"Is what Fimmers said true?
That you think I'm a good person?
That's why I'm on your team?"
"Yes."
BATMAN BEYOND REVISITED
EPISODE:
PAYBACK PART 2
We quickly got Fimmers to Gotham Hospital, once we managed to find room for him in the Jet.
We had to move slow on the way here.
We didn't want to cause any further injuries.
Well... I didn't, anyways.
When Inque and I tried to get into the hospital, though, we had a rather rough time getting past security.
"Hey!" shouted one of the patrols by the entrance. "I saw you on the news! You're that killer! Inque!"
He came up to Inque, pulling out his gun and handcuffs, as if those would work on her in the first place, ready to arrest her, until I stepped in front of him.
"Hey, hey, hey. It's cool. She's with me." I tried to assure him.
"You think that puts me at ease? You're a vigilante! You're lucky I don't haul you off too! Now get out of the way before I charge you with obstructing justice and an officer!"
"Stand down, Haynes." said a voice from behind me. "Batman's all right."
"But, sir..."
"No buts. Stand down."
"Yes, Commissioner Harvil." said the guard before putting his gun away and walking off, glaring at Inque and me.
"Wait..." I said, before turning around. "Whoa. It really is you! Commissioner Harvil Ficher!"
Harvil chuckled and nodded, holding out his hand, which I promptly shook.
"The way you've been running both your foundation and Gotham at the same time, you've got to be one of my idols. Your foundation has lowered poverty by at least five percent so far already, and you've only just gotten it built up."
"You flatter me, Batman. But it's all thanks to my father, Jack Ficher. Without what he's done for me, I'd never get to set up my foundation or run Gotham. Without what he's done for me, I wouldn't be able to help get people onto their feet."
"He was an excellent man. A shame what happened." I agreed.
"Indeed."
"Sir." Inque said.
Harvil blinked and looked at her as if just now noticing she was standing there.
"You. You're Inque, right?"
"Yes... Tell me something, please, sir. Why didn't you let him arrest me?"
I could tell Inque was uncomfortable asking it, but I could see why she'd want to ask.
"It's simple. Batman vouches for you, so I trust you."
Inque nodded, but it was clear she was still uncertain.
"So, why don't I escort you guys in? Avoid any more complications with the guards."
We both nodded and followed him in, carrying Fimmers in with us.
Once we got a room for him, we all sat down, waiting for him to wake up.
"So, Batman, have you caused these injuries? I did hear your first while of crime fighting was rather brutal."
"No. It was Payback."
I was a bit offended that one would think I was so brutal still. I'd like to think I have gotten better at holding myself back. But I didn't say anything about it. I want to keep Harvil as a friend, not an enemy.
"Payback? Hm. I heard he's a rather nasty bloke."
"Bloke?" Inque asked.
"It's a British term." I answered for him. "Bloke means a fellow person."
"He's British?" She asked.
"You couldn't hear the accent?" I questioned.
"No. Everyone sounds the same to me. My hearing is not like the normal person's." She replied.
Harvil nodded. "Of course. After all, you're not exactly..."
"Human." She interrupted, looking at the ground.
I wanted to frown at him, but I could see the guilty look on his face.
I needed to get us off this topic.
"So, Commissioner..."
"Please, call me Harvil."
"All right. So, Harvil, what do you know about Payback?"
"Hm? Oh, nothing more than you. I have a theory he was abused or neglected as a child, that's why he's out there attacking such parents and bosses, but I'd assume you already figured that out for yourself."
"Yeah, I did, unfortunately. Anything else?"
"No, but your friend might have an idea. And it seems he is waking up now." He said as Fimmers started to stir and sit up. "I should get going. Leave you two to your detective work."
"Don't you want to know what he has to say?"
"No. I trust you with this one. I have to deal with a controversy involving Officer Owens. Still don't know what drove him to kill innocent civilians."
I nodded and shook his hand, whishing him luck before turning to Fimmers.
"Well, look who woke up. How are you feeling?"
He groaned and rubbed his head before looking at me. "It felt like I was dying."
"Good." Inque said.
Imer Fimmers looked behind me and began to freak out at seeing Inque. "You! You're that... that..."
"That freak you tried to exterminate years ago? Yeah, that's me. Don't worry. I'm not here to seek revenge. We just want to ask you a few questions. Then we'll be out of your hair."
That seemed to relax him a little.
At least, it did when I told him she's with me.
"I'm sorry, Inque. I didn't want to. Honest."
"Save it." She snapped.
He gulped and laid down.
"Tell me something, Imer. Do you know how Payback knew about Inque's origins? How he knew you were one of the doctors in the room?"
"What?"
"We found a note on you for Inque. Said he left you alive so Inque could get revenge herself."
I noticed that he started to become worried again.
"Don't worry. She wasn't going to harm you." Which was partly true.
He nodded and settled down.
"Well, we haven't told anyone about what happened. We were afraid what would happen if we did. So we all agreed to keep quiet. So it must have been one of the other two doctors. Flyn Dillon and Mark Rivers. I'd suggest starting with them."
"Thank you." I said as I started walking out of the room.
I stopped, though, when I heard Fimmers say "I am sorry, Inque."
I turned around to watch what was happening.
"I felt horrible just thinking about killing another living being. Even if you're not human, you're not a bad person at all. Just had a rough past. Thank you for sparing me and I hope you find who you're looking for."
"How do you know I'm not a bad person?"
"Would Batman work with a bad person? Besides, as I said, you spared me."
I could see Inque managed to crack a smile.
"Thank you, Irem... and I forgive you."
Inque then got up and we walked out of the hospital before I grabbed her hand.
"You kept yourself in control back there, Inque. You're getting better at keeping hold of your anger."
"Thanks."
"Of course. Did you mean it when you said you forgave him?"
"I don't lie, Jake."
"Right."
I began to walk to the jet, but Inque didn't follow.
"What's wrong?"
"Jake, was Irem right? You do think I'm a good person? That that's why I'm on your team?"
I smiled and kissed her on the lips for a few brief seconds.
When I pulled away, I could see she was surprised, but also smiling and I swear her face turned a darker blue, as if she was blushing.
"Yes. He was right."
Fun fact: In "Batman Inque" Inque was 17 years old and Terry was 18. As of all chapters from "An Old Foe" to this chapter, "Payback Part 2", she's 18 and he's 19, making her 1 year younger than Jake.
