Disclaimer: Don't own Batman Beyond or JLU. If I did, I would be rich and so would you~ (kinda, maybe, probably not)
Terry was staggered at the sheer noise the cave was emitting from its various alarms after the magical portal dropped the two Batmen home.
Bruce didn't waste any time as he stalked up to Robin asking for status reports.
A flustered Tim looked up to check if Bruce was really there before frantically answering, "Everything gone crazy Batman. I mean, the Commissioner's managed to isolate the crazies to the Somerset District, but now we have to deal with looting all over the place. The League's been ringing like crazy too."
Bruce's eyes flicked to the isolated screen he kept for League communications before saying "I'll get to that in time. Where's Nightwing? And Batgirl?"
"Nightwing's on his way now. He's been burning rubber and he should be here in an hour or so. He's not running into much trouble on the roads. Everyone's trying to leave the city, not get in. And uh, bad news here Batman, but Batgirl's Dorm at the University's shut down. They've closed the school and are watching the students like a hawk. Scarecrow escaped with the others, and I think the school board is afraid he might try and come back for revenge. Batgirl told me she could probably escape, but that it might raise a whole lot of questions if people find out she's gone missing. And if her dad finds out, well…" Tim trailed off.
The implication was obvious. Gordon might very well divert needed police forces to cover the University instead of keeping the Somerset District locked down. It was unlikely yes, but Gordon loved his family above all else. He would never see them sacrificed if he could help it.
Batman shut off all the alarms during Tim's explanation and picked up a phone, punching in a number by heart. As he waited for the other man to pick up, Batman tried to remember his role correctly, gesturing the others to be silent.
"Hello? Lucius? Yes! I, uh, no, no, I'm fine. I'm in Milan right now actually. Right next to, well… that's not important. I just saw the news. What's going on over there?"
Terry was astounded at the change the man created. He shouldn't have been surprised really, he knew the Old Man was a capable actor, he'd fooled Terry's own mother more than a few times after all. But this bumbling persona was something Terry had never seen. Curious as to what the conversation was like, he activated the microphone in his suit, listening to the other man speak. This Lucius, Bruce called him.
"I won't lie Bruce. Things are pretty bad downtown. Uptown right now's in a decent place, but I think I'll have to shut down the corporate headquarters for the next few days until we get this all sorted out. Now, I know our stock might fall from this, but-"
"Lucius, I trust you no matter what you do," Bruce reassured. "I…look, I've never been that great with words, but my father loved Wayne Enterprises and everyone working there. Just… I can't go home for a while, or so Alfred is trying to persuade me, but keep… everyone safe," Bruce said lamely.
"Sorry, I wish I could say more."
Lucius chuckled for a few moments before saying calmly, "That's alright Bruce, I understand. I'll hold the fort. Just stay safe."
"I can't promise you that Lucius! It's Milan. I need to keep myself in shape to impress all the fine women here. But I'll be sure to bring something back for you. Your son and his children love gelato right? Keep those boys of yours safe and I'll bring back a crateful!" Bruce joked before hanging up.
As soon as the call disconnected, Bruce's face became stony again as he prepared to make another call, this time to the Justice League. As soon as he pressed the 'Connect Call' button, he was bombarded by demands, chiefly from Superman himself.
"Batman! We've heard the situation and we've got three teams ready to go in. Now just-"
"You're not getting in," Batman said flatly.
"What?"
"You heard me," Batman replied as a hand moved to cut the call off.
"You can't be serious! This is the worst thing Gotham's seen!" Superman demanded.
"Gotham's endured the Thanagarian Invasion. Gotham's endured Darkseid and his Parademons. I will handle this without League assistance."
"Is your pride really this big? So damn stubborn? The League can help you. This is why the League was formed in the first place. To help the people of the world when one man isn't enough," Superman argued.
Bruce's eyes narrowed as he measured his words, "Right now, my city is staggering on a very fine line. If the League gets involved, that will tip the city over. You see, when the League gets involved, so does everyone else. Flash is sent? His entire band of villains comes to wreak havoc. You come? Parasite is on the first flight in. Zatanna? Magic users? Felix Faust might pop his head out of whatever wretched hole he's been hiding. The League escalates situations, which might be acceptable elsewhere, but never in my city."
"But-"
"We signed a compact," Batman cut off, "saying Gotham is solely my jurisdiction. So, like I said. Stay out."
"We're keeping teams on standby just in case," Superman informed.
"…No metas," Bruce allowed before snapping off the call.
He turned to face his waiting crowd.
"Robin, with me. We're taking the car and seeing Gordon. Terry, you stay here with Alfred and keep an eye on the scopes."
"What? You're keeping me here at a time like this?" Terry demanded, "I've trained for this. I can help you."
"You might, but I won't let you."
"You can't do that."
"Isn't it funny?" Bruce hissed, "That only a week after you went out into the city, this happened? By the way, you were caught on the Watchtower, just so you know. That suit doesn't make you infallible, it just makes you lazy. You screwed up, you got caught, and now my city is collapsing, and I need to keep this place propped up. So, get. On. The. Computer."
"It could be a coincidence," Terry said, though he found that hard to believe. "…What do you need me to do?"
"Watch the police reports. Tell me if anything catches your eye. I'm sure my older self had you crunching numbers and doing data analysis," Bruce said dismissively as he walked to his car.
Robin shot him a look of what Terry was sure was pity before he got in the back seat. Ashamed by the stare, Terry faced the massive computer before his fingers began tapping hesitantly at the unfamiliar layout. Alfred rested a comforting hand on Terry's shoulder, which he almost shoved aside before realizing what it was. Terry continued to work.
The Batmobile raced down nearly deserted roads, with Batman making sure to take the most visible routes possible to scare off any looters trying to take advantage of the chaos. Sure enough, any time criminals caught sight of the machine, they scattered like rats, terrified of the possibility of being caught by the Batman.
It said a lot about how stressed Batman was that he didn't even try to find a place to stash the car, instead just parking directly on the curb before the two vigilantes rappelled up the building to meet with their friend.
Commissioner Jim Gordon was alone, waiting only with his now ritual cup of coffee and a thick manila folder.
"Jim" Batman greeted.
"Batman, Robin," Gordon nodded.
"It's not as bad as I thought," Robin chirped, "The whole panic in the streets thing that is."
"That's because the only ones stupid enough to go looting now are unaffiliated. This is the calm before the storm my friends," Gordon said wryly as he shoved his folder towards the two, "This should explain everything."
Batman flicked through the pages rapidly, murmuring softly as he did, "The mob's been telling everyone to stay quiet?"
"Mm-hmm," Gordon said, "They're afraid. Nothing this big has happened ever. Aliens? Well they're easy enough to deal with. Everything not human just needed to be shot. But those guys at Arkham? They scare the bejeezus out of them. They've been hiring muscle."
"So I see," Batman said before a photo caught his eye.
"Bane?" Batman asked, rubbing the old photograph, hoping to rid it of any dirt.
"Just found out from our deep-cover men in Black Mask's group. The Neo-Nazi's we've got around here have scraped up the cash to go get some of those wacked out hitters around too. There's rumors that people like KGBeast might be popping up here soon."
"Mercenaries from all over, wonderful," Robin moaned.
"They're after the 2 billion the Riddler took from the Asylum," Gordon explained.
"Nygma didn't take the money," Batman said, still engrossed in the file.
"I was afraid of that," Gordon puffed gloomily, "Now we have to protect that man too. No way we can keep him with the general population."
"General population? You're sending the inmates to Blackgate?"
"Only place we have room," Gordon shrugged, "The Governor's mobilized the National Guard to keep the peace, so my men can rest up a bit, but that's going to take a bit of time. Right now we've worked a schedule so they can sleep at Blackgate while they watch over Bolton to make sure he doesn't do anything funny."
"Bolton…" Batman said as he tried to place the name, "Lock-Up? You have Lock-Up watching over the inmates?" he demanded.
"Turned himself in to my boys as soon as he could Said that he's the only one who can keep them under control. I'm breaking all sorts of regulations here, but my men are stretched thin as it is already. He's being watched, but he's done good work so far."
"It's only been a few hours," Batman said, "He'll slip up. Don't forget what he did to you."
"I haven't forgotten," Gordon said bitterly. "But hell, any port in a storm is good right now."
"But still Jim-"
"You think I like doing this?" Gordon snapped. His temper had finally frayed before he shouted, "I have every officer on the force, even the ones I think are crooked trying to keep back a tide of murderers. I have the entire damn mob, every single family, gearing up for a war I don't think my people aren't equipped for, and all of those costumed nuts are keeping quiet. QUIET! Even now I'm wondering when I'm going to get the first report of Smilex and here you are in your fancy uniform, telling me off for trying to protect this city."
"I'll be seeing him before the night is over," Batman said before he made ready to leave, ignoring Jim's outburst. He was stressed, Batman understood.
"Before I go, how's your daughter?" Bruce asked.
"What? Barbara? She's fine. Tougher than her old man," he said in that way only proud fathers ever could.
"I'll keep an eye on the University for you," Batman promised, hoping his olive branch would be accepted.
"It would be great if you could, but my daughter is not important than this entire city," Gordon whispered as his face crinkled, "No matter how much I want to be otherwise."
"Stay safe Jim."
Terry was tapping hesitantly at the keys of the supercomputer too irritated by Bruce and frustrated by this antique. Terry might as well have been punching training dummies for all the good he was doing here. The maps of Gotham put into the computer were flashing red where hotspots of crime were reported, and it was all Terry could do to try and keep up. The only section of Gotham he was familiar with was Crime Alley and its surrounding blocks due to its nature as a "Site of Cultural Significance," in his time after Bruce miserably decided to hold onto his bad memories, and he was completely lost.
Alfred was off in another corner of the cave, filling up gas tanks and making supplies were more than adequate after Bruce had sent a request for the R-Cycle to be sent out. As such, he was of no help to Terry right now. The cave suddenly filled with a roar as a motorcycle screamed through the entrance and its helmet clad occupant jumped off quickly. Welcoming the distraction, Terry turned to face the newcomer.
Dick Grayson peeled off his jacket and helmet as he ran to the costume case before suddenly noticing a person he'd never seen before. He slid instantly into a fighting stance and stood ready to go before demanding "Who are you?"
Terry raised his hands in a gesture of peace before answering "It's complicated."
The two vigilantes stayed in that position for a few awkward moments before Alfred, rubbing his hands on a rag walked in on them. "Master Dick," he greeted courteously, "a pleasure as always."
"Ah, um, hey Alfred."
"There was no trouble on the way here I hope?"
"No, no. Everyone's trying to leave the city, not enter it. The cops didn't even care I broke triple digits on the way. They're too busy I guess," Dick answered.
Alfred sniffed disapprovingly at Dick's answer.
"It's a crisis isn't it? But that's not the problem here. Who's this?"
"Master Terry is a time displaced guest fifty years from now, where he has taken Master Bruce's role."
Dick digested this new information for a few seconds before sighing, "I can't believe I miss the days when all I had to worry about was getting shot by thugs. Now it's all aliens and time travelers and psychics."
He dropped his arms and made his way to his costume, pulling on the sleek armored suit and flicking on his domino mask. "Bruce say what he wants me to do?"
Terry was the one to answer that, "Glide around. Look intimidating. Scare people off, the usual."
"The usual when every single nut is free from Arkham?" Nightwing asked. "And where's Babs anyway?"
"She is at her university, unable to leave due to the lockdown there. The faculty believe that the Scarecrow may target the institution," Alfred gently replied.
"He's probably going to lie low for a few days so he can make enough of his fear toxin," Nighwing mused, "Alright, I'll grab a bike and head out. I'll call Bruce too. What's he doing anyway?"
Batman was at Stonegate, currently intimidating the guards and thugs. He'd sent Robin to go search for the Riddler and to report when he found any clues. Nigma was certainly smart enough to stay out of trouble, but with every lowlife in the city out to look for the mistakenly missing 2 billion, it was only a matter of time until someone got lucky enough, or was clever enough, to find and snatch the man away. And as much as it galled Batman to do so, he had to save Edward Nigma and take him to safety.
But Lock-Up had to be watched.
"Bolton," Batman greeted tersely.
Lock-Up didn't even look up at the sound, keeping his riot gun focused on the mass of convicts below.
Right now in the main yard, dozens upon dozens of tents were being set up to make room for the inevitable crowd of Arkham inmates that would be taken here. In addition to the prison guards that worked here, Commissioner Gordon had sent more than a few of his finest men to try and keep a form of peace. Wayne Enterprises, working on orders from Lucius Fox, had several of its charities send trucks of blankets, heaters, and all important food to bolster Stonegate's supplies while workers feverishly slaved to get things ready. All the while, police patrolled among set lanes with shotguns, ready to shoot.
The breakout spooked everyone Batman realized. He had to work quickly to calm things down, take away the jitters. If one thing went wrong, there would be a bloodbath here.
"Where are you going to keep everyone?" Batman demanded
"Tents are warm," Bolton sneered, "And we've got plenty of straitjackets and handcuffs."
"That's inhumane."
"It's temporary. We got brains figuring out who to take out from general pop. to put in the tents while we get the crazies in the cells. Got to figure out who's in what gang though. Apparently, we don't want these convicts to shank each other because of a mix up in the processing," Bolton said, obviously not thinking much of the idea.
"And I heard we might open up a military base out a few miles out that way," Bolton gestured, "in case we start running out of room."
Batman pored this over before asking a question he'd had his mind on for a while. "What about the special ones? Freeze? Ivy?"
"Freeze is going to one of the heavy duty freezers we got in the prison. We're just waiting on Wayne Enterprises to deliver some smaller ones so we can take out all the meat and crap inside. Ivy's not too much a problem as long as we keep her from plants, so I've gone and picked out the highest room in the tower. All full of scuffed up concrete and cold hard steel. And the rest? Eh, we'll figure it out."
"You'll figure something out now. I'm not going to have Killer Croc and his like eating workers because of poor protection on your part."
"Then why not ask your sky friends for help? I'm sure they've got some fancy electric cells us commoners don't have," Bolton mocked.
"You're smart enough Lock-Up. Figure it out… Bolton, just remember this. If I hear a hint of abuse from anyone, from a guard to the most murderous killer here, I will find you," Batman snarled.
"You have your job, I got mine," Lock-Up said coolly. "I'm just here to make sure none of these assholes get by. Bring me some new friends now why don't you?"
Batman jumped off the high walls of Stonegate and into the darkness below. He still had much to do.
Robin hummed a tune to himself as he found the third of Riddler's safehouses in the city. It was a simple place, a studio in Midtown used by office workers and the middle class. His hands worked quickly with his lockpicks and with a clack, he opened the window and snuck in. The studio was rented under the name of Paul Uzlear, a simple pun Robin worked out in a second. The other safe houses, while ransacked by criminals smart enough and placed highly enough to have real estate records, had no real clues or signs of struggle. In fact, the last one Robin checked actually had two thugs waiting by the door in case the Riddler came by.
He looked around; using the specially calibrated vision his domino mask offered him, smiling at the small question mark Riddler always used to mark his things. His obsessive behavior always betrayed him. The studio was a mess though, heavily plundered. Robin carefully made his way around before flicking on the lights.
Stacks of cheap paperbacks had been ripped from the shelves and the drawers in the room were flung open, leaving clothes behind everywhere. Riddler's trademark cane and hat were also on the ground. So… no clues here too? Well, that was a bummer. Robin turned to leave before noticing something out of place.
Several sets of puzzle toys, from back when Nigma had tried to go straight years ago were carefully untouched. Out of five, four were completed, and the fifth, straight in the center of it all was unsolved. Which made no sense. Riddler's sense of ego would never let him leave something like that alone. Which meant it was intentionally left behind. Robin grabbed hold of it, and carefully cradled it before taking a closer look at the room. It was hard to be sure, but he thought a set of plains clothes were missing. Robin glanced at the puzzle again before jumping out the window and rappelled up a nearby building. After making sure he was safe from prying eyes, Robin solved the puzzle easily enough, though he cursed Riddler for being so damn difficult with himself.
What kind of person needed to be so convoluted when asking for help anyway?
Robin inched a scrap of paper lodged in the working of the puzzle out slowly, making sure it wouldn't tear when it had revealed itself after finishing the thing and found an address hastily scribbled. He called Batman to tell him what he'd found before racing off to the marked location.
Batman found Robin waiting for him in front of an old train station. He ignored the rusting fences and nodded approvingly to Tim. Batman tossed him a high powered flashlight that he always kept in the trunk of the car. The two kicked open the doors and made their way in. Robin's flashlight lit up the shadows of the dusty room and found a set of footprints that had disturbed the place. Unafraid, Batman and Robin followed until they reached a locked room.
Batman had the courtesy of knocking, and waited until the door creaked open. Inside was a surprisingly cozy and clean room. A cot with a set of clean blankets was propped in the corner as was a faucet Batman would bet money still ran clean water. Stacked by threes, many sets of military MREs lined a wall. What caught his attention the most however, was Eddie Nigma, looking haggard.
"I didn't steal the money," was the first thing Riddler said.
"I know," Batman answered brusquely. "I'm here to take you to safety Nigma."
"That's a relief," he snapped. "I don't even know how this got pinned on me. I'm clever yes, but where's the fun in tricking computers? People are so much more fun."
"Nice place though," Robin admired.
"It's a bit low-tech for my tastes, but it's certainly off the grid. I hoped to never actually use this place. Do you know how bad these rations taste? Arkham provided better. There I could at least get real eggs."
Batman gestured for Riddler to come closer. When he obliged, he snapped a set of handcuffs around his wrists before beginning to prod him along.
"H-hey! These hurt. Where are you taking me anyway?"
"You're the genius Riddler. Figure it out."
Batman tossed Riddler in the back seat of the Batmobile before telling Robin to go on ahead. Without further fanfare, he drove off to city limits, signaling the Justice League along the way.
He was greeted later by Green Arrow, the de-facto leader of the group of non-superpowered heroes. Vigilante, Dr. Mid-Nite, and the Blue Beetle all stood by looking awkwardly at Batman as he almost dragged the puzzling criminal behind him.
"Take him to the Watchtower, keep him safe. I'll know if anything happens."
Abrutply as always, Batman walked back to his car, not waiting to hear Queen's answer.
"My City, my rules," he reminded the group before turning the engine over. The Batmobile squealed before racing back into Gotham.
"Nice guy isn't he?" Riddler asked.
Green Arrow glanced at the helpless villain before signaling to Dr. Mid-Nite. The man nodded before jabbing Riddler in the neck, making him fall unconscious.
"Not really."