Episode 8: There's Smoke and There's Fire
"I can't tell you how I'm Phantasm," Carlito said, "but I will tell you why."
"I'm listening," Bruce said.
"Omen plans to help Gotham grow from the hellish cesspool of crime and suffering its always been," Carlito said. "I didnt disagree with that, but I don't condone murder."
"You know who Omen is," Bruce said.
"Yes and no," Carlito said. "He is a member of this tribe, but even if I did know who that was I wouldn't tell you. I wouldn't bring an outsider into their business. I had a plan. My plan was to find him and deliver him to the Elder. He's hard to pin down."
"Does anyone know your Phantasm?" Bruce asked.
"My partner," Carlito said. "Aponi probably knows too. That's it. Now you."
"I suspected they know," Bruce said. "You're a metahuman, and those siblings are as well."
"I am a metahuman," Carlito said. "This is about me. Let's keep it about me."
"I know they are," Bruce said. "Understood."
"Just like I know you're my father," Carlito said. "Did you come all this way because you planned to apprehend me?"
"I did," Bruce said. "If I thought you meant ill will toward Gotham or her citizens, I planned to have you imprisoned. I admit I wanted to meet you for myself."
"I don't have any ill will toward anyone," Carlito said. "Not even toward you. My mom lost both her parents. The loss of her dad really affected her. Knowing how much she respected you, I was just glad I had a dad, especially one who dedicated his life to putting good out in the world."
"I got that impression the minute you hugged me," Bruce said.
"I wanted to act," Carlito said. "I admit I was inspired by Batman: heroes like him, and empowered heroes like Superman. I have powers. I wanted to use them for good. The injustice done here affected me. No one knew about it. By the time people did, it was too late. The Elder, the tribe, they tried to go through the proper channels, trust the system, protest peacefully… All they got in return was sickness, grief, and death."
"The reason you assaulted the tribesmen so badly was because of your anger toward the fact they were assisting Omen instead of trying to stop him," Bruce said.
Carlito only nodded.
They shared a short silence.
"I met the second Batman," Carlito said. "I think he's the original's son. Unless you stop me, I'm going to work with him to apprehend Omen."
"I won't stop you," Bruce said. "I'll do what I can on my end. You work with Batman. However, you need to speak with your mother, and you need to keep in contact with me. Give me your phone."
Carlito handed over his phone after he unlocked it. Bruce gave him his personal cell number: the one exclusive to close friends and family.
"You've done well for yourself," Bruce said, handing him back his phone. "I read up on you before I arrived. You've done good work, and Takoda seems a good man, a good partner." He paused. Carlito saw that Bruce wanted to say more so he remained silent. "Doesn't seem like you needed a father."
"My mother is great," Carlito said. "She was great. However, probably, because of her, I know fathers are important too. I needed a father. I still do."
Their eyes met. Carlito put back on his glasses. Bruce nodded.
~~~
Robin and Batgirl took to the tunnels of Gotham City. There in those tunnels they planned to question DAK: Darius Arthur Kelman. Dak was an ally of Batman's, but he wasn't much of a people person.
Dak was in high school: older than both Matt and Carrie but not by much. He went to a more public school. Batman and Terry kept an eye on him. Dak knew the underground of Gotham pretty well: the physical and metaphorical aspect of it. Batman would go to him for information while Terry got his high school to start a big brothers big sisters type program so he could keep being there for him if he ever needed anybody. Because of both relationships, Dak became a strong, silent type wrestler, who wasn't the most academically smart but very street smart. He was a big and tall guy, muscular and solid, with short black hair that reached just to his ears. He did what he wanted when he wanted, but unlike the villains he admired as a kid he realized he could do that without going to prison or ending up dead: not unlike Batman. Terry found this amusing.
"Andrea Beaumont," Batgirl said. "I can't believe we found her."
"We make a good team," Robin said.
"She's a pretty private person," Batgirl said. "She's almost as off the grid as Dak is. I did find out though just barely that she has a son."
"She can't be Phantasm," Robin said. "I mean, she could, but I think it's more likely it's the son."
"I agree," Batgirl said. "She stayed away from Gotham a long time, so her reappearing out of the blue to re-don that suit… It doesn't make sense. I can't see a motive, but I can't say I see one for the son either."
"Hopefully," Robin said, "Dak can clear that up. Any idea what part of these tunnels he'd be held up in?"
"Not a clue," Batgirl said.
They both sighed. Seemed it would be a long night for them.
"Robin," Dak's voice came from behind them. "Batgirl." They turned around simultaneously. "What are you two doing down here? Where's Batman?"
"He's preoccupied," Batgirl said.
Dak turned around and proceeded to walk off.
"He needs your help though," Robin said. "We do."
Dak stopped. He faced them.
"Look," Batgirl said. "We get it. You don't really fool with anybody. You mostly associate with Batman half reluctantly. If you know something that's going down in this city, we need to know it."
"You care about this city," Robin said. "If you didn't, you wouldn't help Batman at all."
Dak eyed them.
Batgirl Suit:
Black exoskeleton suit
White Eyes
Gray aviator-like helmet with Black googles (suit's bat 'ears' pass through the helmet)
The googles provide enhanced visual assistance - conveyed in green, night vision, can also serve as digital binoculars and an infrared filter. Visual from the googles can be fed back to the main computer in the Batcave; it can also receive visual from the main computer, allowing for superior tactical planning.
Green Bat Symbol on the chest
Green retractable wings spread between the inner arms and sides of the body. Also, the utility belt incorporated into the suit.
Gray/Green tactical combat gloves
Gray/Green tactical combat boots
Robin Suit:
Domino mask
Black exoskeleton suit: up to neck
Yellow bird Robin Symbol on the chest
Red/Yellow/White Backwards baseball cap with Black goggles
The googles provide enhanced visual assistance - conveyed in yellow, night vision, can also serve as digital binoculars and an infrared filter. Visual from the googles can be fed back to the main computer in the Batcave; it can also receive visual from the main computer, allowing for superior tactical planning.
Red/Yellow Letterman jacket with black buttons: white 'R' Robin symbol on black background on the left side on the chest of the jacket
Hoverboard - Yellow Glow
Utility belt incorporated into the suit with yellow bird Robin Symbol at the center
Black/White tactical combat gloves
Black/White tactical combat boots - connect and link to hoverboard
"Follow me," Dak said, walking past them - in between them. "Stay quiet." He instructed.
Robin and Batgirl glanced at each other, before they let him lead the way.
"You know what I was thinking," Batgirl said: under her breath to Robin.
"That he reminds you of someone," Robin said.
"Everybody else has a protege," Batgirl said.
"We'd have to introduce them," Robin said.
"We should," Batgirl said. "We will."
"What are you two whispering about back there?" Dak asked without turning around.
"Your role in Gotham," Batgirl said. "A wildcard."
Dak didn't respond.
"I think he might be someone who could really get through to him," Robin said under his breath to Batgirl. "I think a Red Hood II would be nothing short of schway."
"Quiet down," Dak said in a harsh whisper back to them, even though he couldn't hear them talking, before he climbed up a short ladder.
Batgirl and Robin followed him and followed his lead as he crawled across the tunnel.
They had reached one of the openings of the Gotham City tunnel system connected to a dock that was on the ocean.
"Something is going on in Gotham," Dak said in a low tone. "Usually, Batman drops by, but I haven't seen him in a few days. Guess he was right. I should've taken that holophone he wanted to give me."
"Someone offers you a free holophone," Batgirl said. "How do you not take it? From Batman of all people."
"Not one of my brightest moments," Dak said. "I don't know if it's connected, but I figured this was something to keep track of with the murders that keep happening."
"It's connected all right," Batgirl said. "It's a good thing we decided to come see you. We figured you'd be a big help. You always are."
Batgirl saw Dak turn a bit away from her. She saw the brief smile he tried to hide.
While the two of them went back and forth, Robin watched as members of the Jokerz gang and employees of Powers Technology worked together. The gang members were there it seemed basically for additional security while the employees, wearing protective gear, carried boxes and containers that were labeled radioactive materials and radioactive waste: extremely hazardous and toxic.
"Looks like Omen isn't the only one making moves," Robin said to the others. He drew their attention. "Let's get out of here. We can't get directly involved right now."
Robin left back down the ladder. Batgirl and Dak shared a look. Dak had an expression of annoyance on his face, but Batgirl gave him an expression of reassurance that told Dak: 'this course of action is for the best'.
When they were away from the dock, Robin let Dak take them back up into the city. He and Batgirl could've done it themselves with their technology, but they wanted to spend a bit more time with Dak. They also had a proposition for him.
"We've got to let Batman know that for some reason Powers Technology, probably Blight himself, is moving shipments of radioactive materials and waste from the city for some reason," Robin said.
"I don't think Omen is working with Blight," Batgirl said. "I'd bet a dollar that Omen wants to kill Derek Powers at some point."
"Omen might be taking out anything and anyone involved with him," Robin said.
"We'll have to look into it more," Batgirl said. "Batman will have to interrogate Derek himself."
Dak listened to them. He walked away, heading back into his tunnels.
"Where are you going?" Batgirl said.
"I'm going to go monitor them some more," Dak said. He wasn't sure why he answered her.
"No you're not," Batgirl said.
"Do you know who Red Hood is?" Robin asked.
"Who doesn't," Dak said.
"What do you think about meeting him?"
Batgirl and Robin stood beside each other. They liked this idea. Dak could see they had plans for him.
"You're up to something," Dak said. "To tell you the truth, I'm interested in finding out what that is."
