Batman Beyond:

Sons and Heirs

Episode 1. Past and Future

Batman stood before Commissioner Gordon, waiting to hear why he had signaled him to come out to meet with him.

The commissioner pondered how to begin, but at the same time he looked concerned.

"What is it commissioner?" Batman asked. "Whatever it is I'll help you handle it."

"Before I get into the details," Commissioner Gordon began, "I've got a question. "Do you have another protege I don't know about? I know there's Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, Black Bat, Red Robin, Spoiler, Robin, and The Signal, but is there another?"

"All my protégés have left Gotham," Batman said, "except for Red Hood, Batgirl IV and Robin VII. Why do you ask?"

"The streets of Gotham are talking," Commissioner Gordon said. "You dawned the new suit. Many of your old foes have faded into history. New threats are on the horizon. The criminals think you've gotten a new ally, and the rest of my department is thinking the same."

"Change is inevitable," Batman said. "That's something I had to learn over time, but I haven't gotten a new ally."

"Then I think this new vigilante who's come to town will require an investigation by you," Commissioner Gordon said. "Whoever it is, the streets say the vigilante has a ring of familiarity.

Batman pondered.

"This person doesn't kill like Red Hood used to but doesn't escort them to the police like you either," Commissioner Gordon said. "I've sent you an email with the coordinates of a few of the…targets."

"I'll look into it," Batman said, turning around to leave. "You don't have anything on this mystery person."

"The vigilante appears to disappear without a trace," Commissioner Gordon said. "That's why I thought this one would be right up your ally." He smirked.

"I'll get you some answers," Batman said. "You'll have an update soon enough."

"I figured as much," Commissioner Gordon said. "Have a good night."

"You too," Batman said. "And RJ, tell your parents I said hey."

Batman turned around and stood at the edge of the roof as Commissioner Richmond 'RJ' James Gordon-Grayson watched him dive into the night.

~~~

"Bruce," Terry said to him through their comms. "Shouldn't we tell him at some point that his parents used to be vigilantes."

"They don't want him to know that part of their pasts for his safety," Bruce said. "Understandable. RJ's a smart man. I'm sure he knows."

"What are your thoughts on this supposed new vigilante in town?" Terry asked him.

"I'm pulling up the coordinates from the crime scenes that RJ sent you," Bruce said. "I'm using footage from multiple cameras that monitored those crime scenes to get a picture of who this person might be."

"Probably another clown who thinks he's Batman," Terry said.

"There's only two men who own that title now," Bruce said. He wore a smirk for a moment that Terry couldn't see, but Terry knew that he put it on his face. "Call it a night. I'm sure Dana would like to see you some time this week."

"That doesn't sound like Bruce," Terry said. "Who are you, and what have you done with him?"

"I'll look into this," Bruce said, ignoring the question to rib him.

"You sure Selina won't have a problem with that," Terry said.

Bruce glanced over to his right where Selina now stood with a smile as she looked down upon him.

"I'm sure," Bruce said. "Good night Terry."

"Good night Bruce," Terry said. "Try not to solve the case without me."

Bruce was taking in the footage from all the cameras, studying and analyzing them.

"The twins are away at the university," Selina said. "Alfred finally decided to go on a vacation. I still think he's going to outlive us all. We have the mansion to ourselves. Why don't we have a particularly thrilling night in?"

No vigilante revealed themselves in any of the crime scenes. The only thing they had in common was a familiar fog.

"You've solved it already," Selina said upon seeing the serious look upon his face. "Haven't you?"

"There's someone I need to see," Bruce said, standing up and looking upon Selina now. "She recently moved back into town. It can't be her. However, she'll know who's behind this. Would you like to come with me?" He held out his hand.

"A night out with you," Selina said. "Of course. It'll be like old times. Who are we going to see?"

"The only woman besides you to steal something that I thought couldn't be stolen," Bruce said.

"Ah," Selina said, pulling her blonde French braid to rest over her shoulder. "Her. Don't tell Ivy or Harley, but Andrea Beaumont was always my favorite in the Gotham game."

~~~

The last bell of the day rang at Wayne Academy. A dark skinned young woman with short strawberry-blonde hair, freckles, hazel eyes, and freckles stood just outside the door as she simultaneously met with a light skilled young man with black hair with blonde tips and dark eyes that stood just a head taller than her.

"Matt," she said.

"Carrie," he said.

They smiled before they began to walk together side by side. She carried an arm full of additional books while he pulled his head phones down around his neck.

They both wore their uniforms.

She wore a gray blouse attached with a black sailor-style collar, outlined with white, and a black pleated skirt. A red neckerchief is tied in the front and laced through a loop attached to the blouse. She wore red socks with a pair of brown leather combat boots.

He wore a gray blazer that has a standing collar buttoning down from top-to-bottom. Buttons were decorated with the school emblem to show respect to the school. Underneath he wore a black collared shirt. Grey pants were straight leg and a black belt was worn with them. With them, he wore red high-top sneakers.

"We headed to the manor?" Carrie asked Matt.

"That would be ultra schway," Matt said, "but Terry said the manor's off limits for us: at least for a little while."

"Why?" Carrie asked.

Matt shrugged.

Carrie gave him a look, which made Matt smile.

"All he told me is that Bruce has been out of town for three days," Matt said, "so until he finds out why exactly he doesn't want to have to worry about us and Mr. Wayne doesn't need the additional help."

"We should still go see Alfred," Carrie said. "He might want some company. In the mean time, I'll talk to my cousin. See if she knows more about the situation."

"I've always liked the way you think," Matt said. "I can't tell if Terry isn't worried or if he truly doesn't know what's going on."

"If he doesn't," Carrie said, "that's where we come in. We'll ask Max and Alfred."

"Should we ask Romero or Celine?" Matt questioned.

"Is Mrs. Wayne with him?" Carrie asked. She chuckled. "Still can't believe those two are married."

"I got the impression she is," Matt said.

"Then no," Carrie said. "If something was really wrong, Alfred would've already contacted them. Terry probably knows more than he's letting on. We just got to find out what he knows."

"What are we waiting for then," Matt said. "Let's go."

~~~

Terry walked into the auto body shop from the back door. He saw Jason looking under the hood of a car.

"What are you doing here kid?" Jason asked. "Don't you got some homework to do?"

"One of these days you're going to stop calling me kid," Terry said.

"Not today," Jason said: without turning around. "What's going on? This about the new player in town?"

"Of course you know," Terry said. "I don't know. Bruce left. Selina is with him. They won't tell me where they are. Alfred won't tell me where they are. Someone new is cleaning up the streets before I can even think to get to the scene of a crime."

"When did this start?" Jason asked, finally taking a seat on the nearby stool, crossing his arms, and facing Terry.

Terry took in the relatively tall, muscular, older man: with his black and signature white patch of hair.

"The day we got details on the new player," Terry said. "He gave me the rest of the night off, and then he was gone."

"You should know better Terry," Jason said, going back to his work.

"I'm stumped," Terry said.

"I'll give you a minute," Jason said. "You've worked with him long enough."

"He gave me the night off and he disappeared," Terry said. "He took Selina with him. The new player… He's got a personal connection with whoever it is."

"I knew you'd get there kid," Jason said. "If Bruce and I both like you, you got to be something special."

"This means I got to buckle down and find out what's going on here in Gotham because Bruce isn't going to give me anything if it's personal, Alfred either," Terry said. "You got any idea who it could be? Do you think anybody does?"

"Bruce has gotten somewhat better at trusting others," Jason admitted, "but he left without a word I suspect it might be someone before our time, all of us."

"I won't bring in the others then," Terry said.

"Smart kid," Jason said. "Don't give the calvary a reason to come running until you're sure you've got a good reason, especially Damian. He'll tear Gotham in two. Then, I'll have knock his and your heads together."

"I'm out of here," Terry said, walking off. "I'll come put in a shift with you this Saturday. Let me know if you hear anything that's noteworthy."

"Yeah yeah," Jason said, waving him off without facing him. However, he did watch and give a quick smirk as he watched Terry ride off on the motorcycle they built together.

~~~

"No Alfred," Bruce said, sitting by the window of the train car. "We haven't managed to meet with her yet, but we will before the week is out."

"Yes Master Bruce," Alfred said. "Should I still refrain from explaining this situation to the others?"

"Yes," Bruce said. "Before they are told anything, I want the truth."

"Very good sir," Alfred said after having a drink of his tea.

Bruce watched him on his video phone. Alfred nodded to him as he watched Bruce on the home video phone.

"Good day Alfred," Bruce said. "Take care of yourself while we're gone."

"Don't worry Alfred," Selina said, sitting beside Bruce. She came on the screen. The black roots of her hair he began to grow and show themselves "I'll keep in contact with the twins, and I'll take care of him while we're gone and bring him back safely."

"Thank you Miss Selina," Alfred said.

Bruce ended the call.

"You'll never get used to people wanting to take care of you," Selina said, "will you?"

Bruce said nothing. He just gave her a quick kiss.

"Are we sure Miss Beaumont is still alive?" Selina asked. They had the car to themselves. "Last I remember, she was in a dangerous line of work."

"When we arrived at her home three days ago," Bruce said, "she was there."

"You think she's on the run?" Selina asked. "Why would you think that? And if she is, where are we headed? We've no clue where she could be going next."

"I thought she was the mysterious vigilante new to town," Bruce said. "She's not. However, she's on the run because she knows who is. When she came back to town, years ago, when you two met, before she left, I gifted her a watch. It was to make up for the time we lost and the time we would never get back."

"I remember you telling me," Selina said.

"She's kept it all these years," Bruce said. "It has a tracker, so we'll know where she goes. We'll find her when she decides to stop running."

"You sound confident that she will," Selina said.

"I am," Bruce said. "She'll realize if I don't reach her I'll go after whoever she chose to don her old costume and alter ego: The Phantasm. I trust Terry will handle that. While I also trust Andrea will want to tell me the truth."

~~~

Carrie and Matt arrived at the Wayne Gate. Carrie arrived with her jet blades while Matt arrived on his hover board. Matt came to her side and held her up as she changed back into her boots. Then, Matt went to the facial recognition pad. A second later, he whispered his password: Warren.

They entered together and walked toward the doors while they talked and the gate closed behind them.

"So the plan is," Carrie began her thought, and Matt finished it.

"You talk to Max," Matt said, "and I'll talk to Alfred."

"You're not going to be able to pull one over on Alfred," Carrie said.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Matt said. "Let me handle this."

"All right," Carrie said. "Long as you produce results. I'm going to take the call in Cassandra's old room."

"Sounds good," Matt said, ringing the door bell. "You've already seen it's us." He said this into the camera overhead.

Alfred opened the door.

"Master Matthew," Alfred said. "Miss Carrie. Good to see you. Come in." He allowed them to enter, then closed the door behind them.

"We know no one's here," Carrie said, "except for you, so we wanted to stop by. I have to make a phone call real quick. Do you mind? I was going to go to Cassandra's old room."

Alfred nodded and directed her to the staircase. Carrie left Matt and Alfred alone.

"How can I help you?" Alfred asked Matt.

"I'd like for you to tell me what case Terry is working on and if it's the same case Bruce is working on," Matt said. He brought smile to Alfred's face. "I'll make the same deal as usual. You tell me what's going on, and I won't get involved. No matter what."

"Straight forward and to the point as usual," Alfred said, directing him to the kitchen.

Matt walked on, and Alfred followed.

Carrie set up her holo-phone and then called her cousin. A few moments later, she saw her as if she was there in Cassandra's room right along with her.

"Max," Carrie said. "You look great. Where are you going?"

"Hey cousin," Max said. She had long, straight pink hair that rested upon her shoulders as she bent to look into her mirror and put on her make up. She was wearing a beautiful, short yellow with a wide gray belt, large silver buckle and a pair of knee high black high-heeled boots with small silver buckles on their sides. "Thanks. I'm supposed to be meeting with Mr. Hawkins to attend a symposium about fundraising for STEM in lower-class areas around the country. He'll be here any minute. Do you need me?"

"You're going with the Virgil Hawkins?" Carrie asked.

"No," Max answered her, facing her now. "I'm going with Ovid, his son. We've been friends since my senior year in high school. I think he likes me."

"I think you're right," Carrie said. "I didn't need much. I just wondered if you had talked to Terry recently. Something is going on here. Terry isn't speaking much on it. Bruce has left Gotham."

"Whoa," Max said. "That's definitely out of character for him. No, Terry hasn't talked to me about it. We've been busy lately: no time to catch up. If he's going quiet and Bruce is gone, that means simmering big is on the horizon. That means even if you find out what's going on stay out of it. Terry will have enough on his plate. He shouldn't have to worry about you and Matt too."

"You're kidding," Carrie said.

"I'm not," Max said. "Your mom already lost your dad. It's partially my fault you ended up having to save Terry's life and got brought into this: Clean-Up-The-City-Of-Gotham Project. I don't want to feel responsible if your mom loses you."

"Fine," Carrie said. She breathed. "You're right. I still want to know what's going on, so if you find out will you tell me?"

Max couldn't help but smile.

"Yes I will," Max said. "I'll call Terry." They both heard the knock on her door. "That's him. He's so old school. And hey, even though I don't want you and Matt involved: with Bruce gone make sure you two monitor Terry. If anything goes wrong, tell Alfred. He'll call in the big guns."

"Big guns?" Carrie questioned: more to herself than Max.

"Got to go," Max said. "Love you. Bye."

"Love you too," Carrie said.

Max ended the call.

"She left me with more questions than answers," Carrie said. "She gave us a job though too. Won't let her down."

Meanwhile ~

Matt sat at the island, and Alfred got him a soda in a glass bottle, popped it open with his bare hands, and handed ice cold to Matt. Then, Alfred picked up his cane and stood leaning on it.

"Bruce is like your son," Matt said. "He is your son. So, I'm not asking you to betray his trust. Like always, I just want to make sure I don't have to attend another funeral and hold my mom's hand."

"Master Matthew," Alfred said. "You've always felt that it was you and your mother, and Terry felt distant. He's experienced now, but he's also not alone. He is working a case, and Bruce is working the same case."

"What kind of case?" Matt asked, hoping for a few more details after he took a drink.

"A case…" Alfred paused for a moment. He looked off into the distance. He gathered his thoughts. "A case concerning Bruce's past. A case that might change Gotham's future."

"Alfred," Matt said after another drink. He saw Carrie stand in the door way. "I'll never understand how you can sound cryptic but make sense at the same time. It's pretty schway." He got up to leave Alfred. "As always I'll honor my words."

Alfred nodded to him.

Carrie was going to say something, but Matt shook his head. He grabbed her and dragged her along.

They both knew where they were headed to talk: the Bat Cave.

~~~

Terry and Dana sat together on the roof of her building. They watched as the sun began to set. That's when Terry got up to get ready to go.

"Headed to work," Dana said. It wasn't a question. "Be careful." She had short hair, neck-length, but she still kept her long, hanging left bang.

Terry was about to open the roof door, but he had one of those moments. Where he thought Dana already knew the truth.

"I love you," Terry said: to her back.

"You better," Dana said. She looked over her shoulder and gave him a short smile, wielding her dark lipstick with love: like a weapon.

Terry left her and was on his bike in no time. The darkness of the night had engulfed the city. The moon cast dim light below.

Bruce had their untraceable e-mail account begin forwarding messages directly to him: specifically his motorcycle and suit helmets. He hadn't received much. Terry had checked out the previous locations RJ had sent him. RJ had been right. No trace of this vigilante other than the victims of his brutal attacks.

RJ finally sent him a new message. Terry spoke the command, 'Receive e-mail', and RJ's voice read it to him.

"Batman," RJ spoke, "we've got a situation you need to see before word gets out. Another new player in Gotham has arrived, and he doesn't play on the vigilante team. I think this new player is what you and your people would call a supervillain. I'm sending you the coordinates. Come straight away."

"Guess there's a reason your mom let your dad talk her into letting you become the city's youngest commissioner," Terry said. "You know when to put the needs of the people before some of the egos in the police department."

Terry rode into a dark alley. He climbed off his bike, and he sent it back to the Bat Cave. He pressed a button on the motorcycle helmet, and moments later he had on his Batman suit. He became invisible before he boosted off onto the nearby building's roof, then headed toward city hall. The coordinates RJ sent him were that off the mayor's office.

When Batman arrived to the mayor's off, he saw Commissioner Gordon staring at the wall: in the room alone. It was less a wall and more a bookcase full of books.

Batman entered the office, through the window, and the Commissioner didn't flinch. Batman saw what made the Commissioner message him. The mayor's dead body for one thing. Batman became visible beside Commissioner Gordon. The second he saw in white paint the writing on the wall: Omen. Black raven feathers littered the floor.

"We were left a calling card," Batman said.

"We were left more than that," Commissioner Gordon said. He turned and handed Batman a folder in black paint written across it: Nevermore. White raven feather stapled to the folder. "Turns out our mayor was too good to be true."

Batman opened the folder and looked through several pictures of men and women drugged and raped by the mayor. The folder was thick. Batman closed it. He'd seen more than enough.

"You believe what's in this folder," Batman asked.

"No," Commissioner Gordon said. "I believe what my gut was telling me when he started running for office. He raped and blackmailed his way to the top and to stay there."

"How'd the mayor die?" Batman asked.

"Asphyxiation," Commissioner Gordon said. "That would be my guess, but I'm no medical examiner."

"Might as well be," Batman said. "You've worn a few hats in the past few years."

"Except part of the reason I wanted you here," Commissioner Gordon took the folder back as if he knew Batman had already logged the wall, folder, feathers, and photos. "Besides this." He gestured to the bookcase, floor, body, and folder. "Is that there's no sign of forced entry. Surveillance shows he started choking on nothing and dropped dead. Then, surveillance was somehow ripped out of the room. When we arrived, the room was decorated."

"You're going to have a late night," Batman said. "Send me the footage. You handle the PR. I'll find out who Gotham is dealing with now. Hope the press doesn't eat you alive. You deserve a long-lasting career." Batman went invisible and went to the window to leave.

"I read through my grandfather's old case files," Commissioner Gordon said. "Found a name I think fits your new friend. Hope The Phantasm doesn't give us Omen first. Hate for you to be replaced."

Terry and RJ laughed briefly to themselves.

Commissioner Gordon left the crime scene through the door, and Batman left the crime scene through the window.