Terry prepares himself for the meeting with Roqueteer's project developer as he rides the elevator up. Since Roqueteer is a private company working exclusively with space programs, Terry has arranged a proposition for an absorption, albeit a fake one, but it should be enough to allow him to get the information he and Bruce need to figure out Inque's plan. The elevator doors open and Terry steps out as he straightens his navy blue suit jacket.
"Hi," he greets the receptionist, "Terry McGinnis here to see Mr. Cooper."
"I'll let him know you're here," she replies with a small smile before returning to her calls.
It only takes a few minutes for an assistant to appear and lead him to Cooper's office.
"Mr. McGinnis," Cooper, a chubby man, greets standing from his desk and reaching out a hand.
"Mr. Cooper," Terry replies shaking it. "I appreciate you meeting with me."
"Of course, and please call me Jason. Would you like something to drink?"
"No, I'm fine, thanks."
Jason nods to his assistant giving her permission to leave before turning his attention back to Terry. "Please, sit," he invites.
After unbuttoning his jacket like his mother had told him to do before sitting, Terry lowers himself into a comfortable chair. "I take it you received Mr. Wayne's proposal for a buy out."
"Yes, and I found a few things unusual," he starts running a hand over his balding head.
"Oh?" Terry asks raising a brow.
"First, the company is a private one and not exactly up for sale."
"Doesn't have to be."
"Right, so why is Wayne-Corps suddenly interested in a company that isn't on the map?"
"Easy. Mr. Wayne is very good at observing company progresses, and he's recently become interested in working with space programs. He's the type of man who likes to be a part of everything."
"I admire his eye for prosperity, but I'm not sure our CEO is willing to sell, even to a thriving company like Wayne-Corps."
"Well, we can't be sure of that; he can be very persuasive," Terry replies with a smile. "Anyway, what's the other issue?"
"Not so much an issue as it is a question." Terry nods prompting Jason to continue. "Why are you coming to me and not the CEO?"
"I heard Mr. Kreigan is a very busy man."
Jason smiles. "Yes, but I'm sure he would make time for someone of your position."
"Alright, you got me, Jason," Terry replies holding his hands up in mock surrender. "I was sent to talk to you specifically. I've heard rumors that you're really the one who keeps this place running."
"Rumors?"
"You know, water cooler kind of talk. It sounded true enough, so I convinced Mr. Wayne to let me meet with you instead. As project developer, you must be the one who supervises and even designs most if not all of Roqueteer's plans." Terry tries charming, hoping to win the man's trust.
"I'm flattered, Mr. McGinnis. Off the record?" Terry nods as he clasps his hands together. "Mr. Kreigan is as good as his right hand. His main job is to sign financial reports after we poor bastards do all the work."
"Sounds like there's some resentment within the company."
"If it wasn't for the paycheck, I would have left this place a long time ago; damn alimony," he mutters to himself. "Anyway, I'm not sure how much I can help you out with the company sale since that's not part of my job description."
"It sounds like you're a very valuable employee, though."
"Ah," he shrugs. "I just do my part well."
"Well enough to be part of Wayne's team?"
Jason narrows his eyes suspiciously. "I'm confused. Am I promoting the company or myself?"
"Off the record?" Jason nods. "Mostly you; we know you're the one behind the company's success and, given your reputation, we want you to help start our space program."
"Interesting."
"There's a little hitch though. We got word about Inque infiltrating your premises; this has us worried."
"How'd you know about that? I thought we kept this under tight wraps."
"Let's just say the wind carried word through our open window."
"I see," he mutters looking away in calculating thought.
"We figured whatever reason she was here for, it must have been for something good, something worth stealing… something we would want on our team."
Jason brings his eyes back to Terry. "I can't reveal much under the circumstances, Mr. McGinnis."
"I admire your loyalty, Jason. Tell you what, I'll convince Mr. Wayne to guarantee you a position in our company," he offers, hoping it will coax Jason to open up more.
"You can do that?"
"I'm here, aren't I?" Terry smiles putting Jason at ease.
"I really appreciate it, Mr. McGinnis," Jason replies, suddenly filled with optimism. His dream for working with such a prestigious company is coming true thanks to this very young assistant. Hoping to set the deal, he decides to give up some of the information Terry is looking for. "Keeping this between us, Inque was after some of our confidential specs – specifically blueprints for a Rover tough enough to survive missions to Venus."
"Impressive."
"At this stage, the prototype is ready and in the testing phases. We expect to be finished in a few years."
"Now, the question, Mr. Cooper, is what can you offer us if we add you to the team?"
"Those blueprints."
"We aren't interested in stolen property," Terry warns.
"Well, then it's a good thing they're patented in my name," Jason grins. "Like I said, Mr. Krieger is only a right hand in this company."
"One last question; any idea who else might want to get their hands on that plan?"
"Why?"
"Cover our backs when word gets out about the move."
"Yes, of course," Jason nods believing his lie. "Our strongest competitor at the moment is Astrolink, run by Bradley Lynx, but I've heard rumors they're going under because investors are pulling out."
Terry gives him a satisfied smile as he rises to a stand. "This has been a very productive meeting, Jason. Thank you for your time, and I will be seeing you soon," he reassures making Jason smile with him.
"Looking forward to it, Mr. McGinnis."
After shaking hands, Terry buttons his jacket and steps out of the office heading to the elevator. Once in his car, he pulls out his phone and relays the information to Bruce.
"So Inque must have been hired by Brad," Bruce thinks aloud.
"Any truth to the company going under?"
"Yes; stocks have been plummeting, and investors are fed up with Brad's talk and nothing to show for."
"So he gets Inque to sabotage the rival companies and steal specs so he can save face."
"Did she get a chance to finish the job?"
"Not sure; by the time I got there, who knows what she got her – uh – hands on. But then why was she easy to take down last time?"
"I don't know; she must have something planned. We'll know more once you have a chance to talk to her current employer."
"Sounds like I have a date tonight. By the way, think you can add Cooper to your team?"
"I didn't send you there to lie, you know. You'll be in charge of putting that department together."
"Uh, what?" Terry asks taken aback by the offer.
"If you expect to take over the company, you'll need to do the work. Time to put your degree to work."
"I haven't earned it yet."
"Close enough."
"Guess that means I'll need to buy more suits. Can I write that off as an expense?"
"No," he grunts before hanging up and sending Terry's eyes into a roll.
Beads of sweat start forming on Bradley Lynx's brow as something resembling crude oil begins to leak in through his closed office door. He watches the black puddle grow and approach him; although his insides are shaking with fear, he stays seated in his black leather chair. Slowly, the figure rises once it reaches the desk and takes the form of a feminine figure with a covered face.
"Who would have thought getting out of liquid nitrogen was so easy," she comments as she exposes her true face and takes a seat on the edge of the desk. "Did you get what I asked for?" Bradley points to a stack of discs at one corner of the table as he wipes his forehead with a handkerchief.
"What do you need them for anyway?" He asks trying to keep his voice from shaking.
"The discount I gave you doesn't include questioning privileges."
"Uh, right. I appreciate the flexibility," he mumbles running a pudgy hand over his balding head. "D-do you have the specs?"
"No," Inque replies going through the discs. "Batman paid me a visit. But that won't be an issue next time."
"Why not?"
Inque lifts cold eyes to stare into Brad's petrified face before delivering the simple answer. "Because I plan on killing him."
Inque has spent most of her night groaning with boredom after each disc turns up fruitless. Brad had managed to gather surveillance tapes with Batman in every shot including the last encounter at Roqueteer's lab. It was Inque's condition in order to give Brad a discount on her usual rates considering he's going broke. But now she's starting to doubt if that was a good idea. The tapes star the main Bat, but they are either grainy, choppy, or don't reveal enough about the hero for Inque to use. She puts in the second to last disc and presses play before retaking her seat with a sigh. This security take is set in the mall, and after a few minutes of nothing, a perpetrator is suddenly thrown into the shot before Batman looms over him. Although the recording is choppy, she can clearly make out the two bodies.
The criminal is definitely trying to put up a fight as he pulls out a knife from his jacket. Batman dodges the first attempt at a stab, but loses his footing as he tries to block the second swipe. The mistake causes the blade to slice into him and Inque to perk up as she watches blood pour out of the gash before he covers it with a hand. She rewinds the video and replays the incident while closely watching the knife tear into his suit cutting Batman across the waist. She pauses just as the blood starts trickling down and smiles when she realizes what the suit's fatal weakness is.
"Excellent," she praises as her arm solidifies into a long blade.
-continued-
