Chapter 8: Alliance of Infamy

November 20th, 8:30 a.m

**Chick - chick** - Pow!** Gordon blasted the lotus' torso into pieces, killing it. "And that should be the last of them," Gordon rhetorically stated, pumping the shotgun one more time to ensure safety.

Bullock gave a quick glance at the dead lotus shrub before looking up at Gordon. "Wanna tell me what these things are, exactly?" Bullock suggested.

"Batman said they are bio weapons. Perhaps some terrorists of some sort are releasing these to attack the city. Let's go back to the GCPD and lend a hand with the evacuation," Gordon said to Bullock. "Batman, I took care of these plantttt-like creatures like you asked. Bullock and I are going to head back to the station to further the evacuation. Is there anything else you need me to do?"

"That will be all for now, Gordon," Batman replied to Gordon.

-

9:30 a.m

After hanging up with Gordon, Batman steered the Batwing into the opposite direction, to further avoid the giant creature. "I need to find a way to take it down. The sewer water below seems to be the reason why the creature grew large like this. Ivy and Crow must have done something to Gotham's water supply. Alfred, were you able to come up with a solution to counteract the enhancing compound found within these plants?"

"Why, yes, Master Bruce. I was able synthesize a putrefying agent to fester the plant, resulting in its decomposition."

"Okay, Alfred. I need you to equip everything I need soon. The city's not going to last much longer. Oh. And, Alfred?"

"Yes, Master Bruce?"

"How long will it take you to create enough to release on the city?"

"I'd need quite some time to create that much."

Okay. I need you to work on that as soon as possible. Lucius could help, he is good with this kind of stuff."

"Very well, Sir." Alfred served.

**Doooooooooooosh!** Batman ejected himself out of the Batwing, gliding across the air.

"ROOOARRR!" The giant creature howled, destroying buildings, towers, and even skyscrapers that surrounded it.

Batman hovered over a nearby building, landing. Batman sprinted to the edge of the building, staring at the giant creature above. **Pooosh - clink** Batman fired a Batclaw at a much taller building across the street. **Zeeeeeeeeeeet** Batman ascended towards the creature's pod. Before reaching full-incline, Batman released a handful of explosive pellets, bursting before the creature's head.

"Reeeeeeeeeeek!" The creature screamed in pain.

The creature turned and climbed up the building across the street from Batman, using its vines. Smoke and debris rose from the creatures head. Mixing amongst the smoke and debris rose a dark and thick purple, ejecting from its pores. **Pwfffff** a giant concentrated beam of gas shot towards Batman. Unable to maneuver, due to the speed of its arrival, Batman swung his cape around his face, shielding himself. With the smoke rising from the feet of Batman, and dissipating above, Batman uncovered his face, equipped with a Bat-respirator that cupped against the upper bridge of his nose and undercarriage of his chin. Batman looked up and Batclawed, piercing the monster's neck-stem. Batman jumped off the roof using the momentum to sling himself upward at an angle. Batman assumed a swinging kick position as he ascended towards the monster's head. With slack given from the Batclaw's line, Batman maneuvered a back flip, landing on top of the monster's head. Batman walked across the surface of the creature's head, observing the gas emitting pores. Arriving to the center of the head, Batman gazed down at the creatures mouth, a circular tube housed a colony of jagged teeth. Batman then reached back into his cape, retrieving a handful of explosive pellets.

11:20 a.m

"Master Bruce, I do believe your care package should be arriving any second now," Alfred informed.

"Right on time, Alfred," Batman replied.

Batman then released the handful of pellets into the creatures mouth, quickly firing his Batclaw vertically into the sky. Meeting its target, perfectly in time, the Batwing snatched the Batclaw from its horizontal acceleration, due to its horizontal retrieval. Batman sat himself inside the cockpit. **Boooom!** The creature's head erupted into a ball of fire. Still without harm, the creature strife through the smoke and debris. Aggravated, the monster started towards the ocean.

"Alfred, when should I be expecting Lucius?" Batman question.

"Well, Master Bruce. He said he doesn't appreciate the timely-hood of these chores. However, he should be done in roughly 20 minutes, Sir."

"Very good, Alfred. And tell Lucius to quit his daytime job."

"Very unlikely, Master Bruce."

Inching its way into the ocean, the monster rapidly began growth, reaching heights over the tallest skyscrapers.

"Alfred, are you seeing this?!"

"Unfortunately, Master Bruce, I am. I don't believe those 'miss-iles' will do you any good. The caliber is nothing compared to the size of that beast."

"There's always a way, Alfred."

"Don't say I didn't tell you so."

Batman boosted towards the creature, beginning maneuvers of evasion as he circled the beast. Approaching from the horizon came several news and police helicopters.

"Alfred, it's not safe for them here. I need you to get in contact with Gordon and wave these people off. I can barely out-maneuver this monster in the Bat. Those helicopters stand no chance if they come in proximity. They will die."

"As you wish, Master Bruce."

-

"This is Vicki Vale reporting live with Gotham FM. The headlining story tonight, is: that a monster, a few miles outside Gotham City Harbor, has been reported, earlier, causing destruction across the downtown metro area of Gotham City. Behind me can be seen a battle between Gotham City's dark knight, the Batman, and this giant beast..." Vicki turned to the ocean.

"Pssst-Pssst-Pssst," the cameraman whispered in Vicki's ear.

"Okay. Crystal clear, Chris. We have breaking news!" Vicki stated, instructing the cameraman to turn around, "It turns out the masterminds behind this elaborate plot is no other than them." Vicki pointed towards a helicopter approaching their location. "No other than the infamous Poison Ivy and Scarecrow. They don't look like they're here for hugs and smooches..."