halt all around him, and people began to get out of their vehicles to get a better look. He watched as Superman floated out of the building he just came flying from. Batman approached him and threw a punch that Superman blocked, so Batman threw another one, and again, another block. Batman attempted a side kick, that had no effect on Superman. Batman threw another punch that actually connected with Superman's jaw, but again no effect. Superman grabbed Batman's hand when he threw another punch and began to crush his hand. He then kicked him in the stomach that sent Batman flying into a nearby street light. There were many comments about how Superman was handling Batman so easily ringing out through the gathering crowd.
"Sorry for the damage, people, but this one refused to be taken to the police without a fight," Superman stated turning to the crowd that surrounded them. Batman used this momentary distraction to fire a grappling hook up into the air and attempting to leave the scene. Superman however saw him in mid-lift and used his superspeed to run over and grab his legs, pulling him back down to the ground with a thud. He stood over the battered Batman and took a quick glance into the crowd to see two very familiar faces. Batman used this opportunity to muster enough strength to kick Superman's feet out from under him. He got up and staggered into a nearby vehicle, before pressing a button on a device connected to his belt. Superman got to his feet and walked over to Batman. "Why won't you just come easily?"
Batman threw something onto the ground, which filled the street up with smoke. He used the smoke to move behind Superman and picking up the cord off of his grappling gun, he quickly wrapped it around Superman and tied it, before pushing him forward onto the hood of a nearby car. Batman then leaped on top of the vehicles and began to run across the tops of them into a nearby alley. Superman quickly broke free from his restraints and flew into the air and after Batman.
Superman saw Batman disappear into a nearby alley and made flew into it. He stopped in his tracks though when he saw Batman get into what appeared to be some kind of car.. or actually it looked more like a tank. Superman landed on the ground in front of the vehicle, blocking it's path from the alley. Superman stood nonmoving as the engine roared and lights came on the vehicle. He wasn't prepared for what happened next though. Two missiles launched from the front of it and connected with Superman's chest knocking him back out into the street, and causing many "oohs and ahhs" from the crowd that had followed the battle. No sooner had Superman risen to his feet, than the Batmobile came charging from the alley and into Superman before he could properly gain his footing. The force sent him flying over the top of the car and onto the blacktop behind it. The Batmobile then began to speed off down the road and around a corner and out of sight. Superman got up and was just about to take to the air when he turned to see Lana looking at him and shaking her head "no". Superman realized he couldn't exactly ask her about that right now, so he would take her word for it and not go after the vehicle.
(***)
Batman shut the engine of the Batmobile off, and opened the top. He slowly climbed out and began walking over to the place where he keeps his suits. He got halfway there, and began to feel dizzy, and fell to his knees and held his head. He tried to get back up, but he couldn't. He pulled a device that somewhat resembled a walkie-talkie from his belt and pressed a button on it.
"Alfred.. I...uh... come down to the cave," Batman said into it, before losing consciousness.
(***)
Clark sat down on the bed in his hotel room and began to think about his fight, and then Lana's reaction to it. He was sure that the person he was fighting was indeed a bad guy. However, if Lana didn't think so, or maybe that wasn't what she meant.. he was confused. Clark ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. He was startled by a light knock on his door. He grabbed his glasses and got up to go answer it. He opened the door and was surprised by who he saw standing there looking at him.
"Clark, I think we need to talk," Lana said as she stood in the doorway of his hotel room.
(***)
Bruce Wayne opened his eyes to see himself lying on a cot in the the cave under his house. He started to sit up, but a wave of lightheadedness hit him and put him back down.
"I wouldn't be so hasty to get up," Alfred said. "I think you have sustained a concussion."
"I think you are right," Bruce said, taking note that he was without his cowl but still in his Batman costume. "How long have I been out?"
"Not too long, sir," Alfred answered, coming over to him with some pills and a glass of water. "For the headache."
"Thanks," Bruce said as he sat up slowly this time, and took the pills.
"So, am I to take it, you met up with Superman, and weren't on your best behavior as I had asked you to be,?" Alfred asked.
"Funny," Bruce commented as he climbed off of the cot and made his way over to a large computer in the corner of the cave. He pushed a button on the large control panel and it came on. He sat down in a chair in front of it and began to type.
"What may I ask are you doing, when you should be lying down,?" Alfred asked.
"Research," Bruce answered.
"Research on what?" Alfred questioned.
"Superman," Bruce answered.
"Really, Master Wayne, is it wise to want to encounter this man again?" Alfred asked.
"Who said I wanted to encounter him again?" Bruce asked in return.
"Am I to believe you are just preparing yourself in case he initiates another encounter with you?" Alfred asked.
"That's exactly what you are to believe Alfred," Bruce said as the screen began to fill up with newspaper articles on Superman. "I've never faced anyone or anything like him, he was pretty much invincible."
"Then how do you plan on defending yourself if you meet up again?" Alfred asked.
"Well, everyone.. even Superman.. has to have a weakness," Bruce answered.
"Don't research it too long tonight, you need to get some rest so you can heal up," Alfred said, before turning to leave. Bruce didn't acknowledge his words and continued his research. After several moments, he nodded his head.
"Bingo," Bruce commented upon seeing the info on his screen.