Chapter 8: Now, You'll Take Me Seriously
The Batmobile was currently driving towards Wayne Tower where it can get repaired after the acid by the moths ate away at some of its exterior. Batman got in touch with Lucius Fox inside the car to make the necessary preparations. "Lucius, can you hear me?", Batman asked. "Loud and clear, Mr. Wayne. What can I do for you?", Lucius replied. "The Batmobile suffered severe damage from an acid-like substance. I'm going to need some repairs as fast as possible along with a special coating that will make it so the same kind of acid doesn't have the same effect. There should still be some leftover residue where the damage is. I'm inside Wayne Tower now.", Batman explained. "I'll get to work on it right away, sir.", Lucius said and then went off the line. "So, are we going to talk about how Walker gathered an army of monster insects out of nowhere?!", Damian said. "Believe me, Robin. I've seen things during my time as Batman that pale in comparison to those creatures.", Batman said. "I know, but still it's pretty freaky. Like, where did they come from and what does he plan to do with them?", Robin said. "Most likely to take control of the city. But we'll stop him and those monsters.", Batman said. They arrived at Wayne Tower where they parked in the secret garage where Lucius Fox did all the necessary work on the Batmobile and where he was waiting for them. "Good to see you, sir.", Lucius greeted his boss as he and Robin exited the car. "Good to see you too, Lucius.", Batman said. "You weren't kidding when you said the Batmobile suffered severe damage.", he said as he saw the dissolved pieces of the car that left empty spaces. "How did this happen?", Fox asked. "You may find it hard to believe, Mr. Fox. We were attacked by a bunch of mutant acid-spitting insects.", Robin said. "Really? Well, that would explain all this damage.", Fox said. He saw there was still some left-over acid residue on one of the damage spots. He used a cotton swab to absorb a sample so he can make that special coating Batman requested. "I'll get to work on having this fixed up and have that coating ready for you as soon as I can, Mr. Wayne.", Fox said. "Thanks, Lucius. Keep me informed.", Batman said as he and Robin walked away. "We still haven't talked about how exactly you plan to take out those bugs and stop Moth.", Robin said. "Let's meet back up with Gordon at the GCPD and we can discuss a game plan with him there.", Batman said. Meanwhile at the office of notorious crime boss Rupert Thorne, the big man himself was smoking a cigar and having a glass of scotch. He pressed a button on his intercom to get in touch with his assistant. "Candice, get in touch with my wife and tell her I won't be home tonight.", Thorne said. "Sure thing, Rupie.", Candice replied to her boss. Just as he was finishing his scotch, a huge crash rocked the entire room and sent him sailing forwards. It took him about a few seconds to turn over and saw what caused the ruckus. He saw Killer Moth riding a giant moth with a few others flying outside the building. "What the hell?!", Thorne said in shock and disbelief at what he was seeing. He pressed the intercom which was knocked on the floor and said, "Candice, tell my men to get their lazy asses up here now!", Thorne demanded. "Right away!", Candice obeyed. "Good to see you again, Rupert. It's been some time hasn't it?". Moth said as he got off of his pet and landed on the floor of the office. "Moth! What the hell is the meaning of this?!", Thorne asked angrily. "Just a little payback after the last time we met.", Moth said. "What are you talking about?", Thorne asked. "Remember how I once offered my services to you so both you and your men would be protected, and you told me to go to Hell and that you don't work with costumed losers like me?", Moth said. "Yeah. I also remember you wanted to get a cut if I accepted your offer. First off, I don't give any of my profits to Gotham's costumed paraphernalia. Second of all, I definitely didn't want to accept your services because your services are horseshit! You really thought a minor league mope like you could protect me and my whole organization? And the same goes for everyone else you offered to protect. Everyone in the Gotham underworld knows how badly Batgirl kicked your ass and they wouldn't want to be embarrassed to have you in league with them.", Thorne said as he mocked him. This just fueled Moth's anger even further as he balled his hands into tight fists. "You're going to regret saying that, fatass!", Moth angrily said. Just then, a bunch of Thorne's men entered the room with machine guns in their hands which were pointed at Moth. "Now my boys are here to fill you full of lead! It's lights out for you, Mothball!", Thorne said. "In case you haven't noticed, I have a much more deadlier posse of my own now and they'll find both you and your men to be a tasty treat. Now, you and everyone else in this city will start taking me more seriously with these babies at my side.", Moth said. "Snack time, boys!", Moth said right before he allowed his pets to buzz into the room and devour Thorne and his men. They all screamed out as the creatures were eating them alive. Disturbingly enough, Moth didn't look away and was watching the crime lord and his goons getting eaten and found actual joy in it. This new feeling of power that his pets gave him was starting to really go to his head, especially after being treated like a joke for so long. After the moths were done eating, their leader said, "Now let's go make some more chaos. And there's plenty more light for you guys to enjoy.", Moth said as he hopped on one of the bugs and they all flew into the night to cause more mayhem.
