Chapter 8: Cryostasis

Batman was driving the Batmobile back into the Batcave where both Alfred and Fox were waiting for him. He parked and quickly got out of the car. "Hey, Alfred, Lucius.", Batman said as he took off his cowl. "Another long night out I take it, sir?", Alfred asked as he was holding Bruce's supper in his hand. "You know what they say, justice never sleeps.", Bruce said. "Quite true, sir. I prepared you one of your favorite dishes. Spaghetti and meatballs, with a side of garlic bread.", Alfred said. "Sounds delicious. Thanks. But did you want to talk to me about something Lucius?", Bruce asked. "Well, I just came to see how you've been enjoying the equipment I gave you. And it seems like you're putting them to good use as far as helping the city.", he said. "Yes. And I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me.", Bruce said. "Don't mention it. I also have been working on a special suit designed to deal with extremely low temperatures as you can see over there.", Lucius said as he pointed towards a larger and bulkier version of his suit with a sort of face shield. "Wow! Looks great! Thanks. But did you say this is to be used in low temperatures?", he asked. "Yes. I know this isn't the type of suit to where in the summer, especially in this heat. I built this so you would have it for the winter when that time comes. It can get pretty cold at nights in the city, especially in Winter.", Lucius said. "That makes sense. Thanks again.", he said. "Hey, anything you need, sir, just let me know.", Lucius said. "I'll see you tomorrow at Wayne Enterprises. I'll show myself out, Alfred.", he said as he exited the cave. "Goodnight, Mr. Fox. Well, dig in, Master Bruce.", Alfred said as he motioned Bruce to the plate. The next day at GothCorp, Victor Fries was exhausted on looking at all possible ways to cure Nora's Huntington's and it seemed like luck and time were not on his side. Nora had about only a month left to live and Victor was more scared than ever. His mind was racing like crazy and was staring off into space thinking about Nora. But he snapped out of it once he heard an angry voice shouting. "Fries!", the voice shouted. Victor jumped and turned around and saw his boss Ferris Boyle standing at the doorway of his lab. "Oh, hi Mr. Boyle.", Victor said. "Are you still researching your wife's disease? I told you to stop that and focus entirely on the plant tissue research!", Boyle said. "I'm sorry, sir. I just can't focus on that. My beloved wife has only one month left to live and I'm running out of time.", he said. "Look, I'm sorry about that, I really am, but if she has only one month left, than I don't think much can be resolved with that much time left. You're just going to have to accept that she's going to die and move on with your life and your work.", Boyle said. But Victor couldn't move on from Nora. She was the only good thing that had ever happened in his life after how horrible his childhood was. "I can't! I won't let her die! I have faith that a miracle or solution may present itself before it's too late.", Victor said. "Well, I don't think it will. And to help you move on, I'm going to have to terminate your private project and to cut funding for it.", Boyle said. Victor immediately felt like he was having a panic attack. "No! Please! You can't! Just give me a couple more weeks on this!", Victor begged. "Sorry. I've already spent too much money on you and your wife and your main focus should be on what I hired you to do.", Boyle said. "Now get to work on making those damn plants live in the cold!", Boyle said and walked out of the lab. Victor just stood still for a few minutes before he fell down on his knees completely in tears. Later on that night, Victor was kneeling by Nora's bedside still crying. "Shhh! It's okay, Victor. Look at me.", Nora said. He looked up at her face. She was extremely pale, but was still the most beautiful thing in all of creation to him. "I think it's best we just accept fate. I have and you should too.", Nora said while stroking his hair. "But I can't! I can't lose you, Nora! You were the only thing that ever made my life worth living. If you died, I don't know how I could go on.", Victor said. "Don't say that, but I only have a month left and I don't think there's anything more that could be done now.", Nora said. Victor than thought for a second and remembered what he used to do to insects as a child and thought maybe he could do something like that to her to keep her body in suspended animation until a cure can be found. "Maybe there is something that can be done.", victor said to her. "What do you mean?", Nora asked with a confused look on her face. Victor then began to explain the idea he just had to his wife. A few weeks later, Victor had spent all of his spare time in making a cryogenic freezing chamber that he intended to put Nora in. While he was at work, he kept up the act of working on the plant tissue stuff to keep Boyle from being suspicious. While unknown to Boyle, Victor had still been using GothCorp's resources and money to help with paying the supplies needed to build the device. He had finally finished building it and was ready to put her in it. But he couldn't do it at home, he had to do it at GothCorp. He had to move quickly since Nora had only a couple of weeks left. Victor was presently working in his lab on the plant stuff when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Thata boy, Vic! I've seen your work on the project and it's spectacular! See, you just had to get your mind focused on something to get you away from the pain of your wife dying.", Boyle said. "Yeah, I guess so.", Victor said. "You seem like you've been working hard enough. Why don't you go home and get some rest and I'll see you tomorrow.", Boyle said. "Thanks, Ferris.", Victor said. Boyle then left the room and Victor was gathering his stuff together to go home. Unknown to Boyle, Victor would be back at the company later on when everyone else headed home. When night hit, everyone in the building left. While Victor and Nora who was weaker than ever were in Victor's van with the freezing chamber in the back on a gurney. They both got out and Victor then got the device out of the van. Victor used his keycard to sneak into the building. He wheeled the chamber into his lab with Nora walking right behind him. When the chamber was in place, Victor asked Nora, "Would you get in please, dear?". "Victor, are you sure about this?", Nora asked with concern. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life.", Victor answered. He then helped her get in the chamber. "There's nothing to be afraid of, darling. When you wake up, I'll have a cure ready for you and we'll have many more wonderful years together.", Victor told her with a smile on his face. She slightly returned the smile while still having doubts about this. She saw how much this obsession was destroying him and she didn't want him to suffer because of her. "I know. I love you, Victor. So much.", Nora told him. "I love you too, darling.", he said back to her. They then shared a passionate kiss before it was time. Victor then closed the door and had his finger on the button. Victor then looked at Nora one last time and she nodded to him to let him know she was ready. He then pressed the button. Cryogenic gases then began to fill the chamber with her in it. It was a couple minutes before the gases went away. Victor then saw Nora with her eyes closed with slight frost all over her body and her long blonde hair flowing freely. She looked absolutely beautiful in her frozen state. Victor then felt like a great weight was just lifted off of his shoulders. Now, he has all the time in the world to look for a cure. Victor then left the building and drove home. He then collapsed on his bed and quickly fell into a peaceful sleep. He figured he'll check on Nora tomorrow and can't wait until this is all over and she's cured so they can be together once more.