Disclaimer: I do not own Batman

Strader Pharmaceuticals, a highly successful Pharmaceutical Company in Gotham. Their labs had been used to develop everyday medicines and, in the past, had even been commissioned by the government to develop super soldier formulas. Tonight, Security Guard, Bryce Gawain, was patrolling the building, just like he had done every night for the past 3 years, in that time, no one had ever broken in, the building at night was even more quiet than the Gotham Public Library, the only sound heard being Bryce's footsteps, until tonight. Bryce heard sounds coming from one of the labs and went to investigate, initially seeing nothing in the lab, he took out his flashlight to have a look around, finding broken glass and liquids covering the ground. The smell made him feel dizzy and he leaned on the nearby desk to keep his balance, when his attention was caught by the shadow that loomed over him, a weird, humanoid looking shape with what appeared to be large wings. Bryce wanted to scream, but the smell of the chemicals made him pass out.

GCPD

"BULLOCK!"

Detective Bullock entered the Commissioner's office, where he saw the angry face of Commissioner Gordon, along with detectives Nashton, Lane and Montoya.

"What is it, Commish?"

Gordon only responded to Bullock by throwing the newspaper at him, which contained a quote from Bullock regarding Batman being behind the robbery at Strader Pharmaceuticals last night.

"In the month you've been here, you've misplaced vital evidence, screwed up 2 drug busts and now you're making statements to the news WITHOUT MY PERMISSION, you've been driving me up the wall Bullock, I feel like I'm heading for a heart attack."

"Hey, a reporter asked me some questions, I gave some answers, where's the harm in that?"

"If you had kept quiet, Batman wouldn't know we were moving against him." said Detective Montoya

"Doesn't matter, I'll find him myself with my new task force!"

"Bullock, I've already said no!"

"But the mayor said yes…" said Bullock, producing a signed note from Mayor Hill. "The

Mayor respects my methods of getting results."

Batcave

Bruce Wayne sat at the computer, he had been re-reading the news story about the break in at Strader.

"If you needed some medicine, I could have just went to the chemist for you." said Alfred

"You know this wasn't me, Alfred, someone seems to be trying to frame me."

"So it would seem, but the question is why?"

"Only one way to find out."

Strader Pharmaceuticals

Batman searched the scene of the break-in, if there was any evidence left behind, he'd find it.

"Anything to report, sir?"

"It seems so, Strader had been researching the properties of a drug called 'Benzoride', a supply of it appears to be missing."

"What would the thief want with Benzoride?"

"Benzoride is able to combat the side effects of certain poisons and toxins."

"I can imagine how that would come in handy, but that still doesn't fully explain why."

Batman continued to look around, when he heard the sound of approaching police sirens. GCPD were on their way and he had to make himself scarce. Batman took out his Batclaw and went to zip away, when he reached the building across the street, a giant wing swiped at him and a large mutant bat creature screeched in his face. Very few things scared Batman, but that…thing in his face absolutely terrified him. The bat creature flew away and Batman climbed onto the roof.

"Alfred, I think I just found who's been framing me."

No answer.

"Alfred?"

"Sorry sir, I just saw that thing on the bar computer through the camera in your cowl, what was that thing?"

"I don't know, but I'll find out, I'll take a DNA sample and see what comes up."

"Very good, master Bruce."

Batman grappled to a nearby building and kept an eye out for the bat creature, using a scanner function in his cowl, he was able to trace the bat creature's body heat not too far away. He ran across the rooftops to catch up to the winged creature and dive at it from above, wrapping his arms around the creature's neck and tackling it to the ground. The creature tried to scratch at Batman, but Batman blocked it and used one of his gadgets to take a sample of the creature's blood, before being knocked away. The bat creature screeched and flew away. Batman looked at the blood sample and called for one of his drones, which took the sample to Alfred. Batman reached the roof of a building when Alfred got in touch.

"Sir, the computer has come up with a match for this…Man-Bat's DNA."

"Man-Bat?"

"Well, it's a better name than 'The Bat Creature', anyway, the DNA seems to match a scientist called Dr. Kirk Langstrom."

"I know him, he works at Wayne Industries…and his research revolves around the study of bats and their sonar. I met his wife at a charity function, they seemed very supportive of each other."

"What was the research for?"

"I don't know for certain, but if it was for animal mutations, I'll have to send him more than just a pink slip."

"I suggest checking out his home, maybe his wife has some answers."

Langstrom Home

Batman walked up to the house in a suburban area of Gotham. He knocked on the door and it was answered by a woman, around mid 30s with long blonde hair and glasses, dressed in blue jeans with a green blouse.

"Batman?"

"Mrs. Langstrom?"

"Um, yes, Francine. Are you here about the bat monster?"

"You know about that?"

"Yes, I tried to tell the police over the phone, but they just laughed and assumed I was a prank caller. That…thing…it killed my husband."

"What?"

Francine stepped aside and gestured for Batman to come in. Batman stepped in the house and Francine picked up a remote that she pointed to the stairs, which opened up to reveal a hidden passageway. Francine led Batman down into a hidden lab, broken glass, torn documents, damaged medical equipment filled the dark, unsettling area.

"Kirk's struggled with his hearing ever since he was a child, a few months ago, we went to the doctor and she told us that Kirk would be completely deaf within the next 2 years. Kirk knew he couldn't waste time, so he threw himself into his work…"

Francine turned on a monitor to show a video Kirk recorded.

"Greetings to all who see this. I'm Dr. Kirk Langstrom. For years I slowly developed my research on different species of bats and their sonar, hoping to achieve my greatest contribution to mankind, but after receiving some unfortunate news from my doctor, I'm afraid I've had to speed things along, what I plan to do is risky, but if successful, this will prevent and cure deafness in all humanity."

"So where'd the Man-Bat come from?"

"I don't know, Kirk was working late one night, when I heard crashing, I rushed to check what was happening and I saw that…beast in the lab. I fainted and when I woke up, the bat thing was gone and there was no sign of Kirk anywhere."

Francine broke down in tears, Batman placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Mrs. Langstrom, would you mind leaving me alone in the lab so I can investigate a bit."

"Of course, let me know if you need anything."

With that, Francine left the lab and Batman contacted Alfred.

"Did you hear that, Alfred?"

"I did, Master Bruce, looks like this confirms that Dr. Langstrom and the Man-Bat are one and the same."

"He was using DNA research on bats, which was never going to end well. So why did he rob Strader Pharmaceuticals?"

Batman checked Dr. Langstrom's computer. A file caught his eye.

"So that's why. Langstrom may have the appearance of a monster, but he still has his intelligence. He knew there was some potential risk with his research, so he had a backup plan ready. He has most of the chemicals he needs to develop an antidote, but he's missing 2 parts, one of which was the Benzoride stolen from Strader, he also needs another chemical called Therodine, which is being researched by Wayne Biotech."

"Then that's where he must be heading next, there've been no reports of a break in, so you may be able to beat him there."

"Thanks Alfred, keep me updated if anything changes."

"Certainly."

Batman left the lab, when he ran into Francine.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Yes, Mrs. Langstrom, I'm confident that your husband is still alive and I'll make sure he's returned home safe and sound."

"Really? Thank you, Batman."

Batman nodded his head and zipped away, when Alfred got in contact

"Master Bruce, there's been an update, apparently an intruder triggered the Wayne Biotech alarm and the police have entered the building searching for the intruder."

"Langstrom wasted no time hunting down the Therodine." said Batman

Batman ran across the rooftops to reach Wayne Biotech, where police cars surrounded every exit. Batman entered from the roof and stealthily searched the building to reach the research lab, where Man-Bat would be looking for the Therodine. What Batman didn't expect was that Commissioner Gordon would be there as part of the officers searching the building, alongside Detective Bullock. While Bullock searched the floor, Gordon had his pistol readied and heard the commotion in one of the labs, he kicked the door open and went silent as he stared at the giant bat creature before him, the fright of seeing a monster was too much for Gordon, who gripped his chest before dropping to the floor. Batman went to check on Gordon, his scanner in his cowl showing that Gordon suffered a heart attack. The sound of smashing glass caught Batman's attention, Man-Bat had escaped through the window. Batman looked back and forth between the broken window and Commissioner Gordon, if he helped Gordon, then Man-Bat might get away, if he went after Man-Bat, then Jim might die. Batman took a syringe from his utility belt, injecting Gordon directly in the chest. The scanner showed that Gordon would be fine, allowing Batman to go after Man-Bat. Once Batman was gone, Detective Bullock came back and was in shock at the sight of Commissioner Gordon laying on the ground.

"Commissioner?"

Bullock went to check on Gordon, before calling an ambulance. Meanwhile, Batman took to the rooftops to hunt for Man-Bat. His cowl's scanner showed Man-Bat's location, allowing Batman to chase the mutated scientist. Batman eventually caught up to Man-Bat and was able to use his Batclaw to bring the winged beast down. The sudden pull at his leg caused Man-Bat to drop the phial of Therodine. Luckily, Batman was able to catch the phial before it landed on the roof of the building and smashed. He placed the phial in a pouch on his utility belt, when Man-Bat pounced on him, but Batman was prepared, taking out an injector gun, he injected a sedative into Man-Bat, allowing the creature to fall asleep.

Langstrom Home

Batman knocked on the door and Francine answered, getting a fright when she saw Man-Bat in Batman's arms.

"What is…"

"The lab, quickly!"

Francine nodded and opened the entrance to the lab, Batman took Man-Bat to the lab and strapped him to the table in the centre, hoping that the sedative would keep Man-Bat asleep for long enough to develop the cure, if not, he hoped the straps would keep him restrained.

"Batman, what are you doing? Where's Kirk?"

"Mrs. Langstrom, I need you to trust me."

Francine said nothing else, only watched as Batman got to work, placing the Benzoride, Therodine and other chemicals into a chemical mixer, he started it up as he heard Man-Bat waking up, he had to be fast. Man-Bat awoke and screeched, but the straps kept him from moving. Batman filled his injector gun with the completed cure and injected Man-Bat. After a few more moments of screaming, Man-Bat's screaming sounded more human, before he physically began to change, now appearing as a man in his mid 30s, with brown hair that was starting to grey, he also had a small beard on his chin.

"KIRK!"

Francine smiled and ran to hug her husband, who opened his green eyes.

"Francine…"

"No, don't say anything, I'm just happy you're alright."

Kirk smiled and hugged his wife back, when he looked towards Batman.

"Batman, thank you, I thought I was done for, I'm glad that antidote worked."

"So am I, Dr. Langstrom, you're a very intelligent man, if you hadn't rushed your research, you would have been onto a breakthrough."

"But now what? Will I turn back into that…thing?" asked Kirk

"No, the Man-Bat formula has been flushed from your system thanks to the cure, it's over."

"Thank you."

With no more words, Batman left.

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