Batman Beyond
A/N: Well I'm back once more...(shoots the hecklers in the head). All I can say right now is that I'll allow people to borrow my characters and archive my story IF THEY ASK! Just something I was told to let y'all know...any way I'd appreciate (lifts Tommy gun) any reviews...get the idea? (Shoots a heckler once more.)
Chapter 6: The First Date is the Creepiest
Erika looked around the strange "Crypt" with the Egyptian wall tiles. "So...this is nice," she said. The lights clunked on. Rows of costumes in glass cases, a large computer with multiple screens and keyboards at it and a high backed chair. Selina appeared on the screen.
"Hello my dear" she said. "Welcome to the Cat-Lair...or Cat Cave if you want."
"Schway" exclaimed Erika. "Is that the ACTUAL script to "What Lurks beneath" by Achtenberg?"
"No he never had a script, I know, I was supposed to steal it, I wrote that one...okay? And didn't get a penny of the royalties."
Erika pulled away from the glass case. "Okay...so what's this all in aid of? I thought you didn't want me armed for terrorism"
"I have no weapons here, you forget, that those gauntlets come from Cyber- C.A.T 's armour and don't pack lethal missiles or lasers."
"Touché" Erika sighed. "So...what am I here for?"
"A present, it's your Birthday on New Years Eve..."
"Yup, stroke of midnight" Erika sighed. "I'll finally be eighteen. Same age as Terry..."
"Oh dear" Selina groaned. "Complicate matters much?"
"What do you mean?" Erika asked sharply.
"Romance is always complicated" sighed Selina. "Now, take this out for a spin."
The lights clunked on behind Erika and revealed a sleek black and silver motorcycle with green headlights and an elegant frame. "Camouflage and stealth options, a few tricks of its own and speed that no racing bike today has" Selina explained. "No, none of the weapons are lethal...well not directly."
Erika descended the metal steps to the pit facing a circular door near the back of the cave. She swung an elegant leg over it. "I like..."
"No terrorism"
Erika revved up the engine. "I'm not that mad, no way does this bike get even a scratch!" she hit a button by the flat screen between the handle bars and the doors hissed open. "Ciao for now"
Terry watched the Christmas parade below.
"Any word from Sketch?" Max asked.
"Nope" Terry said. "I'm having trust issues"
"And you didn't before?"
"Not such large ones" Bruce interjected. "Any sign of Catwoman or Victor?"
"No" admitted Terry. He dropped off the roof and jetted along the streets.
Zeiss looked at Catwoman, she was lazing on a tattered settee with her black cat. "Well?" she purred. "Everything set?"
"All ready" grinned Zeiss. He snapped his fingers and a very short Orphan hurried up with a pair of glasses and bucket of champagne on a tray. He looked like Nick Nack from the Man With The Golden Gun. "Batman will fall...champagne?"
"It's going to be a hot time in a cold town tonight" she purred stroking Ms. Kitty.
He leaned in close to Catwoman. "We have a lot in common," he growled. "Total loathing for Batman, anarchistic desires, a passion for mayhem...fashion sense."
Catwoman raised her elbow and looked the ringmaster-clothed man up and down. "Talk to the elbow coz the hand ain't worth the extension" she sighed. "Honestly Zeiss? I wouldn't touch you to scratch you. Business only."
Zeiss frowned. Catwoman swung past him and rose. "Let's begin shall we?" She downed the champagne in a mouthful and tossed the glass over her shoulder to the Orphan who'd served her.
"Catwoman!" Terry exclaimed as he watched her crawl along a sloped rooftop slowly coming out from under a cloaking device. She blew a kiss at him and dropped down beside a police officer. He turned and she slashed him along the chest, removing the Kevlar protection.
"Ya see? I've done this beat-strip tactic before" she grinned and kicked him off the rooftop. Terry shot forwards and a grabbed the officers leg. He hauled him up and landed him on the roof.
He turned and glanced around. Catwoman was lying on a chimneystack. "You have no morals, scruples or sanity," Terry said.
"Really?" she purred. "Suddenly I feel all dirty...maybe I should give myself a bath ...right here". She licked up her arm and smiled before rolling off the chimneystack and landing a drop kick on him.
He spun and kicked her in the side of the head. She landed into a roll and got to her feet. "Hey stud! I thought we had something together!" she purred and launched a slash at him. He caught her hand and pulled her into his body.
"Why do you do this? You could do so much good!"
"But I am good" she said. "At being bad".
She slammed an arm into his ribs and knocked him over. He dragged her with him and she landed on top of him with a grunt. "So...tell me...why do you disobey the law?"
"Don't be so naïve" she whispered. "The law doesn't apply to people like you and me!" She ran her claws over his chest. He flipped her off his body and pinned her underneath him.
"You're wrong, it does...it applies to everyone!" he whispered.
"Then why is murder so easy to get away with if you have cash?"
She stabbed her knee up and into his groin, he grunted and she shoved him off. "You see: this city is too stupid for its own good. I'm here to give its potential a rise—by bringing it crashing down!"
She shot up backwards as if pulled by puppeteer's strings. "Get the picture?" she said pursing her red lips. Terry leapt to his feet but was caught in the face by a six inch heeled boot. "Tag your it!" she cooed and leapt off the building.
Terry followed.
"Bruce!"
"Selina?" Bruce swivelled in the chair to look at her. "What is it?"
Selina rushed to the bat computer unwrapping her scarf. "Tell me Terry hasn't gone after Catwoman!" she gasped.
"What? Of course he has"
"I found her plans on the computer. She's going to set him up for terrorism and possibly murder!"
"Terry" Bruce barked into the microphone. All he got was feedback.
Sketch moved his hands away from his console. "I-I've blocked all waves and frequencies from the—the area"
Roma and Zeiss nodded. Roma was dressed in a dark blue body suit that didn't have any sleeves and aqua coloured lines up various intervals. She pulled on a short black wig and smiled. "All right, Sketch to your place! Victor, let's roll".
She lifted the sniper rifle and strapped it across her back in a sling holster. Zeiss swung his cane in his fingers and nodded. They strolled out of the room. Sketch looked at the jammer device. He nibbled his lip like he always did in times of stress.
If I turn it off Batman has a fighting chance...if not the cat and bat tangle and the rat gets to top them both...
"Places Sketch" called Brubaker. Sketch turned and lifted his satchel onto his shoulder.
Catwoman landed on the rooftop with a smile and cracked her whip. She snared it around a TV aerial and pulled it back. Terry landed behind her. "Got you," he said sounding ever so slightly excited.
"No man has" she purred and released the hold on the aerial. It twanged and smashed down on something in the snow. There was a crackle in a flare of light Terry was sent shooting backwards.
"What the---" he groaned.
"That Sketch kid's a genius," Erika laughed as she leapt onto the rooftop. "Designed a magnetic repulsion bomb that makes that metal under your suit shook you flying... I think rubber insulation is vital for every gal of course..."
She hurled a button bomb to the ground. It snapped and in a bright flash she was gone. In her place two men in skull costumes stood in her place...holding flamethrowers?
"This is all I need," groaned Terry. The blast of fire shot at his head. He ducked and rolled as the flames shot at him. The batarangs hissed through the air and sliced the tanks open. There was a crack and in a blast the two men shot off the roof.
Terry jetted upwards and glanced around. Zeiss aimed the rocket launcher painted like a candy cane...he pulled the trigger and fired. The green flare spat through the air and burst. Terry shot aside as it became a shining green bat.
"That's one way to get my attention" he grimaced.
He raced after Zeiss across the rooftops and through the alleys. He was being lead towards the plaza... he had a bad feeling in his gut.
"Well this beats the hell out of watching paint dry," grumbled Catwoman watching the chase. "Anyone got some snails we can race?"
The Orphans looked at her and returned to working on the top of the Balent building. "So what is this?" she grunted at the assembly of Orphans.
"Nothing to concern you" yawned the Python Orphan.
"If you say so," Erika sighed as she skipped along the edge of the roof. "Here he comes! Here he comes!"
Zeiss stood on the roof of the skyscraper overlooking the plaza. He held something in his hands along with his cane. "Oh Batman, you stole the honour of my father long ago and now I steal yours" he laughed as Terry dropped down.
"Here see?"
He hit the small button on the red controller. "Physical possessions are meaningless," he intoned solemnly.
The large brightly wrapped presents beneath the tree burst open. In the abandoned building Sketch sat at his control console and manipulated the keys and levers expertly.
A biplane zoomed over Commissioner Gordon's head. It's wings were red bat shapes while the rest of its body was black. Barbara fired her pistol, the plane crashed heavily into the nearest wall.
A small toy tank fired a burst of flames and small old-style batmobiles sped after pedestrians with taser points on their hoods, jabbing at heels. A toy helicopter, again bearing the bat symbol sliced the air above the patrons and fired sprays of dark blue dye down.
"That's it?" Roma exclaimed over her not-jammed radio link. "Dye? No explosives?"
"I'm not a murderer," growled Sketch.
Terry moved to run after the people below...the staff cracked into the back of his knees and flipped him over. Zeiss stabbed down but Terry rolled away. A blade hissed from his cane. He grinned. "Die!"
He leapt forwards slashing expertly, applying pressure to Terry's reflexes and agility. If Terry wanted to survive this...he needed to be fast.
"That's it? Toys aren't my style" Terry grunted. "The police force knows that!"
"Oh but when they get the pictures of you helping the Orphans...they'll have a whole knew outlook" cackled Zeiss. His black lips parted to reveal his yellowed teeth. "And you'll suffer the dishonour of my father!"
"What honour did that psycho have?" Terry groaned.
He hurled the batarang but two knives caught it and knocked it off course. Terry leapt backwards and pulled the baton from his belt. He slammed it down on the cane. He and Zeiss swept at each other, slashing, jabbing, thrusting and snarling.
"Good" cackled Zeiss. He looked down. "Phase 2 please," he said into his lapel.
The Roller Blade Orphans pressed the buttons on the 3 large electronic bats and gave them a shove off the roof with their pilots sat on the backs. The machines started to flap and fluttered over the air.
Sketch bit his lip and rose. He grabbed the blowpipe and small bag from the corner, put his satchel on and climbed out the window. He swiftly darted the distance and placed the bamboo pipe to his lips.
"Police" Roma reported as she got into position with her rifle. "Take care of them Sketch. Phase 3 starting...ergo...police...no-no".
Sketch looked at the speeding cars. He raised the pipe to his lips and looked down. He could reload and fire it faster then most people. There was a small metal frame that let him do that...he could do it...
He glanced up. Zeiss had knocked Batman off the roof onto a ledge. The Tomorrow Knight rolled aside as Zeiss dropped down and karate chopped at him. He glanced at the approaching cars.
"Take the shot" Zeiss commanded into his lapel.
"The transmitters Sketch, fire them now!" exclaimed Roma.
They shouted at him, the headset buzzed with their voices. He looked up, into Batman's eyes and felt the empathy, the "Do it" and the "Don't do it" emotions...and then he blew. The small black and red transmitters hit the police cars. Sketch lowered his head.
Roma hit the remote. The red diodes lit up emitting a piercing shriek...the bats filled the air and attacked the cars flying from the sewers.
"We had them flowing in especially for you" Zeiss cackled. Terry kicked him in the gut and vaulted off the ledge, taking wing and flying through the attacking winged animals. "Sketch! Get him with a transmitter!"
Sketch looked at the blowpipe. There were a few shots left in it. "All gone" he said without emotion. He switched his headset off.
Roma lifted the phone to her ear. "Ms Cartland? We're ready with phase 2, Phase 3 is just beginning, are you clear?"
"Yes Roma, just make it happen"
Roma nodded and aimed the rifle. She fired the line of bullets at the podium with microphones. Terry shot overhead and glanced down in shock. She grinned and rolled backwards into a back flip and pressed down on a hidden button in her wrist covering. The angel at the top of the tree exploded and revealed a Batman doll beneath it.
Terry moved to land...Roma pulled the Compaq from her belt and blew on the powder. It sent out a cloud of pale pink smoke. Terry skidded into it and rolled along the rooftop. "Missed me Batman" Roma laughed.
Terry looked around, Roma had totally vanished...and he had to catch her. He was sick to the back teeth of having no answers about the entire ordeal.
"Hey Baby!" laughed someone. A familiar, sultry purr. Catwoman dropped down from the building above and kicked hard into his gut. He staggered back with a gasp as she ducked low and swept his legs from under him. "Tired yet?" She kicked him in the gut and laughed. "Don't answer that".
Terry rolled aside and hurled a flash bomb at her. It exploded on her chest and knocked her thrashing to the ground. Terry leapt off the roof, his body pained. Barbara Gordon spotted him and aimed slowly.
"Sorry Kid" she grimaced. "But it's work" she fired.
Terry felt the stun bolt of a police pistol shoot past his head. The Commissioner could have hit if she wanted, but she'd missed. At least she partially still trusted him even if she had shot at him.
Terry glanced back. Catwoman had disappeared again...she kept doing that. It was sort of...cool? Intriguing? A turn on? In the distance he thought he heard the purr of a motorcycle engine.
And then it happened. Every sewer grate in the plaza, every manhole and gutter exploded open in a storm of bats. Terry slammed one out of the air with a rocket-powered kick and landed on the roof nearest him. The bat sparked and crackled. He glanced over his shoulder. He could feel sorrow. He walked over to the edge and looked around. Balancing on the tip of a gargoyle was Sketch.
"I killed someone," he whispered. "One of the officers...I was nearby...I felt him die...and my sanity goes bye-bye". He spread his arms and leaned out over the huge drop. "It's hell, people ruled by their emotions...I can't- can't shut them off anymore... something happened...not long after the goggles and started to see the world in green...I lost control of it, this "gift", I stopped being able to sense myself and started to sense everyone else"
"Back off the ledge Sketch" Terry said.
"Why should I? I love to design, create and draw my devices...and now I'm killing with them...no I won't back away...but I will back down..." he turned and took a step back, close to the edge. "These goggles...they only see green...so what colour is the sky? What colour is the river...don't answer that the run off dye's murder on it."
"Don't do it Sketch...you're still trying to help...you know how to stop the Magna Cannon."
"You can just blow it up...die doing it...but save the city..." he mused. He pulled something from his pocket. A silver coin with a hole through it. "This was given to me...by someone... I was found with it...in the sewers..."
He took another step back and stepped onto the horn-like ears of the griffin shape eagle head. "What does it have to do?"
"Heads I live...heads I die" Sketch managed in a choked whisper. He flipped the coin. Terry shot forwards and caught the coin.
"Heads?"
"I die" Sketch shoved off from the ground and fell backwards in silence. It was as if the sounds of the world were silenced. Terry plummeted after him. Sketch swung a kick at Terry and blasted him with an empathic bolt. Terry ignored it. He grabbed Sketch and wrapped his arms around the boy's slender waist. He wrenched backwards and hauled the boy with him.
Sketch's eyes glowed behind the goggles...Terry sprayed the gas into his face. The tiny aerosol from his belt had enough knockout gas to sedate a small town. Sketch went limp in his arms.
Terry laid him down and pressed the card into his belt.
When Sketch awoke he read it:
Sketch,
If you kill yourself you die a villain. Live you can be a hero and right the wrongs...your choice.
Batman
"I fell for the set up like a royal sucker," Terry groaned as Selina bandaged him up. Bruce nodded and handed Selina more bandages and anti- septic then returned to study the electronic bat.
"No need to disagree" Terry groaned in a hurt voice.
"Bruce, he wasn't to know" Selina said. "My protégé has always been shrewd... she knows a man's weaknesses and she will use her body to exploit them"
"I figured," grumbled Terry.
Selina sighed and handed him his civilian clothes. "I believe you have a date, get going"
"How did you know?" Terry asked.
"I picked the lock on your day planner" she sighed. "I was bored and it was there."
Terry and Bruce stared at her she shrugged and sauntered away.
Gotham was always dark, but for some reason Terry found the park was much brighter. He didn't know why, it was no different from any other...he saw her, Erika, she was wearing her long black coat, flowing in the wind, contrasted to the snow so perfectly. He was a few seconds (ahem-twenty minutes- ahem) late but she seemed just as out of breath.
"Sorry, filing" she said as he said: "Had to give Bruce his pills". They laughed together.
"Apparently neither of us can be on time. Delphi's a slave driver" Erika sighed.
"I guessed as much" smiled Terry. "Bruce is demanding but not in her league if what I've seen is anything to go on."
Erika nodded and linked his arm. "So any plans?"
"I'm winging it," sighed Terry.
"It's obvious" Erika said with a smile as she pulled in closer to him. "Did you hear about the attack at the plaza this morning? It's bizarre! Criminals don't strike in daylight"
"Yeah, but they do if they're crazy".
Erika smiled. They walked past a Soundbyte screen.
"In news today the people of Gotham are demanding a manhunt for Batman begin, Commissioner Barbara Gordon had this to say," the anchorman said.
The image of the Commissioner appeared on the screen. "Batman was seen during the terror this afternoon and many shoppers claim he was responsible but we need further evidence..." she paused as she was handed something by a strange, waif like young lady. She opened the envelope stamped with URGENT. "Oh my" she stated and darted into the offices.
"DA Sam Young later had this to say" the Anchorwoman silhouette said.
"I'm afraid that I must now place a warrant for arrest on Batman's head in light of some new proof received earlier this morning...all officers are required to find him... using lethal force if necessary."
Terry stifled the urge to roar in anger. He just went rigid.
Erika looked at him. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Batman avenged my father for me," Terry said quickly. "I owe him something for that."
Erika nodded and led him down a flight of stairs to a small coffee house where music was flowing from it. Stepping into the warmth Erika lead him to a booth in the corner and slipped in on one side.
Terry slipped in on the other. "So—I've never seen this place before..."
"I found it one night, after yet another threat of being fired I was feeling down. I heard the music and came here...oh no...uhh maybe we should go" Erika was staring at the stage where a green haired woman was sitting up on a stool with her guitar.
"Huh? Why?" Terry asked.
"N-No reason" Erika said.
"This is the song: You think, performed by me, Christina McShane, for my best bud in the world and the actual writer...Erika Arkham!" Terry stared at Erika. She folded her hands on the table and dropped her head into them. "Who's here on a first date, have a coffee and cookie on me Erika".
Erika glanced at the bread knife at the sandwich counter; she was deeply considering shoving it into Christina's neck for this...was she really? Or was that hyperbole? She was confused...that's all she needed.
"You write songs?" Terry asked.
"Ummm" Erika glanced around. Windows, doors, tables, chairs, people...I can somersault the tubby guy onto his table swing on the lights flip over the woman in the beatnik outfit and back flip up the stairs before he can probe deeper.
"That's cool"
"Can we go?"
"No" stated Terry. "I want to hear".
"Tubby guy, I hope you have a strong bladder," muttered Erika.
"Sorry?" Terry said as Christina found a cord.
"Nothing" Erika said. "But when I die of embarrassment, promise me you'll not write a song or sonnet about me...I hate anything with a crappy slow pace..."
Terry touched her hand she smiled and netted her fingers in his. Maybe this wasn't going to hurt so much...well maybe it would mildly injure Christina.
"The cannons gonna be done by tonight" the skull masked Orphan said.
"Excellent" Delphi grinned, she was wearing her purple mink lined coat and a violet business suit. She paced along the floor of the villains above ground lair in the abandoned building across from her offices. "Remember, once the cat is no longer useful...spay her. Until then, don't let her know you work for me..."
"How's the bat campaign going?" Roma asked Victor.
"Pictures delivered" Victor grinned. "Commissioner and DA turned to our anti-bat ideas...and Phase 4 ready. Sketch's working on an illusion of the Batmobile, if they think the cannon bolts came from the Batmobile..."
"He'll get the chair," laughed Delphi. "And my city becomes weaker so I may rebuild it as a more obedient and loyal place..."
TBC
A/N: What did y'all think of the characters there? I need feedback, if there's a character I should play up more then tell me for Mike's sake! (Do I know any Mikes? Anyway...) Also I give my characters out on rent provided I get credit, all you have to do is ask to archive the story or borrow a character...like you'd want to...anyway I have tons of projects all lined up.
CATgrl: Update YOUR fic ASAP I'm impatient and cranky.
Shadowhawk: Yours is a great fic your right I like it and I haven't even finished it yet. Mine is ho-hum-okay-if-you're-bored
Fire inu: Yes, she did and still has but in the first one she was a thief and in the second she's now a vigilante and champion of Basts children
A/N: Well I'm back once more...(shoots the hecklers in the head). All I can say right now is that I'll allow people to borrow my characters and archive my story IF THEY ASK! Just something I was told to let y'all know...any way I'd appreciate (lifts Tommy gun) any reviews...get the idea? (Shoots a heckler once more.)
Chapter 6: The First Date is the Creepiest
Erika looked around the strange "Crypt" with the Egyptian wall tiles. "So...this is nice," she said. The lights clunked on. Rows of costumes in glass cases, a large computer with multiple screens and keyboards at it and a high backed chair. Selina appeared on the screen.
"Hello my dear" she said. "Welcome to the Cat-Lair...or Cat Cave if you want."
"Schway" exclaimed Erika. "Is that the ACTUAL script to "What Lurks beneath" by Achtenberg?"
"No he never had a script, I know, I was supposed to steal it, I wrote that one...okay? And didn't get a penny of the royalties."
Erika pulled away from the glass case. "Okay...so what's this all in aid of? I thought you didn't want me armed for terrorism"
"I have no weapons here, you forget, that those gauntlets come from Cyber- C.A.T 's armour and don't pack lethal missiles or lasers."
"Touché" Erika sighed. "So...what am I here for?"
"A present, it's your Birthday on New Years Eve..."
"Yup, stroke of midnight" Erika sighed. "I'll finally be eighteen. Same age as Terry..."
"Oh dear" Selina groaned. "Complicate matters much?"
"What do you mean?" Erika asked sharply.
"Romance is always complicated" sighed Selina. "Now, take this out for a spin."
The lights clunked on behind Erika and revealed a sleek black and silver motorcycle with green headlights and an elegant frame. "Camouflage and stealth options, a few tricks of its own and speed that no racing bike today has" Selina explained. "No, none of the weapons are lethal...well not directly."
Erika descended the metal steps to the pit facing a circular door near the back of the cave. She swung an elegant leg over it. "I like..."
"No terrorism"
Erika revved up the engine. "I'm not that mad, no way does this bike get even a scratch!" she hit a button by the flat screen between the handle bars and the doors hissed open. "Ciao for now"
Terry watched the Christmas parade below.
"Any word from Sketch?" Max asked.
"Nope" Terry said. "I'm having trust issues"
"And you didn't before?"
"Not such large ones" Bruce interjected. "Any sign of Catwoman or Victor?"
"No" admitted Terry. He dropped off the roof and jetted along the streets.
Zeiss looked at Catwoman, she was lazing on a tattered settee with her black cat. "Well?" she purred. "Everything set?"
"All ready" grinned Zeiss. He snapped his fingers and a very short Orphan hurried up with a pair of glasses and bucket of champagne on a tray. He looked like Nick Nack from the Man With The Golden Gun. "Batman will fall...champagne?"
"It's going to be a hot time in a cold town tonight" she purred stroking Ms. Kitty.
He leaned in close to Catwoman. "We have a lot in common," he growled. "Total loathing for Batman, anarchistic desires, a passion for mayhem...fashion sense."
Catwoman raised her elbow and looked the ringmaster-clothed man up and down. "Talk to the elbow coz the hand ain't worth the extension" she sighed. "Honestly Zeiss? I wouldn't touch you to scratch you. Business only."
Zeiss frowned. Catwoman swung past him and rose. "Let's begin shall we?" She downed the champagne in a mouthful and tossed the glass over her shoulder to the Orphan who'd served her.
"Catwoman!" Terry exclaimed as he watched her crawl along a sloped rooftop slowly coming out from under a cloaking device. She blew a kiss at him and dropped down beside a police officer. He turned and she slashed him along the chest, removing the Kevlar protection.
"Ya see? I've done this beat-strip tactic before" she grinned and kicked him off the rooftop. Terry shot forwards and a grabbed the officers leg. He hauled him up and landed him on the roof.
He turned and glanced around. Catwoman was lying on a chimneystack. "You have no morals, scruples or sanity," Terry said.
"Really?" she purred. "Suddenly I feel all dirty...maybe I should give myself a bath ...right here". She licked up her arm and smiled before rolling off the chimneystack and landing a drop kick on him.
He spun and kicked her in the side of the head. She landed into a roll and got to her feet. "Hey stud! I thought we had something together!" she purred and launched a slash at him. He caught her hand and pulled her into his body.
"Why do you do this? You could do so much good!"
"But I am good" she said. "At being bad".
She slammed an arm into his ribs and knocked him over. He dragged her with him and she landed on top of him with a grunt. "So...tell me...why do you disobey the law?"
"Don't be so naïve" she whispered. "The law doesn't apply to people like you and me!" She ran her claws over his chest. He flipped her off his body and pinned her underneath him.
"You're wrong, it does...it applies to everyone!" he whispered.
"Then why is murder so easy to get away with if you have cash?"
She stabbed her knee up and into his groin, he grunted and she shoved him off. "You see: this city is too stupid for its own good. I'm here to give its potential a rise—by bringing it crashing down!"
She shot up backwards as if pulled by puppeteer's strings. "Get the picture?" she said pursing her red lips. Terry leapt to his feet but was caught in the face by a six inch heeled boot. "Tag your it!" she cooed and leapt off the building.
Terry followed.
"Bruce!"
"Selina?" Bruce swivelled in the chair to look at her. "What is it?"
Selina rushed to the bat computer unwrapping her scarf. "Tell me Terry hasn't gone after Catwoman!" she gasped.
"What? Of course he has"
"I found her plans on the computer. She's going to set him up for terrorism and possibly murder!"
"Terry" Bruce barked into the microphone. All he got was feedback.
Sketch moved his hands away from his console. "I-I've blocked all waves and frequencies from the—the area"
Roma and Zeiss nodded. Roma was dressed in a dark blue body suit that didn't have any sleeves and aqua coloured lines up various intervals. She pulled on a short black wig and smiled. "All right, Sketch to your place! Victor, let's roll".
She lifted the sniper rifle and strapped it across her back in a sling holster. Zeiss swung his cane in his fingers and nodded. They strolled out of the room. Sketch looked at the jammer device. He nibbled his lip like he always did in times of stress.
If I turn it off Batman has a fighting chance...if not the cat and bat tangle and the rat gets to top them both...
"Places Sketch" called Brubaker. Sketch turned and lifted his satchel onto his shoulder.
Catwoman landed on the rooftop with a smile and cracked her whip. She snared it around a TV aerial and pulled it back. Terry landed behind her. "Got you," he said sounding ever so slightly excited.
"No man has" she purred and released the hold on the aerial. It twanged and smashed down on something in the snow. There was a crackle in a flare of light Terry was sent shooting backwards.
"What the---" he groaned.
"That Sketch kid's a genius," Erika laughed as she leapt onto the rooftop. "Designed a magnetic repulsion bomb that makes that metal under your suit shook you flying... I think rubber insulation is vital for every gal of course..."
She hurled a button bomb to the ground. It snapped and in a bright flash she was gone. In her place two men in skull costumes stood in her place...holding flamethrowers?
"This is all I need," groaned Terry. The blast of fire shot at his head. He ducked and rolled as the flames shot at him. The batarangs hissed through the air and sliced the tanks open. There was a crack and in a blast the two men shot off the roof.
Terry jetted upwards and glanced around. Zeiss aimed the rocket launcher painted like a candy cane...he pulled the trigger and fired. The green flare spat through the air and burst. Terry shot aside as it became a shining green bat.
"That's one way to get my attention" he grimaced.
He raced after Zeiss across the rooftops and through the alleys. He was being lead towards the plaza... he had a bad feeling in his gut.
"Well this beats the hell out of watching paint dry," grumbled Catwoman watching the chase. "Anyone got some snails we can race?"
The Orphans looked at her and returned to working on the top of the Balent building. "So what is this?" she grunted at the assembly of Orphans.
"Nothing to concern you" yawned the Python Orphan.
"If you say so," Erika sighed as she skipped along the edge of the roof. "Here he comes! Here he comes!"
Zeiss stood on the roof of the skyscraper overlooking the plaza. He held something in his hands along with his cane. "Oh Batman, you stole the honour of my father long ago and now I steal yours" he laughed as Terry dropped down.
"Here see?"
He hit the small button on the red controller. "Physical possessions are meaningless," he intoned solemnly.
The large brightly wrapped presents beneath the tree burst open. In the abandoned building Sketch sat at his control console and manipulated the keys and levers expertly.
A biplane zoomed over Commissioner Gordon's head. It's wings were red bat shapes while the rest of its body was black. Barbara fired her pistol, the plane crashed heavily into the nearest wall.
A small toy tank fired a burst of flames and small old-style batmobiles sped after pedestrians with taser points on their hoods, jabbing at heels. A toy helicopter, again bearing the bat symbol sliced the air above the patrons and fired sprays of dark blue dye down.
"That's it?" Roma exclaimed over her not-jammed radio link. "Dye? No explosives?"
"I'm not a murderer," growled Sketch.
Terry moved to run after the people below...the staff cracked into the back of his knees and flipped him over. Zeiss stabbed down but Terry rolled away. A blade hissed from his cane. He grinned. "Die!"
He leapt forwards slashing expertly, applying pressure to Terry's reflexes and agility. If Terry wanted to survive this...he needed to be fast.
"That's it? Toys aren't my style" Terry grunted. "The police force knows that!"
"Oh but when they get the pictures of you helping the Orphans...they'll have a whole knew outlook" cackled Zeiss. His black lips parted to reveal his yellowed teeth. "And you'll suffer the dishonour of my father!"
"What honour did that psycho have?" Terry groaned.
He hurled the batarang but two knives caught it and knocked it off course. Terry leapt backwards and pulled the baton from his belt. He slammed it down on the cane. He and Zeiss swept at each other, slashing, jabbing, thrusting and snarling.
"Good" cackled Zeiss. He looked down. "Phase 2 please," he said into his lapel.
The Roller Blade Orphans pressed the buttons on the 3 large electronic bats and gave them a shove off the roof with their pilots sat on the backs. The machines started to flap and fluttered over the air.
Sketch bit his lip and rose. He grabbed the blowpipe and small bag from the corner, put his satchel on and climbed out the window. He swiftly darted the distance and placed the bamboo pipe to his lips.
"Police" Roma reported as she got into position with her rifle. "Take care of them Sketch. Phase 3 starting...ergo...police...no-no".
Sketch looked at the speeding cars. He raised the pipe to his lips and looked down. He could reload and fire it faster then most people. There was a small metal frame that let him do that...he could do it...
He glanced up. Zeiss had knocked Batman off the roof onto a ledge. The Tomorrow Knight rolled aside as Zeiss dropped down and karate chopped at him. He glanced at the approaching cars.
"Take the shot" Zeiss commanded into his lapel.
"The transmitters Sketch, fire them now!" exclaimed Roma.
They shouted at him, the headset buzzed with their voices. He looked up, into Batman's eyes and felt the empathy, the "Do it" and the "Don't do it" emotions...and then he blew. The small black and red transmitters hit the police cars. Sketch lowered his head.
Roma hit the remote. The red diodes lit up emitting a piercing shriek...the bats filled the air and attacked the cars flying from the sewers.
"We had them flowing in especially for you" Zeiss cackled. Terry kicked him in the gut and vaulted off the ledge, taking wing and flying through the attacking winged animals. "Sketch! Get him with a transmitter!"
Sketch looked at the blowpipe. There were a few shots left in it. "All gone" he said without emotion. He switched his headset off.
Roma lifted the phone to her ear. "Ms Cartland? We're ready with phase 2, Phase 3 is just beginning, are you clear?"
"Yes Roma, just make it happen"
Roma nodded and aimed the rifle. She fired the line of bullets at the podium with microphones. Terry shot overhead and glanced down in shock. She grinned and rolled backwards into a back flip and pressed down on a hidden button in her wrist covering. The angel at the top of the tree exploded and revealed a Batman doll beneath it.
Terry moved to land...Roma pulled the Compaq from her belt and blew on the powder. It sent out a cloud of pale pink smoke. Terry skidded into it and rolled along the rooftop. "Missed me Batman" Roma laughed.
Terry looked around, Roma had totally vanished...and he had to catch her. He was sick to the back teeth of having no answers about the entire ordeal.
"Hey Baby!" laughed someone. A familiar, sultry purr. Catwoman dropped down from the building above and kicked hard into his gut. He staggered back with a gasp as she ducked low and swept his legs from under him. "Tired yet?" She kicked him in the gut and laughed. "Don't answer that".
Terry rolled aside and hurled a flash bomb at her. It exploded on her chest and knocked her thrashing to the ground. Terry leapt off the roof, his body pained. Barbara Gordon spotted him and aimed slowly.
"Sorry Kid" she grimaced. "But it's work" she fired.
Terry felt the stun bolt of a police pistol shoot past his head. The Commissioner could have hit if she wanted, but she'd missed. At least she partially still trusted him even if she had shot at him.
Terry glanced back. Catwoman had disappeared again...she kept doing that. It was sort of...cool? Intriguing? A turn on? In the distance he thought he heard the purr of a motorcycle engine.
And then it happened. Every sewer grate in the plaza, every manhole and gutter exploded open in a storm of bats. Terry slammed one out of the air with a rocket-powered kick and landed on the roof nearest him. The bat sparked and crackled. He glanced over his shoulder. He could feel sorrow. He walked over to the edge and looked around. Balancing on the tip of a gargoyle was Sketch.
"I killed someone," he whispered. "One of the officers...I was nearby...I felt him die...and my sanity goes bye-bye". He spread his arms and leaned out over the huge drop. "It's hell, people ruled by their emotions...I can't- can't shut them off anymore... something happened...not long after the goggles and started to see the world in green...I lost control of it, this "gift", I stopped being able to sense myself and started to sense everyone else"
"Back off the ledge Sketch" Terry said.
"Why should I? I love to design, create and draw my devices...and now I'm killing with them...no I won't back away...but I will back down..." he turned and took a step back, close to the edge. "These goggles...they only see green...so what colour is the sky? What colour is the river...don't answer that the run off dye's murder on it."
"Don't do it Sketch...you're still trying to help...you know how to stop the Magna Cannon."
"You can just blow it up...die doing it...but save the city..." he mused. He pulled something from his pocket. A silver coin with a hole through it. "This was given to me...by someone... I was found with it...in the sewers..."
He took another step back and stepped onto the horn-like ears of the griffin shape eagle head. "What does it have to do?"
"Heads I live...heads I die" Sketch managed in a choked whisper. He flipped the coin. Terry shot forwards and caught the coin.
"Heads?"
"I die" Sketch shoved off from the ground and fell backwards in silence. It was as if the sounds of the world were silenced. Terry plummeted after him. Sketch swung a kick at Terry and blasted him with an empathic bolt. Terry ignored it. He grabbed Sketch and wrapped his arms around the boy's slender waist. He wrenched backwards and hauled the boy with him.
Sketch's eyes glowed behind the goggles...Terry sprayed the gas into his face. The tiny aerosol from his belt had enough knockout gas to sedate a small town. Sketch went limp in his arms.
Terry laid him down and pressed the card into his belt.
When Sketch awoke he read it:
Sketch,
If you kill yourself you die a villain. Live you can be a hero and right the wrongs...your choice.
Batman
"I fell for the set up like a royal sucker," Terry groaned as Selina bandaged him up. Bruce nodded and handed Selina more bandages and anti- septic then returned to study the electronic bat.
"No need to disagree" Terry groaned in a hurt voice.
"Bruce, he wasn't to know" Selina said. "My protégé has always been shrewd... she knows a man's weaknesses and she will use her body to exploit them"
"I figured," grumbled Terry.
Selina sighed and handed him his civilian clothes. "I believe you have a date, get going"
"How did you know?" Terry asked.
"I picked the lock on your day planner" she sighed. "I was bored and it was there."
Terry and Bruce stared at her she shrugged and sauntered away.
Gotham was always dark, but for some reason Terry found the park was much brighter. He didn't know why, it was no different from any other...he saw her, Erika, she was wearing her long black coat, flowing in the wind, contrasted to the snow so perfectly. He was a few seconds (ahem-twenty minutes- ahem) late but she seemed just as out of breath.
"Sorry, filing" she said as he said: "Had to give Bruce his pills". They laughed together.
"Apparently neither of us can be on time. Delphi's a slave driver" Erika sighed.
"I guessed as much" smiled Terry. "Bruce is demanding but not in her league if what I've seen is anything to go on."
Erika nodded and linked his arm. "So any plans?"
"I'm winging it," sighed Terry.
"It's obvious" Erika said with a smile as she pulled in closer to him. "Did you hear about the attack at the plaza this morning? It's bizarre! Criminals don't strike in daylight"
"Yeah, but they do if they're crazy".
Erika smiled. They walked past a Soundbyte screen.
"In news today the people of Gotham are demanding a manhunt for Batman begin, Commissioner Barbara Gordon had this to say," the anchorman said.
The image of the Commissioner appeared on the screen. "Batman was seen during the terror this afternoon and many shoppers claim he was responsible but we need further evidence..." she paused as she was handed something by a strange, waif like young lady. She opened the envelope stamped with URGENT. "Oh my" she stated and darted into the offices.
"DA Sam Young later had this to say" the Anchorwoman silhouette said.
"I'm afraid that I must now place a warrant for arrest on Batman's head in light of some new proof received earlier this morning...all officers are required to find him... using lethal force if necessary."
Terry stifled the urge to roar in anger. He just went rigid.
Erika looked at him. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Batman avenged my father for me," Terry said quickly. "I owe him something for that."
Erika nodded and led him down a flight of stairs to a small coffee house where music was flowing from it. Stepping into the warmth Erika lead him to a booth in the corner and slipped in on one side.
Terry slipped in on the other. "So—I've never seen this place before..."
"I found it one night, after yet another threat of being fired I was feeling down. I heard the music and came here...oh no...uhh maybe we should go" Erika was staring at the stage where a green haired woman was sitting up on a stool with her guitar.
"Huh? Why?" Terry asked.
"N-No reason" Erika said.
"This is the song: You think, performed by me, Christina McShane, for my best bud in the world and the actual writer...Erika Arkham!" Terry stared at Erika. She folded her hands on the table and dropped her head into them. "Who's here on a first date, have a coffee and cookie on me Erika".
Erika glanced at the bread knife at the sandwich counter; she was deeply considering shoving it into Christina's neck for this...was she really? Or was that hyperbole? She was confused...that's all she needed.
"You write songs?" Terry asked.
"Ummm" Erika glanced around. Windows, doors, tables, chairs, people...I can somersault the tubby guy onto his table swing on the lights flip over the woman in the beatnik outfit and back flip up the stairs before he can probe deeper.
"That's cool"
"Can we go?"
"No" stated Terry. "I want to hear".
"Tubby guy, I hope you have a strong bladder," muttered Erika.
"Sorry?" Terry said as Christina found a cord.
"Nothing" Erika said. "But when I die of embarrassment, promise me you'll not write a song or sonnet about me...I hate anything with a crappy slow pace..."
Terry touched her hand she smiled and netted her fingers in his. Maybe this wasn't going to hurt so much...well maybe it would mildly injure Christina.
"The cannons gonna be done by tonight" the skull masked Orphan said.
"Excellent" Delphi grinned, she was wearing her purple mink lined coat and a violet business suit. She paced along the floor of the villains above ground lair in the abandoned building across from her offices. "Remember, once the cat is no longer useful...spay her. Until then, don't let her know you work for me..."
"How's the bat campaign going?" Roma asked Victor.
"Pictures delivered" Victor grinned. "Commissioner and DA turned to our anti-bat ideas...and Phase 4 ready. Sketch's working on an illusion of the Batmobile, if they think the cannon bolts came from the Batmobile..."
"He'll get the chair," laughed Delphi. "And my city becomes weaker so I may rebuild it as a more obedient and loyal place..."
TBC
A/N: What did y'all think of the characters there? I need feedback, if there's a character I should play up more then tell me for Mike's sake! (Do I know any Mikes? Anyway...) Also I give my characters out on rent provided I get credit, all you have to do is ask to archive the story or borrow a character...like you'd want to...anyway I have tons of projects all lined up.
CATgrl: Update YOUR fic ASAP I'm impatient and cranky.
Shadowhawk: Yours is a great fic your right I like it and I haven't even finished it yet. Mine is ho-hum-okay-if-you're-bored
Fire inu: Yes, she did and still has but in the first one she was a thief and in the second she's now a vigilante and champion of Basts children