With nothing left to do Bane climbed back into the Aston and slumped down in the drivers seat.
He sighed heavily, feeling a little frustrated for scary off Marie. So close. Buthe acknowledged the mission was priority.
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the little black 'Bat-phone', after a quick examination he uses the device to call Bruce.
There was a moment of static then a voice. "Yes."
Bane got straight to the point, "I have found the entrance."
"Good, return to the mansion," Bruce commanded, "We'll mobilise at sundown." then the connection was gone before Bane could say anything back.
With that Bane started the engine and after one last look at the hotel, he hit the gas pedal hard and took off flying through the streets back to Wayne Manor.
It would still be a couple of hours before Bruce returned, so after Bane put the Aston back in the garage he decided he would use this time to prepare for the night ahead. He ate something quick, got changed and went down to lift weights in Bruce's gymnasium. Working out helped him to calm down and clear his head, but the damning stares of the butler leaning in the doorway didn't help.
Damn it old man, what do you think I did to her?
Around 5 o'clock Bruce finally drove up in his black Lamborghini, by this time the sun had almost set. And after a quick bite he was down the cave, wherein awaited Bane, suited up, arms crossed, ready to move.
"Took you long enough to find the door, Bane." Bruce remarked sardonically.
Bane huffed but didn't reply, the temptation to tell Bruce why he took so long was incredible but at this time not recommended. " Now that you are here perhaps we can discuss how we are going to handle Cobblepot."
Stone faced, Bruce marched pass Bane to get to the computer and started tapping on the keys. "I got a tip from a friend saying Cobblepot's out of town, so he wont be a problem. We just need to get into his office, find his computer and get out without any trouble". Then Bruce brought up some digital blueprints of the Iceberg Lounge and the Pinkney Museum. "We go in through the museum's basement, we should come out here near the back rooms beneath the lounge." He pointed to the screen instructively, "Once we're in we'll work our way to the main office, here," his finger trailed upwards to illustrate his point, " Then I'll hack into his computer and collect any files related to Dr Cooper or the shipment he ordered".
"And what will I be doing?" Bane inquired.
Without looking away from the screen he muttered, "Lookout." Bane scowled so Bruce explained, "The whole lower levels will be crawling with armed guards."
"You want me for gun fodder."
"You could always stay here." he challenged.
"Fine. Suppose you find no information on the computer, I shall interrogate his men," he suggested, cracking his knuckles in enthusiasm, "Get the answers the old fashioned way." This idea pleased Bane, but Bruce was having none of it.
"You start a ruckus and they'll put the whole building on alert. Just keep a lookout. If we have to fight use only necessary force, Bane. No killing, understand?"
Defeated Bane nodded.
Bruce then turned to Alfred who had been stood by the computer, "So, did you find anything else on the surveillance footage?"
"Indeed sir, similar shipments have been coming in every month, Dr Cooper arrived and collected the chemicals every time like clockwork."
bane ubbed his chin in contemplation, "So, whatever is in those drums the Dr needed a steady supply of it. But for what end?"
"Hopefully we'll get the answers tonight."
Bruce retired and the Batman suited up, then he jumped into the Batmobile and thundered off to the New Gotham district, a silent Bane in the passenger side looking out at the sky. No clouds. It will freeze.
They parked up by the museum then once Batman finished picking the lock they entered one after the other through the window, stepping down into the fossil exhibit. The room was dark and deserted, occupied only by the dinosaur remains kept animated by wires and metal frames.
"Come on." Batman lead the way out, they passed by a familiar smilodon in its case, still growling in the moonlight.
Tonight I hunt thought Bane, nodding at the dead predator.
The pair raced out, swiftly passing several rooms on the way, rooms Bane had entered earlier that morning with Marie. Seeing them again refreshed his memories, and the thought that Batman didn't know of them made him feel smug.
Using motion detectors in his cowl Batman managed to manoeuvre pass the night-guards with ease. Bane rolled his eyes, feeling this skulking around was wasting time and overly theatrical, were it up to hi he'd take the clearest route and just pick off any men who blocked his path one by one.
They took the stairs down to the basement, as they reach the door Bane pushed pass, producing the card key he stole earlier, he swiped it in the card reader and the door unlocked on the green light. Inside Bane directed his shadowy partner to the Arctic display at the back wall. Together they worked to move the crates and taxidermy specimens out of the way until the secret door was completely cleared.
"Just as I told you." Bane said.
Batman felt the wall, looking for a handle or groove to open the door with but it was set smooth in the concrete, but then he felt something metallic. Pressing firmly he revealed a hidden key panel with an encrypted lock. Wasting no time he whipped out a digital device and places it against the keypad and after a moment the door clicked unlocked.
Bane watched intrigued, "Impressive," he admitted, "You must teach me this technology."
"No thanks, I don't need another Robin." he retorted.
The door opens with an airtight whoosh, revealing a dimly lit tunnel, carved from the concrete foundation with a giant drill. Cautiously they follow it down until they come to a similar door on the other end. On the other side of it being the Iceberg Lounge.
The men could hear muffled music and cries of excitement on the other end, the club above them was running full swing, and loudly. No need to keep quiet when the boss is out of town.
"Cover me," Batman instructed sternly, grabbing the heavy handle he yanked it up and opened the door. Carefully he pokes his head out to check for any sign of Penguin's security team. Once he's satisfied he exits the tunnel, Bane follows, closing the door behind him, letting it camouflage seamlessly back into the wall.
They sneak along the hallways, passing several doors and sneaking by the guards when finally they reach a door marked with Cobblepot's name and a high tech digital lock like the one in the museum, they have found Penguin's office, but its blocked by a large men in black kevlar, an automatic rifle in his hands. Penguins wants his office secured even in his absence.
Taking cover crouching behind the corner batman turned to face Bane, "My sensors aren't picking up any other movement, we just need to take care of him."
Not missing a beat Bane stood up to move, "You distract him, I'll break his neck."
"Stay back!" he warned pushing him back behind him.
Batman rummaged around his belt and pulls out a couple of black pellets, he throws them down and they roll toward the guard. One of them taps the guards boot, startling him, he looks down and they discharge a thick black smoke, alarmed he fumbles for his gun and walkie talkie, but he inhales the smoke wich sends him into a coughing fit and within seconds he falls to the ground with a thud.
"Anaesthetic gas." Batman explained, "Come on." Once the gas dissipated they rushed to the door and after hacking the lock slipped into the office, dragging the unconscious guard with them so as not to arouse the other guards on patrol.
The inside of the office was small and very grey with no windows. An antique liquor cabinet by the mahogany desk and original works on the walls offered a glimpse of the Penguin's personal tastes. On the opposite side of the room stood a wide fish tank occupied by red bellied piranhas, drifting absent-mindedly between faux seaweed and bones. Possibly human. By the tank there was a set of filing cabinets, illuminated by the green glowing tank.
"Check the cabinets." Batman said, spying the top of the range computer system on the desk. taking a seat he switched it on, "There may be something useful in there."
Grunting, Bane dumped the guard by the door then went to the cabinets, he quickly noticed they too were locked, beside him the piranhas watched glassy eyed as Bane yanked the draws open by force, finding it easier than asking for a lock pick.
Batman cringed at the noise and prayed that no one else heard it over the club music upstairs.
The computer needed Cobblepot's login, instead he used his hacking device to bypass the security, once he was in Batman started searching files relating to Randolph Cooper, trying to find out what was in the chemical drums he took and hopefully where he might have taken them.
"I was right. Penguin was keeping tabs on his clients," with time being of the essence, he whipped out a high tech memory card of his invention and inserted it to download all the files.
Flicking through the paperwork, Bane came across several names, even his own, but found nothing of relevance to him.
The card finished downloading and batman removed it, then inserted it into his gauntlet for safe keeping. "I've got it. Lets get this back to Alfred."
"should he do anything with him?" Bane gestured to the man face down on the carpet.
The duo cleaned up then left, locking the office behind them. Bane propped the guard against the door for someone else to find.
They retrace their steps back through to the secret entrance, through the tunnel, out the museum's basement, up to the fossil exhibit and out the window. Files in hand, mission accomplished.
Once they got back in the Batmobile they drove away from the museum, but with no clear direction to go in they just drove to get away from the Museum and the Lounge.
Bane removed his mask and rubbed his face irritably, "Now what?" he demanded.
Not listening Batman called up Alfred on the car's communicator while typing on the gauntlet with the memory card in it.
Alfred's face appeared on the monitor just like before. "Yes, Sir."
"Alfred, we've got the files."
"Well done, Sir," he commended.
"I'm uploading the data to you now. Are you getting anything?"
"Ah yes they're coming through now."
"Good, cross reference the documents, see if you can find anything relating to Dr Cooper or the chemicals he was collecting."
"Well I'll see what I can do." the screen turned off while Alfred worked, leaving Batman and Bane alone. Neither wanting to talk to the other.
Suddenly Alfred reappeared on the screen, looking like he found something alarming.
"I think I found something."
"what is it?
"Look here sir," On the screen Alfred presented one of the documents, it appeared to be an invoice. "this is a list of all the deliveries and payment made each month, Dr Cooper did pick up the chemicals, but the payments were made anonymously by a third party."
"Ra's?" Bane asked.
"Perhaps, but what I found interesting is that the ships coming in originated from Santa Prisca." Bane leaned towards the screen to see for himself; he was right the ships were from his home country in the Caribbean.
"And look here," the image enlarged showing a list of the products being delivered on the ship each month, aside from firearms and other contraband the bulk of cargo were dozens of containers. The contents had a long scientific name, still its presence made Batman and Bane very uncomfortable,
"While I cant pronounce it myself," Alfred admitted somewhat light-heartedly, "I think you both recognise it by it's more common name."
The two men looked at each other intensely. "Venom."
