Bruce Wayne smiled through his teeth at the other guests at the reception. He was in the University of Gotham's Science and Technology Center. Ordinarily, he would have been out patrolling, but tonight, his presence was required. Wayne Enterprises proposed a joint collaboration on some of the riskier science projects with several of the scientists and engineers at the Center. Along with the collaboration came the funding from Wayne Enterprises. Unfortunately, large influxes of funding were often accompanied by the need for ceremony… and speeches.
After chatting with various scientists and engineers at the reception, he made his way to the front for his speech.
"I want to thank everybody for coming tonight to talk about science, technology, and the future. The world had made a great technological progress in the past century and has improved lives around the world because of it. I'm proud to say that Wayne Enterprises has participated in the development of some of that progress. However far we continue to drive science and technology forward, we still have more progress to make. I envision a world without crime, poverty, hunger, or energy problems, and there is much ground to cover to accomplish that vision. We can't do it alone."
"I cannot talk about the future without talking about the past. Great scientific progress has always been made through partnerships and information exchange. Nobody can do research in a vacuum. There is always some competing theory to disprove or uncovered facets of another scientist's research to investigate. Otherwise Copernicus would have never uncovered the motions of the planets, neither would Lavosier have discovered oxygen. By questioning knowledge and investigating new areas, we make progress and eventually that progress improves the lives of everybody around us. However, we cannot talk about the future without still talking about the present."
"I still see us consuming more energy than we produce, cancer claiming young lives, poverty and hunger because we do not have ways of producing food easily and cheaply. I do know this: Gotham University researchers have made breakthroughs in energy technology, medicine, and agriculture. Wayne Enterprises has done work in the applied and discovery research in these areas. By marrying our expertise and forming new partnerships, we can become the engine of science and technological progress. By making scientific and technological progress, we can improve lives, eradicate disease, confront energy challenges, avoid pollution, and halt crime."
His speech was followed by polite applause. The Assistant Director, Lara Roslet, then stood up and spoke. This job would have ordinarily fallen to the Director, Gaius Balthasar. Afterwards he approached Lara. "Was Dr. Balthasar not able to attend the ceremony tonight?"
Lara coughed slightly "Well actually he just lost his wife. Somebody broke into his laboratory and shot the woman and then stole some of his research. It was tragic."
She continued with an excited light to her eyes "He had been close to a breakthrough on his energy project. His BVI fuel would have ensured a stable energy source that gives off no toxic or carbon pollutants." She stopped when she noticed the glazed look in his eyes.
"The BVI fuel can be used to create energy without fossil fuels or greenhouse gases." She said simply.
Bruce got the feeling that the tragedy that she was previously referencing was not the woman, but the stolen fuel. "Yes, it was a terrible tragedy. Was there anybody who would have wanted that research bad enough to kill for it?"
"No. He was well liked and respected both within and outside of this University." Lara responded.
After his conversation with Lara, he slipped quietly away from the party and deeper into the building where the labs were located. He located Balthasar's laboratory and picked the lock to the door. The lab was dark and quiet and the crime scene had already been cleaned up. He made his way around the laboratory, but found nothing out of the ordinary. As he left the lab, he noticed something peculiar next to the computer. It was a small lighter with the symbol of a local bar engraved on it. He examined it, but found nothing out of the ordinary and then replaced it. He exited the lab slightly frustrated. He decided to visit the bar and then the scene of the 'vampire' crime. Perhaps he would find clues for that crime instead.
Esther warily made her way down the dark street towards the Winged Rat nightclub. Ever since her first night in the park, she had been vigilant about going out at night. She touched her concealed crossbow for comfort. She had no choice but to make a crude crossbow after observing the outrageous prices at the armories. At least she managed to acquire clothes similar to her Istvan stealth clothing. All-in-all she felt much like she had when she was fighting Gyula in Istvan with her dark clothing and simply made weapons.
She eyed strangers as they passed her and then laughed inwardly at herself. These people were actually the ones in danger. They just didn't realize it. While the papers had been largely silent about the homicides, the tabloids played up the stories as a vampire attack. Or rather at least some of the tabloids singled out a vampire bat perpetrator. The clergy scolded her when she inquired about the attacks saying that there were no such things as vampires. She knew better. If there were no vampires now, then she was probably in the past. The vampires had not appeared until after the Armageddon. The other possibility was that she was far in the future. Her stomach turned at the thought of all the Methuselah being wiped out. There were too many good people. Nonetheless, If she was temporally displaced, then why not everybody else? While she was relieved that there had been no sign of Dietrich, nobody had heard of or even see a silver-haired priest.
After her thoughts lingered on Father Nightroad momentarily, she realized that as bad as the methuselah attacks were, they were a small comfort. At least she knew that she was not completely alone and there was a chance of reuniting with the Father. This brought her thoughts back to the present. The Father would also be tracking any Methuselah attacks, so if she could find him, she would have a better chance of returning to her own time. She quickened her steps towards The Winged Rat in anticipation. It was the last place a victim had disappeared from.
A loud conversation floated to her ears and caught her attention. It was coming from in front of her. A woman was pulled roughly into an alley by a taller figure and a cry of protest sounded out as her arm was twisted. Esther quickened her steps as anger sparked from within. This wasn't right! I should be able to help! She reached the edge of the alley only to see a dark figure with swoop in and knock the taller man away from the woman and onto the ground. Her first thought had been the Father, but the black cape belonged to somebody else – either a very brave or very foolish person.
The woman ran while the man got to his feet slowly. Suddenly, the caped man was thrown into the alley wall. The man flashed a smile briefly revealing fangs that glistened faintly in the dim streetlight. He disappeared before her eyes and then caught the caped figure before he hit the ground. Esther struggled to get out her crossbow and by the time she finally had it ready, the methuselah's bone knife had penetrated the dark man's shoulder. Fortunately his roar of pain over powered the clack of the crossbow being loaded. She took aim - Fwip!
Batman checked the bar that the lighter had belonged to. The owner didn't know anything about Dr. Balthasar or a high tech fuel. This lead was a temporary dead end – he had other ideas to dig up evidence. After his visit to the bar, he turned his attention to the vampire case. He needed to go to the Winged Rat and scout the scene out at the nightclub, which was where the last victim had been sighted alive.
He grappled from rooftop to rooftop rapidly approaching the club. When he got close, he found a good perch and settled in. He could just see the club, but was far enough out to watch for any suspicious activity taking place just out of sight of the club. Time crawled by, people passed below, and closing time neared. A couple talked loudly across the street. It appeared to be the start of a lover's quarrel, but when the tall man roughly grabbed the woman and pulled her into the alley he knew there was going to be trouble.
Batman loosed his grappling gun and swung to the next rooftop positioning himself to intervene. The woman cried out again and Batman catapulted himself from the roof. The man never knew what hit him – one moment he was pulling the woman along and the next he was sprawled out on the ground. He turned to make sure the woman was alright but she was already running out of the alley.
He turned his attention back to the man who was calmly regaining his feet. A sense of unease suddenly permeated him and he realized there was something wrong. The man was too calm. He –Batman never had a chance to complete the thought as he found himself suddenly flying backwards through the air. He vaguely contemplated not even seeing the man attack as the wall slapped him hard in the back. The impact drove the air from his lungs and before he dropped to the ground he found himself pinned to the wall by his neck. His vision flickered and he struggled vainly realizing that the man was not only faster than he could have imagined but was incredibly strong. He struggled to break the man's grip, but a long knife sliced through his shoulder. He bellowed in pain trying to wrap his mind around his predicament.
Suddenly the man jerked to the side crying out and Batman fell to the ground groaning in pain. He man hissed grabbing his shoulder and tore a length of wood from his shoulder throwing it to the ground. Batman staggered to his feet and the man disappeared before his eyes. Nobody was that fast! He had to have some sort of cloaking technology. Batman heard steps behind him and snatched the length of wood from the ground. With his good arm he fired his grappling gun and escaped upwards to safety.
If you read, please review! If the story got a little slow, I promise the next chapter will be more interesting. Abel will be back!
