ISSUE 4

The meeting with the Bat wasn't as amazing as Ryan had imagined but what was worse was that he was now going to do something even less amazing; he was going to babysit Gotham's very own multi-billionaire playboy, Bruce Wayne, but he wasn't exactly in his prime nowadays. At age 57, Bruce Wayne had become even more reclusive and cold, appearing at none of his events and permanently residing in his castle, the biggest estate in Gotham, Wayne Manor.

Ryan drove in the GCPD car up the long winding path to the electronic gates of Wayne Manor. He rolled down the window and pressed the wet metallic buzzer, the rain still splashing onto the windshield.

"Mr Wayne, I'm Detective Ryan Connolly, Lieutenant Gordon had called ahead," he said into the intercom.

"I said I didn't want protection," an angry voice said from the intercom.

"Well it's not your choice sir," Ryan replied, not feeling like being pleasant. "Now please open the gates or I will have them opened."

Without a word there was a loud buzz and the gates slowly opened. Ryan pressed his foot on the pedal and sped through up the winding path which lead to the colossal building up ahead.

Ryan looked across the large mansion to see the large marble steps leading up the gigantic wooden doors and he could see the dip were the underground car park must have been. He rounded the large circular fountain and parked the car.

He got out and saw as the large gates shut in the distance and his eyes followed to see the large marble and electrically charged metal fence ran around the edges of the large patch of Wayne owned land. Ryan grabbed his coat off the passenger seat and pulled it on over his shirt and shoulder holster, his shoulder was still sore but healing well.

He locked the car and stuffed the keys away before turning towards the entrance of Wayne Manor. His leather shoes tapped on the marble steps as he made his way to large brass knocker on the door. It was something about the place, it's Gothic design or the low light, but it was so intimidating and terrifying.

He gripped the slippery knocker and tapped on the window one; twice; three times. He stepped back and pushed his hands deep into his pockets. He waited for a few minutes until he saw the oak door slowly open and an elderly man dressed in a suit sitting in a wheelchair stared at him.

"Hello Detective Connolly," the man said, his British accent very obvious.

"May I come in?" Ryan asked, sensing he was obviously not the man he was protecting tonight.

"Yes of course," the elderly man smiled. He grabbed his joystick and moved back his electronic chair and Ryan stepped inside and out of the rain.

The door closed behind him and Ryan sensed the warmth of the large house, you would think it was so large that it would be freezing but it was warm and pleasant.

"You're here to protect Master Wayne," the old man said.

"Yes I am," Ryan smiled. "Not being rude but who are you? Are you his father?"

"No, no, no, Detective," the man smiled. "I'm Alfred Pennyworth, once Mr Wayne's Guardian and family servant. I have worked for the Wayne family for years and if I can give you a tip; don't bring up his family."

"Okay I won't," Ryan replied, trying to be as charming as possible. "So where is the owner of the house?"

"He's in the main sitting room," Alfred said. "I'll show you to him now."

Alfred used his joystick to navigate his wheelchair across the marble entrance way and towards the large lounge filled with sofas, a large fire place and large paintings of people Ryan had never seen before. As he approached he saw Bruce Wayne sitting by the fire place, staring into the flames.

His hair was grey and his skin was slightly wrinkled but for his age he was in good shape. He wore a jumper and jeans, Mr Wayne wasn't known for his casual dressing.

"Master Wayne," Alfred said, making the wealthy playboy turn around. "Detective Connolly has arrived."

"Hello Mr Wayne," Ryan smiled. "I'm be your protection for the evening-"

"I know," Bruce said, turning back to the roaring fire.

"You must excuse Master Wayne, he doesn't really have a sense of humour," Alfred smiled apologetically. "Well I'll be taking my leave for the night if you don't need anything Master Wayne."

"No, you get some rest," Bruce instantly interjected. "You get some rest."

"Well goodnight then Master Wayne," Alfred said nodding. "Goodnight Detective Connolly."

"Goodnight Alfred," Ryan smiled. He watched as Alfred turned around in his chair and disappeared out of sight. "So how we gonna do this Mister Wayne?

"You're going to sit down and be quiet," Bruce snapped, still staring into the fire. "I don't want you here but Lieutenant Gordon is very persistent."

"Yeah he's good at that," Ryan smiled, slipping off his trench coat and sitting down on the sofa near the reclusive gentleman.

The two of them sat in complete silence. Ryan stared at the man, he was confusing and odd but yet still had a strange sort of charisma which made Ryan want to look at him.

What he thought was an hour or maybe more, Ryan realised that he needed to use the toilet. He stopped up and walked away, sure he could find the bathroom on his own. He exited the lounge, leaving his jacket behind on the sofa.

Ryan walked across the marble, his shoes tapping loudly as he walked. The mansion was huge, so where was the bathroom? He turned round the corner to see a large grandfather clock.

He saw something flutter and did a double take on the time piece. Slowly he walked towards and saw a bat fluttering around inside glass casing.

What the hell? Ryan reached for the case and began to pull on it. "Hold on, I'll get you out," he muttered. He yanked as hard as he could on the case and suddenly the whole clock swung to the side like a door, leaving a gaping dark hole in the wall.

What the hell! he thought as the lights inside came on and Ryan saw the hole was actually an elevator. Gingerly he stepped inside and looked about. Suddenly the clock sealed him in and the floor began to move. What the fuck have I done?

He began to feel himself drop slowly until the ground stopped moving and the tube shaped elevator opened up and a whole area of darkness opened up before him. He strained his eyes as bright lights started snapping into life.

That's when he saw where he was, he was in a massive underground cave system. Surrounding him were slippery rocks, waterfalls and strange lights above which were impossibly bright. His eyes moved across the space and he saw that he was standing on a metal platform.

His eyes moved across to see the place was a spectacle, greater than Wayne Manor above. In the distance he could see a black monstrosity which looked like a tank and next to that was a small thing that looked like a teched out black motorbike, across from that was a massive computer system with a gigantic screen which was slowly whirring into life, next to that was a large table filled with what looked like gadgets, technology, spare parts and chemicals, near that was a set of glass cases filled with strange costumes but one mainly caught his eye.

Without thinking Ryan walked towards the glass cases and stared at the largest costume on the set of glass encased mannequins. It was the skin of the Bat, the man-creature that he had just met on the roof of the Station. How was this possible?

That's when the pieces began to fit together in his head. Bruce Wayne the multi-billionaire was the Bat! And across from the Bat costume were others, a smaller golden version of the Bat costume, a bright red, yellow and green costume which was a great contrast from the other two and the costume next to that was a black costume with a blue symbol and a black domino mask.

"What is this?" Ryan muttered.

Suddenly he felt his gun move from the holster and clatter to the ground. He turned round to see Bruce Wayne reel back his large first and punch him in the nose.

There was a loud crack and Ryan stumbled back onto the glass cases, clutching his nose which was gushing with blood.

"How dare you come down here!" Bruce growled, instantly adopting the voice of the Bat.

Before he could get up or apologise, Bruce brutally kicked him in the ribs. Ryan felt the wind escape his lungs and he gasp for breath as Bruce stood back and stared at him.

"Protection," he snorted. "You can't even protect yourself!"

"I'm-I'm sorry."

"You should be!" Bruce shouted.

"I didn't mean to, I swear!"

"Just get upstairs," Bruce sighed, calming down.

Ryan climbed to his feet and stared at him, his legs still wobbly. "Now I know why you didn't want protection."

"What?"

"Because you're him," Ryan smiled through the bleeding nose. "You're the Bat and Bruce Wayne, the target and the protection."

"Just get moving before I beat you again."

"But who's costume's are they?"

Bruce stayed silent.

"Bruce, who's costumes are they," Ryan repeated, using his shirt sleeve to clean the blood seeping from his nose.

"My partners," he sighed.

"What?"

"I've been the Bat for a long time and along the way I've had...partners."

"And where are they now?"

"They quit," he sighed. "Or they're dead."

"But why?"

"Because they're not fit for the life."

"So what about you then?" Ryan asked. "Because I've seen you in action and your still at it at 56 years old."

"This is my life," he smiled. "Wait what am I doing? Get out!"

"Wait, let me help you!"

"What?" he uttered. "No."

"Just hear me out," Ryan pleaded. "I've been with the GCPD for years and even I can see it corrupt. I joined the force to make a difference and so far I've done nothing. The only thing that can make a difference is...you. The Bat, the terrifying suit, that truly scares them; not this badge I carry around on my belt."

"I would have said yes once, but now it's a no."

"Please."

"No."

"Then I'll tell everyone that your the Bat," Ryan retorted. "I'll tell the Commissioner and he'll arrest you quicker than anything."

"You wouldn't dare!" Bruce snarled, once again slipping into his 'Bat' voice, stepping closer to him.

"I will," Ryan retorted, stepping closer to Bruce. They roughly the same height and build apart from Bruce had more built muscle, so when they squared off things looked bad. "Just train me to be your partner and you won't regret it."

Bruce glared at him with a fire in his eyes and then his expression softened. "Fine."

"Really?"

"Yes and your first mission begins now."

"What's that?"

"Pretend to be me in the lounge while I take out the assassin who will be here in under thirty minutes."