Chapter 7 - The Final Showdown
On a laboratory slab lied the doormat carcass of Peter Grogan. A once-corrupt commissioner was now becoming a full on monster man for Hugo Strange. Although the professor had been planning the ultimate specimen and had Grogan in line for perfect test subjects. The plan would've been simple: kill the Bat and transform into something… Strange. Though another thing to remember was how the maniac did this while still wearing his second-rate Bat costume.
"Ah, they all grow up so fast," Strange licked his lips as he thread stitches into the body.
The sound of a cape flapping peaked his curiosity, urging him to turn his head. There before him was Batman, standing in darkness with the only sources of light being the night time of the city and a lit candle.
"You again! Have you come to bore me with a 'might makes right' speech?" he took an eyeball from a glass of martini. "Or are you gonna be a good boy and admit defeat?"
"No. Only to ask how you came to such an idea like making multiple Bat-men," the Dark Knight said.
"A superior intellect is a good place to start. Along with an appearance like yours that's easy to manipulate," he took a sip.
"And a two-faced higher up like Grogan."
"The man's pretty much a dog. You can't teach him calculus but enough conditioning can make him a scientist's best friend," Strange then smirked. "Oh and I forgot to ask, did you have any good revenge fantasies, Batman?"
Bruce tilted his head and smirked back, "I don't even dream about such rubbish."
Hugo seemed worried, thinking the caped crusader was playing mind games with him. "Oh come now! You can't deny the loneliness you've surrounded yourself in! Such a solitary lifestyle allows you to be stronger and more correct than most people."
Batman just stared at him until speaking, "You're quite mad, Doctor. I've opened my heart lately and learned that not only is compassion the antithesis of weakness, but vengeance gets you nowhere. It's a short term journey with no follow up. Trust meanwhile gets you all sorts of thrills."
The dark knight smiled while Hugo back up against the slab. Hugo asked, "What are you saying?"
"Compassion is purrrrfect."
Right on cue was Catwoman dropping down from the ceiling into a kick at Hugo's back. Batman looked at her as she turned her head towards him.
"Claw-ver tactic, Batsy," she winked.
"Very hissterical," he teased back.
Hugo got up and look at his opponents standing before him.
"Nice to see the Bat and the Cat all together," Hugo mocked.
Strange took out his pocket knife to stab Catwoman; resulting in her whipping the weapon out of his hands. Batman took the advantage to flip over him and cuff him.
"I'd like to see you try and explain this to the few cops that now disdain you too!" Hugo said.
Right at that moment was when Gordon, Harvey, and some officers broke in. The cops drew out their guns at him.
"Dr. Hugo Strange, you're under arrest on the charges of murder, deceit and assault involving another cop!" Gordon said.
Strange then smirked and whistled out of the blue. However, it signaled the creature on the slab to rise. The crew looked up in horror as a seven foot tall brute that was once Grogan roared down upon him.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the late great Peter Grogan as the Monster Man!" Hugo shouted.
"Oh, sweet Jesus," Catwoman's jaw dropped.
A few more average sized monster men came out dressed as either Batman or Catwoman. The cops drew out their shotguns and aimed for the creatures. The giant slammed Dent and Gordon, while simultaneously breaking Strange's handcuffs. Hugo then pounced on some policemen towards making his escape.
"After him!" one of them screamed while chasing him.
"You two go!" Gordon shouted.
"We're not leaving you!" Batman exclaimed.
"You can't handle this on your own," Catwoman replied after him.
It was at that moment when Hugo saw himself surrounded by police. However on the brick wall where he was standing lied a garage door at the bottom. As police aimed their guns at him, the door opened which unleashed various monster men after them. The scene descended into chaos with each monster attacking the cops. Batman looked down upon that and back at the cops with him fighting Grogan.
"You go take care of them down there! I'll help the boys here," Catwoman told Bats.
He looked up at Gordon and Dent in the middle of distracting the giant. Then back at Catwoman, "Make sure they're gentle with ya."
"Keep calm there, cupcake," she petted his cheek before he launched away.
Catwoman now started getting her combat on by wrapping her whip around the monster's neck. Gordon and Dent shot the heads off the other monster men and observed the feline delivering multiple kicks and punches to Grogan. She finally tied her whip around his hands, bounding him temporarily. This bought enough time for Gordon to aim his shotgun at him.
"Goodbye, Peter. You corrupt, sorry-ass piece of…"
BLAM! One blast to the head exterminated the former crook turned zombie man. An explosion of electrical wires and yellow slimy blood spewed before the carcass finally fell to its knees on the ground. Catwoman took her whip back from the thing.
"You know I have to admit: this is a lot more fun than stealing a diamond," Selina snickered.
Gordon sighed while Harvey chuckled, "Yea, tell me about it."
"Well I'd like to get to know you well, Commish. But I've got a handsome hunk to dance with. Speaking of which…"
Catwoman then ran out the balcony to assist Batman in the fight against Hugo and the rest of the monster men. Harvey walked next to Gordon.
"And you said once a thief, always a thief," Harvey teased.
Gordon took out a marlboro to light up, "Harv, I like you. But please do me a favor and shut up."
He then ran out to join the rest of the crew.
"Hm, hard ass," Harvey said before following him.
Meanwhile the scene down at the street was turning into a warzone. Monster men of all sizes were running towards the police and attacking them left and right. Some cops got thrown aside by the bigger ones, while the others used their guns to blow the heads of the average sized ones. One giant lifted cars up and tried to smash some cops to death. One SWAT member used a grenade launcher to explode their heads.
"Gordon says aim for the head!" one cop shouted after receiving a message on his walkie-talkie.
Hugo had watched in horror at his creations getting killed off by the cops.
"No! My beauties! This barbaric warfare won't go unpunished!"
With that, Hugo opened another unleashing only bigger monster men upon the police. Some look scared, while others armed their grenade launchers. Just as Strange looked with delight at a possible victory, a containment net had been launched at the creatures. It was made form a strong metal substance that would not only prevent it from being broken, but electrically stun the behemoths into submission. No surprise to know that it came from the Batmobile with Batman and Catwoman coming into to save the day.
"Wanna do the honors?" Batman asked her.
"I'd insulted if you didn't ask," she smiled.
Catwoman flipped a switch that activated the electrical stuns of the net on the monster men. The alternating currents were powerful enough to cause fatal damage to the mechanical and organic parts of their bodies, causing a temporary knockout. Catwoman peeked her head out the window.
"Batsy told me to give you all these," she threw to them syringes filled with a substance that'll turn the monsters back to their human carcasses for re-burial.
"What's this for?" one cop asked.
"It's a cure for these men. One you used it, return the bodies back to their proper burial grounds," Batman said.
"Guys! Hugo's missing!" one cop pointed to the brick top where Strange once stood.
Batman tried to figure out where he was. Catwoman later looked to the other side of the street and saw a figure in Hugo's batsuit getting into a car.
"There he is!" she pointed.
Hugo had gotten behind the wheel to race his way out of the city. The mad scientist was frantic with rage refusing to admit defeat at the hands of the Bat and the Cat.
"They're all wrong! Might shall make right! My fantasy of the ultimate specimen will come to life! I will be free!" Hugo screamed.
In the middle of his rant, pedestrians on the street were escaping out of the way of his car. Some made it while a few got hit. A couple more got smashed along with two other cars.
"That's what you fools get for not believing!" Hugo mocked them.
In his rear-view mirror was the Batmobile tailing right behind him. Strange stopped his manic episode to smooth back into his equally creepy smile.
"Looks like the jock and the hussy wanna second round. Alrighty then, children. Let's play ball!"
The batmobile and Strange's car were down neck and neck racing down the road in the city. Batman handed Catwoman a tranquilizer gun whose darts were specially laced.
"Mind telling me what's up with the darts?" she asked.
"They're specially enhanced with an explosive gel. Aim it for the tires so that it'll end Strange's ride," he explained.
She then proceeded to aim for the back right tire until getting a perfect shot. Catwoman and Batman decided out of corny cuteness to not only blow it up together, but begin the countdown which he initiated.
"3"
"2"
"1"
"Meow…"
The tire then exploded with enough deadly force to flip over Strange's car. It send him a considerable amount of feet away from the Batmobile and in front of an abandoned tenement. Strange was croggy when he got out of the car.
"He's powerful, but crazy because of her poisonous touch!"
Strange puts a hand on wounded part of his stomach while managing to make it inside the apartment. Batman and Catwoman jumped out of the car and ran after him inside. Gordon and Harvey arrive onto to the scene as cop cars and SWAT vans begin sealing off the area.
"Looks like Strange may be inside. Should we get forces involved?" Harvey asked.
"I think the two of them have it from here, but now that you mention it," Gordon got on the police radio. "Commander Merkel, get a unit and inspect every level of the building from top to bottom. Remember the person we're after is Hugo Strange. Understand? Over."
"Understood, Jimbo. We'll check all the levels and keep our eyes peeled. Over and out," Merkel signaled before signing off.
Within the building, Hugo was hiding in the stairwell on the first floor. He was out of sight away from the SWAT team who were making their way to the second floor.
"Animals, wild beasts. All making a mess of things," Hugo silently ranted. "None of this Night of the Living Dead shit would've happened if things went my way."
Hugo released a bat which its way to the floor where the men were. One of them was startled to the point where it fired at the bat, but Merkel saved it by pushing the gun out of the way.
"Hold your fire, Raimi! It's Strange we're after!" Merkel said.
"I think I might have seen him down there," Raimi replied.
"You think? Did you see his shadow?"
"It looked like it. Here…"
The men followed back down to where they started as Raimi had a feeling where Strange might've been. They crossed the lobby to a steel door that said "Danger! 20,000 volts". Merkel had a doubting expression on his face.
"You sure he might be down there?" Merkel asked.
"We'll just have to find out," Raimi replied.
The SWAT officer opened fire onto the door. After a few rounds, Merkel order him, "Go check it."
Raimi opened the door with a majority of the crew walking with him down the stairs. Two other guards stayed put in case of any other activity. Two darts were fired at their necks, making them fall to the floor unconscious. Meanwhile the SWAT team were inspecting the room sealed behind the door. Merkel saw the various crosses and other Jesus-freak items adoring the place.
"Upstairs, gentlemen. Nothing but Vatican crap down here."
Things took a turn for the worse as soon as he finished that sentence. The door was locked with them trapped inside. All of them looked up with shock and confusion.
"What in the name of God is going on?" Raimi asked.
Merkel repeatedly bashed on the door, "Open this goddamned door, whoever you are!"
A rusty, heavy old oven had been used to seal the door thanks to the efforts of Hugo. He'd been enjoying this sight until being interrupted by a roundhouse kick courtesy of Catwoman. Hugo got up to reach fro his glasses.
"Bats I can stomach, but I really hate cats," he remarked.
"Such a shame," Catwoman had her claws ready.
She slashed Hugo's face and he threw a punch that missed. An elbow slam to the back of his head was followed by him karate chopping her hand. Catwoman replied only with another slash at Hugo's chest.
"Seems like nobody taught you to never hit women," she punched him in the face. "Or animals."
"Oh god, not this silly girl schtick. What's next? You're waiting for Batman to save you?" Hugo asked.
Catwoman soon got a mischievous smile on a brilliant idea to tease Hugo's masculinity. She soon whistled for Batman, "Boyfriend! Hugo's been mean to me! Will you beat him up?"
"With pleasure, darling," Batman then dropped from the ceiling and kicked Hugo on his way down.
From there, the madman looked at the two of them with disbelief. His own ego couldn't stand the fact that his ideal obsession was no longer what he had hoped to be. Fearing the reality before sent Hugo running up the stairs to the room above.
"I'll go after Strange. You try and get the SWAT team out from there," Batman ran after them.
Catwoman went over to use all her strengths to push the oven out of the way. Thank god for her gym classes since it took only fifteen seconds to get the appliance out of the way, but a shorter time to decode the key and let them out. A couple of guys aimed their guns at her.
"Hold! She's not our suspect!" Merkel ordered.
"Phew! Glad to know not all cops are bullies," Catwoman said.
"Where's Batman?" Raimi asked.
Speaking of which the Dark Knight followed Strange up to the top floor of the tenement. Hugo and Bats looked each other in the eye as the fight began to start. Hugo threw a kick missing the Batman who delivered a swift punch to his stomach.
"I'm much better than you since I don't surround myself with such false happiness," Hugo ranted.
Batman got out a batarang for use as a sword, "Compassion isn't the same as weakness."
Hugo got out his pocket knife and lunged at him, "Lies!"
Bruce blocked the knife attacks with his batarangs. He pushed him away and threw the weapon at his leg, slashing him. Hugo tried to walk the pain off like he inherited endurance from his hours of workout.
"Give it up, Strange! It's over!" Batman said.
"Never! Not until you embrace your pain and become the goddamned Batman that you're supposed to be!" Hugo shouted.
Hugo slashed his hands, forcing Batman to use a kick against his face to fight back. The demented psycho tried to slash back at the caped crusader only to miss every time. Bruce tried to break Hugo's arm, but Strange kicked him in the crotch, which only did minor damage thanks to the steel armor in place. However it turn force a push on him to the ground. From his utility belt came shrunikens thrown to knock the pocket knife out of his hand. Hugo then lunged himself at Batman to embroil in a fist fight where he threw multiple punches at his face. The fight came to a stop when a bullwhip wrapped around Hugo's neck.
"Freeze!"
Hugo looked to see not only Catwoman behind him, but Merkel (who the voice came from) and his team aiming their guns at him. Batman smiled and collapsed on the floor with relief.
It was after the fiasco at the tenement that the lovebirds retreated to Catwoman's penthouse. The multiple cats came to greet them, even after Selina was taking her costume off.
"Whoa there. Where's the fire?" She joked.
Bruce picked up Isis and began cradling her, "Cut them some slack. They haven't seen you all day."
Selina slouched down on the couch and played with Gomez, her siamese cat. "Now, now, Gomez. Mommy was out with Daddy fighting off against some crazy doctor."
Bruce chuckled before receiving a phone call from Alfred, "Hello?"
"Sir, are you alright? I heard the news about what happened," Alfred worried.
"Luckily me and Selina escaped unscathed."
"Oh, that's good to know. Speaking of Selina, mind I remind you to talk to Gordon about her. He seems to be still be in doubt about Catwoman."
"Yea it might take a heavy load to get him to see otherwise. Although he might not believe me when I tell him Selina saved my ass."
She overheard him and jokingly threw a pillow at him. He looked at her and then both giggled silently. Alfred sounded unamused, yet still felt the urge to be sassy.
"I can hear you in the background, Miss Kyle. Careful with this one for Master Bruce can be a handful," he quipped.
She stole the phone and said before hanging up, "Which is why I'm all over him."
They hugged and soon kissed each other. Finally they get to cap off this craziness with some good old romance. Though Batsy did remember Alfred's tidbit and acted upon it as soon as he could.
"Say Selina, since you did so much, why don't you lay low for the night and I'll come back tomorrow," he proposed.
She grabbed him by the hand, "Alright but you better promise me one thing."
The kitty soon whispered seductively in his ear, "I want this partnership to be permanent."
"Sure. I mean it won't be as exciting as jewel heists…" she soon silenced his lips with her fingers.
"Yes it is. And don't talk back at me, boy," she teased him with a love tap on his buttocks.
"Alright, your highness," he blushed before going on his way.
Out at the top of the GCPD was where Jim Gordon stood smoking a cigarette. In the aftermath of the hysteria, he'd been promoted by the mayor to Commissioner of the GCPD for his efforts on weeding out the corruption within the department.
"So? How does it feel?" Batman appeared out of the shadows.
"To be commissioner? I appreciate the opportunity to say the least," Gordon replied. "I'm just glad we got Strange and the rest of the bad apples all locked up in Stonegate."
"Where's Harvey?"
"Back at home. He's currently spending the night getting drunk and watching old movies," Gordon chuckled.
"Seems like despite all that happened, they'll still be cops that resent me. And honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way," Batman said.
Gordon went over to the bat-signal to check up on a few bugs in the light. He'd been checking up on it and insisting to his colleagues that it be a go-to for contacting the great detective.
"With your style, you still scare the willies off some people."
"Which is why I need people like Catwoman in my life. Or else I'd be just another miserable bastard," he like into the distance.
"Which reminds me. Sorry for being such a jerk about her. It just rubbed me the wrong way that a thief would be interested in justice," Gordon explained.
"I used to be that way as well. But I've learned that if you want change, then you got to start within yourself."
Gordon looked onto the city and smoked, "Yea like how I need to stop smoking these stupid Malboros. I keep telling myself to quit, but it's just so-"
He cut himself off when he saw that the Batman mysteriously vanished. The newly elected Commissioner looked back onto the skyline with a new sense of hope. He then decided to throw his cigarette on the ground and stomp it.
"He may not always be right. Though I'm still going to trust him. Like how he trusts her."
The next morning, Harvey walked over to Selina's penthouse to give her a quick visit before heading off to work. He'd been reading the papers and came across something that made him somewhat curious.
"Hmmmmm. Contest with a grand prize of VIP access to see the Flying Graysons," Harvey said to himself. "Have to ask Gilda if she's up for it."
He soon walked up to the door, but stopped when he heard questionable moans from inside her place. Harvey could tell that Bruce was here considering that they've been lifelong friends and can tell each other's vocals. He hesitated comically thinking Selina was at it again. Though he got himself together and knocked on the door.
"It's Harvey."
"Just give me a few seconds," she said.
About thirty seconds later she opened up greeting him while she dressed in her pink cat bathrobe.
"Hiya bestie," Harvey hugged her.
"What's up, Harv?" She asked.
"Nothing much. Just came by to say hi. Mind if I hang out for a while?"
"Sure, come on in,"
She directed him where the cats greeted him by rubbing on his legs. He sat down on the couch and petted her kitties. Selina sat down next to him.
"Would you like something to eat or drink?" She asked.
"Eh. Coffee would be nice," he replied.
"Alright then," she snapped her fingers. "Bruce, get your friend some coffee."
"Yes, Mistress," and Bruce walked out of her room dressed in nothing but a black leather speedo. Just the sight made Harvey laugh a little.
"Hi, Bruce," Harvey chuckled.
"In case you're wondering, it was my idea to be her servant for the day," he replied back to him.
"And he looks just so handsome doing," Selina eyed him while he delivered her and Harvey their coffee.
"Oh my god," Harvey facepalmed while trying not to laugh.
"Anyways, Harv. How's your lieutenant friend doing?" She asked him.
Harvey took a sip of his coffee before saying, "You mean Commissioner. The dude's been promoted thanks to him weeding the hell out of the police of their evil hijinks."
"Jeez. To think that the forces have gotten so bad that we need to 6 foot tall Dracula to protect us," she winked to Bruce.
"Thank for the cute cats to keep life fuzzy and all that jazz," he blushed.
"Thankfully, I managed to convince the court system of sentencing Hugo Strange to a life sentence in Stonegate," Harvey sipped his coffee. "The creepy stuff he pulled off, especially with Grogan. I swear it makes "House of Wax" look like "The Wizard of Oz" by comparison."
Selina then impersonated the Wicked Witch by saying "I'll get you by pretty and you're cops too!"
Harvey then looked at her and smiled. He then turned to Bruce who just shrugged as if he's got nothing to say regarding her quickness.
"I'll be right back boys. I just got to go to the bathroom," Selina stood up and walked to the John. Bruce took the opportunity to talk to Harvey.
"Say Harvey, might if I ask you for some advice?"
"Sure. Shoot, Cowboy," he replied.
Bruce was a little nervous, but then started talking. "I was wondering: How do you try and express yourself while trying to control your own duality to stay safe?"
Harvey looked into his friend's eyes and realized from his recent actions that the question pertained to his love life. It was soon that Dent began explaining to him.
"Essentially I'd say start with showing your face that you use to keep up appearances. Then once you've settle down and get to know your lover well, soften them up. When they're ready, take off your mask. Whatever their reaction is doesn't really matter in the end. The real focus is do you whole with this love?"
Bruce soon felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. It was times like this that he really appreciated Harvey. These two buddies that stuck out for each other during good times and bad. And this moment was another reminder.
"Thanks, Harvey. You always know the right words," he said.
"My pleasure," the two hugged.
"And I also wanted to thank ya for exposing me to Selina. She's such a sweetie."
"Well what can I say? After helping to fund my election campaigns and introducing to Gilda, I figured I'd throw you a bone," Harvey chuckled.
Suddenly a black bullwhip wrapped around Bruce's neck. The gentlemen looked to notice the whip coming from Selina, who was dressed in a black dominatrix outfit. Both guys had their jaws dropped.
"You gonna explain this to your co-workers in case you showed up late, Harv?" Selina jokingly asked.
Harvey looked at his watch, "Luckily I got enough to make it. Sooooo treat her well, Bruce."
"With pleas- ha!" he was dragged by his neck with the whip to her.
"Sorry to be rude, Harv. But I need to play with my boy-toy here," she kissed him on the lips as they re-entered her room.
"Well alrighty then. See ya later," Harvey said.
He then grabbed his coat and walked out. The sound of whip cracks and and Bruce moaning only caused mild laughter from Mr. Dent.
"Good lord, that guy's gonna be the death of me. First him being the Batman and now him with Catwoman? How can no one see beyond their masks?" he giggled. "Ah well, Harv. The world can be crazy sometimes."
He lit up a tobacco pipe before walking off and turning on his little music player to the song, "Mr. Sandman".
Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream
Make him the cutest that I've ever seen (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Give him two lips like roses and clover (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Then tell him that his lonesome nights are over
Sandman, I'm so alone (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Don't have nobody to call my own (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Please turn on your magic beam
Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream
THE END!