At Police Headquarters, James Gordon, Gotham City's lead commissioner of the police department, was waiting by the Bat-Signal (stationed on the roof) when he heard a thud from his right. He glanced over and saw Batman walking over.

"What kept you?" Gordon asked. Then seeing Batman's depressed face: "Oh…yeah."

"What do you have for me, Jim?" Batman asked, trying to change the subject.

"We just got several phone calls downtown, a couple blocks near Broome and Finger Street."

"Those streets are lined up with storage facilities. They house technology belonging to Wayne Enterprises. All the latest military machinery and weaponry is stored in there."

"We haven't got much of a reading on the culprits, however. Looks like a bunch of newbies have wondered into town."

"I'll check it out" Batman replied as she started to leave.

"I'm sorry what happened…Last night that is" Gordon said sympathetically.

Batman paused for moment.

"So am I, Jim…So am I."

And with that he leapt off the roof and swooped into the night.

Having just entered into a taxi cab herself, Penny's wristwatch started beeping. It was picking up static noise, which she tried to fine tune by moving the dial.

"Attention all units! Large disturbance at corner of Broome and Finger. Proceed with caution. All units please respond."

"Bullseye!" Penny shouted, as she signaled the driver, "Let me off here."

"You sure, sweetie?" the driver asked, concerned.

"Yes."

"Okay, but be careful. Things happen for no apparent reason in this town."

"So I have heard."

"If you're not careful, the Batman will get you! HAHAHA" the driver joked.

"Batman? Right. A giant bat" Penny smiled sarcastically.

Having paid the driver, Penny exited the vehicle and proceeded down the avenue on foot. Though she had to admit to herself, of all the places she had traveled, this town gave a cold atmospheric chill that ran from the top of her head down to her spine. But she had no time to worry about that now; she had a job to do. One she had done many times before. Although she didn't have Brain this time, still it couldn't be that different. What could be different this time? Suddenly, after turning a corner, she pulled back and hid against a wall, turning her neck to see the disturbance before her. There was a van parked outside one of the storage facilities, with the M.A.D. logo on it of course, while various agents dressed as maintenance workers were loading what appeared to be boxes of explosives in the back.

"Hmm. Let's see," Penny said pulling out her computer book. "According to this, this is one of the many storehouses that belong to Wayne Enterprises, an enormous corporation that controls and influences many divisions here in Gotham. But why would M.A.D. be interested in that? Well, whatever it is, if it involves explosives, it can't be good. I better get a little closer."

Sneaking over quietly, she headed towards the van and hid towards the back, peeking slightly to see what was going on still.

"Just one more carton, and we're all set, Dr. Claw" M.A.D. Agent Slick reported to his boss via communication link.

"Fine. But move quickly, the police will be arriving shortly. We don't want any interruptions" Claw demanded.

"Uh, let's just forget the last set of explosives and get out of here. This place gives me the creeps" Agent Lenny remarked in frightened tone.

"You wanna tell, Dr. Claw that? Besides, what are you afraid of anyway? Getting mugged?"

"No, not exactly…But….I've heard rumors about this town…Rumors that this city is under protection by a masked vigilante….A giant bat so they say, that prowls the night and strikes fear into the heart of criminals –

"Oh please! The only bats around here are the ones in your belfry, namely your head! There ain't no bat!"

"OH REALLY?" a voice echoed from above.

All the agents shuddered when they heard the voice. All of a sudden, a black shadow, shaped like a bat landed on the ground in front of the van, facing the terrified agents.

"IT'S A GIANT BAT!" screamed Slick.

"The Batman….." Penny stated to herself, "So the rumors are true. He does exist."

"WHO IS THAT?!" Claw demanded when he saw Batman on his monitor screen.

Batman started to move forward while the agents moved backwards in fear.

"So what do we have here? A couple of no-goods up to no good…Now listen here, all of you" Batman threatened. "You're obviously new in town, so I'm willing to make a deal with you. Return that merchandise you have, get in your van, and drive as far away as you can from this city and never even think of coming back."

"Sorry freak," Slick said, regaining his courage. "But I'll take my chances rather than betray Dr. Claw!"

He lunged at Batman with a swift punch to his face, but Batman caught it, grabbed him by the wrist, and threw him into the warehouse, colliding into some crates.

"They always want to do it the hard way" Batman sighed.

Two unnamed M.A.D. agents make an effort to confront Batman, but he double kicks them in the face and slams their heads together, knocking them out. Lenny charges at him, but he steps out of the way, leaving him to crash into the van. Little dazed, Lenny gets back to his feet and pounces on Batman who grabs him by the shirt and somersaults him into the warehouse, colliding into Slick. Penny watches in amazement.

"Cool. Not even Uncle Gadget could probably do what he did just now" an impressed Penny remarked.

"GET UP YOU FOOLS! STOP HIM!" Claw bellowed through the communication link.

Noticing the agents were still putting up a fight, Penny activated her computer book, hacking into the security mechanism of the warehouses' door causing it to slam shut and trap the agents inside. Batman, noticing this, spun around and spied Penny behind the van.

"You! What are you doing here? This is no place for a young girl –

Without warning, M.A.D. Agent Fred, who was all this while loading boxes in the van, crept behind Penny and grabbed her, lifting her off her feet.

"Let her go! Now!" Batman shouted.

"Don't try and follow me, Mr. Man-Bat, or else the kid gets it!" he threatened, tossing Penny into the back of the van.

But Batman wasn't going to sit around and do nothing, especially with a little girl's life on the line. He quickly grappled to the back of the van as it took off pulling him along it cruised down Gotham's streets, jerking him around. Eventually, Batman summoned the necessary strength to pull up the rope until he was able to grasp the handlebars of the van's rear doors. Hoping to slow the van down, he grabbed a miniature explosive device from his belt and threw it into the path of the van's back wheel. The explosion blew off the van's back wheel, causing the van to skid out of control. He held on for dear life as the van veered down Gotham Square where it crashed into a fire hydrant, before finally slamming into the wall of a nearby deli. The force's impact, however, sent Penny hurling backwards. Her whole backside including her head whacked against the interior wall inside the van's back. Dropping to the floor, she struggled to get up, but eventually collapsed due to the amount of pain she felt on at the back of her head. Having recovered briefly from the crash, Batman dashed to the van's front, where the door to the driving seat was already open. Batman glanced around. The agent had fled. Before beating himself up about losing the felon, Batman heard a tender cry out from the van's rear. Ripping open the doors as fast as he could, he was shocked at seeing Penny, wincing in pain on the floor. Batman pulled her out and scooped her in his arms. Penny turned her head and looked at Batman holding her.

"Oh…It's you" Penny said weakly.

"Who are you? What were you doing back there?" Batman demanded.

"I…I…I don't know…I…I don't remember….Please…Help me –

Her voice drifted off as she became limp and collapsed in his arms, into unconsciousness. Batman started to feel dizzy all of a sudden as if he was suffering from a heat stroke, his vision began to blur. His eyes seemed to be playing tricks on him as he now saw himself holding the little girl from the other night, the one he accidentally injured while fighting The Joker. He blinked several times, breathing heavily, as his vision then returned to normal. Hearing sirens approaching in the distance, he pressed a button on his utility belt, which signaled the Batmobile, cruising down towards Gotham Square and screeched to a halt right in front of him. He placed Penny gently into the passenger seat while he jumped at the controls, blasting the Batmobile off into the night.

"Alfred. Alfred, you there" Batman called out through his communication link to Wayne Manor in his car.

"Right here, sir" Alfred replied.

"I'll be home shortly. Give Leslie a call and tell her to meet me there. Also, get a bowl of cold water, a hot washcloth, and prepare a bed with extra sheets."

"Are you in pain that much, sir?

"It's not for me, Alfred" Batman replied, motioning to Penny, "It's for her."

"Oh dear" Alfred stated, shocked to see her in that state.