Episode 5. Natural and Supernatural
Carrie and Matt had gone to see Barbara. They were almost to her house.
"I know who we should see after we see Barbara," Matt said.
"Who?" Carrie asked.
"Dak," Matt said.
"Good call," Carrie said. "He won't talk to us though, but he would talk to Batman's colleagues."
"I guess we will suit up then," Matt said, "but just to get information."
"Of course of course," Carrie said, waving him off.
Matt gave her a look. Somehow, he believed that going to see Dak was going to end up with them in some trouble.
Carrie went to knock on the door, and Barbara opened it.
"You knew we were coming?" Matt asked.
"I saw you coming," Barbara said. "They use to call me Oracle, remember? I saw you coming a block away."
"Then you know why we came," Matt said.
"Not exactly," Barbara said, "but I'm sure I have a good idea. Come on in. We shouldn't discuss such things as this on the front porch." She ushered them in and closed the door behind them.
Carrie and Matt sat on either side of the couch while Barbara took an easy chair. A drink of fresh lemonade emerged from the end tables on either side, and a platter of fresh fruit rose from the coffee table. Matt dug in.
"Thanks," Matt said with grapes in his mouth.
"Thanks," Carrie said, taking a drink of her lemonade.
"Batman's working on the case that involves a mysterious figure called Phantasm, a dangerous threat called Omen, and the murders of the mayor and now judge: Klaus McKiernan."
"Is that all connected?" Carrie asked.
"Batman wanted us to find out if you knew anything more about Phantasm," Matt said. "RJ mentioned his grandfather's journals. Batman thought you might be more informed."
"If you two want to be better prepared in this city," Barbara said, "you've got to watch more of the news, especially when Terry acts a bit more like Bruce: keeping information to himself, acting secretive, trying to protect those he loves."
"Whoever this Omen criminal is," Carrie said, "it seems as though he only targets powerful people. Either that or the mayor and the judge had something in common, a connection."
"That's possible," Matt said. "One could probably call Gotham the city of secrets. What you see in this place, in someone, is never quite what you're gonna get." He popped a grape in his mouth. "I get why Terry doesn't want us more involved. Let's stick to why we came here. Do you know anything about Phantasm?"
"RJ came and talked to me about Phantasm," Barbara said. "I didn't know much more than him. I've read my dad's journals as much as he did. However, there's something I can tell you that I couldn't tell him. At one point, people thought Batman was killing criminals: mafia types. It was in all the papers, but it was never proven. Dad didn't believe it. After a while, that blew over. Must've been around the time Phantasm occupied the city. Joker supposedly died then too. My theory is that the original Phantasm killed those mafia types and maybe even Joker too. Batman, Bruce, knew the original Phantasm, but whoever it was either died along with the Joker or left Gotham. According to what RJ and I discussed, this Phantasm, which we believe to be a second one, doesn't kill. This Phantasm might've come into town to stop Omen, prevent Omen from killing, but unfortunately didn't succeed."
"That makes sense," Matt said.
"It does?" Carrie questioned him after she turned toward him on the couch from Barbara.
"Bruce knew the original," Matt said. "He left town because the original isn't dead. He went to find out if there's a connection between the two. They must've been close. That's why the original was never brought it. I think the original was a woman."
"What makes you say that?" Carrie asked, believing the theory that Matt spoke of as if it was true.
"I think about Talia and Selina," Matt said. "Bruce has a weakness for women." He laughed. "Don't ever let him know I said that." He caused Barbara and Carrie to quietly laugh. "He's human, whether he wants to believe that or not. Whoever Phantasm was, she predated the both of them. She might've even got to him before he became the Batman, the Bruce, we all know and love."
"I think you're right Matt," Barbara said. "If you are, it could be Bruce thinks this second Phatasm isn't only connected to the original but related to her: a daughter or a son."
"This is getting good," Carrie said. "And I think you two just gave me an idea on how we can find out who the original Phatasm was." She didn't let them ask how. "We can dig into old newspapers or news reels and find out who Bruce had a long term relationship with in the past."
"You don't think that's too broad a search," Barbara said. "He plays up the playboy persona in public, or he did back then."
"No," Carrie said. "Because of what Matt said, I think we're looking for someone he dated a long time and maybe even people thought they might get married. Also, if it or she ties into related crimes, the mafia, and maybe even the Joker, around the same time, I think it would all line up."
"Once we have a name," Matt said, "I can pass it by Alfred. I'll be able to tell if we're right by Alfred's response: whether verbal or nonverbal. Schway!"
Carrie and Matt gave each other double high-fives.
"We're good," Carrie said. "Thanks so much Barbara." She said this standing up. She took another drink of her lemonade. "We got to get to work. We're running out of weekend."
"Thanks," Matt said, choking down more snacks and standing to wash it down with his lemonade. "We'll stay out of trouble and update you when we know the truth."
"Thank you," Barbara said, standing herself. "Be careful you two." They were about to leave, but they stopped hearing Barbara talking seriously to them. "You do make a good team. Watch out for each other. The streets in Gotham were already dangerous, and it seems like they're getting even more so. Don't take unnecessary risks, and if you do come across something you can't handle…Terry, Dick, myself… Don't hesitate to call on us."
"Yes ma'am," Carrie and Matt said simultaneously.
"Don't call me ma'am," Barbara said. She chuckled. She watched them leave.
"Tell Dick we said hi," Matt said. He closed the door behind them but not before they waved goodbye.
~~~
Batman stood on top of a building near the Gotham Police Department. He and RJ were scheduled to interrogate Ujaraq soon, but first Batman had a meeting with Voltage: Volt to his friends. Ovid Hawkins was the son of Virgil Hawkins and Shenice Vale. He was a metahuman. He had enhanced strength, stamina, agility, reflexes, and endurance, but on top of that he had similar abilities to his dad. He also had a few of his own like his ability to ride lightning: appearing out of nowhere in a lightning strike. Like he did now.
"Batman," Volt said. "You rang, so I had to come calling."
"I'm glad you could fit me into your busy schedule," Batman said.
"This can't take too long," Volt said. "I've got a date tonight."
"You tell her you're the superhero Voltage," Batman said.
"Don't even joke," Volt said. He sighed.
"I heard that Max is pretty sharp," Batman said. "Better hope she doesn't figure you out."
"I'd be more worried about her figuring you out," Volt said. "She's a fan."
Volt wore a black bandana with eyeholes as his mask over his brown eyes and black dreads, which he wore in a ponytail with a white hair tie. Over his mask, he wore a white baseball cap, black visor outlined in yellow, black button on top, and violet voltage symbol on the front. His ponytail he had pulled through the closure. After he arrived, he had taken off his black shades with violet lenses and tucked them away. They were to protect his eyes when he traveled by lightning strike. Black hooded white leather jacket outlined in violet he wore bore a violet voltage symbol on the back of it outlined in yellow. His sleeveless black suit contained a violet voltage symbol on the chest. Fingerless tactical black gloves and black leather boots with violet trim and yellow buckles rounded out his look.
"I brought along a friend," Volt said. He turned to his left as someone else appeared. "He wanted to talk to you too. It's news about Gotham."
Batman knew who this was too: Zachariah Constantine. Everybody called him Z.C. He was the son of Zatanna Zatara and John Constantine. He had Telekinesis, Teleportation, and Telepathy under his belt. Magic was a friend of his too. And even crazier than that, when he was in dire straits, it was said he could summon an Angel or Demon to fight on his behalf. Nobody was quite sure. It had only happened once. Neither him or his parents wanted to find out what it would look like to have it happen again.
Z.C. teleported beside Volt.
"If my parents find out I came through here," Z.C. said, "they're going to be pissed."
Z.C. wasn't a stage magician. He didn't follow in the footsteps of his grandad, uncle, or mom. He preferred acting as a street magician. He performed his magic for free: to make men and woman smile, children laugh, people everyone feel warmth and joy. He enjoyed that, but he'd never tell you that's why he did it. He just said he didn't want to be like his family in that regard. He just wanted to have fun. Besides, he had other ways to make money.
"I don't mind pissing them off," Z.C. said. "I just usually like to have a good reason. I guess the reason I have is good enough."
Sometimes, Z.C. thought out loud. This usually made people around him chuckle. They found it endearing.
"I had to kind of drag him here," Volt said.
"You better be glad you're hot," Z.C. said. "He didn't drag me here. He sweet talked. Anyway, good to see you in person Batman. I've heard good things."
Z.C. was a platinum blond, which he got because of his dad, but everyone said he got his steel-blue eyes from his mom. His hair was unkempt, and his eyes were fierce and uncanny. He wore a black-collared shirt with a red tie. His dad had to talk him out of wearing bow ties. He did this by giving him one of his old ties, which Z.C. always wore: same with his white jeans, which he managed to always keep clean, even though he was usually quick to fight. Most said it was because of a spell. He would never confirm or deny it. He wore his favorite pair of brown leather boots, and he never went anywhere without wearing his gray trench coat.
"You both came," Batman said. "You both wanted to come and see me in person. I know what that means. Gotham has a metahuman problem and a magic problem."
"What do you know," Z.C. said. "He is whip smart." He patted Volt on the arm. "Guess that's why they call him the world's greatest detective." He then gave his attention to Batman. "Less a magic problem. More a spirit problem. Spirits are gathering here, and they're getting mighty restless. Somebody's riling them up."
"I say with the amount of metahuman activity I've been getting here it's a metahuman that's doing it," Volt said. "He came to make an introduction with Secret: also know as Ms. Greta Hayes."
"She's been retired for a long time," Z.C. said, "but her and my mom have always been good friends. She's my godmother. Bless her. We can go see her and get a lowdown on Gotham's situation."
"Give me an hour then," Batman said: his mind taking on the criminal, metahuman, and metaphysical aspects of this case. "I might be able to get the identity of one of the meta humans, which should be able to lead us to the criminal who thinks Gotham needs to have a party with those in the afterlife."
"Long as Spawn doesn't show up we should be good," Volt said. "Let's go Z.C. We'll head back to my place, and I'll treat you to a beer."
"Stop flirting with me," Z.C said. "You're taken."
Volt disappeared after a quick laugh, and Z.C. teleported after him.
Batman put on his cloaking device and headed to meet with RJ and Ujaraq. He planned on getting some kind of answers tonight: one way or another.
