Chapter Ten
They spent the remainder of the day down in the Batcave. Training.
Terry found out right away that there was so much more to being the Batman than to flying and beating up bad guys. There were techniques to everything, solutions behind solutions. The Batcave was still in working order and Bruce Wayne put him through a quick work out run through the simulator, testing his abilities.
It was the hardest hours of his life.
Terry learned how to fight in regular combat all the way up to pressed in atmospheres with five or more opponents, all carrying laser weapons. He soon learned not to take them for granted. Those suckers could sting badly. They never did any bad damage, but they hurt enough to make him want to keep from getting hit.
"Never stop moving," Bruce told him. "Watch every angle, keep your eyes open- move! Don't stop moving!"
Several times Terry wanted to quit from exhaustion, but all he had to do was take one look at the Batsuit hanging back in its display, and he would get back up and do it again. He didn't care how tough it was, he was going to prove he was worthy of the mantle.
After that he found out about the weapons *he* got to use.
"Updated Batarangs," Bruce explained, holding up the small bat-shaped disk. "Insert in the wrists of the suit. To unleash them you have to apply pressure here-" he indicated spots on the suit- "and here. Pellets." He held up the tiny silver balls. "Never drop unintentionally. They can fill up an entire room in less than five seconds. Make sure you know your exits *before* unleashing them-"
And on down the line they went.
But Terry's favorite device was the belt.
"Twist the switch here," Bruce indicated, twisting the centerpiece on the belt. The entire suit disappeared from view. Terry's eyes widened in surprise. Bruce simply twisted it again and the suit reappeared.
"Camouflage," he explained. "Use it wisely."
Oh yeah.
While Terry got a drink of water and sat down for awhile, Bruce took his position behind the computer.
"You're going out tonight," he said.
Terry looked up, startled. Here he was, having practically sweated through his gym clothes, more tired than he'd ever felt, and now he was supposed to go out?
"What?"
"Derek Powers is supervising the test subjects in the agricultural department of Wayne Enterprises. You can check it out."
"Powers?" Terry stood up, suddenly forgetting his weariness. "When."
"Here's the location." Then he added, "If you feel you're up to it."
Terry understood that voice. It was the 'you-wanted-this-chance-and-if-you- don't-do-it-you're-out' voice.
"I'm going."
Wayne swiveled around in his chair, watching Terry take the costume out of its display. "This is your one and only chance Terry," he reminded him. "Act wisely. No one dies tonight."
Terry didn't answer. He disappeared in the shadows changing. Even though he had made a deal, he couldn't exactly promise the last part.
After all, Powers was responsible for his father's death.
"You let yourself be seen!"
Derek Powers couldn't believe it. He had met up with Mr. Fixx inside the laboratory and he was angry.
"There were complications-" Fixx began, but Derek didn't listen.
"I don't care! You were seen! Two punk kids saw you and you didn't even get rid of them. You let the entire street see you when you were running away, holding a *laptop* in your arms! You know what that looks like?"
Mr. Fixx narrowed his eyes. "I did what I had to. You're the one who hired me Mr. Powers. You either take my way or I quit. I still want my payment."
"You were told to keep anyone from looking in our direction. What do you call what you did today?"
The laboratory was huge. Mostly covered in white there were a few selected doctors inside, checking their computer read-outs before bringing out the test-subject. Behind them was a staircase leading up to a catwalk that led out to the ground floor. All doors were locked at the moment.
Derek was not having a good day. In fact ever since word got out about the experiment he had been having bad days. He had tried so hard to keep things under wraps- and at first he thought he had, hiring Mr. Fixx. But now he wasn't so sure. Mr. Fixx liked to work at his own pace in his own way. And Derek wasn't sure he appreciated that anymore.
"Mr. Powers," a voice spoke up, and they both turned to see Doctor Sherit coming their way. He was a middle-aged man with graying hair, dressed in the recommended white lab coat and plastic gloves.
"Yes?" Derek answered, sounding slightly annoyed.
"We're ready to bring out the test subject."
His lip curled with anticipation, looking past the doctor to the room where the subject had been held for the last few hours. "Excellent. Bring him out."
Terry thought he liked the belt the most. But that was before he was introduced to the car.
It was dark as night and curved for accessibility in the air. Big enough to fit approximately two or three people- if they squeezed, and even came with a stereo system.
"I get to drive this?" Terry asked anxiously, coming out dressed in the batsuit and finding the vehicle in the middle of the cave. Bruce stood beside it, waiting.
"What did you expect to drive?" he answered. "Don't scratch it."
Oh. Sure.
The car also came with a transmission that connected it with the cave, so while Terry was out in the air with it, he *still* had to listen to the older man's voice.
"Don't be too aggressive," Bruce was saying through the speakers. It was like he could see everything Terry was doing-, which was probably the case. Terry gripped on hard to the controls, trying to drive it like a regular car, but the vehicle just wouldn't react the same way.
"It's attached to the suit," Bruce told him, "relax, let the car do the flying."
Oh. Okay.
"Here's the location again."
A monitor came alive from the control panel in front of him, and he could see a crude outline of the Gotham City map. In one section there was a blinking light, indicating his destination.
"Got it," he said, turning the vehicle in that direction.
"One chance Terry, that's it," came the reminder. Terry ignored him. For all he knew, he wasn't Terry anymore.
Batman was back in action.
The test subject was a man in his mid-twenties, tall and muscular with blond hair. They had dressed him up in only a pair of white shorts and by the way he was acting, hadn't been informed at all about what *exactly* the experiment was.
"Ah," Derek greeted him warmly, extending a hand. "I'd like to thank you for being so kind as to volunteer to be our test subject."
The man laughed charmingly, shaking his hand. "Doesn't hurt to do a few tests on organic chemicals, huh?" he shook his head, "Name's Ted Williams."
"Pleased to meet you Mr. Williams. Have the doctors already informed you of what they'll be doing with you tonight?"
"I believe so," he said, looking back at the doctors, smiling. "I'm all ready."
"Perfect. And just for caution, you *are* in good condition, been to the doctor recently and volunteered for this through paperwork and selection, am I correct?"
"Right."
One of the doctors stepped forward to help Ted in his place. The testing was to take place in a glass room shut away from the rest of them, a table set up in the center with straps attached. Derek watched them lead him into the room, waiting on the other side of the glass. Mr. Fixx approached him, looking through the glass gravely.
"It'll be his death," he pointed out subtly, watching the doctors strap the man onto the table.
Derek merely shrugged.
"He volunteered."
Doctor Sherit approached him then. "Mr. Powers," he said once the door was closed between them and Ted, "we will be exposing diluted our toxins mixture to Mr. Williams, so he will be only exposed to 1/32 the original impact of the mixture. Bullet-proof glass will make sure we don't get exposed as well."
Derek nodded, "okay."
"If ever there is an accident and the pipes are broken aligning the experimenting room-" the doctor pointed out the pipe lining across the wall above the glass room, "we need to evacuate immediately."
Derek forced a smile. "Not that that will ever be necessary, Mr. Sherit," he assured him, "I'm perfectly confident in your control."
Mr. Sherit nodded and backed away, but didn't look completely convinced. He turned to the other doctors who were standing at the controls. "Okay!" he called out.
They flipped the switch and for a minute all eyes were on Ted Williams.
He didn't seem to notice anything different inside the glass room. He lay there, looking around, monitors hooked up to his body for his heart rate. Nothing happened.
Then slowly a green mist started to form in the room, pressing up lightly against the glass. Derek took a step forward, watching intently, eyes wide with anxiety.
Mr. Fixx stepped back cautiously, not sure what he was about to witness next.
A few minutes happened and nothing happened to Ted. He was still looking around, breathing normally. The heart rate was the same.
Derek turned around. "Nothing's happening, doctors," he said.
"That's good," Doctor Sherit said, "we've finally found a mixture diluted enough for humans to withstand."
Derek wasn't satisfied. "Put in more."
He could feel the doctors all staring at him in disbelief. He sighed heavily. "Put in more," he repeated, his voice suddenly harsh.
"But sir-"
"Just do it!"
They jumped and one of them turned to the controls, turning the knob up slightly.
"More."
Doctor Sherit looked pleadingly at Mr. Powers. "Mr. Powers please, we don't want to kill the man, we just want to find the right dilution so we can use it on the produce-"
"How do you know how much a person can withstand, doctor?" Derek interrupted. "That's what I want to know. Turn it up."
He waited a few more minutes, watching Ted Williams intently through the glass. All the doctors were looking at him warily, suddenly feeling afraid.
Then Ted started screaming.
It was a horrible sound and even caused Derek and Mr. Fixx to step back in alarm. Ted continued screaming and struggled to sit up. His skin was dissolving at a rapid pace.
"Stop!" Doctor Sherit screamed, "shut it off!"
But they didn't have to. Whistling sounds flew through the room and before they knew it the control pad was sparking, its wires suddenly exposed. A bat-shaped disk stuck out from the pad, but effectively hitting the switch to turn the gas off.
Batman dropped down in the center of the room, crouching low. The doctors all gasped when they saw him, running around him for the exit, but Batman didn't care. He was looking at Derek Powers and Mr. Fixx.
Then he looked past them to the experimental room.
"That's just wrong," he said in a deep voice.
Derek was angry. It was his greatest experiment and this *freak* had ruined it for him. Yelling angrily he ran for the Bat, arms outstretched as if to tackle him. Batman simply flipped him over his back, throwing him across the room. Derek hit the ground hard.
Batman looked around for a way to get the man out of the experimental room, but he was cut off when Mr. Fixx chose that time to attack him.
The difference between Mr. Fixx and his boss was their obvious strength. When Derek had attacked him earlier he didn't even flinch. But Mr. Fixx-
Batman found himself flying across the room, crashing into the control panel. He definitely felt that, but surprisingly not enough to keep him from getting up. Mr. Fixx was attacking him again.
He blocked his blows effectively and flipped him over, sending him over the control panel and onto the floor. By then Derek Powers had recovered and was getting back to his feet.
"You ruined it!" he shouted angrily, staggering toward him. Batman watched him. For some powerful guy he sure looked pathetic at that moment.
"You ruined it!" Derek shouted again, regaining balance. "My experiment, you destroyed it! You *freak*!"
Oh like that hurt him.
Batman didn't have time to deal with Powers. Mr. Fixx was already back up and getting close to pounding him again. Batman backed away, looking around. Ted Williams was still in the glass room, but the gas had stopped flowing through. If he could get to him somehow without exposing the gas to anyone else-
The doctors had already disappeared from the room and all that was left was Mr. Fixx and Powers.
No huge loss to humanity. Okay then.
Batman made a move toward the glass room, but something caused him to turn back around. Mr. Fixx had stepped aside briefly and there stood Mr. Powers, a gun in his hand.
Okay move, move, move!
He dodged as fast as he could, flipping over just as Derek fired. The bullet bounced off the bulletproof glass, ricocheting back. Derek continued firing and Batman started running. He didn't know how much the suit could withstand, but he didn't want to risk getting shot if the suit couldn't shield bullets. Another thing to ask Bruce when he got back.
Derek was yelling now, trying to hit the Bat. Batman jumped up to the wall above the glass room and flipped off, effectively getting to the other side of the room. Derek wasn't fast enough and fired just above the glass, puncturing the pipes.
Mr. Fixx's eyes widened, remembering the warning Powers had gotten from the doctor earlier, and backed up, looking for an exit. Green liquid was flowing from the puncture, eating through the metal and spilling out onto the concrete floor. The room filled with an intoxicating smell, causing Batman to search his belt for some sort of mask. Did he remember to pack one?
Then he found it, attaching it to his face quickly and then looking for an exit. If they didn't get out now-
"No!" Derek was screaming, lowering the gun. "No!" He was looking at the overflowing pipes, trying to back away. The toxins on the floor were already eating away at his shoes.
"Get out!" Batman yelled.
Derek turned to run, but the pipes completely cave way and a wall of green toxins came spilling out, covering him entirely. Batman watched in horror, helpless to do anything. Even if he tried to do something Powers was good as dead now.
Mr. Fixx let out a strangled cry and turned, running up the stairs and onto the catwalk. Batman followed in quick pursuit, extending his wings and flying across the room. They both got out through the front door, but Fixx kept running.
The doctors that had escaped earlier were still there. Batman stopped briefly to speak to them, but was off after Fixx again.
"There's been a chemical spill. Powers is still in there."
Mr. Fixx disappeared around the corner and Batman quickly pursued. It was dark out and he could barely see. Remembering what Bruce had told him earlier he flicked a switch on his belt and his vision turned infrared.
Clear as day. Sort of.
As he rounded the corner he found out what Fixx was after. A small modern plane had been stored there and Fixx was getting in behind the controls, starting it up. Batman quickened his speed. No one was going to escape as long as he was around.
The plane lifted into the air just as Batman reached it, reaching up to grab onto its wings. Fighting the sudden altitude he climbed onto the wings, clinging on to the side to keep from falling off. The plane lifted higher and higher and he looked down briefly to see where they were going.
Toward the ocean. Great.
He straightened up, moving toward the cockpit. Mr. Fixx by then had realized he was still there, and tried swerving the pane. Batman lost balance for a split second, sprawling across the wing. He clung on hard to the surface, clenching his teeth. The wind beat against him and he struggled to get back up, turning back toward the cockpit.
Spying the window on the side of the plane Batman headed in that direction instead, gripping on to the side with his hands. Something in the suit helped him cling on effectively, but he still had to work on not getting blown away. Collecting all his strength he jumped up and kicked hard at the window.
The glass shattered and he slid through, dropping down inside the cargo side of the plane. The open window caused an imbalance and Mr. Fixx fought to keep the plane steady.
Trying to keep his balance Batman approached him, arms spread out to keep from slamming into the sides. He was too absorbed in that to realize Mr. Fixx had left the cockpit until he was practically upon him.
Batman felt the punch and staggered off balance, falling toward the back of the plane. He looked at Mr. Fixx in disbelief. What was he doing leaving the cockpit?
He got to his feet and sent his own punch across Fixx's face, causing him to stagger back toward the controls. Batman followed. If no one was going to drive this thing he would.
Despite the fact that he had no idea how. But that was just details.
Reaching the front he searched the controls, trying to figure out a way to land or steer. They were above the water now.
Mr. Fixx grabbed him then and threw him forward. Batman hit the controls hard and flipped over, trying to free his legs to kick him away. But Fixx already had something else in mind.
He was holding two of the meanest looking electric clasps that he had hooked up to the front. The sparked in the dark, looming over Batman's face threateningly. He started to thrust them down on him, but Batman grabbed his wrists just in time, holding them away.
It wasn't enough though. Mr. Fixx was pretty strong for a man and he continued pressing the clasps down, getting them closer and closer to Batman's face. Batman struggled, pushing them away as far as he could.
"You're pretty strong," Mr. Fixx said in-between grunts as he tried pushing the clasps down, fighting against Batman, "for some clown who thinks he's Batman."
It was the first time someone had actually referred to him as Batman to his face. Batman struggled against the clasps. "No," he answered, "I *am* Batman."
Then he was gone.
He had managed to twist away from the controls and release Mr. Fixx's arms. Mr. Fixx, not realizing this fast enough, plunged the electric clasps down onto the control panel.
The plane lit up in enough electric light that it reminded Batman of the giant Christmas tree they had always put up downtown every year. He held up an arm to shield himself, then realized he'd better get out of there if he wanted to live through all this.
Mr. Fixx was screaming, trying to pull away from the clasps, but he was electrically drawn to them. The control panel sparked and fizzed and alarms went off. The plane was dipping. Batman tried to get to him, but the interior was starting to fall apart, blocking him from the cockpit.
Pressing the button on his belt to alert the batmobile, he kicked the side door open and leapt out into the cool air, extending his wings and firing the blasters at the bottom of his boots to lift him up into the air. He turned just as the plane, a giant ball of flame, hit the ocean below, creating a deafening exploding sound.
Batman reached the peak of his height, then felt himself falling again. At that moment he heard a light whirring sound and the Batmoble pulled up below, latch open. He dropped down inside, nearly missing the chair and effectively pulling a muscle in his leg.
Crawling up to the front he settled himself in the chair, breathing hard. It was hot underneath the costume and he was sweating.
He spent a few quick minutes there, flying the batmoble around, thinking.
There was nothing else he could do now. Powers was dead no doubt, but that wasn't his fault. Mr. Fixx was dead as well, but Batman hadn't given him those clasps. It wasn't his fault.
But yet he couldn't help feeling responsible. And he didn't feel anywhere near the satisfaction he had hoped to feel when Derek Powers got his comeuppance.
He felt mortified.
Taking a deep breath, he put the mobile on autopilot and set the destination for the cave. He didn't quite feel like driving that night anymore.
They spent the remainder of the day down in the Batcave. Training.
Terry found out right away that there was so much more to being the Batman than to flying and beating up bad guys. There were techniques to everything, solutions behind solutions. The Batcave was still in working order and Bruce Wayne put him through a quick work out run through the simulator, testing his abilities.
It was the hardest hours of his life.
Terry learned how to fight in regular combat all the way up to pressed in atmospheres with five or more opponents, all carrying laser weapons. He soon learned not to take them for granted. Those suckers could sting badly. They never did any bad damage, but they hurt enough to make him want to keep from getting hit.
"Never stop moving," Bruce told him. "Watch every angle, keep your eyes open- move! Don't stop moving!"
Several times Terry wanted to quit from exhaustion, but all he had to do was take one look at the Batsuit hanging back in its display, and he would get back up and do it again. He didn't care how tough it was, he was going to prove he was worthy of the mantle.
After that he found out about the weapons *he* got to use.
"Updated Batarangs," Bruce explained, holding up the small bat-shaped disk. "Insert in the wrists of the suit. To unleash them you have to apply pressure here-" he indicated spots on the suit- "and here. Pellets." He held up the tiny silver balls. "Never drop unintentionally. They can fill up an entire room in less than five seconds. Make sure you know your exits *before* unleashing them-"
And on down the line they went.
But Terry's favorite device was the belt.
"Twist the switch here," Bruce indicated, twisting the centerpiece on the belt. The entire suit disappeared from view. Terry's eyes widened in surprise. Bruce simply twisted it again and the suit reappeared.
"Camouflage," he explained. "Use it wisely."
Oh yeah.
While Terry got a drink of water and sat down for awhile, Bruce took his position behind the computer.
"You're going out tonight," he said.
Terry looked up, startled. Here he was, having practically sweated through his gym clothes, more tired than he'd ever felt, and now he was supposed to go out?
"What?"
"Derek Powers is supervising the test subjects in the agricultural department of Wayne Enterprises. You can check it out."
"Powers?" Terry stood up, suddenly forgetting his weariness. "When."
"Here's the location." Then he added, "If you feel you're up to it."
Terry understood that voice. It was the 'you-wanted-this-chance-and-if-you- don't-do-it-you're-out' voice.
"I'm going."
Wayne swiveled around in his chair, watching Terry take the costume out of its display. "This is your one and only chance Terry," he reminded him. "Act wisely. No one dies tonight."
Terry didn't answer. He disappeared in the shadows changing. Even though he had made a deal, he couldn't exactly promise the last part.
After all, Powers was responsible for his father's death.
"You let yourself be seen!"
Derek Powers couldn't believe it. He had met up with Mr. Fixx inside the laboratory and he was angry.
"There were complications-" Fixx began, but Derek didn't listen.
"I don't care! You were seen! Two punk kids saw you and you didn't even get rid of them. You let the entire street see you when you were running away, holding a *laptop* in your arms! You know what that looks like?"
Mr. Fixx narrowed his eyes. "I did what I had to. You're the one who hired me Mr. Powers. You either take my way or I quit. I still want my payment."
"You were told to keep anyone from looking in our direction. What do you call what you did today?"
The laboratory was huge. Mostly covered in white there were a few selected doctors inside, checking their computer read-outs before bringing out the test-subject. Behind them was a staircase leading up to a catwalk that led out to the ground floor. All doors were locked at the moment.
Derek was not having a good day. In fact ever since word got out about the experiment he had been having bad days. He had tried so hard to keep things under wraps- and at first he thought he had, hiring Mr. Fixx. But now he wasn't so sure. Mr. Fixx liked to work at his own pace in his own way. And Derek wasn't sure he appreciated that anymore.
"Mr. Powers," a voice spoke up, and they both turned to see Doctor Sherit coming their way. He was a middle-aged man with graying hair, dressed in the recommended white lab coat and plastic gloves.
"Yes?" Derek answered, sounding slightly annoyed.
"We're ready to bring out the test subject."
His lip curled with anticipation, looking past the doctor to the room where the subject had been held for the last few hours. "Excellent. Bring him out."
Terry thought he liked the belt the most. But that was before he was introduced to the car.
It was dark as night and curved for accessibility in the air. Big enough to fit approximately two or three people- if they squeezed, and even came with a stereo system.
"I get to drive this?" Terry asked anxiously, coming out dressed in the batsuit and finding the vehicle in the middle of the cave. Bruce stood beside it, waiting.
"What did you expect to drive?" he answered. "Don't scratch it."
Oh. Sure.
The car also came with a transmission that connected it with the cave, so while Terry was out in the air with it, he *still* had to listen to the older man's voice.
"Don't be too aggressive," Bruce was saying through the speakers. It was like he could see everything Terry was doing-, which was probably the case. Terry gripped on hard to the controls, trying to drive it like a regular car, but the vehicle just wouldn't react the same way.
"It's attached to the suit," Bruce told him, "relax, let the car do the flying."
Oh. Okay.
"Here's the location again."
A monitor came alive from the control panel in front of him, and he could see a crude outline of the Gotham City map. In one section there was a blinking light, indicating his destination.
"Got it," he said, turning the vehicle in that direction.
"One chance Terry, that's it," came the reminder. Terry ignored him. For all he knew, he wasn't Terry anymore.
Batman was back in action.
The test subject was a man in his mid-twenties, tall and muscular with blond hair. They had dressed him up in only a pair of white shorts and by the way he was acting, hadn't been informed at all about what *exactly* the experiment was.
"Ah," Derek greeted him warmly, extending a hand. "I'd like to thank you for being so kind as to volunteer to be our test subject."
The man laughed charmingly, shaking his hand. "Doesn't hurt to do a few tests on organic chemicals, huh?" he shook his head, "Name's Ted Williams."
"Pleased to meet you Mr. Williams. Have the doctors already informed you of what they'll be doing with you tonight?"
"I believe so," he said, looking back at the doctors, smiling. "I'm all ready."
"Perfect. And just for caution, you *are* in good condition, been to the doctor recently and volunteered for this through paperwork and selection, am I correct?"
"Right."
One of the doctors stepped forward to help Ted in his place. The testing was to take place in a glass room shut away from the rest of them, a table set up in the center with straps attached. Derek watched them lead him into the room, waiting on the other side of the glass. Mr. Fixx approached him, looking through the glass gravely.
"It'll be his death," he pointed out subtly, watching the doctors strap the man onto the table.
Derek merely shrugged.
"He volunteered."
Doctor Sherit approached him then. "Mr. Powers," he said once the door was closed between them and Ted, "we will be exposing diluted our toxins mixture to Mr. Williams, so he will be only exposed to 1/32 the original impact of the mixture. Bullet-proof glass will make sure we don't get exposed as well."
Derek nodded, "okay."
"If ever there is an accident and the pipes are broken aligning the experimenting room-" the doctor pointed out the pipe lining across the wall above the glass room, "we need to evacuate immediately."
Derek forced a smile. "Not that that will ever be necessary, Mr. Sherit," he assured him, "I'm perfectly confident in your control."
Mr. Sherit nodded and backed away, but didn't look completely convinced. He turned to the other doctors who were standing at the controls. "Okay!" he called out.
They flipped the switch and for a minute all eyes were on Ted Williams.
He didn't seem to notice anything different inside the glass room. He lay there, looking around, monitors hooked up to his body for his heart rate. Nothing happened.
Then slowly a green mist started to form in the room, pressing up lightly against the glass. Derek took a step forward, watching intently, eyes wide with anxiety.
Mr. Fixx stepped back cautiously, not sure what he was about to witness next.
A few minutes happened and nothing happened to Ted. He was still looking around, breathing normally. The heart rate was the same.
Derek turned around. "Nothing's happening, doctors," he said.
"That's good," Doctor Sherit said, "we've finally found a mixture diluted enough for humans to withstand."
Derek wasn't satisfied. "Put in more."
He could feel the doctors all staring at him in disbelief. He sighed heavily. "Put in more," he repeated, his voice suddenly harsh.
"But sir-"
"Just do it!"
They jumped and one of them turned to the controls, turning the knob up slightly.
"More."
Doctor Sherit looked pleadingly at Mr. Powers. "Mr. Powers please, we don't want to kill the man, we just want to find the right dilution so we can use it on the produce-"
"How do you know how much a person can withstand, doctor?" Derek interrupted. "That's what I want to know. Turn it up."
He waited a few more minutes, watching Ted Williams intently through the glass. All the doctors were looking at him warily, suddenly feeling afraid.
Then Ted started screaming.
It was a horrible sound and even caused Derek and Mr. Fixx to step back in alarm. Ted continued screaming and struggled to sit up. His skin was dissolving at a rapid pace.
"Stop!" Doctor Sherit screamed, "shut it off!"
But they didn't have to. Whistling sounds flew through the room and before they knew it the control pad was sparking, its wires suddenly exposed. A bat-shaped disk stuck out from the pad, but effectively hitting the switch to turn the gas off.
Batman dropped down in the center of the room, crouching low. The doctors all gasped when they saw him, running around him for the exit, but Batman didn't care. He was looking at Derek Powers and Mr. Fixx.
Then he looked past them to the experimental room.
"That's just wrong," he said in a deep voice.
Derek was angry. It was his greatest experiment and this *freak* had ruined it for him. Yelling angrily he ran for the Bat, arms outstretched as if to tackle him. Batman simply flipped him over his back, throwing him across the room. Derek hit the ground hard.
Batman looked around for a way to get the man out of the experimental room, but he was cut off when Mr. Fixx chose that time to attack him.
The difference between Mr. Fixx and his boss was their obvious strength. When Derek had attacked him earlier he didn't even flinch. But Mr. Fixx-
Batman found himself flying across the room, crashing into the control panel. He definitely felt that, but surprisingly not enough to keep him from getting up. Mr. Fixx was attacking him again.
He blocked his blows effectively and flipped him over, sending him over the control panel and onto the floor. By then Derek Powers had recovered and was getting back to his feet.
"You ruined it!" he shouted angrily, staggering toward him. Batman watched him. For some powerful guy he sure looked pathetic at that moment.
"You ruined it!" Derek shouted again, regaining balance. "My experiment, you destroyed it! You *freak*!"
Oh like that hurt him.
Batman didn't have time to deal with Powers. Mr. Fixx was already back up and getting close to pounding him again. Batman backed away, looking around. Ted Williams was still in the glass room, but the gas had stopped flowing through. If he could get to him somehow without exposing the gas to anyone else-
The doctors had already disappeared from the room and all that was left was Mr. Fixx and Powers.
No huge loss to humanity. Okay then.
Batman made a move toward the glass room, but something caused him to turn back around. Mr. Fixx had stepped aside briefly and there stood Mr. Powers, a gun in his hand.
Okay move, move, move!
He dodged as fast as he could, flipping over just as Derek fired. The bullet bounced off the bulletproof glass, ricocheting back. Derek continued firing and Batman started running. He didn't know how much the suit could withstand, but he didn't want to risk getting shot if the suit couldn't shield bullets. Another thing to ask Bruce when he got back.
Derek was yelling now, trying to hit the Bat. Batman jumped up to the wall above the glass room and flipped off, effectively getting to the other side of the room. Derek wasn't fast enough and fired just above the glass, puncturing the pipes.
Mr. Fixx's eyes widened, remembering the warning Powers had gotten from the doctor earlier, and backed up, looking for an exit. Green liquid was flowing from the puncture, eating through the metal and spilling out onto the concrete floor. The room filled with an intoxicating smell, causing Batman to search his belt for some sort of mask. Did he remember to pack one?
Then he found it, attaching it to his face quickly and then looking for an exit. If they didn't get out now-
"No!" Derek was screaming, lowering the gun. "No!" He was looking at the overflowing pipes, trying to back away. The toxins on the floor were already eating away at his shoes.
"Get out!" Batman yelled.
Derek turned to run, but the pipes completely cave way and a wall of green toxins came spilling out, covering him entirely. Batman watched in horror, helpless to do anything. Even if he tried to do something Powers was good as dead now.
Mr. Fixx let out a strangled cry and turned, running up the stairs and onto the catwalk. Batman followed in quick pursuit, extending his wings and flying across the room. They both got out through the front door, but Fixx kept running.
The doctors that had escaped earlier were still there. Batman stopped briefly to speak to them, but was off after Fixx again.
"There's been a chemical spill. Powers is still in there."
Mr. Fixx disappeared around the corner and Batman quickly pursued. It was dark out and he could barely see. Remembering what Bruce had told him earlier he flicked a switch on his belt and his vision turned infrared.
Clear as day. Sort of.
As he rounded the corner he found out what Fixx was after. A small modern plane had been stored there and Fixx was getting in behind the controls, starting it up. Batman quickened his speed. No one was going to escape as long as he was around.
The plane lifted into the air just as Batman reached it, reaching up to grab onto its wings. Fighting the sudden altitude he climbed onto the wings, clinging on to the side to keep from falling off. The plane lifted higher and higher and he looked down briefly to see where they were going.
Toward the ocean. Great.
He straightened up, moving toward the cockpit. Mr. Fixx by then had realized he was still there, and tried swerving the pane. Batman lost balance for a split second, sprawling across the wing. He clung on hard to the surface, clenching his teeth. The wind beat against him and he struggled to get back up, turning back toward the cockpit.
Spying the window on the side of the plane Batman headed in that direction instead, gripping on to the side with his hands. Something in the suit helped him cling on effectively, but he still had to work on not getting blown away. Collecting all his strength he jumped up and kicked hard at the window.
The glass shattered and he slid through, dropping down inside the cargo side of the plane. The open window caused an imbalance and Mr. Fixx fought to keep the plane steady.
Trying to keep his balance Batman approached him, arms spread out to keep from slamming into the sides. He was too absorbed in that to realize Mr. Fixx had left the cockpit until he was practically upon him.
Batman felt the punch and staggered off balance, falling toward the back of the plane. He looked at Mr. Fixx in disbelief. What was he doing leaving the cockpit?
He got to his feet and sent his own punch across Fixx's face, causing him to stagger back toward the controls. Batman followed. If no one was going to drive this thing he would.
Despite the fact that he had no idea how. But that was just details.
Reaching the front he searched the controls, trying to figure out a way to land or steer. They were above the water now.
Mr. Fixx grabbed him then and threw him forward. Batman hit the controls hard and flipped over, trying to free his legs to kick him away. But Fixx already had something else in mind.
He was holding two of the meanest looking electric clasps that he had hooked up to the front. The sparked in the dark, looming over Batman's face threateningly. He started to thrust them down on him, but Batman grabbed his wrists just in time, holding them away.
It wasn't enough though. Mr. Fixx was pretty strong for a man and he continued pressing the clasps down, getting them closer and closer to Batman's face. Batman struggled, pushing them away as far as he could.
"You're pretty strong," Mr. Fixx said in-between grunts as he tried pushing the clasps down, fighting against Batman, "for some clown who thinks he's Batman."
It was the first time someone had actually referred to him as Batman to his face. Batman struggled against the clasps. "No," he answered, "I *am* Batman."
Then he was gone.
He had managed to twist away from the controls and release Mr. Fixx's arms. Mr. Fixx, not realizing this fast enough, plunged the electric clasps down onto the control panel.
The plane lit up in enough electric light that it reminded Batman of the giant Christmas tree they had always put up downtown every year. He held up an arm to shield himself, then realized he'd better get out of there if he wanted to live through all this.
Mr. Fixx was screaming, trying to pull away from the clasps, but he was electrically drawn to them. The control panel sparked and fizzed and alarms went off. The plane was dipping. Batman tried to get to him, but the interior was starting to fall apart, blocking him from the cockpit.
Pressing the button on his belt to alert the batmobile, he kicked the side door open and leapt out into the cool air, extending his wings and firing the blasters at the bottom of his boots to lift him up into the air. He turned just as the plane, a giant ball of flame, hit the ocean below, creating a deafening exploding sound.
Batman reached the peak of his height, then felt himself falling again. At that moment he heard a light whirring sound and the Batmoble pulled up below, latch open. He dropped down inside, nearly missing the chair and effectively pulling a muscle in his leg.
Crawling up to the front he settled himself in the chair, breathing hard. It was hot underneath the costume and he was sweating.
He spent a few quick minutes there, flying the batmoble around, thinking.
There was nothing else he could do now. Powers was dead no doubt, but that wasn't his fault. Mr. Fixx was dead as well, but Batman hadn't given him those clasps. It wasn't his fault.
But yet he couldn't help feeling responsible. And he didn't feel anywhere near the satisfaction he had hoped to feel when Derek Powers got his comeuppance.
He felt mortified.
Taking a deep breath, he put the mobile on autopilot and set the destination for the cave. He didn't quite feel like driving that night anymore.