In the Shadow of the Bat

Forty: The Arranger

Superheroes were probably the biggest problem for the modern criminal mastermind. Superman was bad enough, with his various powers and speed. Then there was Batman, who was justifiably called 'the world's greatest detective.' So if you wanted to pull a caper, you needed to make sure they were NOT around.

Hence, the Arranger.

You didn't meet the Arranger face to face. A member of the criminal community gave you a number, and you paid remotely. In exchange the Arranger would set up a distraction to occupy the hero and buy you time to escape. It didn't always work, of course, the Arranger wasn't perfect, but usually things played out as planned.

Blackgate prison. A tuesday, mid-morning. The interview room was quiet as the two men met...

"So this guy pays criminals to distract us?" Detective Harvey Bullock blinked.

One of the captive Madmen nodded, "Yup."

"Why take the job? You KNEW we'd throw you in jail," Harvey pointed out.

"And we have a good lawyer, so we'll be out soon. And the pay is REALLY good," the Madman smirked.

Harvey sighed...

"Besides, we MIGHT have gotten away with it," the Madman added,

"Yeah, right," Harvey grumbled as he left.

Back in Comish Gordon's office, Lt Elen Yin noted, "So, what do we know about this supposed 'Arranger'?"

"Not much. No face, no means to contact them..." one cop grumbled.

"Oh?" Gordon asked. "I thought we had a phone number."

"Comes up as 'unassigned.' I assume computer trickery is involved," Elen noted.

"Several villain events that we think were set up by this 'Arranger' happened during known gang hits," Jason Bard, a fellow cop, noted. "We could charge them with being an accessory to murder." he continued eagerly.

"I really would not want to bring that to a DA or a Judge," Gordon noted.

"Agreed," Elen nodded glumly.

"And we can't just ignore these stunts either," Jason scowled. "We don't KNOW if they're a distraction or an actual Gotham crazy."

"Add a public mischief charge," Gordon added.

"We don't even know what c-listers they're using," Elen sighed.

"The only thing we can do," Gordon said seriously, "is treat these as actual crimes. While, obviously, keeping an eye out for whatever we're being distracted from."

"Even if it's Condiment King?" someone asked.

"Even him," Gordon sighed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Killer Moth had actually been a a-lister, once upon a time. He billed himself as the 'anti-Batman' and pledged to protect criminals, for a fee. Sadly, he lost more often than he won (including a defeat by Batgirl the first time she went out in costume) and he ended up a loser.

"This is a really, REALLY bad idea," the new Killer Moth noted.

They kept the insect like helm the original Moth used. Otherwise the suit was black with gold highlights, with a symplified Moth emblem. They also had a belt lined with gadgets, along with armored yellow gloves and books. And as required for these outfits, a cape.

The bluetooth in his ear replied, "Oh, I don't think it's that bad. At least it's not the uniform with the striped pants."

"Well, yes," Killer Moth agreed. He added, "You DO remember I'm just a stuntman, right? I can't be expected to actually fight these guys."

"Of course, of course..." the voice agreed. "Now, please go to the garage area. The other vital equipment is there."

"Vital equipment?" Moth echoed.

Killer Moth went into the next room, then froze. It was a supercar... the type only billionares normally owned; Low to the ground, a huge engine in the back... the only odd thing was the Moth logo on the front.

"How...?" Moth had to ask.

"It sort of fell off a container ship," his contact explained, "and swe made some modifications. We took the computer speed limiter out, but we also armored it some. It'll out run any police interceptor, even with the added weight."

"But can it outrun the Batmobile?" Moth wondered.

"Yeah, that's the question," the voice admitted.

A warning tone came from Moth's phone.

"I guess it's time," Moth strode to the car as he added, "wish me luck."

"Luck," the voice repeated, then the call disconnected.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"HOW long did you end up chasing him around Gotham?" Robin blinked later that day, he and Batman in the Batcave.

"Nearly three hours," Batman replied sourly. "And we don't know if it's a him. Could be wearing padding to obscure gender."

This (probably) new Killer Moth had attacked cops attempting to bust drug dealers with a sniper rifle. Targeting weapons and their vehicles, he forced them to retreat. Then Batman arrived, and the Moth fled in his sports car.

Frustratingly, the Moth's car was nearly as fast as the Batmobile. And worse, was slightly more maneuverable. So after running him ragged across the city (the car HAD to have had a second gas tank) Batman ultimately lost him.

"No tracker either?" Robin had to ask.

"They electrified the car's outer shell, frying it," Batman said calmly.

Robin was surprised how calmly he was taking all this.

"Nightwing intercepted a high level jewelry robbery," Batman smiled coldly, "I think Killer Moth's whole rampage was to distract from that."

"Another set up by the Arranger," Robin nodded thoughtfully. He hesitated, "So next time, they'll go even bigger?"

Batman stopped, then conceded, "Possibly."

Both Robin and Batman looked less than thrilled at that possibility.

"The only good news is this man appears not to be a killer," Batman mused.

"Yet," Robin added dryly. "But yes, I studied the footage... he only targeted the cop's guns and their vehicles."

"And despite driving like a maniac, he didn't hurt anyone," Batman mused, looking thoughtful.

"Yes?" Robin prompted, knowing that sometimes helped Batman think.

"We'll need to check," Batman mused, "but I think all of the Arranger's stunts have been deliberately non-lethal."

"I suppose that's comforting...," Robin conceded.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"So... the Jewelry heist was ANOTHER distraction?"

"Yup. We were covering for an industrial espionage job. Hopefully the Bat or the cops won't even know for awhile."

There were, of course, many criminals the Arranger wouldn't dare ask to be distractions. Joker, for one. Mind you, it was totally possible he might find the idea hilarious and join in. But it was also quite possible he'd be insulted and kill them. Best not to chance it.

Joker, of course, also didn't hire them. He actually WANTED Batman to show up and beat the hell out of him.

Catwoman and Mr Freeze were both willing to work with them. Money reason's basically. Cryogenics labs cost a lot of money...

Riddler enjoyed being part of these schemes just for the pure pleasure of outwitting Batman. Just a bit...

There were also people Arranger refused to do business with. Mostly the indiscriminate killer types. He was already risking it, helping Black Spider on jobs. Working with Prometheus, or the Demon's Head and League of Assassins? Good way to end up in jail for life.

To be continued...

Notes: Sorry for short update. Mildly ill.

Mostly just a random idea on the huge numbers of b-listers who show up to fight Batman. What if all these costumed idiots are actually a deliberate distraction? It would make sense for a LOT of the times it happens.

Yes, Batman loses. It's not shown in the comic, but in my opinion it happens at times.

Not planning on following this up too much, but I might use Killer Moth again. I like the idea of a non-lethal anti-Batman. I also need to figure out who the Arranger is, and what his deal actually is.