Author's Note: Holy crap, it's been a while since I updated. So sorry for the wait, I've been really busy this summer and haven't had a lot of time to write but finally I have finished another chapter in this story. I hope you all enjoy! Please like and review!
Getting to GothCorp was easy, getting inside however was a bit tricky. Despite Penguin's goons standing guard by the front doors, the duo made short work of them and quickly hacked the security panel by using the entry codes from Penguin's dealer. The two walked inside, not sure of what to expect.
Above them to their right was an upper area where they saw Mr. Freeze and Penguin. There was also a security guard getting a beat down by some of Penguin's men.
"If this goes sideways, you come runnin'" Cobblepot said to one of his men as he and Freeze walked through two big doors and out of view.
"Sure thing, boss." He replied.
The heroes quickly took care of the goons before the guard could be injured too badly. The guard was shocked at how fast they were able to take them all out.
"Those men were armed. How'd you do that?" The guard asked.
"Ate a lot of vegetables growing up." Spider-Man quipped.
"Where are they taking Ferris?" Batman interrupted.
"Mister Boyle? They uh, they're heading to the Propellant Research Wing. These guys have the been raiding the whole facility."
"Do you have the codes to this security door?"
"No, I don't have clearance. But my boss does. A bunch of them took him to the Organic Lab. Through the lobby."
"We'll make sure they don't hurt your boss. Get yourself to safety."
"It can never be simple, can it?" Spider-Man sighed as the two made there way to the Organic Lab.
As expected, the way there was covered with more of Penguin's goons. Since the thugs now had new cryo-weapons, some of them had decided to create an ice wall in the middle of the hallway, making their way to the lab more difficult. But the two found a way to get around it and took down every criminal that got in their way.
Once they entered the lab, they saw what kind of research was being done. There were modified greenhouses with a blue glow to them, and a giant reactor at the end of the room. They also saw the place was crawling with armed guards, two of which had sniper rifles. Below them they saw the security guard being interrogated by one of Penguin's men.
"You told us you were the boss, so why so shy all of a sudden? Huh? What happened to that spirit of sharin'?"
"I-I'm cooperating. I'm cooperating!" The guard panicked.
"I know, I know. But, we all got jobs. And my job is to shoot you if I don't think you're tellin' me the truth."
"I told you, there are no weapons here. It's just plants, tissue research."
"Yeah, you said."
"Then… you believe me?"
"You know what? I do, I do believe you, but to be honest, heh, I just really love my job!"
"Oh god."
While they were talking, Batman and Spider-Man had taken out the snipers, now they just needed to worry about the rest.
Batman used his Remote Claw to attach one of the goons to one the vantage points above them. As soon as he started screaming, everyone was alerted. Which was enough of a distraction for Spider-Man to knock the guard wearing body armor over the ledge he was standing on. The fall didn't kill him, but it was enough to knock him out.
Batman noticed these strange looking propane tanks that had a blue glow to them. Wanting to test it out, Batman used his Remote Claw again to send one of the propane tanks at a nearby goon. The impact caused it to explode, encasing the goon in ice. Unable to move, the criminal stayed frozen as Batman took advantage and knocked him out.
To insure the guard's safety, Spider-Man snuck up behind the goon who had been interrogating him and knocked him out with the back of his heel. He then webbed him up for good measure.
"Stay here for now, we'll deal with the rest." Spider-Man whispered to the guard before webbing up to the ceiling.
Batman hid in the floor grate as another goon approached. He waited until he was just underneath him before leaping out and smashing his head into the ground. The last two guards were nearby and were about to shoot when Spider-Man dropped down on top of one and kicked the other in the chest, sending him into a nearby wall.
With all the criminals taken care of, the two went to check on the security guard.
"Holy crap, I saw you two on GNN! You guys saved my life!"
"You have codes we need to access the Propellant Research Wing." Batman said.
"I do. Here. Take them. You're going to save Mister Boyle, right?"
"It's not safe inside GothCorp. You need to get out of here."
"Don't worry. I won't be hanging around. And uh, thanks, you know? Not just for me, for Gotham."
"Hey, were just doing the right thing." Spider-Man said, "oh and let us know if we're on GNN again, I wanna make sure they get my good side."
As soon as Batman finished downloading the codes, they headed back towards the lobby.
As they made their way back, Batman wanted get an update from Alfred.
"Alfred. How's work on the XE suit coming?"
"Slowly, Sir." Alfred responded.
"We're encountering ice formations impeding our progress."
"The Thermal Gloves would certainly help you with that. I'm working as quickly as I can."
"Keep us posted."
As they reentered the lobby, they saw that both entrances to the main area were blocked off with ice. Realizing that they would have to get creative, the heroes split up. Batman entered the floor grates while Spider-Man webbed up to the opening above them. In the other room were more of Penguin's guys.
"We got to get to Penguin, now! Where the hell's Fitzy?" One of the criminal's asked.
"He's supposed to meet us here with the security pass." Another answered.
"I know that. That's why I'm askin' where he's at."
"Then why are you askin' us? We've all been with you."
"Knock it off. Penguin's got trouble. If we don't get to him, that'll double for us."
Before any of the thugs could reply, Spider-Man zipped down and kicked one of them in the face while Batman jumped out from the floor grate beneath them and knocked out another.
"Actually, it seems you guys already have trouble of your own." Spider-Man said as the duo sprung into action.
The thugs didn't stand a chance against the combined strength of the two. As soon as all the thugs were down and out, reinforcements arrived, but the arrival proved to be useless as the heroes were able to take them all down as well. Now with the access codes, Batman was able to easily hack into the control panel on the door. Entering through, they saw 3 more of Penguin's men trying to get in the next room.
"This guy ain't got a pass." One of them said.
"Dammit! We gotta' break this ice somehow."
"This is bad. I mean, Penguin's in trouble and we can't get to him!"
"You think Penguin's gonna let this blue-skinned freak get the drop on'em? You're crazy."
"Listen. I don't wanna be the guy who didn't show up when Penguin called. Let's just figure out a way to get in there."
As they were talking, Batman and Spider-Man silently took each of them out one by one.
"Sounds like Penguin and Freeze aren't getting along anymore." Spider-Man noted.
"Freeze still has Boyle, if he gets caught in between them he could get hurt. We need to hurry." Batman responded.
"Well, seeing those bozos struggling with this door means we'll have to find another way." Spider-Man said while gesturing to the door behind him.
To their right was what seemed to be a changing room for the employees, and as luck would have it there was a trap door that led them forward. Under the trap door was an assortment of pipes, many of which were leaking gas at a freezing temperature. The duo had to swiftly maneuver around the gas to continue on. As they moved forward, the room around them began to get colder, to the point where frost began to form on their costumes.
"W-why does everything here have to be so c-cold?" Spider-Man shivered as he and Batman entered a vent. Once they exited the other side, the frost melted away, and the two were now above the Propellant Lab. From their vantage point in the rafters, they could see Penguin's men firing at Freeze who was behind cover.
"Give me Boyle or I'll freeze this entire room!" Freeze demanded.
"Oh, I know you won't. Boyle's got the codes you need, an' I ain't given' 'im up 'less I get what he's given' ya." Penguin replied, holding Ferris Boyle at gunpoint.
"What's behind this door is of no interest to you!"
"What I'm interested in is the weapons I was promised. I know you're holdin' out on me."
"This will not end well for you, Cobblepot."
"Oh-ho! I think you're confused about what exactly is about to 'appen 'ere."
Before Penguin could explain what was going to happen, Batman and Spider-Man suddenly dropped down onto a group of gunmen who were on a walkway right above Penguin and the rest of his men. Penguin heard the sound of fighting and turned around to see the two heroes that had crashed his Christmas party.
"You two again?!" He said as he and the rest of his men began firing at the duo.
Freeze, noticing that Penguin and his men were distracted, walked out from behind cover and began to freeze everyone in sight. Penguin, who was now frozen in place, was still firing his gun. The bullets hit one of the clasps of a large container right above the duo. The two noticed the container swing down towards them and jumped off the platform, with the container eventually falling next to them.
"No, Don't!" Boyle cried as Freeze walks up to Boyle and pulls him out of his ice prison, freeing Cobblepot's other arm.
"Now you belong to me." Freeze said, while Penguin tried to free his other arm that was holding the gun.
"We'll give you one chance to let him go." Batman warned as he and Spider-Man walked towards him.
"Otherwise, I hope you like yellow snow." Spider-Man quipped.
Freeze puts Boyle in front of him and aims his ice cannon at his back, "threats are meaningless to a man who has lost everything."
Freeze suddenly aims his cannon at a large pipe next to him and fires. The pipe explodes with all the gas coming quickly turning to ice. The two are able to react fast enough to avoid being caught in the ice, but Penguin and his men aren't so lucky. The ice created a wall that divided the heroes from Freeze and Boyle. The two are powerless as they watch Freeze take Boyle away.
While the ice had encapsulated Penguin, his head was still free, meaning he could still vent his frustration on the two heroes in front of him.
"I swear… this is both your faults. Get me out a'this!" Penguin complained.
"What's Freeze after? Why does he need Boyle?" Batman replied, ignoring Penguin's outburst.
"Boyle's got the codes he needs to access some kind a'superweapon. And now you let 'em have it!"
"You do realize that ice is the only thing stopping you from getting a beating, right?" Spider-Man chimed in.
"Yeah yeah yeah. Look, you want to save our friend, Mr. Boyle, yeah? But you'll never break through this ice. GothCorp has a device… a uh, it's like a drill, a cryodrill."
"Tell us where it is."
" I 'ad my men bring all our uh, acquisitions, to the My Alibi club. For safekeepin', of course."
"Then you better hope your men are still at My Alibi." Batman said as he turned to leave.
"Now be a good boy Oz and just chill here till we get back." Spider-Man said before following Batman.
"Oh God, he's gonna give me a bloody headache."
