Chapter 1: Stepping Up
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Wow already this story has over 50 followers and favorites! Thanks for all the support. You guys rock! I'd also like to thank kival737101 for helping me with some new details to make this more exciting than the game. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
We find Jaden, Dick, Jason, Tim and Barbara in a small room all of them dressed in black.
In their hands, they were all watching the same message.
"If you're watching this, I'm dead. This is a Code Black. This message was automatically triggered when I destroyed the cave and everything it contained. I've prepared for it as best I can. I know you have too. I'm sorry it's come to this. Now we all know it won't take long for the criminals of Gotham to realize the Batman is gone. And you can't count on the GCPD. Haven't trusted us since Jim died. I'm leaving you the Belfry as a base of operations. Some of the tech is outdated, but it has the gear you need and all of my files. You've always had my back when I needed you. I know you'll keep Gotham safe. Good luck and goodbye." Bruce smiles as the message ended.
Frowning the 5 of them looked at each other when the door opens revealing Maya Cooper.
"Uh you all ready? The ceremony is about to begin?" Maya asks.
"Thanks mom, we'll be right out." Jaden said as they all stood up and grabbed an umbrella.
"We'll talk more after." Dick said as they opened the umbrellas and walked out into the rain where Bruce's funeral was held.
At the grave site, we see a man with black hair and white lines, and glasses. This was Jacob Kane.
"Many of you knew Bruce from Gotham's Celebrity pages. A handsome charming billionaire. And he was that, but he was also more. He was my nephew. He was a friend, a mentor, a benefactor, and more to all of those gathered here today. And to those of you who didn't know him as well. Let me just tell you this: Bruce was Gotham. He loved this city more than he loved anything. He was a protector who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring justice and equality. There was nothing he wouldn't do. No project he wouldn't champion if he thought Gotham would benefit. And I think in remembering that we remember Bruce as he truly was." Jacob said.
Making his way to the coffin, Alfred put his hand atop Bruce's coffin and hangs his head.
Walking to him, Dick held his umbrella out so he could pay his respects.
After the funeral, we see Spider-Man, Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood and Robin by Bruce's grave.
"I just can't believe it. Part of me still thinks he's gonna burst out of the ground any second now and say I can't believe you guys were gullible enough to believe this." Spider-Man said.
"I can see that." Batgirl agrees.
"How's Alfred?" Red Hood asks.
"What did you expect? Took him 3 years to agree to a vacation and Bruce turns up dead. He said he needs time." Nightwing said.
"He knows none of us were there when it happened either, right?" Robin asks.
"How are the others handling it? I didn't see them at the funeral." Nightwing asks looking at Spider-Man.
"They're doing okay. Trying to keep things going on their ends, they'll try to contact us soon." Spider-Man sighs.
"I still can't believe you let Jacob Kane give the eulogy." Batgirl said looking at Nightwing.
"He offered. He thought it would be easier on us if he was the one to do it. He's Bruce's Uncle." Nightwing explains.
"Hell of a speech. All that talk of a protector who works behind the scenes. If they only knew." Red Hood said.
"I noticed no one for the Gotham PD showed up." Robin said.
"Catherine wouldn't be here if she suspected something. I can't see the Anti-Vigilante police commissioner coming to Batman's funeral." Batgirl said.
"Here's something else she doesn't know. She has the body of his killer in her morgue." Spider-Man said getting their attention. "Apparently Ra's Al Ghul is registered under the name John Doe. Slated for cremation."
"And what if the League of Shadows finds him before then? They drop their leader back in the Lazarus Pit he won't be dead anymore." Red Hood asks.
"You want to break into GCPD for a what if? Be my guest." Nightwing said.
"I decrypted the code for the case Batman sent us in his message. We should focus on that." Batgirl said.
"I looked it over, but did I get everything? It looks incomplete." Robin asks.
"Ra's must have interrupted him while he was recording." Batgirl assumes.
"Says it has implications that could shake Gotham to its core." Robin read.
"Ominous but not helpful. I know a few places we can look at. Not to mention some criminals who need some sense knocked into them." Red Hood said.
"Maybe later, I noticed a name in that file, Dr. Langstrom. Does anyone know who that is?" Spider-Man asks.
"A Zoologist at Gotham University. Not sure what his connection is though." Robin said.
"Oh boy I hope he's not affiliated with the animal villains we've had to deal with. I do not need an Evil Dr. Dolittle in my life right now." Spider-Man said making Nightwing, Batgirl and Robin chuckle.
"Really? We just had a funeral and you're already making bad jokes again?" Red Hood asks.
"Hey I'm not all doom and gloom. I need laughter in my life." Spider-Man said.
"Let's divide up the work. We can meet up at the Belfry when we're all done. Get the place up and running." Batgirl suggests.
"Spidey and I will go talk to Langstrom. The rest of you try and get some." Nightwing volunteers.
"I'm fine with that." Spider-Man nods.
"Be careful you two." Batgirl said.
"Right back at ya." Nightwing said when he noticed Spider-Man sending a message on his phone.
That night on the rooftops of Gotham, Nightwing and Spider-Man were looking out at heavily Gotham University.
"You know it seems just like yesterday we were graduating from here." Spider-Man said.
"Yep, your mom, Tim, Barbara, Alfred even Bruce mustered up the strength to come down and see us." Nightwing smiles softly. "
"And a few others." Spider-Man chuckles nervously.
It was a good thing Nightwing didn't have X-Ray vision or he would see Jaden had a blush under his face remembering that day.
"Hey dude before we do this, there's something I want to ask you." Spider-Man said lifting his mask and turning off his commlink.
"What's up?" Dick asks lifting his up and doing the same.
"There's something I want to do, but I'm not sure if I can. The truth is it wasn't until we lost Bruce that I really considered it." Jaden said.
Needless to say this got his attention.
"I think...I think its time I tried taking the next big step with Barbara." Jaden admits.
"Whoa. Dude are you serious?" Dick asks.
"I mean it. At the funeral, I realized I don't know how long I might have until someone puts me in that grave. I don't want to live a life of what ifs." Jaden said.
"I can respect that man." Dick said putting his hand on Jaden's shoulder. "Maybe this is like Bruce's final wake-up call for us."
"Maybe think I should go for it?" Jaden asks.
"All I know is, Barbara's always been your girl, but it's the other ladies in your life that you need to worry about." Dick chuckles.
"One problem at a time. I'll figure something out." Jaden chuckles.
"Maybe I should try taking a risk too. Come one we figure this out later." Dick said putting his mask back on.
"Yeah." Jaden agress as both turned on their commlinks and made their way out.
"Alright guys we're here. So what's the story so far with this professor?" Nightwing asks into his commlink as they leaped across the rooftops and land on the main building.
"Kirk Langstrom. Judging by the half-finished file in Code Black, Batman was digging into him hardcore." Red Hood answers.
"Get that Spidey Sense of yours ready. Be ready for anything." Nightwing said.
Nodding the two of them snuck around before noticing Ambulance lights.
Making their way towards it they see a body bag being pushed out.
"So we got a positive ID on this faculty dude. Kirk Langstrom." An EMT said.
"Right I'll call it on the way to the morgue." Her partner said putting Langstrom in the ambulance and driving off.
"Crap." Nightwing groans annoyed.
"Bad news guys, Langstrom is dead. We need an office number." Spider-Man said.
"He's dead too? Jesus." Robin answers. "Uh says here is office is on the third floor of Moulton hall."
Looking around Spider-Man fires a web while Nightwing took out a grappling gun and they both swung across the university.
Making their way into the office they saw the place looked like a normal office. Papers, books and files everywhere, but no sign of death.
"Guess Doc wasn't in his office when it happened." Nightwing said.
"Maybe he was with his animal patients." Spider-Man said when Nightwing noticed something.
"You might be onto something. Look at these marks." Nightwing said pointing to the floor.
"Hmm." Suddenly the eyes slots in Spider-Man's mask began to glow revealing night vision. "The tracks go in that direction."
"If only Batgirl was here, she loves a good lab break in." Nightwing said.
"Except for that time she tripped the alarm." Spider-Man chuckles.
"Excuse me. That was you babe." Batgirl said on the commlink making Spider-Man chuckle nervously.
"Don't look at me, she's your girlfriend." Nightwing chuckles walking ahead.
Jumping onto the ceiling Spider-Man crawls after Nightwing as the two of them follow the tracks to see a lab where the crime scene happened.
"Oh crap. Look at this place." Spider-Man said dropping down.
"You'd think the police would still be all over this." Nightwing said examining a big blood stain on the wall.
Walking to work station Spider-Man noticed a bloody notebook with a post-it note on it.
"Looks like Langstrom was attacked at his desk." Spider-Man starts.
"And judging by these stains he tried to get away but his attacker pinned him to the wall. Brutal." Nightwing said noticing some handprints heading toward a cabinet. "Langstrom spent his final moments heading to this cabinet, but why not the exit?"
"Because something else was there." Spider-Man said looking at the post-it note and saw a circle around what appeared to be a phone number area code.
Looking around he spotted a microwave in the upper corner.
"Hmm if I were an evil scientist." Pausing Spider-Man tried getting into character. "Hmm I need a way to hide my villainy. Something no foolish faculty or stupid undergrad would ever suspect." Putting the area code into the microwave he clicks the start button and instantly the cabinet moved to reveal a secret entrance. "My secret lair. Mwhahaha." Spider-Man said doing an evil laugh.
"Okay take it down a notch Evil Dr Webhead." Nightwing chuckles.
"Was the evil laugh too much?" Spider-Man asks.
"Ehh getting better." Nightwing said tilting his hand back and forth.
Slowly making their way through the hidden room, both spotted a secret lab but to their surprise they see giant containers filled with scary freak animal hybrids.
"Batman's dead professor was into some real sketchy stuff." Nightwing cringed.
"Okay this is becoming less Dr. Dolittle and more Dr. Frankenstein now." Spider-Man said looking around. "Let's try finding some clues, preferably something that's not alive."
Nodding in agreement both of them looked around.
As Spider-Man examined some drawers he cringed seeing he had stored animal tissues and body parts in jars.
'Ok he is definitely a Dr. Frankenstein.' Spider-Man said closing it.
Nearby Nightwing was examining Langstrom's desk.
As he rummaged around he came across a hardrive hidden in the back.
"Bingo. Spidey I got something." Nightwing said.
Looking over, Spider-Man saw Nightwing holding it up in victory.
"Finally something useful." Spider-Man said.
"Let's get this back to the Belfry." Nightwing said as they raced out.
But just as they exited the lab the fire alarm went off.
"Oh no. What did you do?" Both heroes asks. "Me? I didn't do anything. Stop saying what I'm saying."
Nightwing was about to open his mouth when Spider-Man covers it.
"Wait a second…what's that noise?" Spider-Man asks.
Pausing Nightwing heard it from outside as Spidey removes his hand.
"I don't think this was us." Nightwing said.
Running outside they saw the Gotham gang The Freaks tearing up the University and setting everything on fire.
Without a Batman to stop them, they and all the other Gangs around Gotham have been running wild using this chance to tear up Gotham.
"Someone oughta teach these guys a lesson." Nightwing said grabbing his escrima sticks.
"Well good thing we're at college then." Spider-Man said taking a fighting stance.
Jumping in Nightwing swings his stacks knocking a freak to the ground while he was distracted.
"Oh crap! It's Nightwing what's he doing here?!" Another freak gasps.
"Attention Freaks of Gotham University!" Looking up they saw Spider-Man swinging in on a web. "Today we are offering a Special Course called Badguy Busting 101. Be ready to take notes!"
Dropping in Spider-Man delivers a kick knocking the Freak to the ground.
"You will be quizzed." Spider-Man said as the door was kicked open and 8 freaks armed with weapons came out.
"Don't mess with us. We've had a really long day." Nightwing said as both heroes charged in.
But the Freaks didn't listen and charged in.
"They never listen." Charging in Nightwing blocks a bat with one stick before nailing the Freak with the other knocking him down.
As two more came at him, Nightwing dodges their strikes and nailed one in the knee before ramming him into his partner knocking both to the ground.
Firing a web, Spider-Man ties up a Freak before throwing him across.
Turning to another he fires a web at the wall and swings in nailing her in the chest with the double kick.
When one throws a Molotv cocktail at him, Spider-Man catches it.
"Hey pal if you want a drink go find a frat." Spider-Man said swinging in and punching the Freak in the face.
Throwing the cocktail into the air it exploded making a cloud of smoke.
Confused the Freaks looked around for any sign of the heroes.
Suddenly leaping out of the smoke the two heroes took out the remaining Freaks with ease.
"Class dismissed. You all failed." Spider-Man said when flames shot out of the building.
"The Freaks are gonna burn this whole building to the ground." Nightwing said.
"Not if we have anything to say about it." Spider-Man said.
Making their way inside the building they spotted a Freak throwing Molotov cocktail and setting the whole place ablaze.
Firing a web Spider-Man yanks the cocktail out of the Freak's hand and throws it out the window.
Firing a web, he ties the freak up.
"Please! Just let me live! I have money!" Looking down Nightwing saw the Freaks had taken hostages in the floor below.
Seeing he had to move fast, Nightwing leaped over the rails and landed atop one Freak nailing him with a blow to the head.
As he falls to the ground Nightwing charges in whacking the Freaks and making his way to the hostages.
As the Freaks slowly got up, Spider-Man realized they wouldn't back down easily.
Taking out what looks like a bomb, Spider-Man poses like a baseball player.
"And the pitch!" Spider-Man said throwing it and instantly the bomb exploded trapping them all in a mess of webs.
Running over Nightwing helps the hostages up.
"Oh thank you! Thank you!" A girl said.
"It's not safe here get out." Nightwing orders.
Just they were about to leave, Spider-Man's spidey sense went off.
"Hey what are you doing?! You can't be here!" A security guard said when they heard a noise.
"Get down!" Spider-Man said as they ducked behind the desk and instantly the door was blasted down.
Looking up, the two heroes saw a man with a brown helmet and a yellow and gray battle suit. Attached to each arm with high tech gauntlets.
"Shocker." Spider-Man declares.
"Well look what we have here." He said spotting the two heroes.
Leaping out the two heroes land in front of him.
"Everyone out! This is gonna get messy!" Nightwing said as the hostages ran out.
"So I guess it's true, Batman's gone and all that's left are his sidekicks." Shocker said as his energy emitted from his gauntlets.
"We're protecting Gotham now." Nightwing glares.
"You? Oh this is gonna be too easy." Firing a shockwave the two heroes jumped out of the way.
"Yeah for us. We've taken you done without Batman's help several times." Spider-Man fires a web at a table and throws it at him.
Swinging his left arm Shocker destroys it.
Running in, Nightwing goes on the attack.
Shocker swings his arms but Nightwing uses Escrima sticks to deflect his punches.
Dodging the attacks Nightwing delivers an elbow to the face before kicking him in the chest.
Firing a shockwave Shocker blows Nightwing back making him crash into a desk.
Shocker was about to fire another one when a web wraps around his arm and throws him across the room.
"Hey don't forget about me." Firing two webs, Spider-Man launches himself at Shocker delivering a powerful punch to the face.
Turning his attention towards the webhead, Shocker releases a shockwave in his direction.
"So what's your business here Shocker? What's a guy like you doing teaming up with the Freaks?" Spider-Man asks dodging his attack.
"Why do you care?" Shocker asks.
"Actually I don't. Just trying to make polite conversation and to give my buddy the opening he needs." Spider-Man said.
"Huh?" Before Shocker could react Nightwing dropped in.
Slamming his escrima sticks down, Nightwing knocks Shocker off his balance.
Turning to him, Shocker fires a shockwave forcing Nightwing to roll out of the way.
"Your boss was the only reason people like us had to watch our steps. Now that he's gone there's a whole of city full of people who see opportunity." Shocker cackles.
"Not if we have anything to say about it!" Swinging upwards Nightwing whacks Shocker knocking him to the ground.
As both heroes leaped in, Shocker aimed his gauntlets upwards and released a Shockwave blasting both heroes away and also damaging the ceiling.
"I am really going to enjoy shutting you up." Shocker said as energy surrounded his gauntlets.
"Nickel for every time I heard that one." Spider-Man said when something dropped down in front of Nightwing
Looking up he noticed a large chandelier was weaking from Shocker's attack.
"Hey Spidey I got an idea." Nightwing said.
"Need a distraction?" Spider-Man assumes.
"Do your thing." Nightwing said.
Getting back up, Spider-Man charges at Shocker while Nightwing jumps to the upper level.
"Listen Shocker what do you say we skip all this and settle our differences with a game? Wanna play 20 Questions?" Spider-man asks as Shocker tries punching him but he dodges. "Okay how Thumb wrestling?" Spider-Man asks before dodging another punch. "Okay Face Punch it is."
Swinging a left hook Spider-Man nails Shocker in the face.
"Will you just shut up?!" Shocker snaps punching Spider-Man sending him crashing into the wall.
"Never have. Never will." Spider-Man said.
Little did Shocker realize Nightwing was atop the Chandelier.
"Hey Shocker!" Looking up Shocker saw Nightwing right above him.
Swinging his Escrima Stick Nightwing cuts the chain making the chandelier drop down.
Shocker uses his Shockwave to try and repel it but Nightwing leaps off.
Throwing his stick it whacks Shocker in the shoulder weaking his grip.
And unfortunately for him the shockwave had also damaged the ceiling resulting in even more coming down.
As the chandelier and part of the ceiling came down Shocker tried to repel it but it was too much and the lower half of his body was trapped under all the rubble.
When he tried to blast it off, Spider-Man fires two webs tying his arms to the ground.
"You brought this on yourself. Literally." Nightwing said.
"You guys really think you guys can be the new Batman? Fat chance." Shocker groans in defeat.
Glaring the two realized he was the GCPD's problem now.
As the two made their way out, they suddenly got a call from Robin.
"Fire and paramedics are on the way. What's your status?" He asks.
"Oh you know just a normal night for us." Spider-Man said.
"We're coming back with Langstrom's hard drive. We're gonna need our rides." Nightwing said.
"Don't worry boys. I got you covered." A new female voice said.
"You guys got my message." Spider-Man said.
"Yep and we got a little surprise coming your way." She giggles.
Suddenly racing down the streets we see Nightwing's batcycle and a red glider stop in front of them.
"Let me guess that's who you were messaging back at the cemetery?" Nightwing asks.
"Guilty." Spider-Man said making Nightwing laugh and clap him on the shoulder.
"My man." Nightwing laughs.
Getting on their vehicles the two of them raced back to the Belfry eager to solve the last case Batman left them.