Mutants Anonymous
Ch1: Intake Session
Inside the cafeteria of Arkham Asylum, Waylon Jones AKA Killer Croc stands in line in the cafeteria. Croc wears a white T-shirt, orange pants with the Arkham logo on the right leg, and a power dampening collar around his scaly neck. He looks on at the TV hanging up on the wall, Vicki Vale is on the TV talking about how Batman has been MIA for about a two months.
Vicki Vale: It has been almost two months since the alleged death of Robin, since then Batman has been MIA. Filling the void however have been a number of different masked heroes and vigilantes such as his former protege Nightwing, Justice Leaguer Superman, as well as a number of others including Johnny Cage, Duke Nukem, and Captain America just to name a few. Their presence certainly comforts many, but despite these friendly faces the question remains: When will the Dark Knight Return?
Croc watches the newscast with an apathetic look on his face when a deep voice from behind him yells out, "Are you gonna move you big ugly mutant?!". Croc turns around to see Aaron Helzinger AKA Amygdala, standing behind Croc and a few others in line. Croc glares back at Amygdala and shows teeth as he marches back to where he is in line. The two now stand face to face.
Killer Croc: Whatcha call me?!
Amygdala: I said, are you gonna move you big ugly mutant!
Croc clenches his fist and his breath grows heavier as he gets madder. Croc's eyes look deep into the soul of Amygdala, all the pent up anger Croc has amassed over the years bubbling at the surface ready to strike.
Killer Croc: I'd knock it off if I was you.
Amygdala: What are you gonna do mutie?!
Killer Croc: This!
Croc's roar echoes throughout the cafeteria as he socks Amygdala across the face. The two brutes get in a massive brawl in the cafeteria as inmates try their best to get out of the way of the fight. Croc grabs Amygdala by the throat and slams him into the floor, the tile shattering beneath the heavy impact. Amygdala looks up terrified as Croc brandishes his razor sharp teeth.
Amygdala: Let me go!
Croc goes to bite down on Amygdala's throat when all of a sudden his power dampening collar activates sending electric volts throughout his system shocking him, causing Croc to fall to the ground convulsing in pain from the shocks. The doors to the cafeteria slam open as armored guards led by Aaron Cash, Frank Boles, and Phil Cho all come rushing in breaking up the fight. Cash now stands above Croc with one hand on the remote control for his collar, and the other hand on his belt loop.
Aaron Cash: Stand down Jones!
Croc screams out in pain as he tries to stand up, his muscles convulsing from the shockwaves, he eventually collapses to the ground. Multiple armed guards surround Croc pointing both electric prods and assault rifles.
Phil Cho: Form a perimeter around them!
Arkham guards decked out in riot gear form a barrier between the two large inmates separating them. Amygdala is escorted out of the cafeteria entirely while Croc is prodded back up and forced to walk back to his cell.
Frank Boles: What a mess. We're gonna have to put them in solitary.
Aaron Cash: Can't. He's got a visitor today.
Frank Boles: That's today?! Shit, I forgot. As if we needed another freak roaming the hallways of this place.
Aaron Cash: Warden says this'll help him. Not sure how…
Back in his cell about three hours later, Waylon Jones sits on his bed looking out window to see Gotham Harbor. Croc turns around to see because he ears someone outside of his cell door unlocking it. The door opens as three people walk in the first two are Arkham guards Aaron Cash and Phil Cho both of them decked out in body armor and their hands on assault rifles but behind them is a rather peculiar sight.
The man behind them is about as tall as the average human but is much more broad shouldered and his face and hands are covered in deep blue fur. The man has a pair of reading glasses resting on the nose of his almost cat like face. He wears a white button up shirt with a red vest and khakis. The blue faced man looks at Croc with a great big smile on his face while Cash and Cho scowl. The man the guards have brought in is none other than Dr. Hank McCoy AKA Beast of the X-Men.
Beast: You must be Mister Jones! I've heard much about you! My name is Doctor Henry McCoy but you can call me Hank, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance!
The blue furred Doctor reaches his hand to shake Croc's but Waylon only raises an eye in return. Another guard walks into the cell with a folding chair in hand which he sets up for the mutant scientist in the center of the room.
Beast: Mister Jones please take a seat, we have much to discuss.
Croc sits on the torn up mattress that barely fights him while Beast sits in the folding chair. Both Aaron Cash and Phil Cho stand behind Beast on the defensive. Beast turns to Cash and lowers his glasses.
Beast: Officer Cash, would you mind deactivating Mister Jones' collar?
Cash looks at Beast taken aback replying with "You can't be serious!" but the X-Man looks at Cash telling him "Quite actually! This is his cell and I would like him to feel comfortable it's already bad enough there are two armored guards with machine guns in the room with me… Now deactivate the collar.". The two guards exchange confused looks but after a brief moment Aaron digs the remote responsible for the power dampening collar out of his pocket, pressing down on a button. The power dampening collar deactivates and Croc just looks back at them like they're fools, he's so confused he doesn't know if he wants to run or hear them out.
Killer Croc: What do you want with me X-Man?
Beast: Some very important people that are responsible for a myriad of things in Arkham reached out to me in the hope of understanding the mutant inmates of Arkham.
Killer Croc: Pretty sure I'm the only one.
Beast: Which means we'll be sending quite a bit of time together Mister Jones.
Croc rolls his eyes at this but Beast just returns it with a smile on his face. Croc looks up the guards and they look uneasy at Croc. The guards just see two monsters that could snap at any moment. Dr. McCoy nods at Croc and then reassures him "Don't worry Mister Jones, as we develop a rapport our two friends will show their face less and less. Right fellas?". The two guards both nod their heads but don't take their eyes off of Croc.
Killer Croc: So you're like my new therapist then?
Beast: That is not my background but yes, I guess this role I'm taking I would be a considered your "therapist". Do you have any other questions for me?
Killer Croc: Nah.
Beast: Good, we start tomorrow at 8 AM sharp!
The blue furred Doctor folds up his chair and begins to walk out of the cell. Aaron Cash and Phil Cho follow behind but as they do Cash reactivates the power dampening collar. The door closes behind the three of them walk towards the surveillance room where waiting for them is none other than Warden Quincy Sharp and Police Commissioner James Gordon of the GCPD. The group gather around a desk, the warden and the police commissioner stare intently at the X-Man.
Gordon: Doctor McCoy, how'd it go?
Beast: I think it went rather well, The goal today was to just establish myself as a "friendly face". Tomorrow is when the real work begins.
Warden Sharp: So he told you nothing about what you told us about the Brotherhood?
Beast: No he wasn't very talkative today but based off what I've read about Mister Jones, he's not much of a talker.
Gordon: Just keep my department in the loop, we deal with super powers on the regular.
Beast: Thank you commissioner!
Hank then shakes the hands of both the Commissioner and the Warden and then walks out of the surveillance room toward the front gate of the actual Asylum. The good doctor stands there as pair of guards walk by, he nods at the guards politely but they only return blank stares. Behind Beast the voice of Commission Gordon "Doctor McCoy, you need a ride to the city? What hotel are you staying at?".
The furry scientist smiles at Police commissioner telling him, "Thank you for the offer Commissioner but I am actually waiting on my ride right now. I appreciate it very much though!". The two now stand are standing face to face and Gordon looks a little uneasy.
Beast: Something on your mind?
Gordon: Look I'm sorry if Cash and Cho-
Beast: We're uneasy with the blue cat-man walking around their place of work instead of going into a cell? It's quite alright Commissioner, when you look like this you get used to it after while. I don't think any less of those men, they have had limited exposure to mutants and the exposure they've had has been well…
Gordon: I hear ya… Well listen I appreciate you being apart of this investigation. Things haven't been the same in the city since-
Beast: Since the death of the Boy-Wonder?
Gordon: Yeah, they had a parental bond and I don't know what I'd do if I lost either of my kids but this has been the quietest two months we've had in awhile.
Beast: What do you mean?
Gordon: Well you'd think that the criminal element in this town would ramp up their activity but in reality it's been quite the opposite. The clown is in a body cast and is projected to be in one for the next six months and it looks members of the League, former protégés, and even some of the others masks from New York have been rotating patrolling Gotham. We're all just kinda waiting for him I guess…
The sound of a car horn lightly honking can be heard from behind them. The pair turn to see a Lincoln Continental with blacked out windows parked waiting for Dr. McCoy. Beast nods at the Commissioner signaling that this is his ride.
Beast: Looks like my ride is here commissioner. I shall see you tomorrow!
The two shake hands and Beast heads toward the car. He opens the back door on the passenger side, he takes a seat finally relaxing. The little interior window rolls down revealing none other than Alfred Pennyworth behind the wheel, Pennyworth looks in the rearview mirror asking Beast, "How was it?" to which Beast replies "Well I certainly have my work cut out for me…". Alfred laughs and begins to drive back to Wayne Manor.
After sometime driving through downtown Gotham, they have successfully made it to Wayne Manor. Alfred parks the car in the garage and walks Beast into the manor. Beast looks at how grandiose the interior of the manor is from the marble floors, the priceless antiques on display, and the framed pictures of the various Waynes that have called Gotham home.
Alfred: I will take you to the Asylum in the morning and I will pick you up later in the afternoon around 2:30. Dinner has been in somewhat of a flux but I'm trying to bring it back to the usual slot of 7 PM. The weight room, the library, the movie theater, and all the others resources of the Manor are yours to be used and if you wish to use the Cave I'm sure Master Bruce would be alright with that just let him know!
Beast: Thank you Mister Pennyworth! Which room might I be staying in?
Alfred: You walk up those stairs and it's the third door on the left.
Beast: Perfect now I have to ask, where is Mister Wayne?
Alfred grimaces and rhetorically asks the X-Man, "Where do you think?". Pennyworth then opens the door to Bruce Wayne's private study and walks directly towards the Grandfather Clock lined up against the wall. Beats watches as Alfred fiddles with the hands of the clock when suddenly the clock moves to the side of the wall and passage way opens up revealing a dimly lit hallway with some stairs. Alfred gestures Beast to follow which he does and the two eventually go down this hallway to an elevator, the two take the elevator begin to descend. There is a moment of silence but Alfred decides to break it.
Alfred: You'll have to forgive him, I know he's not normally a social animal but ever since Master Todd's passing he has been quite the wreck.
Beast: I can only imagine, both youth and life are such precious commodities and to be snuffed out by that vile creature… It's horrid.
Alfred: I have not seen him this distraught since the death of his parents. Quite a shame, Master Todd was a quite talent when it came mechanical issues and if something or if someone rather… Required brute force he was the one to call.
Beast: Jason and Logan would've gotten along quite well.
Alfred: Oh I'm sure… He comes down here when he's exhausted the weight room in the manor. The simulations in the cave, is where he really gets his anger out.
The elevator finally arrives at the cave, Beast and Alfred see a shirtless Bruce Wayne fighting a robot twice his size. Bruce wears nothing but athletic shorts, his hands and ankles are both wrapped. Bruce jumps up kicking the robots head clean off and then landing on his knee the robot falls on the ground making a loud crashing sound as it makes impact. Bruce now facing his butler and guest revealing his 5 O'Clock Shadow and dark circles under his eyes.
Alfred: Are you going to say hello to our guest?
Beast then begins to walk towards Bruce with hand out and big smile on his face.
Beast: Mister Wayne! It's nice to finally meet you when the world isn't ending, I'm-
Bruce: Doctor Henry McCoy, graduated from Harvard with double masters in Biology and Nuclear Physics… When you're not in testifying to Congress or fighting criminals you teach math and science at Xavier's school.
Beast: I see Charles briefed you.
Bruce: Some of it yes, he said you'd want to talk to me. I have the files Charles sent upstairs.
Bruce then walks right past Alfred and Dr. McCoy, both turn to each other acknowledging Bruce's very visible inner turmoil. The pair walk upstairs to the Batcomputer where Bruce is already sitting in the chair pulling up the intel that Xavier had sent over. The monitor screen features a written report by Charles Xavier as well as CCST Footage of Victor Creed AKA Sabertooth and Fred Dukes AKA Blob scoping out a Wayne Industries factory in Albany, New York, the footage also shows them inside an apartment complex not too far from the factory. The footage progresses to show a team of X-Men comprising of Cyclops, Wolverine, Shadowcat, Nightcrawler, and Morph breaking into the apartment Creed and Blob were staying at now completely empty.
Beast: As you can see here, two members of the Brotherhood had infiltrated one of your facilities in Albany. Charles caught wind of them but as soon as we got there-
Bruce: They left.
Beast: Precisely, but that's not the only thing we found that interesting.
Bruce's presses a button the keyboard and the screen an image of schematics for an "Anti-Magnetic Field Device" pops up on the screen. Next to the schematics is a picture of a "list" of potential mutants in Gotham. Such names include Babydoll, Edward Nygma, Selina Kyle, Pamela Isley, The Creeper, and at the top of the list with his name circled is Waylon Jones AKA Killer Croc.
Beast: Other than in general recruitment processes I am unsure what other reason Erik would have in recruiting Mister Jones. But I have a question for you, what has you interested in magnetic fields? Are you preparing to go against Magneto?
Bruce: Not just him. With the rise of meta-human criminals in the past few years and the difficulties prisons have had retaining them, Lucius and I developed a device meant to go under the prison. Iron Heights spent almost three million dollars last year creating a wing almost entirely made out of plastic and other non-magnetic materials for Dr. Polaris, that's also not including the power dampening collars Polaris has to wear when he's not in his cell. The idea is with this device, you need to build a separate wing or buy collars that if anything demean your prisoner and make them more irritable.
Beast: I'm sure you understand Mister Wayne that not all parties who would be interested in this device have the best interest for mutants.
Bruce: Which is why, if R&D moves forward with this we are going to be extremely picky with who sign contracts with us. I've already to Lucius I don't want Trask or anyone from the MRD to step foot on Wayne Industries property inquiring about a meeting.
Beast: But what about Magneto and his disciple's, have there been any sightings?
Bruce presses another button on the keyboard for the Batcomputer, CCTV footage of Nightwing swinging off roof tops and scaling buildings in the downtown Gotham when suddenly as soon as Nightwing is out of sight a stone gargoyle turns its head. The "gargoyle" begins to turn into a a blue skinned woman with vibrant red hair.
Beast: Raven, of course she's here. No doubt doing reconnaissance for others. When was this taken?
Bruce: Two weeks ago. This was also only a block down from Wayne Tower, which is where the Anti-Magnetic Field Generator is being developed.
Beast: Where in the building is the generator being stored?
Bruce: An underground lab that Lucius and I built out for the sole purpose of testing tools we would use in the field, but because of the nature of the project I had him work on it down in the lab.
Beast: I have an early morning tomorrow but, I would be willing to do some reconnaissance this evening. See if can perhaps find signs of the Brotherhood.
Bruce: Dick and Helena will be joining you this evening. Alfred will be running comms and you'll have full access to the cave and all of its resources.
Beast: Very kind of you Mr. Wayne!
Bruce nods and gets up from the chair to go back to training. Alfred shakes his head in dismay as Bruce walks away. Beast looks off in the distance and sees the memorial shrine of Jason's Robin uniform, he walks up to and puts his large furry hand on the glass case.
Beast: So… young.
Alfred: I have had to clean blood and stitch back their uniforms but this…
Alfred clearly emotional stops in his tracks, Beast puts his hand on Alfred's shoulder to comfort him.
Beast: "My son, though here briefly you shaped eternity and taught me the only truth that matters: To love with abandon, without counting the cost. My precious boy, now your eternal song continues playing within my heart, Guiding me home.."
Alfred: Thank you Dr. McCoy.
The good butler then walks over to the railing overlooking the rest of the cave. He claps his hand as he turns back to Beast.
Alfred: Let's talk about your transportation into the city this evening.
Beats walks up to to the railing, now standing along side Alfred he looks on to see the line of Batmobile's, a large display Penny, a statue of a T-Rex, a canal that leads into the river, the Batwing hanging upside down from the cave.