Foreshadowed

Monday, September 21st, 12:55

That Bruce Wayne waltzed through Wayne Tower with a huge smile plastered on his face was no surprise. That the act didn't stop the moment he stepped into Lucius' office was very surprising.

"Somebody had a good morning." The thoroughly white-haired man noticed with good cheer.

Bruce slouched in the comfy guest chair. "I slept ten hours and Diana woke me up."

"That would make any man's day." Fox grinned.

"So…" Bruce sobered. "Last week on the job."

Fox nodded, leaned back into his chair. "The list of proposed successors is on your desk."

"I already have my favourites." Bruce replied mysteriously and stood up. "It's time."

The two men walked the short distance to the conference room and ten white collars of either gender stood to attention at their arrival. Exchanging greetings, the men and women took their seats.

Bruce slipped into his role of quiet, semi-interested observer while Fox lead the meeting.

"This being my last weekly meeting, I want everything ready for the next trimester." The would be pensioner began. "Projects in final stages must be finished by the end of the month to make deliveries. Projects being negotiated must be signed so production can begin. No strings will be left dangling when I leave – understood?"

The board members confirmed with serious faces, none taking him lightly.

"Good." He opened a portfolio. "We'll start with Wayne Space. Mrs Diaz?"

"Two successful deals to report and made one delivery." A graceful Latino woman in early prime replied confidently. "Reverse-engineering of the Thanagarian in-star-system drive ensured contracts with NASA and ESA. The Ares V probe has passed its one month test period. Final payment is scheduled for next week."

Bruce hid a smile behind his fisted hand. As the board suspected, he was biased toward Diaz, but not for the reasons they assumed. Her beauty had nothing to do with it, and he certainly didn't make unprofessional demands of her. Maria was a beneficiary of the Wayne Foundation scholarship program, and whenever one did not waste the opportunity given, Bruce would go out of his way to ensure their success.

"Do you have the readings here?" He asked. "I've been a space enthusiast since a kid."

The file passed several hands before reaching Wayne. Bruce skimmed through the file until a wavy graph caught his attention. The telepathy sensor smuggled onto the vessel as a backup thermal sensor picked up an unnervingly regular pattern. It couldn't be possible, any yet here he was, looking right at it.

"Excellent work." He snuffed the tension out of his voice. "Carry on."

"Thank you, Maria." Fox nodded his pleasure.

Everyone present read the gesture correctly; Diaz was a likely replacement for the old boss.

"Next – Wayne Medical."

A balding middle aged man shuffled some papers. "Due to the new drive form our Space division, NASA scrubbed the stasis pod project. The plan is to adapt the technology for organ transplant."

"Any breakthrough on the antibiotic alternatives?" Fox inquired.

"I've been attempting to acquire phage samples form Kasnian institutes but the officials are stalling." The man replied nervously. "You know who bureaucracies are."

Wayne's eyes flashed momentarily in a bolt of understanding. His fingers fidgeted nervously under the table as he was unable to act on it.

"Mr Wayne, any chance you could use your connections to speed the arrangement." Fox implied Diana's position of ambassador. "Kasnian medicare has seen better days."

"A donation as a tax deduction is always acceptable." Wayne played the greedy businessman cliché.

"That's settled then." Lucius closed another file and looked across the table to a young man with strikingly similar features. "Mr Fox, what do you have for us?" The man addressed his son.

Other directors glanced at their colleague, second youngest in the room. Rumors of nepotism abounded, but so far Lucius junior had given them no justification.

"Wayne Tech R&D is finishing the FutureSoldier and Multi-Vehicle prototypes."

"How much contract grants do you plan to win?"

"Five to ten for each project." Junior replied confidently.

Wayne whistled in surprise, making his employees look uncomfortable at his uncultured behavior. "You'll showing me those toys right now, Fox."

"Sir." Fox senior interrupted. "We have more issues to discuss."

"I'm sure you can address the remaining projects without me." Bruce rose form the head seat. "As for the next chairman…" He gestured at Lucius jr.

For once, none of the directors doubted his decision, save the man in question who appeared not to believe his eyes.

"Mr Fox." Wayne tipped his head to the door, shaking him out of stupor.

As soon as they boarded the elevator, heading for the basement research labs, Wayne held out his hand, requesting the files form Fox. Skimming through the pages, he made several intrigued hums. Fox stayed silent the entire time, trying to wrap his mind around the unexpected if not unwelcome promotion.

"Ingenious." Wayne shut the file before the doors slid open. "So which grants do you plan to compete for?" He walked between rows of assembly tables, to the prominent amour suit on the other end of the long hall.

"Adaptive camouflage and flexible amour for thermal, projectile and electrical protection" Fox tapped the matte black torso. "Sensor array and computer screen in visor." He indicated the full-facial mask. "integrated GPS; remote vehicle control; life-signs monitor and resuscitation equipment-"

Wayne quirked a brow. "De-fib and stuff?"

"And stuff." Fox confirmed. "You could have a heart attack in this thing and live to tell." He looked at it with not a little pride.

"And the Vehicle?"

"Ah yes, the Bat-hicle." He whispered before walking over to a large pile of crates. "Camouflage off."

The crates vanished, revealing a sleek black hovercraft.

"The vehicle includes classical features like voice-command and holo-projectors and some new goodies like being a mobile command center in place of the home base and a three in one propulsion." Fox explained while Wayne walked around the thing, taking in every detail.

"Excellent work." Bruce commented as he passed a hand over the radio-absorbing paint. "But than you had time to practice, disassembling ever birthday toy you got." The man stuck his head into the cockpit.

"Your gifts were much appreciated." Fox ducked his head to hide a shy snicker. "anything else."

"When will they be ready for use?" Bruce looked up.

"Anniversary." Fox replied with gravity.

When they were back at executive level, Wayne turned to his new right-hand man. "There are rumors of a shady new entrepreneur in town, Powers."

"Derek?" Fox frowned. "I've heard about him. Luthor-wannabe."

"Except where Luthor worked to improve his domain, regardless of his methods, this guy cannibalizes everything he touches." Bruce frowned.

"If I didn't know you better, I'd say you are idealizing old rivals." Fox chuckled. "Don't worry Mr. Wayne, I'll keep an eye on him."

…