The motorcycle roared through the cave, and out of a carefully concealed exit. Within five minutes, Batman was in the seedier part of town. Known as "Old Gotham," this section of town had been prestigious when Wayne Manor was built, but now was run-down, broken-down and infested with the lowest parts of society. The gothic designs and architecture, Batman mused, with all the gargoyles and such things sculpted on these old buildings, was the perfect setting for his introduction.
He hid the motorcycle, and locked in a security system that would sound an alarm in an earphone in his cowl should someone try to steal the bike. Firing a batarang launcher onto the roof of the nearest building, he quickly scaled it. He unhooked the batarang from the ledge of the rooftop, and re-wound it back into the launcher.
Batman scanned the nearby area. He wasn't looking for any particular crime. He just needed to face off against somebody, and show himself and everyone else, that what he had vowed the day his parents were killed, he meant.
He saw some movement; people, but he couldn't see it clearly. He jumped down to a lower building. He could see them now, dimly in the darkness. He turned his night-vision lenses back on, having turned them off on the drive through lit streets.
The men on the ground were making an exchange. As Batman watched further, it was obvious what they were exchanging. Bruce's blood started to run faster. He suppressed the feeling, considering himself cold, calculating, and unemotional. But as he prepared to take down the drug-runners, he was excited.
The money had been passed, and Batman realized he only had minutes before the small crowd would disperse. He threw a batarang at a building nearby, and tested it to make sure that it had caught and would hold. Then, he took out a small device from his utility belt, a small speaker/playback machine that played only one sound. As the Batman swung down from the roof, the criminals on the ground heard a loud, screeching howl.
"What was that?" One of them asked, calm, but slightly disconcerted.
"I don't know," Another, more nervous man said, starting to sweat. "It was a howl or something, maybe from a wolf or…"
"A bat." The buyer said, as he turned and saw the silhouette of Batman and his cape, unfurled behind him. The Batman landed on his feet as the six criminals turned to face him. Four of them drew guns, but two of them Batman dispatched before they could even think of using them.
One of the others fired a shot, but Batman easily rolled out of the way. As he jumped back on his feet, he threw a batarang, which hit the shooter's wrist, and made him drop the gun in pain. Batman moved to face the other armed gunman, who had managed through shaky nerves, and shakier hands, to squeeze off a shot. Somehow the hastily aimed bullet found its mark, hitting Batman in the chest. He groaned as he fell down to the ground. The attacker found the shadow of a grin, as it seemed he had done in this strange enemy.
But suddenly the Batman leapt forward. He grunted, and it sounded like a growl to the criminal, who, dropping his gun, saw the strong man leaping straight at him. Batman seized the man by the shoulders, and slammed him into a wall.
The other two, unarmed criminals, had begun running away when Batman had gotten up. Opening another pouch in his belt, Batman withdrew a bolo, and threw at one, causing him to trip. He grabbed the rope he had swung down on, now taut. Pushing off a wall, he swung on the rope, and kicked the last fleeing man in the back. The man yelled in pain and surprise, and then fell to the ground.
Batman walked back to the other criminal, still writhing on the ground.
"What…who…are you?" The man asked, in terror off the dark silhouette, looming like a nightmare above him. The dark shape replied in a thick, gravelly whisper.
"I'm Batman."
Batman has risen as Gotham City's new protector, but next month he'll get a taste of what he's up against. The Red Hood and Boss Zucco may not be the most worry-inspiring names, but they'll give this rookie Batman plenty to worry about.
[I hope you liked this story. Please feel free to review; I accept criticism. Also read my work on FictionPress.com.]
