A/N: Thanks CATgrl for the review. I like that I have you hooked. But, Corinna and Terry will not be making an appearance in this chapter. Sorry if that's disappointing, but this chapter is needed.

Chapter 7

Synthroid and his gang of ruffians had tracked down one of the top super villains in Gotham, one Spellbinder. He'd escaped being prisoner and was building up power until he could take on Batman once again. Synthroid realized how intelligent Ira Billings, the man behind the Spellbinder costume, really was. So, he decided to make his first impression by taking down such a powerful and promising crime master. His computers had searched all databases for information about Spellbinder, so Synthroid knew how to turn the tables against the Spellbinder. Being cyborg and all, Synthroid could simply turn off his hearing and switch to mechanical sight. That would leave Spellbinder with no control over Synthroid.

Spellbinder's hideout was a well-kept empty building on the outskirts of Gotham. Synthroid smiled and evil smile. He was dressed in black leather trench coat with black suit jacket and pants on underneath. He had a black hood over his head that had night vision goggles built into it. His allies were dressed similar to their boss, but they each adorned laser guns since they did not have the strengths of a cyborg.

The flying vehicle stopped in front of Spellbinder's hideout, and Synthroid opened the door. "Come, my minions, let's give this Spellbinder what we're made of." Synthroid exclaimed.

His companions shot open the door, even though Synthroid could have ripped it off of its old hinges. Synthroid stepped inside and found Spellbinder's group of runaways ready for a fight. "Boys, show these kids we mean business."

Synthroid's men opened fire upon the room but were careful not to critically injure any of the runaways, who ducked for cover. After they had scared all of the runaways to the ground, the firing ceased. "What do you want," one of the runaways asked. The runaway was young, about eighteen. But, he was the oldest one there.

"I want to meet with Spellbinder, now." Synthroid told him.

"I'm afraid the boss won't like that," the young man replied.

Synthroid raised his arm, and his men aimed their guns for the young man. "We could do this the hard way, boy."

The runaway trembled, a side-effect of fear and the drugs that Spellbinder filled his runaways' heads with. "I don't think I could persuade him to see things differently," he said quietly.

Synthroid looked back at his men then to the young man. "Then, we'll force him to see us." He lowered his hand, and the men began firing the walls down.

Spellbinder heard the commotion, and he knew that it wasn't Batman who'd found him out. Someone dangerous had entered his lair, and it was time for him to high-tail it out of there. So, he ran.

Synthroid was able to sense Spellbinder's cowardly instinctive behavior. He ran full speed for the nearest wall and plowed a hole right through it. He ran through the hall until he had found the hiding place of Spellbinder. Synthroid stopped running and listened intently. Spellbinder was inside the room getting his gizmos ready for mind control. Synthroid let out a laugh. 'Fool,' he thought, 'You're gadgets will not save you.'

Synthroid burst into the room, and Spellbinder spun around holding a glowing sphere, with an eyeball picture in the center, out. He was backed into a corner. Synthroid continued to walk closer and saw the fear take hold of Spellbinder. "You are not a hospitable host, Spellbinder." Synthroid pointed out.

"I don't have guests." Spellbinder replied.

"You are an intelligent man, but you have caused great evil to those kids. That's all they are, Spellbinder, lost runaway kids. You should be ashamed to stock their heads full of designer drugs that you design just to keep them doing your bidding just to have more. Pitiful humanitarian skills, Mr. Billings."

"How do you know me?" Spellbinder inquired.

"I know a lot about you; all the information Gotham's databases could give me."

Spellbinder glanced out the window and saw groups of Jokerz gathered around the windows. 'Scavengers,' he thought. 'They love to see a fight, but they don't want to be in one.'

Synthroid stepped closer, and Spellbinder threw a vile of acid onto his attacker. Synthroid hissed and wiped away the acid that did not begin to eat at his faux skin. Spellbinder gasped at the sight of steel under the skin. He knew that he had crossed a line that was not to be crossed. One simply did not irritate a cyborg because they had far too much power.

Synthroid, annoyed that he would have to replace the fake skin, grapped Spellbinder by the shoulders and squeezed just a little. Spellbinder's collarbone snapped like a twig in Synthroid's hands, and Ira Billings let out a scream of pain. Synthroid held tighter and tighter until he could feel Spellbinder's pulse thumping wildly against his hands. He didn't even have to cut air off or snap the neck of Spellbinder; Spellbinder simply died of fear. He feared what Synthroid would do, and a vessel in his heart overloaded and burst.

The Jokerz outside buzzed when they saw Spellbinder's limp body held up in Synthroid's hands. "Did you see that," one asked the group. "That dreg killed Spells!"

Synthroid let Spellbinder's body drop to the ground, and he looked out the windows at the Jokerz, who immediately scrambled away. "Yes, cowards, run and spread the word that Synthroid means business in this city."