AUTHOR'S NOTE:
High Maintenance by DaRk AnGeL
Chapter 3: Revelations
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After two long hard years of searching, I'd finally found my family. Actually, just Uncle Wayne and Terry. I don't have to hide anymore. Uncle Wayne is taking care of me. Not literally, I'm actually taking care of him also. Giving him his medication daily. Except for when I'm at school. Uncle Wayne said he doesn't mind me calling him by his last name. Although he is very protective of me. I guess it's because I'm his only living relative and he doesn't really to lose anyone he loves. Like grandpa and grandma. Even if he doesn't express his feelings towards me, I know he cares for me greatly when I'm not around...It's great to finally have great friends that I can depend on.
Like Max, Dana, and Terry...especially him. He is protective of me like Uncle Wayne. But when I'm in the blues, he is always there to comfort me. It's too bad Dana and him broke up a month ago. He is a special and caring person. Rare in a guy. But some how I have a strange thought that he connects to Batman. For example, last week Terry ask me to go to the park with him because he needed to ask me something very urgent...a couple of jokers showed up and started to hound on us. They threw Terry in a bush, leaving me alone. I fought them off, but it seems like they keep on gaining more and more after each minute. Suddenly, who do you think showed up? That's right, Batman. It's strange really, every time I'm or anybody is in trouble...Terry disappears and Batman shows up! Weird if you ask me...I know that Uncle Wayne and Terry are hiding something from me. And I'm going to find out why!
Terry works for Uncle Wayne, but they refused to tell me what kind of job are they working! I am determine to find out what! These past few months are incredible, but I know they'll eventually find me sooner or later. But I'm ready for THEM. During the two years of searching, I took defense class, I must say that it helped me a lot. I'm not afraid of anyone...but THEM. Speaking of Batman, with my calculations and (observations), I think he is still a teenager. So much responsibility for a young kid. Why am I speaking so much affection for this Batman character? Could it be? Could it be that I've fallen in love for this Dark Knight? It can't be, that's preposterous! Like he would have time for me, defending and watching over Gotham. Maybe...just maybe someday...I could be his Batgirl. *giggles* Till then..
always, Molly
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"Ms. Owens! Ms. Owens!" Ms. Smith hollered out to Molly to numerous times before catching her gaze.
"Yes Ms. Smith?" I asked coyly hoping she'll brush off this little incident.
"Ms. Owens, this is the third time this week. I suggest you pay attention. The GTA's Final is in three weeks. Please the use the time available now to study and take notes. I hope all of you use this time wisely." Ms. Smith, our teacher for 6th period. Medium height and weight, looks about in her 20's. Brunette, went on to lecture the class for what seem like an hour.
"Yes, Ms. Smith. It won't happen again." I promised and broadly smile.
Terry gaze over to me in an -are-you-okay- kind of way. I smiled broadly and nodded my head. Uncle Wayne said the replica of the time machine would be ready in two weeks. I've been daydreaming about how wonderful it would be to see my father and mother again, and how I've could have prevent their death from occurring.
Riiiing!!! Finally the bell rang. Just as I about to leave for Uncle Wayne's manor, someone called out to me.
"Molly!" It was Terry. He ran catching up with me. "Hey, are you okay? You've been dazing off couple of times during class." He asked with concern in his eyes.
If I didn't know any better, I think Terry has a crush on me...but then again, he's still coping with his last break up with Dana. The two broke up because Terry's work was keeping him away from Dana. She barely get to see him anymore, so she called it quits. Still...I could see it in their eyes that they miss each other.
"Terry, you worry too much. Hey, you seem to know Batman right?"
"Uh...yeah I guess. Why?" Terry answer while scratching the back of his head with his right arm, looking intensively nervous.
"Do you think he has a girlfriend?" hopeful eyes gleamed at Terry.
"Hmm...do I sense some affection towards this Batman? Why Molly...if I didn't know any better...I think--" Terry asked teasingly.
"Uh...I...well...well, what do you care?!" I burst interrupting Terry and turning my back towards him.
"C'mon, you know I'm just teasing. I wouldn't really know, but I think he has his eyes set on a special girl already."
"Oh," my head droop to the ground. "Yeah, I figure he would. That girl is lucky. Tell Uncle Wayne I'll be home in a lil' while. I'm going grocery shopping for dinner." I imply as I started walking.
"Do you need a ride?"
"No, that's okay. Thanks for asking anyway. I'll be fine. See you later."
~Bat Cave~
"What am I gonna do Wayne? Molly likes Batman." I ask Wayne while pacing back and forth.
"So...what's your point? You ARE Batman. Do you mind not pace back and forth? A few more minutes and you could drag a hole in my ground." Wayne said pointing his finger to the ground where both my feet laid.
"Huh? Oh yeah, sorry."
"Anyways, we have more important things to worry about. I found out about Shannon. She's alive."
My eyes instantly bulge out of their sockets. "WHAT?! Your kidding!"
"Do I ever kid? Anyways, as I was saying, she's alive, but not with the name Shannon Owens. Kudo, a known master mind for stealing the most rarest and valuable items in the world. This time he's searching for a rare blossom-which blooms once every hundred years-only one exist in all the world. The blossom is called Moltein."
Bruce typed a few buttons which then later display a picture of a mild age man. Around mid 50's. Gray hair peaked through the neatly combed hair. Dark eyes glared with the expressionless face along with the mischievous smile.
"I've heard stories about this blossom. Don't you take the nectar from it to use it to make a 'Youth Potion' ?"
"Yes."
"So...what does this have to do with Shannon?"
"He kidnapped her and somehow transported them into the future. I believe he used a time vortex."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I just know. Kudo was the one who killed Molly's parents. He also did something to Shannon."
"So what do you want me to do?"
"Use the time machine to transport back and stop Kudo. Search for any lead on Shannon also."
"So it's ready? Aren't you going to tell Molly?" Terry had a feeling that tonight wasn't the best time to travel to the past, but he couldn't defy what has to be done.
"No. For her safety, you'll leave tonight."
* * * * * * * * * * * (TONIGHT)
A portal like appeared before Terry and Bruce. A "Time Vortex". Bruce had named it. Luminous blue an silver lights clashed and beamed like thunder. Blue clashes while silver blinds. Wind gushed around Terry absorbing him in.
"Once in the past, do not do anything to provoke the future. One false dilemma...and the future will be effected by the change. Only complete your assigned task."
"Gotcha."
As Terry stepped into the vortex, electric strings bound him and he disappeared as the vortex drift.
* * * * * *
"Terry? Uncle Wayne? I brought dinner!" Molly called out as she unload the bags of groceries.
'where could those two be?' Molly though as she browsed through the different sections of the gigantic manor.
"Terry?! Uncle Wayne?! Your dinner's getting cold! Alright, you can come out now! I give up! OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE!!!"
'HUMPH!' Molly gave a furious sigh. Then her eyes fell upon an old grandfather clock. Something inside caught her eyes. A bat flew around squeaking as for a cry of help.
' A bat? What's a thing like that doing in an old clock? I'll have to get it out or it'll suffocate.' Molly thought as she tried to free the bat.
The grandfather clock suddenly glide aside for Molly to stepped inside.
"What the---" She knew she shouldn't be snooping around, but something inside her told her--- COMMANDED her to enter.
As she amble her way down the cold, grave steps--her mind wandered with questions unanswered. She switch on the lights revealing costumes, criminal items, etc.
"No...it can't be!" commented Molly as her eyes widen with bewilderment. "Uncle Wayne can't be Batman!"
'He's too old, even if could---but this is way out of Uncle Wayne's league....then who?"
Suddenly a flashback flourish a graphic of Terry disappearing and Batman emerge. The next few moments was followed by silence. It was so silent that you can noises from miles away. Nothing came out of Molly for several minutes...until she spoke a single name.
"Terry..."
It wasn't long before Molly saw the picture of Kudo; along with all other information written. Soon she discover the control for the "Time Vortex" and disappeared also. Behind the hidden shadows, stood Bruce. Expressionless as if he knew she was going to uncover the secret . Besides from the expressionless face, a smile crept on his lips as he nodded.
"It's about time. I was beginning to lose my patience."
* * * * * * *
~Gotham --- THE PAST~
For the past morning, a certain dark knight we know was still scanning and searching the Past Gotham City. Using his stealth mode to make sure no one sees or catches him. Especially the past "Bat Gang". NO indication of Kudo or Shannon anywhere. While he stop and lounge on an old rooftop. He glance around absorbing in his surroundings. Cars driving on roads---no sight of flying vehicles anywhere.
Even though in PRESENT Gotham, Terry consent at night---the PAST Gotham was already shining bright. As he was gazing around the city, he spotted the most beautiful surroundings of all. It was a cliff over by the shores of a gorgeous sandy beach. The cliff had a breathtaking view of the sun setting into the night.
'Shway. It's absolutely stunning. Stunning like Molly.' Soon Terry's mind wander absent-mindedly about Molly. 'One day, when she understand the truth, I'll be able to take her here and we'll both enjoy the attractive view---and also...gives me the chance to confess my true feelings to her. I need to tell her soon, I can't hold it any longer!' Thinking about Molly made him feel afraid. Afraid that she wouldn't feel the same as does for her.
As he stood there, invisible to the naked eye, he had no idea that the person he was thinking of---is directly having thoughts about him also. Not with affection, but with futile anger!
~Somewhere in Gotham-THE PAST~
'How dare he?! Why didn't he tell me?! Argh, wait till I get my hands on him!' Molly furiously thought while browsing through the different sections of PAST Gotham. But her thoughts were soon interrupted by a mysterious limousine. Inside, transporting her greatest enemy...
"And Uncle Wayne! Wait till I get my hands on both---huh? Wha-" a sooty, mysterious limousine drove by with the window rolling up as a man's face appeared and along with other people with him.
'That face! I know that face! I've seen him before...but where?! Think, Molly, think!'
"Kudo!" with that answer Molly rapidly chased the sooty limousine...running...using her full agility.
'It's headed for the tell building. Thank goodness I took the time to browse around!' she thought while running.
Molly has chased the vehicle to Buckley's Corporation and followed it all the way to the top roof of the building. Breathlessly, she hollered them to stop before they could enter the private jet that awaited them.
"STOP!!!"
He looked the same as his picture on Uncle Wayne's computer screen. Not counting the gray hair. Which may have tripled. Kudo had on a inkle coat along with his other inkle clothing. He simply glanced at Molly with no facial expression for a brief moment---before answering:
"Oh? Of what? I simply have no idea what you're talking about. I don't think we've been properly introduced. My name is Kudo---" he extended his hand, but was rudely interrupted.
"I KNOW what your name is you murdering bastard!!! You murdered my parents and kidnapped my sister!" she threw back hotly. Eyes glaring intensively.
By then, Kudo had turn a wan color. His face drained. Showing some facial expression. Assuming Molly knew what his intentions were...he took one last glimpse of Molly, them continue on his private jet.
"Hey! Where are you going?! We're not finished yet--"
"We ARE now! You know, for a young naive girl like you...why do you waste all that beauty and intelligence on such preposterous ideas?! Sadly, you have to learn to keep your nose OUT---where it doesn't belong!"
"Don't tell me what to do!"
"Foolish girl. If you keep on insisting, then suffer the consequences! GET RID OF HER!" Kudo ordered pointing his finger at Molly.
'This is not what I had in mind.'
The two bodyguards were on her faster than Molly could react. Both wore the same outfit as Kudo. The first guy was huge and tall. He plunged towards her giving Molly his rock-hard fist. Soon she fell to the ground, with blood trickling down from her bottom lip. But quickly brushed all the pain away. The second guy had rapid agility. He punched and kicked, but she dodged just in time. The next moments were followed by the sound of punching, kicking, and, dodging. The two was too experience for her.
"Quicken this up! I've got business to attend to!" Kudo ordered snapping his fingers.
The first guy ran towards the jet with Molly on his tail, but a kick from mid air hit Molly as she lost her balance and tumble down the building. Molly had forgotten all about the second guy.
"Huh? Whoa! Ahh! Somebody help me! Terrryyy!!!" cried Molly as she quickly descend from the building. Falling and falling towards the ground.
Soon she thought that it was over until a dark, cape crusader caught Molly in his arms just in time. She thought she was losing it. She began to see doubles.
"Terry...?" asked Molly fatiguelessly just before she collapse into the welcoming darkness.
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Wow, that must be one of the longest chapters I've even written. Also the one that took most of my time. But what can I say? I enjoy doing this. Especially for the people who enjoy ready my story[s]I know that some part may be (again) confusing. Please, don't linger, I'd be more than happy to answer your questions. So...can you guess who is the cape crusader that rescue Molly? Here's a hint: it's not who you think it is...:)