Katt Girl, Robin, & The Harley-Kidd: Chapter 30: Bats Aren't Afraid of Scarecrows by Chad Sheefel 12/07/19
It was almost 4am. Bruce still hadn't seen any sightings of Scarecrow or his men. Why would Scarecrow need to show himself. He nearly stole a million dollars from Gotham Bank. The city had just gotten that money from the U.S. emergency funds. This was already Batman's second lead. His first lead was the chemical compound he found on Selina's outfit. Lucius was analyzing the compound at the moment. Now we had an emergency fund heist. These two things could leave footprints. Where would he have gotten the main component for his toxin, and where might the next heist take place? He would need to find the component, and follow the money.
Batman made his way to the latest crime scene. He setup invisible, laser beam tripwires within five-hundred yards of the bank. He knew five-hundred yards would give him plenty of time to make an escape if the police were to show up. After he made it inside the bank, he started looking for any clues he could find. He already had a pretty good idea of who it might be, but he needed proof to settle his suspicions. He noticed the Scarecrow used a specific type of C4 to blow the safe. This was clue number three. Plus, Gabby, Dick, and Lola was able to give a really good description of the van Scarecrow was using to get away. As much as he tried to concentrate on finding clues, he also couldn't stop allowing his mind to think of Selina and the kids. Was Gabby right? Are they ready to have this kind of deep thought going into a crime scene. Would they have a distinct plan of attack, or would they just wing it like they did earlier. Punching and kicking bad guys was only part of the job. Investigating and finding the ulterior motive was also important. Plus, the number one rule that Bruce abided by was, you never let them see you coming.
The bank heist was almost perfect, but it would appear the criminals left a scuff mark from one of their shoes. Based on the scuff mark, this person was roughly one-hundred and sixty pounds. Plus, the amount of material that came from the mark showed that the shoes were fairly new. He could bring that to Lucius, then he could analyze what type of shoe it came from. Bruce would be able to cross-analyze those two clues, then find out which store they might have been bought from. Hopefully the store's cameras were recording. Batman knew the Scarecrow was good at fixing cameras, but maybe he didn't think that a scuff mark would be the reason he got caught. Suddenly, one of the laser beam tripwires alerted Batman that somebody was coming. It appeared someone must have called the police. The police made their way into the bank, but Batman was already long gone.
Batman went to Wayne Enterprise, then gave Lucius the new evidence. Lucius told Bruce that he found out more information about the chemical compound used on Selina. He let him know that the toxin seemed to originate from a plant that he hadn't seen before. Bruce instantly knew where it came from ... it was the mountain side that once led to the League of Assassins. Then, Lucius analyzed the material from the scuff mark. He discovered it was a work boot that was made in Russia. After that, he cross-referenced which stores sold that brand of work boots.
"It looks like three stores sell these types of work boots." Lucius said as he turned to inform Bruce, but Bruce was already gone.
Batman made his way to the stores that sold those types of work boots. After he made it to the stores, he checked the receipts and cameras. Bingo! Only one man fit the description. Apparently, the man wearing the boots was named, Roman Sionis. Bruce knew Roman. They were friends at a very young age until their parents stopped liking each other. Roman's parents were killed after their mansion burned down, then he inherited all of the family fortune. He was almost as rich as Bruce. Batman soon discovered that Roman had connections to the Gotham mob. Also, it appeared he did some time in a juvenile facility for releasing a chemical compound during science class, which caused most of the students and teachers to become very ill. Bruce didn't understand why Roman would need to be robbing a bank.
Batman decided he would go to Roman's mansion and try to get some answers. As he scoped out the place, he could see Roman was with a woman. They seemed to be arguing. Batman decided to ease drop. They were arguing about a new line of women's products that failed miserably and was about to tank his entire family fortune. This would explain why Roman decided to take up bank robbing. Suddenly Roman hit the woman, then took out a mask and tried to force it onto her face. The woman tried resisting as much as possible. Batman quickly shot a grappling hook, then used it to swing down and crash through the window. Roman was startled, but tried to reach for his gun. Batman threw a bat-r-rang at the gun and knocked it out of Roman's hand. The woman ran out of the room to call the police. After that, Batman approached Roman. Roman got into a fighting stance. Batman instantly realized the fighting style because he had seen it before from the League of Assassins.
Batman stood ready as well, then said, "I know you had something to do with the recent bank robbery. Why are you working for the Scarecrow?" Batman asked.
"I'm not telling you jack squat!" Roman exclaimed.
Then Roman attacked Batman. Batman was shocked to see how quick Roman was. Batman managed to dodge most of his swings, although Roman did land a couple punches. Now it was Batman's turn. A quick chop to Roman's throat, then a kick to the ribs, and finally a blow to the nose. Blood splattered across the room. Batman pinned Roman to the floor, then demanded to know where Scarecrow was. After seeing Roman's fighting abilities, he had gotten another clue, and they were all adding up to the one person.
"I don't know who it is! He is a madman! He actually believes he is a scarecrow! He would try to have me killed if he knew I was talking to you!" Roman exclaimed.
"I didn't ask who he was! I asked where he was!" Batman yelled knowing Roman wouldn't talk.
Batman had heard enough, then knocked Roman out. He figured he could find more clues in Roman's mansion as to where the Scarecrow was hiding out. He discovered some paperwork in a locked drawer that showed formulas that resembled those that were part of the chemical toxins in the Scarecrow's fear gas. There was also paperwork that showed designs for some of the beauty products they were making at his company. Suddenly, he heard sirens. He quickly gathered as much information as he could. He also grabbed the black mask that Roman tried to force onto the woman, then exited before the police could make their way into the mansion.
As the police were trying to wake up Roman, Batman checked out the garage. There was a van that matched the description that Gabby, Dick, and Lola said they saw. It was badly wrecked in the front because of the tree it hit. He tried to open the doors of the van to see if anything was there. Suddenly he smelled burnt toast. It was a bomb. He quickly covered his face with his cape as the bomb exploded. Batman flew back, then landed on another car. He was hurt and very disoriented.
"Freeze! Hold it right there!" A police officer demanded.
Batman grabbed a small pellet out of his utility belt, then through it at the ground. Smoke quickly clouded the police officer's vision. The police officer started firing his weapon. When the smoke cleared, Batman was gone.
Batman hobbled back to the Batmobile. He was badly hurt and terribly angry that he didn't check for any boobytraps before opening the door of the van. He tried to make it back to the Batcave before he passed out.
Later that morning, about 9am, Alfred found Bruce still dressed in his Batman outfit lying on the steps leading up to Wayne Manor. Alfred tried helping him up. Bruce looked exhausted.
"Long night, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked. "I'm sorry to say that Selina, Gabby, and Lola chose to leave shortly after your spat last night. Chad and Dick decided to stay in hopes of reaching a compromise."
"I made a mistake Alfred, I need to be more prepared next time. I can't let Selina and the kids go out there, knowing that certain death awaits them if I choose to continue their training. Bruce grunted while grabbing his injuries.
"Perhaps having a partner could help you be more prepared next time." Alfred said.
"They would only slow me down. I know what I need to do now." Bruce replied.
"Well, you won't be doing anything until you've had time to rest, Master Bruce." Alfred insisted.
After Selina, Gabby, and Lola left Wayne Manor, they went back to their old apartment they lived in before Bane took over the city. The entire apartment complex was condemned and was being scheduled by the city for renovation. Once they got into the place, they noticed nothing much seemed to be missing. You could tell some looters had been there because many electronics had been taken. The window in the living room was broken, and there was still a blood stain on the floor where younger Selina was shot by Bane. Selina and the girls decided to try to make it a home again until the city crews would start renovating. Although, that wasn't supposed to start for a few months. Selina was hoping Bruce would still allow her to work for Wayne Enterprise once they reopened the doors. Until then, Selina would continue to train Gabby and Lola. Schools weren't planning on reopening for another four or five months. This would give them plenty of time to hone in on their skills.
Once Bruce woke up, he instantly began getting ready to head back out and capture Scarecrow and Roman. Due to Bruce's injuries from the explosion at Roman's mansion, Alfred thought it was too soon for Bruce to try to head back out again. He greatly urged Bruce to stay and rest a bit longer, but Bruce would have none of it. Bruce had a plan, and he wanted to get things done. As Bruce was heading towards the Batcave, Chad tried talking to Bruce.
"How are you feeling? Can I have a word with you Bruce?" Chad asked.
Bruce just kept walking straight past Chad, then said, "No!"
"I can suit up as Nightwing, and go help you get Scarecrow!" Chad insisted, but Bruce continued walking. Chad ran up to Bruce and grabbed his shoulder. "Bruce, we need to talk!"
Bruce quickly grabbed Chad's hand and twisted it. Then he pulled out a set of handcuffs, and cuffed Chad to the handrail of the stairs.
"We'll talk later!" Bruce replied as he tossed the key a few feet away, then continued on his way.
"Really Bruce!?" Chad exclaimed as Bruce walked out of sight.
Dick heard Chad yelling, then ran out to see what the fuss was all about. He noticed Chad was handcuffed to the hand rail, then he grabbed the key and unlocked the cuffs. Chad and Dick quickly ran towards the Batcave, only in time to see the Batmobile heading off.
"Come on Dick, grab your outfit! We are going out to help Bruce!" Chad declared.
Batman made his way to the place he thought Scarecrow was hiding. Based on the information that he had gathered. There was only one place in Gotham where you could create the fear gas the Scarecrow was using … Roman's company called, Janus Cosmetics. Once Batman made it there, he noticed three guards patrolling the lower main entrance. He could also see guards watching the cameras. Then he looked up to the roof. Nobody was standing guard. The roof would be a perfect entryway. Batman scrambled the cameras, then looped them to replay the same thing over and over. The Scarecrow had done this to Batman earlier. Bruce figured two could play at this game.
The Scarecrow and Roman, along with two other guards, were in a room near the roof. They were plotting their next heist, when suddenly there was an explosion, creating a huge hole in the ceiling. Batman dropped through the hole, then quickly took out the guards. Roman ran at Batman, then tried to attack, but Batman dodged out of the way. Using Roman's momentum, Batman kicked Roman through the window. Before Roman could fall to his death, Batman quickly shot a grappling hook, and caught Roman. Batman turned around to approach Scarecrow, but Scarecrow managed to spray Batman with his fear gas. Batman began acting as if he was having delusions, then Scarecrow attacked him with his scythe. Batman suddenly grabbed the scythe as it came down towards his head.
The Scarecrow was caught off guard. "How!? That was a concentrated dose! You should be dying right now!" Scarecrow proclaimed.
"I already injected myself with antitoxins. Your spray is useless against me!" Batman said as he punched Scarecrow to the floor. "Now it's time for you to go to jail Dr. Jonathan Crane!" Batman said while pulling off the Scarecrow mask.
"How did you know? I did everything perfectly!" Crane yelled out.
"Apparently not!" Batman said as he knocked Crane out.
After that, Nightwing and Robin showed up, but they were just in time to see that Batman had already tied up most of the suspects. Commissioner Gordon showed up to the building, then found all the evidence he would need to lock up Crane and Roman.
As Batman, Nightwing, and Robin were heading across the rooftops, Batman looked at Nightwing, then said, "I told you I didn't want you getting involved! That outfit you are wearing belongs to Wayne Enterprise. I expect it to be returned as soon as possible. You aren't even close to being worthy of wearing it yet."
After that, Bruce swung off towards the Batmobile, while leaving Nightwing and Robin to wonder what just happened.
Chapter Recap: (Batman found out that Roman Sionis was involved with the Gotham Bank heist, then confronted Roman at his mansion. Batman was caught in an explosion that left him badly hurt. Selina, Gabby, and Lola moved back to their old apartment. Later, after Bruce woke up, he found Roman and Scarecrow hiding out a Roman's company building. He defeated Scarecrow and Roman, then left them tied up for the police to cleanup.)