Disclaimer: I don't own Batman the Animated Series.
Batman
"Clink, clink, clink." Penguin's umbrella makes a hollow noise as he futility tries to fire it at me. Taking the opening, I leap up the pillars, trying to reach Penguin before he grabs another umbrella.
I'm too slow.
My foe drops his empty weapon and grabs another from the holder next to him. Just as I jump onto his platform he whips around and slashes at me with a spike-tipped umbrella.
"En garde Batman!" He cries. He holds the blade in his right hand and pulls out a second umbrella in his left. This one pops open as he shifts his grip to hold it just behind the top.
'A shield' I guess quickly, leaning back to avoid his strike. I use my right arm to deflect a thrust and jab at his head with my left. My fist bounces of his other umbrella, which was swiftly brought into a blocking position.
I drop low to avoid another slash and swing my legs around to hit Penguin's. He hops over my attack and switches his grip on his blade so that it runs the length of his arm. He brings it up over his head before thrusting downward, burying the point in the floor when I roll out of the way.
I roll to me feet and let loose a backwards roundhouse. Penguin uses his planted umbrella as a poll and swings his body around to bring his shield into position. My foot meets the tough fabric and is stopped cold.
Despite his overweight appearance, Penguin is an amazing duelist. He makes up for his lack of strength and speed with a sharp mind and good foresight.
Penguin punches my extended leg with the shield and pulls his blade from the floor, holding it in a normal position once again.
"A bit rusty, are we Batman?" He taunts.
I growl in reply an unleash a barrage of punches. Penguin expertly blocks with his shield and deflects with his pointed blade. He replies with a flurry of thrusts and slices, along with a number of shield bashes.
Gradually, I'm forced to the edge of the platform. Upon feeling my foot slide halfway over the precipice I push off, jumping over to the closest pillar.
"Hahaha. Can't beat me can you Batman?" Penguin cackles.
I pull out six batarangs and throw them simultaneously. He ducks one, blocks three others, and slashes two out of the air. After my attack is done he quickly plants his blade in the floor and grabs yet another umbrella in his right hand.
"Open fire!" He quips. The point of the hidden weapon spews a stream of fire at me. I bring my cape up in defense. The heat is scorching, but the fire can't beat my cape, much like the explosion couldn't penetrate Robin's.
My body spasms as I fell a current of electricity course through it. My cape slips and the flame burns my side. I leap backwards again and land on a pillar even further back.
Looking at my foe, I notice his shield umbrella lying next to him. In his left hand he holds another new umbrella. The tip sparks with electricity, matched by the flicker of flame coming from the tip of the weapon in his right hand.
'This is bad.' I think to myself as I analyze my position. I can't match Penguin in ranged combat, but he can hold his own in melee, I need an advantage.
My thoughts are rudely interrupted by a blast of electricity that I narrowly dodge with a dive to my right. I almost slide off the edge of the pillar and I grab the edge, pulling myself back up.
"Careful Batman, the ice below the pillars isn't exactly sturdy." Penguin warns with a sadistic grin.
I grimace, remembering the cracked ice on the floor.
My overweight opponent shoots another bolt of electricity at me. I leap to another platform to avoid it.
Pulling out more batarangs, I hurl them towards my foe. He swings his weapons expertly and knocks my projectiles out of the air.
The ones aimed at him anyways.
One of my batarangs hits its intended target: Penguin's umbrella blade, still planted in the floor beside him. My projectile slices through the wood making up the handle, rendering the weapon unusable as it now lacks a grip.
Penguin swears and attacks again with the weapon in his left hand. I dodge the fourth blast of electricity and jump to a pillar closer to my foe. He brings his flamethrower to bear and unleashes a torrent of fire at me.
My eyes narrow against the blinding light and I jump right over the jet of flame and back onto the platform. Penguin drops his electrifying umbrella and picks up his shield. Now wielding a shield and flamethrower, Penguin and myself start a dangerous dance.
Punch.
Sidestep.
Duck.
Uppercut.
Drop.
Leg sweep.
I execute my maneuvers perfectly. Sadly, Penguin does the same. Once again her hops over my leg sweep. He swings the flamethrower in a low arc and I'm forced backward towards the precipice once more.
"Sorry Batman, but when I'm on my home turf, I just can't be beat!" He gloats.
"I beg to differ." I growl, pointing behind the criminal.
"I ain't falling for that Batman." Penguin says, grinning.
I hold up my fingers.
3
2
1
0
The wall behind Penguin explodes as the time bomb I planted during our battle dance reaches the end of it's countdown. The overweight man is sent flying across the room and his weapons are scattered everywhere.
"He warned you." Nightwing says, walking in through the new hole in the wall.
"Nice one Batman." Batgirl applauds.
"Did you catch Two-Face?" I ask; jumping over to the downed criminal and slapping on handcuffs.
"No. He ambushed us in the loading area and got away after Catwoman disarmed him of one of his guns." Nightwing growls.
"Catwoman?" I ask.
"Yeah, we don't know why she was here. She left right after helping, says that the Bat family owes her one." Batgirl reports.
"Typical." I mutter. "Never sticks around."
"Gee, who does that remind me off?" Nightwing remarks sarcastically, giving me a pointed look.
"You would arrest her, why would she WANT to stick around?" Batgirl snorts, putting her hands on her hips.
I sigh. I just can't win with these two.
Gotham Tonight
"And Batman triumphs!" Joker announces. "Again..." He finishes with an acidic tone. The clown sighs dramatically. "Would it kill the guy to give these fights a different ending one in a while? I mean, it would only cost him his life."
Joker shakes his head. "I had such high hopes from Pengie too. I was looking forward to seeing Batman skewered by an umbrella, but alas, it seems my dreams will never come true." The lunatic gives a grin. "At least not today. Until next time folks!"
The screen goes dark for a moment before returning to the regular programming.
Alfred
"Master Bruce!" I cry upon seeing him best Penguin. "You live! Oh, thank fate."
I take a breath to study myself. I jerk in surprise upon hearing a voice come from the Batcomputer.
"Alfred? Did Bruce win?" Timothy's worried voice crackles over the device.
"Indeed he did." I say, relief evident in my tone.
"Well, I have some bad news." The young master informs me. "Police communications are talking about a number of unidentified vehicles headed for the Iceberg Lounge."
"I didn't know you could get that over the radio." I murmur.
"Only modified radios." Timothy replies. "Can you warn Bruce?"
"Sadly, no." I sigh. "The EMP still prevents me from communicating with Master Bruce."
There is a small silence before he speaks again.
"I hope they'll be alright.",
"Me too, Master Timothy. Me too."
Nightwing
We drag Penguin to the front door and switch around his handcuffs so that he is linked to the bar used to open the door.
"We just need to contact the police." Batgirl says.
"EMPs are still active." Batman warns. "We need to get further away."
I hear engines in the distance, they seem to be coming our way. "Guys, we might be having company." I alert them.
Batman listens for a moment before shouting. "Get to the car!"
We take off like shots. We dash down the sidewalk at top speed. Down the road we can see two dark vans driving straight for us. We wince as the sound of gunfire breaks through the air.
"Damn." I hiss as a bullet scrapes my leg. "I hate bullets, why couldn't they use energy blasters?"
"Because they're thugs, not Jump city supervillains." Batgirl replies sarcastically. "Now stop whining!"
The three of us turn a corner and hop into the Batmobile. Bruce slams down on the gas pedal and the heavy vehicle roars to life. Pushing out of the alley we slam into the van which had just reached our position. The unfortunate vehicle flips over as we shove our way past and down the direction it just came.
Looking at one of the displays in front of her, Batgirl yells "We have more on our tail!"
"Why are they after us anyways? I thought the duel was over!" I holler over the noise of the engines.
"Looks like someone doesn't play by the rules." Batman growls. "Prepare to launch, I'll meet you both back at the mansion. Be sure to loose anyone following you first."
We nod and prepare for launch as advised.
"Launch!" Batman says. He slams a button.
The roof of the Batmobile opens up and the ramps below our bikes raise up. We rev our engines and take off, using the angle of our ramps to give us height.
We go soaring over the Batmobile and out in front of it. The strange bulk in the back of the Batmobile shrinks back down to normal proportions as it now lacks it's cargo.
I exchange one last look with Batgirl before swerving to the left down an alley. Batgirl takes a right at the same time.
Batman continues forward.
My ears perk up as I hear one of the vehicles come down the alley after me. A sleek car. Sports car to be exact.
Grinning, I pull out a disk and drop it next to my bike. It hits the ground and lies flat, falling behind me quickly.
And moment later there is an explosion and the sound of an expensive car smashing into a wall. I laugh out loud. I forgot how good it feels to win so completely.
"Whup, whup, whup, whup."
You have GOT to be kidding me.
I look upwards to see a helicopter overhead. Two men on either side aim rocket launchers at me.
"I'd love to play, but it's past my bedtime." I joke. I activate the nitro on my Night-Cycle and speed off. The explosions behind me aren't nearly as satisfying this time. Mostly because they show the helicopter is actually keeping up.
Hissing in irritation, I activate the auto-pilot on my bike and shoot my grappler up at the chopper. It sinks its teeth into the bottom and I pull myself up.
"You picked a bad night to hunt heroes." I growl as I swing into the helicopter.
"On the contrary, I think this is a great night for such activities." Says a man in the back. The masked man steps forward and I recoil.
"Black Mask."
"Nice to see I'm remembered." He says. "But I won't be for long it seems, my remembrance will end with your life!"
He snaps his fingers and the other men in the chopper pull out knives.
"Seriously?" I whine. "Is this all you could throw at me? I take down giant monsters make of bricks and insane magicians every day, and THIS is all you put after me?"
"I don't need much to clip your wings."
I roll my eyes and set about beating the thugs. In a matter of moments they are knocked out. Including the driver.
Oops.
"Looks like your going down, and Batman isn't here to help." The masked man says smugly.
"You know I can just jump out right?" I sigh.
"Go ahead. Try." He says in a confident tone.
I do as he says and try jumping. Metal bars shoot up from the bottom of the doors and seal me in, almost piercing my hand in the process.
"You'll die too if we crash!" I shout.
He sparks and the mask falls off, revealing a screen.
"Doesn't anyone have original ideas?" I complain. "That's been done before, much more effectively too."
"It gets the job done." Black Mask replies.
I shake my head and glance out the window, one second before we hit the ground.
Sighing, I pull out six disks and slams them on every surface. The helicopter crashes and explodes, leaving me perfectly unharmed in my bubble of red goo.
"Disappointing. I was hoping to see you explode." The severed head of the robot informs me.
"Why exactly? It's not like you to just randomly attack."
"You'll figure that out easily. Until next time." The screen goes blank.
I pick up the head and search through it quickly. I remove the tracker and summon my bike.
"Batman will want a look at this." I whisper. Hopping on my bike, I speed off.
Chapter 11 complete.