(Naturally, Batman is a product of DC Comics, Warner Bros and created by Bob Cane. I can't lay claim to him... though, would I ever like to. Hehe!
Oh! And the character Catherine is one of my own creation... er, well, she's loosely based on me, if you really wanted to know.)
CHAPTER THREE - Mysterious Connections
Still garbed in the evening wear, Bruce and Catherine had retired to the Batcave, the underground lair that Batman and Shadow of the Bat called "home". Both were hunched over high-powered computers, seeking information on the mysterious Obiken's.
Their manservant, Alfred Pennyworth, observed the sight of them in their finest clothes and made a "tsk tsk" noise in his throat.
"Yes, Alfred?" Bruce asked without looking toward him.
He entered the cave and set a steaming mug of cappucino next to each of them, then said, "It seems to me that you're not properly attired for this... how shall I say? This delightful evening of spy games."
Catherine did look up, winked at Alfred, then returned to her monitor's display of data.
Bruce snorted but otherwise did not reply.
Alfred shrugged. "And what, may I inquire, is the latest investigation?"
"Two people at the event tonight," she said. "They were on the odd side. We both had--"
"Bad--"
"Not bad," Catherine corrected. "Just off... something didn't seem right and they asked odd questions of us."
"So we're seeing what we can find out," Bruce finished.
"What were their names?" Alfred asked, peering over Bruce's shoulder.
"Ben and Kir Obiken."
"Dressed rather monk-like? Ben having unruly brown hair, Kir having dark hair. Both with piercing eyes and a very defined posture?" Alfred asked.
Catherine and Bruce stopped cold and spun in their chair to regard him. "You know them?" they asked in unison.
"Of them," he corrected, smiling mischeviously. "Are you familiar with the non-denominational church... or rather, temple, that is over by the docks?"
Catherine nodded after a moment's pause. "Yeah. It opened about a year ago and caused a big stir - I remember the reports on that in the office - because the fears of a cult."
"Indeed," Alfred said, nodding toward her.
"They're involved with that..." Bruce said thoughtfully. "Hence the remarks at the table tonight. How does that fit in with their knowing Mc Guiger?"
"Master Bruce, I wonder about you sometimes. Mc Guiger was the man who'd funded the construction and land purchase for said temple. He is a highly devout follower of the belief system espoused there."
Bruce's eyes widened.
Catherine listened to their exchange, thinking back on the conversation at the table. "But Mc Guiger has no position on Batman that would illuminate on the questions the Obiken's asked either."
"Because they didn't really degrade the Dark Knights either," Bruce pointed out. "It was just the way that they posed their questions..."
She nodded.
Alfred smiled quietly. "If you'll not be needing me, I will retire for the evening. Good luck with your research."
As the manservant ascended the long flight of stairs leading back to Wayne Manor, Catherine looked to Bruce. "Plan?"
"Observation, first."
+++++
Batman relished the feel of the moonlight striking upon his exposed jaw, the rush of wind as his grappling line swung him across the wharf. His keen eyes were alert to the movements of the night in Gotham City - the shiftings in the shadows, stray cats perched atop the low roofs he crossed, the spare traffic on the streets so late at night.
The frustration he'd felt at the Mc Guiger Charity Benefit had not dissipated. Instead, it guided his finely honed actions and gave him focus for the diligent and patient observation and search before him.
He dropped down onto the roof of a two-story tenement building on the opposite side of the street from the temple that Alfred had referred to. All was quiet, from what he could ascertain visually. There were no lights on through the windows but Batman realized that people did live within the building as there were cars outside in the lot.
Batman moved closer as a cloud passed over the moon, obscuring light long enough for him to stand within a building of the temple.
His scowl deepened beneath his cowl, looking at the buliding. The memory of his parents and their religion came unbidden. Latin Mass services as a child... what did it all mean? English Mass... the sermons... the unanswered questoins... their deaths, that Mass... the saying that his parents were "in a better place" than with him...
Batman shook his head, willing the memories away.
"And there in the night exists the solitary bat. Welcome," came a male voice behind him.
The Dark Knight spun on his heel, his thigh and calf muscles primed to spring in any direction should the speaker turn out to be an attacker or a captor. It was neither; before him stood Ben Obiken.
He said nothing to Obiken's greeting.
Ben remained non-plussed. "What brings you into this neighborhood so late, Batman? It's been quiet around here for several months now. Surely, Old Gotham would deserve more of your attention?"
Batman could hear the ting of amusement in his voice; it only fueled his agitation. "I have my reasons."
"As I'm sure you do. Tell me, Batman, what memories were coursing through your heart and mind as you stood here?"
Batman started. There was no way for Obiken to have known that he was lost in a reverie. He frowned. There were no words he could give voice to. Batman turned and stepped off the ledge.
Ben watched as Batman's grappling line fired, zooming him off into the night.
Oh! And the character Catherine is one of my own creation... er, well, she's loosely based on me, if you really wanted to know.)
CHAPTER THREE - Mysterious Connections
Still garbed in the evening wear, Bruce and Catherine had retired to the Batcave, the underground lair that Batman and Shadow of the Bat called "home". Both were hunched over high-powered computers, seeking information on the mysterious Obiken's.
Their manservant, Alfred Pennyworth, observed the sight of them in their finest clothes and made a "tsk tsk" noise in his throat.
"Yes, Alfred?" Bruce asked without looking toward him.
He entered the cave and set a steaming mug of cappucino next to each of them, then said, "It seems to me that you're not properly attired for this... how shall I say? This delightful evening of spy games."
Catherine did look up, winked at Alfred, then returned to her monitor's display of data.
Bruce snorted but otherwise did not reply.
Alfred shrugged. "And what, may I inquire, is the latest investigation?"
"Two people at the event tonight," she said. "They were on the odd side. We both had--"
"Bad--"
"Not bad," Catherine corrected. "Just off... something didn't seem right and they asked odd questions of us."
"So we're seeing what we can find out," Bruce finished.
"What were their names?" Alfred asked, peering over Bruce's shoulder.
"Ben and Kir Obiken."
"Dressed rather monk-like? Ben having unruly brown hair, Kir having dark hair. Both with piercing eyes and a very defined posture?" Alfred asked.
Catherine and Bruce stopped cold and spun in their chair to regard him. "You know them?" they asked in unison.
"Of them," he corrected, smiling mischeviously. "Are you familiar with the non-denominational church... or rather, temple, that is over by the docks?"
Catherine nodded after a moment's pause. "Yeah. It opened about a year ago and caused a big stir - I remember the reports on that in the office - because the fears of a cult."
"Indeed," Alfred said, nodding toward her.
"They're involved with that..." Bruce said thoughtfully. "Hence the remarks at the table tonight. How does that fit in with their knowing Mc Guiger?"
"Master Bruce, I wonder about you sometimes. Mc Guiger was the man who'd funded the construction and land purchase for said temple. He is a highly devout follower of the belief system espoused there."
Bruce's eyes widened.
Catherine listened to their exchange, thinking back on the conversation at the table. "But Mc Guiger has no position on Batman that would illuminate on the questions the Obiken's asked either."
"Because they didn't really degrade the Dark Knights either," Bruce pointed out. "It was just the way that they posed their questions..."
She nodded.
Alfred smiled quietly. "If you'll not be needing me, I will retire for the evening. Good luck with your research."
As the manservant ascended the long flight of stairs leading back to Wayne Manor, Catherine looked to Bruce. "Plan?"
"Observation, first."
+++++
Batman relished the feel of the moonlight striking upon his exposed jaw, the rush of wind as his grappling line swung him across the wharf. His keen eyes were alert to the movements of the night in Gotham City - the shiftings in the shadows, stray cats perched atop the low roofs he crossed, the spare traffic on the streets so late at night.
The frustration he'd felt at the Mc Guiger Charity Benefit had not dissipated. Instead, it guided his finely honed actions and gave him focus for the diligent and patient observation and search before him.
He dropped down onto the roof of a two-story tenement building on the opposite side of the street from the temple that Alfred had referred to. All was quiet, from what he could ascertain visually. There were no lights on through the windows but Batman realized that people did live within the building as there were cars outside in the lot.
Batman moved closer as a cloud passed over the moon, obscuring light long enough for him to stand within a building of the temple.
His scowl deepened beneath his cowl, looking at the buliding. The memory of his parents and their religion came unbidden. Latin Mass services as a child... what did it all mean? English Mass... the sermons... the unanswered questoins... their deaths, that Mass... the saying that his parents were "in a better place" than with him...
Batman shook his head, willing the memories away.
"And there in the night exists the solitary bat. Welcome," came a male voice behind him.
The Dark Knight spun on his heel, his thigh and calf muscles primed to spring in any direction should the speaker turn out to be an attacker or a captor. It was neither; before him stood Ben Obiken.
He said nothing to Obiken's greeting.
Ben remained non-plussed. "What brings you into this neighborhood so late, Batman? It's been quiet around here for several months now. Surely, Old Gotham would deserve more of your attention?"
Batman could hear the ting of amusement in his voice; it only fueled his agitation. "I have my reasons."
"As I'm sure you do. Tell me, Batman, what memories were coursing through your heart and mind as you stood here?"
Batman started. There was no way for Obiken to have known that he was lost in a reverie. He frowned. There were no words he could give voice to. Batman turned and stepped off the ledge.
Ben watched as Batman's grappling line fired, zooming him off into the night.