GOTHAM ROYAL HOTEL

The ride on the Batwing was tense. There was no time for planning and although the idea of finally pinning down Black Mask was exciting, there was no telling what was in store for us. Potentially the remaining assassins were there already and we might as well have been walking into a trap.

"Stay in the Batwing. I have no idea what to expect and need to operate alone from this point," Batman said.

"Oh, so you think I'll slow you down or get in your way? I know you don't like it, but you are going to need my help just like in the River Tower building. I know my role and know how you operate."

"If something happens to you, I'll never forgive myself. There are calculated risks I'll take. This isn't one of them."

"So you only measure the calculated risk for me but not for you? You can't have it both ways. Either I'm your sidekick or I'm not."

"I see your point. But right now I need your support from a distance. I'll let you know if I run into trouble. That's not up for debate. Got it?"

"Yes sir, but if you die and I'm not contacted, I'll… I don't know. Just let me know Batman."

With that he ejected out of the Batwing and found a way into a side door of the hotel. He was able to use one of his gadgets to unlock and go up the stairs figuring that one of the penthouses was the room of Black Mask's gathering. Alfred called the hotel and asked about room availability to see if he could narrow down which room Black Mask was in. I was piloting the Batwing around to see if I noticed any activity in the rooms. After the three of us narrowed it down Batman started to converge on the room, but as Batman approached it, the Electrocutioner opened the door of a nearby room and attacked him. I asked if he needed help but Batman said it was just one guy and that he could take him. The trick to fighting Electrocutioner was to dodge everything. His shock gloves electrocute his victims on impact and trying to block a punch did you no good. Batman got the upper hand and defeated him but the commotion certainly alerted Black Mask and his men. They opened the door and started firing their guns at Batman forcing him to retreat and take cover. Black Mask was going to get away and our opportunity was slipping away.

What do you want me to do? I asked.

"Just hang tight and keep your eyes on Black Mask. You have to find out where he is going."

At first I didn't think my task would be too hard, and I saw Black Mask and his men head up to the roof. Then things got difficult. A police helicopter showed up as well as one for Black Mask. I didn't want to try to have an aerial fight with either in the Batwing out of fear of killing them or getting myself killed so I ejected out of my seat and sent the Batwing elsewhere. The Black Mask helicopter started firing on the police one and I decided I had to help. I fired my grapple line beside the helicopter door and tied it to the end to the building. The helicopter had no chance flying away and luckily the policemen in it heard the grapple shot and were able to identify it as a safe way out of the helicopter. They used what they could find to hold on to zipline from the helicopter to the building before it was shot down and crashed. They had a rough landing but survived. After I quickly checked on them I attached the tracker piece to the grapple gun to shoot a tracker onto their helicopter. It was a little further away and this time my shot was off. After missing the first shot, I reached to attach the 2nd one but as I aimed my doubt crept in and I became scared of missing the second shot.

"Damnit," I said to myself under my breath. Black Mask was on board and the helicopter was heading away. I grappled from building to building with my grapple set at full power essentially catapulting me even further then where the grapple attached. I had to catch up to the helicopter as soon as possible often forcing myself to decide in mid-air where my next grapple shot would be. I finally got close enough to grapple to the bottom piece of the helicopter. Hanging from the bottom of the helicopter I attached the tracker manually and attached the corners of my cape to my boots to switch it to more of a wing suit set up. The wing suit adjustment certainly isn't as good as a real hang glider but was going to have to be enough for right now. The helicopter was gaining altitude quick so I had to act fast. I attached my grapple to the helicopter and lowered myself as far as it would go. Then I detached the grapple and did my rough gliding until I was able to grapple my way into a safe stop. I tried to radio Batman but there was no response and I started assuming the worst.

Then the Batwing showed up. He opened the door and simply said "Let's go."

"How come you're not going directly toward the tracker? I said.

"I was listening to the police radio and something else came up," he said.

"What could be so important that we put off following Black Mask?"

"Firefly stopped traffic on the Gotham Bridge and is threatening to bomb it and kill everybody on it if I don't show up and face him," he explained.

"Geez."

"This guy loves his fire and explosions way too much to be bluffing too. Four of the pillars in the bridge have an indoor area below the bridge where he placed the bomb and has a few Black Mask goons helping keep the police at bay from getting to them. I got a plan to subdue Firefly but first you will have the easy job of infiltrating the 4 pillars, clearing the room and disarming the bombs."

"Easy?" I asked.

"As long as you listen to my instructions," he added.

"I'm all ears."