World's Finest in Ghost City
CHP36: Unbelievable Escape
Handcuffs around his gloved wrists she dragged him down the block to her vehicle. The reality hadn't fully sunk in and in ways felt like a dream. It was her of all people that managed to stand toe to toe with and ground the Batman that had some terrified, hopeful, stressed, overjoyed and maybe even a combination of all depending who asked. In such a short time he established himself as a bigger than life figure, cultivating the entire city through a time of hardship. His actions were criminal yet heroic, Motoko electing not to think it over. Far as the law he was a criminal and did what needed to be done, ending his crusade before it got more out of control.
Tossing him into the backseat of her car Motoko took a seat upfront, stepping on the gas and taking off. She could only imagine what the reactions would be across town when the news broke, so many with different opinions of him since his emergence. For nearly a mile not a single vehicle was in sight until she disembarked on the main highway. For the time of night, it was more packed than normally but wasn't out of the ordinary. With the biggest distraction eliminated all of law enforcement could focus its efforts and energy on the main menace.
Specters of the Shadows led by the Daunting Phantom were the city's focal dilemma and could grow if not handled promptly. Between public security and the police force there was no one else that wanted the books closed on the entire ordeal. If luck happened to be on their side the capture of Batman might possibly mean they accomplished bringing down two birds with one stone if the vigilante turned out linked to the Specters.
"Major where are you? Just heard news from the chief of your accomplishment, excellent job." Batou inquired through cyber link.
"Traffic has somewhat picked up, will be there soon as I can. I'm on the highway as we speak; I'll get back to you once I'm off it." Motoko answered pulling into a separate lane.
The link between them instantly disconnected, Motoko keeping her eyes open for the nearest exit off the current road. She wondered just how many knew of her capture; the commissioner, Lieutenant Sho? She chose not to think into it knowing the time was coming soon. She raced past two vehicles into another lane headed over a bridge. Numerous vehicles were ahead of her and didn't have the space or opening to bypass them. Just as she sighed leaning back something happened she never foresaw.
It was only for an instant she perceived the sound of shattering glass and the next losing control of the vehicle! The tires skidded across the street, the car flipping over a total of four times smashing into a truck which collided with two other vehicles, one falling on its side! Other nearby vehicles immediately halted before more and more vehicles piled atop each other. Luckily no flames formed during the exchange.
Motoko unbuckled out of the seat crawling and exiting out of the passenger side seeing as that portion of the car was positioned beside the bridge's railing. The first thing she did when out was check on others involved in the crash making sure no one was in serious condition. Next she took a knee peeking through the back section of her car and hard as it was to stomach…Batman was nowhere to be seen! She could hardly believe her eyes in total disbelief! Was it him that caused the vehicle to spin out of control and ultimately crash or was it something else? Motoko pushed off the ground desperately searching for his body. It was possible he was thrown from the backseat off the bridge. She looked all around the street but he was nowhere so took a peek over the ledge, her built in detection system detecting no human activity in the harbor below.
She punched at the railing leaving behind a sizeable dent! Someone doesn't just disappear like that and far as she knew he was unconscious and in no condition to move let alone escape undetected. Aware of some of his gadgetry Motoko gazed upon the surrounding buildings, her sensors nor vision spotting him. Puzzling as it was it only heightened the mystery with the added reality he was non cyborg. He bled during their fight and a full scan of his body revealed he was one hundred percent human. All that in mind there was no way humanly possible he should have been able to get away from her without a trace.
Crazy as it was she prolonged her search for a body and before long police vehicles were on the scene. It was the most peculiar thing she'd seen in a long time, "Miss we've spoke with others involved in this incident and all suggest you're the cause."
"I am Kusanagi Motoko of Public Security Section Nine," Motoko revealed her credentials, "And what you heard is correct. As of the moment even I can't explain what happened, my vehicle swirled out of control for some unknown reason. However you should also know I was carrying with me a suspect of great interest. You might want to take a deep breath and clear your ears for this one."
The officer took a step back raising an eyebrow, "Go ahead I'm listening."
"As part of the department I'm sure you're aware of the chase that's been going on involving th…"
"The bat person, Batman yeah I know all about em. Funny you bring that up, just received word from one of my boys we've got that bastard in custody. Wish I was the one assigned to question him; I'd rough him up real good haha. Even with this one locked up there's still so many of them still out there, our jobs never ending, aaahh listen to me rambling what were you saying?"
Motoko bit back and was silent for moments, "The suspect in the backseat of my car was the Batman. Inform your men to make a large sweep of a two mile radius in all directions. He couldn't have gotten far. If he is responsible for my vehicle spinning out of control I cannot say."
"Wait whaa…what did you just say?!" His throat went dry.
"Update your unit and do it fast," Motoko faced the opposite direction walking toward her damaged car, "We cannot allow him to get away."
For several seconds he froze in place questioning if what she told him was true. His heart dropped at the realization radioing for all available officers explaining the situation quickly as possible. Many on the other end were in disbelief just as much as him, others confused if the early reports of Batman's capture were false. Ambulances arrived on the bridge tending to some of the individuals with minor injuries. At the conclusion of his report the officer went to Motoko's side taking a knee beside her.
"I did exactly as you asked," He noticed her eyes absorbed on something specific, "What is it."
Motoko pointed to the shattered backseat window of her vehicle lying upside down, "Something more happened here and this is proof of it. The way in which the vehicle went down wouldn't have caused this," Upon further inspection Motoko became aware the window on the other end was entirely shattered as well. With that in mind she looked to the two windows upfront and except for a small crack on the passenger side they were perfectly fine, "Just as I thought."
"Ok I'm lost, what the hell are you talking about? Instead of sitting around we should be searching for the vigilante like everyone else if what you said is true."
"Take a close look at the windows front and back and tell me you don't see something wrong."
He took a look for himself understanding what she was referring to almost immediately. Details of the crash or how the car went down were unknown but the two smashed windows told a story of their own and a closer inspection of it would surely reveal more. The news of what occurred passed on fast throughout the police force getting back to the members of Section Nine who like everyone else couldn't believe it.
XXX
It was the morning following the whole ordeal and no matter where she looked it was all over. It was on the front page of every major news website. Even as she walked passed a newspaper stand it covered the front page of each one. What was supposed to cap off the night with an exceptional ending quickly turned to disaster, everything falling to pieces right in front of her. The main headline read "The Batman unexplainably escapes police confinement."
The headline made Motoko feel sick as she made her way up the steps into the main police headquarters. She and the rest of Section Nine were summoned to attend an important meeting and knew exactly what it would be about before entering. Upon stepping through the front entrance all eyes fell upon her, the conversations dying down and turning to whispers.
"They await you in the conference room just down that hall and make a left. It'll be the first door on sight."
Motoko nodded heading that way. Stepping through the door and entering she was shocked at how many city officials were there, which included members of the police department and others working in separate sections, "Well look who's here," Commissioner Yototatski clapped with apparent sarcasm in his tone, "Had you followed protocol we wouldn't be in this little predicament now would we? I do believe we met once before but don't recall the occasion."
"Good morning to you as well." Motoko replied.
"Mind if I ask a question?" Ruey asked.
"Would it matter if I said yes or no?"
"It's actually more a clarification than question. Everyone in this room can agree your actions last night were beyond selfish! With a high profile suspect like this Batman anyone with any sort of common sense would have known to radio for backup the instant the target was on sight. Sure if it's a common criminal one may take care of it on his or her accordance, but the rumors surrounding Batman are anything but normal."
In a far corner of the room Paz stood from his chair, "Sorry to interrupt sir but the Major possesses exceptional combat skills, and experience beyond most in this room. If you read the full report you'd know she single handedly br…"
"I've read over the report several times already and don't need reminding," Ruey Yototatski turned back to Motoko, "In spite of your experience and an ability as your colleague says the vigilante still managed to escape. This clearly wouldn't have happened had he been surrounded like he should have been. I've spoken with the Executive Director of your Section who will be here soon requesting your suspension of two weeks. This here proves why you never send a bitch to do a man's job!"
"Commissioner that's enough you're way out of line!" Lieutenant Ryan Sho jumped in coming between Motoko and Ruey, "Yes Major Kusanagi might have made a mistake but don't we all. Sir you should really see the security footage we recovered before passing judgment. Put it on screen Trey." Ryan directed to his under link.
Batou was heated and had it not been for Saito and Togusa holding him back would have physically went off on Yototatski. Not only did he insult their commanding leader, but Section Nine as a whole the way Batou saw it. Everyone focused their attention on the big screen positioned in the center portion of the room, Motoko and Yototatski taking a seat leaving only Ryan and Trey standing. It wasn't long before visuals appeared on screen, everyone recognizing it as the main highway.
"Before we get into this I have new information for you I received just five minutes ago before my arrival," Ryan took a deep breath clearing his throat, "What you're seeing here is footage from last night and the only feed we have of Kusanagi Motoko's vehicle."
"Wait hold on did you just say only footage? You and all of us know downtown and especially around the highway and bridge is laced with hidden security cameras." One official notified.
"Yes that is correct, but what I'm about to tell you is vitally intriguing. Nearly two hundred of those hidden cameras were destroyed right around the moment this footage on screen took place. If it happened all at once we cannot confirm."
Side comments and whispers filled the room, Ryan waiting for it all to die down before continuing.
"Right now we don't know if there is something larger at work, but each system was destroyed in the same way, melted by what our investigators on the case described as a laser. That coupled with the information each was destroyed in no less than seconds of the other concludes this was a coordinated effort. We believe it to be the work of the Specters, now we don't know that for sure but when you add in this next bit it would make sense."
Sick of the name Specters of the Shadows everyone listened in waiting to hear the details.
"Trey go ahead and play the footage." Ryan directed.
Everyone looked to the screen observing as Motoko's car passed over onto the bridge, "Freeze it right there!" Ryan called out, Trey doing as he asked, "Take a look at the back windows, right in this moment they're shattering. If you look closely here you can see a blurred out visual of something passing through. Trey, move it further by a quarter frame."
Trey did as told, while Ryan held a laser pointer.
"We can all clearly see the subject known as Batman forced from the backseat of Kusanagi's vehicle and though the visual is blurry it's enough to conclude something pulled him from the back seat."
Trey again advanced by a quarter frame, Batman out of sight with whatever it was that had hold of him.
"This concludes that whatever item used to free him traveled at speeds near light. Our technology is of the best in the world and I've never seen anything quite like this. This coupled with the security systems going out moments before this leads us to believe they're linked. Whoever did this really thought things through and had it planned beforehand. And I should also add even if Major Kusanagi had backup there's nothing anyone could have done to stop this extraordinary escape."
"Excuse me lieutenant but what you're saying is absurd. If this was the work of the Specters how would they be in position to destroy the hidden cameras when the encounter between Kusanagi and the Batman took place just minutes before? Not only that how would they know which road she'd choose to travel down? I for one am skeptical if this Batman is connected to them at all. Nothing he's done suggests he's working with the Phantom." Another official spoke.
Silence fell upon the group, small groups of people discussing it among themselves. Some had their minds set on what they thought of the dark knight but even more that were clueless. A small majority in the space questioned if maybe something supernatural was to blame for Batman's unprecedented getaway. The meeting went on with numerous individuals sharing different theories as to what really happened.
"I've finished running diagnostic on your vehicle and trust me it's something you'll want to see up close." Someone from the crime lab communicated with Motoko via cyber link.
"It'll be awhile but I'll get there soon as this concludes." She replied.
XXX
His eyes opened and for the first couple seconds was unsure of his surroundings. It came back to him in a single instant, his hands going straight to his face. As feared his face was bare, the cowl no longer present which meant!
"Finally awake."
The familiar voice came from a far corner of the room and the moment he tried moving a burning soreness traveled through much of his body. It was also at that time he realized a good portion of his upper body was in bandages. Moving away from the wall the individual came into view a couple feet from the bed, "How are you feeling?"
"What happened Clark?!"
"Always straight to the point…I did warn you this might happen. Your antics were all over the news so wasn't hard to pin point your position when listening in on your heartbeat. I heard most the exchange between you and the woman that revealed herself as Motoko Kusanagi of Section Nine public security. Before you ask I was nowhere near the scene, I listened from miles away. I did what I could patching you up."
The reveal didn't surprise Bruce with Kal's tremendous super hearing.
"After concluding you lost the encounter I thought about how I'd help your bad situation from going worse. Motoko was in route to take you in, and once in the heart of downtown made my move. As you and I both know there's nowhere in town there isn't security systems monitoring citizens every move. I concentrated my vision taking off and maintaining a speed the installed equipment would have a near impossible chance of getting a clear shot using heat vision on them all at once hauling you from the backseat of your captor. I pulled this all off fewer than half a second to a second at most."
"Your point?"
Clark shook his head crossing both arms.
"Don't expect me to get you out of trouble if something like this happens again. Your crusade is pointless and when we return to our home world what then? Your efforts here mean nothing, you once told me Gotham was your only priority; your city. If you die here your mission and promise will never be fu…"
"I thought the same way when I first arrived. A, world I don't belong and therefore shouldn't get in the way of or alter, just do enough to get by. That's what I thought however. Hatred and corruption are everywhere no matter where you go, there is no true utopia in the living world. For however long the wait I intended to live a normal life no matter the chaos and destruction that came my way."
"It's still not too late to live that life."
Bruce sat up placing both hands over his lap sighing.
"Things, people, experiences and events shape a boy and girl into the man and woman they will become. My true journey began after the death of my parents, a promise to not let someone else experience what I did. The emptiness, pain, sorrow and anger were almost unbearable and trying to make sense of it hurt more than anything. It was because of that I chose the path that I did. Batman's purpose was to instill fear in criminals and take down those able to elude the law. In short no criminal felt entirely safe under Gotham's sky."
"This isn't Gotham Bruce and I don't see the point telling your life story."
"The point is Daunting Phantom reminded me who I am. Bruce Wayne is merely the mask, not the other way around. A man who takes pleasure in terrorizing an entire city killing men, women and even children and likely has connections inside the police force needs to be brought to justice. I fear that's why they've been unable to get to him for this long. If my decision means butting heads with the police then so be it! My defeat last night opened my eyes to one thing and one thing only, my lack of weaponry that needs updating."
"Oh yeah and how do you plan on fixing that."
"Gegato Tech. There's a branch that works heavily on weapons development, cyberization and everything to do with prosthetic cyborgs. Getting involved with that will give me solutions to battle beings like Motoko. I don't currently have access to the branch but that won't be for long. If you really intend on trying to stop me then go right ahead. I do know one thing and that is Superman would never turn his back on a city or world in need. On our world you inspired people Clark, they looked up to you and in ways you brought the best out of them. You could be what this country and world needs with the rising of this madman! They fear and don't understand me, a vigilante within the shadows but with you wouldn't be that way. You'd give them something to believe in."
Speechless with nothing to say Clark ran both hands over his face re adjusting his glasses. All of what Bruce said was true but needed time to clearly think things over. Pulling his jacket and hat off the coat rack he walked toward the exit, "I'm running late to Sky Times, try and rest up. Lualay and I were assigned the write up on your activities last night; I'll do what I can to shed some light on the Batman." Clark said before exiting.
To Be Continued