Chapter 4

Bruce Wayne sat at the computer terminal in the Bat Cave, the large monitor before him flooding the cave in an eerie bluish white glow. He listened to the conversation between his successor and the sound mechanic, a twinge of worry creeping up in his mind. Shriek was a dangerous opponent, one who had managed to turn almost all of Gotham City against Terry and the mantle of Batman. Although that was also the same day any doubts in Bruce's mind about whether Terry McGinnis was the right person to take over as Batman had faded, as the boy was prepared to give up everything to protect his city, even as ungrateful as it was. Bruce smiled at the memory, but his face quickly tensed back into his usual frown as he turned back to the matter at hand.

"McGinnis, watch yourself."

"Don't worry, Wayne. I can handle him." Terry's voice replied through the computer.

Bruce rested his chin on his hands before quietly muttering, "I hope so."

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The sound wave tore through the roof of the building like it was paper, but Terry easily managed to fly over it with a thrust from the rockets under his heels. Once airborne, he quickly threw a Batarang at Shriek, which knocked out the sound modifier on his right hand. Terry kept flying towards him, traveling quickly to avoid the attack he expected from Shriek's remaining modifier, but to his surprise, the rogue turned and began to flee.

"Well, that's different." he muttered.

"McGinnis, what's going on?" Bruce demanded to know.

"Shriek's not staying to fight. He's running."

"Odd."

"I know. Usually he's obsessed with revenge. I can't believe he'd give up when he's barely beat."

"This smells like a trap, McGinnis," the old man warned.

Terry glided to land on the roof and began to chase the villain on foot before replying, "I already figured it had to be."

"How's that?"

"Why else fire up an abandoned worthless building and then stand next to it like you're trying to announce 'Hey, I did this! Come fight me?' Only problem is I have to go after him."

"Why?"

"Because I'm Batman." Terry answered, running a bit faster after Shriek. However, the young crime fighter was about to get his second surprise of the night.

"Alright, Wayne. I've almost got him. He skipped the stairs and there's no more roof for him to run on ---Whoa!"

"McGinnis! What happened?!"

"He just went over the side! But that's got to be a good 20 story drop to the street." Terry gasped, racing to the side of the building and looking over. He could see the side of the building, the street below…and nothing else. There was no sign of Shriek, not his body or any sign of how he might have escaped or survived the fall.

"This is impossible. There's nothing there!"

"Calm down, Terry. You definitely saw him go over?"

"Yes. But now there's no sign of him. Something about this feels wrong, Wayne. Very, very wrong." Terry said, and Bruce could hear the deep worried tone in the boy's voice. Then he heard the sirens.

"It sounds like the fire department's coming. Better get back to the car and get out of there."

"Got it." With that, Terry ran across the roof, nimbly leaping over the part Shriek had damaged and taking off again with the rockets towards the parked hovering Batmobile. He never even noticed the small trace of Inque sticking to the side of his boot.

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"Hey, Wayne? It's really late and my mom's going to kill me as it is…"

"I assume you want me to bring the car in tonight?"

"Well…"

The old man sighed. "Are you fairly close to your apartment now?"

"Just a few blocks."

"Alright. I'll bring the car in. Just make sure you find some place to change without being noticed." Bruce instructed.

"Thanks," Terry said with obvious relief as he grabbed his bag, got out of the car, and glided into a small darkened alley. He waited as the vehicle gained altitude and finally began to fly across the night sky.

"I got it from here. Wayne out," Terry heard over the COM link before it finally went completely silent.

Taking the bag from his shoulder, Terry quickly hid behind a dumpster and swiftly changed out of the Batman suit and into his usual civilian clothes. Once he was completely changed and the suit was stuffed safely inside his bag, he stepped out from behind the dumpster, whistling as he began his trek home. He had only gotten a few steps however, when suddenly the dark shadows covering the alley quickly raced up his leg and engulfed him in a thick murky darkness. He didn't even have time to cry out.

Inque, on the other hand, laughed.