Batman saved five more buses before the convoy reached the Black Gate prison. Evan's people already freed the majority of prisoners and supplied them with weapons so the Black Gate now was under prisoners watch. What those people could do to arrested policemen was beyond imagination but even Batman couldn't breach the prison to save those people.
He sent all buses to the school on 56th street as a new headquarters and followed Gordon's path towards hospitals.
The school on 56th street wasn't just an abandoned building. Batman foresaw police force need in a new headquarters and equipped this place with the most progressive systems and machines. There were guns as well because he couldn't expect police fighting Evan's people only with fists. There was food supply, beds and showers almost everything to keep people safe and supportive of the right cause.
Gordon meanwhile checked the biggest hospital of Gotham City and was assured in stuff's believes about helping the city and not destroying it. He talked to the main doctor and did a brief meeting with all medical stuff encouraging them to keep helping people and do not leave the site of the hospital. It was the only secure place for them at this moment even though their families were waiting for them. He promised to send fifty police officers to protect and hold the hospital.
When Gordon was on his way out he learned some unfortunate news that the St.Mary's Hospital on the south of the city flipped on Evan's side. Doctors and medical personnel were forced to stay in the hospital and work those who refused got killed. Gordon called Batman but he already knew it and promised to do his best to free the St.Mary's hospital. Gordon promised fifty more people to come to Batman's support.
James Gordon almost left the hospital when one of the doctors came up to him.
-Captain Gordon? - she asked. She wasn't young but still had that bright skin and warm eyes as many of young people have. - I'm Doctor Stefany May I need to tell you something.
-Sure. Mrs. May what is it?
-I'm neurophysiologist and my job is to assess how people nervous system works and help patients with physical and sometimes mental traumas. I want to ask you to stop watching TV and make your people do not watch it ether. My theory is that the gas, which was polluting our air for months before you discovered those fountains, affects peoples nervous systems and actually makes them believe in what they see on TV or any other news sources.
-Batman did.. he discovered those chemicals.
-Yes. But what meters is that those chemicals reacted with humans's nero systems and now they are more susceptible to anything they hear or see. And most of them watching news and read articles on the Internet and this psychopath controls the media in the Gotham city. There is no news from the federal land or nation wide news in Gotham only what he wants people to read and watch.
-That's why many of regular people who are not orphans and who would never support killings of innocent people now turning against the system we have.
-I also think it doesn't affect everyone but this gas definitely affected the majority of the citizens. That's why in our hospital we took away all possible resources of information.
-Is it reversible? Can they wake up one day and realize they didn't want to do all those things they did? - Gordon was grateful to this woman who came up with this great theory which may help to defeat Evan's plans.
-I noticed some early patients who had those supporting ideas changed their mind after we stopped all news broadcasting in our hospital. But I suspect if a person is already too deep into it or already helping the "new government" in some way, it will be hard for him or us as doctors to change his mind.
-I appreciate your help and most definitely let everyone I know stop interacting with local news. Is there anything else you would like to address?
-No. I just want to say thank you for your breviary Captain Gordon.
When she left and Gordon made sure she got safely to the hospital's doors, he called his people.
Batman was on the opposite side from St. Mary's hospital. He counted people with guns, there wasn't many of them and it meant that medical personnel willingly took the side of the enemy. While planing the rescue operation, Batman received a call from Gordon. He presented all the information the doctor told him and Batman got a small idea of how they could help people of Gotham.
After short conversation with Gordon and knowing that the support of fifty policemen was on the way, Batman contacted his home estate.
-Sir, how may I be in service.
-Anything on that app, Alfred?
-No, Sir. Your program is still trying to break in.
-Do we have any opportunity to go unnoticed on the local news?
-You mean… you want to participate in the night show incognito, Sir?
-No, Alfred. Not exactly.
-Oh, I see what do you mean. We can break tv signal, yes, but I am not sure about internet connection.
-I don't want to break it, Alfred. I want to use it in our advantage. Can we break a broadcast for split second every five minutes for example?
-Sir. I will have to address your question to Lucius Fox. Do I have your permission.
-Yes. You do it. He needs to get to estate as soon as possible. I am not sure he is safe in the city on his own.
-Will do, Sir. Anything else?
-No. But let me know when the app cracks.
Conversation was over and it was time for Batman to get those people with guns to justice.
The black shadow flew down from the roof and landed right in front of a main hospital entrance. People screamed and shots got fired but no one could see the darkness upon them. When the small police force got to St.Mary's hospital they found fifteen guys handcuffed to each other trying to break free. Batman was inside the building but situation was far from the end.
Doctors and medical personnel refused to leave Evan's side and threatened to kill every patient they could reach.
-What's going on? Batman! - Gordon arrived at the St. Mary's right after the main police force.
Batman was waiting for him on the side of the building.
-Hostile situation. Medical stuff threatens to kill the patients if we won't leave them alone. They are demanding to talk to you.
-How! What!? They are medics! I'm going in. Do not interfere unless you feel it's going way wrong! - Gordon went inside the hospital.
He was there for a very long time. Batman saw him in the lobby surrounded by doctors and nurses, from time to time he waived hands trying to explain something to them and sometimes everything was quiet. Those times Batman was worried that somebody could attack Gordon and if it happened Batman had no chance to save James.
It was morning sunrise on the East already when the sky got a little bit red and purple on the edge of the city. Batman remembered the Zone and White Shadow and hoped for the best for her. He was checking her suit location it didn't leave her house for the last twenty four hours. He found himself wondering if she was safe and probably, he could check on her this upcoming night if there was time for it.
Gordon send a text message to Batman when the top of the sun was seen clearly out of the sky. "We going in. I struck a deal with them. If any medical personnel leaves the building let them go". Soon after this message a police force of fifty people moved inside the hospital. Batman saw them walked through the glass doors and spread across the first floor. Some doctors and nurses started to leave the building almost running out but no too many of them. Batman watch everything what was going on from the shadow of a tall building when two big, black buses rushed from the corner of the intersection. They parked fast blocking the main entrance of St.Mary's hospital and each bus was full of armed men. They all run to the hospital as a massive wave crashing windows and doors.
It was time for Batman to interfere…
To be continued