BATMAN: CRIME, CRIME EVERYWHERE
By Bruce Wayne
DISCLAIMER: Most of the characters portrayed in this story are copyright by DC Comics, an AOL/Time/Warner company. They are used without permission for entertainment without profit by the author.
CHAPTER 2 - BATMAN ON THE MOVE
Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Tim Drake entered the fabulous Batcave and quickly went to their respective costume vaults. Bruce put on his Batman costume that was gray in color with a black cowl, cape, gauntlets, trunks, and boots. Around his waist he wore a yellow utility belt which contained various gas capsules, small explosives, antidote pills, knives, Bat-A- Rangs, and other various crimefighting tools.
On the Caped Crusader's chest was a black bat insignia that was encircled in yellow. The skintight costume was meant to strike fear into the hearts of Gotham's criminals.
Batman's costume, as well as Nightwing's and Robin's, was made of a triple- weave of bullet-proof Kevlar material.
Nightwing's costume was considerably different and simpler than Batman's. It was black and dark blue in color. Nightwing simply wore a dark blue mask that covered his eyes.
Robin was dressed in four different colors. He wore a bright red vest over a green shortsleeve shirt. He quickly put on the black tights, green boots and green gloves. His long cape was black on the outside and yellow on the inside. He wore a green mask that covered his eyes. The R-emblem on the left upper portion of his chest could be removed and thrown as a razor- sharp shuriken.
The Batcave was the headquarters of the Masked Manhunter's never-ending battle against crime and evil. There were four levels in all to the crimefighting command center. The main level contained the costume vaults, the garage for the Batmobiles, and the ultra-modern and highly- sophisticated crime lab.
In the center of the main level, located on a huge hydraulic turntable, was the Batmobile. The Batmobile was a black, newer-looking, non-descript four- door sedan that contained computer and communications equipment, as well as various types of offensive and defensive weapons. Though much different than the old, more sleek, sporty models that Batman used in the past, the Batmobile was still the fastest vehicle on the streets of Gotham City.
The second level was the real nerve center of the Batcave. This is where the vast computer and communications equipment were set up in a magnficent operations center. This level also contained Batman's famed Trophy Room, the hydrogen generator that powered the entire undergound complex, and the gymnasium.
The very lowest level was where the subway rocket terminal and the Batboat mooring were located. Also stored on the lowest level were the tanks that contained gasoline for the Batmobile and jet fuel for the Batplane and Batcopters, which were kept on the highest level of the cave.
Batman got in behind the wheel of the Batmobile and Robin sat down in the front passenger seat. Since Nightwing no longer usually rode with Batman, he got into the rear. All three snapped on their seatbelts. Batman pressed the ignition button and though all three could feel the power of the machine though hardly a sound could be heard.
Robin said jokingly for Nightwing's benefit, "Atomic batteries to power ... turbines of speed ... What the hell was that supposed to mean anyway?"
Not happy with Robin's teasing, Nightwing yelled from the rear seat, "Shut up!"
The Batmobile came out of a concealed hole on a side road under Wayne Manor. A warning horse that blocked the entrance to the cave automatically went down. After the Batmobile went over it, the warning horse automatically popped back up. The Batmobile was now on a main highway going toward Gotham City, which was fourteen miles away.
In less than fifteen minutes, the Batmobile arrived in front of Gotham Police Headquarters. In Commissioner Gordon's sixth-floor office, Gordon was explaining to Batman, Robin and Nightwing, " ... and he fled with the Universal Wax Solvent."
"Of course he left a riddle." Batman stated in a calm tone.
"Begorrah, you bet he did!" exclaimed Chief O'Hara.
Batman asked, "What is the riddle?"
Reading from the notes he took, Gordon told the Caped Crusader, "What does the Gotham State Building, a yellow bird on television, and a seven-foot tall man have in common?"
"We couldn't figure that out," O'Hara told the costumed heroes.
Nightwing yelled, "That's an easy one! They're all BIG!"
"Oh, you've done it again, old chum," a smiling Robin said in a sarcastic tone.
Nightwing stared a hole into the junior partner of the team.
"Big? Now what's that supposed to mean?" asked O'Hara.
Batman replied, "I'm not sure, Chief. Of course the Riddler only commits big crimes. But I think he's trying to tell us something more bizzare, something more unusual."
The door of the office opened and a beautiful young woman in a wheel-chair came in. She had long red hair and glasses.
The Commissioner looked up. "Barbara! What do you want, dear?"
Barbara Gordon was the commissioner's adopted daughter. She was also known to the Bat-Clan as Oracle. At one time, she was the ever-resourceful Batgirl. But her career was cut short by a bullet fired by the Joker. Now Barbara was a computer and intelligence-gathering expert who provided invaluable assistance to Gotham's crimefighting heroes while they were in the field.
"Oh, daddy, I thought we might go to dinner together this evening," she replied. "But I now see that you're busy. Hello Batman, Robin ..." She paused and put a special emphasis on the word, "Nightwing."
"A pleasure, Miss Gordon." Nightwing said smiling.
Commisioner Gordon told his daughter, "I'm sorry, Barbara, but not tonight. We have some trouble."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble?" asked the woman.
Robin explained, "The Riddler is on the loose again, Miss Gordon."
"The Riddler?" she said in an awed voice. "What's he done now?"
"He's stolen something called a Universal Wax Solvent from the wax museum in Uptown," Batman told her.
Barbara replied, "That sounds terrible!" She started to turn her wheelchair around, but stopped to look at Nightwing. "Well, I guess I'll let you men do your work. I'll just stop by the library before I eat. Good-bye."
"Uh, Miss Gordon," Nightwing said before she could leave. "If you are interested in a nice dinner, may I suggest D'Anunzio's, two blocks west of here and near the library. Very good food and not very expensive."
Barbara Gordon smiled. "Why, thank you, very much, Nightwing. I've been there before and might just go there this evening. Do you dine there often?"
"Not in this outfit," he told her with a straight face.
Barbara rolled her eyes at him and smirked.
Each of the five men in room said good-bye to her as she left.
Chief O'Hara then turned back to Batman and asked, "Well, Batman, where do we start?"
Batman replied honestly, "I'm not sure, Chief. The Riddler may have the next move."
To be continued ...
By Bruce Wayne
DISCLAIMER: Most of the characters portrayed in this story are copyright by DC Comics, an AOL/Time/Warner company. They are used without permission for entertainment without profit by the author.
CHAPTER 2 - BATMAN ON THE MOVE
Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Tim Drake entered the fabulous Batcave and quickly went to their respective costume vaults. Bruce put on his Batman costume that was gray in color with a black cowl, cape, gauntlets, trunks, and boots. Around his waist he wore a yellow utility belt which contained various gas capsules, small explosives, antidote pills, knives, Bat-A- Rangs, and other various crimefighting tools.
On the Caped Crusader's chest was a black bat insignia that was encircled in yellow. The skintight costume was meant to strike fear into the hearts of Gotham's criminals.
Batman's costume, as well as Nightwing's and Robin's, was made of a triple- weave of bullet-proof Kevlar material.
Nightwing's costume was considerably different and simpler than Batman's. It was black and dark blue in color. Nightwing simply wore a dark blue mask that covered his eyes.
Robin was dressed in four different colors. He wore a bright red vest over a green shortsleeve shirt. He quickly put on the black tights, green boots and green gloves. His long cape was black on the outside and yellow on the inside. He wore a green mask that covered his eyes. The R-emblem on the left upper portion of his chest could be removed and thrown as a razor- sharp shuriken.
The Batcave was the headquarters of the Masked Manhunter's never-ending battle against crime and evil. There were four levels in all to the crimefighting command center. The main level contained the costume vaults, the garage for the Batmobiles, and the ultra-modern and highly- sophisticated crime lab.
In the center of the main level, located on a huge hydraulic turntable, was the Batmobile. The Batmobile was a black, newer-looking, non-descript four- door sedan that contained computer and communications equipment, as well as various types of offensive and defensive weapons. Though much different than the old, more sleek, sporty models that Batman used in the past, the Batmobile was still the fastest vehicle on the streets of Gotham City.
The second level was the real nerve center of the Batcave. This is where the vast computer and communications equipment were set up in a magnficent operations center. This level also contained Batman's famed Trophy Room, the hydrogen generator that powered the entire undergound complex, and the gymnasium.
The very lowest level was where the subway rocket terminal and the Batboat mooring were located. Also stored on the lowest level were the tanks that contained gasoline for the Batmobile and jet fuel for the Batplane and Batcopters, which were kept on the highest level of the cave.
Batman got in behind the wheel of the Batmobile and Robin sat down in the front passenger seat. Since Nightwing no longer usually rode with Batman, he got into the rear. All three snapped on their seatbelts. Batman pressed the ignition button and though all three could feel the power of the machine though hardly a sound could be heard.
Robin said jokingly for Nightwing's benefit, "Atomic batteries to power ... turbines of speed ... What the hell was that supposed to mean anyway?"
Not happy with Robin's teasing, Nightwing yelled from the rear seat, "Shut up!"
The Batmobile came out of a concealed hole on a side road under Wayne Manor. A warning horse that blocked the entrance to the cave automatically went down. After the Batmobile went over it, the warning horse automatically popped back up. The Batmobile was now on a main highway going toward Gotham City, which was fourteen miles away.
In less than fifteen minutes, the Batmobile arrived in front of Gotham Police Headquarters. In Commissioner Gordon's sixth-floor office, Gordon was explaining to Batman, Robin and Nightwing, " ... and he fled with the Universal Wax Solvent."
"Of course he left a riddle." Batman stated in a calm tone.
"Begorrah, you bet he did!" exclaimed Chief O'Hara.
Batman asked, "What is the riddle?"
Reading from the notes he took, Gordon told the Caped Crusader, "What does the Gotham State Building, a yellow bird on television, and a seven-foot tall man have in common?"
"We couldn't figure that out," O'Hara told the costumed heroes.
Nightwing yelled, "That's an easy one! They're all BIG!"
"Oh, you've done it again, old chum," a smiling Robin said in a sarcastic tone.
Nightwing stared a hole into the junior partner of the team.
"Big? Now what's that supposed to mean?" asked O'Hara.
Batman replied, "I'm not sure, Chief. Of course the Riddler only commits big crimes. But I think he's trying to tell us something more bizzare, something more unusual."
The door of the office opened and a beautiful young woman in a wheel-chair came in. She had long red hair and glasses.
The Commissioner looked up. "Barbara! What do you want, dear?"
Barbara Gordon was the commissioner's adopted daughter. She was also known to the Bat-Clan as Oracle. At one time, she was the ever-resourceful Batgirl. But her career was cut short by a bullet fired by the Joker. Now Barbara was a computer and intelligence-gathering expert who provided invaluable assistance to Gotham's crimefighting heroes while they were in the field.
"Oh, daddy, I thought we might go to dinner together this evening," she replied. "But I now see that you're busy. Hello Batman, Robin ..." She paused and put a special emphasis on the word, "Nightwing."
"A pleasure, Miss Gordon." Nightwing said smiling.
Commisioner Gordon told his daughter, "I'm sorry, Barbara, but not tonight. We have some trouble."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble?" asked the woman.
Robin explained, "The Riddler is on the loose again, Miss Gordon."
"The Riddler?" she said in an awed voice. "What's he done now?"
"He's stolen something called a Universal Wax Solvent from the wax museum in Uptown," Batman told her.
Barbara replied, "That sounds terrible!" She started to turn her wheelchair around, but stopped to look at Nightwing. "Well, I guess I'll let you men do your work. I'll just stop by the library before I eat. Good-bye."
"Uh, Miss Gordon," Nightwing said before she could leave. "If you are interested in a nice dinner, may I suggest D'Anunzio's, two blocks west of here and near the library. Very good food and not very expensive."
Barbara Gordon smiled. "Why, thank you, very much, Nightwing. I've been there before and might just go there this evening. Do you dine there often?"
"Not in this outfit," he told her with a straight face.
Barbara rolled her eyes at him and smirked.
Each of the five men in room said good-bye to her as she left.
Chief O'Hara then turned back to Batman and asked, "Well, Batman, where do we start?"
Batman replied honestly, "I'm not sure, Chief. The Riddler may have the next move."
To be continued ...