Chapter 5
It was a gloomy night as Bruce pulled up to the docks at Gotham Peer. He saw the Visitor's Center sandwiched between the black peer and what Bruce recognized as Two-Face's half black, half white armored van. Then what he saw took him by surprise. His trusted advisor Lucius Fox was bound and gagged to a wide pew-like bench directly in front of the Visitor's Center. He glanced at his Swiss watch, which read 11:57 pm. He knew negotiating wouldn't work, but to attempt it might buy him some time, in case the situation became dire.
As Bruce stepped out of the car with the briefcase in tow, he could feel the gravel crack under his feet as he started moving toward Lucius. "It's okay Lucius, everything will be alright. Just hold on," he told his friend inching closer.
Within feet of reaching him, a dark, grotesque figure jumped out from behind the armored van.
"Hello Bruce," Two-Face said, standing so that his scarred side shimmered hideously in the moonlight.
"Harvey, it's been a while," Bruce supplied, buying time. "Here's the money – ten mill," he offered confidently, "but you won't see a single, crisp bill until Mister Fox is safe with me," he continued with no intention of letting the criminal touch it.
"Were you expecting an even trade old friend? You know me better than that," Two-Face harshly stated as Bruce noticed five heavily armed henchmen appear from behind the van.
"If I don't get what I want, then what you came for will be dumped over the peer," the debonair playboy tried to convincingly threaten.
"Hand over the money? You don't want any trouble do you?" he groaned heatedly as he motioned at a goon.
Just then one of the goons stepped behind Lucius and put the bulky assault rifle to the back of his skull.
"You give me the money, or your friend here gets to swim in his own blood," Two-Face warned.
As quick as lightening, Bruce seeing that he had run out of options, opened his car door, threw in the bulky attaché case. . Hitting the auto-lock and slamming the door shut, he darted for the water as he heard Two-Face bellow behind him, resulting in gunshots firing his way. With every step, a projectile followed his movement, one even nicking his right shoe. With a quick jump and not a second glance back, Bruce dove headfirst into the water.
"After him! Blow off his damn head!" Two-Face shouted his demand as several goons raced to the side of the peer, firing their guns into the murky water below. "Get the money!" Harvey then yelled as the gunfire soon subsided.
Obeying his leader, a thug dressed in all black bashed in the rear window of the Bentley with the butt of his gun. As he grabbed the case of money, the van started from behind. As the remaining goons jumped in the back, Lucius was snatched from his post and tossed in beside of Two-Face. The van waited momentarily for the last hoodlum with the money. As he quickly joined the group, the back door of the van closed with a violent slam.
As the car started away, a menacing black and gray figure emerged from behind the peer. It was Batman. Quickly over the peer he leapt, in pursuit of the van. In a flash, his hands crossed to his utility belt, pulling out a small signal tracer. With a quick toss, it locked onto the van as it skidded away from the scene.
He pulled a small black radio emitter from his belt and turned it on. Sure enough, a dot moved across the tiny bat-shaped radar screen. The Batman grimly smiled, as he knew he had his target.
As Batman headed back to the damaged Bentley, he quickly glanced around him and saw nothing but the night sky. Pulling out three tiny smoke bombs from his belt, he pitched them strategically so that a thick veil of smoke would surround both him and the car. Once the smoke suitably clouded the night air, Batman jumped in the car. As the air cleared, Bruce sped the car away from the docks.
On the way home, Bruce, who had removed his cape and cowl, pondered. Now that he had positively identified their hideout, he had to plan his next move carefully. They had Lucius and the counterfeit money that Bruce had personally made for an occasion such as the one that had just occurred. He debated on whether or not to continue or simply retire for the night. Both options involved him returning to Wayne Manner. Even if he would continue he had to exchange vehicles. He smirked at the thought of trading the slightly damaged luxury sedan for the awesome power of the Batmobile. With that he had made his decision. Even though it was late, and he did have the so-called important business meeting tomorrow at his rival company Goth-Corp, he yearned to, if nothing else, at least get Lucius back to safety.
As he pulled into Wayne Manor, the gate closing behind him, he pressed the garage door opener and pulled the car inside. As he exited the garage, and entered the house, Alfred had dosed off by the fireplace in the living area. With a quick yell towards the servant Bruce awoke the poor man. As Alfred came to his feet, a puzzled look came over him.
"Sorry Sir, I awaited your return and must have dosed off. May I inquire why you are in the Bat-Suit? I take it everything did not go as planned." the confused butler asked.
"It's been a long night," was all he retorted back. "However, I'm not finished. Is everything ready?"
"Quite so Sir," Alfred declared, responding to his master's query about the Batcave.
As Bruce opened the Batcave's entrance in his study, he rushed down the shadowy staircase. He finally felt at home as the cold darkness consumed him. With a quick dash to the central computer, he input some data as Alfred reloaded his trusty utility belt. As soon as Batman fastened the armed restraint to his waste, he hurdled into the Batmobile.
With a push of a button, a rotating massive turntable that housed the vehicle switched to 'Exit Mode'; once the car's rear turbine's fired up, the Dark Knight sped off in a blaze of fury!
On his way to the newly discovered hideout, Batman drove to the Monarch Theater. This was his usual spot he checked first every night during his patrol. As the Batmobile parked just outside the Theater, he exited the big black vehicle. He quickly progressed to the nook of Crime Alley.
As he peaked in, he saw a man and woman arguing. Not having time to deal with a domestic dispute, he quietly stalked behind a fire escape as he nevertheless listened in.
The kid was a hothead, very hostile, Batman easily realized as the brute grabbed his partner, throwing her against a metal trashcan. Waiting for the opportune moment, Batman remained hidden in the night.
The leather-clad thug was just like any other thug that crept about this late at night. The guy looked about eighteen or so and the girl, of about the same age, looked as if she needed help. Dressed in her own leather jacket and short skirt, the guy she was with could easily take advantage.
As the thug proceeded to get on top of her, she screamed for help. "You should listen to me when I tell you to do something," he violently stated to her, raising his hand to smack her across the face.
Before his hand could land hard against her cheek, a batarang sprang from the darkness shattering a dimly lit streetlight at the edge of the alley. Suddenly, everything went black.
"What the Hell?" the frightened kid grunted as he stood up, reaching for a small pistol in his inner jacket pocket.
"What's goin' on Johnny?" the nervous girl asked, struggling to stand in her heels on the rocky pavement.
"I dunno, shut the hell up," he ordered. Just then, they heard noises from up above. As the pair looked above them, Batman stood high on a fire escape, with his cape spread like huge batwings.
Seconds passed as the looming figure jumped from his perch, landing next to the startled man whom lost his gun amidst the excitement. As the thug stepped back in fear, he grabbed the girl, placing his arm around her neck.
"Let the girl go," the cloaked figure announced dangerously, "or I'm going to get very grumpy."
"Sure thing Mister Batman, Sir. I'll – I'll let her go. I – I swear, I swear it," the kid sputtered, his words slurring together. Keeping his arm around her neck for a few seconds longer, he slowly relaxed his grip, coming to terms with the situation.
As the girl stumbled backwards out of harm's way, Batman slammed the kid against the graffiti wall, whispering something harsh in his ears. As the kid's eyes widen, Batman threw him on the ground in haste.