Chapter 10: Army Of Arsonists
Garfield Lynns had been laying low while the police were searching for him all throughout the city. The old fireworks factory he had set up his new base in had been a pretty good hideout for him to work on his tinkering of pyrotechnics. Due to the serious burns that had disfigured his body and most likely his mind too, he couldn't afford to get badly burnt again. So, he made himself a fireproof suit that would protect him from fire along with creating his own custom-made jetpack and flamethrower. "This city burned me pretty good. I find it only fair that I return the favor.", he said right before he grabbed his flamethrower and fired it into the air to create a series of dancing flames in the factory. Meanwhile in the Narrows, a couple of low-level arsonists were torching old buildings that had not been lived in for a long time which made them think they would be perfect to torch. They were pouring gasoline and kerosine all around the abandoned buildings before starting their big fire. "I gotta tell you, Caleb. This was a good idea burning these piece of shit buildings down.", Joe Pike said. "Well, if the city won't demolish them, we'll demolish them our own way.", Caleb Pike said. The Pike brothers were done pouring their chemicals and were ready to start the show. "Let's get this party started!", Joe said. Caleb then got out a match and lit it. "This is gonna be awesome!", Caleb said with excitement. He was about to drop the match before someone behind them blew it out. The brothers turned around and saw Batman standing menacingly behind them. "Oh, shit! Batman!", Joe said in terror and Caleb was just as scared as he was. "Joe and Caleb Pike. I had really hoped you two would have found something better to do with your time by now other than committing arson. Some people never change.", Batman said. "Arson's our thing, freak. It's our family business.", Caleb said. "I know it is. Your sister, Bridgit learned that the hard way when you burned her alive.", Batman said. "That was an accident. We didn't mean for her to get caught in that fire.", Joe said. "Well, now she's dead because of you and I'll see to it that you never harm anyone else again.", Batman said. "Come on, Joe. There's two of us and one of him. Let's get him!", Caleb said. They both charged at Batman but didn't get far as Batman knocked their heads together as they were closing in on him. They were still conscious, but their head-butt neutralized them and gave Batman the chance to tie them up. "Say hi to Gotham PD for me, boys.", Batman said before he vanished into the night. "Who does that asshole think he is stopping us from expressing ourselves?", Joe said in frustration. "My thoughts exactly.", a raspy voice came from behind the building.", Hey, beat it, pal! Batman already got us. Go do your hero thing somewhere else!", Caleb said. The figure came out of the shadows and revealed himself. It was Garfield Lynns wearing his gray flame-retardant suit, his jetpack which was made to look like wings, and wore a helmet with large yellow eyes that resembled an insect's. "Oh, I'm no hero. I'm a fan. I've studied your work. Joe, your knowledge of flammable agents and chemicals is impressive which I'm sure is how you were able to set such big blazes in your previous fires. Caleb, the way you make your own homemade incendiary devices I find to be most inspiring.", Lynns said complimenting them. He grabbed a lighter which burnt through Batman's rope that bound them and they were free. "Well, thanks for the compliments and for freeing us, man. We'll see you around.", Caleb said. "Not so fast. I want you guys to return the favor of me freeing you.", Lynns said. "What do you want from us?", Caleb asked. "I want you to round up all your fellow arsonists in the city. I have a plan to give Gotham City a serious makeover. One that involves it being consumed by the raging fires we start and reduced to ash and then be rebuilt in our own image, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.", he said. "But I can't do it alone. I plan to enlist an army of Gotham's finest fire lovers such as yourselves.", he told them. He then went back around the corner where he was and gave them a couple flamethrowers. "Here you go. Consider this my first contribution to your art.", he told them. "Dude, who are you?", Joe asked. "Call me...Firefly!", Lynns said as he had officially adopted a new alias and was ready to put his horrific plan into effect.