Chapter Three
An Honest Cop In Gotham
Lieutenant Jim Gordon hid his revulsion under a practised mask as his partner Eckart returned from extorting free food from the vendor and climbed into the passenger seat of the car. Wordlessly refusing the proffered meat wrap, Jim watched the members of public wandering by.
"All units, back robbery in progress at main and seventh." the radio said. "Shots fired, officer down, hostages inside!"
Without even waiting for his partner to belt in, Jim turned on the engine, slammed into first gear and accelerated, slewing the car round as he activated the siren. Beside him, Eckart cursed as he fought to strap himelf in with one hand while trying to scrape up the wrap he'd dropped into his lap with the other. A glance from Jim and he sighed and picked up the radio. "This is unit zero-two-five, on our way."
Jim hurled the car through the sparse night traffic with casual effeciancy until he slammed on the brakes and spun the wheen, skidding the car to a halt outside the bank, filling a gap in the police barricade. Climbing out, he moved behind the car and drew his pistol, thumb on the safety.
"Situation?"
"We think there's five robbers in there, but the bank's locked down, security shutters in place. At least three hostages. They have machine guns and have stated that they've rigged the doors with explosives. The negotiator's on his way."
Jim nodded slowly as he squinted at the building, then looked round. Movement above him caught his eye and he blinked, shaking his head.
"What?"
"I thought I saw... never mind." Jim said. After all, there was no way he had really seen a Bat with a three-meter wingspan.
Had he?
Were the rumours actually true?
x
Batman dropped from Nightwing's hold and landed silently on the roof of the bank. Moving without a sound, he ghosted up behind the robber on the roof and grabbed him, applying a sleeper hold. Within five seconds, the robber was out cold and Batman moved to his partner.
"Scanned the door?"
"No traps." Nightwing replied almost as silently. "Everyone else is on the ground floor or the bank vault."
"How do they think they'll escape?" Batman mused as he eased open the door and started down the stairs. Nightwing followed, frowning slightly.
"I can hear... something. Sounds like digging. A tunnel?"
Batman nodded slowly. If Nightwing said he heard digging, then someone was digging. "We'll check it out when we get down there. Numbers?"
"At least six robbers on the shop floor, another three at the vault." Nightwing said. "Five hostages."
"I'll take down the robbers, you protect the hostages." Batman said. "I'll use a flash bomb and IR."
Nightwing nodded as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "I'll block any bullets. You want me to lead through the door?"
"They might be watching it."
"That's why I said through." Nightwing grinned. "The diggers just entered the vault."
x
"What the hell?"
Jim jolted as the shutters were suddenly illuminated from behind, then cursed as the brief sound of gunfire echoed. An instant later, the shutters flexed several times as if impacted from inside, then the bank went silent again.
"What the hell just happened!"
Jim ignored the shouts as he dashed to the corner of the bank. Edging across to the barricaded window, he carefully peered round the edge and his eyes widened at the sight of a black-clad masked man untying the hostages while a second man in a cowl and cape roughly secured the masked robbers. The man in the skin-tight outfit looked up and saluted Jim despite the fact that there was no way he could have seen him, then made a quiet comment to the other man, who turned to glare at the window, then nodded and moved to the staff entrance. Jim blinked, then moved to the entrance where one of the released former hostages was fiddling with the keys.
"Are you okay in there? Who were those two?"
"They called each other Batman and Nightwing." the man replied, still sorting through his keys with trembling hands. "I've got the key, give me a minute to open the shutter."
Jim motioned for the SWAT team to approach, then rolled under the rising shutter as soon as it was high enough. Looking round, he moved to the door that he had seen the duo vanish through and listened before turning back to where the other cops were entering.
"Secure the robbers, get them to the vans. Get the victims to safety." he ordered. "I'm going in."
x
Jim stared in shock at the sight of the six robbers tied up around the large hole in the middle of the vault. Hearing a rustle of fabric, he saw the end of a cloak vanish around the corner of the stairs. Holding his gun firmly, he ran up the staircase, trying to close in on the mysterious duo before they could escape.
x
"He's catching up!"
"I know! I can hear him!" Batman grunted as he followed his partner back to the roof. "Dammit, he's fast."
"I have an idea." Nightwing said.
x
Jim burst out of the doorway and levelled his gun at the cloaked figure on the edge of the roof.
"Hold right there!"
A hand reached out from behind him and grabbed his gun, squeezing it. It withdrew and Jim stared in shock at the bent barrel and crumpled frame of his pistol. He froze as the second figure moved past him and joined the first one, then he drew a breath.
"Batman and Nightwing?"
The cloaked figure remained still, but the one in the acrobat's suit turned and smiled.
"Can I help you, officer..."
"Lieutenant. Lieutenant Jim Gordon. You owe me a new pistol."
The masked man laughed lightly, his smile growing wider. "You pointed it at my partner, what did you expect? We have to be going, you saw the gift we left downstairs?"
"The robbers?"
Nightwing nodded. "We're happy to have helped out, Lieutenant. Perhaps we'll meet again."
Before Jim could form a response, Batman's cloak flared out into wings and he jumped off the building. Nightwing seemed to grow his own wings and he also leaped, leaving Jim to run to the edge and look down, seeing no sign of them.
"What the hell..?"
x
"So, what do we know about these two clowns?" Commissioner Rogress scowled out at the briefing room. "Gordon, You saw them?"
Jim rose and moved to the front of the room.
"All we know for now are that they are known as Batman and Nightwing. Batman is dressed in body armour with a long cape which seem to double as wings. Suit is dark grey with a styalised black bat logo in his chest. Nightwing wears what appears to be a black acrobat's outfit with a blue icon across his chest and arms, matching belt. He also has retractable wings in his outfit.
"From what they did at the bank, we can assume they are both skilled martial artists. Security footage from the bank indicates Batman is the leader. I must point out that Nightwing is almost inhumanly strong."
To illustrate his point, he held up the evidence bag in which his crushed pistol resided.
"Since Batman is the leader, we can assume he is at least almost as strong. Possibly stronger. Background is unknown, although they have probably been active for a while."
"How do we know that?"
Jim barely glanced at the cop who had spoken. "For several months, we've been hearing rumours of a giant bat and a ninja. I think we now know to whom those rumours refer."
Several murmers of agreement sounded and Rogress reclaimed the floor.
"Whoever those two are, I want them under lock and key ASAP. They are a threat to law and order and I want them taken down!"
"They left us with almost a dozen bank thieves." Jim noted and Rogress glared at him.
"I don't care! I want their hides!"
x
Jim looked up as a pair of officers escorted a shaking thug through. The thug's voice echoed back up the hallway.
"It was Batman! I shot him three times and he didn't even flinch! He's a monster, a monster!"
"Third one this week." said a voice from across the office and Jim met the amused gaze of the recent transfer, Renee Montoya. "Whoever or whatever this Batman is, he's a force for good."
"Tell me about it." Jim agreed. "I thought Rogress would have apoplexy when he saw that kid wearing the Batman T-shirt. Goodness knows how Wayne Enterprises got permission to produce them."
"I hear they're approaching the other heroes, too. Those who are well-known, anyway." Renee said. "Something about a percentage of the profits and WayneTech support. I hear the Flash signed up almost instantly over in Central City, as did that armoured dude in Metropolis. Although I heard WayneTech has him on retainer."
"Corporate superheroes." Jim smirked, then he looked round. "Rogress wants me to quiz the Waynes on how they got permission. I managed to get two tickets for next week's Wayne charity gala, will you cover my back?"
"I don't think Eckart would look good in a dress, so sure." Renee laughed. "Is Barbara going?"
Jim shook his head. "Nah, she's staying over with her friend Pam that night. Schoolwork sleepover."
"Then sure, partner." Renee said with a smile. "I hope you can dance."
x
Jim looked up as the crowd went silent. The announcer at the door stepped forwards and his voice carried across the hall.
"Princess Diana of Themyscera, Ambassador from the Amazons and Lois Lane of the Daily Planet."
"Wow." Renee whispered in Jim's ear. "I heard about her, she rescued the President's son after he crashed on their island, then persuaded her mother that it was time that Themyscera started talking to the rest of the world. A land without men, huh?"
Jim nodded and watched as Diana, clad in her signiiture red, white, blue and gold outfit, started to circulate, Lois Lane whispering to her occasionally. Jim and Renee started to move closer, then Jim jolted as he was tapped on the shoulder.
"It's Lieutenant James Gordan, right? I recognise you from the papers. And this lovely lady is?"
Jim half-turned and his eyes widened.
"Detective Renee Montoya, this is Bruce Wayne. Mr wayne, my colleague, Ms. Montoya."
"Enchanted, Ms. Montoya." Bruce said, bowing over her hand and lightly kissing her knuckles. "Please, call me Bruce. May I offer you a drink?"
"Thanks, but not yet. Mr... I mean Bruce." Renee said, flushing slughtly. Bruce smiled, then looked thoughtful.
"Montoya... montoya... You're on the Batman task-force too, aren't you? The one led by Mr Gordon?"
"Jim." Jim said, then silently swore as Bruce grinned at him.
"Jim. Maybe you'd like to meet Diana, the press call her Wonder Woman, you know. I hear she added Gotham to her itinerary after hearing about our two costumed vigilantes. I think she wants to meet them. Come on!"
Jim found himself swept along behind Bruce to where Diana was shaking hands with Bruce's brother.
"...and here he is, my brother, Bruce. Bruce, this is Diana of Themyscera, also known as Wonder Woman, and her friend and sometimes agent, Lois Lane."
"Honoured to meet you." Bruce said, bowing over each of their hands. "May I introduce two new friends, Lieutenant James Gordon of the GCPD and Detective Renee Montoya. They're both on the Batman task-force. They may be able to help."
"I would be grateful if you could." Diana said, turning her piercing gaze to Jim. "I was tasked by my mother with contacting as many heores as possible. According to the ancient prophecies, a great threat is coming, and allies would be useful."
"A great threat?" Bruce asked. "How long do we have?"
"A few more years, I think, maybe a decade." Diana said. "The prophecy mentioned several events which have yet to occur, including an eclipse over Themyscera. The next one is not due for another six years."
"And you wanted our two?" Jim asked. Diana laughed.
"I know not their skills or abilities, but even if they are merely mortal, they would be welcome and more than amongst the ranks of the allies I hope to have by my side."
"Who have you got?" Bruce asked and Diana smiled.
"I already have the Hawk-girl, Vixen, the Flash, Green Arrow, Steel, Dagger, Cloak and Jon Stewart of the Green Lanterns as my confirmed allies." she said. "With the aid of Lois here, I have constructed a list of many more who may prove to be valuable allies..."
x
"Well, that was a waste of time." Lois said as she opened the door to her and Diana's hotel room. "No-one had anything useful to say about where we could contact..."
Her voice trailed off as she looked at the table in the middle of the room, and the large envelope on it emblazoned with the overlapping emblems of Batman and Nightwing. Diana moved forwards, picked it up and extracted the single sheet inside.
"When the time comes, we will be there." she read aloud. "Of that you have our oaths."
Lois' eyes widened, and she and Diana exchanged glances.
"But how..?"