Chapter 2 - A New Kind of Strange
It was the late morning at Wayne Manor as a campaign party for District Attorney, Harvey Dent was taking place. It was a fundraiser of hoping to be re-elected and help up the city clean up it's social atmosphere and cut down the crime rates.
"If we want Gotham protected, then we have to come down hard on these hooligans! We won't stand to see our city bogged down by thieves, thugs, and murderers. And with your support, we'll make the journey towards a bright future a new tomorrow. Believe in progress, vote Harvey Dent!"
Thunderous cheers filled the room for the man. One particular person in crowd was Harvey's best friend and fellow socialite, Selina Kyle. She was on a mission of her own: seeing which one of these rich men was secretly Batman. She eyed the room for who could be the most likely based on her memory of the physical appearance.
"Mmmmm, now of these guys has to have the money needed to dress himself up. But which one?" she spoke to herself.
Harvey walked up to her and said, "Enjoying the eye candy, Bestie?"
"Well you know me, Harv. Always on the lookout for that special someone," she pretended. "Nice speech by the way."
Harvey chuckled, "Thanks."
Selina scanned the place on the various billionaires. She kept thinking that one of them has to be the Batman. But with each guy, she shakes her head in disbelief as none of them possessed the menace, physique or vibe that one of them led a double life. She needed to use her thinking cap on this one.
"Oh my. Meow," Selina suddenly uttered.
HE walked in. Bruce Wayne, a young man in his middle twenties, six feet and five inches tall. With black hair combed to the side complimenting his black attire, he walked to the bar and started drawing. It is as if he was shy, which gave Selina another impression that he could be the Dark Knight. That and the images of Batman playing in her mind matched eerily with that of Bruce's facial profile.
"I've never seen such a handsome man before," she said.
Harvey intervened, "That's Bruce Wayne, good friend of mine. A sort of nerdy guy, but really exciting once you get to know him. He just moved back to Gotham after a twelve year absence."
They walked over to Bruce who as drawing a picture of his favorite horror actor, Basil Karlos. Harvey was not kidding about the nerd part of Bruce. As for his mention of the absence, Wayne had previously been living in Asia to take various ninja and martial arts skills. He'd been traveling the world since he was eight years old.
"Brucie!" Harvey shook his hand.
"Harvey, how's it going?," Bruce spoke with a deep, baritone voice
"Pretty good so far. I'm doing well with the chances of a landslide," Harvey then allowed Selina to walk up. "I'd like you to meet my buddy, Selina Kyle."
"Hi," he shook her hand.
"Harvey, you didn't tell me how gorgeous your friend was," Selina teased him.
Bruce just blushed a bit as he was nervous as hell on what to say. One of Harvey's assistants, Carlos, walked up to the D.A. and said, "Mr. Dent, phone call for ya from Detective Gordon."
"Alrighty then. I'll be right back," Harvey then whispered to Bruce, "Show her a good time, Tiger"
He then winked as Bruce looked back to a smiling Selina. He then looked back at his sketch of Karlos, not sure of what to say.
"I see Gotham's eligible bachelor has some special interests," she said.
"Only on good causes," he looked around the place.
She giggled, "Well you're not the only one. I myself am involved in fundraisers and charities. Maybe we can meet back here over dinner and talk about working together."
Bruce's eyes widen in nervousness as his trust issues were starting to seem in. "I appreciate the offer, Ms. Kyle, but I'm not looking for a partner at the moment. Besides you don't want to get mixed up with a guy like me."
Selina grabbed his hand and stared at him with an almost romantic taste for him. "I insist, Mr. Wayne. I must warn you that I'm not a woman who gives up easily."
He sighed, "Alright, tomorrow evening then at 6."
Selina smiled in delight. Harvey then came back, "Sorry about this, but I have to leave. Detective Gordon wants me to meet up with Commissioner Grogan about this whole Batman debacle. They said they found someone for the case."
Bruce looked puzzled, yet curious at the same time. "It's alright, I have to get going as well."
Mr. Wayne and Harvey both left, yet Selina secretly followed the former until he got to the living room.
At the GCPD, Gordon and Dent were walking to the main office of Commissioner Peter Grogan. The man himself had been rumored by the press to be corrupt and supplying information to various gangsters for drugs and money. Gordon himself could tell that Grogan was playing the press like a puppet in order to benefit himself and maybe those on his side. It was for this reason the lieutenant hated his guts, but each opportunity to expose his true colors were squandered somehow, either with missing witnesses or papers being stolen.
"Did see this morning's paper, Harv?" Jim handed him the latest edition of the Gotham Gazette.
"Let me guess? More hogwash about the 'Bat-Man'?" he took a look and saw the cover story 'Bat and Cat Chase! Photographs Show What Looks to Be Humanoid Bat and Cat.'
"Before you say anything, our guys confirmed the existence along with a couple of boys who went off the deep end," Gordon remarked.
Harvey stopped at the water cooler to get a cup. "I'm really sorry, Jim for being speechless about this. But what can you really you say to something of this value?"
"I understand and it's very overwhelming. Though I usually thank the good gods he's so far taking care of street scum and our own bad apples," Gordon said.
Dent took another sip, "I'll admit that it was very noble for him. I'm just having second thoughts because for all we know he could be plotting some sort of deeper agenda at hand."
Gordon took a look at his phone and received a text from Peter Grogan that stated: "Meet me in my office and bring Dent with you."
"We'll see what the Commissioner thinks," and so the two of them walked down to the office.
Inside Peter Grogan was talking to a middle-aged man in a black suit and tie with a wide brim hat. This was psychologist, Hugo Strange, who'd be secretly hired by Grogan to aid him in his crusade against Batman.
"So, Professor Strange. You believe that you'll be able to help me in taking down the Bat?" Grogan asked.
Strange took off his hat, "I can assure you, Commissioner that with my scientific advances, this man doesn't stand a chance. And the fact that this recent Catwoman rumor has popped up means getting the public against him will be a piece of cake."
Grogan sat back down at his desk, right before a knock was heard at the door.
"Come in," Grogan advised.
Gordon and Dent walked into the room, a little bewildered by Hugo Strange in front of them.
"Who's the guy sitting in the chair?" Harvey asked.
"Strange. Hugo Strange. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. D.A.," The Professor shook his hand. "Along with you, Lieutenant Gordon."
Gordon was put off by this calm, yet unnerving fellow. Something about him just didn't sit right. Though Jim tried to get it cool for professional reasons.
"Glad to welcome you here. So what's going on here?" Gordon asked.
Grogan gave them the same newspaper they had, "This maniac has only been around for a few weeks and already he's inspiring other fruitcakes to run around."
"And what does Professor Strange have to do with this?" Gordon asked.
Grogan pointed to Hugo, "He's been providing me with some interesting insights that could give us some clues."
The professor took a sip of his coffee, "Like how Batman and Catwoman are a classic example of power taken to unhealthy degrees."
"I'm sorry, what?" Gordon was stunned by Strange's evaluation.
"They take the thunder away from our officers," Grogan interjected.
Harvey flipped a coin while this was going on, "Although to be fair, that's mostly because they themselves haven't been too up to the task of their efforts."
Grogan just facepalmed while Gordon smirked at Harvey's smart-assery. Hugo just turned back to the Commissioner.
"To clarify, their focus on shrouding themselves in darkness and vengeance appears to have an origin from some tragic chapter in their history. A point that shattered any sense of reason within their thinking."
"But my question is that if by chance they are together, how come she steals and he goes after her?" Harvey asked.
"Who's to say that maybe he's secretly working with her," Hugo answered. "Remember, Batman is still guilty of operating outside the law."
"I don't know. I highly doubt that a man in his disguise would be likely to show sympathy towards a thief like her," Gordon angrily muttered.
"Or if she's even a thief at all," Dent added. "Maybe he's rehabilitating her as far as we know."
Grogan raised an eyebrow in confusion, "Forgive me but, are you guys defending a vigilante?"
Dent's eye widened, "Not really."
"Course not. We're just trying to make sense of this," Gordon sighed.
"Plus, Prof. Strange is just throwing out these assumptions without any facts to back it up," Dent confessed.
Grogan walked over to Gordon after pouring himself another glass of water.
"Which is why I like guys. You don't get straight to the point and not beat around the bush. Therefore, I'm placing you, Gordon as the Commander of the new task force against the Batman!"
"Wait what?" Gordon was shocked.
"And Professor Strange will be our consultant."
Harvey Dent himself was overwhelmed by what was just stated. He looked at his watch to cover up his nervousness. Strange himself grinned in devious pleasure.
"Do not worry, Gentlemen. We may not see eye to eye, now. But within a few days, we'll be working to keep the city safe," he added.
Up in the air the men were being watched. A pair of black gloved hands pressed against the vent where a tape recorder was being turned off like they were being monitored. The Bat hands later retracted back and the creepy breathing lowered down.
TO BE CONTINUED...