5:00 p.m.
"You've got a visitor. Your parole officer." Matt said a few hours after Bruce had read the letter written by Thomas.
Bruce was led to the phone room and sat down to see Harry Strange in front of him. Harry gave him a smile and the billionaire could tell that he was worried about something. He picked up the phone and Harry cleared his throat, making sure no one else was around him.
"I've been doing a lot of research lately. On you. And I finally realized something."
Bruce sat still in his chair, swallowing a lump in his throat. Harry closed his eyes and rubbed them for a moment before staring at the ceiling. He gave a small chuckle and stared back at Bruce.
"What?"
"I know about you, Bruce. The truth. Your... night-time adventures." Harry said.
Bruce was paralyzed and didn't move.
"Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me, Bruce. But you are getting sloppy. I've found evidence at the scenes. Your blood. Hair follicles. Lucky I got rid of them before you got put in prison. Now, your DNA is on file forever."
"Why are you telling me this?" Bruce asked.
"Because I know why you're doing this, okay? You feel that this is the only way to get revenge on Julie's murder."
"I'm not looking for revenge, Harry. I'm trying to let justice decide what happens."
"We both know that's not true. You are a man who feels the need to do the right thing when those called will not. I have nothing against that but don't hide behind this guise of promoting justice. In order to find the killer, you need to use all of your anger and project onto those you fight. You must-."
"Stop shrinking me. I don't have the time for it." Bruce interrupted.
"No, listen to me. You're going to get caught. You need someone to guide you through this."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I... want to be your therapist." Harry said with a strained tone.
Bruce shook his head and scoffed at his former parole officer's offer.
"You are insane. Why?"
"Who wouldn't want to be Batman's therapist? I want to really know what you think. You know? I've always been interested in the mind of criminals and here... we have a man who fights against them." Harry explained.
"This conversation is over. Goodbye, Harry. I have work to do." Bruce said, hanging up the phone and walking away.
5:30 p.m.
"Modifications? Like what?" Adam asked as Fries powered up the small double generators.
"I need better mobility. I need to be able to move faster and have an advantage against them." the scientist responded, welding the generators against the back of the calves of the cryo suit.
Sparks flew and Fries backed up, rushing to finish his brand new project. Fries looked at his partner and looked at the laptop behind him.
"So, you are absolutely sure he is at WayneTech? You have proof of that?"
"Yes, sir. We've seen security of guards giving him food, him walking around the bulk of the lab, and basically looking scared. He's not going anywhere. That, I can promise you."
After receiving acceptance from Freeze, Adam looked around, seeing all the hand-made rosebuds all across the floor and counters. He looked at his boss with fear in his eyes and prepared to speak.
"You know... I feel like this is coming to an end. Like you're pulling out all the stops on this. Like we're on the brink of war."
"Adam... let me tell you something. We are. We will be the front lines and tonight, this city going to be changed."
"For better or worse?" he asked.
Freeze looked at Adam, fitting the cryo suit around him and activating the generators. With one button press, the generators fired a propulsion blast that made him soar two feet into the air before crashing back down. Freeze looked at his new advancements and gave a smile.
"That's up to us."
"A breakout? For all of us? Do you know how much of a risk that is?" London asked Bruce as he and five of his men sat in Bruce's cell.
"I know. Believe me. But this is the only way I can escape and it will be reasonable. I need manpower. You and your crew. We exit through the chute, find out where Freeze is, take him out, find Perry, convince him to make a confession, and then... it'll all be over." Bruce said.
"Nothing ever goes according to plan. And plus, how would you organize a breakout?" one of London's crew asked.
"I have my ways. We need to break out as soon as it gets dark. We need as much time as possible. Freeze will strike whenever he learns of Perry's location. I'm only afraid of one thing, though." Bruce said.
"And what's that?" London asked.
"I'm worried that if Sionis decides to help put a stop to Freeze, we could start a bloodbath. That's the last thing we need at the moment."
London nodded his head and rubbed his eyes. He stood up and stared outside the window that overlooked the rolling waves and chilly weather. He had no other choice for redemption. Because of Perry and his own impulsive actions, Robert had killed several people and the rest of his crew had created fear in Gotham. This would literally be his only chance to finally stop the corruption of Wayne Enterprises and bring a certain amount of peace to the city.
"I have twenty-six years in here," London said, turning around and facing both Bruce and the crew.
"What else am I going to do? Sit in here while you kill yourself and send this city into chaos? Hell, no." London smiled.
"If you're going down... I'm with you."
He held his firm hand out to Bruce and it stayed stationary for a moment as Bruce took a deep breath and finally returned the gesture.
"Then, let's get to work."
5:42 p.m.
Edward Nashton limped across the expanse of the upper hallway, smiling after just overhearing the rest of Bruce's plan to escape. He hurried across the hallways until he came across a guard who was doing his watch. Immediately, and despite the pain all over, Nashton fell to the ground and began convulsing, drooling and whipping his head wildly to attract his attention. The guard ran to his aid and just when the guard began to speak, Nashton growled and grabbed his nightstick, whacking the guard on the head and pushing him against the wall. Nashton took the nightstick and with one hand, hit it against the man's temple as hard as he could. After the guard slumped to the floor, Nashton pressed on, heading to the Isolation Wing.
"Hang on, Waylon." he said quietly as he limped into the wing with the bloody nightstick in his hand.
"Yes, this is he." Perry answered as a man on the other line of his phone asked if he was speaking to Browning Perry.
"Welcome to the Janus Cosmetics Hotline. Hold, please." a woman's voice said suddenly.
Perry took the phone away from his ear and looked at the phone. He was puzzled for a moment until he heard the bright and positive voice of Roman Sionis.
"Mr. Perry! How are you today?"
"Very well, despite Mr. Fries' threat to take me down and everything I've built." Perry responded.
"Well, that's understandable. I heard Brock has been helping you, is that right?"
"Yes. He's been a huge help. I'm guessing he told you about my request."
"He did. He did indeed. And I'll be happy to tel you that your request had been accepted. You'll get double on what you ordered and the packages should be delivered tonight. We recieved the trade-in from you and you'll be happy to know that your money is in safe hands, Mr. Perry." Sionis said.
"Thank you. When should I expect arrival and where?"
"Just stay where you are. By 8 tonight. Is that all?"
"Yes it is. Thank you, Mr. Sionis."
"No..." he said, the CEO's voice growing dark and deep.
"Thank you."
