CHAPTER 3: A Madman's Perfect Plans
Crane opened his eyes. He was in a dank, dark room. Ducard stood in the doorway with the chauffeur, Hideshi. Ducard… the demon, repulsive beast from the car… no, that was just the toxin. He was a man… yes; the Fear Drug had worked…
"Ah, Dr Crane… now do you sere the effectiveness of the drug?"
"Yes…" Gasped Crane, struggling to his feet, "I… shall help you, Mr Ducard. Tell me, what is this plan of yours?"
"I will explain in private… Hideshi, GO! Now, Mr Crane… here is the plan…"
One month later, a prison somewhere in Tibet.
The bearded man served the gruel calmly into his bowl and turned. A huge fist slammed it from his hands! The American turned and glared at the huge Indian inmate who yelled:
"You are in Hell, American… and I am the Devil!" The attacker punched the American inmate across the face. Blood ran freely from the victim's nose as he straightened himself up. A giant fist slammed into his chest and he reeled back, winded and then pulled himself up against the breakfast table and growled:
"You're not the Devil… you're just practice!"
The bruiser aimed a fierce punch again but the American caught his arm, twisted it and kicked him in the ribs! The thug reeled away and suddenly the thug's inmate friends, 6 of them, leapt at the American, who dodged and the group rolled in the mud.
The American punched one looming menace back, grabbed one in a head lock and continued to battle the others! He released the head lock victim, who had passed out, and the last four all soon lay weak, senseless and groaning in the dirt. The victor held his first assailant by the collar and raised his fist… suddenly, machine gun fire caused him to turn and two armed guards seized the American and dragged him away towards his cell…
The American slammed onto the stone floor of his dank cell and groaned, struggling up. He heard a clear voice behind him:
"Are you so desperate to fight criminals that you lock yourself in with them to take them on one at a time?"
"Actually," He sighed, turning to face the man who was hidden in the shadows, "There were seven of 'em…"
"I counted six, Mr Wayne."
"How do you know who I am?"
"The world is too small for someone like Bruce Wayne to just disappear. I represent a certain Ra's al Ghul, who is greatly feared amongst the criminal underworld. We can help you find what you seek… in three days, you will be released. If you wish to take me up on my offer, there is a rare blue flower that grows only on the eastern slopes of that mountain…" He pointed out of the narrow barred window at a snowy mountain, "If you can take that flower to the top of the mountain, you may find what you seek… good luck, Mr Wayne!"
Gotham City, The Docks
Jonathan Crane smiled as Gotham's very own mob kingpin, Carmine "The Roman" Falcone's car drove up outside. He watched as Falcone's men unloaded the crates and glanced sideways. A tall bald man in padded body armour stood beside the doctor. He wore red night-vision lenses.
"Ah, you must be Mr Zeiss?" Smirked Crane, "yes… Mr Ducard informed me that you would be coming… for my protection, I believe. After all, you are the greatest bodyguard in Gotham city, and possibly the World… your reputation precedes you…yes, you will most definitely be useful to me…"