Chapter 21: Bats Out Of Hell

"Where are we going?"

"To the Rockies. I chartered a 747 to take you there. There's a man in the mountains that can help you while you lie low."

"Any problems besides the League?"

"No but, knowing this world, there's always room for surprises."

Bruce Wayne was indistinguishable in his pilot garb but he made sure to keep his utility belt around his waist. The plane was up in the air now well above the clouds. The Riddler sat in the first class section of the plane. He pressed the steward button, motified to talk with the cockpit.

"You know, I never sat in first class before. I always took coach."

"With all the money you stole over the years, I would've thought you would've flown first class at least once."

"Legal fees are a bitch. I lost most of my money in that. The rest, well, you know the stories."

"All except one. Who cured you?"

"I'd ask for my money back. They didn't do such a good job."

"We can make this easy and we can talk via intercom or I can go back there."

"And who will fly the plane then, huh?"

Bruce stepped out of the cockpit and stood over the Riddler.
"Autopilot."

"When you're not in your Batman costume, you aren't that imposing."

"You will tell me by the end of this plane ride…"

"…or you'll do something horrible to me. I get it. I'm still not talking."

"No. I'll make sure to clear your name. Everything you've done up until now will be as if it never happened. You'll be able to live out the remainder of your life in complete contentment."

"And how do you suppose you'll achieve this?"

"I have friends in very high places."

"Hmmm…fascinating. I bet it must eat you up inside. After all the horrible things I've done to you and your city, you'll have to live with me free as a bird."

"You're small fish, Nygma. All I want is the mastermind behind it all."

A glaring, deafening screech came from outside. Bruce raced back to the cockpit and looked at the radar to see multiple dots coming in.

"Hold on."

As the dots came closer in he could hear the flaps of leather wings. The Riddler looked out the side of the plane towards the wings.

"Heh heh. I thought gremlins were less furry."

Bruce looked straight ahead and saw a man-bat coming straight at the cockpit. He tried to swerve the plane but the creature's light frame allowed it to maneuver more freely. Its large wingspan covered the entire front windows of the cockpit as it tried clawing in. Soon after he heard more banging coming from all over the plane.

"Buckle up!"

He twisted and jerked the plane around the still, frozen air but they clinged on harder than before. He could hear every inch of the hull being pulled away like the rind on an orange. The Riddler stared out his window to see man-bats slowly tearing apart the engines on his side of the plane. One of the exit doors began to buckle outward as they started pulling it open. The Riddler pressed the intercom.

"I think now would be a good time to know if you have any parachutes."

"No and it won't do any good anyways. They'll tear us to shreds if we left in one."

One of the exit doors flew open and the air sucked seats from coach outside, knocking a couple of man-bats off one of the wings. It didn't matter. The engines they were working on ripping apart have already become dysfunctional. There were two engines left.

Two man-bats creeped in from the door and slunk slowly down the coach rows of the plane. The exit door parallel to it flung open and another two man-bats creeped in as seats flung outside by the pressure. They made their way down to first class. The plane began to slowly descend. On the other wing, only one man-bat was working the engines. The Riddler pressed the intercom and whispered into it.

"Uh…man-bats inside the…"

Before he could finish, two of the man-bats heading towards first class lifted their heads and rapidly made their way to the Riddler. Bruce stepped out of the cockpit and shot one of the bats with a flare sending it spiraling outside, knocking the man-bat on the wing off it. The other man-bat started making his way to Bruce but Bruce leapt and crushed the man-bat's head on the ground, knocking him unconscious. Bruce turned to the Riddler.

"Are you all right…"

Just then he got pushed into the cockpit by the other two man-bats.

The plane descended below the clouds as he grappled with both man-bats in the cockpit. He went into his utility belt and took out two sonic bombs. Before he could toss them to the ground, one of the man-bats bit his shoulder and he screamed in agony. The two bombs rolled to the edge of the cabin. The other one got a good swipe in across Bruce's chest.

The man-bat tried to get another bite in but Bruce pushed his head into part of the control board, electrocuting him. He leaped to the edge of the cockpit and tossed the two bombs. Both of the bats fell to their knees in agony. After that, it was easy. Bruce kicked one of their faces into unconsciousness and the other one he kicked in the spine to the ground.

For a brief moment he saw the symbol of the League of Shadows on their belts. He put it out of his mind as he reached into his utility belt. He always kept a vial of the man-bat serum on his belt these days after the many times he had to battle Langstrom's sporadic transformations throughout the years. Taking out a syringe, he plunged it into one of the man-bats' hearts.

No change. He peeked out the front window to see the man-bat from it gone as the plane came closer to the mountains. He tried to make the most of what was left of the control panel and began maneuvering around the mountainsides. The plan sideswiped one of the mountaintops and part of one of the wings broke off. He went on the intercom.

"Brace for impact!"

The Riddler, though, was already standing at once was the door of the cockpit, hanging onto the doorframes so he didn't get sucked out of the plane.

"What are you doing? We'll have a better chance for survival if you sit down!"

"I know my chances, Bats. It's terminal. Now my son's dead too. I have nothing left to live for. Well, except one thing. The last thing I want to live for is to know your last moments will be as unpleasant as possible. Here's a happy thought before you crash, I'm the man that killed you in the end."

With his last bit of strength, he let go of the frames and fell out of the open hole that once was an exit door. His body flew into the last functioning engine. It burst into a ball of fire. There was no control of the plane left. The other wing fell off as he tried moving the plane between two mountains.

He unbuckled himself and ran towards the exit door. He jumped out as the plane plunged into the mountains with the man-bats still clinging to it. In back of him, debris scattered across the mountain range.

1000 feet

The Batjet wouldn't reach him in time.

800 feet

He started running out of options.

600 feet

He picked up his old League com piece from his belt.

400 feet

He pondered whether to make the call.

200 feet

The ground was getting closer.

100 feet

He put it in his ear and called.

50 feet

"Hello?"

Mere inches from the ground, he was grabbed by an unstoppable force.

"It's funny how we keep running into each other this way."

Superman continued flying back to Gotham with Bruce saying nothing. He dropped him off in the back of Wayne Manor.

"Sorry for saving your life."

"No. Thank you…but never do it again."

He crushed his League com piece under his foot.

"Suit yourself. It's going to happen again, you know."

"Yes but I'd rather know I died naturally. I still have business to do. Ra's is back."

"Impossible."

A cry came from across the manor grounds.

"BRUCE!"

He looked in back to see Vicki rushing across the lawn. She embraced him tightly.

"Why are you dressed as a pilot?"

"Wild party. Superman had to save me from falling off a cliff."

Her eyes welled up with tears.

"What's wrong?"

"Alfred passed away."