Note: Batman, his rogue's gallery, supporting cast, and all affiliating characters are owned by DC Comics which is a Time-Warner Company. For the purpose of improving my skills as a writer and for your and my entertainment I'm merely borrowing them for this mystery story.

Note 2: This is an AU fic and takes place outside of the current continuity.

BATMAN in

THE COPY BAT KILLER

By

Mimick

On top of Wayne Tower…

Batman waited for the arrival of his expected guest. It was half way past midnight and he knew that it would be an inconvenience for his uneasy ally, but it was best they meet at this hour. As he pulled his cape closed he felt the gush of wind blow against his body and offered his guest a spot on the ledge beside him.

"I see I kept you up late."

"I had to stop an induced volcanic eruption in Hawaii and an earthquake in San Francisco," Superman said as walked over and sat on the ledge next to Batman.

"I take it your still faster then a speeding bullet."

"I certainly hope so."

"You read the papers," Batman said as he handed a newspaper to Superman.

"Yes, but I like to think I know people better."

"I didn't do any of it."

Superman checked the stern expression on Batman's face before he replied, "I believe you."

"I should be thankful then."

"Do you have any leads to who this killer is?"

"None what so ever – the only lead I have is mozline oil."

"That isn't much."

"I know…"

Batman walked away from the ledge and Superman got up and followed him. The dark knight pulled something from his utility belt and placed it in Superman's hand. He then stepped back away from the Man of Steel.

"In case something happens to me. This is my will."

"I think your being too pessimistic."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Batman then launched himself off the roof and swung away leaving the man of tomorrow with a burden that would weigh heavy on his shoulders if something should happen to his long time friend.

Gotham General…

Barbra was asleep in the chair with her head rested on the bed that Jim slept in and as she slept. Jim ran his hand across her head. He had awakened some time ago and was unable to get back to sleep. The whole affair with Joker and that vigilante was a grueling experience, but it proved to him that it wasn't Batman.

He knew Batman well enough and that wasn't Batman. Whoever that murderer was he was causing a lot of trouble for not only the GCPD, but for the people of Gotham. Since the Joker started retaliating in hopes to kill this fake Batman it was common sense others would soon be coming out of the wood works to kill him and many innocent lives would be caught in the cross fire.

Barbra moaned and looked up at Jim and he smiled at her.

"You okay dad?"

"Yes, honey. Why don't you go home and get some sleep."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure."

"I-I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving you here."

"I will be alright. I promise."

Barbra got up and kissed Jim on the forehead and then headed out. Jim reached over and grabbed the phone and called the Gotham Central.

"Hello? Debbie? Get me Bullock."

Gotham Wet Works…

A figure looms in the shadows of the Gotham wet works as his goons read the Gotham Gazette. The figure notices the headlines and he walks up to them and takes the paper from them. After reading the headline and the story, he throws the paper back to his hired hands.

"People are such amusing creatures. They find the most dreadful things to talk about. For instance they are speaking of how Batman is going around murdering people on both sides of the law and how the city is in panic. But when it comes to Gotham City there is only one thing that should be mentioning in hushed whispers," The figure said, "and that is the Scarecrow!"

"But boss. The bat's flipped his lid. Should we be really pull our next caper when he'll be comin' gunnin' for us?"

"Of course, you idiots, for this caper will signify me as the most fearful figure in Gotham. Batman or no Batman I will not be stopped this time."

The two goons looked to each other and shrugged. They then went back to reading the paper as the Scarecrow went back to his work.

Hawkin's gun shop…

Batman dropped through the sky light he opened above and landed in a crouch on the floor. As he looked over the inside of the gun shop he could tell that a lot of the armaments were of the illegal variety. He looked them over as he walked down the aisles. As he approached the gate and started down the next aisle he heard a gun cock.

"Like the collection?"

"I'm looking for information."

"Well you have come to the wrong place for it capeesh."

Batman said nothing at first. He merely noted the nine millimeter Smith and Weston in the man's hand. It had fourteen in the clip and one in the chamber. He then looked up at the man who he assumed was Hawkins.

"Do you sell Mozline oil?"

"Yea, I do. So what is it your business."

"I need a list of your customers."

"Fuck you. I don't keep a goddamn list of my customers."

"Wrong answer," Batman replied as he tossed a flash bang in the front of them and blinded Hawkins.

As Hawkins rubbed his eyes, Batman nailed him in the kidneys with a punch and then kneed him in the gut. He grabbed hold of Hawkins collar and dragged the gun shop owner across the floor to the sky light where he took him to roof and hung him over the ledge.

"W-what, what's going on?"

"Give me some names of your clients or I will send you on one way ticket to hell."

"I said I don't keep a list man. I have a shit memory."

"Then tell me something. Has any one bought Mozline oil in the past two weeks?"

"Y-yea, yea, some guy came in about a week in a half ago and bought my whole stock of Mozline oil. I never got a good look at his face because he was wearing a hood and a ski mask. H-he said he had allergies."

"Got an address for him or know where I can find him?"

"No. No man, he didn't leave anything like that. I swear on my mother's grave."

"You better not be lying to me because I'll be back."

Batman dropped Hawkins onto the roof and then leaped off into the night.

Gotham Central…

Bullock walked into the vacated room that was now being used for the Major Crimes Unit that would bring Batman down. He looked over the men in the unit and thumbed in the direction of the door for the ones he felt were not cut out for the task force. The rest he looked over with a smug smile.

"Alright rookies, you all know why yer here. So listen up and listen well. We are after the Bat and I expect absolute professionalism from youse. Some much as one screw up and I'll see that none of ya ever work on the force again."

A yes sir reverberated through out the small room.

"Good. Now go suit up and meet me down stairs in fifteen minutes."

Bullock headed out of the room and leaned against the wall next to a water cooler. He took his hat off and scratched his head.

"Damn, I could use a cigarette."

Robinson Park…

A scarce crowd had gathered in the park to look at the display that was being shown in the center. Some one named Ma'I Reaf was doing an unlicensed act with some highly trained ravens. Unknown to the people, fear toxin was being pumped through the air via gas tanks underneath the stage. Ma'I Reaf began to laugh as the people started panicking.

Then out of no where a batarang hit the stage and Ma'I Reaf looked up to see a shadow descend from above. As he watched the figure who he assumed to be Batman land, he was blown high into the air by the gas tank explosion caused by the explosives in the batarang.

The copy cat watched as Ma'I Reaf crashed through a bench and quivered in pain. While starting towards him the shout of two men caught his attention.

"Hey, Bats over here."

"Come here ya bum."

The copy cat started towards the two and the razor sharp fins on his gloves stuck up. Upon seeing this, the two men started to shake in fear and began to rethink their strategy. They started to run, but the copy cat pulled a barbed wire boa from his utility belt and tossed them at the two men who were running away.

The two men screamed as the barbed boa wrapped around them and ripped into their skin. As the men laid here helpless on the ground, the copy cat walked over to them and slit their throats before he started after Ma'I Reaf who was running away.

"No where to run…"

"I would like to think otherwise," Ma'I Reaf replied as he ducked into an alley.

The copy cat followed him only to be shot in the face with fear toxin. Reaf pulled of his garish costume and revealed himself as the Scarecrow. He taunted the copy cat who seemed helpless due to the fear toxin…yet when he felt a sharp pain his stomach. He realized that was not the case.

He looked down and noticed that a blade was stabbed into his stomach and he was bleeding profusely. He fell onto his backside clutching his stomach. The copy cat stood over him with a garrote wire in his hand and was ready to strangle the life out of the Scarecrow when he heard some one call him.

"Hey, you, try picking on some your own size."

The copy cat looked up and saw Batgirl behind him and a smile creased his lips. He got up and tucked the garrote wire away as he started toward Batgirl. Batgirl got into the fighting stance that was similar to Nightwing's and she slowly backed away to lead him out into the open.

"Scared…"

"No, I just want to see clearly what I'm facing."

As the copy cat came out of the dark littered alley. Batgirl could see that this Batman seemed awfully authentic despite what her dad thought and what assurances Alfred made. Whoever he was, he must have studied Batman for quite a while.

"So…where do want to die."

Batgirl fired her grapnel onto the roof above and zip lined up to the top. She got onto the very top of the building which was about thirty stories up. The copy cat followed close behind. He was very strong and fast, agile too. It almost seemed like he was a mirror image of Batman.

She spread out her legs a few inches apart as she waited for him. Once he was with in range. She started towards him and jumped over him and jabbed an elbow into his back. The copy cat spun around threw a kick at her midsection, but she evaded and nearly fell off the roof. The copy cat came at her as she tried to regain her balance and she managed to use it to her advantage by jumping over him as he was coming and he nearly went over.

Batgirl let him regain his footing and they back tracked towards the center of the roof where the fight took on a much heated vigor. Batgirl managed to block or evade most of his blows, while most of hers dealt him damage however minor. She was slowing wearing him down and she knew he wouldn't be able to keep going.

That notion was changed when out of nowhere he got a second wind and started nailing body shots that had Batgirl racking with pain. The blows were now coming at a fevered pitch and she could barely keep up with them. He was most certainly gaining the advantage.

Batgirl tried the only thing she could think of now and that was to get away, but the copy cat hit her in the back and sent her flying off the roof. She fell halfway before slamming into the scaffolds below. He started to go after when he saw the policing arriving on the scene.

"Oh well…"

He then took off into the night.