Chapter Nine
Batman met Nightwing on a gargoyle head, right on the corner of a skyscraper. They were amazed by the white and blue ice and snow patterns covering the large city of Gotham. "Hey, Batman, what's the plan?" asked Nightwing.
Looking down at the frozen streets, Batman answered, "Simple, we make a frontal assault with our vehicles. Let's go."
"Right with you."
The two defenders of Gotham got into two bat-vehicles, with Nightwing going into the Bat-plane and Batman going into the Batmobile. The two started heading for the lighthouse where Mr. Freeze was most likely to be.
Batman found what looked like an icy rock with tunnels running through it. The Batmobile sped through them, expertly avoiding frozen cars and obstacles.. That's when the firing started. Some of Mr. Freeze's cryo-troopers were firing through holes in the top of the makeshift rock, but their ammo proved ineffective. Batman drove by the frozen entrance of a building, his car getting hit by a grenade.
The Batmobile shook a little, but was otherwise unharmed. Batman got his vehicle out of the tunnels, looking up to see the Bat-plane dodging icy blue blasts. Batman then looked at the road ahead. He was nearing the lighthouse, which overlooked a bay of ice perfect for skating. By the lighthouse was a large wall of ice.
The caped crusader didn't realize that Mr. Freeze, inside the lighthouse, had pressed a button that detonated some explosives in the wall. Soon the ground shook and the Batmobile was in danger from an avalanche. The dark knight pulled out a shield from beside his seat, giving him added protection. The window of the Batmobile was smashed by a large sharp shard of ice.
After the Batmobile was almost completely buried, Batman jumped out, aiming his grappling gun for the top of the lighthouse. His gear proved most effective when the grappling hook got into place on the roof. The dark knight climbed up the rope, watching the approaching Bat-plane. Then it happened.
An enormous spiked ball made of ice smashed into one of the wings, causing the air-vehicle to spin and crash.
"NIGHTWING!" yelled Batman. Anger welled up inside him. He finished climbing the rope and quickly sent a cryo-trooper flying with a well-placed kick. He then pulled out an electrical batarang, throwing it. More goons were hit and shocked out of consciousness by the zapping weapon, which hit the wall, letting sparks fly.
Mr. Freeze stepped out of an open door, aiming his gun at Batman, but the Gothamite was too furious at the apparent loss of his partner. He leaped at his enemy, grabbing him around the waist and thrusting him to the edge of the lighthouse veranda. He held his monstrous enemy over the 150 feet of falling space and the frozen lake.
"It's time for you to get some bones broken!"
"I don't think so," the chilly villain held out a remote control with a red button on it. "One press and my frozen guests are destroyed." He was referring to Gwen Wilder and the other persons whom he had captured and frozen for use as hostages.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Yes, Batman, I dare!"
The dark avenger threw his icy opponent through a window, letting the creep fall hard on the floor. Before he went in a figure appeared.
"Nightwing!"
"Hi, partner! I managed to bail out in time. But forget about that. Let's end this madman's reign of terror!"
The two crimefighters turned to finish off Mr. Freeze, but he was missing.
"He must have gone down to the lower levels," said Batman. The two men started their descent down a long flight of stairs. They were ready for the showdown.