The next chapter of The Tapes.
Batman tries to contact Oracle, but he is still only able to pick up static. He switches frequency, finding it free of static.
"Alfred, can you hear me?" Batman questions.
"Of course, sir." Alfred's voice answers, "Is something wrong?"
"Something's interfering with my communications to Oracle." Batman informs, "Is everything alright?" It was silent for a moment. "Alfred?" Batman repeats.
"I beg your pardon, sir." Alfred replies, "Miss Gordon has just called for me. It seems something requires my immediate attention."
"Check on her." Barman orders, "Then report back with the situation."
"Certainly." Alfred says, as Batman ends the transmission. Just then, the screen on Batman's gauntlet flashes with the message 'Receiving Data...', then 'Data Received'. A click could be heard, then the audio begins.
"Patient interview number 25." Dr. Parkins' voice announces, "Due to a recent fire that destroyed Dr. Hugo Strange's office, all documented information gathered on my patient, Jason Cain, has been lost. Therefore, I will be picking up where I last left off before my sudden absence." The sound of a door opening and closing in the background could be heard, along with footsteps. The sound of a chair being pulled out could also be heard. "Hello, Jason." Dr. Parkins greets.
"Dr. Parkins, it's been awhile." Kane's voice replies, "How are you feeling?"
"Very well." Dr. Parkins answers, "And yourself?"
"A lot better now that you're back." Kane informs. It is silent for a moment.
"...About my absence, I wanted to know if I could ask you a few questions." Dr. Parkins explains.
"Shoot." Kane says.
"I wanted to know how everything went during your sessions with Dr. Strange." Dr. Parkins informs.
"Fine." Kane answers, "We managed to get along well."
"I see." Dr. Parkins states, "Do you feel you've made any progress during the sessions?"
"He's treated me the same as every other doctor has." Kane says, "And look where that's gotten me."
"Well, it wasn't my decision to appoint Strange as my substitute." Dr. Parkins replies, "But I'm actually a bit curious, what is it that I've done that no other doctor has done in order for you to open up to me?"
"You treat me differently." Kane informs.
"What do you mean?" Dr. Parkins questions.
"I mean, all these people just look at me like I'm some kind of lab rat." Kane explains, "And I'm just another little test subject for them to use in order for them to make bank on. They want to cure us so that they can build up their reputations. That's why so many doctors have taken a crack at trying to cure the clown. Can you imagine the reaction that would get?"
"I'm sure I can." Dr. Parkins states, "So, how is my treatment any different?"
"Because you treat me like a human being." Kane says, "The day we met, you expressed general concern for my well being. You didn't come out and diagnose me with some asinine illness and try to shove pills down my throat. You're not the type of person who'd cash in on other psychological disorders, you're here to cure. And that's why I opened myself up to you, because I trust you." It is silent again.
"...Is that true, Jason?" Dr. Parkins questions.
"Of course, Doctor." Kane answers. The sound of papers being ruffled in the background could be heard.
"...When I was recovering in the hospital, these were delivered to me." Dr. Parkins informs, "Along with a variety of expensive gifts. Can you tell me what these are?" It is silent yet again.
"...Maybe we should turn the recorder off first." Kane says.
"What are these?" Dr. Parkins repeats, sounding stern.
"...X-rays." Kane answers.
"And what are these x-rays of?" Dr. Parkins questions.
"...Their x-rays of Patient #4512." Kane replies.
"The same patient that assaulted me in the Intensive Unit." Dr. Parkins states, "He was found a week later, laying half dead on the floor of his cell. Apparently, he had been savagely beaten while the guards were busy fending off a riot in the cafeteria. ...Why?"
"Why what?" Kane questions.
"Why did you do it?" Dr. Parkins says, "Why did you beat that poor deranged man to near death, then send me his x-rays to me."
"...You wanna know why?" Kane replies, "Because you're the only person I have in this godforsaken place. I'm not allowed any visitors and everyone in here is insane. You'd think that'd make for some interesting conversations, but it doesn't. So, here I am, with one five to ten minute session a week. That's all they give me. ...You are the only piece of humanity I have left. And I leave each session needing more of it. And when I have to wait, I read and meditate to help pass the time. ...But when I walked in here that day and saw Strange in your seat, it tore me apart. I was afraid I had lost you forever. ...Hearing that you were fine wasn't enough for me, and even meditating couldn't bring me to peace. I needed to get even. I wanted to punish the man who tried to take you away."
"...Jason, can you hear yourself speaking right now?" Dr. Parkins questions, sounding shocked.
"I can." Kane answers, "And I agree with every word."
"...But... how did you do it?" Dr. Parkins replies.
"Next time, Doctor." Kane says, "And don't try to return the gifts. Everything's custom made and non-refundable." With another click, the recording ends.
"Sir, I'm afraid I have some dire news to report." Alfred's voice informs in Batman's ear.
"What is it?" Batman questions, pressing the button on his cowl.
"Perhaps it would be better if I allowed Ms. Gordon to bring you up to spend." Alfred states.
"Bruce, we've been hacked!" Oracle's voice says, sounding frantic.
"What?" Batman replies, shocked.
"Someone's been listening to our communications and copying data from the Batcomputer!" Oracle explains, "Now, they're trying to shut down the entire system!"
"Do you think you can stop it?" Batman questions.
"I'm doing the best that I can!" Oracle answers, "But I don't think I'll be able- what the hell?"
"What happened?" Batman replies.
"It just... stopped." Oracle says, sounding confused, "Everything's back online, as if nothing happened."
"Start running a sweep on the entire system." Batman orders, "Then, see if you can track the frequency to pinpoint the location of the hacker."
"I'm on it." Oracle states, then there was a beeping sound in the background, "...Uh oh."
"What is it?" Batman replies.
"Where do I start?" Oracle says, "I was successful in tracing the hacked frequency back to the hacker, but it's in Arkham City."
"That doesn't surprise me." Batman informs, "The majority of Gotham's criminal masterminds are trapped with these confines."
"But how could any of them have gotten their hands on the kind of equipment to pull this off." Oracle questions, "This is the Batcomputer. You can't just shut it down using a PC. That's impossible."
"Send me the coordinates and I'll see what I can dig up on our hacker." Batman replies.
"That's the other thing that has me concerned." Oracle states, "I was able to pinpoint the location with no trouble, as if they wanted to be found. This has to be a trap."
"That's what I'm hoping for." Batman says, "Are all other frequencies clear of taps?"
"All but my own personal." Oracle informs.
"Then continue using Alfred's frequency." Batman replies.
"Bruce, there's no doubt they know your identity." Oracle states, "What if they try to expose you?"
"I always have a backup plan." Batman says, as he activates his map and finds the location marked over a building near the GCPD Building. He grapnels boosts into the air and starts to glide in the direction marked on the map. He glides out of Park Row and into Amusement Mile.
"A lot of weird things going on here lately." Batman hears a thug say, "Joker's dead, Harley got booted and we're following a faceless freak."
"Yeah, tell me about it." another thug replies, "I saw something that kind of freaked me out down in the Subway. Remember those creepy robots down there?"
"Yeah?" the thug says.
"Well, I went down there a few days ago and they were all gone." the other thug explains.
"You idiot, Harley took them and made 'em into Jokerbots, remember?" the thug states.
"No man, she missed a few of them." the other thugs informs, "There was a couple of them down there a few weeks ago." Batman soon lands on the roof of the building marked on his map. He makes his way over to the edge of the roof and looks down to see a fire escape. He drops down onto it and sees an open window. He quickly switches to detective mode, noticing illuminating orange objects lining the inside edges of the window.
"They've lined the edges of the window with plastic explosives." Batman thinks, "I need to figure out a way to deactivate them." He then notices a keypad on the wall to the right of the explosives. He switches out of detective mode, then pulls out his Cryptographic Sequencer and attempts to cipher the code. After a few minutes, he finds the first half of the code is 'Laza'. He then finds that second half of the code is 'rus', creating the word 'Lazarus'. The keypad accepts the password and deactivates the explosives. Batman quickly climbs through the window and looks around inside the building. He sees a variety of firearms on the wall, ranging from pistols to assault rifles. Amongst the other firearms was a M24 sniper rifle. He then notices a single desktop computer that was on in the corner of the room. On the walls around the computer were mugshots of each of Gotham's criminal masterminds, a red x marked over the mugshots of the Joker, Clayface, Ra's al Ghul and Talia al Ghul. There was a red circle drawn around a picture of Kane. Batman narrows his eyes, as he makes his way over to the computer. He quickly begins to type on the keyboard and open files on the computer. He searches through each file and program on the desktop, then he finds what he was looking for. He then presses the button on his cowl.
"Oracle, I know how they gained access to the Batcomputer." Batman states, "Remember when you said that it was impossible to shut it down with a PC."
"Yeah, why?' Oracle questions.
"It's not." Batman answers.
"What?" Oracle replies, shocked.
"I devised a plan for if the Batcave were ever infiltrated." Batman informs, "That plan included an override sequence for the Batcomputer. Someone has the sequence code."
"But how did they get it?" Oracle questions.
"I'm not sure." Batman answers, "The only ones I've trusted with the code is myself and Alfred. But that's not all. It appears our hacker is also our assassin."
"You're kidding." Oracle states.
"I'm afraid not." Batman says, "I found the sniper rifle used to shoot Catwoman, along with a variety of other weapons. Their motives may also be to take out all the criminals in Arkham City." Just then, the computer monitor begins to flash a five second countdown. Batman's eyes widen, as he quickly runs towards the window and leaps out. All of a sudden, then room explodes behind him, the force sending Batman against the wall of another building. "Aahh!" Batman grunts, as he falls to the alley below. A few minutes pass, then Batman lifts his head up, a bit disorientated. He sees a figure at the end of the alley, but his vision is too blurry to make it out.
"I'm always one step ahead of you, Bruce." the figure says, as he walks away. Batman groans, as he makes it to his knees and leans against the wall.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. What will happen next? Please Review. Thanks.