Episode 2. Darkness and Fog

Carrie and Matt walked toward the main computer setup and monitor station.

"Max wants me to stay out of it," Carrie said. "That's what I'm going to do. She'll keep us posted."

"I can't don my suit either," Matt said. "I made a deal with Alfred."

"Why are we down here then?" Carrie asked.

"Just because we can't suit up doesn't mean we roll over and play dead" Matt said. "Isn't that right Ace?"

The Great Dane came and sat beside Matt. He seemed to nod in agreement before he laid down.

"We're going to monitor Terry," Carrie said.

"We'll be Bruce while Bruce is gone," Matt said.

"There's no way we'd be able to get into Bruce's profile," Carrie said.

"Not without Tim or Barbara," Matt said.

"Thankfully we've each got our own profiles," Carrie said. "I'll pull up mine, and we'll check the mailbox. That might give us an idea what Batman's working on."

"Schway," Matt said. "While you do that, I'll pull up the suit's current and previous logs."

They both fell silent as they worked. They weren't as experienced as Terry, but they had done this a while.

Matt watched the log from the day before, they were archived after 24 hours, and he watched the one for that day. At the same time, he watched as crimes popped up all over the city and the computer prioritized and allocated them to trusted cops on the force, the Commissioner, and to Batman.

Matt's eye caught a strange situation: like the computer couldn't decide whether or not a crime was being committed.

Carrie read through e-mails: the ones left before archival. Some were emails from others that she knew: Tim, Barbara, Damian, and Dick. Some were from others she didn't know: Black Bat, Spoiler, The Signal, and Red Hood. She focused on the more recent e-mails from the Commissioner.

"The Commissioner has Batman looking into someone," Carrie explained out loud while she read. "He joked that Batman must be finally getting old: it's taking him longer than usual to find their perp."

Carrie was sure that would've gotten a laugh out of Matt. When it didn't, she turned toward him.

"I'm listening," Matt said. He pulled up a visual of the incident in progress that had drawn his attention.

Carrie smiled to herself. It was times like these she saw that Matt and Terry were related. Out of the blue, they could get laser focused until they figured something out or solved a problem.

"The perp I think this is who they're looking for," Matt said, looking over at Carrie quickly.

They both looked at the visual. All they saw was a 30-year-old Native named Ujaraq Puc, information courtesy of the computer, who was known for his enforcer abilities, becoming engulfed in fog.

"Him?" Carrie questioned.

"No," Matt said. "I think he's about to get some unwanted company."

"Yeah," Carrie said. "That fog does seem like an indication of something sinister happening real soon."

"Terry," Matt called out to him. "Batman."

"Matt," Terry said. "Shouldn't you be somewhere doing some homework?"

"Later," Matt said. "Bro, I'm sending you the coordinates of a situation."

"He thinks its the perp Commissioner Gordon sent you after," Carrie said. "I agree with him."

"This probably doesn't mean much coming from me," Terry said, "but if you get bad grades this extracurricular activity comes to an end for you two."

"We've always gotten better grades than he did when he started this," Matt said. "So that won't happen."

"I heard that," Terry said.

"I wanted you to," Matt said.

Carrie couldn't help chuckle.

"I'm looking into this," Terry said. "Thanks. As usual, appreciate you guys' meddling, I mean help." He got a laugh out of both of them.

"Anytime bro," Matt said more seriously, which he didn't let Terry hear.

This brought a soft, warm smile from Carrie.

~~~

Batman headed to the coordinates of which Matt and Carrie had sent and informed him. He figured Bruce, before he left, had set the computer to scan for anything that might seem out of the ordinary: outside of just crimes, calls for help, or police reports.

The fact Commissioner Gordon had already been aware of the new vigilante and there had already been a few attacks meant these alleged crimes weren't supposed to be attacks: they just ended up that way. How? That was the question on Terry's mind, along with who this person was and why he or she decided to show up in Gotham.

The location he received was near Gotham State University: more specifically the Gotham City Reservoir. Thankfully, Batman was near one of Lucius Fox's mech-glider fast travel stations. It transported him right over the reservoir in a matter of seconds. He dropped into the darkness and landed silently thanks to his retractable wings.

Batman left the darkness and entered the fog before him, using enhanced visual assistance from his visor. He immediately saw Ujaraq because of infrared, but even though he heard the punches connecting to Ujaraq's face it took a few moments before he could see the outline of the figure launching those punches. Urajaq's face was a bloody mess: eyes swollen shut and teeth painted red.

"Now I don't mind the help with cleaning up the streets of Gotham," Batman said, "but I prefer something of an introduction before someone makes a move in my city." Before Batman could command the vigilante to halt the assault, Phantasm bent down, carefully placed Ujaraq on the ground, and checked to make sure he was still breathing, then stood and turned toward Batman.

The fog began to dissipate, which Batman figured was an action on Phantasm's part, and Phantasm left the fog and entered the darkness.

The moon casted its light on the two whom now stood just across from each other.

Batman took in the hooded figure, wearing a metal, skull-like mask, and wielding a large, scythe-like blade on its right hand. Although it was brandished, not one bit of it was stained with blood.

"Sorry," Phantasm spoke. He apologized. Similar to Batman, the voice was altered. "I figured you'd track me down at some point and time."

A few seconds passed that felt like minutes.

"You should explain yourself: your actions since you've been in Gotham," Batman said. "I've got all night to listen to what you have to say. You try to run-the next face you'll see will be Commissioner Gordon's."

"I didn't plan on running," Phantasm said. "I'm on a mission. I planned to handle it on my own. It's an honor to meet you."

Batman hadn't expected to hear those words.

"Maybe…" Phantasm said slowly. "Instead of stopping me, maybe you wouldn't mind lending me your help."

~~~

Bruce, while Selina rode beside him, drove a horse drawn carriage near the sea.

Selina was looking out over the water, letting the breeze blow through her hair, and taking in the scent of the beach close by.

Bruce sat beside her looking out at the small cottage next to the lighthouse where his watch told him Andrea had settled. A moment later, he saw the holographic face of Virgil. He pressed the piece at his ear to answer the call.

"What do you want Virgil?" Bruce asked.

Selina smiled.

"Hello to you too," Virgil said. "I bet Mr. Kent doesn't get this kind of greeting."

"I'm taking care of some personal business with my wife," Bruce said: after a few moments of silence.

"I can't believe you're still kicking Mr. Wayne," Virgil said.

"You can call him Bruce," Selina said after she laughed.

"Can't," Virgil said. "Old habits. Besides, my parents wouldn't stand for it, especially my mom: may she forever rest in peace."

"Men and their mothers," Selina said, nodding. "Well, we really don't have a lot of time for chit chat. We're almost to our destination."

"It's late where you are, so I know you wouldn't be calling if it wasn't important," Bruce said. "It's the only reason I picked up the phone."

This put another smile on Selina's face.

"I agree with Mr. Kent," Virgil said after a brief laugh. "You're going to outlive us all." He said it: with admiration and respect. "This call is about the meta human activity that I track. There's been a rise in your area, in Gotham. I was suddenly alerted to a major spike. I was calling to see if the Signal had returned there or if this was something or rather someone else."

"Nothing to worry about," Bruce said: faster than Virgil thought he would. However, Virgil wasn't surprised.

"You don't think Terry will need some back up?" Virgil asked.

"If I didn't think Terry could handle himself," Bruce said, "I wouldn't be out of Gotham right now."

"You can call us if things get out of hand," Selina said, "but they won't."

"You heard my wife," Bruce said.

"You're right," Virgil said. "He wouldn't be Batman if you thought any different."

"Thanks for the call Virgil," Bruce said.

"Ms. Kyle, Mr. Wayne," Virgil said, then ended the call.

Shortly after the call ended, Bruce and Selina pulled up to the cottage. Bruce assisted Selina out of the carriage before he hitched the horse to the nearby hitching post.

Selina waited on him. They walked to the door together. Bruce knocked.

She had seen them coming down the road. She leaned back against the door. When Bruce knocked, she took a deep breath, exhaled, then proceeded to turn around and open the door. Andrea, after many years, was face to face with Bruce again.

"I knew about the tracker," Andrea said. She said to him. "I wasn't going to make it easy for you." She turned to Selina. "Good to see you Selina. You look well."

"So do you," Selina said. "I was looking forward to seeing you again. Glad I get the chance."

"Come in," Andrea told her.

Selina slinked in with a smile on her face, then stood behind Andrea, met Bruce's eyes, and nodded at her.

"Get the truth," Selina mouthed to him.

Bruce took in Andrea. Years had passed, but she didn't look much different. Her beauty had matured. Her long bob of red hair was now short. She still had those blue eyes.

"You passed on the mantle of the Phantasm," Bruce said. "To who?"

"The Phantasm is back?" Andrea asked: genuinely surprised. "I didn't. I thought you came to meet with me for a different reason. Bruce, the Phantasm is gone. Ever since that last mission with Waller, the Phantasm hasn't seen the light of day."

"A serious discussion needs to be had then, so we can uncover who's wearing the costume now," Bruce said. "Can I come in?"

Andrea nodded.

"Because The Phantasm is back in Gotham," Bruce said.

They both stood in the doorway a moment.

"Wait," Bruce said.

Selina raised an eyebrow. She crossed her arms. Curiosity had her in a grip.

"Andi," Bruce said. "What was the reason you thought I was coming to meet with you?"

~~~

"You're not the Batman I grew up with," Phantasm said. "However, I've seen you become a worthy successor."

"Get to the point," Batman said.

"I'm trying to gain your trust," Phantasm said. "I'm not the first Phantasm. I'm also a successor. I donned this suit like you donned yours to do some good. People are going to start dying soon: important people."

"Too late," Batman said. "Maybe you should've contacted me sooner: first. Do you know who's behind the mayor's murder?"

Phantasm held up a fist, clearly upset about this turn of events. Darkness had set upon them again. The fog rolled in.

"Sorry," Phatasm said, turning from Batman. "Another mistake. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe when this suit is donned the Angel of Death indeed awaits."

Phantasm vanished before Batman's eyes.