Chapter 4: Taking Down Thorne
On the South side docks, Rupert Thorne's men were loading crates of expensive guns, ammunition, and all kinds of drugs including cocaine and hallucinogens. Then a nice black car started to make its way towards the men and then it came to a stop. Once it was in park, out came a large gray-haired man that was none other than Thorne himself. "How's it going, boys?", Thorne asked his men. "So far, so good, Mr. Thorne!", one of the men answered his boss. "Good. Let's hurry this up so we can call it a night! And we can deal out the drugs tomorrow as well as test out our new firepower in the streets tomorrow night.", Thorne said. "It'll all be ready, boss!", another guy said. All of the guys then went back to work while Thorne patiently waited while resting on his car with a few other guys stood with him. One of the guys was carrying a box when all of a sudden someone very quickly knocked his head against a shipping container. The other goons heard the noise and then went over to see if the guy was alright. "Hey, Frank? You alright?", one guy asked. When they turned the corner, they saw Frank unconscious on the ground. The guys all looked puzzled and nervous as they were wondering who did this to their friend. Then the thugs heard another guy nearby scream and they then went to go check that out. When they got there, they saw that another guy was knocked out cold. The goons began to become kinda scared. "I think someone's here, guys.", one guy said. "No shit!", another one said sarcastically. "Whoever this guy is, let's go flush him out!", said another. All of the guys took out their guns and began patrolling the docks looking for whoever was out there. What they didn't know was them splitting up made things much easier to the man who was taking them and who was watching them from above. The intruder didn't want to cause too much more commotion so he began to silently take out some thugs by placing his hand over their mouths and rendering them out cold. One crook turned a corner and saw one of his friends out cold and then began to panic. "Guys! Get your asses over here now!", he screamed. The thugs that were right next to Thorne went over to investigate. "You better stay here for now, boss.", one guy told Thorne. "What the hell is going on?", Thorne asked. "We're not sure. Just stay here.", the guy said. The remaining goons all met together in an opening and stood in a circle with one looking in each direction where this guy could strike. "Let's see this creep try and pick us off now!", a thug said. But they didn't notice the pellet that was thrown in the circle that quickly let out a thick cloud of smoke, pretty much blinding them. "What the hell?" I cant's see!", said a guy. A few seconds after the smoke came, a dark figure dropped down into it and used the cloud to his advantage and began to use his combat skills to take out each and every remaining thug. Thorne decided to check things out himself and saw the cloud of smoke began to dissipate and he saw a dark character kicking the asses of all of his men. He couldn't get too good a look at him, but he was so scared, he ran as fast as he could back to his car. All of the criminals were on the floor unconscious and the figure stood still for a moment before he swiftly disappeared to finish things off. Thorne made his way back to his car and got in the back seat. "Get me the hell outta here! Now!", Thorne demanded at his driver. But then he noticed that his driver was knocked out too. Thorne then became completely overwhelmed with terror at what was going on. He quietly said to himself, "Who the hell are you? What the hell are you?". After he said that a pair of hands broke the glass ceiling of the car and grabbed Thorne by his coat and pulled him up. Thorne than saw one of the most frightening figures anyone even in a place like Gotham could possibly see. "I'm Batman!", the dark character said. Thorne just remained silent, too scared to speak. Batman then head-butted him out cold. He then began to feel a slight feeling of success on what he just did. Batman then began to make his way back towards the Batmobile and got in it. He revved up the engine and began to drive. He drove through the streets of Gotham and all the passing cars were in shock and amazement at the almost tank-looking car pass by them. Batman then began to patch through to Alfred and began to talk. "Alfred, I'm done for tonight.", he said. "I trust everything went well, sir?", Alfred asked. "Yes it did. I have a feeling Gotham's dark image is about to lighten up. Can you do me a favor and send the info we have on the deal to the GCPD, specifically to Captain James Gordon? He's one of the few good cops that are left.", Batman said. "Of course, sir.", Alfred responded. "Thanks. I'm on my way home now.", he said. "Very goo, sir. See you then." Alfred said and then went off as Batman kept driving. About 45 minutes later, several police cars swarmed the docks to investigate the tip they got. They were being led by Captain James Gordon who was also the cop that comforted Bruce all those years ago. An extra car pulled up and out came police commissioner Gillian Loeb who wanted to know exactly why Gordon had ordered all these cops to come to the docks. "Gordon, what's going on here?", Loeb asked impatiently. "I got an anonymous tip about Thorne getting new shipments of guns and drugs here.", Gordon answered. The cops made their way further on the docks and then saw quite a sight. They saw about two dozen of Thorne's best guys held together by several pieces of rope. "These are definitely Thorne's men alright, but we'll never be able to actually tie him to it.", Loeb said. Then Gordon looked over and saw something even more strange. "Oh, I wouldn't be so sure of that, sir.", Gordon said. Loeb then looked over to what he was talking about. All of the cops saw Rupert Thorne himself strapped to a flood light with a sheet strapped to his back. All of the cops looked up in the sky where the flood light was pointing and saw that Thorne with the sheet made the shape of a bat in the center of the light to show who did this. All of them stood in awe and confusion on what exactly happened and what was going on here. But Gordon began to feel some kind of strange feeling that made him start to feel hopeful about Gotham. Whoever stopped this crime, he owed them a debt of gratitude.