III
Wayne
Bruce had been watching him from the corner of his eye for the past 20 minutes. He was surprised to see an ex-con at this ceremony, especially Edward E. Nigma, a man who had made millions, and lost it all under the stigma of insider trading. Edward had fashioned himself a small empire with his gaming company and brain-fitness software before his conviction. His insider trading had carried a relatively short three-year sentence – just long enough for him to lose control of his company. How much of that fortune had he been able to hold onto, Bruce wondered.
Wayne knew Nigma was an eccentric, brilliant man with a questionable psychological balance. He had spent a considerable fortune in lawyer fees to defend himself, only to feel betrayed and persecuted by society at large when the judge's gavel dashed all hopes of his acquittal. But was he smart enough to tie in information provided by WayneNet with the police investigation that led to his conviction? Doubtful…
Bruce watched as Edward led the tall, frightened woman to the middle of the aisle, still clutching her tightly and then address a gap-jawed mayor.
"Well your Honor, looks like I'll be the entertainment tonight! Frightfully dull here, wouldn't you say, my dear? Everyone please remain calm, no one wants to see this lovely lady get hurt. I'm only here to ask the mayor a question…
A riddle actually. I could ask the mayor why someone, such as Mr. Wayne, who donates millions to the Gotham City Police gets the Key to the City while someone, much like myself, who funnels millions into the mayor's last campaign gets only… the shaft.
No, Mr. Mayor, I won't question you on semantics. You only have to answer one teensy, tiny riddle and then the lady goes free, I go back to jail, everyone's happy. That's it. Ready?"
"Keys without locks, so carefully played.
For dying and crying, that's why I'm made!"
As time seemed to stand still, Bruce Wayne watched the mayor carefully while he depressed the secret panic button in his cufflink to alert outside authorities. His mind however sent out a panic signal of a different nature. Bruce had the answer to the riddle within seconds, but he doubted the mayor was in any state to answer it. He knew the outcome wouldn't change even if he did. The mayor's life was in immediate danger, perhaps all of their lives. He had to determine how Nigma would make his play and quickly.
"No answer?" Nigma grinned… "Time's up! A REQUIEM, Mr. Mayor! More precisely, your requiem!"
When he heard the loud 'POP' from the audio equipment located above the stage, Bruce Wayne sprang into action, launching himself at the mayor. Driving his shoulder into the mayor's midsection, the industrialist and the politician tumbled off the front of the stage, rolling hard onto the floor below as Wayne felt the air above them shiver past in a condensed wave of sonic destruction.
BOOM!
The dais exploded into boards and splinters, flying in all directions. The others seated at the back of the stage appeared shocked, but otherwise unharmed. Gordon, and other officers in attendance, were drawing their guns, every single one of them taking aim at Nigma, who clutched his blonde hostage tighter than ever, slowly backing towards the exit.
Wayne saw a shadow appear between Nigma and the young lady, and knew he had to act fast. Pushing the mayor aside, he scrambled towards the confused assailant and managed to get hold of the arm wielding the knife. As Nigma crumbled to the ground, Wayne heard him whisper his last words before catatonia took hold.
"…the light was green…"