Chapter 2: Leather Wings in Gotham (Start)
One year, one year has passed and a lot has changed within Gotham City. A year has gone by and within the City of Sin, about 10% of crime has gone down. Now that is not good but within a city filled with power, corruption, and sin. It's a pretty big deal and changes have come to this city. Many criminals, corrupted, and high in power were becoming afraid of something flying within the night. The people were starting to have hope back and help change things as much as they can. All those changes came during the debut of Gotham's new knight in shining armor, Batman.
Now not everyone was delighted with the changes and the masked vigilante's involvement or taking the law into his own hands. Some crime families want him dead and sometimes the masked hero creates his own villains is the theory. A good number of GCPD were running for Batman but are shut down due to a number of reasons and mostly because a certain commissioner of the said police force believes in the Bat making Gotham better. A lot of mixed feelings from those within the force, law & order, and civilians. And their views on the Bat himself.
Right now, we see a few blimps in the sky, GCPD that were patrolling the city from the atmosphere and get a good bird's eye view down below. Anything can happen and most can be lucky with what they saw from above the city. It was quiet for once for the pair of pilots until something happened.
"What the! What's that?" One of the pilots said, immediately seeing something on the radar that disappeared within a second on his screen.
"What?" The other pilot asked.
"Do you got that? Something just ghosted across my screen," The pilot explained.
"I don't see anything...what the hell!" The other pilot was about to say something bolted across both of their eyesight from below to exceeding above them.
"You saw that too?"
"Yeah...yeah, I did. It looks like bat wings"
The pair saw the shadow of an abnormal humanoid bat figure that flew below to above them in a quick second. It scared them greatly as they didn't expect to see a bat creature up here and weren't sure if they saw the Dark Knight or not.
"Hmm let's go above those clouds, just to be safe," The main pilot said, getting a nod in agreement from his fellow pilot, and took the blimp upwards.
To the pair's relief, they saw nothing, and might have been just their imagination. But a part of them knows what they saw was real and something was up.
Within a few miles down west, down at Phoenix Paramceutcals which was one of the best pharmaceuticals and best medical care places within the city. Down the hallways, we see a security guard who was strolling down the halls and doing some tape recording for a radio ad job he was hoping to get. His family can use the extra money and would help a lot.
"There we go...,hmm," The security guard said, listening to the tape recorder on his headphones, and kept walking down the halls. He then frowned as one record didn't sound right to him.
"Better do that part again," He spoke out loud, taking his headphones out and starting to record again but wasn't able to get the chance to.
A loud crash noise happens and frightens the guard a bit. This caused the security guard to bring out his nightstick and walks toward the labs, of them. He didn't have his firearms due to the pharmaceutical company wanted guards to not have firearms as a bullet can cause a chemical explosion would happen. Hence, why all of them carried nightsticks and radios on them.
The security guard walks into the lab and saw there was no one inside, causing him to breathe in the air of relief and pulled out his radio, not knowing that something was in the room with him and his tape recorder was left on.
"Hey Mac, did you hear a clash too?" The guard asked through the radio, not noticing that someone was coming up and only can see a pair of bat-like wings on the walls.
"I did. I am calling the police," Mac, head of the security guards informed his fellow guard.
"Got it," The guard said, putting the radio away and soon became turn around to get out of the room, but was wishing he didn't as he became terrified of what was seen before him.
The unknown creature with bat-like wings screeched at the security guard and slowly walks to him.
"AH! Get away!" The guard screamed, picking up a chair to defend himself struggled to get his nightstick but that was easily smacked away by the said creature.
The unknown creature kept moving toward the guard while screeching and roaring mix, trashing the room apart and knocking the guard back, causing his tape recorder to fly out of his pocket. The creature then picked the guard up with strength and soon throw the said guard out of the glass window, who screamed as he fell down to a river that was just in the right place.
The unknown creature made a loud and longer screeching noise, causing a powerful sonic roar of sorts, causing all of the glass windows to shatter apart and everyone in the said building to hold onto their ears in pain. The creature then brought the wings up and took flight into the night.
This was going to cause a lot of attention now and an unwanted manhunt for the wrong person.
Time Skip
The next morning came fast, showing the mayor's office that belongs to Hamilton Hill who became mayor of Gotham for a number of years and plans for re-election within a few months. A newspaper was slammed onto the table and got the attention of those who were in the room as well.
"Gotham Polices Declare War on Batman!" The front headlines said and showed the same security guard recovering in a hospital bed.
"I didn't offer that statement, detective," The commissioner, Jim Gordon said, sounding very unhappy and disproving one of the detectives making a statement to the media.
Jim had a pretty good guess, two actually on who made that statement and was talking to one of them. Lieutenant Harvey Bullock and Chief Angel Rojas are the good guesses.
"Come on, Commiss. Someone asked me a couple of questions, I give them a couple of answers as you told me. Rojas made that statement clear as day," Bullock replied, being honest as he has a distrust with this bat but the chief has a deeper hatred for him.
"And without my approval. If Rojas kept quiet, he won't know we are moving against him," Jim stated while knowing that Batman didn't steal from the pharmaceutical company nor throw guards out of windows. Not his MO.
"Chief Rojas made the statement, Commissioner Gordon, and even demanded to have his personal task force on capturing The Batman," Hamilton informed, knowing his old friend won't be happy about that.
"For god's shake! I reject the request as no one is taking a vigilante force on my streets," Jim said with his eyes narrowed.
"It's a bit too late for that, Commissioner. I already approve the request and got Chief Rojas the men. He does have a good record on stopping wanted men before," Hamilton said, giving the bad news.
"Holy crow," Bullock said, taking a toothpick out and knowing that Rojas was going to get a big ear pulled when Jim gets back to the office.
"That I know...while causing unwanted damage as well during those chases on those so call 'wanted men'. And the good news?" Jim asked, rubbing the back of his head and ruffling his hair a bit, knowing he's got a lot of work back in the office and would have to stop Rojas from making a big mistake.
"The DA would make a good case if the chief doesn't kill the bat," Hamilton said, giving the good news and means capturing the Batman is a better option but the power-hungry police chief won't do that. That's for sure and is out for blood.
"Well here's hoping that Dent can give that good clean case out," Jim commented as he takes his leave with Bullock following behind.
"Should we join the task force?" Bullock asked.
"No...but keep an eye on Rojas, Bullock. I don't want any more damage done to the city because of his ego and hate for Batman," Jim replied.
"Got it, Jim. Rojas won't like it and would most lucky try to pull something behind the backs, but I would keep an eye on him. Do you think Batman stole the place?" Bullock asked, knowing the commissioner had this high hopes for the masked bat and understand him for some reason.
"He did not but I suspect he would be on the case very soon. Rojas made a big mistake of sending his match of war to the newspaper and I have a feeling that he would face a big bat problem down the road," Jim explained, knowing that Batman gets information much faster than anyone and would be on this case very fast.
We shall see.
Meanwhile
At the clock tower apartment building, which was pretty old and up for rent to use. However, no one wanted to be the landlord of an old clock tower and apartment complex building but one person did and was a good place to call home. And the hidden home for a certain bat that loves to fly around during the night.
In the upper part of the building, we see a massive and secret room that was the base of operations & home for the Bat himself. We see a number of types of equipment & technology around the room, a number of computers, and so on to help someone do crime fighting in Gotham. And there are some bats living in the clock tower as well, some sleeping on the ceiling or other areas. The owner doesn't mind.
In the chair by the main computer, we see Michael himself who was doing well for himself after one year as Batman. He had grown well over the year, his very first year of being the Dark Knight. He also now had a blue tattoo almost snake-like on the right side of his face and had his hair grown to where he had a ponytail. He wore a black workout shirt, grey pants, and shoes as he just finished his workout.
"Gotham police declares war on Batman?" Michael questioned in a bit of surprise as this reminds him of something but couldn't put his finger on it.
"You know how to make friends and motivate people," A female voice commented as she walks into view.
She was a young woman with blonde hair that passed her chin down to her neck, light-colored blue eyes, and an acrobatic body that an olympian athlete would have. Her slim and fit figure can make some women jealous of her. Her attire was a long-sleeved grey collar shirt, black skirt, and black shoes.
This was Rocky Ballantine, a close friend that Michael meet during the first months of starting this double life.
Michael just smirked at Rocky's comment early and also enjoyed her company quite a lot. He meets during a science competition at Gotham University and noicted her technological skills. He was interested in her creations and was impressed by them and her future ideas. While some said it was crazy or stupid, he didn't. He saw a brilliant and strong woman that could make a difference, which sparked her interest, and happy to hear that.
Michael and Rocky became close friends each other and later became more close when he revealed to her his secret, trusting her completely. She was surprised and speechless but agree to keep it a secret and later became his most helpful ally in making his equipment.
"Someone is setting me up," Michael stated, getting up from the chair and decied to head to the dressing room to get suited while still talking to Rocky from another side.
"So it wasn't you throwing guards over windows last night or using sonics to break a lot of windows?" Rocky asked.
"No...I rather throw criminals out of windows and know the location they are landing is a bit soft, not wet for them. Which I might have a lead," Michael replied as he started to suit up in his bat suit.
"How so?" Rocky questioned, having an idea she was going to be needed.
"There have been robberies in other pharmaceuticals. No one was hurt like last night but the chemicals were stolen just the same. I would head to Phoenix Labs to see if I can find any clues, the polices can often miss something," Michael said, suiting up and placing his boots on.
"Sounds like a plan. You want me at the main computer and running coms?" Rocky guessed until noticing something in the newspaper and turn to the page to see an interesting one that Michael should be aware of.
"Yes, do that. Also, see if you hack any police radios, knowing Chief Rojas and his hatred. He would send a large task force after me if I am spotted, I need to stay off the radar but close the board," Michael said, knowing from his knowledge and persona how some police officers in DC can let their hatred & ego blind them due to following the law & order system.
Rocky then saw Michael, now fully suited, and always becomes surprised when seeing him donning the cape & cowl. It was meant for him. He now wore a dark grey tight bodysuit that had a pair of silver gauntlets around his hands with silver demonic-looking claws on his hands that are attached to his gauntlets, golden armor placed located on his shoulders and chest area, with another armor place, this one being black with pointy ends, placed right above the golden ones.
We can also see a golden utility belt tied around his waist and also another one around his right leg. The final parts of his outfit were a long black cape attached to the black armor place and finally a black helmet that looked like the head of a bat, with pointy ears, the helmet covered his entire face, not revealing anything, the only part of it that showed something being the red visors that were placed over his eyes, making him look even more demonic than before.
Batman was ready and Michael was glad he choice with Azrael attire's Batsuit choice. The Knightfall was always a good issue for him and like the style, it grow on him.
"You love your suit, huh?" Rocky commented with a smirk.
"I did have a great designer to thank for making it," Batman said, sounding different and a bit dark while an echo was like a shadow.
"You're welcome, oh it seems a certain bird we know is causing a scene," Rocky said, showing on the newspaper of what she was talking about.
Batman hummed in thought and started to read the newspaper reports, of another vigilante defeating local gangs in a china town in the Gotham area. No one can get a picture of the heroine vigilante but many can report of a loud explosion and some lost hearing from the gangs for a long while until the police arrived. It was no explosion and the bat had an idea of who caused that.
"The owners of China Tower must have one helluva bird on their hands," Batman commented, knowing what bird cause all of that and the one that help trained to be far better since he was new and had sloppy skills.
The Bat was glad for the bird offering to help him and the training pay off.
"Indeed. Good luck and stay safe," Rocky said, knowing that tonight might be a bit tricky and hard due to a certain chief and all.
"I will, Rocky," Batman said as he took the firemen's poll, heading down and to the workshop where the Batmobile was located.
Time for the Dark Knight to do some of his own searchings for clues and figure out what is at Phoenix Pharmaceuticals.
Unknown Location
"I can help it...it's got me again...not now. Need more time. Need just a bit more time," A voice that was breathing very heavily and trying to gain air but was able to open a bottle of medicine.
We couldn't see due to how dark the room was and only saw a shadow of someone drinking the said bottle of medicine down in one go.
"I just need more time to perfect it. Just need more time."